I looked down at the young Johann and whispered carefully.
“Johann. Wait just a little. I’ll be right back.”
It felt strangely complicated, like I was abandoning that small boy all alone. I slipped out of the prison and ran toward the place where the guards had gone.
‘I don’t know when this dream will end.’
Somehow, I had the feeling there might be a time limit. If I hesitated, I might wake up before doing anything.
“–Did you all see what I did just now? We guards need to stash away our own money like this. Who knows when the Libertan lot might come again. You need to keep the money, and make sure to keep records too. That way, there’ll be no trouble later.”
There was one room particularly loud with voices.
‘Found it! The head guard’s office!’
It was much larger and more luxuriously furnished than the guards’ lounge I had just passed. At the center sat a man in a grand chair, with the guards drinking around him, showering him with flattery.
“As expected of you, Chief! Even though you’re a noble, you look after us guards so well, even giving us such precious advice. Without you, we wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Ahem. I may have been born into the Baron Fenuella family, but I’m an imperial officer now. Of course I’m different from the other nobles.”
The smell of alcohol was overwhelming even as I entered—the result of a long drinking bout.
‘Thank you for wasting your duty hours like this.’
Of course, they couldn’t see me, but like young Johann earlier, they might feel some odd sense of discomfort. While they were absorbed in their drinking, I scanned the key rings dangling from their belts. But I hadn’t considered one problem.
‘Do I have to take all of them?’
The keys all looked similar, so I couldn’t tell which one fit Johann’s shackles. Then my eyes landed on a slightly different bundle at the chief guard’s side.
‘He was just talking about Libertan, wasn’t he?’
Since Johann was the heir of a traitor’s house, he would be guarded more strictly. There was no way an ordinary guard would hold his key. Pushing through the noisy men, I stood beside the chief and stealthily snatched the key ring from his side.
‘Success!’
Thankfully, I had just enough physical presence to grab it. Carefully holding the bundle, I tried to slip out—
“Hey, didn’t you hear something just now?”
A drunken guard right beside me hiccupped.
“Didn’t anyone else hear? I swear I heard something strange…”
My body tensed. I’d been careful, but couldn’t stop all sound. Then the chief waved his hand broadly and roared with laughter.
“What could possibly happen here? Stop imagining things and drink up!”
For once, I truly thanked that rotten man. Even if he’d taken Libertan’s bribes to abuse a child—
‘The fact that you’re such a corrupt bastard… really, thanks for that.’
The guards returned to drinking even more boisterously. Thanks to that, I slipped out with the chief’s keys.
“Johann. I’m back.”
The boy had fallen asleep while I was gone.
‘Makes sense. He must be exhausted.’
I rattled the keys and tried them on his leg irons. Luckily, the right one fit on the first try.
“I’ll get you free right now.”
Clang! Johann’s arms, suspended in the air, dropped free. The noise seemed extra loud in the otherwise empty cell block.
‘Ugh. The guards can’t hear this…’
Just then, Johann’s eyelids fluttered.
“…Is this a dream?”
He clenched and unclenched his freed hands, letting out a hollow laugh.
“A pathetic dream like this? I’ve finally gone mad.”
Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t believe it either. But the dark look on his face soon showed he realized it was real. As he frowned and glanced around, I hurried to the barred door.
“Why won’t this open?”
Clang, clang. The iron door rattled emptily but didn’t yield. I tried every key in the bundle, but none fit the cell door.
‘Do I need to go back again?’
But when I had checked earlier, there was no way to distinguish the cell key from the rest. My hands trembled with panic.
“…Of course.”
Johann ground his teeth, glaring at the locked door.
“What kind of sick joke is this. Now Libertan’s resorting to false hope?”
His voice brimmed with rage at himself for daring to hope. Hearing it made my chest ache.
“No. I’ll open it. I swear I will.”
“What are you talking about…?”
He looked around as if he’d heard me, but I was already outside, grabbing a stone to smash the lock. Crash! I struck the lock with all my might. It was so solid that each blow sent shocks up my arms, skin splitting, hands bleeding. Still, I didn’t stop.
