Cowering in the corner, Leonard stared wide–eyed in terror.
Every hair on his back stood on end.
Leonard thought while a cold sweat ran down his spine, If I’d gotten to the food before the rat, that corpse on the ground would be me.
“Whoever is trying to silence me must be afraid I’ll expose them.
I must be an utter fool. Here I am, holding my tongue in this cell for the greater good.
But the Queen, Prince Fermin, even the duke’s estate–not a single one of them has shown their face.
“Even if the Queen can’t come, what about Nicolas?
“As Vice Minister of Justice, if he wanted to see me, he could have found a way.
“But not only are they avoiding me, they’re actually trying to have me killed.
‘This is too much.
“If they can be so ruthless, I’ll return the favor.
Having made up his mind, Leonard dragged himself laboriously to the cell door and shouted hoarsely, “Guards, I demand to see Prince Xander! I must see him now.”
His desperate cries echoed through the empty prison corridors, but no one responded.
Hidden in a shadowy corner of the prison, Xander, who had been patiently lying in wait, let a faint, satisfied smile tug at the corner of his lips.
He finished the final stroke of the character and softly murmured to himself, “It’s done.”
Ansel let out a surprised chuckle. “Prince Xander, your foresight is truly divine. If you hadn’t made these arrangements in advance, Leonard wouldn’t
have cracked so quickly.
At Ansel’s feet writhed a man, trussed up and gagged with a rag.
He was the prison guard who had just delivered Leonard’s meal
“Yes, Your Highness,” Ansel replied promptly, turning to fetch Leonard.
Leonard knew there was no way out for him now. Hatred flickered in his eyes as he said, “Yes, was involved in General Perkins‘ case, but I wasn’t acting alone. Tell me, Prince Xander. Do you know who it was that turned him in?”
Of course, Xander was unaware of this. At the time, he was still stationed at the frontier garrison,
Leonard was being deliberately vague, clearly trying to negotiate terms.
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