Chapter 100

# 100

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* * *

Theorban clicked his tongue as he inspected the room that Masha would be using for a while.

"Our future queen should not be staying in such a shabby place."

Even if it was the best room on the second floor, it was still just a guest room.

Moreover, with only a table, a chair, and a vanity, it was hard to call it a noble's room.

The servants Theorban had brought were decorating the room Masha would use, but the items they brought seemed out of place and incongruous.

Masha pouted and asked, "Dad, can't I use the third floor? Why do I have to stay in this shabby place!"

Theorban replied firmly, "You must never go up to the third floor without the master's permission. You could die from the magic there. Tsk."

Masha sighed deeply.

'I just want to stay in my original room.'

Masha's room at the Alvin Manor had wallpaper adorned with flowers painted by artisans.

The bedding was a beautiful light pink, as if it had been infused with flower water, and it was filled with dolls made of real animal fur, gifts from her parents and relatives.

But this place was completely dark and had no decorations.

Masha was curious about Lark, who would become her stepfather.

'Have I ever seen the Duke of Esselred? Will I see him this time?'

Honestly, she didn't have much hope.

Theorban always spoke of him as a loser, a dried-up stick who couldn't even get married, and a guy with no money or power.

'But the servants say he's the most handsome man in the world.'

She couldn't tell which was true.

In any case, the important fact was that from now on, this place would be her home, and she would be the mistress.

"Your father will visit you every day, so if there are any problems, be sure to tell him. Understand, my precious daughter?"

Theorban was deeply troubled by the fact that he had to leave his precious child in this garbage dump.

But for his precious daughter to reach the most noble position, this was a necessary procedure.

The current sacrifice would bring glory to both her and the family in the future.

"Don't worry about me, Dad."

When Masha spoke maturely, Theorban laughed and stroked her head.

"Good. My daughter is smart like me. Still, be careful of that cunning woman. She might envy you and do something to you. Understand?"

Masha's smile faltered as she thought of Navia.

Navia always maintained a calm and elegant demeanor, reminiscent of Queen Diana she had seen at the royal palace.

No, strangely, she seemed even more noble.

'No! That can't be true.'

That insignificant girl couldn't be more noble than the queen.

She had heard that Navia was now just 'Navia,' without a castle, neither a noble nor a commoner, just a 'prisoner.' Just garbage.

"Is this all? Don't you have anything else?"

The dressing room was filled with dresses that the maids had taken out one by one.

The maids answered awkwardly, "We've taken out all the dresses we brought, Miss..."

"What? Why did you only bring these, you wretches! You must have done this on purpose to embarrass me!"

"Oh, no! We couldn't fit more in the carriage... Ow!"

Masha yanked the maid's hair who dared to contradict her.

"You should have brought more, even if you had to carry them yourself. Why so many excuses!"

"I'm sorry, Miss!"

After venting her anger for a while, Masha chose the dress with the most jewels from the ones they had brought.

Even after carefully braiding her hair and putting on beautiful clothes and shoes, something still felt lacking.

Masha threw her cherished doll in frustration.

"I'm so irritated!"

The maids flinched, fearing that Masha might grab their hair or kick them, and they tried to be as quiet as possible.

All of Masha's actions were learned from Theorban.

"But why isn't she locked up in prison if she's a prisoner?"

The maids immediately understood that 'she' referred to Navia.

"We heard that she is being treated well to deliberately cause trouble for the master..."

"Trouble for Dad? How?"

"Well, I'm not sure..."

The maids were clueless about the political aspects, and Masha, still young and naive, couldn't understand how Navia could cause trouble for her father.

"In any case, she's a problem, right?"

If so, as a good daughter, Masha should torment Navia for her father's sake.

Masha pondered how to make Navia look even more like a rat in a sewer.

Navia had to appear as unremarkable and pitiful as possible.

Only then would Masha look more outstanding.

"Just stomping on the clothes won't be enough. Tear them all to pieces."

The maids, who resembled their mistress, gleamed with excitement.

"Leave it to us, Miss."

* * *

Navia took off her damp nightgown and changed into another one.

The sky-blue dress was still damp, so she had laid it out with a cloak near the fireplace.

Charlotte left to finish preparing Navia's meal. She had no time to continue being angry over such trivial matters.

The important thing was Lark's condition.

As soon as the commotion settled down, she fetched a basin of cold water and went up to the third floor.

"Schleman."

Schleman, who had just given Lark a sedative, looked at Navia with an apologetic expression.

"I was about to come down, but I'm sorry. Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine. Lord Alvin has left, and it's quiet now."

"Good..."

"What about the Duke?"

"I've given him the sedative that Minerva hurriedly made, but we'll have to see how it goes."

Navia approached the bed and placed the basin on a stool.

Lark's body was still burning hot, so she wet a towel with cold water, wrung it out, and placed it on his forehead.

"Can I ask what happened yesterday?"

Navia laughed awkwardly.

Somehow, she felt that the unstable state Lark had been in was something she should keep to herself.

It would be best not to mention anything until he woke up.

"I'm sorry."

So Navia could only answer that way.

"There's no need to apologize. You must have your reasons."

Navia felt a bit comforted by Schleman's words.

It was a great and surprising thing to have someone support her actions even when she couldn't explain them.

'Please just wait a little longer.'

She would take the anesthetic herb farm from Theorban so that Esselred's vassals wouldn't have to bow to that beast.

"Go and rest now."

"No, Schleman. You must be tired. Rest. I'll stay here and watch over him."

Schleman couldn't hide his admiration as he looked at Navia, who was acting maturely and responsibly.

"Our little lady is truly admirable. More mature than our lord."

Navia fidgeted.

Our little lady. Our lord.

She felt awkward being tied to the 'us.'

Schleman laughed and stroked Navia's head.

"Our lord is a special person and will wake up soon. There's no need to burden you with nursing him."

Is that really true?

Navia felt that Lark was a remarkable person, but when she thought of his state yesterday, he seemed so small and fragile.

It didn't make sense, but somehow that's how she felt.

Still, it wasn't good to refuse his kindness, so she obediently followed Schleman's advice.

"I'll do that."

Navia knew she wasn't the kind of person who could easily be seen as cute and lively.

It was much easier to be well-behaved and docile to win people's favor.

'I can't be a sore thumb for anyone.'

When Navia went down to the second floor, Charlotte immediately wrapped her in a blanket.

"Thank you. But where did this come from?"

"I received it from Mina yesterday."

Navia smiled contentedly at this.

"I'm glad you're getting along well with Mina."

Charlotte smiled at Navia, who spoke naturally as if she were the mistress of the household.

'Perhaps Miss hasn't realized it yet...'

Navia in Esselred was completely different from Navia in Agnes.

In Agnes, Navia was much more obsessive and cautious.

Here, she had lowered the thorny vines that encircled her and was peeking out at the world.

This change was even more dramatic to Charlotte.

"I've brought your meal to your room. Eat quickly, Miss."

Navia nodded and returned to her room with Charlotte.

But the door was open.

"I'm sure I locked it..."

Charlotte muttered in confusion and quickly approached the room. The doorknob was broken.

"Miss..."

Charlotte turned to Navia with a pale face.

Navia stood still in front of the open door and looked inside.

"All my clothes are torn."

Navia's clothes were all precious to her.

Seeing her cloak, which had a special story for Margaret, torn to shreds, made her blood run cold.

'Ah. Finally.'

A sharp anger enveloped her entire body, as if she were standing right in the middle of Agnes again.