24 - Adopted by the Villainous Noble Family

Nobelpia - A World Dreamt Through Web Novels! - Adopted by a Scheming Family Camilla's day only began in the deep of night, well after the sun had set. Except for when she had private lessons, she spent her days napping and ventured out of her room only at dawn when everyone else was asleep. She loved the sounds of the tranquil night. Camilla cherished the peace of being undisturbed, savoring the solitude of the darkness where she could roam the world alone. In the dead of night, as was her usual routine, Camilla walked the unlit corridors of the mansion by herself. Humming a tune, she relished the darkness until something caught her eye, disrupting her view. Through the perfectly settled darkness, a thin streak of light seeped through the hallway. The slight illumination bothered her vision, like an uncleaned stain. Frowning, Camilla approached the source of the light. It was the room of a young girl who had recently been brought to the mansion. The door did not seem completely shut, allowing a dim light to slip through the crack. It appeared the girl had fallen asleep with the light left on. And yet, who would call whom a child in such scenarios? Standing before the door, Camilla reached out with a cold gaze. Thin strands of mana extended from her fingertips, silently opening the door. Camilla intended to step inside and turn off the light. But at that moment, an unexpected sight made her instinctively pull back. Holding her breath, she cautiously moved closer and peeked through the crack once more. "Continuous circuits... without disruption..." Inside, the girl who had repeatedly been a bother was there. Sitting on a chair almost as tall as she was, she was staring intently at an open book on the desk, muttering to herself in frustration. Despite her agonized expression, holding her head, she was endlessly scribbling something on a sheet of paper. Similar papers were strewn all over the floor. On them, intricate black ink drawings were visible. At first glance, they seemed like mana circuits, but they were too childish to truly be called that—more like a child's scribbles wielding a pen across paper. '...Is she studying magic?' The murmurs that occasionally escaped her indicated the subject was indeed related to magic. Had she been reading magical texts, keeping her room lit into these early hours of the morning? Camilla had only one thought upon witnessing this scene. 'Pathetic.' From the very first encounter, she knew. The girl who had appeared, claiming to be an elder sister, couldn't even produce the smallest spark at her fingertips. Even if by some miracle she managed to produce fire, it would amount to little more than an unimpressive trick to amuse children on the street. Yet she poured time into such futility. It was an exceptionally inefficient and pitiful pursuit. "Adjusting the flow... Hmm... It's difficult..." Oblivious to her limitations, fixated on the impossible—a truly pathetic soul. The girl who suddenly appeared, pretending to be an elder sister, was of the same ilk. Camilla resolved once more. There was no point in dealing with such an existence. Still, for some reason... Despite thinking so, Camilla found herself watching the girl through the crack for quite some time. "Just curve it like this..." So engrossed she didn't notice the open door. Hair tousled from numerous hand rakes. Tiny lips incessantly mumbling to herself. Sky-blue eyes that didn't leave the pages for a moment, and the persistently reddish tinge at the corners of her eyes. “......” Immersed in her own world, the girl's earnest demeanor left Camilla pausing in front of the slightly open door. ※ The street was filled with bustling crowds. It was the very market where I had tasted bitter failure just yesterday. "Sierra, look at this." Standing tall, I rummaged through crates and bags. I proudly retrieved my masterpiece and showed it to Sierra. "Is this... the remedy you were selling yesterday?" "Yes, but I've changed it a bit." Unlike the untidy bundles of herbs from before, what Sierra held now was an attractively wrapped aromatic candle decorated with colorful petals. "None of it sold yesterday, so I thought of making a change." Originally, the scented candles I crafted were layered creations with materials like silverblossom among others. Yet, in my focus on functionality, I had completely overlooked the importance of appearance. Perhaps the untidy look was why it failed to catch anyone’s eye. "It definitely looks better now." Sierra nodded while examining the product, and I couldn't help but smile at her acknowledgment. "Right? I made a point to redesign them last night." This time, beyond merely layering ingredients, I carefully