episode_0009

Elden was ignorant.

Born with a wild temperament, he was far from academia, living a life as a brawler who fought with his body rather than his mind.

Instead of wisdom and knowledge, his mind was filled with pleasure and greed, living as a street thug who cared little for culture.

He was more suited to being a troublemaker in the slums than a nobleman’s disciple.

And so.

Such a person was fitting to trample over others with his fists and seize gains.

Elden Raphellion was just that.

He avoided conversation and didn’t hold back his fists.

Occasionally stumbling over words he couldn’t remember, Elden would force out awkward sentences.

Those who mocked him were swiftly dealt with, covering up his lack of learning by staying far from academia.

He was the one who stole the glory of a top graduate.

It was natural that he couldn’t wield fluent speech or eloquent language.

And it was only natural that Remyan, who had experienced and understood it well, found it confusing.

“…What the heck.”

Different.

The menacing red eyes that once exuded the ferocity of a beast had become gentle sheepish, and the lips that spat out crude words now sharply delivered brilliant ones.

Defeated.

He lost in the verbal joust he hadn’t thought would be so intense, ending up defeated in the battle of wits he had initiated.

It felt like he had engaged in a debate with a different persona.

Could it be that after graduating from the Royal Academy, he had a rebirth due to some incident?

Or perhaps, due to an accident, he lost himself and then awakened?

Although the latter possibility was overwhelmingly likely, there was no major incident recorded in his evaluation that would cause such a loss of self.

Surely not.

“Is this… really a change?”

It couldn’t be.

The chances of success were close to zero.

Certainly, he was orchestrating a meticulous play.

Perhaps he was imitating another persona with the help of magic or sorcery.

Even Gelwood received such high-level assistance to deceive.

“Or…”

Did Winterfell’s youngest daughter, Erinthia Velocreme, recognize Elden Raphellion from her time at the Royal Academy?

Although it was inconceivable, it was unacceptable to give up such a golden opportunity.

Moreover, it was as if he was apologizing, realizing that he was “an unsuitable villain for a duchess” only now.

Elden Raphellion was someone who willingly grasped a knife to shed blood for profit.

He was definitely not the type to let go of the knife just before gaining profit.

“It’s strange. Really strange.”

Even a small clue would be helpful.

Unfortunately, Elden Raphellion’s eyes looking at himself seemed too genuine.

His voice was infinitely solemn and polite.

Unbelievably so.

“Don’t be deceived.”

Remyan had made up his mind.

It was a trick.

One must never fall for a malicious trick.

Human nature doesn’t change.

When the time comes, the hidden truth will surely be revealed.

That’s why.

“Nice to see you again, Elden Raphellion, sir.”

He gave an answer that went against his expectations.

There was no intention of giving in.

He simply wanted to uncover the truth.

The problem was.

“…I haven’t found out anything.”

His inner thoughts were so difficult to read, it was as if he had delved into forbidden dark magic.

So, he decided to retreat for now, formulate all possible scenarios and hypotheses, and then delve back in.

Prepared for anything.

If it turned out that he had deceived everyone with luck, the weight of his punishment would be even heavier.

If winning the Honorary Duel was about seeking profit through deception, then the price to pay would be hefty.

For that purpose, Remyang called for Gelwood.

“Advisor.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Could you investigate if there has been any major incident involving Elden Raphellion that hasn’t been made public?”

“Understood.”

“And also, please look into his activities after graduating from the academy in detail.”

There is a reason behind both the unexpected success and failure of experiments.

Those who seem to have changed their nature have only mastered the art of hiding and disguising it.

However, Elden Raphellion was a man who, despite knowing the method, did not master it.

There must be a hidden reason.

Uncover it, find the reason no matter what.

Remyang, who had never left a task unfinished, was willing to use all means necessary.

“Also, please assign a monitor to Elden Raphellion discreetly.”

Furthermore.

Remyang, who met a challenge boasting extreme difficulty, felt a subtle excitement.

**

“Then, I will go.”

“Yes.”

With her hood on, Remyang parted ways with Gelwood and returned to the Second Grand Manor.

As she arrived at the upper levels, she climbed the stairs and removed her hood.

“Come to think of it, has Marien returned?”

