Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy – Chapter 59

Prologue

  From early in the morning, the inside of the grand duke’s castle was bustling with activity.

  Servants were moving busily, unable to even wipe the sleep from their eyes, people were gathering in groups, chatting noisily, and nobles were arriving to celebrate the grand finale.

  Even baby birds, waking from their morning slumber, lined the branches in a row, adding to the lively atmosphere.

  The laughter and joy rising with the morning clearly signaled that the grand finale of the engagement duel was fast approaching.

  Most likely, Grand Duke Logan had quickly gathered the heads of the families to swiftly resolve the situation to bring about this liveliness.

  Moreover, the engagement duel of his youngest daughter would be the last under his tenure, meaning that the grand festival of the northern territories would take a hiatus for the next decade.

  This made the northern people anticipate it all the more.

  Anyway, standing by the window of my bedroom, watching the commotion outside, I felt a peculiar feeling.

  It had taken a full fifteen days.

  It would be a lie to say I wasn’t nervous during that time.

  Although I hadn’t worried much after obtaining the treaty, I was slightly concerned that Grand Duke Logan’s early return might overturn everything.

  Fortunately, the escape of one rat didn’t seem to bother him much.

  Above all, it wasn’t pleasant to watch the heroine becoming increasingly exhausted.

  Though it was an unavoidable consequence of a necessary choice, I wasn’t heartless enough to take pleasure in someone else’s tears.

  I could only hope that Deron Kelid would earnestly strive and plead for Remian’s forgiveness.

  I hoped that through this, Remian would heal the cracks in her heart.

  “Randler? Is everything ready?”

  “Yes.”

  The servants had thoroughly cleaned the annex.

  I had also lent a hand on the top floor.

  Although we could send the servants back to the mansion immediately, according to a survey(?) I conducted through Randler, many of them wanted to stay and watch the parade of the engagement duel, so I had delayed the departure.

  Most of them would pack up and leave with a modest severance payment upon arriving at the Lapelion mansion, going their separate ways.

  We had only retained the minimum number of staff needed to manage the mansion, and Randler had designated Randel as the next head butler to take charge of the mansion.

  With no family members around, there wouldn’t be much to do.

  It might become the best working environment, so I told old Randler to spend his later years comfortably in the mansion, but he stubbornly refused, leaving me at my wit’s end.

 《You are now the head of the Rapelion family. It is only natural for the head butler to assist the family head.》

  《…But there’s no need to follow me monster hunting. You’re not young anymore.》

  《If the path the head takes is a thorny one, it is my duty to prepare the iron boots. What would I do in the mansion without the family head?》

  《Well… you’re right about that.》

  Given Randler’s unyielding determination, I ultimately permitted his company.

  He wasn’t wrong, after all.

  Thus, Ariel, Rachel, and Randler became guest members of the monster gourmet tour.

  Ariel decided to accompany us only to the Langren duchy for the time being.

  Of course, our journey would begin after the monster gourmet festival concluded.

  During that time, I planned to find a chef to accompany us on the gourmet tour, and if that wasn’t possible, we would leave right after the festival and look for one in the Langren duchy, which was known for its ‘specialized’ monster cuisine street.

  “Let’s go.”

  The parade would start at the brightest time of the day, when the sun was high in the sky.

  The late morning was already passing, and I headed to the central square of the grand duke’s castle where the parade would start, with Rachel and Randler.

  And then.

  “Elden!”

  I met Ariel, who had freed herself from her hangover.

  She had arrived early and secured a good spot.

  “Are you okay now?”

  “Yes! I drank the honey water that Rachel recommended and feel completely fine!”

  “That’s good.”

  “When else will we get to see the parade of the engagement duel? I couldn’t miss it!”

  Well, it was only natural to be excited since the parade of the northern territories’ grand festival was known to be more spectacular than any other festival parade in the kingdom.

  I looked around.

  The square was packed with people, so much so that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every noble staying in the northern territory had gathered.

  As the largest event of the Winterfell grand duke’s family, it seemed everyone had gathered, regardless of age or gender, to celebrate the grand finale.

