The Madness of the Island
She was crying?
That vicious wench was actually crying?
Since their reunion, Canna hadn't shed a single tear. Even when thrown into prison, she'd glared with feral eyes, ready to bite. There hadn't been a single trace of weakness in her... yet now this same woman was sobbing pathetically.
Why? It felt like he'd glimpsed a secret that should never have been seen.
Canna, that venomous snake, would never have wanted to show anyone such a sight—even in death.
But he'd seen it anyway.
"Oppa!"
At that moment, Canna broke into another run.
Wait—what? Oppa?
"Oppa! Seonhong, let's go together!"
She sprinted forward, babbling a name he'd never heard before. Orshini, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and grabbed her.
"Let go! Let me go!"
Canna stared at him as if he were a monster. She didn't recognize him at all.
"Let me go home!"
She shook off Orshini and ran again.
"Don't leave me behind. Don't leave!"
Eventually, her strength gave out and she collapsed in a heap.
Orshini simply watched in silence.
The sight of someone desperately chasing after another, only to fail—or give up—and sink to the ground. The sight of her screaming that she wanted to go home, yet unable to do so.
How utterly lonely she looked.
Orshini pulled Canna to her feet.
This time, she didn't resist. She let herself be drawn into his arms without a struggle. Soon after, her head drooped as if she'd fallen asleep, her breathing steady and even.
What an idiot.
"Mom..."
Why are you calling for your mother? Why seek out family?
You've been alone since the day you were born.
Yes, you're alone. All you've ever had is a wicked stepmother, an indifferent father, those insufferable siblings, and a cold husband. That's how you've lived your entire life.
And yet.
"Mommy..."
"..."
Orshini looked down at Canna. The rain streaming down her cheeks looked eerily like tears.
"Sir Orshini."
Orshini lifted his head. Only then did Claude reveal himself.
"Has she been like this since the mansion?"
"Yes."
Orshini glared at Claude as if he wanted to kill him.
"You saw nothing."
"Of course not. For the sake of the Duchess's honor."
Claude replied smoothly.
It seemed she'd fallen asleep like that.
When Canna opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar bed.
She stared blankly at the low ceiling for a moment before her gaze drifted down to the crackling fireplace.
"..."
Beside the fireplace, Orshini sat leaning against the wall, fast asleep.
What had been a dream?
This moment right now?
Or... the moment when she'd lost her mind and gone wild?
Probably both were real.
Canna looked down at herself. The mud-stained dress was still soaked through. That bastard Orshini must have simply dumped her on the bed and left her there.
Well, for Orshini, that's practically considerate.
There was no way he'd have the kindness to call someone to change her clothes or wipe away the rainwater.
Canna approached Orshini and crouched at the end of his outstretched long legs.
Then she reached out and lightly tapped the floor beside his leg with her fingertips.
Orshini slowly lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
"..."
The flickering crimson firelight melted across their skin. For some reason, Orshini seemed to have stopped breathing.
Canna stared quietly into his eyes, then smirked.
"Quite the sight, huh?"
"...Yeah."
Orshini swallowed and curled his lips into a smile.
"It's a shame I was the only one who saw it. Everyone should've witnessed you going berserk like a madwoman."
"You should've just left me there. People would've found me soon enough."
"I'm already regretting that I didn't."
Orshini let out a sigh.
"And now that you've come to your senses, how about doing something about that sewer-rat appearance? There's a bathroom at the back door."
"Yeah. Sure. I'd appreciate it if you could find me some clothes to change into."
"...Damn woman."
Leaving Orshini's grumbling behind, Canna stepped into the bathroom.
After finishing her bath and stepping out, she found a dress hanging from the doorknob.
It was one Orshini had procured for her.
Where on earth did he get this in the middle of the night?
She was curious, but asking would only add to her debt, so she simply offered her thanks.
"Thank you."
To think the day would come when she'd say such words to Orshini. Still, gratitude was gratitude, so Canna spoke cleanly.
"You saved me, Orshini."
Orshini, seated in a rocking chair, was glaring at her fiercely.
"Where are we?"
"An inn."
"I see."
She could guess why he'd brought her here.
If she'd woken up again and thrown another fit of madness, everyone would have known. So he'd brought her to this place.
Right. That would have made things incredibly troublesome. Orshini probably didn't want to see that either.
Canna sat down in front of the fireplace and warmed herself by the flames.
"So this is it, then?"
A chuckle escaped her as she muttered. Canna laughed softly and asked,
"The madness that the villagers are said to suffer from?"
"Yes."
Orshini answered quietly.
"A few of my knights experienced the same thing."
"I see."
"This island is out of its mind."
"Yeah, it really is. It's completely bizarre."
Canna recalled the madness she'd experienced.
It wasn't so much madness as it was hallucinations.
Auditory hallucinations. Visual hallucinations. All kinds of illusory things had appeared before her, making her laugh and cry.
If she'd kept chasing those visions, it felt like heavenly ecstasy would have awaited her.
I probably saw a vision of going home.
Lying on the sofa, chatting with Mom and Dad, playfully kicking Seonhong, stroking Tto-tto, texting her lover, and taking a long, refreshing sip of cold beer—
She would've been beside herself with joy.
Canna smiled bitterly.
"Orshini, you didn't experience it?"
"No."
"That's strange. Some people get it, others don't..."
What was the difference?
Could it be, as Rachel had said, that the Black Apostles were summoning evil spirits?
Those were evil spirits?
They had shown her visions, but she hadn't sensed any malice in them.
If they truly were the Black Apostles, shouldn't they have made her do something more wicked?
Like getting drunk on the visions and committing plunder, crimes, or acts that would help the Black Apostles.
And the visions were different for everyone.
Some had flown through the sky like birds, others had become fish swimming through the sea, and still others had danced with scarecrows in a rye field.
Rather than feeling terrible, it had actually felt quite pleasant...
Wait a moment.
A flash of insight suddenly crossed her mind. Could it be?
Could this phenomenon be...
"Who is this 'oppa'?"
Orshini suddenly asked while Canna was deep in thought.
"What kind of bastard is he that you'd chase after him sobbing like an idiot?"
"..."
Canna's face flushed red. She could endure many things, but being caught like that was somewhat embarrassing.
Seeing her burning cheeks, Orshini's brows twisted. Then he spat out an unpleasant laugh and sneered,
"Oppa? Fuck. That's disgusting."
"Shut up. Be quiet."
"And what was that—Seonhong? Who the hell is that?"
Seonhong. If Seonhong heard that, she'd be furious.
"Mind your own business. Don't pry into other people's hallucinations."
"Hallucinations?"
"Yes. I saw a hallucination. I wasn't possessed by the Black Apostles."
She'd gone through an enormous ordeal, but thanks to it, she'd realized what was strange.
She had an idea why she'd seen such visions and why the madness was spreading through the village.
Just then, Claude burst through the door.
"Duchess? You're awake."
In his arms, he carried an armful of Canna's belongings. It seemed he'd gathered the items she'd left behind at the lord's mansion.
"Sir Claude."
"Yes, my lady."
Canna stared into Claude's bright sky-blue eyes.
Even while she was lost in hallucinations and rampaging like a lunatic, he'd still obeyed her order without question.
He really is too obedient.
Canna paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
But in the end, she said nothing.
She'd been about to tell him not to obey any commands that seemed objectively wrong, but she stopped herself.
After all, something like this wouldn't happen again.
"You've come at just the right time."
Canna stood up.
"Sir Claude, there's something I need you to do."