[Chapter 66]
(How are we going to escape from here.....I could get out of here easily if I was facing the single-celled idiot duo from before, but this time it looks like it's going to be a bit more difficult.)
My meals are usually brought by that expressionless servant, but sometimes one of the count's knights who stand guard would bring it instead. Either way, it's unlikely that I'll find a chance to escape.
(If I agree to be that pervert's mistress, I'll at least be able to get out of here, but......what will happen to Anna? If I can at least get Anna released.......)
I can't tell how long I've been down here. The meals are scattered around in what feels like random times, so I never know whether I'm eating breakfast or supper. This dungeon is humid, and there isn't any sunlight down here. I'd like to avoid staying down here for too long if at all possible.
(I'm going to become asthmatic if I stay down here for too long with how damp and moldy it is. Haa~, a mistress though?)
[Rose]: "Hey, the knight there."
[Knight]: "What is it?"
[Rose]: "If I agree to be the count's mistress, will you let go of my maid in the next cell over?"
[Knight]: ".....yes. If you become his mistress, the Lord with listen to almost any of your requests."
[Rose]: "Okay. That helps."
[Knight]: "Are you going to become his mistress?"
[Rose]: "Your Lord would be ecstatic wouldn't he? Shouldn't that make you happy?"
I answered the knight's question with a question, and he lowered his eyes.
[Knight]: ".....My Lord would be pleased......but is that okay with you?"
[Rose]: "So long as my precious maid is released, I......"
*Crash*
Before I could say anything more, Anna started shouting while causing a racket from the cell next door.
[Anna]: "Mistress! If you are thinking of sacrificing yourself for my sake, then stop it this instant!!! Mistress is my important master. And besides, you are the daughter to a duke! Don't foolishly make the wrong choice."
[Rose]: ".....Anna. But, you're important to me too. And I'm not seeing any other way for us to escape this place."
[Knight]: "Despite being of such a high status as a member of a ducal house, you have such a beautiful heart. All of the other aristocrat girls who were here before were so haughty, high-handed, and selfish."
[Rose]: "Well, I can't deny that there are a lot of us who are like that. And despite what you say Mr. Knight, I don't have any kind of special heart or anything."
[Knight]: "You think so? And yet you're willing to give yourself away as a mistress to save a maid. You're the first one to ever even think about them."
[Rose]: "Huh?"
[Knight]: "Most of my lord's mistresses were kidnapped and separated from their maids just like you. But not a single one of them have ever even shown concern for their servants. The opposite actually. 'I'll let you have my maid, so save me,' is the offer I always get."
[Rose]: ".....and what happened to them?"
[Knight]: "I reported them to my lord. The lord would then drug the girls into submission.....until they became his slaves. And then, if the maid met his fancy as well, he would drug her tool. Of course, I can't think of a single maid in the world who hasn't suited his fancy......"
[Rose]: "That's......."
Words failed me when faced with the shocking truth. I could understand being physically attracted towards people you find cute. But to be so depraved that you would force every woman you meet into being your mistress without letting anyone get away. And then forcing them to submit with drugs too.
[Anna]: "M-Mistress! Let's run away! There's no way you can force yourself to become the mistress of a man like that!"
[Rose]: ".....but, to escape a place like this......would a certain strong knight be willing to help us?"
I looked towards the muscular knight who was still standing just outside my cell.
[Knight]: ".....tomorrow, this estate is going to be investigated."
[Rose]: "Eh?"
[Knight]: "....with the situation being what it is and the whereabouts of you two young ladies currently unknown, the duke house and the royal family have been frantically looking for you. I heard they've been investigating all of the noble residences. And tomorrow is this place's turn."
Excusing himself, the knight walked away to return to his post.
[Rose]: ".....Anna. Let's shout as loud as we can."
[Anna]: "Yes Mistress!"
[Chapter 67]
I was really excited about today, but then the servant who usually brings me my meals quietly came over and stuffed a cloth into my mouth so I couldn't say anything.
(Well I was expecting something like this......but I guess this means that what the knight had told us yesterday was true. What am I going to do if I can't scream......these shackles are weighted down, so I can't really move......seriously.......)
