Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 42: Ouch

I sat down next to Kyle’s empty seat.

It was a good spot.

From here, I could clearly see the faces of Deron and Blund sitting across from me.

Despite the frosty mood, both were sweating like pigs.

Their eyes darted around the room, while their faces were pale.

Despite seeing this, I couldn’t feel the slightest of guilt or regret as I had already given these idiots more than enough hints and warnings.

Indeed,

It was like watching a dramatic movie on a 3D screen.

The disdain I endured from the Regretful Trio was all worth it.

As a transmigrator who had already fulfilled the bare minimum of his responsibilities, all that was left for me was to enjoy and eat a hearty meal while enjoying the drama in this Tragic Romance Fantasy.

Are they going to serve monster meat again?

Ah, I want to lift the lid...

What sort of dish would I taste this time?

My heart was thumping with anticipation.

Oh, also,

“Has Kyle taken a sick leave?”

I asked Blund.

Those two were always close in our Academy days.

If Kyle hadn’t made that stunt on the second evaluation, he would have surely come with Blund.

But instead of answering my question, rude words were thrown at me.

“You...You knew about this, didn’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, you fucker! You knew that the Duchess was Erenscia all along! That’s why you withdrew, didn’t you?!”

Sigh, here we go again.

Once again, the villains were trying to vent their frustrations on the innocent observer.

Can’t they see I’m just a simple man, trying to get his share of entertainment?

I shrugged my shoulders at Blund’s accusation, as I opened my mouth.

“I just found out today as well.”

Bang!

Deron slammed his fists on the table.

He then glared at me, his eyes filled with resentment.

“If you knew, you should have shared it with us! How could you abandon your comrades like that? Weren’t we all in the same boat?!”

Hm...

From Elden’s memories, I don’t think they were anything like ‘comrades’...

They always seemed to use Elden as a blunt instrument...But now they shamelessly speak about comradery?

These guys were still pushing the blame for their own mistakes onto others, even in this situation.

Truly, what a remarkable set of characters, indeed.

“As I said, I only found out today myself. I was quite surprised as well.”

“Spare me your lies. You’ve been cozy with Erenscia all along, haven’t you?”

What absurd nonsense are they even saying now?

I simply declared my withdrawal because I didn’t want to be involved with you guys, sad fate.

“Yes! There must be a reason as to why she favored you, Elden...What did you exactly give her, huh? Spill it!”

No, you guys got it all wrong.

I don’t care about anything about that.

...But I do care about this place in front of me.

I just wish for a sequel of that roasted leg.

Why does everyone keep targeting me?

Why are they all trying to make my life miserable?

“Just tell us what Erenscia and you are planning. What exactly does Erenscia want from us—speak up!”

Since an annoying situation was about to start, I reached for my mana recorder.

It seems that the Regretful Duo(?) have forgotten what they had accused me of just a few days ago, so I intended to remind them.

However,

“Her Grace, the Third Northern Duchess, Lumia Winterfell is entering.”

The voice announcing the start of the ceremony forced me to stand up and greet the Heroine.

**

Lumia entered the Grand Hall dressed in a fine crimson gown and similarly-colored heels.

Her choice of clothing seemed fitting for the herald of her revenge...Since it would probably be one filled with tears of blood.

“Please, take your seats.”

As I sat down, I looked at Lumia. Although her eyelids appeared slightly swollen, I dismissed it as a mere illusion.

The already chilly air in the Grand Hall turned even colder with her entrance.

Or rather, it became eerie.

It felt like a fierce blizzard was blowing through, yet it was disturbingly quiet.

Deron and Blund couldn’t even make eye contact, their heads lowered as soon as Lumia walked in.

They had been blustering at me, but now drooped like puppies that had encountered a tiger, their cowardice was palpable.

Lumia then broke the silence.

“After seeing my Lord Father off, I learned that Lord Kyle Beallon has disappeared...He abandoned his possessions, his servants, even his honor.”

What...

I thought Kyle had been calling a sick leave since he collapsed...

But this guy was a real escape artist all along?!

Such decisiveness must be commended. No matter if his actions were completely devoid of prudence, remorse, or wisdom.

But, if one were to think of his sins, then his escape wasn’t all that surprising.

Deron may have been the mastermind. But it was Kyle who would shove bugs into Erenscia’s mouth, who would beat her up, abuse her, mock her, and even spit on her fallen body. He was certainly a despicable villain.

Indeed,

From Erenscia’s perspective, Kyle was probably the worst one by far.

So, it was natural that her hate for Kyle, who would always be the first to cause her pain, would be stronger than her hatred for Deron, who would simply set the events in motion behind the scenes.

