episode_0024

“Ariel, what do you think about this situation?” Gelwood asked with a puzzled expression.

No, more precisely, ever since the final four candidates were chosen, a series of puzzling events had been unfolding.

The four candidates selected to become members of the Grand Duke’s family had less than stellar reputations, and ironically, they all shared the commonality of graduating at the top of the Royal Academy in the same year.

The Grand Duchess Remyan, known for always making the right decisions based on her innate observational skills, was now showing signs of wavering in her resolve.

Gelwood was concerned about her decision-making abilities.

However, the Grand Duchess’s decisions were in a realm where a mere aide could not interfere, so all he could do was hope that she would choose the best among the worst.

Then came the announcement of the withdrawal of one of the final candidates.

Following the incomprehensible decision of the young lady, came the equally baffling decision of the chosen candidate.

Doubts began to arise.

Furthermore.

“Assign a monitor to Elder Gongja.”

Another question arose.

Elden was the one who declared his withdrawal.

Since there were no provisions regarding withdrawals in the participation regulations, there was no way to force it or prevent it.

Moreover, there was no reason to reject or deny the withdrawal.

There was no need to force someone who had lost their will to participate to stay.

Therefore, Gelwood could not understand why the Grand Duchess would assign a monitor to someone who had declared their withdrawal, and furthermore, why she would instruct them to closely watch over the withdrawn candidate.

He tried to investigate if there had been any incidents involving Eresia Velloc during their time at the academy, but he could not find any clues to resolve his doubts.

The Grand Duchess showed no interest in the other three candidates, focusing all her questions and attention on Elden.

He wondered if the withdrawal declaration was part of a sophisticated strategy to induce the current situation, but Elden’s eyes were sincere, and his subsequent actions continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to withdrawal.

It seemed as if he had completely lost interest in the upcoming Grand Tournament.

He made no preparations to fulfill the distributed official schedule and instead spent his time holed up in the library or venturing into the city to eat commoner’s food.

Despite consulting the Grand Duke, Gelwood received no specific answers.

He only heard that all decision-making power was delegated to the Grand Duchess Remyan.

What could be the reason for her obsession with the withdrawn candidate?

What did it mean for her to show such great interest in someone who had lost interest in her?

Even if the withdrawn candidate were to be made the winner, if they were to relinquish the trophy due to declaring withdrawal before the final evaluation began, there was no legal basis or regulation to enforce it.

It was not a withdrawal during the evaluation, but before it even began.

Of course, relinquishing the trophy would allow the Grand Tournament to end with a grand finale at the Northern Kingdom festival, but that did not give them the right to intervene, dismiss, or carry out the Grand Tournament.

Even if they were from the Grand Duke’s family, they could not force someone who did not want it into a marriage, and they had to avoid becoming a laughingstock externally.

At the very least, there were still final candidates left.

With no questions resolved and doubts piling up, Gelwood finally had to ask directly.

“Forgive me for being presumptuous, but may I inquire as to the reason for monitoring Elden Gongja, the candidate who declared withdrawal? I am afraid I may have missed something important.”

In response to Gelwood’s question, Remyan asked in return.

“How do you view Elden Gongja’s withdrawal, as his aide?”

The person in charge of the Grand Tournament.

A genius of insight.

Then Remyang, who was curious, asked if there was something that Elden’s journey had not captured.

“Well… if it was a strategy that took advantage of the loopholes in the participation rules, it seemed to have succeeded nicely, but it didn’t really look like a strategy.”

“Do you think he’s sincere…?”

“Yes. So far, that seems to be the case.”

“What about the changes he’s seeing?”

Hmm.

Gelwood swallowed a sigh and took some time to think.

Clear changes, strange changes.

It was something even the genius of insight found difficult to define.

“I don’t know. It seems like it could be a preparatory step to use surrender as a strategy… but even that change seems ‘sincere,’ making it difficult to define.”

Surrender is also sincere.

Change is also sincere.

Elden Raphellion, who may have graduated as a valedictorian, was solely devoted to reading books.

However, his face, laughing, crying, and being moved while reading, truly seemed genuine.

Especially the debates he had with Ariel Yeongae were quite serious and heated.

Elden’s face, which had been skeptical of the reports and had investigated them personally, reflected that.

Of course, one could think that he had now opened his eyes to a new kind of fun, but it was still difficult to come to a clear conclusion.

“Is that so?”

Remyang asked, as if expecting it, then asked.

