episode_0021

“Yeongae-nim? Why are you eating so little today?”

In the early morning, just before the night air cleared, Arielle was having breakfast with an hour left until the Grand Library opened.

In response to the maid’s question, Arielle replied apologetically, “I forgot to mention it earlier. You only need to prepare a simple breakfast now. Sorry.”

“Why?”

“Well, I don’t need to eat until I’m about to burst now.”

“Really?”

“Actually, I met a fellow academy student at the library yesterday.”

“Oh, really?”

A maid who looked about the same age as Arielle opened her eyes wide and sat down opposite her, eager to hear an interesting story.

With a gleam in her eyes, she was eager to hear some gossip, as the academy student Arielle met at the Grand Library must surely be one of the final candidates for the Consort Selection.

“Who did you meet?”

“I met Elden Raphelion.”

“What–?”

The maid was shocked as if she had seen a ghost.

It was inevitable.

Unlike the other three candidates with decent public reputations, Elden Raphelion’s reputation was at rock bottom.

While others hid their malice and emitted a foul odor from behind, Elden openly flaunted his malice, making it no surprise that the maid’s astonishment outweighed her admiration.

The fact that Elden Raphelion had never been mentioned among the maidens who constantly debated the potential winner of the Consort Selection was telling.

The maid asked worriedly, “Are you okay? Did you have a tough time that you couldn’t eat properly due to the shock…?”

“No, no. Thanks to Elden, I don’t have to eat until I’m about to burst now.”

“Why?”

“Elden wants to have lunch together. He even recommended some pure literature and brought it for me!”

The maid rubbed her ears in disbelief.

It was an unbelievable story in another sense.

Even though his chances of winning were close to zero, he was still participating in the Consort Selection to be chosen by the Third Lady of the Grand Court.

It was not reasonable to understand that he would dine alone with another woman in a bustling space like the Great Hall.

Moreover, a misstep could easily cause a scandal and make the Third Lady of the Grand Court frown.

“Well, I think it would be better not to dine with Elden Gongja….”

“Why? Do you need to eat until you’re about to burst for breakfast?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m worried that dining with the final candidate might cause the Third Lady of the Grand Court to hear something unpleasant.”

The maid’s sincere concern made Arielle smile softly.

“Don’t worry about that.”

“What?”

“Elden withdrew. That’s why he suggested having a meal together.”

“What?!”

This morning, the maid was on the verge of bursting with astonishment.

“Oh, it’s almost time for the library to open. I’ll be back!”

Arielle quickly gathered the books she had borrowed and hurriedly left the inn.

Today, her steps were light and fast, not weighed down by overeating, and she could also hear the feedback on the novel she recommended for the first time.

She was excited.

What would the feedback be like?

She was worried.

What would the feedback be like?

Her mixed feelings of anticipation and impatience left moist footprints on the damp streets of the Northern Province.

Tap, tap.

Arielle’s golden rolled bun hair began to flutter in the refreshing morning breeze.

5 minutes before the opening, Arielle arrived at the library and stood in line to return the books she had read overnight.

Then she found new books to read and sat down in her usual spot, the one she had promised Elden.

Arielle, who moved faster today in case someone took her seat, started reading with a quiet hum, tapping her crossed legs while turning the pages.

Flip.

Swoosh.

Flip.

Swoosh.

Flip.

Every time she turned a page, her gaze kept drifting towards the entrance, making it hard for her to focus on reading.

Having lost sleep, she realized she might not be able to finish the amount of reading she had planned, so she slapped her cheek to snap out of it.

Tap tap.

She hadn’t made any time commitments.

They had agreed to have lunch together, so he would come before that.

With that in mind, Arielle started focusing on her reading, getting lost in the exciting story, until she suddenly looked up.

“….”

The quiet library was now bustling with activity as lunchtime approached.

Despite that, there was still no sign of Elden.

Did he forget?

Or did something happen?

“Oh… he said he would definitely come.”

Her previously growling stomach now felt empty.

Running her hand over her hungry belly, Arielle sighed.

Fortunately, just before leaving the dorm, the maid had given her two small rolls to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

Although it wasn’t enough to fill her stomach, it was enough to temporarily satisfy her hunger.

“I wonder what happened….”

Even though it was time for a meal, Elden still hadn’t shown up, so Arielle reached into her pocket.

Quickly glancing around, she covered her mouth with one hand and discreetly took out one roll.

Then she started chewing it quietly.

Although she could have a simple meal at the reading table, she felt embarrassed to eat alone.

Chew chew.

As expected, Miyah’s rolls were delicious.

No one saw, right?

Acknowledging that it was a swift and perfect act of stealing a meal, Arielle looked around with a secretly proud gaze.

And in that gaze, she caught Elden approaching, his black hair fluttering.

“Oh! El…!”

Thump!

