Chapter 23
Leah lay collapsed on the cold floor, unable even to groan.
There wasn’t a single ray of light in the underground prison beneath the Hespelt mansion. She had only ever heard rumors about such a place—never in her worst nightmares did she imagine she’d be trapped in it herself.
The torchlight flickered, casting shifting shadows on the damp stone walls. The air was thick with moisture and felt cold against her skin. She had no idea how much time had passed.
Creak. The heavy door opened with a sharp screech, cutting through the silence like a scream.
Leah wanted to hide at the sound of approaching footsteps, but her body no longer obeyed her. Bloodstained shoes stopped right in front of her.
It was her own blood.
“……”
Rashid stood over her, his eyes empty of emotion. He looked down at her in silence for a long time before slowly crouching beside her.
His sharp, sculpted face was stained with blood that wasn’t his. The slight smile on his lips looked out of place—almost like it had been placed there by force.
“…Have you finally decided to talk?”
His low voice reached her ears. And in that moment, Leah understood true fear—fear born from a voice that carried no emotion at all.
Since she’d been thrown into the dungeon, Rashid hadn’t spoken a single word. He hadn’t asked a single question.
Even when she was beaten, even when her blood splattered onto him—he didn’t react.
“I-It… it was the Madam… She ordered it…”
Leah barely managed to whisper the words.
“I know.”
“……”
She didn’t know what else to say. She had no idea what he wanted to hear.
Before Rashid arrived, the knights had only repeated one question: Who gave the order?
Wasn’t that what he wanted to know? Wasn’t that why he had tried to remove Madam Boren?
“If you still don’t understand… then there’s nothing more to be done.”
Rashid stood up. Panic surged through Leah.
“T-The antidote! There’s an antidote!”
Her desperate cry made him pause.
“I-I have it! I told the Madam I couldn’t get it, but I lied. I have it. Please… please believe me.”
Rashid slowly turned back toward her.
“If you let me live… I’ll give you the antidote. Just please—let me live…”
Leah pleaded with all the strength she had left.
“…The antidote, huh.”
He muttered, then gave a dry, joyless laugh.
“So now you say there’s an antidote.”
The sound of his laugh was hollow. It didn’t sound human.
“If Tericia doesn’t recover… I’ll make sure you die the most miserable death imaginable.”
A new wave of terror washed over Leah.
The door opened again, and Rashid stepped outside. He yanked off his blood-soaked gloves and threw them at Adler and Heinz, who had been waiting outside.
“Search her room. She says the antidote’s hidden between the bed and the wall.”
Heinz immediately left with several knights.
“Are you all right, my Lord?”
“…Tericia?”
Rashid ignored Adler’s question and asked straightaway about the young lady.
“There’s been no improvement yet, but if we use the antidote, she should recover.”
“……”
Rashid wiped a hand across his face and noticed the blood on his cheek. Adler saw it too and silently handed him a handkerchief.
He took it, wiped off the blood, and stared at the stained cloth with a blank expression.
“Once you find the antidote, give it to the physician immediately. I’m going up now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rashid left without another word, and Adler bowed deeply behind him.
“Whew…”
As soon as Rashid was gone, Adler let out a long sigh. The pressure in the air seemed to ease slightly.
He looked toward the cell holding Leah.
If something happens to Lady Tericia… a lot of people will pay the price.
A faint groan echoed from inside the cell, and Adler’s heart sank.
＊＊＊
The antidote arrived just in time—when there was no medicine left to try. Chief Physician Karlson inspected its ingredients over and over again.
Only when he was absolutely sure it was safe did he finally relax and begin treatment.
He had done everything he could, yet Tericia hadn’t improved. Blood continued to stain her lips. Even though Rashid hadn’t entered the room once, his presence just outside the door was suffocating—like working with a sword pressed to his back.
If I can’t save her… I’m dead too.
Karlson gently poured the antidote into Tericia’s mouth, sweat pouring down his spine as he watched for any reaction.
When she finally stopped coughing up blood and her breathing began to stabilize, Karlson let out a long breath and collapsed to the floor. His legs gave out beneath him.
“You’ve done well.”
“…Now, it’s in the young lady’s hands.”
Rashid’s aide—seemingly the only one still thinking clearly—spoke calmly, and Karlson felt tears well up.
Even the knights were unlike anything he’d seen. They stood like statues, silent and still—like iron dolls.
“We’ve bought some time, but we need to monitor her closely. If anything changes, please send for me. I just need a short rest.”
Leaving the relieved maids behind in Tericia’s room, Karlson stepped outside—only to find Rashid still standing there.
His posture hadn’t changed one bit since Karlson was first summoned to the mansion.
“Tericia?”
The young lord asked without turning his gaze, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
“…You can breathe a little easier now. All that’s left is for her to wake up.”
“……”
When no further response came, Karlson respectfully bowed and slowly backed out of the room.
Was that really what he used to look like?
Though Karlson hadn’t attended the banquet where the succession was formally announced, he had at least seen Rashid’s face before.
