Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy

In the Grand Ducal Palace, where only the torches fought bravely against the encroaching darkness,

On the darkest hour, where most were already asleep, a single lamp in a quiet office refused to go out, illuminating its master’s night.

And the master of that lamp...

Logan Winterfell, the Grand Duke was reviewing the backlogged approval documents as usual.

The fortunate thing was that the pile of documents was only a low hill,

While November in the Northern Regions was a preparation period for the people to endure the severe cold, for Logan, it was also the final period to be freed, even if briefly, from the severe feast of document piles.

Logan, who had been reading the documents, leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

In the center of the ceiling.

The snowflake pattern symbolizing the Winterfell Grand Ducal family was visible.

Logan closed his eyes to block his gaze, but he couldn’t block the sighs that escaped.

“Sigh......”

The sigh-like groan escaped him, as Logan stared at the Winterfell crest that had shone, is shining, and will shine in the future to come.

His sigh carried the agony felt as the Head of the Family as well as the regret for having failed his daughter.

As the Head, he was maintaining the Glory of Winterfell, but as a father, he failed.

Of course, the man himself knew that should he gain the opportunity to redo his past...

He wouldn’t change it.

They were a series of decisions made for the sake of the masses and the greater good.

Even if there were foolish decisions among them, even if he regretted those decisions, he considered it his share to endure and swallow it all.

Back then, his daughter just happened to be born at the same time he slayed the Chieftain of the Ghoul tribe.

A tragic coincidence.

《Kuk...Kuk...Our Tribe was been doomed for Tragedy, while your family celebrates! Ahh...This cannot stand...How could I rest like this...》

《...What nonsense are you spouting now, foul beast?》

The moment he slayed the Chieftain, his daughter was born. A month earlier than the due date.

That’s why he had dismissed the Mutant Tribe Chief’s words about celebrating as nonsense.

There was nothing to celebrate except for the birth of his youngest daughter.

《Hahaha...! Cursed be your kin! Let the blood of your blood die lonely and desolate! Let your kin feel all the pain, regret, and despair you inflected on my Tribe! Kekekeke...They will meet their end alone, after exhausting all their energy, running away from the inevitable! Just like me, hehehehehe-!!》

《What...?》

At the time, the Grand Duke dismissed those words as nonsense.

There was no need to believe in the words of a dying man.

He heard words like these multiple times as he slayed his enemies.

Thus, after extinguishing the Ghoul Tribe, Logan Winterfell returned to his castle and held his newborn daughter, as he celebrated her birth.

It was simply a coincidence, and the curse of the Chieftain must have been nothing more than the resentment of a dead man.

Thus, he raised Lumia, while keeping those words to himself, making every effort to ensure she would have a happy life.

The child born too soon, became an adult before he knew.

Logan held the Grand Ducal Betrothal, an event the entire Kingdom was anticipating, thanking the gods for crushing the wicked one’s wish, believing that his faith that the curse was nothing more than a petty wish of a miserable being was not wrong.

At the same time...

“Lumia...”

The curse was in fact, working hard.

As if mocking his numbness and complacency towards the indefinite, unforeseeable curse, Lumia had experienced something that would make her live a life of pain and regret according to the Chieftain, and then ran away to somewhere.

At this rate, the Grand Duke could see his daughter meeting a tragic and lonely end, just as the curse foretold.

To prevent that, he should have launched a massive search, taking on all the dishonor, fierce criticism, and ridicule as Gelwood said, but he didn’t.

It was because he understood his daughter who left, saying she didn’t want to lose or hurt her loved ones anymore.

It was because he respected the opinion of his daughter who left, taking upon herself the tragedies caused by the curse.

Even if he found Lumia through a massive search, Lumia would be subjected to a lifetime of reprimands and criticism from all the family members related to Winterfell for the crime of causing the family’s honor to fall, and she would spend her life in pain and regret, just as the Chieftain said, due to the guilt of causing irreparable harm to her loved ones.

Therefore, he let her go.

Nevertheless, the reason he was secretly searching was to fulfill the minimum responsibility and duty he should have as a father.

Even if his heart ached, if he found her corpse, he would have to pray for her soul, and if she was living in hiding somewhere, he would have to silently watch over her.

And.

The starting point of this whole mess.

It was his duty to have his pound of flesh over the mastermind behind his daughter’s suffering. Deron Caelid.

“......Where is that worm hiding...”

Logan frowned as he thought about him.

Then, a sudden knocking sound rang out from the door of his office.

-Knock knock.

“Come in.”

The only one who would visit his office at this late hour would be Gelwood.

Every now and then, he would visit with two cups of Winter Blossom Tea, and they would relieve each other’s fatigue with a good talk.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

However, Gelwood’s hands were empty as he opened the door and entered, and his face was too stiff for a casual conversation.

