Chapter 9

# 9

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Knock knock.

"It's Charlotte. I'm coming in."

As dawn broke, Charlotte arrived to prepare for the morning schedule.

Nabia pulled down her sleeve to cover her wrist.

Since it was uncertain whether the Black Moon was visible to others, it was better to keep it hidden.

Charlotte entered with a basin of water.

"Oh... You're already up."

Charlotte seemed surprised that Nabia was up early.

"Yeah, I woke up early."

Nabia always woke up at dawn, a habit formed over her repeated lifetimes.

"Here's the water for washing. I've also prepared the bath."

"Great, thanks."

Nabia had just been drenched in a cold sweat, making her feel uncomfortable.

As Charlotte placed the basin of water in front of Nabia and tidied up, she noticed the untouched breakfast.

Nabia had slept through the night without waking once. The new breakfast Charlotte had brought in the afternoon was also untouched.

Was her condition that bad?

Charlotte awkwardly asked Nabia, who was wiping her face.

"Um... Are you feeling better?"

Charlotte had been working as a dedicated maid for a year, but she had never worried like this before.

The awkwardness wasn't just on Charlotte's part.

Nabia slowly blinked and then smiled.

"Are you worried about me now?"

Charlotte's face flushed, and she avoided Nabia's gaze.

Nabia put down the towel and continued.

"I'm fine."

"...I'm relieved."

Charlotte bowed her head and quickly cleared away the basin of water.

'Has forming an alliance made her more lenient?'

People would turn on a dime once the prey was gone.

Nabia, with a dry expression, headed to the adjacent private bathroom.

A large bathtub with golden legs was set on a marble floor, filled with warm water.

"Sure enough, the third floor is treated differently."

Nabia had often washed in cold water, so this change was welcome.

Nabia washed herself without assistance and returned to the bedroom.

Since she had almost no clothes or jewelry, it was better to get ready in the bedroom rather than the dressing room.

"I'll help you get dressed."

Nabia's clothes were all plain dresses, without even a ribbon. But Nabia didn't mind.

These simple dresses were better than the gaudy ones she had to wear for public appearances.

'I need to check if this crescent moon is visible to others.'

Seeing that the Black Moon didn't reflect in the mirror, it seemed like only she could see it, similar to the regression number. But it was better to be cautious.

Nabia deliberately exposed her wrist to test Charlotte.

"Doesn't this sleeve seem a bit short?"

Charlotte looked at Nabia's wrist.

"It seems to have gotten shorter as you've grown. I'll have it altered."

This time, the moon was completely hidden.

"Up to here?"

Charlotte's gaze landed precisely on the crescent moon, making Nabia's eyes sharpen.

'It doesn't reflect in her eyes.'

Nabia's wrist, reflected in Charlotte's dark brown eyes, was clean and unmarked, just like when the regression number was visible.

"It needs to go up to just above the back of your hand."

"Okay, I'll do that."

Is it a mark unrelated to magic, like the regression number?

While Nabia was lost in thought, Charlotte, who was helping her get dressed, left the room briefly when someone knocked on the door and then returned.

"Miss, Lord Spencer has arrived at the mansion. After you eat, you can go to the study room."

"Okay."

The new breakfast Charlotte brought was a proper meal.

Though it was just a bit of salad and cold ham, it was satisfying enough.

Strength was needed to fight the enemy.

"Have you started your task?"

Charlotte understood the question about sowing discord and her eyes lit up.

"Yes."

Nabia mechanically ate the food, treating it like a task.

For her, eating was merely for survival, so it was natural.

"Then I'll be off."

Nabia hopped off the chair and left the room.

The study room was on the first floor of the east wing.

'If I want to leave Agnes, Vivian's illness must be cured.'

The person who could cure that incurable disease was her tutor.

A former professor of the Holy Empire Academy, where only the elite could enroll and only those who proved their abilities could graduate.

Despite his impressive credentials, her tutor had become a lackey of Agnes.

'Edward Spencer.'

Nabia stopped in front of the study room, a chilling coldness in her expression.

"I'll tell you, since you're about to die. You've been brainwashed."

Click.

The door to the study room opened, and Nabia smiled brightly like the breaking sunlight.

"Hello, Mr. Spencer?"

* * *

A young man with light brown hair and a cool demeanor entered the study room.

