[TVL] 95 – An End To Selfishness

“Did you execute your wife? That woman must have been jealous of Alana.”

“Jealousy is worthless. There is no love in the marriage between the houses. Besides, she died, poisoning the queen. It is necessary to make an example of her. Besides, if we let her go, it will hurt my house, the Duchy of Urbano. My house is not one to be felled. The Marquis of  Matos is certain to fall, partly because of the incident caused by his ex-wife at Alana’s coronation. His property has been confiscated.”

Luciano slid the blade on his skin and shaved his stubble. Callisto’s words continued. “It was the Marchioness of Matos who stabbed you, but she was executed on the same day. We were interrogating Priscilla that day about the poison she was carrying. I had no idea that woman slipped out of the room and stabbed you…. It was a complete blunder. My father also wishes to apologise to you again.”

“That’s unnecessary, it’ll be a nuisance.”

“You should have been the subject of questioning, but you prevented it. I am proud to say that I am the man who can best prove your innocence. Why did I give up on Alana? Because I thought I was no match for you. Because of you, Alana lived. Please come and see Alana soon. You’ll be surprised at how much she’s changed.”

After shaving, Luciano turned around and looked at Callisto.

“Callisto. I know that Alana is alive because you have shielded and protected her for many years. Without her, I wouldn’t be here alive now. I would be dead. I am grateful to her and to you.”

Callisto shrugged uncomfortably.

“Please, don’t. I’m not a person to be praised. If you hadn’t woken up, I’d  be laughing at getting Alana. As you can see, I’m a person of bad moral character.”

“Oh, that’s right, another one,” Callisto said to Luciano, who began to change clothes.

As for the current situation in Serrat, as you wrote, the talks have broken down, and we are engaged with Teges. The talks were only a formality because the intention was to destroy them from the start. Alana assumed that you would want that. I hope it will make you feel better. Sir Emilio, come with us and let us take back Serrat.”

“Hold on. That’s what the letter says? No way, did you read that…my letter!”

Callisto raised his eyebrows, “Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Of course, I read it. I’m an aide. I’ll show it to Alana later, so don’t worry.”

“You! –Sh*t. It’s fine. Destroy the letter. Don’t let her see it. Do you understand?”

Luciano, dressed in clothes and wrapped in a cloak, left the room as it was.

♔♔♔

As he walked along, fighting off the pain in his back, he noticed that there was a lot of noise ahead. A crowd had gathered in the cloister. He could even see Callisto’s father, the Chancellor. He looked at him suspiciously and heard a panicked voice.

“Please stop, it will hurt your body. Moreover, you can’t leave your room by yourself.” The words made him realise who was there.

“Alana!”

Luciano called out, and someone squeezed of the crowd.

It was her, with her platinum hair.

“Emilio…” Alana’s face changed and crumpled.

She was crying, her brow furrowed, her lips curved, tears streaming down her face. It was the first time she had ever shown emotion. It was unimaginable for the girl he had known so far to show any kind of feeling.

She rushed towards him as he wondered hif she was running. She had never run before, so she could not run well.

Luciano also tried to run, but the pain pierced him, and he could not.

 Alana was the first to reach him. He opened his arms, and Alana opened hers and clung to him. Her delicate shoulders shook.

It was not a very strong hug, but it was the best she could do. When he hugged her back, Alana filled her green eyes with her tears and looked up at Luciano.

“…I’m not going to be selfish anymore. Emilio, I swear to you. So… please don’t tell me ... that you will never get treatment again.”

She cried looking at him, and he touched her wet cheeks. He wanted to pick up Alana, but his wound hurt severely. Still, that wasn’t a reason to not do so. He wanted to embrace her, so he did.

When Luciano looked to the Chancellor, he disbanded everyone who gathered and gave a wink to him. Soon, the cloister contained only Alana and Luciano. Alana’s fingers fluttering and squirming, stretched over Luciano’s hair. Her fingertips trembled.

“Hair ...”

“Oh, I cut it. Alana, are you confident you won’t be selfish? Can you promise?”

“I promise,” Alana nodded, raising her voice. Tears splattered down from her eyelashes and cheeks.

“It’s selfish of you to want to die before me. Not to eat or to go into cold water without permission. That’s selfishness. The worst kind of selfishness is to be silent and unemotional. It is nothing but arrogance to hide oneself from the eyes of others. Not being selfish means you will tell me everything. Can you do that? If you can’t do one thing and you can’t defend it, it’s all selfish. Can you swear to me that what you just said now that you can do this, isn’t a lie?”

Tears swam in her eyes, but she looked at him and spoke, “What do you mean?” She lifted her nose. “I don’t really understand how to express emotions, but I try hard every day.”

“What are you saying. You’ve just come to me with your emotions out in the open.” Alana shook her eyes. The drops on her gold eyelashes shone.

//EOY surprise update :)) Penultimate chapter of TVL! Do check out my other ongoing translation Sweet Cage of Revenge for some angsty historical rofan snusnu update later today, and T, this hottie – updated yesterday, for some comedy villainess snusnu!