NOVEL NEXT Chapter 83
“You’re just going to back down like this? I thought there’d be a fight? If it were like before, I’d grab you by the hair and leave.”
She was only docile in front of Duke Sorpel and the other two young masters, and she never tolerated others encroaching on her position or belongings.
“But rather, please tell me what the Duke hates…”
The other kitchen staff also looked puzzled at Camilla leaving such a request.
“Then thank you for your hard work.”
Camilla waved lightly and leisurely left the kitchen. Everyone looked at her with strange expressions.
“… … .”
It was the same for Rania. She watched Camilla disappear from the kitchen.
“Haaam.”
“What? You didn’t sleep last night?”
“Oh, I was reading a book.”
Camilla shook her head slightly at Ravi, who was walking with his eyes half-closed.
He had been devoted to magical research before, but it had gotten worse since the last hunting competition. However, rather than wallowing in self-loathing and struggling like before, he seemed to use that day’s events as a motivator.
“Then sleep more.”
He seemed to have stayed up all night, and he wasn’t the type to eat every meal. Camilla couldn’t understand why he showed up for breakfast.
“That kid will be there too.”
“That kid?”
“Rania?”
“Why is that?”
“Why, why? You’re alone without me…”
“Uh?”
“… Okay.”
Ravi stopped talking and started walking again.
Camilla, who had been silently staring at him for a while, burst into a light laugh.
He pretended not to notice, but his ears reddened slightly at her laughter. They slowly walked toward the dining hall.
“Are you here?”
After a while, when they reached the dining hall entrance, they met Ludville. After exchanging a quick greeting, they entered together.
“Ah! Come in!”
Someone had already arrived before them. It was Rania. She greeted them with a bright smile.
However—
“Hey!”
“You…”
No one responded properly to her greeting.
“Why are you sitting there?”
The problem was the seat Rania occupied—it was Camilla’s usual spot.
“Yes?”
“Get up.”
Ludville’s soft voice flew toward Rania, who tilted her head, unable to grasp the situation.
“Hey, wasn’t I supposed to sit here?”
Rania, flustered by their seemingly angry reactions, quickly jumped up, unsure of what to do.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Tears quickly welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Swish.
“… … !”
At that moment, a hand gently pressed her shoulder, helping her sit back down. It was Camilla.
“It’s okay.”
“What?”
“Sit here.”
“But…”
Camilla smiled, ignoring Ravi and Ludville’s frowns.
“This is your seat from now on.”
“Hey!”
“Camilla.”
Camilla shook her head slightly, watching their expressions harden even further.
“You can sit anywhere. Father will be home soon. Wouldn’t it be better to avoid making a fuss?”
After Camilla’s words, the two of them remained silent. As she had said, there was no point in making noise here.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Hey! Is this seat…”
“From now on, it’s your seat.”
“No! I…!”
“Shh.”
Camilla covered Rania’s mouth.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Camilla pressed her shoulder again, stopping her from getting up. In the end, Rania also had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Camilla stared at her quietly for a moment.
[I heard it clearly. What that woman’s maid said earlier. This seat is yours. And yet…!]
While listening to the excited voice of the ghost chef, Ferrol, who had been hovering nearby, Camilla thought:
‘Look at this.’
The maid who had been assigned to Rania clearly designated this seat for her, but Rania still took Camilla’s spot. And now, she acted as if she didn’t know anything.
‘So she was pretending all along?’
The moment Camilla realized this, she silenced Ravi and Ludville. She also stopped Rania from crying and apologizing, guessing her intent.
Camilla could already see the picture Rania wanted to draw:
If Rania cried and apologized while Ravi, Ludville, and even Camilla pressured her, what would happen if her father or others witnessed the scene?
‘A greedy, spiteful stepdaughter bullying the Duke’s true daughter over a mere seat.’
Camilla smiled bitterly. In her previous world, rumors could destroy you. Even the smallest incident could snowball into an exaggerated scandal. It was no different here.
‘Rumors begin with small seeds like this.’
Camilla’s gaze returned to Rania, who was still playing the innocent child. But as a seasoned actress, Camilla saw through her stiffened expression, betraying discomfort.
‘What are you up to?’
If this was a move to secure her place, it was bold.
“Hmm.”
Should I just watch for now?
When Camilla’s eyes met Rania’s, she smiled brighter than ever. She enjoyed watching Rania hesitate under the weight of her gaze.
“Camilla! I’m so sorry!”
Later that afternoon, as Camilla rested in her room, Rania barged in with a tearful apology.
“I really didn’t mean to…”
Seeing her bow and sob the moment she entered was enough to irritate Camilla.
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard.”
“Heard what?”
“That you and Father don’t get along… That you’ve been trying so hard for me lately… I’m sorry!”
Rania bowed her head again.
“I didn’t even know, and I stole your time and your seat…!”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as if on cue.
“I just want to get along with you, Camilla! Even though you’re not my father’s real daughter…”
What?
“I’m not trying to take your place.”
Wow.
“I’m sorry. Really…!”
Camilla burst into laughter. Should she hit her? Just enough so it wouldn’t seem unjustified?
“Poor Camilla…”
Rania looked up pitifully, tears still falling.
“You must feel anxious because of me…”
“… … .”
“I’ll talk to Father! He won’t kick you out!”
“What?”
“Even if he’s my father, he can’t refuse his own daughter’s request…!”
“You do it.”
“…What?”
“You take it.”
“What…?”
It became clear while talking to her—why Rania had been so calm after appearing as the Duke’s real daughter and why she kept mentioning “stealing.”
“This seat, you take it.”
It was laughable.
Something that was never truly hers could never be stolen.
“I don’t have even a shred of desire to keep this seat.”
Camilla gently patted Rania’s shoulder as the latter froze in shock.
“If the owner returns, of course, you should give it back. Right?”
“T-That’s…”
Camilla wiped away Rania’s tears with a handkerchief, smiling kindly.
‘If it were the old me, I’d have slapped her by now.’
But there was no reason to.
At that moment, the voice of the ghost butler, Darin, echoed:
[Miss… Outside…]
Camilla opened the door and found Duke Sorpel standing there, looking serious.
“Camilla.”
Ah, so this was the plan.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
“…I wanted to have tea together.”
“With Rania?”
“Yes.”
As expected.
“Come in.”
“…Just now…”
“Father.”
Camilla interrupted, smiling brightly.