章 31: Chapter 30. Manipulation
As Duke de Walt watched his daughter tend to the injured commoner, his face continued to remain frowning. Camilla was born with a rather soft-hearted nature.
Since no one paid attention to her as a child, and her father and brother ignored her, the girl found solace in pets. When she was little, Camilla often brought some game into the house.
Sometimes it was a bug, sometimes a rabbit, and sometimes a cat. The Duke almost always turned a blind eye to this, as it did not cause him much trouble. These little animals that Camilla kept in her room made her feel less lonely. However, they did not stay at the estate for long.
Yufil could not stand animals, and even more so insects, since they were carriers of diseases. Therefore, he ordered the servants to get rid of these "creeping creatures". Thus, the girl was left alone again.
Resigned, it gradually passed, and as she got older, Camille stopped being interested in such things. However, the Duke did not expect that this habit would return to her again after so many years.
But this time his daughter brought home not a squirrel, not a ferret, or even a rabbit, but... a human!
The Duke could not understand the circumstances under which this had happened. But the fact remained. The wounded commoner that Camilla had brought home was now lying on her bed. About five minutes ago, she suddenly lost consciousness.
His daughter fussed around her, checking her pulse and temperature. Yufil and the Duke were standing in the corner of the room. The latter did not even know when he should intervene.
Finally, when Camilla was convinced that nothing serious had happened to the girl and she was just overworked, the duke found a pause to speak:
— How long will she stay here? I demand that this person leave my house immediately.
Camille, pulling away from her ward, approached him hesitantly. She seemed to understand that now was not the best time for impudent speeches.
— Ten days.
— what?
The Duke's pupils dilated.
— She will leave as soon as she recovers, in ten days.
The man frowned.
— I disagree. It's too long.
— But, Father, if you let her go right now, she won't last a day...! The bandage needs to be changed every few hours. Besides, she's still too weak.
— Do you really think that I care about the welfare of some girl? — He smiled coldly, — You know, I'm not going to feed all the freeloaders you bring into the house.
Camille pursed her lips.
As expected, it will not be so easy to convince the Duke. Perhaps, for the first time in her life, she will have to resort to a cunning trick.
— In my place... I'm sure Mom would have done the same thing.
— what?
Victor's eyes widened in surprise.
— Mom would never leave a man in trouble, — Camille said confidently.
— .....
For the first time in her life, the girl dared to openly mention her mother. That's why the Duke was so surprised. Especially since it happened in such a situation.
The Duke could not believe that for the sake of some stranger, his daughter would risk throwing such words around.
— How dare you... — The man hissed, — How dare you talk about her now?!
But not a single muscle on the girl's face twitched.
Camilla knew that her mother had been a very good person during her lifetime. Annette de Walt never boasted of her position as the duke's wife and always helped those who needed it. In particular, it was on her initiative that Victor founded several charitable foundations, which he has supported so far.
And now, Camilla was using her mother's name to deal with the Duke's anger. It is possible that at least for a while a man will be able to discern the intentions of his late wife in his daughter...
At least, she hoped so. After all, everything could have turned out the other way around.
When the daughter he couldn't stand started talking about the woman Victor loved more than anything in the world, anger boiled in his veins. His fists shook, and although the Duke had never raised a hand against her, at that moment he wanted to go to extreme measures.
The only thing that stopped him then was her eyes.
Even if they weren't as blue as hers. But the look... He was exactly the same. When Camilla looked at him resolutely, not even afraid, the Duke involuntarily hesitated.
He stared at her face in silence for a while.
And then...
A heavy exhale.
— ...If something happens, it will only be on your conscience. Be sure that I will not spare you.
Having said that, Victor quickly turned around and left the room. Camille was incredibly relieved.
— Father, I promise that I will take full responsibility! — She called after him.
***
Fortunately, everything went well.
Although I had to resort to a little manipulation, the result was worth it. The Duke has allowed the commoner to stay in our manor for another ten days. That was more than enough.
When the time comes, I'll help her get out of here. Then we'll never meet again.
In the meantime, the girl has temporarily moved into my room.
According to Xavier, in ten days she will recover enough to be able to take care of herself. I've only been waiting for this moment.
Ten days... It's not that hard to hold out, right?
I took a deep breath, taking my now-familiar place on the summer porch. It was hot again today. Elisha left for a while to bring us some refreshments.
The commoner had been feeling much better since yesterday. Today, with my help, she was even able to go outside. And now we were enjoying the fresh air and good weather together.
— Wait a little longer, okay? — I smiled, — Soon you will be able to leave here.
The commoner looked at me strangely.
— Listen to me.
— Yes?
— If you know who I am, then why do you keep addressing me informally? — There was a rather noticeable irritation in her voice.
I looked at her in surprise.
"Oh, does she mean that she doesn't deserve such treatment from me?"
After all, even if she had lost her memory, there was nothing she could do about her innate self-perception. The commoner must have felt uncomfortable when I, a lady from a noble family, treated her in such a "fraternal" way. However, I was not the type to worry about such things. So, to calm her down, I said:
— I thought we were friends, so I decided to drop the formalities.
— Have you become friends...?
— Yes, I am not one of those who make friends with people based on their status. The main thing is to be a good person.
The princess stared at her with a frozen face.
"Is it good? Does she think I'm a good person?"
Kaena decided that this woman must be joking.
— So I'm a good person in your eyes? — As soon as these words left the Crown Princess's lips, she had such a cold expression that could scare anyone.
But the duke's youngest daughter interpreted this deadly expression as something else.
