Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 88: A Fierce Evening

“It’s only natural for females to be attracted to strong males, isn’t it?”

Rachel’s words left Ariel frozen in shock.

For an innocent lady like Ariel, such words were difficult to comprehend.

Males and Females.

She hadn’t expected words based on reproductive urges.

At least in her mind, such words were only used to describe animals.

The only time she’d encountered these words applied to humans was in a novel called [A Lady’s Equestrian Pursuits],  which she’d been tricked into reading by its misleading cover and title.

She had expected a touching story about a woman and a horse.

But Ariel read it, she started feeling a strange sense of discomfort as the characters in the novel kept referring to the Heroine as a vulgar ‘female’.

......And then when the Heroine engaged in mating acts with a...horse...

Ariel threw the book away, horrified.

But now, the innocent bookworm looked at Rachel with incomprehension, lowering her arms from her hips.

Nevertheless.

She had gotten an answer to her question.

Though startled by the terms ‘female’ and ‘male’, she understood the underlying meaning.

Different people are attracted to different aspects of the opposite sex, and preferences should be respected.

Above all, it was an objective fact that Elden Raphelion was a...strong and...handsome man...

However, she felt uneasy that Rachel’s feminine charms seemed a step above her own.

She was a formidable opponent.

Of course, having somewhat anticipated Rachel’s feelings, she had no intention of feeling defeated or giving up prematurely.

During Ariel’s whole life, she had been considerate.

She lived by sharing what she had, and giving up things for the sake of others.

The young lady always put the needs of others above her own.

While she couldn’t be sure of Elden’s feelings, even if he favored Rachel over her, Ariel didn’t want to back down on this.

No.

Now that she confirmed the existence of a Rival(?), it was time to stop being so passive and realize all the things she dreamed of doing, or wrote about.

She had enough of giving up what she wanted, sharing what she had, and being considerate of others.

Though Ariel intended to continue living as a good person, she had decided to be selfish about something she wanted just this once.

So, wiping away her flustered expression, she opened her lips.

“So, you came to like Elden because he’s strong?”

Sadly, Ariel wasn’t accustomed to being this direct as she blushed and became flustered once more.

“Indeed. Don’t you also admire Lord Elden, Lady Ariel?”

“W-What...?!”

At Rachel’s nonchalant question, Ariel’s eyes widened.

Her plump crimson lips parted in shock.

It was natural for Ariel to be surprised, as she had prided herself on perfectly hiding her affection, fearing it might burden Elden.

When a secret is exposed, it’s natural for Humans to try and deny it.

Naturally, that was also Ariel’s first reaction, but thinking that doing so would be akin to admitting defeat, she forcefully composed herself.

“H-How did you know...?”

“...I believe that aside from My Lord...Everyone already noticed, Lady Ariel.”

“...Was it that obvious?”

“Yes.”

“S-Since when...”

“I realized it about 5 months ago.”

“......”

Five months.

This meant that from the moment Ariel said she would write a book about Elden in the Lundgren Duchy, Rachel noticed her feelings.

The embarrassment and shame of thinking she had been hiding it well all this time came rushing back, but one question overcame those feelings.

Why...

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It was not my place to say anything, Lady Ariel...And I also didn’t have anything particular to say about it.”

Then.

“Why are you telling me now?”

Rachel paused briefly at the question.

The stoic Knight carefully considered her next words as she wished to convey them respectfully.

Even if they had officially become romantic rivals, Ariel Elrond was a charming and lovable lady, unlike all the other noblewomen.

Moreover, she possessed charms and graces opposite to her own, even inspiring envy for what she lacked.

The reason she had remained silent despite knowing they harbored feelings for the same person wasn’t out of disregard for her competitor.

“It’s just that I’m not the type to initiate conflict.”

Although Rachel had fought her whole life, she never fought because she enjoyed it.

She never shied away from a fight that came to her, but she had never been the one to throw the first punch, and that’s why she had remained silent.

As always,

Just like those days when she dived head first into the battlefield waiting for the enemy to come,

And now,

Ariel had ‘stepped’ on their new ‘battlefield’, and Rachel had responded accordingly, just like during those days.

Of course, unlike that time, there wasn’t any need to trade blows or to initiate a dance filled with steel and blood.

The contest starting now would be one of hearts, not of might.

...That was where the problem resided, as both the Stoic Knight and the Innocent Bookworm were clumsy with matters of the heart.

And naturally, a fight between two clumsy individuals was bound to become childish.

“Were you that...confident...?”

“Nothing of the sort, My Lady. I merely spent a long time by my Lord’s side, and we have a ‘special’ relationship as Teacher and Student.”

“Hmph. Well, I attended the academy with Elden! We were even ‘classmates’.”

