The Mistress's Summons
Escorting her upon entry.
That must have been enough to fulfill his obligation, because Alexandro soon vanished.
A dance piece began to play. Yoanna glanced at Kallen. It was a silent demand for him to ask her to dance, and Kallen noticed immediately.
I don’t want to.
He didn’t want to leave his sister alone. There was always the chance someone might approach her and say something that would wound her.
But Yoanna was now staring at him so openly that it became impossible to ignore. When he could no longer pretend otherwise, Kallen suppressed a sigh and spoke.
“Would you do me the honor of this dance, Your Highness?”
“Of course.”
As Kallen took Yoanna’s hand, he bowed toward Canna.
“Sister, please wait here a moment. Dance the next song with me.”
Tsk. Canna clicked her tongue inwardly.
To be so fixated on his sister while standing beside his fiancée. It seemed Kallen was never going to make a good husband.
“Don’t mind me, Kallen.”
At that moment, Canna’s and Yoanna’s eyes met head-on.
Now.
Canna produced the smile she had been preparing all along.
A nuance only women could detect. A smile that was not truly a smile.
The smile of someone exhausted, struggling, yet forced to smile anyway.
“……?”
Yoanna’s eyes caught the expression sharply.
What is that?
For some reason, Canna did not look well.
Why? She received the full affection of Kallen Addis, heir to the Addis family. It was as good as having the world at her feet.
So why was she forcing such a smile?
Why does she look so tired?
Curiosity bloomed, but they had to dance, so further observation was impossible. She simply resolved to examine the matter more closely later. Canna clearly had a story.
As soon as Kallen and Yoanna disappeared, a servant approached.
“Excuse me. A certain gentleman asked that I deliver this note to you.”
Come to the terrace at the far right.
It’s Argon!
He had finally made contact!
Now I can obtain information about Father.
How long she had waited for this moment.
Canna tore the note into shreds and dropped the pieces into her champagne glass. The paper would swell and the ink would bleed; no one would be able to read it.
I’ll discard it properly on the terrace.
Canna quickened her steps. As she pushed through the crowd, a heavy weight suddenly slammed into her. A drunken noblewoman had collided with her.
“Ahaha! Oh, I’m so sorry!”
The woman grabbed the staggering Canna’s arm to steady her. But she could not prevent what happened next.
Splash!
Champagne poured down a gentleman’s back.
“Oh my……”
A freezing silence descended.
Canna, the noblewoman, and the surrounding aristocrats all stared with open mouths.
The gentleman had silver hair.
Beneath the lights it gleamed like polished sterling. The moment Canna saw it, her face drained of color.
There was only one person in the world blessed with that shade……
“Oh dear. My apologies.”
While the noblewoman fled in panic, the silver-haired gentleman slowly turned.
Canna wanted to run after the woman. But this meeting could not be avoided.
At last Sylvien faced her.
Damn it. Canna swallowed the curse.
“I am truly sorry.”
She tried to sound composed.
“I lost my balance when I bumped into the lady.”
He would surely say something cutting. He would smile that sly smile and speak words that turned her stomach, just like always.
But.
“It’s quite all right.”
The voice that answered was refreshingly light.
“Please don’t worry, my lady.”
My lady.
The instant she heard the word, a thick line was drawn between them.
Reality crashed over her.
Ah. That’s right.
I really did divorce this man.
“I’m so sorry. Your clothes are wet… If you send the bill to Addis later, I will compensate you without fail.”
“There is no need. Please set your mind at ease.”
Having spoken so politely, Sylvien drew a handkerchief from his breast pocket. He clearly meant to wipe his damp back.
Why the back, of all places? It’s impossible to reach alone.
Canna hesitated. Part of her wanted to say “Well then, I’ll be going!” and sprint for the terrace, but too many eyes watched.
If she simply left, the hyenas would descend, snarling that the black-haired girl truly knew no manners.
“Allow me. You won’t be able to reach your back. I’ll wipe it for you.”
“If you would, I’d be grateful.”
Canna accepted the handkerchief and carefully blotted the moisture from his back.
“I’ve cleaned most of it. But now the handkerchief is wet……”
“It’s fine. Please return it.”
“This?”
“Yes.”
Why not simply throw it away? Why bother dirtying his hands?
She found it strange but did not ask. Canna returned the handkerchief, then curtsied at once.
“Once again, my deepest apologies, Your Grace. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
She walked away quickly.
