𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒
Another day passed, followed by another two, and quickly, a week passed.
Perhaps because they had been conserving their energy, their bodies didn’t seem to have any issues as they moved around.
However, in the confined space and the environment devoid of sunlight, it was their minds that seemed to be screaming first.
“Mutabilis, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
In the midst of it all, the conversations with Mutabilis, who was in the adjacent cell, provided Mabel with some solace. At first, he didn’t respond to her, but recently, he had started answering her questions, albeit slowly.
“Mutabilis, how long have you been here?”
“A long time.”
“A long time?”
Mabel pondered those words for a moment. She understood that she was being held captive as a hostage, but she wondered why Mutabilis, who was restrained next to her, had been captured.
‘If it was for doing something bad, there would be a regular prison, right? Besides, he doesn’t seem like such a bad person.’
Although they had only talked for a few days, Mutabilis’ answers were simple, and apart from his low voice, he had a childlike innocence.
“Mutabilis, um―if you don’t want to answer, it’s okay, but why are you imprisoned here?”
There was a brief silence.
As Mabel patiently waited, words finally came out, albeit hesitantly.
“They have something important to me.”
“Something important?”
“Yeah. I’m here because I want to retrieve it.”
Mabel tilted her head in response to those words.
If he wanted to retrieve something, it meant that it had originally belonged to Mutabilis and had been taken away.
Considering the situation of being locked up in this cell, it was highly likely that the person who took it was a member of the royal family of Wiski.
(I wonder what he wants to retrieve. . .)
Mabel encouraged him, saying that there might be something she could do to help.
“Mutabilis, what is it? If it’s okay for me to know, I’m willing to help…”
“―Are you suggesting a prison break between fellow prisoners?”
A sudden voice interrupted, causing Mabel to stiffen.
She recognized that voice. It belonged to Travis.
“…What are you doing here?”
“Why can’t I be here? I am here to bring you some good news.”
Travis stood on the other side of the iron bars, looking down at Mabel. In response, she stared back at him without backing down. Travis twisted his mouth with amusement and delivered his message to Mabel.
“The Eakes Kingdom has made an announcement.”
“W-What?”
“It is the engagement between the third princess, Kathleen Lathra Icus, and the magician Eugene Rava”
Travis laughed again, and Mabel was at a loss for words.
‘What does this mean? Onee-sama and Eugene got engaged?’
“I can’t believe they’re offering the most beautiful princess in the country. It seems that Eakes Kingdom has become desperate.”
Travis snorted, and then Strauss, who seemed to have come to find him, shouted with frustration.
“Travis! So you were here!”
“Your Highness, what can I do for you?”
“What’s going on? Look what happened because of your little slip-up, Kathleen is in trouble now!”
“Oh, you mean her engagement to the mage.”
“There’s no way I’ll let Kathy be handed over to a mage! Come up with a plan to fix this mess!”
Travis was then dragged away by Strauss. As Mabel watched them leave, she once again thought about the announcement made by Eakes Kingdom.
‘So, it’s because she’s Kathleen Onee-sama that she’s getting married’
Certainly, her sister was a beauty beyond comparison to Mabel.
But considering his personality, he didn’t seem like someone who would judge solely based on appearances.
‘Is it all because I–’
Mabel’s vision darkened. At that moment, she heard Mutabilis’ voice from the adjacent cell.
“Mabel?”
“…What?”
“Do you know Eugene?”
Mabel hesitated for a moment, then immediately spoke up.
“I do. I think he was someone I liked.”
“Someone you liked?”
“He rejected me, though. But it’s all my fault.”
If I hadn’t lied and approached him, would he have liked me as Mabel?
It was a pointless hypothetical question now. Worried about Mabel, whose words trailed off, Mutabilis spoke again.
“Mabel, do you also like mages?”
“What do you mean?”
“Mages are feared. They possess powers that ordinary people can’t hope to have, and those powers can harm others. They are dangerous beings.”
Mabel couldn’t help but furrow her brows in sadness.
Indeed, Mabel recalled that she didn’t fully understand what mages were until she had direct contact with Eugene.
“…That’s not true. Eugene may have been a recluse, but he never did anything dangerous. In the first place, he hardly used magic “
“He didn’t use magic?”
“That’s right. That’s why his hair was always messy, and he would forget to eat and collapse. But, there’s no point in talking about this now.”
“…”
Perhaps sensing Mabel’s wry smile, Mutabilis didn’t speak any further.
Once again, silence dominated the prison cell, and Mabel lay down on the bed alone.
Strangely, tears didn’t flow.
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