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Her and the Beast – Chapter : 10
“Canna.”
Rachel called out in a pleading voice.
Canna realized that Rachel was speaking to her, but she kept her mouth shut without answering. She simply wasn’t in the right state of mind to respond.
“Please eat something. Just a little, okay?”
Rachel called Canna again. A spoonful of soup was held out toward her. Canna shook her head, refusing it.
In the end, Rachel had no choice but to take the plate away. She placed the bowl on the bedside table and spoke in a worried voice.
“Canna, those of us who are still alive have to keep living. If you keep this up, even you will…”
“Even me, what?”
A sharp, metallic sound escaped Canna’s throat. Realizing that she had said something she shouldn’t have, Rachel shrank back.
Dark circles had formed beneath Canna’s eyes after several days of barely getting any proper sleep.
She had always been thin, but she had lost even more weight, making her look terribly haggard. Her hair, which she usually kept neatly brushed and styled, was now disheveled. It was easy to see just how devastated she was.
Canna bit down on her dry lips.
“Why did I do that?”
She must have been out of her mind for a moment. Canna muttered in a choked voice.
After Astina had left for the Grand Duke’s estate in her place, Canna had returned to the dormitory, feeling anxious despite everything.
That had been her mistake.
It had been barely a day since Astina had disappeared from her everyday life, yet Canna could neither swallow any food nor fall asleep because her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
It was only when dawn arrived again—the same time Astina had departed—that Canna finally came to her senses.
The cold air brushing against her cheeks reminded her of her final conversation with Astina.
‘I’ll go.’
Her younger sister’s calm voice pierced her heart.
Astina had made up her mind to die for her, yet Canna had been selfishly worrying about her own survival, desperately trying to find a way out.
Canna felt disgusted with herself.
Only then did she hurriedly pack her belongings and return to the Count’s estate.
There was still some time before the deadline for traveling to the Grand Duchy, so Canna had assumed that Astina would still be at home.
However, as though Astina had anticipated Canna’s actions, she had left on her journey just a few hours after briefly visiting the estate.
Canna realized that Astina had even given up the chance to spend her final moments with their parents because of her.
The Count and Countess embraced Canna and wept bitterly. Canna, who had abandoned her younger sister, could no longer hold back her tears either, overcome by guilt.
The family endlessly repeated apologies to one another, saying they were sorry and asking for forgiveness. Even Raymond, their four-year-old younger brother, cried along with them without understanding what was happening.
Her younger sister, Astina, who had always been more intelligent and confident than anyone else, had gone to a place of certain death because of her.
‘Should I die?’
A terrifying thought suddenly crossed Canna’s mind.
It was horrifying even to imagine, but she felt that taking her own life might be the only way to atone for what she had done to Astina.
A fierce glint appeared in Canna’s eyes.
Sensing an ominous premonition, Rachel exchanged a glance with Hansel.
Trying to lighten the mood, Hansel deliberately spoke in an overly lively manner.
“Canna, a letter just arrived from the Count’s estate. Why don’t you ask for a leave of absence from the academy? If you rest properly at home, you’ll feel much better.”
“That’s right, Canna. Please try to cheer up. It’s frightening to see you acting as though you’re about to die any moment…”
Rachel agreed, her eyes growing red with tears. Wiping the corners of her eyes, she forced herself to speak cheerfully.
“Hansel, I think Canna wants to read her letter, too. Why don’t you give it to her?”
Ever since Rachel had mistakenly opened Canna’s letter, thinking it was her own, she had become extremely cautious.
After all, she had been the one to deliver the terrible news first.
Hansel took out Canna’s share of the mail, setting aside the letters addressed to them. The envelope from the Count of Rete’s estate was rather thick.
They could only hope that it didn’t contain any more bad news.
Canna weakly raised her hand, opened the envelope, and slowly began reading.
Perhaps her parents wanted to apologize to her again. Just as she had expected, the letter began with words that matched her assumptions.
[My beloved daughter, Canna.
Canna, how have you been? My heart is still unbearably heavy because of what we did to you. I cannot express how grateful I am that you understood us.
But enough about that. I am writing because I have some good news to share with you. I sincerely hope this news will ease some of your worries.
My heart is so full of excitement that I hardly know what I am writing anymore.
To get straight to the point, Astina is safe. We have just received a message from Astina herself.
She was extraordinary even as a child. I cannot believe how she managed to grow into such a remarkable young woman without her parents even realizing it.
I thought you should read it as well, so I have enclosed Astina’s letter.
There is also a favor I would like to ask of you.]
The handwriting was rough, as though the letter had been hurriedly scribbled down. There were even visible ink smudges, something quite unlike the usually composed Countess.
As her mother had mentioned, there were two sheets of paper.
Canna hurriedly opened the second letter.
And the moment she recognized the familiar handwriting, tears burst from her eyes.
[To Mother and Father.
First of all, I am safe.
I am sorry for saying such harsh things the last time I visited home.
I was overwhelmed by the situation and seem to have said hurtful things without giving them a second thought. It weighs heavily on my heart.
If Canna is still staying at home, please pass this news along to her.
I wonder whether she has returned safely to the academy. She will receive penalty points if she misses more than three classes, so she had better be careful. Since I don’t know where she might be staying, I will write what I want to tell Canna in this letter for now.
Mother, Father. Please tell Canna that she has done nothing wrong and bears absolutely no responsibility for this misfortune.
