Something looks different…
When the mysterious man confirmed he was indeed Elden Raphelion, I honestly felt a bit scared.
I had unexpectedly run into him in a far-off land, and there was a moment I regretted jumping in to greet him, as if I’d foolishly pretended to know a classmate I hadn’t even talked to much during school.
Elden was known for always reeking of alcohol, hanging out with dreadful friends, and occasionally bullying classmates.
Unfortunately, this uncomfortable thought came rushing back to me only after things had already unfolded.
“You sat diagonally behind me during our senior year, remember?”
“Hmmm.”
“Does it ring a bell now?”
“I can’t say it does.”
“……”
When Elden didn’t remember who I was, I was honestly ready to slip away and claim I had mistaken him for someone else.
But just then, he called out my name.
“Ariel… wasn’t it?”
At that moment, I couldn’t tell whether it was a blessing or a curse that he remembered my name, but as time passed, I leaned more toward the feeling it was a blessing.
“Oh, right! I heard you made it to the finals of the Betrothal Contest. Congratulations!”
Of course, there were some awkward pauses.
“Ha, ha ha. Well, I guess that’s not entirely wrong… I mean, not that I think you’re a scoundrel in a logical sense… or any sense for that matter… but compared to the other candidates… Um, well, you’re sort of…”
And just like that, I found myself stumbling over my words as Elden announced his withdrawal.
I couldn’t find a decent response to what was a completely meaningless, formal greeting on my part, and I was just itching to ask about that seven-book tower!
“It’s fine. My withdrawal is on hold, so technically, I’m still in the running.”
“Oh… I see.”
Somehow, I managed to navigate that awkward moment without incident and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, weren’t you not into novels before?”
“I thought I might try picking up a new hobby.”
“Oh, is that so?”
My eyes lit up.
Although I couldn’t shake off the disappointment that he didn’t seem too thrilled about it, I was just happy to recommend the books I enjoyed reading.
And what was more shocking was how different Elden Raphelion looked; it made me question my past memories of him.
The atmosphere felt different.
In my memories, Elden had appeared extremely fierce, like a wild beast.
But then, I chalked it up to my assumptions and figured it didn’t matter now anyway.
What did it matter if he had been a total jerk before?
In my eyes, he looked more like a pure literature novice, eager to embrace the beauty of literature.
To a seasoned bookworm, he was merely a baby taking its first steps.
Because of this…
Swoosh.
Glance.
Swoosh.
Glance.
I couldn’t help but become engrossed in watching his reaction as he read the book I had recommended.
This was a first for me!
Watching someone read a book I had suggested and waiting for their response — it filled me with a nervous thrill.
Of course, along with the excitement came a healthy dose of anxiety.
What if he found it boring?
What should I recommend next if this one doesn’t suit him?
What if he decided never to read pure literature again because I recommended a dud?
No, that couldn’t happen.
With each page he turned, my excitement and worry multiplied, and my heart raced as if it might just burst!
Fortunately…
“It’s interesting.”
“Huh?”
“This book, it’s really interesting. I was worried for a moment there.”
The answer I had yearned for
Yes—!
It was a success—!
I almost screamed out loud, but I instead settled for a beaming smile.
Phew, what a relief that was!
And when Elden asked for book recommendations on classics and mythology, it felt like fireworks were exploding in my heart.
It was a joy I had never experienced before.
I couldn’t believe how wonderful it felt to share something I once thought would be mine alone with someone else.
And then,
I found I had a friend to share meals with.
I wouldn’t have to stuff my face during breakfast, preparing to skip my lunch and dinner to avoid starving.
Nor would I have to endure the continuous rumblings of hunger echoing in the late afternoon.
“I should get going now. I have training this evening.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting here tomorrow too!”
I guess that’s why I made that promise without even waiting for a response.
What a reckless and impulsive thing to do, jumping in and making a promise without discussing it with him first.
If another noblewoman had caught that, they might have disapproved, but there I was, making that promise anyway.
“Then I’ll be off.”
“See you!”
Thus, our little encounter came to an end.
Deep down, I felt a twinge of disappointment over not being able to discuss the book longer, but since he would read my recommendations tonight, there would be plenty to chat about tomorrow.
With that thought in mind, I shifted my focus back to my book as Elden’s figure disappeared into the distance.
