Can We Become a Family?

Chapter 40

Navia narrowed her eyes slightly, staring into the air where Lark was.

‘Just what is Duke Eseled’s ability?’

Being a wizard was certain, but the black moon didn’t react. He used explosion magic and even space movement magic. And the ability to lift someone up was psychokinesis.

“Ha…”

Her head got complicated.

‘But he accepted me.’

There was a one year condition attached, but she got permission to stay here.

Even if she wasn’t admitted as his foster daughter, the mere fact that she was staying here was advantageous for Navia.

‘What a relief.’

Navia became tired as if she dealt with a great deal of evil. As she lost her energy, the forgotten pain, from the wound she got because of Theorban, rose.

‘Theorban, he’s not someone who will back down quietly.’

But observing the situation earlier, it seemed that Lark was letting him be for some reason, but Theorban couldn’t fight him.

‘It’ll be hard to poison me recklessly, so maybe he’ll try to drag me outside.’

Anyway, she’s secured her safety for now.

‘I’ll have to look at the situation and ask Duke Eseled to affirm it with a wizard’s contract.’

Now, all she had to do was wait.

‘To move in earnestly, the Imperial family has to clearly decide on my disposition to move.’

Nikan would not send an assassin to silence her if he found her useful.

“……”

At then, a stinging gaze was felt.

As Navia turned her head, she saw a woman with mint-colored hair and big glasses.

“Heub!”

The woman was surprised and dropped the bag in her arms. The contents appeared to be medical instruments. She was dressed in a white gown, so she was probably a doctor.

But Navia still spoke formally to her.

“Are you okay?”

Navia approached her to take care of the dropped bag.

Then the woman picked up the things that had fallen on the ground and nodded.

“Yes, yes! I’m okay.”

The woman greeted her with quite a nervous look on her face.

“P-please speak comfortably. I am Minerva Hart, the Master’s doctor.”

Navia’s eyes narrowed for a moment when she said she was a doctor.

Even when the lord of the family wasn’t sick, there was still a doctor. Although it was common for young lords to end up with a doctor, Lark seemed to have no need for a doctor, so it was unexpected.

‘Is he sick as expected? Is that why he can’t leave the house? That’s why he might need anesthetic…’

Navia didn’t know much about the man named Lark, but she thought he couldn’t be more specific.

“I’m Navia.”

And then there was a moment, there was no talking.

“……”

“……”

Minerva seemed to be very timid.

She kept looking at Navia, who was just a child, but couldn’t speak.

In the end, Navia spoke first.

“Did you…come to treat me?”

“Ah, yes!”

“Then I’ll go to bed and lie down.”

Minerva opened her mouth, looking curiously at Navia, who pointed out what she wanted to do.

They went into the bedroom.

As Navia lay in bed, Minerba examined her conscious condition and rechecked her wounds.

“Was it Minerva who treated me?”

Suddenly hearing the question, Minerva winced and answered in deep dither.

“Yes, yes…”

Why would she ask that? Maybe she didn’t like the treatment? Was she going to scold her…?

“Thanks.”

“…yes?”

Navia looked down at her hand. All the badly damaged wounds from the carriage were treated meticulously.

There was a sense of tenderness.

“I’ve never met someone treat me so kindly. So, thank you.”

“Ah…”

Minerva’s face heated up from the unexpected compliment and gratitude.

‘Wow, I was complimented.’

“Ah, no…it was just my job.”

It was common for doctors to get annoyed with children because they’re not as profitable.

But without having to consider it, Minerva was already the sweetest doctor in all of Navia’s lives.

Navia smiled slightly.

“I’ll be in your care from now on.”

“……!”

Minerva bowed her head and began organizing her medical bag.

“The treatment is all done…! T-Then I will go out!”

“Ah, yeah. Thank you.”

Minerva, who was thanked again, bowed with a red face and quickly left.

‘She’s a very shy person.’

Navia blinked, sighed, and buried herself in bed.

“I’m hungry.”

Should I go find food this time?

Navia endured her hunger and closed her eyelids, unable to overcome the drowsiness.

***

Navia’s room was on the second floor.

Guests were usually on the second floor, so it was natural for her to be there.

And the place Lark moved to was the corridor of the third floor.

The dark hallway shone silently on the black floor with dim lighting coming in through the windows.

No one was on the third floor. Not only people, but there were also no candles burning with a golden flame, that should have filled the walls and the ceilings as well.

It was just darkness full of silence.

“Suleiman.”

And an old gentleman with gray hair appeared suddenly from a space where no one was present.

He was Lark’s aide, as Count Suleiman Genegar. Although he only had a title and no land, it was very rare for a count to claim to be no less than a secretary of a Duke than the Imperial family.

Suleiman had already long sworn allegiance to Lark.

“Please speak, Lord.”

Suleiman ran to the front door at the sound of an out-of-the-blue explosion through the silence and found a girl in the arms of his master.

The girl was covered in mud. Her clothes were ragged and blood was dripping.

Suleiman expected Lark to pass the sourly distraught girl to dispose of her. But Lark looked at the girl gently.

“Save her.”

It was a pleasure to see Lark show interest in others. But it was Nikan’s foster daughter.

Suleiman continued to stick by Lark’s side, hiding himself. Therefore, he witnessed everything Navia said and did until now.

And… the child looked quite dangerous.

‘Except for being Nikan’s foster daughter, she’s a child with a lot of dubious features. It’s not good to have such a child in this house.’

It was not a powerful natural disaster that would break down a bank but a small crack.

Suleiman thought Navia was the small crack that would break down this place.

Lark spoke.

“Do as the kid says.”

“…Lord, It would be better to send her back with Wood Agnes. There is no way Nikan doesn’t have something on that child, isn’t that right?”

For example, brainwashing.

Lark didn’t care if such assumptions were true.

“I already told her to stay for one year. Are you trying to reverse my words?”

Suleiman was forced to bow when he said so.

“I will heed your orders.”

Then he left the third floor to carry out the order.

Silence came.

Lark walked slowly from his room.

He could have used magic like he did coming to the third floor, but he didn’t.

The concept of time was meaningless to him anyway.

He didn’t need to rush.

The sound of his clothes fluttering was the only presence in the silence.

His face was deeply shaded, making it look bleak, as if he were wearing a black mask, covering half his face.

He looked like a master who ruled a place that lacked warmth.

Lark looked out the window suddenly.

‘It never snowed on a day like this.’

The colorless and meaningless gaze was again at the black hallway.

The black scenery that might feel eerie in someone’s view was in place.

Was that inevitable? This place was a giant coffin in the shape of a mansion.

A coffin where those who can’t die, live.

Lark was an ‘infinite regressor.’