Seeing Camille bend down to reach for the book on the floor, the blonde girl finally hears the first words from Camille since entering the room, "Live your life the way you want."
She's only 18, still just a child. She has a whole lifetime ahead of her, 76 years to be exact. 76 years are enough time for her to explore her life, to perceive the world, and anything she encounters along the way could potentially change her perspective. Given her unyielding character and Camille's intuition, it seems unlikely that there would be an unexpected departure from life in her 76-year journey, as she has consistently lived resolutely for herself.
Until Chloé walks out of the room, she feels a bit dazed. She understands the weight of Camille's words, having heard many rumors about her, and people hold a deep respect and admiration for her. She doesn't know how her family found Camille. Rumors have it that she roams between mountains and rivers, a figure of the wind and rain, the stars and the moon. Some say she could be a man or a woman.
It isn't until she walks out of the room that she takes out a photo she had taken from Victor. The photo depicts Victor's great-grandfather's family along with a young woman. In the photo, Victor's great-grandfather is still a 7-year-old child, and the young woman bears an uncanny resemblance to Camille in the room.
Now that Victor is 20 years old, both his grandfather and great-grandfather have long passed away. Despite the passage of centuries, the woman in the photo hasn't aged a day; she remains young and beautiful as ever. As Chloé stands by the window and sees Camille appear in the manor, she can't shake the feeling that Camille is as mysterious and beautiful as people have described. Perhaps she truly is a genuine prophet!
Taking a deep breath, she tightens her grip on the photo in her hand. With a determined look in her eyes, she briskly steps forward and runs outside.
On this chilly night, the biting wind carries swirling snow outside the windows. Inside the banquet hall, people dance in their thin gowns, the warmth of the room contrasting with the wintry scene. Every face in the hall exudes happiness.
Camille, not fond of crowded places, declines the hostess's invitations multiple times, and the hostess, understanding her preference, ceases to insist. Instead, she has delicious food and fine wine sent to Camille's room.
In her bedroom, Camille gazes at the check tucked between the pages of a book, lost in thought. On this cold snowy night, some are enjoying a warm and happy evening, while others are enduring a chaotic and embarrassing night.
The next morning, as the people of the manor are still waking up, only a few gardeners and servants are busy clearing the accumulated snow in the courtyard, preventing the departing guests from slipping as they descend the hill.
Camille's room had already been tidied up by the maids, but the fine food and wine from the previous night remained untouched; Camille hadn't taken a single bite. This morning, the mistress, sitting in her wheelchair, arrived early at Camille's room to greet her. "Miss Camille, did you sleep well last night? I'm terribly sorry if the crowd in the manor disturbed your rest."
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The mistress looked a bit weary. She had only briefly hosted the gathering the night before, conducting the usual formalities at the beginning, expressing gratitude to the guests, and wishing them an enjoyable evening. Afterward, she retired to her room to rest. Now, she still felt quite weak.
Camille shook her head slightly, assuring that she had slept well the previous night. She expressed concern for the mistress's health, advising her to take it easy and avoid overexertion.
The mistress recognized Camille's courtesy but noticed that she had put on an elegant pair of gloves. Her tone became somewhat somber as she said, "I truly, truly appreciate your presence. It was you who pulled me back from the brink of death. All the doctors had said I would pass away last night..." The mistress's voice choked up a bit.
Camille gently embraced the weeping mistress, tenderly patting her back. "It's your strong will, and the reaper couldn't take you away," she reassured.
The mistress wiped away her tears, gazing at the snow outside. "To be able to see the clouds again, to see the snow, to witness all the things in the world once more, it truly feels wonderful," she expressed. She turned to Camille, "Miss Camille, please feel free to make any requests. No amount of money can express my gratitude. As long as it's your wish, our family will do everything in our power to fulfill it."
Camille shook her head, "Many years ago, your great-grandmother's grandmother saved me from the jaws of a beast, gave me a refuge, taught me to make fire, and allowed me to survive." As she spoke, Camille pulled out an ancient coin with a string and handed it back to the mistress. "I made a pact with her. Anytime, anywhere, as long as she holds this coin and utters the incantation of our agreement, I will come immediately."
The mistress touched the intricate patterns on the coin in her hand and took out another coin from her pocket. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. "Yes, yes, I was forced to memorize this incantation since I was a child. I never thought our ancestors were truly watching over us. Amen."
Watching her devoutly pray, Camille continued, "Many years ago, your grandmother used another coin to save your mother and you. Now, my mission is fulfilled, and the pact with Marie is completed. I believe it's time for me to leave."
The mistress, excitedly grabbing her arm, said, "I am truly grateful to you. Please stay a little longer. You can stay and celebrate Christmas with us."
At this moment, the wind outside is picking up, swirling the snow on the ground. The strong wind bends the trees, and people in the courtyard hurriedly cover their heads, running towards the manor to seek shelter. A helicopter lands in the distant field. Camille, with a hint of regret, says to the mistress, "I'm sorry, I think I have to leave now."
Seeing this scene, the mistress also understands that she can't detain Camille any longer.
Camille boards the helicopter, watching the people bidding her farewell in front of the manor. On the rooftop, she notices Chloé and her sister's husband, Mathieu, engaged in a heated argument. In the midst of the argument, Mathieu unexpectedly pushes Chloé off the rooftop, and she falls onto the outdoor terrace on the second floor. Chloé's screams catch the attention of the people who were bidding farewell in front of the manor. They rush to the rooftop, finding Chloé's blood saturating the entire terrace.
On the other side of the manor, the butler is orderly escorting the guests away. As the guests depart, smiles adorn their faces, and they engage in lively conversations, completely unaware of the unfolding events behind the scenes at the manor. Not far away, ambulances and police cars are rushing to the scene.
"Pop!" A crisp sound of a bottle being opened draws Camille's attention back from the manor into the cabin.
Observing the Grim Reaper, dressed in black, opening a bottle of champagne, Camille coldly questions him, "What are you doing here?"
The Grim Reaper, pouring two glasses of champagne, chuckles and says, "Don't be so serious. Are you going to abandon me right after using me?"
Then, he glances at the manor that is getting farther away, the bright red blood contrasting vividly against the pristine snow. "Rest assured, she's not on the death list," he reassures. Camille, of course, knows that Chloé still has 76 years to live.
So, when Camille rushed to the manor, she saw the Grim Reaper standing by the mistress's bedside. However, she clearly noticed a thread still hanging from the mistress's head, indicating that she could be saved. And the Grim Reaper is simply waiting for that last thread of consciousness to snap before taking her away.
Indeed, it's accurate to say that the mistress saved herself through her strong will, and it's also correct to say that Camille played a role in saving her.
But everything in the world is interconnected, each event is part of a larger web. Nothing exists in isolation. Just like the mistress of the manor, she did get to witness the birth of her daughter's child, but shortly after the birth of her grandson, she departs from this world.