The fact that Kyle had fainted at the Unveiling Ceremony, just showed he also knew of this.

The Eldest son of the Beallon Family. Their beacon of hope had fled. Abandoning all hopes and dreams of his House.

“My oh my~ You all look so pale! Lord Deron, Lord Blund? Are you both worried about Lord Kyle?”

Lumia smiled as she asked them, prompting the duo to finally lift their heads.

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But Lumia’s next words caused them to lower their heads once more.

Even deeper,

Even brisker.

“Don’t worry about him. He will come back on his own. Why? I have personally sent a letter to the Head of his House. I think all of you know what this entails~?”

That meant that Kyle’s father was now aware of the heinous acts his son had committed.

And it also doubled as a threat of genuine retribution during the Grand Duke’s absence.

Lumia was basically saying that no one would be able to leave the Grand Ducal Castle without her permission.

Had I fled right after declaring my withdrawal, Lumia would have tried to bind me in other ways.

But for someone like me, with no parents to tattle on,

The method used would have been something impulsive and harsh,

With this, I am now sure that outright fleeing was not a feasible plan.

“But there’s no need to worry, you know? If no one tries to run away from their sins, everything that happened at the Academy, and what will happen inside this castle...shall be buried and forgotten.”

The classic method of the carrot and the stick.

First, she would instill fear, and then show hope.

“So, don’t give up~ In the history of our Grand Duchy, there has always been a winner in the Grand Ducal Betrothal.”

Since Lumia suffered for three long years under the Villainous Quartet, she more than anyone, knew their strategies better than anyone, and how to apply them to great success.

“The ‘Winner’ shall have everything. My forgiveness, their heart’s desires, richness beyond compare, glory, and of course love.”

After her threats, she promised a future bright enough to encourage participation.

But I knew this was all part of her plan. like when they promised to stop the torture when Erenscia ‘stayed hidden for 5 minutes’ just to crush her hopes, pushing her deeper into despair, Lumia would do something similar.

And the cause of this was,

《This is for your own good, you know~? How else would you survive in this harsh world while being so weak?》

Lumia would use Deron’s advice against themselves.

Then,

Thud-!

A pair of knees hit the Grand Hall’s floor.

“E-Erenscia...! N-No! Third Northern Duchess Lumia Winterfell! I have committed a sin worthy of death! Please forgive me!”

The youngest brother who always had to live in someone else’s shadow,

The Second Son who never received his father’s approval,

A Duke’s spare that must prove his worth through certain victory.

That was who Deron Caelid was.

The mastermind, the prime instigator, had gotten in line faster than anyone else.

But of course, this just meant that he had been the fastest to bite into Lumia’s bait.

Click-Clack.

Lumia rose from her seat and approached the kneeling Deron.

Then, she opened the lid of the dish placed at Deron’s spot.

The mystery meal was revealed.

Oh!

It was the same dish I saw on my Monster Cuisine Guide while I traveled with Rachel towards the second evaluation.

A dish so exciting that I had to ask Rachel about its taste.

The dish was...

Drake’s tail!

Though the Tail’s meat was marred with random bubble-like protuberances, and had a rough appearance, the texture was said to be exquisite.

Ah,

My mouth was already watering.

Lumia then abruptly flipped the dish onto the floor.

Right in front of Deron.

Splat-!

The meat’s red sauce spread across the Grand Hall’s white floor.

It almost looked like a pool of blood.

But,

Why in the hell was she wasting such good food?!

Doesn’t she know that wasting food is the worst sin? I wouldn’t be surprised if divine punishment befell over her now.

“.......?”

As he glanced at the spilled food before him, Deron raised his eyes and looked at Lumia.

It was the same pitiful gaze, begging for mercy, that Erenscia might have worn back in the old days.

But, Lumia merely smirked at him.

“Did you know, Lord Deron? There’s nothing cleaner than the Grand Hall’s floor. But look at it now! If you lick it clean...I might even forgive you.”

Then, a mix of shock and hope shone in Deron’s eyes.

His gaze was eerily similar to that of Erenscia’s.

**

A tear-jerking scene was unfolding before my eyes.

Just a few moments ago, Deron and Blund were chewing me out, but they are now licking the food off the floor.

Because they wished to prove their worth.

Because they wished to prove themselves to their families.

And,

Because they were seeking ‘Erenscia’ forgiveness.

It was truly a pitiful scene, watching these men throw away their pride as they miserably licked the floor filled with monster meat as they gagged.

Also,

It was rather ironic since Elden clearly remembered the times when Erenscia ate up countless bugs just to escape further torment.

Strangely enough, as I delved into the Original’s memories, I couldn’t find a speck of joy in Elden as Erenscia was tormented.

