Chapter 34. Delusional Patient

“What did you say?”

The Duchess of Blanche asked sharply, her face incredulous. She seemed genuinely shocked to hear the word ‘love’ come out of Camilla Francis’s mouth.

Just a month ago, we were growling at each other as sworn enemies. It was understandable to find such a sudden change of attitude strange

Camilla covered her face with a fan as if embarrassed and said,

“Do you think I would willingly enter Blanche to marry a man I don’t love?”

That was true. Camilla would never have agreed to this marriage. Especially since she was convinced that this was the family that killed her mother.

Isabelle probed to understand Camilla’s intentions.

“Love, after just a little over a month? Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Falling in love happens in an instant. Our first meeting was extraordinary.”

“First meeting?”

“Why do you think Aster stayed out overnight on his first day back in the country?”

“…No way!”

When Isabelle gasped, Camilla winked. She spoke very nonchalantly.

“He was with me. We both fell in love at first sight.”

Isabelle’s lower lip trembled at the response, which suggested a grand narrative between them.

She already knew Aster had stayed out overnight. She suspected he was with a woman, but to think it was Camilla Francis. It was infuriating.

Whether it was love or not, it didn’t matter. She just didn’t want Francis to enter her house.

It was already an awkward situation, and suddenly being tied together as family wouldn’t make it any easier. If anyone noticed anything, it would be a headache.

Isabelle crossed her legs, trying to maintain her composure.

“Fine. Let’s say the dowry is settled. What about the residence? It would be difficult if you plan to move out because you find Blanche Castle uncomfortable.”

She intended to assert dominance from the start if she had to bring her into the house. She wanted to make her feel the harsh reality of being a daughter-in-law so much that she would want to leave on her own.

Camilla was amused by Isabelle’s easy acceptance. Surely, she would try to make her life difficult, but Camilla was not one to be easily defeated.

Camilla replied slyly,

“Oh my, where would I go leaving such a nice castle behind? Of course, I will live in Blanche Castle.”

“What? You want to come into Blanche Castle?”

Isabelle looked at her in disbelief, expecting her to refuse vehemently. Camilla responded with her usual bright smile.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t anticipated the hardships of being a daughter-in-law when she decided to marry. In fact, being harassed would be more helpful. It would make it easier to drive a wedge between the Duke and the Duchess.

“Yes. Where would you find a family who lives apart? Besides, Father also told me to come into the castle.”

“That annoying ‘Father’ again.”

The Duchess expressed her displeasure at her subtle display of closeness with the Duke of Blanche. Despite knowing this, provoking was Camilla’s specialty.

“Oh, Father told me to call him that.”

“……”

“Were you upset because I didn’t call you Mother? You should have told me, Mother.”

“……”

Her fawning voice was unbearably annoying. What made her so confident? It felt like Isabelle was the one being played.

It was even more unsettling because it seemed like she had an ulterior motive, but Isabelle couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.

But Isabelle was not one to back down easily. She had no intention of becoming a mother-in-law who was defeated by her daughter-in-law from the start.

“That’s fortunate. Since you’ve decided to become part of the Blanche family, it wouldn’t make sense to delay moving in.”

She was softly implying that Camilla should come in immediately and serve.

Camilla smiled broadly.

“I expected that, so I told them to pack my things.”

* * *

After finishing the meeting with the Duchess, I was able to look around Blanche Castle under the butler’s guidance. It was thanks to Isabelle’s order to familiarize myself with the structure of the castle today.

‘As expected, it won’t be easy.’

It was a demand made knowing full well that I would find Blanche Castle uncomfortable.

Sometimes, there were cases where people moved in together before marriage. Since Aster and I had a long engagement period, there was no particular reason to refuse.

‘The old fox is not easy.’

Isabelle Blanche seemed not to believe the story that this was a marriage out of love. While the Duke of Blanche, who tended to look down on women, seemed to have accepted it, it didn’t seem to work on Isabelle, who was also a woman.

I had just finished being shown around the garden. Someone lying on a bench got up upon hearing my presence.

“You…”

Paris looked at me with a surprised face. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to have drunk a lot and passed out on the bench.

“You’re still alive.”

I thought he had been quiet lately because he had been pushed aside by Lady Olive again.

Though my words were full of regret, Paris didn’t seem to understand. Suddenly, he jumped up and began to check his disheveled appearance.

“Are you really planning to act like part of this family?”

“Mother said I could look around.”

In reality, it was an order to look around.

Paris scoffed as I shrugged my shoulders. In the daylight, his silver hair appeared dull and dark compared to Aster’s.

Unlike the Duchess of Blanche, whose purple eyes were clear, his eyes were mixed with white, making him look stupid.

“You seem carefree. Are you satisfied with being the younger brother of the man you like?”

“Are you still living in that delusion? It must be nice to be so simple-minded.”

I thought it wasn’t worth responding to him and tried to walk past. But Paris was a persistent last-stage prince syndrome patient.

He blocked my way and said,

“Do you really like that guy Aster?”

“I’m marrying him because I like him.”

“Liar! You liked me when you were young.”

“Uh, no.”

“Helen said you liked me.”

“Hahaha. Paris. How long do I have to engage in this worthless argument with you? Especially in your house, with your butler right here.”

As I glanced at the butler and warned him, Paris misunderstood.

“Alfredo, go back. I have something to discuss with her alone.”

What is he saying? I don’t.

I held onto the butler who was about to leave and firmly said,

“No. Please don’t go. I have nothing to talk about with my brother-in-law.”

“Don’t call me brother-in-law! Drop such cringeworthy words! I still can’t recognize you as part of our family.”

Paris reacted violently to the title. Ignoring him, I leaned in closely and said,

“How can you argue about something that Father has already acknowledged?”

“Th-That’s….”

“And I’ve been meaning to ask you. Paris, do you like me?”

“W-What?”

“No, really. You keep picking fights every time we meet, just like an immature young master pretending to hate what he actually likes.”

Paris stammered, his lips moving like a fish, unable to respond. After a moment,

“Am I crazy?! How could I like a tomboy like you!”

Paris stepped back, trembling. If I was a tomboy, then Paris was just a servant.

If he didn’t, he could have simply denied it without such a dramatic reaction.

I straightened up and said as if I had expected his answer.

“Exactly. So, if we both dislike each other, why can’t you get rid of such delusions?”

“…….”

“If you don’t want to look like a shameless person coveting your younger brother’s wife, you should abandon those delusions. Helen lied.”

Paris’s face turned pale at my harsh words. Ignoring him, I turned away. Dealing with Paris was always exhausting and draining.

After dealing with the Duchess of Blanche and then Paris, I felt tired. Just as I was about to get into the carriage to return to Francis Castle quickly,

someone unexpectedly followed me into the carriage. My irritation vanished as soon as I saw his radiant silver hair and red eyes.

“What’s this? When did you get here?”

I had heard he would be late today.

Since we had already planned to meet in the evening, I was curious why he came here.

As soon as Aster got into the carriage, he handed me something and said softly,

“I came to help, but it seems you’ve already finished.”