Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy - Chapter 38
To Yeong-ae Who Loves Apples
In May, when the eyes briefly melt in Bukbureung, a time when adults and children alike get busy, the busiest among them is undoubtedly Logan Winterfell, the leader of the Winterfell in Bukbureung.
Especially this year, overlapping with the Honyak Tournament, he was so busy that even taking a nap seemed luxurious.
It was difficult to determine whether taking care of the vast Bukbureung or maintaining the longstanding tradition of the family was more important, but he had to focus more on the former.
Taking care of Bukbureung had to pass through his hands.
And in the latter case, the Chief Chamberlain Gueld had already successfully led several precedents.
Of course.
“Prepare for the tournament.”
Logan, who was now accepting reports intermittently, did not reject the process.
“Come sit here.”
Logan sat on the sofa, and Gueld sat on the left side.
The face-to-face ceremony would be conducted tomorrow.
Until now, the face-to-face ceremonies had focused on the final candidates, conducted in the main hall of the tournament or the royal residence with only officials present, but this face-to-face ceremony was going to be grandly held at the central square of the outdoor Imperial Plaza with a different significance.
It was to announce the 3rd Princess hidden behind the veil to all the people who wanted to know.
Remyan Winterfell.
It was the day when the youngest daughter finally made her name and face known to the world, so a specially prepared face-to-face ceremony was held.
“Yes. We’ve completed all preparations up to this point.”
“Well. You will handle it perfectly.”
“I appreciate your praise.”
That was the end of the report on the ceremony.
It was something feasible as Gueld, the Chief Chamberlain who had gained a lot of trust from Logan Winterfell.
Next, he lowered his voice to report on other matters.
Four papers were placed on the table.
“This is the matter you asked me to investigate.”
Logan picked it up.
“Certificates, huh.”
“These are not submitted by the candidates but officially issued by the Royal Academy. They cannot be fabricated.”
“So, it’s true that all of them graduated as top students. Were there any other personal details that were inaccessible?”
“Yes. As you know, according to the Academy regulations, access to personal details of students is not allowed, and in the case of the ‘Royal Academy,’ it strictly prohibits any access except for His Majesty the King…”
“Hmm. In the end, there’s no valid income.”
“I apologize.”
It was expected.
Within the kingdom, the Academy was a sanctuary that did not distinguish between high and low status, and that was why it was a closed-off place.
It was a place where innate status could not be used to exert influence.
It was a place where everyone could receive education and learning equally, and except for the king, no one else could wield influence there.
As Logan placed the papers on the table and leaned back on the sofa, instead of his stubborn and innocent youngest daughter, his face was growing brighter with the news of the four senior graduates who had made it to the final selection process, but in the end, there was no progress.
It was more of a coincidence than a vague suspicion that there was something unclear with those four candidates compared to experience-less individuals, prompting Gueld to investigate further after Remyan said, “I think the experienced ones may be better than those who have no experience,” ordering him to do the background check.
It was a reasonable choice, so there was no need to question it any further, nor was there any need to reject the final selection of candidates.
Moreover, Logan had recognized that Remyan was a child who was persistent and straightforward, not someone who would change her mind once she had decided on something, so he simply let it pass.
For him, her persistence and stubbornness had not been forgotten, as she had begun to wither away slowly.
Concerns about the reputations and characters of the candidates were a separate matter.
“Did their classmates testify?”
“It seems that there were contacts between the four candidates and the 3rd Princess, but the details are not clear.”
“Hmm… is that so.”
“There was nothing special during their school years, and they were just cheerful and lively students. They always put their heart and soul into their studies more than anyone else and enjoyed themselves during lessons.”
Logan faintly smiled at the news of his daughter’s school days.
She had been melancholic and sad due to the curse preventing her from going out into the world, but at the Academy, she was a cheerful and lively student who enjoyed her studies and learning, which made him happy as a father.
It was because she had risked even the danger of identity forgery to satisfy her thirst for education and exploration, having been released from the curse and gaining the king’s leniency for the past deeds she had done for her daughter.
“Yes. The child was so bright and lively when she returned after her graduation. It was truly like a cradle of life there.”
The daughter who had returned after quenching her thirst for learning and exploration had grown up chubby and radiant, and her pale complexion, which had been firm, had shone brightly.
Even the letters she sent during her school days were full of joy and excitement, and she had no regrets about her choice when she returned.
She didn’t think it would turn out to be a lie.
Perhaps the suspicions that there may be some questionable doubts about those four individuals were just fleeting moments of doubt.
Perhaps the concerns that she might violate the sacred traditions of the family and cause trouble at the largest festival in the Northern Territories were unnecessary worries.
Yes.
She wouldn’t lie to her father.
She wouldn’t go against her father’s trust and support.
“Or shall we meet the candidates in person?”
At Gueld’s question, Logan briefly showed discomfort.
“Well, is that something the overall supervisor should do? Have you forgotten that candidates and royalty’s interviews are prohibited until the end of the Honyak Tournament, that it’s our sacred tradition and strict discipline.”
“I apologize; you seem frustrated…”
“The Honyak Tournament of the Winterfell Royal Family is a festival for all townsfolk. The fact that everything has been passed down without any gossip indicates that everything is well maintained in accordance with our traditions and regulations.”
