Chapter 31

5. Escape

The moment Navia came to her senses, she opened her eyes as if she were surprised. When her red eyes focused, there was an antique ceiling.

‘…was the ceiling in my room like this?’

And soon, she realized that she was in the Emerald room. It was unfamiliar because she had only used it for a few days throughout her lives.

She turned her head sideways to check the clock in the corner.

9 A.M.

Navia wrinkled her brows.

She didn’t even know what day it was.

“Ha… eat sh*t, Wood.”

Did I miss the golden opportunity I originally planned while I was unconscious?

Navia covered her eyes with her palm and looked at the black moon. Looking at the quiet black moon reminded her of the white fog that appeared.

In the middle of the fog, Navia had held Wood and continued to pull out his mana.

The red blood flowing through his lips came to mind.

“Let go-!”

His fear was clearly portrayed on his face.

“Brother, do you know what you said when I begged you to stop hitting me?”

“Let go! I said let go!”

The struggling Wood was drawn from the steam and tied to his limbs.

And she let him know.

“Why should I?”

His violence had no particular meaning.

Just.

Because he could.

Because he wanted to.

Because she’s a lowlife.

Navia woke up from bed with a dry expression. First, her top priority was to figure out the situation. When she pulled the rope, a maid came in.

“Did you call?

But it wasn’t Charlotte.

“Where’s Charlotte?”

“Charlotte was demoted as punishment for not serving the Lady properly. I will serve you from now on.”

What does Charlotte have to do with the kidnapping to be punished so severely?

Navia thought there was a different reason.

“Then where is the nanny?”

The maid replied cautiously.

“…she is in the cell”

‘So Charlotte also got the Duke’s suspicions after she bit Philippa.’

That’s why I told you not to accuse Philippa too early. But it must have been hard to come up with a better idea when she was framed.

Navia understood the situation at once and asked the most important question.

“How long have I been unconscious for?”

“One day.”

‘If it’s been one day, today is the day the contract is to be carried out.’

What is Edward doing right now?

At 9 o’clock, it’s early, but it’s also the time for him to go to work at the duchy. Navia looked at the new maid calmly.

She read quite a bit of information from the maid’s attitude.

First, Wood is safe.

“What about Brother?”

The maid responded,

“He’s caused a mana explosion in the process of saving the Lady, but fortunately, he is safe.”

Wood knows I can use magic by exerting mana, so he couldn’t have stayed still.

Navia frowned at the elusive situation.

‘So the kidnapping never happened.’

(T/N: Navia is saying it is to be known that Wood didn’t kidnap her.)

It wasn’t surprising because it was such a natural move. However, it was a little strange that Charlotte was punished in the process.

“What position was Charlotte demoted too?”

The maid felt a strange about the questions asked. Strangely, it felt like she wasn’t handling a child.

“She is in the laundry room.”

The amount of laundry in the duchy was enormous. Washing and drying wasn’t even average, but you also had to iron all of it. If you continue to work as a laundry maid, your body won’t be intact.

“I see. It’s not hard, right?”

When Navia asked naively, the maid was speechless for a while.

She was a bit flustered at the stupid question she asked. She didn’t know if Navia was innocent or bright.

“Ah… yes, well. A little.”

It occurred to her that she might continue to ask stupid questions if she stayed here. It was an annoying part of working with a child.

Just in time, a knock was heard outside.

“Miss, Sir Spencer is asking to see you.”

Navia spoke calmly.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Edward came in.

His expression looked refreshed, as if all the tension that had been somewhere had been relieved somehow.

He must have successfully cured his younger sister’s illness.

Navia asked the new maid,

“What’s your name?”

“Kate.”

“Yes, Kate. You can go now.”

Kate slipped out of the bedroom, relieved that she no longer had to deal with the child.

Navia’s expression subsided coldly when only the two were left in the room.

“Did you cure your younger sister’s illness?”

Edward answered dryly with his signature calm expression and voice.

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“That’s a relief.”

Edward glanced at Navia, who was overly calm for being just kidnapped.

“Are you okay?”

Navia replied with a strange look, as if she was asking why he was asking that.

“Yes.”

Edward knew well that Navia did not see him in, more or less than a contractual relationship. Maybe that’s why he was nervous.

Edward asked what he had wanted to ask.

“Why was it today?”

Why did Navia ask him to cure Vivian’s disease today, the fifth day?

There seemed to be a reason for that.

“Aren’t you going to the Palace with Duke Agnes today?”

“…that’s right.”

“When an adult is away, it becomes a lawless zone for children.”

At that, Edward guessed that Navia would turn this place upside down again.

Navia stood at the center of the duchy and became a huge typhoon herself, causing all kinds of accidents.

In the process, she got injured and broken, but she never stopped, even when she ran into a dangerous moment.

That’s how she swept it away. She swallowed it.

‘I can’t understand how she’s all right after being caught up in a mana explosion.’

When he realized an eight-year-old girl was creating the current situation by stirring her surroundings, a thrill flowed through his body.

After treating his little sister’s illness completely, Edward completed his assessment of Navia.

This was not the end for her.

He didn’t know how big the painting Navia was looking at was, but he knew it was a masterpiece.

No, it didn’t matter if it was a masterpiece.

It was okay if there was failure.

Rather, that would make it greater.

And Edward only dared to think.

‘If only one person could be in that person’s grand country.’

If only Edward Spencer was by Navia’s side!

There was no desire to be recorded as her teacher.

He just wanted to be recorded as an advisor or colleague.

Navia was the first person who gave him, who was only every cynical, such an intense hope. And she would definitely be the last.

Edward would have usually claimed to be on the sidelines, but he confessed what he knew to Navia.

“Come to think of it, it turned out that Young Master Wood lost some of his memories.”

Navia’s eyes opened wide at the unexpected remark.

‘That sounds like he forgot that I can extort mana with just a touch.’

Then it was good news because it would be much easier to escape from here.

Knock knock.

A servant knocked on the door and asked carefully,

“Sir Spencer, are you perhaps busy? Master asked if you needed more time.”

Edward took a feeble breath at those words.

“…take care of yourself.”

He left after saying those words.

Navia looked at the door for a moment and shook her head.

‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking.’

Edward was acting as if he were her companion.

Navia looked out the window, determine that it couldn’t be.

The sky was full of muddy clouds.

‘Is the climate change caused by the storm?’

Only a week after the return and there was always a gloomy rain that announced a full-fledged winter.

The raindrops, half-frozen, tracking and defiling the streets, seemed to signal that the session had already failed.

But it felt that the rain was going to fall a day earlier.

This rain was supposed to help her.

‘If it rains, Nikan’s return will be delayed.’

Navia confirmed that a wagon was waiting outside the window and quickly began to get ready to go out. She slowly changed herself and combed her hair neatly.

She didn’t even touch the stuff from Ansier Boutique.

Then, she found the pearl hairpin on the table. She thought she lost it after stabbing the servant in the thigh, but it followed her through a long journey.

Navia looked at the hair pin without a word for a moment and stuck it in her hair.

Since there was still work to do around in the mansion, it was good to look like a poor and shabby fake princess.

No one could be seen through the window. Nikan and Edward left.

‘I have to go to Charlotte.’