~Chapter 59~
“They say the one who poisoned Marquis Churello was the second son of the Everett family?!”
“They say he wrote a confession letter and ran away! Tsk, tsk. He was always known as a thug, but poison? Who would have thought!”
After the death of Marquis Churello, the streets of all Escalus were in chaos.
“But poisoning from a knightly family?”
“That’s ridiculous. Well, I heard they used poison a long time ago.”
“More importantly, they say the Grand Duke’s son of Escalus is finally getting married…”
Watching the noisy streets, the baron arrived at the secret arena headquarters and smiled in satisfaction.
“Hoho. The commoners’ attention—and the investigation—are all focused there. Well done, Camilla.”
“What do you mean? I was already preparing for a new event anyway.”
“Yes, about that event.”
The baron stroked his beard and asked,
“Has the prize been trained well?”
“Yes. He’s about halfway trained.”
“Hm. Good. It won’t be long now. I trust you.”
Leaving the baron laughing behind her, Camilla headed deeper into the underground passage.
Soon, she entered a training room covered in iron bars and stood at an angle, quietly observing the scene.
The man wearing chain cuffs, breathing roughly—Romulus—felt her presence and raised his head.
When he saw Camilla, his eyes lit up.
“…Filthy witch.”
“How dare you!”
A guard’s sharp whip struck Romulus.
Camilla stepped closer and whispered as if watching a show,
“I think I gave you plenty of time, but you don’t seem very obedient.”
“S-sorry!”
The guard dropped to his knees.
“I’ll take over from here. Step outside for a moment.”
“W-what?!”
Camilla pulled a bottle from her clothes and said coldly,
“Go out.”
“S-sorry!”
The guard trembled as he fled.
Camilla poured the potion into a bowl.
The bottle that Romulus expected to contain a painful poison held only clear water.
“Drink. You need fluids. You’re not allowed to die yet.”
Romulus muttered something.
Camilla frowned and leaned closer to hear—
Suddenly, Romulus yanked his chain and grabbed her neck.
“…You didn’t trick our family, did you?”
As Camilla struggled to breathe, Romulus gasped near her ear.
“You framed me as a murderer and plan to destroy my family completely, don’t you?!”
Bang!
Romulus’s head snapped back.
“I heard a loud noise—how dare you! Are you all right, Manager?!”
The guard had returned and kicked Romulus again.
Camilla rubbed her swollen neck and sighed.
“…No. My neck hurts. Honestly, this product is badly trained.”
She glanced at Romulus being whipped and then ordered the guard,
“If we want to train him properly, move him to another product’s cage.”
“B-but Manager…! The rules say prisoners can’t leave this area—!”
“After what just happened to me?”
Her neck was red and swollen from the chain.
The guard swallowed hard, thinking,
This product will probably die before ever reaching the stage.
“Open it. Now.”
“…Haa.”
Nina stared sadly at her sister’s tightly closed door.
Unlike a bride with a wedding date set, her face was dark and gloomy.
“Are you not going to knock? You’ve been waiting all evening.”
At the words of her loyal servant, Dicky, Nina nodded.
Her sister, now trusted by their father and handling several businesses, often returned home late at night.
And Nina had waited again today.
She gathered her courage and knocked.
After a moment of silence, Sonya opened the door.
“What is it, miss?”
“Um… please tell my sister that I want to talk to her.”
“It’s late, miss. Lady Camilla is not receiving guests right now—”
“…Nina?”
Before Sonya could stop her, Camilla recognized Nina’s voice.
Soon, Sonya bowed politely.
“She says only you may enter.”
Nina stepped inside and saw Camilla, still wearing her green silk dress, unlike Nina’s simple night clothes.
Camilla was sitting at her desk, writing documents.
‘A metallic smell…?’
A faint scent like that of a knight clung to Camilla.
Camilla lifted her head.
“What brings you here so late?”
“U-um, Sister.”
Since their conversation five years ago, her sister had become unbelievably cold.
Still, Nina gathered her courage.
“My wedding date has been set.”
“…I see. Did you come to brag?”
“No! It’s not that!”
The wedding was not what Nina wanted.
‘But if I say that, Sister will be upset.’
Still, she had to ask.
“Sister. You remember what you said back then.”
Though she was already an adult, Nina fidgeted like a child.
“You asked why I didn’t run away. Does that still apply?”
“What?”
“If I disappear… would you be happier?”
Camilla silently looked at her.
Was this about the escape Drake had warned about?
“…Are you planning to run away because you don’t want to get married, like a child?”
“N-no…!”
“Do you have someone you like?”
Nina blinked, then her face turned bright red, like a girl in love.
“…Dicky? Is it him?”
“That’s not it!”
Camilla gazed quietly at her sister.
Her lovable, irritating younger sister.
Already seventeen, an adult now—closer to the original story.
‘Except for Dane, things haven’t changed much yet.’
Ian had proposed to her, but that was minor.
Camilla had become the villain as written.
Dane loved Nina.
Ian remained Dane’s friend.
The Baron of Mowin continued to rule Glamis.
And Nina—
‘She ended up liking Drake after all.’
Drake himself didn’t realize it, but they loved each other.
That was likely why Nina told Drake about her escape plan—to run away together.
If Camilla failed to destroy Mowin, the original tragic adult story would begin, and Nina could be kidnapped.
“If I disappear… would you be even a little happier?”
Camilla hesitated.
She had ordered Drake to stop Nina’s escape.
But—
“Yes. I would be happier if you were gone.”
The opposite of her true feelings slipped out.
Nina’s eyes trembled.
Lowering her head, she spoke with a shaking voice.
“If that’s truly how you feel… then please come alone to the Escalus Cathedral cloister two nights before the wedding.”
That was the exact day Nina ran away with Drake in the original story.
After a secret wedding, Nina fled—and the original Camilla betrayed her.
Nina, who had begged her beloved sister to be a witness, was cruelly betrayed.
“I know you hate me. But please… please come.”
“…All right.”
Tears welled in Nina’s eyes as she smiled brightly.
“Thank you.”
“If you’re done talking, leave. Unlike you, I’m busy.”
Nina nodded sadly and left.
After the door closed, Sonya asked softly,
“Are you all right, miss?”
“What wouldn’t be all right?”
Pity filled Sonya’s gaze, but Camilla ignored it.
Tap. Tap.
A sound at the window made Camilla turn.
A messenger crow had hit the glass, a note tied to its leg.
‘A Glamis messenger.’
As Camilla read the note, a smile slowly spread across her lips.
She tossed the note into the fireplace and whispered,
“Everything is prepared successfully. Two nights before the wedding. Our VIP will attend the special event I created.”
To the trap she had set herself—
The Empress Dowager was moving.
Camilla smiled brightly.
