~Chapter 73~
As soon as Lucy disappeared, Camilla couldn’t help but let out a small, amused laugh at the way Eugenia immediately slipped back into her old commanding tone.
“Commander Dunbarton.”
Eugenia flinched at the title—not “Lady,” but “Commander.”
“That kind of remark is an insult—not just to me, but also to Her Grace the Grand Duchess and to Lady Lucy.”
At Camilla’s calm reply, Eugenia pressed her lips together, then changed the subject.
“…In the past five years, you never used the brooch.”
She hadn’t expected this topic to come up. Camilla started in surprise, and Eugenia’s eyes grew cold.
“Why haven’t you used it, after you said you’d take advantage of Sir Dane?”
“The brooch, you mean.”
Was it really that important—to both Dane and Eugenia? Camilla smiled, thinking of the brooch she kept safely in her room.
“There was a time when I almost did.”
At Marquis Churello’s party, she’d really meant to use it.
Meeting Ian made her change her plans. In hindsight, maybe she should have used it for a more decisive victory.
But—
Camilla looked Eugenia in the eye. Eugenia, now dressed in a knight commander’s uniform and white cloak, was no longer the socialite star, but a dignified leader.
She saw no reason to answer that question honestly.
But the Grand Duchess’s words flashed through her mind:
“You mustn’t lie to yourself.”
“If I used the brooch, I felt like it would really be the end between Dane and me.”
Clenching her fist, Camilla whispered the truth. She wasn’t used to admitting her feelings, but her voice was slow and steady.
“That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to use it.”
With that, she lifted her skirt and bowed. She had nothing more to say to Eugenia, and it was time to visit the greenhouse.
Just as she turned to leave, Camilla suddenly remembered something and looked back.
“Your hand—is it better now?”
Those white hands had always been covered in blisters and sores.
She knew Eugenia was a prodigy, becoming a commander just five years after taking up the sword, so she probably didn’t need to worry.
But at the unexpected question, Eugenia’s face twisted with embarrassment.
She doesn’t look like she wants to answer.
Camilla bowed politely to the dumbfounded Eugenia, then headed for the greenhouse.
“Hey!”
Tap tap!
Camilla flinched in surprise as Eugenia ran up and grabbed her arm.
She could hear Eugenia panting, but her face was a complete mess of conflicted emotions.
“Eugenia?”
“…The truth is, I lied to you back then.”
Camilla’s eyes went wide. Eugenia bit her lip, looking thoroughly ashamed.
“Yeah, I know—it wasn’t exactly honorable for a knight.”
Watching Camilla walk away, a sudden wave of shame had crashed over Eugenia.
“…Back then, my lord… Dane never gave you that brooch to use as a bargaining chip for your last wish.”
The scheme had already been exposed to Dane.
Camilla might have known, but her face suggested otherwise.
“What do you mean?”
“No matter if you’re illegitimate or whatever your situation, none of that mattered to Dane.”
A storm passed through Camilla’s green eyes.
Eugenia had once tried to twist things, telling Dane that Camilla would use the brooch to ask for her last wish.
But that wasn’t the truth.
“That brooch was Dane’s token of affection for you.”
It meant that Dane had never once abandoned Camilla.
“…Then, what about the documents I gave you five years ago?”
“…I burned them myself.”
“That’s harsh.”
Eugenia blushed.
“S-sorry.”
“Since the scandal broke, I’m sure you know all about the Mowin family’s crimes, right? That’s what the documents were about…”
“Oh… I see…”
So those papers were evidence of the Mowin family’s misdeeds, and she’d destroyed them herself. That could’ve been a disaster.
Camilla looked at Eugenia.
She remembered the day, five years ago, when she argued with Dane, and Eugenia had intervened and sided with him.
“That day, I didn’t intend to use Dane.”
“What?”
“I mean, I can’t say it was never even a thought… but Dane became much more important to me.”
Even so, she’d made herself seem harsher on purpose. In the end, she’d deceived Eugenia, too.
“I’m sorry for lying that day as well.”
Eugenia’s eyes widened.
“Please, just take care of Dane. That apology is enough.”
With that, Camilla turned away from Eugenia. Eugenia watched her until Camilla’s figure finally vanished from view.
Leaving Eugenia behind, Camilla went to the greenhouse and carefully examined the herbs used in the sleeping incense.
This is definitely the right plant, but… something’s missing.
She needed to make the sleep herb herself and compare the scents again.
With Carrie’s help, Camilla filled her basket with herbs and hurried back to the mansion.
Her conversation with Eugenia kept replaying in her mind.
Thinking about it now, I’m relieved.
It was lucky that Glamis, backed by the Empress Dowager, had never crossed paths with Dane five years ago.
But Dane…
All this time, she’d believed he’d abandoned her.
She’d never expected any help from him aside from the brooch—but that wasn’t the case.
She’d always thought she didn’t belong by his side.
“Camilla?”
A familiar, low voice made her look up.
Her heart thumped in her chest.
Standing under the breaking sunlight at the path leading to the family cemetery, was Dane.
“…Dane.”
The moment she saw him, Camilla realized it: ever since hearing Eugenia’s words, a new kind of longing had been growing inside her.
She still didn’t feel like she belonged beside him. Just like the night before, she was embarrassed to show her true self—but she also couldn’t help wanting to move closer.
“I have something I want to say. Can you spare me a moment?”
Camilla nodded.
Dane led her to the cemetery they’d visited together five years ago.
White blossoms from the flowering trees fluttered down onto the tombstones.
Standing in front of the Grand Duke’s well-tended grave, Dane whispered,
“I’m sorry for barging into your room without warning the other day.”
“…You should be. You startled me a little.”
Camilla teased, and Dane relaxed.
“Is this still your playground?”
“…Yes. Even though I haven’t had much reason to visit Escalus in the past five years, every time I did, I made sure to come here around 2 p.m.”
“2 p.m.?”
“That was the time we used to meet.”
Camilla blinked at the unexpected story.
“Back then, you told me—never give up on yourself.”
“…I did.”
She fell silent.
The wind made white petals rain down on them.
“Whenever I doubted myself, I’d come here and remember what you said.”
The sunshine, the breeze, Camilla’s words—all of it, Dane recalled.
“And now, I want to tell you the same thing.”
Camilla looked up at him.
“Don’t give up on yourself.”
“…Dane.”
“First, you still have things to do. You know my father is personally overseeing the upcoming trial, right?”
“Yes.”
That was a relief. To Camilla, the Grand Duke of Escalus was upright and trustworthy.
“But my father only plans to replace the family head and let the Baron live.”
“…What?”
That was unacceptable. With the Baron still alive, Glamis would survive, too.
“That’s…”
“He knows exactly what he’s doing. My father still wants to use Glamis for his own ends.”
Camilla’s expression shifted through a dozen emotions. Dane spoke bluntly.
“That’s why I’m planning to become Grand Duke before then.”
Camilla’s eyes went wide in shock.
She’d never thought it was possible before the wedding, but Dane went on quietly.
“That’s the only way I can judge the Baron and Glamis properly—and protect you.”
He gently took her hand and whispered,
“So for that… will you marry me?”
