Chapter 18

She definitely said that at the time.

“But I couldn’t pretend not to know, at the thought of the late Countess, your dead mother.”

Don’t tell me, Penny knew that Camilla killed Joanna?

Even if I heard the answer right now, I couldn’t tell if it was all true.

“I would have been punished for destroying your dress if it hadn’t been for your advice, my Lady.”

I slowly turned away from the window because the sun was so intense.

“Did you rip it apart?”

“No! It’s not my doing! That’s impossible for me to do, my Lady.”

Penny leapt out of her seat.

Well, I simply said it out of the blue…… I’m even more eager to tease her if she reacts like this

“Madam tried to put the blame on me. And Madam finally found that Emma was the culprit, however……”

“But, according to Emma, you were the one who did it.”

“Oh, my goodness. How could she be so brazen? It’s a lie! She definitely lied!”

Penny’s face became flushed.

“I know. You weren’t the one who did it.”

“Thank you…… for believing me, my Lady.”

Her feelings were shown intact, perhaps because she is still young.

Only Penny was as pure as white paper in this Countdom, where everyone wears masks.

* * * * *

In a room that resembles a warehouse.

Camila was basking in the fireplace, sitting in a velvet chair that didn’t fit her surroundings at all.

“Would you let Selina stay there no matter how much she wanted to if you truly thought of her as your biological daughter?”

“What’s the problem with the annex? It’s a place where a lady can reside in complete comfort.”

“What? What are you talking about? Then you should go there and try to stay!”

Camilla eventually ended up like this as a result of her futile attempt to preserve her pride.

Camilla clenched her teeth.

‘How dare you kick the owner out of the bedroom?’

In any case, the Vassals will not remain silent on this issue.

They were first opposed, claiming that they couldn’t trust strangers to lead the house, but after tasting the money, they changed their minds.

Camilla planned to stay until the Vassals stepped up.

‘Cedric will undoubtedly apologize to me.’

He didn’t usually ask, but what great interest he suddenly had in Selina?

Camilla, who was full of grudge, vowed revenge as she watched the burning flames.

A knock came from outside at that moment.

“Madam, it’s me. May I come in?”

It was Emma.

Emma was visiting Camilla more than Shannon these days, begging her to kick Penny out.

Camilla refused to let her in since she was irritated by the bedroom problem.

Emma sneaked inside the bedroom while the servants were rearranging large pieces of furniture.

“I just met Lady Selina, Madam. But do you know what she was saying to me?”

Emma was overjoyed and attempted to frame Selina in some way, but she forgot to welcome Camilla.

“Lady Selina said that she was the one who asked the Commander to change your bedroom. I’m sure she’s trying to screw you, Madam!”

Camilla’s expression was becoming increasingly icy, and Emma was completely unaware of it.

“She must have given Penny orders to report everything you’ve done to her to the Commander all this time……”

“What do you mean by everything I’ve done all this time?”

“Yes?”

Camilla, who had been staring at the stove the entire time, suddenly returned her gaze to Emma.

“I’ve never done anything wrong in my life with Selina. So, what exactly are you referring to? Did I ever treat Selina badly?”

Emma forgot what she planned to say when she saw Camilla’s gorgeous smile when she asked such a question.

“Of-of course, Madam was very nice to Lady Selina, but……”

“Yeah, but?”

Emma’s brow furrowed in response to Camilla’s brazen retort.

“Anyway, Madam, you have to do something.”

“Do something?”

“Yes. Madam, if you keep staying like this, you might get caught up in Selina’s scam and be kicked out.”

Camilla scoffed and laughed openly.

‘Scheme? What a load of nonsense!’

Even if all things happened, there was no way that timid child would plan any scheme.

‘What can she do when she can’t even speak properly?’

Penny’s words came to mind as she was thinking.

Penny stated that when only the two of them are around, Selina stutters and cries like a fool.

‘She might be able to fool Shannon or Emma into thinking she’s eloquent.’

However.

‘I’m confident she’ll stop pretending if I haul her here in front of me. Since Selina is a child who was afraid to make eye contact with me.’

Camilla rested heavily against the sofa, her gaze fixed on Emma.

