The witch wants to survive
W. Flower Seed
“No, I mean- I’m asking what the Baron has done for Edenberga!”
“Oh, that’s not something you should be saying!!”
A large conference room was filled with loud voices. The room was filled with the heat of the moment, with everyone seemingly disagreeing and swearing at each other. After a long argument, one of them, a count, the highest-ranking member of the group, untied the scarf he was wearing, tossing it onto the conference table.
"It's no good for us to fight like this. This is the day we've been waiting for so long."
“That’s right, that’s right!!”
“The Duke and Duchess, who had been immune to everything from assassination to poisoning, are dead, and the Princess is dead as well. This is a truly great stroke of luck for us. Are we going to waste this opportunity fighting?”
As the Count poured out his words, brimming with determination, the conference room instantly fell into a deathly silence. Camilla, who had been listening to the entire conversation from behind the door, simply leaned against the wall, her lips twitching.
okay.
The count was right. The Duke and Duchess of Edenberg were a testament to the union between the most elite families of the time. Skilled in socializing, politics, trade, martial arts, and even musical instruments, the Duke and Duchess were the only people even the warmongering Carcia recognized, aside from V. However, there was no way they could have been dealt with so easily. They had simply been heading straight for the ground. Until now.
But, it became a variable. The deaths of two people.
"So, what I'm saying is this: let's elect a representative for Edenberg, but let's share the governance among ourselves. Wouldn't that be fair to everyone?"
“Well… no matter what, the real ruling is done by the head of the household.”
"No- how can there be such a lack of trust?! We're family, after all. The family that drove out the Duke and Duchess of Edenberg and 'together' reclaimed power!!"
The human heart is truly wicked. Even as I listened to that story, I had no intention of sharing power, and even the person who spoke it was desperate to somehow gain even more power. At first, I couldn't understand the human heart... but now that I'm human, I feel like I can somehow understand what he's saying.
“Then, Count, can you trust us?! Then it wouldn’t matter if I became the head of the household, right!”
“Why is the conversation going like that?! I’m the highest ranking among these people, so of course I should be the head of the household!”
“Look at that! Even the Count doesn’t trust us!”
“That’s not it - whether you look at it from the front or the back, it’s right for me to take the position of the head of the household!”
Camilla, feeling she'd had a decent view, turned away from the wall. Just imagining it was thrilling. The look on their faces when the princess, presumed dead, appeared before them. And the sight of those insignificant men bowing before her seemed so vivid that she couldn't even look at them. Her lips turned crimson, and she grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled herself out.
Squeak, —
“I told you not to let anyone in, how dare you disobey me, ugh!!”
The count's reaction was so startling that everyone, as if by agreement, turned their gaze toward the door. For a moment, they doubted their own eyes. The princess was alive. And in perfect condition. Some fell backwards in shock, others froze. Camilla simply enjoyed this reaction and approached the count, who was seated at the head of the table.
“It’s been a while, Count.”
“…Go, go, Princess… No, how, no, how did you survive?!.”
“Yes, thanks to you. I’m fine.”
The Count felt his body freeze for a moment. It was surprising that the Princess had survived, but he found it strange that she was so relaxed, not trembling with fear. However, even if the atmosphere, expression, and tone of voice had changed, the woman before him, whom the Count had watched grow up from childhood until now, was undoubtedly Camilla Edenberg.
“Please step aside.”
“H, yeah?…”
“Since I am the only descendant of the Edenberg family, I should seriously discuss the position of head of the family.”
Giving up the seat of honor was tantamount to acknowledging the princess's superiority over the count, but he had no choice but to leave. Another unexpected variable was the princess's survival. If the heir died, the inheritance would be passed down to the collateral bloodline, but if the heir lived, it was a different story. The count, though resentful, had no choice but to acknowledge it. Now... rather than kill the princess, it was time to exploit her naiveté.
“Your Majesty, do you know how worried we were… how shocked we were when we heard the news of the carriage accident…”
“That’s right!… I wondered if our Edenberg would collapse like this. I was so scared…”
The Count, who was practically the leader, took out a handkerchief and dabbed his eyes with it. The others, quickly noticing, also began wiping away their tears, one by one, without exception. This situation was quite amusing. It was unexpected at all, and they were wiping away tears that didn't seem to be flowing. Camilla responded with a bright smile and began to join in.
"Oh, I'm so touched. I can't believe my relatives were so worried about me..."
“Huh, no… It’s just that the position of the head of the household is empty, so we need to fill it as soon as possible, and we would like you to fill that position… Hehe.”
“…Me?”
