The Locked Room
Despite Raphael's sacrifice, the hem of Canna's skirt ended up thoroughly soaked.
At least I didn't fall into the water, right?
Raphael had brought her to a mansion situated in the sub-dimension. This particular estate followed the architectural style of the Aslan Empire—in other words, that of the Western Continent.
Is this some kind of guest quarters? Like a VIP room?
He had claimed to know the place well, and it seemed he truly did.
Canna had the entire spacious lounge to herself. It was all thanks to Raphael's careful arrangements.
Good thing I came with Raphael.
She wondered if the medicinal herbs had been properly packaged by now. Since he had gone to check, she would find out soon enough.
All that's left is to wait.
After changing into the clothes Raphael had provided, she settled comfortably onto the sofa.
It feels like an overwhelming number of things have happened all at once.
One thing was certain: Raphael was a far better person than Juhwa had believed.
Why was Juhwa so jealous of Raphael anyway? Even if Sylvien gave him special treatment, the other party is a man. It's not as if they're lovers or anything... right?
That much, she couldn't be sure of.
From somewhere deep in her mind, a voice seemed to whisper.
Yes, it's something unknown. Juhwa wouldn't be jealous without reason. Maybe they really... No.
Why was she even entertaining such pointless thoughts?
As she let out a hollow laugh, her throat suddenly felt parched.
And this is the sub-dimension.
Canna rang the small bell. Moments later, the door opened and a servant entered.
"Could you bring me a cup of tea? If there are any cookies to go with it, I'd appreciate those as well."
"......"
But no reply came. Canna turned to look at the servant.
"Hello? Why aren't you answering?"
He looked about seventeen or eighteen.
It was a boy with a still youthful face. He simply stood by the door, staring fixedly at her without a word.
What the hell is with this guy?
A sense of foreboding washed over her.
The boy took one step into the room, then reached behind him with one hand and closed the door.
Then—click. He locked it.
"Hello, pretty sister?"
A chill ran down her spine.
"It's truly a pleasure to meet you like this."
He was using casual speech right from the start. No servant would dare be this rude.
"If it hadn't been today, it would've been difficult to see you."
The boy approached her with a smile. His steps were neither hurried nor slow—perfectly ordinary.
Canna glared at him.
"Who are you?"
"Who do you think?"
"A rapist. Or a murderer."
"Half correct. The important thing is that we don't have much time. I need to leave soon. So—"
The boy whispered in a cheerful tone, as if playing an amusing game.
"If you resist needlessly, I'll hit you. And if I keep hitting you, I might end up killing you."
"......"
"Now, come here."
"......"
"Not coming? Fine, then I'll come to you."
In just a few strides, the boy stood before her.
Canna simply smiled sweetly. Then she pulled out the sleeping mist and sprayed it directly into his face.
A fine mist sprayed directly at the target's face.
Effect:Induces rapid unconsciousness
"Ugh!"
The boy screamed and stumbled backward.
Canna, who had remained seated until then, shot to her feet. She relentlessly sprayed the mist across the boy's faltering face.
"You—what did you just—"
But the boy couldn't finish. Canna delivered a sharp slap across his cheek.
Slap!
His face whipped to the side with a harsh sound. Canna seized the staggering boy's collar in a fierce grip.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Slap!
"You told me to come here. So I came—where are you trying to run off to?"
Slap!
Slap!
"What was that? You'd hit me if I resisted? You'd kill me? Look at this crazy bastard."
She struck him repeatedly before finally releasing his collar.
With a thud, the boy collapsed to the floor, groaning.
"You... you..."
Hot rage burned in the boy's eyes as they slowly drooped shut.
"I won't... let you get away with..."
But that was all.
The boy could say no more. Overwhelmed by the tide of sleep, his eyes closed completely.
He had finally lost consciousness.
"Filthy piece of trash."
Canna shook out her stinging palm and immediately left the room. In the corridor, she encountered the real servant.
"Th-there was someone like that on the staff?"
"I don't know if he was staff or not, but it's clear he was a madman who tried to harm me. Does this seem acceptable in a dimension frequented by nobles?"
Just then, Raphael approached, his face set in a deep frown.
"What happened?"
Canna recounted the entire story exactly as she had told the servant. Raphael's expression hardened like ice.
"You said he was still in the room?"
"Yes."
He strode past her, moving swiftly. He threw the door open.
"......"
For some reason, Raphael froze in place with the door still open. Canna, following belatedly, peeked inside.
"...Huh?"
She was bewildered.
"Where did he go?"
The room was empty.
In Venecia, the physician Izek had been groaning in distress for hours.
Not only had his duties been stolen from him, but he had also been barred from entering the ward!
This was his life's work, the place where he had labored for decades!
Duke Sylvien Valentino must have finally lost his mind. Handing over the position to a woman—and a black-haired one at that!
Did he not understand how ominous black was?
He was a descendant of the Holy Knights, a guardian who protected the continent from the Black Fog!
His Excellency Duke Alexandro Addis must arrive soon.
Duke Alexandro Addis, who harbored a deep hatred for black hair. He would come shortly. Surely he would not overlook this outrage.
Yet he could not simply sit and wait for the duke.
I cannot allow this to continue. I cannot entrust the sailors' treatment to such an ill-omened woman.
Above all, he could not bear to have his position taken by a mere woman!
Yes, Lord Balix Venecia will listen to what I have to say!
When he reached the entrance to the lord's castle, the sound of shattering glass rang out from within.
"Are you mocking me!"
"Y-Your Highness, please calm yourself..."
Izek let out a groan. He had realized what was happening.
The exiled prince is throwing another tantrum.
The Third Prince, Casil Isaberg. The worthless prince banished for the crime of raping a baron's wife.
Why did the place of exile have to be Venecia, of all places!
Wasn't the poor lord the only one suffering for having to deal with such a degenerate prince?
"I told you—black hair and black eyes! How could you not notice someone so obvious? There's no way you wouldn't have seen her!"
"Th-there truly are no black-haired people in Venecia. A hundred years ago, during the black-hair hunt, they were all killed."
"I saw her with my own eyes!"
Another loud crash echoed as something else shattered violently.
Wait... black hair?
A woman's face suddenly flashed through his mind. Forgetting all propriety, Izek burst through the door.
"Your Highness, are you perhaps looking for a black-haired woman?"
"...Who the hell are you?"
The moment their eyes met, a chill ran down Izek's spine.
The boy was like a wild beast. His gaze was so violently intense that it overshadowed even his handsome features.
Izek swallowed hard and forced himself to speak.
"I know of whom you speak, Your Highness."
"What did you just say?"
"I encountered a black-haired woman today as well. Duke Sylvien Valentino brought a young woman and introduced her as a physician."
"Under the eye."
"Pardon?"
"There was a teardrop mole beneath her right eye. Did this woman have one as well?"
Izek recalled her appearance for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, she did."
"The physician brought by Duke Sylvien Valentino?"
"Yes."
The Third Prince, Casil Isaberg, fell into deep thought.