Chapter 85

# 85

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Charlotte quickly introduced herself to Margaret, Schleman, and the shy Minerva.

When they arrived at the dining room, she even followed them into the kitchen to help prepare the meal.

She blended in as if she had always worked there.

After the meal, Margaret brought out the cake she hadn't eaten yesterday and said with a smile, "It's a coincidence that there are exactly five pieces of cake and five people. Isn't that strange?"

Nabia thought quietly to herself.

'Is the duke not included...?'

Then she wondered how the lemon cream cheese cake she had made had turned out.

'I should have asked when I cut his hair, but I was too busy to think about it.'

Nabia imagined Lark, the fierce and savage beast, delicately eating the sweet cake with a fork.

'...He might not have eaten it at all.'

She couldn't imagine it.

While Nabia was lost in her thoughts, Charlotte was chatting with Minerva.

"Oh, you're also twenty-three? I'm twenty-three too!"

"J-just call me Minerva... please..."

At first, Minerva seemed intimidated by Charlotte's straightforward personality, but she soon showed a fond expression.

Given that Nabia was already on her side, Minerva's guard was already lowered.

"Here, Nabia, have this cake with milk."

Nabia stared at the cake in front of her, which was loaded with jam and cream.

She had only properly tasted a cake once before, the lemon cream cheese cake she had made.

'Usually, I just follow famous pastry chefs' recipes and never get to taste them.'

Nabia carefully took a small bite of the cake with her fork.

The rich cream and the fragrant, sweet and tangy jam filled her mouth, leaving a strong and intense flavor.

Moreover, the moistness was exceptional.

"Do you like the cake?"

Margaret asked with a pleased smile. Nabia, who had been fidgeting with her fork, quickly composed herself and replied.

"Yes, it's very delicious."

Though she answered politely, her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks betrayed her.

"If I had known you'd like it so much, I would have bought a whole cake."

Nabia shook her head in surprise.

"This is already a lot."

It wasn't an exaggeration; her stomach couldn't handle both the meal and dessert.

Even a small piece of the cake had already made her feel full.

While everyone felt a bit sorry for Nabia eating so little, she felt a great sense of satisfaction.

The sweetness of the cake seemed to assure her that this place was safe.

'Right. This isn't Agnes or the palace.'

It wasn't a place where she was treated like a dog or a bug.

'I never thought I'd have such peaceful moments again.'

Although the threat of having to stop all her activities hadn't disappeared, Lark had moved her room to the third floor and even adopted her.

'Maybe... I can hope for something better?'

Thinking this gave her courage.

Nabia had grown up among people who hated and despised her.

But from Lark's actions, it didn't seem like he hated her. While he found her annoying, he always protected her in the end.

'To revive Esselred, I have to face it eventually.'

Being labeled as a troublesome child was scary. She was afraid he might kick her out if she annoyed him.

But if she did nothing for such a reason, she would end up dying in the hands of the royal family and Agnes.

'This is a time for decisive action.'

Nabia said with a determined tone.

"I'll go see the duke."

The others, who had been chatting, stopped and looked at her.

"I need to ask about Charlotte's future and discuss the poplar tree."

Margaret, sensing the tension in Nabia's calm demeanor, asked, "Do you want me to come with you?"

"I'll go alone. I don't want to give the impression that I'm trying to undermine this place."

Nabia was still an outsider.

She didn't want to give the impression that she had already swayed one of Esselred's retainers, which the head of the family would not welcome.

Nabia hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll be back."

'Is it okay for me to say this?'

But everyone seemed to appreciate her saying it.

Fortunately, they all smiled and told her to come back safely.

Nabia felt as if she were floating on a cloud as she returned to her room.

'My body is definitely feeling less pain.'

The new wounds from yesterday were minor, and while the others might leave scars, they were mostly healing.

It felt like a ray of sunlight had pierced through the dark clouds that had always shrouded her life, bringing a sense of hope.

It was like the golden glow she had always admired from the shadows was now gently blowing through her life.

Without realizing it, Nabia had a soft smile on her face as she started to get ready.

She couldn't meet Lark in her nightgown.

When she touched her hair in the mirror, she noticed she was smiling.

Nabia deliberately changed her expression to a stern one.

'Don't get too excited, Nabia.'

Don't laugh like an idiot.

Even so, the smile didn't easily fade.

'How do you contain happiness?'

She was used to enduring unhappiness, but she had never experienced happiness, and she couldn't remember a time when she was truly happy.

Nabia rubbed her cheeks to calm herself down.

It was easier to control herself when she was with others, but being alone made it hard to suppress her excitement.

"I need to get ready quickly."

Nabia focused and started to brush her hair, but then she hesitated about its length.

'The duke doesn't like silver hair. Do I need to keep it so long?'

Lark had cut his long hair, and she wondered if she should do the same.

'It's hard for me to cut my own hair.'

Nabia had learned hairdressing to prevent Wood from killing barbers who messed up his hair.

Thanks to her efforts, Wood always had Nabia trim his hair before meeting Princess Lucia.

Nabia tied her hair with a black ribbon on both sides.

The hairstyle Margaret had given her had become her favorite.

"Hmm?"

She noticed that one side of the ribbon was slightly torn. It must have happened during yesterday's chaos.

It was a thin ribbon that couldn't be mended, which made her feel sad.

"But it's not too noticeable."

Nabia liked this black ribbon.

It was a gift from Margaret and made her feel like she belonged in a place where black didn't exist.

'Ah, there is the Black Moon, though.'

But since the Black Moon was invisible to others, it didn't really count. Nabia sighed at this thought.

She realized she was still longing to belong somewhere.

She had wanted red hair and green eyes, and now it was black.

No wonder she was called a fool.

"Especially since I'm not even an adopted daughter here."

Nabia was neither from Agnes nor Esselred. She existed as 'Nabia,' like a solitary island.

She wasn't unhappy about it. She was glad to be away from the Agnes castle.

'But... just... if I could have a different surname...'

"Nabia Esselred."

Nabia muttered it unconsciously and then covered her mouth in shock.

'What am I thinking, Nabia?'

Her heart raced like a child who had coveted something forbidden.

And it was true.

Esselred wasn't hers; it was Creed's.

Nabia thought of Creed's appearance.

His hair was as dark as the night sky, like Lark's. He was tall, like Lark. Though they looked different, they were both handsome.

'Anyone would see that he's clearly the family member.'

Nabia felt like a drop of oil that couldn't mix with water, both in Agnes and here.

'But...'

Nabia stared at her eyes.

She had never seen anyone with red eyes except herself.

Seeing Lark, she realized how overwhelming red eyes could be.

'Do I look like that too?'