Chapter 8

# 8

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Nabia leaned against the white bed, maintaining an improper posture, yet exuded an irresistible dignity.

'Who would think this girl is only eight years old?'

Such extraordinary presence was something that neither Wood nor Vivian, direct descendants of Agnes, had ever felt.

Perhaps not even Nikan.

'Is this what it means to be a noble above nobles?'

They say the blood of nobles is blue.

If that's the case, Nabia's blood must be a much deeper, more vivid blue than any existing noble's.

She seemed dangerous.

There was no guarantee.

This was a gamble.

Charlotte's mind was a whirl of thoughts, but it soon calmed like a still lake.

Charlotte bowed more deeply to Nabia's mistress than she ever had to Agnes.

"I will follow your orders, Miss."

Nabia then smiled brightly, a smile that would seem innocent to anyone who didn't know her.

"Please take care of me from now on, Charlotte."

Charlotte only bowed even deeper.

"Then I'll tell you what you need to do now."

A chilling coldness lingered in Nabia's smile.

"Filippa is embezzling the child support along with the cook. When you go out, spread the word to the cook to make Filippa suspicious."

"You want me to sow discord between them."

Nod.

Nabia continued.

"Since Filippa has been caught, she will have to provide me with proper meals from now on. We can use this to further deepen the rift between them."

Charlotte nodded vigorously at the logical suggestions but then asked,

"But won't Filippa destroy the evidence of her embezzlement?"

"There are other pieces of evidence the cook has secured in case of any unforeseen situations."

"Ah...!"

Then Filippa was truly a rat in a trap.

"Make it so that only Filippa knows you are loyal to me. That way, it will seem like the cook, you, and I are all in this together."

"...A wise plan."

Charlotte couldn't help but admire Nabia, despite being afraid of her transformation.

Her young mistress seemed to be a transcendent being who had already seen through the ways of the world to the point of being sick of them.

Nabia seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before unclasping the necklace around her neck.

This necklace, given to her by Nikan as a token, was her first birthday gift.

Though it was a trinket far inferior to even the least of Vivian's jewels, it was incredibly precious to her.

"Sell this to get what you need immediately."

This necklace, which she had never taken off until the eighth chapter, was now just a piece of jewelry to raise funds.

"Thank you, Miss."

Nabia continued with a slightly weary look.

"You can go now."

Charlotte looked at the tray and asked,

"Should I bring the meal again?"

"...No. I'll eat it later."

"Then please call me when you need it."

As Charlotte left the room, Nabia let out a hot breath she had been holding in.

Her forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

Her head spun and her stomach churned.

Nabia curled up under the covers.

In the heavy silence, her feverish breathing echoed hollowly.

Rustle.

She shifted her body.

She thought she would fall asleep quickly, but her nerves were overly sensitive.

The room was grand and luxurious, but to her, it felt desolate, so she pulled the blanket up to her chin.

The gentle and obedient Nabia, the well-behaved Nabia, the docile Nabia, all pointed fingers at her.

"Ungrateful wretch!"

Nabia squeezed her eyes shut and erased the thoughts.

I'm doing well.

No one will be able to touch me.

No one...

She soon fell into a deep sleep.

02

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Black Moon

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A pitch-black night.

The sky was as dark as if it had been drenched in ink.

Nabia looked up at the sky as if forced to.

She felt an eerie gaze.

Instinctive fear rose from the depths.

Nabia felt as if she was being swallowed by something.

It was certain.

Something was looking down at her.

Suddenly, her right wrist felt as if it was being burned by a red-hot iron, causing her excruciating pain.

Nabia screamed.

But no sound came out of her mouth.

The surroundings became distorted, entangled with the rapidly flowing time.

The black sky also began to twist viciously.

The gaze that had been looking down at her quickly searched for her but was blocked by an unknown force.

The sky split, and a thin crescent moon emerged.

Then the gaze disappeared.

Nabia breathed a sigh of relief.

Her painful wrist was fine.

Strangely, she felt that the crescent moon had protected her.

Exhausted, she raised her arm to check her wrist.

■

...Why can't I see it clearly?

As she frowned to get a better look,

"Ah!"

Nabia jolted awake.

Her heart, startled by something, pounded in her ears.

Because of this, her head and entire body were overwhelmed by a terrible sense of unease, making her extremely confused.

She thought she was still under the black sky, but the scene in her field of vision was a luxurious indoor setting, which made her frown.

Where am I?

Why am I in this room?

I was just outside looking at the sky, wasn't I?

'...Calm down. Think calmly.'

Nabia stared at the cold dawn light streaming through the window and took a deep breath.

Her rationality slowly returned.

Her body was drenched in cold sweat from the vivid dream.

The feeling of being enveloped by that gaze still lingered, making Nabia shiver.

Could the gaze of a merciless god be like this?

'It must have been a nightmare caused by my pain.'

Nabia shook off the strange feeling and got out of bed.

Seeing the new day rise, she realized she had slept through the entire day yesterday.

That's why her body felt light.

'Thank goodness.'

Even though she had been in a fire accident, she couldn't miss her classes. Nikan wouldn't allow it.

'Besides, I have other things to do.'

Lost in thought, she absentmindedly wiped the sweat from her forehead and paused.

"...What is this?"

A strange pattern was drawn on her right wrist, which had been excruciatingly painful in the dream.

This was the spot where the remaining regression numbers used to be.

It wasn't a new regression.

However,

"Crescent moon?"

A 'Black Moon' similar to the crescent moon that emerged from the split sky in her dream was now on her wrist.

The thin, black crescent moon, imprinted like a brand on her delicate wrist, felt like a chilling omen.

She felt as if she would be consumed by this black moon if she stared at it for too long.

Nabia gently touched the moon with her left fingers.

Nothing unusual happened.

She frowned slightly and muttered,

"It must have appeared because of the dream."

The gaze in the dream. And the moon in the sky.

What are these? What is happening to me?

'Why, of all times, in this final life?'

What was certain was that this crescent moon had blocked the 'entity' that was about to consume her.

The terrifying gaze from the dream, which was so vivid, made her shiver again.

'Is it safe to relax for now?'

"Such a variable is unwelcome."

Sigh.

Nabia rubbed her temples as if in a headache.

If anyone saw this small child looking so weary of life, they would be amazed and laugh bitterly.