Chapter 95
Idyll was no longer the delicate flower that had been carefully nurtured in the Count's family greenhouse.
The food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the room you sleep in are no longer the property of Count Canyon's family, and the name "Canyon" has not been mentioned alongside her name for a long time.
I remembered Laszlo's last words.
"You ended up like this because you couldn't be tough."
Edel reconsidered those words and clenched her fists tightly.
“It was you who made me hard, Dad.”
Calmly, Edel regained her composure and opened the drawer to take out a sheet of paper. She carefully selected the best paper and envelope she owned, deliberately making the letter appear formal and polite.
With the black ink she had smeared on the tip of the sharp pen, she began to write without hesitation.
“My connection with the Count Canyon family was severed a year and a half ago. I repaid my debt to the family by marrying the Duchy of Lancaster, and when I became a captive/spoils of war, the family relinquished all their rights towards me, and thus our relationship ended completely. So, please, do not contact me again.”
The message text did not include the word “father” even once.
She imagined how her father would lose his temper when he received this letter, which made her hand tremble for a moment, but she closed her eyes tightly and sealed the envelope firmly.
***
Although her message was harsh and dry, Idil was well aware that her father was not the type to give up easily.
But she never expected him to go this far.
"So... are you saying that Count Canyon is currently visiting Count Crisis?"
"Yes."
Daisy, who had come to inform her of the matter, watched Idil's expression cautiously. Even Daisy knew that this situation was unwelcome for Idil.
Had Idêle been home when the Count arrived, she would have immediately dismissed him before he even set foot inside the palace. But he chose to come when Idêle was out, and without any prior notice.
"Are you well?"
When Daisy asked again anxiously, Edel pulled herself together with difficulty.
She wasn't well, of course. But she also wasn't able to do anything at the moment.
“I’m fine… at least, we have to wait until they finish talking. Do you know how Count Crisis reacted when Count Canyon visited?”
“I didn’t see it myself, but there were no loud noises or a tense atmosphere.”
"I understand. Thank you, Daisy."
Idil smiled that usual calm smile, but inside she was teeming with anxiety that threatened to swallow her whole.
'What if Count Chrysos misunderstands me? What if I can't stay here anymore either?'
She had just begun to quietly rebuild her life, and now her father, who had come to shatter this little peace, had stirred up feelings of resentment and distress within her.
Some might say that Count Canyon came only to check on her, but in the eyes of others, it may seem that way.
But Edel knew him well; he had never cared about his daughters. Even on the day Lynn died, he was preoccupied with outside gossip.
Just thinking about Lynn made Idil's heart harden.
'Well, I will stay strong. I am no longer Edel Canyon. I will no longer allow myself to be influenced by family honor or its name.'
She tightened her grip on her sweaty hands and took a deep breath to regain her composure.
***
Meanwhile, Dustin was sitting with Laszlo in the reception room, sighing wearily and his face full of worry.
"So, what you're saying is that your failure to try to meet Edel all this time was due to the circumstances surrounding you both...is that right?"
Laszlo finally spoke after he took a sip of tea and put down the cup.
“Exactly. Think about it, Count. As you well know, our family has been regarded all this time as being involved in the treason of the Duchy of Lancaster. How can we search for my daughter, who was a duchess, without arousing further suspicion?”
“Hmm…”
A slight smile passed over Laszlo's face, while Dustin moved closer to the table eagerly as he explained.
“No father in the world sleeps soundly while his daughter is in danger. During that time, we were not really living, we were living in constant anxiety, especially my wife Lyudmila, whose health deteriorated due to grief.”
"Is this correct?"
“Yes, I’m not asking for much. All I want is to be able to meet my daughter, Edel, to check on her even for a moment, and to hold her hand just once. Please, help me with this.”
Laszlo believed that Dustin's behavior was extremely selfish.
As Dustin said, no parent can feel at ease when their daughter's life is in danger. That's obvious.
This is why parents rush to risk their lives to save their children. How else can they care about the surrounding circumstances?
'At least he didn't respond quickly and say he would give up all his rights to my daughter.'
Laszlo vividly remembered how Dustin hadn't hesitated to say the word "give up" in front of Demacross when asked about Edel. Dustin seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened that day.
But Laszlo decided to grant Dustin's wish.
'It is also essential to monitor Edel's reaction.'
Laszlo did not believe that Edel would betray him, but he did not have complete trust in her.
“Well, it’s not difficult. The father and daughter just want to meet, so what’s the problem with that?”
"Thank you, Count!"
"but…"
Laszlo's voice had a sharp tone, which made Dustin's face stiffen.
"A little while ago, you were speaking strangely."
Laszlo's cold gaze was quite evident as he looked at Dustin.
Although Dustin did not like these looks, he was in a vulnerable position, so he smiled awkwardly and said an excuse.
“It is only natural that I use respectful language with those who are below me in rank. I simply hold Count Crisis in very high regard…”
"Were you really close to Count Canyon?"
“Um, no… this…”
“I am the one who exposed your connections to Lancaster and accused the Canyon family of conspiracy. Yet you find me so close to you… You seem to have a lot of patience.”
Laszlo smiled coldly, while Dustin froze in place, unable to laugh or get angry.
Laszlo then added one last hit to Dustin.
“But since I am not very tolerant, let us adhere to mutual respect to avoid any annoyance.”
“Y-yes, of course…”
Dustin would bow his head before other nobles, but before Laszlo he was as hard as an unlubricated piece of metal.
To Dustin, Laszlo was still a “dirty mercenary,” and even his attempts to befriend him were seen as a huge concession on his part.
Although Laszlo knew what Dustin was thinking, he didn't press him any further. Instead, he called for the maid, Margaret, who was waiting outside.
"Did you call me?"
"Where is Idil?"
"She just got back from going out."
“That’s good. Go and get Idil.”
“Yes, Count.”
When Margaret left, Laszlo also got up from his place.
“It is better for me to leave because I will be a burden on you. I hope you enjoy meeting your daughter after a long time, but unfortunately I have other commitments, so I will not be able to give you much time.”
“I understand, of course. I also didn’t tell you beforehand about my visit…”
“I’m glad you understand. I’ll give you 30 minutes. That will be enough time to check on her.”
“Of course, thank you, Count Crisis.”
Laszlo nodded gently, then left the room. At the door, he met Idil, who had just arrived.
"You're fast."
“I heard he was here. So I expected to be called soon.”
“It seems your father missed you a lot. He was begging to see you even just once.”
Laszlo said that in a cheerful spirit, but Edel was silent, her face pale and frozen.
"Speak freely, I will leave."
Laszlo lightly raised his hand to Edel's shoulder and walked past her.
Then he entered his office next to the room, where he began to feel a column on the wall connected to the wall that separated him from the room.
This wooden post was actually a secret door.
“I don’t usually pry, but… we must ascertain Count Canyon’s intentions.”
In truth, Laszlo was more curious about Edel's intentions. How would she think of her father, who hadn't helped her? Would she feel guilty? Or would she miss him nonetheless, because he was her family?
Laszlo entered through the secret door and watched Edel through a small hole in the opposite wall.
Edel was sitting across from Dustin, who was looking at her silently. The silence between them lasted for a while, but Dustin, who was in a hurry, spoke first.
"You didn't even finish the greeting after all this time."
His voice was cold, despite his saying that he missed his daughter.
“We’ve been exchanging messages recently, so I feel like it’s not exactly a long reunion after a long absence… things are still the same.”
Messages?
This was the first time Laszlo had heard of this.