CHAPTER 1467: ISOLATION II

The sudden knock on the door startled Lydia. She lifted her head, heart pounding, when a voice came from the other side.

"Miss Wu, we’ve brought the refreshments and hot towels you ordered."

Lydia frowned. She was confused, as she had never asked for anything since she arrived. Lydia, hastily wiping her tears, half-ran to the door. The moment she opened it, a maidservant wheeled a trolley inside before Lydia could utter a word.

"O—kay," Lydia closed the door behind them. Lydia looked at the maidservant, then began to speak, "I don’t think—"

The maid pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. A strange grin curved her face as she twisted the bracelet on her wrist. Suddenly, a shimmering, transparent dome formed around them, like an invisible bowl sealing them in.

"Lydia, are you okay? It’s me." The maid seized Lydia’s hands, her expression full of concern.

Lydia’s eyes went wide. "Are you... Maddy?"

"Yes!" Maddy grinned broadly. "How do I look? Black hair suits me, right?" She winked.

"Oh, Maddy!" Lydia cried, throwing her arms around her in relief.

Maddy held her close, rubbing her back gently. "There, there... everything’s going to be fine. Don’t be scared."

In that moment, the crushing dread that had been suffocating Lydia vanished like storm clouds scattered by the wind. She finally breathed again.

Maddy pulled back, scanning Lydia’s tear-stained face. "Silly girl. Did you really think we’d leave you here alone? Please." She poked Lydia’s forehead lightly. "And by the way, I’m not the only one here. Jack and Gavin are nearby, too."

"Really?" Lydia’s eyes lit up.

"Yeah. Jack insisted on coming, snatched the assignment right out of the Noxcra agent’s hands. So annoying." Despite her words, Maddy’s smile betrayed her happiness.

Lydia smirked. "You just want to brag about how much your boyfriend loves you, right?!"

"Boyfriend? We’re just... coworkers," Maddy shot back quickly, though the flush creeping across her cheeks told a different story.

Seeing Lydia’s grin, Maddy flapped her hands. "Stop teasing me! Your boyfriend’s here too, watching over you."

"Owen’s here?!" Lydia’s face lit up, but she quickly shook her head, cheeks burning. "He’s not my boyfriend."

Maddy clicked her tongue. "Who said I was talking about Owen?"

"..." Lydia pressed her lips together, knowing she fell into Maddy’s trap.

Maddy let out a short laugh but didn’t press further. Her face grew serious again. "Alright, enough joking. I’m here to make sure you don’t get drugged. Stay alert. Here—" She lifted the lid from the cart.

Inside were mushroom steaks with potatoes, fresh bread and butter, and, most importantly, two sealed bottles of mineral water.

"This food and drink are safe. I’ll prepare your tea and everything else myself. Eat first before you go out, and remember from now on, only eat and drink what I bring you. The servants have already started lacing not just the drinks, but the food too."

"Understood." Lydia clasped her trembling hands together.

"Don’t worry," Maddy said gently. "We’re all here to protect you. Even Mr. Thornbery arrived."

"I know, don’t worry about me." Hearing that Jay has come personally means their plan is starting to take shape, and soon after, the fear in her eyes is replaced with determination.

Security around the healers had slackened—every worthwhile guard diverted to the Saintess and Alexander Behrenn. Only a few Dragxtarn lingered, and not a single Constellation stood watch over the delivery.

In the car, Jay’s hands flew across the keyboard, keystrokes rattling like gunfire. Strings of code bled down the screen, a sequence of numbers flashing into place.

One final strike of the Enter key, and every camera in and around the villa went dark for a heartbeat before snapping back under his command, their feeds flooding his screen.

Satisfied, Jay stepped out of the car, his subordinates falling in line behind him. He moved toward Garrof and the others. By the time they arrived, the corpses of Luxemborough soldiers had already been piled like dry leaves in one corner. Lloyd crouched nearby, pouring a corrosive liquid over the heap to dissolve the remains.

"The security is even laxer than we expected," Garrof remarked as Jay approached, "Thanks to our wise King, ofcourse" he bow his head solemnly.

"Hm, that’s why getting them out won’t be the hard part," Jay replied. "Finding Zalchna’s location is."

"Yeah, but at least we know the location was still in Dolza" Garrof pinch his chin, "I wonder if there any reason behind it"

"We’ll see" Jay reply calmly.

"Sorry, just a question," Danny interrupted hesitantly. "The Saintess is on her way to Harland, right? Wouldn’t the healers find it strange for them who supposed to accept the Saintess blessing were stationed here, meanwhile, The Saintess is halfway across the world?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

Jay gave a cold sneer. "I doubt they know anything about the outside world. Their lives are already restricted, and once they’re chosen, the leash only gets tighter. Most of them wouldn’t even know what happens beyond the walls of the White Rose building. And don’t forget about the drugs that kept them high most of the time."

