Chapter 22

Philippa, the maids, and the other servants were holding their breaths without realizing it and made stupefied faces.

Until now, like a fun game, ugly feelings mixed with relief poured towards Navia. This was because they received Nikan’s permission to do so. However, with one sentence, the situation was reversed.

The hairpin wasn’t brought to be given to Vivian.

It was for Navia.

As a result, all justification leaned toward Navia. One by one, everyone started to gape. No one here expected Navia to step up like this. It was the same for Nikan.

Navia left the silence alone for a while, then cringed her fingertips slightly and spoke timidly.

“Am I too greedy?”

Nikan let out a low sigh without realizing it. Until now, Navia was like a prisoner on death row. But the atmosphere turned around in an instant. It would have been difficult for even an experienced schemer to turn the tables so easily.

Is this all part of her plan?

Otherwise, it was too subtle.

He looked at Navia closely with suspicion.

Navia suddenly found everything laughable.

‘You don’t realize how funny it is that you’ve made such a mess with a piece of junk from a boutique?’

On top of that, the opponent was an eight-year-old girl.

In the end, it was a matter of birth.

Receiving even just one gift like this should have a valid reason. However, she had never received a gift since she came to the Duchy, except for the necklace that Nikan gave her for the first and last time.

‘Ah, then is this the second gift?’

Her fingertips trembled at that moment. It wasn’t acting. Her hands were shaking regardless of her will. Navia took a deep breath. It was not the time to get caught up in personal feelings.

Because she had not escaped Nikan’s suspicions yet.

“I’m sorry, I was being greedy. I, I was just so happy. I was so happy to receive a gift from Father…”

But her voice was shaking.

It was strange. She wasn’t sad at all right now. Rather than unfair, she thought it was funny. It was normal to hold back laughter from stupidity.

Normal…

But tears welled up in her eyes. Fever-like emotions swept through Navia’s head, which she believed to be cool.

‘No, get a hold of yourself!’

Navia held back her tears and bit her mouth. Everyone was paying attention to her.

If you finish poorly, the chance to win will be lost.

“I only need this hairpin.”

A low wet voice flowed out, filling the room with deep depression.

“I won’t wish for anything else from now on.”

As if to peak the heavy atmosphere, a teardrop that she couldn’t hold in fell.

The moment Navia’s tear fell onto the carpet, Nikan realized that he was clenching his fists so hard that his palms turned white.

Somehow, he had cold sweat.

That’s how focused he was on Navia’s eyes and words.

‘…It’s surprising.’

It was hard for Nikan to believe that he was overwhelmed by his opponent’s emotions, even though it was just for a brief moment. In fact, until just now, doubts were growing in the corner of his heart.

What if Navia really did deceive herself with presumptuous greed?

Nikan didn’t trust Navia.

It’s stupid to trust tools. It’s normal to trust people who use tools. Therefore, he looked at Navia with suspicion. He had seen many things standing at the pinnacle of the upper class.

False joys, sorrows, smiles, and tears…

It was an aristocratic society where each person wore a mask and played dirty. With all sorts of dark political struggles, Nikan was going to let Navia get torn apart.

It was clear that an eight-year-old’s mask would be ridiculously childish and sloppy.

And just now, he was convinced.

‘The brainwashing hasn’t shaken.’

There was no need to push further.

Her heavy heart was so strong that it covered the room like a storm. Even Nikan was swept away momentarily by the intense emotions that Navia emitted.

What mattered now was not this ridiculous fuss.

‘Her actions just now!’

Even from watching up close, her movements showed unbelievably perfect etiquette!

Nikan was filled with joy.

‘She looked like a great noble!’

His choice to choose Navia was not wrong. No, it couldn’t have been wrong. It was Nikan Agnes’ judgement, how could it be wrong?

Nikan spoke like a generous father.

“What are you saying? Navia, you are a Princess of Agnes. It means you’re in a position to wish for more.”

This time, Navia almost burst into laughter.

‘I’m a Princess of Agnes? I can wish for more?’

If that’s the case, what was the doubt that you just showed?

The tears and feelings of joy dried up. Instead, terrible hatred filled up.

‘Just like how you spout things you don’t mean, I should also say things I don’t mean.’

Isn’t the word brazen made for that person? (T/N: In this sentence, brazen could be replaced with two-faced, iron-faced, shameless, etc.)

Navia wore a formidable, more complete mask.

‘It’s so damn easy playing the nice and stupid daughter you want.’

“However, because of me…”

She deliberately cut off her words and looked around.

‘You haven’t forgotten the mockery and sarcasm that just filled this room, right, Duke?’

Nikan immediately glared around after seeing Navia’s face.

“Yes. I’ll have to see who really caused this mess first.”

Philippa almost bit the bubble.

‘Master is being deceived by that wicked brat!’

“That is all acting!”

Philippa shouted and pointed her finger at Navia with a glare.

“You mustn’t fall for her sly words! Look at her trying to escape the crisis by pretending to be pitiful. How abominable…”

“You can’t stop?!”

As Nikan shouted loudly, Philippa replied as soon as possible without thinking about what was going on behind her back.

“If Master saw what that b*tch has done to me, you would never let things go like this…”

“What does that mean?”

Philippa shut her mouth after a gasp, but the water was already spilled.

Nikan questioned Philippa with sharp eyes.

“You dare to open your mouth after my words?”

Philippa already burned all the evidence of her embezzlement.

She was going to burst the chef with corruption and corner Navia and Charlotte. The manipulated book was to arrive in her hands today.

‘I can’t act without the book…!’

Philippa glanced at Navia.

There was no evidence, but if Navia mentioned the embezzlement in this situation, things could get complicated.

Whatever tricks Navia used, Nikan’s attitude changed completely!

But Navia was quiet.

It felt somewhat bleak, but Philippa lost interest because of the problem in front of her.

Philippa spoke cautiously.

“That… there was some friction because I couldn’t take care of Lady Navia properly.”

“But how could it be Navia’s fault?

“…I must have been out of my mind because I was hurt. Please forgive me, Master.”

Philippa quickly lowered her head. But it was only after Nikan was visibly upset.

“I guess I trusted you too much, Philippa.”

His gaze reached Maki, who was still kneeling on the floor.

“So a maid like that dared to frame a princess.”

Maki’s complexion turned pale.

The situation was clearly flowing as intended. An eight-year-old couldn’t possibly be a formidable opponent in the first place. But when she came to her senses, Nikan was holding her by the neck.

The crime of deceiving one’s master. The price was high.

Maki began to tremble. It was the same for the other maids.

“M-Master… that, I, I misunderstood, I misunderstood that…”

Sriing-.

When Nikan drew his sword from his waist, Philippa quickly fell on the floor.

If she just endured a little more, the evidence of embezzlement would arrive. Then the situation could be turned around again, she can’t get killed like this.

“Master, we were wrong! Please forgive us just this once. Please, just this time…!”

Nikan spoke coldly, “Your self-indulgence went too far.”

It was then.

“Daddy…?”

At the peak of the uproar, Vivian, who had fainted, regained consciousness.