The Grand Duchess Escape

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“Are you not going to answer?”

“…….”

As Asella continued to remain silent, he grimaced and leaned in closer. She closed her eyes entirely.

“Open your eyes.”

“…….”

“Asella Benvito.”

Even in his voice, which seemed to suppress his anger, she pressed her eyelids tighter. She didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to say anything.

‘It’s all over anyway.’

From the moment she planned her escape, Asella’s goal had been clear. If they couldn’t both escape, then at least save Mariel.

Although she had been dragged back here, her sister was safe in another location. That was enough for her.

‘All I have to do is keep my mouth shut.’

If she said nothing, it could end with her life alone.

‘I have to endure, even if it hurts.’

Perhaps the Grand Duke would resort to terrible measures to force her to speak.

She might face horrors far worse than Philip’s lashings. But she had to endure.

‘At least until Mariel crosses the border…’

It wasn’t that she wasn’t scared. The thought of the pain she would have to bear made her tremble with fear.

So, Asella thought of her younger sister’s bright, cheerful face as she smiled at her.

Recalling that joyful and radiant image slowly eased the overwhelming tension.

‘I can endure this.’

Just then, while Asella waited patiently for her fate, a completely unexpected and shocking phrase pierced her ears.

“Do you think you’ll confess if I fed you a truth serum?”

Startled by the unexpected threat, Asella’s eyes widened. Reflected in her gaze was Calix’s face, grinning menacingly.

“What…?”

“Ryzen!”

Without hesitation, Calix interrupted Asella’s words and called for his aide.

Even after Ryzen entered, he didn’t take his eyes off her. With a burning gaze fixed on Asella, Calix spat out his command.

“Bring the Veraxium.”

“What?” Ryzen, taken aback, reflexively asked again.

Veraxium was a powerful truth serum. A single drop was enough to make an ordinary person spill all their secrets.

Due to its rare ingredients and the complicated process required for its creation, most nobles would go their entire lives without ever seeing the real thing.

‘Why is His Highness suddenly looking for Veraxium?’

Ryzen’s mind raced. He quickly sensed that the atmosphere in the room was tense. The warm connection that had lingered between the Grand Duke and Duchess when they entered the mansion had turned cold in an instant, making him swallow hard.

‘Could it be that he intends to use Veraxium on Her Highness?’

Ryzen’s pupils fluttered. Something was very wrong, and it had been going wrong for a long time.

“Your Highness, but Veraxium…”

“Bring it to me right now.”

There was no way out. Ryzen could no longer muster the courage to argue any longer and complied with his master’s order.

Moments later, a vial of Veraxium was placed on the table beside the bed.

Calix uncorked the vial and held it out to Asella.

“Drink.”

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