How far could a person go when he or she goes crazy?
Deborah, whose face was covered in soot, thought as she looked at the stuffy iron bars which showed the sky the same size as the palm of her hand.
“If I’m skinny, wouldn’t I be able to get out there…?”
The iron bars were so narrow that it was difficult for even a single hand of Deborah’s to get through.
To begin with, it was a prison built to kill the person it held.
Even the light that came through those grates couldn’t fully illuminate her face.
Nevertheless, she harbored the irrational hope of escape.
‘If I don’t do this, I feel like I’m going to go crazy.’
“I can get out…”
Deborah muttered blankly.
‘I don’t know how many days it’s been since I was in prison.’
No, maybe dozens of days, maybe a month or more.
At first she cried for days and nights, cursing and screaming at the queen.
Then she tormented the guard all day to let her go.
After she was beaten harshly by the guard, she realized the reality.
“Why did this happen?”
Deborah was engrossed in the matter, thinking about it for days.
She just wanted to live well.
As a lady of a poor barony… She wanted to be a person that was like ordinary nobles, like people born with such nobility… That, like that arrogant queen.
She also wanted to be happy.
She just didn’t want to go through the misery of being beaten up for surviving the carriage accident.
She didn’t want to live like her damn parents.
Like her parents, never…!
Hence, so far…
She never failed to do her best.
But why!
No matter how much Deborah thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why she was ruined.
So, after that, she gave up thinking and just slept.
Finally, helplessness came.
When she opened her eyes, there was no distinction between day and night in the prison.
Normally, after this period, all prisoners lost their will.
However…
At first, Deborah did not know about giving up.
Kwang—!
The chains swayed from her body. Deborah put her hand into the narrow iron grate and made a squeaky sound.
‘I can go out when I’m shriveled up.’
It was when she was dreaming the impossible and crazy.
A deep bass rang across the prison.
“Madam Deborah, are you completely crazy already?”
“!”
Deborah, with her hair scattered, looked back in surprise.
There was a friendly face.
No, she would be happy to meet anyone here.
Johann, dressed in black garments, was standing there.
Surprisingly…
Just looking at Johann, Deborah’s eyes became clear in an instant.
A very welcoming look appeared on her face.
“No, of course I know I can’t get out of here.”
“But…”
“…Unless Archduke Marquis helps me.”
Deborah smiled slyly.
With her hair sparse and face dirty, the ‘social butterfly’ grin was somehow eerie.
“You must have come because you have something to say to me, right?”
“Say anything. I’ll listen to anything.”
Johann let out a low laugh.
He seemed to be having a lot of fun.
In fact, Johann very much enjoyed this situation.
“Madam. Deborah… you’re very persistent.”
“You’re here because you have something for me to do.”
“Hmm, how are you sure about that?”
When Johann asked, with his eyes shining as if testing her, Deborah responded with a servile smile.
But contrary to her expression, she was very good at judging the situation.
“At the end, you threw me away as if I was of no use… Yet you looked for me again. In a situation where there was nothing good to do with me. Otherwise, you would have only seen me when I was being executed!”
The corners of Johann’s lips rose.
“And, Archduke, you came without anyone accompanying you, at a time when the guard was not around.”
Seeing that she thought so far in this short period of time, she still seemed useful.
Now that Berylia had lost her memory and his own power was almost complete.
At this crucial time, Johann needed such a tool.
‘I mean, one that will lick the floor.’
Morality that fell to the ground and could do anything… A faithful and smart slave.
Johann said with gentle-looking eyes.
“I’m sorry I sent you like that last time.”
He had never felt sorry for anyone in his life. However, there was a bright smile on Deborah’s face.
‘Well then. Good people are useful in times like this.’
‘That’s how big your heart is, that’s what’s on your mind!’ In front of Deborah, who was firmly deluded, Johann took a document out of his pocket.
It was an ‘amnesty’. The only amnesty that Johann possessed thanks to the sharing of the powers of the emperor.
The moment she saw it, Deborah’s eyes widened and shone.
Swiiik!
Johann pulled his hand back slightly, avoiding her rushing towards the pardon.
His lips were curved.
It was really obvious that he was enjoying the situation.
“I just can’t give it to you…”
“How, how can you give it to me? I’ll do anything, Archduke!”