Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Think very carefully. Selina is just too young to know, so it’s understandable if she didn’t know, but if Selina tries to kick me out and take over the Countdom, Cedric, you will……”

“In any case, you must behave properly from now on.”

Cedric turned violently and left the parlour room after taking Camilla’s hand, which tickled his ear.

Camilla’s face creased as she saw Cedric’s red cape hem fluttering by the doorway.

Cedric Crawford was a man who never seemed to get out of her way.

Only married men and women were permitted to hold titles under Imperial law.

As a result, Cedric, who is single, was unable to receive the title of Count Crawford.

‘I need to marry that frozen wooden man before he meets another woman.’

But she couldn’t see any opportunities.

As the head of the Crawford family, she is still rubbing his buttocks, but if Cedric changes his mind and marries someone, she must leave the mansion.

‘If only I could have made that Commander of White Knights mine, these miserable concerns would have been alleviated.’

His son, on the other hand, was not to be trusted. He, unlike her, was a child with no greed or knowledge of power.

“Where is Shannon?”

Camilla yelled as she tied her hair, and the maids bowed their heads in fear.

“That brat really! Her mother has returned home, but what the hell is she doing?”

Shannon, who was grooming herself, came in just in time with a smile on her face.

“How was your hunt, Mother?”

Camilla frowned as she looked at Shannon.

“What’s the matter with your hair? It’s nearly identical to a broom.”

“Well, I didn’t have time to dress up because my uncle called me at the crack of dawn.”

“Did Cedric call for you? What’s the issue?

“In fact, Mother, it is…”

In the meantime, Shannon elaborated on what was going on with Selina.

“She’s completely changed. She opened her eyes wide and smiled like a yobu.”

(T/N: Yobu refers as temptress, femme fatale, or a wicked man who seduces men.)

Camilla gave a snort.

“Are you drunk?”

“You may not believe it, but it’s true, Mother. I genuinely think Selina is being possessed by ghosts.”

“Do you mean that the stutterer is suddenly speaking fluently and smiling at people?”

“Yes, it’s as if she’s a completely different person. Do you think she plans to displace us, Mother?”

“Forget it.”

Camilla shook her hand angrily. She’s already busy thinking about the future, and she’s not in the mood to listen to her daughter’s nonsense. More than that.

“… Why did you rip her dress? Didn’t you know Cedric was coming back? I’ve been telling you to watch your behavior when he’s around!”

“I didn’t do it, Mother!”

“If it isn’t you, it has to be one of your maids! Can’t you keep a check on things like that?”

“”I asked, but they all said no…”

“Stupid b*tch.”

Shannon remained silent in the face of Camila’s cold remarks.

“It is true, Madam, Lady Selina has changed as if she is a different person.”

Shannon was defended by Emma.

“Well, I mean, how she behaves, flattering Commander and even putting that lowly Penny in maid uniforms?”

“… Did Selina do that?”

“Everyone would question the Crawford family’s reputation if they knew the daughter of the house had a lowly farmer daughter as her maid.”

Emma shivered her shoulder, pretending to be concerned.

It must have upset her as the Baron’s daughter to be treated the same as a lowly farmer’s daughter.

“Madam, I’m afraid a rumor will spread. You know how light-mouth everyone is…”

It was both a threat and a strong piece of advice. As if she was saying, ‘Get Penny out of here or take off her maid’s uniform.’

Camilla’s eyes were gloomy as she looked at Emma.

“That’s correct, Mother. That is extremely embarrassing. If that happens, I won’t even be able to attend the banquet.”

She became enraged after hearing her ignorant daughter say such things.

Selina’s decision to leave the Countdom alone was obviously strange.

Selina, the cowardly and timid girl, would never leave the annex on her own, no matter how hard Camila pushed her.

‘But how come that timid girl went to the monastery on her own?’

Camilla crossed her legs and beckoned.

“Bring Penny over here.”

* * * * *

Terrified, Franz rushed me out of the quarantine room.

“Do not enter the quarantine room carelessly, Miss Selina. That man is a dang-dang-dangerous person.”

He begged me, but I ignored him.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, that’s…”

When I asked why he was looking for me, he said it was because he had a letter addressed to me.

“Miss Selina, there must be an urgent matter in the house.”

They would have sent someone if it was truly an emergency. The Countdom was not far from the Toono Match Venue.

“Did you come looking for me to tell me that? Simply because of that?”

When I asked, Franz’s face flushed once more.

“You’re too kind.”

When I smiled and thanked him, he coughed in vain and turned to the side.

“Is it because of the magical stone? Because that magical stone is in my possession, you’ve come here to keep an eye on…”

“Wha-what do you mean, keep an eye on you!? That is not the case, Miss Selina. Really!!! Besides, I’m already…”

“I’m kidding, we already have a strategic alliance. As a result, it’s natural for us to be interested in each other’s situations.”

