<h4>Chapter 85.1</h4>


    It was the middle of the day. The people of Ataer talked about nothing but the ident that urred on the highway.


    The culprit who deliberately caused the ident was Dornan, Marquis Vale’s guard. Dornan, who barely survived the ident, refuted that it had happened because Matisse had slept on the wheel. But that was far from the truth, and there were witnesses who testified that the car had moved just fine along the road.


    The owner of the cafe also pointed out that Matisse drove slowly to attempt to park just before the ident.


    Dornan then changed his testimony like flipping a coin.


    He confessed with the words, “I did it.”


    He confessed that he was the one who called the anarchists into the marquis’s house, gave them the diamonds, and made them use Canillia Vale. He also imed that he caused the ident because he was afraid that his crime would be exposed.


    All were lies. His testimony was colorless. The “why” was missing, but he took the fifth by appointing an attorney.


    “So this is how it’s going to be wrapped up…”


    Upon hearing the report telling him that it was unlikely Dornan would confess the truth, ude killed the cigarette he was holding.


    In the drawing room of the Grand Duke’s house, Owen felt as if he was walking on eggshells at ude’s expression.


    Ten days ago, Canillia, who was injured in the ident, had two major seizures. Every time she had a seizure, ude grabbed the doctor’s cor and demanded he save her. As soon as she stabilized, he moved her to the hospital room in the Grand Duke’s manor.


    ude’s scars still hadn’t healed from that day.


    He had jumped out of his car and pulled Canillia out, breaking his fingers. The vehicle exploded and the mes engulfed the road soon after he had.


    Owen looked at ude’s splinted hand, looked for painkillers, and ced them in front of him.


    “Sir, take care of yourself, first. Archduke Ian Sergio is to be expected soon.”


    ude froze.


    “He’s alive?”


    “Yes, sir. He was discharged yesterday.”


    “And the purpose of this visit?” asked ude.


    “He wishes to see Lady Canillia,” answered Owen.


    “Ha. You must be joking.”


    Cynical, ude grabbed the arm of the chair and stood up. After swallowing a painkiller, he headed to the sunroom where Canillia was.


    Inside, he was blinded by the sunlight. Canillia was fast asleep on a white couch.


    There was a book dropped to the floor that she must have been reading, and the nket that once covered her was pushed all the way to her feet. Surrounded by the light, she looked like a piece of soft candy.


    After the ident, Canillia mostly spent the day here. Shocked that she was targeted, she became deathly afraid of the dark and startled at even the smallest of sound.


    ude cautiously approached her. Her innocent-looking face had be even more emaciated over thest few days. Her arms were wrapped around a cushion. Sitting on the floor in front of the sofa, he softly kissed her eyelids. Her soft skin smelled of dried flowers.


    He passed the bridge of her nose and the corner of her mouth and kissed her on the lips. As he bit down on her lower lip, which was the color of red flowers, Canillia opened her eyes and looked at him.


    ude could see his own face in her sleepy eyes. He smiled and pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen to her face.


    “Canillia,” he said softly.


    “ude…”


    “You fell asleep here again.”


    “Really?” asked Canillia. “The daylight was so warm I must have fallen asleep.” She closed her eyes again.


    ude touched the lobe of her ear and pressed his forehead against hers. As if her drowsiness was contagious, he feltnguid.


    However, an unwee visitor would soon arrive.


    “You have to get up now.”


    ude met her lips again as an excuse to wake her up. Her soft eyshes tickled his cheeks and boiled his body. He held her tightly with one arm and kissed her more deeply. Then he climbed onto the sofa and pressed her down. Canillia took a deep breath and opened her body to ept him.


    The sunlight pouring down on their bodies was warm and soon became hot. He wondered if this was what heaven felt like.


    If he was with Canillia, even the coldest of ces would be warm.


    ***


    “Are you alright?”


    “I’m fine, Pepe.”


    Lia headed to where her guest was waiting, stroking her warm cheeks. Pepe stayed by her side.


    After the ident, her muscles were damaged and there was still no strength in her legs. Sudden convulsions while walking often led to idents.


    The doctor said that she would regain her strength soon, but that was just the doctor’s opinion.


    Canillia entered the waiting room nervously, looking down at her legs, which felt like they were about to twitch again.


    The man sitting across from ude turned his head toward the entrance. Lia covered her mouth with both hands as Ian slowly got up.


    “You’re alive.”


    Her voice trembled with swelling relief. Ian approached her and pointed to the wound on his lips and grinned.


    “Except for a little scratch here.”