Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 36: The Second Rejection

《What...?》

《Didn’t you hear it? I said, choose the one you like the most among the four of us.》

Like the most...?

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That’s impossible...

《Ah! Let me go!》

《You Bitch. Even a dumb whore like you can certainly appreciate the superior beauty of the Academy’s Quartet.》

《Heh, I don’t think she deserves us, but...Let’s see who she chooses.》

I...Can’t...

Who could possibly like vile humans like you all?

I don’t want to choose...

I don’t...

Thud!

《Ugh!》

《Heh, this Bitch, seriously. She can’t understand even the simplest thing, can she? Do you think we would let you stay quiet?》

《Hey, Kyle! Have you forgotten the fact that we must be chosen by the bitch?》

《Ah, right, I forgot. You’re wise as always, Blund.》

Why are they doing this...

Why are they calling me a bitch....

When you don’t even want to be chosen by me...?

《Oi Elden? If you keep staying in the back, you might not end up being chosen!》

《Heh, he’s playing the strong and silent type.》

《Right? Elden? Shouldn’t you show the bitch your charms too? Or are you that confident?》

《...I have no interest in these games.》

《Tsk, tsk-. This guy just doesn’t know how to have fun. Come on, Erenscia~ Just pick one already. The faster you do, the faster this will end, okay?》

P-Please...Stop this...

It’s pointless anyways...

No matter whom I choose, you’ll just beat me anyway...

Thud!

《Ugh!》

《Ah, ah, ah, it’s not fun when you’re like this, you know? Are you a masochist or something? You only learn when we hit you...How can you even survive in this world if you’re so pathetic?》

Crack-!

《Ahhh! M-My hand! It hurts....》

I get it now...

I know already...

So, please...

Stop hitting me...

It hurts...

It hurts so bad I want to die...

《Now! Choose! Who among us four is the most dashing?》

......Elden Raphelion.

《Pfff-. Haha, hahahaha-!》

《Goodness! Did you hear that, Elden?! You managed to charm the bitch!》

《Hehehe, aren’t you glad Elden? To be loved by Erencia of all people...Hahahaha!》

《......》

N-No, it’s not like that...!

I, I just didn’t want to choose anyone else...!

I just picked him...Because he doesn’t hurt me...!

B-But...Elden...You are as terrible as the others...!

You are all terrible...!

《Hahahaha-! Hey Elden, how much must she hate you, huh? To choose you like that?》

《Yeah! I think she’s throwing a tantrum because you didn’t play with her!》

《Ah, but when someone throws a tantrum, it’s the responsibility of the adults to punish them, right? So, come on, Elden, discipline her~》

《......》

D-Don’t look at me like that!

I didn’t choose you because I wanted to...!

I think you’re disgusting...!

You make me want to puke!

Thwack-!

《Kyaaa-!》

《Well done, Elden! Damn, you need to join us more often! Look at that!》

《...If you all have had your fun already, let’s go out. I heard a new brothel opened up, and they had a lot of beast folk whores.》

《Really? Let’s go then!》

...It always ends like this...

When their ‘toy’ becomes boring, they look for another one.

And I am always left, alone, watching them walk away, as my body throbs in pain.

Always too weak.

Always helpless.

But,

Now that I think about it,

This was the second time you rejected me, wasn’t it?

Once as Erencia Velroc,

And once as Lumia Winterfell.

Of course, both times were heartless situations, without any sort of real feelings...Things forced upon me...But nonetheless, it is still disgusting.

After all, I have been rejected by a Villain like you...Twice...Someone who doesn’t deserve an iota of love...Twice...

Haha-.

Ah,

That’s

Funny

Right?

Isn’t it hilarious,

Elden?

Hahahahahahahaha-.

**

What could have happened...?

Marien was the Third Northern Duchess’s handmaiden,

Although a low-born, there was a reason someone like her had become Lumia’s maid.

Usually, the maids working for the Nobles were typically of common birth.

However, those who served the nobles and their family members, as handmaidens or butlers, were of lower nobility.

It was customary for the daughters of barons, who had not yet entered into a betrothal, to serve as a handmaiden, and for the young lords, as head butlers.

Thus, the fact Marien became a handmaiden was something exceptional.

Logan, the Grand Duke, knowing full well the tendencies of most nobles’, wished for his daughter to have a Female Knight or someone of higher birth as her handmaiden, but Lumia remained stubborn to the very end.

《The only one I need is Marien.》

It all happened because of a random encounter, a coincidence that led Marien to her position.

After the accidental death of Ronica, Lumia’s previous handmaiden, she continued her research alone, and one day, as Lumia carried some experimental tools, materials, and books, she bumped into a newly hired maid who was lost in the Grand Palace.

At that moment, Marien sneaked a peak at the fallen book titles and the research materials and was able to deduce the nature of Lumia’s experiments, catching her interest.

Thus, their relationship began, and they quickly became inseparable.

Both women were in sync.

With just a single glance, they understood each other’s intentions, and with a mere stretch of a hand, they knew what the other sought.

Because of this,

“......”

Marien was certain that something wrong had happened as soon as Lumia returned to her bedroom.

And the handmaiden could bet all her savings that it must have something to do with Lord Elden.

Lately, all of her Lady’s thoughts were about him.

Limp, Limp.

Marien limped as she reached for the counter to prepare a cup of tea.

Though she had healed enough and had returned the crutches, she had yet to remove the bandages.

“My Lady...?”

She had prepared Lumia’s favorite brand, the Winter-Blossom tea.

