Roxana
Chapter 48
Chapter 48
The Way to Protect the Female Lead’s
Older Brother
Chapter 48
A moment later, as I stepped out of Cassis’s room, my face was frozen cold.
My footsteps, slow at first, gradually quickened.
As if fleeing from the place I had just left behind.
To reassure Cassis, I had told him I guided the people of Pedelian to a safe place, but it was a lie.
I would guide them to the northern boundary. To the swamplands of the Black Forest, the most perilous monster habitat of all.
It was infamous for ensuring that intruders could never escape until their flesh and souls were torn apart.
I gave a bitter sneer.
I felt as though I finally understood why the Agriches in the novel had toyed with Cassis so cruelly before killing him.
To the people of Agriche, he was an existence entirely foreign.
It was as if, into a world where only triangles and squares existed, a circle had suddenly wedged itself in one day.
At some point, Cassis had begun to make me uncomfortable.
To be precise, this intense aversion had started the day I broke down in tears before him while lost in a dream not long ago.
The fear that I might revert to the fragile self I once was spread through my chest.
A belated wave of regret washed over me, whispering that I should have slapped away his hand when he wiped my tears.
This could not continue.
I had to get Cassis out of my sight as quickly as possible.
* * *
Lately, a dense, suffocating air hung over the Agriche mansion, distinct from before.
It was all because of Roxana.
Or rather, to be strictly accurate, it was not Roxana herself, but her poison butterflies.
Sickening, crunching sounds echoed through the air.
The servants hauling monster carcasses hunched their shoulders at the gruesome noise echoing beside them.
Clinging to the massive monster carcass they had delivered earlier were easily over a hundred butterflies.
Considering their numbers had barely reached a few dozen just days ago, the rate of multiplication was truly astounding.
Though they were gorgeous, resplendent butterflies in appearance, right now they tore into the monster’s remains as ravenously as starved beasts.
The servants quickly dumped the contents of their cart beside it and scrambled away.
This was a scene repeated daily within the mansion ever since Roxana declared she would raise the poison butterflies into slaughter butterflies.
While the poison butterflies fed on the monster carcasses, Roxana sat a short distance away, watching the spectacle.
“The weather is warm today, so bring me a cold drink.”
Though it could hardly be called a tea party, the sight of Roxana leisurely sipping tea at a small table and chair seemed jarringly detached from her surroundings.
Her seemingly serene demeanor contrasted starkly with the pale, trembling face of the maid who brought her tea.
Those hauling feed for the poison butterflies looked just as ghastly.
Even the Agriches who had come out of curiosity to see the poison butterflies quickly turned away, their faces drained of color.
It was only natural, given what a stomach-churning sight it was.
“Why is the delivery so slow? If you don’t appease the butterflies’ hunger, they might try to feed on something else. Wouldn’t it be wise to hurry up a bit?”
At the soft, gentle voice flowing from Roxana, the workers carrying the feed jumped out of their skins.
Casting terrified glances at the poison butterflies, they moved far more briskly than before.
Having confirmed that those around her were sufficiently terrified, Roxana stopped frightening them any further.
In truth, she was intentionally putting the poison butterflies’ gruesome feast on full display.
Unaware of her intentions, the onlookers cast glances laced with dread not only at the creatures, but at Roxana who commanded them.
Roxana had always been terrifyingly beautiful, but lately, she exuded an unapproachable aura of a different nature entirely.
Just like the poison butterflies, cloaking chilling bloodlust beneath an unreal beauty.
Meeting Roxana’s calm crimson gaze, a servant gasped sharply and scurried away in haste.
Roxana watched them in silence before shifting her gaze back to the poison butterflies.
* * *
Roxana often looked at Cassis with eyes that were chillingly cold. Of course, whenever their gazes met, she would instantly wipe away that expression, only to revert to her frosty stare the moment he looked away.
She counted down the days until all the cogs would mesh into place at once.
It might just be a figment of her imagination, but for some reason, she felt as though Cassis could escape Agriche on his own power at any moment, yet chose not to.
If so, the reason was likely out of consideration for Roxana’s situation.
Whenever that thought crossed her mind, something writhed deep within her.