Arielle quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

She almost spit out the bread she was chewing.

She almost broke into a wide smile.

She almost revealed how eagerly she had been waiting.

Knowing that it could make the other person uncomfortable, she quickly swallowed the bread and waved her hand slightly, quietly greeting him.

“Oh, you’re here?”

“Yeah. I was a bit late because I finished reading the book you recommended yesterday.”

He had finally arrived.

The novel he had promised to finish was “The Great Knights of Greatness,” one of the recommended works he held in high regard.

“How was it?”

Arielle asked cautiously, feeling her heart pound.

She was more pleased to have a reading companion to share her thoughts on the book she had read than to have a meal companion.

So, she waited for his response with a face like a rain-soaked puppy, and thankfully, she had to brush off the disappointment that her opinion hadn’t changed from yesterday.

“It was really fun! In fact, I was late because I had to reread the last volume.”

“Really!?”

Thump!

Silence was mandatory in this space.

Noise was a nuisance in this space.

Ariel had to cover her mouth again as her voice unintentionally rose.

She was finding it hard to control her instincts today.

Elden recounted a scene that had deeply moved him with a smile.

“Especially when Lancelot said to the Grand Duchess at the end, ‘I will go ahead. Please come slowly.’ and charged into the enemy lines alone, I almost cried. It was like a romantic scene, wasn’t it?”

Ariel vigorously nodded in agreement, lowering her voice as she expressed her joy.

“Oh! I remember that scene too. I was crying and sniffling like a baby during that scene. I knew you would like it too.”

“Are there any other novels similar to that one?”

“Of course, of course! Want me to recommend another one?”

If joy had a physical form, it would be Ariel’s face.

With a bright smile on her face, she began to recall a list of recommendations in her mind, as if fireworks were going off in her head.

Then, she noticed a woman standing next to Elden.

“Huh?”

A woman standing diagonally behind Elden on his right side.

Dressed in knightly attire, she had a black leather pauldron on her shoulders, a symbol indicating she belonged to a noble family of knights in the center of her chest. She wore long brown leather boots and a brown hooded cloak that reached her waist, giving her an overall dark appearance.

With dark eyes that seemed to be embedded with obsidian and bright crimson hair that contrasted with them, the impressive woman stood behind Elden diagonally.

Although she was clearly a personal bodyguard, Ariel asked, as she had not seen this woman accompanying them yesterday.

“But, who…?”

“Oh, she’s my bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard?”

“Yeah. Rachel? Introduce yourself. This is Ariel, the beloved of Viscount Elond.”

At Elden’s introduction, Rachel took a step forward and bowed her head.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Rachel.”

“Ah… nice to meet you too. But…?”

All the personal bodyguards Ariel had met so far were naturally men.

Rough, with stubble, or emitting a strong smell.

There were occasional female bodyguards, but they were just as tough and rigid as the men.

Some even shaved their heads or drew their beards to look more masculine.

Rachel, a personal bodyguard like no other, was a new sight for Ariel, and at the same time, she reminded her of a character from a novel she had read.

The character ‘Rachel’ from [The Path of the Purple Knight], a popular figure among female readers.

From her appearance to her name, everything matched.

Especially since she was a female knight, Rachel’s story had deeply resonated with Ariel, making it feel like meeting a celebrity.

“Wait, could it be… the Purple Knight, Rachel?”

At Ariel’s question, Elden responded with surprise.

“Huh? Do you two know each other?”

“No. It’s our first meeting, but do we know each other? No. ‘In reality,’ it’s our first meeting.”

Looking at Ariel, who was smiling brightly at herself, Rachel asked in confusion.

“Do you… know me? It seems like we’re meeting for the first time today.”

“I do! I know you very well!”

“Excuse me?”

“The Purple Knight, Rachel! The brave warrior, master of dark magic, skilled in all weapons, the hope and hero of women who have risen to the top with a slender body against a narrow-minded world, isn’t that you, Rachel? I’ve read the amazing novel about Rachel three times~”

“…What? Is there… a book about that?”

“Yes! Of course! It was recently published, and it’s hard to find in stores because it’s so popular.”

“….”

Unbeknownst to herself, Rachel heard the news that her own life story had been published, causing her to make a dumbfounded expression.

And for the up-and-coming rookie Elden Raphellion, it was incredibly valuable news.

A fanfiction of the protagonist in this otherworldly novel, written by my knight.

This was unbearable material.

“Ariel, is that book possibly here?”

“Yeah! It’s in the pure literature corner. Want to read it?”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll go get it-!”

In an instant, Ariel dashed off to the pure literature corner, her skirt fluttering behind her.

Rachel had no choice but to watch her retreating figure, unable to stop her.

“Oh, no. Why would she do that…?”

And.

Tingling.

Rachel was truly looking forward to the training session that afternoon.