When she’d first seen her, Camilla had thought the girl might have been someone who killed herself.

But the look on Amy’s face as she stared at the room where Professor J.B. was stayed with her—something was off.

“Hey, you, by any chance....”

[You don’t have to bother asking those women.]

The reply came belatedly from Amy.

[I know everything Professor J.B. did.]

So Amy was a victim too?

A long sigh slipped from Camilla’s lips. Just how many people has that man killed?

But what Amy said next shocked Camilla even more.

[Professor J.B.]

A bitter smile touched Amy’s mouth.

[He’s my older brother.]

“Huh?”

[My real older brother.]

Camilla found her mouth hanging open before she knew it.

Side Story. A Good Person

“Our good Petro.”

Mother was always frail. She was plagued by minor ailments and even walking for long was hard for her.

Naturally, it became my daily routine to stay by her side and help her.

“Having you makes me so happy, Petro.”

I never wanted to see Mother sad. I believed the way to care for her was to be good, to present a proper, upright face at all times.

“You must be so blessed, madam.”

“Indeed. With such an upright son.”

When she saw me help others, Mother was pleased; when others praised me, she was happier than ever.

Only then did her face, usually shadowed by illness, flush and look so very healthy.

“When my son smiles, Mother is happy too.”

So I always smiled brightly. If I smiled, Mother smiled.

“Our Petro is such a good boy.”

So I always helped others. I never showed dislike.

That was how I could make Mother happy.

“Help those who are struggling.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Always be kind to people.”

“Yes.”

“You must become a good person.”

“Yes....”

Yes, Mother.

****

Even after Mother passed away, my life did not change.

Kindness, worn into me like a habit, became my everyday, and a smile was the only expression I knew how to wear.

“Lord Petro!”

“Petro!”

Because of that kindness and that smile, there were always people around me.

I didn’t think it was bad. Whether sincere or not, kindness given to others wouldn’t hurt anyone.

But....

“Kyaa!”

“Someone stop the Sorpel young lady!”

“What on earth is that!”

“Good heavens!”

I don’t know why I did what I did that day.

When I saw the two of them grabbing each other by the hair and fighting at the party—when I realized one of them was the one who’d been doggedly following me—I unconsciously avoided the scene.

Normally I would have stepped in without hesitation and sorted it out....

“Haa.”

For some reason, I was tired that day.

I left without the slightest hesitation, but my mind felt unbearably ill at ease.

Crushed by a wave of self-reproach, I went back, but by then everything had already been settled.

Camilla, who had caused the commotion, of course, and my partner, Jewelra Bakes, were nowhere to be seen; they must have left the hall.

After that, I didn’t see Camilla Sorpel for a while.

I saw her again in a cemetery where I hadn’t wanted to see her—somewhere I used to see her every day—on the anniversary of my mother’s death, when I visited with friends.

I was sure she had followed me. She always had.

But....

Ssssh.

She passed by me without even looking my way, her brow deeply furrowed.

After that, she kept acting unlike her usual self.

She didn’t chase after me, and the constant, impatient, anxious look she’d always worn was gone. Seeing her calmly fall asleep in the Practice Yard was even shocking.

What was strange was how my eyes kept going to her.

At some point, seeing her with Arsian stirred me even more.

****

Thud! Thump!

Arsian—he was beating someone again.

I didn’t hear the exact reason. Then again, has that fellow ever needed a reason when he hit someone?

“...”

I thought I should stop him, but I didn’t want to step in. I simply watched Arsian in silence.

Watching him throw punches without the slightest regard for anyone’s gaze, my mood sank, heavy.

How does he live however he wants like that? How does he do everything he wants?

Does he truly not care about other people’s eyes?

Thud!

“Urgh! S-sorry... please...!”

Thump!

My body didn’t move readily.

My eyes stayed fixed on Arsian. I felt strange.

Ssssh!

Then someone poured cold water over him.

The one holding the kettle from the side of the classroom—Camilla Sorpel.

“Please take care of the cleanup.”

Handing over the empty kettle, she took Arsian with her and left the spot, not caring at all about the eyes around them.

I stared blankly at their backs.

“Ha... hahahah!”

Laughter burst out of me.

People looked at me in surprise at the way I laughed, unfitting for the situation, but I didn’t want to care.

“Ha... ha...!”

Come to think of it, was this the first time? That I’d ignored people’s eyes like this.

After that, she often spent time with Arsian.

Many at the Academy watched the two of them with curiosity, but neither Camilla Sorpel nor Arsian Sephra cared in the # Nоvеlight # least about the looks they drew.

What is this, this odd impulse to keep wedging myself between those two?

“Miss Camilla.”

