“!”

Navia looked at her wrist surprised. The black crescent moon was scattering black light with a dangerous energy.

The moment she thought, ‘what is this?’

Kuaaa-!

The water that trapped her was sucked up by the moon in an instant.

Wood was shocked.

“W-what? No way!”

The water disappeared completely.

Navia, released from the prison of water, slumped to the floor.

“Cough! Huk, huk…”

She looked down at the black moon in confusion. A powerful force that had never been experienced before and sucked Wood’s water magic was felt.

You can return this magic to that guy.

It was as if the moon was whispering in her ears.

‘I’ve absorbed Wood’s magic.’

The black moon ‘stole’ Wood’s magic.

Navia clenched her fist. It wasn’t that she became a wizard, but she can use stolen magic.

Navia spoke, “Brother.”

Wood was shocked by the water that disappeared against his will and found his reasoning as if he had been struck by lightening. . His pupils grew into an unknown anxiety. He felt an instinctive crisis like a wild animal.

The magic was gone because of her. He can never win.

‘I will definitely die!’

Wood shouted in defiance from the warning sent by his instinct.

“Shut it! Who’s your brother!?”

He shouted with all his might. He raised his voice threateningly. He did everything he could to scare Navia.

Navia stood up slowly.

Her red eyes, beneath the soaked silver hair, pierced precisely at Wood. There was a brutal yet beautiful smile from her mouth.

“Did you know that violence should be governed by greater violence?”

That’s what your father taught.

Burst-!

When Navia reached her hand out, the same water column trapped Wood.

“Uub! Euk!”

Wood was dropped suddenly by Navia in a blind spot. It ended up strangling him. In the end, he fell into the trap he set himself.

Just like Navia did earlier, Wood struggled to get out.

Navia smiled brightly.

“How does it feel to be in your own water.”

It felt very disgusting to me.

“Euuuk!”

Navia watched the water column disappear with indifference. To maintain the water, there had to be a continuous supply of magic, but it was impossible for Navia because she was not a wizard. . Therefore, the water column would be maintained as long as Wood had before.

“You won’t die then.”

This wasn’t a cover-up accident. Things had already happened, so it would be better to take advantage of the situation.

“Hang in there, Brother.”

Navia smiled and ran toward the lobby. As she went out to the lobby, countless of eyes fell on Navia. The more attention gathered, the better.

“Brother Wood is in danger!”

When Wood was mentioned, the response was immediate.

“What? What do you mean?”

Navia spoke, pointing to the entrance of the East Wing where she escaped from.

“Brother is stuck in water!”

***

At that time, Nikan was in his office.

He frowned as he read the invitation in his hand. It was an invitation from the Empress.

The Empress sent an invitation to visit the newly hired Tapissier, saying there was wonderful winter interior, as she intended to hold a tea party five days later.

Nikan burst into laughter because he was amazed.

Do you think I’d be curious about the skills of a Tapissier, who was said to have laid spotted fur belonging to a young bourgeoisie in the Imperial Palace?

「I heard the Duke’s foster daughter’s appearance is outstanding. I am also curious about the family that gave birth to such a pretty daughter.」

Navia’s identity itself was suspicious. The Empress was asking for her birth family’s portrait.

“You think I don’t know your intentions?”

Nikan had expected this, so he prepared a portrait.

It was when he sneered at the Empress.

Knock knock.

The butler, Lyndon, came in and spoke, “Master, Sir Spencer has asked to see you.”

Nikan looked up at the butler’s words and checked his watch.

‘Hm? It’s earlier than usual.’

Navia took off basic studies recently and started in-depth classes.

In order to put Navia into the Imperial family in the future, classes such as politics, economy and history were essential. In the process, it was also necessary to brainwash her obedience to Agnes.

‘She’s already fully tamed by domination magic.’

Spiritual domination magic was a common ability in the Imperial family, but it was occasionally seen with others. One of them was Edward. Nikan folded the invitation and spoke, “Tell him to come in.”

Click.

The 26 year old Edward greeted the Duke in a dry manner unlike a young man.

“I greet Your Grace.”

Nikan appreciated his swift personality.

‘This job should be seen as just hiring the best tutor to raise a foster daughter perfectly.’

So Edward’s presence couldn’t stand out too much, but the young, capable, handsome and single man caught the eyes of many.

Nikan had Edward move as inconspicuously as possible. He made his way to the office not through the lobby, but through a secret passageway.

In other words, Navia’s actions were different.

“Welcome. Sit here.”

The two sat with a table between them.

“Yes, how are Navia’s accomplishments?”

Edward rubbed his contract ring and spoke, “Was there something traumatic that happened to Princess Navia?”

Nikan’s eyes shone.

“Why do you ask that?”

Edward told a bunch of lies.

“The brainwashing has weakened. That’s why I finished class early today.”

Nikan managed to patch up his almost crumpled expression.

‘It must be because of yesterday’s fire.’

It’s none other than his son who’s interrupting the most important time.

He rubbed his forehead and asked with a sigh, “…then what should I do?”

“It is not difficult. All she needs to do is calm down.”

Navia was given a room on the third floor yesterday, what else was there to do? It was pretty good.

‘New clothes and accessories should do it.’

He was also thinking of offering a lavish dinner. Imagining Navia’s reaction to a full table under a gold and crystal chandelier wasn’t difficult.

‘It’s easy to deal with lowly things with things they’ve never had before.’

“It’s definitely not difficult.”

Slam!

At that time, the butler who was waiting outside rushed into the room. If the butler, who was usually neat and solemn, rushed in, it was a matter of grave concern.

“Master, it’s big trouble! The young master is trapped in a pillar of water!”

“What are you talking about? A pillar of water?!”

“Please go to the first floor! The young master will be in trouble at this rate!”

Nikan forgot about Edward and hurried to follow the butler. But the direction was weird. The butler headed for the East wing on the first floor.

‘I’ve kept the East wing empty at this time of day?’

That meant the same for Wood.

“There!”

Where the butler was pointing, there was Wood throwing up water.

Nikan shouted with a frightening voice.

“Wood!”

Nikan pressed Hans, who had arrived in advance.

“What about Wood? Is Wood alright?”

“He is alright since he got out of the water without delay.”

Nikan swept down his chest.

Wood was soaked in water, but his consciousness seemed to be clear.

‘But why was Wood suddenly trapped in water?’

On top of that, there were traces of dark mana.

This… his son’s mana was sensed.