Marquis Branford frowned as he scanned the dimly lit room. "This is a mess." The stench of must and blood mixed in the air, revealing just how dire the situation had been. Lying on the bed, Rosaline looked much more emaciated and unhealthy compared to just two weeks ago. "Open the window." Shwaaah! The knights who had followed the marquis immediately opened the windows. They didn't pull back the curtains, just in case. As the wind blew in, making the curtains flutter, several servants hurriedly stood in front of the windows to shield Rosaline from the light. In one corner of the room, Ghislain sat with his arms crossed. Dark circles under his eyes made his exhaustion clear. “Young master! Are you alright?” “My lord!” Ghislain’s close attendants rushed in, immediately attending to him. “My lady!” The butler, who had been dismissed earlier, also rushed in, his face filled with anxiety. At the sudden commotion, Rosaline slowly opened her eyes and raised her upper body. “Ah...” She let out a soft sigh. It was a mix of relief that it was finally over and the lingering aftereffects of pain. Pointing directly at Ghislain, Rosaline spoke. "Right now... arrest him..." Now that it was over, she thought she could have him captured and locked away. Her mind was filled with thoughts of repaying the pain and humiliation she had suffered. "What are you waiting for? Arrest him immediately!" At Rosaline's shout, the knights hesitated, looking towards their captain for guidance. Tolleo gave a silent hand signal. Immediately, the knights blocked any escape routes and began surrounding Ghislain. As the tension escalated, Ghislain’s attendants nervously gathered around him, standing on guard. “Young master! What are you going to do now?” Belinda whispered urgently, but Ghislain remained silent, only showing his fatigue. Claude inwardly clicked his tongue, preparing for the worst. ‘If things go sideways, I'll have to take one of them as a hostage.’ However, Tolleo had not risen to the position of the marquis’ knight captain without reason. His knights were already prepared to leap into action the moment Ghislain and his group showed any suspicious movement, ready to defend both Rosaline and Marquis Branford. As the standoff heightened, the marquis finally spoke, his voice calm. “Remove your mask.” Rosaline scoffed, nodding her head. "Right, we need to see the results of this ridiculous treatment to justify it. Even though the result is obvious." She yanked off her mask and tossed it aside roughly. Though the windows were open, the thought of hiding her face didn't even cross her mind. After all she had been through, what did a little sunlight matter now? “Are you satisfied? You’ve all seen it, haven’t you? Now, arrest him! Quickly!” Rosaline glared and shouted, but no one moved. “Oh...” Instead of arresting Ghislain, the room was filled with strange gasps of awe. Her voice, once filled with anger, turned confused. “What are you all doing? Do you need my father’s order to move?” “Ah, my lady... my lady!” The butler, teary-eyed, grabbed her hand. As if that was the signal, the other servants and knights in the room also let out exclamations of surprise. Taken aback by the unexpected reaction, Rosaline was at a loss for words. "Wh-what’s going on? Why is everyone acting like this...?" She swallowed hard, and then a realization flashed through her mind. Her heartbeat quickened. Looking around, she gestured towards the servants blocking the window. The servants hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping aside. The sunlight streaming through the gap between the curtains brightly illuminated Rosaline’s cheek. Though she flinched at the warmth of the sunlight, she soon realized she felt no pain. Her hand instinctively reached up to touch her face. "No... it can’t be..." Suppressing both her fear and rising hope, she managed to speak with a trembling voice. "Give me... a mirror..." As if they had been waiting for her words, the servants hurriedly fetched a mirror. They held it close to her so she could see herself clearly. "Ah..." It had been a long time since she had last seen her reflection. The face in the mirror felt strange to her. Her hair was disheveled, and her bloodstained clothes made her look more like a woman from the slums than the daughter of a noble house. But none of that mattered. Rosaline’s trembling hand gently touched her own cheek. Her features were distinct, and her once-damaged skin was now clean. There were still faint red spots here and there, but nothing too concerning. "My face..." Even under the sunlight, there was no issue. She couldn’t believe it, and yet the proof was right in front of her. The butler, crying once again, spoke in a trembling voice. "My lady, it’s over. The treatment really worked. You're cured now." Wiping away his tears, he resumed his usual calm demeanor. “Bring her some fresh clothes immediately.” At his signal, a few servants quickly left the room. "Ah..." Rosaline could hardly believe it. The painful treatment had truly worked. "This... this is a dream, right...? Are you all just... playing a cruel joke?" Having expected nothing from the treatment, the results shocked her even more. If this were a dream, it would be the cruelest nightmare imaginable. Rosaline turned to Ghislain, stammering. "Th-this is a lie, right? I must be... hallucinating from some kind of drug..." "It’s not a lie," Ghislain replied, walking over to her with a mischievous smile. "The treatment is complete. It must have been hard, but you endured well. You did a great job." At his words, Rosaline finally bowed her head. A single tear rolled down her cheek. "Ah..." She clutched her chest, overwhelmed by the emotions she had suppressed for so long. At last, she was free from the