Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy – Chapter 56

“…Why isn’t she coming?”

Marien stood at the gate of the third outer wall, shivering in the chilly night air. She wrapped her arms around herself and stomped her feet to keep warm.

The young lady had gone off alone on some errand and had yet to return, causing Marien considerable anxiety.

What kind of errand could possibly take this long?

Marien was anxious, feeling that her unsteady steps might cause her to trip at any moment, but there was nothing she could do since the young lady had insisted on going alone.

After meeting Sir Gelwood, the young lady’s condition seemed off.

One side of her cheek was bright red, and her eyes, unfocused and lost, seemed devoid of spirit.

Despite Marien’s repeated recommendations for rest, the young lady had insisted she had something she needed to do.

“The weather is getting colder…”

Eventually.

Tap.

A light drizzle began to fall, and Marien hurriedly took out an umbrella.

Though it was merely fabric stretched over a wooden frame, it was enough to shield against a drizzle.

“Miss! Where are you?!”

Thus, Marien ran through the vast ducal castle, searching for her young lady.

**

“Hik… Huuuh…”

Remian sobbed uncontrollably in the middle of the street, not even sure why she was crying.

Standing in the drizzle, she cried her heart out.

Clutching the ointment Elden had given her.

Whether it was raindrops or tears falling on the ointment container, she couldn’t tell.

Whether it was raindrops or tears falling on her head, she couldn’t tell.

She felt resentment.

Now that everything was over, the help offered felt like a condolence to a monster who had become a monster, and it made her sad.

And.

The thought that his change was real because of this help made her feel miserable.

If she had acknowledged his change, which she had denied and ignored until now, would the outcome have been different?

If she hadn’t obsessed over one slippery eel but instead focused on the three bugs, perhaps she wouldn’t have had to go through this catastrophe.

She would have been liberated from hell through the quietly, discreetly conducted engagement duel.

She wouldn’t have had to feel the utter futility and dreadful helplessness.

Now she understood how foolish and ignorant it was to believe that human nature never changes.

Her tears carried all those meanings.

Madness born of foolish obsession, regret, despair, and self-reproach.

Now she realized that she was the true fool, building up a twisted pride while despising those who seemed foolish to her.

After crying for a long time, Remian wiped her tears away.

Her whole body was soaked.

Her hair.

Her clothes.

Her face.

Her neck.

Her hands.

And.

Her heart.

Click.

She opened the lid of the ointment container.

The ointment inside was a pristine white semi-solid.

It was a stark contrast to the pitch-black darkness that had consumed her heart.

It was a dazzling white like the snowy fields of the northern territories.

It was a white too pure for someone as dirty as her.

She unwrapped the bandage from her left hand.

She looked at the scars left on her palm from that day.

Four unhealed nail marks were clearly visible.

She scooped a bit of the ointment with her index finger.

Blankly, she applied it to the scars.

A sharp sting followed.

A throbbing pain ensued.

She liked the pain.

Because she deserved to feel pain and suffering.

The pain from the healing process felt like a reminder of what a sinner should endure.

Smiling, she extended her left hand forward.

She tilted it to give it a slope.

The rain falling on it began to wash away the ointment.

How could a sinner deserve healing?

Having caused great pain to Gelwood with her misguided actions, soon her father would feel the bitter pain from his youngest daughter’s disgrace.

Moreover, if things continued like this, she would make the efforts of those preparing a grand parade for the engagement duel winner and herself in vain, and she would bring great disappointment and hurt to the people of the North who eagerly awaited the parade.

The children would cry, and the adults would be somber.

The joyful memories of talking about the engagement duel would be tarnished, and they wouldn’t look forward to the next one.

Thus, she would become a greater sinner than Daron and his group.

She had sent letters to Duke Kellyd and Marquis Rosfell directly for that reason.

Healing her wounds would be akin to fleeing from her sins.

After telling Daron and his group to pay for their sins, she couldn’t escape from her own.

It would be like repeating the foolishness of the past.

