The Marquis cast a glance at the night sky before gently easing Eleanor back onto the bed. With careful hands, he pulled the blanket over her and placed the two large pillows on either side of her head, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible.
"We'll leave for home tomorrow morning," he said softly. "It's already late, and I still need to make the final preparations for your return. For now, just gather your strength so you'll be well enough to ride in the carriage by morning."
Turning away, he strode toward the door, his footsteps steady but reluctant. Just before leaving, he paused and spoke once more, his voice filled with quiet affection.
"Good night, my little ginger."
Eleanor winced slightly but managed a faint reply. "Good night, Father..."
The door closed with a soft click, and Eleanor exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting from the ceiling to the darkness beyond her eyelids.
Traveling by carriage in this condition...? It feels risky...
The thought weighed on her, but exhaustion claimed her before she could dwell on it further. Lately, it seemed as though even the simplest act of resting drained what little energy she had left.
***
By the time morning arrived, Eleanor's maid, Tina, gently shook her awake.
"My lady, it's morning," Tina said softly. "How are you feeling?"
Eleanor groggily opened her eyes, blinking at the sunlight filtering through the curtains. Her body still ached, and her head throbbed as if she had been crushed under a boulder, but at least she didn't feel as weak as before.
Taking a deep breath, she noticed how crisp and clean the air was much fresher than the polluted air of her previous world.
"I still feel like I got run over," Eleanor muttered, rubbing her temples. "But the air here is nice. I think I'll recover quickly."
Tina smiled with relief. "That's good to hear, my lady. The Marquis is already waiting outside. He has arranged everything for your departure."
Eleanor sat up slowly, wincing at the lingering soreness. As Tina helped her dress, her hands moved with such delicate care, as if afraid Eleanor might break.
"It's fine, just do it as usual. If you keep moving so cautiously, my father will end up waiting too long just because it took you forever to change my dress," Eleanor chided, shifting uncomfortably at the overly delicate treatment.
Tina lowered her head slightly. "His Lordship ordered me to be. He was very worried about you, my lady."
Eleanor's brow furrowed slightly. "Father was?"
Tina nodded. "Yes. He didn't even let the academy servants handle your things. He had his own men pack them up last night while you slept."
Eleanor was momentarily speechless. Marquis Gwendolyn, a powerful and dignified noble, had gone out of his way to ensure everything was taken care of personally.
That was... unexpected.
Once she was dressed in a comfortable yet elegant gown, Tina carefully supported Eleanor's frail body, guiding her out of the dorm room with slow, deliberate steps. Despite the short distance, the process took over five minutes, each movement painstakingly slowed to avoid causing Eleanor any further discomfort.
Standing just beyond the dormitory doors was Marquis Gwendolyn, his presence commanding yet warm.
"Good morning, Eleanor," he greeted, his sharp crimson eyes scanning her from head to toe. "How do you feel?"
Eleanor decided to answer honestly. "Better than last night, but still not great."
The Marquis nodded as if expecting that answer. "Then I'll carry you."
Hearing that suddenly made Eleanor stiffen. "W-what?"
"There are too many stairs in this academy," he said firmly. "You're still recovering. I won't risk you stumbling."
Eleanor's mouth opened, then closed. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew he was right there was no way she could walk down all those steps in her current state.
Putting aside the chance of her slipping, she also couldn't imagine how long it would take her to slowly walk each step down the academy stairs if she still insisted on walking on her own.
With a resigned sigh, she muttered, "... Fine."
Without hesitation, the Marquis lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Eleanor, feeling thoroughly embarrassed, buried her face in his shoulder.
"This is humiliating," she mumbled loudly without realizing.
The Marquis chuckled. "You're my daughter. A father has to take care of his child."
Eleanor wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she stayed quiet.
Thankfully, since it was still exam season, most students were in their classrooms. No one was around to witness her being carried like a child.
It's so embarrassing that at this age I have to accept being carried like a child.
Once they reached the academy gates, the Marquis carried her straight into a luxurious carriage adorned with the Gwendolyn family crest, a red book with blank white pages, and a golden quill in the corner.
As soon as Eleanor settled inside, she blinked in surprise. The entire interior was covered in plush cushions, ensuring there was no hard surface in sight.
"This... is a lot of cushions," she muttered, delighted.