What I didn’t notice was my feet kicking happily beneath the desk, expressing emotions I hadn’t quite understood yet.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Okay!”
Thus, their serendipitous meeting came to a close.
The lingering sense of disappointment in her heart likely stemmed from the fact that they hadn’t had the chance to discuss novels in depth.
Still, since he promised to read everything she recommended tonight, by tomorrow, there would surely be plenty to talk about, right?
Thinking this, Ariel diverted her gaze from the receding figure of Elden and resumed her reading.
The slight bouncing of her toes hidden beneath the desk was a joyful, instinctive reaction that even Ariel herself was unaware of.
“Then I shall call Rachel to the training grounds.”
“…Are you sure you’ll find your way to the annex? Would you like some help?”
“Ahem! I-I simply got lost in how grand and complex the library is; it was a mistake, I swear!”
“If you get lost on the way, just stop and wait for an adult’s help…”
“I-I’m going now!”
The old man, Rendler, had been caught by security staff for trespassing and dragged out of the library.
How directionally challenged must one be to end up in the fourth sub-level?
According to the librarian, that was a place even they found hard to navigate.
By the way, it seems like the head butler of a noble family is a terrible navigator—but somehow, he managed to survive long enough to reach this position, which is rather impressive.
Anyway.
After sending Rendler off, I arrived at the training grounds.
Given that it was located between the library and my quarters, there was no need to go back; that’s why I sent Rendler on his own.
Inside the Grand Palace, there are several training facilities.
There’s the parade ground where the guards practice tactics, personal training grounds, and facilities for physical training—just to name a few. Right now, I found myself in the training ground exclusive to ‘nobles.’
It wasn’t that I intended to flaunt my superiority.
I simply didn’t want to be a nuisance to the commoners who might be enjoying their training.
“Finish training, have dinner, and then read a book. Sounds like a perfect day.”
I surveyed my surroundings.
The common training grounds were open spaces exposed to the elements—getting rained on or having snow piled up when the weather turned bad. In contrast, the noble training grounds were enclosed spaces with roofs and walls.
This clearly showcased the disparities between the noble elite and the common folk.
As I strolled through the empty, slightly eerie training ground, I awaited Rachel’s arrival.
About ten minutes passed.
Creak.
The doors of the training ground swung open, and as I turned to see if it was Rachel, in walked the infamous trio of regret.
…Hmm.
Of course, they weren’t here for training.
In this enclosed area, it was likely they were planning either a threatening or coercive tactic.
Especially after the heroine had freed them from the chains of the evaluation panel.
I had expected this; hence instead of feeling tense, a smile crept across my face.
“Ah, just when I was wondering when you’d show up.”
I slipped my hands into my pockets.
I wasn’t foolish enough to be caught off-guard in such a scenario.
One must always be prepared for the worst and equip themselves accordingly.
And furthermore, if you manage to handle things well, you could flip the worst situation into the best.
Fortunately, I had a particular insurance policy ready for those who were used to scheming and blackmailing.
Honestly, I hoped they would choose to threaten me over anything else.
That way, I’d be spared from more annoying situations in the future.
With that in mind, I greeted them with a smile.
“So, what brings such esteemed guests here today? How can I assist you?”
The heroine must have cleared the evaluators to create situations like this.
It was entirely natural for the regretful trio to seek me out with less-than-repentant intentions.
During my first official meet with the Duchess, I garnered quite a bit of attention.
Perhaps it was the heroine’s way of instilling hope, pushing me into the fray, but as a result, the jealousy of the regretful trio was triggered.
They probably thought my declaration of withdrawal was merely a ploy to gain the Duchess’s favor.
Of course, their thoughts were of no concern to me, but if they chose to harm me—the innocent observer casually munching on popcorn while enjoying this unfolding drama—that was another story entirely.
If they dared to stir up trouble, I must snuff that spark out.
Having nothing in my past life, I endured life’s injustices, leading to a bitter existence.
I was forced to compromise my sleep just to get by.
But I would no longer suffer unfairly or yield to the injustices of life.
“Studying and now even training… You sure know how to enjoy life, don’t you, Elden?”
Well then.
Starting with such a blatant remark, I shrugged and responded playfully.
“Well, I have the privilege of being a withdrawer.”
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