~Chapter 56~
Nina clenched both fists, her cheeks red as she shouted at Camilla.
“S-sister! Let’s go to the party together later!”
“No. You’re going to ride the Grand Duke’s carriage with the Grand Duke’s escort. I’ll inform Father and leave first.”
Nina’s face crumpled at that.
But Camilla passed by her coldly and headed toward the baron’s office.
Dane, who had returned, would surely stop by the baron’s house before attending the Churello Marquis’s masquerade ball.
Camilla did not want to see his face here.
‘We’ll see each other at the party anyway.’
“Miss, are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m perfectly fine.”
Sonya looked at her with concern, but Camilla did not show anything.
She caught a glimpse of herself reflected in the window.
Camilla, wearing a gorgeous green silk dress, her black hair curled and flowing down, looked beautiful.
And at her chest, a dazzling red jewel brooch shone brightly.
‘The jewel Dane gave me.’
Dane had told her to summon him through Nina, but since they would meet today anyway, she thought the meaning would get through.
‘Just once. Dane must listen to my request.’
Lost in thought, Camilla decided to use today as the signal to make that request.
She did not want to go to the party, but it was a masquerade ball—and Dane would be there.
She could not miss this chance.
Knock, knock.
“Hmm, come in.”
She opened the door, and the baron—whose face had grown even more sly over the past five years—greeted her.
“You look dazzling today, my daughter!”
“Thank you, Father.”
Camilla composed her expression.
She had not come just to inform him she was attending the party.
“I heard a rumor that the Grand Duke’s son has returned to inherit the title.”
“Hmm, that’s right.”
“Then there will soon be a wedding between Nina and the Grand Duke’s son.”
The baron carefully watched Camilla’s expression, then smiled in satisfaction when he saw her calm face.
“Yes. I’ve heard from the ducal house that the time is finally ripe. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is also pleased.”
Once, the Empress Dowager had pushed Amelia instead of approving Camilla’s union with the Grand Duke’s son.
But she showed no displeasure at Nina—his direct bloodline—becoming his bride.
That was thanks to the baron’s active explanations and pressure.
In the end, the baron was very satisfied.
‘Heh heh. That arrogant girl Amelia, who hated Nina, ended up at the Churello house anyway.’
After Nina became Dane’s official fiancée, Amelia had tried obvious tricks against her.
When the baron noticed early and reported it to the Empress Dowager, Amelia soon became the Marchioness of Churello.
The Churello house was powerful, but it was stained with scandals and had little real honor.
‘A perfect place for her.’
As the baron nodded in good spirits, Camilla whispered,
“The ducal house will likely hold a grand wedding across all of Escalus.”
“Yes. Most likely.”
“And I believe the secret arena will be more lively than ever before, leading up to the wedding.”
“Hm.”
“So, to prepare for that time, as the current manager of the arena, I’d like to plan a special event that will satisfy you, Father. May I?”
Camilla carefully explained the details of her plan.
When she finished, the baron smiled at the intricate proposal.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will find this entertaining as well.”
Recently, the Empress Dowager had shown boredom with the usual arena events.
“Very well. Go ahead.”
At his approval, Camilla cheered inwardly.
‘Done.’
She had gotten what she wanted.
“Thank you, Father.”
Just before leaving, Camilla casually asked what she had been curious about.
“And by any chance… may I know who today’s ‘target’ at the Churello banquet will be?”
Camilla gently touched the brooch on her chest.
Everything was in place.
‘Now, there are only two things left to arrange.’
If she went to the Churello estate today, she could solidify her plan.
Camilla boarded the carriage with Dylan.
Since Dylan was a knight of noble birth, his formal jacket fit him perfectly.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
Before entering the marquis’s party, Camilla handed him a wolf mask.
Dylan smiled softly.
Camilla put on a fox mask that covered her face.
Looking inside, the atmosphere seemed more free than usual—perhaps because it was a masked ball.
Still, the gatekeeper did not skip announcing names.
“Lady Camilla Mowin of the Mowin barony, and her partner, enter!”
‘Then why bother holding a masquerade at all?’
The hall, once full of laughter, fell silent.
The Witch of Mowin rarely attended parties, given all her scandals.
And now she was here.
After a brief silence, the hall buzzed again.
“Good heavens, how shameless. Does she know where she is, an illegitimate noble and all—”
“Look at her holding her head so high just because she has the baron’s favor!”
But Camilla could not walk with her head lowered.
“Judging by the looks, I seem rather popular.”
“…Yes. You are always charming, miss.”
Dylan answered calmly.
‘I was joking.’
She felt awkward when he replied so seriously.
Just then—
“A beautiful lady has arrived at a noble gathering.”
Someone approached Camilla with a smooth voice.
Camilla flinched slightly as the man bowed politely.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Mowin. May I ask you for a dance?”
He wore a fish-shaped half-mask, but spoke cheerfully like a clown.
Camilla immediately knew who he was.
‘Count Ian of Sobek.’
A man famous as Dane’s trusted person.
She had not expected to meet him here, but it seemed he had business with her.
“Well, I haven’t even danced with my partner yet.”
She had no intention of dancing at all.
Perhaps sensing that, Ian gestured toward the balcony.
“I see! That’s unfortunate—but how about stepping outside for some fresh air?”
He smiled brightly, praising the view from the Churello balcony.
‘He’s trying to make contact somehow.’
Camilla quietly observed him.
Ian was an information source in the original story, and she was curious about his purpose.
‘I wore the brooch to meet Dane, but…’
Ian was not a bad option.
“All right.”
At her reply, the part of Ian’s mouth not hidden by the mask curved gently.
“Wonderful. This way!”
She didn’t know what scheme brought him to her, but he would not do anything harmful.
‘After all, he owes me a favor from two years ago.’
The Sobek family of Beluoa was famous for maritime trade using large fleets.
Two years earlier, when Ian was troubled by sailors suffering from scurvy, it was Camilla who advised him to use citrus syrup.
She had approached him pretending it was a coincidence while sourcing medicine unique to Beluoa.
Even before that, Ian had never spread bad rumors about her.
Afterward, he had treated her like a close friend—to her annoyance.
‘Please don’t misunderstand, Count Ian. I helped you because I will want something from you later.’
‘You’re the first person to admit ulterior motives so openly! That makes me trust you even more!’
His hearty laughter at the time had been absurd.
But Camilla never let her guard down around Ian.
‘In the novel, Ian was a very tricky man.’
