"Ugh…"
Oh my god!
'Damned ghost!'
Nevermind! I take it back!
'I change my mind about the fact that ghosts don't physically harm people!'
How long was she unconscious for? Sia slowly opened her eyes, feeling her body being weighed down like wet cotton.
Her first thought when she came to was to curse the ghost that was hanging near the chandelier.
There was no way the chandelier fell on its own unless the ghost had something to do with it!
Sia carefully touched her face, anticipating the worst-case scenario that the show would be canceled.
For an actor, their face is just as important as their acting skills. Making sure her beauty was intact… hmm?
'Something's wrong.'
A heavy, sharp thing fell on her, but it was less painful than she thought… no, there was no pain at all.
'Did the chandelier really fall on me?'
Fortunately, her face remained unscathed. There were no bandages adorning her face, and she experienced no discomfort whatsoever.
By the way…
'Where am I?'
It didn't look like a hospital.
She once collapsed from overworking and was hospitalized in a special room, but even the special room was not this spacious.
Besides, what on earth are those flowing, luxurious curtains? And those old-fashioned candlesticks over there?
'What is this…'
It looked a bit familiar; it felt unfamiliar yet very familiar?
'Why is no one here?'
You'd think there would be someone around to ask about the situation, but no matter how much she looked, there was no one there.
'Wow… this is unacceptable.'
How can there be no one around when someone has collapsed? And where on earth is Hyun-seok?
Sia shifted slowly.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her body. Other than feeling a little weighed down, she didn't feel any particular pain.
'What the…'
Raising her upper body, Sia gasped as she saw the cuffs of her sleeves flowing down.
Why was there so much lace? Is this really a hospital gown?
Why would anyone think it's a good idea to dress a wounded person in such uncomfortable attire? Sia clicked her tongue and straightened her body completely.
"...!"
But she had to quickly sit back down. She felt burdened by an invisible weight as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Sia let out a brief sigh, realizing that her body did not feel normal. Fortunately, the dizziness soon passed.
As a knock resonated through the room, a person came inside, revealing a young woman in her late teens.
However…
'What?'
Sia's eyes widened once she recognized the woman's face.
"Oh my goodness. Miss, you're awake."
Sia, who sat dazed for a moment, gradually parted her lips.
"Donna?"
What?
Sia spoke for the first time since waking up, though her mouth dropped open in disbelief.
It didn't sound like her; it's definitely not her voice… It's not, but it's an all too familiar one.
"Yes? Is there something you need me to do, Miss Camilla?"
"..."
Camilla?
'Did she just call me Camilla?'
Her? Camilla?
'Why am I hearing that name here?'
Camilla.
The woman she always sees when she closes her eyes.
Her name was Camilla.
Chapter. Camilla Sorpel
"Hmm… She's so pretty."
Sia looked at her reflection in the mirror and shook her head softly.
This was the first time she had ever observed her face in such detail.
Light pink, blonde hair and reddish eyes. Full, small lips.
Fresh, white skin that was free of blemishes, as if it had been cared for diligently for years.
She wonders why she was always alone, with such a face, dogged by all kinds of misfortune.
"By the way, did I really get hurt?"
It usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour to escape from this world, but there are no signs of that happening at all.
"I can move this body however I like."
She fidgeted her hands absentmindedly. Rock, paper, scissors--- they really are moving.
Until now, Sia had always been the observer. She could only watch Camilla and not interfere.
But now, everything was going according to her will. Words, actions, everything.
Sia, who had been staring at herself in the mirror for a while, suddenly hardened her expression when a thought flashed through her mind.
She thought about the ghost who was hanging around when the chandelier fell on her.
Because the situation had come to a head, Sia didn't get a good look at the ghost. At first glance, however, she thought she caught a glimpse of her own face.
"No way."
She thought it was ridiculous. She couldn't have seen her soul with her own eyes, could she?
Sia… no, Camilla shook her head. With every shake, her light pink, blonde hair swayed gently.
"...?"
Someone had barged in without knocking.
