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“That’s… That’s so good to hear.”
Suddenly moved with emotions, Canillia pressed down on her eyes that were starting to fill with tears.
On the day of the accident, as Ian was being carried away on a stretcher, she realized that her presence was harming them. And it was the marchioness that wanted to hurt her. However, Ian was alive and well, standing in front of her. Her heart, which was plagued with guilt, was melting.
Canillia suddenly burst into tears. Ian was taken back and Claude got angry.
“Come here, Canillia.”
Claude pushed Ian away and wrapped his arms around her, helping her to the couch. Ian’s expression hardened at the sight of her limping.
“You haven’t fully recovered yet,” said Ian.
“Canillia’s not a beast like us,” Claude retorted.
“Hmm.”
“Anyway, it’s a relief to see you’re well, Archduke Sergio.”
Canillia looked at the two men back and forth through a window of tears. It wasn’t the pain in her legs that bothered her while she was in the hospital, but Claude and Ian who got hurt because of her.
She still dreamed about that day. If she hadn’t turned Claude away, if she hadn’t made Matisse uncomfortable because she couldn’t keep her emotions in check, then the accident might not have happened. Thoughts like these haunted her and accentuated the guilt.
“Duke Ihar, I want to talk to Canillia alone,” Ian said after staring at her grim expression. Claude would have refused, but today was different because Ian Sergio was leaving tonight. “Will ten minutes do?” Ian asked.
Claude pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and stood up after stroking Canillia’s hair. “I’ll come back in eight minutes.”
He just had to cut down the two minutes.
Claude met Ian’s eyes, who smiled back, and left the waiting room. He showed his trust in Canillia by not looking back.
“Ian, are you truly alright?” Canillia asked him after the door closed. Ian nodded and reached out and grabbed her knees.
“What about you? Your legs?”
“I’m okay,” said Canillia. “The doctor said that time will take care of it.”
“Interesting…” Ian muttered.
“What is?”
“It’s just, your mother also has a limp.”
Lia wavered at the word ‘mother.’
Stroking her knees, Ian looked up. The moment he saw the shock in her eyes, he was bewildered as he said, “Canillia, won’t you come with me?”
“What do you…”
“Your mother is in Geore.”
Lia blankly looked up at him. Her mind was a cluster of confusion and she couldn’t reply.
George? Her mother was at Geore?
“Do you know how many times the Emperor tried to wipe out Louvre? He doesn’t see the residents as people, and the marquis is the one who stopped him. But now his influence won’t work anymore. He said that if they were caught, there was no way your mother could avoid execution as she has ties to the anarchists. So he asked me to take your mother to Geore. She may be a criminal here, but she’ll be able to live her life as a normal citizen there.”
Bright sunlight filled her eyes. The light soon turned to moisture and into jewel-like tears that slid down her cheeks.
Lia covered her face with her hands.
“Canillia,” called Ian.
“Is my mother safe? Where is she? Did she accept without any resistance?”
Ian took her hand and lowered it. Then he covered her wet cheeks with his own and nodded.
“I told her that you were there. It was a lie, but there was no other way.”
“I thought she was happy at Louvre,” said Canillia.
“You were more important.”
Ian brushed his fingers across her cheeks and stood up. He turned to Claude. It seemed that the eight minutes had already passed, as he was standing by the door watching them.
“Archduke Sergio, you speak nonsense.”
“It all stems from your plans to burn down Louvre, Ihar.”
“I have no intention of burning Louvre. I was just trying to find those who were dangerous.”
Upon seeing Claude approach, Ian grabbed Canillia by the shoulders and gently hugged her.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well. I’ll be waiting for you, Canillia. I’m going to protect your mother.”
Overwhelmed, Canillia clenched her eyes shut. Ian, who softly kissed her on the cheek and passed by Claude, who did not try to hide his displeasure, finally left. The silence was deafening. Their eyes were filled with one another. Claude let loose his tightly gripped fists and ran a hand through his hair. He walked to her.
“Did you really try to burn down Louvre?” Lia asked. Her voice shook.
“No,” answered Claude.
“Then what?”
“I just wanted to get rid of the things that could hurt you. Things that could be used against you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you would make the same expression you’re making right now.” He let out a long sigh and kneeled one knee in front of her.
Confused, Lia pulled out her hands from his grasp.
“I want to see my mother,” she said.
“No.”
His voice was so calm that she couldn’t find any sense of remorse.
“Grand Duke!”
“Canillia, you can’t.”
Claude grabbed Lia’s hand again, which had turned white. He then placed his forehead on the back of her trembling hand and said as if pleading,
“I have no intention of sending you to Ian.”