The Blood Oath
Canna traced back through the memories of her runaway days.
A tall man whose face was hidden beneath a deeply pulled hood had lifted her like a piece of luggage and slung her over his shoulder. Then he had delivered her straight into the hands of the Addis family.
And that man had been Sylvien.
“If you were going to run away, you’d obviously try to leave the empire so you couldn’t be easily found. Naturally, I assumed you would head for the Yalden Kingdom.”
Argon rattled off the words as if he had peered directly into her mind.
“Yalden is the country in the Western Continent with the highest regard for women’s rights. You’re a skilled physician, so even without any connections, you would have risen quickly there. There’s no better place for you. Am I wrong?”
Canna did not answer.
Argon Isaberg. He was practically a complete stranger—she had barely exchanged a few words with him before today.
He knows me too well.
At least in this world, no one understood her as thoroughly as Argon did. Shockingly, that was the truth.
With that level of information-gathering ability, psychological insight, and deductive power… perhaps he really could—
He might be able to dig up everything about Father.
But Argon was Casil’s brother—the brother of that damned prince. Wasn’t it possible he held a grudge against her?
“I cannot trust Your Highness.”
“Why not?”
“You are the brother of His Highness Prince Casil.”
At that, Argon frowned in clear displeasure.
“Don’t lump me together with that filthy bastard.”
“Who knows? Perhaps His Imperial Majesty ordered you to find the weakness of the insolent Canna Valentino who drove Prince Casil into a corner.”
Argon burst into laughter and waved his hand dismissively.
“You’re worrying over nothing. Didn’t you know? I’m a traitor to my own blood.”
“I know absolutely nothing about what kind of person Your Highness is.”
“Hmm.”
“Therefore, without proof that you will not harm me, I cannot do anything.”
“Proof, you say.”
Argon leaned back against his chair, tilting his head at an angle.
“I’ll give you anything.”
His eyes glittered with a seductive, almost wicked light.
“So go ahead. Make your demand.”
Canna stared at him in silence. Since things had come to this point, perhaps she should take the gamble?
“How about a blood oath?”
“A blood oath?”
“You just called yourself a traitor to your blood, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“If you write those words in a blood oath and leave it with me as collateral, then I will trust Your Highness.”
For a moment, Argon’s eyebrows froze. It was an outrageously bold request. The kind of proposal that might even warrant drawing a sword.
That’s exactly why it’s a gamble…
But she had no choice. She refused to become a piece of meat that could be bitten at will.
“Alchemists who use magic stones can track the owner through their blood. So please leave behind a letter that clearly proves it was written by Your Highness.”
Silence fell.
Canna kept her face perfectly calm as she waited for his decision. Argon stared at her intently, lost in deep thought.
Was he debating whether to kill her or spare her?
“That’s a good idea.”
Finally, his lips parted.
“And an incredibly insolent one, too.”
He pulled a folded sheet of paper from the inner pocket of his jacket, unfolded it, and placed it on the table.
“I brought this in case we needed to write a contract. How convenient.”
In one swift motion, he sliced his thumb with a dagger. Dark red droplets of blood fell with soft plops. He began writing with the blood.
O God, I beg You to bring ruin upon the corrupt Isaberg imperial family.
Argon Isaberg, in my own name, implores You.
“Well? How do you like my treasonous words?”
Argon licked the blood that had run all the way down to his wrist. He smiled with lips stained crimson.
“If you like it, you should praise me, Canna.”
The statement was far more extreme than she had expected. It was almost burdensome, yet Canna formed a satisfied smile.
“Yes. Now I will trust Your Highness.”
At those words, Argon threw his head back and laughed loudly. Then he said,
“Now you hold my lifeline in your hands. And yet you treat it as nothing more than proof of trust. I didn’t realize my life was so cheap.”
The moment this blood oath reached the emperor, Argon would be sentenced to death. Treason against one’s own blood was an unforgivable crime of lèse-majesté, even if the target was a blood relative.
In other words, Argon had staked his life merely to satisfy his curiosity. As expected, the man was not sane.
“To demand something like this from a prince—you must have more than one life to spare. If it had been anyone else, I would have cut off their head.”
“I am grateful for Your Highness’s mercy.”
“You should speak properly. It’s not mercy, it’s goodwill, Canna.”
