I, Who Was Betrayed By The People I Loved Most - Chapter 6

(From Camille’s point of view)

It happened one day— Uncle Oswald complimented my embroidery for the first time.

“You’re very skilled with your hands.”
Just those few words… and my chest grew warm with emotion.

As a child, I could hardly recall ever being praised.
If I made a mistake, I’d be scolded.
My parents were too consumed by daily survival to spare any attention for me.
They simply didn’t have the time or the energy.

That’s why Uncle Oswald’s offhand comment felt so special.

Of course, Aunt Leticia often praised me, too.
But she could finish a piece of embroidery ten—no, a hundred times better than I ever could.
And the more she praised me, the more painfully aware I became of my own lack of talent.
It left me feeling a little miserable.

But Uncle Oswald… he was different.

When he praised me, for just a moment—
A fleeting, fragile moment—
I felt like I might be standing beside Aunt Leticia… as her equal.

After that, I started trying just a little harder whenever I was around him.

I styled my hair more carefully. I brushed on the slightest hint of rouge.

I wanted him to notice me.
Not as a child.
But as me.
More closely than he saw Aunt Leticia— I wanted him to see me.

Still…
Even I wasn’t sure if what I was feeling was love.

◆◇◆

The seasons passed, and it was just before my eighteenth birthday.

In the garden, I saw Aunt Leticia being gently pulled into Uncle Oswald’s arms.

A quiet, tender moment between husband and wife.

That was all it was—And yet I couldn’t move.

My chest tightened painfully.
That scene, which should have felt warm and lovely, instead felt distant and cold.

“…Why does she get to be so happy? Why does Aunt Leticia get to have everything?”

She was beautiful. Intelligent. Graceful.
It was only natural that she’d be loved.

I understood that. I really did.
And still—I couldn’t stand it.

I knew the truth.
I had always known that I would never be like Aunt Leticia.

I never intended to steal Uncle Oswald away.
Even if I wished I could become someone like her… I knew I never would.
I understood all of that.

And yet— Just once.
Even if only for a moment.
I wanted him to look at me.

Soon, I would marry.
In a few short years, I’d leave this house and become someone else’s bride.

Aunt Leticia would surely choose a nobleman of excellent lineage.
I would be married off without complaint—
A perfect, respectable future awaited me.

I would become a duchess’s daughter who married well, bore children, and served her husband.
That was my future.

And so— Just for now.
While I was still here in this house… I wanted Uncle Oswald to love me.

“Uncle Oswald…”

My voice trembled as I called out to him. But I didn’t try to stop it.
Because if I said nothing now, I knew everything would slip away.

“In a few years, I’ll be married. I’ll leave this house, and I won’t be by your side anymore. So just for now… please, let me dream.”

You don’t have to touch me.

I just want you to see me—as a woman.

No one will know. No one will ever find out.
So please… just for now, look at me—and only me.

…The truth is, I wanted him to touch me.

But if I said that, I knew he would reject me immediately.
And even this fragile moment—this sliver of warmth—would vanish.

If no one finds out, no one gets hurt.

I was just a pitiful, unfortunate girl.

So, isn’t it okay… If I’m allowed a little comfort?