[Damiel]: "Fufufu, my cute princess. How are you liking your life here?"
It wasn't the usual knight who came with the servant this time, but Count Damiel himself who walked down the stairs.
[Damiel]: "Oh that's right~ You can't saying anything with your mouth blocked up like that. It's unfortunate that I can't hear your cute little voice, but I'm afraid this mansion is going to go through a small investigation. You're important to a lot of people. But you belong to me. I'd be in trouble if they found you."
Having his hand reach out and brush against my cheek felt disgusting.
[Rose]: "......"
[Damiel]: "I heard you haven't tried selling out your maid. Fufufu, even though I'd be more than willing to buy her from you. Well it's almost around time for you to come to me anyway. Tell me, did you hear about today's investigation from somebody already? But, it's unfortunate. This dungeon is actually located below my mansion's prison. Someone who doesn't already know the layout of this mansion will never be able to find this room."
Hearing those words, even the small ray of hope I carried in my chest was extinguished.
[Damiel]: "Fufufu, that face! It's the best. What did you think was going to happen? All your friends bursting in here to save you? Like I already said, you belong to me."
The Lecherous Count buried his face in my neck.
Gah! Suddenly a sharp pain ran through my neck, and as I was wondering if he had just bit me, the Lecherous Count grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked on it while pulling his face away.
[Damiel]: "You belong to me. Never forget that. You don't want to make your important maid sad? Then quit thinking so much and just give yourself to me."
Finally with a disgusting smile floating across his face, the Lecherous Count made his way out of the dungeon.
[Anna]: "Mmm! Mmm!"
That noise is probably coming from Anna. They must have blocked her mouth from saying anything as well. I think she's worried because she wasn't able to hear what the count was saying from where she is.
I wanted to give her some peace of mind, but it's difficult with my mouth gagged up as well. I tried telling her I was all right, but I'm not sure if it got through. However, I was pretty certain I could hear her crying from her cell.
(.......what am I going to do? This pervert is being careful. Nobody is going to find us if he really hid us in a dungeon underneath a dungeon. ......maybe if they bring El or Alto with them they'll be able to find my scent attached to the count......)
It's starting to look like there's really no option here other than to become his mistress.
(If I can at least save Anna.....)
[Chapter 68]
Since I couldn't hear anything from this cell, it's difficult to determine if anyone has arrived for that investigation yet. At the very least, nobody has come back to pull off these clothes covering my mouth, so the investigation must still be going on unless they haven't arrived yet.
[Rose]: "........"
I want to get out of here.
♠
[???]: ".....N, .....o. .....this is....."
I could hear a voice somewhere off in the distance and felt like it was slowly getting closer.
(Is that Count Damiel's voice? Is he fighting with someone?)
I thought I could hear the patter of several people's footsteps, but I couldn't quite tell where they were coming from.
(Maybe they actually do know where this place is? I hope someone can hear me.....)
[Rose]: "Mm—Mm—Mm—!!"
With the cloth covering up my mouth, all I could manage were a few muffled screams.
But Anna seemed to understand my intentions and added her own muffled screams alongside my own.
(Somebody, please. Notice us.....)
[???]: "......did you hear something?"
I didn't know who it was, but he heard us all the same.
[Rose]: "Mm—!!! Mm——!!!"
[???]: "There it is again."
(They noticed!)
And yet no matter how long I waited, nobody walked down those stairs to get us.
[Chapter 69]
[Damiel]: "Fufufu, how regrettable."
Walking down the stairs while humming with a light step......was that pervert Count Damiel.
In the end, the investigators must have gone home without ever finding us. I suppose it would be easy to write-off the noise we were making as a rat.
[Rose]: "....."
[Damiel]: "And so your hope has turned to despair. Fufufu, that face of yours is irresistible."
Count Damiel looked ecstatic as he advanced on me.
(Uuu, disgusting. I'm getting goosebumps just looking at him.)
[Damiel]: "I can't hear you cute voice with that cloth in your mouth though. ......There, all better. Now there's nobody around to disturb us. Fufufu, don't make that kind of face. I'm not going to force myself on you."
[Rose]: "Hii!"
