Jude and his companions' complexions turned blue under Ludville's gaze.
Being of noble birth, they were familiar with Ludville. The youngest man to become a swordmaster after the Duke of Sorpel.
Such a man was now looking at them with a cold glare.
"Is it because of them?"
Ludville's gaze shifted back to Camilla. Camilla's mouth dropped open for a moment when his blue eyes stared back at her.
She's not sure why he was suddenly bringing back yesterday's matter, but for the time being…
"Yes."
She nodded.
At Camilla's reply, Ludville's cold gaze turned to Jude and his companions.
The sight of Ludville slowly approaching them couldn't have looked more reassuring.
Camilla gave them a look of accusation as she watched them stepping back just as quickly as she had earlier.
'What on earth were you guys planning?'
What if Ludville hadn't shown up? No, what if she hadn't stopped Jude before?
What happened to the woman he was trying to drag away?
Camilla let out a short sigh, then turned her gaze to the woman.
"Thank you."
The woman was lying on the ground, crawling. Perhaps she wanted to reach out and help in some way.
"Are you hurt anywhere? I'm really sorry. Because of me…"
As she walked toward her, Camilla suddenly stopped. Now that she could see her face properly, Camilla was speechless.
What kind of meeting is this?
"Thank you so much for your help. Are you sure you're not hurt?"
Camilla couldn't take her eyes off of her as she mouthed a string of thank-yous and words of concern.
Golden hair with a very fine texture and purple eyes. A beautiful appearance that couldn't even be hidden among plain clothes.
"My name is Laila."
It's a name she knew all too well.
Laila Hestom. The true protagonist of this story.
A woman who captures not only Ravi's but also other men's attention as well.
She was right there in front of her now, smiling sweetly.
Side Story. Another Story.
"Say hello, Ludville."
He was twelve years old, and seven years after his mother's death, he had a new family.
"This is Ludville."
The stepmother was very nice. He heard that his father ran into her while looking for the Divine Beast.
She took extreme care of his father, who had collapsed from a high fever, and married him.
"What are you doing? You should say hello, too."
He noticed two children standing behind his stepmother.
A boy who looked a year or two younger than him stepped forward first and greeted him politely.
"I'm Ravi. Take care of me in the future, Brother."
"Yes."
He simply nodded in response. Then, naturally, his gaze drifted to the other kid.
Looking at the girl closely who was still standing behind his stepmother, she looked very young.
"Camilla, what are you doing?"
His stepmother's voice, which had been so warm and welcoming, now sounded very cold.
The child flinched at the sound of her voice, but then hesitantly stepped forward.
"I'm… Camilla."
She said her name in a very low voice and lowered her head.
A short sigh escaped his stepmother's mouth at the sight.
"I'm sorry. Camilla is still young…"
The stepmother was strange. Why does she do that, knowing that her daughter is still young? Is that how a mother should act?
He didn't understand why the stepmother was giving little Camilla a disapproving glance. He believed that would make her feel even more intimidated.
"I'm… I'm sorry…"
As expected, the child's head drooped even more, and he was at a loss for words.
A long sigh escaped the stepmother's mouth again as she looked at the child.
Flinch!
She gently raised her head and made eye contact with him, visibly flinched, and then shut her eyes tightly.
Seeing that, he stopped paying attention to her.
* * *
His stepmother died.
A year was a long time yet it seemed so short.
Perhaps it was because he never cared for her? But he didn't feel particularly sad about his stepmother's death.
It was just the realization that someone had died that made me feel bad.
'Is there something wrong with me?'
He didn't know. He thinks he's always been numb to what's going on around him since he was a kid.
Sadness, joy… he never really felt such things.
However, his father was very saddened by the death of his stepmother. For a long time, he stayed in his office and only drank alcohol.
By the end of the week, his father had left the office and once again accepted the stepmother's children as his own.
He silenced the vassals who were forming an opinion that the two children should be removed from the family.
"Eat a lot, everyone."
The first meal they had after his stepmother passed away.
"Yes…"
A year has passed, but Camilla still couldn't look them in the eye. Her gaze—
"…!"
She is as frightened as she was before.
So he avoided eye contact as much as possible.
Rattle.
Of course, there are times, like now, when they unintentionally make eye contact.
He glances over to see Camilla picking something off to one side of her salad plate.
'Apple?'
It was a small piece of apple that was mixed into the salad.
Camilla pushed the apple slices to one side, carefully picking other things. Sneaking a peek at his father's face, Camilla only ate certain things.
