Chapter 48: Volume 5 - CH 2

Slice, slice, slice.

My hand was powerless as it cut the tender meat into little pieces.

Despite the fact that the lamb ribs, which were roasted in the oven with a lot of herbs, were delicate and fragrant, I had no appetite.

‘Do I have to see her face when I’m eating?’

At the dinner which I thought would be only between me and Cedric, Camilla also present.

Not only that, but she sat right across from me. Cedric seems to have arranged the dinner in order to reconcile me and Camilla.

What a beautiful idea.

Bringing the victim and the perpetrator together?

‘Does he really have no brain, huh?’

Cedric, who had no idea how I felt, spoke to me.

“He went to the temple already, Selina.”

Camilla’s hand that was moving the knife suddenly came to a halt.

For a brief minute, I wondered what the topic of the conversation was that elicited Camilla’s reaction, but I soon realized.

“Va…… Valhail?”

Camilla squinted her eyes exactly what I expected when I spoke his name on purpose.

Camilla couldn’t hide her anxious face when Valhail’s name was brought up in conversation.

‘It seems that she really wants him.’

She seemed to be worried since she couldn’t bring him to her side quickly.

‘I don’t think she’ll be able to handle this topic well.’

I opened my lips, seeming to be surprised, while I intently observed her expression.

“H-how can he a-already……”

“It’s all thanks to you, Selina.”

Cedric looked genuinely relieved as if he had shaken off all his troubles.

“It’s all because of your relentless persuasion on his part.”

This was a complete surprise to me.

‘He went to the temple after only a day?’

He was a proud man who detested the temple.

But after hearing me say it last night, he went right to the temple this morning.

‘To be honest, I felt I should try to persuade him a few more times.’

I had no idea he’d move that fast.

‘I guess that’s why this uncle has been joyful since before.’

Because he no longer had to worry about the temple and might be able to convince him to join the White Eagle Knights.

However, I was concerned about Valhail.

How did he seek forgiveness from that fanatical group, the holy knights?

‘Maximus…… at the time, his eyes were like a lunatic.’

Even in my dream, his piercing red eyes staring at me were terrifying.

I didn’t think that man would be so easy to handle……

“Tha-that’s great.”

“Yes. With such a talent, the level of the knights also will grow.”

Camilla entered the conversation with a smile because it was just me and Cedric talking.

“Why do you usually chat about such mundane things while eating? Nobody really interested in that lowly Toono.”

I snorted inwardly.

‘I know you’re the one who’s most interested in him.’

“My child, Selina. How’s your body? Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, m-m-mother…… Tha-tha-thank you f-f-for your c-c-concern.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your lovely lips have yet to heal. This mother has expelled the servants that abused you, Selina.”

Camilla spewed a bold untruth while smiling sweetly.

‘You expelled them?’

Adrian was the one who kicked them out.

I opened my mouth and glanced at Cedric.

“A-A-Adrian was simply too much. H-how could he chase t-those maids out of the estate……”

Camilla’s brow furrowed as I mentioned Adrian’s name deliberately.

Her hand trembled as she held the fork.

‘You really want to stab me with that fork, don’t you?’

However, she quickly recovered her expression.

“Come to me if your wound is still hurting. I’ll give you some medication.”

“Y-y-yes.”

Cedric glanced at me with a curious expression on his face as I continued to stutter. Nonetheless, he remained silent.

Camilla, who was silently slicing the innocent meat, caught my attention.

She appeared to be intent on killing me.

Camilla had regained her composure by the time the dessert arrived and talked to me.

“Selina, every time I see your face, it breaks my heart. Those maids were a bit much.”

She appeared to be trying to blame everything on the maids.

“They had to be envious of you. They were the ones who informed me you were going to meet a man every night. They had me fooled.”

I ate the cream in silence.

“How do you look so beautiful while you eat, my daughter? Don’t you agree, Cedric?”

Camilla’s meaningless sweet talk made Cedric smile.

“There’s an artist who has recently become a hot topic in society.”

In the hushed dining hall, just Camilla’s voice could be heard.

“I heard that many beautiful young ladies are lining up to get their portraits taken by the artist.”

I heard that there was an invitation to go to an outdoor drawing party from some viscount.

I guessed she was eager to go but couldn’t.

Perhaps that’s the reason why she joined this dinner.

“How about we call the artist and have him paint a portrait of Selina, Cedric?”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea. But Selina’s face has yet to heal……”

“But she still perfectly enough. What are your thoughts, Selina? I won’t call him if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“I-I-I, too…… t-t-think that’s n-n-not bad.”

