Can We Become Family?

Chapter 7

Phillipa turned toward the source of the voice as if under a spell. It was Naviah who had spoken. “You needn’t worry about getting in trouble. I won’t tell Father about this,” she continued. While it appeared that she was referring to the violence that had just transpired, it was clear that she actually meant Phillipa’s theft.

Naviah watched the nanny’s expression shift as she grasped what had just been said. In reality, Naviah had no intention of exposing the embezzlement. She knew that if the duke were to discover the crime right now, he might punish Phillipa harshly, but the consequences for herself could be more detrimental. If it appeared that I had manipulated him into eliminating a loyal servant, I’d face the worst of his wrath.

Naviah had seemingly opened a merciful escape hatch for Phillipa. But the passage provided to her was not without its own dead end—there was yet another trap waiting. In the meanwhile, despite the fact that Naviah had seemed devilish only moments before, Phillipa found a sliver of relief in her unexpected mercy.

What is she planning? Phillipa wondered. Was this merely a childish act of defiance? She knew children could be cunning, but they were often satisfied with small concessions. Perhaps the girl was simply expressing her pent-up frustrations and would quiet down with a bit of proper care. That must be it. If I increase her rations and hold back on my scoldings for some time, she’ll foolishly think she’s gotten the better of me.

Phillipa recalled how Naviah—who she believed to be a true noble, albeit of lesser rank—would light up at even the slightest bit of attention or kindness. Such desperation... This is why people of lower nobility are so deplorable!

Phillipa’s disdain was aligned with Eudes’, as if her history living amongst the nobles in the lofty House Agnes had caused her to forget her own commoner status. Master Nikan has always been generous, even to those he deems unworthy. Of course, he knows that such kindness renders them even more malleable and easy to control. With the girl placated, Phillipa expected that she could cover up the signs of her theft within three days. But Charlotte’s awareness posed a new obstacle. How shall I handle her?

Phillipa’s eyes began flickering with sinister intent as Hans raised his voice once again. “The lady has shown you quite a kindness! Why do you hesitate to leave?”

Unable to prolong the situation further and eager to persuade Naviah of her victory, Phillipa feigned an expression of remorse. “I will trust what the lady has to say.” The girl appeared to be listening intently. Phillipa found her cold demeanor unsettling, though she tried to convince herself that it was only the fear of being discovered getting the best of her. Still deep in thought, she made her way out of the room.

“Let me help you back to bed,” Charlotte cooed. She carefully assisted Naviah while positioning herself to keep the meager meal out of Hans’ view.

Charlotte, ever the astute maid, maintained her guise as Phillipa’s ally while staying alert and ready to defend herself in unforeseen situations. In my previous lives, she stepped in to claim the ill-gotten gains for herself after Phillipa was exposed and removed from the picture, Naviah recalled. Charlotte had already won over the goodwill of those who were resentful toward Phillipa, a point Naviah intended to use to her own advantage.

“Now, we’ll start the examination,” Hans announced. The check-up was surprisingly brief. Naviah was given some medicine and told to rest up and eat well.

After the exam was completed, Naviah turned to the doctor with a seemingly innocent request. “About what just happened... Could you keep it a secret? I don’t want Phillipa to be punished because of me.”

Hans scoffed inwardly at the girl’s naive judgment. Typical noble folly. Such ignorance only paves the way for the lower classes to exploit their weaknesses. Yet he nodded in agreement, believing that despite her shortsightedness, she deserved to be treated with respect. “I understand, my lady.” He departed, leaving Charlotte and Naviah alone in the room.

“I’ll be on my way as well,” the maid said quietly, bowing her head. As she made her way toward the door, a cold voice halted her in her tracks.

“Did I dismiss you?” Naviah’s demeanor had shifted dramatically from the display of submissiveness she had shown earlier. An icy smirk spread across her otherwise angelic face, coloring her beautiful appearance with an unsettling quality. “You didn’t think I’d just let you go, did you?”

Charlotte gulped, caught off guard. “Is there something more you need from me?”

“Phillipa won’t just sit still now that she’s been caught in her scheme. We must take action, mustn’t we?” To maintain her facade as the obedient adopted daughter of the Agnus family, Naviah needed another player to covertly carry out her plans. And the enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say.

Charlotte despised Phillipa and could easily be brought over to Naviah’s side. Well, perhaps it’s more accurate to say that she’s like a scavenging lap dog, just waiting to pounce on the crumbs that fall from Phillipa’s table. Helping her fulfill such ambitions would be no challenge at all. They could trust each other—as long as they both got something out of the arrangement. It was enough to sustain a fragile alliance. I don’t require deep trust anyway, Naviah thought.

