IGMIMYS 35

~Chapter 35~

Camilla thought:

I changed the original story so much, all to save myself and escape on my own, treating Dane and meddling with the plot as I pleased.

If this was the butterfly effect, was it all her fault?

Suddenly, everything felt dark and dizzy.

Meanwhile, Dane couldn’t care less about the Baroness’s crying or hysterics. His gaze stayed fixed on the bright red mark on Camilla’s cheek.

“Tch. Noisy.”

Dane’s cold, cutting stare turned to the Baroness.

“First you barge in here uninvited, then you hit your own daughter? Are you out of your mind?”

At those words, Camilla stiffened. The Baroness wasn’t even her real mother—but Dane didn’t know that.

Dane put his arm around Camilla and gestured toward the Baroness.

“We’ll talk to Camilla about searching for her sister, but get that woman out of here right now. The ducal house isn’t a place for lunatic women who make a scene.”

His attitude was like ice. Camilla hadn’t realized it before, but this was the kind of authority Dane held as her friend.

Cold sweat ran down Camilla’s back.

No, not yet. I can’t let the Baroness leave just yet.

“No, Dane. Even so, she’s… my mother… She’s just… upset, that’s all.”

“Camilla.”

She could barely get the words out, they tasted so much like lies. Camilla clung to Dane’s sleeve.

“Before my mother leaves… I want to hear more about what happened to Nina.”

At her words, Dane sighed, then led her over to face the Baroness.

“You—how can you stand there looking so fine when Nina’s been kidnapped?!”

The Baroness, still being held by the servants, was almost foaming at the mouth.

“If you have any conscience, you should come home! Help find Nina! Now!”

Camilla replied calmly,

“I heard that when Nina ran away, Ares helped her.”

“What?! There’s no way!”

The Baroness shot back with a sharp glare.

“Was there anyone else who helped her? I heard she got help from a servant too.”

The Baroness glared at Camilla, frowning, then muttered almost to herself,

“Dicky… That boy who used to be a knight’s page, he’s been helping Ares lately.”

Dicky…

Wait, could that be Drake?

“Wait, Dicky? What’s his full name? Can you tell me a little more—”

“Enough! Just come home! Come back now! Go find Nina, now!”

It was clear there would be no more sense out of the Baroness, and Dane gave a sharp gesture. The servants dragged the Baroness out.

When she was finally gone, Dane turned back to comfort Camilla.

“…I’m sorry. But honestly, your mother really doesn’t seem right in the head, at least not around you.”

“Yeah…”

But Camilla couldn’t even care about the Baroness now.

Her head was spinning.

If Drake—unlike in the original—had secretly snuck into the Mowin house as a servant…?

Like Sonya, maybe he’d hidden his identity, broken the plot, and grown close to Nina from a young age.

Maybe the two of them came to the ducal house together to say goodbye to her before running away.

Just imagining it made her shudder.

If the story had started earlier than in the original, she had to return to the house and see for herself.

First, I need to check the basement in the side building, just like in the novel.

But she needed insurance.

“Dane, could I speak with the Duke privately?”

Normally, that would have been impossible—but Camilla’s position was special now.

She was an honored guest of the Escalus house, their benefactor.

Camilla sat across from the Duke, looking him straight in the eye.

“I’d like to claim the reward you offered last time, for saving the young duke with the tea.”

I meant to save this favor or not use it at all…

“Please, Your Grace, help me find my missing sister.”

The Duke studied her quietly.

Camilla bowed her head, worried he’d scold her for suddenly changing her mind after insisting she wanted nothing.

“Do you also believe the Everitts are behind it?”

Camilla looked up in surprise.

“It’s common knowledge that Mowin and Everitt have been at odds in Escalus for years,” he continued.

“Compared to the Mowin barony, Everitt is just a knightly house, but at the time they had our family’s support. So they were equals then.”

This was new—something never mentioned in the original story.

“There was a time the Everitts loyally served our family as knights. But now, they’ve lost our trust—the last head of the house tried to assassinate the Grand Duke himself.”

“What?”

“He was banished from the family, and the new head begged for forgiveness, so I didn’t wipe out the whole line.”

The Duke smiled pleasantly, but Camilla sensed something dark beneath it.

“Frankly, if Mowin’s culprit turns out to be from Everitt, I wouldn’t mind using this as an excuse to finish them off for good.”

Oh no.

Camilla realized she’d made a mistake. The Duke was far more political than she’d given him credit for, regardless of their personal connection.

“But of course, nothing’s proven yet,” he chuckled. “I’d never treat a benefactor’s request as a mere political move.”

Camilla finally let out the breath she’d been holding, relaxing her clenched fists.

“I’ll dispatch the ducal knights to search for your sister.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Is there anything else you want?”

Camilla hesitated. If she was going to ask for extra protection, she might as well do it right.

“I want to return to my family’s house, Your Grace. But… if something happens to me after my sister disappears—if I go missing too…”

This was a gamble. If it failed, she could end up cast out completely, or suffer the family’s wrath.

But she was ready to roll the dice.

“Would you please have someone search the basement in the side building at the Mowin estate?”

Click.

After her talk with the Duke, Camilla stepped outside and found Dane waiting with a large box.

“Dane? What’s that…?”

“Nothing. Now’s not the time, so just ignore it.”

He handed the box off to a maid, then turned to Camilla.

“Can I ask what you discussed with my father?”

“I asked for help searching for Nina. Also, I’m going to return home for now.”

“What?”

“For your birthday party… I’ll find my sister and come back to celebrate together.”

Dane’s face hardened.

“You want to go back to a place where your own family raises their hand to you?”

“Dane. No matter what, it’s still my home.”

She needed to figure out if the plot had changed, and Sonya could help her once she was there. Returning wasn’t such a bad move.

And the Duke would have her back, just in case.

She had to pack quickly.

“I’ll go get ready now.”

But as Camilla hurried down the hall, Dane grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t go, Camilla.”

“Dane?”

He frowned, his voice low.

“Your sister’s last stop was here, so the ducal knights will search. We’ll find her soon.”

Dane didn’t know that the Duke had already agreed to the search.

But more than anything, he didn’t want to send Camilla back to the Baroness, who had abused her.

Camilla forced a wry smile.

“…The Duke already agreed to the search. I appreciate your concern, Dane, but I have to go.”

“Going back won’t help the search for your sister.”

What’s gotten into him?

Camilla was already anxious, and Dane holding her back made her impatient.

“…Dane, you don’t need me at dawn anymore. You’re recovering. I should go.”

“Do I sound like I’m whining to my doctor right now?”

Dane gripped her shoulders, locking eyes.

“I don’t want you going back to that dangerous house.”

“I’m saying there’s no need to worry. Please, let go, Dane.”

Camilla was starting to get angry now.

“I’ve finished my rest, finished my work—keeping me here any longer is asking too much, even for a friend.”

Dane gave a short, bitter laugh.

Then he leaned in, close enough for her to feel his breath, and whispered,

“Too much for a friend? Then… what if I don’t want to be just your friend?”