The Redo of a Novel's Villain: Moira - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Red eyes peered down on blood stained palms. The warm body fluid seeping into the white fabric of his glove like ink coming into contact with water. It spread quicker with each drop that fell from his lips. Huey clenched his hand. The sensation of weakness thrummed in his fingers as he wiped the blood off his chin and mouth.
Basilrith, a fast acting poison that immediately attacks the body's system and rapidly thins the blood, leading to the victim vomiting blood moments after consumption. Symptoms include bleeding, weakness, vision impairment, dizziness, and temperature fluctuation. He faintly recalled Melissa falling victim to this soddy assassination (if it even had that intent) attempt and being in bed rest for days. Fortunately, although dangerous it is not a lethal poison unless delivered in large portions; with his prior mithridatism he should be able to neutralize it soon enough. With that said, Huey's distorted gaze lifted up to catch sight of the servant boy slowly backing into the astonished crowd.
The quickened commotion of foot steps stopped behind him and from the authoritative voice that boomed he could immediately deduce it was Melissa and the gang. Even without seeing her he could imagine her form commanding power and nobility.
"Guards, seize that boy!" She demanded, pointing towards the escaping convict.
The boy ran in a panic, face pale and movements frantic. It was hard to believe the assassination attempt had any plan at all--more impulse driven than anything. But of course, the guards of the prime minister weren't for vanity. Two of them quickly apprehended the boy, forcing him onto the floor even as he writhed wildly. The servant screamed bloody murder, already anticipating the consequence headed his way.
Melissa paid the boy's distress no mind as she quickly moved towards where Huey was being supported by Kayson and Nicholas.
"Someone call the physician, quickly!" She ordered, and if Huey had not been slightly delirious he might have seen the glimpse of guilt flashing in her expression. From behind her, Sorin and the rest showed up with mirroring concern.
"W-what should we do??" Celine gasped, her hands clenched tightly in front of her chest as she peered at the blood stains. Kade furrowed his brows, sweat glistening on his temple.
"We must wait for the estate's physician, before he arrives lay him down so the poison doesn't spread faster."
Hearing those instructions, Kayson and Nicholas moved to lay him down but Huey just jerked them off (much to their complaints). Sorin, whose face was now devoid of the usual healthy dust of pink on his cheeks, quickly approached him.
"Stop it, you must rest!" He urged, that of which fell on deaf ears. He trailed after Huey who began walking towards the (still struggling) servant with open arms in case the youth were to trip or faint. Sorin's hands hovered in the air, unsure if he should stop Huey or not because what if abrupt movement worsens his condition?!
Huey's expression relaxed, sighing, he raised an arm with his back still facing the others: signaling stop.
"I'm fine, I've already neutralized the poison." He declared. Although completely neutralized was a lie the effects were already miniscule. At most it felt like the sensations after a particularly harsh head rush. He glanced at the whispering crowd in search of familiar faces. As expected neither of his family members were specially worried having done the practice themselves.
Huey resumed his path and soon arrived in front of the boy spewing desperate profanities at the unfazed guards.
"U-unhand me! Or else my master will—my master will make sure none of you—"
"Your master," Huey whisked down, making firm eye contact. "Is using you as a sacrificial pawn." He muttered softly, just loud enough for the boy before him to catch.
Watching the shaking pupils constrict, a smile stretched his bloody lips. His hand moved towards the boy's breast pocket, fishing out a small packet of white powder. The boy's shaking immediately ceased upon seeing the packet revealed and exposed for everyone to see. Opening his mouth, the servant only let out a choked wheeze as the crowd instantly boomed into hushed discussion.
Huey leaned back, shaking the packet mildly. Sorin and the rest who lingered nearby watched in tense trepidation. From afar, the twins narrowed their eyes as they took a glimpse towards their father who merely watched on with the most subtle of guise.
"How careless, bringing the weapon to the crime scene itself. Either you're horribly lacking in IQ or your master planned for you to be the scapegoat." Not once did Huey's gaze leave the boy's, observing every hitch in emotion. "Putting the poison under your nails to only spike Melissa's drink, smart, but predictable. The evidence lays all on your hands, so tell me, who ordered you? They must be in this crowd right now, watching us, watching you."
The boy gulped, freckled face paling. He spoke nothing but silence was confirmation itself. Huey frowned.
"You already know nothing but punishment awaits, so what warrants your loyalty for your master who's already forsaken you?"
"He didn't forsake me! Stop.. stop telling lies you fiend!"
Huey tutted, "How delusional. Fine, maybe this'll make you talk."
"Umm, Huey..?" Kayson sensing a bad premonition, hesitantly approached his friend.
"Basilrith, a poison weak from external contact but extremely potent when consumed. The moment it enters the body, it attacks your blood cells and quickly immunizes your immune system. A minute after it enters the body, the blood particularly around the esophagus thins to the point you will immediately vomit blood. Following that you will experience nausea, vision impairment, breathing problems, auditory impairment or hallucinations, fluctuating body temperature, and when delivered in large quantities, death." Huey made sure to limit his volume so as to not spark any rumors that'd potentially ruin his newly built image. Regarding the guards, he trusts Melissa will make sure they keep their mouths shut.
