ICBV Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Luna sat on her bed, nervously biting her nails. Her face was pale, and her other hand trembled slightly, resting on her knee.

‘I didn’t do anything wrong. Aira brought this on herself!’ she thought, her anxious eyes flickering.

‘From the very beginning… it was Aira’s fault.’

Aira and Luna were born differently.

The daughter of a noblewoman and the daughter of a commoner. A legitimate child and an illegitimate one.

But all of that was unfair from the start.

Luna’s father, Count Marceline, had been deeply in love with her mother before he was forced into an arranged marriage with the former Countess. After marrying the noblewoman, he had Aira. However, he continued his relationship with Luna’s mother, and a few months later, Luna was born.

As long as the former Countess was alive, there was no chance of an illegitimate child entering the noble household.

After Luna was born, the Count gradually lost interest in her mother. When Luna was five, her mother passed away, and Luna was sent to live with distant relatives in poor conditions. She grew up struggling, covered in dirt and dust.

Luna was only allowed into the Count’s household when she turned ten. After the former Countess died of illness, Count Marceline finally called his daughter to live with him.

Luna, who had been feeding livestock with dirty hands, was suddenly taken to the Count’s grand mansion in a magnificent carriage.

The sight of the luxurious castle, the clean surroundings, and the delicious food didn’t make her happy—they filled her with rage.

The moment she saw her elegant half sister, who had never known hardship, looking down at her with a cold, unreadable expression, Luna felt a burning resentment.

‘Everything should have been mine.’

If Count Marceline had married her mother instead of Aira’s mother, she would have been the noble daughter, living in wealth and comfort.

But instead, look at what happened!

While Luna’s hands became rough and cracked from hard labor, Aira held delicate teacups with boredom.

While Luna fought with rough village boys, Aira danced at grand noble balls, surrounded by beautiful music.

‘Aira stole everything that should have been mine!’

If Aira had never been born, Luna would have been the only daughter of Count Marceline. She would have grown up enjoying all the luxuries of life.

Her miserable childhood was all because of Aira.

When Aira had coldly said, “Welcome,” without any warmth or hostility, Luna made up her mind.

‘I will take everything from you.’

So, she worked hard to gain the Count’s affection, always trying to please him.

She secretly sold off the family’s treasures to gain influence in noble society, making sure to outshine Aira at every opportunity.

And her efforts paid off.

She earned a good reputation and took all the attention and kindness that should have gone to Aira.

Even if it was all built on lies, the truth didn’t matter.

But then, Aira destroyed everything.

She fought back and took back what was rightfully hers.

The first time Luna saw the royal palace, her dreams grew even bigger.

A passionate romance with a charming prince. Becoming the most noble woman in the kingdom.

But Aira was standing in her way once again.

She stole the gifts Luna had prepared for Empress Julienne.

She whispered about Luna’s flaws, making her look foolish.

At a charity event, she humiliated Luna in front of everyone.

Now, unless Luna married Xavier, she would never be welcomed in noble society again.

‘Yes… This was always how it was meant to be.’

To achieve her dream, Luna had to step over Aira’s dead body.

‘Is she dead by now…?’

Luna’s lips trembled.

This wasn’t the first time she had used Pello Poison on someone.

When she was growing up in that distant relative’s home, there had been a boy named Paul who always bullied her.

The adults thought he liked her, but Luna found him disgusting.

A future noblewoman like herself shouldn’t have to deal with a filthy village boy.

He used to throw crumpled paper at her, hoping she would look at him.

One day, she gave him bread laced with Pello Poison.

A few days later, Paul’s funeral was held. Luna, with her usual innocent expression, denied any involvement and got away with it.

But after that, Paul’s brothers began to harass and beat her.

‘Once I marry the prince… I’ll get rid of them all, too.’

Luna’s lips curled into a cold smile as she remembered the past.

Even if an investigation was launched after Aira’s death, she wouldn’t be blamed.

After all, it was Jessie who had given the poison to Aira.

The only thing Luna was guilty of was lying about its side effects.

She was already prepared to cry and mourn her ‘beloved sister’s’ death.

‘Just die already, Aira. You thief.’

At that moment—

Knock, knock, knock.

A sudden knocking at the door made Luna flinch.

She quickly stood up from the bed, but before she could answer—

Creak.

The door opened.

“…!”

Luna’s eyes widened in shock.

It was Jessie.

Luna took a deep breath to calm herself, then let out a small sigh and smiled.

“Oh, it’s you, Jessie. What’s the matter?”

Jessie stood there, staring at Luna with a blank expression.

Luna’s smile wavered slightly. She spoke again, this time with a hint of unease.

“But even if we’re close, a maid shouldn’t enter without permission—”

“Why did you do that to me?”

Jessie’s sudden words made Luna freeze.

There was no admiration or warmth in Jessie’s eyes anymore.

Instead, they were filled with deep confusion.

Luna’s lips twisted slightly.

“What do you mean, Jessie?”

“You lied to me about the poison’s side effects.”

“…!”

Luna’s eyes shook.

For a moment, she looked completely stunned.

Then, after a long silence, her lips trembled as she finally spoke.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. But… wait, did Aira die?”

Her voice was full of concern, but at the very end—

Her lips curled ever so slightly in anticipation.

Jessie felt her heart drop.

She had only mentioned the side effects, but Luna immediately asked if Aira was dead.

That meant Luna already knew that Pello Poison could kill a person.

“…My lady…!”

Jessie’s eyes were filled with betrayal.

Unlike the cold and distant Aira, Luna had always been warm and kind, even to lowly maids like Jessie.

“Tell me, Jessie! What happened?”

Luna stepped closer to Jessie, grabbing her arm frantically as if she had lost all reason.

“Tell me. What about Aira? Did she die? Huh?”

Even though she knew that if Aira died, she herself wouldn’t survive, she still asked the question.

“I trusted you, but you only used me!”

Jessie finally spoke after staring at Luna in shock for a long time.

“And unfortunately for you, Lady Aira is still alive.”

“…!”

Luna’s face twisted instantly. Jessie felt as if she had been stabbed in the back by someone she trusted.

If Lady Aira had really died…

Even if she told the Count that Luna had lied to her to kill Aira, Luna would surely deny everything.

After all, she never directly ordered the murder.

Who would believe that the seemingly innocent and fragile Lady Luna had manipulated her with clever words?

Jessie would be the only one punished in the end.

“…You can’t even do one thing right.”

Luna muttered under her breath.

Goosebumps ran down Jessie’s spine.

Staring at Luna in shock, she quickly pulled herself away and turned on her heels.

Her hands were covered in cold sweat after coming so close to death.

“Jessie, what happened?”

“Jessie, why are you coming out of Lady Luna’s room?”

As Jessie stepped into the hallway, some fellow maids approached her, looking concerned.

With a face full of frustration and anger, she ignored them and kept walking in silence.

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“There… There’s a strange rumor spreading among the maids, Master.”

The butler hesitantly spoke to Count Marceline, who was reviewing important documents before moving to his new office.