Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 27: Sparkle Sparkle, Snap

As the atmosphere in the drawing room, once disturbed by the mention of the Third Duchess, settled down again, Ariel had to sit down with a sheepish smile on her face.

“Ah, I got too excited and talked a lot, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”

“...It’s...Okay.”

“I’ve read the novel where the Duchess is the protagonist five times now! She’s one of my most beloved characters, so I got a bit carried away......”

Scratching her head, Ariel secretly hoped Lumia would ask more about the book.

Regrettably, such things didn’t catch Lumia’s interest.

As such, Ariel was forced to return to the main topic she had momentarily forgotten.

“Well then...What did the Duchess wish to tell me?”

Ariel, who never had any relation with the Grand Duchy wondered just what kind of message the Duchess wished to convey, especially at such a late hour.

Clutching her teacup with both hands, Ariel sought some comfort in its warmth, however, the tea had long since cooled.

Much like the mood in the drawing room.

“Have you been reading with Lord Elden Raphelion recently?”

Her maid had expressed her concern that something like this would happen.

However, Elden was someone who had declared his withdrawal from the Betrothal Contest, as such, there shouldn’t be any sort of reprimand from the Duchess, or god forbid a punishment in the form of seizing her access to the Library.

It was a coincidental reunion.

He was simply a classmate who happened to share a common hobby with her.

And one who offered to eat together, due to their loneliness.

Someone who had just started to witness the greatness of literature.

For Ariel, Elden was such an existence.

While it was true that the time they had spent together was delightful, her enjoyment stemmed purely from having found a reading partner.

The anticipation of reading with him, the sense of loss after parting; all stemmed from the same reasons.

A relationship that started with a common love for novels, and had it not been for that, they wouldn’t have gotten along.

Since Elden showed no signs of having a romantic inclination towards her, their reading time was under no danger of a reproof.

As such,

“Yes.”

Ariel answered honestly.

And Lumia narrowed her eyes at her answer.

It was the look of someone who was searching for evidence to cement her hypothesis.

“You also eat together, no?”

“Yes?”

“Then you must have heard that Lord Elden has declared his withdrawal.”

“Yes, he told me as well.”

“Did he mention why?”

“He said he lacked the qualifications to become the Duchess’ spouse.”

Lumia nodded her head as she had heard something similar.

Of course, she hadn’t expected to find the answer to his motives this easily.

She was determined to dig deeper into Elden’s reasons for withdrawing.

“...Is that all? Didn’t he say anything more?”

“More?”

“Well, I thought there might be more reasons for his withdrawal.”

“There are none?”

“Then, did he talk about his future plans?”

He did, it happened at yesterday’s lunch.

While they discussed books, the topic of the ‘future’ had come up.

Since a withdrawer couldn’t win the contest, Ariel had asked Elden about his plans after the Betrothal Contest ended.

Elden answered her without hesitation, smiling as he shared his future plans.

“He said he would embark on a culinary journey.”

“...Really?”

Lumia’s brow furrowed.

At the same time, the index finger of her right hand, the one gripping the teacup, began to quickly tap it.

It was a habit she had unknowingly exhibited during her first encounter with Elden.

Usually, such a habit would reveal itself when Lumia encountered an interesting topic.

She had never imagined that Elden would plan something like a [ Culinary Journey ]. It was something truly intriguing.

“A culinary journey......”

“Yes. He even asked me if I knew some books about monster cuisine. Unfortunately, since I don’t have a taste for that, I couldn’t help him.”

“...Monster cuisine?”

Monster cuisine.

The moment she heard those words, Lumia remembered the scene of Elden savagely tearing into the leg of the loathsome Red Longuer.

The scene where he had greedily munched on the oily flesh and then sucked the oil off his fingers came to mind.

Could it be that her attempt of sharing the horrors they inflicted on her, inadvertently opened his eyes to a new world?

No wonder... he really seemed to enjoy it.

He seemed genuinely regretful when he had settled down the leg of the Red Longuer saying that since he had withdrawn, he would only take a single bite.

The cup in her hands creaked as she gripped it tight.

Her teeth were clenched.

The feeling of having done a ‘favor’ to Elden as she conducted her plans was as disgusting as chewing down a bug.

It sickened Lumia.

Her teeth ground together with the intensity of her emotions.

Yet, she had to maintain her composure in front of Ariel, so with a tired sigh, she regained her composure.

