“At least in this regard we can say it’s fortunate that she’s so young. She’ll recover with continued treatment and rest,” Jaylen assured.

“I appreciate all the help you can give her. I’ll provide you with whatever you need,” the margrave said.

“First, please find me a priest. It’s difficult to completely get rid of the aftereffects with medicine alone. We need divine energy.”

“I’ve already sent a request to the temple. Though they’ll likely be arriving after the blizzard has died down some.”

“I’ll be waiting. Well, then.” Jaylen hurried away.

The margrave stood in the corridor a bit longer, then knocked on the door before opening it. The maid who’d been gently wiping the child’s face with a warm towel bowed when she saw him. “Step out for a minute,” he commanded.

“Yes, Margrave.” Lucy quickly did as she was told.

It was just him and Ariadne in the room now. He looked down at her wan skin and weak body. It looked like she would crumble to pieces if she breathed too hard. Her blue eyes were enormous in her small face. He wouldn’t have been shocked if there was no life in her eyes at all, but her gaze was surprisingly clear.

She looks like Gloria. Her outward appearance did not resemble Gloria in the slightest. Her charming features, delicate and defined, were the spitting image of Duke Eldier. But somehow she still reminded him of his sister. She had the same air about her, with eyes that seemed as though they would remain steady even if the rest of her body were torn to pieces.

The margrave realized that this child was his own flesh and blood before she was the duke’s daughter. This little girl, his sister’s daughter, his only niece...

“It looks like her organs were entirely damaged then healed repeatedly, over ten times at least.”

“I could imagine the pain her small body must have gone through.”

“Someone has done that to her, again and again,” the doctor said.

The sister he’d believed to be living happily had abruptly died, and the niece he’d believed was being raised with love appeared before him covered in scars. The image he had of the duke shattered into pieces in an instant. The margrave had heard that the duke refused to eat for days after his wife passed away. So even while investigating his sister’s death, he hadn’t thought to suspect the duke. He’d only been heartbroken, and angry at his sister for insisting on entering the contaminated region despite her frail constitution.

Now for the first time, a suspicion raised its head. If the duke wasn’t who he’d thought he was, then Gloria’s death might not have been an accident, either.

If Father hadn’t brought that child with him, I would never have known. Then perhaps one day he would’ve heard that the child had also died from disease or accident. He would’ve pitied the duke who’d lost his daughter as well as his wife, without the slightest idea of what that little girl had been subjected to.

Gloria... Did you send that child here? Had Gloria’s spirit called upon the archmage to take her away in order to save her daughter’s life? It was a ridiculous thought, but he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Adrian for a boy, and Ariadne for a girl.”

The margrave could still clearly remember his sister lovingly looking down at her still-flat stomach. Reminiscing about her and looking down at his niece’s bird-thin neck triggered something in him. The margrave’s face stiffened as deep, complex emotions stirred within him.

But from Ariadne’s perspective, he just looked irked. She swallowed nervously. The doctor called him “Margrave” earlier. Margrave Weaver was her maternal uncle. Of course, just because he was her uncle didn’t mean he would be accepting of her. The margrave was standing far from her bed, glaring at her with a fierce expression. She hadn’t expected to be welcomed, so it didn’t come as a shock. Gloria had cut ties with her family because of Ariadne’s conception in the first place, and then she’d died at a young age. Ariadne’s maternal family had no reason to like her.

“Nice to meet you, Margrave Ernst Weaver,” Ariadne greeted. “I heard that you’re my uncle.”

She spoke as politely as possible. Because she was sitting down, her greeting wasn’t perfect, but she kept her posture as straight as she could. The stiff corners of the margrave’s lips twitched slightly. Had the word “uncle” displeased him?

She continued quickly, “I apologize for intruding upon you like this. I will repay you for your hospitality once I recover.”

“You’re far too... mature. At your age...”

The margrave’s eyes teared up, but Ariadne was too nervous to notice. Had she appeared impudent? Should she have behaved more like a child? What if he sends me back to Eldier for being unlikable? But if she’d been just any child, they wouldn’t have saved her. Just like Ariadne from the novel, no one would’ve helped her, until she’d finally died. The archmage told the duke to come for me later. I have to prove my worth before that happens. First, I’ll tell him that I can be useful, and show what I can give him.

