Chapter 20
“Are you going to see Father?”
As Kanna was on her way to her father’s office, a voice called out to her.
It was Kallen.
She turned toward him with little interest.
What does he want now?
Was he still worried about Lucy?
“Lucy is fine now. You saw it yourself, didn’t you?”
“Are you really leaving?”
“Yes.”
“I already told you.”
She had made her plans clear from the beginning.
Once Lucy was healed, she would obtain permission for a divorce and leave to live on her own.
She had wanted to make sure no one worried that she intended to settle down here.
…Ah.
Maybe he didn’t believe me.
Perhaps he was afraid she planned to stay.
To Kallen, she was nothing more than a stain on the family’s honor.
“I’m on my way to ask Father for permission to divorce. Once everything is settled, I’ll leave, so don’t worry.”
She thought that would end the conversation.
Apparently, Kallen still had something to say.
For some reason, he looked unusually tense. Running a hand over his face, he spoke quickly.
“If you wish… I’ll arrange a place for you to live.”
“I don’t need that.”
Kanna answered instantly without a second’s hesitation.
“If you’re trying to repay me because of Lucy, you don’t have to. Letting me stay here for a while was more than enough.”
“…”
“After this, we’ll never have to see each other again.”
For a brief moment, Kallen’s expression stiffened strangely.
He looked as though he had just swallowed a mouthful of bitter medicine.
She found it odd.
But not interesting.
Turning away, Kanna continued walking.
She had something far more important to worry about.
Will Father really give me permission?
He’ll probably refuse…
How am I supposed to persuade someone who hates me?
“Father.”
After pacing in front of the office door for quite some time, Kanna finally gathered her courage.
Knock. Knock.
“May I come in?”
“Come in.”
The reply came much sooner than she expected.
Even so…
Kanna couldn’t immediately bring herself to enter.
She was far more nervous than she had been when entering her husband Sylvien Valentino’s room not long ago.
Deep breath…
Come on, Kanna.
You can do this.
Finally, she opened the door.
In front of the large window stood a broad desk.
Alessandro sat quietly behind it, reading documents.
Bright sunlight streamed in from behind him.
Kanna narrowed her eyes.
His crimson hair…
His immaculate white shirt…
Both seemed to glow in the afternoon light.
Scratch… scratch…
His fountain pen moved neatly across the paper.
Kanna silently stood there, watching.
Whenever Alessandro worked, he always wore glasses.
At this moment…
He looked less like the greatest swordsman on the continent…
…and more like a scholar who had devoted his life to literature.
Father really hasn’t changed at all.
Anyone who didn’t know them would sooner mistake her for his younger sister than his daughter.
Looking around the room, Kanna’s gaze suddenly fell upon the fireplace.
It was stuffed with countless unopened letters.
Even that’s exactly the same.
He’s still using love letters as firewood.
Perhaps because he still looked like an eternally youthful man…
Alessandro continued receiving countless love letters, just as he always had.
And just like before…
He never opened a single one.
He simply tossed them into the fireplace.
Nothing had changed.
Which meant…
He probably still hated her just as much.
“Father.”
“If you don’t mind… could you spare me a little time?”
At her words, Alessandro finally looked up.
Behind the lenses of his glasses were emotionless green eyes.
They were so cold and lifeless they resembled dried emeralds.
“Am I not already doing so?”
“…”
Right.
Simply allowing her inside meant he had already given her his time.
Embarrassed by her foolish question, Kanna’s cheeks turned slightly pink.
“I have something to ask of you.”
“Speak.”
“Please allow me to divorce Duke Valentino.”
“…”
The scratching of the pen abruptly stopped.
Alessandro set down his fountain pen.
Removing his glasses, he rubbed the bridge of his nose before folding his hands together atop the desk.
“A divorce?”
“The Valentino family is at fault.”
Afraid he might think she was responsible, she hurriedly continued.
She had sacrificed her own legs for this very moment.
“You know Countess Josephine Elester.”
“She is my mother-in-law.”
“She ordered me to greet her three times every day at fixed hours.”
As she spoke, anger surged inside her.
Swallowing hard, Kanna forced herself to calm down before continuing.
“I did that every single day for the past seven years of my marriage.”
“…”
“Even the maids looked down on me.”
“The maid who woke me each morning would throw the water from flower vases on me.”
“Sometimes… she slapped me awake.”
She explained everything.
Her conflict with Mary.
Josephine’s cane.
The neglect.
Everything.
“If I stay with that family…”
“I’ll die.”
“No.”
“I will die.”
“…”
“If I want to survive… I have to divorce him.”
“So please.”
“Grant me your permission.”
Meeting Alessandro’s eyes directly, she pleaded with him.
She never expected sympathy.
Instead…
She hoped he would see this as an insult to House Addis.
Not an insult to Kanna…
But to the Addis family itself.
Surely that would bother him.
So—
“Very well.”
“…”
…Huh?
“I’ll have the butler prepare the necessary documents.”
…Huh?
…What?
…What did he just say?
Kanna couldn’t believe her ears.
He was agreeing?
He was even going to have the butler prepare and send the paperwork himself?
W-Wait.
Calm down.
Stay calm.
This outcome was even better than she’d hoped for.
Yet…
Somehow…
She wasn’t happy.
Because it was too perfect.
There was no way Father would simply grant her wish so easily.
She had expected him to tell her to die in the Valentino household…
Or to get out of his sight immediately.
“You’re… giving me permission?”
Alessandro tilted his head slightly.
“Would you prefer I revoke it?”
“No!”
“Not at all!”
“Please let me divorce him!”
“I understand.”
Is this real?
Am I dreaming?
Kanna nearly pinched her own cheek.
But no…
It wasn’t a dream.
Her father had truly approved the divorce without hesitation.
I knew it!
Even Father must dislike seeing House Addis humiliated.
No matter how much he disliked her…
She was still a blood member of House Addis.
Seeing her abused by another noble house—
Especially the Valentino family, fellow guardians of the Black Mist—
Must have offended his pride.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you very much, Father.”
Perhaps assuming the conversation was over…
Alessandro silently lowered his gaze and put his glasses back on.
That was when Kanna hurriedly added,
“Oh… but please don’t worry.”
“I’ll leave this estate as soon as possible and settle somewhere else.”
She had to explain everything now…
Before he changed his mind.
If he misunderstood and thought she planned to remain here…
He might decide it was better to send his hated daughter back to the Valentino family than continue seeing her every day.
And then…
He could withdraw his permission.
That would be a disaster.
So she smiled brightly and continued.
“To tell the truth…”
“I’ve always wanted to leave the Empire.”
“My dream has always been to live in a seaside village in the Kingdom of Yalden.”
Of course, that had never been her dream.
She had only found Yalden on a map a few days ago.
She was simply pretending.
If I say I’m leaving because Father hates me…
That might sound like I’m rebelling.
And that would only offend him.
If the daughter he already despised dared to defy him…
He might very well order her back to the Valentino household to die.
So…
Smiling warmly despite not meaning a word of it, she said,
“As soon as the divorce is finalized…”
“I’ll leave.”
“And I’ll never come back.”
That should do it.
Kanna bowed deeply.
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
“I’m sorry for disturbing—”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Alessandro’s voice fell sharply over her bowed head.
“I will not permit the divorce.”