"…"
"…"
And then their eyes met.
The child flinched as usual, her eyes shaking as if she'd just been caught doing something terribly wrong.
Ffppt.
Camilla hastily picked up a slice of apple she pushed aside and popped it into her mouth with a fork. She gulped it down with water without chewing it properly.
'You don't like apples.'
He'd witness Camilla react similarly a few times after that. When a dessert with apples as its main ingredient is served, she'd gnaw on it.
'If you don't like it, just say so.'
Why does she not say anything?
He didn't quite understand.
If she doesn't like apples, she could've asked for a different dessert. So why doesn't she say anything? Why is she forcing herself to eat it?
He was curious, but he didn't ask. No, he couldn't ask.
There was only one thing he could do as he watched her stiffen up every time he got too close.
Indifferent.
* * *
"Why did you do that?"
"…"
"Camilla!"
"…I'm sorry."
"Sigh."
A long sigh escaped his lips. Camilla had damaged the rose garden out of the blue.
The rose garden can just be reorganized, but he couldn't figure out why he suddenly acted like that. When his father asked, Camilla remained tight-lipped.
"Go back."
"Yes…"
With her head bowed, Camilla quickly left the office at his father's command.
He followed her silently.
'Shouldn't you be getting treatment?'
He could see that Camilla's hand was scratched by the rose thorns.
'Will you hate it?'
He thought about it for a moment.
If he approached her and offered to help, would she become uncomfortable? Should he just pretend not to notice?
"Sigh…"
A long sigh escaped Camilla's lips.
"I don't know what to do…"
She muttered to herself in a low voice, unaware that he had followed her.
"She… She looked so proud there…"
What girl?
Who was she talking about? Moreover, where is this?
He stared at her wordlessly for a moment, then finally took a step toward her. The scars on her hands bothered him.
"…!"
Camilla spotted me and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Your hand…"
When he looked at her hand, she quickly hid it behind.
"I'm- I'm sorry…"
What is she apologizing for?
She bows her head with an unexpected apology and scurries away.
That was the last time he saw her. The next day, as scheduled, he had to leave the duchy to quell a rebellion.
* * *
The day after the party, he stayed at the party until late at night, but woke up early in the morning. After leaving the tranquil building, he went for a walk for the first time in a long time.
And… he stumbled across Camilla.
He followed her silently as she headed for the gypsophila garden. Surely she'd run away again the moment he spoke to her?
He never got bored watching her expressions change every moment, wondering what she was thinking as she plucked flowers.
"…!"
Then she stumbled on the muddy ground. He walked straight toward her, reaching out for her.
Clop.
"Ha!"
As if she didn't need anyone's help, Camilla effortlessly corrected her posture, placing her hands on her hips and smiling proudly.
He stared at her blankly.
"…"
"…"
For a moment, her eyes locked with his. Then he lowered his outstretched hand slowly.
With a look of panic on his face, he quickly turned around. He figured he'd better get out there before Camilla ran away.
"Elder brother."
But then she called him.
It's been less than half a year. He hasn't seen Camilla in that time.
And then he saw her again.
"It's a welcome gift."
Something had changed.
Elder brother.
It was the first time Camilla called him that.
'I…'
'I'm…'
Whatever happened, she had changed.
She called him Elder Brother, and no longer cowered before his blunt father.
"Hey, are you sleeping?"
Although they were biological siblings, they used to be strained, but it seemed that her relationship with Ravi had changed a lot.
Late at night, sitting across from each other in the dining room, the two of them seemed to have it all figured out.
'It's weird.'
When he stumbled upon them, he impulsively stepped in between them.
He picked up Camilla, who had fallen asleep, before Ravi could. Ignoring Ravi's offer to take her to her bedroom, he picked her up and left the dining room.
"Ugh…"
However, Camilla, who had been wriggling in his arms, started crying. Why did she start crying all of a sudden?
"Don't kill me…"
What?
"I want to live…"
What is she talking about?
"Please don't kill me…"
He looked at Camilla, who was crying, and he couldn't help himself.
"I won't kill you."
He wondered if she heard him. A bright smile spread across Camilla's face.
He watched her for a moment, as if nothing had happened, then resumed walking.
She seemed to be sound asleep as she didn't wake up easily when he laid her down on the bed.
Tap tap.
After tucking her in, he quietly left the room. Then, he glanced back at her one last time.
"…Good night."
Those were the first words to his sister.