The four nail marks should remain as a clear reminder that she was no different from them, a lifelong proof.

Smirk.

‘Yes, I am… no different from them… just trash.’

Remian, who let out another bitter laugh, watched the ointment gradually wash away.

She hoped it would wash away clean.

Along with her foolish wish to dare dream of healing.

Along with her stupid belief that she was different from them.

Just then.

The rain washing away the ointment suddenly stopped.

“…….”

She looked up.

Elden was standing there with an umbrella.

She met Elden’s eyes as he blocked the rain that had been washing away the ointment.

He was smiling down at her.

What did it mean?

Why did he block the rain?

Why did he stop her from leaving the scars as a lifelong reminder?

Why did he stop her decision not to wash away her unforgivable sins?

Why, at times when she needed him, did he ignore her, only to show up unexpectedly when she didn’t need him?

Why.

Why does he keep making her feel miserable?

At the academy, he trampled on her outstretched hand, making her feel miserable, and now he was stopping her from discarding the help she had received, making her feel miserable again.

There was nothing left to feel miserable about.

Did he not want her to wash away the ointment?

Did he want her to let the wound heal cleanly?

Did he want her not to blame herself by looking at the scar?

Did he not want her to discard the help that had been given at the last moment?

But I’m a sinner who brought disappointment and hurt to my family and the people of the North.

As a person of the Winterfell ducal house, I’m a sinner unworthy of that title.

How can someone like me heal my wounds?

How can I stand up again when I’ve ruined a celebration for everyone with the engagement duel?

Thinking about it, everything was caused by my own mistakes.

It was a mistake to go to the academy despite the family’s opposition, risking the curse.

It was a mistake to endure the harsh treatment.

It was a mistake to graduate.

It was a mistake to use the engagement duel, knowing it was a sacred tradition of the family and a grand festival for the northern territories.

It was a mistake to stop you from withdrawing.

It was a mistake to slap your cheek.

And now, I will make a big mistake to my father and the people.

There’s no way to hide it anymore, and I don’t want to hide it.

I, who pretended to be noble and acted ostentatiously, am no different from Daron, Blond, and Kyle.

No, maybe I am even filthier than them.

There’s only one thing I want to tell you.

Following his silent smile, she smiled brightly.

Tears welled up again from eyes she thought had dried.

She raised her hand towards his scratched right cheek and spoke softly.

Words that she never imagined she would say just a few days ago.

“…I’m sorry, Elden.”

His smile wavered.

His face blurred.

Soon.

“Oh, miss! Please wake up!”

With a bright smile, Remian lost consciousness.

**

Kingdom of Elpherion.

The kingdom that ruled over the northwestern part of the Tmirias continent, wielding the most influence among the five kingdoms dominating the continent.

It was the second most powerful kingdom, following the Aetheria Empire, which governed the heart of the continent.

The southern part of the kingdom was a vast granary, ensuring an endless supply of food. The western part, rich in marine resources, bordered the sea. The eastern part, abundant in useful minerals, was a mining hub. The northern part, though harsh, enjoyed prosperity through the export of excellent thermal products and long-lasting ice, developed with advanced technology.

Moreover, the Elpherion king, who governed the kingdom from the capital city, ruled with a benevolent disposition, making it a good place to live, supported by outstanding academic achievements and the strongest military power.

Of course.

Just because the land was abundant and life was good, it didn’t guarantee peace.

Externally, the kingdom seemed peaceful, but human greed knows no bounds, and the noble society’s strife was at its peak.

The tendency of the privileged to manipulate the less privileged to achieve their desires has been a long-standing characteristic of intelligent beings, and the secret organizations, which have existed since ancient times, have become more cunning and wicked as time passed, spreading their roots wherever people lived.

And Winterfell’s northern territories.

Within one of the secret organizations based there.

An irresistible commission came from an anonymous client.

[Remian Winterfell]

It was a request wishing for eternal darkness upon that name, which had just seen the light of the world.

It was another act of vengeance born from a sense of revenge.