The Duke's Claim
“What?”
“It seems you would rather the situation continue than ask me for help.”
It wasn’t wrong.
Without Kallen, she could have witnessed something quite entertaining and even brought calamity upon the Valentino family for her revenge.
“Just how have you been living in Valentino all this time?”
Kallen still couldn’t believe what he had seen.
Canna, rolling in the dirt and beaten like an animal. She had accepted the violence as if it were all too familiar.
Was this how she had lived until now?
“Is this how Valentino has treated you all along? Throughout the entire time you stayed with them?”
Kallen raked a hand through his hair in disbelief and demanded an answer.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Would it have changed anything if I had?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if it would have changed anything.”
Listening to him in silence was starting to irritate her.
Canna muttered, her mood thoroughly soured.
“It wasn’t much different from when I lived in Addis.”
That was why Juhwa had never once informed the Addis family of such matters.
No, she hadn’t even considered telling them. She had never thought of Addis as being on her side to begin with.
‘Still, you should have tried gambling on it at least once, Lee Juhwa. They might have stepped in for the sake of the family’s honor.’
A sigh escaped her as she thought of Lee Juhwa, who had kept her mouth shut throughout her entire marriage.
“……”
Kallen’s words caught in his throat. It felt as though her words had struck him in the throat on their way past.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Being ignored, oppressed, and occasionally beaten. That’s how it was in Addis too, wasn’t it?”
“Who hit you!”
“Your mother, Chloe.”
“……!”
“When I was young, your brother, Orsini.”
Kallen’s face flushed a deep red.
Was it shame, guilt, or anger?
Perhaps he thought he was being mocked by a filthy sister.
Whatever it was, Canna had no desire to care.
“And you.”
“I have never once laid a hand on you……”
“Physical abuse isn’t the only kind of violence, is it?”
She laughed softly and sneered. Kallen’s complexion had gone deathly pale.
“Just in case, don’t tell anyone else about this incident.”
“No. I cannot do that. I must inform Father……”
“And if you do?”
A scoff slipped out on its own.
“If you tell him? Do you really think Father would do anything?”
“……”
“Don’t make me repeat myself. Nothing will change anyway. And this is my problem. Consider this a warning—don’t interfere in my affairs again.”
Don’t barge into my revenge plot like today and ruin it.
She glared at him with that thought and fell silent.
‘I mocked him enough. He probably won’t speak to me anymore.’
Canna turned her body completely away, as if declaring she had no intention of continuing the conversation. Fortunately, Kallen did not open his mouth again after that.
Just then, the sound of a horse neighing rang out, and the carriage came to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop nearly sent Canna tumbling forward, but Kallen quickly caught and steadied her.
He shouted toward the coachman.
“What’s going on!”
“W-well, that is……”
Canna’s eyes widened as she looked out the window. Someone on horseback was blocking the carriage.
Silver hair gleaming brightly under the sunlight. That person was……
“Sylvien Valentino?”
Why was he here?
Kallen had also noticed the presence and his face hardened.
With a creak, the carriage door opened and he stepped out. Canna followed unsteadily behind him.
“What is the meaning of this, Duke Valentino?”
Sylvien looked down at them from atop his horse. Then he smiled faintly.
“I heard my wife was here.”
What?
Canna’s face twisted without her realizing it. Wife? Me?
Kallen’s reaction was the same. He stared at Sylvien with a cold, piercing gaze, as if he had just heard the most vulgar word imaginable.
“Wife? Who exactly are you referring to?”
“The person standing behind you is my wife. Did you not know?”
That, that crazy……
While Canna was too stunned to speak, Sylvien dismounted with ease. He approached slowly.
“Where might you be taking my wife?”
“……Wife.”
Perhaps it was because he was so angry.
Kallen was calmer than ever, his voice sinking into an icy stillness.
“I didn’t realize Your Grace considered my sister your wife.”
At that, Sylvien smiled softly.
“I also didn’t realize you considered my wife your sister.”
“Did you know that Count Elvester treats my sister like a slave?”
Kallen asked quietly. His voice was so calm that it didn’t sound like someone who was angry at all.
“Look at my sister’s face if Your Grace has eyes. Your stepmother did this to her.”
“My, her condition certainly doesn’t look good.”
Sylvien furrowed his brows as if genuinely regretful.
“I will treat her myself, so you may return to Addis now.”
“No, my sister is coming with me. I can no longer leave her in that den of monsters.”
What on earth were these two spouting?
Canna crossed her arms and watched in disbelief. She couldn’t begin to understand why these men were acting this way.
Well, Kallen had been acting strange lately, so that was one thing.
‘Sylvien Valentino, what are you thinking?’
The man who had left with nothing but the sleeping incense was now coming to fetch her. Why?
He wouldn’t have cared whether she was there or not, or where she went.
“What’s going on?”
Her curiosity got the better of her and she asked. Kallen’s face twisted.
“No, Sister. Don’t pay him any mind……”
“Kallen Addis, shut your mouth.”
For a moment, Kallen’s expression darkened.
He looked as if he had been slapped across the face. There was even a hint of betrayal in his eyes, which left Canna dumbfounded.
What was that look supposed to mean?
Had he actually expected her to take his side?
‘He really is strange.’
Canna shot him a cold glare before stepping forward.
“I asked what’s going on, Your Grace.”
Sylvien, who had been watching them with interest, finally spoke.
“Do you remember what happened last night?”
Last night? The night she had attacked him with the sleeping incense, failed, and ended up being knocked out instead?
Sylvien smiled ambiguously and whispered.
“It seems you remember everything.”
“Of course I do.”
“That’s a relief. I asked because you fell asleep as if you had fainted last night.”
It wasn’t as if she had fainted—she had been made to faint by him.
‘Is he doing this on purpose?’
His strangely roundabout way of speaking was full of potential misunderstandings. And strangely enough, it seemed to have soured Kallen’s mood considerably.
“If possible, I would like to discuss what happened last night. Such as the gift you gave me.”
“……Gift?”
“The precious thing Lady Canna gave me last night.”
He was talking about the sleeping incense.
But why phrase it in such a roundabout, suggestive way? Canna couldn’t understand Sylvien’s intentions at all.
‘Is it because Kallen shouldn’t know?’
Was it better to pretend they had spent a passionate night together as husband and wife rather than mention the sleeping incense?
“What do I stand to gain by following Your Grace?”
“At the very least, it won’t bring you any harm.”
“……Harm?”
Sylvien leaned down and whispered softly.
“I can turn what Lady Canna did last night into a problem at any time.”
“……”
“Oh. Did you not know?”
Canna glared at him. How could he make such a despicable threat with such an elegant face!
‘What an unpleasant bastard.’
But he was right.
“Fine.”
“Then shall we go.”
As she moved to follow Sylvien.
“……?”
Kallen grabbed her arm. She shot him an irritated look.
“What?”
“……”
Kallen said nothing.
No, it seemed as though his words had completely dried up.
His face was filled with confusion, as if he himself didn’t know what he was doing. Yet the grip on her arm remained firm.
The disconnect was deeply unsettling.
In this moment, Kallen looked as though he couldn’t understand or control himself.
“Kallen, let go.”
“……”
“What’s wrong with you? If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
His lips twitched as if hesitating, but in the end, he couldn’t say a single word.
“Let go, Kallen.”
His grip loosened and slipped away.
Canna roughly shook off his hand and followed after Sylvien.
‘Strange guy. Why is he acting like that?’