“Yes… However, since Your Majesty is still too young to assume the position of head of the household, we will remain here until she comes of age and assist her by handling affairs in her stead…”
Camilla was so dumbfounded that she almost laughed, forgetting that she was acting and turning serious. She will remain the head of the family until she becomes an adult. That means she will be nothing more than a figurehead. They will divide the power among themselves, and she will simply have the title of head of the family. That's what it means.
His words about leaving when he became an adult were obviously a lie. At first, he would simply make excuses about his shortcomings and stay, but as time passed, this period would become longer. And eventually, he could just kill the princess and take the place of head of the household. How smooth the road would be.
But Camilla wasn't stupid enough not to know about that stupid plan.
"I understand. It was wonderful. I truly respect all of you who took care of Edenberg while I was away."
When they applauded, the count shrugged his shoulders, seemingly smug. It was truly laughable how they, unable to discern whether this was mockery or praise, spoke of assisting the head of the household. Soon, they presented her with a document. Camilla lowered her eyes and began to carefully leaf through it.
[Household Contract]
1. The position of the head of the household is transferred to B.
2. Instead of giving up the seat to B, A
All affairs shall be performed and processed until the person becomes an adult.
3. However, if B does not have the ability to handle affairs,
If it is judged to be insufficient, all rights of Edenberg
Implementation may be postponed indefinitely.
Count Carisof Edenberg (in)
(person)
- Gap, Count Karisov Edenberg
- Camilla Edenberg
I chuckled at the contract's explicit scheming to extort money. If they were going to deceive, they should have done it properly. If they had even switched the positions of A and B, the "real" Camilla might have been fooled into signing. The contract's explicit, precise hierarchy made me realize once again how foolish they thought Camilla was.
“You can sign, Your Majesty.”
“… …”
“Here’s the Manyeonpi, L”
“You keep saying that - that's right, so I guess you know who the real idiot is.”
As soon as he felt there was no need for further agreement, he mercilessly tore the contract apart with his own hands and flung it into the air. As the paper, fluttering in the wind, fell to the floor, the count's face immediately flushed with a rage, as if poised to strike him at any moment.
“Do you think I’m catering to your true goals because I don’t know what they are?”
“Princess, what the heck is this!!!”
“It’s noisy. How long will this go on?Are you going to be pathetic?.”
Camilla, annoyed at having her mouth shut, was about to speak again, intending to say something. But Camilla abruptly rose from her chair, headed for the door, and locked it behind her. And then, the collateral relatives were able to face the sight of the princess, whom they had never seen in their nineteen years.
“I’ll give you two choices.”
“What is that…!!”
“First, I leave this place alive and quietly. Second,I'm leaving this Edenburg after I die.”
“…!!.”
"Don't worry. Whatever you choose, I'll get you out of here. I have no intention of leaving you behind in Edenberg."
The count forcefully tugged at the corners of his mouth. Admittedly, her aura was fierce. But even so, she was still a princess, raised like a greenhouse flower, a young lady from a noble family who had never even held a sword. Even a man who never held a sword, who only studied, could easily subdue a delicate young lady like her. Besides, he was twenty, and Camilla was alone. The count, taking even greater advantage of the atmosphere, approached her step by step.
"What does a young woman who's never held a sword expect to do? Do you know that? Keeping you alive depends on my will."
“… …”
“If I feel good, I live, and if I feel bad, ‘you’ die.”
The count, who had come right up to her nose, grabbed Camilla's chin with his rough hand and made her look up at him.
"Sign while I'm talking nicely. Then, I won't kill you later, and I'll make you my concubine."
A sticky, sinister gaze swept Camilla from head to toe. Ah, Camilla squeezed her eyes shut. He was the type she hated the most. If only she hadn't said that, I would have lived a long time... she muttered to herself, pulling her sleeves up to her elbows and speaking.
“That won’t do. You can’t go home today.”
Boom, —
It was a flash. Despite wearing a long, flowing dress, Camilla swiftly struck the vital point. She approached the Count, who was rolling backwards, clutching his groaning stomach, and began to crush his groan with her sharp heel. After knocking him down, memories of the "real" Princess Camilla flooded back. This Count, whom Carcia had knocked down, was the one who had repeatedly made sexually harassing remarks to Princess Camilla.
“Ugh, what the heck is this… how,”
“Shut up. I saw things I didn’t need to because of you.”
“Princess!! You’ll regret it if you do this to me.”
“I don’t regret it.”
Camilla pulled a revolver from her sleeve and pointed it at the Count. It was a new weapon V had imported from another country. Simply pulling the latch would instantly kill the opponent with a loud noise. It was actually given to her for self-defense, but she never imagined she'd use it in a situation like this. But, hey, it might as well be.
“You said you were giving it to me for self-defense, you didn’t say not to kill me.”
“…How dare you do that to me!!!!…”
"bye."
Bang, — !!!
The thing I regret most in my life is,
I loved that guy.
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