The Island Cage
The door opened, and a vase came flying.
He briefly considered just taking the hit, but he couldn’t afford to do that every time, so he tilted his head slightly and dodged.
Crash!
The glass vase shattered into pieces against the door.
“Get out.”
Canna glared at him and shouted. But Kallen simply stepped over the broken shards without a care and walked toward her.
“I was too harsh yesterday. I apologize. I won’t behave so rudely again, so please rest easy.”
“Rude?”
Canna felt nauseated that Kallen would describe his actions with nothing more than that single word.
“Is that why you bought this island? To lock me up, take away my things, and treat me however you please?”
“No.”
Kallen answered with a serious expression as he drew closer.
“That was never my intention from the beginning.”
“And you expect me to believe that now?”
“It’s the truth. I simply thought you needed a place to take refuge. I…”
Kallen trailed off, then spoke carefully.
“I intend to remove you from the Addis family.”
“…What?”
“After proving you are not of Addis blood, I will strike your name from the family register.”
It was a statement she had never expected. Kallen continued.
“Naturally, the aftermath will be enormous. Countless eyes will turn toward you. Fingers will point. That’s why…”
“That’s why you planned to send me here?”
“Yes. To protect you.”
Disgustingly enough, deep affection flickered in Kallen’s eyes as he said it. The emotion was so thick it sent chills down her spine.
“…What changed my mind was that defrocked priest.”
But the very next moment, his gaze plummeted to subzero.
“I couldn’t stand by and watch you stay close to him. He is dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
Canna couldn’t hold back a scornful laugh. Then she sneered.
“There is no one more dangerous to me than you.”
“Yesterday was my fault. I admit it. But Sister, I am still human. I am not that kind of monster.”
Canna snorted.
It seemed he was trying to derail the conversation by bringing up Raphael, but she had no intention of letting him.
“Don’t you dare compare Raphael to the likes of you.”
The selfish Kallen Addis—the boy who only ever thought of himself—could not be placed on the same line as Raphael. It was an insult to Raphael.
Yet Kallen clicked his tongue as if completely unaffected. If anything, he looked almost sorry for her.
“What exactly do you know about that defrocked priest?”
“I know he’s a far better man than you.”
“That just means you don’t know anything, Sister.”
He smiled with gentle kindness.
“You’ve never been interested in what kind of person I am, what kind of man I am, have you? To you, I will always be nothing more than the immature boy from your childhood.”
“You know it well. So stop with the pointless struggling.”
The smile slowly faded from Kallen’s face. Canna spat her words like claws.
“The day I see you differently will never come in my lifetime.”
Kallen’s brows furrowed. But he soon managed to smile again.
“It seems you want to hurt me, but if it comes from you, Sister, I will gladly accept even the pain.”
Having said that, Kallen reached out. He gently stroked the ends of her hair and murmured.
“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”
“I don’t care.”
“You really should.”
A hint of playfulness and faint mockery lingered at the corner of his mouth. He stared at the black strands scattered across his palm and whispered.
“If I tried to kiss you right now, would you slap my cheek?”
“No.”
Canna answered calmly.
“I’d kill you.”
“……”
Kallen lifted his gaze.
Their eyes met.
Inside those pitch-black eyes filled with nothing but sincerity, a completely captured red-haired beast was trapped.
Finding it heartbreaking, Kallen smiled weakly.
“If I died by your hand, that would be fine too.”
Swish. The hair slipped through his fingers.
Kallen spread both hands open as if to prove his innocence.
“I swear I will never act like I did yesterday again. So please don’t worry.”
“Are you done talking?”
Dismissing his nonsense with one ear, Canna pointed at the door.
“If you’re done, get out.”
But Kallen did not stand. Instead, he changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
“This island is yours now. Stay comfortably.”
“……”
“Everyone on the island knows you and will treat you with utmost respect, so don’t worry.”
In other words, the entire island was in league with Kallen. He must have already bought off every villager.
“I plan to return to the capital in three days to sort out the family register. It will be difficult for me to come back for a while, so please rest here with an easy mind.”
Addressing her continued silence, Kallen spoke in a businesslike tone.
“Once everything is over and the commotion dies down, I will bring you back to the capital. Until then, please stay on this island.”
With those final words, Kallen rose to his feet. Just as she wished, he left the room.
But he soon stopped.
Standing in the hallway, Kallen stared blankly down at his own feet.
“……”
His chest throbbed with a dull, crushing ache.
It felt as if a massive hand had seized his heart and was wringing it dry, determined to squeeze out even the last drop of blood. The creaking pain twisted Kallen’s mouth.
Yet he soon smiled faintly and began walking again.
Time was on his side.
He had already taken possession of Canna’s body. She was within his sight, within reach whenever he wished.