This was not a bad deal.
That was Canna’s assessment. She had been in a position where she could have been torn apart at will by this mad dog named Argon, yet she had managed to put a leash on him.
“Then will you tell me now?”
“Of course. Provided you successfully complete my request.”
“Fine. What do you want?”
“Please investigate Alexandro Addis—my father. Every single trace of his life from the moment he was born until now.”
Canna quickly added,
“I want to know who my mother is. Since her identity is so obscure, investigating Father should yield some clues.”
It was the truth. At the same time, it was also an excuse prepared in case this matter ever reached other people’s ears.
Wasn’t it perfectly natural for an illegitimate child who had never known her mother to seek out her roots?
However, Argon was the type of person who had never cared about his client’s true intentions from the start.
“Understood. Just trust me.”
“Yes. I will trust you, Your Highness. Please look into everything about my father.”
Canna added firmly,
“Every single thing about Alexandro Addis.”
After concluding the contract with Argon, Canna left the terrace with him. Then, as if to make a point, she danced with him once more. It was a performance aimed at Claude.
He’s probably watching from somewhere even now.
He would report this to Kallen. To avoid any possible suspicion, she was pretending to be on a date.
“Mind if I smoke?”
When Argon put a long pipe to his lips, Canna smiled sweetly.
“Of course. But I dislike things that smell bad.”
“Then I won’t. How about a drink?”
“I dislike the smell of alcohol, too.”
“Then juice?”
“That’s fine.”
“What a childish palate. Cute.”
“Calling a lady a child? How rude.”
They spent their time whispering trivial conversation as if it were an intimate exchange.
To anyone watching, it looked exactly like a date.
Argon personally escorted Canna all the way to her front door.
Inside the mansion, Claude followed behind her as if he had something to say. He was probably planning to apologize or make excuses.
However, Canna ignored him completely and went straight into her bedroom.
It’s not that I’m particularly angry with Claude.
Claude was the escort knight assigned by Kallen. It was only natural that he would prioritize his master’s orders.
Still, the disappointment was unavoidable. No matter how much it had been for her protection…
He followed me without saying a word. It feels terrible. It’s no different from deceiving me.
She was not kind enough to let such a person off without even showing a bit of temper.
I can’t sleep.
Perhaps because too many things had happened in a single day? That night, sleep did not come easily.
There must be even more people who suspect me.
Father and Argon were simply the ones who had finally risen to the surface. There were surely many more watching her from the shadows.
Even if I told the truth, they wouldn’t believe me anyway.
She tossed and turned with her eyes closed. Her mind was a mess.
By the way, that means Sylvien was the man who stole my hope.
The man who had caught her during her escape and handed her over to the Addis family. All she remembered was the deeply pulled hood and his large build.
Well, if a normal person discovered a noble lady running away, they would naturally do the same.
Still, knowing that the man had been Sylvien left her strangely irritated.
It really is a bad relationship.
It would have been better if they had never met at all.
A few days later, Kallen and Orsini returned. According to what she heard, nothing had happened on Pailon Island.
Of course. Because Jerome is gone.
They must have already heard the news from Raphael and Claude—that Jerome had been a Black Apostle who controlled the Black Fog, and that he had tried to harm her.
“Sister, it’s Kallen. May I come in?”
“Not right now. I’m busy, so come back later.”
Kallen Addis—the shameless bastard who had deceived her.
He had probably already received a full report from Claude. After hearing that she had enjoyed a secret meeting with Prince Argon at the masquerade, he might be planning to lecture her.
But that was not the reason she had refused his visit. There was something she needed to do right now.
A messenger had arrived from the Valentino family.
Canna took the letter the messenger offered and read it.
We wish to prepare the divorce documents. There are matters that require mutual agreement, so please inform us of a convenient date.
And then the almost sarcastic postscript attached below.
We understand that Lady Canna has been extremely busy with social activities lately. Therefore, please let us know when you have free time, and we will clear our schedule accordingly.
Was it just her imagination? The tone sounded strangely mocking.
Could he have heard about me pretending to date Argon?
But she soon shook her head.
Would Sylvien really mock me over something like that? It must be my own bias.
Of course he wouldn’t care what she did with another man. Canna snorted and immediately scribbled a reply.
I will visit at noon tomorrow.