She had only asked Marien to bring one experimental material from the underground laboratory, but it had been hours with no news.

As the thought of Marien’s absence dawned on her, Remyang quickened her pace.

It had been a year since Marien had come to the Grand Manor as a maid, but she was more precious to Remyang than anyone else.

They got along well, were comfortable like friends, and had no secrets between them.

Moreover, Marien was knowledgeable, sharp, and excelled in assisting with magical and alchemical experiments.

In many ways, Marien was indispensable.

With a worried voice, Remyang called out for Marien as she ascended to the sealed upper levels.

“Marien?”

Fortunately.

“Miss!”

Upon hearing Marien’s voice from behind the chamber door, Remyang breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

With countless people residing in the vast Grand Manor, incidents could happen at any moment.

She couldn’t help but worry about getting caught up in the chaos.

If it weren’t for the complex experimental materials, Remyang wouldn’t have asked anyone but Marien for errands.

With limited contact in the sealed floors, Marien was the only one she could rely on.

Thud!

Remyang forcefully opened the chamber door and saw Marien standing with a crutch.

At the same time, her eyes widened.

“What, what’s wrong?”

Hastily removing her hood and approaching, Remyang examined Marien’s bandaged foot.

“Are you hurt?”

“Oh… just a little.”

“How? How much? Where?”

“It’s okay. Just a slight sprain. I twisted my foot coming down the stairs.”

“You should have been more careful. Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt now. They said it would be fine after resting for a few days, so don’t worry.”

Phew.

Remyang brushed Marien’s shoulder and helped her sit on the bed.

“If you need anything, just let me know. Okay?”

“Ah, how can you be like this?”

Remyang furrowed her brows with a hint of annoyance.

“Tsk. Stubborn. They said you need to rest for a few days, so rest well.”

“Hehe… By the way, where did you go? I was worried.”

“Oh.”

In a relationship devoid of pretense and secrets, Remyang spoke the name without hesitation.

“I met Elden Raphellion. I wanted to find out the reason for his withdrawal.”

And at the mention of that name, fear reflexively crept onto Marien’s face.

“Eek.”

“If you reveal it, you’ll really be in trouble.”

The eerie murder warning that had been whispered into his ear resurfaced.

“Why?”

“Ah… haha, well, it’s just that… it’s a scary situation, you know…? So, I was just surprised. Haha.”

Elden’s ominous warning not to cause trouble.

Its effect was still lingering.

**

“Yawn.”

The next morning dawned.

It was the day the Hupijab would begin.

Stretching as he woke up from his slumber.

Chirp chirp chirp, the five birds perched on the branch outside the window chirped cheerfully.

To the trio of Regret Cae, it would be like a grand symphony starting the final evaluation match, but to me, it felt like a refreshing melody.

Even though the escape route was blurry.

“Well, time to wash up.”

There was no clear answer to the decision to withdraw.

First, he had to prepare for the final evaluation match.

According to the official schedule, at 10 AM, he would finally have a meeting with the 3rd Northern Duchess and the entire court.

At the very least, he had to prepare for the meeting with the minimum courtesy.

He tried to head straight to the bathroom after getting out of bed, but a knock on the door stopped him in his tracks.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

It was the housekeeper, Rendler.

“Have you woken up, Your Grace?”

“What’s the matter so early in the morning?”

He was waiting for an answer, wondering what the matter was, but Rendler gestured from beyond the open door.

And then.

“….”

Three maids entered the room.

Wearing revealing maid uniforms with important parts like the chest and groin exposed.

Only then did he remember.

Elden Raphellion.

In the original work, he always started his day with the help of beautiful maids bathing him.

Different maids every day, mind you.

Even though he was a powerful figure, he never mocked or mistreated the maids in the original work.

He simply enjoyed the comfort of having beautiful maids bathe him.

To me, a mere commoner, it was not comfortable but rather awkward and uncomfortable.

And even though the annex was his private space within the family estate, it was surprising that he still indulged in this decadent bath even in the grand ducal residence.

Even in a male-dominated society with aristocratic privilege, the fact that he had not given up this decadent bath despite participating in the marriage tournament for the reconstruction of the family shows how distinct Elden Raphellion’s character is.

