~Chapter 57~
Dane’s closest friend.
A man who ranked first or second in information gathering even in the novel.
So close to Dane that, to make Dane realize his feelings for the heroine Nina, he even went as far as proposing to Nina himself.
When Dane fell to ruin, he fell with him.
‘<Nina of Ruin> was a bleak 19+ romance novel, after all.’
That was why Camilla had tried to build a connection with him at Dane’s birthday banquet.
But everything had fallen apart.
So she had deliberately waited for a chance and given him a great favor to make up for it.
As soon as they reached the balcony, Camilla asked him,
“So, Count. What did you want to see me about?”
“Hm. Well, you see—today Dane… I mean, the Grand Duke’s son is coming here with your younger sister.”
That was something Camilla already knew.
“…Did you really think I wouldn’t know? Surprisingly enough, Nina—the Grand Duke’s son’s fiancée—and I live in the same mansion.”
“Ah—! But, Lady, actually… I once saw you and Dane arguing.”
Camilla’s mind went blank.
“…Once? Arguing?”
“Yes. Four months ago, in Beluoa. I saw you and Dane arguing by the river.”
Camilla felt her heart drop.
‘Damn it.’
Of all people—Count Ian had seen that scene?
After receiving Dane’s one-sided message through Eugenia, Camilla and Dane had never met again.
And Camilla had been busy every day, focused only on revenge.
But one year ago—
Dane returned to Escalus.
He had successfully completed all the ducal house’s major projects and earned the title Midas’s Hand.
Recognized by his vassals, he was acknowledged as the true heir.
He was dazzling.
Camilla, who had avoided high society, ended up attending the party celebrating Dane’s return at the ducal house because of Nina.
The friend she met again had become a sharp and handsome man.
Ridiculously, Camilla felt her heart flutter.
She wanted to ask how he had been.
She wanted to ask if he was no longer sick.
But she could say nothing.
Then Dane approached Camilla, who stood like a wallflower, and asked—
‘Why aren’t you wearing the brooch?’
The brooch that could be used only once.
It seemed Dane wanted her to use it quickly, to repay the debt between them.
Her heart sank.
‘Right. I deceived him. He probably wanted to clean up the past as soon as possible.’
Camilla replied coldly,
‘When I use it is my choice, Grand Duke’s son.’
Her excitement vanished like a bubble.
After that, Camilla told him to go to his fiancée and turned away.
‘Hm, Dane. There you are!’
The Grand Duke grabbed Dane as he tried to follow her.
Around them, whispers spread—
that the Witch of Mowin was clinging to her sister’s fiancé.
The scandals she had built up crashed down on her and echoed in Dane’s ears.
It was utterly miserable.
That incident made Camilla completely cut ties with high society, and she deliberately avoided Dane after that.
‘And then, four months ago, I ran into him in Beluoa because of work.’
Unlike her scheme with Ian, she had never expected to meet Dane there.
‘Why do you keep avoiding me?’
‘Avoiding you? Do I really have anything to say to my sister’s fiancé?’
Camilla could not understand him at all.
Their connection had ended long ago.
She had deceived him.
He never sent her a letter, ignored the one she sent, and declared the end by sending Eugenia instead of coming himself.
‘There’s nothing to resent.’
It was all her own karma.
And now, her only goal was revenge.
After staring at Camilla’s eyes—which never turned toward him—for a long time, Dane asked,
‘…Camilla. Do you want to run away from your family?’
Camilla was secretly startled.
That goal had already lost its light long ago.
‘I finished this business successfully and became the master of the gate in my father’s place. I’m not a Grand Duke yet, but I now have responsibilities.’
“Ah. I see.”
The master of the gate—someone who could grant permission.
Long ago, Camilla had said she would repay the favor of curing Dane’s illness later, not when he was still a boy.
Dane must have guessed her reason in his own way.
‘No. Why would I run away, when my father’s favor is on me?’
‘Ha. That father who put the burden of illegitimacy on you and delayed your proper registration?’
Camilla’s face flushed.
Hearing the words burden of illegitimacy from Dane felt like he was denying her existence.
‘…Please don’t speak about my father like that.’
‘Camilla.’
In truth, she did not care if the baron was insulted a hundred times.
She just did not want herself to be denied.
‘My father gives me something you never could.’
A family.
A house.
Destroying it became Camilla’s life goal.
If Dane had held her hand, she would never have chosen this path.
‘Don’t tell me… you still like me, Dane?’
Knowing he had already abandoned her, Camilla whispered mockingly.
Shock filled Dane’s blue eyes.
He reached out toward her face, but stopped when she stepped back.
The river wind blew.
After a long moment, Dane raised his head and replied with clear eyes,
‘No.’
‘Ah.’
‘I dislike you. Nina Mowin—she is my fiancée.’
At last, Camilla realized the original story had swallowed him.
Dane Escalus loved Nina Mowin.
That was the natural order of this world.
‘That’s how it should be.’
But why did it hurt so much to hear it from his own mouth?
That was the end of their meeting.
‘No matter how I think about it, it was the worst.’
And Ian had seen all of that?
“…It was the first time I had ever seen Dane make that kind of face.”
Ian leaned against the railing, crossing his legs, looking nostalgic.
“So I thought it might be awkward if you met Dane again at this party. Was I being nosy?”
“Yes. You were being nosy.”
Ian looked slightly dejected.
‘So it was nothing after all.’
She thought he had something important to say.
“Since it’s nothing, I’ll say what I want to say. Count Ian. You owe me a favor, don’t you?”
Ian looked surprised and suspicious.
“What do you want?”
“Two months from now. I want information about ships heading to the Eastern Continent.”
“…That doesn’t just mean information, does it?”
Of course not.
Camilla nodded.
“Yes. I’d like two tickets.”
“That’s not difficult. I’ll prepare them. Still, that feels like too little to repay your favor.”
Ian smiled gently.
“May I repay you with something extra?”
Hearing that made Camilla uneasy—especially coming from Ian.
“…I’ll hear you out.”
“Lady Mowin. That day by the river was the first time I saw Dane look like that.”
‘That again.’
Ian had a way of tiring people out.
Ignoring Camilla’s cold expression, he continued.
“For five years, I thought I knew him well. But that day, I realized I didn’t know him at all.”
“I see.”
“I hope Dane understands his own feelings and becomes happy.”
“I see.”
‘Wait.’
A strange unease crept over Camilla.
“I thought of saying this in the hall where everyone is, but I’ll ask here.”
A cool breeze blew.
He extended his hand toward Camilla and asked—
And at the same time, Camilla remembered again.
In the original story, Ian was such a loyal friend to Dane that—
“Lady Mowin, will you marry me?”
—he even confessed to the woman his best friend loved, just to make him realize his own feelings.