nightmare of this illness. At last, she could leave the darkness and see the light. Even though she tried not to cry, the weight of her suffering overwhelmed her, and tears began to flow. “Ugh...” “My lady...” The butler, tears streaming down his face, watched as Rosaline covered her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. Even the usually cold Marquis Branford remained silent, not saying a word at this moment. "I think we should give her a moment to collect herself," Belinda interjected, clicking her tongue. "She can't even cry properly with all of us watching." The butler nodded in agreement, quickly echoing her suggestion. “Y-yes, let’s all step out for a moment. Quickly, everyone.” The others hesitated, glancing at the marquis, before slowly backing out of the room. Marquis Branford stared at Rosaline for a moment before turning without a word and leaving. "Come on, let’s get out of here." The butler ushered everyone out, and once the door closed, Rosaline’s sobs grew louder. “See what I mean? They have no sense or empathy at all,” Belinda grumbled, clicking her tongue, though she quickly silenced herself when the marquis gave her a glance. The marquis smirked slightly as he looked at Ghislain. "You really did it. I admit, your skills are impressive." Though he had technically lost the bet, he didn’t feel as upset as he had expected. After all, his daughter, who had suffered for so long, was now healed. Ghislain simply shrugged in response, saying nothing. The butler was the first to approach Ghislain, bowing deeply. “Thank you! Truly, thank you! Your medical skills are unmatched in the kingdom! Please forgive my previous rudeness!” ‘Well, that’s not quite true...’ Ghislain thought to himself. If this gets out, he might end up being labeled the kingdom’s greatest healer. What would happen if all the nobles started seeking him out? ‘No way... that’s not going to happen.’ Although he was flustered inside, Ghislain maintained a confident outward demeanor. His attendants, on the other hand, were finally able to relax. Belinda glanced at the marquis with a smug smile. ‘Look at that stern face. I’d like to see you try and say anything now.’ With the situation as it was, even the formidable marquis wouldn’t be able to act rashly towards them. Claude, however, inwardly clicked his tongue. Although he was relieved to have survived the situation, he still couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. It felt like his understanding of common sense had been turned upside down. ‘Unbelievable... it worked again?’ He squinted as he looked Ghislain up and down. ‘No matter how you look at it, he seems like he only has half-baked knowledge.’ Ghislain’s strange actions always seemed like he had somehow stumbled upon the answer to a problem without fully understanding it himself. Even though Claude had experienced it several times, he still couldn’t grasp how it was possible. Marquis Branford furrowed his brows as he watched Ghislain and his group, who were now acting more relaxed. “Tell Rosaline to see me later. In the meantime, summon the vassals. We will finalize the deal with Baron Fenris.” “Oh!” The marquis’ words elicited quiet exclamations from those nearby. Finalizing the deal meant acknowledging Baron Fenris’ contribution and granting his request. Everyone was now curious about what Ghislain would ask for. All eyes were on him. A short time later, the key vassals of the Branford family gathered in the main hall. The butler personally escorted Ghislain and his entourage with utmost respect. Marquis Branford sat in the highest seat, resting his chin on his hand as he looked down at the group. “I must admit, the result was surprising. I thought it was all bravado, but you're not just all talk.” The vassals, who had been listening, looked up in shock. It was rare for Marquis Branford to offer such generous praise. “Your methods were strange, but a promise is a promise. Now, tell me what you want.” Everyone stared at Ghislain, their curiosity piqued. No one thought Ghislain would ask for something small from someone as powerful as the marquis. What had he risked so much to obtain? The tension and curiosity in the hall were palpable. Ghislain took a deep breath and then raised his head. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂 "I don’t want anything too big." The marquis gave a dismissive nod. "Go ahead, speak freely. Whatever it is, most of it should be possible." Ghislain smiled slightly, as if relieved. "Please become my patron." "...What?" Marquis Branford asked in disbelief. And he wasn’t the only one. Everyone around him was equally stunned, their mouths hanging open. The marquis asked again to confirm. “Did you just say ‘patron’?” "Yes." "You didn’t misspeak and mean to ask for sponsorship instead?" "Nope." “Ha...” For the first time, Marquis Branford’s usually stoic face was filled with astonishment. Everyone else in the room shared the same expression as they stared at Ghislain. Except for Belinda, who looked at him with pride. ‘As expected from our young master!’ She had always taught him to take back twofold if given one. But she never imagined he would demand to drain someone dry for life. Especially from such a fearsome marquis. ‘Whoever taught him did a great job.’ Even after making such an outrageous request, Ghislain stood proudly, unfazed. Marquis Branford let out a low growl. "Hmm..." Being a sponsor and being a patron were two entirely different things. If the marquis became his patron, he would be responsible for Ghislain’s actions and would have to clean up after any messes he caused. He said he didn’t want something big, but he essentially wanted a never-ending source of support. This kid... he wasn’t just brazen, he was something else entirely.