Anywhere is better than here.

The archmage’s emerald eyes looking down at Ariadne showed no emotion. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. She silently begged him to notice her desperation, to realize that it was difficult for her to tell the truth in front of her father. I’m not even hoping for you to take me away right now, just please, notice something is wrong...

“Ariadne! I told you not to prank our guests like that!” chided the duke, reaching for her.

Did I fail? Ariadne thought as she squeezed her eyes shut in defeat.

“Hold on,” the archmage interjected as he kept the duke from getting closer. He then asked the girl, “Do you perhaps wish to see your mother’s side of the family?”

“Huh? Y-yes!” Ariadne nodded vigorously, desperately feigning enthusiasm. “I really, really want to visit! So much!”

“Of course, if you want to, then you should,” her grandfather said, squeezing her hand. His hand was big and warm around hers. The archmage grinned at the duke and said, “That’s fine, isn’t it, Duke Eldier?”

“N-no, you can’t. It’s too dangerous!” the duke exclaimed.

“What’s dangerous? I’m going with her. Have you forgotten who I am?”

“Aria is delicate, just like Gloria...”

“I raised Gloria myself. You’re worrying over nothing,” the archmage said dismissively.

“She’s the only heir to the duchy. She’s got a lot to learn.”

“She’s only seven years old, how much studying could she have to do? Besides, play is an important part of growing up. Travel also teaches excellent lessons.”

“But that’s—”

“If my granddaughter wants to visit her mother’s home, don’t you think it’s my duty as her grandfather to take her?” the archmage interrupted.

“You have never shown interest before, why are you suddenly trying to play the role?” the duke gritted out with a vicious glare.

Feeling his young granddaughter’s hand trembling in his, the archmage replied nonchalantly, “Perhaps it’s time I do. You can come pick her up later.”

“I won’t allow it. This is kidnap—!”

“Since when is a granddaughter visiting her own grandfather called kidnapping?”

“If you insist, I’ll have no choice but to use force. Ariadne, come here right now!” the duke commanded.

Ariadne jumped at the outburst. She looked fearfully up at the archmage, who glanced briefly at her then smirked at the duke. “Force? Did you just say you’d use force on me?”

This silenced the duke. Solan Garcia was “the Archmage,” the only one in the whole continent to have received the title in this day and age. He was referred to as “Archmage” more often than as “Solan Garcia,” to the point the title might as well have been his name. He was someone not even the greatest duchy in the kingdom could trifle with.

Duke Eldier turned purple with rage. The archmage added in a taunting tone, “Duke Eldier, if you truly believe that this is kidnapping, then why don’t you go to the palace and whine about it? I really do wonder what the king would say.”

“Taking my child away so suddenly... Everyone will condemn you, Archmage,” the duke threatened.

“Who said I’m taking her forever? I told you, come for her later.” Then he smirked and led Ariadne out by the hand. “Let’s go, child.”

Even after they left the vast duchy and got into the carriage, Ariadne couldn’t believe that she had gotten out. Soon, the carriage doors closed, and they could no longer see the white walls of Eldier Castle.

Did I really escape from that hell? Just like that, so easily? I thought... just getting his attention alone would be enough for today.

The carriage started moving, sending a faint tremor through its walls. Finally releasing her hand, the archmage looked at her, his gaze piercingly sharp even through his glasses.

With a gentle smile, he asked, “Now, won’t you tell me why you did that?”

The archmage definitely didn’t look the part of the warm, kind grandfather. If anything, he looked critical, irritable, and eccentric, and his personality was likely to match his face. Furthermore, he’d blatantly betrayed his displeasure upon laying eyes on her earlier, as if her appearance had offended him. Even the original story clearly said that he hated the sight of me.

But the archmage’s questioning voice was surprisingly soft. He urged her to answer, wearing a smile that looked like it was trying hard to look good-natured. “What scared you so much that you were willing to cling onto a grandpa you’ve never even met before, hm?”

Ariadne stayed quiet.

“It’s all right now, you can tell me everything, child.”

The girl sniffled. Hearing his unexpectedly warm voice, and realizing that she’d finally escaped, Ariadne felt a wave of relief wash over her. She let out a sob, then burst into tears. No, I can’t cry!

The archmage had taken quite a risk just now. No matter who he was, it was still a reckless thing for him to spit in the duke’s face. Ariadne had to explain her reasons. She was prepared to explain, persuade, and even negotiate. But because her physical self was still so young, she couldn’t stop her tears.

This is no time to be crying. Stop! Stop crying! Why won’t my tears stop? Ariadne thought as she covered her mouth to stop her weeping.

“Oh dear... It’s all right,” the archmage reassured as he removed her hands from her mouth. “If you want to cry, you should cry. You’re too young to be holding it in...” His huge hand patted her gently on the back, encouraging her to let all her tears out.

In the end, Ariadne cried in his arms until his robe was soaked with her tears.

Age Seven

Ariadne Eldier, the only heiress to the Eldier Duchy, was a minor role who died even before the start of the novel. It was when she turned seven that she learned about her fate.

* * *

That night, Ariadne was eating alone as usual. The duke never ate with his daughter, and the duchess was away on a trip. I miss Mom, she thought.

The only time Ariadne could smile freely in the castle was when her mother was around. When she was younger, she had a nanny and caring maids, but one day, they all disappeared. Those around her now were all so cold. No one would smile back at her, no one besides her mother.

"It would be best to finish your meal quickly, my lady," the maid overlooking her dinner rushed her after checking the time.

After dinner, Ariadne had to go to the study room, which was located at the top of the castle’s northern tower and had once been a prison for those of high status before being converted for its current use. I don’t want to go, she thought. She tried to prolong her time by picking at her food, but it was all to no avail.

“It’s time, my lady,” the maid called eventually.

“B-but I haven’t finished...” Ariadne responded. Her words fell on deaf ears. The maids snatched the spoon from her small hand and took away her plate, then dragged her along to the study room.

Ariadne always entered the study room by herself.

“You must study hard.” The thick, metal door swung firmly shut with the maid’s parting words.

Ariadne gloomily looked around the familiar room. Shelves lined with glass bottles filled with liquids of all colors, bookshelves filled with thick tomes. A couch in front of the fireplace, and behind it a wide desk cluttered with papers, books, and different tools.

In the middle of the room, there was a small chair covered in a white sheet. That chair was where she studied.

Watching the chair with fearful eyes, she walked toward the window. The room was at the very top of the tower, and the ground was very far below. There was no way out of there, not unless you had wings.

Ariadne looked down at the pitch-black darkness. Can I stop studying if I jump from here? she wondered.

“But Mom told me that I didn’t need to take lessons like these,” she mumbled.

Ever since the duke started giving her “special lessons,” Ariadne had been isolated. Without the duke’s approval, not even the duchess herself could see her daughter. The reason given was that these “special lessons” were a secret for the Eldier heiress alone. Within the duchy, her father’s command was law, and Ariadne could not see her mother for a long time.

Then one day, the duchess forced her way into the study and saw the “special lessons” her daughter was receiving. Horrified, she’d pulled her daughter out immediately, and never sent her to the study room again.

“I don’t have to study anymore? But Dad said that I had to.”

“That isn’t studying, Aria. I’ll make sure you don’t ever go through that again. I’m so sorry…”

That day, Gloria had clutched Ariadne to her chest and cried her heart out.

After that, the duke and the duchess fought constantly about the “special lessons,” and not long after, the duchess left Eldier Castle. The halted “special lessons” resumed the very next day.

Her father told Ariadne no more than that her mother had gone on a long trip.