A Wise Life in Captivity with the Mad Duke - Chapter 13

Number 187’s eyes were dark and murky like a deep abyss, yet the focus within them was crystal clear.

She didn’t seem drugged or delusional.

“When I heard the announcement about Number 84 escaping at dawn, I hoped he’d make it out safely. I hoped he’d swim if he had to, anything to escape this island, even if it meant dying trying. Anywhere out there would be better than this hell.”

Tears welled up in Number 187’s eyes, resentment surging within them, though I couldn’t tell who it was directed at.

“Number 84 went mad faster precisely because he wasn’t insane. He knew it himself. That’s why he thought escaping was the only answer. People die or disappear every day here, so how can anyone stay sane through that?”

Because he wasn’t insane, he went mad. Those words pressed heavily against my chest.

“This place is inhuman. It’s better to die than to keep crawling through life here. One day, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.”

My grip on her wrist loosened slowly. Hearing her speak so resolutely, I couldn’t bring myself to beg someone I didn’t even know not to die.

‘But if I walk away now….’

I could already see how this would end after I left. And yet, I couldn’t take a step. After all, she was still alive in front of me.

Unable to just leave her like this, I blurted out whatever words came to mind in hopes of changing her mind.

“I can tell you thought a lot before deciding this, but… can’t you hold on a little longer? Maybe someday you’ll have a moment where you’re glad you survived. Maybe one day, the truth about this place will get out, and the people unfairly trapped here will be freed….”

Number 187 listened quietly, then gave a faint smile and shook her head. “Unfortunately, miracles like that don’t happen so easily. Don’t you see? You and I are both still here.”

Tears hanging on her lashes, she turned her back to me, her voice firm.

“Please, go. I don’t want my last moment to haunt you as a terrible memory.”

Realizing I couldn’t persuade her any further, I quickly left the rooftop. It seemed wiser to find someone else who could intervene.

Just then, a caregiver was heading back to his quarters after finishing his meal. I rushed toward him and explained everything in a hurry.

“Caregiver! I just saw a woman heading up to the rooftop. Isn’t that dangerous if she’s left alone?”

The caregiver, busy picking something from between his teeth, asked indifferently, “What’s her patient number?”

“187.”

“Got it. Go back to your room.”

He waved his hand dismissively and walked straight toward the staff lounge instead.

‘What the hell? Why isn’t he going to the rooftop when time’s running out?’

Unable to do anything and feeling helpless, I paced nervously in place. Then, suddenly, a familiar announcement rang out nearby.

[Cotton candy. Number 187. Rooftop.]

‘What the hell. Announcing it like that is basically pushing her to jump.’

Still, hoping the announcement might stop her, I looked outside through the hallway window.

The caregivers who’d finished eating began gathering one by one in the courtyard below, but that was it.

None of them made any move to go upstairs. They just stood there, looking up at the rooftop, as if waiting for Number 187 to fall.

‘God, how disgusting.’

Disgusted, I turned away from the sight. Just then, the sound of rapid footsteps thundered behind me.

When I looked back, I saw a brown-haired caregiver sprinting toward the rooftop, his face pale.

‘So there are still some decent ones left after all.’

But almost as soon as he disappeared from view, noise erupted outside.

Through the screams of panicked patients, I could see the caregivers rushing frantically toward one spot.

‘…She really jumped.’

I couldn’t shake the heaviness in my chest. My hand trembled as I brushed my cheek. The helplessness of knowing and yet failing to stop her consumed my entire body.

Before long, the brown-haired caregiver stumbled down the stairs, sighing deeply before leaning against the wall and sinking to the floor.

He looked to be in his late twenties. His features were soft and gentle, the kind of face that carried a quiet kindness. But perhaps because of what had just happened, his eyes were hollow, half-blank, like the light inside him had gone out.

‘He must feel the same way I do.’

When I looked at him, feeling a strange sense of kinship, he suddenly turned toward me, as if sensing my gaze, his unfocused eyes meeting mine.

Startled, I quickly looked away and hurried out of the hallway. I was suddenly afraid that those vacant eyes might hold resentment toward me.

That night, I tossed and turned endlessly with my eyes shut. My body was exhausted, but my mind was painfully alert, my head throbbing.

‘Stop thinking about it….’

