"Lady Kanna." Called the maid behind her. "Your aunt, Lady Leisha, is asking you at her quarters." Alice, now Kanna, have already adjusted to her new identity. It wasn't hard to do it. Kanna have always been the name that her father used to call her in private. She wasn't just used at many people now calling her that name.
The identity of Kanna have always been sick. She wasn't allowed to go out or even receive guests. Though she was a proclaimed beauty in the empire of Lin, no one actually saw her for she made sure she wore a veil even inside her own chambers. This situation actually benefited Alice very much. She had to thank her teacher for this.. and her father, if he was still here, anyways.
General Jung and the other ministers went back to Airen. They had to report to the new king as not to fall into suspicion. They still had a lot of missions to do at Airen.
"You called for me, …aunt?" Kanna lingered at the word 'aunt', wanting to tease her teacher for a little bit. In the past, she would raise her brows at the kids in the palace that called her 'aunt'. And now, she pretty much didn't change. Lady Leisha gestured for the maids to leave. Kanna realized this wasn't a time to display their intimate relationship for proof; they were going to talk about something serious.
"Someone found you out. Airen men are starting to spread here at Lin Empire's border city." Kanna's teacher did not miss any detail in the situation that they were in. "Although the Gu family is under the radar of the emperor and ministers of Lin, Airen could find a way to track you down."
Kanna let the news sink unto her. " Shin can't stand my existence as a threat so he's tracking me down till I'm dead?" Shin, her past fiance that betrayed her was now the king of her own country. Leisha must have caught a silence of pain from her, so she spoke.
"I doubt it's him. I think it's his father that badly wants your corpse in his sight." Although Shin made the biggest mistake, Leisha still cared for him. And despite the decision he had made, he was still the child that Leisha personally raised. If it wasn't for his devil of a father, Kanna and Shin would be enjoying a married life right now. And Leisha would be the happiest of them all. Sadly, it can only be a dream of the past.
"I bet Shin is also cowering in front of his father and agreeing to his every foolish words." Kanna was bitter. She had always known Shin was a dog of his father. Though he promised to fight back for his dignity, he never did. Just like how he promised a happy life for Kanna. Perhaps, Kanna thought, she wasn't someone worth fighting promises for.
"Anyways, I need you to lie low for a while. Kira will take your place like before and attend social gatherings to lessen Shin and his father, Garen, for suspecting deeper." Leisha instructed. Kira, the girl who lived as Kanna, became her personal bodyguard and replacement during times like this. When she first met Kira, she had similarities with her. Their hair, eyes, and body figures were pretty much identical. But Kira's personality was always quiet. She would only talk when asked, and move when needed. Being Kanna's shadow, she's doing a really great job.
" I will. I saw a temple not far away from here. I could go hide there for the time being, just in case." Kanna suggested, or more like, stated. Leisha gave her a disapproving look, but gave up anyway. The fact that Kanna didn't speak in a request tone meant that she already decided upon it.
"Fine. I'll ask ----,"
"No guards. Aunt, you yourself said I'm safest when I'm not protected." Kanna cut her off. Even though Leisha wanted to argue, she can't possibly argue with her own words. That would seem foolish.
"You're getting smarter." She commended her student, now her niece. Despite the new titles and relationship, she still can't help but be proud at how much her student was improving. Even though she learned hard to impress her father before, she never really thought with such calm. Perhaps, the pain made her stronger and smarter.
"It should be expected of me, isn't it?" Kanna softly said, "After all, I'm drawing everything from this rage I have inside." Kanna touched the dagger her father had left her inside her sleeves. No matter how long it stayed in her clothes, it still felt cold like the day her father had given it to her.
'Even when I'm no longer here, draw your strength from your feelings. Be it rage or joy, use it to survive, Kanna.'
Her father's words echoed in her ears.
True enough, the only thing motivating her to continue surviving was the resentment and revenge that she's keeping inside. With her heart torn into pieces, what desire is left for her to live if not for the hope that one day, she herself will thrust her dagger into Shin and Garen's heart.