Chapter 3

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In front of Edith, the young man in the wheelchair appeared to be suffering from a serious illness. He was probably tall and well-built when he was healthy, but now his body was emaciated, his face sallow, his eyes sunken, and his cheeks hollow. His black hair was dry and lacked luster.

"Nice to meet you, Lady Edith. I am Lionel, from the Granville Marquessate."

From his wheelchair, Lionel gazed at Edith. His tone was clear and distinct, despite his pitiful appearance, and his voice was deep and resonant. However, Edith could see that even sitting in the wheelchair was a struggle for him.

"…Nice to meet you, Lord Lionel. I am Edith, the second daughter of the Oakridge Earl's family."

Edith performed an awkward curtsy, and Lionel smiled warmly at her. Looking into his clear, tanzanite-like blue-purple eyes, Edith thought they reflected a sincere and beautiful soul.

As Lionel's attendant moved the wheelchair closer to Edith, Lionel extended his right hand to her.

"I am in such a physically inconvenient state that I cannot stand, and I apologize for that."

"No, that's not at all…!"

Edith hurriedly extended her right hand and shook Lionel's. Though his hand was bony and thin, it was warm.

Edith's stepmother, who had been tense, finally relaxed her face and spoke to Lionel and his father, who was sitting on the sofa next to him.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lord Lionel. Initially, the engagement was with my eldest daughter, Daria, but she often collapses and screams when she has a sudden seizure, due to her frail health. I thought that the robust Edith would be more suitable to support Lord Lionel…"

Edith felt a headache and dizziness at her stepmother's words.

(What a situation. The scream I heard earlier was because Daria saw Lord Lionel…)

Edith felt a small shiver of guilt, thinking that her stepsister's behavior was not only extremely rude but might have hurt Lionel. Of course, her stepmother's words were just an excuse. Edith rarely saw Daria even catch a cold, let alone collapse. However, considering Daria's character, Edith could understand her reaction. Daria was captivated by beautiful things but intensely disliked anything she deemed ugly. It was not surprising that she might have screamed and fled at the sight of Lionel, who looked as if he were possessed by a grim reaper, his body emaciated and his face sallow.

Lionel's father slowly spoke to Edith's stepmother.

"…This is the first time I've heard about the second daughter of your earldom."

"Oh, I see, I haven't mentioned her. This child is my husband's niece, who lost her parents in an unfortunate accident and was adopted into our family about a year and a half ago."

Edith thought it was understandable that they didn't know about her, as her step-parents had been trying to keep her existence hidden from the public. Her stepmother, forcing a smile, continued.

"I brought up the engagement with your son because he has shown some signs of recovery after taking the medicine from your earldom recently. My son was bedridden and could hardly go out in a wheelchair until a short while ago. …If there is even a slight possibility of his recovery, I want to take that chance."

Lionel's father looked at his son with a slightly pained expression before turning back to Edith's stepmother.

"The Oakridge Earl's family is known for its lineage of distinguished white mages, which is why you deal with medicines, correct?"

"Yes, that's right. The ancestors of the Oakridge Earl's family were renowned white mages, highly skilled in healing magic. They started their business by dealing in medicines enhanced by healing magic, and our medicines are well-received. …Perhaps you also have some expectations for such unseen powers in my daughter?"

"That aspect cannot be completely denied. Although the magical power is said to be almost lost, I believe it has not completely disappeared from this world. …Of course, if your earldom can cooperate, I am willing to provide financial support without hesitation."

Edith's stepmother's eyes gleamed greedily, and she smiled broadly.

"Oh, I see. If the power of the white mages has been passed down to Edith, it wouldn't be surprising. She is, after all, a legitimate member of the Oakridge Earl's family. …Isn't that right, Edith?"

Edith forced a vague smile at her stepmother's cajoling tone. In ancient times, when monsters were said to inhabit the world, there were many people who could use magic. However, as the monsters disappeared, the number of people who could use magic gradually decreased, and it is said that almost all of them were gone a few hundred years ago. The remnants of the magic used by their ancestors were now mostly preserved in the form of family businesses, but it was said that occasionally, the influence of the family bloodline could result in a faint manifestation of the ancestral magic.

(…Lord Lionel must be in a very poor state, I'm sure.)

Seeing Lionel's pale and weak appearance and his father's desperate look, Edith's heart ached. It was easy to imagine that the hope of finding a solution in the almost lost magical power of the Oakridge Earl's family was a last-ditch effort.

Lionel looked around the room and spoke hesitantly.

"If it's not too much trouble, could I have a word with Lady Edith alone? If it's not too much trouble for her, that is."