I, Who Was Betrayed By The People I Loved Most - Chapter 13

I stared down at the deep crimson carpet spread across the salon floor, fighting back a wave of nausea rising from my throat.

I never imagined morning sickness could be this awful.

Every time Uncle Oswald looked at my belly, he would say the same thing:

“If only Leticia had been the one to bear my child.”

—Why… why did it come to this?

When I first learned I was pregnant, I genuinely regretted it.

A child had no place in a temporary romance.

Aunt Leticia, before leaving this house, had simply said:

“Give birth, love that child, and raise them well.”

And then she walked away.

—Does she really expect me to become an unwed mother?
To give birth as a mere mistress?
Absolutely not. I would never accept that.

My lineage is too low-born—far too tainted for me to ever be accepted as the Duchess of Rubert.

I didn’t know what to do, and as I hesitated, a letter arrived from the royal palace.

Its contents declared two things:

Leticia and Oswald’s divorce had been formally recognized,
and I was granted royal permission to marry into the Rubert Ducal House as its new duchess.

I would later learn that Aunt Leticia herself had gone directly to His Majesty, pleading in person.

“Please… for the sake of the child Camille is carrying, allow her to marry my husband.”

They say she made this request through tears.

I never believed a few tearful words could bend the will of noble society.
And yet, her plea was granted—
That alone spoke volumes about her immense influence.

Apparently, the Oxley Trading Company—which Aunt Leticia manages—is one of the largest trading firms in the kingdom, commanding even the respect of the royal family.

She never once boasted about that.
And yet, knowing now what she was capable of, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of betrayal.

If she had told me about my background sooner—
If she had introduced me to Julius earlier—
Then I would never have made such a foolish choice.

And even then, that overly kind Aunt Leticia…
She didn’t stop there.
She went so far as to personally ask the grandees of high society:

“For the child’s sake, please accept Camille.”

Her heartfelt appeal rippled quietly through the circles of nobility,
And thanks to her, I was finally granted legitimacy as the Duchess of Rubert.

As I slipped into my gown, I stared into the mirror.

The truth was… I never even wanted this position.

All I ever wanted was a temporary romance.
I never imagined Aunt Leticia would leave.

And yet, now that I held a formal seat as Duchess of Rubert,
I felt a strange sense of pride.

No longer “Leticia’s brilliant niece living in her shadow”—Now I was recognized in my own right.

Or so I thought…