Reader POV

I woke up in a room with white walls and a patient's gown on me.

"Where am I?"

A doctor with blue hair and gray eyes looked up from his clipboard. "Ah, you are awake. Do you remember anything?"

I slowly looked down. "Not really. Everything is a haze."

"It seems you have hypothermia, despite being an ice mage," he motioned to my grimoire which was sitting with my other things on a desk. "What is your name and I need all of your personal information."

"I am (y/n) (l/n). I am 18 years old."

"Any family?"

I gripped my arm and shook my head, the pain cutting through me like a dagger with no mercy.

"Where are you from?"

"I...I can't tell you."

The door opened and in came a man with silver hair and a braid in his face. He was about 5'9.

"She's awake," the doctor said.

"Yes, I am aware of that, Captain Obvious," The man growled. "Excuse us, Doctor Rain. I've got questions for this young lady."

Doctor Rain nodded and exited the room, closing the door. "Yes, Captain Nozel."

Captain Nozel sat down on the chair next to my bed.

I looked at him with fear. He looked royally pissed off.

"Who the hell are you."

"(y/n) (l/n)."

He frowned. "Why is it that you were found last night trying to enter the Clover Kingdom illegally? Don't you know that's forbidden?"

I looked down at my palms, my hair covering my sight. "I know..."

"Then why did you do it." He growled. "Why is it that when we found you, you were covered in blood?"

Something inside me said to keep my mouth shut about it.

"And Doctor Rain has informed us that it wasn't all of your blood, but someone related to you,"

My eyes widened. 

"Got something to say?" Captain Nozel growled. "I need answers. And I'm more than willing to-"

"Nozel." The door opened and a man with red robes and a calming aura came in.

Nozel immediately stood up. "Wizard King," he saluted.

"There is no need to torture her for information," The Wizard King said calmly. "You know I don't approve of those methods." 

"But Julius-"

Julius Novochrono pulled up a chair. "Young lady, what drove you to try and enter this kingdom?" He asked. "You must tell us."

I gulped. "Well...my whole village was attacked by three people. Last night to be exact. My father told me to take my three brothers and meet up with the other survivors."

"Where are they, then?" Nozel demanded. Julius glared at Nozel and gestured me to continue.

As I told them the whole story, I was crying.

Once I was finished, Julius gave my hand a pat.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said quietly. "I pray that your family and friends are all at peace right now."

Nozel looked ashamed for the way he treated me the moment he entered the room.

"Now I understand why there was blood on you and why you had to leave," he said quietly. "But your mother. You didn't mention her."

"She died five years ago, giving birth to my three brothers."

"Just like my mother but with my sister..." Nozel murmured.

Julius was frowning now. "(y/n). The three mages who attacked you. What were their names again?"

"Dante, Zenon, and Vanica."

"It's them," Nozel said to Julius. "It has to be."

"Who?"

Julius looked at me with a dark gaze. "Have you heard the rumors that House Grinberryal was overthrown years ago?"

I nodded.

"Those who overthrew them...they were called the Dark Triad. If, as you said, they had devil's magic, then that would explain how three mages quickly took control of the Spade Kingdom." 

"She can't go back there!" Nozel leapt out of his chair. 

"Then where should she go?" Julius said. "I agree, she shouldn't go back. In fact..."

He looked thoughtfully at me.

"Nozel, I am assigning you to watch her."

"What?" Both of us looked surprised and then slowly looked at each other.

"Are you sure about that?" Nozel frowned. 

Julius nodded. "Absolutely. Now, I must report this to the higher-ups. We need to take this matter very delicately. For now, tell no one that Miss (y/n) is from the Spade Kingdom. Tell them she's from this region. If they have further issues, send them to me."

Nozel sighed. "Yes, Wizard King."

"Good." Julius sighed. "When she is all cleared, take her back to House Silva. Or wherever is most convenient for both of you. I am trusting you as not only one of the squad leaders but also my friend. Do not fail me."

Nozel nodded. "Yes, Sir!" 

...

A day later, I was all cleared to leave. My clothes were now washed.

Nozel handed my grimoire to me. "If you even think about using your magic against me," he warned. "I will not hesitate to turn you into the guards. Something about you seems off and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

I climbed onto the chariot and we sped off.

We soon arrived at the Royal Capital.

Nozel was greeted by his subordinates and filed his reports.

I waited in his office as he finished them.

"So..." I began awkwardly.

"Silence."

I bit my lip and went back to counting inside my head.

A few moments later, one of Nozel's subordinates opened the door to his office after knocking. 

"Captain! Your sister is here,"

Nozel frowned. "Which one."

"Lady Nebra."

Nozel relaxed and nodded. "Send her in."

I sat awkwardly on the couch in his office as a woman walked into the room. She looked just like her brother, but slightly younger.

She had the same silvery hair and pink eyes.

"Nozel! I leave for a week and Solid tells me you've been assigned to that cold region by the Grand Magic Zone?" She frowned. "And who is this?"

I looked up and was about to answer when I was interrupted.

"This is (y/n)."

"Oh!" Nebra smirked and sat down on the couch next to me. "So, are you his little souvenir?"

I sweatdropped. "Um...."

"Tell me. What is your magic? You have a cold aura."

"Ice magic," I said. I showed her my grimoire.

"Fascinating...her four-leaf clover is intermingled with this snowflake." Nebra nodded. "So, which noble house are you from? I don't recall any nobles having a daughter that looks like you."

"She's not noble," Nozel said. "She's a peasant."

Nebra jumped out of the couch and dusted herself off as if I had carried the plague with me.

Her friendy smirk turned into a glare. "How dare you even address me as if we were equals, you scum!"