Chapter 47 - 2.8

6 days after Xu Jiaqi was imprisoned, one of the knights finally came and faced her.

In this short time, she had been given minimal food and life supplies, but no one came to visit apart from those essential times. Thus, she was able to devote herself to studying magic with her System.

The System was right. Ariel Maine did have a very spectacular tolerance and affinity towards Holy magic. In just one day, she was able to feel mana, and through using the manuals the System gave her, she started to apply those techniques at herself. She healed the small wounds she received, and repaired her damaged internals that had resulted from years of mistreatment.

It turned out to be very easy, despite her fears towards this foreign concept.

Her constitution was instantly bettered, and she looked more like a young girl than a deathly child in a flash.

Today, there was a knight that stood before her cell, holding a golden key that Xu Jiaqi recognized as the one for her cell's lock.

Her eyes twinkled with interest, but she hid her emotions as she observed the young knight's movements.

"Lady Ariel, you have been called by the Lord. You are to get ready for your departure to Palla." The knight spoke, holding his weapon, which was a long spear by his side. He did not look into Ariel's eyes, not even once as he jiggled the key into the prison lock and set Xu Jiaqi free.

His hands immediately grabbed onto Xu Jiaqi's lean arms, which were as thin as sticks. The knight himself was quite surprised as he felt the young girl's physique, because he didn't expect her to be this thin, having nothing but bones.

Xu Jiaqi immediately slapped the man's hands with her other palm, but it did nothing to the knight's grip.

"Could you not? With the amount of strength you are using, there will be bruises on this lady's body. If that happens, what would you think the Maine name will degrade to once this lady reveals it?" Xu Jiaqi threatened, spitting on the ground and glaring at the knight. She grinded her teeth in pain.

The grip was sure to leave a long lasting mark on her frail body. Her skin was deathly pale, and her complexion couldn't be fixed with Holy magic right away. It required further in-depth treatment.

The knight, albeit knowing that Lady Ariel was famed to be a docile and harmless woman who always stood still no matter what treatment she was given was not at all shocked by her change. It was precisely because he also understood what conditions she went through. Perhaps, her real personality was that of this crude lady, but because the family shaped her to be a punching bag, her personality was adjusted to match such things.

She was pitiful, but he wasn't in a position to feel sympathy. He released his strong grip, but still kept an eye on her. In this moment, his gaze met with hers, and he was instantly taken aback with the lady's fiery, yet cold gaze.

It was as if an undying flame resided inside her despite all the cold shells she had put up for the world. Ariel Maine was only fifteen, yet there was an indescribable aura that poured out of her body. Something he couldn't put his hands on, something that shouldn't appear out of a teenager's short years of life.

He immediately retracted his gaze and brought Ariel to the Duke, and left her while feeling quite flabbergasted at his experiences. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling that he should not offend this lady of his.

Such eyes.. was it possible that she would incur a larger change in the future? Lady Ariel was very lively at heart, it seemed.

No one knew what will happen in the future. He was not a brainless knight, and he wouldn't make rash decisions out of nowhere. Especially unneeded ones. Because him working here had a purpose, he had a goal to fulfill. His eyes grew cold. Although the lady showed some surprising qualities, no matter how hard she tried, it would be near impossible to escape the bird cage that the Maines had placed on her. It was better to just ignore the lady from today onwards and not get involved at all.

He kept these thoughts to himself and returned back to his post. There, as he rested, his thought were still filled with the face of the small beauty. When he looked at her straight in the face, he was able to get a clear view of her.

And her appearance was very noble despite the dirt that had stained her petite body. As a healthy growing male, he did have some indecent thoughts from time to time, but he was someone who could control his libido very well.

Only, he didn't know why, but the young lady brought some ripples to his heart.

Shaking his head, he thought that he was turning crazy. His thoughts were bending all over the place. 

On the other hand, Xu Jiaqi entered the Duke's room. There was the man who was this body's biological father, and another old man who was a counselor for the Duke.

She did not greet the Duke, and did not say anything. She just stood in front of the Duke's table.

A few seconds passed, with the Duke observing her every fiber with sharp eyes.

"Ariel Maine, my cursed daughter. Has the imprisonment knocked some sense into your head? I am your father, and there is nothing you could do to oppose me. I thought that the years of suppression would have instilled this information into your head, but it seems like that wasn't the case. However.. I'm sure that you already know why you were called here. Now, as a last grace, I will be generous and give you one wish that I will fulfill if it's within my range of desire. State it right now, because we will never meet again once you depart for Palla."

Reginald leaned back against his chair, smirking in a smug manner.. As if he had just obtained a perfect victory.