Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 51: New Expectations

“Ephisa did seem quite pitiful. She did her best as a porter but ended up being captured and sacrificed by the demon king’s army.”

“Right? I teared up a bit when she died.”

“At least she was able to make a grand exit, which is somewhat comforting.”

“Hm, Hm! Thanks to Ephisa’s sacrifice, they were able to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, hehe-.”

Since this morning, a fierce literary battle has been ongoing.

Ariel’s smile was particularly dazzling today, perhaps it was because we’ve been together since the Library opened.

And seeing her smile, I couldn’t help but share her joy as well.

After all, if a benefactor rejoices, those who consistently receive help should rightly feel joy as well.

“Shall we stop for a meal?”

“Yes!”

Just like that, when it was lunchtime, we stepped out of the Southern Gate of the Grand Duchy’s Palace.

To avoid provoking Lumia’s wrath, we decided to avoid eating in the Great Hall.

Just in case.

Moreover, Lumia had already exploited Ariel before.

Thankfully, Ariel agreed with my plan of avoiding further problems until we were out of the Grand Duchy with a joyful response.

“It’s okay! I’m not bothered!”

Regardless,

With my withdrawal officially approved, and having acquired pardon for the Original’s sins, it’s uncertain what Lumia’s next move might be.

At this point, she should realize that throwing the same net to catch a slippery eel was futile, but it is still necessary to be cautious of unforeseen situations.

What began with a dramatic declaration of withdrawal,

Piqued her curiosity, giving birth to suspicion, coupled with her misdirected thirst for knowledge that went unresolved, spawned a twisted obsession.

Therefore, it was clear to me that Lumia was showing evident signs of mental instability.

Had it not been for Gelwood’s desperate plea, I would have left these Northern Lands in the dust immediately.

But one couldn’t ignore that every escape attempt would further deteriorate Lumia’s mental health, and risk ruining the biggest Festival in the North, the Grand Ducal Betrothal.

Hence, staying was the only option, despite the desperation in that request.

While I understood Lumia’s thirst for revenge, as someone who only read the free Chapters, I lack the knowledge of future events, leaving me with only one choice.

Fleeing from the terror of the unknown.

Delaying my actions to predict future events would be a mistake,

As well as attempting to exploit the ‘plot holes’ left in the Original Novel.

If I wasted my time with those things, I might very well become trapped in her net by then.

Dodging the baits thrown my way was necessary, and if that disrupted Lumia’s plans, then so be it.

I refuse to live another life of paying for debts I never incurred.

While I don’t know how things may have progressed in the Novel,

Even if Elden Raphelion ends up going through the ‘washing machine’ process, at let’s say, 5,000 RPM, and by some miracle finds a happy ending with the Main Heroine, that ending has nothing to do with me.

What a modern man like me who has been suddenly transmigrated seeks is not to be trapped by the chains of status and heritage, but to pursue freedom and chase a man’s romance.

Thus, it was better to remain cautious for the time being.

If I suddenly start flaunting my newly acquired freedom, it might undermine the sincerity of the words I uttered to the Heroine and insult her hopes for happiness at the end of the Grand Ducal Betrothal.

Since Lumia and I are inherently incompatible, and our interactions only bring misfortune, it’s better if we walk separate paths.

After walking for a moment, we arrived at a restaurant near the Southern Gate of the Grand Palace.

The choice of the establishment was a win-win situation, satisfying everyone - Ariel who had never tasted monster cuisine before, and I, a hungry gourmet eager to try new dishes.

**

“I didn’t know you liked monster cuisine. That’s quite unexpected.”

“Well, it is quite delicious.”

“Really?”

While Ariel had ordered a regular dish, Rachel and I opted for ordering dishes made from monsters.

This medieval restaurant, unlike its modern counterpart, didn’t have an extensive menu, which thankfully made choosing easier.

Today’s special was,

[Grilled Emerald Lizard Tail]

While I’m not sure how such a creature would be classified in my old world, here, this monster was categorized as an amphibian.

