EP 10

"Uh? You called too?"

"You did too?"

"Seriously, why did they suddenly call us all?"

"I don't know."

Four maids in their early twenties and two attendants stood in front of Camilla's door, snickering.

"I heard your relationship with the Duke has improved lately."

"So now they plan to scold us?"

"Pfft! How ridiculous!"

"I wonder how long that will last?"

"I bet they'll lose their temper again and end up in the Duke's bad books. I'll wear the earrings I just bought if that happens."

"Me too, me too."

The group showed no signs of fear or apprehension towards Camilla. Although some kitchen maids had recently been caught bullying her and were dismissed, that was just bad luck.

Knock knock.

Without hesitation, they knocked on the door.

Click!

Then they opened it right away, without waiting for permission. This was a routine action for them.

"Yikes!"

"Ugh!"

But the next moment, they had to quickly stifle their screams. They found Camilla slumped on the bed.

The sight of Camilla lying on the bed with blood trickling from her mouth was enough to terrify them.

Around her were various unknown pills scattered about. It was clear to anyone that it looked like a suicide.

"Is she... dead?"

The voice of the one speaking trembled. Their faces had turned pale. How could this happen? Camilla was dead!

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, they were at a loss. They didn't even have the courage to approach her and check if she was alive or dead.

"That..."

After some time passed, frozen in place and unable to act, they snapped back to reality at a small exclamation from one maid.

Finally tearing their eyes away from Camilla, they looked at where the maid was pointing.

"That..."

"Could it be?!"

On the bed where Camilla lay was a white piece of paper. Everyone present could easily guess what it was.

A will. It was undoubtedly Camilla's last will.

They hurriedly picked up the letter.

"…!"

The expressions of the maids and attendants changed rapidly as they read through the letter.

At first, their faces showed confusion, but fear quickly began to rise within them.

Their names were written clearly in the letter. Not only that, but everything they had done to Camilla up until now was mentioned as well.

The letter ended with pleas for justice and expressions of grievance.

"Oh my God."

"What do we do?"

"This is insane…."

"If this gets into the Duke's hands…."

The power of a suicide note is hard to ignore. No matter how much they might try to make excuses as usual, it would be useless now.

They would surely think about how wronged Camilla must have felt to go as far as taking her own life.

Even if someone disliked her, hearing that she had died would evoke some sympathy. Moreover, hadn't she been getting along quite well with Duke Sorfel recently?

If this letter were to reach him...

"We have to get rid of it."

"What?"

"The letter! We need to destroy it."

"B-but..."

"We can't die together!"

Before anyone could react, one maid shouted and immediately grabbed the will, tearing it into pieces.

The initial shock faded as they watched the will disappear before their eyes; everyone sighed in relief. After all, they had to survive somehow.

As long as the will wasn't found, there would be no evidence linking them to Camilla's death. The reason for her suicide would also be concluded as just another emotional outburst on her part.

"Wow. Don't you all trust your luck too much?"

"...?!"

Just then...

"Do you think you'll always be lucky enough to find my will first?"

"Gasp!"

"Ahhh!"

A very familiar voice came from behind the now-relieved group.

Turning around in a hurry, they screamed in unison. Some even collapsed onto the floor.

Camilla, whom they thought was dead, stood up perfectly fine and watched them with amusement.

Wiping the red stains from her mouth with a handkerchief, Camilla smiled brightly.

"I'm just acting dead again."

"Y-you're acting?"

Only then did those who understood what was happening feel their faces twist in disbelief. Had she been playing with them? They had fallen for such a silly prank?

By none other than Camilla?!

Anger surged within them instantly. Forgetting their earlier fear, they all wore annoyed expressions.

Watching all this unfold, Camilla chuckled again briefly.

"It could become real."

"…What do you mean by that?"

The faces of those present stiffened again at her words. Could it really become real? Did she actually consider dying?

"You all know I go to the kitchen every night lately?"

Everyone inside the Duke's residence knew about Camilla going at the same time each night to prepare snacks for Duke Sorfel.

Rumors even circulated that he secretly enjoyed and looked forward to what she brought him.

"What if I don't show up at that time? What do you think would happen?"

"What…?"

"At least someone would find it strange and come looking for me, right?"