Instead, only a feeling of disgust arose within him.

In male-oriented novels, a female character’s sins could be forgiven when she undergoes a process known as the ‘Washing Machine’.

Depending on the result of it, she could even be elevated to the status of a Heroine...

Could this mean that...

The Original Novel set up Elden Raphelion as the Male Lead after he undergoes this ‘washing’ process through the Betrothal Contest?

While Lumia’s excessive obsession with me does credit this theory, I might be completely wrong.

Regardless of the Original Novel’s plot, this wouldn’t affect the plans for my Culinary Journey.

“Ugh...!”

“Gah...”

Meanwhile, Deron and Blund continued to gag.

The difference now was that they were stuffing themselves with monster meat seeking forgiveness, despite their rising nausea.

Heh,

As soon as the Grand Duke left, all the chains were removed, and Lumia’s rampage began.

The essence of a Tragic Romance Fantasy lies in its unreasonable exhilaration, and the original author might have sent the Grand Duke away so that the protagonist could spread the wings of vengeance freely.

But, now that the Novel’s plot had derailed completely, and with Lumia’s current mental health being rather poor...The absence of the ‘Brake’ known as the Grand Duke might have been a stroke of genius or a grave mistake.

Feels... more like the latter though.

Click-Clack.

And then, Lumia finally approached me.

I stood up, maintaining my decorum.

Even If I planned to escape this place, I still have to maintain the basics of courtesy.

Our situation was merely a mutual misfortune.

Both the Heroine who started to tread a darker path due to unexpected shifts in the plot, and I, who possessed a Villainous Character, were all victims of the circumstances.

But,

I was just curious about what kind of dish would be splattered on the floor.

Surprisingly enough, Lumia didn’t touch the lid of the dish.

Instead, she initiated a conversation.

“You asked me, didn’t you? Whether my confession was a sincere one or not.”

......Wait a second.

She’s going to bring ‘that’ confession in the presence of both Deron and Blund?

Ah, so this is her strategy? Has our confrontation already started?

“It was sincere.”

“Pardon?”

“I said it was sincere. That I supported you, that my love for you was real.”

No,

Hold a second there.

You....As...In...Me?

Lumia always referred to me as Lord Elden, or some other polite title, never as ‘You’.

Did she make a mistake?

Or had she forgotten the formalities?

What’s with this sudden shift of treatment?

Caught off guard by this sudden attack, I couldn’t formulate a response, and Lumia soon continued her advances.

She extended her delicate hand towards me and said,

“So...Will you marry me?”

.......Wut?

She’s proposing? Just like that?

Lady, weren’t you encouraging those two idiots with hopes of victory a few moments ago? And now you’re crushing that same hope by proposing to me?

I looked towards the Regretful Duo.

They stared at me, with faces wrapped in disgust and eyes filled with tears.

Their eyes trembled from having their hopes crushed so completely. And their mouths hung open, making the red sauce fall onto the ground.

They had found hope amidst the despair.

The hope of salvation, of finally fulfilling their ambitions. But their hope was ruthlessly snatched away, and the unstoppable wave of despair washed over them.

Lumia hammered the final nail in their coffin, pushing the duo into the Abyss.

The same abyss filled with tears and blood she once fell into.

“I swear to grant you everything you wish for. The revival of your fallen house, honor, power, love, and forgiveness. Whatever you want, I shall give it to you. That is my vow in Winterfell’s name.”

Whether this new proposal was just a new way to crush Deron and Blund’s hopes, a new strategy to ‘capture me’, or merely the result of a twisted obsession, I don’t know.

For me, who just wished to experience a man’s romance. To venture deep into the unknown. To have a Culinary Journey...Staying locked inside the Grand Ducal Castle...Was unforgivable.

Moreover, the absence of the safeguard that is Logan Winterfell only served as an advantage for her.

I politely bowed my head.

With that, I made it clear that my intention to decline was unyielding.

“I’m sorry.”

Then I lifted my head.

When I saw Lumia shedding tears, an impact made my head snap towards the side.

And a crisp sound followed it.

Slap-!

All this time, I had been curious about something.

How good would a female-oriented novel be?

Spurred by my curiosity, I found and read this novel. And unfortunately, I ended up transmigrating after reading all the free Chapters.

Since I couldn’t read much of the Novel’s contents, I couldn’t be sure of the Heroine’s fervent character.

But one thing seemed clear now.

The Author’s work on female protagonists of such Romance Fantasies was quite nic–No, it’s spicy...Yes, A spiciness that tingled.

Hmm-.

Her hands were also quite spicy, no?

I think my face is stinging a bit.

Maybe I should have dodged it.

.

.

.

Ouch-.