"It's been a while, Ludville. Good to hear of your victory."
The Duke of Jévillon patted Ludville on the shoulder with a smile.
Ludville bowed politely without speaking.
"I bet you're full even if you don't eat since your son grew up well."
"Stop talking nonsense and go inside."
The Duke of Sorpel smirked, as if it wasn't bad enough to hear him praise his son despite the bruises.
"That's right."
The Duke of Jévillon nodded and started to move. Then his gaze flickered to Camilla and Ravi.
"…"
Even as he watched Camilla and Ravi bowing politely, he didn't say much. He simply nodded his head in acknowledgment.
'It's the same.'
Camilla caught the look in his eyes with a stern expression.
The Duke of Jévillon values blood and family more than any other aristocrat.
Which means…
'He thinks we're not worth the effort.'
Ravi and Camilla, who did not share a single drop of the Duke of Sorpel's blood, were not the children of his friend to him, but merely wards under his protection.
'Guardianship is good enough.'
'I have already made up my mind: Ravi and Camilla are my children, and they will share Sorpel's glory with me.'
'You're going to regret it.'
'This is a waste of time.'
It was a conversation that Camilla overheard as she stumbled through the gardens shortly after the Duchess's funeral.
Perhaps due to the circumstances, the two individuals who would have immediately noticed Camilla's presence proceeded past the bushes that were concealing her body.
She vividly remembers sitting there and watching them enter the mansion.
At first, she thought that Duke Jévillon was worried over nothing. But now…
'You're a prophet, alright.'
He was right.
In the end, Ravi and Camilla tried to kill Ludville, the Duke of Sorpel's biological son.
Anyway, the Duke of Sorpel's decision allowed the siblings to continue to be called Lord and Lady, but it didn't change the way people perceived them.
It was also the same for the Duke of Jévillon.
At least Ravi was recognized as a wizard now, so he could at least get a glance, but not Camilla.
There was disapproval in the Duke of Jévillon's eyes as he looked at her.
He was even less pleased with Camilla after she started showing interest in Pedro.
How dare she look at his son.
'Yes, yes. I have specifications now.'
Don't worry, I don't want your son anymore.
Camilla's face didn't harden when she met the Duke of Jévillon's disapproving glare. Rather, she smiled.
"…"
The Duke of Jévillon's brow twitched briefly at the sight, but he gave the girl no further attention. He didn't find her worthy of his attention.
He was immediately ushered inside by the Duke of Sorpel.
As Camilla watched the scene unfold, someone came to her side.
"Long time no see, Lady Camilla."
A handsome man with fiery red hair spoke with a gentle smile.
Pedro Jévillon.
'I can see why she fell for him.'
A smile that's too kind and eyes that are too friendly.
Goodwill that Camilla had never received in her life.
'I wouldn't have been able to tell if it's real or not.'
It's why she latched onto Pedro.
To Camilla, coupled with his handsome looks, he must have looked like a prince on a white horse.
You never would have guessed that the prince was the kind of guy who would be nice to every woman in the world.
'Ugh, my least favorite type.'
There were a lot of those in the entertainment industry.
He's very aware of how women misinterpret his kindness, and he actually enjoys it.
If she confesses first, he'll look embarrassed and quickly back out, saying he didn't mean it that way.
He thanks her for liking him and leaves room for the possibility that he would have dated her if the agency hadn't imposed a no-date policy.
'Come on!'
That's exactly the type of guy he is.
Whether it's a persimmon you can eat or not, you have to stab it to relieve your instinct.
"Is this the first time we met since the party?"
"That's right."
"I'm sorry about that. I should have helped you, but I wasn't there…"
'Look at this guy…'
She knew he was purposely avoiding it.
The moment the fight escalated, he snuck out of the party as if he couldn't be bothered, so what's up?
"I see."
She was surprised, but not angry.
It's not every day that he does that. Anger should be reserved for those who deserve it.
Camilla smiled brightly. Pedro's eyes curved up at the smile.
'Damn.'
He's really handsome. That's why all the girls fall for him.
"I've heard that the gardens at the Sorpel residence are very beautiful. I would love to experience its beauty, too."
"Yes, it's very beautiful."
Camilla smiled wryly once more.
The original owner of this body would have escorted him directly to the garden.
"Rube."
But I'm not her.
Camilla called for the butler, Rube, who was standing to one side.
"Yes, Miss."
"Lord Jévillon here wants to see the garden. Please show him around."
"I understand."
Pedro's eyes narrowed as he watched Rube move toward him.
"Well, have a good time looking around then."
Camilla gave him a light wave and quickly walked away.
"…"
She's just going to leave him behind?
Pedro was stunned and didn't speak for a while.
