With the tips of her hair curled into spiral shapes, resembling a Swiss roll, the “roll bun” hairstyle was a common sight in novels and webtoons.
It’s usually a defining feature of supporting characters who have a bit more significance compared to the main heroines. When only the ends of the hair are curled, it emphasizes elegance and maturity; if the curls extend halfway up, it conveys a sense of elegance and fullness, and tying it in twin buns radiates the playful vibe of a tomboyish girl—that’s the quintessence of the roll bun hairstyle.
While it offers a variety of vibes depending on the setting, the roll bun style seems to be more fitting for side characters than for leading ladies.
The golden-haired woman, who had introduced herself as the one sitting diagonally behind Elden, fortunately (?) wore her hair in those very spiral rolls.
Not exactly my type…
Still, since I couldn’t immediately place her, it got me thinking.
After all, Elden wouldn’t have had any interest in a studious character like her.
Elden would have preferred a fox-like sharpness over a simple puppy-like charm.
And the fact that I couldn’t recall her at all suggests she wasn’t the kind of person to get tangled up with a villain like Elden.
A brief silence ensued.
Thankfully, I dimly recalled the golden-haired lady always buried in her novels at her desk.
A student utterly disinterested in academics or socializing.
Someone who carried more novels in her bag than textbooks.
“Ariel… was it?”
“Yes! You finally remembered?”
Ariel smiled brightly in response.
A classmate from the Royal Academy.
Though I felt strange about confronting her, given Elden’s notorious reputation as the Academy’s delinquent, the title of one book she was holding piqued my interest.
[The Reincarnation of the Demon God]
It was definitely a title suited for a fantasy novel.
I had assumed she read typical romance novels, but it appeared she was into male-oriented stories instead.
“I didn’t expect to run into you here, so it caught me off guard.”
“Hmph, I should be the one saying that!”
Ariel retorted, hinting at my failure to recognize a classmate after spending three years together. But she grinned again afterward.
“Anyway, I’m glad we met again.”
A dainty, pale hand reached out towards me.
This was my first handshake since I found myself in this world, possessing the identity of Elden Raphelion.
Actually, thinking back, she was the first person to greet me properly.
Unlike others who gazed at me with unease or fear, Ariel’s expression conveyed genuine goodwill.
She had to know.
What kind of monster Elden Raphelion was.
Yet she approached me with such bravery, perhaps due to her indifference to the rumors or her fixation on anything outside her novels coupled with the surprising encounter.
Ariel mentioned during self-introductions that she lived in the Earl of Tabir’s domain.
It was a long journey, a solid fortnight towards the southwest from the Northlands.
Encountering someone familiar in a far-off land, an unexpected location, was a welcome surprise, especially since time had faded some memories since our academy days. Thus, she could approach me without reservation.
Regardless…
I set aside my unnecessary musings and grasped Ariel’s hand.
“It’s good to see you too.”
“Oh, right! I heard you made it to the final rounds of the Betrothal Contest. Congratulations!”
I wondered if it was appropriate to reciprocate her cheerful greeting with bad news, but as it wasn’t something I cared to hide, I let go of her hand and replied flatly.
“I withdrew.”
“…Huh?”
“I said I withdrew from the final round.”
“What? Why?”
Ariel’s blue eyes widened.
It appeared she’d stumbled upon an intriguing topic.
However, since I wasn’t keen on discussing it at length, I gave it a short dismissal.
“It makes no sense for a man who’s lived as a notorious scoundrel to become the husband of the grand duchess.”
“…….”
“So, I withdrew.”
“Oh… I see.”
A sigh escaped her lips and her dilated pupils slowly retreated.
Her parted lips closed together as if searching for the right words to say.
……
In her quiet manner, she seemed to be agreeing with my sentiments.
A vile wastrel couldn’t possibly belong to the esteemed Grand Ducal House.
And that withdrawing was probably the wisest move.
But it felt incredibly rude to voice such thoughts, hence the awkward silence and the darting of her eyes.
In a situation where it would be unusual to offer support or comfort to someone who had thrown away their chance at a critical juncture, Ariel couldn’t muster an adequate reaction. An awkward atmosphere enveloped us.
“Ha, haha-. Well, I guess you’re not that bad… No, I mean, not in the logical sense that you’re acceptable… but, like, compared to the other candidates, it’s kind of… uh, yeah?”
Ultimately, Ariel ended up muddling through some convoluted encouragement as if the entire situation was reminiscent of an awkward confession.
Reckoning that the listener found herself in a more uncomfortable situation than the person who originally confessed, I thought it would be proper for me to take responsibility for this mess.
Snicker-.
Ariel’s flustered demeanor was so amusing it drew an actual laugh from me for the first time since I arrived in this world.
Possessing the identity of the villainous Elden Raphelion, I had frequented more serious expressions than smiles.
Still, I decided to clarify any misunderstandings despite my lingering amusement.
“It’s fine. My withdrawal hasn’t been officially processed yet, so technically, I’m still a finalist.”
“Huh? On hold…?”
“There’s never been a case of an official finalist withdrawing in the history of the contest, so it’s causing a bit of a stir within the Grand Duchy.”
“Oh… I see.”
With that, our brief chat regarding my withdrawal came to a close, leading Ariel’s attention to the seven-book tower I had.
