What would others say if they saw a noblewoman, especially one with a disreputable reputation, suddenly jumping into the water?
Camilla pressed a hand to her brow.
The moment she jumps in the water to retrieve the egg of the Divine Beast, it'll only confirm that she really is a crazy bitch.
But honestly, it was a little — very little — tempting.
'Wouldn't it decrease my chances of dying if I found the egg of the Divine Beast?'
She heard that they've been looking for it for a long time now. If she found it for them, she's sure they won't kill her like they did before.
[Miss, you're so beautiful today.]
"You mean to tell me I wasn't pretty before?"
[No, no! I'm only saying that because the black dress suits you well!]
Derrin chirped beside her, as if trying to ease Camilla's feelings.
But Camilla's sigh only deepened.
[Believe me! You really do look good in black—]
"I got it."
Clomp.
That's when she noticed a group of people approaching.
Camilla interrupted Derrin, quickening her steps. Her hand still pressed firmly to her brow.
'It's underwater.'
Swoosh.
The people approaching seemed to stop walking for a moment when they saw her, but Camilla continued to quickly walk past them, deep in thought.
She was left with a headache and nothing in sight at the moment.
* * *
"Isn't that Miss Camilla?"
"I think so?"
The rest of the group chatted, a bit stunned, as Camilla left.
"What is she doing here?"
"I don't know."
"We're here because it's the anniversary of your mother's passing."
As they stared at Camilla's disappearing figure, their gazes simultaneously turned to one place. One person, standing silently, not joining the conversation.
"…"
Hair as red as the sun was the first noticeable feature. He looked a year or two older than Camilla.
"It's interesting though."
"Lady Sorpel walked by without even noticing you."
"Didn't you see it?"
"Of course. Miss Camilla would come running once she sees Pedro from a hundred meters away."
"I know."
The giggling of his friends drew Pedro's attention to Camilla, who was moving away from him.
Pedro Jévillon
The eldest son of the Jévillon family, the 3rd Dukedom of the Fabler Empire. The next in line to become the Duke of Jévillon.
"Every time she sees you. She chases you to death."
"That's what I'm saying."
His friends let out a small chuckle.
It was no secret that Camilla had a crush on Pedro and was chasing him around.
Wherever he went, she was there. Camilla was always hovering around Pedro.
"Speaking nonsense."
Pedro smirked and lightly chastised his friends.
"Don't say anything. Be polite to her."
"But it's true."
"Anyway, this guy has such a nice personality that it's a problem. Miss Camilla stole your stuff before."
"She didn't steal it; she picked up what I lost."
"I'm sure you lost it."
His friends simultaneously shook their heads in disbelief.
"By the way, don't you think Miss Camilla looks a little different today?"
"You think so, too? I was surprised just now."
"Did her face always look like that?"
"For some reason, I can't stop staring."
"Right."
Pedro clicked his tongue slightly as he listened to the conversation between his two friends.
"Enough of this nonsense, let's get going."
At Pedro's urging, the two of them hurried off. But Pedro's gaze, which was following his two friends, was drawn back to where it was before.
After a moment's glance at the spot where Camilla had been, now completely out of sight, Pedro walked away with his usual smirk.
Chapter. Divine Beast
"Uh… ugh…"
She's thirsty.
Is it because she's been thinking about water all day? Late at night, Camilla, who woke up, sat up with a grunt.
"Ah…"
It seems that she had a hard time sleeping as she was trying to figure out how to get the egg out of the water.
Then, after having fallen asleep a little while ago, she woke up again.
"Nothing."
There was no water in the kettle she had set out before bed.
The thoughts of the Divine Beast had made her anxious, which had her gulping down water, until it ran out.
"…"
After seeing the clock on the wall to one side, Camilla rose from her bed completely.
The clock struck three in the morning. It was too late to call Donna, the maid, to fetch water.
'It's just water. I can ladle it out myself.'
Camilla slowly left the room.
Nestled within the darkness, the duchy laid still. The silence was so profound that it had caused her ears to ring.
Clomp.
The sound of her footsteps echoed loudly. Camilla made her way to the kitchen, muffling her footsteps as best she could.
"Oh?"
A moment later, when she neared the kitchen, Camilla stopped in her tracks. The light was on in the dining room.
'Who could it be?'
Unable to contain her curiosity, Camilla turned to the kitchen and headed for the dining room.
