OKAY, I SEE...
THE PEDELIANS HAVE ARRIVED TO THE FOREST NEAR THE NORTHERN BORDER.
I HOPE THEY LIKE MY WELCOMING GIFT.
I HAND-PICKED THE ONES THAT ARE ESPECIALLY CRAZY ABOUT HUMAN FLESH AND BLOOD.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE CASSIS CAME TO THIS MANSION.
FINALLY...
...MY LIFE CAN GO BACK TO BEING NORMAL ONCE HE'S GONE.
I'LL LEAVE THIS HERE.
YOU SHOULD EAT IT BEFORE IT GETS COLD.
YOU DON'T LOOK SO GOOD.
I HAVE BEEN LOSING A LOT OF BLOOD DUE TO THE POISON BUTTERFLIES LATELY.
I'VE INCREASED MY DOSE OF POISON, TOO.
I HAVE NEWS FROM THE PEDELIANS.
AREN'T YOU WORRIED ABOUT THEM AT ALL?
I HAVE FAITH IN ISIDORE.
YET YOU DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY FAITH IN MY ABILITIES.
?
HE DOESN'T EVEN TRY TO HIDE HIS POWERS ANYMORE.
!!!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
WHO SAID YOU COULD TOUCH MY HAND?!
YOU'RE ONE TO TALK... YOU TOUCH ME ALL THE TIME.
SO, THIS IS THE REAL YOU.
NO, I'M JUST ANNOYED.
CASSIS KNOWS...
...THAT IF I FAINT AGAIN, IT WILL COMPLICATE HIS ESCAPE PLAN.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY...
...HE'S ACTING THIS WAY.
DON'T FORGET, CASSIS...
I'M AN AGRECE.
I KNOW.
A COUPLE DAYS PASSED AND THE MONTHLY EVALUATION WAS ONLY ONE DAY AWAY.
THERE'S AN INTRUDER!
AHAHAHA!!!
JUST IN TIME! I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND! I CALL DIBS ON THE ONES WITH PRETTY NAILS!!!
EVERYBODY, TO YOUR POSITIONS!
THE ONES INSIDE THE MANSION ARE MINE!
AHAHAHA!!!
PEDELIANS' WATCHDOGS, HUH?
I THOUGHT I HAD KILLED THEM ALL.
THEY EVEN MADE IT INSIDE... HOW PERSISTENT.
WHAT'S GOING ON, FATHER?
ROXANA.
I NEED YOU TO GO AND CHECK...
...IF THAT SON OF A B*TCH OF YOURS IS STILL WHERE HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
IS IT THE PEDELIANS?
MOST LIKELY.
OKAY, FATHER.
JUST AS I THOUGHT...
...SHE CATCHES ON QUICKLY, LIKE ME.
LET'S GO.
SHOUT
OH, LADY ROXANA!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?!
WE SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE THE TOY BACK INSIDE, JUST IN CASE.
THE PEDELIANS ARE HERE--
SHH...
I KNOW. I'M PLANNING SOMETHING FUN FOR THEM.
IT'S A SURPRISE, SO CAN YOU KEEP IT A SECRET FOR ME?
I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
O-OF COURSE, MY LADY.
THANKS. DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY FATHER IS SENDING THE CAPTIVES?
TO THE FIRST FLOOR LOBBY WHERE THE STATUES ARE, MY LADY.
THANK YOU.
THEY'RE ALL SO INFATUATED WITH YOU.
MOST PEOPLE ARE. YOU'RE THE ONLY ODD ONE.
THE PLACE I MENTIONED IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
UNTIL YOU'RE COMPLETELY OUT OF HERE...
...DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, CASSIS.
In Roxana Chapter Draft 25, Roxana uses the Pedelians' arrival in the forest near the northern border to facilitate Cassis's escape from the mansion. She selects captives fond of human flesh as a welcome gift, loses blood due to poisonous butterflies while sharing a tense intimate moment with Cassis. When intruders attack the mansion, her father sends her to check on Cassis, and she secretly directs Cassis toward the escape route.
