Chapter 49

# 49

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Just as Schleman was in shock, Nabiya said cheerfully,

"I’m really good at paying for meals."

What could be the way to win the favor of a place with financial difficulties?

It would be to bring in money.

'That’s easy.'

Nabiya possessed the qualities to be the perfect prisoner.

Schleman was at a loss for words.

The child was not just brave and clever; it was beyond that.

'Skillful.'

He wasn’t sure if that was an appropriate adjective for an eight-year-old, but Nabiya was indeed skillful.

Just like Lark, who suddenly appeared on the battlefield at the age of seven.

'...Such a nostalgic feeling.'

He felt so nostalgic from the child that, absurdly, his throat tightened.

"Meal money, huh."

It was an absurd statement, yet why did it seem like this girl would really pull it off? His heart, which had been beating slowly, tightened and throbbed.

'Am I expecting something?'

He had become complacent over time.

The duchy always seemed to be shrouded in death, casting a deep shadow over the living.

The past had faded, and the future was unseen. He merely lived in the present.

In truth, Schleman himself had secretly thought there would be no more changes here.

He would die like this, he thought.

But in this situation, he felt a dazzling radiance from the unexpected girl who appeared in Esselred.

At the same time, he witnessed the reality he had been trying to avoid all along.

Window. Prisoner. Meal money. These were the values Nabiya had set for herself.

She wasn’t cunning.

She was, in fact, cornered.

He still thought Nabiya was a dangerous presence, but could that be a reason to ignore her? Schleman couldn’t easily answer.

"What do you plan to do once you leave here?"

Nabiya smiled quietly.

"I have to run away."

Schleman was silent for a moment.

The idea of running away sounded unrealistic, but upon reflection, it was the only choice the girl had.

'The world is both generous and incredibly harsh. A child without a guardian, powerless and weak, will be thoroughly rejected.'

Wouldn’t it be truly frightening to bear that alone?

Schleman felt a strange ache in his heart and thought,

It would be okay to ask for help.

'This is really difficult. Truly difficult.'

It was awkward for Schleman to care for someone other than his lord, especially a child, but it felt quite good.

If he had a granddaughter, would it feel like this?

"I hope you will accept my help."

When Schleman said this, Nabiya reluctantly nodded.

Climbing the stairs would indeed be painful for her.

It would also be very slow.

So, it would be okay to accept this much help.

Nabiya found a reasonable excuse and grabbed Schleman’s sleeve.

Nabiya noticed that Schleman was quite kind to her.

'Why, even without proving my worth or value?'

The unexpected kindness was disconcerting, but not unpleasant.

Actually, to be honest, it felt good.

'The people of Esselred are really kind and gentle.'

Minerva, Margaret, Schleman.

She had only seen three people, yet they were all so kind and good that it made her suspicious.

If kindness was so common, why had she never experienced it in her eight years of life?

"Take this coat, you keep it."

Ah, there was one time.

'Cred.'

Though he didn’t know how Cred ended up here, perhaps his pure kindness, expecting nothing in return, was due to growing up among such good people. Nabiya felt a slight heaviness in her chest.

'Am I envious of Cred?'

This affection, this warmth, all belonged to Cred.

She was just secretly borrowing his nest for a while.

Tasting a fleeting, sweet dream that could never be hers, she felt a bittersweet envy.

'I really feel like a bad kid.'

Nabiya was used to being treated as someone who steals others’ things.

She was always despised as a wicked child who enjoyed luxuries beyond her means by stealing from Vivian.

These were not by choice. But this time, it was Nabiya’s choice.

Feeling like a real outsider, Nabiya had to bite her tongue.

"Hey, ah, Miss!"

Nabiya lifted her head at the sound of Minerva calling her from the door.

'Already on the second floor.'

Minerva, holding a large bag, adjusted her glasses and widened her eyes.

"Lord Schleman? How did you end up with Miss...?"

"Something came up."

Margaret also appeared, carrying a tray with a teapot and sandwiches cut into bite-sized pieces.

"Good morning, Miss Nabiya."

Nabiya responded promptly to the warm greeting.

"Good morning, Lord Schleman."

"Hehe, just call me Margaret."

'How can I address someone with a title...?'

Nabiya was bewildered by the lack of aristocratic etiquette in Esselred.

Margaret then noticed Schleman holding Nabiya.

"Oh, Schleman. What a surprising sight this morning?"

Schleman frowned and turned his gaze away from Margaret’s warm, curved eyes.

"Well, not that surprising."

Schleman gently set Nabiya down. Margaret looked at the plate of sandwiches.

"If I had known there would be so many people, I would have made more sandwiches."

Nabiya’s eyes fell on the sandwiches. Hmm, it looks like everyone will eat more than three pieces.

"I’m fine with just a cup of tea."

Schleman said this while naturally reaching to open Nabiya’s door, then paused.

"Ah, now it’s the little lady’s room, so permission is needed. Would you invite me to breakfast?"

Margaret joined in with his smooth attitude.

"I did make a bit more, thinking we’d all eat together, but is it okay, Miss Nabiya?"

Minerva quietly looked at Nabiya with her eyes.

Nabiya’s eyes widened at the invitation to have breakfast together.

For her, eating was a task. It was a necessary act to build up strength before morning classes, nothing more, nothing less.

But this... it felt like...

'Family.'

Nabiya looked down, flustered, and said,

"Of course... yes."

Strangely, as she answered, her chest felt warm.

It must be because her injured body is too tired.

Nabiya thought this and, by chance, entered the bedroom with everyone.

A table with four chairs was set, and the sandwiches and teapot were placed on it.

Nabiya stood, intending to take the remaining seat after everyone else sat down, but was lifted up again.

Schleman had seated Nabiya first in a spot where she could see the window.

"Since the weather is nice today, the little lady should sit here."

"Ah... yes, thank you."

Nabiya quickly bowed.

Both Schleman and Margaret smiled warmly, reading her embarrassment, and each took a seat, inviting Minerva to join them.

"Let’s eat first, then I’ll treat you."

"Yes, yes!"

It was a normal breakfast, neither particularly aristocratic nor bourgeois.

Nabiya picked up a sandwich with both hands, taking small bites, and savored the soft taste of mashed potatoes and boiled eggs mixed with mayonnaise.

'Delicious.'

Nabiya tried a sandwich with plenty of jam and butter.

It was also very delicious.

"Everything is so delicious. ...Lady Margaret."

Nabiya added the title, glancing at Margaret, who smiled happily.

"Oh, it’s worth it to see you enjoy it. Eat more."

Yesterday’s soup was really delicious, but today’s meal was incomparably the best. It felt sweeter than chocolate cookies.

Strangely, even though she had already finished a whole basket of chocolate cookies, she had eaten two pieces of sandwich and wasn’t uncomfortably full. Instead, she felt very good finishing her meal.

Nabiya carefully tried to name this feeling.

'Is this happiness?'

Yes, it wasn’t just this, but it was overwhelmingly happy.

She was happy to spend her time, effort, and perhaps even more, for such good people.