Chapter 39

"……!"

Theorban wanted to be angry.

However, he knew that now was the time to back down.

"Ah, y-yes, that’s right…… I should be going now."

'Damn brat.'

Before leaving, Theorban glared at Navia as if he wanted to tear her apart, then stomped away.

His determination not to let this go was palpable.

'I prefer dealing with someone who openly shows their hostility like that.'

The hardest people to deal with were those whose true intentions were impossible to read.

Just like Larc Esselred.

Navia watched Larc’s retreating back for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you for your help, Duke Esselred."

Larc, who heard her gratitude, slowly turned around.

Then he looked down at Navia with an indifferent gaze.

Navia properly bowed.

"My name is Navia. I am the adopted daughter of Duke Nikan Agnus."

Upon hearing this, Larc’s expression twisted strangely.

As he brushed his bangs aside with his fingers, his frown deepened, giving him an even more formidable appearance.

"I’ve never heard that name before."

Navia felt a sense of déjà vu at his words.

"I’ve never seen your face before."

'Right. I felt the same way before I fainted.'

A face she had never seen.

A name she had never heard.

From his words, Navia sensed something strange.

It seemed to go beyond just meeting for the first time, as if he was questioning her very existence.

'I’ve never left the mansion, so he might not know about me.'

But why?

His words sounded as if he knew everyone.

'Maybe it’s just my imagination?'

Still, this place had many secrets.

'I can deal with him.'

Money was essential for running a household.

And Esselred lacked money, while she had a solution to that problem.

Navia didn’t miss the opportunity to meet Larc.

"Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, Duke Wood, I would have died……"

Navia spoke gloomily with a self-deprecating smile.

"I’m sure you were taken aback by the sudden chaos because of me. I never thought Duke Wood would hire a hitman……"

"Enough."

Larc cut her off with a bored expression.

"Stop putting on a ridiculous act in front of me."

Navia’s lips were tightly pressed together as she blinked her large eyes.

Larc anticipated her reaction.

She was just a child. She would surely start to cry or turn pale with shock.

But Navia smiled gently.

"Then I’ll do as you say."

Her voice was even cheerful, as if it was for the better.

Larc’s eyebrow shot up at her completely unexpected response.

"Wood Agnus hired a hitman to pretend to attack the Esselred mansion, to pin the blame on me and make me a slave."

Even as she spoke of her dire situation, Navia showed no signs of sorrow, only calmly stating the facts.

"But that plan failed spectacularly, and the Esselred family now has a perfect pretext. The pretext that Agnus attacked them without warning."

Anyone would have guessed the next part.

The compensation.

"This is a clear violation of imperial law. And since Duke Agnus himself was not involved, he will likely offer a substantial compensation to avoid further trouble."

Indeed, the Agnus family was so wealthy that they would offer a significant sum to ensure this matter was never brought up again.

However, accepting that would be shortsighted.

"But the compensation won’t be enough to maintain your private army."

At the mention of the private army, Larc tilted his head to the side.

"I heard that the knights you sent out will soon return. Feeding, housing, training, and paying them will drain the compensation in no time."

Moreover, Theorban would cut off all living expenses to prevent him from doing so.

Navia knew that all of Larc’s businesses had been transferred to the Albin family.

'Soon, the private army will be disbanded, and Theorban will buy them out.'

Navia looked at Larc with clear eyes and said,

"I have a proposal for you, Duke."

Larc, with his arms crossed, still tilted his head.

Navia took his lack of objection as permission and continued.

"Raise me."

Larc was momentarily speechless.

This child had appeared noisily in the morning, first asking to be saved, and now she was asking to be raised, and by him, no less.

'So that’s what you wanted to say.'

Ha.

"Unbelievable."

Larc’s gaze darkened.

Taking in the child had been a decidedly impulsive decision.

'Because of that hair.'

His eyes now rested on Navia’s radiant silver hair.

He had originally intended to give her that beautiful, terrifying silver hair and then send her away.

But after seeing her deal with Theorban, his thoughts solidified.

This child was very cunning.

Moreover, her ability to instantly hide her wariness and blend in was surprisingly adept.

He had no intention of bringing such a headache into his home.

Larc asked coldly,

"Why should I?"

Despite his cold reaction, Navia answered clearly.

"Because I can be profitable."

Navia explained why she could be profitable.

"I’ve heard that the Esselred family is decades ahead of the empire in magical studies."

This was evident from the army of mages they had trained using their unique magical studies.

"Everyone would covet such a weapon. You, Duke, are still unmarried and have no children. You might marry and have an heir in the future, but I don’t think you will."

Navia didn’t know much about Larc, but she knew what the future held.

Larc had never married in any of his eight lives.

"Even if you just seem to take a liking to me for some reason, people will speculate about the possibilities."

"You could take me in as an adopted daughter, that kind of possibility?"

Navia nodded.

"If that happens, the Esselred family will have an heir to use for marriage alliances, and the Agnus family, as well as the royal family, will surely covet this opportunity. They have been eyeing your magical studies for a long time."

Nikan and the royal family had thought their plan to吞并Esselred through marriage had failed. How delighted they would be if a new opportunity arose? Wood and Prince Ares were still young.

The same went for Navia.

There was plenty of time to make new plans.

They would eagerly process the paperwork to make her an adopted daughter, all with the same goal.

"You can receive a fair compensation from the Agnus family and the royal family in exchange for your kindness."

"Is that all the benefit you think I can get by taking you in as an adopted daughter?"

"I will deal with Theorban Albin for you."

Larc fell silent at this.

Instead, his eyes narrowed.

It wasn’t something an eight-year-old, with no connections or magical abilities, would say so confidently.

"How?"

Navia smiled quietly.

"Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of my being a weapon if I told you?"

Larc let out a shallow, derisive laugh.

"Cheeky brat."

Navia bowed her head slightly as if receiving a compliment, then said,

"I don’t intend to stay as your adopted daughter forever. According to imperial law, children can marry and become independent at the age of 15. I will marry and leave as soon as I turn 15."

With that, Navia waited for his response.

Larc slowly nodded.

"Indeed, that’s a reasonable argument."

At that moment, the oppressive aura that had seemed to dissipate suddenly intensified.

"But tell me."

As Larc reached out and grabbed her hair, Navia involuntarily flinched.

"I hate people who scheme in front of me. Do you know why?"

"……"

"When they betray me, it’s just…… troublesome."

His gaze was fixated on her silver hair.

Navia felt a chill, similar to the cold, from his gaze.

"Especially if they have silver hair."

Larc’s chillingly indifferent eyes swept over her as if she were a trivial insect.

Navia felt a shiver run down her spine.