Camilla swallowed dryly, like someone who had just heard unwelcome news.

The muscles on her face twitched strangely.

She remained frozen like ice for a long while.

Soon, she began to tremble all over and burst into tears.

“Oh, no… I, I… I don’t want to die!”

Camilla grabbed Mina’s skirt again and pleaded.

“Please save me! Your Highness, please do something somehow…!”

There was no trace of the elegant countess she once was.

I looked down at her unsightly state and slowly parted my lips.

“…There’s no such thing as an antidote.”

And as I carefully moved towards her side, I continued speaking.

“It was just tea, after all.”

Camilla looked up at me with her face a mess of black tears.

“…What?”

Camilla’s eyes darted back and forth busily.

It seemed her thoughts had momentarily ceased.

Breathing heavily, Camilla finally managed to open her mouth again after a long while.

“Then… then…?”

“There was never any poison to begin with.”

After blinking in confusion for a while, Camilla exhaled a long breath and fell back weakly.

She lay there barely breathing, then suddenly seemed to come to her senses and ground her teeth.

“Y-Your Highness! How could you do this to me?!”

“Because I can. Didn’t you torment my maid because you thought you could?”

“…!”

“Moreover, thanks to that, I was able to see Camilla sincerely apologize to Mina.”

“T-That’s…!”

Camilla’s face instantly turned red.

She must have remembered herself groveling at Mina’s feet, rolling around on the floor in a mess.

I smiled slightly and extended my hand to Camilla.

“That’s enough now, Camilla. Get up. It’s embarrassing to keep watching.”

Right now, the most embarrassed person must be Camilla herself.

She glared at me with resentful eyes as she grabbed my outstretched hand and stood up.

I brushed off the dust on her dress hem and slowly continued speaking.

“The star of our northern social circle, Countess Dmitri.”

“…”

“But now, it might be difficult to maintain that position, don’t you think?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Think about it. If rumors spread that you bowed your head and begged, crying and wailing, in front of a mixed-race demon maid… wouldn’t that properly crack your brilliant reputation?”

“…!”

Camilla’s face turned red once again.

She bit her lip anxiously for a while.

Then, blinking her eyes rapidly, she hurriedly continued speaking.

“I-I won’t make an issue of today’s events… nor will I disclose them…”

Seeing her finally lower her tail, it seemed she would rather die than have this incident become known.

While watching Camilla continuously biting her lower lip, I wore a subtle, satisfied smile.

‘Thanks to you causing all sorts of trouble on your own, I was able to fire you more easily than expected. Should I be grateful for this?’

I went to sit on the sofa, crossing my legs, and continued speaking.

“Yes. That would be good for both of us.”

And leaning back on the sofa headrest with my arms spread wide, I gazed at Camilla.

“Camilla. Of course, this is a secret between us… but I hope you don’t forget what happened today.”

“What do you mean…?”

“There have been many people who suffered such humiliation from you until now, right?”

“…”

“How they must have felt each time…”

I tapped my head with my finger.

“Remember it well, here.”

Camilla gripped her dress hem tightly, her head bowed.

“Yes, Your Highness. This lesson… I will never forget it.”

It was a voice barely suppressing anger.

I looked at Camilla and sneered leisurely.

“I don’t mean remember it to take revenge. Of course, our dear countess wouldn’t do such a foolish thing, right?”

“…”

“If you did, your next cup of tea might really contain poison without an antidote.”

At my words, Camilla’s face instantly turned pale.

“O-Of course…”

Only then did Camilla lower her head like someone who had lost all will to fight.

“It seems you’ve understood properly this time. Now, you may go. You must be tired.”

Camilla nodded weakly and walked towards the door.

As I stared at her slumped shoulders, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

“Ah, Camilla?”

At my call, Camilla, who had almost reached the door, slowly turned her head.

“Yes, Your Highness…”

A deflated voice without a trace of venom.

However, her face still held deep resentment as she looked at me.

“I’m quite disappointed too, but since the countess’s intention to resign seems quite earnest, I suppose I have no choice but to accept that request.”

Another great wave rose in Camilla’s golden eyes.

I raised the corner of my mouth leisurely as I watched her.

“Farewell, Camilla.”

* * *

One week later, at the Mansion of Light.

As Rebecca had promised, the incident from that day did not spread beyond the walls of the Twins family castle.

However, among the servants within the castle, it was undoubtedly the hottest topic of conversation.

“Did you hear that story? About Her Highness and Lady Camilla.”

“What? Did they beat another maid half to death together?”

“No, Lady Camilla was the one who nearly died. They say she messed with Her Highness’s personal maid!”

“Eh, that’s a lie!”

At first, everyone shook their heads, saying it was nonsense.

However, most of the stories that spread were true, and there were even eyewitnesses to the tale of Rebecca nearly killing the maid Camilla.

That wasn’t all.

“Jena said that Her Highness told the servants of the Dark Mansion not to bow their heads just because they’re mixed-race demons.”

“What? That’s impossible!”

