Archduke Agnus Scelles Palatine. He inherited the title at a young age. As the Emperor's only brother, the Archduke was the complete opposite and was known as a ruthless killer and troublemaker. With his power, wealth and status as well as favor that he receives from the Emperor, many people desired to make connections with him.
Especially when the Archduke was still young like a fresh little meat who would serve as easy prey for many.
Who would have thought that this seemingly young boy would turn out to be a tiger pretending to be a pig? To make connections with this individual was akin to signing your death sentence but earning this individual's favor could also bring you to higher grounds.
Sadly, the young Archduke was a young man with a difficult personality. Ellendise wondered what the boy saw in her that he had been so insistent to make her his apprentice. Of course, he was the only person with the gall to abduct a count's daughter just so he could 'raise' said daughter.
As expected of a villain. Even at a young age, that person was crazy enough to do such a thing.
Ellendise also did not expect her 'kind and doting' father to be crazy enough to use her to try and make connections with that kind of villain. But these were her speculations.
The Count coughed and cleared his throat, intending to explain. "Ellen, it isn't what you are thinking. I have known since you were young that you are different from other children. Even so, you are my daughter... How could I do something so selfish as to use you as a political tool? I was not intending to use to make connections with the Archduke..."
"Then what does Father mean by doing this?"
The Count didn't answer immediately which made Ellendise even more suspicious. What she hated the most was being used. Coincidentally, she also liked to use other people which makes her a hypocrite.
"Father, the longer you stall for an answer, the more it makes me want to hate you..." Ellendise told him, reminding him of how aggrieved 'his daughter' felt for being put in a difficult situation.
The Count frowned and his eyes became downcast.
"In the first place, are you even my daughter?"
Ellendise froze when she heard this.
"What? What do you mean? You said I am your daughter, Father."
"It is exactly what I mean." The Count clarified as he stood up. "Are you really my daughter?"
"Father, what do you mean? Who else can I be aside from being your daughter?" Ellendise looked calm in the surface but inwardly, she was feeling nervous.
The Count's words meant a lot of things. Did he know that the soul inside this body wasn't his actual daughter? But how?
Ellendise has been in this body for ten years and although she only gained her memories back when she was three, it still meant that she reincarnated as his biological daughter.
The Count leveled her with a gaze that was neither kind or hostile.
"Five years ago, when I went to visit the temple, a travelling elf priest told me that my home was housing an entity from another world and that the day that entity was born, was the day that the wheels of fate in this world had changed. He told me that this world would never be the same because of that entity." The Count shared as if reminiscing about that day.
"Coincidentally, a prophet had a vision and told me that my wife would lose her life at that temple. But then, Debora survived because my daughter got sick. Debora stayed at home to nurse you to health. I had thought it was odd that a child at the age of five had a fever due to mana drain. Most children would only be able to tap into their magical abilities once they receive proper training at the age of ten." The Count glanced at her.
"But you were different, Ellen." He said. "Since you were a child, your only desire was to read books and more books as if you were thirsty for knowledge. From history to politics then economics. These were books that no normal children would read unless they were members of the royal family who had to be raised in a strict environment.
Then you started to read about magic. I had started to pay more attention to you since that day and my efforts were not wasted. Strange things happened. Impossible things happened. Viscountess Mierheart woke up because of a pendant that you supposedly received from a 'fairy.' How did you know that a fairy would appear at that park? I had wanted to know about this for a long time." Ellendise listened as the Count listed all that the strange things that she had done in the past ten years. Things that should have been beyond her age.
Her nails dug onto her arms that were hidden under the sheets.
"Father, I know that I'm different from other children. I suppose I am pretty smart for my age..."
"Too smart." The Count remarked which made Ellendise pause for a second.
"Ah yes... But Father, is there a need to be suspicious of your own daughter just because of a prophecy?"
"A prophecy isn't a thing that can be easily overlooked." Ellendise flinched when she heard the Count's response.
"Father, am I not your daughter? What do you think am I then? Do you think I am that entity? But what was the reason why you had that person do whatever it is they want to me? Because they were royalty? Father..."
"Ellendise." That was the first time he called her full name.
"Forgive your father for thinking this way about you. Regardless if you are truly my daughter or not, or you are an entity from another world, I hope that you would not do any harm to this family. As your father, I had to see what you were capable of. I had to make sure that you weren't a threat. Otherwise..."
Otherwise, what? Ellendise's eyes became sharp.
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