EWGEW 09

Chapter 09

Camilla slowly blinked her eyes.

Her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered as if they were dancing. The ceiling she stared blankly up at was incredibly ornate.

It was an old-fashioned and beautiful mural, but Camilla could only widen her eyes when she saw it. It was something she had never seen before.

Camilla slightly narrowed her eyes and turned her head. Beautiful and antique furniture she had never seen before. A carpet she had never seen before. An unfamiliar room.

‘Where am I now?’

The moment she realized she had woken up in another unfamiliar place, Camilla widened her eyes in confusion.

The last thing she remembered was the back alley. Grand Duke Ethelreid Caliet and the men who had threatened him. And the overwhelming smell of blood.

The sight of blood dripping from the sword held by the Grand Duke was still vivid in her mind. So was the Grand Duke killing the man who had threatened him. The man’s screams as he died. And the suffocating air peculiar to that back alley.

All of it felt as vivid as if it had happened only moments ago. But something even more horrifying was—

Camilla quickly wrapped both hands around her neck. She remembered the sensation of the blade tearing through her flesh and the metal digging into it.

Camilla instinctively touched her neck, then widened her eyes again.

“Huh? A bandage…?”

Someone had treated her wounds, and her neck was wrapped in a bandage. Camilla narrowed her eyes slightly at the sensation.

‘They must have found me collapsed in the back alley and brought me here, then treated me….’

There was nothing more frightening than unexplained kindness.

Just then, the tightly closed door opened smoothly. The sound was still loud enough for Camilla to hear, so she quickly turned her head.

A beautiful noblewoman entered through the opening.

The noblewoman had dark green hair elegantly pinned up, and she wore a pale blue dress that exposed her shoulders. Every time she moved, the pale blue dress rustled softly.

“Ah—”

Camilla was startled and hurriedly tried to sit up, but the woman gently raised a hand.

“It’s all right. Stay where you are. You’re injured.”

Her tone was stiff, but there was warmth toward Camilla in her words. Camilla found that warmth somewhat puzzling.

‘Could she be someone who knows Camilla?’

The noblewoman treated Camilla kindly. As though she already knew her.

‘Then won’t there be a problem if I act strangely?’

Camilla sighed inwardly.

She had a rough idea of who the noblewoman was, but she wasn’t certain enough to say it aloud. It would be troublesome if she ruined everything by acting rashly.

‘Then what should I do?’

Camilla smiled faintly.

‘Well, so what?’

She hated wasting energy on useless things. There was no point worrying over something she couldn’t change. If this noblewoman had saved her, then the woman would test her first anyway.

The noblewoman walked toward the bed where Camilla lay, one step at a time. Then she stared intently at Camilla with pale violet eyes.

“Camilla. What’s wrong?”

Her pale violet eyes, as though sensing that something was strange, were observant and meticulous. The concern in her gaze was warm, and Camilla somehow felt reassured by that warmth.

The noblewoman gently curved her eyes into a smile. Then she softly covered her face with the fan she had brought.

The moment Camilla saw the fan, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

“You’re looking at me as though we’ve never met before.”

“No, Madam. Surely I wouldn’t mistake you for someone I’ve never met.”

Camilla smiled, her eyes curving.

‘If I hadn’t seen that fan, I might really have tried to read the situation and play along appropriately.’

Camilla swallowed those thoughts and nodded.

“Madam Desti.”

Dark green hair and pale violet eyes. Those were practically the defining features of Madam Desti.

But even in the world Camilla lived in, Camilla herself had violet hair and pale pink eyes. There was nothing strange about there being several more people with dark green hair and pale violet eyes.

So she hadn’t been certain.

But the moment she saw the fan Madam Desti was holding, Camilla knew for certain that this noblewoman was Madam Desti.

Flowers were beautifully engraved across the fan. But the flowers depicted on it were deadly poisonous flowers.

The moment she saw that fan, Camilla knew exactly who she was.

Camilla smiled faintly.

“You were looking at me as if you thought I didn’t know who you were.”

“How could I not know you, Madam Desti?”

‘I don’t know why she saved me, but at least I accomplished what I came here for.’

How she had gotten here wasn’t important. She had secretly left the Elkasist County Estate in the first place because she wanted to meet Madam Desti.

“How is Lukael?”

Camilla casually asked.

Madam Desti’s expression changed subtly.

It was because of the name Camilla had just mentioned: Lukael.

The change wasn’t obvious, but anyone watching her from close by couldn’t have missed it.

‘Just as I thought.’

Camilla inwardly rejoiced, but merely smiled gently as though nothing had happened.

Lukael Kaivelan.

He was Madam Desti’s son. The legitimate heir of House Kaivelan.

In the past, House Kaivelan had been one of the most prestigious families, comparable to House Elkasist. Its influence had been extraordinary.

But that power came from the supernatural ability that House Kaivelan had inherited for generations.

Since the family’s prestige depended on that ability, the retainers of House Kaivelan mercilessly turned their backs on a head of the family who could not manifest it.

They were even more severe about it than House Elkasist.

Long ago, they had even considered removing such a person, believing it to be a disgrace to House Kaivelan.

