The Duke Has Arrived
Alexandro Addis had arrived.
The news reached all the way to the infirmary—to Canna’s ears. She wanted to remain calm, but the moment she heard it, her heart sank.
He arrived late that afternoon, just as the red sunset began to smolder and fade.
They said he had gone straight to the lord’s castle. He would rest from his journey before beginning his duties—inspecting the sailors for infection by the Black Fog.
‘He’ll probably visit the infirmary to see the sailors tomorrow.’
If so, she would cross paths with him.
It was an expected outcome, yet now that it was real, anxiety burned at her fingertips.
‘What would Father think if he saw me like this?’
It was deep into the night. Sleep refused to come.
Canna stood motionless for a long time in front of the mirror in her room.
Her left arm was braced and casted. Scars and bruises marked her nape, cheeks, the backs of her hands—every visible inch of her body.
She looked like a woman who had barely survived something brutal.
‘What a pointless thought.’
A dry laugh slipped out.
No matter how she appeared, Father would not care. He never had. There was no reason to expect anything different now.
‘Enough. Stop thinking about it. Just do what you need to do.’
She would take medicine and force herself to sleep. Canna searched for the anti-inflammatory draught, but it was nowhere in sight.
‘Ah. I made it but left it behind.’
It must still be in the medicine room. She draped a shawl over her shoulders and stepped out into the corridor.
Perhaps because it was the hour before dawn, the hallway was empty. Canna walked slowly toward the medicine room.
But then—
“...Who’s there?”
In the dark medicine room.
“Who is it?”
Someone was present.
“...!”
Izek had just finished pouring the poison into the medicinal decoction.
“Who are you?”
A woman’s voice rang out from behind him.
He had been discovered. Caught in the act. He had been certain no one would be here. Yet—
No. No—get a hold of yourself!
Izek bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, forcing his mind back under control.
It’s only a woman. One woman. I can overpower her easily.
Then came the steady footsteps. Tap. Tap.
“I asked you a question. Who are you?”
Izek’s trembling hand slipped inside his coat. The instant his fingers closed around the dagger, cold resolve slammed into him.
Good. This is perfect.
Stab her and run.
That way the woman would stay silent forever. He would never have to live in fear again.
“I saw you put something in the medicine. Who do you think you—”
Yes. Come closer. Just a little nearer.
A hand settled on his shoulder. The moment Izek moved to seize the wrist—
“Duchess, what is happening?”
“...!”
Izek nearly dropped the dagger. Knights had appeared.
They were Canna’s escort knights. They had been staying in the adjacent room and had followed the sound of movement.
The knights instantly sensed something was wrong. As they reached for their swords—
“D-don’t move!”
Izek lunged, seizing Canna’s wrist and pressing the dagger to her throat. The blade grazed her skin in the struggle.
“...!”
He had cut her.
Ah. Ah—
His nerves had gotten the better of him; he hadn’t controlled his strength. Izek’s hand shook uncontrollably.
There was only one option left. Take her hostage.
“If any of you come closer, I’ll kill her!”
The knights took one step back.
“Calm yourself.”
“Out of the way! Move right now! Clear a path so I can leave!”
“We understand. Just remove the blade from Her Grace and—”
That was when it happened.
“What is this commotion?”
“...!”
Izek nearly dropped the dagger again.
A man strode in.
Burning red hair. Piercing eyes. An overwhelmingly powerful frame. Izek recognized him at once.
That man was—
“Your Grace, Duke Addis.”
Alexandro Addis himself.
Why is he here?!
He had heard the duke had arrived, but the man should have been resting at the castle. Why was he here at this exact moment?
Canna was equally stunned. She had never imagined he would appear at this hour. And—
As expected.
Not a single flicker disturbed his gaze.
He watched them the way one might observe a play. His green eyes remained utterly calm, as if she were nothing more than a tree about to be felled.
That was all it was to him. Nothing more.
Alexandro stared fixedly at the nape of Canna’s neck.
His gaze shifted to the dagger pressed against her throat, then to the crimson droplets sliding down the blade.
At last his lips moved.
“Lower the sword.”
“...”
“If you do not, I will take that arm.”
Izek’s lips quivered violently.
His opponent was Alexandro Addis—the strongest man alive.
“P-please step aside. Let me go and I will release her unharmed.”
“Do you believe I cannot catch you?”
Alexandro’s voice was quiet. It held neither arrogance nor conceit—only the calm statement of fact.
“If you leave this place, I will cut off your limbs and drag you back.”
Izek’s face drained of all color. This was a man who would do exactly as he threatened.
Then, without warning, pain exploded through him.
Canna had driven her elbow straight into his solar plexus.
“Urk!”
The instant his grip loosened, Canna tore herself free.
At the same moment, Alexandro moved—as though he had been waiting for precisely that opening.
“Gah!”
A sickening crack. The arm that had held the dagger to Canna’s throat was broken in a single motion. Then Alexandro’s hand clamped around Izek’s neck.
Canna’s eyes widened in alarm. Was he going to kill him?
“Stop!”
Alexandro’s movement halted.
He slowly turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met for the first time.
The moment their gazes locked, a jolt like electricity shot through her scalp.
Canna barely managed to speak.
“You can’t.”
Alexandro tilted his head. She had thought he might ignore her, but he unexpectedly obeyed.
“I doubt you feel sympathy.”
“Of course not.”
How could she? It was simply—
“This man was doing something suspicious. We need to learn why.”
Apparently finding logic in her words, Alexandro released Izek’s throat.
Izek collapsed, coughing violently. Tears of pain streamed down his face.
“I-I didn’t do anything!”
“...”
“The duchess suddenly accused me of being some strange intruder! I panicked—that’s why I did this! It’s the truth!”
What utter nonsense.
Canna clicked her tongue and stepped closer.
“But I saw it.”
The poison going into the medicine.
“Would you like to experience its effects yourself?”
Shall I fetch the bowl and pour it down your throat?
Izek understood instantly.
He stared at her in despair. She was serious. The look in her eyes said she would do exactly that without hesitation.
“I… I…”
Izek felt his mind drying up, turning to dust.
It was over. He had failed. He had been caught red-handed. He had even taken the duchess hostage.
Which meant—
I’m going to die.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
No. He didn’t want to die.
Sobbing, he threw himself to the floor.
“All of this was ordered by His Highness Prince Cassil!”
Yes. Everything had happened because of the prince.
“His Highness Prince Cassil commanded it all! I never wanted to do this!”
His voice rang through the entire infirmary.
“What’s going on…?”
Voices began to murmur outside the medicine room. Healers, sailors, and staff were waking up one by one.
But Izek, now completely unhinged, heard none of it.
“His Highness tried to have the duchess killed! This was all to cover it up! I didn’t want to do it! I swear!”
He screamed like a madman, then suddenly fumbled inside his coat. He pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper and unfolded it with shaking hands.
This is the evidence! The letter sent by His Highness Prince Cassil himself, ordering the act.
— Prince Cassil —
“This! This is the proof! The letter His Highness sent!”