DTBTHS Chapter 6

The Weaver estate stood halfway up a mountain.

Behind the castle, Raaratschua—the continent's highest mountain—gazed down with its crown of eternal snow.

Wind sliding down the mountainside filled the area around the estate.

In winter, that wind would carry masses of snowflakes, decorating the castle walls with ice and snow flowers, draping layer upon layer of snow curtains around the estate.

The nickname it earned: Snowstorm Castle.

That nickname was more famous than the official name of Weaver Castle.

And true to its name, Snowstorm Castle was wrapped in a rough snowstorm like a cloak that day as well.

'No visitors today either.'

The butler thought this as he looked out the window that had turned pure white.

"Bring me last year's budget proposal."

The Margrave of Weaver, reviewing documents, gestured.

"Yes, I'll bring it right—"

As the butler bent at the waist, he saw a black carriage cutting through the snowstorm, approaching.

Guards who recognized whose carriage it was quickly opened the castle gates. The carriage that had raced as if flying only stopped after entering the castle grounds.

Before the carriage had fully stopped, the door burst open and an old man in a dark blue robe stepped out.

Seeing the old man, the butler immediately reported.

"Master, the Archmage has returned."

"Earlier than scheduled. I already investigated everything, but he didn't believe me and insisted on going himself."

The Margrave of Weaver replied without looking up. His green eyes remained fixed on the documents.

The butler checked outside the window again.

The Archmage was reaching into the carriage and lifting out a small form wrapped in blankets.

"...It appears the Archmage has brought a guest."

"A guest? What guest?"

The Margrave finally raised his eyes. Following the butler's gaze, he looked back at the large glass window behind him.

He saw the Archmage clutching a small bundle of blankets and rushing into the castle.

"That little thing is a guest? Probably some new research material."

Before the butler could respond to the Margrave's words, a resonant voice echoed from the first-floor lobby.

"Son! Get out here right now! Your niece is dying!"

"Niece?"

The Margrave of Weaver was bewildered. I have a niece?

'The second has no children, and the youngest is...'

The Margrave's youngest sibling had a young daughter.

A child he'd only considered the Duke of Eldier's only daughter, never consciously recognized as his niece.

"...Surely Father didn't bring the Eldier Young Lady? The Duke's sole heir, whom he guards jealously and never displays?"

He threw down his documents and shot to his feet.

"That can't be right, can it? Hm? I have another niece, don't I? Tell me it's not true, butler."

"As far as I know, Your Lordship's only niece is the Eldier Young Lady."

"Good God, Father, have you finally gone senile!"

The Margrave spat curses as he raced down to the lobby.

She felt as if her body were floating.

Ariadne unconsciously burrowed into the embrace of whoever was holding her. It smelled of sunlight.

"Oh my, how adorable."

A small laugh. Then a gentle hand stroking her forehead.

"Look at this sweat. She has quite a fever."

"The bathwater?"

"It's ready. Bring the young lady."

"Miss, we'll help you bathe."

With gentle whispers, the clothes stuck to her with sweat peeled away.

There was no cold. Something comfortable and warm enveloped her body.

'This feels nice.'

Ariadne sank into deeper sleep.

"...Good heavens."

"What is this..."

The maids froze in horror while undressing the sleeping child.

When they unwrapped the blood-soaked bandage wound around her right arm, countless torn wounds were revealed.

"This isn't just an injury, is it? No matter how I look at it, these are knife cuts."

"Someone kept cutting a child's arm until it got this bad? Why on earth?"

The maids who met each other's eyes swallowed hard. This was no ordinary matter.

The soft-hearted maid's eyes even filled with tears.

"It must hurt so much... What should we do. This is too horrible."

"The Margrave doesn't know about Miss's wounds, does he?"

"If he knew, he would have warned us to be careful. We almost put the wounds directly in soapy water."

"The Archmage doesn't seem to know either."

"This won't do. I'll go report it."

One maid stood and left the bathroom.

The remaining maids began washing the child with even more careful hands than before.

Ariadne's eyes suddenly opened.

An unfamiliar ceiling.

Not her bedroom, and not the hellish study either.

'Where is this?'

