“Aren’t you the ruffian young lord who bought the position of warden with money?”
Most guards would be breathless, unable to say a word.
However, I wasn’t scared at all.
Because in my previous life as the Chancellor, I had argued with him countless times from an equal position.
That gentlemanly yet intimidating gaze was now almost familiar.
“It’s the same reason the Elder is here due to circumstances.” “Are you saying that you, famous for being a ruffian, and I are the same?”
I succeeded in catching his eye, but his expression wasn’t pleased.
It felt like a battle-hardened pride leader looking down on a snake with bared fangs.
Even Clea, who was secretly peeking at the situation through the crack in the door, grew tense.
However, I hadn’t opened my mouth without a thought either.
After all, having been the Imperial Court’s Chancellor in a previous life, I was well-versed in The Empire’s affairs.
“This old man isn’t here because you committed a crime yourself, are you?
To be precise, it’s because of your son, isn’t it?” “How do you know about my son?
I knew the Minster Family was dirty, but I didn’t realize you dared to dig up information even on me.”
His only dark secret exposed, the Great Elder’s expression darkened further.
Clea slapped her forehead, as if to ask why on earth I was provoking him.
“As the Prison Warden, I must accurately grasp the prisoners’ information for smooth management.”
I continued speaking calmly, my expression unchanged.
As if I was simply fulfilling my duty.
“Honestly, it’s strange for the Great Elder to be in a place like this.
So please don’t be too upset, I only looked into it because of that.”
As I stated my position clearly, Darc didn’t press any further.
“That boy sacrificed thousands of his subordinates on the battlefield with his poor command.
I saw it as the grave sin of a parent who failed to teach.”
As if the mere thought of his son made him burst with anger, Darc closed his eyes.
He held the teacup again and smelled its fragrance, soothing his fiery temper.
“You could have ended it with a simple apology.
But you chose to go into exile yourself.” “The political arena is a nasty place.
I could have had my weakness exploited over this, so I made a clean exit.”
I took off my uniform hat.
“Is that really the only reason?” “…What is it you want to say?”
Darc furrowed his brow slightly.
His already intimidating face became even more menacing.
However, my gloomy, snake-like face was no pushover either.
“If you give me a chance, I will dare to fathom the Elder’s profound intention.”
The Elder took out a pocket watch from inside his gown.
More than five minutes had already passed since my interview with him began.
The previous prison wardens hadn’t even lasted three minutes before being kicked out.
“Speak.
But if you were just trying to get my attention with some trivial speculation, you’d better be prepared.” “Thank you.”
I took out a cigar I had prepared and lit it.
I leisurely placed the slowly burning cigar on the windowsill.
“Currently, the Elder is ‘pretending’ to have retired from politics.”
The strong scent of the cigar seeped into every corner of the window frame.
Soon, black shadows began to crawl out from the cracks in the old stone.
“You’re watching to see how your allied nobles will act while you are away.”
Bugs that hadn’t been revealed even by the fragrant scent of black tea.
They revealed themselves at the strong smell of the cigar.
“A sort of loyalty test, shall we say.”
I picked up the cigar again.
And I burned the black bug’s head with the lit end.
Very brutally and thoroughly.
“The Elder deliberately chose this place for a perfect disguise.
Because Berihill has the worst reputation even among places of exile, it’s perfect for making people think your political life is over.”
The bugs’ corpses scattered in the cold wind of the place of exile.
“I am in the same situation as you, Elder.
I came here deliberately to survive my distinguished hyungnims.”
I turned my back to the brilliant northern sun.
With my face cast in shadow, only my green eyes gleamed.
“Isn’t this reason enough?”
If he’s already gathered information on me, he must know how fierce my family’s internal strife is.
Darc, too, had held his breath and lived at rock bottom like me when he first entered the political arena.
“Choosing the prison as a hideout is certainly a common point.”
The Great Elder chuckled, shaking his head.
He rose from his seat for the first time.
“Yes.
To survive, you need at least that much grit.”
He took the cigar that had been resting on the windowsill.
The man who had survived for 40 years since entering the Imperial Court at 20 put the cigar in his mouth.
“Good, Warden Derek.
What do you intend to achieve by tenaciously enduring it here?”
Within the thick smoke, purple eyes that could pierce through all of creation flashed.
I have to answer this well.
I’ve succeeded in capturing his interest, now he’s trying to gauge my caliber.
Right now, the King of Nobles is asking about my ambition and aspiration.
“…”
The door visible behind me moved slightly.
It seems Clea was also curious, pressing her ear against it to eavesdrop.
Even that smart woman knows how important the answer to this question is.
“If your will is the same as mine this time, I will look upon you ‘favorably’ from now on.”
The King of Nobles, who owned half of The Empire’s ruling class.
For him to look upon me favorably meant he would make me a real power in this land.
But, at the same time, if he doesn’t like my answer…
I will be buried in this land as a corpse.
「The Great Elder’s test begins.」 「Failure to persuade the prisoner will result in all of your family’s corruption being exposed and your execution.」
The blue message that only appeared in life-or-death situations surfaced.
I now stood at the most dangerous crossroads of this life.