Chapter 75

# 75

|

After Nabiya disappeared, the atmosphere at the Agnes Manor became strange.

Vivian's illness had improved, and they should have been happy, but a conflict with the Ezelred family had arisen.

And that wasn't the end of it.

"Master, breakfast is..."

Clang!

Wood threw the cup containing the medicine at the servant and shouted.

"Get out of here right now!"

Since that day, Wood had become extremely violent, his temper flaring up.

It wasn't because his plan had failed.

It was because of the long scar on his right cheek.

The scar was from the explosion caused by Lark.

Wood had already lost consciousness when the massive explosion occurred, so his memory was not clear.

The last thing he saw was a tall, dark man holding Nabiya in his arms.

When he opened his eyes, he was back home.

"Ah! Scum! I'll kill you!"

Every time Wood saw the long scar on his right cheek, he would go into a frenzy and break everything in sight.

Occasionally, he would even use magic to trap the servants in pillars of water, almost to the point of death.

Nikan tried to calm his son, but Wood only became more violent and uncontrollable.

In the end, Nikan canceled all social gatherings and confined Wood to the house until he calmed down.

Vivian also instructed the servants to ensure she never encountered Wood.

At that moment, Linden entered the room without regard for Wood's outburst and said.

"Master, Lady Sara Lucia has arrived."

Wood's actions abruptly stopped at the mention of Sara Lucia.

Linden, inwardly relieved, continued without showing it.

"I have shown her to the reception room on the first floor. You can go down once you're ready."

Sara Lucia. She was the niece of the Empress and the only daughter of the Lucia family, known for her exceptional beauty, and Wood's secret crush.

Lady Lucia had never responded to any of Wood's numerous invitations.

But today, she suddenly visited the manor?

Wood forced down his anger and quickly dressed himself neatly.

His cheek, covered with a white gauze, looked terrible, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

When he arrived at the reception room and opened the door, a faint floral fragrance wafted out.

Sara Lucia had honey-blonde hair and amethyst eyes that sparkled like sapphires.

She already displayed a remarkable appearance, fitting for a girl praised for her beauty, who was expected to reign over society after Empress Diana.

Sara, sipping tea as if she were an adult, noticed Wood and stood up gracefully, bowing politely.

"It's been a while, Agnes Young Master."

The noble upbringing and dignified demeanor always made Wood's heart race, but today, it somehow felt less exciting.

No, he noticed flaws he had never seen before.

'That lowly commoner always acts so proper, as if she's always in the royal city.'

In comparison, Sara's etiquette seemed immature and not fully her own.

'What am I thinking? How dare I compare Lady Lucia to such a worm!'

Wood immediately canceled his thoughts and greeted Sara with a forced politeness.

"It's been a while, Lady Lucia."

They sat down across from each other at the table.

Wood disliked black tea.

What taste could anyone possibly find in this bitter red liquid? But he forced himself to take a sip because Sara enjoyed it like an adult.

Sara already knew that Wood wasn't particularly interested in black tea and was only pretending to share her taste.

"Your absence at the last gathering made me curious. I was worried as a friend."

Wood's expression brightened slightly at the mention of concern for him, but it quickly faded when he heard the word "friend."

"......I was just busy with a lot of work."

Wood tried to sound nonchalant.

Sara smiled like a painting and then suddenly noticed the long white gauze on Wood's cheek.

Wood, sensing her gaze, covered his face with his arm and turned his head away.

Sara said, as if it were no big deal.

"Did you get this trying to stop your step-sister? Oh dear......"

She pretended to be worried, placing her teacup down and moving closer to Wood, reaching out her hand.

She intended to show concern for his injury and create a sense of intimacy and expectation.

'I was curious about what that step-sister was like, but it's a shame I couldn't see her.'

Just as she was thinking this, Wood suddenly stopped her hand.

Wood couldn't contain his anger at the thought of Nabiya, who had caused him to look like this.

However, he couldn't show his anger in front of Sara, so he spoke in a suppressed voice.

"......Lady Lucia, I'm not feeling well today. Let's meet another time."

"Ah......"

Sara's smile faltered, her cheeks stiffening, as she had been dismissed shortly after arriving at the Agnes Manor.

"I guess I stayed too long."

The young Sara was not yet adept at handling such insults, so her voice turned cold as she stood up.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Wood expected her to try to stop him and beg for forgiveness, as she always did.

But instead, Wood walked past her and left the reception room first.

"......Hmph!"

It goes without saying that Sara clenched her fists and trembled with anger.

Wood stomped forward, his footsteps making a loud thud.

He needed to destroy something to calm his raging anger.

At that moment, he saw several carriages lined up outside the window.

Wood asked a nearby servant.

"What are those?"

The servant, fearing what Wood might do, answered cautiously.

"......T, those are the carriages carrying the compensation to the Ezelred family."

'Ezelred!'

Wood clenched his fists.

If the hired assassins hadn't failed, Nabiya would have been dead.

But his plan had failed.

Nabiya was still alive, and his cheek bore a scar that might be permanent, left by Hans.

He wanted to punish the maid Charlotte, who had told him about this plan.

However, the maid had paid the penalty for breaking her lifelong contract and left the family, slipping away like a rat.

"Find her! Bring her to me immediately!"

Under Wood's orders, Linden eventually tried to locate Charlotte.

"It seems she left the capital as soon as she became a free citizen."

Crack!

Wood ground his teeth and dismissed the servant.

"Alright. Go."

'If only the nanny was still here, I could have tracked her down!'

Filipa was skilled in the dirty work of back alleys.

She had the best connections for such matters.

But Filipa was already dead, her head severed.

All of this was because of Nabiya, that lowly commoner.

'How dare she, a mere commoner......!'

He was furious.

So furious that he couldn't live like this.

"I need to go to Ezelred."

Wood's gaze was fixed on the carriages carrying the compensation.