"Ha…"
He turned his head in the direction of the sound, and Ravi quickly averted his gaze. Then he walked on as if nothing had happened.
Ludville looked at Pedro wordlessly for a moment, then silently followed Ravi.
"Shall we go then? The garden is this way."
"…"
Pedro's face fell again as he heard the voice of the butler, Rube.
"Ha."
After a moment, a small chuckle escaped his lips.
* * *
"Looks like you didn't get anywhere this time."
Duke Jévillon spoke mockingly, but Duke Sorpel pretended not to hear him.
It wasn't the first time he had made fun of him for still looking for the Divine Beast.
He's still doing it. He's not even outwardly sorry, but he's upsetting him outright.
"Why are you here?"
"I told you, I have business to discuss."
"Then stop talking nonsense and start talking about business."
At that, the Duke of Jévillon shrugged once and cut to the chase.
"The strange mineral that came out of the mine you own this time."
"What about it?"
"I want our Juta Company to handle the investigation."
"Why?"
When Duke Sorpel eyed him suspiciously, Duke Jévillon chuckled and spoke in a low voice.
"I heard you haven't figured out what to use it for yet."
"So what?"
"We'll help you. And instead, we want you to sell those minerals through the Juta Company—"
"I don't want to."
"What? Why not? We have a bigger distribution network for minerals than you do."
"But I don't want to leave it up to you."
It was strange, but the reason was obvious. Duke Jévillon, who found a case, nudged him with a laugh.
"Little bastard. You're pouting again."
"Who's pouting?"
"You're upset, aren't you?"
"So noisy!"
The way they talked to each other showed that they were longtime friends, and they were very comfortable with each other.
There was none of the usual stern, edgy demeanor, just a bunch of young people bickering amongst themselves.
Knock, knock.
Just then, the door opened with a flourish and a person stepped inside.
"Father."
A pleasant voice echoed through the room.
"I've brought refreshments."
Camilla personally brought tea and a light snack and set it down on the table.
"It's my first time seeing this tea."
"I heard you've been having trouble sleeping at night lately, so I've prepared a tea to help you sleep."
Regardless of the times, parents are most proud when their children take care of them.
'And in front of other people, too.'
Camilla smiled as she poured tea into a teacup.
"I'll get you another drink before you go to bed."
"Alright."
The Duke of Sorpel also smiled when he heard Camilla's words.
His smile widens as she reveals that she's been sneaking around and gathering information, asking the employees because he seemed very tired. He looked very proud.
'I'm not lying.'
The butler ghost, Derrin, informed her of this but she asked a few of the employees to deceive the eyes.
Derrin wasn't the only one worried about the Duke not being able to sleep at night lately, and he pointed her to this tea.
"You sit down, too. Let's drink together."
"Can I? Won't I be a bother…?"
"What are you talking about?"
The Duke of Sorpel offered Camilla a seat without asking for the Duke of Jévillon's opinion.
Camilla bowed her head slightly toward the Duke of Jévillon, as if to ask for his understanding, and then sat down.
The Duke of Jévillon, who had been watching the scene in silence, glanced at the two of them, a bit surprised.
'Looks like they're getting along pretty well, huh?'
Not too long ago, he was troubled by Camilla's very existence.
Every time, he'd say 'You should have listened to me!' He resisted the urge to poke fun at him, but now that he looks back on it, they seem to have gotten along pretty well.
Did something happen while he was gone?
"Have a taste."
Camilla offered him tea, too.
'It's not going to taste bad.'
At her words, Duke Jévillon picked up his tea and took a sip.
"…It's good."
Duke Jévillon nodded lightly. A slight hint of contrition crossed his face.
Unexpectedly, the tea tasted very good. It was perfect for his palate, which is quite sensitive to tea.
Camilla notices this and inwardly beams with pride.
'Of course.'
She didn't boil it.
She received help from the butler ghost, Derrin.
She didn't know if it was because of his position as a butler, but Darren's knowledge of teas was vast. Needless to say, his ability to brew tea goes without saying.
Camilla quietly gazed at Duke Jévillon, who was constantly sipping his tea.
To be more precise, her attention was drawn to a being sitting on his shoulder.
'Red Eagle.'
A bird with a flame-red hue from head to toe, perched on the shoulder of the Duke of Jévillon.
'Is that the Divine Beast?'
She was well aware that the red eagle was a symbol of the Jévillon family.
Camilla realized that the bird in front of her was what people called the Divine Beast.
But was she the only one who could see it?
Camilla stole a glance at the Duke of Sorpel. His face looked very relaxed as he sipped his tea in silence.
He didn't seem to care about the Divine Beast who was hovering by Duke Jévillon's side.
Does it make sense to have such a large, colorful bird in front of you and not pay attention to it?