Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 47: Alcohol is Dangerous (1)

Marien awaited her Lady outside the Grand Hall.

Thanks to the unveiling ceremony, her standing had also increased by virtue of being the Third Northern Duchess’ handmaiden.

Just before her Lady entered the Grand Hall, Marien made sure to cheer her up with a bright smile.

She hoped that Elden would listen to her Lady’s feelings.

And she also hoped that her Lady would finally put an end to her obsession.

With such feelings, she continued to support her Lady.

Is...The Lady doing well?

Please...

Marien prayed that everything would proceed as her Lady desired.

She prayed that her advice would be remembered and her Lady would free herself from the chains of obsession.

She prayed that Her Lady would return to the bright and happy woman she was before all of this happened.

The meal must have started by now...

She would have to wait for at least an hour more.

With so much to discuss, Her Lady’s meeting with the finalists was bound to be long.

But then,

Creak-.

Suddenly, the doors leading to the Grand Hall were opened from within.

What? Why?

Not even 30 minutes had passed since her Lady entered. Who could have the audacity to leave so soon?

The only ones who were allowed to enter the Grand Hall were her Lady and the other candidates.

Could it be....

Lord Elden...?

Regrettably, it was as she feared.

The Grand Hall’s doors swung open as Elden Raphelion appeared.

Eek!

Recalling his severe ‘warning’ about not revealing his involvement, Marien hurriedly hid behind a column in the hallway.

But it was too late.

“......For you to be moving that quickly, it seems that your ankle has healed well.”

Elden’s tone was sharp.

Caught off guard by his appearance, Marien became flustered.

Her Lady, the protagonist of today’s events, was supposed to be the last one to enter, and the first to leave.

Stepping awkwardly into the hallway, Marien bowed.

“Ah... yes, yes. It’s completely healed, thank you. My lord.”

“Why are you thanking me? I was the reason you were injured in the first place.”

As she raised her head, Marien looked at Elden.

And,

...?

She spotted a wound on his right cheek.

Marien was certain that such a wound wasn’t there before.

Besides, some blood was flowing from the wound, indicating it was new.

Suddenly, a gut-wrenching feeling began to swell within her.

Marien wished to ask him, but she couldn’t.

“Well then.”

Elden walked away after leaving those words.

His strides were both brisk and resolute as if she would never see him again.

Marien didn’t know why, but she felt like those were his last steps in the Grand Duke’s palace.

So, if she didn’t act now, she might never get the chance.

Perhaps that’s why, after bracing herself, she called out to him.

“Excuse me, Lord Elden?”

He stopped and turned his head towards her.

Gathering the rest of her courage, Marien continued.

“May I inquire where you are heading now?”

It was a question without much context.

A question that could imply many things.

Marien blushed as she realized her impulsive question and she quickly opened her mouth to clarify things,

However, at that moment, Elden asked her something.

“You. Your name is Marien, right?”

“Ah? Y-Yes, My Lord...That is correct.”

“You broke your promise didn’t you?”

“...!”

Shiver-!

Marien’s fear exploded.

Despite his somewhat gentle tone and tranquil gaze, something about his presence made her feel small and threatened.

Just as she was about to plead guilty to a grave sin, the atmosphere shifted.

“As a consequence of breaking our promise, I should make one request to you.”

“Y-Yes?”

Marien was frightened, and upon hearing his ‘request’ her mind went blank and she stood rooted in her spot for a long while.

“Please take good care of Lumia.”

As he said this with a faint smile, Elden once again proceeded towards the end of the hallway.

His words had been loaded with as much implication and lack of context as her impulsive question.

What could he mean by them?

Was he implying something?

Was he omitting something?

The poor maid stood in the hallway, watching Elden push the doors open and step outside.

As he did so, a bright beam of sunlight enveloped him.

That confusing man disappeared amid the clusters of light.

Marien could only watch as the doors leading to the outside world closed.

Bang-.

**

Click-.

I left the Advisor’s office with a document bearing the Grand Duke’s seal which I carefully folded and tucked into my coat.

Gelwood had a look of profound regret, but unfortunately for him, my departure was predetermined.

Lumia’s stubbornness and obstinacy had only delayed the inevitable.

The Grand Ducal Betrothal had already spiraled into chaos and catastrophe, the original goal for the sacred custom was completely meaningless now.

In the original Novel, every single situation in the Contest would have been led by Lumia’s hand, and the authority over the event would have never shifted towards Gelwood.

There had never been a need for the Heroine to shed tears or cling to a particular contestant.

Regrettably for her, as an innocent man who became the scapegoat of this disaster, I could only resent the entity who forcefully transmigrated me into Elden’s body.

Please.

I sincerely prayed that she would be able to find her own happiness by the Grand Ducal Bethothal’s end.

I prayed that she would leave the past behind so that we may walk on our destined paths and live our own lives.

However...