My whole body freezes up whenever he starts whispering in my ear. Even if I weren't chained down I wouldn't be able to run away. And even if I did manage to escape, I have no idea where I could go.
(I might......have to prepare myself for the worst.)
[Damiel]: "Those eyes, good. You're finally considering coming to my side. Oh! Yes, if you and your maid service me to my satisfaction, I am willing to release your important maid. She isn't my type anyway."
[Rose]: ".....ser, vice?"
[Damiel]: "Yes, service. Simply put, you'll need to make me feel good. Easy right? Now of course, rest assured that I am in no way aiming for the maid's virginity. And I'll be sure to let her go once you're both done."
[Rose]: "......are you...dissatisfied with me alone?"
[Damiel]: "No no, of course not! I want you to devote your life to me. The rest of your life as my sex slave. You should feel honored. Do that, and I have no need for the maid."
[Damiel]: "Now come. Take my hand, and everything will work out."
(If I take that hand.....then everyone.....I won't be able to see everyone else anymore if I take that hand. Mother and Father.....Allen and Alto.....since it's the end, I really wish I could've seen El one more time. .....El.....)
It's painful, and sad to think about how I'm never going to get to see the most important people in my life ever again. But, if it means I can save my important Anna, then giving myself up is a small price to pay. There's no need to weigh the scales on that one.
[???]: "What hand should she take!!!"
[Chapter 70]
The sudden raging howl roared through the room causing not just me, but Count Damiel to tremble in place.
[Damiel]: "W-What!?"
The sound of several sets of footsteps could be heard storming down the steps, and among them
[Rose]: "......El"
Plus Father, Grandpa, Allen, and Rudolph. All four of them circled around, ready to seize Count Damiel. Father and Grandpa were furious while Allen and Rudolph, wrapped up in his knight armor, looked more worried than anything else.
[Grandpa]: "Sir, that's my granddaughter."
[Father]: "Rose, we're getting you out of here now!"
[Rose]: ".....Grandpa.....Father....."
[El]: "Rose, sorry for being so late. We'll save you right away!"
[Rose]: "El....."
[Allen]: "Rose-sama, Anna, let's get you somewhere safe."
[Rose]: "Yes......"
[Rudolph]: "Please excuse the late rescue"
[Rose]: "Rudolph, you came too."
[Damiel]: "W-What is this!? You can't come down here without my permission! Roselia is mine. I won't hand her over to anyone. She's going to be another piece to my collection. Ah, but you can have the maid in the cell next to hers back. That should be sufficient right?"
Those cold eyes that were taunting me just a moment ago grew flustered as Count Damiel bared his fangs at Father.
[Father]: "If you're talking about your mistresses in your bedroom and attic then they're already safe. We've already heard their circumstances. Now where did you get those drugs!?"
[Damiel]: "Ah, this medicine here? It was a gift from a nice noble girl. It's been most helpful. I wanted to use it on Roselia if at all possible, but since I had my doubts about its effects, I tested it out on some other women first."
[Father]: ".....scum"
[Rudolph]: "Count Damiel, your mansion is already besieged by knights. You are hereby under arrest for the abduction of Roselia-sama and her maid along with the numerous crimes listed in the testimonies of the other women you held here. I have a writ right here from Prince William."
[Damiel]: "Tch, my dear Roselia. It appears I have been caught. But I do not wish to part......so let us pass on together instead."
[Rose]: "Hii! S-Stop.....Get back!"
Count Damiel spun around, turning his back on Father and the rest in order to wrap his hands around my neck.
[El]: "Bastard!"
*BAM!* There was a tremendous echo as Count Damiel went flying through the air before my eyes, crashing onto the ground and left motionless on his side. And then, I was wrapped up in something warm.
[El]: "Rose, Rose.....Rose"
El kept repeating my name in my ear as he held me close.
His body is so warm, and yet he was shivering. He held me so tightly it almost hurt, as if he were trying to make sure I was really here.
[Rose]: "Uuu.....you came.....you saved me....."
The dread of my seemingly inevitable fate from a moment ago mixed together with the overwhelming relief of being finally rescued, and all of my energy suddenly left me all at once. I gave myself to El's embrace as my consciousness slowly faded away.