They struggled to understand what Camilla meant by suddenly saying such things.

"What if I were to cut my wrist right on time and hold this will tightly in my hand?"

"...!"

"Or I could just scatter some pills on the floor and collapse like this. You all got fooled; do you think others wouldn't fall for it too?"

"A-A miss!"

Only then did realization dawn on them that this situation wasn't a joke at all; their faces went pale.

"A-are you threatening us right now?"

"Threatening?"

For the first time, a smile vanished from Camilla's lips.

Her demeanor changed instantly. The maid facing her flinched involuntarily at her presence so close by.

"A threat is…"

Camilla trailed off as she took a step closer to the maid.

"It's something done to those who have something to gain."

She reached out toward the maid who had just spoken up.

Flinch!

The maid squeezed her eyes shut instinctively, thinking she might get slapped; Camilla smiled again. Then she lightly tapped her cheek with her hand.

"Do you threaten bugs?"

"...!"

"A bug…"

Her hand that had been patting gently slowly moved down to caress the maid's neck.

"You just squash it underfoot or crush it."

"Oh… Miss!"

"But then your hands and feet get dirty; that's all I dislike."

The maid who locked eyes with Camilla trembled uncontrollably.

"But you know…"

Her voice dropped even lower now.

"There must be limits to that."

Everyone swallowed hard as they saw Camilla's gaze turn icy cold.

"I can't keep tolerating buzzing pests anymore… what should I do?"

Her touch on their necks felt chilling. It seemed like their necks could snap at any moment.

"I'm sorry! We're sorry!"

Before long, all maids and attendants were kneeling on the floor. Some even pressed their heads against the ground in submission.

This was different! She wasn't like before!

If she had yelled loudly or thrown things around like usual, they might have accepted it as normal behavior—perhaps even laughed at it while thinking *Of course she'd act like that*.

*But…!*

Now it felt suffocating. For the first time, they realized she wasn't someone they could treat lightly anymore.

"Let's behave."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Camilla gently tapped once more on the cheek of one maid who couldn't even kneel properly due to trembling fear.

"Bring it back."

"…Yes?"

"The ring you stole from me. Bring it back."

"...! Yes!"

"Understood!"

As soon as Camilla gave her order, everyone rushed out without waiting for anyone else. In their haste, some tripped over their own feet as they dashed away.

Thud!

In an instant, the door slammed shut behind them. Left alone in her room, Camilla finally let out a long breath.

*Oh dear, I'm drained.*

Playing an antagonist truly is an excellent way to relieve stress. However, it consumes quite a bit of physical and mental energy as well.

After all, one must exert more energy than their opponent's spirit for such acting to work effectively.

[....] [....]

As Camilla slumped onto her bed like a rag doll, Derin and Ferol approached her side.

They looked like they had so much to say but struggled to find words initially.

"What's wrong?"

After watching them open and close their mouths repeatedly without speaking, Camilla finally broke the silence first.

[We were surprised.] [You really seemed like you were going to kill them!]

Derin and Ferol—the ghost butler and chef—who had been observing everything from one side finally spoke up with astonishment still evident on their faces.

[Was that really acting?]

Although she had given them a heads-up beforehand about her plans, seeing how she pressured those maids and attendants moments ago made it seem genuine beyond doubt—like someone could easily die at any moment if things went wrong.

"I'm someone who won an award for playing an antagonist while overshadowing even protagonists."

[Award? What's that?] [Do you get awards for acting?]

Leaving behind Derin and Ferol—who didn't seem to understand—Camilla lifted a glass of water resting on the table and took a sip.

[But Miss Camilla.]

"Speak."

Derin seemed still curious about something as he spoke again.

[Haven't you already found your ring?]

Earlier she ordered those maids and attendants to fetch her ring back... but hadn't she already found it herself?

"I'm usually quite polite."

[Polite?] [What are you talking about all of a sudden?]

"It's only proper for people to return what they've received."

Looking at her hand holding the glass—a hand full of scratches from rose thorns—Camilla thought:

"Looks like I've stirred up quite a mess in this rose garden"

If others saw how everyone else rummaged through this rose garden alongside her...

"I hope you all hear some crazy stories too"