Killing the Possessor - Chapter 14

In the end, he was the one who would inherit my father’s title and wealth, so it must have seemed like hypocrisy to him. Whatever the reason, I still had to play the role of the previous Camilli.

Not responding as I looked away from Dante, Glinda clicked her tongue in displeasure.

“Your brother is saying this for your sake, and you’re not even acknowledging it. With that attitude, who’s going to marry you?”

Whether she criticized me or not, I didn’t touch my soup, focusing instead on picking my salad. It was a form of defiant rebellion.

Perhaps finding my behavior obnoxious, Glinda suddenly spoke to my father.

“Dear, didn’t you say last time that Viscount Holles’ heir was of marriageable age? Perhaps we should—”

“Mother.”

I interrupted her mid-sentence, giving a fake smile.

“I think I might just not get married. I’d rather live peacefully with you and Father.”

I didn’t know who Lord Holles was, but considering that Glinda was the one trying to push me toward him, I had no doubt he’d be a terrible match.

Most importantly, if I stayed quiet after hearing something like that, it would make me less human and more like a bodhisattva. Perhaps the original Camilli had done everything she could to annoy that woman.

“Huh, what…?”

Glinda, flustered, let out a sigh of disbelief and furrowed her brows.

Yeah, she’s probably worried. Unmarried children get a share of the count’s estate, after all.

I could see why she’d be concerned. After my messy breakup with the prince, she probably feared I’d become disillusioned with marriage and settle down permanently in the Count’s household.

“I’m in favor, Camilli. It’s a good idea.”

Surprisingly, the positive response came not from the “mother and father” I had mentioned, but from someone else. I turned my head to glance at the voice’s owner.

Dante Mute, with his deep brown hair inherited from his biological father. He looked strikingly similar to Glinda, but his eyes, a greenish hue, were the complete opposite of hers.

For some reason, Dante, with a slightly flushed face, was smiling gently, as if he didn’t mind that I had just ignored his words.

What’s this? Why is he so happy? Does he actually feel some kind of brotherly affection?

“Brother, stop talking nonsense. If Camilli grows old and dies as an unmarried woman, it’ll be a disgrace to the Count’s family.”

“Dahlia.”

“Why? I’m not wrong, am I?”

Dahlia, pouting, jabbed her fork into a piece of fruit. I alternated my gaze between her sulking face and Dante, who sighed quietly. Slowly, I placed my utensils down.

With a soft scrape, I pushed my chair back and stood up, speaking in a neutral tone.

“I think I’ve finished eating, so I’ll go upstairs first.”

“But Camilli, you hardly touched…!”

Dante’s voice, trying to stop me, was cut off by Glinda.

“Let her go. Her personality is getting worse every day.”

It was a remark that seemed to make me understand exactly why Camilli didn’t get along with her family.

I shook my head and made my way toward my room, a place I was already far too familiar with. I’d be hungry later, but I could always call for a maid to bring me some snacks.

At this point, it felt like I was playing the role of Camilli Mute pretty well. I must’ve done a good job, right?

“Miss Camilli?”

Suddenly, I heard a knock, followed by the door opening. I stared at the maid who had entered uninvited.

She should know Camilli’s personality by now—why was she acting like this? Is she new?

“I brought some light refreshments.”

“Did Dante send you? I don’t need it, so leave.”

I figured Dante might have sent her, as he seemed overly eager to care for me.

But the maid didn’t leave. Instead, she confidently placed a tray on the tea table and said something rather cryptic.

“These tea leaves were brought from the southern peninsula.”

“…The southern peninsula?”

“Yes.”

She said this as if that was the only explanation needed, then quietly closed the door behind her and left.

Usually, when introducing tea, they mention the name of the place where it was grown, but “southern peninsula” without any further explanation was odd.

“If it’s from the southern peninsula, could it be…?”