Time had passed, but that opposition still remained. A head of House Kaivelan who could not manifest the supernatural ability was simply not accepted.

‘But Lukael Kaivelan can’t awaken his ability.’

Moreover, the previous head of House Kaivelan had unfortunately manifested his ability from a young age.

Then what would happen?

Madam Desti currently wielded the real power in House Kaivelan as Lukael’s regent. But if her son ultimately failed to awaken his ability….

“…This doesn’t seem like the time for a simple exchange of pleasantries. Fine, Camilla. Then I’ll ask you directly.”

Madam Desti lifted the corners of her mouth as she looked at Camilla.

She narrowed her eyes and sat down in the chair placed before Camilla’s bed. Though her eyes were narrowed playfully, her gaze toward Camilla had turned cold.

She looked sharply at Camilla and continued.

“Since when have you cared about Lukael?”

Madam Desti smiled proudly as she spoke.

Her elegantly narrowed eyes concealed a sharp gaze, and beneath her seemingly gentle words were unmistakable thorns.

“Ever since you came under Herain’s protection, you’ve never once gone to see Lukael. You even ignored the letters I sent you.”

Why was she saying such things to her?

Camilla smiled awkwardly.

Apparently, she had touched a sore spot.

‘Oh, dear. Am I screwed?’

She could now guess the resentment Madam Desti held toward Camilla.

By now, most of House Kaivelan’s retainers had probably turned their backs on Lukael and Madam Desti.

If so, Lukael would lack supporters. And those lacking supporters would have to be brought in from outside.

Madam Desti had probably intended to overcome that difficulty through the cooperation of House Elkasist, with whom she had originally maintained a close relationship.

If Camilla really had ignored Madam Desti’s requests, just as the woman claimed, then of course Madam Desti wouldn’t have looked kindly upon her.

The moment someone realizes that the warmth they believed they shared with another person was something they alone had cherished, there is perhaps nothing more miserable.

Madam Desti tilted her head slightly, as if telling Camilla to speak.

“…How are Lukael and I any different?”

Camilla began.

Madam Desti raised one eyebrow.

The meaning of those words was simple: Camilla herself had also failed to awaken her supernatural ability.

Officially admitting that she had failed to awaken her ability was practically the same as exposing her own weakness.

‘But it’s not a lie. This is how you build trust, isn’t it?’

She had inherited the bloodline of the ability, but had been unable to manifest it.

And because she could not manifest it, she was in danger of being killed.

“You know, Madam Desti. You must understand my situation.”

Madam Desti’s expression softened slightly.

Camilla looked at her and raised a hand.

Her shadow stirred.

It slowly wrapped itself around Camilla’s hand from the table, crawling upward along her arm like a snake, following Camilla’s will.

The shadow, tinged slightly with violet, finally climbed onto the back of Camilla’s hand.

Although she had only awakened her ability recently, Camilla was already able to manipulate the shadows quite freely.

Madam Desti’s mouth fell slightly open at the sight.

But her eyes quickly became sharp again.

“So, are you bragging that you’ve awakened your ability now?”

“No, Madam.”

Camilla shook her head.

“I simply want to make a good deal.”

At those words, Madam Desti let out a disbelieving breath.

She could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Camilla.

The girl who had refused to answer her calls when Madam Desti truly needed her, but was now reaching out her hand because her own life was in danger.

The daughter of her only friend, whom Madam Desti had lovingly cared for since she was young.

But that girl had let go of her hand.

She had taken Herain’s hand instead and refused even to look at Madam Desti.

In the end, Madam Desti had come to believe that she had been betrayed by the girl she had cared for since childhood.

She had put those feelings toward Camilla aside.

And now Camilla was reaching out her hand again.

To Madam Desti, it was an unbearable insult.

Or perhaps this was another scheme by Herain.

After Fraila Elkasist, the former Count of Elkasist, suddenly died an unnatural death, the way things were unfolding within House Elkasist had seemed strange.

When Madam Desti investigated, she discovered that the power of House Elkasist was rapidly falling into Herain’s hands.

When she had subtly warned Camilla about it, what had Camilla said?

‘Don’t, don’t insult my family, Madam.’

Wasn’t that what she had said?

‘My father is only doing this because Yuslia is still young.’

By then, almost the entire central estate of House Elkasist had already fallen under Herain’s control.

Even after Madam Desti told her that, Camilla had said those words with a trembling voice.

After that, the girl acted according to Herain’s orders.

She cut off contact with Madam Desti and did nothing but follow Herain’s instructions.

Even when she was insulted in high society, she only did what Herain told her to do.

As Madam Desti recalled the past, her voice gradually became sharper.

“A deal, you say.”

Camilla quickly spoke.

“Please let me stay in this house, Madam.”

Madam Desti slightly narrowed her eyes at Camilla’s words.

It was almost laughable how easily she could read Camilla’s intentions. Now that her own life was in danger, she wanted to reach out and take Madam Desti’s hand.

Madam Desti was about to snort and politely reject Camilla’s request.

Then—

“Then I’ll awaken Lukael’s ability for you.”

Madam Desti’s expression froze.

“…What?”

“Yes. I know how to awaken a supernatural ability.”