Chapter 21

# 21

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Thud!

Bivian ran to her room as if fleeing, her heart pounding and her breath heavy.

Suddenly, Nibia felt as if Nibya had come to destroy her, like a terrible monster.

No way!

Bivian shouted in a sharp voice at the maids who were only stomping their feet, unable to stop this absurd situation.

"Get out!"

"A, Miss...?"

"Everyone, get out! Right now!"

While this commotion was happening in Bivian's bedroom, Charlotte was looking at the spot Bivian had run out from with a bewildered expression.

'I knew Bivian's maids were negligent, but to let her act so rashly in front of others...'

Charlotte sighed inwardly and turned her gaze, only to frown.

The staff were glancing back and forth between the spot where Bivian had left and Nibia.

'The boutique that caters only to the great nobles has such poor staff management.'

Charlotte glanced at Nibia.

'But is it really okay to leave her like this?'

If Nibia, just a daughter of a minor noble, received something she didn't deserve, Bivian's heart would be hurt, and Nibia would become a terrible step-sister.

Actually, if Nikan had prepared the gifts for Bivian from the beginning, there wouldn't have been a problem.

Nibia said calmly.

"It's fine. I told her to keep the story about Ancier a secret."

Charlotte's eyes sparkled at this.

What kind of scheme is she planning this time?

Her heart began to race with a strange sense of anticipation.

Nibia looked quietly at the boxes, lost in thought.

'Father is arrogant.'

The firm belief that everything is within his control and can be managed.

This deep-seated thought and confidence were the source of Nikan's arrogance.

So, she had to let it be.

'This way, the dissatisfaction of Wood and Bivian, as well as the servants, will rapidly grow. They will begin to doubt their leader’s judgment.'

Nikan was convinced that his decision to take Nibia in as a foster daughter was right.

Thus, the friction would only grow, causing cracks in the community.

"One, two..."

Charlotte counted the boxes.

Bivian usually received more than thirty gifts.

'Even though it's only fifteen boxes...'

Still, Ancier Boutique was a place that catered almost exclusively to the great nobles.

Receiving items from such a place meant that Nibia, as a lady, was being treated properly.

"Miss, look. They are all top-quality items!"

Charlotte, feeling excited, brought the new clothes to Nibia, but then closed her mouth, looking a bit flustered.

Nibia sneered at her reflection in the large mirror.

"It looks like I'm wearing Bivian's stolen clothes."

The items Nikan had given were all suited for Bivian.

The colorful and cute clothes and accessories, which matched Bivian's pink hair and green eyes, looked childish and excessive on Nibia.

It made her look like a low-born, foolish girl who was trying to imitate a noble lady, relying only on her pretty face.

Charlotte, looking flustered, swept the items back into the boxes.

Among them was a hairpin made of iron with a single pearl, which Linden had mentioned was added as a bonus.

'At least this hairpin looks the best.'

Charlotte, suppressing her disappointment, left the hairpin for Nibia and did not take it for herself.

She said in a deliberately bright voice.

"Oh, Miss. There's orange marmalade in the kitchen today. Would you like to have it with scones? I can bring it quietly this time, unlike yesterday."

Nibia was about to say it was fine, but she nodded when she sensed that Charlotte was trying to cheer her up.

Charlotte hurried to the kitchen, hoping Nibia's mood would improve. It would take some time to warm the scones.

After Charlotte left, Nibia stared blankly at the boxes in front of her, lost in thought.

There were only two days left until she could escape Agnes.

Nibia had a reason for setting the day of the final battle five days after the contract with Edward.

It was because of the Empress's invitation.

Nikan had to attend the invitation if Bivian's illness improved, in order to change her engagement.

Once Nikan left the house, Nibia planned to have Wood take her out of the mansion and flee to Esselred.

Nibia thought about the head of the Esselred Dukedom.

Lark Esselred, the Duke, was a very unique person in many ways.

He had never left his mansion, making him a very mysterious figure.

He even ignored the Emperor's summons.

There were many rumors surrounding him.

He was a talented magician but too ugly to go outside, or he was an incredibly handsome man suffering from madness, or he wasn't human but a monster, and so on.

"Hmm."

'What is the reason for not revealing himself? The rumor about his illness seems the most plausible.'

Despite the Esselred Dukedom being in decline to the point of being called a garbage dump, no one dared to touch it lightly.

This was because the current Duke, at the age of eight, had dyed his mansion pitch black with magic.

The outside world speculated about this ostentatious behavior.

The prevailing opinion was that the Duke was showing off his power to intimidate his surroundings.

But the rumors soon died down.

No matter how great a magician he was, he never came outside. He didn't even get engaged, let alone married, and had no heir.

'But something changed in the 8th cycle.'

The 8th cycle, when Nibia had survived until the age of 22 for the first time.

The second prince, Creed, who was born to Empress Estelle and died after receiving poison, suddenly appeared, backed by the Esselred Dukedom.

Creed's appearance was shocking at the time.

Not only was he an incredibly handsome man with black hair and heterochromatic eyes, resembling Empress Estelle, but he could also use various magics despite not being a copycat magician.

'Or was it because of his looks?'

Nibia had no particular connection with him, even though he had made many young ladies' hearts flutter.

Ah, there was one time.

'At the royal ball?'

When Nibia's engagement to Prince Ares was broken, and the humiliating rumor that she could not bear an heir spread in society.

At that time, several fallen nobles approached her, taking advantage of her miserable situation.

That day, her dress was stained by drinks, and she fell and made a mess of herself due to the persistent rudeness of these people.

Even when she fled to the terrace, where no one could see her, some of them followed her.

"Get lost."

Indifferent blue eyes, a cold expression that was impossible to read, and an overwhelming aura.

Nibia saw Creed up close at that moment.

Creed, with the same indifferent gaze he used to drive away the ruffians, looked at Nibia.

"Are you Lady Nibia Agnes?"

"…Your Highness Prince Creed."

"That's enough. I am no longer a prince; I am under the protection of the Esselred Dukedom."

True to the rumors that he was a taciturn person who didn't mix with others, he tried to leave without saying another word to Nibia.

But then...

"Take this coat."

He took off his jacket indifferently and left the terrace.

Nibia couldn't wear the coat.

She didn't know what kind of scandal might attach to her. But she took the coat anyway.

...It was the first act of kindness she had ever received.

'Anyway, Prince Creed entered Esselred before he turned eight.'

Creed was a year younger than her, so he would probably go to the Esselred Dukedom within a year.

Nibia remembered the Empress's angry words.

"I should have set my own person as the heir of Esselred long ago. That monster, who is hard to kill, is now under the protection of Esselred...!"

'Even when Prince Creed appeared, the Duke of Esselred still didn't show himself.'

She didn't know exactly when the second prince would appear at the Esselred Dukedom, but she planned to give up her position to the rightful owner when the time came.

'And then I must leave.'

A noble's child can become independent through marriage. So, Nibia planned to find a favorable marriage partner and achieve complete independence.

Until then, she had to survive.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

At that moment, urgent footsteps were heard from outside.

Nibia slightly opened the door.

"Bring the master! Miss Bivian has fainted!"

Hearing the noisy cries, Nibia closed the door again.

Bivian's fainting was clearly due to her distress over Nibia's situation.

Philippa and others who disliked Nibia would have a good opportunity to tear her apart.

But she wasn't at all nervous.

'Because I can turn a crisis into an opportunity.'

Nibia picked up one of the boxes.

Click.

The door opened.