“You’re raising the poison butterflies well, I assume?”
Lant Agriche, having summoned Roxana to his room that evening, inquired about the poison butterflies.
“Yes, they are growing well enough to meet Father’s expectations day by day.”
Roxana curled the corners of her lips into a slender smile.
The candlelight spreading from the wall sconce cast deep shadows across her face.
“However, I believe this alone will soon no longer be enough.”
“Tell me if there is anything you need. I will procure it.”
Lant, who had recently been showing immense interest in the poison butterflies, spoke without hesitation.
“If they consume the flesh and blood of stronger creatures, wouldn’t my poison butterflies grow even more formidable?”
Roxana willingly made her demand, and Lant nodded without a single word of complaint.
* * *
The Monthly Evaluation was now three days away.
It was also time for Deon, who had left for the Karantul habitat, to return.
That night, Roxana received a report on the situation from the butterflies she had sent out.
“Right, I see.”
Hearing that the people of Pedelian had finally reached the forest at the northern boundary, a faint smile touched her lips.
As a welcoming gift, Roxana sent the slaughter butterflies, creatures that had recently acquired a taste for fresh flesh and blood.
The curtains fluttered in the breeze that rolled in like shallow waves through the open window.
The fresh scent of grass marking the turn of the season brushed faintly against the tip of her nose.
Before she knew it, nearly a month had passed since Cassis arrived at Agriche.
“It will be farewell soon.”
A soft murmur slipped from Roxana’s lips as she looked out the window.
Soon, her daily life would return to what it had been before Cassis.
Roxana fed her blood to the butterflies that had served her well, then made her way to where Cassis was held.
“You look unwell.”
Cassis spoke upon seeing Roxana’s face.
It was only natural, considering she had lavishly poured out her blood for the growth of her poison butterflies and ingested copious amounts of poison on top of it.
“I came to bring news of the Pedelian people. Aren’t you worried about them?”
“If it’s Isidore, he will handle things well on his own.”
At Cassis’s calm words, Roxana’s eyes twitched faintly.
“Are you saying I won’t handle things well on my own?”
Though a faint smile still rested on her lips, the words that left them carried a sharp edge.
She could not help thinking he deemed her untrustworthy because of the vulnerability she had shown last time.
Cassis looked at Roxana with an enigmatic gaze before shifting his body.
A heavy metallic clank rang out.
The restraints binding his wrists unlocked and fell away.
Roxana was dumbfounded.
To think he could undo anti-monster restraints at will now?
The moment his outstretched hand touched her skin, her astonishment doubled.
Before she realized it, Roxana found herself perched on the edge of the bed beside Cassis.
Soon, a pure energy seeped into her body alongside a warmth that still felt foreign to her.
Roxana tried to pull her hand from Cassis’s grasp. But Cassis did not budge in the slightest.
“What are you doing? Who said you could take my hand as you please?”
“I don’t think that’s something to be said by someone who did far worse without my permission.”
Roxana felt speech fail her.
He was undoubtedly referring to the mark she had left on his neck before without his consent.
“I suppose this is your true self after all.”
As his gaze quietly studied her face, Roxana retorted coldly.
“It’s simply that you get on my nerves.”
The next moment, seeing Cassis chuckle softly, Roxana felt somehow foolish.
Roxana began to rationalize it to herself.
Surely Cassis was merely trying to restore her condition before an episode like last time could repeat and disrupt their future plans.
And she, too, was only letting him hold her hand because his power was useful to her.
Then, driven by an inexplicable impulse, Roxana opened her mouth.
“You seem to be forgetting, but I am an Agriche as well.”
Cassis stared at Roxana in silence for a long moment.
After a pause, a low voice cut through the stillness.
“I know.”
After that, no further words passed between them.
Time passed, and at last, the Monthly Evaluation was only a day away.
A deep, low rumble resonated through the air.
A subtle, earthquake-like vibration rippled throughout the entire Agriche estate.
The labyrinth, which had remained closed for so long, opened. The gates to the passageway leading into the Black Forest at the northern boundary swung wide.
At last, all the cogs meshed together.
It was time to make a move.
