Chapter 118
Feeling myself growing too aware of Johann’s gaze, I cleared my throat and subtly pulled away.
“Of course I look like a girl. I am one.”
I kept my tone as nonchalant as I could, but he leaned in again, closing the distance.
“I mean, I know that. We sleep together. You think I wouldn’t notice?”
“There’s this innocent thing called being cellmates, you know. Very wholesome.”
He’s just so blunt.
If I said everything I was thinking without filter, we’d be in real trouble.
I’m holding back for your sake. So you won’t get shocked and cry, Johann.
Suddenly, murmurs rippled through the prisoners around us, and I glanced up in confusion.
Then I understood why.
“And so, we wish to offer salvation to one inmate who faithfully attends service. As Bishop El’s ‘Specially Managed Devotee,’ they may take part in the sacramental rites and accompany him to the capital where the Central Sacred Order resides. Through his authority, a special pardon is also possible.”
One of the priests was explaining the incredible perks that came with becoming El’s lackey.
I could hear the excited chatter bubbled up among the surrounding inmates.
“That’s way better than getting picked as a Dark Priest, right?”
“Just getting to attend a lavish banquet with that handsome guy would be an honor, on top of a possible release?”
Interest in the “Specially Managed Devotee” status was high among both male and female inmates.
Enrique and Johann, however, didn’t seem all that interested.
Then suddenly, Johann lightly brushed his finger across the back of my hand.
Holding a strange silence, he leaned close to my ear and whispered low.
“If the Bishop tries to seduce you, are you gonna fall for it?”
“Nope. Unless he’s offering food, I’m not interested.”
He looked uncharacteristically serious as he added,
“Do you know his type?”
Wait, don’t tell me he’s planning to seduce him? You lunatic! Don’t sell your soul for a meal!
“You vile, heinous sinners, deserving of death. Your behavior during service will be evaluated. Those who sleep, like that inmate over there, or chatter, like those over here, should already be considered hopeless.”
The priest clasped his hands in prayer as he called out Enrique, who was sleeping in a picture-perfect Divine pose, and Johann, who was scheming to become the bishop’s concubine, and me, just watching it all, as examples of poor behavior.
“Already hopeless, huh.”
Johann, brimming with vague confidence moments earlier, sighed, fingers laced behind his head.
Standing tall, El smiled and pointed toward me.
“Number 49, your exemplary conduct was deeply impressive. You’ll receive a private audience after the service. As a reward, you’ll be given food.”
…What? Me? Why?
“Bishop, if you say that, then what does that make me?”
The priest who’d scolded me stared at El with a dejected face.
Rewarding me, who’d been clearly unbothered the entire time?
Other inmates were giving me looks so burning with jealousy and confusion that my cheeks practically stung.
“How’d you do it? Don’t tell me you fooled me completely.”
Even Johann was staring dead-serious now.
I didn’t want to be mistaken for a guy, so I scrambled for an excuse.
“I have no idea. Maybe he just doesn’t care about gender? It could just be a kink?”
“He has unusual tastes. Though, I’m pretty unusual myself.”
He looked like he was barely convinced.
The bizarre sermon wrapped up, and an inmate choir stepped up to sing hymns.
They usually skipped this part, but since the Bishop was here, they were pulling out all the stops.
Eliza, the only one thoroughly enjoying herself, was in the mix too, bobbing and swaying like she was at a musical. It seemed like she enjoyed singing and dancing.
A bubbly princess like her belonged in a lighthearted romance novel. How did she end up in this R-rated dystopian prison genre?
Her movements must’ve hyped up the other extroverts in the choir, because now they were all flailing their arms and legs along with her.
Oh, Leah’s there too. I guess they gathered all the extroverts in the prison.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted. Just watching them makes me feel like I used up a whole week’s worth of social stamina.”
I turned to look at El, sitting behind the choir with a bored expression on his face.
Noticing my stare, his violet eyes fixed on me.
His lips, slightly parted, began to move silently.
‘See you shortly.’
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