Chapter 82
Dahlia responded with an annoyed expression but raised her pen again. Her brave movements soon slowed.
She glanced at Camilli and quietly asked,
“Did you try the cookies I baked last time?”
Camilli, who had been idly touching the books on the shelf, quickly answered,
“Why would I eat that? How would I know if you poisoned them?”
Camilli snorted, clearly finding the brazen reply ridiculous.
“I don’t know about poison, but they tasted awful. You have no talent, so stop wasting your effort. Don’t even think about giving them to anyone else—it would disgrace the family.”
Shaking her head, Camilli turned and left the living room. There was no goodbye or closing remark—just as abrupt and selfish as when she appeared, but to Dahlia, it was familiar.
“…So you did eat them.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Dahlia’s lips. She crossed out “geg” and wrote “egg” properly, adding “chocolate” as an extra ingredient. This time, she planned to bake with a different flavor.
The sisters’ occasional quarrels continued even after Camilli entered the academy.
Unlike Dante, who stayed in the dorm studying even during vacations, Camilli went home daily, so Dahlia saw her face every day.
Their relationship, full of pointed concern and sharp words, was natural and peaceful—until, according to Dahlia, it began to change after the lake incident.
“Did you take it?”
During a picnic by the lake, Dahlia noticed a woman standing before her and panted. Though sharp words were normal from Camilli, this time it was different.
“I’m asking you now. Did you take it?”
“What?”
“My ruby bracelet—the one crafted by artisan Kaltia.”
At the mention of the ruby bracelet, Dahlia said, “Ah.” It had been one of the things in her possession.
Camilli, who had dated the prince for a long time, had many precious jewels, and Dahlia sometimes had servants borrow them without permission.
Though sensitive and irritable, Camilli was surprisingly tolerant about such things. She would scold Dahlia immediately but never let it escalate.
So Dahlia mistakenly thought this would be no different.
“Yes. But I lost it.”
“…What?”
“I wore it when I went to tea at Letine’s house, but when I got home, it was gone.”
Camilli’s expression vanished. Seeing the unfamiliar reaction, Dahlia’s defenses softened a little.
“…Sorry.”
She added an apology late, but Camilli’s anger didn’t subside. With a red face, Camilli shouted.
“You crazy girl! Do you know what that is?”
Angry, Camilli kicked the picnic basket hard. Sandwiches and fruit scattered everywhere. Dahlia frowned deeply and stood up abruptly.
“You’re the crazy one! There are lots of eyes watching—what are you doing? If it’s just the bracelet, I could just buy you a new one—ugh!”
Camilli yanked Dahlia’s hair with such force it felt like ripping her scalp. Startled, Dahlia screamed, but Camilli didn’t loosen her grip.
“That bracelet? Do you think you can just buy it if you want? How could someone like you afford that?”
“Hey! Let go!”
“That’s what Wyner gave me when he first confessed! You couldn’t buy that even with a fortune!”
Listening to the story, even the usually shameless Dahlia felt pangs of conscience. But the pain in her scalp was unbearable.
Reflexively, she shoved Camilli’s shoulder hard and shouted,
“Let go!”
Losing her balance, Camilli tilted backward. Because she didn’t release Dahlia’s hair, Dahlia fell backward with her.
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