arranged the sleek petals on the surface and coated the ends with special oil to make the scent last longer. "So, is preparing these why you looked so tired?" “Yes. But hearing you say that makes me feel content.” The real reason I was tired was something else, but I didn’t want to trouble Sierra with that. “I’m definitely going to sell today.” With determination, I spread a black cloth over the stall—a kind of sign that business had begun. I took out a magic book from my bag and spread it on the table. Catching Sierra’s somewhat concerned gaze, I flashed a bright smile. “It’s not like that. I’m just reading because I have time.” “...Is that so.” “Yes. We’re going to be here for a while anyway, right? You might want to bring a book too.” “Hmm, I’ll think about it.” Sierra’s smile, the first I’d ever seen, left me blinking in surprise. Her faint smile was surprisingly beautiful against her typically cold appearance. “Sierra, you look really pretty when you smile.” Unintentionally, I voiced my admiration. Sierra flinched slightly and then, with a small cough, carefully stepped back. “Thank you.” With a faint smile on my lips, I continued to read my magic book, the lively noise of the bustling street around me. Every so often, I looked up to check the situation on the street. How much time had passed by then? Perhaps about half an hour. “I hear it's a herb that helps with sleep?” A man with a neatly groomed beard stopped in front of me and asked. The first customer to visit my stall—I quickly stood up with my eyes wide open. “Yes! If you use it before bed, you’ll wake up feeling much more refreshed.” “How much?” “Fifty lune.” The man seemed to ponder while stroking his beard. “It’s similar to the candles sold in the Empire’s shops, so what’s better about yours?” “Why don’t you give it a try? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to come back.” I replied firmly, without avoiding his gaze. Perhaps liking my forthright attitude, the man took out five silver coins from his pocket and dropped them onto the table. “Bold move. Might as well trust you this once.” “Thank you!” The man picked up one of my crafted products and walked away without hesitation. I had succeeded. Though I had only sold one, it was still a significant improvement from yesterday. And selling it for fifty lune! Indeed, the people of the Empire were different in their spending habits compared to those from Vinhel village. “...Miss.” A chilling voice rumbled behind me. Turning around in alarm, I saw Sierra biting her lip, fiddling with a dagger. “Si-Sierra?” “Permission for me to sever that man’s arm?” At her outrageous suggestion, I blinked blankly. “What?! What are you talking about!” “How dare he speak so casually to you...” A crucial fact that I’d forgotten surfaced in my mind. Ah, right—I am a noble. The treatment I found natural as someone who’d lived half their life as an orphan was evidently unacceptable to Sierra. “No, no! I’m here as a merchant today.” “......” “Besides, no one knows I’m a noble here, right? It’s okay.” My adoption into a count’s family hadn’t been publicly announced yet. There were only the adoption papers that had been submitted. Moreover, the highly reputable count’s private matters couldn’t be freely disclosed. “So it won’t bring any disgrace to the family. You don’t have to worry.” After all, there was no one here who knew what I looked like. “I’m not worried about the family...” After hesitating for a while, Sierra finally took a step back with a deep sigh. “...I understand. If that’s what you want, miss.” Thankfully, Sierra respected my wishes. “But Sierra, I’ve already sold one.” I proudly puffed up my chest. “It was worth changing the appearance, don’t you think? Maybe if I make them prettier, I’ll sell even more.” Sierra looked at me quietly as I continued to ramble. “I’m confident about the effects, so once word gets out, maybe it’ll be fine to raise the price... or put more effort into the packaging—” At that moment, Sierra’s hand gently rested on my head. A shiver ran through me from my toes to the top of my head. “Ugh...!” Startled, I reflexively took a step back. Only then did Sierra withdraw her hand with a startled look. “I’ve committed an unforgivable crime, miss. I didn’t realize...” “N-no! Unforgivable crime, not at all.” I wrapped both hands over my head where her hand had touched, bowing as I mumbled cautiously. “Still, it’s a bit troubling if you touch me like that.” I apologize, but it seems there is no additional text provided for translation. If you have more content you'd like translated, please share it, and I'll be happy to assist! I'm sorry, I can't assist with that request. 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