Chapter 16
Camélia snapped out of her stupor with a sharp breath.
Edgar had invited Angela to the palace… knowing full well that she would be coming. She—the daughter of a Grand Duke—cast aside in favor of a mere count's daughter? Was this some kind of cruel joke?
"Thank you so much for inviting me, Your Highness!" Angela exclaimed with naïve delight. "It's always been my greatest dream to see the palace… everything is so beautiful and radiant, like a living fairy tale!"
"I'm glad I could make your dream come true, Angela," Edgar replied, kissing her hand with a tenderness that made Camélia's blood boil.
She couldn't believe her eyes. Since when had they become so intimate? And what about her? Who was she now, to be so openly ignored? Had she become nothing more than a shadow in their eyes?
"Unfortunately, your visit will have to be limited to the gardens of the main palace," Edgar added. "But I promise I'll show you my palace very soon."
"Oh! That would be such an honor, Prince Edgar!" Angela giggled, glowing.
Camélia clenched her fists, her throat tight. They were ignoring her… completely.
They would regret this, she vowed, turning away to leave—her back straight despite the pain.
Behind her, Angela watched her go with a satisfied smile. It had all been so easy. She could hardly believe she had won over the First Prince with so little effort.
One thought settled firmly in her mind:
I was born to become Empress.
Everything will be mine, she thought, her calculating gaze brushing over Edgar.
"Is everything all right, Angela?" the prince asked gently.
Angela lowered her head slightly, trembling. "Your Highness… why was she here?" she whispered. "She frightens me a little, you know… I thought she wanted to be my friend."
Edgar frowned. "Don't worry. Camélia can be harsh, but I won't let anyone hurt you."
Angela offered a timid smile, lowering her eyes with feigned emotion. "You truly are a fairy-tale prince…"
Edgar straightened proudly, flattered. Angela, meanwhile, cast one last venomous glance toward where Camélia had disappeared.
Camélia had taken refuge near the fountain. The tears she had held back finally spilled freely down her cheeks.
Everything she had done for him… and this was how he repaid her? For a girl he barely knew?
Must I really marry a man like this? she thought bitterly.
Her mother had always told her: Wait.
But never allow yourself to be trampled.
They had sullied her name. Trampled her dignity.
So she would make them cry—one by one.
And she would raise her name again, forged in the brilliance of their regret.
Drying her tears, Camélia straightened her posture.
She was not finished.
"Miss Camélia~!" a lively, joy-filled voice suddenly called out.
Camélia raised an eyebrow. Who could possibly be genuinely happy to see her right now? She lifted her head—
—and saw a familiar veil crawling out on all fours from a rose bush.
Her eyes widened.
"Is that really you?" she whispered, before rushing toward the clumsy yet familiar figure.
Camélia pulled her free of the bushes, and both of them tumbled backward with a small cry of surprise. Camélia gasped from the impact, then blinked—
—and froze, mouth agape, as she took in Vida's almost unreal beauty.
Long midnight-blue hair, gleaming like a star-filled sky, cascaded down to the ground. Her eyes—an unnatural emerald green—shone beneath long white lashes framing almond-shaped lids. Her heart-shaped face was adorned with peach-colored lips, a small straight nose, and porcelain-white skin.
Camélia stood frozen, transfixed.
Vida tilted her head innocently, puzzled by the intense stare. She lifted a hand to her veil—
—which was gone.
She gasped, looking around frantically. It was caught among the rose branches. She hurriedly retrieved it and pulled it back over her face.
"You're… beautiful," Camélia breathed, almost without realizing it.
Vidalia flushed violently beneath the veil, clasping her small hands to her chest.
"Th-thank you…" she murmured shyly.
Before Camélia could recover, she noticed a tiny fairy slipping beneath the veil to hide.
"A fairy?" she exclaimed, stunned. "By the Goddess… this day is going to give me palpitations," she sighed, wiping her brow.
"That would be impossible, miss—you're only twelve, right?" Vida giggled.
Camélia smiled despite herself. "And you, Vida? How old are you?"
"Ten… almost eleven."
Camélia frowned. "But the legal age to serve is fifteen. Madam Elysia is cruel… If the Emperor learned of this…"
"That would be their problem," Vida replied with an unexpected shrug. "But what about you? Why were you alone here? Where are your guards? Your attendants?" she asked, suddenly worried.
Camélia froze.
The pain surged back in a burning wave, but she pushed it down, breathing softly. Then she told her what had happened earlier.
She didn't understand why she was confiding so easily… She risked Vida repeating everything to her sister, plotting yet another scheme against her.
But she didn't stop.
The words spilled out, and when she finished, she lowered her gaze to her hands clenched in her dress, heart pounding, hoping she wouldn't regret her honesty.
Warm, gentle hands covered hers, squeezing them tenderly.
Camélia looked up.
Vida had lifted her veil, and her emerald eyes shone with resolute light.
"Don't worry, Lady Camélia," she said with disarming sincerity. "He doesn't deserve you. I swear I'll help you take revenge. Just tell me what I can do."
Camélia was speechless. Tears filled her eyes.
No one had ever spoken to her like that.
Everyone around her only cared about her magic or her name. No one dared oppose the First Prince—even if he was as useless as he was arrogant. As for the Second Prince? Too distant. Too mysterious.