He was Nabia's tutor, Edward Spencer.

Edward had endured the wait for Nabia's arrival, finding it tedious.

Even as a professor at the Holy Empire Academy, dealing with unpleasant students was always a challenge.

Let alone being a tutor for a child.

If Nabia were a genius, even at a young age, this task wouldn't feel so burdensome.

'She's not completely unintelligent, but not nearly enough to be a genius or even a prodigy.'

Her appearance was so inhuman that if she had grades, she would be considered a genius, but that was all.

'She's just of low birth.'

Her dull expression, arrogant attitude, clumsy speech, and lack of knowledge.

Nikan wanted to transform Nabia into a member of the noble society by the time she turned nine.

Edward had one more condition to fulfill in his contract.

'Brainwashing her with suggestion magic.'

Edward could use a mild form of mind control magic.

Nikan hired him more for his ability as a mind control magician than for his academic knowledge.

'Brainwashing her to willingly become a dog of Agnes.'

It was a cruel and wicked act to perform on a child, but Edward didn't care if it served his purpose.

'The fastest and most accurate way to cure my sister's mana reflux disease is to be here.'

Edward's face darkened as he thought of his sister, who suffered from mana reflux disease.

He had studied magic obsessively to cure her, even becoming a professor at the Holy Empire Academy, but with no significant results.

It was to be expected.

Mana reflux disease typically affected nobles, so there were few subjects for clinical trials, making it impossible to gather multiple samples.

But Agnes was different.

With the power of this family, they could find the fastest and most accurate way to cure mana reflux disease.

That was why Edward had allied with Agnes.

While he was lost in thought, the door to the study room opened.

Click.

Edward looked at Nabia, who entered with a cold gaze.

She would likely enter timidly, as she always did, despite his repeated corrections of her attitude.

But at that moment, Nabia smiled brightly.

"Hello, Mr. Spencer?"

Her clear but gentle tone made Edward raise an eyebrow.

Her straight posture, relaxed shoulders, and dignified but not arrogant demeanor were perfect.

After just one day of not seeing her, Nabia seemed different.

'...Perfect.'

She looked like a model of a great noble.

'This almost seems like royal etiquette.'

People don't change overnight, especially in areas requiring such meticulous training.

Could she have been pretending to be dull all this time?

Edward inwardly scoffed.

'That's impossible.'

He dismissed the thought as an overreaction.

"Welcome, Lady Nabia. Let's start the lesson."

Edward didn't ask about her absence from the previous lesson and immediately began.

"Last time, I briefly mentioned the three great duchies of the empire."

Nabia showed a lack of interest and concentration.

Edward raised an eyebrow in annoyance.

Was she daring to act arrogant after struggling with the tasks he had given her just yesterday?

'No matter how much I educate her, her nature doesn't change.'

He deliberately asked a difficult question to test her understanding.

"Do you remember the nicknames of the three great duchies?"

Each of the three great duchies had a distinct magical ability and a corresponding nickname.

Since he had only briefly mentioned them, he didn't expect Nabia to remember.

Nabia looked up and smiled mysteriously.

"Water of Agnes, Fire of Lucia, and Law of Esselred."

Edward involuntarily showed a surprised expression.

But the questions didn't end there.

"Why is Esselred called 'Law'?"

Water and fire were straightforward nicknames based on their magical attributes.

However, Esselred, with the nickname 'Law,' stood out.

Nabia answered without hesitation.

"Because they were the first family to create a new civilization using the laws of magic."

The mages of Esselred studied the laws of magic, formulated them into equations, and created magical arrays.

"The result was the creation of 'magical artifacts.'"

Despite their greatness, the current head of the Esselred family, Lark Esselred, had led the family into an inexplicable decline.

"...That's correct."

Edward looked at Nabia, who had answered perfectly, with a strange expression.

"You've done well with your preparation..."

"The Dufman Royal Family is specialized in mind control magic and is also known as 'Dufman of Domination.' The fourth great duchy, 'Ailts of Lightning,' also existed."

Nabia knew that these questions were meant to put her in an awkward position.

After this explanation, Edward always proceeded to teach about the power dynamics of the Dufman Royal Family and the duchies.

Nabia smiled.

"Shall I explain how the Ailts duchy faded into history?"

Edward's expression, which had been cold and composed, slightly twisted in shock.