She continued. “As I promised Phillipa, I won’t expose her wrongdoings.” To Charlotte, it seemed that the girl had transformed into a completely different person, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. Phillipa was Naviah’s constant antagonist, and it seemed only just that she should finally face repercussions. Yet for some unfathomable reason, Naviah had sworn to refrain from turning her in.

“Really, you won’t? Why not?” Charlotte ventured cautiously.

“You and I are the only ones who know of what she’s done. If word gets out, how do you think she will respond?” Naviah smiled innocently, but her tone hinted at an impending danger. “Who do you think she will deal with first—me, the noble, or you, the maid?”

Charlotte chewed her lip as her mind raced with possibilities, her heart pounding and her palms sweaty. She had sensed it during the confrontation with Phillipa, but now it was clear—in the course of a single night, Naviah had undergone a profound change, as though her very soul had been replaced. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“A word of caution. You might want to keep her theft a secret from the duke as well.” If accusations were made, Nikan would certainly launch an investigation to uncover the truth. Naviah was subtly dissuading Charlotte from using the duke to eliminate Phillipa. “Father would take care of her, but I’m sure he’d be curious about how you came to know such information.”

“What are you suggesting? That he’d accuse me of being part of the scheme, then turning in my accomplice when things went awry?”

“Exactly.”

Charlotte knew the duke’s character well, having served in the household for several years. He might suspect that Charlotte and Phillipa had been in on the theft together, but then turned on one another, leaving their relationship to end in betrayal. She was well aware that a ruler would never keep a potential threat close.

“He is harsh and decisive in such matters. He would have no reservations in disposing of you.” Charlotte’s breath quickened. Naviah’s tone was calm yet threatening, heightening the tense atmosphere in the room. Unexpectedly, the girl’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “But you wouldn’t want to leave Phillipa’s side anyway, would you? That would be foolish.”

A ruler never keeps a potential threat close... It appears such words apply to the lady as well, Charlotte thought. “So you plan to borrow my help?”

Naviah shook her head slightly. “Borrow? No, I plan to use you.”

Charlotte, taken aback by the girl’s candor, was slowly coming to terms with her predicament. In this game of power and manipulation, it was undoubtedly Naviah who held the cards. This morning’s fire, which had prompted the move to the third floor, couldn’t have been an accident. She lacked concrete evidence, but she suspected there had to be more at play. She was sure of it.

“This is an opportunity to enjoy a taste of the benefits and privileges that Phillipa has been keeping to herself, Charlotte.” Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. The girl was clearly referring to the stolen money. If she took on this part in Naviah’s game, she would assume the same risks as Phillipa and end up more vulnerable to Naviah’s manipulation. Yet the proposition was too tempting to dismiss outright. Phillipa must have amassed wealth far beyond the childcare funds. If I could get my hands on that... Excitement began to course through her veins, though she maintained outward composure.

Naviah appeared confident that she would agree to the offer, which the maid found perplexing. She had long served Naviah, but never really got a full grasp of the girl’s nature. She had noticed that Naviah often referred to Duke Nikan as “the duke” rather than “Father,” except when absolutely necessary, and wondered what such a choice implied. She cautiously broached the subject, attempting to make sense of the girl’s thoughts. “You don’t seem to hold the Agnus household in high regard,” she said, suddenly realizing that this comment put her own thoughts on full display.

Naviah responded with a brief, chilly smirk. “I can never truly be a daughter to this family. Our relationship clearly has its limits.”

She had been brought up more like a hound than a family member—a necessary presence but never genuinely cherished. Likewise, her relationship with the family was comparable to that of a dog and its owners. She had been subjected to beatings and pushed to the brink of death, all to reinforce her loyalty. Now, they will see that even a dog beaten into fear and submission may one day turn to bite its owner.

A satisfied smile graced her lips as she imagined their reactions of fear and rage. She spoke realistically, ensuring Charlotte could fully comprehend the precarious situation she now found herself in. “I can be discarded at any time, you know. I’m not a true member of the family. I’m a girl born into the common class infiltrating a high-ranking noble house... My current position is already dire. Can I really expect better days to come?”

Charlotte had sympathy for Naviah, but she couldn’t shake the oddity of hearing such worldly observations come from the mouth of such a small child. The girl obviously possessed an extraordinary level of insight, one that rivaled even the most seasoned of schemers.

“I’ve laid everything out for you, Charlotte. What choice will you make?”