I thought I’d moved on, but without realizing it, my mind kept drifting back to Number 187.

Those eyes filled with relief at the thought of freedom, even as she stood before the edge of death… they wouldn’t leave my mind, tormenting me through the night.

“…How many has it been now?”

I muttered with a sigh, pressing my arm against my forehead. Just counting the deaths I’d personally witnessed, there were already three.

‘If I add the countless emergency broadcasts and the deaths I don’t know about, it’s probably far more than I can imagine.’

They called this place a ward, but there was no will here to actually treat the patients’ minds. They took money for admission, but after that, they didn’t care what happened to the patients. It was a system that treated people like caged animals.

The more I learned about the truth of this place, the more impatient I became to escape.

But the most difficult part was having to hide that growing desperation.

If they saw even a hint of rebellion, if they caught me trying to look for a way out, I’d draw the caregivers’ unwanted attention and affection all at once.

I couldn’t sleep at all that night. Just as I was turning over again and again in frustration, I heard the faint click of a lock being undone.

A cold draft swept through the room.

‘…Did the door just open?’

I could sense someone’s presence not far from the bed. I didn’t move. I stayed still and pretended to be asleep.

‘Who would come here at this hour? Eden?’

But Eden had no reason to come to my room at this hour, and he was the type who always knocked to announce his presence whenever he came.

‘Then who the hell is in my room right now?’

While I tried to figure out who it could be, the sound of quiet footsteps drew closer, one by one.

Feeling the rising tension, I listened carefully. When the person was right beside my bed, I threw the blanket off in one swift motion.

“…!”

The person froze, clutching the blanket in shock. Seizing the moment, I quickly looked over his appearance.

Stiff, bright yellow hair. Narrow eyes and a deep wrinkle between his brows.

‘Eric Duris?’

My face twisted as I stared at him. Of all people, I hadn’t expected him.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

At my sharp question, Duris, who’d been crouching awkwardly, brushed off his hands and sneered like it was nothing.

“I thought you might’ve pulled a stunt to make it look like you were still here and tried to escape. I’ve got terrible night vision, you see.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t take it so seriously. It’s all part of the job, after all.”

Duris, who shamelessly replied as if nothing was wrong, muttered that he’d checked enough and quickly left the room.

I sat there for a while, stunned, then burst into a dry laugh and pulled the blanket closer to me.

“What kind of bastard does that?”

After that, I couldn’t fall asleep until dawn. The thought that Duris might come back kept my nerves on edge the whole night.

‘Seriously, what’s with that guy?’

I still couldn’t figure it out. Was he really just checking whether someone was in the room, like he said? If that were true, he wouldn’t have needed to move so quietly, hiding his footsteps like that.

‘Ugh. Even my appetite’s gone.’

Trying to shake off the lingering discomfort, I grabbed some chewy candy and headed to the lounge.

I planned to quietly snack while looking out the window, but for some reason, the lounge was crowded that morning. Maybe a lot of people had skipped breakfast.

Among the noise, one table in particular caught my attention. Voices there were sharp, filled with anger. From what I could hear, something serious had happened in the ward.

‘Bad timing. I should come back later.’

It felt like I’d get dragged into something annoying if I stayed, so I turned around to leave.

But then, a familiar voice stopped me.

“Noona! Where are you going!”

When I turned around, Joel was in the middle of that noisy table, waving his hand high.

‘…Ha. Of course you’re there.’

Well, he was always quick to catch news. Since I’d been spotted anyway, I decided I might as well find out what was going on.

Reluctantly, I joined the group, standing near them. Sitting at the same table felt too much, so I took the seat right behind them and started chewing my candy.

“So…?”

The people who’d paused their conversation picked it up again.

“Duris snuck into your room at dawn, and what did he do to you?”

Huh? They were talking about Duris?

My curiosity spiked instantly. I leaned in, listening carefully.

At the center of everyone’s gaze was a young woman, sniffling as she rubbed at her reddened eyes.

“He harassed you? Did he hurt you?”

The young woman couldn’t speak, so a middle-aged woman beside her gently patted her shoulder and asked.

The younger one shook her head, swallowed her sobs, and finally spoke.

“I woke up because something felt strange… and when I opened my eyes, the caregiver had his lips pressed against mine. When I kicked him and screamed, he told me to shut up….”