Chaoter : 04
“So what? In the end, both you and I are going to die someday. Instead of wasting your time pulling this kind of stunt, you’d be better off getting rid of that pointless jealousy.”
A moment later, they entered the dining room.
One person was already seated at the table.
It was Duke Sorpel, the master of the estate.
His son, Rudville, was nowhere to be seen.
‘So this must be that time.’
The moment Camilla realized Rudville wasn’t at breakfast, she could roughly tell where they were in the story.
It was during the great rebellion in the western region.
Rudville had left with an army to suppress it.
‘This is where it all begins.’
This was when Ravi’s jealousy first started spiraling out of control.
Because Rudville would return after achieving an overwhelming victory.
‘Speaking of which…’
As Camilla looked at Duke Sorpel, she couldn’t help but admire him inwardly.
‘Sir, you could honestly remarry if you wanted.’
No wonder noble ladies were still constantly trying to court him.
He was remarkably handsome.
‘It feels like such a waste for someone like him to stay single.’
Camilla and Ravi’s mother had remarried Duke Sorpel and lived a fairly happy life with him.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.
Less than a year after their marriage, she died suddenly in a riding accident.
After her death, everyone naturally assumed Camilla and Ravi would be thrown out of the ducal household.
After all, they weren’t related to the Duke by blood.
There was no reason for him to continue raising them.
But Duke Sorpel shattered everyone’s expectations.
He accepted the two motherless children as his own, and under his protection, Camilla and Ravi grew up…
“…”
As Camilla and Ravi entered, Duke Sorpel quietly folded the newspaper he had been reading and removed his spectacles before turning his attention toward them.
‘Wow.’
His presence is unbelievable.
The moment their eyes met, Camilla unconsciously stiffened.
“Take them away.”
The cold voice that had ordered the knights.
Those icy eyes that had been fixed on Camilla.
How many people had died beneath that merciless gaze?
Gulp.
Camilla discreetly swallowed.
Cold sweat trickled down her back, and her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
The instant she saw him, she fully understood.
What kind of place this was.
And what kind of ending awaited her if things continued as they had before.
“You’re late.”
Only then did Duke Sorpel finally speak after glancing between Camilla and Ravi.
“Well…”
“I’m sorry. I overslept.”
“…”
“…”
Both Duke Sorpel and Ravi turned to stare at Camilla.
Their expressions mirrored each other exactly.
Confusion.
Surprise.
Wasn’t this the same girl who usually couldn’t even lift her head in front of the Duke, let alone speak?
Normally, the only emotion she ever displayed was silently wearing a dissatisfied expression with her lips tightly pressed together.
For her to look Duke Sorpel directly in the eye and speak like this…
It was incredibly rare.
‘She’s… smiling?’
Still convinced she hadn’t fully woken up, Ravi slowly shook his head.
“Sit.”
Without saying anything further, Duke Sorpel gestured toward the table.
As soon as the two of them sat down, the maids hurriedly brought out breakfast.
‘Whew…’
Get yourself together.
Looking at Duke Sorpel, Camilla carefully maintained her expression.
Had she ever been more grateful to be an actress?
She had once finished filming while smiling through the agony of an appendix on the verge of bursting.
‘Compared to that, this is nothing.’
Keeping her face calm, she looked down at the dishes placed before her.
‘Meat for breakfast.’
Meat… Nice.
‘And it’s actually seasoned.’
How long had it been since she’d eaten properly seasoned meat while constantly dieting?
She silently stared at the beautifully glistening steak for a moment before glancing to the side.
Several maids were snickering as they looked at her.
‘Go ahead and laugh while you can.’
Today’s the last day you’ll get to.
Camilla flashed them a grin of her own.
The maids looked puzzled, but Camilla simply turned back to her meal.
She quickly cut the steak into neat, bite-sized pieces.
“Father.”
“Hm?”
After carefully cutting every piece, Camilla gently held out her plate toward Duke Sorpel.
“Please have this. I’ve already cut it into easy-to-eat pieces for you.”
Duke Sorpel’s eyes widened noticeably.
Ravi nearly choked, hastily setting down the glass of water in his hand after coughing.
After dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief, he stared at Camilla.
His expression practically screamed,
“Has she finally lost her mind?”
“…Very well.”
After silently looking back and forth between Camilla and the plate, Duke Sorpel accepted it without suspicion and placed it in front of himself.
Then he personally slid his own untouched plate over to Camilla.
“Gasp!”
“Hk!”
The shocked reactions came from elsewhere.
Camilla could hear the maids sharply sucking in their breaths, but she ignored them.
Pretending not to notice anything, she focused on eating.