The Marquis sat across from her, watching her reaction closely. "I had it prepared last night."
Eleanor turned to him in disbelief. "You did all this in one night?"
"I had to ensure you wouldn't be uncomfortable during the journey," he said simply.
Eleanor looked down at the plush cushions surrounding her, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in her chest. She had worried about how her injured body would endure the ride, but he had already thought of everything.
"... Thank you," she murmured, her face heating up.
The Marquis's lips curved into a rare smile. "Of course, anything for my little ginger."
As the carriage began moving, Eleanor leaned back against the cushions. Their journey to the Chronos Kingdom's teleportation portal would take about an hour. The Marquis, ever watchful, kept his eyes on her the entire time.
Feeling both comforted and overwhelmed, Eleanor let out a small sigh.
She had never received this kind of care before. It was... strange.
But it wasn't so bad.
As she pretended to rest, her thoughts drifted toward the Gwendolyn family and the home she was about to return to.
The Gwendolyn family was renowned for their exceptional intelligence and unwavering commitment to education. Generation after generation, they produced individuals of remarkable brilliance, as if it were ingrained in their very bloodline.
The family's founder had been a genius strategist who played a pivotal role in assisting the first Emperor during the great continental war. Thanks to his tactical brilliance, the Magnolia Empire secured victory with minimal casualties, solidifying its dominance.
His younger brother, meanwhile, possessed extraordinary diplomatic skills. With a silver tongue and keen insight, he persuaded rival kings to surrender and convinced neutral rulers to join the peace alliance. Under the leadership of the first Emperor, and with the Gwendolyn family's relentless efforts, the Magnolia Empire became the center of a vast and thriving continent.
Despite wielding power equivalent to that of a Duke, the Gwendolyn family repeatedly declined the title. Their reasoning was simple yet profound-they believed that maintaining certain boundaries was necessary for the Empire's stability and prosperity. Even so, their bond with the imperial family remained unshaken. To this day, their descendants uphold a relationship akin to that of siblings, bound by loyalty and trust.
Few knew the full extent of this bond, but in truth, the current Emperor of Magnolia, Rahul Ivo Reginard, had sworn brotherhood with Marquis Elandro Gwendolyn, Eleanor's father right now.
To the outside world, they appeared as ruler and vassal-steadfastly loyal, working together for the Empire's prosperity. But in private, when away from prying eyes, they shed the weight of their titles and addressed each other as elder brother and younger brother.
A father who possessed such formidable power in the Empire.
A father who was ready to give her his unwavering affection.
Eleanor... You have such great parents.
So why... did you end up like this?
Eleanor had countless questions she wished she could ask the real Eleanor, but unfortunately, those questions would forever go unanswered.
Thinking too much made her feel dizzy. At first, she had only been pretending to rest in front of the Marquis, but eventually, she drifted into real sleep. The plush cushions in the carriage made her extra comfortable, and the smooth ride gently lulled her into slumber.
Marquis Gwendolyn watched his daughter with a faint smile, relieved that she was finally getting the rest she so desperately needed. But his expression soon darkened when he noticed the pallor on her face.
Saying nothing, he merely adjusted the cushions around her, ensuring her bandaged head remained steady and protected from the slightest jostle of the carriage.
***
A soft creak stirred Eleanor from her slumber. The gentle sound of the carriage door opening barely registered in her half-asleep mind, but the warmth that enveloped her next was unmistakable.
"...?"
Still drowsy, Eleanor barely opened her eyes, catching the blurred outline of her father's face as he leaned in and carefully scooped her up once more. His embrace was warm, awkward but undeniably protective.
Normally, she would have protested. Being carried around like this was embarrassing. But in her half-asleep state, she couldn't bring herself to care. The warmth was comforting, and without thinking, she instinctively wrapped her arms around the Marquis's shoulders, snuggling closer.
The Marquis froze mid-step.
His usually composed expression wavered as he looked down at the daughter in his arms. She clung to him so naturally, as if she had always relied on him for comfort. It was such a small action simple, so childlike but it sent an overwhelming wave of emotion crashing over him.
The Marquis' throat tightened, he had to take a slow breath to steady himself and blink rapidly to stop the sting in his crimson eyes.
Still, he held her closer, cradling her with the utmost care as he stepped out of the carriage.