I have also seen interpretations that this was a good chance to die a martyr rather than just wither away. Confessing that he did something wrong would have been way more tougher for him to swallow than any amount of physical discomfort (arguably up to including fatal poisoning). These are the same kind of people that just say “Don’t mess my circles” when threatened with lethal violence by conquerer.
I have also seen interpretations that this was a good chance to die a martyr rather than just wither away. Confessing that he did something wrong would have been way more tougher for him to swallow than any amount of physical discomfort (arguably up to including fatal poisoning). These are the same kind of people that just say “Don’t mess my circles” when threatened with lethal violence by conquerer.