Before receiving the cup, Lumia took off her mask and placed it on her bedside.

Marien looked at her with a worried expression.

Her Lady’s face...Was deathly pale.

“P-Please My Lady, have some tea.”

It’s been days since her Lady ate a proper meal.

And her sleep had become troubled as well.

Marien had never seen her Lady look so troubled before, and this worried her.

“...Thank you.”

After handing over the tea, Marien placed the tray on the table and sat beside Lumia.

Then, with a cautious tone, she asked.

“My Lady...What happened?”

Lumia’s lips opened and then closed.

Theirs was a bond without falsehood, where nothing was hidden.

As such, Marien was the only person who knew of Lumia’s revenge plan and helped her Lady with her counsel whenever necessary.

Yet, despite all of this, Lumia couldn’t find the courage to speak about what had just happened.

It was a shameful tale.

Of how she had been led around, unable to solve a single mystery posed by Elden Raphelion, the brute.

Of her own weakness and powerlessness, when ‘Lumia Winterfell’ had never once lost and failed before.

And,

How her original intention to induce sincere repentance through guidance and enlightenment had slowly been replaced by foolish obsession and stubbornness.

But she didn’t know how to stop at this point.

It was ironic.

Lumia had been the one who wished for the Villain’s repentance and change more than anyone, but now, she was the one who couldn’t accept it.

She couldn’t say something so embarrassing and shameful.

It was also beyond mortifying to have been ‘rejected’ by a sworn enemy she had vowed revenge on.

Of course, her confession wasn’t real, merely a ploy to drag her prey into the pits of revenge, but now, Lumia couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable shame.

It wasn’t fair that he seemed to have taken her fake confession seriously, and rejected her.

Lumia was going mad just by imagining Elden being proud of himself for having rejected the ‘Duchess’.

She was frustrated,

This had been a disgraceful and loathsome situation.

And these feelings made the raging fire within her burn even brighter.

Moreover, the spy who was following Elden’s moves always reported the same things.

He would read books in the library, and then train.

And from the report, Elden seemed to be doing these things wholeheartedly.

He wasn’t faking it, and to make matters worse, Lumia even received reports of Elden’s...good deeds, even when no one was seeing it.

Picking up trash, organizing disarrayed items, repairing broken things, etc.

The man abandoned all sorts of vices focusing only on cultivating his mind and body.

“Sigh....”

A sigh deeper than the night flowed out.

Following the sigh, Lumia sought to fill her emptiness with the sweet tea.

The Winter-Blossom tea, rumored to contain the essence of winter, was supposed to quell someone’s burning heat.

However, the flames of resentment inside Lumia hardly subsided.

Lumia held the teacup, looking down at the liquid as she swirled it.

Seeing her Lady act like this, Marien opened her mouth.

“M-My Lady, perhaps...It might be for the best if you accept his withdrawal?”

“What?”

“Look at you, My Lady. Your complexion is horrible.”

Suddenly, Lumia turned her head and looked at the mirror at her bedside.

There, she saw a deathly pale woman...Who seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

“......”

“I worry for you, My Lady. At this rate, you might actually succumb...”

Shifting her gaze to Marien, Lumia forced a smile.

But for the maid, that smile seemed more brittle and fragile than ever before.

“Don’t worry. I’m not that weak.”

“I know, My Lady. You are stronger than anyone. It’s just hard to see you struggle. Though it might be difficult, why not trust in Elden’s change just this once...?”

Marien wouldn’t be able to forget it.

The moment she ran into Elden.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was a thrilling moment akin to colliding with death.

But, when her ankle was twisted, it was Elden who extended the hand of support to her.

And,

The same person who had helped her and then threatened her life should she reveal this occurrence.

Their first meeting had been unlike anything Marien had heard of Elden’s usual behavior.

He was the complete opposite of the rumors.

The villain who wouldn’t hesitate to abuse a maid just for displeasing him, who would beat something to an inch of their lives, that same person, had helped her.

Initially, Marien believed he had only helped her because the evaluators were watching, but there wasn’t anyone around them at the time.

Maybe he knew that she was the personal maid of the Third Northern Duchess, and that’s why his touch and gaze seemed so pure.

If his good deed was planned, he would have wanted it to be known to those around him.

But instead, he demanded silence.

He seemed more worried that his good deed might become an annoying rumor that would stick to him.

...Should I tell her?

For a moment, Marien considered revealing Elden’s kindness, but his threat was still effective, and speaking now seemed unlikely to improve the lady’s condition.

No,

From the way her Lady was behaving, it was likely that telling her would only strengthen her obsessive behavior.

Thus, Marien found herself in a difficult situation.

But, she truly hoped her Lady would acknowledge his change and return to her lively demeanor.

However,

The plea to recognize the change was utterly dismissed.

“No.”

With a firm response.

“...Pardon?”

“I can’t trust it. Once the face-to-face meeting is held, it will all come out. No. I will make sure of it. Definitely.”

“Perhaps just speaking to the Grand Duke before then would be...”

“No. This is my choice, and I must see it through myself. That’s the only way I’ll be completely free.”

“But...”

Marian tried to persuade her, but Lumia had already put down her teacup and lay down on the bed.

Pulling the quilt over her head, she turned away.

Ultimately, Marien was forced to leave the bedroom, after putting the teacup back on the tray.

Though saddened by the lady’s brusque words, Marian knew all too well what made her impatient, what made her irrational, and had no choice but to withdraw.

While hoping that at the very least, Her Lady’s night would be a little peaceful.