Chapter 91

# 91

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'Did Lady Margaret find it torn and replace it with another ribbon?'

Nabia thought it was no big deal and tied her hair up.

She had worn the same clothes for four days in a row, but Nabia didn't mind.

At the Duke Agnes' residence, she had rotated through five dresses.

"I'm hungry."

Nabia woke up early and finished her preparations for going out, feeling hungry.

'Should I prepare breakfast in advance?'

It was still before dawn.

She had woken up too early.

Nabia thought it would be nice to do something to pass the time until everyone woke up.

'Alright, let's make breakfast.'

Even if it wasn't elaborate, she could easily make a sandwich by putting ingredients between slices of bread.

Todododo.

Nabia walked briskly, almost running, down the stairs.

The desire to do something quickly turned into action.

Of course, she had to pause at the stairs and carefully descend to avoid reopening her wound.

When Nabia arrived in the kitchen, she naturally brought over the step stool that had been set up for her.

With the step stool in place, the most important part of cooking, Nabia gathered the necessary ingredients.

Looking at the ingredients lined up on the counter, Nabia thought about what to do first.

"I should make the dressing first."

A sandwich could be a delicious meal with just a generous amount of dressing.

'Today, I must taste it properly.'

Nabia tasted the sauce she had scooped into a small bowl.

When the dressing tasted just right, a bright smile spread across her face. It seemed like anyone would find it delicious.

Next, she took out the bread, which was wrapped to keep it from drying out, sliced it to the right thickness, and spread butter on it.

After adding cheese, tomato, lettuce, and dressing, a decent sandwich was complete.

While preparing a drink, Nabia hummed a tune without realizing it. She then stopped abruptly, startled.

'Cooking can be so much fun.'

Nabia had also not known that hairdressing could be so enjoyable when she trimmed Schleman and Lark's hair before.

It was the same now.

In the past, she had done things either to look good or because she was called a wicked girl who didn't even think of repaying kindness.

This was the first time she had cooked simply because she wanted to.

Nabia placed the sandwiches on each plate and covered them.

It was already dawn, and the morning was bright.

Nabia stared at the extra sandwich she had inadvertently made.

What should I do with this?

"…I should take my share to my room and eat it first."

Nabia muttered this to herself, gathered two sandwiches and plenty of drinks, and went up to the third floor.

She stood in front of her bedroom.

Nabia looked at the opposite room, lost in thought.

'Did Lady Margaret really like the food?'

Would it be okay to give her this sandwich too?

"Hmm…"

Nabia stood there, unable to enter her room or knock on Lark's bedroom door.

'Is she still sleeping?'

Is it too early?

'Yes, it's too early. I should just go back.'

Nabia, forgetting that Lark had burst into her room before dawn the last time, was about to turn around when—

Bang!

Lark opened the bedroom door and looked down precisely.

Now that he recognized the small, light, and steady footsteps as Nabia's.

"What is it?"

Nabia's shoulders trembled as she was startled.

Perhaps because of this, she stammered and spoke impulsively.

"Breakfast! …Would you like to have it together?"

No!

'I just wanted to share the Duke's portion!'

But out of her mouth came words different from her thoughts, driven by her confusion.

"There are two sandwiches… and I brought a lot of drinks."

After saying all this, Nabia felt despondent.

'What did I just say?'

It was a dazed and unbelievable statement.

Lark alternated his gaze between Nabia's flustered face and the tray in her hands, then said in an exasperated voice.

"You really don't listen, do you?"

Nabia, who had always been a good listener as a daughter and student, had never heard such a comment before.

Anyway, she seemed to be excited again. Nabia wasn't particularly surprised by her own foolishness.

"I'm sorry for bothering you so early in the morning. I didn't realize my footsteps were so loud."

"No, it's not that."

Lark stopped speaking and fell into thought.

'If I keep spending more time with this girl, it will be troublesome.'

He hoped his heart wouldn't be swayed by external influences.

Especially not by this mysterious child.

There were other troubling points as well.

'The cracks have been occurring more frequently lately.'

If, while with the child, a part of his body not covered by clothes, like his face, were to split in half...

Lark pressed his lips together.

He couldn't let such a terrifying sight be seen.

'Even without looking like that, I'm already a monster.'

Yes, let's admit it.

He was afraid that Nabia would see him as a terrifying and disgusting being.

Even his retainers felt fear at the sight of Lark's body breaking apart.

'I haven't told anyone about the cracks in this cycle.'

His body breaking apart was a very personal matter. It was enough that he knew about it.

Even if it were to be discovered, it wouldn't matter to his retainers.

But Nabia was a problem.

If Nabia saw that terrifying sight, would she faint?

'But I can't just send her away after she cooked for me too.'

Lark sighed deeply and looked around his room.

Bottles, broken pens, and scraps of paper were scattered messily everywhere.

Snap!

When he snapped his fingers, the curtains were drawn back, and the room was tidied up.

Suddenly, a table and two chairs appeared in the center.

A candle on a golden candelabra was even lit in the middle of the table.

"Then I'll go."

Just as Nabia was about to return to her room with her shoulders slumped, Lark quickly took the tray from her.

When Nabia looked up in surprise, Lark gestured for her to come in.

"Come in."

'It should be fine for a short while.'

What could happen in the short time it takes to eat a sandwich?

He opened the door wide and walked in, placing the food on the table.

Then he said to Nabia, who was still standing by the door.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, yes."

Nabia, reacting to his words without thinking, approached the seat opposite Lark.

However, the black velvet chair Lark had summoned was too high for Nabia.

If no one was around, she might have jumped up to sit, but now she was with Lark.

'His Highness probably won't mind...'

But the issue was more about her own feelings.

Nabia firmly believed that such behavior was wrong, making it difficult to ignore the many rules she had learned.

"You're quite the noble lady."

Nabia lowered her eyes when she heard his sarcastic remark, knowing he disliked such behavior.

'I'm really a fool.'

Just as she was about to smile bitterly at the corners of her mouth, which were covered by her hair on both sides—

"…!"

Suddenly, light began to gather at Nabia's feet, forming a staircase that looked like it was made of billions of diamonds.

The dazzling light scattered beautifully, creating a mesmerizing sight.

"Is this enough for a noble lady to step on and climb?"

Lark, with his elbow on the armrest and his chin in his hand, spoke in a slanted manner.

Nabia still found it difficult to get used to his harsh words, but now she could believe what Margaret had said.

He was just someone who spoke harshly.

Tap.

Nabia carefully stepped on the shimmering staircase. As she did, a sparkling mist spread out like white steam from ice.

Lark watched quietly as Nabia, with wide eyes, clutched her skirt and climbed up carefully.

'Does she like it, or not?'

He had ambitiously created the light staircase, thinking the child would like it, but Nabia's lips were tightly closed.

Finally, when Nabia gently sat on the velvet chair, the light staircase disappeared like a mirage.

Nabia muttered to herself, looking at the spot where the staircase had been.

"It was beautiful, but it's a shame it's gone."

Lark's eyebrows twitched.

'No, I thought it was bad and removed it.'

After Nabia gave her brief comment and looked up, Lark could finally read the child's expression clearly.

Her red eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

He chuckled.

"If you liked it, that's enough."

He could have made the staircase so high the next day that she wouldn't be able to climb it.