Can We Become Family?

Chapter 10

Each of Naviah’s responses deviated significantly from the material Edward had covered in his lessons. It was as if she could anticipate what he’d say next, transitioning smoothly from topic to topic. Observing his discomfort, Naviah gave a discreet, knowing smirk. How amusing. It was fascinating to see his typical disdain replaced by such anxiety. A look of confusion flashed across his face, then he regained composure—a testament to his remarkable level of self-control.

He scoffed. “So, I suppose you need no further instruction.” He would not indulge in such juvenile antics as engaging in debate with a child. The situation was absurd.

Naviah felt similarly. “I believe I’ve learned all I can from you.”

Edward’s face froze. “Excuse me? And just what do you mean by that?”

The girl did not respond, instead reaching for a pen with a particularly fine nib. Writing with such an instrument required a precise control of pressure. Applying too much force would tear the paper, and too little would result in patchy, broken script. It was a level of control that seemed beyond her, given her prior capabilities. But with effortless grace, she drew a straight line down the center of the paper in front of her. Edward frowned, expecting the paper to rip at any moment. To his surprise, it remained perfectly intact. A clear and perfectly straight line ran down the center of the page.

Naviah began to write, not a hint of hesitation in her movements as the words flowed gracefully from her pen. Edward watched on incredulously as the girl swiftly and accurately produced a timeline of the key events of the Edern Empire. Such a feat required a developed understanding. Even her penmanship was quick and flawless, on par with a master calligrapher.

To break the spirits of those who look down on me, I must first overcome my own weaknesses. And I will do so with overwhelming force! Naviah set down her pen with a decisive tap. “These lessons are a waste of time for us both. Don’t you agree?”

Edward was taken aback, his eyes growing progressively wider as he reviewed her writing. It was impeccable. At the elite academy he had been a stringent teacher, his rare appraisal of “not bad” being equivalent to high praise. Now for the second time today he found himself witnessing perfection in his pupil. “Are you meeting with another teacher?” he asked.

“Of course not.” History classes had always bored her to tears. Throughout her lessons, she had written enough to fill a small library. But she found little meaning in such practice. “Why would I risk revealing my origins by taking another teacher?”

Edward was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“You suspect I’m of common birth, don’t you?”

Edward’s frown deepened at her casual mention of such a serious topic. For a full year, he had been meticulously brainwashing her. Could my efforts have failed? He began to chant, beginning to cast a spell. “I will not remember this conversation. Such words are unbecoming of a lady...”

Naviah smirked. “I know of a cure for your sister’s illness.”

Edward jolted upright, his eyes fixed on her. His eyes were filled with a mix of desperation and disbelief. “Are you telling the truth?”

She nodded. Edward buried his face in his hands, his mind reeling. Thank you, heavens. Thank you. He repeated this silent, fervent prayer several more times.

Naviah observed his turmoil with a detached look on her face. She had always thought of him as a cold man. Discovering his deep affection for his sister had left her with a feeling of emptiness, as though her heart had been hollowed out. Why were you so cruel toward me? Couldn’t you have shown me the same warmth you felt for your sister, instead of pushing me to my limits? The corner of her mouth rose dryly. She was reminded of her sixth regression, when she had been sold off to a barbarian king.

“Mr. Spencer, please talk some sense into my father. They want a living sacrifice, not a queen!”

“So you’ll have a purpose.”

“What?”

“He may be a barbarian, but a king is a king. It’s a far better fate than clinging to the meaningless title of ‘lady.’”

When she realized that Edward had been the one to suggest that she be sacrificed, she had been heartbroken.

“I have no desire for a high position. I only want a family...”

“I know it’s a byproduct of the brainwashing, but your naivete is exhausting.”

She had once held him in high regard. She saw him as a mentor and believed in the strength of their relationship, built upon countless hours spent together. But she had been sorely mistaken. He had no qualms about exploiting her misplaced trust to mold her into a devoted servant for House Agnus. She had clung to the hope that she might one day win even the smallest ounce of approval for her efforts. She only wished for a real family and a genuine teacher. Edward, however, never relented.