He remembered the young lord during his academy days—still a noble heir back then, looking proper and composed. A textbook image of an aristocrat’s son.
But now, there was nothing left of that impression. The man before him radiated an intensity so sharp, it felt like even a single wrong word could cause everything to snap.
Is it because of the lady? …No, wait. Were they close enough for him to call her by name?
He let out a sigh. This wasn’t the time to be worrying about others. Right now, his only chance at survival was for the young lady to wake up.
Karlson picked up his pace, mentally running through the herbs available in the Hespelt mansion’s medicine stores.
＊＊＊
After the antidote was administered, Tericia’s condition began to stabilize rapidly.
She hadn’t regained consciousness yet, but she could at least swallow the medicine. Thanks to that, the people caring for her could finally breathe a bit easier.
Adler suggested Rashid take a break, even just for a moment—but he wouldn’t listen.
“You’d be better off sitting by Lady Tericia’s side instead of pacing out here. What exactly are you afraid of?”
After trying multiple times, Adler finally lost his patience and dismissed everyone from the hallway. No one was left.
Only then did Rashid finally move, his footsteps heavy as he entered the room. The lingering scent of medicinal herbs filled the air from days of desperate treatment.
Even after stepping inside, Rashid didn’t approach. He stood at a distance from the bed, frozen in place.
He couldn’t bring himself to take another step. What if his presence disturbed her rest, or worse—what if she didn’t wake at all?
If something happened to her…
Would I still be able to live? No… Would I even be able to die?
After what felt like an eternity, Rashid finally moved. His eyes landed on something resting atop the bedside table: the amethyst necklace he had once chosen so carefully as a gift.
It had likely been removed while changing Tericia out of her blood-soaked dress.
With trembling hands, Rashid picked up the necklace. Her blood had dried and crusted along the surface of the violet stone.
The sight of it—of her blood staining something he had given with affection—stabbed into his chest like a knife. It felt like her silent scream, frozen in time.
Kneeling beside her bed, Rashid gently took her hand in his.
It was a hand he had held once before. But now, it felt even smaller than he remembered.
“Tericia.”
The name left his lips in a voice so low, it trembled. He felt like he was losing his mind. He hadn’t been able to sleep.
Looking at her pale face lying there, he felt his heart tear apart.
Was it really this small hand… that had protected me? Was it this fragile body… that shielded me with everything she had?
“Tericia.”
Still no response.
“Please… Tericia.”
Wake up. Please wake up. If you open your eyes—if you just open your eyes—I’ll do anything.
“If you don’t wake up… I don’t know what I might do.”
So please…
“Open your eyes. Look at me. Please… call my name.”
With his forehead pressed gently to the back of her hand, Rashid whispered.
“……”
That’s when her fingers moved.
“…Ra…shid.”
Her voice was so faint, no one else would’ve heard it. But Rashid, whose entire being was focused on her, heard it loud and clear.
“……!”
Startled, he quickly raised his head and looked at her. The violet eyes that had been tightly shut were now open—looking straight at him.
He had longed to see those eyes turn toward him. A wave of emotion surged in his chest, almost overwhelming.
“…Oh… what about… you…?”
“She’s been confined.”
“I see…”
“……”
“I’m sorry…”
Tericia couldn’t finish her sentence. Her eyelids fluttered closed again, and she slipped back into sleep.
Rashid didn’t know what kind of expression was on his face. He couldn’t remember how to make one.
“Tericia…”
With a long, deep breath, he spoke her name.
He hadn’t realized how comforting it could be—just to see her eyes… just to hear her voice.
Rashid’s hand, still holding hers, trembled slightly. For the first time, he felt like he could breathe.
＊＊＊
Lady Boren’s chambers were known for their sunlight. As soon as the morning sun rose, light would flood the room. Even in winter, the warmth would fill the space.
But now, there was only darkness. Deep, suffocating darkness. She couldn’t even see what was in front of her.
How many days has it been?
With no light, there was no way to track time. It felt like a month had passed, but it might’ve only been a few days. Perhaps… only one.
She had screamed and pounded on the door, ordering the knights outside to open it—but they didn’t budge. It was as if they weren’t even there.
No food had come either. At first, she felt hunger. Eventually, even that sensation faded.
“I’m the Duke’s wife! You can’t treat me like this. I’m the Duchess! I’ll see every one of you punished!”
Lady Boren sat curled up on the bed, muttering to herself. Fear had taken over, and she could no longer think clearly.
Thud.
A loud sound startled her. Then came another—thud, thud. Something heavy was being thrown against the door.
The door creaked open with a groan.
Lady Boren couldn’t comprehend what was happening. The sudden noise overwhelmed her senses.
“……!”
The door swung open, and blinding light poured into the room. Instinctively, she recoiled, curling up in the far corner of the bed.
With a dull thud, something was tossed into the room—a dark figure.
“Leah!”
It was her personal maid, covered in blood.
