🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 9
“Wow…”
Camilla blinked her large eyes.
It was truly an invitation sent to her.
The sender: Laila.
She had said several times before that they should meet again, and now she had really sent an invitation.
“Mom, can I go to this?”
Camilla asked, blinking.
“Of course! If you want to go, Camilla.”
“…I do want to go.”
“Alright, Camilla. Just go and have fun.”
The countess hugged her daughter tightly.
Because of the disgrace that the Royster family bore, only the children were getting hurt.
Every time the Roysters achieved merit and gained fame, people would envy and slander them.
Those effects seemed to reach Camilla too, making the countess’s heart ache on many days.
But now, finally, it looked like Camilla might be gaining a true friend.
In truth, Camilla didn’t consider the kids her age to be real friends.
‘They’re so immature and chaotic.’
She preferred being alone over hanging out with them.
Her mother, however, had a different opinion and always worried about Camilla.
Then, she met Laila.
Laila was a bit different from the other kids Camilla knew.
How should she put it?
There was a kind of emotional maturity about her.
She couldn’t explain it, but she could tell Laila wasn’t ordinary.
‘She’s pretty, too.’
Of course, the dangerous element clinging to her side was a little concerning.
“I need to prepare a gift.”
“A gift?”
“It’s your first invitation. You can’t show up empty-handed. Is there something you’d like to give Laila?”
“Hmm…”
Camilla thought deeply.
She pictured the lovely girl with shimmering silver hair and golden eyes.
A friend who reminded her of a sweet strawberry cake, with rosy cheeks and a radiant smile.
And then…
“A white teddy bear. I think she’d really like a teddy bear!”
“That’s a great idea. Let’s go pick one together after lunch.”
“Okay!”
Camilla nodded vigorously.
No one had any idea how much this event would affect Camilla’s life.
*
Since morning, I’d lost count of how many times I asked the maid who was taking care of Baldwin and me:
“When is she coming?”
“You asked me that five minutes ago, miss.”
The maid chuckled fondly.
Then, she kindly reminded me of the time and when Camilla was supposed to arrive.
I climbed onto the sofa and looked out at the balcony, then slumped back down.
Then I turned to Baldwin, who was quietly reading beside me.
“What about you? Aren’t you excited?”
“Excited about what?”
“Camilla! We’re about to meet her!”
Baldwin closed his book at my words.
Looking straight at me, he said,
“I like Laila more than Camilla. I’m more excited to play with Laila.”
Oh my gosh. My sweet kitten.
With a face full of emotion, I hugged Baldwin tightly.
What a perfect little cat to make his human so proud.
“Me too! I like you, Baldwin!”
Baldwin quietly leaned into my arms.
“You can’t forget what you just said.”
“Of course not!”
Even if you and Camilla get all lovey-dovey and become a tight-knit duo, you better not forget this moment, Baldwin Winchester.
My sweet little kitten probably had no idea how noble my sincere feelings were.
I was even willing to give him all of my cookies.
Of course, this was a bit of a calculated move.
Even if I gave all the cookies to Baldwin, who didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, he’d probably return them all to me.
Heh. Either way, that’s how deep my affection runs.
So Baldwin and I passed the slow-moving time studying together, until Camilla finally arrived.
With a shy face, Camilla handed me a gift.
“It’s a present. Will you accept it?”
Honestly, I knew Camilla wasn’t usually this timid.
Camilla was a cheerful and lively girl.
If the annoying noble brats hadn’t bullied her, she’d probably be laughing and smiling all the time.
I remembered the expressionless girl I saw at the previous party.
Ugh. So frustrating.
Camilla was my second favorite character after Baldwin.
At some point in the story, she goes through a major transformation—and the start of it is when she punches someone who insults the Royster family.
And I planned to teach Camilla an even more impactful way to get revenge.
You know how it is—every time you read a frustrating scene, you think, If it were me, I’d do this!
I was going to pass on all that knowledge and help Camilla become an even cooler and more refreshing heroine.
“Thank you, Camilla.”
Seriously, why would anyone bully such a sweet girl?
