Roxana
Chapter 33
Chapter 33
The Way to Protect the Female Lead’s Older Brother
Chapter 33
“It seems you haven’t used drugs on him yet?”
The playthings inside the iron cages were as diverse as the tastes of the people gathered here today.
Some among them looked thoroughly steeped in drugs.
Either drugs had been used a bit too excessively in the process of training them, or they had addicted their playthings purely to indulge their personal tastes.
“Starting drug training soon wouldn’t be a bad idea, but I’m hesitating a little. If he becomes too docile……”
I cast my gaze downward and murmured softly.
“I feel like I’d grow bored right away and want to kill him.”
Clatter. In that moment, the sound of a teacup being set down on the table rang out unnaturally loud.
The source of the noise was my mother’s seat.
Ignoring her agitation, I smiled brightly.
“It’s the first interesting toy I’ve ever gotten, so wouldn’t it be better to play with him a little longer?”
Several people agreed with my sentiment.
“True, using drugs does make them far too stupid.”
“That’s the best part, though. They do everything you tell them to.”
“Isn’t it boring if they only ever obey?”
“I hate disobedient ones—they’re far too annoying.”
In any case, having accepted Maria’s invitation, most of the people gathered here shared similar temperaments or hobbies.
“Well, considering what Sana uses her toy for, having him soaked in drugs wouldn’t be ideal either.”
Just then, one of the mothers let slip in an insinuating tone.
I immediately grasped what she was imagining.
“Seeing him last time, I understood why Charlotte was locked in the Room of Punishment. They called him the Young Lord of Blue, and he truly was of the finest quality. I can see why the children made such a fuss wanting to have him.”
My only half-sister was also present here today.
Griselda, who had brown hair and red eyes, was seventeen—the same age as Cassis—and was on reasonably decent terms with me.
With a subtle smile, she glanced sideways.
Charlotte’s mother was sitting there.
Yet she merely furrowed her brow once, as if Charlotte’s unsightly behavior was an utter disgrace.
“Yes, though it’s a pity we couldn’t see Sana’s toy, today isn’t the only day.”
Maria seemed in an undeniably good mood today.
“Now, since everyone is gathered like this, I’ll show you my new doll instead. Sarah, bring her in.”
I had expected her to show more regret over me not bringing Cassis as written in the invitation, so this was unexpected.
Seeing Maria’s bright expression, it almost seemed as though having Mother and me flanking her on either side was enough to satisfy her.
Beaming cheerfully the entire time, she gave an order to the maid waiting in a corner of the greenhouse.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, watching Maria, before turning my gaze in the direction the maids had vanished.
Is it finally starting in earnest now?
I could see the complexion of my mother, seated to Maria’s left, darken even further.
Chink.
Moments later, a woman shackled at the hands and feet stumbled forward, led by the maids.
Exquisitely adorned to the utmost, she truly looked like an elaborately crafted doll.
Of course, that was only when viewed from afar; up close, the woman’s condition was wretched.
“This is my new doll, Lewell. Everyone is familiar with her face, aren’t you?”
Lewell was originally Maria’s personal maid, the woman who used to supervise the other servants.
Yet contrary to Maria’s words, recognizing the face before our eyes was nearly impossible.
And understandably so—how could anyone identify a face carved with dozens of scars, practically slashed to ribbons?
“Now, Lewell. Greet the guests of the tea party, won’t you?”
“Uh, uhh…… ah.”
Furthermore, for whatever reason she had been punished, her tongue had even been cut out.
In such a state, dressed in a lavish gown overflowing with lace and beautifully adorned, she seemed all the more grotesque.
Mother’s face was now so drained of color that it looked pale blue.
And with good reason.
Even in my eyes, this tea party was truly sickening.
“Sierra, how is my new doll? Isn’t she cuter than the last one?”
Maria asked, singling out my mother.
The comical thing was that Maria wasn’t doing this with the intent to torment my mother.
She harbored not the slightest ill will toward me or my mother.
At this moment, Maria was like an innocent young girl, eager to win validation from a friend she liked.
“Yes, it…… it is…….”
Mother replied in a faint, choked stammer.
At that, a satisfied smile spread across Maria’s face.
“Lewell, did you hear that? It seems Sierra likes you. Now, go and pour Sierra a cup of tea.”
Having received her order, Maria’s doll stumbled toward my mother.
With each step she took, the iron chain attached to her shackles clinked and rattled.
When I had attended this tea party in the past, it had ended with merely viewing the doll, but now it seemed she was made to serve them like this as well.
Trickle.
Maria’s doll poured tea into Mother’s cup, her arm trembling spastically like a marionette with severed strings.
Was it contagious?
A moment later, Mother’s hand as she lifted the teacup was visibly shaking.
In the end, the liquid sloshing violently inside the cup spilled over, soaking her hand and dress.
“Oh my, Sierra!”
Seeing that, Maria made a fuss.
“Sierra, are you all right? The tea must be hot—you didn’t burn yourself, did you?”
“No…… I’m all right.”
Yet Maria soon cast a chilling glare at the woman beside her.
“Lewell, just how did you serve her for Sierra to spill her tea? And to stand there just blankly staring at the sight—it seems your punishment wasn’t enough.”
At those words, Mother’s face turned completely ashen.
It was understandable, given that her own mistake might cause Maria’s doll to be punished once more.
“Lewell did nothing wrong. What just happened was my mistake. So there is no reason for her to be punished…….”
“Sierra, you truly are so kind.”
Maria marveled softly at how someone could possess such a gentle, lovely heart.
Yet immediately after, she shook her head firmly.
“Still, I can’t let it pass. A burn scar could have been left on those delicate hands. Failing to prevent that beforehand is also the fault of Lewell, who was serving by your side.”
“That’s……”
“Sarah, take Lewell away right now and——”
Crash!
Just then, the sharp sound of something shattering echoed through the greenhouse.
The two women, engaged in an exchange that could barely even be called an argument, stopped speaking.
Feeling the eyes of everyone in the greenhouse focusing on me, I gave a small smile.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. It slipped.”
The teacup I had deliberately dropped a moment ago lay in shattered pieces on the floor.
“Mother.”
When I called out to Mother right after, her eyes trembled faintly for an instant.
I parted my lips and let a tender voice spill out.
“Your hand seems to be swelling redder by the moment. Before it gets worse, wouldn’t it be better to cool it with cold water?”
Fortunately, she seemed to realize immediately what my suggestion meant.
Without stopping there, I added quietly.
“You might have suffered a burn, so calling a physician once you step outside would be wise as well.”
“Oh, look at me losing my head. Yes, Sierra. Your lovely skin might truly be damaged at this rate. We can’t have that.”
Maria, who nearly worshipped my mother’s beauty, chimed in agreement with my words.
Before she could order her doll to see my mother out, I beat her to it.
“I would also like to take a closer look at Lady Maria’s doll. Coincidentally, I need a new teacup as well.”
Maria was delighted when I showed interest in her doll.
After sending Lewell to me, she had a maid escort my mother out of the greenhouse.
She did not forget to instruct them to summon a physician immediately.
I felt Mother’s gaze linger on the side of my face.
Yet I did not look back at her. Not until she finally left the greenhouse.
If Mother had any sense, she wouldn’t return to the greenhouse.
Only then could I spend the rest of Maria’s tea party with a much lighter heart.
