Chapter 61

# 61

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"Oh, I've prepared a space for a haircut right next door."

At this, Lark was taken aback and sneered.

"Well, you really planned this out, didn't you?"

Nabia, feeling a slight need to defend the efforts of Margaret and Minerva who had diligently prepared the space for her, replied.

"It was to carry out the task given by the Duke quickly and accurately. If there are any shortcomings, it's my fault."

'...Such a talkative brat.'

Lark couldn't argue and followed the child out of the bedroom.

Nabia clenched her fists and rubbed her eyes, worried that she must look quite disheveled. This wasn't proper etiquette.

But Lark didn't seem to be the type to care about formalities, so she thought this appearance would be fine.

Besides, he had come to her bedroom uninvited before dawn, so he would probably understand to some extent.

Click.

"Here it is."

Nabia revealed her workplace, which she had grown to love even more in just one day.

Lark commented.

"Is this a child's playroom?"

He was taken aback by the space, which seemed to have everything, and kept letting out sighs.

"What a joke."

Everyone seemed very excited, and this feeling was palpable in the space.

Nabia had the exact same thought, but this was her precious workplace.

Wisely, she pretended not to hear and held out the gown.

"Please put this on."

While Lark reluctantly put on the gown, Nabia, as she did yesterday, put on a headscarf and an apron.

Wearing the uniform made her feel like she was starting her work.

"Can I just tidy up the ends?"

Nabia looked up, but this was still her precious workplace.

Wisely, she pretended not to hear and held out the gown.

"Please put this on."

While Lark reluctantly put on the gown, Nabia, as she did yesterday, put on a headscarf and an apron.

Wearing the uniform made her feel like she was starting her work.

"Can I just tidy up the ends?"

Nabia looked up at Lark's face, which seemed impossibly high.

Lark replied indifferently.

"No. Cut it short."

Nabia was taken aback by the customer's request.

'I heard he's had his hair for nine years.'

Cut it all off?

'What if he suddenly gets angry and asks why I cut it?'

In fact, barbers in noble households feared requests to cut long hair the most.

It was common for nobles to regret their impulsive decisions and punish the innocent barber for the shortened hair.

Lark, seeing Nabia hesitate, picked up the scissors and started cutting his own hair with a swish.

His long hair, which had reached his waist, was now cut to just above his shoulders.

Nabia was so surprised by his boldness that she instinctively covered her mouth with both hands.

Lark carelessly let his hair fall to the floor.

"Is that better? Now cut it."

Nabia hesitantly approached Lark, who had suddenly become a short-haired man, but then stopped.

"Ah, I'll go get some water."

Snap!

Lark snapped his fingers, and a basin of water appeared next to Nabia.

'So he can do that too.'

Nabia was very envious of his ability.

Once everything was prepared, Nabia climbed up the footstool with a cautious expression.

Just then, the dark sky quickly brightened, and golden sunlight streamed through the window.

Nabia felt that the current situation was dreamlike.

The morning sunlight gently falling on the black mansion, her barbershop, her first unexpected customer, and Lark.

Lark had his long legs crossed and his arms folded.

'At least it's a good thing.'

It would have been disastrous if she had cut his hair poorly in the dim light of a lamp and the awkward dawn sky.

"How would you like your hair?"

"Cut it however you like. Just make it short."

It was the most difficult request.

'Maybe I should cut the back short and leave the front longer? It wasn't popular then, but it became a trend soon after.'

While Nabia touched his hair and pondered the style, Lark watched her intently through the mirror.

His gaze seemed to be scrutinizing her every move.

It was quite a burden.

Nabia, feeling his intense gaze, first dampened his hair and combed it out. Then she began to cut it shorter with the scissors.

Snip, snip.

The soft sunlight settled on his black hair, blending in.

Nabia found it strange that his hair, unlike her own silver strands, was so black and strong.

'Somehow, even his hair is fitting for a Duke,' she thought.

Nabia focused entirely on her scissors, and her tension gradually eased.

Lark found it amusing to see the small child in the mirror working seriously and busily with the scissors.

'Well, her skills aren't bad.'

At least she wasn't clumsy enough to leave visible marks from her scissors.

So it was strange.

'She must have at least 20 years of experience.'

His deep gaze seemed to penetrate Nabia's true identity.

A face he had never seen before.

Suspicious.

Unchildlike behavior.

Strange.

Then, he suddenly tilted his head.

'...This face seems familiar.'

"Your Highness."

At that moment, Nabia spoke as if scolding him.

"Please keep your head straight."

Lark almost apologized but frowned and straightened his head.

"The barber's skills are terrible."

He just found fault with her for no reason.

Nabia looked up at Lark's red eyes through the mirror and smiled softly.

'She's smiling?'

And she had just smiled in a very unpleasant way.

It was the look one gives to a hopeless child!

He was so taken aback that he could only laugh bitterly.

This child had no idea how terrifying and important he was, so she was acting so boldly.

'Lark Esselred, you've really mellowed over the years.'

Nabia's attitude was so exasperating that Lark had completely forgotten what he had been thinking just moments ago.

Nabia climbed down from the footstool and moved in front of him, grunting.

Lark watched her actions silently.

"Your Highness, please close your eyes. Hair might get in them."

'She's going to cut the front, I guess.'

He obediently closed his eyes. Hair in the eyes would hurt, so it was inevitable.

Rustle—

Nabia fidgeted in front of him and spent a long time trimming his hair before suddenly moving away.

Just as the warmth of the child's presence faded and he blinked, she said,

"Don't open your eyes."

Nabia quickly retrieved a dry cloth from the drawer and climbed back up the footstool.

Lark kept his eyes closed and listened to the sounds around him.

A small hand approached his face.

Soon, a sensation like a feather brushing against his skin was felt.

Nabia's touch was gentle, but not as careful as expected.

It wasn't that she was careless; she was just so focused on something that she had forgotten to be cautious.

A playroom for a child and the youngest barber in the empire.

'The commotion Schleman and Margaret will make today is already clear.'

Lark felt a mix of self-loathing and amusement at participating in this silly game, but he also enjoyed the early morning tranquility and the child's touch.

'So a day can start like this.'

He had no interest in children and no desire to take care of them, so he never had a child around.

In fact, Nabia was the first child to stay here.

Therefore, this was the first time he had spent the night by a child's side and played with a child in the morning.

'So, I'm playing with a child.'

The idea that such a day could be his own was a fresh shock.

"It's done."

Lark slowly lifted his long eyelashes.

Nabia had already moved away from his front.

The reflection in the mirror showed his newly shortened hair, but it wasn't particularly new.

'I've never styled my hair like this before.'

He lightly touched his fringe.

Was this style popular in the empire recently? He couldn't remember, but it looked fine.

More than anything, he liked how much lighter it felt.

"Is it okay?"

Nabia was secretly proud.

Lark, who would look good with any hairstyle, now appeared even more handsome with this refined cut.

Lark said casually.

"Your skills aren't completely terrible."

Nabia lowered her gaze slightly and smiled inwardly.

'Your Highness is definitely an interesting person.'

Others might not agree, but that's how Nabia felt.

Until now, the image of Lark in Nabia's mind was that of a rough and violent but noble ruler.

But now, somehow...

'He seems cuter than I thought.'