Chapter 23: Breaking Off These Chains [2]

Leon's heart dropped to his stomach, and he felt like he was about to puke.

"Oh my god!" Mari's voice drifted into his ears the next moment. "Agnes! You gave me a fright!"

"What are you girls doing here? The head maid is looking for you!" The voice which apparently belonged to Agnes exclaimed.

"Oh! We're coming! I just found what I was looking for over here!" There was a jingling sound the next moment as Mari seemingly grabbed the keys from the crate that was near Leon. "Let's go, Betty!"

"Seriously! It's an urgent situation right now, and yet you just—"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!"

There was a resounding click, the rapid shuffling of footsteps…

…and then silence.

Leon didn't dare move from his position until he was certain that the girls were really gone. The room was bathed in darkness now that the door was closed, so he had to conjure an ice sphere that floated in the air, glowing a bright, pale blue.