Empty plain.
In the center of the barren island, there stands only a prison building named 'Abyssinian'.
"Alright, off we go... before we know it!"
Ryan, who was about to head to the camp, turned around.
Some children were brought along on the journey that spanned well over fifteen days—a week by carriage to board the ship, and then ten days by ship.
They were his nephews.
Third sister Diana's children.
The eldest son, thirteen years old. The second son, twelve years old, and finally, the youngest daughter, ten years old.
They all had aspects that resembled my sister's face. Ryan, who had been watching them with a strange expression, said.
"We have to walk diligently from now on, so follow me closely."
***
Abyssinian Island.
We hadn't even had our wedding ceremony or gone on our honeymoon yet because we were dealing with the aftermath of the Wassenberg affair, but unexpectedly, I had to embark on a long journey of over fifteen days with my husband.
And it was a journey with a destination that was a notorious prison for criminals!
"It's not Dad, but my brother must have arrived, right?"
"They must have done it a while ago. Judging by the time, two days ago."
I set out in December, but when I arrived, the year had passed, and it was January, and the weather had become much harsher.
"So this is what the place looked like."
Nike, who had tightly fastened my white fur cloak, looked around the island and muttered.
“Hey~~”
I tugged at the bell on the cape. Nike, who liked the sight, smiled.
"Cute."
"My pampered prince, you have never been to a place like this before, have you? I am not following you!"
Nike was dumbfounded when I spoke like a stagnant old man in a concentration camp.
"Were you a prisoner?"
"I wasn't a prisoner, but I have been here before. Just follow me, and I'll make sure you don't get lost!"
"They are just one building, so why would you get lost...?"
"Let's hurry! To find my little rascal! Time is of the essence!"
Duke Ryan Belzer, who kidnapped his young nephews and brought them to this island.
Nike and I talked a lot on the way here and kept trying to guess his intentions.
As a result, a rough conclusion was reached.
Ryan probably brought his nephews to use them as 'hostages'.
Since he was not someone who would threaten the safety of the hostages even if the negotiations broke down, we were much more relieved than when we had just set off.
"The wall isn't that high."
The prison, 'Abyssinian', was reached by walking straight down the only road.
Nike looked at the building, which did not seem to have very good security, and worried.
"You can't escape here unless you're a fish anyway, so what?"
An island surrounded by the sea on all sides. Since escaping was impossible even after leaving the camp, the walls of the building itself were not very high.
Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't a gatekeeper.
“Who are you?”
“Please identify yourself.”
Two guards standing at the firmly closed entrance of the camp blocked our way.
"Did Duke Ryan Belzer visit?"
When Nike asked, the two guards exchanged glances and tilted their heads.
They seemed unaware, and it looked like there was absolutely no communication.
I expected it.
I heard that this place, Abyssinian, has no system whatsoever.
"We came knowing about the visit. We have come to meet him, so open the door."
Nike showed her identity card.
A dazzling, flashy red 'royal' status badge that no one would be unfamiliar with if shown.
"I, I greet Your Highness the Prince!"
"I greet Your Highness the Prince!"
The two guards bowed in surprise.
"Door."
Nike, in a hurry, gestured toward the entrance as if to say to skip the greeting, but the guards shook their heads for some reason.
One person said.
"Did you not bring a separate escort? If so, we cannot open it."
Huh? Why such a firm refusal in front of the royal family?
While I was dumbfounded, the guard bowed his head again.
"I apologize. This is for the safety of Your Royal Highness. Please visit again accompanied by an escort of at least thirty elite troops."
Wow! Is there a war or something?
Are you going to bring thirty people back in a swarm?
It was absurd, but...
'I think I know the reason.'
I have been here, but I only met Ryan outside after he was released from prison.
I do not know what kind of world lies inside the gates of this camp.
But you can guess.
Because I’ve heard it from Revan until I’m sick of it.
"That place is... hell."
In 'Abyssinian', those who have committed crimes against humanity that are too heinous to even speak of are gathered.
All prisoners are in prison for life.
Unless there is a special reason, they are the ones who can only leave this place as corpses after dying.
Strictly speaking, Ryan and Rivan were 'death row inmates,' but they were special inmates whose minor status was taken into consideration...
"Beyond this door is a lawless zone."
Said the guard.
Yeah, I thought so.
Prisons are everywhere on the mainland, so what could be the reason for isolating them on this island?
Abyssinian is a prison, but it is not a correctional facility for the rehabilitation of criminals.
The cage of beasts wearing a human daughter.
They simply kept him locked up so that he wouldn't commit a bigger crime if released outside.
"It is a place where even guards die at a rate of one every fifteen days."
"So you're saying that an unfortunate incident can happen regardless of whether we are royalty or not?"
When I asked, the guard nodded.
"But it's okay. Hold on for a moment."
I extended my hand to him as if to shake hands. The guard instinctively grabbed my hand.
"I have superpowers."
<Mirror Eye - Divine Punishment>
A small electric shock, equivalent to static electricity, flowed into their touching hands. The guard was startled.
'Thank you, David.'
Divine Punishment, a supernatural ability I never thought I would obtain, but my eldest brother insisted on finding me and gifting it to me before he died.
Oh my, brotherly love is touching all over again...
"Have you ever heard of a superpowered person who can scatter lightning even from a clear sky? Whatever is inside there, if they dare to challenge me, they'll all get struck by lightning and die, so don't worry and just open the door. There's no time."
Of course, a Level 1 divine punishment cannot unleash lightning. But would a gatekeeper on a remote island know that fact?