“I momentarily forgot my duty. Please forgive me.”
Gueld bowed his head.
Logan, with a lifting of his anger, leaned towards him with curiosity.
As the main character’s dear father, the head of the Winterfell Royal Family, it was equally significant to him just as the affairs of the Northern Territories, and he wanted to grant one special privilege.
To anticipate his youngest daughter’s final decision.
“By the way, do you happen to know who Eldeen Gongsan is?”
**
Hillgut.
Swipe.
Hillgut.
Swipe.
Ariel, looking towards the bookshelf entryway every time a page turned.
It had almost become a habit of reading.
When she was engrossed in a story, she would suddenly snap her head up after flipping through several pages.
And in the absence of Eldeen, she would reluctantly flip through the pages again.
It was a typical start to her day, no different from usual.
Reading books at the library while waiting for her reading companion.
Nevertheless, what made her eagerly anticipate his arrival was the presence of a “gift.”
A gift containing apples.
Eldeen had said that he had only lost because he withdrew.
Initially, when he said those words, Ariel didn’t think much of it, and was simply happy that she could sit and read together with him again.
It was not until she felt a sense of regret within herself as she returned from the library that she realized.
‘… Wait.’
So, she prodded Eldeen, who she didn’t even want to defeat, to participate in the tournament like a fool?
Even though he rejoiced at the mention of his dream of a culinary journey and pushed him with foolish words like, “You can become the son-in-law of the Grand Duke at the tournament!”?
Even after hearing the sincere intentions behind his withdrawal, she prematurely cheered ahead of unexpectedly causing him a burden?
Once the thought hit her, Ariel felt sorry for Eldeen.
His sincere intentions to withdraw, his dreams of a culinary journey.
Despite seeing and hearing it all, she had carelessly prioritized her own joy over his, unwittingly rushing to cheer him on prematurely and burdening him unintentionally.
Of course, Eldeen seemed indifferent, but she deserved to be criticized for letting her own joy take precedence over her precious reading companion’s happiness.
To exaggerate a bit, it was as if she had listened to Eldeen’s story with one ear and let it go in one ear.
No.
It was not an exaggeration; it was the truth.
It was like ignoring his genuine feelings and happiness, only to be swept away by her own joy and excitement for supporting the main character in the novel.
‘Ugh… Fool. Why did you act like that?’
Grunt!
As Ariel arrived at the library after squeezing her head, she began to inquire with the librarians.
Intending to apologize to Eldeen and convey her willingness to support his dreams and sincerity, regardless of her intentions.
Thus.
Ariel arrived at the underground storage warehouse where the amateur navigator Renler had been arrested for unauthorized entry.
“He’s supposed to be here… but whether I can find him…”
The librarian, expressing difficulty, excused himself, claiming that he was too busy with official duties.
Ariel, left alone in the dim underground warehouse.
It was a gloomy space where the occasional sound of mice squeaking could be heard.
Despite being a space that made her want to escape immediately, Ariel steeled her resolve and began rummaging through the piles of books.
“Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!”
Truly a tomb of books.
With a musty smell that made her nose twitch and dust piled up heavily tickling her nose, she couldn’t stop coughing.
Relying on the torches mounted on the walls to search, her eyes became tired, and occasionally she was startled by the shadows cast by the books, letting out a scream, but Ariel persisted.
And at the end of it.
“Ta-da! I found it—!!!”
She found it.
Ariel, jumping around like a frog, ecstatic with joy.
She found it, and then she went to the librarian who had guided her out and was able to borrow it indefinitely.
“…You did great. If it weren’t for you, I might never have seen the light, so I will grant you an indefinite loan under my authority.”
“Thank you!”
It took nearly a full day, and upon returning to her lodgings, she had to endure listening to a scolding from her personal maid.
“Why?”
“…Today, did you come rolling from the construction site instead of the library?”
Her nurse, seeing her dusty face, dress, and hair, couldn’t help but be startled.
Anyway.
At the end of such twists and turns, she had obtained a gift, and the next morning, Ariel, who had hidden it, was waiting for only Eldeen’s arrival to reveal it.
‘When will he come~’
Finally, seeing Eldeen entering through the reading nook, Ariel greeted him with a bright smile.
“Oh? Eldeen! You came?”
“Yeah. Were you waiting for me?”
“Huh? Why?”
A perplexed Ariel.
Wriggling, she awaited Eldeen to sit across from her, who had no expectations.
Before she knew it, her hands moved to hide the gift, unable to control her instinctive response.
“Why?”
“Actually, because I have a gift for you!”
“For me? Why?”
“Oh… well, I just wanted to give you a gift?”
“What for?”
Eldeen sat in front of her without much expectation.
Smiling brightly, Ariel was simply chuckling as she responded.
“Did the librarian help you find it? And they even allowed you to borrow it indefinitely! Do you like it?”
Instead of being acknowledged for her efforts to find the gift, she answered with the newly formed response of wanting to prioritize the joy of her precious reading companion rather than her own happiness.
“Yeah. Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
Thank goodness!
Ariel, relieved, happily greeted him, able to relieve the burden of self-imposed emotions.