DRRS 20

 Chapter 20

When Mosquis reached the front of Alec Leshanin’s office, the first to meet him was Luke.

Luke stood outside the office with a solemn expression, perhaps following some order from Alec Leshanin.

“What’s going on?”

Blocking the door, Luke looked down at Mosquis.

Though the old man had a kind face, Mosquis sometimes felt an intimidating presence from him—like in situations such as this.

“I’ve come to see the Duke.”

Stepping aside, Mosquis moved closer to the office door. Suddenly, a strange metallic sound echoed from inside.

“What is that sound?”

Mosquis frowned in confusion as he glanced at Luke.

“Is there anyone outside besides Luke?”

Alec Leshanin’s voice came from inside, sharp with irritation, noticing the commotion outside.

At the same time, the inexplicable metallic sound abruptly stopped, as if it had never existed.

“Ah, Duke. It’s me, Mosquis.”

“Mosquis, what brings you here? Didn’t you handle last night’s matter perfectly with your own words? I thought I told you to wait for further orders.”

“I handled it perfectly. Or so I thought… if it weren’t for that ‘rat.’”

The mention of “rat” immediately made Alec Leshanin fling open the office door.

His glimmering violet eyes looked like they could strike at any moment.

Even I was terrified just watching, yet Mosquis hurriedly stepped inside the office.

“Stay vigilant. I’m about to have a very important discussion with the Duke.”

Pausing at the doorway, Mosquis poked his head out, gave Luke a mock order as if taunting him, and slammed the door so hard it echoed.

Luke, unmoved, simply straightened his clothes.

Not long after Mosquis entered, voices began to carry from the office.

“When we departed Pribel Port, everyone was there. Yet… after the ship broke apart, only my subordinates remained.”

“…! Do you think that makes sense?”

Alec Leshanin’s furious voice rang out, followed by the sound of something breaking.

“…Do you know?”

“Are you talking about some wizard from a legend? You keep spouting nonsense!”

“That ‘rat,’ if he had the wizard’s help, would explain it. Everyone disappearing just because he closed his eyes for a moment.”

“Who is this ‘rat’! Who dares use … as an ally to interfere with my plans at every turn?!”

“…It is I.”

Luke, standing outside the office, heard this shocking truth calmly.

“What?”

“I, along with all my subordinates, saw it.”

“Explain in detail.”

“…On the day … disguised as going out, I observed him enter an old wooden building near Pribel Port. Ever since he accessed the underground prison, there have been those who began questioning orders.”

“How can you assert that from just that?”

Though Mosquis was being interrogated, Alec Leshanin’s suspicions were already leaning.

“The most important thing is yesterday. After returning from Pribel Port, I happened to enter … the room, and it was completely empty.”

Mosquis chuckled proudly, noting the timing perfectly as he intercepted the scene while someone ran past on the other side.

“May I summon Medeia to verify this myself?”

Alec Leshanin’s furious voice reverberated even outside the office.

Yet no one heard it.

Luke, guarding the office, had vanished—there wasn’t even a shadow left.

At the same time, someone knocked on Medeia’s door with a steady rhythm.

“Miss, it’s Luke.”

Luke had been quietly observing the conversation between Alec Leshanin and Mosquis outside the office.

“What is it?”

Medeia’s voice was sharp, still tense from sending Sophia and Sion away.

She worried Luke, her father’s aide, might press questions.

“I came to deliver a message.”

“A message?”

Medeia cautiously opened the door and studied Luke’s expression.

“Mosquis visited the Duke’s office, and he’s speaking nonsense about Pribel, the port, an old wooden building, and a wizard.”

“Why are you telling me this? Coming all the way here?”

Despite her cold words, her heart raced.

“Upon hearing this, the Duke thought he should call for you. You might be summoned soon, so I came to inform you to be prepared.”

Despite Medeia’s cold demeanor, Luke spoke calmly.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Yes. That’s it.”

Luke then turned and walked toward Alec Leshanin’s office, as if delivering the message was his only purpose.

Medeia silently closed her door after watching him leave.

“Meril.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Having overheard Luke, Meril had a rough idea of the situation.

She was ready to run anywhere at a moment’s notice.

“Bring Andrew. Lucian must be sent to Robin and Luna.”

Lucian would also be in danger if no one intervened.

Though she wanted to free him immediately, Lucian’s mind was unstable, so he needed careful guidance.

“What should I tell the housemaid?”

“Say we went out to watch the festival. Don’t tell her directly—ask Daniel to inform her after we leave.”

Every minute counted to ensure Lucian’s safe escape.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Thus, perhaps for the last time, Medeia’s dangerous excursion was decided.

In the festival-filled city center, Medeia, holding Lucian’s hand, stopped a passerby.

“Excuse me. Do you know where the merchants of the Risran Guild are?”

Meeting them without prior arrangements was nearly impossible—they were as busy as Medeia.

“Wait, let me see… You’re in luck. They’re coming this way.”

The woman pointed toward the area near Rainier Port.

At the same time, Robin and Luna, spotting Medeia, approached her with relieved expressions.

“What brings you here? We could have come to you.”

“The situation is urgent.”

“What could be so urgent?”

Robin looked at Medeia with concern.

“I’ll explain later. Or, I wish I could explain.”

A bitter laugh escaped Medeia.

“For now, please take care of this child. His name is Lucian. He’s been given a drug by his father, which affected his mind. If you give him this antidote regularly, he’ll improve. Once he’s better, let him go wherever he wants.”

Medeia quickly conveyed the instructions to Robin, Luna, and Lucian in turn.

“Miss, what happens to me?”

“Follow them. That’s what I want.”

Medeia answered firmly.

“No, no!”

Lucian grasped Medeia’s wrist and shook his head violently.

“It’s an order, Lucian.”

“No… I won’t, Miss.”

For the first time, Lucian refused Medeia, despite the fear of disobeying his master in his eyes.

It seemed her continuous antidote treatment had kept hope alive in him.

But Medeia could not be relieved.

For safety, she had to let Lucian go.

At that moment—

“Step aside, can’t you!”

“Hey, what’s this guy doing? Why is he pushing people?”

“Crazy fool! Even if you go, you owe for the apple you stepped on!”

A commotion began on one side of the street.

At its center were Mosquis and his men.

“Miss! Mosquis is here!”

Meril grabbed Medeia’s hand, urging her to leave before Mosquis noticed them.

“Robin, Luna, take good care of Lucian.”

Medeia released Lucian’s hand, which he had held like a lifeline.

Lucian immediately reached for her again.

Before his hand could touch hers, Medeia roughly pushed him away.

Startled, Lucian’s hand lingered in the air, and Robin and Luna quickly linked arms with one of his arms each.

“Miss! Miss!”

Held by Robin and Luna, Lucian called out to Medeia.

“Miss, please don’t abandon me!”

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Medeia remained silent, watching him being led away by Robin and Luna.

“I won’t overstep ever again! Please, Miss!”

Lucian cried desperately until he was out of sight.

What Medeia had given him wasn’t bondage—it was the freedom everyone held dear, long denied by the Leshanin estate.

“Miss, we must go now.”

But that thought was brief. Seeing Mosquis and his men approaching, Meril grabbed Medeia’s hand and pulled her along.

“You were here, Miss. Do you know how hard Mosquis has been searching for you?”

Even before taking a step, a chilling voice pierced Medeia’s ear.