Chapter 32

# 32

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The moment Nabiya regained consciousness, she opened her eyes wide in surprise.

As her red pupils focused, she saw an unfamiliar, antique ceiling.

‘…Was this my room’s ceiling?’

Then she soon realized that this was the Emerald Room.

It was only natural that it felt unfamiliar, given that she had only used this room for a few days in her entire life.

She turned her head to check the clock on the bedside table.

It was 9:00 AM.

Nabiya frowned.

She couldn't tell how many 9:00 AMs had passed.

"Hah... Damn Wood."

Had she missed the golden opportunity they had planned while she was unconscious?

Nabiya covered her eyes with her palm and then looked at Heikyuu with a half-lowered gaze.

The white spray of water that had risen in the middle of the black moon came to mind.

In the center of that water spray, Nabiya had continuously and relentlessly drained Wood's mana.

She remembered the trail of crimson blood that had flowed from his lips.

"Let go of me—!"

His trembling face, filled with fear, was vividly etched in her mind.

"Do you remember what you said when I begged you to stop hitting me, crying and telling you it hurt?"

"Let go! Let go of me!"

She used a stream of water to bind Wood's struggling limbs.

And she told him.

"Why should I?"

His violence had no special meaning.

Just because.

Because she wanted to.

Because you are of low birth.

Nabiya got out of bed with a dry expression.

First, she needed to understand the situation.

When she pulled the bell cord, a maid entered.

"Did you call for me?"

But it wasn't Charlotte.

"Where is Charlotte?"

"Charlotte has been demoted for failing to properly serve you. From now on, I will be serving you."

Was the excessive punishment due to some connection between the kidnapping and Charlotte?

Nabiya thought there must be another reason.

"Then, where is the governess?"

The maid answered cautiously.

"…She is in prison."

‘Charlotte must have pushed Philippa too hard and aroused the duke’s suspicion.’

She had warned Charlotte not to report Philippa’s crimes too early.

But it would have been difficult to come up with a better plan while being accused of embezzlement.

Nabiya understood the flow of events and asked the most important question.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"A day."

‘If it’s been a day, then today is the day to fulfill the contract.’

What was Edward doing now?

It was 9:00 AM, which was early, but also the time he usually went to work at the ducal mansion.

Nabiya looked at the new maid with a calm gaze.

She read a lot of information from the maid’s attitude.

First, Wood was safe.

"What about my brother?"

The maid replied.

"Although he had a mana surge during the process of rescuing you, fortunately, he is unharmed."

‘Wood knows that I can use magic by draining mana, so he wouldn’t have just sat there.’

Nabiya frowned, puzzled by the situation.

‘Anyway, the kidnapping is considered a non-event now.’

This was such an obvious measure that there was no reason to be surprised.

However, it was a bit strange that Charlotte had been punished in the process.

"What position was Charlotte demoted to?"

Up to this point, the maid felt a strange sense of unease.

It felt as if she wasn't answering a child's questions.

"I have been reassigned to the laundry room."

The amount of laundry coming out of the ducal mansion was enormous.

Washing and drying it was no easy task, and ironing it with a hot iron was even more challenging.

If she continued working in the laundry room, her body would not last long.

"I see. Is that not too difficult?"

When Nabiya asked innocently, the maid was momentarily speechless.

She had a confused look on her face, unsure whether to call it innocent or naive.

"Ah… Yes, a little."

She thought she might keep receiving such foolish questions if she stayed here. Dealing with a child was a troublesome task.

Just then, a knock came from outside.

"Miss, Lord Spencer requests an audience."

Nabiya said calmly.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Edward entered.

His expression seemed relieved, as if the tension he had been carrying had finally dissipated.

He must have successfully cured his younger brother's illness.

Nabiya asked the new maid.

"What's your name?"

"Kate."

"Alright, Kate. You can go now."

Kate left the bedroom quickly, relieved that she didn't have to deal with the child anymore.

Once they were alone in the room, Nabiya's expression turned cold.

"Did you cure your brother's illness?"

Edward answered dryly with his usual calm expression and voice.

"Yes, thanks to you."

"Good."

Edward stared at Nabiya, who was unusually calm after being kidnapped, and asked.

"Are you alright?"

Nabiya answered with a peculiar expression, as if questioning why he was asking.

"Yes."

Edward knew very well that Nabiya saw him only as a contractual partner, neither more nor less. This made him feel restless.

Edward finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask all along.

"Why today of all days?"

Why did Nabiya specifically choose today, the fifth day, to have him cure Vivian's illness?

There must have been a reason.

"Isn't Lord Agnes going to the palace with you?"

"…Yes."

"When the adults are away, the children play."

From that, Edward guessed that Nabiya was planning to turn this place upside down again.

Nabiya had stood at the center of the ducal family, becoming a massive storm that caused all sorts of incidents.

Even as she was hurt, broken, and faced unimaginably dangerous moments, she never stopped.

She swept through and engulfed everything.

‘How he managed to remain unharmed despite the mana surge is beyond me.’

The realization that an eight-year-old girl had manipulated everyone around her to create the current situation sent a shiver down his spine.

After curing his brother's illness, Edward completely revised his assessment of Nabiya.

This was not the end of her capabilities.

While she might not have a perfect plan, it was undoubtedly flawless.

Or, even if it wasn't perfect, it didn't matter.

Failure would only make the epic story more grand.

And Edward dared to think.

‘If I could be a part of her epic story.’

If he could be recorded as a companion or colleague to Nabiya!

He had no desire to be recorded as her mentor.

Just being a counselor or colleague would be enough.

Nabiya was the first person to instill such a strong hope in him, a man who had always been cynical. And she would certainly be the last.

Edward, who would have been a mere observer, decided to share what he knew for Nabiya's sake.

"By the way, I heard that Young Master Wood has lost his memory of the mana surge."

Nabiya's eyes widened in surprise.

‘He forgot that I can drain mana just by touching him.’

If that was the case, escaping from here would be much easier, which was good news.

Knock knock.

A servant knocked on the door and asked cautiously.

"Lord Spencer, are you busy? The master asked if you need more time."

Edward sighed faintly at this.

"…Take care."

He said that and left.

Nabiya looked at the door for a moment and then shook her head.

‘I don’t understand what he’s thinking.’

Edward acting as if they were colleagues.

Nabiya dismissed the idea and looked out the window.

The sky was filled with gray clouds.

‘Is this a climate change caused by the mana surge?’

On the exact day a week after she had returned, it always rained, signaling the start of winter.

The raindrops, half-frozen, falling and dirtying the streets, seemed to be a message that the attempt had already failed.

But it felt like the rain was coming a day early this time.

This rain seemed to be on her side.

‘If it rains, Nikan’s return will be delayed.’

Nabiya confirmed that a carriage was waiting outside and quickly began preparing to go out.

She changed her clothes and neatly combed her hair.

She didn’t touch any of the items from the Anthea Boutique.

Then she noticed a pearl hairpin on the table.

She thought she had lost it after stabbing the servant’s thigh, but it had returned intact.

Nabiya looked at the hairpin silently for a moment and then pinned it in her hair.

There was still work to be done inside the mansion, so it was better to look pitiful and shabby like a fake duchess.

Nikan and Edward seemed to have already left in the carriage, as no one was visible below the window.

‘I need to go to Charlotte.’