‘It was all because of Emma that Cedric started to care about Selina. If only she hadn’t ripped that dress!’

Cedric would not have guessed that there would be any problems between the three, the mother and the daughters.

It was Emma who caused the crack.

Shannon failed to keep away from the envious Emma, despite her warnings.

‘Should I kick Emma out?’

Camilla doubts everyone, but Selina.

Selina is the world’s ultimate stutterer and coward.

Unless she became someone else, there’s no way Selina would change.

Camilla reasoned that if there was anyone in the Crawford Family she needed to keep in control, it would be Cedric, not the powerless Selina.

“Madam, Lady Selina thought you were a fool. Madam, you should definitely do something about her. You must show your authenticity to her. Starting with Penny……”

“Now… What am I supposed to do with my precious daughter?”

Camilla, who spoke plainly, smiled at Emma’s poorly crumpled face.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen her face. As her wish.”

Camilla beckoned to the servant.

“Call Selina.”

* * * * *

“Mo-mo-mother… d-d-did you call me……”

A ragged dress.

A face incapable of making eye contact.

Camilla was relieved to see Selina, who looked exactly the same as previously.

She appeared more beggar-like than usual, with a shriveled appearance similar to a shrunken fabric.

“Selina, aren’t you going to greet me? I haven’t seen you in over a month and a half.”

“I was planning to come…… but…”

When Camilla hears the servants say Selina has been wandering around the Countdom, she is always sceptical.

‘All right, then.’

Selina’s decision to go to the monastery on her alone was not unexpected.

After all, the monastery would be Selina’s sole visit in the years ahead.

Many people were willing to pay a high price for that attractive pretty face.

Among them, Camilla liked Count Granson the most.

Selina would have a husband that was 70 years older than her, but Selina would never say no. As she always did.

After Selina’s birthday, Camilla planned to sell her to Count Granson for a reasonable price.

Then, after becoming a widow, Selina will be unable to bear the loneliness of being left alone and will visit the monastery.

‘By then, Adrian will be leading the White Eagle Knights in the capital.’

Camila could clearly see the bright future ahead of her.

“You’re right. What was your experience of the monastery?”

“Mo-mo-monastery……”

Suddenly, Selina sobbed uncontrollably.

Penny, surprised, pulled out her handkerchief and murmured, wiping Selina’s tears with it.

“My Lady, don’t cry. You’ve already returned to your home. This is the Countdom, not the monastery.”

The girl’s slender shoulders trembled, triggering people’s protective instincts to the point where they wanted to hug her.

“I’m sure you’ve had a lot of difficulties. I asked for nothing.”

“Sob… sob… mo-mo-monastery……”

“It’s all right. I didn’t call you to hear about the boring monasteries.”

Camilla quickly changed the subject as she shook her hand.

“I mean this bedroom. Aren’t you the most versed about this place?”

Selina was unable to respond and simply nodded quietly.

“Open the secret door.”

“Se-secret door?”

Count Crawford’s castle has secret passageways running out of each of the bedrooms.

The Empire is still in a ceasefire, but since Crawford’s territory is a crossing point bordering the Kingdom, it was to prepare for a possible war.

Selina, on the other hand, only blinked her red eyes, as if she had no clue.

Camilla was genuinely pleased since her figures resembled a handcrafted doll.

‘How can such a lovely daughter be mine…… How much can I get?’

1 billion? 2 billion?

‘Count Granson will never think it’s a waste to give me all of his fortune.’

Because he would fall asleep every night embracing his lovely wife, who was as lovely as a fairy.

“Since my Lady awoke after taking sleeping pills, Madam…… Please forgive her.”

“Okay. Then go for it.”

Camilla waved her hand liberally.

Penny ran out of the room with Selina, as if she needed to get away as soon as possible.

“Do you know where the secret door is, Penny?”

“…… I believe it is under the bed. My Lady doesn’t open it very often, so I’m not sure.”

“Okay.”

As Camilla watched Selina leaving the room with Penny’s assistance, she slowly stood up.

It wasn’t Selina, her lovely but destitute stepdaughter, who she had to look after.

It was Emma, who threatened her by claiming to be a witness to what had passed.

* * * * *