~Chapter 10~
A beautiful boy stood before her—dressed in garments of rare, exquisite fabric, his presence entirely unfamiliar within the mansion’s walls.
Who is he?
Was there ever such a character in the Mowin estate?
“Do the servants of this house often raise their hands against the young lady they serve?”
“What did you say?!”
Ares snapped, but Camilla could hardly pay him any attention. A memory surfaced—something the Baron had said only a few days earlier at dinner.
“An important guest will soon visit the estate for business.”
Don’t tell me… this boy is that guest?
“Let go of me!”
Ares lunged at the boy who still held his wrist, but—
“Enough, Ares! What are you doing?!”
The Baron’s thunderous voice stopped him cold. The man stood pale with anger barely restrained, an expression Camilla had never seen on him before. Ares faltered, stunned, as another man appeared beside the Baron—a tall, broad-shouldered noble with commanding presence.
His golden hair and finely trimmed beard matched the boy’s perfectly. One glance, and Camilla knew they were kin.
Who are they…?
“Dane, release him.”
Dane?
Camilla’s eyes widened. Her heart pounded in disbelief.
The young heir she was meant to meet for the first time at the future ball—Dane Escalus, son of the Duke of Escalus—stood before her now.
Her future ally, her one potential key to survival and power.
Impossible. Dane Escalus is supposed to appear only after the ball… why is he here already?
At his father’s command, Dane let go of Ares’s wrist, then turned his head slightly.
“The Mowin estate seems to keep rather ill-bred dogs.”
Ares’s face flushed crimson, but even he knew better than to speak before the Duke. The Baron bowed deeply.
“My deepest apologies, Your Grace.”
“Think nothing of it. Boys grow by clashing. Well, Dane—what do you think?”
“Noisy, vicious dogs don’t interest me. I prefer quiet ones.”
As he said this, Dane’s gaze slid sideways—landing on Camilla.
Her breath caught. His blue eyes gleamed like gems, cool and unyielding. A faint shiver ran through her as every gaze in the room followed his.
The Baron suddenly gripped her shoulder and presented her forward with an eager smile.
“Ah, and this is my proud daughter I mentioned earlier, Your Grace.”
The Duke’s interest sharpened, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“So you’re the one who proposed that remarkable medicine? Clever girl.”
Medicine?
Camilla blinked in surprise.
To commercialize her anesthetic, the Baron had discreetly spoken of it during a noble council—never expecting his words to reach such ears.
But they had reached the most powerful man in the region: the Duke of Escalus.
The Duchess was due to give birth soon, her frail condition worrying her husband endlessly. Upon hearing of a new anesthetic without the dangerous side effects of poppy or spirits, the Duke had summoned his personal physician to investigate.
He must have concluded it could aid the Duchess safely during childbirth.
The Baron, overjoyed by this attention, began corresponding frequently with the Duke’s household, eager to build favor.
And now, today, the Duke himself had arrived at the Mowin estate—bringing along his heir, Dane Escalus.
Officially, the visit was framed as a social call, so the young heir could meet Ares, a boy of similar age.
But Ares had squandered that chance with his temper—destroying what could have been his greatest connection.
Damn it! Damn it! This is all your fault!
Camilla could almost hear Ares’s future outburst echoing in her mind, remembering how he would later rage after learning the truth.
She smirked faintly.
Perhaps I should make sure to crush him again someday.
Still, her thoughts drifted back to Dane—the angelic boy who had seized Ares’s wrist.
He was breathtaking…
Even as a secondary character in the novel, the Duke’s heir had always been described as captivating. Yet seeing him in person was something else entirely—he radiated a beauty that demanded attention, impossible to ignore.
No, focus, Camilla.
Shaking off her daze, she pulled out a hidden sheet of parchment from between her desk drawers—her notes, written secretly in Hangul.
On it were the summarized events of The Downfall of Nina and the changes she had already caused.
According to the original plot, the Duchess of Escalus was meant to suffer a stillbirth and die shortly thereafter from complications.
