DRRS 02

 Chapter 02

짙은 어둠이 내려앉은 레샤닌 공작가.
A deep darkness had settled over the Leshanin Ducal House.

소리마저 삼켜 버린 어둠 한가운데에서 작은 불빛들이 움직였다.
In the silence where even sound seemed swallowed, small lights moved.

그 순간이었다.
At that moment—

스륵- 하고 작은 인기척이 들렸다.
A faint sound of movement slipped through the darkness.

“서둘러!”
“Hurry!”

At that voice, the lights quickly disappeared into the underground space, as if they had planned it.

After some time passed, the owner of the presence revealed herself.

A girl with crimson hair and pale pink eyes.

“이상하다. 분명 나 말고도 누군가 있는 것 같았는데…….”
“That’s strange. I was sure there was someone else besides me…”

Muttering to herself, she ran toward the main building.

It seemed she had something more urgent than finding the other presence.

After she disappeared, a much larger shadow flickered in the moonlight behind her.

“대체, 무슨 생각이신 건지…….”
“What on earth are you thinking…”

The shadow let out a sigh—half frustration, half disbelief.

And so, once again, that day approached the Leshanin household.

Though this time, there was an unexpected guest.

* * *

“……아가씨, 아가씨.”
“…Miss, Miss.”

A faint voice called Medeia.

“아가씨, 일어나 보세요.”
“Miss, please wake up.”

The voice came closer, gently shaking her.

Soon, her tightly shut eyes opened, revealing violet eyes like the night sky.

“아가씨.”
“Miss.”

“메릴.”
“Meryl.”

It was Meryl, Medeia’s personal maid.

Despite her whisper, her face was covered in sweat, as if she had run in a hurry.

“무슨 일이야?”
“What happened?”

Even though she already had an idea, Medeia asked—hoping it wasn’t that.

“……다시 시작됐어요.”
“…It has started again.”

There was no way it wouldn’t.

That thing was like an annual event in the Leshanin household.

Secret… and cruel.

It would only end when Medeia’s father, Duke Alec Leshanin, died.

Or perhaps if he abandoned his burning desires—though that was nearly impossible.

“아버지는?”
“Father?”

“아직 출타 중이세요. 새벽에 돌아오신다고 해요.”
“He’s still away. He’ll return at dawn.”

Meryl’s face showed pain, as if she could already see what would happen next.

“이번에는 어때?”
“How is it this time?”

“수가 더 많아요… 실패작이 많았다고 생각하신 것 같아요.”
“There are more… I think he believed there were too many failures before.”

A faint, bitter smile formed on Medeia’s lips.

This was a silent battle.

Between her father’s desire—and her efforts to save the victims.

How much she had interfered with his plans, she didn’t know.

But it was the only thing she could do after learning the truth.

Whether it was enough to atone… she wasn’t sure.

“가자.”
“Let’s go.”

Medeia put on her shawl.

Their destination—the underground prison.

* * *

A hidden passage behind the wall at the end of the first floor.

At the end of the endless stairs lay a sealed underground prison, filled with a foul smell.

Only a few in the ducal house knew of it.

The only light came from dim candles.

“누구냐!”
“Who’s there?!”

A loud voice echoed as the door opened.

“내가 못 올 곳이라도 왔나? 이곳의 주인이 내 아버지인데.”
“Did I come somewhere I shouldn’t? The owner of this place is my father.”

Medeia answered calmly.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

“아, 아가씨…!”
“Ah, Miss…!”

Mosquis approached slowly, forcing an awkward smile.

“오셨습니까, 아가씨.”
“You’ve come, Miss.”

Another man, Gabijus, greeted her first—glancing at Meryl behind her.

Meryl glared at him sharply.

Just as he was about to grin—

“그런데, 어쩐 일로 오셨는지요?”
“But what brings you here?”

“컥!”
“Ugh!”

Mosquis suddenly kicked him down.

Before Meryl could react, Gabijus hit the muddy floor.

“무슨 용건으로 오셨는지요, 아가씨?”
“What business do you have here, Miss?”

There was hostility in his tone.

Despite being her servant, Mosquis openly showed his resentment.

“내 수발을 들 아이를 데려가려고 왔어.”
“I came to take a child to serve me.”

“공작님이 계실 때 하셔도 될 텐데요.”
“You could do that when the Duke is here.”

“아버지는 날 사랑하시고 나는 하나뿐인 딸이야.”
“My father loves me. I’m his only daughter.”

“그런 내가 몇 명을 데려간다고 한들, 문제가 되나?”
“So if I take a few, is that really a problem?”

“허락은 필요합니다.”
“You still need his permission.”

“그 허락, 네가 직접 받으면 되겠네.”
“Then you can get that permission yourself.”

Mosquis mocked her lightly.

“네가 내 아버지의 대리인이라도 되나?”
“Are you acting as my father’s representative?”

Medeia stepped closer.

“아니면 공작 자리를 넘보는 건가?”
“Or are you aiming for the Duke’s position?”

His face stiffened.

“그럴 리가요… 저는 충실한 종입니다.”
“No… I am his loyal servant.”

“그럼 나에게도 복종해야지.”
“Then you should obey me as well.”

Mosquis immediately lowered himself, acting submissive.

“이 아이는 어떻습니까?”
“What about this one?”

“다른 아이로.”
“Another one.”

“이 아이는요?”
“This one?”

“다른 아이로.”
“Another one.”

After several rejections—

“이 아이로 하겠어.”
“I’ll take this one.”

It was a small, weak-looking child with sky-blue hair.

“이 아이로 하겠다고.”
“I said, this one.”

Medeia did not change her decision.

Before coming here, Meryl had said:

“그 아이는 하늘색 머리를 가졌어요… 공작님이 알기 전에 데려와야 해요.”
“That child has sky-blue hair… we must take them before the Duke finds out.”

“토미! 이 아이 꺼내!”
“Tommy! Take this one out!”

As Tommy approached—

Thud.

Something collapsed behind Medeia.

“아, 아가씨!”
“M-Miss!”

A child had fallen, hitting their head on the bars.

They lay unconscious on the ground.

“토미, 이 아이부터 꺼내.”
“Tommy, take this one out first.”

Tommy silently obeyed.

“이 아이는 어쩌려고?”
“What will you do with this one?”

It was unlike Medeia to care.

But the child’s faint breathing stirred something in her.

Mosquis laughed.

“첫 번째 실험체가 되는 거지요.”
“They’ll become the first test subject.”

“그게 저 아이에게도 좋은 일 아니겠습니까?”
“Isn’t that better for them anyway?”