~Chapter 51~
Five years later.
White, slender fingers examined a bundle of fresh green herbs.
After a moment, they were tossed casually onto the ground.
“Selling herbs of this quality… I can’t understand it. Go inside and bring out something usable.”
“L-lady?!”
Long black hair falling to her waist.
Cold, sharp eyes.
Wearing a luxurious silk dress, walking through the shop while managing businesses—
The witch of the Mowin family.
Camilla Mowin.
The moment her words ended, the knights standing behind her rushed into the herb shop and began kicking the goods aside.
“Y-you can’t do this!”
The merchant wailed as the shop turned into chaos, but the woman merely watched with bored eyes.
“Lady, we found another crate of herbs. What do you think?”
“These are high-quality herbs that only grow on the eastern continent. Take these.”
She nodded toward the crate the knight brought.
“T-this can’t be, lady! These are extremely rare herbs I gathered myself—!”
“If they’re that precious, you should be honored that I’m taking them. Load everything onto the carriage.”
The owner of the largest shop on Etve Street stumbled after the slender woman in desperation.
“Please! I beg you!”
“Do not follow the lady.”
When Sir Dylan, the silver-haired knight, blocked him, the merchant’s face crumpled.
Camilla paused just as she was about to board the carriage marked with the Mowin crest.
She turned back and leaned close to the merchant’s ear.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know you bribed the Pharmaceutical Association’s quality inspector?”
“…W-what?!”
Camilla lightly tapped his cheek and lowered her gaze.
“I’ve seen you give weeds like gifts to others more than once.”
“T-that was—!”
“You sold the good ones at high prices through dark channels, and only gave away low-quality herbs—to others, and to us. You dared to deceive our family?”
The merchant’s face turned deathly pale. Camilla smiled coldly.
“I hate scammers who don’t know their place. Take him away.”
With those words, the dazed merchant was dragged off by the knights.
People nearby whispered curses under their breath.
Ignoring their dissatisfied stares and murmurs, Camilla stepped into the carriage.
Following behind her, her personal maid Sonya whispered softly.
“Miss, should we find out who those people are?”
“No. I don’t want to waste time on useless things.”
Sonya bowed politely.
“Today is an important day.”
“…Still, miss. If you hadn’t done that, that merchant would’ve been found dead in the street. Ungrateful as he was…”
“Shh. It’s fine, Sonya.”
For five years, Camilla had outwardly worked as the baron’s loyal subordinate.
First, she made drugs used for the dark business.
The underground organization Glamis focused on illegal loans and filthy entertainment for nobles, but those businesses were also tied to smuggling and assassinations.
That required many kinds of drugs.
Camilla supplied the medicines the baron needed—but on the condition that she controlled and adjusted the quantities herself.
Because of that, the baron even entrusted her with several businesses.
From product quality control to business management, Camilla was thorough in handling the underworld operations.
Soon, the baron also entrusted her with managing the legitimate pharmaceutical businesses.
The shop earlier was one of them.
‘…It’ll probably be attacked by Glamis soon, so I stepped in on purpose.’
She didn’t care about people whispering behind her back.
Camilla always wanted as few victims as possible.
‘But my goal is still to overturn the family.’
While being called “the Witch of Mowin” and gaining the baron’s trust, Camilla was quietly building her own power.
What she secretly raised was none other than an information guild.
“Miss!”
The carriage stopped near a stable in the mountains.
As Camilla stepped down under Sir Dylan’s escort, she raised her head at the voice calling her.
Clop, clop—
With the sound of hooves, a mercenary group gathered around a man at the center.
Captain Horwin of the Magpie-Toe Mercenary Group.
“Oh dear! I’m a bit late—but they haven’t arrived yet, right?”
Horwin winked, making Sonya frown.
The Magpie-Toe Mercenary Group, hired as guards, had formed a close relationship with Camilla over the past five years.
They had transformed into an information guild, becoming Camilla’s eyes and ears.
Their combat strength wasn’t outstanding, but under Camilla’s management, their information work was excellent.
“No. They’re probably all here already. Let’s go quietly.”
“Tsk. You’re always so cold, miss.”
Horwin, who was decent in combat, was Camilla’s guard today.
Herb fields stretched along the roadside.
The baron likely believed Camilla had come personally to inspect them.
‘But that’s not why I’m here.’
Today, Camilla was meeting those who would point their blades at the Mowin family together with her.
When they knocked on the door of a shed connected to the stable, a hooded figure appeared.
“…When the crow falls.”
The Mowin family’s symbol was a crow.
Without blinking, Camilla answered the obvious code.
“The wolf rises.”
The guard bowed respectfully and let her inside.
“Please enter. Everyone is here.”
They went down the stairs to the basement and opened an iron door.
Inside was a warm, cozy space that couldn’t be compared to the shabby shed above.
A dim meeting room lit by lanterns.
At a large, old oak table, three people sat together.
Behind them stood guards, silent and alert.
“Welcome.”
A young man with jet-black hair and a stiff expression faced Camilla.
Drake Everett.
The young head of the Everett family.
On both sides sat members of the Everett family.
The final card Camilla had chosen to bring down the Mowin family—
Was their enemy family itself.
Everett.
Five years ago, Camilla had caught Drake while he was acting as a spy inside the Mowin family.
The black-haired servant who lingered around Nina always carried a dignity that didn’t suit a servant.
Camilla didn’t miss that difference from the original story.
Realizing her guess was right—that Drake was secretly a spy—Camilla decided to test him.
‘You’re from the wolf, aren’t you?’
The symbol of the Everett family was a wolf beyond crossed iron swords.
Camilla approached the lone Drake without any guard.
Feeling threatened by her words, Drake pulled out a dagger, revealing his identity.
‘Just as I thought.’
‘Revealing yourself so easily in enemy territory—how careless. If it weren’t me asking, you’d already be torn apart.’
Even with a blade at her neck, Camilla’s calm eyes made Drake feel uneasy.
She wasn’t threatening him.
‘What do you want from me?’
Camilla grabbed the wrist holding the dagger and whispered to the startled Drake.
‘This. I need someone who will raise a sword against the Mowin family with me.’
Camilla smiled softly.
‘Won’t you take my hand?’
