Chapter 7

# 7

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Philippa turned her head as if bewitched.

"I won't tell Father. So there's no need for the nanny to get into trouble."

It sounded like she was talking about the violence that had just occurred, but it was actually about the embezzlement.

Philippa immediately understood and her eyes changed.

Nabia truly had no intention of reporting the embezzlement.

The immediate problem was that if the enraged Nikan dealt with Philippa, the future would be a concern.

'If I give the impression that I'm manipulating him to get rid of her, it would be dangerous.'

Nabia willingly provided Philippa, who was cornered, with a way out.

But at the end of that path would be another dead end.

Philippa felt a small sense of relief as Nabia, who had been acting like a demon, became gentle.

'What is she up to?'

Was it a childish act of rebellion?

That's how children are.

They can be cunning and demonic, but they are also easily satisfied and tamed by small rewards.

Perhaps Nabia had been harboring resentment over her unfair treatment recently?

'...Yes, that's it. If I just feed her properly and scold her less for a while, she'll think she's won and act foolishly.'

Nabia is that kind of child.

She would be overjoyed by a little attention, her eyes welling up with tears.

'That's what makes the lower nobility!'

Philippa deeply empathized with how deeply Udo despised the lower nobility, forgetting that she was a nanny to a high noble, not a commoner.

'Lady has given appropriate rewards to such lowly people. They become even more foolish because of it.'

While Nabia was letting her guard down, Philippa planned to hide the evidence of embezzlement.

She could do that in just three days.

The problem was that the maid Charlotte had overheard this...

'How will I deal with her?'

As Philippa's eyes gleamed maliciously, Hans barked again.

"How can you hesitate when Miss has spoken so clearly!"

Philippa, unable to stall any longer, put on a pitiful expression to make Nabia think she had won, and said mournfully,

"I will believe Miss."

Nabia listened silently without responding.

Her still, calm demeanor caused a ripple of unease, but Philippa dismissed it as mere paranoia.

This fear is not because of that woman, but because Lady might find out.

Philippa repeated this to herself and left the bedroom.

"Miss, I will take you to bed."

Charlotte supported Nabia and laid her on the bed, moving to the side table.

She was precisely blocking the tray of food.

Charlotte is indeed a capable maid.

Even in this situation, where she had discovered Philippa's weakness, she still pretended to be loyal, ready for any possible scenario.

'Once Philippa is caught and killed for embezzlement, Charlotte will take over the embezzled funds and extort the allowance.'

Charlotte had already bought off most of those who were at odds with Philippa.

Nabia planned to use this to her advantage.

"I will begin the examination now."

The examination was simpler than expected.

Nabia was told to rest, eat well, and was prescribed some medicine.

With a dull expression, Nabia asked Hans,

"Could you keep what just happened a secret? I don't want the nanny to be punished because of me..."

Hans inwardly sighed.

'Tsk, if a noble acts this foolishly, it's only natural for the servants to take advantage.'

Hans nodded, thinking Nabia deserved to be disrespected.

"Understood, Miss."

Soon, Hans left, leaving Charlotte alone in the room.

"I will also take my leave now."

As Charlotte bowed and turned to leave,

"I never said you could go."

Nabia met Charlotte's gaze with a completely different expression from when she was with Hans.

Her beautiful, childlike face was adorned with a cold smile that didn't fit at all.

"Did you really think I would let you go just like that?"

Charlotte involuntarily swallowed.

"Is there something you need me to do?"

"Philippa was caught embezzling. She won't just sit still. We need to take action, don't we?"

Nabia had to maintain the act of being a 'well-behaved and useful foster daughter' while she was here.

That's why she needed someone to act as her hands and feet behind the scenes.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Since Charlotte's enemy is Philippa, they could easily form an alliance.

'Or more accurately, she's a hyena eyeing the embezzled funds that Philippa controls.'

It wouldn't be difficult for Nabia to fulfill that desire.