  Naturally, only ‘nobles’ were allowed in the square where the parade would start, while commoners lined up along the road extending from the castle’s south gate to the central square of the city.

  Although I would have preferred to watch the parade from the front row, I took my place to avoid possibly displeasing Grand Duke Logan.

  Just as the engagement duel was reaching its climax, so was my escape, and it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

  A little later.

  “His Grace, Logan Winterfell, is here-!”

  Grand Duke Logan ascended the high platform, followed by Deron Kelid.

  I didn’t know what had made him the winner, but seeing that Blund was not present, it seemed that a smooth agreement had not been reached.

  Of course, under the watchful eyes of Grand Duke Logan and the family heir, all Deron Kelid could do was reflect and repent.

  And seeing that Deron’s father stood proudly on the platform, there must have been some mutual agreement.

  Moreover, now that his father had learned of his ugly and foolish nature, if Deron did anything to earn Remian’s contempt with foolish actions, he would not come out of it unscathed.

  So, I brushed off my thoughts and looked up at Grand Duke Logan, who was reading something while placing the family’s sword on Deron’s shoulder.

  Deron then raised the sword high into the sky, and an enormous cheer and applause erupted.

  “Wow–!! Deron Kelid! Deron Kelid!! Deron Kelid!!”

  People chanted Deron’s name.

  His path would not be easy.

  It would be quite difficult.

  As a husband, he would have to make great efforts to heal Remian’s wounds.

  I hoped that through this hardship, he would finally reflect on his past, and when the protagonist of this engagement duel ascended the platform, the venue fell silent.

  Her appearance was dazzling.

Remian, adorned in a white dress with a translucent veil and a small white crown on her head, exuded a presence that was enough to cause a stir among the onlookers.

  Fortunately, her expression, faintly visible through the veil, was neither sad nor angry.

  It was a peaceful face.

  I hoped that this reflected her acceptance of fate and a step towards dispelling the dark clouds. The renewed explosion of cheers and applause made my eardrums tingle.

  “Lady Remian! You look so beautiful!”

  “Wow!! Truly a couple of the century has been born!!”

  On the surface, they were undoubtedly a pair impressive enough to make the continent buzz.

  Of course, knowing the reality behind this beauty, I couldn’t simply praise it.

  Just as Grand Duke Logan’s face wasn’t bright, knowing the unresolved remnants of the past that were only now beginning to be addressed.

  Thus, the engagement ceremony proceeded without interruption.

  Remian and Deron bowed to each other, and Deron lifted her veil.

  Then, as he knelt and placed a ring on her finger, the ceremony reached its climax.

  Shortly thereafter, the announcer’s loud voice heralded the grand conclusion of the engagement duel and the couple’s march towards their future together.

  “Now, let’s welcome the grand march of Prince Deron and Lady Remian!”

  From here to the central square of the city, an elevated platform at the height of an adult stretched continuously, and the two walked on it, stepping on flower petals scattered by young boys and girls.

  On either side of the platform, bands played beautiful melodies, following behind Remian and Deron. After them, giant sculptures in the shape of winter flowers and dozens of small, lovely sculptures followed. Performances by circus troupes and the dazzling magic displays by wizards enriched the parade with a variety of spectacles, even after the protagonists had passed by.

  As they walked along the connected platform, Deron and Remian waved to the guests on either side.

  All I could do was pray, so I committed the image of the current Remian to my mind.

  And then.

  “……”

  Her smile reached me and lingered for a moment.

  When it touched me, the joy deepened and then gradually faded.

  What was it?

  Was it her way of saying that just as I supported her, she supported me too?

  It was a smile whose meaning I couldn’t decipher.

  The fleeting moment didn’t allow for interpretation.

  All I could do was pray for Remian’s back as she walked away, getting farther and farther.

  I watched until they were out of sight, then blended into the crowd.

  I hoped that the white winter flower petals scattered along their path carried not a sense of pallor, but one of brightness.

  As I now had to leave, the only thing I could leave behind was a sincere prayer for whatever stories the future held.

 And so,

 I quietly left the grand duke’s castle.