She paused once more upon entering the dining room. Someone was eating a meal.
Who? A fox, that's who.
"Are you eating now?"
"…!"
Ravi hadn't shown up for dinner, claiming he had something to research.
As it turns out, he was eating alone at this late hour.
"Why are you here?"
At Camilla's sudden appearance, Ravi, too, who looked up sharply, was dumbfounded.
"To get a drink of water."
"You could've just had someone else do it."
"It's too late for that."
"…Then, what about me?"
Ravi grumbled softly, wondering what he was doing making dinner at this late hour.
"Just go get your water and drink it."
Ravi looked at Camilla for a moment, then went back to eating his food.
The food on the table was very bland, perhaps due to the late hour. It was salad, soup, and bread.
When Camilla saw Ravi eating, she turned around and left the dining room.
"Sigh…"
She needed to get some water and go back to bed, or else she'll be up all night.
Letting out a short yawn, her gaze shifted back to Ravi.
After watching him for a moment as he ate in silence, alone at the large table, Camilla turned and walked over to Ravi.
Swish.
She took a seat across from him and sat down.
"…?"
Ravi's eyes widened at Camilla's sudden action.
"What are you doing?"
"Watching."
"What?"
"I enjoy watching mukbangs."
"What bang?"
"Eat your meal."
Ravi was dumbfounded for a moment as he watched Camilla cup her chin in her hands on the table, as if she were really going to watch.
But then he shook his head lightly and began to bring the food to his mouth, ignoring her gaze. It seemed that he intended to eat quickly to go back to his lab.
'I heard that there are people who fall asleep while watching mukbang.'
Is it like some kind of white noise?
The room descended into silence, and the sound of food being eaten was sweet, like a lullaby.
"Hey, if you're sleepy, go to bed."
"I'm not sleepy, I'm not sleepy."
"Answer with your eyes open, will you?"
"My eyes are open, my eyes are open."
"They're not."
"…"
"Hey."
"…"
"…Are you sleeping?"
Ravi put down the fork he was holding as Camilla eventually fell asleep, using her arm as a pillow.
He stared wordlessly at the sleeping Camilla for a moment, then smiled weakly.
It was very strange.
A moment ago, it felt strange when she'd returned and sat down in front of him. It was as if something empty had been filled.
He's not sure what it is, but…
'I don't hate it.'
Not long ago, she was nothing more than a nuisance to him.
He felt a surge of irritation at Camilla's constant mishaps, each of which irritated the Duke.
Because of her, he was always anxious that he, who was born of the same blood, would fall out of favor with the Duke.
'By the way…'
What should he do now?
He didn't hate it.
To see her like this, having her at his side.
"Well…"
Seeing Camilla shivering from the cold, Ravi stood up from his seat. It was time to take her to her room.
Swoosh.
But then there were hands that gently picked her up before Ravi could.
"Brother?"
It was Ludville. Ravi's brow twitched as he watched him hold Camilla.
"Finish your meal."
"I can take her."
"That's okay."
"But…!"
Ludville walked out of the dining room. Ravi's frown became more distorted as he watched.
* * *
'What?'
When did she fall asleep?
Swoosh, waking up, Camilla slowly pulled herself up. She remembers encountering Ravi in the dining room last night.
"When did I come into my room?"
She couldn't remember. She must have really fallen asleep.
"Oh my gosh."
Did Ravi carry her all the way here?
'I must've been a nuisance.'
Camilla wiped her face with her hands. She thought about how much he would have cursed.
She was told to go to bed but she instead sat with him, and he gnashed his teeth wondering what she was doing.
"Phew."
She's sure he'll tell her something about it.
Camilla hurriedly prepared to leave, hoping to save herself from the upcoming nagging.
She didn't want to be late for breakfast and risk getting more of Ravi's ire.
As she looked in the mirror, Camilla paused. Suddenly, she remembered a dream she had last night.
"Now I'm having dreams about him."
It was definitely Ludville. Even in her dreams, she was held captive, unable to move. She tried to get away somehow but her body wouldn't budge.
'Don't kill me…'
'I want to live…'
'Please don't kill me…'
"Oh my god…"
She even begged in her dream. She thinks she may have cried, too.
'I won't kill you…'
She remembered laughing like a fool at that answer with tears in her eyes…
"What am I? A baby?"
Even though it was just a dream, she laughed so hard while crying at that age.
With a small click of her tongue, Camilla hurried out the door.