IGMIMYS 13

~Chapter 13~

“How could I possibly fall asleep?”

Finally, Camilla snapped back to reality and grabbed Dane’s hand.

Looking weak won’t help me at all.

“I’m okay. The poison didn’t spread in my body, so you don’t have to worry about me like this—”

Lily of the Valley isn’t that dangerous unless you eat it. Even so, Camilla was already used to poisons. No way something this small could kill her.

She was a bit surprised her skin reacted, but still, there was no need for all this fuss.

Now Dane finally let go of her hand.

But when Camilla looked up, his blue eyes looked annoyed.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Young Duke?”

“If you really want to be friends with me, fix your attitude first.”

Dane whispered, gritting his teeth:

“Before you shove your precious little sister at me, you should think about making me like you first.”

Camilla stared at him, wide-eyed. Dane just frowned harder.

What kind of girl is this?

The only reason he called both sisters was to figure out what Camilla really felt.

Now, though, he was done with tricks.

Dane looked her straight in the eyes:

“And don’t look down on yourself. Just now, you saved my life. I’m the Young Duke, you know.”

“But…”

Camilla wanted to protest.

If she got credit for saving him, that meant Nina would be blamed for putting him in danger. She really didn’t want to take it that far.

But staring into his blue eyes, she felt like she should at least say something.

That’s when—

“What? You saved Dane’s life?”

“Uwaaah! Young Duke!”

It was the Duke, looking shocked, with Nina sniffling beside him.

Wait, did Nina just tell him what happened?

If word got out, the whole Mowin family could be in huge trouble.

Luckily, Nina just babbled random stuff about flowers and tea.

The Duke said, “You, explain it properly.”

The doctor was about to talk, but Dane stepped forward:

“I almost touched a poisonous flower in the garden,” he said, totally calm.
“And the young lady from the Mowin family saved me. That’s it.”

“Ho!”

He really covered for us?

It was better than Nina getting blamed, but still, it felt almost too easy.

The Duke frowned. “There was such a dangerous plant in the garden?”

“It’s not well known, but Lily of the Valley is actually pretty poisonous,” the doctor said.

“If you just touch it, you might feel sick, but if you drink the poison, it’s really deadly.”

The Duke clicked his tongue. “We’ll have to redo the whole garden soon.”

Sorry, gardener… Camilla thought.

Suddenly, Dane pointed at Camilla and quietly said:

“Father, I want her to be my companion.”

“…!”

The Duke seemed interested and smiled.

“Lady Mowin, what do you think?”

Finally, Camilla looked Dane straight in the eyes and, almost like she was hypnotized, whispered:

“It’s an honor I can’t describe.”

The Duke grinned.

“Good! Please look after him as his friend.”

Then he got serious:

“And this favor—I’ll owe it to you personally, not your family. A Young Duke’s life isn’t a light thing.”

He’ll owe me, not my family?

The Duke even asked her to stay at the mansion until her hand healed, but Camilla just looked at worried Nina and shook her head.

“Thank you, but I’d rather go home to the Mowin estate and rest.”

She wanted to finish some things at home—and comfort Nina, who still looked scared.

As soon as they got in the carriage, Nina tugged Camilla’s sleeve.

“Sis, about the flowers I put in the teacup…”

“When we get home, you have to keep it a secret, okay?”

Camilla bent down to look Nina in the eyes.

Nina wasn’t stupid.

She realized how big a mistake she made and wanted to tell their parents.

But if she admits it, she’ll be in danger.

“And don’t tell Mom or Dad. It’s just our secret, got it?”

“Okay!”

Phew, lucky…

Nina’s mistake didn’t get bigger, and for some reason, Dane picked Camilla.

Just then, someone knocked on the carriage window.

Dane?

She opened it. Dane was there.

“Did you come to see us off?”

“…Yeah.”

Camilla looked at him, thinking:
That lonely boy, who always avoided people as a kid and as a grown-up, maybe…
he just wanted someone by his side.

She was just lucky it was her, not Nina, who caught his attention.

“You’re not approved yet. I’ll be watching you,” Dane said.

“Of course, Young Duke.”

Dane glanced at her bandaged wrist.

“…Dane.”

“Yes?”

“Next time, call me Dane.”

With that, he turned around, his blond hair blowing in the wind.

The wind made Camilla’s chest feel funny.

Without thinking, she leaned out the window and shouted:

“You should call me Camilla next time too!”

Huh. He smiled.

The carriage started moving.

How long has it been since I shouted like that?

The wheels rolled happily. Her heart felt like it was going to burst.

Back Home

“What… did you say?”

The Baroness looked sharp as a knife.

When Camilla and Nina got home, the Baroness was nervous and suspicious.

She sent Nina to her room after glancing at Camilla’s bandaged hand.

“What happened?”

“A letter will come soon. I’ve become the Young Duke’s companion.”

The Baron was away on business.

So today, the estate belonged to the Baroness.

Even though she used Camilla’s cosmetics and trusted her with Nina’s education, she still hated Camilla.

“Not Nina, but you?”

“Yes.”

She laughed, not believing it.

“Alright, I get it.”

She seemed too calm.

She’s acting too quiet… but that’s good for me.

At least now she had a path to get closer to Dane.

Back in her room, Camilla marked her note.

Party guest list:

• Gatekeeper’s master – Dane

Below, she checked the names:

• Male lead (dead) – Drake

• Sea prince (fleet owner) – Ian

• Sly servant – Lux

I made an important step today.

She was looking forward to what was next.

But Camilla didn’t realize, while enjoying her victory…

“Dinner’s ready, Miss.”

“Okay, I’ll be there.”

…just how mean the Baroness could get when things didn’t go her way.

Dinner

Camilla always had to taste-test the food 30 minutes early.

She usually ate alone in a side room next to the dining room.

But today, something was different.

The Baroness was already sitting there.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

The Baroness’s attitude was new and made Camilla uneasy, but she sat down.

She took a bite.

Her face stiffened.

…This taste.

Bitter.

It was poison.

Camilla quickly spit it out into her handkerchief.

“This soup is strange. Please call the cook.”

But the Baroness said calmly,

“No. Eat more.”

“What?”

Her cold gaze pinned Camilla to the seat.

“I said, eat more.”