카밀라는 흡족해하는 얼굴로 옆에 있는 집사를 돌아보았다. Camilla turned her attention to the butler who stood next to her, satisfied.

“Send that artist an invitation, Ruben. Also, send invites to other well-known artists these days.”

“Yes. madam.”

“Send invitations to other ladies as well.”

“Yes, madam.”

I gazed at Ruben, who lowered his head in devotion.

“Countess, are you planning a banquet?”

“Selina’s birthday is approaching. We should get to know her before her formal social debut. She also has to make some new friends.”

“Our situation is now…… didn’t you mention it was a bad time for that?”

Cedric lowered his voice, perplexed.

“The agricultural income would be finalized next month. With such a condition, how are you going to conduct a banquet?”

“So you want Selina to be a loner with no social adaptations or friends?”

Cedric, who had coughed in vain, grimaced and glanced at me with embarrassment.

“When did I ever say that?”

“You don’t know anything, Cedric!”

Camilla stormed out of the dining room, upset.

Her glare at Cedric before she went was fairly intense.

“Sigh.”

Cedric, who was rubbing his forehead, turned his eyes to the butler.

“What exactly are you doing here? Shouldn’t you leave as well?”

“……”

“You’ve known the Countess since you were a child. Simply support her to the best of your ability.”

“Certainly, Lord Crawford.”

The butler, acting on Cedric’s orders, pursued Camilla as if he had no option.

“Madam! Madam!”

This seemed to be a recurring scenario for Camilla, Butler, and Cedric.

It’s worth knowing.

I felt like I was seeing a play directed by Camilla.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

“What is this, Selina?”

After dinner, Cedric and I headed directly to the study.

Cedric inquired uneasily when he saw me giving him a little bottle of drug.

“Is this another poison? Did you find it again in the Countess’ bedroom?”

“That’s not the case, uncle.” “What are you……”

Cedric was astonished when he witnessed me talk smoothly and without stuttering.

“It’s an antidote.”

Despite pointing his finger to the little bottle, Cedric’s gaze was fixed on me.

“Do you truly stutter whenever the countess is around, Selina?”

“Indeed, uncle.”

I broke into tears unexpectedly.

“I’m afraid of my mother……”

Cedric leapt up from his seat and began searching his inner pocket while I sobbed.

“Please don’t cry. Please, Selina……”

“Mother… ugh, my mother is such a terrifying person, sob…… uncle, sob, you have no idea, sob, how awful she is, sob.”

“Countess Selina has promised me that she will never punish you again.”

Cedric apparently thought I was scared of Camilly because of the recent punishment.

“She will no longer hit you, Selina.”

I wiped my tears away with a handkerchief he had given me.

“It was in Emma’s suicide note. That mother will try to kill you, uncle.”

“What?”

Cedric’s expression was astounded as if he hadn’t anticipated it.

“It was written, uncle, that mother will kill you with a poisonous weed she picks from the garden.”

Cedric then turned back and looked out the dark window.

The garden was managed by Camilla.

Cedric didn’t have time to stroll around the flower garden, therefore he had no idea what plants were put there.

Cedric was out of his mind, so I gently held his hand to distract him.

“It’s fine if you don’t believe me, uncle.”

With tears in my eyes, I said.

“Because you always believe in my mother, uncle. That’s why you haven’t the slightest doubt about her.”

Cedric’s lips began to shake as if he just realized what was going on.

“Just make one promise to me, uncle.”

Every single person in this mansion was Camilla’s people.

I had no idea how or when Camilla would poison Cedric.

It could be the meal he eats or the water he drinks.

“If you suddenly feel nauseous or have a splitting headache, please… please take this drug immediately.”

“……”

“I learned that the poison mother will use will take effect in five minutes.” No matter how healthy you are, you will definitely die.”

Cedric then turned his sorrowful gaze to the tiny bottle I had handed him.

“This is the only cure.”

He might be able to live if he takes the antidote instantly.

I mentioned that there could be side effects from the antidote’s ability to counteract the poison, but that it was acceptable because a horrible death might be prevented.

“You are the only family I have left, uncle. So please don’t die.”

Cedric eventually took the small bottle as I said that, tears streaming down my cheeks

As Cedric left the study, I looked in the mirror to wiped away the tears and gaze at his back..

‘Pathetic. He was held like a puppet in Camilla’s hands.’

That was the role Cedric had all this time.

A stupid puppet who moved his limbs without realizing that he was on stage directed by Camilla.

I decided to take that rope from Camilla.