Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 92: Where Everything Began (2)

The marriage customs of noble houses can be divided into three categories.

1 - Strategic ones are to maintain current ties, marriage by contract, or for benefits between families.

2 - Arranged marriages to form new connections between noble houses.

3 - And lastly, the famed true love marriage.

In this Romance Fantasy world, these three types of marriages were commonplace.

Strategic marriages don’t involve a prior betrothal.

They simply follow a predeterminate arrangement.

Now, since Anna introduced herself as a ‘betrothal candidate’ rather than my ‘fiancee’ suggested either a contractual marriage or an ordinary one.

Through her behavior clearly pointed towards the former.

Contractual marriage...

The Original Elden and Anna were set for an inter-family marriage and had a prior betrothal meeting.

In this meeting, Elden insulted her, saying she was ‘Too ugly for him’.

While one might think such behavior was rather stupid, considering that actions like this could ruin relations between noble houses...Then you’d be absolutely right...However...The original Elden was a madman, so of course he would pull something like this.

But...

...Is that face considered ugly...?

I couldn’t comprehend how anyone could call Anne ugly.

Objectively and subjectively speaking, she was a beautiful woman.

She exuded the elegance and refinement befitting a noble lady.

Though her personality seemed quite rough in contrast to her appearance.

Perhaps back then, the Original was so engrossed in debauchery that he had no interest in having relations with a single woman.

So, he cut her off completely.

The problem was that the aftermath had now reached me.

Luckily for me, it seems that Anna’s anger hadn’t developed into the usual love/hate troup of most novels, so I could simply forget about this encounter altogether.

She didn’t seem the type to dwell on the past either.

Moreover, with her important task of investigating dark magic reportings, she likely had no time for old grievances.

Even now, she appeared to be patrolling the streets for her investigation.

Speaking of dark magic.

The mention of how such a thing - usually wielded by the ‘Villain’- stood in contrast with the ‘holy’ magic.

But given that this information came from someone with whom I had a troubled past, I decided to curb my curiosity for now.

“You know, I heard some interesting things about you. People say you made it into the final candidates of the Grand Ducal Betrothal.”

“I was lucky.”

“Is that so? Imagine my surprise when I heard such a tale, after all, who would want a Wastrel like you as a Finalist?”

“As you can imagine, I was there simply to fill the remaining slot.”

“Even that would be a great honor for someone like you, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, I can’t deny that.”

While she may not harbor a grudge, she is certainly bitter about the past.

The joy and delight mixed in her ambiguous smile might have been due to finally getting a chance to vent.

Of course, I could now easily handle this level of criticism and mockery, so I had no intention of avoiding or deflecting her venting.

I was at least willing to accept her frustrations.

My promise to Lumia demanded nothing less, after all.

Above all, this was nothing compared to the humiliation she must have endured back then.

Being told, “I don’t like you because you’re ugly,” to her face must have been the ultimate insult for a noble lady who takes pride in her appearance.

For someone with any complexes about their looks, it could have been a lifelong wound, such was the severity of the insult.

The fact that she’s spewing her venom on me immediately after we met, even after years have passed, means that the label of a noblewoman ‘rejected for being too ugly’ must have tormented her quite a bit.

Her contemptuous remarks, despite our lack of close acquaintance, must also stem from past hatred.

If so, this might be for the best.

I thought it would be a good thing if I could alleviate a woman’s resentment through this chance encounter in this vast land if I could fulfill the promise I made to Lumia.

So...

“I’m truly sorry for what happened then.”

I offered a sincere apology.

On behalf of the villain who was now gone from this world.

“......What?”

“Please forgive me for the outrageous words I spoke to someone as beautiful as yourself.”

“...”

At this apology, Anna furrowed her brow.

The wrinkles on her forehead conveyed confusion rather than contempt.

“You’re...Sorry...?”

“Yes. I must have been out of my mind back then. If you were offended, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize.”

I bowed my head respectfully.

I didn’t know the depth of her wounds, nor if her words about being grateful for breaking off the betrothal were sincere, but this was my best attempt at an apology.

All I could do was hope for lenience over the Villain’s misdeeds, and pray that her wounds wouldn’t reopen.

Though it might be a belated apology, I sincerely put my heart into it, hoping to wash away at least some of the past stains.

However, Anna, who had been staring at me intently, lowered her arms and smirked again.

“Well, this was unexpected.”

“......?”

“Never in my wildest dreams, I thought I would receive an apology from you that easily.”

“I’m trying to live differently from before.”

“Congratulations then. You certainly seem different. I always believed you were the type who only knew how to crush others, never apologizing to them.”

“...I was, once.”

“Hah...Right...That’s enough.”