The was a monster known for its greenish skin, a long and thick tail, and only two legs.

Ariel had ordered a normal(?) stew, and Rachel opted for the [ Emerald Lizard’s Tongue ].

While Rachel assured me the tongue was a delicacy, the prospect of eating a monster’s tongue required a bit more mental preparation on my part, so we compromised on sharing a single bite from each other’s dishes.

Shortly after,

The ordered dishes arrived.

The thick tail had been grilled until parts of the green skin crackled, maybe to ensure it was well-cooked inside, there were also some vibrant spices sprinkled in between the cuts to enhance the flavor.

Undoubtedly, the color and appearance might not be appealing, but the nutty aroma combined with the sharp scent of spices made me salivate.

With a loud gulp, I took a large bite.

“Um.”

Although a bit tough, the spices mixed well, and the taste was indeed excellent.

Visit freewёbnoνel.com for the best novel reading experience.

Nodding continuously as I savored it, I frowned slightly before tearing off another big chunk of meat.

“Um. Hmm.”

It might look a bit off in color,

But the chewy texture of the skin is certainly great.

“...Is it that good?”

Seemingly fascinated, Ariel asked me.

Apparently, her first encounter with monster cuisine was quite the spectacle, as her spoon hung suspended in mid-air, untouched.

“It’s excellent. Want to try a bite?”

I offered to share a thinly sliced piece of the meat, but Ariel recoiled and waved her hands.

“N-No, Thank you.”

“Have you ever tried it before?”

“No...My Father says eating monsters will dirty our blood......”

Ariel lowered her tone as she spoke, perhaps concerned others might hear.

That was a very medieval-like mindset indeed.

No matter the origin of the meat, once digested, the nutrients will be the same.

To miss out on this rich and varied flavor because of mistaken beliefs would be like losing half of life’s experiences.

“Really?”

If that’s the case, then there’s nothing to be done.

As I popped another piece in my mouth, Rachel, who was sitting next to Ariel, placed a thinly sliced piece of the grilled tongue on my plate.

“The tip is especially delicious. Please, have a taste.”

The tip is a small part that couldn’t be shared.

To think she would give up on such a precious piece to me.

This student is overwhelmed by the sudden kindness of his Teacher.

“Thank you.”

“Mn.”

Perhaps because it was thinly sliced and grilled, it looked no different from ordinary grilled meat at first glance.

I picked it up and tossed it into my mouth.

Munch, Munch, Chew-.

Soft yet tough in texture, the more I chewed, the more juice was released, rich and nutty like sesame oil.

“Does it suit your taste?”

“It’s delicious. Quite a unique texture, isn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s why it’s considered a delicacy. It’s rare since the creature is only found deep in the dungeons, and it’s popular among the middle-aged because it’s rumored to be good for vigor.”

Indeed, the human palate is a magnificent thing.

If there’s a claim that something is good for the body, humans won’t stop consuming it until the source is exhausted.

After giving this poor lizard’s race my condolences, I tore another piece of the grilled tail and placed it on Rachel’s plate.

“What goes around comes around. You should try some of the tail too.”

“Thank you.”

Now that the sharing has concluded, it’s time to dig in.

As I reached for the grilled tail to tear off another big piece,

Something occurred.

“I-I want to try it too!”

Ariel, who didn’t even touch her stew declared as she pushed her plate towards me.

“Huh?”

“T-That...I want to try the tail too. S-so, if you give me a piece I’ll share some of my stew with you too.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s not that I never ate monster meat because my Father said so, but because I’ve never had a reason to try it. A-and since it’s my first time eating in a place like this....I want to try it.”

“...Is that so?”

Although I wasn’t sure what prompted her sudden interest in monster cuisine, I was never someone to deny sharing good food with friends - Even if I rarely met my meager friends in my past life.

Tearing off a piece of the tail, I placed it on Ariel’s plate.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

Ariel reached for the place as she stared at the Emerald Lizard’s tail for a moment.

It wouldn’t be easy.

