The sun had already set.
As they say, “Even Mount Kumgang is best enjoyed after a good meal,” so I headed toward the annex to grab a bite first.
That uneaten grilled Wyvern fin kept dancing in front of my eyes, teasing my hunger.
I’d heard it had a chewy texture and a savory meat aroma.
I definitely have to try it when I get the chance.
Anyway,
Who could be the mastermind behind all those delicious dishes?
Every single one boasted a remarkable flavor, suggesting that somewhere in the Grand Duke’s kitchen, there was a culinary master skilled in monster cuisine.
It would be splendid if I could lure them here, but whether I could match their hefty salary or tempt them to abandon a stable job for a culinary expedition is another matter altogether.
For now, after my ultimatum with Gelwood was concluded, I should probably check out the restaurants in the city center of the North.
There were plenty of restaurants serving monster cuisine.
A chef dreaming of adventure and romance might be eagerly awaiting their chance to showcase their talents.
I hoped such a person existed as I arrived at the entrance of the annex when…
“Eldeeeeeeeeeen-!!”
I had to turn my head at the passionate voice calling my name.
Naturally, it was the voice of the bun-haired lady.
Ariel—it was she who had stood out with a question mark above her head amidst the cheering crowd at the first unveiling ceremony.
She had met the white-haired Erenscia before anyone else.
She must have been dying to know everything.
The fact that she wasn’t clutching a book indicated that her curiosity was overwhelming her urge to read.
“Ariel?”
“What’s going on? What happened?!”
Ariel, with her blonde hair fluttering, rushed over and started unleashing all her bottled-up questions.
Her face was painted with confusion.
She wanted to know if the white-haired Erenscia was indeed the Third Northern Duchess.
She wanted to know if the red-haired Baroness from our academy days was truly the youngest daughter of the Winterfell Grand Duke.
What was the situation?
What secrets were hidden?
Who?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Why?
Questions based on the six interrogatives flooded out, and just as I was about to clarify…
“Huh?”
There was another question trapped in her gaze.
It was aimed particularly at my right cheek.
And then,
With a poke to her own cheek using her index finger, she shot me another question.
“W-What’s this? What happened?”
It seemed I should address her concern first; thus, I rubbed my cheek and replied.
“I got slapped.”
“Huh? Did you annoy Rachel and end up getting slapped?”
Her expression said she kind of expected this, but after a little chuckle, I clarified.
“No, it was the Duchess who slapped me.”
“What? W-Why?”
Her auburn pupils widened, and her crimson lips parted at my unexpected revelation.
Seeing her reaction, I figured I had to elaborate a bit.
“I rejected her proposal.”
“…What?!”
Today was truly filled with surprises for our bun-haired lady.
“So, you’re telling me that in front of the other candidates, Erenscia—no, the Third Northern Duchess openly proposed to you, you turned her down, and that’s why you got slapped?”
“Correct.”
I recounted the second unveiling ceremony events to Ariel without any sugarcoating.
With the truth now glaringly out in the open, there was no reason to weave lies or conceal things from my classmate, Ariel.
Transparency was definitely the right move.
Lumia, unable to accept the change, had approached a third party, Ariel, in the dead of the night.
It was uncertain how her refusal to accept had manifested, which meant,
“It’s better you don’t approach the Duchess.”
“I wanted to greet her, but maybe it’s best I don’t?”
“Yeah. For now, avoiding her is probably the wise choice.”
The condition of the protagonist wasn’t the best.
Those consumed by revenge tend to meet tragic ends.
While I hoped she wouldn’t end up that way, being cautious wouldn’t hurt, especially since she might use third parties. At least until the grand betrothal reached its inevitable conclusion.
After all, Lumia had used Ariel before.
“Well… I’ll follow your advice. But are you sure you’re alright?”
With her curiosity satisfied, Ariel eyed my cheek with concern.
Then, she took out some ointment and tenderly applied it to my cheek with her warm hands.
Her concern for a friend’s injury warmed my heart.
Considering Elden’s character, the kindness shown by Ariel and Rachel seemed almost excessive.
“It’s fine. This is nothing.”
“Thank goodness. But seriously, what’s going on? Erenscia was the Duchess all this time?”
I then explained everything to Ariel.
Of course, I left out anything that only someone who’d read the original novel would know.
“Wow… So the royal academy’s valedictorians ended up as final candidates wasn’t just a coincidence?”
I nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
“So, you’re already withdrawn from the contest?”
“Since the decision-maker for the betrothal has changed, it’s not officially confirmed yet, but it’s practically done.”
“I see…”
There was still a week left until the Grand Ducal Betrothal reached its conclusion, but to me, it felt like the final chapter had already been written.
The timing for revealing my hand was nearing, indicating that my escape from the Grand Duchy was imminent. Thus, I turned to Ariel with a question.
“It seems like our culinary journey might be starting a bit sooner than planned. Are you alright with that?”
If she wanted to delay because she had more books to read, I was willing to wait.
I didn’t want to live so harshly as to disregard the request of someone who had offered me so much help and was my first friend in this other world.
