I was in a total daze while numerous knights dragged me to the jail. Some were eyeing me with mockery, and some were nonchalant about it. But I don't care about what they were thinking. I still can't fully understand what is happening.
Why am I branded as a criminal? What the hell did I do?
I traced back what I did ever since I entered this world. And I couldn't think of any reason why these people would capture me. As far as I remember, the only sin that I made was stealing some food for the princess. But the royal family won't be pathetic enough to gloss over that.
I stared at the knights that were guarding the prison. I need to learn the answer from them. If not, then I'd turn crazy overthinking of the reason why I am imprisoned.
"Such a waste of your beauty. If only you hadn't messed up, then I might've taken you as a wife." A knight ogled while staring at me.
It was disgusting, but all I could do was glare at him.
"Comrade, you're seriously planning to lay on this bitch? Are you sure about that?" another knight taunted, and I felt a pang in my femininity.
"Just be careful, comrade. She might poison you during your meals," another knight added before glancing at me with eyes filled with contempt.
Just what the hell did I do to you? Did I kill your family to earn such ridiculous contempt?
As far as I remember, I am innocent! So why am I here?
Damn. I need answers. I don't care if they ridicule me, insult me, or whatever, but I want to know the reasons for their actions.
"Hey!" I called the attention of those knights. At first, they ignored me blatantly. That made me grit my teeth. "Hey! You dickheads!" I called again, but it was to no avail. They were pretending to be busy over something.
Damn it.
What the hell should I do? I'm confused, annoyed, frustrated, and afraid at the same time. I'm confused why they suddenly dragged me into this hellhole. I'm annoyed since those knights weren't cooperating. But what am I expecting? They're used to encountering different types of criminals, so they know what to do. And these tantrums of mine were just child's play to them. Much to my annoyance.
Aside from that, I am incredibly frustrated because I couldn't do anything. I am shackled by these heavy chains that I couldn't even reach the iron bars. And I'm afraid that it'd be my last day in this world.
I breathe heavily, and I can feel that my heart is in turmoil. I am so helpless about my situation, and my mental health is not helping at all.
I am becoming anxious every single minute. That's why I couldn't help but curse my fate. Why am I so unlucky?
Is it the payment for all the headache that I caused to my older sister? If so, then I won't retaliate.
"That illegitimate child was so unlucky. To think she'd been poisoned by her trusted maid," a knight mentioned, and I snapped back to reality.
I blinked profusely when I heard that. Racia was poisoned? But who?
Then, realization dawned on me.
Someone framed me for poisoning the princess! But who is it?
Is it the crown prince? But why me? There are too many other maids that are working in Racia's palace. Is it because everyone was actually serving him and spying on Racia? And since they can't touch Dria, they framed me instead. Coincidentally, I am not present in my room during that tragedy.
But what about the vial? Isn't it the same vial that the Duke gave me? Did the Duke betray the princess and frame me for her death? Is it also the reason why he told me a family secret? Since he knew that I'm going to die anyway?
But before he left, he warned me not to trust the princess. Does that mean the princess...? But she doesn't have a motive, and she's not dumb enough to sacrifice her life to frame a mere maid like me. It won't benefit her.
Argh!! I can't think straight, and I can't fully grasp the situation.
I'm just a mere college student! Don't involve me with your twisted games! I never learned something like schemes! If you're going to include me in your games, then at least play fair. You should've included the things that I know.
I'd rather solve mathematical problems than deal with this.
It made me want to cry. Can I just return to my world now?
Hmm, Miss Cat?
I know you're watching.
Please help this stupid writer.
Can you please stop the time or something?
A second passed. Silence...
A minute passed. No response...
An hour passed. Nothing happened.
I sighed exasperatedly.
I leaned against the well and slowly accepted my fate. I no longer hope that a miracle might happen.
"What? The higher-ups were debating who's the mastermind. Isn't it this maid here?" the knight exclaimed, catching my attention. They seemed to be talking about something important, and my instincts are telling me that it's related to me.
"Indeed. That's because the poison was proven to be expensive. And they're certain that this newbie maid can't afford such poison," the knight who just arrived confirmed.
I saw hope in that. Does that mean I'd be freed in just a matter of time? Once they've proven that I am innocent in this matter.
"Then that maid might've loaned to buy that poison," a knight added.
I grimaced at that. I just arrived in this world, and I'm still struggling to understand this world, so why am I going to loan money? And to whom in the first place?
"That's what they speculated at first. But their investigations proved them wrong. That maid hasn't loaned or pawned anything."
I sighed out of relief. Good. Very good. They should've known that I don't have any money to buy poison and I am just framed. And the suspect in my mind is the duke! There's no other person that has a motive to end my life!
Just allow me to defend myself! I'll prove to them that I'm innocent!
"So, what's their next action?" the knight inquired. Good question.
"Well, they just dismissed the case and stated that even Princess Carina's case was still left unsolved, so why would they care for that illegitimate child? As long as there's someone to take the blame, then that's enough. That's what I heard from the higher-ups." The guy shrugged, and I was enraged. I stood up and ran towards the iron bars to defend myself. But I'm restricted by the iron chains, so all I could do was curse in my head.
Dismiss?
DISMISS?
They'll just fucking dismiss this case just because of the princess's standing in the royal family and I'm just a fucking lowly maid? So it doesn't matter who the real culprit is?
Damn it!
There's no way I'll silently accept their decision!
"Hey! Let me out! I'm innocent! I'll explain why I was not in my room that night, so hear me out!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
But no one listened. The knights just exchange a glance with each other and proceed with ignoring me.
Darn it.
I panicked, and I started walking back and forth inside the jail while biting my nails.
So what should I do? There's no escape for me.
But I'm innocent! A tiny voice screamed from my head.
Unfortunately, no one was willing to believe that.
I'm powerless against those nobles and royalties.
The person that I could rely on is not responding. I don't know if she's shutting me down or if she left me here alone. Maybe she felt that I'm already hopeless no matter how many times she rewinds the time, so she just left and started looking for an excellent person who'd change this world's destiny.
The other person that I'm hoping will save me is gone. Because she's dead. And I am here, imprisoned for allegedly killing her.
While the last person that I wished to save me was a hopeless case. He might've been the one who manipulated us and framed me for his crimes.
Damn. I'll definitely tear off his handsome face once I see that guy. I knew he was danger itself from the very beginning. He even pointed a sword at me! So why the hell did I trust a person like him? Am I really that shallow? That dumb to trust a random person in this dangerous world just because they're the main character?
"Hah! How foolish of me..." I muttered, but it trailed off when I heard the knights panicking.
But I ignored them. It's not my problem, so why should I care? They didn't even care to listen to me earlier.
When that commotion ended, I could see that the knights were lying on the floor. And my eyes shifted on the reason for that.
There, a guy who looks familiar, but I don't know where I saw him, was walking in my direction. He had brown hair and green eyes.
I was alerted. Who is he, and what is he planning? Is he going to end my life?
In just a split second, he was already in front of me, and before I could prepare a defensive stance, everything went black as my consciousness faded.