“It’s true, I tell you! It was also true that Lady Camilla was chased out for bullying Mina!”

“I heard it too! They say she even gives break times to the Dark Mansion servants and personally brings them desserts!”

It was an increasingly surprising story.

The servants dropped their jaws in disbelief.

“So does that mean Her Highness has really changed?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying!”

A maid pounded her chest as if frustrated.

“Haven’t you noticed how Princess Bianca’s eyes turn into hearts whenever she sees Her Highness these days?”

.

.

.

At the same time.

Dinner was being prepared in the dining hall of the Light Mansion.

Soon, today’s main dish was placed before Cedric and Bianca.

A lamb steak that looked so delicious it made one’s mouth water just by looking at it.

However, Bianca repeatedly picked up and put down her fork as if her attention was completely elsewhere.

Cedric, who had been quietly observing Bianca, gently urged her.

“Bianca, shouldn’t you start eating now?”

“Ah, yes!”

But Bianca’s short legs under the table were still crossing rhythmically.

Cedric, who was cutting his steak, glanced at this sight and chuckled.

“Bianca, you seem to be in a good mood these days.”

“Rather than being in a good mood… it’s thanks to Her Highness.”

“…Thanks to the Grand Duchess?”

“Yes, no matter how I think about it, our Her Highness is…”

Bianca paused for a moment, her cheeks turning slightly red.

Soon, a cheerful voice flowed from the child’s lips.

“So, so cool!”

Bianca exhaled excitedly and continued speaking rapidly.

“When I grow up, I want to become a wonderful adult just like Her Highness! Someone who is kind to their own people, but mercilessly punishes bad people!”

Cedric blinked his blue eyes slowly.

“Rebecca is… that kind of person?”

Of course, he knew that Rebecca had changed a lot.

However, the ‘Rebecca’ Bianca was talking about was quite different from the person he had seen so far.

While Cedric was feeling perplexed by this gap, Bianca, who had been chattering excitedly until just a moment ago, slowly lowered her head with a slightly dejected expression.

“It would be really nice if I could stay with Her Highness in the Light Mansion…”

Cedric couldn’t help but be surprised by those words.

‘To think such words would come from Bianca’s mouth.’

Bianca used to have fits just hearing Rebecca’s name.

For such a Bianca to not only praise Rebecca but even say she wants to live with her.

Cedric was so shocked that he couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

‘If we could have lived like this from the beginning… would Rebecca and I still be married now?’

Such a question arose unconsciously.

But Cedric shook his head.

‘It’s useless to think about that now.’

He had always looked down on those who uttered words like ‘if only’ or ‘perhaps.’

Yet here he was, repeatedly thinking ‘if only’ while reminiscing about Rebecca.

Just as Cedric’s brow was gradually furrowing, Bianca spoke up.

“Um… Your Grace.”

Bianca hesitated as if trying to broach a difficult subject, watching Cedric’s reaction.

“Bianca, what is it?”

Cedric’s voice was infinitely gentle, but Bianca opened and closed her mouth several times, hesitating.

“Well, about Her Highness…”

“Yes?”

“Did she move to the Dark Mansion because of me? Because I was afraid of Her Highness?”

Bianca asked a series of questions, her round eyes sparkling.

“If that’s the case, couldn’t we ask Her Highness to come back to the Light Mansion now?”

“…”

“Right? Your Grace! I’m sure Her Highness will accept because she likes me now!”

Cedric shook his head, trying to hide his flustered expression.

“That’s…”

“…?”

“Bianca, the Grand Duchess didn’t leave the Light Mansion because of you.”

“Then… why?”

“The Grand Duchess and I decided it would be better for us to live apart for a while, for each other’s sake.”

“Why?”

Cedric’s lips closed tightly.

Bianca, who soon understood the meaning of this silence, pouted her lower lip.

“Aw. I wish Your Grace could get along well with Her Highness too…”

No matter how young Bianca was, she couldn’t have been unaware of the long-standing discord between the Grand Duke and Duchess.

Bianca kept giving Cedric puppy-like, pitiful glances.

“Couldn’t you let Her Highness come back here? All it takes is your permission, right? Please?”

“My permission…”

After a moment of silent contemplation, Cedric finally murmured.

“…Even if I asked her to come back now, Rebecca probably wouldn’t agree.”

Cedric’s expression was one of resignation, but in contrast, a light of hope sparkled in Bianca’s round eyes.

“That means if Her Highness agrees, you’re okay with it, right?”

Cedric deliberately avoided her gaze and remained silent in response to Bianca’s question.

However, Bianca realized that this silence was tantamount to an affirmative answer.

If it weren’t, he would have already flatly refused her request.

For Bianca, who had thought Cedric was the biggest obstacle to Rebecca’s return, this was undoubtedly good news.

“Then, I’ll go ask Her Highness right now!”

With that, Bianca immediately dashed out of the dining hall.

It was just a child’s run, but Cedric didn’t even attempt to catch up with Bianca.

He just stood in the same spot, repeatedly calling out Bianca’s name.

“Oh dear, Bianca…!”