“Please…”
I bit my lip and brought the stone down again. Then—KANG! Just as I thought my arm would break, the lock finally snapped. Screeeech—the heavy iron door opened. I collapsed, smiling in relief. Oddly enough, Johann seemed to be staring right at me, his face deadly serious.
“What… what are you?”
My head swam with dizziness.
‘Why am I so weak…?’
My hands were bloody from the stone. And worse, my limbs were becoming transparent.
‘So the dream is ending.’
In the original story, Johann faked his death and escaped. So whatever I did here was just for my own satisfaction. Still, the pride was undeniable.
Johann staggered up, stepping toward me.
“Who are you? Suddenly appearing like this…”
“Thank goodness.”
At least he could move.
“Now you can escape, right?”
“…”
“This might not help much, but it’s better than nothing.”
“…”
“If the timing isn’t right, hide it until later. Use it when you run.”
My mouth was so dry I could barely speak. Trembling, I pressed the keys into his hand.
“Did I mess up? Breaking the door—did that just make things worse? Will you be caught because of me…?”
Johann just stared at me in shock, speechless.
“If I got in the way, I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.”
Even through exhaustion, I forced a bright smile.
“This isn’t false hope. It’s a chance. You’ve endured so much—take this opportunity and make the most of it.”
“…”
“Even after you escape, you’ll manage. You’ll grow into someone great, and you’ll have your revenge on those who hurt you.”
“…Why.”
Johann bit his lip.
“Why are you helping me?”
Good question. Why was I doing this?
‘Even in the future, I stayed beside him when he lost control.’
Even when it wasn’t for my survival. Honestly, I didn’t know why. I should be telling him not to seek revenge, but—
‘The words won’t come.’
Revenge was the very thing keeping him alive.
‘It’s his only purpose.’
I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to give it up. So instead, I forced a weak smile.
“I just… learned a bit about you.”
“…”
“So I couldn’t ignore it. I know how much you’re suffering.”
Johann reached out, trying to grab my wounded hand. But my body was nearly transparent now, and his hand passed through empty air. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Fine.” Then he pulled me into a fierce hug, clinging to my fading shoulder. For a moment, it felt like the embrace of the grown man he would become.
“Then tell me who you are.”
“I’m…”
The warmth holding me was fading fast. I could feel the dream ending. I patted his back softly.
“I’m the one who’ll be your wife in the future.”
Blink. Blink.
‘So stifling.’
The suffocating feeling came from Johann’s arms—he was holding me tightly.
‘Just like in the dream.’
It made me laugh a little. And unlike in the dream, the wounds were gone.
‘So it really was just a dream.’
Still, there was no emptiness in my chest—only a quiet sense of accomplishment. Stroking Johann’s broad back, I checked his condition. To my surprise, the black marks on his body had vanished.
‘His rampage… it stopped?’
But his body was burning hot, dangerously so. Maybe it hadn’t subsided after all.
‘His fever’s too high. I need to cool him down.’
I tried to move, but his grip tightened, a beastly growl rumbling in his throat. I froze—but the words he spoke were nothing I expected.
“Don’t go…”
Maybe that’s why he had endured his rampage alone—because he couldn’t show weakness to anyone.
I stayed in his arms, pretending I was just hugging a pile of blankets. Gradually, his growls faded. If I waited a little longer, I could slip free.
While wiping the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead—knock, knock.
“My lady. Are you alright? I heard strange noises inside.”
It was Betty’s voice from outside. If she came in, she’d see Johann like this.
‘I promised Johann I’d hide it.’
Carefully, I slipped out of his arms and cracked the door open. Betty’s face turned pale at the sight of me.
“M-My lady, you look terrible! You are ill, aren’t you? We must get a doctor at once—”
“No. I’m fine. But I need you to do something.”
“What is it?”
“Bring me cold towels, an ice pack, and some porridge. Secretly. And don’t let anyone inside until I call for you.”
“…Pardon?”
Betty’s eyes widened at my strange request. I winked.
“I just want a little time alone.”
“….”
“You can tell the others whatever you like—say I’m sensitive and they’ll be punished if they intrude.”
Betty’s eyes welled up, and she burst into tears.
“M-My lady… why do you always bear everything alone?”
Huh? What was she thinking?
And then—
“What exactly are you hiding?”
Erich’s familiar voice cut in as he strode closer.