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Right now, we don’t know anything about Elden Gongja. Even with a supervisor attached, we don’t know his intentions, motives, reasons, truths, nothing.”

“…That’s true, but do we really need to find out? If it was a strategy for favor, then if we don’t get involved in that, isn’t that enough? And if it’s sincere, can’t we just let it be?”

“No. We can’t tolerate even one surrender.”

Remyang replied firmly.

It was a somewhat angry voice, and Gelwood could sense the reason for his obsession in it.

Anger.

The anger towards the surrender seemed to contain piercing affection or boiling resentment.

What kind of entanglement was there between them, and what past was the Grand Duchess entangled in?

Gelwood cautiously spoke up.

“Hao-na… even if we force those who have surrendered to participate, I don’t think the situation will change…”

At his concern, Remyang unexpectedly smiled.

It was a smile filled with the determination of an unwavering investigator.

“We’re not going to force them.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll ignite their will through encouragement and persuasion.”

“What does that mean…?”

Perhaps through the clue of [love], a breakthrough could be found in the seemingly impregnable fortress of the problem.

At the end of it, what was hidden behind the walls would be revealed.

There are no problems that cannot be solved.

Remyang, with a smile of repentance, handed a note to Gelwood.

“Please deliver this to Elden Gongja.”

“What is this…?”

It contained the secret of tomorrow’s evaluation match, [Tag], filled with affectionate support, encouragement, and irresistible temptations towards him.

**

Tap~ Tap~

“Hmm-hmm~”

Excited footsteps.

Cheerful steps.

Humming a tune.

The escort knight who felt that everything was different from usual behind Ariel asked.

“Are you in a good mood today?”

“Oh?”

“You seem particularly cheerful today.”

Ariel, who always returned home after the library closing time, was exhausted.

Her bright face was also gloomy, and her steps were heavy.

Although she knew it was due to hunger from lack of food, today’s unusually cheerful appearance was enough to raise questions from the escort knight.

Standing still.

Ariel stopped walking, turned around, and pointed at herself with her index finger.

“Me? Am I? Looking cheerful?”

The bodyguard nodded, and Ariel tilted her head.

“Hmm. Really? Seems like the same as always?”

“Your spirit seems lively as always, but it looks like your body is worn out due to fatigue.”

“Is that so?”

It seemed that the meal had helped to prevent fatigue.

Although it was a late lunch, the meal they had at the Great Hall was truly excellent.

Of course, for the daughter of a viscount like her, it was just a normal meal, but thanks to the book discussion they had during the meal, it felt great.

Anyway, she no longer had to listen to her stomach growling, her concentration remained strong until the deadline, and she even exceeded the amount of reading she had planned.

Despite wasting time on the meal, the reading amount had slightly increased compared to the previous day.

It was ironic, but Ariel couldn’t help but feel good no matter what.

The increase in reading amount meant that she could finish her planned reading quickly and provide warmth to those who were stuck in this cold land due to her reading journey.

“I wonder if Elden trained well?”

Ariel suddenly thought of Elden.

Thanks to Elden being a companion in conversation and meal partner, the quality of her reading time had improved, and it was natural for her to think of Elden.

And the memory of feeling somewhat regretful while watching Elden head to the training ground with Rachel was also natural.

Moreover, his bodyguard was an object of admiration and a great protagonist who had shaken many hearts.

Meeting Elden was nice, but meeting the protagonist from the novel in real life was a great joy for a bookworm.

“Tomorrow is the evaluation match, so I shouldn’t go, but should I watch the training after the deadline the day after tomorrow?”

Yes.

That sounds good.

Curious, isn’t it?

How cool would it be to see the purple knight wielding his sword in the front row?

I can’t miss this opportunity to witness it firsthand. And after watching, I should tell the maids how amazing it was.

They’ll be amazed, won’t they?

With that determination, Ariel started walking again and soon reached her quarters.

She went straight to her room, finished bathing, and was about to prepare for the night when someone knocked on the door.

“Lady Ariel?”

“Yes?”

“A guest is here to see you.”

“At this hour? For me? Who is it?”

Who could it be?

No one should be coming at this ambitious hour.

She didn’t know anyone in the Northern Territory.

“They had their hood pulled down so I couldn’t see their face clearly, but they said they were a fellow student from the Royal Academy.”

Ah.

“Elden, perhaps?”

Thud.

Setting down the utensils she had just picked up to prepare for the night, Ariel, with a joyful expression, went to greet the unexpected guest.