Marcus and Artoria made their way into the grand mansion, the familiar sight of its towering walls and lavish decor almost comforting to Marcus after the day's events. As they entered, Eleanor, with her red hair bouncing lightly and a mischievous gleam in her grey eyes, hurried towards them. The bright atmosphere of the mansion sharply contrasted with the mysterious figure of Artoria, still cloaked in her hood.
"Big brother!" Eleanor called, her excitement palpable. But her steps faltered when she saw the cloaked figure beside Marcus. She blinked, looking between her brother and the mysterious woman. Then, a grin slowly crept onto her face. "Is that... your girlfriend?"
Marcus froze, sighing heavily. Before he could answer, Artoria cut in, her voice slightly indignant. "It's not like that!"
At the same time, Marcus chimed in, "Eleanor, stop imagining things."
Eleanor laughed at their synchronized reactions, her amusement bubbling over. "You both sound defensive," she teased, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "But come on, big brother, who is she?"
Marcus shook his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he motioned for a nearby servant. "Prepare a room for our guest. She'll be staying here for a while."
Turning back to Eleanor, Marcus gently placed a hand on her head, a familiar gesture that always softened her teasing. "This is Artoria, and she might be staying for a bit. Treat her like a friend, okay?"
Eleanor, with a wide grin, took a step closer to Artoria. Though she couldn't see the stranger's face beneath the hood, her curiosity was piqued. "Of course, big brother. I'll make sure she feels right at home."
Artoria remained silent but gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Marcus, noticing the tension in her stance, glanced at her reassuringly. "Once you've cleaned up and settled in, come to my office. We need to discuss a few things."
As a servant approached to lead Artoria to her room, Eleanor leaned in closer to Marcus, her voice a playful whisper. "You know, she doesn't seem like just any guest, big brother."
Marcus let out an exasperated breath, glancing at his mischievous sister. "Not everything is a mystery, Eleanor."
With that, Marcus turned on his heel and headed to his own quarters, his mind already spinning with plans. Eleanor, meanwhile, looked back at Artoria with a warm smile. "I'm glad you're here. I hope we can become friends."
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As Marcus left, Eleanor stood beside Artoria, her curiosity intensifying. "Come on, let me help you settle in," she said brightly. She waved over a servant girl who approached with a polite bow. "This is Sofia. She'll be your personal maid while you're staying here. She's really good at making people feel comfortable."
Artoria glanced at Sofia and nodded slightly, her face still hidden under the hood. Eleanor, brimming with curiosity, gestured for Artoria to follow her as they moved through the grand corridors of the mansion. They entered a large, elegant room that had been prepared for Artoria.
"Let me help you," Eleanor said, walking over to the closet. She started picking out a few comfortable clothes for Artoria to wear after her bath. While she busied herself, she glanced over her shoulder, her voice light with curiosity. "So, Artoria... you have a really unique name. How did you meet my big brother?"
Artoria, who had been silent the entire walk to the room, hesitated for a moment before responding. "I... was in some trouble. He saved me from a group of thugs."
Eleanor's eyes widened with genuine surprise. "Big brother saved you?" She smiled, a glint of pride in her eyes. "He's always been like that, protecting people."
Artoria didn't respond immediately, but a soft smile tugged at her lips. There was something about Eleanor's genuine admiration for her brother that warmed her, despite the chaotic situation she was in.
"Here," Eleanor gestured toward the closet, "you can change into something more comfortable after your bath. I'm sure you're tired."
Artoria gave a polite nod, and, as if sensing her weariness, Eleanor motioned for Sofia to prepare the bath. Then, with a gentle pull, Eleanor reached for Artoria's hood, a little bolder now. "May I?"
Artoria, feeling safe for the first time in a long while, hesitated but allowed it. As Eleanor gently lifted the hood from her head, she froze, her breath catching in her throat.
There stood Artoria, revealed in all her beauty. Her snow-white hair cascaded down her back like silk, and her slitted red eyes gleamed like polished rubies. Her pale, smooth skin gave her an ethereal appearance, as if she had stepped out of a forgotten legend. She looked like a snow goddess come to life.
Eleanor's eyes widened, taking in the sight of Artoria with pure awe. "Wow... you're... beautiful." She blinked rapidly and tried to regain her composure, though a playful smirk began to form on her face. "You really look like a goddess."
Artoria stiffened slightly, uncomfortable with the attention but used to hiding her emotions behind a calm expression. "Thank you."
However, Eleanor's gaze shifted as an idea sparked in her mind, her mischievousness bubbling to the surface. She blinked up at Artoria with a gleam in her eyes, her expression turning dangerous—but in a playful way.
Artoria, noticing the shift in Eleanor's demeanor, suddenly felt a chill. Despite her strength and composure, Marcus's little sister made her feel uneasy, though not in a threatening way. She narrowed her eyes slightly, already sensing that Eleanor wasn't the type to be underestimated.
Then, with an innocent-looking grin, Eleanor clasped her hands together and beamed. "You know... you'd make the perfect sister-in-law!"
Artoria's eyes widened, goosebumps rising along her arms. "What?" She blinked in confusion as Eleanor began to scheme in her mind.
Eleanor gave her a cheeky wink. "Don't worry! I've already decided that you're going to be my big brother's wife." She flashed a smile that was far too devious for her age. "I can already picture it!"
Artoria stared at Eleanor, utterly bewildered by the sudden declaration. "...What?"
Eleanor, far too pleased with herself, suddenly twirled toward the door. "Big sister, let's do our best, okay?" she said with a wink and dashed out of the room before Artoria could even respond.
Left standing there, Artoria had question marks practically floating above her head. What in the world had just happened?
Shaking her head, Artoria sighed. Eleanor was certainly... a unique individual. "Marcus's sister is dangerous," she muttered to herself, though there was a faint hint of amusement in her tone.
Sofia entered the room again and gave Artoria a polite bow. "Miss, your bath is ready. I can assist you."
Artoria nodded, still processing everything that had just happened, but grateful for the chance to clean up. She followed Sofia to the bath, feeling the tension of the past few days begin to ease. As she settled into the warm water, her mind wandered back to Marcus and his sister, especially the little girl who was already plotting matchmaking schemes.
"She's more dangerous than any enemy," Artoria murmured to herself, sinking into the bath. But despite her confusion, there was a warmth in her chest that hadn't been there before.
As Sofia helped her with the bath, Artoria found herself smiling slightly, feeling a bit more at ease in this strange yet welcoming household.