But now, they would use her anesthetic.
If the Duchess died despite that—Camilla would bear the blame.
Yet…
This could be an opportunity.
A chance to forge a personal bond with the Escalus heir long before the main events began.
And a few days later, that opportunity arrived—wrapped in an elegant envelope.
“Camilla,” the Baron announced with pride, “His Grace has invited you personally. It seems the young Lord took an interest in you and wishes for you to be his companion—something of a playmate, perhaps.”
All that struggle to get into the Duke’s social circle, and the door had opened itself.
A bastard invited as a noble’s companion—unheard of.
Then again, the public still didn’t know she was illegitimate.
The Baroness glared, trembling with fury, while Nina gaped in awe.
“Tomorrow, then,” said the Baron. “You’ll do well, won’t you?”
Camilla lifted her skirts gracefully and bowed.
“Please, leave it to me.”
“Sister, where are you going? Can I come too?”
“Hm. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Yay!”
Nina’s excitement contrasted sharply with the Baroness’s seething rage.
As soon as dinner ended, the woman dragged Camilla into her chambers.
“If I had my way, I’d tell the Baron you’re too ill to go tomorrow.”
It wasn’t an empty threat. The Baroness was quite capable of locking her up and sending Nina instead.
But it’s too late for that. The Baron spoke to the Duke himself—and the visit’s tomorrow.
Besides, as long as Camilla continued to supply her with cosmetics, the Baroness wouldn’t risk ruining her own appearance.
“I meant what I said to Nina,” Camilla replied evenly. “I’ll speak well of her to the young Duke.”
“And why should I trust you? Can you prove your loyalty?”
Camilla smiled faintly.
“If I can make the Duke’s heir speak to Nina first at the upcoming ball—will that suffice as proof?”
That was enough to make the Baroness pause.
“Can you truly do that?”
“I’ll find a way. After all, I’m already overseeing Nina’s education.”
The Baroness’s lips curved into a thin, sly smile.
“Very well. Do that, and I’ll dismiss Madam Milliam and grant you more authority over Nina’s lessons.”
Ah. So that’s how it is. Nina must have told her about the confrontation earlier. Not bad—this worked in Camilla’s favor.
“I understand, my lady.”
“The young Duke will see you shortly.”
The reception room was dazzling—too extravagant for what was supposed to be a simple introduction. Camilla tried to mask her tension as she glanced at the gilded curtains, the velvet furniture, the rows of servants lined up with perfect posture.
I didn’t expect it to be this grand.
She had prepared meticulously: Sonia had dressed her in an elegant gown worthy of nobility, every ribbon and curl carefully arranged. The beauty staring back at her in the mirror this morning had seemed almost like someone else.
Dane Escalus…
She remembered what the novel had said about him—his curiosity toward clever, composed women.
That’s what I’ll aim for.
But the minutes stretched long.
Why isn’t he coming?
When the doors finally opened, a servant bowed.
“Forgive us, my lady. The young Duke has been delayed.”
An hour passed.
Did he… simply not want to meet me?
Maybe the Baron had arranged this without the Duke’s consent—and Dane was making his displeasure known.
So this is his little act of rebellion.
“My lady,” murmured a nervous servant, “it seems the young Duke will be quite late…”
She studied the man’s uneasy face. Clearly, he expected her to leave.
But she refused to go back empty-handed.
“It’s fine. I’ll wait.”
“…As you wish.”
Once he left, Camilla leaned back on the sofa with a sigh.
Leaving now would be surrender. Given what she knew of his temperament, the better strategy was—
“Sleep.”
If he wanted to think her impudent, let him. She would not play by his whims.
So she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off.
Time passed—how much, she couldn’t tell—before a quiet voice broke through her drowsy haze.
“Unbelievable.”
She opened her eyes.
And there he stood—the angelic boy, Dane Escalus—looking down at her with cool, languid eyes, his beauty almost unreal in the slanting light.