She was going around the Academy looking for someone.

“Are you looking for Arsian, by any chance?”

At my offer to help, she let out a short sigh.

At some point, that had become the expression I saw most often from her in front of me.

“Lord Petro.”

“You can just call me Petro.”

Arsian seemed to call her by name without formality.

At that, Camilla Sorpel let out another short sigh.

“You don’t have to do that anymore.”

Don’t have to do what?

“You don’t have to keep extending kindness you don’t even feel toward me.”

Kindness I don’t even feel?

Her red eyes looked straight at me.

“I’ll fully acknowledge that you’re a good man, so please stop with me.”

I couldn’t say anything. No—I couldn’t.

It felt like she’d glimpsed a part of me I barely knew myself.

As I watched Camilla Sorpel leave after saying that, a swarm of thoughts flew through my head.

A good person. Kindness I don’t even feel.

Can someone who extends kindness he doesn’t feel be a good person?

“Lord Petro!”

Just then, as always, a few young ladies approached where I was.

“What are you doing here?”

“If you don’t mind, would you take tea with—”

Their words stopped when they slowly turned and saw my face. In an instant, their expressions changed.

Looking at their wide eyes and frozen faces, I suddenly wondered what expression I was wearing now.

I hadn’t asked, so I got no answer, but at least one thing was certain.

I wasn’t smiling.

And perhaps this face—this might be my true face.

“Tea? Sounds nice.”

“Ah... y-yes, yes!”

But soon enough I wore the same gentle smile as always and spoke to them kindly.

Only then did their faces brighten again. They’d decide what they thought they’d seen a moment ago was a mistake.

Following behind them as they walked ahead, I smiled as always.

Brighter than ever.

Chapter. Black Shadow

“Welcome home, my lady.”

“Mm.”

The moment Camilla stepped into the manor, she ran into the butler, Rube.

“Hm...”

He studied her quietly for a moment.

“Would you like a cup of hot tea?”

“No, that’s fine.”

Perhaps her complexion looked worse than usual; Rube’s tone held mild concern. Camilla shook her head lightly.

“Where’s Father?”

“Both of the dukes are here, my lady. They’re in the receiving room.”

“Again?”

How long had it even been since they last came?

‘Don’t tell me they showed up again because of their Guardians.’

At the mention of Dukes Jevillan and Sephra, Camilla clicked her tongue softly.

“Today, the Duke himself invited them.”

“Invited? Why?”

Was there something special today?

‘I haven’t heard anything about it.’

The three dukes gathering in one place was extremely rare. Lately, they’d been meeting often because of the Guardians, but to anyone watching the movements of the three houses, it would look highly suspicious.

“A message arrived today.”

“A message? From where?”

Rube’s smile deepened.

“From the Academy.”

“The Academy?”

“Yes.”

What?

‘I don’t remember causing any trouble there recently.’

Camilla felt a faint unease. She thought she’d been keeping a relatively low profile these days—had she somehow caused an incident without realizing it?

And what did a message from the Academy have to do with the Duke inviting the other two?

“It didn’t seem to be anything bad.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Good.

Camilla didn’t press further. Just the things she’d learned at the Academy today were already too tangled and exhausting to think about.

She didn’t have the energy to deal with anything else on top of that.

“That bastard.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

She waved it off quickly, realizing too late she’d muttered aloud. A long sigh escaped her lips.

“You look very tired, my lady.”

“Right? I look really tired, don’t I?”

It felt like something happened every other day.

Too much, even for her. The fact that she was more exhausted than she’d ever been during her acting career said everything—something was seriously wrong.

“At times like this, a bowl of samgyetang would really hit the spot.”

“A bowl of... what, my lady?”

“Never mind.”

What was she expecting here, anyway.

“Where’s Dorman?”

Now that she thought about it, her page was nowhere to be seen. He’d said he’d always stay close and assist her, yet the man disappeared whenever he pleased.

‘All talk, that one.’

She honestly had no idea what help he thought he was providing.

“I saw him earlier, completely absorbed in redecorating your room, my lady. The seasons are changing, after all.”

...Fine, at least he’s being diligent about something.

Just hearing about Dorman made her feel even more drained.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Rube bowed lightly and turned to go.

“Rube.”

Camilla quietly called his name. His gaze returned to her at once, as if waiting for an order.

“...”

Camilla glanced around. No one else was nearby. Once she confirmed the corridor was empty, she looked back at him.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Rube.”

“Yes, my lady. Please go ahead.”

“It’s not a favor for the butler.”

“...Pardon?”

Seeing the faint confusion in his eyes, Camilla lowered her voice even further.

“Black Shadow.”

“...!”

“It’s a request for the head of that organization.”