~Chapter 52~
For the next five years, Camilla built a close relationship with Drake.
It took time to earn the trust of the entire Everett family, but at last, she reached the point where she could sit down and speak directly with the elders of Everett.
That day was today.
When Camilla sat across from Drake, Sonya, Horwin, and Dylan stood behind her as if guarding her.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Dylan?”
The old man sitting beside Drake did not even look at Camilla. He greeted Dylan first.
“…I greet you, Elder.”
Dylan—vice commander of the Mowin family and once infamous as the baroness’s lover.
In truth, he was a spy sent from the Everett family, just like Sonya. To shake the Mowin family from within, he did not hesitate to involve himself in scandal with the baroness—he even intended to use her.
‘The baron didn’t know his true identity—but he did try to kill Dylan.’
After driving out his wife, the baron imprisoned Dylan and intended to kill him as well. That was when Drake came to Camilla and asked her.
‘Sir Dylan, who was once my superior, belongs to our family.’
‘Wasn’t he the second son of another house?’
‘Our family owes him a great debt. Please save him.’
Camilla granted that request. She offered poison to the baron—and saved Dylan.
From that day on, Dylan also became Camilla’s man.
‘Sonya and Dylan are both bridges connecting Everett and me.’
Of course, Sonya had never revealed to Camilla that she was an Everett spy.
But Sonya had always been loyal. For Camilla, that was enough.
“However, Head of the Family. It seems there is someone else you should greet first.”
As Dylan stepped back politely, Camilla tilted her head slightly.
“I am Camilla. Other than Drake, this is my first time meeting Everett’s direct family members.”
“…I don’t quite understand this situation, brother.”
“Romulus.”
The young man with black, curly hair sitting to Drake’s left smiled crookedly.
Romulus Everett—the second son of the Everett family, and Drake’s younger brother.
He was strikingly handsome, with a beauty mark beneath his eye.
“I hear you’ve been doing business with my brother for five years. But in the end, you’re still a Mowin, aren’t you?”
He shrugged.
“And on top of that, you’re the ‘Witch of Mowin’—the woman rumored to bully commoners while hiding behind the baron’s power.”
“Romulus!”
“I don’t see what we’re supposed to trust here.”
Camilla laughed softly.
In the original story, Drake would die while fleeing, and the Everett family would fall.
The man in front of her was destined to die after failing to assassinate Baron Mowin—a forgettable extra.
But Camilla needed their approval.
“Yes. I do carry Mowin blood.”
Camilla placed a hand over her chest.
“But what if that’s exactly why I want to destroy Mowin?”
“…What?”
“This is a gift to commemorate our meeting.”
Camilla glanced at Sonya. Sonya placed the documents she had been holding onto the table.
The old man—an Everett elder—politely asked Drake,
“Deputy Head, may I examine it first?”
“Of course. I’ve already seen it. This document is the reason I arranged this meeting.”
The elder lifted the papers with a doubtful expression.
As he read, his face slowly hardened.
“T-this is…! Is this true, young lady?!”
Camilla nodded.
“Yes. These are financial records my beloved father ran under the name ‘Glamis.’ Every word is true.”
A ripple spread through the room.
“Glamis’s secret ledger…?!”
Glamis—the dark family that handled black money through entertainment and loans, driving their victims to ruin.
That secret ledger would become the sword that pierced their sins.
“Disgusting, isn’t it?”
The pages were filled with endless crimes—human trafficking, poison trades, and more.
And more than that—
“It clearly shows where the money flowed, and who backed them.”
To obtain this ledger, Camilla had dirtied her hands for five long years.
She spoke quietly.
“I want to drain every drop of blood from this disgusting family. But that would only let me escape.”
Her gaze moved to the Everett family members.
“So I need people who will overturn the family with me.”
Her voice sounded like she was coughing up blood.
Her eyes burned with hatred and resolve.
Romulus curled his lips upward.
“Interesting. And certainly valuable material.”
But his eyes were still full of doubt.
“Still—why us? Why not tell the Grand Duke of Escalus, who holds far more power?”
Camilla’s gaze turned cold.
Romulus continued mockingly.
“There are rumors that the Witch of Mowin secretly met the Grand Duke’s son—your younger sister’s fiancé—at a party.”
“Romulus!”
Drake’s eyes flashed sharply at his brother’s rudeness.
“Watch your mouth. Have you forgotten how many of Mowin’s schemes were stopped thanks to the information she gave us?”
“But brother! We have to be sure about this!”
As suspicious eyes gathered on her, Camilla smiled calmly.
“A secret meeting?”
She searched her memory, then shook her head.
“That’s a ridiculous misunderstanding. I haven’t met the Grand Duke’s son in five years.”
“So it’s all slander?”
“Yes. When you’re in my position, accusations and rumors never stop.”
Her attitude was indifferent—as if she were used to being doubted.
“More importantly, the one holding real power in the Grand Duke’s house is not the son—but the Grand Duke himself.”
At the words the Grand Duke, the Everett family members flinched.
“And the Escalus family, led by the Grand Duke, has rejected the Everett family since an incident fifty years ago, haven’t they?”
“…You speak as if you know everything, Lady Mowin.”
The elder, who remembered those events vividly, replied stiffly.
At that moment, Drake raised his hand, stopping the elder—signaling that no more rudeness would be tolerated.
“Lady Mowin is sincere.”
“…Deputy Head.”
Camilla nodded.
“The reason I seek a personal alliance with Everett is this. First—you harbor hatred toward Mowin equal to my own.”
She gestured toward the armed men standing behind Drake and the Everett members.
“Second—you possess your own territory and powerful armed forces, like those standing behind you today.”
Then Camilla played her final card.
“And third—even if it means opposing the Empress Dowager, you will not hesitate to strike Mowin down.”
“The Empress Dowager…?”
‘So Drake hasn’t told them yet.’
Camilla looked toward Drake, who sat silently.
Drake opened a copy of the ledger Camilla had given him and pointed to a specific entry.
“Please look at this item.”
Romulus and the elder widened their eyes as they read it.
“…This is—”
Drake nodded.
“The cleaning expenses for the blood-soaked death matches pass through the southern palace of the Imperial Palace.”
The southern palace belonged to the Empress Dowager.
And that meant—
Camilla added quietly, facing the shocked Everett family.
“Yes. The Empress Dowager stands behind Mowin.”
Silence fell over the room.
The elder muttered slowly,
“…Then it’s possible the Grand Duke abandoned us back then, knowing everything, just to avoid clashing with the Empress Dowager.”
“That may be so. But even knowing that, your desire to cast Mowin aside is genuine, isn’t it?”
Drake looked toward his brother and the elder.
“…Wait. Then does this mean—this could be considered treason against the Imperial family?”