“You must accept it. You’ll have a new family now.”

Edward’s thoughts were suddenly overtaken by a nagging doubt. A cure... But I’ve heard nothing of Lady Vivian’s condition improving. “How did you come to learn of this cure?”

Naviah smiled. “It’s a secret. I’m the only one who knows of it.”

His disbelief quickly morphed into frustration as he suspected he was the victim of some juvenile trick. How dare she toy with someone’s desperation? This is the very arrogance I detest in the high nobility! He paused, realizing his own thoughts. Nobility? Did I just subconsciously elevate her to that status?

The more pressing matter was how she had found out about his personal mission. Nikan would never have divulged such sensitive information to the child. A jolt of caution coursed through him. Naviah remained oddly calm, her expression unreadable. The deep, emotionless red of her eyes seemed to hint at a dark abyss within her.

Edward grew even more uneasy. Could my brainwashing truly be losing its effect? If so, he knew what he had to do—reapply his mind control magic and reset Naviah to her original state. With a determined effort to quell his mounting anxiety, he invoked his magic, then waited to sense a signal come through his magical connection to Naviah’s mind. He was prepared to manipulate the desires and fears lurking in her psyche and magnify them to his advantage. But there was no signal, only unnerving stillness. It was as though his magic had completely failed. His eyes flickered with uncertainty. Why isn’t it working?

Naviah’s voice cut through the tense air. “Are things not going according to plan, Mr. Spencer?”

His expression hardened. Is she able to read my thoughts? How is she aware of the brainwashing? His voice became lower and more threatening as he fought to maintain control. “What exactly do you want?”

“It’s not about what I want.” Naviah shook her head, speaking with a command that seemed beyond her years. “The question is, what can you do for me?”

The teacher was rendered speechless. The ease with which Naviah changed the direction of the conversation and positioned herself as the one in control was reminiscent of a professional negotiator. She was brimming with authority, pinning him down like a predator securing its prey.

Edward gritted his teeth angrily, realizing he had lost the lead in a game he hadn’t even known he was playing. Caught in her web of clever tactics, his eyes showed one final flash of defiance before succumbing to resignation. It was time to concede his defeat.

He dropped to one knee and deliberately lowered his gaze before Naviah, who remained seated. “If the cure you speak of truly exists, then I will risk my life to obtain it.”

Naviah observed him from her elevated position with a look of satisfaction. Edward felt an unexplainable chill under her scrutinizing gaze. “You can create a magical contract, can’t you? You’re a magician, after all.” All magicians possessed the ability to forge absolutely binding contracts using their powers.

Edward’s eyes widened. “How did you know about my being a magician?”

“If I have indeed broken free from your brainwashing, wouldn’t it only make sense for me to realize that you’re a magician specializing in mind control?”

He exhaled softly. What true identity is this child hiding? It required an extraordinary, nearly superhuman level of mental resilience to escape a spell’s influence. Moreover, the physical shock of breaking a spell is fatal. Yet Naviah sat before him, appearing to defy all known limits.

She raised three fingers, indicating the terms of their contract. “If you agree to three conditions, I will reveal the cure.” She lowered one finger. “First, for the next five days, you are not to share the cure with anyone, nor heal anyone other than your sister.”

Edward remained silent. So, she knows about my sister’s mana reflux disease. He continued to listen intently, his anxiety increasing by the second.

She continued. “Secondly, you are to approach the duke five days from now, claiming that you have discovered a cure for mana reflux disease. Under no circumstances are you to reveal that I am the source of this information.”

“So I should hide the fact that you’re the one who discovered the cure?”

“Correct, and this shall remain secret for the rest of your lifetime.” Edward cast a curious glance toward her. She then lowered her last finger, stating her final term. “Finally... You will persuade the duke to appoint me as Duke Ethelred’s successor.”