Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 55: The Warmth of a Tipsy Night (1)

Heading towards the Northern Gate to visit Ariel’s residence, I encountered Lumia reaching for the sky.

She was extending her hand towards the empty air, head tilted upwards.

Her left hand opened and closed as if grasping at something invisible.

And that hand was wrapped in several thin bandages.

“......”

It was a somewhat eerie sight to see a person standing still on the street, stirring the air as if time moved slower around her.

Moreover,

She looked to be in a bad state.

Her cheek was slightly bruised, her left hand was wrapped in bandages and her blank eyes were directed towards the sky as she smiled faintly.

What could possibly happen to leave her in this state?

What had she experienced to have such a haunted look?

I couldn’t know.

But from what I could see, it felt like something in her broke.

As if a cord had been abruptly severed.

As if she had given up on everything.

Lumia continued to behave this way for a few minutes, and then she lowered her hands and head.

Her eyes, which had lost their focus, now shifted to me.

They were no longer filled with anger or resentment.

The once vibrant blue orbs were now empty and resigned.

“...What are you doing?”

I questioned her,

What was she doing here in the middle of the night?

Why was she waving her hands in the air?

What exactly happened to her?

For some reason, I couldn’t ignore her.

Even though I had already washed my hands clean from all this nonsense, my voice was tinged with concern.

“I...Was...Watching the clouds...”

Lumia’s tone was dull as if she hadn’t slept for days.

It was hard to believe that the wrathful woman had been reduced to this in a span of a day.

“Your hand, what happened to it?”

I asked, looking at her bandaged left hand.

And then,

“...You harmed yourself?”

Another unbelievable tale came out of her mouth.

She then confessed that the same nails that scratched my cheek dug into her palm until it bled.

“...Your wound...It’s healed, isn’t it?”

Lumia stared at my cheek, her expression a mix of surprise and bafflement.

Ah, so she noticed how my wound had healed thanks to Rachel’s ointment.

“Yes.”

Strangely, my answer caused Lumia’s lips to twist into a faint but dazzling smile.

I wanted to ask why she looked happy to hear that.

“That’s good...”

What were you glad about?

Was she relieved that the traces of violence she impulsively inflicted were gone?

Or was she hopeful that just as my wound healed, her fractured beliefs would also have a chance to be mended?

An encounter that began with a question also left behind many more doubts, and I was somewhat content to leave it at that.

“I...Should go...”

Unlike the past days at the academy where Elden had walked past her, this time it was Lumia who walked past me.

“Third Northern Duchess.”

And then.

For the first time since I transmigrated, I called out to her.

I had never regretted the unjust deeds done before I took over this body.

Not now,

Not ever.

I wanted no part in the disaster those deeds caused, nor did I want to shoulder the blame for things I’ve never done.

Also, I had no desire to sympathize or pity the Heroine’s condition.

However,

“Take this. It will prevent your wound from scarring.”

I wasn’t the type of man to hoard what I could give to others.

I refused to become a miser who never forgets even the smallest of grudges.

More so, unlike the past when I had nothing to give, now I had something and could afford a modest generosity.

The circumstances had changed from those days when I had to avoid and turn away from such things; this time I could help someone.

Therefore,

When Lumia hesitated to accept my gift, I placed Rachel’s ointment in her hands and walked towards the Northern Gate.

A few minutes after this happened,

A light rain fell from the night sky, dampening the Cold Northern Lands.

“Sigh. What’s up with this sudden rain? Let’s hurry, Rachel.”

“Yes.”

We couldn’t be late for Ariel’s party after all.

**

“Everyone, gather up-!”

“””Yes!”””

As the light rain graced the night, an emergency meeting was being held in Ariel’s lodgings as the servants prepared for the arrival of an imminent guest.

Moreover, the servants decided to host the best party ever, in honor of the first friend their Lady had ever invited.

The only problem was the guest’s infamous reputation.

“That’s not really necessary, you know? Elden isn’t a bad person.”

Ariel tried her best to ease up the servants’ nerves.

She worried that their peaceful night had been ruined by inviting Elden.

“I’m serious, there’s no need to be scared of him. Elden has changed, it’s true...!”

“Make sure everything is properly set up! The temperature of the dishes and the arrangement of the utensils must be perfect!”

“””Yes!”””

“Why? Why are you all doing this? He’s not the person the rumors say he is.”

“Guards! I need all of you on high alert until this party is concluded!”

“””Yes!”””

Guilty for causing her servants and guards such a headache, Ariel hustled about trying to convince them, but her words fell on deaf ears.

She almost wanted to cancel the party.

“Sigh...”

He wasn’t the old Elden anymore.

He had become a fine man, more impressive than anyone.

There was absolutely no need to be afraid.

Yet, it was frustrating and somewhat sad for Ariel that the servants still saw Elden as a figure of terror.

But she understood them.

How could they believe in the transformation of the man once known as a Wastrel when they hadn’t witnessed it themselves?

