TVDML 11

Chapter 11

Once Baldwin and Camilla have their bam-ba-bam happy ending, I just wanted to live long and peacefully, doing only what I had to.

I was born into a wealthy duke’s household, and as long as I didn’t do anything weird, the road ahead was smooth and paved.

If I didn’t obsess over Baldwin and torment Camilla, there’d be no reason for me to die.

All I had to do was support Baldwin and Camilla’s smooth romantic journey.

From what I could see, Camilla seemed to have some feelings for Baldwin, and Baldwin was kind to her too…

Except for the crossdressing part, everything was fine.

Wow… unnie, you’re pretty…

Someday, I’d gently tell Camilla the tragic story behind Baldwin’s situation and reveal his identity.

All I needed to do was block any contact with Aintz.

That way, Baldwin and Camilla would end up together as planned.

After that, the question was—what do I do with my life?

Like a proper side character, I’d go my own way.

Just lazing around and living off luxury—only spoiled brats do that.

“Didi, I’ll make an ointment that heals injuries instantly when applied. I really can do it!”

“Of course, I believe you, Lala.”

Doesn’t sound like it.

It had that airy, soulless tone with not a single grain of sincerity.

But then again, seeing his bright, smiling face made me think otherwise.

“Lala, you’re smart. You’re taller than me and you know more too.”

“Ahem…”

Well, that’s true. I must’ve misunderstood Baldwin.

I guess I’m just feeling a little sensitive because I’m trying to study.

I flipped through my book lazily and whistled.

“You’re still going to do your homework, right?”

Baldwin smiled and grabbed my hand.

“Of course.”

If I didn’t do my homework, Baldwin would get scolded too.

Our tutor was as strict and scary as a dorm master.

Almost Snape-level.

Anyway, I had no special goal for the academy, but for Baldwin to become a knight, it was better if he got in.

That’s also why Mom decided on the crossdressing plan for Baldwin.

Classes were essential for the entrance exams.

What wouldn’t I do for the male lead?

This level of elementary math? Please!

Honestly, I had majored in chemical engineering because I liked chemistry, spent four years also studying physics, and graduated—this was nothing.

What I hated was the pressure and neglect from my stepmother, not the studying itself.

“When did you say the academy entrance was?”

“Next spring.”

“Aha.”

Next year, only Camilla and Baldwin would attend the academy.

I really had no intention of going.

Would their love story start then?

“You’ll come visit often, right?”

Baldwin shook my hand while I was lost in thought.

Seeing him look at me like Puss in Boots, I was utterly smitten and nodded.

“Of course!”

Besides, Camilla would need someone to help her realize her feelings for Baldwin…

With eyes like that, how could I not visit?

“Promise.”

“Mm! I promise for real!”

“Lala, when you’re with me, I’m not scared of anything.”

Sniffle.

Kids, seriously.

Just trust your big sis.

*
Inviting Camilla over had become a breeze.

Surprisingly, she and I had a lot in common—and one big thing was that she was a major face enthusiast.

Our fangirl hearts aligned.

We had a shared love of beauty that transcended gender.

In the original novel, Camilla, Baldwin, and Laila had been close friends.

Camilla knew Laila liked Baldwin. And Laila also knew that Camilla and Baldwin liked each other.

Hmm.

To summarize in one sentence:

They were all seriously messed up to one another.

Ah, but things were different now.

“Kyaaa! Didi! You’re so pretty! Didi! Take me! Unnie, you’re too beautiful!!!”

“Milky white Didi! I love you, Didi!”

At first, Camilla didn’t like me cheering for Didi, but eventually she changed her mind and became a fervent supporter of Baldwin.

She even became a great friend who now waved a handkerchief for him in my stead.

While Baldwin was training, he suddenly collapsed as if his legs gave out.

Camilla beamed as she watched him fall.

She probably thought Didi looked beautiful even while falling.

Heh heh.

“Camilla, why don’t you go help Didi up?”

“Me?”

Camilla’s eyes widened. Was she feeling shy?

“Yeah. I think… Oh, my legs hurt. Maybe I walked too much?”

I gave Camilla a little push on the back.

Ah, such a perfect plan.

Camilla stood in front of Baldwin, pouting slightly.

“You fell from just that? I could do better.”

She smirked, then turned and waved enthusiastically at Laila.

Baldwin frowned slightly and spoke.

“Why are you even here?”

“Lala told me to come. Hey, get up.”

“I thought we agreed to avoid each other.”

“Then you give up on Lala.”

“They say rolling stones dislodge the ones already settled. You barged into the middle. You back off.”

Only Laila failed to notice the sharp, frosty sparks flying between the two.

As he grew older, Baldwin found Laila more and more mysterious.

She was unique.

Even within Baldwin’s vast knowledge, there was no noble lady quite like her.

She was honest, innocent, and lacked jealousy.

To be honest, Baldwin was a cuckoo.

A different egg inserted into the nest where Laila was born.

He was someone who might one day consume Laila’s life—and even Roroban’s.

He was fated to do so, being from a family branded as traitors.

Yet Laila was sweet, warm, and full of love.

She shared her seat with him like it was nothing.

“Why be scared of thunder… Come here, Didi.”

She casually made lifetime promises.

“I’ll protect you forever!”

The Winchesters fell on a night filled with thunder and lightning.

Whenever the sky flashed yellow and white across the dark sky, Baldwin remembered that night.

His father’s death—dying as bait while trying to protect Baldwin and his mother—came alive vividly in Baldwin’s mind.

Laila was the one who hugged him as he sweated and whimpered in his sleep.

Not because she was young and naïve.

She was more skeptical and mature than people thought.

She seemed to fully understand Baldwin’s situation and the dangers surrounding him.

And despite how frustrating it must’ve been, she never once said she wanted to leave the estate, or asked why Baldwin had to crossdress.

Baldwin touched Laila’s hair with an unreadable expression—not even a hint of a smile.

“You know you’re really strange, right?”

She surprised him into falling on his butt, made the Sword Ghost drop his sword…

Maybe that’s why.

His eyes kept going to her, and he wanted to keep her close.

He wanted to know everything about her.

The ancient blade Caliburn, which had survived for centuries, now showed greed toward Laila.

“Mm…”

“Lala.”

Suppressing it all, Baldwin smiled brightly.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Mm… What about you, Didi?”

“Me too.”

Baldwin rubbed his eyes just like Laila did and rested his head beside hers.

Because she had fallen asleep while drawing, Laila’s face was smudged with pencil marks.

The midday sunlight was so warm that you couldn’t feel even a trace of cold.

Outside, the season’s first snow had begun to fall in soft piles.

Time quietly passed for Laila and Baldwin, together.

“Is that the place?”

“Yes, this is where the duchess was last seen for sure.”

“So there’s a high chance the young master is here…”

A masked man murmured solemnly and pulled down his mask.

A prominent scar ran across his face.

He had lost his left eye—and his master.

His name was Skein.

He now led the secret organization Caliburn in place of the missing Winchester heir.

With eyes filled with remorse, Skein stared at the snow-covered, beautiful mansion.

It had been nine years since he began chasing the heir the world had declared dead.

Now, finally, he found a clue.

It was the intuition only a hound who had served his master could have.

‘The young master is alive.’

And he would surely come back one day and find them.

To recover what was lost and reclaim his honor!

For now, even Skein agreed—it was safest here.

So what could they do to ensure the young master grew up unharmed?

They could only become the grateful tiger repaying a debt.