Chapter 22

# 22

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The Agnes Dukedom was in turmoil again from the early morning.

This time, it was because of Vivian.

"Miss, this is a serious matter!"

"Get out! Get out, I said!"

The news that Vivian was causing a commotion, crying and wailing after seeing Navia's gift, spread widely.

People frowned when they heard the reason for Vivian's tears.

"Did Lord give Miss Navia a gift from the Ansier Boutique?"

Navia was, after all, a foster daughter.

They had heard that she would eventually become a noble queen, but the people here were quite savvy about politics.

Navia was merely a chess piece in Nikan's hand.

They accurately understood that the person they truly needed to be loyal to was Nikan.

That's why they found it difficult to understand Nikan's recent actions.

"What if something serious happens to Miss Vivian... What do you plan to do?"

They clicked their tongues, thinking of the young, terminally ill Vivian.

The news of Vivian's condition quickly reached Nikan's ears.

"Vivian has fainted!"

"Vivian fainted!"

Despite her unruly behavior, she was his blood-related daughter, a daughter like a sore thumb.

Hearing that his daughter had fainted, Nikan turned pale and rushed to Vivian's room.

Bam!

"Vivi, is Vivi alright?"

He approached the bed where Vivian lay. Vivian had her eyes tightly shut, red and swollen from tears.

Hans, the senator, said,

"It's due to stress. Rest is most important."

Nikan rubbed his forehead.

So, Vivian fainted because she was crying out of jealousy for Navia?

'How can there not be a single quiet day!'

He was already busy trying to transform Navia into someone presentable enough to be shown in public before the engagement.

He thought things were going smoothly because Navia, despite her humble origins, had an outstanding learning ability and picked up everything quickly.

'The engagement is just around the corner.'

If this continued, the turmoil in the household might reach the queen's ears.

These incidents were happening one after another.

For now, it could be passed off as a minor conflict between children. But if a bigger problem arose, it would be troublesome.

Nikan glared at Vivian's dedicated maids.

"How did you let this happen while taking care of Vivian?"

"I'm sorry, Lord... I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry?"

Nikan rubbed his temples. The cold, green eyes under his palm were filled with a murderous intent.

"Do you think I want to hear your useless apologies right now?"

Maki keenly realized that if she appeared incompetent, it would be the end of her.

Maki hurriedly defended herself.

"Your words are a hundred times right, Lord. But there was nothing we could do."

Nikan's eyebrows twitched.

"What do you mean?"

"Miss Maki, what are you doing...!"

Maki pushed away the hands of the two other maids who tried to stop her and prostrated herself.

"Miss Navia deliberately opened her door wide to show off her gifts to Miss Vivian! As mere maids, we couldn't stop her."

"Navia?"

"Yes. If you hadn't encouraged her to play in the water with the young master two days ago, Miss Vivian wouldn't have reacted this way."

Nikan's expression hardened.

Is Navia really the one who caused this situation?

'But... if Navia were just an ordinary child, that might be the case, but she has been brainwashed.'

Moreover, thinking about Navia's actions, Maki's words made even less sense.

'Am I mistaken?'

Is the one deceiving me this maid? Or is it Navia? As Nikan's gaze grew darker, a clear and refreshing voice cut through the tension.

"Father."

Turning around, he saw Navia had entered Vivian's bedroom.

She was holding a small box in her arms.

The servants, who believed this entire incident was Navia's fault, all had cold, hard expressions.

"What is it?"

Nikan, finding it difficult to act like the caring father he usually did, spoke quite coldly.

The room was filled with piercing, hostile gazes.

Navia composed herself in the familiar atmosphere and spoke calmly.

"I came to speak with you."

Maki glared sharply at Navia.

Whatever nonsense she came to say, Maki wasn't going to let her get away with it.

Maki noticed the box in Navia's arms.

'Hmph.'

A perfect target.

"What is that in your arms, Miss Navia?"

"Oh, this..."

"If I'm not mistaken, it looks like a box from the Ansier Boutique."

Politics were rife within the family. In this regard, Maki was quite talented.

Maki asked, feigning surprise.

"Are you here to show Miss Vivian what caused her to faint?"

Navia remained silent. To others, it seemed she was overwhelmed and couldn't speak.

Maki thought so too.

"Surely you didn't come to share your gifts and comfort Miss Vivian, as if you were doing charity?"

As Maki continued, the servants' gazes grew even more hostile.

Bam!

"What are you all talking about?"

At that moment, Filippa entered the room with a fierce expression.

In fact, Filippa had already arrived at the bedroom door upon hearing that Vivian had fainted. But she waited, listening to the conversation inside.

When she was certain Navia was cornered, she entered to support Maki.

'Arrogant brat. This is the end for you!'

"Charity to Miss Vivian!"

Filippa swayed as if she were about to faint from shock.

"I can't believe it. The attitude of mocking and belittling Miss Vivian, who is of the noblest blood, is simply unbelievable!"

"I didn't do that!"

Filippa inwardly sneered at Navia's protest. Is this what she calls a defense?

Filippa glanced at Nikan.

Nikan was looking at Navia coldly, clearly suspicious of her.

Moreover, he was passively allowing this situation to unfold.

'He wants me to understand my place.'

Filippa felt reassured and continued her tirade.

"Let's see what you were so eager to show Miss Vivian!"

Smack!

Filippa roughly grabbed Navia's arm.

"Ah!"

Navia helplessly dropped the box she had been holding so carefully.

Filippa made sure it rolled loudly and messily, as if Navia had dropped it due to her violent action, on purpose.

Clatter!

The box rolled noisily, revealing its contents.

It was just a simple hairpin with a single pearl.

It was so poorly made that the edges weren't even properly finished, making the part that should go into the hair as sharp as a needle.

It was definitely not something a noble would use.

Filippa wanted to burst out laughing.

Navia, bringing such a cheap, trashy hairpin, unable to let go of her greed!

Maki, trying hard to suppress her laughter, said,

"That looks like something the Ansier Boutique included as a free gift for the servants."

"Even the simplest of Miss Vivian's hair accessories is better than this..."

The maids pretended to whisper to each other, but made sure everyone could hear.

They had no qualms about tormenting an eight-year-old girl.

How much suffering had they endured because of this fake duchess?

This girl deserved more criticism than they had endured! Just as the mocking laughter reached its peak, Navia lifted her bowed head.

She took a small step forward.

One step. Another step.

Her steps finally stopped in front of the hairpin.

Silence fell over the room.

Navia slowly knelt down and picked up the delicate hairpin with reverence, as if handling a sacred object.

Filippa sneered.

'So this is what it means to have no noble blood...!'

Just as Filippa was about to lash out, Navia, who had been silently enduring, spoke in a soft but clear voice.

"Father."

Nikan, who had been silently tolerating the servants' mockery, raised his eyebrows.

Then his eyes widened in disbelief.

The way she lifted her gaze, naturally standing without leaning on anything.

The way she held the hairpin in both hands, below her chest, and relaxed her shoulders.

The way she slightly turned her head to meet Nikan's eyes, then gracefully aligned her body from head to toe, as if in a dance move.

Nikan involuntarily opened his mouth, and Navia, opening her palm, said,

"I only need this hairpin."

The room felt as if a cold wind had swept through, and everyone froze.

What did she just say?