The servant was at a loss, gaping mouth opening and closing like a fish begging for relief. "What are you..."
"The dosage you administered was thankfully not lethal, but it is enough to force the average person into bed rest for a couple days. Which makes me think... if the intent behind poisoning Melissa was not assassination but rather a distraction, what could your master benefit from it and who would benefit from it." He turned back to Melissa. "You're curious too, right?"
Melissa clenched her hands with a solemn expression. Her calculating eyes reveal her working mind in response to his words. Violet eyes searched the crowd for her parents, quickly beckoning them over.
Huey hummed, he then re-maintained eye contact. A bit surprised at the infuriated expression on the youth.
"If your plan is to threaten me with the poison, it's not gonna work. You'll need me alive if you're to get a word out of me." The freckled servant spat, voice coated in venom.
Huey blinked before shaking his head. "Of course I know that. But something that not many people know is that when a specific dosage is delivered alongside a stimulant like... caffeine. It achieves this balance that torments your brain and body and drives you to mania all within twenty four hours, and I'm sure we'll be able to get your mouth working within those hours." He shook the packet as if to reaffirm its presence.
Promptly the boy's smug appearance was wiped off his face as he began trembling again, indiscernible words leaking out of his mouth as Huey inched the packet closer to his opened mouth.
"Huey, stop." A baritone voice called out, freezing the youth mid-movement. After a moment, his shoulders sagged and his arm fell to the side limply as Huey extracted himself from the situation to stand in front of Heiden, eyes not meeting the older's. The duke scanned his nephew without a word before facing the Roseri family.
"Minister Augustus, apologies for the ruckus my nephew caused," Wine red eyes casted towards the blood stains on the marble flooring. "But this is quite an oversight on your part." He declared, inspecting the prime minister's sour expression.
Augustus frowned before lowering his head in apology. "Yes my sincerest apologies to you and your family Duke Heiden. I will see to it the perpetrators are brought to light and you will receive proper compensation. However, I'd like for the Astaseul Duchy to stand down as this is the Roseri family's affairs." The man asked, attention flickered to the diminished figure of Huey. He cleared his throat. "Furthermore, I believe the young lord deserves some rest."
Heiden's expression did not change. He wallowed in apt silence soon broken.
"..Of course. Lein, bring your cousin to a lounge."
The older youth nodded before separating from his twin's side, quickly moving next to Huey.
Melissa spoke up then, "I'll escort them, it is partly my responsibility this liability occurred. I am the target after all." She started with her hand over her chest.
Augustus immediately protested, "No Melissa, the people after you may still be here. It's dangerous for you to go."
But typical of Melissa, she's headstrong and once she sets her mind on something it's hard to change her goal. She shot his fussing down. "Father, I insist. I doubt the perpetrators would be foolish enough to act after the commotion. I'd also have Sir Lein accompanying me." She moved closer to her father, whispering just loud enough for him to hear. "And, I have some questions that need answers as well."
Augustus scowled, a bit helpless against his daughter's stubbornness. Sighing exasperatedly, he acquiesced. "Very well."
Melissa smiled briefly before issuing another edict. "Guards, take him away." As instructed the two guards dragged the kicking and screaming servant off, no one moving to help him even as the boy begged for his master's interference. Afterwards, she addressed the guests.
"Everyone! Fret not the situation has been dealt with! Please resume the activities, the mess here will be quickly cleaned up!" Of course no one would be naive enough to assume things could resume smoothly, but at least this way it'd force the topic to conclude even if they were to speak about it in hushed tones.
Nodding in the direction of her parents, Melissa gestured towards Lein and Huey. "Follow me." She called, leading them up the imperial stairs.
As they passed by the others, Huey shook his head at Kayson and Nicholas who looked to be on the verge of following after him. He noted the way Celine and Kade had complicated expressions, but were more or less relieved. What caught his attention was Sorin whose already droopy eyes resembled a dejected animal. But that's beside the point, the youth looked impossibly confused. Unfortunately, Huey didn't have the time nor will to inspect the protagonist's face to discern the reason.
As the three of them left the ballroom and stalked down similarly styled corridors as the ones downstairs, Huey's mind spun.
'The servant's eyes were pinpoint with signs of some sort of drug or toxins... Basilrith doesn't have any effects from skin contact which means the boy was likely drugged from the beginning. Perhaps not only was he a sacrificial pawn, he was sent on a suicide mission too.' Huey pursed his lips, fingers twitching to find surface. The absence of solidity except for the ground daunted him in his feverish state, even so a conclusion came to him nonetheless.
'There's a bigger ploy happening within the Roseri family.'
Before he could dwell on his thoughts any longer they'd already arrived at a secluded guest room. Lein set him down on the bed, offering no words of comfort or snark. He muttered a brief adieu and dismissed himself, leaving him and Melissa alone in the room.
Huey peered curiously at the only daughter of Ecrelyn's prime minister. She had her arms fallen to the side, her face frozen in bale. Only seconds after the click of the door sounded did the girl speak.
A single speck of the polite maiden-like visage she aired out in the revenue was gone, what took its place was the pontifical demeanor Huey was used to. With her hands crossed over her chest she behest, "Tell me what you know."