She forced her foggy head to work.

'The last thing I remember...'

Being led by the Archmage's hand into the carriage, then bursting into tears.

Her memory after that was hazy.

'Don't tell me I just fell asleep while crying then?'

She started to sit up in surprise, then collapsed right back down.

Her entire body was completely devoid of strength, as if she'd been ill for a long time.

'Just how long did I sleep?'

Her heart sank. Instead of persuading the Archmage, she'd just slept.

'This was such an opportunity and I slept through it? What if they send me back...!'

Ariadne went pale and struggled to get up.

Supporting her body with trembling arms, she managed to raise her torso.

How long had she not moved—just getting down from the bed exhausted her.

She sat on the edge of the bed, resting briefly while looking out the large window directly ahead.

'So white.'

A snowstorm raged outside, blocking the view completely. It was simply white, as if paper had been pasted over it.

Despite the weather outside, the bedroom interior was warm enough to be slightly hot.

Looking around, she saw a fireplace blazing on one side.

Beautiful decorations were scattered throughout. It was a luxurious room.

'This is... too splendid to be an inn along the way.'

Her bedroom in Eldier had been incredibly lavish compared to the studio apartment from her past life.

But even that room wasn't this much.

'Is that actually real gold?'

She was eyeing the gold-gleaming fireplace screen suspiciously when the door burst open.

"Oh my, Miss!"

A maid entering with a basin started in surprise at the sight of her.

"The young lady—the little miss has woken up!"

The maid shouted toward the door at the top of her lungs.

Ariadne tried to stand and walk but lost her balance because the carpet was too plush.

Just as she was about to tumble, the maid who'd rushed over in one stride simply lifted her up.

"Goodness, are you all right? You mustn't get up carelessly yet!"

The maid piled pillows and cushions on the bed to create a backrest, then sat her down.

"Aren't you cold? Should I build up the fire? It would be terrible if you caught a chill."

"Um."

She grasped the sleeve of the maid who was trying to roll her up in blankets.

Though it was a weak and slow touch, the maid stopped immediately and looked at her.

"Yes, Miss. Is there something you need?"

Ariadne was momentarily speechless.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd faced such a warm expression.

The employees at Eldier had never properly met her eyes.

Well, of course—the employees the Duke left behind were all people who would turn a blind eye even if they discovered evidence of abuse against the Young Lady.

"Are you perhaps hungry? Or thirsty? Please tell me anything you need."

The maid asked kindly and affably.

Ariadne stared at her blankly, then asked in a small voice.

"What's your name?"

"Pardon? Which name?"

"Your name, miss."

The maid's eyes widened, then curved prettily.

"I'm Lucy."

"Lucy."

"Yes, Miss Ariadne."

Lucy answered with a bright smile.

It had been so long since someone smiled and answered when she called their name. When she smiled back in pleasure, Lucy was moved.

"I'm so happy to see you wake up and smile, Miss. I've only watched you suffer for three days straight."

"Three days?"

I was asleep for three whole days?

As Ariadne reeled in shock, hurried footsteps approached and the door burst open noisily again.

"The child's awake?"

The first to open the door was a silver-haired middle-aged man. He was extraordinarily tall.

A strong jaw, silver beard, broad shoulders, and a coat trimmed with fur—all combined, he looked like a white bear standing upright.

"Margrave, please step aside. What do you intend to do by entering before the physician?"

A woman in bright green robes with glasses who arrived next struggled ineffectually to push the Margrave aside.

"Oh, right. Go ahead first."

The Margrave belatedly cleared the way.

The physician quickly entered the room. Her bright green robe embroidered with tree branches in gold thread fluttered.

The moment she saw that robe, Ariadne reflexively clutched the blanket and went rigid.

'That's just the symbol of a licensed physician. You know that.'

She knew it in her head, but her body wouldn't obey. Her fingertips went cold with tension.

The 28 years of her past life's memories were, after all, the past.

Recalling her past life was similar to flipping through a photo album and tracing old memories.

By comparison, the memories of being born and raised in this world were reality carved directly into her body.

In that reality, the situations where Ariadne Eldier faced a physician were always the same.