Rhea felt relieved settling into the embassy, though her confidence before Fred was a facade. R20 and mind control were real, but her success rate wasn't perfect. She couldn't guarantee its continued effectiveness; her research was limited by her duties, relying instead on experimentation and intuition. Cameron's experiment had been the inspiration for her upgraded drug. Despite the brain's complexity, she believed drug-induced control was possible, combining hypnosis and pharmacological effects—R20's secret, one she kept from Fred for strategic reasons.

Her embassy stay eliminated the threat of Alexander and Cameron's pursuit. Overhearing Mike, she'd learned of the Yudonian royal family's backing, explaining the organization's power and secrecy. The identifier she'd taken from the "boss" remained a mystery; her explanation to Fred was fabricated. Nevertheless, she'd made progress. Next, she aimed to find Lily and manipulate Fred into eliminating her, leaving Rhea as the organization's sole operative.

However, a guard blocked her exit. He remained impassive, refusing passage. "I... just want to walk around," Rhea ventured, "I'm Duke Frederick's friend, not a prisoner." He ignored her. Returning to her room, her excitement vanished, replaced by fury. Confinement felt like a relapse into captivity. I must gain Fred's trust immediately, she thought. Otherwise, I'll never achieve my goals.

Meanwhile, Lily sat in the attic, drawing her legs to her chest and gazing out the lone window. The day was cloudy, yet seeing the outside world, even the sunlight and occasional dark clouds, lifted her spirits. She worried about the babies at home.