“… I didn’t mean it that way.”

In any case, we made it to the top of the tower. Because all of the pigeons that delivered the letters were kept there.

“I had a question I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“You know, the semi-final match. Do you know anything about the four remaining Toonos?”

“Not every player that left is Toonos. One of them is a gladiator.”

“Aha.”

That is why one is not in prison.

Despite the fact that I was rushing back and forth in the quarantine room, I will never forget my mission to find Valhail.

“You’re not a high priest, are you? So, what brought you here…”

“Miss Selina stated that this was her first time in the mailroom, so I escorted her here. Then I’ll take my leave.”

Franz gave me a light bow and then walked away.

The person in charge of the letter quickly wiped his feathered hands and located my letter.

His hand trembled as he untied the paper.

“He-here you go, Miss Crawford.”

The unfamiliar name, which didn’t seem to belong to me at first, is now quite familiar.

“I appreciate it.”

“Oh, as the rumor goes…really…”

I kept my gaze fixed on the letter and turned to face myself as the letter officer mumbled something.

The sender’s name was not “the Count,” but rather “Eddie.”

Who is it?

The Crowfords were the only ones who knew I was here. That’s right.

Then I’m certain the sender is a Crowford family member.

‘Eddy, a member of the Count of Crawford?’

Is there a character like this in the original story? Looking back on my memories, I only recognized a similar person.

‘Perhaps…… Adrian?’

He was my stepmother’s son.

Adrian, Shannon’s twin, grew up with Selina at the Countdom only a few years ago.

“How dare you seduce my son?”

“Uh-uh, m-mother, uh-he-uh, no, uh-uh, r-read him a book, Eddie…Argh!”

“What, you’re a stutterer, can you even read well!? Ha! Someone like you!?”

Camilla, who could be a little self-conscious and self-controlled, explodes when Adrian gets involved. She’s a little more worked up than usual.

“Where did you learn to do dirty things and summon your little brother to the bedroom, like a whore?”

Adrian was the only child Camilla relied on and adored. Her depth of affection for Adrian was different from Shannon’s.

Selina was aware of this, so she avoided getting too close to him, but she couldn’t stop a child who considered herself to be his own sister from approaching her and asking her to read a book.

“Mother, oh Mother! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was wrong! Argh!”

The brutal beating didn’t stop once it began. And eventually, the harsh whipping quickly knocked Selina out.

Adrian adored Selina so much that he became more obedient to her than to his biological sister.

As a result, Camilla always beats Selina whenever she gets entangled with Adrian.

‘Adrian Berry.’

The surname “Berry” was given to children born in the west. Shannon’s full name, like Adrina’s, was Shannon Berry.

Camilla had no choice but to raise her son as an illegitimate child.

For Camila, Adrian was her biggest traitor.

‘That’s why Camilla despised Selina so much more.’

Perhaps she was afraid that his son would die while attempting to protect Selina.

In the original story, Adrian died in a tragic accident when Selina’s carriage was attacked while she was selling to the Grand Duke.

Camilla blamed Selina for her son’s death as a result.

‘Does Adrian have a reason to write me a letter?’

Curiosity got the better of me, and I quickly unsealed the seal and opened the letter.

The content was brief and to the point.

[I miss you. Forgive me.]

‘What exactly is this?’

I looked at the back and forth of the letter, but that was all there was to it.

I got a chill for no apparent reason, so I burned the letter right away.

I was able to escape the rooftop full of cages only after I double-checked that the paper was completely gone and the black ash was flying away.

I went down the tower, feeling uneasy, and clicked my tongue inside.

‘As one would expect, Camilla has a good hunch.’

Is it normal for a younger brother to write such a letter to his older sister?

Did he feel relieved when he realized I was still alive?

Even more so when we don’t share a single drop of blood?

‘So, why are you so beautiful that you’re causing all of this havoc?’

While admiring a slight reflection of my face with the silver candle, I remembered Adrian’s final line from the original story.

‘I’ve always loved you, sister.’

And the Grand Duke slain Adrian to death.

Because of this, Selina becomes even more shocked and disgusted by the Grand Duke.

That’s how the love-hate relationship, the main content of the 19-year-old novel <Bound of Salvation>, started.

‘I thought romance occurred only with the Grand Duke.’

I thought he was the only one I needed to avoid.

But, unexpectedly, receiving such a letter from Adrian made me feel uneasy.

‘If I get involved with him, I’ll be dead.’

I haven’t even met the original male protagonist.

Of course, I had no intention of getting along with him.

Although I was compelled to purchase the book because of the keywords ‘Regretful, Obsessed, Bad Guy,’ such a man is a no-no in reality.

And this is now my reality.

The genre is a waste on its own.

‘I shouldn’t even look him in the eyes.’

I couldn’t support a character who gave up his life for me.

There’s no way such a kid could ever be a normal kid.