CH 4

“Yes? Oh, yes, I am.” 

Camellia stood up from her seat and looked at Siella with an unexpected look in her eyes as she approached her. Although it was the first time they met each other, it wasn’t difficult to get to know her. Siella knew that Camellia was someone who could kindly smile at anyone. 

“Oh, but Louie is sleeping inside right now….” 

Camellia kept a soft smile on her lips from beginning to end even though she couldn’t hide her awkwardness at Siella’s sudden visit. Siella blankly stared at Camellia for a moment, then she glanced over her shoulder to the room behind her. She caught a glimpse of a child’s skinny legs lying on the bed covered with curtains. 

“Well… if you don’t mind, can we go to another place and talk?” 

When Camellia added that the child had just fallen asleep and was afraid that he would wake up, Siella silently stared at her. In fact, Siella wanted to ask Camellia about their situation at the moment. After all, he was the child that the Head of the Duke’s family was looking for all this time with all his abilities but was unable to find. She was wondering how she had found and protected such a child. 

She also felt the need to check for herself whether the butler took good care of the guests who entered without the permission from the absent Family Head. But the moment she faced Camellia, Siella came back to her senses as if she had been struck by lightning. 

The flow of the world of this novel revolves around the main characters, Camellia and Eschert. That means, how Camellia found and brought the child back wasn’t something she should dig into. She felt that she had neither the place nor the qualifications to do so. In the end, Siella swallowed her questions and instead came up with something completely different. 

“No, I don’t think there’s a need to move. I’m just here to return this.” 

A luxurious necklace with an oval metal locket. It was the evidence Camellia brought out as she insisted that the child she had brought with her was the child Nocturm was looking for. 

“In any case, I think it would be better for you to deliver this directly to the Duke.” 

“Ah….” 

Camellia was a bit at a loss and had a hint of laughter, but she didn’t hesitate and accepted the necklace. Just then, as if it was a signal, there was a commotion outside the mansion. Siella glanced at the large window at the end of the hallway.

“Looks like the Duke has returned.” 

Just in time, the figure of the man alighting from a jet-black carriage stopped in the distance came into view. She could see the sense of urgency on Eschert’s face as he strode inside the mansion even with the distance. It strangely seemed clear. 

Eschert entered the main building of the mansion accompanied by Patrick, the head butler. His steps are hurried as if he was in a rush. And just like that, Eschert’s figure quickly disappeared from sight. Siella turned around without hesitation. 

Perhaps, as soon as Eschert changes his clothes, he will come straight here to the annex. To meet the child he had been looking for so long, and to meet Camellia who brought the child back. 

“Miss Camellia, I will be going back now so you can comfortably talk with the Duke.” 

Facing Camellia with her back facing the window, Siella told her in a calm voice. But for some reason, Camellia’s face turned white at Siella’s words as if she was greatly embarrassed. 

“Th-the Duke is back now?” 

“Yes. It seems like he’s heading here right now.” 

“Right… right away?” 

“Yes.” 

As Siella nodded, Camellia’s already white face turned even whiter. 

“The head butler must have informed the Duke that you’re staying here.” 

“Ah….” 

Camellia now wasn’t just embarrassed, she looked like she was terribly scared of something. Siella tilted her head in confusion. 

“Is there any problem?” 

Biting her lips with hesitation at Siella’s question, Camellia hesitantly opened her mouth. “Then… do I have to meet the Duke right now and tell him everything about the situation?” 

It sounded quite meaningful to just ignore her words. 

“I… it’s not because of anything or so…. I was just a little embarrassed to meet the Duke all of a sudden….” Camellia said in a trembling voice. As if she had noticed what Siella was thinking and trying to make excuses. 

But don’t you know that such an attitude arouses even more suspicion? It just occurred to [Siella] that Camellia wasn’t taken aback by the mere sudden meeting with Eschert. There was clearly something more. What is the real reason Camellia was trying to avoid meeting Eschert? 

“There’s really, really no other reason. I, I just….” 

Siella stared at Camellia, who seemed to be trying to make  excuses again, but she quickly lowered her gaze. The sight of Camellia clutching the hem of her worn-out skirt. She must have been clutching onto it with too much force that her hands turned into a sheet of white paper. 

“I heard the Duke is a very busy person. I just didn’t expect him to come back so suddenly….” 

“Miss Camellia.” Siella cut off Camellia’s long words and let out a small sigh. “If you feel burdened by being alone with Duke right now, you can tell the Duke honestly that you feel burdened by it.” 

Camellia took a deep breath. 

“Though of course, the Duke naturally would want to hear more details from you….” 

It was true that she was curious about what Camellia was hiding. However, she doesn’t expect for Camellia to openly tell her about it right here and now. More than anything else, Siella didn’t want to waste her time listening to Camellia’s excuses. 

“The Duke isn’t the kind of person who would force something even to his benefactor.” 

“Benefactor…?” 

Camellia’s purple eyes widened. 

“Yes, benefactor. You are Nocturm’s benefactor.” Siella said calmly. “So no one inside the Duchy would dare to treat you badly.” 

No one will do the same to me. They can’t do that. Even Eschert, the head of the Nocturm.

(T/N: Who’s cutting onions?!)

“What I mean is, if you want, there will be no problem if you put off talking to the Duke forever.” 

Even he won’t be able to show his cold disposition in front of Camellia. 

“So Miss Camellia, do whatever you are comfortable with. It will be fine.” 

Unlike Siella, Camellia was in a position to do that. Camellia might not be aware of this situation, but Siella was at least clearly aware of this. 

Camellia didn’t have to put up with any discomfort. As long as the fact that she found and brought back the precious Nocturm’s successor didn’t change. She was a person who could easily get anything she asked for here. 

‘Though she seems to be hiding something….’ 

Things might be different if it turns out that Camellia was hiding something big. Well, that was something I couldn’t figure out now. 

“Then I am going now.” 

After that, Siella walked past Camellia. Then Camellia, who was blankly standing all along, came back to her senses and grabbed Siella’s arm. 

“Ah, w-wait….” 

It was only for a moment that she was surprised with the sudden skin contact. Hah, Siella turned around with a wry smile and frowned at Camellia’s rather violent touch, feeling displeased. 

“Wait a minute. Please wait and listen to me….” 

Camellia didn’t care at all about how the other person reacted. Even more displeased with her expression, Siella  coldly shook off Camellia’s hand as she hurriedly spoke. 

“…Ah!” 

Camellia held the hand with her other hand that Siella had shook off. At the same time, there was a hint of resentment in her gaze as she looked up at Siella. 

[Siella] wondered, for a moment, whether she should feel guilty about this situation. Siella felt more ridiculous when she looked at Camellia and let out a despondent laugh. 

“Miss Camellia.” Camellia bit her lip and just looked up at Siella. Siella lightly sighed and said in a distinct voice, “Never touch me like this again.” 

Was she expecting to hear even a bland apology? Camellia’s face stiffened at Siella’s stern warning. 

It was at that moment when Siella recognized the heavy steps approaching them. 

“Oh….” 

And not too long after that, the moment the sound of the footsteps that were gradually becoming clearer abruptly stopped, “Siella,” a low voice with deep resonance echoed. 

When Siella confirmed that Camellia was looking over her shoulder with surprise in her eyes, she laughed. It was because Camellia with her softly wet big eyes looked so innocent and pitiful. She wondered if she was caught in a very difficult situation right now. 

She had no idea where and how far Eschert witnessed, but she had a hunch that she was about to get caught up in a rather annoying and troublesome situation.