DRRS 16

 Chapter 16

The day of Medeia’s appointment with Lyla was now just two days away.

It meant that Alec Leshanin would soon complete the drug that could bend rebellious nobles to his will and resume testing it on innocent people.

In other words, either today or tomorrow, Alec Leshanin would restart his merciless experiments.

And to conceal the truth, he would sell those who had become test subjects through the Pribel Port to foreign nobles.

“You know, last time you messed everything up because of a single rat, don’t you?”

Medeia recalled her father’s words, spoken with his maniacal purple eyes.

The “rat” he referred to was likely her.

That moment was also when she realized where those she had failed to save had been sent.

Brutal, greedy foreign nobles.

They had bound the test subjects beneath their feet on the promise that if Alec Leshanin succeeded in his rebellion, they would support him.

From here in Reneaer, not a single word had reached her about the fate of those who had been captured.

So, when she finally discovered their destination, Medeia had boldly attacked the ship that was about to set sail with those escaping abroad.

Though she had only been partially successful and saved some, the Mosquis who boarded the ship later found it empty, and for months she could not even see Alec Leshanin’s face.

“This time, I will succeed.”

Recalling the faces of those she had failed to rescue, Medeia clenched her fists.

But first, she needed to mix the antidote into her father’s drug.

Last time, she had been too late. Those who drank the drug without the antidote had stubbornly refused to escape, having already accepted Alec Leshanin’s commands as absolute truth.

Yet, as if anticipating Medeia’s plan, Mosquis appeared wherever she went, and she couldn’t even set foot in the underground prison.

“Medeia, this father of yours will go meet those worthy to join my grand plan.”

Even in the worst of situations, there was always a way out.

“This is important, so I’ll bring along my prized Mosquis and Luke as well. Medeia, take good care of this mansion while I’m away.”

Wearing a mask of gentleness, Alec Leshanin stroked Medeia’s hair.

Though she smiled faintly at her father, suspicion sprouted in her heart.

Mosquis, and Luke too?

Could this be a trap her father had set?

A deliberate action aimed at capturing the “rat” from last time.

“Of course. As heir to the Leshanin house, I will protect it well. Please travel safely.”

Medeia’s words made Mosquis twitch his lips.

He was probably still dreaming the absurd dream that he could take the Leshanin legacy from Medeia.

A noble house, an heir, all of it would be torn to shreds if the rebellion failed—and yet he still clung to hope.

“I shall go, my daughter.”

Without another word, Alec Leshanin turned his back.

Watching that confident back, still believing her rebellion would succeed, Medeia made a vow: even if this was her father’s trap, she would willingly leap into the inferno.

“Sir Andrew! You must come quickly! Sir Farren was seriously injured on the way, and the Duke has requested you!”

One of the servants who had departed with Alec Leshanin returned in a hurry.

Of all the knights, Alec Leshanin specifically chose Medeia’s guardian knight, Andrew, as if he knew exactly what Medeia might do.

“Meril, Sophia. Go to the Boot territory and retrieve the magic stones for the Duke’s birthday banquet.”

“Magic stones? Us?”

Sophia’s brown eyes widened in surprise.

“No matter how fast we go, it’ll take at least a day. What if someone steals the stones while we’re bringing them? We also need to accompany the Miss. Shouldn’t someone else do it…?”

“Look here! Everyone is busy with their own duties. There are plenty of attendants for the Miss besides you two, so hurry and fetch them. And those stones cannot be used by anyone other than their owner, so there’s no risk of theft.”

The head maid coughed once and rebutted Meril’s objections point by point.

“Who said that?”

Meril eyed the head maid suspiciously.

“That I cannot tell you! Now go! If you don’t hurry, you’ll return after the banquet has already begun!”

“Y-yes, head maid!”

Driven by the rough hand of the head maid, Sophia and Meril soon found themselves on the road to Boot territory.

“Sion! Come help us!”

“No, it’s more urgent here! Aren’t you coming?”

In just a few months, Sion had grown noticeably stronger and was popular among the servants.

“Daniel, perfect timing. You come with Sion and help too.”

As if on cue, a group of servants appeared, taking Sion and Daniel away.

Daniel gave Medeia a glance, signaling he would take care of things properly.

Sion’s look conveyed the same reassurance.

“Uh… Lucian?”

It was déjà vu.

It reminded Medeia of the day Lucian had asked if she liked capable people—the day when everyone had left and only she and Lucian remained.

“Yes, Miss.”

Lucian looked up at Medeia and gave a faint smile.

“I’m going down to the underground prison now. If anyone asks for me, just say I went to check the banquet hall.”

He might be walking straight into a trap, but now was the perfect opportunity to mix the antidote into the drug.

Medeia, prepared to descend alone if needed, explained her pretext to Lucian.

“Take me with you. Don’t you need someone to watch over things?”

Lucian’s words struck the heart of the matter, leaving Medeia unable to object.

With Andrew, Meril, Sophia, and even Daniel absent, there was no one else to help with her plan.

Thus, only Lucian and Medeia carried the antidote as they headed toward the underground prison.

Those at the entrance, mere pawns of Mosquis, saw Medeia and opened the door without resistance.

Except for occasional breaths from some prisoners, the underground prison was deathly silent.

“Keep watch here, Lucian.”

Medeia whispered as she stopped near the entrance.

Then, she disappeared into the darkness, illuminated only by the faint candlelight.

Time passed.

From the end of the underground prison came the sound of footsteps—Medeia’s.

But then another set of footsteps followed.

Someone descending the countless stairs to the underground prison—not just one person, but several.

“Miss!”

Lucian’s urgent voice quickened her pace.

The footsteps of those approaching the prison also grew nearer.

“Have they arrived?”

The guards at the underground prison spoke.

“One Miss and her attendant child are inside.”

“Open it.”

With that command, the prison doors creaked open.

Simultaneously, Medeia, having hidden the bottle containing the antidote, calmly rejoined Lucian.

“Medeia, my daughter. Where are you?”

Alec Leshanin’s cold voice echoed through the underground prison. Despite speaking slowly, his eyes searched sharply for intruders.

“Father, I am right here. I am surprised you couldn’t find me immediately despite doting on me so.”

Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

Since the nightmare of “that day,” Alec Leshanin had never truly loved anyone.

Yet, in one corner of her heart, Medeia’s expression seemed genuinely sorrowful, as if she had always yearned for her father’s love.

“Oh, there you are. Didn’t I entrust this mansion to you? And yet you’re in such a humble place. I rushed here out of worry.”

Alec Leshanin took a step closer and stroked Medeia’s silver hair.

For a brief moment, Lucian’s face twisted as if he had witnessed something centuries old and vile.

“Isn’t the underground prison part of the mansion?”

“That’s true, but my daughter, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with such places.”

At the perfect moment, Alec Leshanin’s hand left Medeia.

Had it lingered a moment longer, Lucian’s true nature might have been revealed to Alec Leshanin.

“I came to check whether the drug you developed is effective. I wanted to contribute, even just a little, to your grand plan.”

Being caught in the underground prison, Medeia’s excuse was unavoidable.

From behind Alec Leshanin came a soft chuckle.

It was Mosquis, famous for ruining the mood of anyone who had been cheerful all day.