“Pardon?”

“I said that’s enough about the apology.”

What’s with this development?

Why is she so cool about it?

I thought her resentment was deep enough to hurl insults right after meeting ‘Elden’ after all these years.

So, I was clearly taken aback by her forgiveness.

Of course, I would soon realize that there’s no such thing as mercy without a price.

“You know...For a long while, I couldn’t even go out because of my ‘Ugly’ appearance.”

***“I lost a lot of sleep after I was insulted by a good-for-nothing I didn’t even want.”

......Hmm.

“I may have become the laughingstock of aristocratic society for years after that...”

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Should...Should I get on my knees...?

“And now...Just when I was finally forgetting about all those terrible years...Guess who shows up before me, kindly reminding me of all that humiliation?”

......I must admit, this was worse than I’d thought.

Just as I was thinking this might not be easy, another twist came.

“But your apology is enough.”

“???”

“In any case, I suppose all of my past suffering is better than living with you.”

“......”

I can certainly say now, that I understood why people say that one can insult someone without uttering a single curse.

If there was a rank grading people’s ability to insult others, then Anna would probably be at the top.

Anyway, if I could receive leniency with this level of criticism, that would suffice.

“Does that mean you forgive me?”

With that, I intended to end this brief reflection on our chance reunion and return to my lodgings.

However...

“Are you truly sorry for all you made me go through?”

A wicked gleam shone in Anna’s eyes.

That...Didn’t look good for me, but I had no choice but to nod at her question.

“Yes.”

“Then would you help me with something?”

“Pardon?”

“I need to install some dark magic detection devices, but as you know, the Grand Duchy is a vast place, and the Magic Association is too understaffed to spare more personnel for this.”

Hmm...

So she’s saying the apology isn’t necessary, but if I want forgiveness, I should help with her work.

“It’s for the greater good, you know? If someone is tinkering with Dark Magic, it could become a huge problem for the Grand Duchy. The user could go berserk.”

“......If it’s such a huge deal, why don’t you ask the Grand Duke for help rather than me?”

“You would think so, wouldn’t you? Sadly, however, the chairman really hates raising up a fuss when this could be just rumors.”

Not asking for help in a matter that could involve people’s lives because he’s afraid of being embarrassed should the rumors be false?

That crazy chairman is really putting his prestige over the citizen’s safety?

Sigh...... No matter the world you are, the people in charge are always going to be the same...

“Take this.”

Anna threw something at me.

It looked like a small, if a bit transparent marble.

“?”

“It’s a mana detection device. It’ll turn black if dark magic is used nearby.”

Well, I suppose that works.

Although a bit crude and inefficient, it’s a rather intuitive device.

Only a group of old-fashioned mages could have come up with something like this.

By the way, I haven’t agreed to help yet, have I?

“If you want to help me, come here at noon tomorrow.”

“...”

“Well then.”

Just like that Anna left.

As abruptly as she appeared.

Not even giving me a chance to say anything.

That was the end of my chance encounter with my former betrothed.

Well.

It felt more like a beginning than an end, though.

***“So this is a mana detection device? Ho Ho, what a peculiar object.”

As I returned to the lodgings, I called for an emergency meeting.

After all, this wasn’t something I could decide on my own.

Then, I relayed the overall situation, explaining that this supposed Dark Magic user might go berserk, just as Anna told me.

“I haven’t agreed to help her yet, since this didn’t seem like something I should decide on my own. But of course, if I do decide to help, I plan to go alone.”

Since I might have triggered this event because of the Original’s Karma, this might be something dangerous.

I called this meeting simply to ask for their consent, as it seemed we might need to stay in the Grand Duchy for about a week because of me.

Then, Rachel who had been listening to me in silence till now, spoke up.

“I’ve seen a Dark Magic user go berserk before. When this happened, there was a massive explosion, leaving the area a smoking ruin.”

“......Is it that bad?”

“Yes.”

Well, I see why something like that might be called ‘forbidden magic’.

“Elden?”

This time Ariel was the one who opened her mouth.

“Yes?”

“This...Anna Ventria...Who is she? Do you know her?”

Hmm.

Well.

There’s no need to hide that.

I think.

Although it was the original Elden who wronged her, I had already been pardoned for that.

So I answered comfortably.

“Ah, she was someone I was once betrothed to.”

As soon as I said that, Ariel and Rachel both shouted in unison.

“I...I wish to help you, My Lord!”

“I’ll Help!”

......Girls?

Didn’t I just say I would be doing this alone?

Then,

[Since this is something that can threaten the people of the North, I’d be glad to help as well.]

No...

Just...

No.

Why.

Why are you joining them as well Lumia?