“Sigh......”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. Does Elden seem to have second thoughts about his withdrawal?”

“No?”

“...Not even a little?”

“From what I see, he seems pretty resolved.”

“......”

It felt like Lumia was being forced to swallow a bunch of boiled potatoes without a single drink to help her.

Her questions were being bounced back to her like arrows hitting a magic barrier.

As things started to unfold contrary to her expectations, Lumia decided to bring up her main point.

“...Do you at least have any guesses for his withdrawal? Perhaps he’s fallen in love with someone else?”

When she voiced her question, Ariel pursed her lips.

Her auburn eyes seemed to darken a bit, and some of their warmth cooled down like a cold winter night.

It seemed that even the cheerful Ariel could be displeased.

Or perhaps, she realized that she was being interrogated.

“Did you come here to convey the Duchess’ words or to interrogate me?”

“Ah...I apologize if I displeased you. But those were all questions the Duchess told me to get answers for.”

Truthfully, Lumia had been close to revealing her identity as the Third Northern Duchess and demanding answers from Ariel, however, she controlled herself, not wishing to force an innocent third party.

For a virtuous person, it was better to request than demand.

Her objective here had only been to gather evidence to secure the credibility of her hypothesis.

As Lumia took a step back and apologized, Ariel’s displeased mood cleared.

“At least from what I know, Elden doesn’t seem to be involved in any kind of scandal.”

“Is that so...”

Lumia carefully observed every expression, breathing, gesture, and micro reactions Ariel had made.

She was looking for the slightest sign of falsehood in her words, but unfortunately, she found none.

Just as her private conversation with Elden, everything she heard appeared to be the truth.

It annoyed her to no end.

“But why are you asking me these things?”

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Now Lumia was the one being questioned by Ariel.

Since this was something Lumia was waiting for, she didn’t hesitate to answer.

“The Duchess hopes you won’t disclose this information.”

“What is it...?”

“It’s the Duchess’ wish that Elden revokes his declaration of withdrawal.”

“Why?”

“Moreover, she sincerely hopes that Elden will give his utmost during the Contest.”

“...Why?”

Until now, Lumia had been laying the terrain for the next phase of her plan.

Now, she would proceed to the next stage.

Chucking softly, she opened her mouth.

“Because the Duchess is in love with Lord Elden.”

[ Love ].

Now she would be able to ascertain her hypothesis.

If Ariel had been enjoying a secret relationship with Elden, or even if they had feelings for each other, she would show a reaction.

No one would welcome the emergence of a formidable competitor for their loved one’s attention.

As expected, Ariel’s face stiffened.

This was what Lumia had been waiting for.

The first good result of an experiment she had gotten since Elden’s declaration of withdrawal.

“W-What...? T-The Duchess loves Elden...?”

Lumia had to force her face to remain neutral.

She shouldn’t smile.

After Ariel’s shock subsided, either her hostility or competitiveness would be revealed.

And Lumia would be certain that Elden’s withdrawal was due to [ Love ].

If such emotion made him give up the only chance of rebuilding his house, then it would certainly be a strong and corresponding one.

At last, she would be liberated from this vexing conundrum.

“Yes. It was love at first sight...”

Sadly for Lumia...

“Wow! So...If Elden revokes his withdrawal, he could become the Grand Duke’s son-in-law? Be part of the Winterfell family?!”

For a mere bookworm who enjoyed a reading session with Elden,

This was indeed a nice development.

After all, Ariel would welcome a chance to repay Elden for brightening her days.

“Ah, I see! The Duchess must want me to convince Elden to revoke his withdrawal!”

Sparkle Sparkle-.

Ariel’s eyes sparkled with resolve, as she discovered the unique opportunity of helping her favorite character.

She clenched her fists,

Ariel would certainly visit Elden in his annex before heading towards the Library tomorrow morning.

“......”

Snap-.

Like a ship’s captain, fighting off a storm, following the lighthouse.

Who despaired after seeing his guiding light snuffed out...

Ultimately, nothing had been gained here.

Once again, Lumia tasted the bitterness of failure.

As a blazing fury began burning inside her, Lumia was once again engulfed by an unquenched thirst for answers.

Just as she had been when her desire for learning could not be extinguished and was fading away.

Just as she had been when her obsession with inquiry could not be dampened and was withering.

“Please tell the Duchess to trust this Ariel!”

Thus, the night preceding the final assessment before their grand confrontation reached an anticlimactic finale.