The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 124: Nearly Over

Chapter 124: Nearly Over

Rosalie could not help but emit another muffled sound, her voice restricted by the soft cloth that had been tightly bound over her mouth. She hoped that this latest attempt would finally convince Lord Xarden to remove the oppressive gag. Her desperate eyes met his, and the man responded with an arched eyebrow, his expression dripping with mockingly feigned curiosity.

"What is it, my dear? What could possibly be so urgent that you are this eager to speak?"

Theodore, meanwhile, had taken it upon himself to unlock the cage’s door, gingerly swinging it open just a fraction. Stretching his arm inside, he prepared to undo the knot securing the cloth behind the lady’s head. However, a momentary hesitation crept over him, causing him to pause. He then brought his gaze to meet Rosalie’s, offering her a somewhat reprimanding look as he resumed speaking,

"You must promise me that you will be well-behaved, Rosalie. If I remove this cloth, you must remain silent and speak only when I permit it. Can you agree to this?"

Lord Ashter locked eyes with the man before her, her response hesitant as she weighed her options. She recognized that complying with this man’s demands was her best chance at escaping his clutches. Yet, a fierce desire to rebel surged through her frantic mind, teetering on the brink of uncontrollable defiance.

’I must do everything in my power. I can only inhabit this body for a limited time before her consciousness pushes me out.’

With that resolve firmly in her mind, the young woman nodded in agreement, eliciting yet another sly grin from Theodore. Delicately, he untied the knot securing the cloth at the back of her head and removed it, all the while closely observing Rosalie’s reaction.

"Silent, as promised. Excellent."

Then, he gently positioned his index finger beneath the duchess’s chin, tilting it slightly upward, and fixed his narrow eyes onto hers, offering her a somewhat dreamy gaze.

"I understand that this may feel overwhelming at the moment, my dear, but fear not. You will adapt swiftly, and I will spare no effort to ensure your transition is as seamless as possible."

Rosalie responded with another deliberate nod, maintaining her conviction that conforming to the situation was her sole recourse for the time being. This compliant demeanor appeared to be making an impact on Lord Xarden, and to Rosalie’s benefit, it was evidently causing his guard to gradually lower.

Content with her compliance, Theodore ran his fingers languidly through the lady’s lustrous, cascading locks. His long, slender fingers then traced a gentle path along her exposed collarbones, his gaze tracking his own movements. Eventually, he withdrew his hand and redirected his attention to the young woman’s face.

"Rosalie... Now that you’ve become the pinnacle of my perfect collection of beauty, and it appears the wine is still taking its delightful effect, would you care to explore the rest of my treasures? I assure you, you won’t be disappointed in the slightest. It is a collection of unparalleled, one-of-a-kind items, all of which I alone possess. Quite intriguing, wouldn’t you concur?"

This time, Lady Ashter remained motionless. A thought at the back of her mind urged her to change her strategy, to confound the man even further. Consequently, she gently lowered her eyelids, feigning a light daze, and allowed her focus to blur. She deliberately let her body relax, releasing the nervous tension that had gripped her.

To her sheer fascination, it yielded the desired results.

Theodore adopted a feigned expression of concern, using his index finger to delicately lift the girl’s chin once more. A grin curled onto his lips as he delivered his words, laden with venom,

"Feeling a bit drowsy, perhaps? That wine was indeed quite intoxicating, wasn’t it? But fear not, what’s coming is even better – for you. Now, you can take a leisurely stroll without the discomfort of metal against your delicate skin."

From the inner pocket of his black vest, he retrieved a small, silver key and proceeded to meticulously unlock all four shackles that had confined Rosalie’s limbs. With gentleness, he cradled her palms in his own and adjusted his posture, assisting the lady to her feet.

"Are you feeling alright, my dear? Can you manage to stand on your own now?"

Rosalie nodded once more, her grip on Theodore’s left hand revealing her ongoing need for his support.

"Very well, my dear. Now, allow me to introduce you to your new friends, Rosalie."

Lord Xarden initiated their journey, finally guiding the duchess out of her gilded prison and away from the enigmatic red room.

