"Oh, it's no big deal, I just went for a swim."
"You went for a swim?"
"Yes."
"In this season?"
"My body was very hot."
"…I'm going to turn the heat off in your room starting today."
"It gets cold at night."
"…"
Rube clicked his tongue slightly.
Camilla has been particularly cold since she was a child.
She's the one who won't let them turn off the stove day or night until early summer, and she's the one who's swimming this time of year?
"I was actually looking for something."
Under Rube's suspicious gaze, Camilla sighed softly and finally told him the truth. It wasn't like she had anything to hide.
"What were you looking for?"
"…!"
At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation. A voice that was both calm and weighty. It was Ludville.
He glanced at Camilla, wondering when she'd arrived.
"Uh…"
Camilla hesitated to answer.
Ludville may be a Sorpel, but it's still a Divine Beast's egg... The first person to know should be the Duke of Sorpel.
She hesitated for a moment, and Ludville, noticing, shook his head.
"Go in."
"Pardon?"
He points to the office.
"Aren't you here to see Father?"
"Yes, but…"
Camilla glanced toward the door to the office.
'Should I come back another time?'
She didn't think it's a good idea to deliver the Divine Beast's egg in the presence of another person, especially an outsider, Duke Jévillon.
"I'll just come back another time."
"No, M'Lady. If you don't mind, please go in. The Duke of Jévillon wished to see you anyway."
"Me?"
Turning to leave, Camilla cocked her head at Butler Rube's words. Why does he suddenly want to see her when he never even pretends to?
Knock, knock.
Rube knocked lightly on the door first and stepped inside. Camilla and Ludville followed quietly behind him.
[Finally, you're here!]
"…"
The first person to greet Camilla upon entering the office was neither the Duke of Sorpel nor the Duke of Jévillon, but the red eagle, Jetty.
No one batted an eye at Jetty as he flew off, as if he hadn't been summoned yet.
[Hmm?]
Jetty, flying toward her, paused.
[Ho-ho.]
The red eagle's eyes traveled to Camilla's waist, immediately recognizing the small egg in her pouch.
"You're home."
"Yes, Father."
"I see you're here again."
"Hello."
Camilla was even more baffled by the Duke of Jévillon's pretense of acquaintance. What's wrong with him?
Wooooo—!
As if it found its match, a bright light emanated from the gem embedded in the pendant and pointed to a spot.
"Why is it….!"
Their faces turned to follow the light, and their eyes widened in consternation.
Because where the light was directed was where Camilla was standing.
"…"
When Camilla first sees the pendant that awakens Divine Beast's egg, she's a bit confused.
She knew that the egg of the Divine Beast reacted when it was nearby, but she wasn't expecting it to emit such a bright light.
Seeing the look of wonder and disbelief in their eyes, Camilla pulled out the Divine Beast's egg from her pocket and set it down on the table.
Woooo— Woooooo—!
Following the pendant, the egg emitted a similar sound with a slight vibration.
[Finally…!]
Herschel was staring at the glowing Divine Beast's egg with an emotional expression on his face.
He wasn't the only one.
"Ca-Camilla, is this…!"
She never thought she'd see the Duke of Sorpel look like that.
"Yes, it's the Divine Beast's egg."
Her answer was met with a burst of hoots and hollers from all sides.
He couldn't believe it, but that's really the Divine Beast's egg!
With trembling fingers, the Duke of Sorpel lifted his pendant toward the Divine Beast's egg.
Everyone in the room held their breath and watched in suspense.
Woooooo!
As the pendant approached, the echo emanating from the egg grew stronger.
And soon—
Whoooosh!
The bright light quickly filled the room, and they squinted against the glare.
As they felt the light fade, their eyes slowly opened.
Suddenly, something came into their view that hadn't been there a moment before.
"That's…"
The White Tiger.
The symbol of the Sorpel family.
Enemies are deafened by the white tiger's cries, and his every step stains the ground red with blood.
Whooosh!
…One step and the world around you is stained red with blood…
"…"
"…"
A tiny creature sits up in its seat and begins to paw at its front feet.
"…A kitten?"
A white kitten — a kitten no bigger than the palm of an adult's hand — where the Divine Beast's egg had been.
"I thought it was a White Tiger?"