Trust is built on mutual benefit, so this level of cheap alliance could be maintained.

'I don't need grand trust anyway.'

"I will keep my promise and not report the nanny's crime."

Charlotte realized that Nabia had suddenly changed, but her low insight made it hard to grasp her intentions.

Philippa, who had directly harmed Nabia, should be punished and removed.

But the fact that Nabia wouldn't report her was incomprehensible to Charlotte.

Charlotte cautiously asked,

"Why?"

"Besides me, you're the only one who knows about the nanny's embezzlement, Charlotte. What do you think she'll do?"

Nabia smiled innocently.

"Will she risk everything to get rid of me first?"

"..."

"Or will she get rid of you first?"

Charlotte bit her lip.

Her heart was pounding, and sweat was seeping through her clasped hands.

She had felt this before when facing Philippa, but the child in front of her seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, as if her soul had been swapped overnight.

"I don't understand what you mean..."

"Let me put it this way: I hope you don't go to the Duke and tell him that Philippa has been embezzling my allowance."

If Philippa's embezzlement was true, Nikan would surely uncover it if he decided to investigate.

But Nabia said she couldn't use that method.

"The Duke can deal with Philippa, but he might suspect how you found out."

"Will I be accused of embezzling with her and then betraying her?"

"Exactly."

Charlotte, who had been here for a few years, had a good idea of Nikan's character.

He would suspect that they had conspired and then betrayed each other.

No powerful person keeps potential threats close.

"The Duke is ruthless and quick. Dealing with you would be no trouble for him."

Charlotte's breath quickened.

Nabia's calm, matter-of-fact voice was steady but threatening.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Nabia suddenly smiled.

"But leaving Philippa as she is would be foolish, wouldn't it?"

Charlotte recalled what she had just thought.

'No powerful person keeps potential threats close... That applies to this person too.'

"Are you asking for my help?"

Nabia shook her head.

"Help? I'm using you."

Charlotte was momentarily stunned but quickly agreed. The one holding the knife was Nabia.

'Today's incident, and even coming to the third floor, wasn't a coincidence.'

It was a gut feeling without logical basis.

But she was certain.

"Through this, Charlotte, you can take over what Philippa has enjoyed so far."

Charlotte's eyes narrowed as she realized it was about money.

What Philippa enjoyed was embezzling Nabia's allowance.

If Charlotte took over, she would be in the same vulnerable position as Philippa.

But it was an offer she couldn't refuse.

'Philippa must have other sources of embezzlement besides the allowance. If all of that becomes mine...'

Charlotte felt a surge of excitement but tried to remain composed as she looked at Nabia.

Nabia seemed confident that she wouldn't refuse.

How could she be so sure? Charlotte had never even guessed what kind of person she was serving.

Moreover, Nabia called Nikan 'Duke' instead of 'Father' when it wasn't necessary.

What did that mean?

Charlotte voiced her thoughts.

"Miss, you don't seem to have a favorable view of the Agnès family."

In fact, this was a direct hint for Nabia to reveal her true intentions.

The mild expression 'not favorable' caused a cold smile to flicker beneath Nabia's calm facade.

"I can't be a true daughter of this family, so the limits of our relationship are clear."

She was needed but not cherished, so she was raised like a dog.

The relationship between master and hunting dog. Nabia was a hunting dog that was beaten so badly that it wouldn't even have a body left.

'Now the Agnès will learn that a dog that is constantly beaten might bite its master.'

The thought of their contempt and anger brought a pleasant smile to her lips.

Nabia added a practical explanation to ensure Charlotte understood.

"I can be discarded from here at any time. As a lowly foster daughter in a high noble family, will I ever have a good day?"

Charlotte deeply empathized with the practical reality but felt a disconnect seeing such worldly wisdom from such a young child.

She thought Nabia had a level of insight far beyond that of a mere criminal.

"Charlotte, I've told you everything. What will you do?"