The sight of Lumia’s collapsed form, her failing like a tragic heroine, the way her voice broke as she asked for me to consider her wounds as well...

Those things still bothered me.

But I’ve done enough.

While it may have been hard to comprehend, I’ve sincerely apologized and even hinted at my being a completely different person than the original Elden.

I even stoically endured her slap.

As an innocent salary man who possessed a Villainous character, I’ve done my utmost duty and responsibility.

Doing more than this would be unreasonable.

However, until the Betrothal ends, I must stay here.

Gelwood pleaded with me.

He didn’t ask me to participate in the evaluations, just to remain in the Grand Duchy until the end of the Betrothal.

Since one of the candidates had vanished, if another packed up and left during the Betrothal, the Grand Duchy’s honor and prestige would take a rather big blow.

Luckily for Gelwood, as a reasonable person, I agreed.

It wasn’t a difficult decision.

Because I planned to thoroughly enjoy the Monster Cuisine Festival while scouting for chefs.

Really, I had no reason to refuse Gelwood’s plea.

With a treaty marked by the Grand Duke’s seal secured, my freedom was guaranteed, so moving to an inn immediately after the Betrothal’s end would be a simple matter.

The restrictions preventing me from wandering the city in the evenings were also lifted, making it easy to escape the pressure cooker that was the evaluation site.

So, I left the Grand Castle.

The sky had darkened.

Thud-.

Plop-.

Plip-plop-.

Thick raindrops were failing.

I had successfully escaped that hell.

Even the rain seemed to celebrate this achievement.

It was at this moment that an old movie scene came to mind.

If I ever escaped prison, this was the one scene I wanted to reenact.

Just this once, it seemed fine to savor my joy.

Though I dearly wished to celebrate my freedom by standing shirtless in the rain like the movie’s protagonist, I refrained.

My public image had just begun to improve so doing such acts, while being incredibly cathartic, would make people mistake me for a madman.

But, just for a single moment, I knelt down.

Spreading my arms wide.

I closed my eyes and lifted my head to the sky.

With a happy expression, I opened my mouth.

I tried to taste each raindrop that fell on my face...

If only the rain hadn’t stopped so suddenly I could have achieved it...

Opening my eyes, I didn’t see the rainy sky, but an umbrella that Rendler was holding.

His face was beaming with pride.

“You may catch a cold if you stand in the rain, My Lord.”

............Sigh-.

I really wish I could show Rendler the greatness of ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.

**

I arrived in the annex accompanied by Rendler and Rachel.

Late though it was, the thought of sleep seemed a waste.

So, I had an idea.

“How about we celebrate this moment?”

“A party, My Lord? Hmm, I see. Since you are in quite good spirits, shall I call the maids here...”

“No. Just the three of us. What do you think?”

Drinking the sweet liquor of victory just by myself would be too depressing.

Today, I shall get wasted.

I wanted to drink a good cold beer until I felt ready to burst.

Since I already expected Rachel to refuse, I offered this to Randler, planning on at least having a toast with him.

After all, every time Elden Raphelion had invited Rachel for a toast, he had been ruthlessly refused.

But then,

“I’ll inform the other guards then.”

Rachel had unexpectedly agreed this time.

Surprised by this turn of events, I asked her.

“Oh? Really? And what could have made my teacher agree with her student’s idea?”

“...I’ll prepare and meet you in the reception room.”

With that said, Rachel was first to enter the annex through the front door.

I looked at Rendler.

He was almost vibrating from excitement.

......For some reason, he also seemed a bit tearful.

“My Lord...Do you truly wish to share a drink with me?”

“If you don’t want it then there’s no need.”

“How could that be, My Lord! Ever since I started serving your house...This is the first time anyone has invited me to share a drink...Sob...My heart is overwhelmed...Ah!”

This old man, he better not die from happiness.

“My heart is filled with joy, My Lord! I shall prepare the finest of drinks!”

“Bring the maids and you’ll be in trouble.”

Rendler, who was ready to dash off, paused at my warning and asked me in a hesitant tone.

“...Not even a single one, My Lord?”

......This old man wants to play, huh?

I would prefer to etch ‘Death by Overindulgence’ rather than ‘Death by Snusnu’ on his tombstone, but I didn’t want to disturb those enjoying a peaceful night.

Seeing my expression, Randler quickly took his leave without another word.

Heh-.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I started walking towards the entrance.

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Yes,

Tonight I will drink to my victory.

With that thought, I changed clothes and headed to the reception room,

...Only to find myself the next morning sleeping curled up in a corner of the room.

A soft blanket - that certainly wasn’t here before - was wrapped around me.

“Hmm?”

Then,

“......”

Rendler was lying on the sofa, utterly unconscious.

Perhaps because of the cold, a steady stream of mucus flowed from his nose.

And...Rachel was nowhere to be seen.

I,

Remembered drinking quite a bit.

....Ah-chooo-!

A single sneeze announced the arrival of a new dawn.

Hm....

What the hell happened?