The Duke of Jévillon muttered in dismay.
Everyone in the room stared at the newcomer for a moment, speechless.
Whether alive or dead, Herschel was the first to speak.
[Finally, you're awake!]
He looked at the white cat with very emotional eyes.
'Is that really the Divine Beast?'
Camilla looked at Hershel with suspicion. She went through all that trouble just for a white cat?
[It's just because he hasn't been awake for so long; he's a tiny little thing, but don't worry, he'll get there.]
Seeing the look on Camilla's face, Herschel explained briefly.
'That's a relief then.'
Camilla looked at the white kitten again— no, the Divine Beast.
At that moment, the Divine Beast, who had been toddling, peeked his head out.
After glancing back and forth between the Duke of Sorpel and Camilla, who was holding the pendant, the Divine Beast walked quickly to the one place.
To Camilla.
"Huh?"
Lick.
"Ah—!"
Camilla cringed as she watched him lean up and lick her hand, which was near the table.
'Hey, go away.'
Camilla pulled her hand back a little, not quite able to shove the tiny creature away.
But the Divine Beast kept chasing after Camilla's hand.
"O— Oh!"
Camilla hastily wrapped her hand around the Divine Beast, which was about to fall off the table. Then she quickly placed it down in front of Duke Sorpel.
[Kkyuu?]
But after a brief glance at the Duke of Sorpel and the others, the Divine Beast stalked back toward Camilla.
"…"
'I told you not to come to me.'
Camilla frowned at the sight of the Divine Beast walking toward her, toddling.
[He likes you, too.]
The Divine Beast, Jetty, a red eagle who had been watching the whole thing, said, amused.
'It's not that simple!'
The Divine Beast symbolizes the family. It's something that others can't have.
Camilla looked at the Duke of Sorpel with a hardened expression.
'What?'
But despite her worries, the Duke of Sorpel was smiling. His eyes were filled with affection as he gazed at the newcomer hovering around Camilla.
[Of course. I think it's a good thing, too.]
Unlike Camilla, who was puzzled, Herschel nodded in agreement, as if he fully understood how the Duke of Sorpel felt.
It had been well over a hundred years, and no one knew better than Herschel himself how much humiliation he endured by being called the Guardian House without a Divine Beast.
The Sorpel dukedom had finally gotten their hands on the Divine Beast!
[How can you not be pleased?]
'Is that so?'
Is it enough to just be happy that they've found the Divine Beast?
'Haa.'
Camilla breathed a long sigh of relief at Hershel's words and the look on Duke Sorpel's face.
Is it because she's relaxed? She felt like her legs were giving out—
"Camilla!"
It wasn't a feeling. She was actually falling.
Camilla finally snapped out of it for the second time today, seeing Ludville rushing to her and the Duke of Sorpel looking bewildered.
Chapter. Receive Compensation
"Miss, it's medicine! You have to take it!"
Keep your voice down. My head's ringing, Dorman.
[If I were alive, I'd make you a nutritious meal…]
You have my heart, Ferrol.
"Why isn't she waking up? Call another healer!"
Father, don't call a healer. It's just a cold.
[Child, wake up. I have something for you.]
Oh, I don't know what it is, but it's a promise, Herschel.
[Lady Camilla…]
Don't cry, Derrin.
Swoosh.
Oh, it's cool. This cold hand… is that Brother Ludville?
"Hey, I fixed your bracelet, so get up. Or I'll break it again."
Ravi, you bastard. Are you really going to do that to your sick sister?
She remembered a white kitten popping out of the Divine Beast's egg, but she's not sure what happened after that.
Perhaps she was not in as good a condition as she thought, having been wet for so long. She felt a little dizzy and collapsed in the Duke's office.
In the midst of her public illness, she heard many voices.
She wondered how many days she spent in bed like that, listening to ghosts and people talk.
"…"
It was the middle of the night when she woke up again.
Looking around the darkened room, Camilla didn't move for a while.
Her whole body felt so heavy, like a soaked cotton ball.
"Huh?"
Then Camilla turned her head slightly and saw a ball of pure white fur curled up on her bedside table, sleeping.
A white tiger — no, a white tiger cub — makes its presence felt in the darkness with a subtle glow.
…Why is he here?