Chapter 94

# 94

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Nabia frowned, noticing that even though her silver hair, which had filled her vision, had sunk down, she could still see silver strands.

"Are you okay?"

However, the hair was quite short.

Moreover, a strange voice reached her, and when she lowered her gaze in confusion, she noticed a rather handsome face.

Was he in his late twenties now? The man had silver hair and transparent sky-blue eyes.

Nabia's eyes widened.

The man also looked at Nabia with a slightly surprised expression, his eyes wide.

"Uh..."

A moment of silence settled between them.

Nabia, looking dazed, quickly composed herself.

Then the man naturally let go of Nabia and straightened his bent back.

He was tall and exquisitely beautiful, without a single flaw.

"Thank you."

Just as Nabia was about to step aside politely,

"Wait!"

The man stopped her.

He asked with a very urgent look, just as desperate as Nabia.

"Do you like waffles?"

The man seemed bewildered by his own words.

Anyone would think this was something a kidnapper would say.

Nabia only blinked, making the man even more flustered.

"Ah, I mean, since you bumped into me, you might be hurt, um."

The man pointed to the coffee house.

"I'm the owner of this shop."

Nabia's expression changed subtly.

'So this person is...'

The owner of the information shop.

Nabia had used this information shop quite a bit but had never seen such a person.

Why did she only encounter him now? And he had silver hair.

'This life is full of surprises.'

Although there were times when nothing unusual happened, this last life was too much.

'...Anyway, it's good. I had business here.'

Nabia said calmly, having composed her expression.

"Actually, I came to this shop."

The man then smiled broadly.

"Ah! That's great. Would you like to come in?"

The coffee house was not yet open for business, but there was an employee.

The employee, about to say it was not open, saw who had entered and continued wiping the dishes.

This place seemed to be a lazy shop that operated just to pick the pockets of theater-goers.

In fact, the main customers of this shop were people like Nabia who bought and sold information.

"Would you like to go to my private office? The sofa there is much more expensive and comfortable."

Nabia smiled slightly at his cheerful words.

"Sure, I'd like that."

The man's private office was indeed very pleasant.

The room where Nabia had bought and sold information was quite luxurious, but not as much as this.

"What kind of waffles do you like?"

Nabia had never eaten waffles, so she had no preference.

"Anything is fine."

So she answered, and the man called the employee to prepare a waffle with ice cream and syrup.

'I don't really feel like eating because my stomach isn't good.'

"By the way, did you come alone?"

At the man's question, Nabia nodded.

"This coffee house doesn't have any particularly delicious menu items that would make you come here on purpose, so I'm surprised."

"There's something here that can't be found anywhere else."

At this meaningful statement, the man briefly smiled ambiguously.

"I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Erkin. And you, madam?"

"My name is Nabia."

Nabia said this, noting that he had not mentioned his last name.

The man in front of her was a noble.

His posture and the way he gestured to the employee revealed that he had been trained in etiquette for a long time.

Of course, Nabia, being a reincarnated person, had a keen eye for such things.

'Which noble uses the name Erkin?'

And one she had never seen before...

Nabia quickly thought of someone.

'Erkin Vladina, the Count.'

The owner of the information shop was the young head of the Vladina family.

There were two heads of great noble families that Nabia had never met in her previous life.

One was Lark Esselred, the Duke.

The other was the man in front of her, Erkin Vladina, the Count.

However, she did have information.

At this point, Erkin Vladina was 28 years old and unmarried.

He seemed to have no interest in politics or reputation and did not engage in any public activities.

Perhaps that's why the nickname 'Hidden' was attached to Vladina.

'But if that's the case, 'Reclusive' would fit him better.'

However, learning that he operated an information shop made the nickname 'Hidden' seem more fitting.

'I had no idea the Vladina family operated an information shop.'

Nabia looked at Erkin with cautious eyes.

Erkin had a particularly fine jawline and a high, thin nose.

Unlike Lark, who had a strong masculine appearance, Erkin had a delicate and handsome look.

'...I resemble him.'

