episode_0037

In the bustling month of May, where the eyes momentarily melt in the Northern Frontier, the busiest figure among adults and children alike is undoubtedly Logan Winterfell, the leader of Winterfell Northern Frontier.

Especially this year, with the overlapping of the Marriage Alliance Ceremony, he was busier than ever, to the point where even a moment of rest was a luxury.

Taking care of the vast Northern Frontier and upholding the traditions of a long-standing family lineage made it difficult to prioritize between the two, but he had to focus more on the former.

After all, taking care of the Northern Frontier was a task that could not be entrusted to anyone else’s hands.

And as for the latter, Chief Advisor Geldwood had successfully led it several times before.

Of course.

“Report on the Grand Ceremony.”

Logan was diligently reviewing reports as usual.

“Please have a seat.”

Logan sat on the sofa, and Geldwood took a seat on his left.

The face-to-face ceremony would take place tomorrow.

Unlike the previous ceremonies, which focused on the final candidates and were held with only officials in attendance at the Grand Hall of the Capital or the Main Hall of the Fortress, this ceremony held a special significance and would be grandly conducted in the outdoor central square of the Grand Palace.

It was a day to reveal the veiled Third Grand Princess to all the people who wanted to know.

Remyang Winterfell.

It was the day when the youngest daughter would finally make her name and face known to the world, hence the specially prepared ceremony.

“So, are the preparations for the ceremony going well?”

“Yes. We have already completed the preliminary arrangements.”

“Well then. I trust you will handle it perfectly.”

“You flatter me.”

That was the end of the report on the ceremony.

Geldwood had gained great trust from Logan Winterfell, which made such tasks possible.

Next, he lowered his voice to report on other matters.

Four papers were placed on the table.

“This is the matter you requested an investigation on before.”

Logan picked it up.

“Certificates, I see.”

“These are not submitted by the candidates, but officially issued by the Royal Academy. They cannot be forged.”

“So, all of them are indeed top graduates. Were you unable to access any other personal information?”

“Yes. As you know, according to the Academy regulations, access to students’ personal information is restricted, and the ‘Royal’ Academy, in particular, prohibits any access except for His Majesty the King…”

“Hmm. So, in the end, there is no substantial gain.”

“I apologize.”

It was expected.

The Academy, which was like a sanctuary within the kingdom, was the only place that did not distinguish between social classes, and therefore, it was a closed-off place.

A place where external pressure could not be exerted due to one’s innate status.

The Academy was a place where everyone could receive education and knowledge equally, and no one except the King could exercise any authority there.

Logan put the paper back on the table and leaned back on the sofa.

Despite trying to uncover the reasons why the four top graduates of the Royal Academy had become final candidates, there was ultimately no gain.

It seemed too coincidental to be just a coincidence, but when Remyang said, ‘I think those who have experienced rather than those who have not are better suited,’ and brushed off further investigation, Geldwood was instructed to conduct a background check.

It was a reasonable choice, so Logan did not question it further, nor did he reject the selection of the final candidates.

Moreover, knowing that Remyang was a stubborn child who did not easily change her mind once she had made a decision, Logan could not push her further.

As a father who could not forget that his daughter was slowly withering away, he could not bring himself to break her spirit.

The candidates’ reputations and qualifications were a separate matter.

“What about the testimonies of their peers?”

“There seemed to be some contact between the four candidates and the Crown Princess, but the details are unclear.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“During her school days, there was nothing particularly special about her, she was just a cheerful and lively student. It is said that she enjoyed her classes more than anyone else, putting in effort and enthusiasm.”

At the news of my daughter’s school days, Logan faintly smiled.

She, who had been melancholic and sad due to the curse, was a cheerful and lively student at the academy, enjoying learning and bringing joy. As a father, I could only be happy.

She had gone against the heavy laws of the class society, even risking identity forgery for that purpose.

Now that she was liberated from the curse, she had received leniency from His Majesty for the things she had done for her daughter, but she had not lied.

“Yes. When the shy child returned after graduation, she was truly bright and radiant. It was as if that place was the cradle of life.”

My daughter, who returned to quench her thirst for learning and exploration, had grown plump and her pale face shone brightly.

Even the letters she sent during her school days were always filled with joy and excitement, and when she returned, it was a choice she had no regrets about.

I did not think that would be false.

Perhaps, the suspicion that there was something suspicious about those four and the uncertain corners was just a passing doubt.

Perhaps, the worry that my daughter would violate the sacred traditions of the family and disrupt the biggest festival in the Northern Territory was just excessive concern.

Yes.

She wouldn’t have lied to her father.

She wouldn’t go against her father’s trust and support.

“Or how about meeting the candidates in person?”

At Gelwood’s question, Logan briefly showed a displeased expression.

“Oh. Is that something the head of the family should do? Have you forgotten that the candidates and the Crown Princess are not allowed to meet until the end of the engagement ceremony, as it is our sacred tradition and strict rule?”

“I apologize. You seem frustrated…”

“The Winterfell engagement ceremony is also a festival for the people. The reason why the lineage has been passed down without any rumors is because all these traditions and rules are being well maintained.”

“I momentarily forgot my duties. Please forgive me.”

Gelwood bowed his head.

In response, Logan, who had put away his anger, leaned towards him and looked curious.

As the father of the protagonist, the engagement of my youngest daughter was as important as the affairs of the Northern Territory.