For a young lady of a noble house, raised amid countless luxuries, this greenish tail of the Emerald Lizard might seem more like a revolting thing than a tempting dish.

Yum-.

As if demonstrating to her how it’s done, I tore off a piece and popped it into my mouth.

And then,

Chomp-!

With her eyes tightly shut, Ariel gingerly placed the meat into her mouth and began to chew.

Then, she shuddered, as if a chill had run down her spine.

......Was that fearful preparation really necessary?

Jolt-!

Ariel’s eyes shot wide open.

Her pupils widened in astonishment as her initial disgust seemed to disappear.

Her shoulders, previously tense with fear, relaxed.

All the while, she kept chewing on the grilled tail.

Covering her mouth, she looked surprised.

“W-What is this?”

I couldn’t help but smile,

That was the look of someone’s horizons being expanded.

“It’s tasty, isn’t it?”

“Wh-What is this?! How is it so good?”

Well,

“It’s bound to be delicious.”

“C-Can I have another bite?”

“Of course.”

As I tore off another substantial piece of the grilled tail and placed it in Ariel’s place, she quickly snatched it and ate it.

Her eyes, growing wider with each bite, clearly reflected her newfound wonder.

“T-This....It’s shoo good....”

Thus, our lunch progressed pleasantly like a midsummer afternoon.

Alongside the newly born gourmet who had just discovered a new world of flavor.

“Shall I serve you a piece of the tongue, Lady Ariel?”

“Ah....Hahaha, I’m not ready to eat a monster’s tongue yet...”

However, it was clear that this young gourmet still had much to learn.

**

Ariel patted her belly as she left the restaurant.

The first taste of monster cuisine had been truly a strange yet tantalizing experience.

And indeed, it was delicious.

So much so that she wanted to eat it again.

Of course, this would need to be kept a secret from her father.

As they passed through the Southern gate, entering the Grand Palace, the trio stood at the crossroads leading to the Library and the training grounds.

“Elden! Train Hard!”

“I will. See you tomorrow, Ariel.”

Elden then headed towards the training grounds with Knight Rachel, while a strange sense of loneliness gripped Ariel’s heart as she returned to the library alone.

Knowing the spot across from her would be empty until tomorrow made her heart ache, but she still wished Elden would have a good afternoon while hoping that he would come early tomorrow as well......

But then,

“Elden!”

Her mouth uttered his name on its own.

“Hm?”

Why had she called him?

Why did her traitorous lips seem silent after doing so?

And, why did it feel so right to have called him?

She couldn’t know.

Ariel hid her hands behind her back as her fingers twitched nervously.

She lifted and lowered her feet, swaying slightly.

Her skirt fluttered as she bounced on her feet.

“Now that I think about it, you said it’s now possible to go out in the evenings, right?”

“Indeed, since I’m no longer a candidate, it’s possible.”

“So......Would you like to come to my quarters after your training?”

“Why?”

“Ah...I, I want to throw a celebratory party for you!”

It must be because of the strong sunlight.

That her lips were so dry.

It must be because of the strong sunlight.

The heat felt so intense.

It must be because of the strong sunlight.

That she felt as if her insides were burning.

Of course,

Despite her woes, Elden simply looked at her and agreed.

“I’ll shower and come after training.”

“Ah, Okayy!”

Then, Elden walked away.

Now, it was her turn to head to the Library.

However, Ariel suddenly turned around and began running towards her quarters.

The anticipation of an evening party was more thrilling than an afternoon spent alone in a library.

Since Ariel had never gone to a formal party nor had she tasted alcohol before, that anticipation was born not of a fear of the unknown, but of something the young lady couldn’t recognize yet.

Tadadadadat!

Her escort, who assumed she would head to the Library, hurriedly chased after her.

Then, after a few minutes,

“My Lady, who did you invite?”

“Elden Raphelion!”

“What?!”

Suddenly, Ariel’s words created an unprecedented commotion for her servants, who now knew that the famous Wastrel, the notorious Barbarian, Elden Raphelion would visit them tonight.