As they walked through a lengthy, dimly illuminated corridor, Rosalie discreetly seized the opportunity to scrutinize her surroundings, assessing potential escape routes. The time of day remained elusive, concealed behind thick, velvet drapes shrouding every window. Moreover, the eerie silence persisted, devoid of any sign of servants. The mansion’s imposing and solitary ambiance was undeniably overwhelming.

Finally, the two came to a halt in front of a towering, ebony double door, resplendently adorned with intricate carvings. Lester, the youthful and strikingly handsome butler, greeted them courteously. In his hands, he cradled a small, circular silver tray bearing an oddly shaped golden key.

Theodore took the key from the tray and deftly unlocked the imposing door, leaving the key snug within the lock. He pivoted on his heels, a warm smile gracing his features, his hand gripping the substantial, round door handle as he prepared to unveil what lay beyond.

"Allow us to step into my petite gallery of beauty, dear Rosalie."

With an artful tug, he swung open the door, his face illuminated by a radiant and genuine smile. Leading Rosalie inside, they paused at the room’s center, just beneath a colossal crystal chandelier suspended low, adorned with an array of candles that cast a soft glow across the plush carpeted floor.

Lady Ashter cast her gaze around the room, and it undeniably resembled a museum hall, or more precisely, an art gallery.

Despite the room’s dim lighting, the objects within it commanded attention. Towering walls were adorned with large paintings encased in opulent, ornamented frames. These portraits, landscapes, and still-life depictions exhibited a level of beauty and precision unlike anything she had ever encountered.

Majestic statues of both humans and creatures loomed overhead, seemingly on the verge of springing to life, boasting impeccable attention to detail in their making.

Amidst it all, lifeless flowers, preserved with the magic of everlasting beauty, delicate butterflies encased behind the protective embrace of thick glass, and even the remains of rare animals could be observed. Lord Xarden’s collection was unmistakably designed to uphold the essence of beauty, even if that beauty now existed in a state of eternal stillness.

’Dead beauty... Would he kill her before her beauty would fade too?’

However, what captivated Rosalie’s attention most of all was the colossal crystal chandelier resting gracefully in the room’s center. Her luminous gray eyes fixated upon it, her gaze drawn to the multitude of flickering candles. Theodore, detecting her curious scrutiny, gracefully stepped a few paces away from her, positioning himself on the opposite side of the chandelier.

"Isn’t it impressive? This chandelier has been a cherished possession in the Xarden family for centuries, a masterpiece in its own right. Regrettably, due to its ancient design, to properly illuminate the room, it must be hoisted up to the ceiling using a rope. That’s where Lester’s invaluable assistance comes in."

With a resounding snap of his fingers, Lord Xarden summoned his servant closer and continued,

"Raise the chandelier, Lester. Let us bask in the room’s full splendor as I intended."

The youthful butler promptly complied, making his way to the room’s right wall where a sturdy brown rope, linked to the apex of the chandelier, was secured to a sizable metal ring. He unfastened the rope and grasped it firmly, initiating a gradual ascent of the chandelier.

Rosalie, without moving her head, shifted her gaze to the right, her watchful eyes tracking Lester’s deliberate actions.

’This might be my moment. If I act swiftly, it’s my sole opportunity to break free.’

With her focus returning to the ascending chandelier, Lady Ashter inhaled quietly, preparing herself for the decisive moment. Then, without further hesitation, she sprang into action.

As the colossal chandelier ascended, nearing its destination on the ceiling, the duchess summoned every ounce of her strength and lunged toward the unsuspecting butler, forcefully propelling him off balance, and causing him to tumble to the floor.

Fortune favored her, and events unfolded precisely as she had envisioned. With a deafening crash, the huge chandelier plummeted, striking Theodore and sending scores of candles sprawling across the floor.

The dense black carpet ignited immediately, flames erupting and rapidly engulfing the surroundings in a searing, vibrant orange blaze.

Lord Xarden’s panic surged as flames encircled his figure, and his frantic screams pierced the air. Capitalizing on his disarray, Rosalie swiftly made her exit from the room. She pulled the door shut behind her and, in a final act of defiance, secured it from the outside using the neglected golden key.

At that instant, neither the anguished cries of Lord Xarden nor Lester’s tormented shouts held any sway over her. For all its worth, all she wished was for them to join the eerie museum of lifeless beauty they had curated.

Now, all that was left was to escape. Now, it was nearly over.