'That man…'
It was a face she knew all too well. How could she not recognize that face?
He was a good-looking man who even she, with an excellent sense of aesthetics, admired.
"Hey."
His brows furrowed as he called Camilla in a voice full of irritation.
"I told you to be on time for breakfast."
"..."
"Come on."
He turned away without waiting for an answer from her. He seemed certain that she would not rebel against his words in the slightest.
'Okay…'
She didn't know what was going on but…
'There's something I've always wanted to do if I ever saw you in real life.'
Camilla's pace quickened as she approached the man.
She was practically running in the end…
That sounded good.
"...!"
Camilla flashed a bright smile at the man whose eyes had grown wide after she had smacked the back of his head with all her might.
"I'm sorry."
You bitch.
* * *
The Duchy of
Camilla instantly became one of the few duchesses in the empire when her mother remarried to Duke Sorpel.
The person who also came into the duchy with her at that time was that man, Camilla's brother.
"I was half asleep. Please believe me."
"..."
"I'm sorry."
Why are you glaring at me like that? I said I was half-asleep, so you can't really do anything.
'Bastard.'
You should be lucky you only got hit once.
Ravi Sorpel. Camilla's older brother and a member of the Magic Tower.
From an early age, he showed great talent for magic, and is now said to be the best among his peers.
He is a good man, comes from a good family, has good abilities, but…
'But so what?'
To Camilla, that guy was as useless as the grime in her fingernails.
Though it's fun to take it out sometimes.
'Because of him…!'
She died every time because of him.
What kind of asshole puts their biological sister in harm's way to destroy their step-brother because of their inferiority complex?
Camilla pursed her lips inwardly.
As for her, she disliked both Ludville Sorpel, her step-brother, and Ravi Sorpel, her biological brother.
Camilla's expression sank when her other brother's face suddenly came to mind.
Camilla and Ravi's elder brother. The biological son of the Duke of Sorpel. Ludville Sorpel.
When it comes to looks and swordsmanship, he closely resembles the Duke of Sorpel. Anyone could see that he was an outstanding person who would be next in line to lead the great ducal family.
Ravi, consumed by his desire to outdo him, slowly brought about his own downfall. All his life goals revolved around beating Ludville.
At first, he tried to gain recognition from the duke by showing off his skills.
However, it was not an easy feat since Ludville was far superior in terms of abilities.
It was Ravi who always felt a sense of defeat. Every time he achieved something, Ludville would achieve something even greater.
Then, at some point, his desire to beat Ludville transformed into jealousy and animosity, and eventually attempts to assassinate him.
'The thing is…'
He involves Camilla into his wicked schemes.
'It was the same then.'
The last scene she saw.
She had participated in the assassination of her eldest brother, Ludville, at the behest of that bastard, only to be caught and decapitated by his sword.
She had died countless times before that.
The situation was slightly different each time, yet the outcome remained the same; she became entangled in what he was doing and died with him.
'So what if that guy looks fine.'
It's such a shame.
'He only received a slap on the back of his head.'
She should've gone for the kill!
"...You're definitely half-asleep."
Ravi was more stunned by the fact that he had been hit in the back of the head by Camilla than by the pain itself.
'What's with the look?'
She says she's sorry but her eyes say otherwise.
Rather, it conveyed anger towards him.
Is she angry? At him?
'No way.'
She always loses her temper and acts violently to those below her, but she can't even hold her head up high in front of her family, including him.
Ravi, who knew this all too well, said nothing more.
"We're late because of you. Come, hurry."
"..."
How can that bastard look so obnoxious from the front and back? Camilla clenched her fists in frustration, glaring at the back of his head as he walked ahead.
'Well, there will be another opportunity.'
Just you wait. I'll give you a proper hit.
'It looks like the duke is there today.'
Camilla clicked her tongue as she followed Ravi.
It's unusual for that person, who didn't care what his sister was doing, to pretend to care about Camilla during a meal with the duke.
It seems that he wants to appeal to the duke as an older brother who takes good care of his younger sister.
'It's pretty lousy.'