Though there was a generous 6-year gap engrained in such a ‘classmate’ relationship, Ariel thought it was enough to boast about, empathizing it with a proud expression.

However, Rachel’s next words pierced her heart like vicious daggers.

“Hmm...From what I understand, My Lady, weren’t you just acquaintances who never exchanged words during those three years at the Academy?”

“Ack! W-Well...T-Thats not the point!... What I’m trying to say is that I’ve known Elden for much longer than you!”

“I believe I know my Lord the best. Since mutual understanding is paramount for a good Teacher-Student relationship.”

Just like that, Ariel and Rachel continued their ‘battle’.

Both tried to emphasize their own advantages.

To an outsider, it would have seemed an incredibly childish argument, but to them, it was as serious as could be.

After all, the momentum of the first round could determine the final outcome.

In that sense, Rachel tried to gain the upper hand by focusing on their ‘teacher-student relationship’.

But Ariel’s defense left her at a loss for words.

“But I, as the ‘author’ of Elden’s biography, know everything from his past to his detailed preferences, even the future he desires.”

“......”

Indeed, the information gained through sparring and training paled in comparison to what was obtained through months of intimate interviews.

Backed into a corner, Rachel decided to use her final weapon...One that until minutes ago was a rather ‘shameful’ memory for her.

“And I have enjoyed a mixed bath with my Lord. It was a rather...’Steamy’...event.”

Of course, Ariel, who had decided to be selfish about what she wanted, didn’t back down either, trying hard to erase the grand(?) image that involuntarily came to mind.

“Well, I spent ‘all night’ in Elden’s embrace!”

“...”

Once again, Rachel was speechless.

Even to herself, spending a cold night in an embrace - though without exposing skin - seemed to outweigh the unintentional strip show(?) in front of her desired partner.

Finally.

“I’ve shown him my naked body.”

Rachel fully weaponized her shame.

She had revealed the impropriety she had committed as a pure woman.

Ariel’s face turned bright red as she recalled what she had peeked at, followed by Rachel’s face also turning crimson, to the point where one might wonder who this fight was really for.

“...!”

“!”

But the battle that had begun couldn’t be stopped, so Ariel questioned Rachel with a flushed face.

“D-Don’t tell me it was intentional?”

And to that question, Rachel immediately answered with an equally red face, even stammering.

“Y-Yes.”

It wasn’t.

It wasn’t intentional.

It was clearly a mistake, but Rachel unknowingly admitted it was intentional.

While it was an overreach born from her desire to win this love contest, for some reason she felt she had to acknowledge it, and her face turned even redder as she answered.

It was as red as a ripe apple, and the same was true for Ariel.

The two warriors, having started this themselves, were now both flustered and restless.

Finally.

“T-That’s too shameless...!!”

With Ariel’s cry, her face as red as if steam might burst from the top of her head, the first engagement of their love battle ended in a draw.

**

[Then...I’ll go downstairs to prepare dinner.]

“That sounds lovely...Erenscia. If you need any help, just let me know.”

[Don’t worry. I can handle this much on my own now.]

Although her previous skeletal frame had been filling out nicely, Lumia’s condition wasn’t perfect yet.

Concerned that meal preparation might be too burdensome, I tried to dissuade her a few times, but Lumia adamantly refused and went down to prepare dinner.

After drying my body and hair and changing into comfortable clothes, I went downstairs to find the first floor filled with mouth-watering aromas.

“Wow... Did you prepare all this by yourself?”

The kitchen table was laden with a feast fit for a King.

I’m not joking here.

And all made from monster cuisine, no less.

[I had prepared some things in advance, so it didn’t take long.]

It was truly a Royal course with 32 side dishes.

I’m not making this up.

I couldn’t fathom how she managed to prepare all these dishes alone, and I sat down as if entranced.

Three more dishes followed, and everyone couldn’t help but marvel at the banquet that threatened to make the table legs not just bend, but collapse entirely.

“Ho ho. Seeing this last supper, it seems my time has come...”

Even Rendler made a senseless joke.

“Unbelievable... How did you prepare all this alone?”

Ariel could only express her admiration for Lumia’s cooking skills.

“...There won’t be a punishment in case there are leftovers...right, Your Grace?”

As expected of a serious(broke) Knight, Rachel adopted a cautious approach.

That was how our royal feast (dinner) began.

But...

Something wasn’t right.

“Elden~ Here try this...It looks delicious...Hehehe”

“......This looks more appetizing, My Lord, please have some.”

[Elden? Would like a bite from this?]

One by one, perfectly prepared dishes gathered on my plate.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

Umm...

W-Why is everyone acting like this?

Are they passing it to me because they can’t eat it all?