Get Out of My Room
“What did you just say?”
Argon had delivered some truly absurd news.
“You’re telling me I’m about to be kidnapped?”
“Yep. Can I have some candy?”
Argon pointed at the star-shaped sweets sitting on the table. Canna felt a sharp spike of annoyance and shot him a glare.
“No. Those are mine.”
“How stingy.”
Argon grumbled, shrugging his shoulders theatrically.
“I even told you the Empress and Duchess Chloe Addis are plotting something together. Doesn’t that deserve at least one piece of candy as a reward?”
“You said you were giving me the information as an apology for what happened last time. It’s only proper compensation. Why should I give you a reward on top of that?”
Canna’s mood had soured, and her voice came out colder than necessary. She had every right to be upset.
The Empress. That viper of a woman.
Just because Canna had refused to become Crescent’s concubine, the Empress was orchestrating something like this. And now Chloe had joined her.
Canna let out a hollow laugh.
What foolish women. If they had simply left her alone, she would have quietly disappeared.
They won’t even let me say goodbye in peace.
In truth, she had planned to completely cure the Empress’s skin disease before leaving.
Once Canna was gone, the woman would have no way to obtain more medicine. Their relationship had improved somewhat, and the Empress had even received help from her. Canna had intended to free her from that suffering.
But what? Kidnap me and then… what?
To think they would scheme something so filthy and cruel!
Hatred blazed inside her. She would not let the Empress or Chloe get away with this.
“Here’s the evidence.”
Argon held out a stack of papers.
They contained the list of mercenaries the Empress had hired under a false name, the details of her request, the routes through which she paid them, and even the contract she and Chloe had signed and sealed together to prevent either from backing out.
“Will this be enough to forgive my previous mistake?”
“Yes. This is sufficient compensation.”
“Then it’s time for me to receive payment for my original request, isn’t it?”
She had known this was coming.
Canna smiled faintly.
There would never be a better moment to reveal her true identity—the secret no one else knew. After all, she would be leaving soon.
She leaned forward and whispered into Argon’s ear.
“The truth is… I’m…”
Argon’s eyes widened as he listened, his expression shifting from intrigued to stunned.
“Is that really true?”
“It may be hard to believe, but it is.”
“No, I believe you.”
Argon muttered in a dazed voice.
“I’ve heard stories like that before. Tales of other worlds existing, and how people sometimes cross over from them…”
He had heard such stories?
“Who told you that?”
“My mother used to tell me when I was little. Before bed, like she was reading from a storybook.”
Consort Theresa?
How would she have known about such things?
Well, she was a wandering dancer before she became a consort. She must have heard all kinds of folktales during her travels.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a voice called from outside the room.
“My lady, His Grace the Duke of Valentino has come to see you.”
Argon looked startled.
“Why is the Duke of Valentino here? What’s going on? Are you two seeing each other again?”
“Don’t say ridiculous things. If your business is finished, please leave.”
The moment Canna ushered Argon out, Sylvien stepped inside.
“Welcome, Your Grace. Please have a seat.”
“I apologize. It seems I’ve interrupted.”
“Not at all. It’s fine.”
Leah brought in tea and then left the room. Yet Sylvien did not touch his cup.
“What brings you here today?”
“I’m afraid I made an error.”
Sylvien spoke calmly as he placed a document on the table and explained the situation.
“Ah, I see. Well, it’s all right.”
If this had been back when she was desperate for the divorce, she might have burned with anger and protested. But things were different now.
After all, the life of ‘Canna Addis’ would soon come to an end.
“I’ll make sure this is submitted properly this time. Would you hand me your copy, Your Grace?”
“Of course.”
Sylvien readily gave her his document. Canna checked his signature.
“Will this do?”
“Yes.”
As if that concluded their business, Sylvien rose from his seat. But then he sat down again immediately.
Canna looked at him in confusion. Had he just stood up only to sit back down?
What is he doing?
Sylvien showed no sign of getting up again. He leaned back comfortably against the sofa, tapping his fingers on his knee as though lost in thought. Then he lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
“Lady Addis.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how long it has been since our divorce was finalized?”
Then he said something she had not expected at all.
“I’m not sure… A little over a month now?”
“Correct. As of today, it has been exactly forty-five days.”
Canna was impressed by his attention to detail. He even remembered something so trivial?
“It has only been forty-five days since our seven-year marriage ended.”
