“She won’t live long. Be good to her.”

Lucas’s first impression was that of a child with a frail body—his face was pale, his lips dark. Anyone could see he was sickly. Maybe it was because he lost his parents at the young age of ten, but Lucas was in a state of obvious weakness, his spirit shattered by grief.

Every doctor who examined him said he wouldn’t last long if things stayed this way. He couldn’t even manage a proper meal.

His condition had worsened because of the tragedy that struck the Leonard family.

Lucas’s father, a retainer of the Marquis Jiles, died at the hands of the Valkeres family, another group of retainers, simply because he opposed their rebellion.

The Marquis Jiles rushed to suppress his retainers when he learned what had happened, but by then, Count Leonard and his wife were already dead.

Lucas had witnessed his parents’ deaths at the hands of traitors right before his eyes. The shock left him mute.

He nearly lost his life as well, but the Marquis arrived just in time to subdue the rebels and save him.

Afterward, Count Valkeres and the other rebels were captured by the Marquis Jiles. The whole family, including their relatives, received the sentence of execution.

Of course, just because the Marquis Jiles suppressed the rebellion didn’t mean he was free from blame. Still, the royal family couldn’t simply cast out the House of Jiles because their retainers had committed treason.

The Kingdom of Eretel owed its strength to the five powerful families supporting it from below: the four ducal families and the House of Jiles.

Punishing the Marquis Jiles, who hadn’t joined the rebellion himself, would have only hurt the kingdom.

After long discussions with the other four ducal families, the royal family decided to demote the Jiles family from a ducal house to a marquisate as punishment for failing to prevent the rebellion, and placed the Marquis under probation.

However, the Marquis Jiles, feeling responsible for failing to manage his retainers, decided to support Lucas until he could stand on his own.

Lucas had little time left, but the Marquis wanted to help him until the end.

That was why Lucas stayed temporarily at the Marquis’s residence, and why Ariel tried her best to care for him. She pitied him, wondering how much pain he must have suffered to lose his voice.

“He was born weak, and now, after such a shock, his life is in danger,” the family doctor explained.

“Isn’t there any way to save him? Please, do something!” Ariel pleaded.

“If nothing changes, he won’t survive. But if he finds the will to live, things could be different.”

“Then I’ll give him a reason to live.”

Her father had saved Lucas’s life, and Ariel wanted to take responsibility for him until the very end.

“Well, yes, I suppose so,” the doctor replied, caught off guard by her determination.

Ariel felt confident. Lucas’s body might have been weak, but she saw a faint spark in his empty eyes. It was a small ember, but with a little help, she thought it could ignite and bring him back to life. She wanted to stay by his side and help him.

She wondered how she could get him to eat.

Ariel started by managing everything for Lucas, from his meals to his bedding and daily routine.

“Say ‘ah’.”

He was so weak he could barely move, so she fed him soup by hand.

“Oh, miss, you don’t have to do all that,” the maids said.

“He’s my father’s guest. Of course I should take care of him,” Ariel replied.

Others tried to stop her, but she insisted.

She had the kitchen prepare special herbal soups for Lucas, then fed them to him herself. On clear days, she brought out a wheelchair and took him into the garden for a walk.

“You know how crops can’t grow well without sunlight? People are the same. Lucas, you need sunshine and fresh air every day if you want to get better.”

Lucas never replied, only staring into the distance, but Ariel didn’t mind. She kept talking to him, even if it was one-sided.

Maybe her efforts paid off. Lucas, who never let anyone get close, started to open up to Ariel alone.

He still stared blankly when others spoke to him, but when Ariel talked, he began to nod.

Ariel found joy just being with Lucas.

Part of it was the happiness of helping someone, but she also felt proud that he trusted her so much.

Feeling even more responsible, Ariel visited Lucas whenever she could, even though she was busy with lessons in etiquette, social skills, and politics.

Maybe her devotion worked. Lucas began to eat on his own and regained his health day by day.

“A…riel.”

She couldn’t describe how happy she felt the first time he said her name. Even the doctor, who had doubted Lucas would ever speak again, was amazed.

“Ariel, I got better thanks to you. Thank you.”

After calling her name, Lucas thanked her. He blushed as he spoke, and Ariel responded by gently patting his black hair.

They both smiled at each other. That day, Lucas’s smile was the brightest and most beautiful she had ever seen. It felt as warm as sunshine filling the room.

After that, Lucas recovered quickly. He became healthy enough that he no longer needed to stay at the Marquis’s residence.

It was time for him to leave, but Ariel felt sad at the thought.

Not wanting to part was just her own selfishness. As the head of House Leonard, Lucas couldn’t stay with the House of Jiles forever.

Still, Ariel wanted to leave proof of the bond they shared, even after Lucas left.

“I want to get engaged to Lucas.”

There was only one way to keep Lucas by her side—by getting engaged to him.

It was common in noble society for children to get engaged at a young age. Most of these were strategic marriages between families, but not all. Some engaged because they truly liked each other. Ariel wanted to tell her father how she felt and get his permission to marry Lucas.

“Does it have to be Lucas? There are so many sons from better families.”

House Leonard had always served the House of Jiles, so Lucas was a perfectly suitable fiancé for her. She thought her father would agree right away, but he didn’t.

He didn’t object outright, though. It seemed he simply didn’t like Lucas himself.

Why? Was it because Lucas was weak? But he had recovered.

Ah…

Now that she thought about it, the Marquis had reasons to hesitate. Lucas had only just regained his strength and hadn’t yet shown the dignity expected of the head of House Leonard.

“Trust my judgment, please. Lucas will grow into a wonderful man. If someone else takes him away, I’ll blame you for the rest of my life.”

“If you insist that much, I have no choice but to trust you. But does Lucas feel the same? I’ll only allow the engagement if he agrees.”

Ariel was relieved her father seemed to accept her request, but she froze at his next words.

“Does he feel the same way?”

She couldn’t answer right away. She realized she had never asked Lucas how he felt.

Not wanting to part, wanting to get engaged—these were only her own feelings.

“Lucas feels the same way I do,” she declared boldly after a moment’s hesitation. But as soon as she left her father’s office, she felt anxious. Her heart pounded as she walked to Lucas’s room.

Surely he wouldn’t refuse, would he?

She had convinced herself that Lucas felt the same, since he had only opened up to her.

No, it couldn’t be. Lucas must feel the same.

Ariel hoped she wasn’t alone in her feelings.

“Lucas, I’m so happy you’re healthy enough to return to your estate. But I also feel sad. How about you?”

As soon as she entered the room, Ariel tried to gauge his feelings, afraid to mention engagement right away.

“I feel sad too.”

His answer gave her hope, so she gathered more courage.

“Then, will you get engaged to me?”

…

She expected an immediate answer, but Lucas’s face suddenly stiffened and he said nothing.

“Don’t you want to get engaged to me? Please answer.”

Realizing her feelings might have been one-sided, Ariel’s heart felt like it was burning up. Even if he said no, she wouldn’t give up.

She stared at him, urging him to reply. Lucas finally opened his mouth and spoke.

“It’s not that I don’t want to…”

“Then why? What’s wrong?”

“I… I’m still weak. And…”

“That’s what’s bothering you?”