"Does she really consider herself unworthy to be friends with someone like me because of her low status?"
Feeling a surge of pity for her, I resolutely took her hand and said:
— Yes, I think you're a good person. And don't you ever doubt it!
— ...
— Promise?
Kaena's brows drew together tensely. Then, hesitating, she replied:
— ...Okay.
Smiling brightly, I let go of her hand.
"I hope she can become more confident in the future."
In fact, I really did everything I could for an outsider. From now on, my conscience was clear.
I sighed, looking at the girl I had sheltered quite by accident. After all, life can really be unpredictable sometimes.
Most recently, I was enjoying these views alone. But today, a commoner was sitting next to me and admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms in our garden. I watched her admiring expression with a smile. This commoner must have seen such a beautiful view for the first time in her life.
— This cherry is called Malta. It usually blooms once every three years. So we were lucky to catch her right now.
— Malta, — she nodded thoughtfully, — I'll remember.
I chuckled.
Soon Elisha returned and brought me a fresh newspaper along with soft drinks. Lately, I've been getting more and more interested in the news. After all, I needed to keep up to date with events in order to fully get used to this world.
When I opened the front page, it took me a moment to notice that there was something else on the tray.
— What is it...?
I saw a snow-white envelope with a dragon seal.
— My Lady, this letter with the seal was sent from a noble house. I didn't dare open it, so...
— I understand, — I nodded briefly, — Then I'll look at it myself.
At first, I was a little excited, opening an envelope from a previously unknown recipient. Since my rebirth in this world, I have not received correspondence in my name very often. So I mentally tried to guess who it could be.
But...
When I opened the envelope, my face cleared with surprise. That's because I immediately recognized the familiar intricate handwriting. This style of writing undoubtedly belonged to my only pen pal. Since I met Jeremy Seibel, he and I have exchanged messages from time to time, in which we talked about the latest news from each other's lives.
However, he's been missing lately, and I haven't heard from him in over a week. And today the guy finally sent me a letter, though in an envelope with someone else's seal.
Since I am used to receiving letters with the coat of arms of the Seibel family, I was surprised when I saw the envelope. And even more so when I got acquainted with its contents. To be honest, I was just stunned.
It was an invitation. An invitation to the wedding of my newly found friend.
When I saw this, I almost choked on my lemonade.
— My Lady, are you all right? — The maid turned to me excitedly.
— Yes... yes... — I waved my hand unconvincingly, — It's just that the lemonade is too cold...
Although I tried not to show it, this news really shocked me.
Jeremy is really getting married!
And none other than the most powerful witch on the continent.
The name of the northern princess, Selina de Lune, was mentioned only once in the novel. Despite all the influence of this character, she herself did not participate in the plot in any way. Readers were provided with only basic information: Selina rules the north and is the last sorceress of the empire of Ruvens.
Perhaps the failure to introduce such a character into the plot was the author's biggest mistake. She had amazing looks and money. With such data, the northern princess could well outshine even the main characters.
Thus, I was more shocked not by the fact of the wedding itself, but by its participants... Next to the refined and majestic Selina, the last thing I could imagine was my friend.
How could this union even be real...?!
Was the Duchess in her right mind when she accepted such an offer?
I didn't want to admit it, but I felt white envy.
This guy must be over the moon right now that his life has turned out so well.
Eh...
"I wonder if I'll ever be so lucky?"
In fact, I wasn't as "independent" and "strong-willed" as I tried to seem. Remembering my past life, when I worked hard just to provide myself with minimal living conditions, now I would gladly give it up.
Who wouldn't want to enjoy a luxurious life and do nothing?
In the end, I was even lucky enough to be reborn as an aristocrat. That's just it...
Just because I got into the wrong family, I couldn't just hang my legs over my rich relatives. Sooner or later they'll kick me out of the house, or I'll have to leave on my own...
Thus, I already had to think about my future. Just the thought of how I was going to earn my living was tormenting me.
It would be great if someone would just take and solve my problems...
Although I gave up the idea of any romantic relationship in my life, sometimes I thought that a marriage of convenience would not be so bad. If someone wealthy loved me and showered me with gifts, I wouldn't mind at all...
The problem was that there were simply no suitable candidates on the horizon.
The people my father wooed me to were rich, but they were also disgusting. At the age of seventeen, I definitely did not want to marry some old man or a spoiled son. And that was exactly what most of the nobles who accepted the duke's offer were like.
Of course, with the main character, Jerica, I didn't have a chance. Where is she, and where am I...? As it turned out, the ice witch, my second "chance", is also busy now. It turns out that the only thing left for me is to overcome my laziness and arrange my life on my own.
I sighed sadly, thinking that it would be better if I spent my whole life on this veranda and did nothing.
"Lord, send me someone rich and generous! And also... Preferably a beautiful one!"
While Camille was crying out to the gods and lamenting her unfortunate fate, the man next to her did not take his eyes off her.
"Did she really call me a good person?" The Crown Princess couldn't help but smile ironically as she kept replaying this thought in her head.
They had been next to each other for two days now, and Kaena couldn't believe that this woman really cared about her. She even dared to go against her father's wishes and openly defend her.
This only fueled the princess's interest even more.
The Duchy of de Walt... To be honest, the girl had never even heard of this family before. An insignificant noble family, of which there were many in the empire. But now the Crown Princess was unwittingly interested in her. In particular, one of its members.
This time, Kaena chose the duke's youngest daughter as her new toy.
"Before I kill her, I'll have a little fun with this little bird." — she chuckled to herself.
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