Chapter 156
So his plan was to seduce Kido, hand over the heirloom to the Order, and pocket all that vast fortune for himself?
With her face buried in his chest, Viviana bit her lip and suppressed her fury.
“I did find a lead on Kido’s weakness.”
“What is it?”
“But first, why is the Mare’s Heirloom so important to Kido?”
She needed to find out what weapon Enoch was holding first.
Enoch fell silent for a moment, patting Viviana’s back, then ultimately shook his head.
“I don’t actually know the details. But seeing as she paid off the entire Mare family debt for it, there must be something. I was planning to bluff and trick her.”
In truth, Enoch’s goal had been to reconcile with Kido under the excuse that he’d been enchanted by Viviana’s ability, then dangle the possibility of a special pardon if she handed the Mare’s Heirloom over to the Order.
Viviana, likewise, kept quiet about Kido seemingly caring about Number 48, Eliza.
“I’m not completely sure yet that it’s really Kido’s weakness, so let me test it first and I’ll tell you.”
Achievement. Conquest. Rage. Greed. The relief of inferiority.
What these two called “love” was nothing but all of those wrapped up in a pretty package.
A relationship bonded only by the fulfillment of desire was inherently fragile.
The loose cord was unraveling, and the wrapping paper of disguised desire was beginning to peel away.
***
Unlike Kido, who had recruited a small number of high-ranking prisoners, Viviana began winning over the lower-ranked prisoners, which were more numerous and far easier to sway.
The lower-ranked prisoners believed Viviana enjoyed Bishop El’s trust and favor.
The candies and chocolates she generously bestowed were more precious than jewels, and served as the proof.
‘Number 49 ignores all of you in your dire straits while hoarding special treatment for herself. She was the sole survivor when the rest of the 40s group was massacred. How does a person do that?’
The 40s prisoners were the very lowest rung, and so they deeply resonated with her words.
To them, Viviana’s adultery and selling out of a fellow nobles was far less repulsive than Kido, who acted all high and mighty while being the weakest, lowest-ranked prisoner with no abilities to speak of.
If they just followed Viviana’s lead, they wouldn’t have to fear the upper-ranked prisoners in Kido’s circle anymore.
After all, the Order’s bishop was essentially the emperor within these prison walls, as he held the highest power there.
‘And yet… Number 48 bends over backward trying to get in Number 49’s good graces. She doesn’t spare a single thought for the rest of you, her own cellmates.’
The first thing the 40s prisoners did was they became a walled-off faction, and their goal was to ostracize and bully Number 48, Eliza, who was close to Kido.
Eliza, already looked down upon as the lowest of the low, now faced an even more miserable existence.
“Walking around all smiles, sucking up to the top-ranked prisoners. Try doing that for us! Don’t look down on us just because you’ve got some backing!”
In a dingy corner behind the cafeteria, Eliza stood with her head bowed before the hostile faces of the 40s prisoners.
“I see there’s been a misunderstanding. Since we’re roommates, I’ll make more of an effort.”
“Who’s your roommate? This is exactly what we mean by looking down on us.”
One prisoner grabbed a fistful of Eliza’s golden hair and cackled.
“My, even in a place like this, her hair’s gorgeous. Even among blondes, this is something special, like threads of gold, so luxurious.”
These were things they’d wanted to do all along but couldn’t, fearing the upper-ranked prisoners who were close to her, Clara included.
But this was an order from Viviana, who had the bishop as her backer.
“Your hair is so pretty I’m jealous. You can share, right? It’ll grow back anyway.”
“What? No—stop it!”
“They say a true beauty is still pretty with a shaved head. Let’s find out.”
Eliza recoiled in terror at the sight of the prisoner brandishing rusty scissors with a sneer.
“Don’t!”
The prisoners wanted to strip her of that bright, sunny smile to make Eliza’s despair their amusement and their joke.
Just as she was struggling fiercely, one of them pointed somewhere.
“Oh look, there goes Number 49. Why don’t you ask her for help? Think she gives a damn about someone as low-ranked as you? Looks to me like she can’t even stand talking to you.”
Kido, pale-faced and staggering as if something was wrong, turned her red eyes toward Eliza.
Snip—
One prisoner seized the moment Eliza froze and cut.
Lustrous, long lemon-blonde hair cascaded to the floor in waves.
Kido watched the scene, her face expressionless.
[Current Karma: 88%] ⚠ Status Effect (High-Risk Stage): Critical physical deterioration and pain, hourly life force depletion, onset of madness and maximum aggression ⚠ Rampage precursor begins at 90% karma.
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