My sister has no reason to blame herself for her actions. If I were to explain the situation, I suppose I am the one who stole her conscience. I want to apologize to Canna for all the suffering she must have endured.
I hope Canna understands that the misfortune I took upon myself in her place was not even a misfortune to begin with.
Originally, I intended to return to our family home once I had accomplished my goal. However, due to an unexpected turn of events, my stay here will probably be longer than the ten months I had initially anticipated.
After all, I came here to produce an heir for the Grand Duke. It seems I will be away from home for nearly a year.
I will do my best to return by this time next year.
Please remain in good health until then.
P.S. I want to eat the chocolates sold at Boulangerie, the pastry shop in the capital.
If you have someone traveling here, please send me about two boxes. The Grand Duke’s household is wealthy, but when it comes to desserts, those in the capital are unquestionably better.]
Canna’s hands trembled as she held the letter.
She was alive?
Astina was really alive?
There was no reason to doubt the authenticity of the letter. Astina’s handwriting was unmistakable, and her way of speaking was exactly like her younger sister.
Even the way she always said things that other people couldn’t understand was exactly the same.
She intended to return? What on earth did that mean? Was she planning to give birth to the Grand Duke’s child and then get divorced?
Canna suddenly sprang out of bed, finding strength from somewhere she hadn’t known she possessed.
Hansel and Rachel’s eyes widened when they saw Canna rush out of the room.
They carefully picked up the letter she had left behind.
And just like Canna, they were overcome with astonished joy.
Canna left the dormitory and hurried along at a brisk pace.
She looked far too disheveled to be walking around outside, but she didn’t have the time to worry about such things.
She had to go home. She needed to ask her parents whether this news was real.
Students who saw Canna running across the academy grounds looked at her with pity and whispered about the tragedy that had befallen the sisters.
They said that since her younger sister had married the monstrous Grand Duke, the elder sister must have gone mad with grief as well.
Although not much time had passed since Astina departed for the Grand Duchy of Atalenta, rumors had already begun spreading throughout the academy.
This was because Grand Duke Theriod’s marriage contract had arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Everyone knew the name of the unfortunate bride.
Astina Rete, who would soon become Astina van Atalenta and meet her untimely death.
Upon hearing the news, even Professor Octavia, who had disliked Astina, deeply regretted her past behavior, thinking that she should have treated the girl better during her final days.
Just then, someone stepped in front of Canna.
Caught off guard by the sudden appearance, Canna collided with the man’s shoulder at full running speed.
Holding her aching forehead, Canna looked up in surprise.
The man asked urgently,
“Are you Canna? Miss Canna Rete?”
“Pardon? Who are you…?”
Canna asked in confusion.
She had never known a handsome man like this.
His shining blond hair gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight. Students passing by whispered among themselves, suggesting that he was quite popular at the academy.
The man hurriedly introduced himself.
“I’m Benjamin Leandros. Astina and I occasionally spar together.”
An acquaintance of Astina?
Canna hadn’t known that her younger sister associated with the students in the swordsmanship department.
Then again, considering Astina’s martial skills, she could easily hold her own against the male students.
Benjamin asked in an anxious voice,
“I heard that Astina married Grand Duke Theriod. Is that true?”
He had just returned from visiting a renowned swordsmith who lived quite far away. He had gone all that way specifically to find a good sword to give Astina as a present.
He had carefully wrapped the gift in silk and brought it back with him, only to hear the news of Astina’s marriage as soon as he returned.
That alone was shocking enough, but when Benjamin heard the name of the man she was to marry, all the color drained from his face.
Her husband was none other than Theriod van Atalenta, the man infamous as the monstrous Grand Duke.
“I-it’s true. She went in my place.”
Canna answered with a dazed expression.
She nearly burst into tears again, but remembering the news of Astina’s survival in the letter from her parents, she managed to suppress her emotions.
“How could…”
Benjamin couldn’t continue.
He knew that rumors of this nature were rarely fabricated.
However, after hearing Canna confirm it, he couldn’t hide the emotions surging inside him.
His expression darkened as he demanded,
“How does that even make sense? When did this happen? How? And why?!”
“My father went bankrupt. The Atalenta family demanded a marriage in exchange for taking over his debts. I… I, I really didn’t want to do it, but… Astina said she would go in my place…”
Benjamin’s expression hardened as he listened to Canna’s explanation.
It was true that Astina was strong—no one in the swordsmanship department had ever managed to defeat her.
But what if something happened to her?
What if the Grand Duke, afraid that Astina might injure his body, had her brought into the bedroom completely naked? Without a weapon, how could she possibly use the swordsmanship she excelled at?
Benjamin’s imagination began spiraling into increasingly disturbing possibilities.
Canna hurriedly corrected his ominous assumptions.
“Astina is alive!”
“What?”
“I just received a letter from my parents. Astina sent word home that she is safe.”
Canna anxiously glanced past Benjamin.
She had no more time to waste. Now that she had informed one of her younger sister’s acquaintances that Astina was safe, she needed to hurry back to the Count’s estate.
After giving him a brief, distracted farewell, Canna rushed past Benjamin and started running again.
Benjamin was so stunned by Canna’s words that he couldn’t understand them for a moment. By the time he came to his senses, he had foolishly let her get away.
A moment later, Benjamin let out a hollow laugh.
It was a relief to hear that Astina was safe, but the news of her marriage was still true.
He was practically going crazy.
Benjamin raised both hands and ran them through his hair.
“That damn woman. What kind of trouble has she gotten herself into this time?”
