~Chapter 65~
When Camilla opened her eyes, the world was still wrapped in darkness.
But she was no longer in the underground prison.
Blue dawn light filtered in through the window, and the ceiling she saw was high and luxurious—one she had seen before.
Camilla tried to lift her body at the familiar ceiling, but intense pain crashed over her, and she groaned as she fell back down.
Even the slightest movement caused aching and burning pain across her back and limbs.
“Awake already.”
At the low voice, her heart thumped hard.
When she turned her head, Dane was standing beside her.
Wearing a bloodstained uniform, he gave off a beautiful yet unfamiliar presence.
‘It wasn’t a dream.’
Camilla spoke with a trembling voice.
“Dane? How did you—”
She desperately tried to sit up.
Only then did she realize that Dane had rescued her while she was being tortured by the baron.
As soon as she understood that, shame washed over her again.
The fact that Dane now knew she had been treated like that by her own blood relatives made her feel humiliated.
She had been ready to die, yet feeling ashamed over something like this made her feel pathetic.
But instead of answering, Dane only looked at her with wavering blue eyes.
When she lifted her head, Camilla realized she was trapped in his arms.
“…I thought you were going to die.”
His low voice trembled.
Though he was holding her tightly, she felt no weight at all.
Still dazed, Camilla almost hugged his back without thinking.
She caught herself and asked,
“…Is this the Grand Duke’s residence?”
“Yes. It’s the new treatment room in the Grand Duke’s residence. How does your body feel?”
Her body still throbbed, but Camilla lied.
“I’m fine. Dane, please let go.”
She clenched her teeth.
She and Dane no longer had any kind of relationship.
They were certainly not close enough to be embracing like this.
“I don’t want to.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want to let go.”
Her face grew hot, but when she twisted her body, Dane released her without resistance, despite what he said.
“You still haven’t answered me. Did you personally take charge of the investigation into the Mowin family?”
“…Yes.”
As her mind cleared, Camilla felt her anxiety grow.
‘What exactly is happening right now?’
She bit her lip.
“What happened to the Mowin family? I want to know the dates clearly—”
There was a limit to what she could know while imprisoned.
And although Ares had told her some things, she still felt uneasy because she had not confirmed with her own eyes whether Nina had escaped safely.
‘I want to contact Howin…’
He would know the situation well.
But more than anything, her own position had changed, which meant what she could do had also changed.
She did not know whether she was here as a witness to the baron’s crimes, an accomplice, or merely a prisoner.
But Dane replied calmly,
“Look at your condition. You really think you have time to worry about others? I’ll call Aine, so lie down.”
“Am I here as a witness?”
At that, Dane snorted.
“No. You’re here to be treated—as my fiancée.”
‘What?’
“My fiancée? That’s ridiculous.”
“And speaking as your fiancé.”
Dane lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of Camilla’s hand.
His blue eyes shone sharply in the dark.
“If you try to die again, I’ll chase you all the way to hell.”
Her heart dropped.
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I’m the one who doesn’t understand. Why didn’t you trust me?”
Dane asked in a boiling voice.
“You had a chance. Why didn’t you ask me for help? Am I not reliable to you?”
Then Camilla realized.
‘Ah. He’s talking about the debt.’
The blank check and the ruby brooch she had received after saving Dane from his heart condition.
She could have used them to escape the family, or to destroy the Mowin family.
But she didn’t.
‘Because I didn’t want to. The Grand Duke’s house can’t openly oppose the Empress Dowager.’
Unless Mowin himself caused an incident that directly involved the Empress Dowager and dragged her evil deeds into the open.
Asking him to fight for her just because he owed her was like using his illness as a hostage and asking him to risk his life for someone else.
She didn’t want to do that.
And more than that—
“Our connection already ended five years ago.”
Dane raised his eyebrows in response.
Camilla’s fists turned white.
She felt foolish for the past version of herself who had run happily to the café just because Dane asked to meet.
To Camilla, her bond with Dane had not ended on the day Eugenia came in his place.
It had ended the day her father exposed that she was an illegitimate child and that she had been deceived all along.
‘The difference in status was too great anyway.’
And yet, she was facing Dane like this again.
Looking at her, Dane let out a hollow laugh.
“…So you really hated me that much?”
“What?”
Hated him?
Wasn’t that what he had said?
Camilla was dumbfounded.
“Is it really necessary to blame me like that just because I didn’t use a brooch that can only be used once?”
“A brooch… that can be used once?”
Dane stared at Camilla in shock, then asked as if holding something back,
“So because our connection was over, you didn’t even seek help, abandoned even your people, and ran straight toward death like that?”
“…I didn’t want to die. But my father is cruel, so I had no choice.”
“You didn’t want to die? Your people would think differently.”
Saying that, Dane strode to the door and grabbed the handle.
Creeak—
When the door opened, two familiar faces appeared.
“Miss!”
“Are you all right?!”
Sonya, crying, and Dylan approaching with trembling eyes.
“I’ll call the physician.”
With that, Dane left the room and closed the door.
“How did you—? Did you meet the Grand Duke’s son?”
And Dylan was supposed to chase after Nina, yet he was here.
Camilla wanted to ask what had happened to Nina, but calming Sonya came first.
As she patted Sonya’s shaking shoulders, she saw Dylan drop to one knee behind her.
“I’m sorry. Please punish me, miss. I failed to follow your orders and told the Grand Duke’s son everything.”
Camilla’s face went pale.
“Everything?”
Did that mean he even knew about her secret deal with the Everetts?
“I told him that you opposed your father’s crimes and tried to report him… and that you were put in danger because of it.”
‘Ah.’
Camilla realized that he did not know about her alliance with the Everetts or Nina’s escape.
At the same time, another thought struck her.
“You were the one who told Dane where Glamis’s hideout was.”
“Yes.”
“How did you even meet Dane?”
“Lady Nina sent me to him instead of using me as her escort.”
“Nina…?”
That was completely unexpected.
Dylan continued, bowing his head deeply.
“And he already knew that Lady Nina was planning to escape.”
What followed was shocking.
“The two of them discussed ways to make Lady Camilla the Grand Duke’s son’s fiancée.”
‘What? His fiancée?’
At that moment, Dane’s earlier words came back to her.
‘You’re here to be treated—as my fiancée.’
That hadn’t been meaningless talk?
Dylan handed Camilla a white envelope.
“Lady Nina asked me to give this letter to you.”
Dear sister I already miss,
I’m on my way to “die” so I can carry out the plan you told me.
I was so happy about what you said at the cathedral that I forgot to say something important.
I really am a foolish younger sister.
Camilla read the letter with trembling eyes.
Sister, I told you I would run away with the one I love.
I want to leave that place and live with the person I love.
But there is one more thing I absolutely want to tell you.
I have been making a deal with the Grand Duke’s son for a year now, to make you his fiancée.
Will you listen to my story once?