That’s why.

As the head of the Winterfell family, he couldn’t help but be interested, and he wanted to exercise a small favor.

Anticipating my daughter’s final decision.

“By the way, do you have anyone in mind for Remyang?”

However.

The answer he heard added a question to his interest.

“…Hmm? Isn’t Elden a forfeiter?”

**

Flip.

Swoosh.

Flip.

Swoosh.

Ariel, who looked at the entrance to the reading room every time she turned a page.

It was almost becoming a habit of reading.

And when she got absorbed in the story, she would suddenly lift her head after flipping through several pages.

And in the absence of Elden, she would flip through the pages again with a somewhat disappointed expression.

It was the usual start of another day.

Coming to the library, waiting for her reading companion while reading a book.

But what made her eagerly wait for him was the [gift] he had.

It was a gift with apples.

That’s what Elden said.

He only lost because he was a forfeiter.

At first, Arielle lightly brushed off those words, but on the way back to the library, she felt sorry for him.

‘…Wait.’

So, did I act like a fool, pestering Elden who didn’t even want to win in the first place?

Watching him happily talk about his dream of a culinary journey, even though I saw him, I pushed him like a fool, saying, “You can be the son-in-law of the Grand Duke’s family!”

Even after hearing the sincerity hidden in his withdrawal, I couldn’t help but prematurely cheer for him, thinking that I could help the Third Lady of the Grand Duke.

As the realization dawned on him, Ariel felt sorry for Elden.

The sincerity of the withdrawal, the dream of a culinary journey.

Even though I saw and heard everything, I ended up cheering for myself more than his happiness, rushing to support him, unintentionally burdening him.

Of course, Elden seemed unfazed, but putting my own joy before the sincere feelings of my precious reading companion was deserving of condemnation.

If I were to exaggerate a bit, it was as if I had heard Elden’s story with one ear and let it flow out the other.

No.

It wasn’t an exaggeration, it was the truth.

In wanting to help the protagonist of the novel, I unintentionally ignored his dream and sincerity.

“Ugh… What were you thinking, you fool?”

Thunk!

Ariel arrived at the library, where she grabbed my head and began questioning the librarians.

Regardless of her intentions, she wanted to apologize to Elden.

She wanted to convey her support for his dream and sincerity.

And so.

Ariel arrived at the underground warehouse on the fourth floor, where the clumsy butler Rendler had been arrested for trespassing.

“He should be here… but whether I can find him…”

The librarian, looking flustered, claimed that the officials were busy and ran away.

Left alone in the dim underground warehouse, Ariel occasionally heard the squeaking of rats in the gloomy space.

It was a musty space that made her want to run away immediately, but with determination, Ariel began to search through the piles of books.

“Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!”

Truly a tomb of books.

With the musty smell tickling her nose and the dust piled up causing her to cough incessantly, Ariel relied on the torches on the walls to search, her eyes tired and occasionally startled by the shadows cast by the books, but she did not give up.

And in the end.

“Yay! I found it—!!!”

She found it.

Jumping around like a frog, Ariel was overjoyed.

She went to the librarian who had guided her out of the warehouse and was able to borrow it indefinitely.

“…You’re impressive. If it weren’t for you, I might never have seen the light, so I’ll allow you to borrow it indefinitely with my authority.”

“Thank you!”

It took a whole day, and when she returned to her lodging, she had to face the full-time maid.

“Why?”

“…Are you here after rolling around in the construction site instead of the library today?”

Filthy.

With her dress, face, and hair covered in dust, the maid could only be shocked by the young lady.

Anyway.

It was a gift obtained after such twists and turns, and the next morning, Ariel, who had hidden it, was waiting for Elden to come.

“When will he come~”

Finally, Ariel saw Elden enter through the side street next to the reading room and greeted him with a bright smile.

“Oh? Elden! You’re here?”

“Yeah. Were you waiting for me?”

“No? Why?”

Ariel cut him off.

Reaching out behind her to hide the gift was an instinctive reaction she couldn’t control.

“I kept looking towards the entrance. I stopped by the cooking corner on my way back because I was looking for something today.”

“Why?”

“I was wondering if there was a book like a map of monster dishes nationwide or organized by region.”

“…!!”

Unable to contain her excitement at Elden’s sudden words.

“…Why are you like that?”

“Heh, actually, I have a gift for you…!”

“You? Why?”

“Uh… well, I just wanted to give you a gift?”

“What is it?”

Elden sat down across from Ariel without much expectation.

In front of his face, there appeared none other than the book titled “Monster Cooking Nationwide Tour.”

“Ta-da! With this, your culinary journey preparations are complete!”

Receiving it, Elden asked in surprise.

With a bright smile on his lips.

“…What’s this? This is exactly what I was looking for. I couldn’t find a similar book even after searching through all the corners, how did you find it?”

In response to Elden’s question, memories of yesterday’s self, shocked in the shadows, tears streaming down at the sight of dust, came to mind, but Ariel just chuckled and replied.

“The librarian found it for me. And not only that, they lent it to me indefinitely! Do you like it?”

Rather than receiving recognition for the effort put into finding the gift, it was a response born from the desire to prioritize the joy of a precious reading companion.

“Yeah. Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”

What a relief!

With a relieved smile, Ariel was able to unload the burden of her self-made emotional baggage.