Besides, there were still preparations to be made for our leisurely and romantic culinary journey.
Yet, contrary to my expectations, Ariel nodded readily.
“Of course, I’m totally fine with that!”
“…Really? But don’t you have a lot of books left to read?”
“Well, so what? I can always come back to read those books later, but it’s not every day I get a chance to see you magnificently take down a monster, right?”
“I’m not in a rush. There are still things I need to prepare. If you need some time, I can wait, so feel free to speak your mind.”
Ariel, who had accepted so cheerfully, suddenly seemed hesitant when she heard I would wait.
After all, with my current skills, I wouldn’t stand a chance against anything higher than low-class monsters.
I hadn’t even begun to develop my ability to handle mana.
Since I had things to prepare, there was no need to hurry or be impatient.
Above all, the priority for our culinary journey of relaxation and romance should be leisure.
After a brief pause, Ariel cautiously opened her mouth.
“Or… after the Grand Ducal betrothal ends, I heard there will be a [Monster Cuisine Festival] in the central square of the Northern Territory? Didn’t you mention we needed to find a chef? There will also be a cooking competition, so how about we stay in the Northern Territory for a while and enjoy the festival?”
What?
Hold on a second.
“Wait, did you just say there’s going to be a Monster Cuisine Festival?”
Upon realizing my interest, Ariel responded eagerly.
“Yup! It’s happening for five days on Central Street! The top chefs from around the Northern Territories are gathering, so who knows, maybe we’ll find someone great?”
“Oho. Now that’s enticing!”
“Hehe! I knew you’d like it!”
Not only do I have a restaurant guide for monster cuisine drowning in reviews, but now there’s even a festival I might’ve missed out on!
Meeting Ariel has surely been a blessing, hasn’t it?
Not only would this festival provide a chance to recruit a chef, but it would also treat me to a smorgasbord of mouthwatering dishes!
“Well then, I’ll go and gather more information! Rest well, Elden! You too, Knight Rachel!”
With those words, Ariel once again left me feeling grateful for her invaluable help as she walked away.
I wondered when I would be able to repay the kindness of this giving tree.
“Sigh…”
In Gelwood’s office, sighs and groans had been echoing since morning.
Sitting in his chair, he stared at the seal resting on his desk.
It represented the overwhelming power of the Grand Duke, a power which he temporarily commanded.
“How foolish… truly foolish.”
Gelwood scolded himself.
He was drowning in regret.
He regretted not objecting to Lumia’s decision to select her final candidates from her Academy peers just because they were familiar faces.
Even though he sensed something amiss, he hadn’t acted at the time.
He hadn’t questioned Lumia’s growing obsession with Elden Raphelion, the one who withdrew, which later morphed into an obsession.
Instead of stepping in, he even cheered her on by sending messages to the young man.
Everything now filled him with remorse, and the situation spiraled beyond control, weighing heavily on his heart, as if all of it was his fault.
A calamity disguised as a coincidence.
Kyle Beallon’s fainting and disappearance.
A twisted fixation on those who withdrew.
Even the Royal Academy’s strange demeanor.
Everything indicated that the Grand Ducal Betrothal wasn’t about finding a partner but rather a stage for revenge. Yet he felt utterly foolish for not managing to address any of it.
Gelwood watched the flickering flame of a candle as he took a sip of wine.
Then, he let out a bitter chuckle and sighed once more.
“Haaah… I suppose I’ve really grown old.”
His keen perception wasn’t what it used to be.
His judgment felt clouded.
Even his concentration, which had never overlooked minor issues, had waned.
It was probably the frailty of age dulling all his senses.
“What exactly possessed you to orchestrate such a thing… My Duchess…”
From the beginning, the Grand Ducal Betrothal seemed doomed to escalate into catastrophe.
Now only three candidates remained to claim victory.
Of those, one adamantly clung to his declaration of withdrawal.
Before his Lord returned, Gelwood needed to find a way to rectify this mess while stopping the Duchess’s rampage.
And that solution might need to be ruthless.
After all, with the situation as it stood, Gelwood didn’t have the luxury of being gentle.
Rising from his chair, the advisor moved to the window.
He gazed toward the Third Grand Castle where Duchess Lumia Winterfell resided.
As thoughts swirled in his mind, something suddenly occurred to him.
“……The curse might not have truly ended.”
The thirst for knowledge and stubbornness had led her to the Academy.
Her actions, despite the risks posed by the curse, might indeed have marked the beginning of the curse itself… Gelwood sighed, bittersweet.
Then,
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked at the door, and upon opening it, he was startled.
The visitor was the only person who could smile amidst this chaos.
“Lord Elden?”
“Advisor, do you have a moment?”
“…Yes, but what brings you here…?”
“I have something to show you.”
In his hands, he held two mana recorders along with a folded note.
And,
On his face, a long scar that hadn’t been there that morning had appeared.
All of a sudden, Gelwood had a feeling,
That the three remaining candidates,
Might just be down to two.
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