The Betrothal Contest was certainly beyond Ariel’s concerns.
Whether I withdrew or triumphed, it likely held no interest for her.
Thus, the seven-book tower presented itself as the perfect way to relieve the awkward atmosphere.
“Are you planning to read all of these?”
“I’m just testing them out. Since they all look interesting, I couldn’t decide which one to start with.”
“Hoh-. Weren’t you uninterested in novels before?”
“I suppose it’s time to try a new hobby.”
“Is that so?”
Instantly, Ariel’s blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
She licked her well-shaped lips; it was the gaze of a predator who had stumbled upon fresh prey.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was the look of a seasoned reader who encountered a novice.
“Can I recommend some? You seem to have similar tastes based on the books you chose.”
This was the moment I had been hoping for.
“That would be great!”
“Hehe-. Then follow me!”
With buoyant steps, Ariel led the way into the Pure Literature section.
It appeared our seasoned pro was not impressed with the seven titles picked by the rookie.
Since I desperately needed someone to guide me in my selections, Ariel’s expertise was a blessing.
In the medieval era, with no internet or online communities, it was immensely challenging to find someone with shared interests.
This scarcity made our encounter even more delightful.
Having an experienced reader willing to mentor a novice was mutually beneficial.
With that thought, I eagerly followed Ariel.
Meanwhile,
In Lumia’s lab, an experiment was underway.
Bubble, bubble-.
Gurgle, gurgle-.
The initial evaluation with the final candidates had wrapped up.
It was more a formality than an evaluation, but everything proceeded as planned.
Deron, Kyle, and Blund.
Those three had received their first lesson.
They were acquainted with the taste of repulsion and what it felt like to swallow it despite its escalating intensity.
However…
It appeared her lesson had not reached Elden Raphelion.
But this was just the beginning.
There was still ample time, and with it, plenty of opportunities.
Though she had faced failures twice already, a researcher like Lumia possessed unwavering persistence. So, she saw these setbacks as opportunities for growth and continued her experiments in the lab.
This particular experiment involved condensing mana into special crystals crafted through alchemy.
Should she succeed, it could yield an invaluable item for mages.
Thus,
After conducting a thorough analysis of the four candidates, Lumia now stirred a solution in a triangular flask while donned in a lab coat.
The experiment was progressing smoothly, nearing its conclusion.
She should’ve accomplished this long ago, but the unpredictable variable named Elden Raphelion had thrown off her schedule.
A capable researcher needed to follow a strict timetable, striving for precision and excellence.
Particularly in fields like Magic and Alchemy which were still largely uncharted. When delving into these domains, even a speck of dust could twist the outcome of an experiment awry.
Additionally, unexpected occurrences constantly loomed.
Thus, every detail had to be meticulous; every experimental condition must fall under the researcher’s control.
For this reason,
The unpredictable factor known as Elden Raphelion was a persistent source of annoyance for Lumia.
A nagging problem with no clear solution was inevitably frustrating.
Of course, the possibility of overcoming this issue was a significant motivating factor.
“Sigh…”
As she stirred the solution in the flask, Lumia let out a distracted sigh, pushing aside her scattering thoughts.
This was a critical point in her precise experiment.
With her plan already disrupted, she wouldn’t tolerate any further distractions.
“My lady… Is something bothering you?”
Her maid and assistant, Marien, who stood beside her with a crutch, inquired cautiously.
Her lady seemed to be unusually absent-minded today.
In typical circumstances, Lumia would be brimming with excitement at this stage of her experiment.
Instead of sighing, she ought to have been humming a tune.
“Marien.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Do you believe a person’s nature can change?”
Marien contemplated the unexpected question before thoughtfully responding.
“If there’s a definite cause… then I believe it’s possible.”
“……”
Lumia fell silent for a moment, then narrowed her gaze at the solution within the flask.
“I think human nature is constant. A person’s essence is unchangeable.”
With that, Lumia poured the mixture over the special crystals.
She had put her all into this experiment, accounting for every potential failure, aiming for perfection.
This was an experiment that simply could not fail.
She was confident of its success.
Crack-!
If only the sound of shattering crystals hadn’t followed shortly after.
Then,
Pop! Pop-pop! Pop-pop-pop!
In a flurry akin to fireworks, the solution exploded in all directions—this very solution she had believed would work.
Fsssh! Fssst! Fwooosh! Fweeeeooosh-!
It resembled an ink bomb detonating in her laboratory.
The solution erupted, announcing its festive spirit.
Even the explosion’s sound reverberated cheerfully.
It was a capricious and wholly unwelcome failure—just like a certain someone.
Fsssh… whoosh-.
Her meticulously planned experiment had gone awry at the final moment.
What could have triggered this calamity?
She had accounted for every factor—everything was poised for perfection.
After the initial explosions faded, Lumia gazed at the shattered crystals and let loose a hysterical laugh, as if she’d lost her mind.
“Heh… Haha… Hahahaha, hahahahahah!”
In a lab now adorned with various colors, the sound of a researcher resigned to her failed experiment echoed long into the silence.
And,
Marien, who had served her lady for an age, was the sole witness to this hollow, spine-chilling laughter.
It… it was terrifying…
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