It was just regrettable that her precious friend’s efforts were undermined.

Eventually,

Ariel gave up as she entered the closet with her handmaiden.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she partook in a party.

Although Ariel had definitely attended parties when she was a child...she had never had much interest in them, so she couldn’t recall what the standard procedure was.

For a young girl who found no necessity in socializing and preferred reading books, parties were just a waste of time.

As such,

“Do I really need to dress up or use makeup? This is just a simple meal with my friend, isn’t it?”

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Ariel always considered the noblewoman’s etiquette cumbersome, however, her handmaiden was adamant.

“If you are holding a party, My Lady, wouldn’t it bring shame to the Elrond name if you don’t even present yourself in a respectful manner?”

“T-That’s true, but....”

She hadn’t planned to go to such lengths.

Why was everyone making such a fuss?

Ultimately, Ariel was led by her maid to wear a dress after a long time.

It was a red dress that matched well with her blonde hair.

With a neckline plunging to just above her chest and adorned with wave-like lace at the top, Ariel shyly adjusted her hair in front of a full-length mirror.

The back of the dress was cut down just below the shoulder blades, making it appear almost scandalous.

“I-Isn’t this a bit too much...?”

“Too much? My Lady, this is the current fashion! You know how important parties are for a noble. Lord Elden will probably be wearing a splendid suit!”

“A...Splendid suit...?”

“Indeed, My Lady! Now, just imagine the embarrassment you would feel if Lord Elden arrived and found you in shabby attire!”

Shiver-!

Ariel’s handmaiden trembled with a horrible expression.

But Ariel herself looked puzzled by her words.

Elden in a suit...?

Since Elden always wore casual attire, she couldn’t imagine him in formal clothing.

After all, they had always met on days without official events from the Betrothal, or after such occasions had already been concluded.

What would Elden look like in formal attire?

Suddenly Ariel had grown very curious as she awaited his arrival.

And when he came, she rushed to meet him and froze.

“Elden! Welcome! ...Oh?”

Because a beautiful woman stood beside him.

A woman wearing a dress with the same color as hers.

It was Rachel, who normally wore the stiff Knight’s uniform. But now, her current attire captured the gazes of many.

Moreover, her usual ponytail was nowhere to be seen, as her hair was set down.

As she looked at such a beautiful figure, Ariel was relieved to also be wearing a more feminine dress.

“It’s an honor to be invited, Lady Ariel.”

When Rachel greeted her, a strange sensation bubbled within Ariel’s heart.

Was it because the duo appeared to be in such a perfect sync?

Or maybe it was because Rachel was also wearing a red dress?

Despite the jealousy that bubbled within her heart, Ariel greeted them with a bright smile.

“Of course, you’re always welcome here, Dame Rachel.”

As such,

The party began.

**

Ariel, Elden, and Rachel were seated at a round table precisely 120 degrees apart from each other.

“Thank you for inviting us, Ariel.”

“Tehehe~ Of course!”

“This dress suits you, it’s very beautiful.”

Blush-!

Ariel’s face turned into such a deep shade of red that not even her makeup could mask it.

She fiddled with the laces of her dress.

Ariel was, naturally, very weak to such compliments.

“Y-Your suit is very g-good too...”

“Really? That’s good. I did put some thought into it.”

Compliments were exchanged, and soon, the table was laden with drinks and food.

Then, noticing something on the table, Elden asked with a surprised expression.

“Is that monster meat?”

“Ah. You like it, so I told them to prepare some.”

If the servants weren’t around to hear her, Ariel would have admitted that she also found such dishes delicious.

Swallowing her words, Ariel lifted her glass.

It was filled with a deep purple wine.

Following the instructions of her handmaiden, Ariel, as the host, should make the first toast.

“Shall we toast?”

“Sounds good.”

The table was too wide for their glasses to clink, so they lifted their glasses to face level to toast.

Gulp, gulp.

Elden and Rachel drank the wine without hesitation.

But Ariel looked at her glass and faltered for a moment.

Truth be told, she had never tasted alcohol before.

Thud-.

The glass was placed on the table, and as Ariel noticed Rachel’s empty glass, she steeled herself.

Overcome with a peculiar sense of urgency, Ariel closed her eyes and drank the wine.

Gulp-.

Gulp-.

Huh?

Her eyes opened.

The taste wasn’t so bad.

Just as the first time she ate monster meat, the first sip of wine wasn’t that bad either.

Ariel didn’t know if this wine could be considered a ‘good’ one, but she quite enjoyed the sweet and sour notes of the wine.

Thus,

Thud-.

“Huh....It’s...It’s not that bad...?”

Ariel exhaled deeply, letting out the rich aroma of wine with her breath as she set down her empty glass.

Then, with proud eyes, she looked at the empty glass and thought.

Heh, Maybe I have a talent for drinking....?

A while later,

“Tehehehe, Imm getting ish tipsy.”

Her speech began to slur.