<h4>Chapter 521: 521-Summoned To The Basement</h4>
<strong>Leysa:</strong>
"I will speak with my mom and thene back to you, okay?" Troy murmured, his tone low and guarded as he gave me a subtle hand gesture, assuring me everything would be fine.
The reason for his awkwardness was obvious.
The moment we arrived and slipped into the mansion, then crossed toward the guest house that stood at some distance from the main building but within the same fence where his mother lived alone, everything spiraled into chaos.
The second we rushed inside and he locked the door of the two story guest house,plete with a basement and several furnished rooms, his mother saw Clementine.
Troy lunged toward her and mped his hand over her mouth to stop her scream. He used all his strength to calm her before she finally allowed us to stay in one of the rooms.
I stayed beside Clementine at first, then rose and followed Troy. If they were going to discuss anything, I needed to be there.
After what Yorick had done, I trusted no one. Not even Troy’s mother.
Her eyes already carried a strange intensity. The way she looked at Clementine made her feelings clear.
She had never liked her. Not after the entire fallout of their broken friendship.
I stepped outside and stood near the doorway, watching Troy speak to his mother.
"Why is she here?" she demanded. "Did you not hear the announcement? She is a monster. Why would you bring a monster into your home when your mother lives here alone?"
I had expected this.
"Mother, she is not a monster. Do you not understand? This is their way of trapping her. If anyone spots her, they will report her so they can silence her before she reaches the news and exposes them," Troy insisted, gently reaching for her elbow.
She slipped her arm free and pushed his hand down, making it clear she was not convinced.
"Then tell me," she pressed, folding her arms. "What exactly will she tell the news? Why would they lie? Everything that needed to be revealed was already said by Ian."
It was a fair question. I had wondered the same. The council was clearly targeting the strongest threat.
"Mother, you know Clementine speaks up against injustice. That is what they fear," Troy replied, trying again to reason with her.
I watched him quietly and allowed myself a faint smile. It was strange to be standing beside him like this.
We had never worked together before, yet we had crossed paths often. I used to feel jealous of Clementine for having secured his friendship.
I had always found him attractive.
"That makes no sense," his mother snapped, dragging me back to the moment as she argued with him again.
"Mother, all I am asking is that you trust me. Do you trust me?" Troy stepped closer, gripping her arms just below the elbows and giving her a firm shake, stopping her from pulling away this time.
She stared at him, bitterness clouding her expression. Then she exhaled heavily and lowered her hands.
"Fine," she muttered. "But the moment I find out she is dangerous, I will not tolerate it." She pointed a finger at him in warning.
"I will not let that happen. Nowe on," Troy urged.
As they turned around, their eyes met mine.
The way she looked at me was strange. We had interacted before, and honestly, there had never been bad blood between us.
She had once been close to my mother, almost friends. She disliked Clementine because my mother disliked her.
My mother often reminded her that Clementine had ruined Troy’s reputation, while she praised me instead. But the expression she gave me now was different.
"Leysa, I heard you were getting married to Yorick. I am shocked he only summoned you to feed you to his sick brother," she said quietly.
Her tone carried genuine regret. She was apologizing for something she had no part in.
"It is fine," I replied with a smallugh. "I suppose I was desperate." I straightened my posture and nced away from Troy.
"Please be careful," she continued, rubbing her hands together. "Do not think I do not want to help Clementine. I am just scared."
She hesitated, then added, "Ever since Troy told me the truth about those fake messages, about the leaks and who was behind ruining his reputation, I have felt guilty for how I treated Clementine." She took a steady breath and faced us fully.
"And my fear has nothing to do with hatred," she insisted softly. "I am just afraid."
It made sense. Anyone would be.
I looked at Troy, then stepped forward and reached for his mother’s hands.
"I understand what you are saying," I began gently, holding Lady Lydia’s fingers. "I feel the same. We have all wronged Clementine in some way." I sighed.
"I also understand why you are frightened," I continued. "But there is nothing to fear from her. I know what they are doing and why. I have been inside Yorick’s mansion. I have seen how his parents were preparing to create monsters." I gulped at the memory.
"You would be shocked at the lengths they are willing to go to silence Clementine and keep the academy running," I exined.
Lady Lydia nodded slowly, her expression softening as she absorbed my words.
"I will prepare food for you guys," she said atst. "But you must keep a low profile. After the announcement, everyone is looking for Clementine." She lifted her hand and gave me a gentle pat on the head.
There was a certain shine in her eyes whenever she looked at me, and then at Troy.
When she stepped away, Troy and I faced each other. We both exhaled at the same time, as if we had finally found a moment to breathe.
"Anyway, I will sit beside Clementine and wait for her to wake up. I need to talk to her," I said, rubbing my hands together as I turned to leave.
"Actually, can youe to the basement with me? I need to get something," Troy called out suddenly, stopping me in my tracks.
For a moment, rm bells rang in my head. I could not exin why, but something felt off.
I forced myself to dismiss the thought. He was Troy. We were working together.
It was not as if I had not known him since childhood.
"Sure," I replied, even though I did not know what he intended.
I followed him toward the basement.