“I’m glad you accepted it, Laila! Thank you for inviting me too.”
Aww, this adorable kid.
“I’m the one who’s thankful you came, Camilla.”
Now I had a friend I could invite to my house, too.
While Laila was oblivious, a silent battle was raging between Camilla and Baldwin.
Camilla and Baldwin locked eyes.
‘That sly little fox.’
Camilla thought irritably.
Why did Laila keep that thing around?
From what she’d heard, he was the daughter of a maid. But even his gaze felt dangerous.
He might be packaged like a child, but inside, he was definitely a snake.
And Baldwin was thinking something similar about Camilla.
‘So this is what they call fake.’
He looked down and smirked.
No matter how smart or charming Camilla thought she was, she was no match for Baldwin.
After all, he was the master of Caliburn.
‘Hah. Did he just smirk?’
Camilla thought with a scowl.
‘Is she glaring at me?’
Baldwin thought back just as cynically.
Between them, only Laila was happily frolicking through a metaphorical flower field.
I hadn’t noticed it at the party before, but seeing Camilla and Baldwin side by side, they made such a perfect pair.
Today’s friendly bonding activity was cookie-making.
Mom suggested it.
She said if you knead dough together and laugh while doing it, you’ll naturally grow closer.
My inner Korean soul was crying out that chicken and beer were the best bonding method, but alas, we were children now.
And Mom’s advice turned out to be pretty solid.
After all, it was my first time inviting a friend over, so I was a bit at a loss.
“Ah! Look, Camilla! Isn’t this so cute?”
“It is. What is it?”
Camilla was noticeably more cheerful.
“It’s shaped like Rudella. Doesn’t it look just like her?”
“…Oh, I see.”
Camilla nodded and examined the cookie I made with a serious face.
Then, she asked carefully,
“You two aren’t fighting or anything, right?”
“Of course not!”
Why would you think that, silly?
My kitty and I have a lifetime promise, after all.
Yup. We swore to be best friends forever.
“Why? Does it look weird? Didi, does it look weird?”
Baldwin examined the cookie I made and replied,
“No, not at all. It really looks like me.”
See?!
“For you, this is pretty good, Lala.”
For you…?
“Hey!!!”
Wow, seriously.
The perfect duo, the perfect duo.
I glared at Baldwin and Camilla in turn and slammed my cookie onto the table.
Well, to be honest, I was always artistically challenged, but it still stung a little to be judged by both of them like that.
Maybe I’ve become petty and childish playing with kids…
Anyway, I put down my vaguely-shaped cookie and started inspecting theirs.
Baldwin made simple round cookies, and Camilla made various shapes—nothing too ambitious like me, so they turned out cute and neat.
Tch.
No matter how terrible my cookies looked, I achieved today’s mission.
I was proud to say I succeeded in breaking down the wall between Baldwin and Camilla.
Let’s go, Baldwin, our male lead!
Living in the same house with a handsome male lead was truly delightful.
Sometimes Baldwin looked like he was annoyed with me, but he usually followed along with what I wanted.
Smiling sweetly all the while. He was growing up to be the very definition of a tsundere.
My little kitty, you’d be so bored without your big sister, huh?
I know.
As I spent each day teasing Baldwin and watching him grow, we eventually turned nine years old.
Back when I used to read the novel, I often projected myself onto Baldwin.
We were in similar circumstances, yet living such different lives—me and Baldwin.
At that time, my stepmother’s biological children were always desperate to torment me.
Not only would they steal the tiny allowance I got, but they even put stones in my food.
Having grown up under that abuse, the character Laila Lorovante was someone I couldn’t quite relate to.
Despite receiving so much love, her story still ended in tragedy.
Even while loving Baldwin, she never realized her love was hurting him—that made her hard to sympathize with.
So maybe it was natural that I didn’t feel much attachment to her.
I wouldn’t repeat her mistakes.
Since taking Laila’s place, rather than feel guilty, I made a promise—again and again—to live a better life.
For the past two years, I had done my best to bridge the gap between Baldwin and Camilla.
I constantly invited Camilla to the estate and tried to give them time to bond.