Ariadne quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I—”

“You owe me no apology,” the margrave interrupted with a strained voice. “I should be the one apologizing.” He took a few long strides toward her and plopped down on the chair beside the bed. “I’m sorry, Ariadne.”

Why is he apologizing to me? Ariadne looked up at him in a daze.

The margrave took in her thin arms and pale cheeks with wet eyes the same emerald color as the archmage’s. “It must have been so... hard on you.” He stretched out his big hand toward her. “I’m sorry for realizing so late. I’m sorry I couldn’t rescue you sooner.” His hesitant hand rested on Ariadne’s hair as gently as if she was made of fragile glass.

“It’s... all right, now.” He sucked in a sharp breath as if he were getting choked up. His trembling hand cautiously stroked her hair. “Don’t worry about anything anymore. Uncle will protect you from now on so that no one can hurt you.”

His movements were heavy with regret. Ariadne was bewildered. I haven’t done anything for him yet. I haven’t explained what he can get from me, or how he can profit from me, but he’s going to protect me? Why? This was not something Ariadne expected, and it didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why would you protect me, Margrave?”

“Please, call me ‘Uncle.’ If that’s too awkward, just call me Ernst.” His smile didn’t match his intimidating appearance at all. He looked like a menacing bear forcing a grin. “Ah, right, this room is yours. You can stay here as long as you want.”

“This is my room? Really?”

“Ah, it was a rush job, so it’s a bit shabby, isn’t it? I’ll assign you a better room soon,” he assured.

“No! This is good! It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that it’s too much for me,” Ariadne clarified.

“This room is too much for you?” the margrave asked, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. “Surely this is nothing compared to your room in Eldier Castle?”

“No, my room was much smaller than this one, and I didn’t have a balcony or a window...”

The margrave’s heart sank. Although the title of margrave derived from that of a count, it was not a station even a duke could treat lightly. Houses protecting the border enjoyed a particular status and certain privileges. The House of Weaver also generated a significant amount of wealth from the byproducts of the evil spirits and labyrinths. As such, Castle Blizzard was opulent enough to blow most nobles’ estates out of the water, but Eldier wasn’t “most nobles.” There was no way the margrave’s castle, located at the northernmost tip of the kingdom in the highlands at the foot of the continent’s tallest mountain, could be more lavish than Eldier Castle, positioned by the widest bread basket in the central region and a gold mine.

Even though the room was one of the best within Castle Blizzard, it was sure to look lacking in the eyes of the precious heir of Eldier. On top of the abuse, she wasn’t even treated according to her station? But the dress she was wearing when she arrived from Eldier had looked expensive... Realization hit him then. He only bothered treating her well if it would be visible to others. That despicable trash!

Why weren’t there any windows in the child’s room? Having deduced the possible reason behind it, the margrave wished the duke was in front of him so he could shove shards of glass into his mouth.

Not knowing what he was thinking, Ariadne worried about the margrave’s fierce expression. The change in his mood wasn’t something the defenseless child could bear. I think he’s angry. Did I say something to anger him?

The margrave’s look was not the only thing that had changed, there were other physical changes. Cold air started flowing out of him, and Ariadne started to shake. I think it’s getting colder... Oh, that’s right, Margrave Weaver is an elemental knight.

Elemental knights used elemental powers differently from the elementalists. Since they fought riding atop elementals instead of horses, they were called elemental knights. This is the elemental power seeping out of him. Every time an elemental knight had a strong emotional reaction in the novel, their powers would seep out like this. This was a common scene because the hero of the story was an elemental knight himself, but experiencing it first-hand is no joke.

The margrave belatedly realized that Ariadne was pale and shivering. Damn it! He quickly composed himself and tamed his power, then got up to feed the fire. As he did, he cleared his throat and said, “I’m glad you like your room.” The room soon warmed up again. With an expression that looked like a bear trying hard not to scare off a chick, the margrave said gently, “Still, when the season changes, I’ll move you to a better one.”

“It-It’s all right... I—” Ariadne started to refuse.

“It’s a gift from an uncle to his niece, so just accept it. And if you need anything else, let me know anytime.” He smiled and patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Just rest well and focus on getting better,” he said.

As he turned to leave, Ariadne called out to him. “Margrave!”