~Chapter 67~
Dane looked at Camilla and replied quietly,
“No. I think resting comes first.”
“…What?”
“You’re going to ask about the investigation into Baron Mowin and the progress of the trial, right? I’ll tell you in time. For now, focus on recovering.”
“Wait!”
That was not what she was going to talk about.
Of course, that was important too—but she had wanted to apologize first.
Yet after saying that, Dane turned his back on her and left.
Leaving a flustered Camilla behind, Dane walked down the corridor.
“Uh—w-wait a moment, Grand Duke’s son?!”
Aine hurried after him.
“W-why are you being so cold to the young lady? You were extremely worried, weren’t you?”
Aine did not know every detail, but he understood the major points of the Mowin family tragedy.
For example, two days before the wedding, Baron Mowin had been exposed for running a secret arena.
‘Many powerful nobles were involved, causing a huge uproar.’
And it was tied to the death of Marquis Churello, so a strict investigation followed.
‘And on top of that…’
Nina Mowin, the Grand Duke’s fiancée, had suddenly died.
Rumors spread that she had died suddenly after being unable to endure the family’s disgrace.
The wedding was canceled, and the Mowin family collapsed.
Just days ago, the Grand Duke’s son had personally captured Baron Mowin and his followers as they tried to flee the investigation.
Now the baron was imprisoned by Dane, awaiting trial.
Aine had even heard that instead of the estate, the baron had tortured his own daughter, Camilla, in a hideout.
‘Tsk. He deserves divine punishment.’
Aine was one of the people who knew what kind of debt the Grand Duke’s son owed Camilla five years ago—and how he had looked at her back then.
And also—
“The anonymous letter that sent evidence to the Grand Duke… I heard Lady Camilla sent it, which led to the baron torturing her. It was brutal enough to leave lasting aftereffects.”
“I know.”
“And on top of losing her younger sister… she’s truly pitiful—”
“Aine.”
At the heavy, pressing voice, Aine flinched.
“Your tongue is too long.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
‘I messed up!’
Though they had known each other since childhood, Aine knew well how sharp Dane could be.
Leaving the flustered Aine behind, Dane headed toward the medicine room near the greenhouse.
“…Pitiful, huh.”
Dane clenched his fist so tightly that blue veins stood out.
He could not forgive Aine for calling her pitiful without knowing what Camilla had been thinking while growing weaker.
From the knight Dylan, and from the documents sent in time with the investigation, Dane had learned the truth.
Every piece of evidence about the arena bore Camilla’s involvement.
If it had been anyone else, not the woman he loved, he might have admired her skill.
‘And she excluded herself from all of it.’
She left herself no path of escape and poured everything into it.
Thinking of that made his chest feel tight.
‘Sister never once looked happy at the estate.’
As Nina’s words echoed in his mind, Dane felt both pain and tenderness.
“Grand Duke’s son! You’re here?!”
Turning at the voice calling him as he headed toward the greenhouse, Dane saw Eugenia, her hair tied up, wearing the Knights’ uniform and saluting.
“I told you to maintain strict security even inside the estate at a time like this!”
“Be quiet, Eugenia.”
“Oh dear. Come with me. Where are you going?”
Even inside the heavily guarded estate, Eugenia treated Dane like a reckless patient.
Now that she was the Knight Commander Leonid, following him everywhere felt excessive—but Dane had something to ask her, so he agreed.
“…And lately, Lady Lucy has been very fond of—”
“Eugenia.”
“Yes, Grand Duke’s son.”
“Five years ago, on that day when you went to see Camilla in my place—there was something you hid about the brooch, wasn’t there?”
At those words, panic flashed across Eugenia’s face for a moment.
Dane did not miss it.
“…That is—”
Dane looked down at the speechless Eugenia with cold eyes.
He remembered what Camilla had said earlier about the brooch.
‘Single-use? That’s nonsense.’
“It wasn’t Camilla who said she would call me with the brooch, was it?”
Eugenia swallowed dryly, then dropped to her knees and bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry, Grand Duke’s son. At the time, I was worried about Lady Mowin approaching you, so I told her she could only call you once using the brooch.”
Dane clenched his teeth in bitter betrayal.
“…How dare you.”
“I apologize! But I—”
He no longer heard Eugenia’s excuses.
The fact that his five-year misunderstanding with Camilla was caused by Eugenia’s words was unbearable.
He wanted to cast her aside immediately and run to Camilla.
At that moment—
“…Oh my, Grand Duke’s son!”
Someone stepping out of the laboratory with documents called out to him.
It was Carrie, now no longer a maid but the head researcher of alchemy in the Grand Duke’s household.
She was also the reason Dane had come here.
“I was just on my way to report to you.”
Five years later, Carrie no longer stuttered.
Seeing Eugenia kneeling and Dane’s dangerous expression, she lowered her head deeply.
“I-I’ll come back later—”
“No.”
After briefly glancing at Eugenia, Dane turned to Carrie.
This was more urgent.
“Do not get up, Eugenia. I’ll be back shortly.”
The days when Eugenia could freely act reckless around him were long past.
Eugenia bowed her head deeply, unable to say another word.
Dane entered the laboratory with Carrie and sat at the table.
“About the red potion you recovered from the Mowin family’s laboratory…”
“…Yes.”
“We deciphered its use through the encrypted research journal.”
At her next words, Dane’s face hardened coldly.
Camilla was recovering under careful care.
She often wondered what was happening outside, but each time Sonya only shook her head and said,
“Everything is going well.”
‘Still… I’m starting to feel restless.’
More than anything, it had been too long since she last saw Dane.
There was so much she wanted to say, yet it felt like he was avoiding her.
Then—
Creeeak…
At the sound of the door opening, Camilla turned her head.
Seeing who entered, she widened her eyes.
“Is big brother here?”
A chubby-cheeked little girl peeked in from the doorway with sparkling eyes.
‘A child?’
Maybe four or five years old.
A very small girl tilted her head, wearing a pink dress layered like flower petals made of lace.
‘Blonde hair… blue eyes.’
And an incredibly cute face.
The familiar combination made Camilla cover her mouth.
“Big brother! Is he here?! Tell me!”
‘Big brother…?’
“…Yes, he is.”
At those words, the child’s eyes lit up and she ran over.
She dove into the edge of Camilla’s bed and hid under the blanket.
Peeking out with only her face showing, the child whispered,
“I’m not here, right? Okay?”
Camilla nodded blankly.
“But if you hide there, that part will stick out in a round shape. It’ll be very obvious.”
“…?!”
At Camilla’s words, the child’s pupils shook.
Camilla smiled slightly and lifted the blanket beside her.
“Why don’t you come over here instead?”
The child dashed over and snuggled in beside Camilla.
Since Camilla already had one knee raised, it did not look obvious that someone was hiding there.
At that moment—
“Excuse me, miss.”
The head maid, Esther, peeked in through the open door.
She was one of the few people who knew Camilla was here.
“It seems the door was open. Did anyone come by, perhaps?”