Sylvien stared after her retreating figure.
Black hair tied with a ribbon fluttered left and right. His gaze locked onto the red ribbon.
Perhaps because of its vivid color, he could not look away.
Because of that red ribbon.
“Your Grace. Shall I dispose of it?”
Sylvien turned. A servant had approached unnoticed and now indicated the damp handkerchief.
“Please do.”
Sylvien held it out indifferently. But just before the servant could take it, he stopped.
“……?”
He stared at his own hand in surprise.
“Your Grace? You won’t discard it?”
Sylvien gazed down at the handkerchief. Then, almost like a sigh, he said.
“It’s fine. You may leave.”
“You’re late!”
The moment she stepped onto the terrace, Argon greeted her.
“I’m sorry for the delay. There was a small incident on the way… Your Highness?”
He approached and seized her shoulders.
“There’s no time. Listen carefully and choose.”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“I have kidnapped the Duke of Addis’s mistress.”
What?
“Fortunately the Duke still doesn’t know. He’s occupied with the party, so he won’t learn of it at least until tonight.”
All strength left her body. Her head spun. She could not believe the words she had just heard. No—she did not want to believe them.
He had kidnapped her father’s mistress?
Alexandro Addis’s mistress?
“Your Highness.”
Her teeth ground together of their own accord.
“If you want to commit suicide, do it by yourself.”
Kidnapping Alexandro Addis’s mistress.
It was an entirely new form of suicide she had never even imagined.
“The thing is, matters became rather complicated. Alexandro Addis’s mistress… she is no ordinary woman.”
“Pardon?”
“While I was investigating her in secret, she caught me. And as I said, she is far from ordinary. My identity was exposed as well.”
“……”
“I’m sorry, but the fact that you commissioned the investigation was also revealed. Quite shocking, isn’t it?”
Canna stared at him.
Shocking? No. She wanted to kill him. She was not joking.
Should I just kill him here?
The pendant at her throat contained poison powder. Perhaps she should kill the prince and bury the entire matter.
“If I left her alone she would definitely tell the Duke everything, so I had no choice but to kidnap her.”
“And?”
“That woman is looking for you.”
Canna frowned. Alexandro’s mistress was looking for her? Why?
“She said if I arrange a meeting, she will say nothing to the Duke. She wishes to speak with you. Well? Will you meet her?”
“No.”
Canna violently shook off Argon’s arm.
“Your Highness, I have nothing to do with this. I never asked you to kidnap my father’s mistress. You created this problem. Take responsibility for it yourself.”
“Seon-hui.”
“……Pardon?”
Canna’s eyes widened. Argon shrugged.
“She told me that if you refused to come, I was to say the word Seon-hui.”
“She said… Seon-hui?”
“Yes. What will you do?”
Argon spread both hands, inviting her choice.
“Will you go, or not?”
“……”
“If you won’t go, then don’t. As you said, I’ll handle her myself. I’ll make sure no harm reaches you, so rest easy.”
Canna glared at him in silence.
Argon met her gaze with boyishly innocent eyes, then finally let his shoulders slump.
“I’m sorry.”
“In our dealings, apologies are unnecessary. Your Highness has failed and caused me damage.”
Canna spoke calmly.
“In other words, Your Highness now owes me a debt.”
“Of course. I will compensate you for this matter somehow.”
Once she received that firm promise, the rage twisting her heart subsided completely. Canna returned to rational thought.
Alexandro’s mistress knew about Seon-hui.
She might even know the relationship between her mother and Alexandro, and why he had raised Canna.
She must be no ordinary mistress.
At that moment, Alexandro’s words rose in her mind.
“Stay by my side and play detective, if you like.”
Yes. He was the one who had said it.
He had provoked her to dig into his past.
He had deceived her for twenty-six years. After all that, he had told her nothing.
If she simply remained a quiet, obedient child and did nothing, would that make her a person or a fool?
So you will have to endure at least this much, Alexandro Addis.
Canna straightened her spine.
“Before I meet my father’s mistress, let us clarify one thing. I never requested that woman’s kidnapping, nor did I desire it.”
“Understood.”
“If you change your words later, I will make Your Highness’s blood letter public. Do you understand?”
It was open blackmail. Yet Argon smiled as though he had received a delightful proposal.
“Good. I’ll do exactly that.”
Canna glared at him a moment longer, then lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile.
“Good. Then let’s go.”
To Alexandro Addis’s mistress.