Capitulo 21
Chapter 21 – ༺The Bun-Haired Bookworm And The Fanfic Protagonist༻.
«Miss, why are you eating so little today?».
Just as the night air was beginning to clear in the early morning, with only an hour to go before the grand ducal library opened, Ariel was eating breakfast.
At the maid’s question, Ariel replied with an apologetic expression.
«I forgot to tell you earlier. From now on, prepare me a simple breakfast. I’m sorry.»
«What, why?»
«Hehe, I don’t need to eat to bursting anymore.»
«Really?»
«Actually, I ran into a classmate from the academy in the library yesterday.»
«Wow, really?»
The maid, who looked to be Ariel’s age, opened her eyes in surprise and quickly sat down in front of her.
Eyes bright with curiosity.
A burning desire to hear an interesting story began to fill those eyes.
If this was a fellow academy member known in the grand duchy library, he must have been one of the final candidates for the engagement battle.
«Who, who did you meet?»
» I ran into Elden Rapellion.»
«Y-Yes?»
The maiden was as surprised as if she had seen a ghost.
It was unavoidable.
Unlike the three candidates who had a not-so-bad public reputation, Elden Rapellion’s reputation was literally on the floor.
Unlike others who hid their evil and reeked behind their backs, Elden was a villain who had lived by blatantly displaying his villainy, so it was only natural that the maid was more shocked than impressed.
Among the maidservants who talked about the winner of the pitched battle at every opportunity, Elden Rapellion had not been mentioned even once.
The maid asked worriedly.
«Are you, are you all right, you haven’t had a horrible experience that has made you unable to eat properly?» ….»
«No, no. Thanks to Elden, I don’t have to gorge myself at breakfast anymore.»
«What?»
«Elden invited me to lunch together. In the grand hall of the grand duchy, no less.»
«Why?»
«It seems he’ll be eating alone anyway, so he suggested we eat together? And he asked me for recommendations on pure literature, so I gave him a whole bunch!»
The maid was dumbfounded.
It was a hard story to believe for another reason.
Even though his chances of winning were almost nil, he was still participating in the engagement battle to be chosen by the third grand duchess.
It made no sense for him to have a private meal, especially in the bustling space of the great hall, with another woman.
On the other hand, such an action could inadvertently start a scandal, potentially causing the third grand duchess to frown.
«Hmm, I think it would be best not to have a meal with Master Elden…»
«Why, because I have to eat a lot for breakfast?»
«No, no. It’s not because of that. I’m just worried that you might hear something unpleasant from the third grand duchess if you have a meal with a final candidate.»
The maid’s sincere concern.
Ariel smiled brightly at hearing it.
«Don’t worry about that.»
«Huh?»
«Elden has retired. That’s why he’s asked for us to eat together.»
«What!»
This morning, the maid was about to burst out with shocking news.
«Ah, it’s almost time for me to open the library. I’ll be right back.»
Ariel, who had risen briskly from her seat, began to hurry out of the bedroom with the books she had borrowed.
Her steps were unusually brisk and quick today, probably due to not feeling bloated from overeating and the anticipation of hearing thoughts on the novel she first recommended.
She was excited.
About what those thoughts would be.
She was worried.
About what those thoughts would be.
A mixture of anticipation and anxiety embroidered her footsteps on the damp floor of the north command.
Tap-tap.
Ariel’s golden bun hairstyle began to flutter in the cool morning breeze.
**
Ariel, who had arrived at the library 5 minutes before it opened and was first in line, returned the books she had read during the night.
Then she chose others to read and sat down.
It was the place she had promised with Elden.
Worried that someone else might take the spot, Ariel moved even faster today.
» Hehe~»
Humming softly and moving the tips of her crossed legs, Ariel began to read.
Peek.
Swoosh.
Peek.
Swoosh.
Peek.
As he turned the pages, his gaze wandered to the entrance, making it difficult for him to concentrate on reading.
Considering he had been up all night, it was no wonder he struggled to meet his scheduled reading quota, slapping his cheeks to regain his concentration.
Slap-slap-slap.
They had not agreed on a specific time.
Since they had planned to have lunch together, he would come earlier, she thought.
With that in mind, Ariel began to concentrate on her reading and soon found herself engrossed in a gripping story. Then, suddenly, she raised her head.
«…….»
The previously silent reading room was now buzzing with activity.
Absorbed in the novel, she had just realized that it was lunchtime and people were gathering.
However, there was no sign of Elden.
Had he forgotten?
Or had something happened?
Sigh……. He promised he would come.»
The top of his stomach, concave from skipping breakfast, had sunk.
The stomach that hadn’t filled to bursting was quickly deflating.
Sighing as she rubbed her now empty stomach, Ariel fortunately had two buns in her pocket, prepared by the maid just before she left the bedroom, just in case.
Though it was far from enough to satiate her, it was a daily ration that could slightly ease her hunger.
Something must have happened….
Since Elden didn’t show up even at mealtime, Ariel reached into her pocket.
Quickly glancing around, she covered her mouth with her outer hand and slipped in a small bun.
Then she began to chew silently.
Although she was allowed to eat in the reading room, she was embarrassed to eat alone.
Munch-munch.
Indeed, the buns made by Miya were delicious.