‘Oh…’
This is delicious.
Breakfast really should be meat.
The steak was unbelievably tender and rich.
Soon, Duke Sorpel also took a bite.
Now comes the important part.
“…”
Clink.
As he chewed, Duke Sorpel quietly set down his fork.
The sound echoed unnaturally loudly through the dining room.
Seeing the Duke frowning deeply, Camilla looked at him with confusion before suddenly widening her eyes in apparent realization.
“Oh… Father! I’ll eat that one instead!”
As if she’d just remembered something she’d completely forgotten, Camilla hurriedly reached toward the plate sitting before Duke Sorpel.
“Wait.”
After lightly wiping his mouth with his handkerchief, Duke Sorpel stopped her hand.
Their eyes met.
Camilla’s gaze shook uncontrollably.
Moments later, tears welled up in her eyes.
Just as they were about to spill over, she quickly lowered her head, as though desperately trying to hide them.
For good measure, she gently bit her lower lip.
Like a child whose secret had just been exposed.
‘I wonder what they did to today’s meat.’
However…
No one noticed the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she lowered her head.
‘Was it loaded with salt?
Or pepper?
Maybe both.’
Or perhaps they’d fished it out of the trash.
Most of the servants in the ducal household despised Camilla.
They had used every method they could think of to torment her.
At first, it had been subtle.
Making her food slightly too salty.
Choosing especially bitter tea leaves.
Small things like that.
Camilla had never told her family.
Perhaps it was the last shred of pride she had left.
Because she stayed silent, the bullying only escalated.
When she eventually couldn’t endure it anymore and became angry, some of the servants even cried as though they were the victims.
Meanwhile, Duke Sorpel and the rest of the family gradually began looking at Camilla with colder and colder eyes.
“She’s not even related by blood. What right does she have to call herself a young lady of the ducal house?”
“Exactly! Young Master Ravi at least has talent, but Miss Camilla…”
‘You idiot. Is that pathetic pride really going to save you? You should’ve just told someone. Those people are infuriating too.’
The girl barely ate more than a bite at every meal.
How had no one noticed?
They’d eaten together countless times.
How could everyone simply assume nothing was wrong all those years?
It was honestly unbelievable.
“So this isn’t the first time.”
Duke Sorpel’s voice broke the silence.
“N-No! It isn’t like that!”
That’s right!
As expected of the head of the family—he figured it out immediately!
Inside, Camilla was celebrating.
Outwardly, however, her face remained pale as she hurriedly shook her head.
The corners of her eyes were still red.
“…We’ll discuss this later.”
After silently watching her for a long moment, Duke Sorpel slowly rose from his seat and looked toward a certain corner of the room.
“Dealing with them comes first.”
His gaze landed on the maids whose faces had turned deathly pale.
* * *
“So?”
“Got something to say?”
“What the hell did you eat?”
“I didn’t get to eat much.”
Though the meat was delicious.
Humming cheerfully as she left the dining room, Camilla finally stopped walking when she noticed Ravi staring holes through her.
‘I wonder what punishment they’ll receive.’
Looking back at the tightly closed dining room doors, a faint smile spread across her lips.
Duke Sorpel had summoned everyone—from the butler to the head maid.
That alone was proof this wouldn’t end lightly.
‘I know better than anyone.’
How terrifying Duke Sorpel truly was.
‘That unwavering decisiveness.’
Whenever someone threatened what belonged to him—or threatened the ducal house—he showed absolutely no mercy.
Not the slightest hesitation.
Which was exactly why he had been able to execute Camilla and Ravi without a moment’s doubt after they harmed his biological son.
Even after living together as family for well over ten years.
Camilla looked at Ravi with newfound eyes.
What should I even do with this idiot…?
He was running around without the slightest clue how his story would end.
Still…
His jealousy hadn’t completely consumed him yet.
There was still hope.
At least until she appeared.
That woman.
The heroine who captured the hearts of every outstanding man in this world.
The woman who reduced every other woman around her to little more than background extras.
The moment her attention turned toward Rudville…
Ravi’s inferiority complex would explode.
After thinking it over for a moment, Camilla simply shook her head.
‘Why should I care?’
Once I wake up, I’ll just go back.
The moment her real body regained consciousness in the modern world, she’d leave this one behind.
‘The only pitiful one will be the fool who’s left here.’
Though…
He’d have brought it upon himself.
Pat.
Pat.
Looking at Ravi with a hint of pity, Camilla lightly patted him on the shoulder.
Then she simply walked past him.
“…What was that?”
Why did this leave such an unpleasant feeling?
Ravi stood there for quite a while, staring after Camilla with a bewildered expression.
