Beneath the Surface
He babbled on and on, spitting as he confessed everything.
The fact that Balix had declared he would go human hunting with the prince. Cassil’s attempt to cut off the woman’s hand. And how Sylvien Valentino had appeared at the perfect moment and taken her away. Every last detail.
Alexandro Addis’s expression as he listened was like a statue.
Or like the deep, dark ocean floor. Black. Oppressively dense. Unshakably cold.
Just as Izek’s consciousness began to blur—
“Your Grace.”
A knight’s voice broke the silence.
“What is it?”
“The Duchess of Valentino has come to see you. However…”
The knight’s words trailed off. Alexandro was still drenched in blood.
“Shall I tell her to return another time?”
“No.”
Saved!
For a split second Izek nearly cheered. He could finally escape this mad duke.
“Tell her to wait.”
“Father.”
The door opened and Alexandro Addis stepped inside. Canna shot up from the sofa.
“I’m sorry for coming without warning.”
Alexandro sat down across from her instead of answering.
“I was worried I might be disturbing you if you were busy.”
“No.”
Of course not. He had probably been asleep until now.
That’s why he only just washed up.
The sun was already high in the sky, yet he looked as if he had slept the entire day.
“There’s something I need to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“The matter of Prince Cassil trying to poison the Eastern Continent sailors—only the people who were in the herb room at the time know about it, correct?”
“Yes.”
“…I see.”
On the day Izek had been captured after threatening her, his thunderous screams had woken many people. He had only shrieked about how Prince Cassil had ordered him to hunt Canna, how he had commanded him to harm her. He never mentioned the plan to poison the Eastern sailors.
Not on purpose. He simply blurted out whatever came to mind and left that part out.
Because of that, the fact that Prince Cassil had tried to kill even the Eastern Continent sailors had not yet leaked beyond those walls.
Canna studied her father’s face.
“Could you… conceal that fact for me?”
“…”
How would this sound to him? Asking her own father to bury something that benefited her. It must seem incredibly strange.
Yet Alexandro’s expression remained unchanged.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I used the word ‘conceal,’ but I’m not asking you to pretend it never happened.”
“…”
“I simply want to stop the information from spreading any further. It’s impossible with my own power, so I’m asking you, Father.”
If it was him, he could easily manipulate the knights who knew the truth and force them to stay silent.
“Yes.”
“So that this matter doesn’t reach anyone else’s ears… will you do it?”
“I understand.”
“…”
“I’ll handle it.”
Alexandro rose from his seat.
“Is that all?”
“Ah, yes.”
That was the end of it.
Without any greeting given or received, Alexandro simply left the room.
Canna stared blankly at his retreating back.
What was that?
Why hadn’t he asked a single question?
I prepared so many persuasive arguments…
Her father had asked for nothing. Not her reason for the request, not her future plans.
What on earth is he thinking?
She had no idea. Canna let out a long sigh.
She could only desperately hope it wasn’t because he hated speaking with her, or that the whole thing had simply been too bothersome and he had answered carelessly.
Beneath the surface, many things were happening.
Yet at least outwardly, everything remained peaceful. That was how Canna’s days passed.
“How is it? No more blood when you brush your teeth?”
“Yes. I brushed yesterday and felt no pain at all.”
“That’s a relief. And the ulcers on your body?”
The young sailor smiled brightly and held out his forearm.
“Look! They’re healing more every day.”
Canna smiled with deep satisfaction.
It was true.
The ulcers that had once burned an angry red, as though the skin had been forcibly stripped away, were gradually fading into a soft pink.
Nearly a month had passed.
The sailors, nourished by the carefully balanced meals and abundant vitamin C that Canna had selected herself, grew healthier with each passing day. They had recovered enough to hold ordinary conversations again.
You’ve all suffered so much. In Korea this would have been fixed with a few vitamin injections.
Still, she had done well under the circumstances. So many things had happened in the meantime.
During that time, Canna’s own wounds had nearly finished healing as well.
“Duchess.”
When she had finished checking on the patients, the escort knight approached.
“His Grace the Duke of Valentino is asking for you.”
“…”
Sylvien.
Just hearing his name made Canna’s steps falter. But she quickly recovered, smiling brightly as she nodded.
“Very well. Let’s go now.”
“Please, sit.”
It had been a long time since she last saw Sylvien Valentino. He smiled with flawless, statue-like perfection and gestured to a seat.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
A maid approached and offered a teacup. Canna lifted it and took a sip.
Yet Sylvien did not drink. He simply watched her, studying her as though she were something entirely new.
Why is he staring like that?
Feeling awkward, Canna set her cup down.
“Why are you looking at me that way?”
Sylvien lifted the corners of his mouth without shifting his gaze.
Only the corners of his mouth moved.
“I heard the sailors’ conditions have improved considerably.”
“Yes. It’s thanks to the therapists who worked so diligently.”
“You’re being far too modest.”
After a stretch of polite formalities, he finally reached the main point.
“I will return to the capital tomorrow.”
“I see. I planned to remain here a little longer to continue treating the sailors…”
“No. You must come with me, Lady Canna.”
I have to go too? When she tilted her head in confusion, Sylvien smiled.
“You’re quite familiar with courtrooms, aren’t you, Lady Canna?”
Courtroom. The word summoned memories from the past.
The public trial where commoners had hurled their accusations. The day she had been sentenced to death. How could she ever forget?
“Of course.”
“Then it’s fortunate it won’t feel unfamiliar. You will need to serve as a witness.”
“…A witness?”
“Yes.”
Sylvien leaned back comfortably against the sofa.
In that instant, she clearly saw the exhaustion etched around his eyes.
“The events of last time have been brought into the open.”
Finally.
Canna clenched her fist. The Empress had finally pieced every fragment together.
“A trial will be held under Her Majesty the Empress’s direct command. As you know, I am charged with the attempted assassination of a royal. And Prince Cassil…”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
Suddenly the hand he had once tried to sever throbbed with phantom pain. Canna kept her face calm as she asked,
“But how did Her Majesty the Empress learn of it?”
“Who can say?”
Sylvien stared at her with genuine curiosity, his gaze piercing. It was the look of a man trying to seize a single thread of light from beyond a black curtain.
“In any case, it was bound to surface eventually. Once Councilor Izek committed such an act, concealment became impossible.”
“…”
“Do not worry. You need prepare nothing. The trial will proceed smoothly.”
“Smoothly?”
“Yes.”
I see. Smoothly.
Canna lowered her gaze.