Chapter 77

# 77

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Nabia sat astride the bed and, as she dried her body with a warm towel, felt a sudden wave of drowsiness.

"If you're not feeling well, there's no need to push yourself to see Duke Agnes."

Nabia shook her head with half-closed eyes.

"That person will only feel truly at ease if they see for themselves that I'm being treated well."

"Miss Nabia…"

As Margaret looked at her with a sympathetic expression, Minerva arrived, hugging her medical bag.

Minerva looked at Nabia's condition and asked curiously.

"Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"Mm. A little."

Nabia lied, her voice slightly smaller.

Then Margaret pointed it out bluntly.

"No, you were up all night."

Nabia averted her gaze from Minerva, who looked at her as if the world were collapsing.

"I'll be more careful from now on."

Instead of saying she wouldn't do it again, Nabia cleverly replied that she would be careful.

"Alright, now that the treatment is over, shall we change your clothes?"

Margaret brought over a sky-blue dress that was laid on the table.

The dress, though not as elaborate as Vivian's, was neatly and lovingly designed to fit Nabia's appearance.

"Schleman ordered this. He said this is the last one because there are no more items. We need to find more boutiques that can supply us immediately."

Nabia shook her head.

"Boutiques? That's ridiculous. I can wear anything."

"Then I'll find any boutique."

While Nabia was flustered, Margaret also opened a cake box.

"Have this as a snack after breakfast."

Inside the box were five pieces of cake.

Since she couldn't keep refusing, Nabia bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Lady Margaret."

Nabia soon tried on the new dress.

The sky-blue dress was made of thick winter fabric with a subtle sheen.

The inside was lined for warmth, making it definitely cozy.

With long socks and black Mary Jane shoes, she looked like a cute character from a fairy tale.

"Shall we do your hair now?"

Nabia said cautiously.

"I'd like it done the same way as before."

Margaret smiled gently.

"Oh, you liked that style, did you?"

"…Yes."

Nabia gathered her side hair slightly and tied it with a black ribbon, just as before.

"The shoes are black, so tying the ribbon in black really suits you."

Nabia smiled faintly at her reflection in the mirror.

'The fabric feels so soft and nice against my skin.'

In the past, her skin often got irritated by clothes. But this dress seemed comfortable no matter how much she moved in it.

'It's a bit disappointing that we couldn't get a coat, but there's nothing to be done.'

Still, with this winter dress, she felt she could withstand the cold with just a little shivering.

Bang!

At that moment, the door was rudely flung open without a knock.

The three people in the room turned their gazes to the intruder.

Theodoreban strode into the room, and upon seeing Nabia, his expression twisted.

"Why are you still here, you wench!"

He had sent three assassins yesterday, secretly believing Nabia would be dead. But the girl was very much alive.

Worse, she was dressed neatly, as if mocking him.

Theodoreban's expression naturally twisted even more.

'What a stubborn woman!'

Margaret, who already disliked Theodoreban, felt even more annoyed when he shouted at Nabia.

"What is this rudeness, Alvin?"

When Margaret calmly confronted him, Theodoreban snickered.

Theodoreban had seen Margaret be gentle and calm all his life, never once showing anger, so he openly ignored her.

Now, he bluntly replied, revealing his attitude.

"I just came to confirm the instigator of this situation before Duke Agnes arrives today."

"Watch your words. Miss Nabia is our lord's guest."

"Guest, my foot!"

Theodoreban pointed at Nabia and raised his voice.

"What kind of guest is she? Why are we receiving compensation from Agnes today? If she's not a criminal, why would we receive compensation? Speak sense!"

In fact, Theodoreban's words made sense.

If Nabia were to be forgiven and not treated as a criminal, there would be no reason for compensation.

However, the mastermind was Wood. Agnes was paying for negotiation and hush money.

"It's merely compensation to avoid any unpleasantness between the families."

"Ha!"

Theodoreban thought Margaret was just using fancy words to block his path.

He found a new point to argue.

"By the way, why is the maid I sent standing outside like a beggar! Ignoring my goodwill like this, there must be a proper reason, right?"

At this, Benny, who was standing nearby, turned even paler.

There was a proper reason.

Margaret calmly said,

"Actually, I wanted to ask you. How did the maid sent by the count end up claiming that Esselred was cursed and that there were evil spirits, and then run away?"

"What…?"

"The maid testified to that."

At this, Theodoreban glared at Benny with a vicious look.

"Is that true?"

"…Yes."

'You useless things!'

Theodoreban was about to explode in anger but suddenly changed his attitude, speaking brazenly.

"That maid must have gone crazy after entering here! It's so dark here, isn't it easy to believe that?"

Margaret looked at him with disgust and pointed out,

"Those are very disrespectful and disloyal words for someone in your position."

"Did I say anything untrue? And even if the woman ran away, why is the maid standing outside? Isn't that ignoring my goodwill?"

Theodoreban kept insisting, trying to justify his actions like a parrot.

Margaret looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering how a man over thirty could throw a tantrum that even an eight-year-old like Nabia wouldn't.

"The maid was negligent in her duties and lied to cover up her colleague's escape. Is there any reason I shouldn't have taken action?"

But Theodoreban was beyond reason and logic.

"Do you have any proof of that? Bring proof, proof!"

Just as Margaret sighed in exasperation, Schleman, an elderly gentleman with white hair, appeared in the open doorway with a cold expression.

"Alvin, what's all this commotion?"

Theodoreban pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.

"Commotion? That's not something to say to the acting head of the household."

He tried to pressure Schleman with his position, but the other man ignored it.

Seeing no point in this meaningless argument, he quickly wrapped it up.

"Our guest will arrive soon. As the acting head, shouldn't you be there to greet Duke Agnes?"

"…Tsk!"

With two people now against him, Theodoreban had no choice but to retreat.

Benny, who had been holding her breath during the commotion, followed him out of the room.

After the uninvited guests left, Margaret said with a troubled expression.

"Count Alvin's behavior is getting worse day by day."

Nabia was certain that Theodoreban's rudeness had reached a dangerous level.

No, it wasn't just dangerous.

He had clearly crossed the line, though not decisively yet.

'If he's this arrogant, he'll probably come to Esselred with his daughter soon.'

"Mr. Schleman, what about the poplar tree?"

Schleman's gaze turned to Nabia, who was looking at the door Theodoreban had left through with an unreadable expression.

He sensed that the poplar tree was a significant means and his heart raced.

"I've found a place. What do you plan to do with it?"

Nabia turned her head and smiled brightly.

"I thought I might make a travel bag."