Can We Become a Family? - Chapter 9

Those were never taught to Navia. And she even talked about the next lesson as if his mind was read.

Watching Edward’s expression, Navia laughed quietly,

‘It’s fun.’

He always looked at her disgustingly, but he became like that.

When he saw her smile, Edward’s expression was more clearly distorted. He then controlled his expressions again. He was as great as his ability to control himself.

Edward asked as if it were ridiculous, “So what do you wish to say? Do you want to be tested for your hard work?”

It was ridiculous to get angry with a child. He had no intention to respond to her jokes.

But it was the same for Navia.

“I just want to tell you that I have nothing to learn from Teacher now.”

Edward’s expression hardened to the point that it was frozen.

“What did you say just now?”

Instead of answering, Navia held her sharp pen like a blade. The paper would be easily torn if excessive strength was used when writing. However, if you write weakly, the handwriting would look terrible. Naturally, Navia at this time couldn’t use that pen at all.

Jrrr-!

Navia, with that pen, drew on the middle of the paper without hesitation. Edward frowned. The paper was about to be a ripped mess.

“!”

However, contrary to his expectation, the paper didn’t tear. Only a straight and clear line was created. Navia wrote in an elegant gesture. Edward couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Navia was writing the annals of the Eden Empire in a concise manner! This could not be done without a good understanding of the subject. The handwriting was as good as a master’s, and it was fast on top of that.

‘If I want to discourage the opponent from looking down on me, I have to neutralize my weaknesses.’

He’ll be overwhelmed!

Tak.

Navia put down the pen.

“Don’t you think class is a waste of time?”

Edward’s eyes widened in shock and scattered the timeline.

‘There aren’t any mistakes!’

Edward was a very strict professor at the elite academy. Receiving a ‘not bad’ from him was the best compliment.

Edward had already felt ‘perfect’ about Navia twice today.

“Do you have another teacher?”

“Of course not.”

Navia was sick and tired of history class. At this point, she had written enough to fill a small library.

This was just a lame trick for her.

“You may have found out about my origins, but you probably won’t be able find that I have another teacher.”

“…what do you mean?”

“You already know that I’m a commoner.”

Edward frowned when Navia spat out the taboo word. For only a year, Edward had steadily brainwashed Navia.

‘The brainwashing couldn’t have broken.’

Edward raised his mana and began to implicate.

“I didn’t hear that. In the future, if the Princess shall speak such words out of her mouth…”

Navia smirked.

“I have a way to cure mana reflux.”

Thud!

Edward jumped up without realizing it. His gaze on Navia was desperate.

“Is that true?”

Navia nodded. Edward wiped his face with his big hands as if he couldn’t believe this unbelievable situation.

Thank you. God, thank you. He prayed with sincerity over and over again.

Navia looked at him with a dry expression. Navia only thought that Edward was a very cold-hearted person. When Navia found out that he was a good brother to his younger sister, Navia was shocked as if her mind was completely emptied.

‘Why were you so hard on me, Teacher?’

You could be such a good person, but for the long time we saw each other for, you were pushing my back and tearing my limbs. One of the corners of Navia’s mouth twisted.

‘It was the sixth life.’

What Edward did when she was sold to the barbarian King.

“Teacher, please persuade Father. They want a living sacrifice, not a Queen!”

“That’s your use.”

“…yes?”

“Isn’t the barbarian King still a King? It would be better than being obsessed with the position of a princess.”

Only then did Navia realize that Edward had recommended her as a sacrifice to the barbarians.

“I don’t want a high position, I just want a family…”

“Ha. Even if this is the result of the brainwashing, I’m getting tired of this.”

Navia thought of him as a teacher. She believed that a long-standing affection would exist even a little.

That was just an illusion.

Edward felt little guilt about making himself a loyal slave of Agnes. She was hoping that if she did her best, she would have his generous favor.

I wanted a family, Teacher.

Edward responded coldly.

“Accept it. They will be the Princess’ family.”

Then Edward felt strange suddenly.

‘I haven’t heard that Princess Vivian has recovered.’

“Does it work? How does the Princess know?”

Navia spoke with a grin, “No one knows how to cure mana reflux yet. I’m the only one who knows.”

Edward was bewildered. Anger soon arose at the thought of a child’s prank. You dare play with your opponent’s desperation?

‘This is why higher aristocrats are!’

He paused.

‘Higher aristocrat…? Did I just call her a high noble?”

No, how did she know that he was looking for the mana reflux cure? Nikan wouldn’t have told Navia. As soon as he realized that fact, a sharp alarm scratched throughout his whole body.

By comparison, Navia was too calm. He couldn’t guess what she was thinking. The red eyes, so dark that it seemed like there was darkness lurking in an abyss, were emotionless.

Edward gradually became anxious and nervous.

‘Was the magic weak?’

But then he could just use domination magic again. Then everything would go back to normal. Edward suppressed his nervousness and released mana. Afterwards, he waited for information from the mana linked to Navia’s spirit. As soon as the other person’s clear longings and deprivations are felt and caught in his hands, he was going to strengthen that desire.

“……”

But it was calm, as if magic was never used.

Edward’s eyes trembled.

‘What? What went wrong?’

At that time, Navia’s clear voice sounded creepy.

“Something doesn’t seem to be going your way, Mr. Spencer.”

Edward’s face hardened.

Am I being ‘read’ by that child?

‘Did I get caught brainwashing? That’s impossible!’

He couldn’t resist and spoke threateningly.

“Just what the hell do you want?”

“That’s not it, Teacher.”

Navia shook her head and continued with an expression of indescribable dignity.

“You should be telling me what you can do for me.”

Edward shut his mouth.

Navia’s way of making her opponent cry, showing no gaps, was as if she were an experienced negotiator. Her energy weighed down Edward’s shoulders like a predator.

“Kgh…”

Edward had fully realized that he was losing the game. The opponent caught him.

His eyes flashed fiercely as if he were trying to resist his opponent, but his spirit gradually subsided. It was time to admit defeat. Edward put one knee on the floor and slowly lowered his gaze below Navia.

“If having the cure is the truth, I will risk my life.”

Then Navia looked down at him with satisfaction. Edward was struck by an unknown thrill from the gaze.

“Teacher is a wizard, so you can sign a ‘wizard’s contract’.”

Every wizard is able to write an absolute contract with magic.

Edward’s eyes widened.

“How did you know that I’m a wizard…!”

“Wouldn’t I obviously know that Teacher is a wizard after I woke up from the brainwash?”

Edward sighed softly.

‘Just what the hell is this kid?’

To break domination magic, it would take a level of mental strength beyond human beings.

‘Furthermore, the moment it’s broken, the human body can’t handle the shock and dies.’

So it was impossible.

Navia held up three fingers and said the terms of the contract.

“In exchange for the cure, you have to promise three things.”