“I have ordered the maids to assist with the bathing. Will you go in now?”

“Enough. Leave.”

“Yes?”

“I said it’s enough. Leave. And from today, I will bathe alone, so please inform the maids of that.”

“Yes?”

Rendler’s reaction was expected.

Since the moment Elden Raphellion became aware of his sexuality, he had been having this morning bathing routine with maids every day.

It had been over ten years by now.

Of course, for some, being bathed by beautiful maids might be a romantic fantasy.

But for those who had been dragged along like livestock to the slaughterhouse without being able to resist the abuse of power, receiving such hospitality was nothing but uncomfortable.

Rendler looked bewildered.

“Alone… bathing… by yourself, you say?”

“Yes. It’s just for contemplation and organizing my thoughts, it’s not necessary…”

“I-I see…!”

Before he could finish speaking, Rendler burst into tears, reaching out to his face.

Seeing his eyes turn red and tears welling up, it seemed like he was about to show a girlish cry, so Elden quickly went into the bathroom.

As expected.

*Sob.*

This was left behind by Rendler.

And…

After finishing his bath and coming out of the bathroom, he received unexpected news.

Within just 30 minutes, there had been a significant change in the original plot.

“What? The evaluation match has been postponed by a day?”

“Yes. It will start tomorrow. Also, there are some minor changes in the planned schedule for the next 15 days, so they have distributed a new schedule.”

It seems that the Duchess of Remiang is troubled by an unsolved problem.

She looked out the window while drying her hair with a towel.

The sudden news of the postponement of the final evaluation competition seemed to keep the trio of regretful characters busy.

With the delay in the start and changes in the planned schedule, they needed to come up with a new strategy to adapt.

It was unrelated to my decision to withdraw from the competition.

“Here is the new schedule.”

As the head of the household, Rendler also needed to come up with a plan, so he handed me the schedule.

“Okay.”

He had to look at me in confusion at my refusal.

Unexpectedly, I had some free time.

I planned to make the most of it.

It was a brief moment to escape the stuffy and leisurely ducal residence.

There were things I wanted to try when I was reincarnated in the medieval era.

“I will go out for a change of pace, so I will leave the schedule preparation to our head of household’s judgment.”

A moment of healing.

Rendler nodded as he folded the schedule.

“Then I will have Knight Rachel accompany you.”

“Rachel?”

“Well. We haven’t worked together recently, but surely you haven’t forgotten the family’s bodyguard?”

In a hurry, Elden recalled the face of the bodyguard named Rachel.

A face of one of the bodyguards of the Raphellion family with long purple hair in the front and short cropped hair in the back.

A woman with a refined appearance but a roughness befitting a bodyguard.

She had never appeared in the original work, so Elden recalled her face after going through his memories.

Moreover, since there was no need for personal bodyguards within the ducal residence, he had never met her since the reincarnation.

‘By the way.’

It seemed that he had appointed the [female knight] as a personal bodyguard. However, there was no memory of him humiliating or abusing her with power, so it must have been the instinct of the weak to bow to the strong.

He must have cautiously dealt with her, considering that he had occasionally startled her with his anger.

If he had been too bold, he might have lost his life.

Of course, considering his cautious efforts to make Rachel his own in his memories, and his obsessive nature towards her, he couldn’t be a normal person.

He must have felt a desire to challenge Rachel, whom he could not conquer, as he had always conquered everything he wanted and felt everything he wanted.

And when he saw the memories of Rachel, who was a strong opponent, he must have been a strong person who was cautious even in front of a stronger person.

‘Well, it’s natural to entrust your safety to someone stronger than yourself.’

Clearing his mind, he said to Rendler.

“I was just momentarily confused. Inform Rachel to depart immediately.”

Although he wanted to explore the city alone, as it was his first outing in a foreign city, it was only right to have a reliable bodyguard with him.

Especially since Elden Raphellion would attract a lot of attention.

After preparing for the outing and stepping outside his chamber, Rachel, dressed in casual clothes with a sword strapped to her back, nodded and said, “I will escort you, Your Grace.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

And so, I, accompanied by Rachel, left the ducal residence and began to walk the streets of the city.