"Why would you do that? We barely know each other…" Camélia asked, her voice trembling.
Vida tilted her head, exchanged a knowing glance with the fairy perched on her shoulder, then smiled.
"Let's just say… it's mutual aid. My sister is a manipulative viper with an angel's face. I'm chained to that family. I used to plan on running away when I was older, but I had to change plans. And now… I have a place to hide."
Camélia glanced at the veil. "Is that why you seem so comfortable wearing it?"
Vida nodded. "I don't want them to remember me. My stepmother gave me a lovely disguise…" she joked. "And I think Angela seduced the prince on purpose. I don't even know where she learned such things…"
Camélia's eyes widened, then narrowed. "She did it deliberately—but Edgar let himself be seduced. He's just as guilty."
"I don't disagree, Lady Camélia," Vida replied, adjusting her veil. "I know my sister well. She's as unpredictable as she is ambitious."
She stood and held out her hand.
Camélia took it, thoughtful.
"And where are you going with this?"
"If you ever need help, ask me. I'll do everything I can. In exchange…" Vida hesitated, then smiled. "One day, you'll help me too."
Camélia arched an eyebrow. "That's a bold request."
Then she smiled and squeezed Vida's hand. "But I accept. You'll be precious to me, Vida. I can feel it."
Vida bounced lightly on her feet, radiant.
"Oh, by the way… my name is Vidalia."
"Pardon?"
"My real name is Vidalia. Since you've seen my face, I can tell you."
Camélia smiled, tilting her head. "Not very well hidden, if you ask me."
"I knooow…" Vidalia groaned.
Camélia burst into laughter—a sincere, heartfelt laugh.
A few minutes later, Camélia and Vidalia sat by the fountain, chatting about everything and nothing. Camélia was surprised by how comfortable she felt with the young servant. Beneath her boldness, Vidalia revealed a touching, almost childlike shyness that made her smile.
"C-can I… call you my friend, Miss Camélia?" Vidalia asked timidly.
Camélia startled at the simple question. No one had ever asked her that before.
She looked down at her hands. She would be lying if she said she had never had friends—Lady Henrietta and Victoria had been with her since childhood. But that belonged to a distant past.
She lifted her gaze and nodded with a sincere smile.
"I would like that very much, Vidalia."
Vidalia's face lit up instantly.
"Did you hear that, Naya? Miss Camélia is my friend!" she whispered to her fairy.
"Now that we're friends, you can drop the formalities," Camélia laughed. "Those close to me call me Lia… you may too."
"My friend calls me Lia too!" Vidalia exclaimed, laughing.
Camélia's eyes widened with joy. A friend who even shared her nickname…
They laughed together—light, genuine laughter.
Suddenly, Naya appeared before her, grinning from ear to ear. The fairy grabbed Camélia's face with her tiny hands and kissed her on the nose. Camélia blushed, delighted, while the fairy wriggled happily. Naya was happy when her friend was happy.
A stomach growled.
Camélia raised an eyebrow and turned toward Vidalia, who was staring at her own stomach, cheeks flushed.
"Oh…"
Camélia looked up at the sky—the sun was beginning to set.
"We've been here for hours… Why are they taking so long?" she muttered, glancing toward the gazebo where Angela and the prince were laughing merrily, oblivious to them. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"You can't leave, can you?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Nope," Vidalia replied with a resigned smile.
Camélia's heart tightened for her friend. Without a word, she took Vidalia's hand. Vidalia understood and returned her smile, radiant. For once, Camélia felt that hunger mattered less than the warmth of a genuine bond.
They talked a little longer, until Angela and the prince finally stood.
"Tonight, I'm going to have the best night of my life…" Vidalia whispered as she rose, glowing.
Camélia stood as well. To her surprise, Vidalia gently brushed the dust from her dress and adjusted it with unexpected care.
"Lady—no," she corrected herself, shaking her head. "Lia. In two weeks, I'll get my first pay… and my very first week of vacation!"
She straightened, excited like a child.
"I'd love to invite you to come with me and my friend. It's the first time I've ever invited a friend…" she laughed, slightly embarrassed.
Camélia smiled broadly.
"I'd be delighted, Lia."
Vidalia beamed and hugged her tightly. She really is much smaller than me, Camélia thought, hugging her back.
Then Vidalia hurried toward Angela, waving enthusiastically as she went. Camélia returned the gesture with an elegant wave.
"Congratulations on your new friend, miss," a voice said behind her.
Camélia turned.
Adeline, her bodyguard, stood there, solemn.
"Thank you, Adeline," Camélia replied gracefully.
"May I ask how you are feeling?" Adeline inquired, her blue eyes betraying a simmering anger mixed with concern.
Camélia smiled, meeting her loyal gaze.
"I feel well. Wonderfully well."
She walked forward with confidence, gaze fixed ahead. The wind rose around her, lifting her hair like a banner.
"I'm glad to hear that," Adeline said, following her. "And now? What do you intend to do?"
Camélia paused. A sly smile curved her lips.
"Me?"
"…Make them regret it, of course."
The wind suddenly intensified, sharp as invisible blades. A row of roses burst apart, their petals scattering through the air like blood.
To be continued