More precisely, Nabia's current appearance, which had matured beyond her teenage years, was clearly present in him.

Was it a coincidence?

At that moment, the employee came in and placed the waffle on the table.

On the golden-brown waffle sat a round, half-moon-shaped vanilla ice cream, with caramel syrup drizzled in a zigzag pattern.

Finely chopped nuts were scattered like fallen leaves, and two small thyme leaves were adorably placed on top of the ice cream.

Nabia hesitated, feeling uneasy and queasy.

"Here, would you like to try it?"

When Erkin offered her a fork, Nabia reluctantly took a bite.

The warm waffle, cold ice cream, fragrant nuts, and caramel syrup that enhanced the flavors spread in her mouth.

Nabia, surprised, chewed and swallowed, then purely exclaimed,

"It's delicious."

Erkin smiled, a smile that suited his handsome face.

"I'm glad. This is my favorite combination."

Nabia found his affectionate attitude unfamiliar and awkward.

She had never experienced an adult man being so kind to her.

'Besides, he's observing me.'

Erkin looked at her with a meaningful gaze, not out of malice or curiosity, but as if trying to confirm something.

While lost in thought, the waffle in front of her disappeared in an instant.

Nabia was flustered.

She had only intended to take a few bites, but she had eaten the entire large waffle.

'...Embarrassing.'

Nabia put down the fork awkwardly.

"What should I do, I ate it all..."

Erkin hadn't touched the waffle.

"I offered you this waffle as an apology. I'm very pleased to see you enjoy it so much."

He spoke as beautifully as he looked.

Erkin was very different from Lark in terms of his appearance and aura.

Nabia's expression darkened for a moment as she thought of Lark, but she quickly shook off her thoughts.

"I have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, it's fortunate to meet the owner of the information shop I intended to use."

Erkin looked at Nabia with a calm expression, not feigning ignorance.

"How did you know this place is an information shop, young lady?"

The information shop always knew the identity of its customers in advance.

So, he must have already known that Nabia was Agnes' adopted daughter.

Nabia could see what he was doubting.

"Agnes doesn't know this place is an information shop, so you can rest assured."

Nabia's guess was accurate, so Erkin sighed and slightly furrowed his brow.

"You're a very clever lady, Nabia."

Nabia smiled.

The information he had on her was from before her reincarnation, when she was seven years old, so she understood his current confusion.

Erkin sighed deeply and carefully observed this type of child he had never seen before.

His firm gaze revealed no thoughts, and his expression was well-controlled.

He already had the demeanor of a seasoned noble who had been through the social scene.

'Nabia Agnes, or just Nabia now? I need to revise my information on this girl extensively.'

He shrugged and asked,

"By saying you came to the information shop, you mean you want to use it, right?"

Nabia nodded.

"I want to commission a way to take the anesthetic herb farm owned by Count Alvin from the Esselred family. Including the illegal farms."

"That's a significant request."

"I'll pay with the information I have."

Erkin did not dismiss Nabia's words as absurd or laughable. Instead, he asked with a curious and expectant look.

"Hmm, what kind of information?"

Nabia had used this information shop many times.

That's why she knew what information this shop valued the most.

Especially around this time.

"Are you looking for the secret hunting grounds of Emperor Yulih?"

Erkin's eyes narrowed at the unexpected statement.

"...Yes, but?"

"I know about it."

At her firm assertion, Erkin was momentarily silent.

There was a reason why the information about Emperor Yulih's secret hunting grounds was urgent.

The client seeking this information was none other than Empress Diana.

The fact that even the Empress's informants couldn't find the location suggested that there were secrets that must not be discovered there.

For example, a mistress and illegitimate children.

Erkin and his information shop's employees strongly suspected that the Emperor's secret hunting grounds housed a mistress and illegitimate children.

"Reliability of the information?"

"Send someone to verify it. If it's correct, then you can take on the commission regarding Count Alvin's anesthetic herbs."

Nabia continued, lowering her eyes.

"Isn't that right, Count Vladina?"