No one saw it, did they?
Proud of her quick and perfect stealth eating, Ariel looked around with a sense of pride.
Her skills, honed since academy days, had not rusted, evident by her proud look.
Then, she saw Elden, his black hair fluttering as he approached.
«Oh! Eld…!»
Plop!
Ariel hastily covered her mouth with both hands.
She almost blurted out her chewed bun.
She almost sketched a wide grin.
Almost showing how eager she had been waiting.
Knowing that showing such impatience might overwhelm the other person, Ariel, who had hastily swallowed the bun, had to calmly wave her hand by way of greeting.
«You, have you come?»
«Yes. I finished reading the book you recommended yesterday and came a little late.»
He had come for what he had finally come for.
The novel he promised to finish reading was «The Great Great Gentlemen».
Among the recommended works, it was notably one of the top picks.
«…How did it go?»
Ariel asked nervously.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She was more delighted to have a dining companion than to share thoughts about the book read with a fellow reader.
So, with a rain-soaked puppy face, she waited for an answer and, thankfully, had to relieve herself with yesterday’s unchanged review.
«Was it really interesting? Actually, I was late because I was doing a thorough re-read of the last volume.»
«Really?»
Plop!
In a space where silence is golden.
A space where loud voices are a nuisance.
Ariel, whose voice had been unintentionally raised, had to cover her mouth again.
Today, more than ever, she was finding it hard to control her instincts.
Elden laughed and shared the scenes that had moved him deeply.
«Especially at the end, when Lancelot says to the grand duchess, ‘I’ll go ahead. Please take your time,’ and he heads off alone toward the enemy lines. It almost brought tears to my eyes. It soaked my romantic soul.»
Ariel nodded vigorously in fervent agreement and tried to express her joy quietly.
«Ah! I remember that scene. I cried my eyes out then. I knew you’d like it too.»
«Do you have another similar novel?»
«Sure, sure! Shall I recommend any more?»
If joy could take shape, it would be Ariel’s face.
As if sprouting the bud of a bright flower, Ariel, with a beaming smile, began to recall the list of recommendations in her head, which was bursting into fireworks.
Then, she noticed a woman standing next to Elden.
«Huh?»
The woman standing diagonally behind Elden’s right side.
A woman standing in the same spot as his during the academy days, wearing a knight’s uniform.
Her shoulder adorned with a black leather shoulder pad, a crest in the center of her chest that indicated she was a personal knight of a nobleman, and dressed in long brown leather boots and a brown hooded cloak that came down to her waist, giving her an overall dark appearance.
The woman, with deep-set eyes like black stones that contrasted with her striking purplish hair, stood diagonally behind Elden.
Knowing her as a personal knight, Ariel had not seen her accompany him yesterday, which prompted him to ask.
«But who…?»
«Ah, it’s my personal knight.»
«Personal gentleman?»
«Yes. Rachel? Say hello to her. This is Miss Ariel of the family of the Earl of Elrond.»
After Elden’s introduction, Rachel stepped forward and bowed her head.
«It is an honor to meet you. I am Rachel.»
«Ah… I’m pleased to meet you too. But…?»
Ariel had always met personal gentlemen who were, of course, all men.
Stocky, with rough beards, or a musky scent.
Although there were some female knights, they were just as stocky and stiff as the men.
Some even shaved their heads or drew on beards to pass for men.
Ariel had never seen a personal gentleman like Rachel and, at the same time, it reminded her of a character in a novel.
The protagonist of «The Road Traveled by the Purple Knight,» Rachel.
She belonged to a subgenre, a [fanfic] of the modern era, with the same name as the character.
From the description of her appearance to her name, everything matched.
Especially popular with female readers, it was the saga of a female knight, deeply touching to Ariel, akin to meeting a celebrity(?).
«Are you, are you perhaps… the Purple Knight, Rachel?»
Surprised by Ariel’s question, Elden replied.
«Huh? Do you two know each other?»
«No. This is our first meeting. No, have we met before? No, it’s ‘really’ our first time.»
Rachel, looking at Ariel who was grinning from ear to ear, asked in confusion.
«You…you know me? I think we’re seeing each other for the first time today.»
«Of course I know you, the Purple Knight, Rachel! The brave female warrior, the genius of demonic swordsmanship, a master of all weapons, a beauty in every aspect, the hope and heroine of women who rose to the top in a skewed world, Rachel! I have read the novel where Knight Rachel appears three times~»
«…Excuse me? Is there a…. book about that?»
«Of course! Although it was published recently and is hard to find in the market due to it being taboo as a song in praise of a female knight.»
«…….»
Rachel, who had unknowingly become the protagonist of her own saga, was stunned at the news.
And for Elden Rapellion, a dark horse on the rise, this was extremely valuable information.
An otherworldly fanfic with his personal knight as the protagonist.
It was an irresistible source.
«Ariel, is that book here by any chance?»
«Yes! It’s in the pure literature corner. Would you like to read it?»
«That would be nice.»
«Then I’ll go get it…!»
Ariel ran toward the pure literature corner, skirt billowing.
There was no stopping her, leaving Rachel with no choice but to watch her go.
«Ah, why ….»
And then.
Zap.
Rachel was looking forward to the afternoon workout.