Chapter 52
4 (1) – 1
The daughter of Count Storm, Camilla Storm, is a dangerous woman.
That truly insufferable villainess who did her utmost to torment the baron’s daughter, Liselotte, and force the Second Prince Julian under her thumb. Furthermore, it didn’t seem as if she was going to be satisfied with simply controlling Duke Alois Montchat like a puppet.
After manipulating the Duke into trusting her, Camilla then spread her foul influence to the town of Einst and the people who lived there. Taking advantage of an unfortunate disaster, she used her wiles to trick the modest people of Einst onto her side.
The people of Einst threw away their history and their traditions as well as their pride and their modesty as they gave themselves up to Camilla.
And much to the horror of all, that wasn’t the end of it. Had she used the trouble in Einst as a springboard? It seems like that horrible woman is beginning to influence the youth of Mohnton to her evil ways, especially the youngsters of commoners.
Just how far will this woman go in her quest to steal the territory of Mohnton out from under its people? And after taking over Mohnton, will she then set her sights on the capital?
That dangerous woman called Camilla, a rare and despicable breed of villainess who only rears her head once in a generation, had the potential to shake the very country to its core.
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To my dearest sister,
My dear sister Camilla [1], it has been some time. Your cute little sister, Therese, thought to write to you once more.
I never received a reply to my last letter, but I’m curious as to how you have been lately? It has been over seven months since you became a bride of the bogs, dear sister. It is truly difficult to hear any word about how you’re faring. Father and mother seem not to care, but I must confess I am most worried about you.
Since you’ve lived in the swamps for so long, have you forgotten how to reply to me with words that humans can read? Or perhaps these letters of mine are getting lost in the bog, only to be read by the toads who live next door to you?
I’m worried about whether or not you’ve been reading my letters, dear sister. Because of that anxiety of mine, please do forgive me for writing in such a similar way to my last letters. Although, my dear sister, there is something you ought to know…
Sister. I have always held a selfish daydream of one day being able to call you my sister.
Just like I always imagined, father and mother are truly wonderful people as well. It is as if they love me more than their first child. Father said to me ‘You must have had a hard time living as a viscount’s daughter. Don’t worry, you’ll want for nothing here’. And when I mentioned how worried I was about you, sister, he said; ‘I don’t consider her my daughter anymore. From now on, you are my only child’.
Mother is always doting on me as well, saying things like ‘Please don’t be modest, feel free to rely on me as selfishly as you like’.
Honestly, I’m so happy. It feels like a dream. Even if my sister is now the wife of a toad, it surely must be very hard to adjust to your new life. Every time I think about the happiness I enjoy every day, I truly feel a pang of conscience for what you must be going through.
…No, a toad will still have their own sort of happiness. I know how truly affectionate you can be, my dear sister. Right now, I’m sure you’ve found your own happiness, taking care of your new tadpoles.
Oh dear, I wrote a lot more than I intended to. But, I hope you will forgive me. It shouldn’t be too long now until I can call you ‘my sister’ in person, oh dear sister.
It seems as if father is intending to truly disown you for good soon, sister.
Perhaps it was my fault, as I heard from my dear friend, Lady Liselotte, just to what lengths you went to behind Prince Julian’s back. Although, on the other hand, I get the feeling that the intention to sever ties with you had already been decided sometime before. Once I told father what I had heard from Liselotte, he yelled ‘Oh, why was a daughter like her ever born?’ as his face turned red from anger.
But, it wouldn’t do to lie to him or keep any secrets. You’re a very honest person as well, sister, and I’d like to think we’re much alike.
Oh yes, I mentioned that I spoke to Lady Liselotte. She and I have become very good friends.
Liselotte is very kind and lady-like, she provides such a wonderful contrast to you, dear sister. After you were sent off to be married, dear sister, Liselotte has become very close with the Storm family and does a very good job of watching over us. She was deeply worried that the Storm family’s reputation would be tarnished by all the stories about you, dear sister. Truly, her gracious feelings touched my heart.
It’s only natural that Prince Julian would be charmed by such a girl. Everyone in the country is looking forward to their marriage with deep anticipation.
But… Ah, I wonder if this story has actually reached the Land of Mohnton yet? Their marriage date has already been decided. Once winter has passed, the new year will bring spring. Once the flowers begin to bloom, the wedding ceremony will be held.
Of course, you will be attending with Lord Montchat, will you not? Then, after such a long time apart, I can finally meet you again dear sister.
I truly am looking forward to it.
I truly, truly am.
Even if father and mother say they don’t want to see your face ever again, I still want to wait for you as a family. And when we meet again, I’ll be able to say it to you in person.
‘Sister’.
From your adorable little sister, Therese.
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As Therese’s letter was swallowed by the flames, Camilla gazed silently at the blazing hearth.
The papers were reduced to ash and cinders as if they had never taken shape at all. Camilla only wished that the words she had read off those pages could be burned out of her head in much the same way.
Her parents had adopted Therese. The Prince is to be married. Liselotte, Camilla’s mortal enemy, had begun to spread her influence into the Storm family. The words that she had read blew like a gale inside of her head.
– It will be okay.
Breathing out, she raised her face as she bit her lip. She couldn’t keep her head down. She couldn’t stare at the ground like this.
– Just this much isn’t enough to make me cry.
But, she couldn’t shake those feelings of frustration all the same. She was furious. Therefore, she’ll keep looking forward to the day when she would be able to show them all. The Prince, Liselotte, Therese, and even her parents.
She would use Alois to the fullest, turning him into a man that would make ladies swoon and have them all brought low with bitter regret.
Yet, for some reason, Camilla couldn’t imagine that ideal future of hers as clearly anymore.
Everyone would look enviously as she walked arm in arm with Alois, grinding their teeth as Camilla strode by. All the aristocrats and ministers in the palace, as well as those gossiping daughters of the nobility, would be stunned into silence. Camilla’s parents would apologize and beg her forgiveness. Liselotte would be the one whose face twisted in frustration and Julian would regret passing her up from the bottom of his heart.
That was the ideal future she had imagined for herself. Wanting to see their bitter expressions of remorse as she looked down on them, those feelings of hers hadn’t changed either.
Then, just why was it that future wasn’t something she could imagine so vividly as she had before?
[1] – Yes, Therese is calling her ‘Camilla Onee-sama’ now, if you were wondering. And she’s using ‘Onee-sama’ way more than one would usually to drive the point home.
Edited by: ApoPie