So her heart could be opened slowly, little by little, with time and patience.
Yes. There is still a chance.
This was the only way.
If he hadn’t done this, no opportunity would have been given to him at all.
Two days passed like that.
“Are you all right?”
Claude entered. Canna didn’t even glance at him, staring out the window instead.
“Do I look all right?”
“Not at all.”
Canna shot Claude a irritated glare.
“Did you know about this, Sir Claude?”
“I did not.”
“…Then whose side are you on, Sir Claude? Are you Duke Addis’s man, or Kallen’s?”
“To be precise, I am Duke Alexandro Addis’s man. However, since His Grace ordered me to follow Sir Kallen, I am also Sir Kallen’s man.”
“One thing’s certain—you’re not mine.”
So please just leave.
Canna waved her hand dismissively. But instead of leaving, Claude smiled brightly and asked.
“Do you wish to leave this island?”
Canna looked up at him blankly. Was he joking?
“His Grace the Duke did order me to follow Sir Kallen.”
Claude cleared his throat, then bowed and whispered quietly into her ear.
“But he also told me to prioritize your orders above all else.”
“……”
“Of course, this is a secret from Sir Kallen.”
Alexandro Addis had given such an order?
“Then you’ll listen to anything I say?”
“Yes.”
“No matter what it is?”
“Anything at all.”
“Even if I told you to kill Kallen?”
At that, Claude scratched his cheek with a troubled expression.
“That would put my own life at risk, but… I would still try.”
“……”
“Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee success. After all, the opponent is Sir Kallen… Whoa!”
When Canna suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked, he yelped and was pulled forward.
“My lady? Shall we talk this out? I’m a pacifist, you know.”
“Are you serious right now?”
“Oh no, I’m scared, sob sob, my lady, violence is wrong, please…”
“Stop joking, Claude.”
The playful expression vanished from Claude’s face at once.
“I am serious. His Grace the Duke ordered me to obey your commands.”
Claude without a smile looked surprisingly sincere.
A moment later, the strength left Canna’s grip. Only then did Claude exaggerate a sigh of relief.
“Ah, even a kind lady like you has become this violent. It seems I must get you out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Never mind.”
“Never… mind?”
“I said never mind.”
Canna turned her gaze back to the window.
“I’m sorry, Sir Claude, but you’re no different from a bat to me. I simply cannot trust you.”
“Are you saying I’m not even human?”
“You catch on fast. Then, Sir Bat, please leave my room.”
The next moment, Claude suddenly dropped to one knee.
“Please allow me to help you, my lady.”
“…What are you doing?”
“I quite like you, my lady. It pains me to see you suffering like this.”
“……”
“Run away from Sir Kallen and from the Addis family. I will serve you by your side.”
Canna nearly burst out laughing.
Why are so many people suddenly offering to run away with me these days?
What was even funnier was how serious Claude’s face looked.
“Your loyalty is impressive, Sir Claude. You follow the Duke’s orders like they’re your life.”
“My lady, I am not a dog. If anything, I’m closer to the bat you mentioned. I would never risk my life for something worthless.”
“So I hold that much value to you. What high praise.”
Canna poked his forehead with her finger.
“But I still don’t trust you, Claude Azel.”
Displeasure flickered in Claude’s eyes.
“What’s the problem?”
“How do I know where you’ll take me? You might drag me off to that Celia or whatever—your aunt or great-aunt or whoever she is.”
For a moment, Claude’s eyes hardened. Canna shrugged.
“That woman seemed to dislike me quite a bit. And since she appears to be a highly skilled alchemist, she might even try to harm me.”
“No. I would never—”
“It doesn’t matter what you say. I don’t trust you.”
“……”
“Get out of my room.”
It was a firm command that left no room for argument.
Claude fully understood her resolve. Without another word, he stood up.
Just before he opened the door to leave, Canna added.
“But if your feelings are truly sincere, then thank you. I was impressed by your chivalry.”
“…Then let’s run away together.”
“Get out.”
Claude let out a low chuckle.
“How cold-hearted.”
Click. The door closed.
Finally, he’s gone.
Canna stood and opened the window. Then she continued what she had been doing before Claude arrived.
Let’s see.
She leaned far out the window and looked down below.
This should be enough.
Canna alternated her gaze between the curtains and the blanket on the bed.
Oddly enough, there was something she had learned from Crescent.
That night.
“Lord Kallen!”
The maid Leah came running in a panic. Without even knocking, she burst into Kallen’s study.
“Leah?”
“Lord Kallen, i-it’s terrible!”
Leah gasped for breath.
“Lady Canna…!”
“What about my sister?”
Kallen rose from his chair. Leah cried out.
“The lady has disappeared!”