“And?”
“Yet you are already looking for a new marriage prospect?”
A hint of mockery crossed Sylvien’s face. The sneer in his expression caught Canna completely off guard.
This was the real Sylvien. The same man she had seen the day before the annulment ceremony, the one whose mask had slipped to reveal his true face.
“You put an advertisement in the newspaper, and now you’re inviting men into your home?”
Sylvien let out a derisive snort. It was an insolent attitude that did not suit him at all.
“Don’t you think this is far too hasty?”
Canna was at a loss for words. It seemed he was under some enormous misunderstanding, but that was beside the point.
Why is he acting like this?
She could not understand why Sylvien would be so displeased. Was it really because it was too soon, as he claimed?
What does it matter to him whether I remarry or not?
The thought made irritation flare up inside her. Canna replied coldly.
“I wasn’t aware you had any right to interfere in my private life.”
“I am merely speaking of basic decency.”
“Did you just say ‘decency’?”
“I did.”
Canna stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.
To hear the word “decency” come from his mouth. From the man who had not cared whether she lived or died!
His audacity was almost admirable.
Of course, if his ex-wife’s romantic entanglements became public right after their divorce, it might damage his reputation.
But that was something he should have kept as an internal grievance.
He had no right to voice it like this.
“I have shown more than enough decency. I waited over seven years for a husband who never even consummated our marriage and treated me with nothing but indifference. Why should I endure any longer just to protect your reputation?”
A scoff escaped Sylvien’s lips. It was blatant ridicule.
“Do you need a man that badly?”
Canna doubted her own ears.
Had she misheard? The crude accusation did not seem like something Sylvien would say.
But the next moment, he shattered any doubt.
“Canna Addis, it seems you cannot live without a man.”
It would have been less painful to be slapped. That was how deep the insult cut.
Canna’s lips twisted. Unconcealed fury rose to her face.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me.”
Seeing her perfect composure crack, Sylvien seemed satisfied. A smile curved his lips once more.
“Is that why you began searching for a new man the moment the divorce was finalized?”
Cruel contempt flickered in his beautiful blue eyes.
“So, is Prince Argon your new lifeline? My replacement?”
Clack. Canna set her teacup down. Then she smiled softly.
“And if he is? What will you do about it?”
She would be leaving soon. This would likely be her last conversation with Sylvien. After today, she would never see him again.
In other words, she no longer had to hold anything back.
“Whether I date Prince Argon or marry him has nothing to do with you. Even if it displeases you…”
Canna shrugged indifferently.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“……”
“I have no interest in anything about you. So there’s no need for you to concern yourself with me.”
Sylvien seemed at a loss for words, as if his tongue had been cut out. Canna waited a moment before continuing.
“If it bothers you so much that I’m seeing other men, then go find yourself a new woman. Problem solved, isn’t it?”
Silence fell after that. Canna felt neither fear nor awkwardness in the quiet. She simply waited, calmly sipping her tea.
“I…”
Sylvien’s lips finally parted.
“…felt nothing for you.”
“I know.”
“But right now, you irritate me greatly.”
Canna raised an eyebrow. He repeated himself.
“You irritate me.”
Only after emphasizing the words did Sylvien become certain that the emotion was genuine.
This strange feeling he had first noticed during the annulment ceremony was not a fleeting impulse.
He wanted to oppose Canna’s decision. He wanted to grab her from behind as she tried to leave and block her path.
He wanted to shatter the indifferent mask on that emotionless face of hers.
Why did he want to interfere so badly?
There was only one answer. He must hate her.
He had never truly liked or hated anyone with such intensity, but Sylvien knew this feeling belonged to the latter.
That was why he wanted to obstruct her at every turn. It was a pettiness he had never experienced before. It was so childish that even he could hardly believe it.
“That is quite a surprising confession.”
Canna also found it difficult to believe Sylvien’s words.
The Sylvien who would openly say he disliked her. It felt as unreal as if he had said he loved her.
But that was all. She felt nothing more.
“I have no interest in your feelings either.”
Canna paused for a moment.
“Duke Valentino, you have been more than rude enough already. Therefore, I will no longer treat you with courtesy.”
The words she was about to say would likely be the last she ever spoke to him in this life. She had no desire to hesitate.
Canna pointed at the door.
“Get out of my room. Now.”
That was the end.
It was a conclusion that suited the two of them perfectly.