Chapter 98

# 98

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A day had passed.

Nabia had washed and dried her clothes and secretly prepared a meal.

Since then, she had been waiting anxiously in her room.

When the rainy weather suddenly turned stormy with thunder and lightning, she felt terrible.

Still, she endured. Morning came, the rain clouds cleared, and sunlight shone through.

Nabia had taken a brief nap but felt quite tired as she got out of bed.

Knock knock.

At that moment, Charlotte brought her breakfast.

"Miss, it's time to eat."

Nabia smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Charlotte."

Her gratitude was not just for bringing her breakfast.

Charlotte had helped in various ways, allowing Minerva to fully attend to Lark's condition, and also assisted Margaret and Solomon.

Without Charlotte, Nabia would have felt like she was sinking into a swamp, struggling with depression.

"Is the Duke any better?"

Charlotte shook her head. Nabia fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"Then everyone must have been up all night. I should go and relieve them."

"But you must be tired too..."

"It's okay. Charlotte, you must be tired too. Get some rest and we'll see each other at lunch."

Nabia took a little of the meal Charlotte had prepared but eventually put it down, feeling no appetite, and headed to the third floor.

In Lark's bedroom, Margaret and Minerva were there, and the atmosphere was serious.

"Is there a problem?"

When Nabia asked, Minerva replied with a worried look.

"Ah, it was supposed to be the day the Alvin family sent the anesthetic herbs, but there's still no news..."

'So they're trying to use the anesthetic herbs as leverage.'

The thought that came from her dull mind was too obvious.

Margaret forced a smile and said,

"Solomon went to the Alvin family, so he'll bring back good news."

"......Yes."

Nabia predicted that Solomon would return empty-handed.

What Theorban wanted was not money but the Esselred family, so he would surely make a speech about the succession.

'Please, Lord Vladina, move quickly.'

"Anyway, go get some rest. Minerva looks very sleepy too. I'll watch over him."

"But..."

"Oh, Miss..."

"Go on. If we all get sick, it will be a big problem."

When Nabia said this, Margaret and Minerva had no choice but to go and get some sleep.

Thud.

As the door closed, Nabia approached the bed where Lark lay.

Lark's body was burning hot like a ball of fire, yet he wasn't breathing heavily.

He was so still, like he was dead, which made her strangely fearful, and she kept checking if he was breathing.

"The fever should be going down..."

Nabia brought cold water and cooled the cloth on his forehead.

Squish.

Then, with her delicate hands, she wrung out the wet towel and placed it on his forehead.

'What kind of illness is this?'

Lark seemed overly healthy but was always taking anesthetic drugs.

Minerva said the anesthetic drugs stopped Lark's seizures.

Although she didn't give a detailed explanation, Nabia was already shocked by that.

'Seizures...'

Could such a person have been out in the rain for hours yesterday, wearing thin clothes, to apologize to her?

Nabia gazed at the unconscious Lark.

Honestly, she still found Lark uncomfortable.

Regardless of his pitiful and sincere apology yesterday, Lark was a difficult person for Nabia.

However, she couldn't leave the nursing to just Minerva and Margaret.

"Please wake up, Duke."

* * *

Four hours had passed since she sent the two away.

Nabia brought a clock from the heir's room because there was no clock in Lark's bedroom.

It was now 11:00 AM.

Lark was still lying there, as quiet as a dead person.

When he was awake, he was a person who exuded a considerable amount of pressure just by being alive.

He was much taller than others, and the combination of his jet-black hair and red eyes seemed to symbolize noble blood, evoking an instinctive fear.

His physique was large and sturdy, making him look incredibly strong.

Nabia's gaze fell on the corner where a black marble table was split in half.

Hmm, he must be very strong indeed.

'I clearly remember that table being intact yesterday...'

Nabia suddenly looked down at her own body.

She had grown the most in her previous life, reaching 159cm, but why was this person so tall?

'I'm not particularly strong either.'

Apart from his red eyes, Lark seemed to have nothing in common with her.

This strong-looking person seemed so weak yesterday.

"Stay here."

He had begged her with unfocused eyes, panting for breath.

It was almost a plea that sounded like a threat.

He seemed at a loss, fearing that she might leave.

Nabia muttered softly, almost like a sigh.

"I don't really understand you, Duke."

He was brusque but strangely kind, showing her kindness one moment and then suddenly rejecting her.

Nabia was frustrated because she had no idea why this was happening.

Thud.

She needed to fetch fresh water first.

Nabia carried the basin and went downstairs.

"This damn mansion is so big, but there are no servants!"

Hearing a familiar voice that had become annoyingly familiar in just a few days, Nabia stopped and turned her gaze toward the front door.

Sure enough, Theorban and his daughter, Masha, were entering.

Behind them, dozens of servants in spotless uniforms followed proudly.

Nabia raised one eyebrow.

'Lord Solomon definitely went to the Alvin family. Did they miss each other?'

Moreover, Theorban's appearance gave the impression that he was determined to achieve his goal today.

When Theorban saw Nabia, he made an unpleasant face.

"Tsk! What bad luck to run into such a woman right away."

Nabia bowed politely.

"I greet Lord Alvin."

"Where is Duke Janegar? Where is Duke Romanov?"

He didn't even acknowledge her greeting and asked brusquely, treating her like a servant.

"Perhaps you missed each other. Lord Solomon went out to see Lord Alvin a while ago. Lady Margaret is resting now."

"Hmph, not my concern. Then call Duke Romanov immediately!"

At that moment, Masha asked Theorban with a very shocked expression.

"Dad, who is she...?"

"Oh, Masha. I told you about the crazy woman who attacked the Duke's residence before? That's her. She's not even worth your attention."

Masha glanced at Nabia with trembling eyes and bit her lip.

'He said she was nothing, but she's not.'

To Masha, Nabia was absolutely not nothing.

Her silver hair that captivated people, her fair and smooth skin, her long eyelashes that fluttered like a butterfly's wings, and her eyes that were like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

Her nose, smooth like a doll's, and her small, plump pink lips.

Her posture was noble, like a statue of a goddess in a quiet temple.

Masha had never seen such a beautifully intense girl in her life.

'So she's the foster daughter.'

She had also heard that Nabia had been disowned by Agnes and was now in a pitiful state with nowhere to go.

But the girl in front of her didn't look pitiful at all.

She was composed and calm, and seemed somewhat mature.

Masha had only seen such a noble aura in a girl her age in Princess Sara Lucia.

Even Princess Lucia would look childish next to this girl.

This girl possessed the perfect grace that all noble young ladies aspired to. It was really unbelievable!

"Isn't it common courtesy to inform us of your visit first, Alvin?"

Masha, who had been staring at Nabia with her mouth open, finally snapped out of it when she heard Solomon's sharp voice from behind.

Solomon had returned from the Alvin family, having apparently come up empty-handed, at just the right time.

Theorban ignored his comment and said,

"I've brought the anesthetic herbs."

As he spoke, he gestured, and the servants behind him lined up, holding wooden boxes filled with anesthetic herbs.

It was clearly a large amount.

"We'll settle the payment in the parlor."

Solomon's words made Theorban snort.

His expression seemed to ask if Solomon thought he was here just to collect the payment.

Then, in a harsh tone, he revealed his hidden purpose.

"Forget the money. Enroll my daughter and send that woman to the servant's quarters immediately. That's the condition for handing over the anesthetic herbs."