WHILE I WAS TENDING TO CASSIS INSIDE THE HALLUCINATION ROOM,
JEREMY...
...TOOK MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON HAVING JEREMY SENT TO THE PUNISHMENT ROOM,
BUT HE TOOK IT A STEP TOO FAR BY LETTING THE MONSTERS OUT.
HE ALMOST RUINED ALL MY PLANS,
SO I DIDN'T BOTHER HELPING HIM OUT THIS TIME.
BOTH OUR MOTHERS ALWAYS LOOK AT US LIKE WE'RE SOME KIND OF MONSTERS.
I THOUGHT YOUR MOTHER WOULD BE DIFFERENT,
BECAUSE SHE COMES RUNNING IN PANIC WHENEVER SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU.
WHY AM I REMINDED OF THAT CONVERSATION, ALL OF A SUDDEN...?
AS PUNISHMENT FOR TRYING TO TAKE WHAT BELONGED TO ME,
DEON WAS SENT TO THE CARANTULS' HABITAT EARLY THIS MORNING.
ALTHOUGH, CARANTUL HUNTING IS HARDLY A PUNISHMENT FOR SOMEONE LIKE DEON.
NO ONE COULD LEAD A MONSTER HUNTING PARTY BETTER THAN HE COULD.
IT'S ONLY AN EXCUSE TO SEND HIM OUT ON ANOTHER ERRAND.
THAT WAS VERY SNEAKY OF YOU, LANTE AGRECE.
I GUESS I SHOULD BE SATISFIED, SINCE NOW I WON'T HAVE TO SEE DEON FOR A WHILE.
BUT--
THAT ALL-KNOWING,
CONDESCENDING STARE OF HIS...
...IT'S REPULSIVE.
WHAT'S ALL THAT?
Oh.
SOMEONE GAVE IT TO ME.
IT WAS WAITING FOR ME JUST OUTSIDE THIS ROOM.
IS THAT FROM ONE OF YOUR FATHER'S MEN, TOO?
NO, IT'S FROM ONE OF MY MOTHER'S.
SHE SURE IS SOMEONE.
I look forward to seeing you and Cassis at my next tea party. I hope you like my gifts. -Maria
IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE DAYS SINCE THE INCIDENT,
AND SHE'S ALREADY INVITING ME TO ANOTHER TEA PARTY LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.
THESE POISONOUS FLOWERS CAN BE USEFUL...
BUT WHAT IS THIS?
UGH, THIS IS--
A LOVE POTION.
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN FROM THE MOMENT I SAW ONE OF MARIA'S MAIDS WAITING FOR ME OUT IN THE HALL.
PEOPLE MUST HAVE SEEN THE MARKS ON CASSIS' NECK DURING THE INCIDENT.
BY THE WAY, HOW'S YOUR MOTHER DOING?
SHE'S DOING MUCH BETTER.
SHE'S JUST A LITTLE SHAKEN UP, THAT'S ALL.
I SEE...
CASSIS SEEMS A LOT CALMER THESE DAYS.
I WONDER IF THE LAST INCIDENT CAUSED HIM TO TRUST ME MORE.
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
MAYBE HE REALIZED THAT I REALLY AM TRYING TO HELP HIM.
THAT MAN WHO ACTIVATED THESE SHACKLES THE OTHER DAY...
...WAS DEON AGRECE, WASN'T HE?
MY GUESS WAS CORRECT.
DID YOU KNOW HE PUSHED THE MONSTER IN FRONT OF YOUR MOTHER ON PURPOSE?
I DO.
HOW COULD HE--?!
BECAUSE...
...HE'S AN AGRECE.
BY THE WAY, I HAVE TWO GOOD THINGS TO TELL YOU.
ONE, THE SECRET PASSAGE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER WILL BE OPEN SOON.
THE ONE YOU POINTED OUT ON THE MAP LAST TIME, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT. REMEMBER HOW I MENTIONED THERE WAS A SLIGHT PROBLEM WITH THAT?
IT'S BECAUSE THE DOOR REMAINS SHUT FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TELL YOU IS...
...I SAW SOMEONE ROAMING AROUND THE AREA YESTERDAY.
I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE MEN SENT BY YOUR FAMILY.
HE WAS A BRUNETTE WITH GREEN EYES AND SOMEWHERE IN HIS MID-30'S.
HE ALSO HAD AN EYE PATCH. DOES HE RING A BELL?
HE LOOKED LIKE THE LEADER OF THE GROUP.
WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM?
ON THE SOUTHEASTERN BORDER.
WE SHOULD GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO PROVE THAT YOU'RE STILL ALIVE.
HAND ME ONE OF THOSE FLOWERS.
HERE.
IT MUST BE SOME KIND OF A SECRET CODE USED BY THE PEDELIANS.
I'D BE LYING IF I SAID THAT YOU HAVE MY FULL TRUST.
YOU AND I BOTH KNOW WHY.
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME EVEN IF I TOLD YOU I TRUSTED YOU, EITHER.
BUT...
...EVEN IF THERE WAS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE BEHIND YOUR ACTIONS,
I SHOULD STILL THANK YOU...
...FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.
THAT'S ODD...
WHY DOES MY CHEST FEEL SO TIGHT?
WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS FEELING?
IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO THANK ME.
YOU'RE STILL A PRISONER.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
ROXANA, THERE'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN MEANING TO ASK.
DO YOU KNOW...
WHAT KIND OF FLOWER THIS IS?
In Roxana Chapter Draft 20, while tending to Cassis, Roxana reflects that Jeremy ruined their plans by releasing the monsters and that Deon was sent to the Carantul region. Gifts from Maria arrive — poisonous flowers and a love potion — along with a tea party invitation. Cassis describes Deon, who activated the handcuffs, the secret passage, and the eyepatch-wearing man at the southeastern border, gives flowers to prove he is alive, and thanks her.