Lloyd then suddenly chorpped in, "Jack mentioned there’s no internet, no telecom devices either," Lloyd stare at the direction of the villa with heavy emotion. "They’re probably clueless about what’s happening outside. Like chickens fattened in a pen."

"They’re caged," Owen muttered.

Jay gave a slow nod. "They are..."

A Noxcra agent appeared abruptly, striding toward Jay. "Sir, our contact reports they’ve received the drug sample from Dominique Hartley."

"Send it to N.I.M.S.," Jay ordered without hesitation. "Tell them to make it priority, and I want a quick report on what’s in it."

"Yes, sir." The agent gave a quick nod before hurrying off.

______________________________

Before leaving, Maddy had reminded Lydia that perhaps the only place free from surveillance was the bathroom. If she wanted to do anything in secret, that was where she should do it.

Once inside, Lydia quickly pulled out the Versipell potion. She drank it down in one gulp, the bitter liquid burning on her tongue. Almost at once, a sharp sting spread across her face, indicated that the potion was working.

She leaned toward the mirror to make sure her disguised remain flawless. When she was certain her disguised is alright, Lydia sealed the empty vial and tucked it deep inside her makeup pouch.

She stepped out of her room, then finish her food before rejoined the others, wearing a bright smile as though nothing had happened.

The villa looked lively. Some girls sat at the bar sipping wine and laughing, while others lounged by the pool with tea and cakes. Servants drifted back and forth, carrying trays of food and drinks, ready to provide whatever they desired.

Time to time, Lydia noticed few guards stood across the pool, their eyes fixed on the group. sometime, senior healers would come over to talk with them, as they were talking sometime they threw a glance at them as if they were checking them.

Their scrutiny gaze set Lydia on edge, though it only pushed her to act even more convincingly cheerful, masking her unease with laughter.

"Jasmine, try this drink." Amy handed her a glass adorned with a tiny flower and a paper umbrella. It looked like a tropical cocktail, but the faint red tint made Lydia uneasy. Before she could react, a maid appeared at her side, offering a tray filled with colorful drinks.

"Would you like to try one, miss?" the maid asked politely.

Lydia turned, and her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the maid as Maddeline. For a split second, her eyes lit up, but she quickly schooled her expression.

Matching her composure, Lydia cleared her throat and asked casually, "Hmm, which one do you recommend?"

The maid smiled courteously. "I’d suggest this one." She set down a bright orange drink decorated with a yellow flower. "It’s very refreshing."

"Alright, I’ll take it." Lydia picked up the glass and took a sip, feigning indifference.

The maid bowed slightly and slipped away. Relief washed over Lydia as she sipped through the straw, if it came from Maddeline, it had to be safe. Maddeline hovered nearby, taking orders and serving the others, moving with effortless composure.

Lydia stole a secret glance at her, quietly amazed at how calm and convincing Maddeline was in her role. She looked so natural, her eyes betraying not the slightest hint of worry. She was that good. In truth, everyone else carried themselves the same way, approaching the mission with the calm assurance of those who had lived through it countless times before.

After all, aside from her, the others were hunters, former soldiers and survivors with experience etched deep into their bones.

The realization struck her deeply, yet it did not deter her. Instead, it ignited a sharper resolve within her: to push herself harder, to prove she could be just as useful among them.

"Oh, I wish I could bring my mom and dad here. This place is beautiful," Lydia remarked deliberately, trying to gauge Amy’s reaction. But Amy only sipped her drink through the straw, as if she hadn’t heard her at all.

Lydia pressed on, testing further. "Amy, how did your parents react when they found out you were one of the chosen one? They must be very proud, right?"

Amy blinked at her blankly. "My... parents?"

Lydia frowned at the strange response. "Yes... you do have parents, right?" she added with a forced chuckle, trying to mask her unease.

Amy tilted her head, her brows knitting together as if dredging up something from deep inside. "I... did have parents. And a brother..." Her voice trailed off, distant, uncertain.

A chill ran through Lydia. She reached for Amy’s hand. "Amy—Amy, are you okay?"

The moment their hands touched, Amy suddenly snapped out of her daze, her expression lighting up into a bright smile. "I like red velvet cake. Do you like it too?"

Lydia froze, her mind blank. "I... I like it," she managed to say.

"I knew it!~" Amy’s smile widened. "I’ll get it for you!" she chirped, bouncing up from the couch and skipping toward the serving table with childlike enthusiasm.

Lydia stared after her in horror. The truth clawed at her chest, cold and merciless. The drugs weren’t merely dulling her awareness, they were stripping away the very core of who she was.

If Amy could forget her parents, her own brother... what else had already been erased from her minds? Their principles, their conscience... their morality.