The two guards hesitated for a moment and eventually opened the door.
It seemed they had made the obvious judgment that if they continued to stand in the way, their heads could be split open.
"It looks like it's not just ordinary danger."
Nike looked back at me worriedly.
“...Do you want to stay outside?”
"I'm probably stronger than you, honey."
“That’s right.”
Nike, who quickly agreed, grabbed my hand tightly and followed behind the guards.
As the main gate of the camp opened, a wide open space appeared. Dozens of prisoners with dangerous eyes glanced at us as they shoveled away the thickly piled snow.
I walked, clinging tightly to Nike's side.
The main building of the camp, which we finally arrived at.
As we entered the quiet building, we immediately saw a guard, and a bodyguard quietly whispered to him, as if explaining our situation.
'I greet Your Royal Highnesses."
The guard greeted us.
"Duke Belzer is visiting. I heard he has come to see the new prisoners who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon."
"Did young children come along by any chance?"
“Yes, that’s right.”
When Nike asked, the jailer nodded.
“Where are they now?”
"..."
The guard scratched his head for a moment.
"Well, if you use it before, he is staying in a prison cell, but..."
He slept in prison?
"Since he is not a prisoner, we do not monitor him separately, so we do not know where he is right now. Is he in the fitness room?"
...? Do you exercise?
"Or maybe not. I wonder if he went to a restaurant to eat."
Does he share a restaurant with criminals too?
"Oh wait. Since he said he didn't like the menu today, he might have just made do with a snack."
Even complaining about side dishes?
Did he come back to his hometown?!
"For now, please go to the 3rd floor of Cell No. 2 in the main building. The room number is [922851]."
“You need to guide me.”
“Huh? Me?”
The guard flinched in surprise at my words.
"I'm a new employee. I'm currently in charge of the entrance."
"What are you talking about? Then you don't know the location of the prison cell?"
“I know.”
"If you know, guide us. We don't know where anything is."
“Me?”
Why am I having such a stupid conversation?
When I looked bewildered, the guard let out a deep sigh and nodded.
"Yes, yes. Then... sigh."
For some reason, he led us with a nervous expression.
After passing through a long corridor, I moved to the 2nd cell building, and when I came across stairs and went up one floor.
Quang!
“Surprise!”
Something covered in blood popped out from the corner of the hallway and got stuck in the corner.
Upon closer inspection, he was wearing a prison guard uniform.
Yes, he was a jailer.
A guard who was severely beaten.
"It is a place where even the guards die at a rate of one every fifteen days."
The guard's words were not a lie.
I understand why the new employee in charge of the entrance was reluctant to give directions.
"Whoa... this is driving me crazy."
A huge man came out of the hidden corner.
He looked about 2 meters tall, had a closely shaved head covered in scars, and a truly menacing appearance.
A group of other guys swarmed out behind the bald guy who looked like he had assaulted the guard.
The number easily exceeded ten.
"You, what are you guys!"
The new guard shouted, trembling in his legs.
Then everyone turned to look at us.
Silence.
"Oh, everyone, quietly go back to your rooms! They are members of the Royal Family visiting for a specific reason! Don't make a fuss!"
“Gasp! Imperial family?”
"Really?"
"This is the first time I've seen royalty."
"Has anyone seen it?"
I thought they wouldn't care about royalty or whatever, but surprisingly, the prisoners were flustered...
“But what?”
"Looks like you came here because you wanted to be a pig!"
...You didn't do it.
Nike immediately sent me behind and drew his sword. He was surprised.
"So this is what the place was like."
It's surprising.
Literally a lawless zone.
Perhaps because they could only leave this place after death anyway, they were living as if there were no tomorrow.
“Do you think they’ll attack us?”
"You can't kill him, can you?"
I had a quiet conversation with Nike.
"I'll just keep his feet tied down for a bit. We'll quietly just look for him..."
"Brother! It's a woman. A woman!"
Just then, one of the prisoners narrowed his eyes, scrutinized me closely, and became agitated.
"Whoa! And she's even a total beauty!
"Woman! Woman! Woman!"
"Hey! How many years has it been since I last saw a woman?!"
Wow.
They are scary.
Those turned-away eyes.
"...I'm just going to kill him."
The moment Nike muttered...
“Vania...?”
A familiar voice came from behind me. I turned around quickly.
It's Ryan!
He was picking his teeth, as if he had just eaten something hearty, and was shocked as soon as he saw my face.
"What the hell?!!! You. You, why are you here... No. Why did you come in here, here! Are you out of your mind?"
"Right. You lion! I came looking for you...!"
"Brother!!"
"Brother!!"
"Brother!!"
Just then, a thunderous shout came from behind me.
I was startled and turned around again.
The scene unfolding before me was bewildering.
All the rampaging prisoners were standing perfectly straight in rows and columns, bowing their heads in unison toward me.
The bald guy shouted.
"Did you enjoy your meal!!!"
Did I enjoy the meal?
He couldn't be asking me.
"Hey, don't lift your heads until brother gives permission! Everyone, bow your heads!!!"
As the guys next to me tried to lift their heads, the bald guy angrily pressed them down.
"We are sorry, Brother!!!"
"Brother!!"
"Brother!!"
And then he shouted loudly again.
Nike and I exchanged glances and swallowed hard.
And then, I turned my head and looked at Ryan.
The prisoners' older brother.
King of criminals.
Ryan.
"..."
"..."
"..."
A spine-chilling silence.
Ryan, knowing it was embarrassing, averted his gaze slightly and just rubbed his innocent neck vigorously.
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