He didn’t step inside even after opening the door.

At that, Logan also had to pull his upper body that had been leaning against the backrest.

“Gelwood...?”

Then Gelwood opened his mouth, and Logan, who had become tense along with him, had to make a puzzled expression.

“Elden Raphelion requests an audience.”

“What? Elden Raphelion?”

Of course, with the words that followed, Logan’s face also hardened to a degree not inferior to Gelwood’s.

“Young Lord Elden claims he captured Deron Caelid.”

“...Pardon?”

The Grand Duke’s covert teams were struggling to find a single clue about the Worm’s location.

And now, news of his capture came from a place he never expected.

Leaving the documents he was reviewing behind, Logan headed straight to the reception room.

His thundering steps echoed through the Grand Ducal Palace hallways.

**

“Feels like I’m back home...”

Tch, to think that the Grand Ducal Palace would feel like home.

Despite having a life-threatening experience a few moments ago, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic as I entered the Palace.

This palace was always rather peaceful...Or should I say quiet?

The place where I was desperate to escape from has now become a cozy place that stimulates nostalgia. I guess it’s true that human emotions are fickle.

I had easily passed the checkpoint by sending a message through the guards to Lord Gelwood that I had brought a “gift”.

Clatter clatter clatter.

The sound of the wheels of a small cart covered with a sack resonates loudly on the night road.

Pulling it, I headed straight to the main castle.

Incidentally, I also took a look at the interior scenery that I had seen for 2 weeks after my transmigration.

Nothing has changed.

Well, six months isn’t a rather short time all things considered.

Under the guidance of the guards, I quickly headed toward the Main Keep.

With Deron Caelid, whose head was covered with a hood, slung over my shoulder like a hunted beast.

Then.

“Umph? Mmph!”

The bastard, whose hands, feet, and mouth were tied up, regained consciousness.

Zap.

But with a bit of magic, I knocked him down once again.

“Phew. I should have asked the guards to carry him for me. He’s damn heavy...Why couldn’t I bring my little cart here too? Tsk...Stupid security rules...”

As I continued to grumble, I was forced to walk through a rather dizzying set of stairs. After reaching the reception room, I was forced to take a few moments to compose myself as my tongue was out like a panting dog.

Then, I entered the room.

First, I tied the bastard’s whole body to a chair.

There’s no need to waste time.

The reason I brought him here, sweating even in the cold night air, is simply to figure out the Grand Duke’s intentions.

I wanted to know what kind of thoughts he had, as Lumia’s father.

So, I waited, hoping that his intentions were the opposite of what I expected to hear.

After a while, Logan Winterfell appeared through the door that opened wide without a knock.

This guy certainly did justice to the monicker of Winter King...His enormous physique exuded an overwhelming aura. I bet he could frighten people better than me!

I immediately stood up and bowed my head.

“Elden Raphelion, at your service.”

Wait, come to think of it.

This is the first time I’ve met the Grand Duke in private since I transmigrated, right?

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

Thinking that it would be a difficult private meeting for some reason, I sat across from Logan who was taking a seat at the head of the table.

Just like that, I was now meeting the Heroine’s father in private, six months after escaping this place.

**

“......”

“......”

A tense silence permeated the room.

While I stayed silent because I didn’t want to take the lead in this conversation, the Grand Duke was silent because he didn’t have enough time to sort out the current situation...And well, the bastard was silent because I knocked him out.

I bet he’s confused.

Because he would never have imagined, even in his dreams, that the ‘Wastrel’ who Withdrew from the contest would capture Deron.

Moreover, it was public knowledge that Lumia and Deron should be enjoying their honeymoon now.

The silence continued for a while like that.

The one who broke it first was, of course, Logan Winterfell.

“It’s been a while, Lord Elden.”

“It’s an honor to see you, Your Grace.”

“I heard you have business with me.”

The Grand Duke asked while staring at the hooded bastard.

Knowing the game he was playing, I answered comfortably,

After all, I had already decorated my script before coming here.

“I ran into him by chance in the southern part of the Grand Duchy. It seemed like he was harming the people using black magic, so I captured him and brought him here.”

“...Black Magic you say? I cannot sense anything like that in him.”

“Ah, I see how that could be hard to believe. Fortunately, one of my companions is a member of the Magic Association, so we were able to purify the black magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

And...He went silent again.

He must be judging the truthfulness of my words and gauging the next situations with those words.

Unlike me, who came fully prepared, he had no time to prepare.

After a pause, he soon continued his words.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

And those words revealed what kind of personality he had.

Without further ado, he cut to the chase.

“...Then, why did you bring him directly to me? You could have handed the criminal over to the Ducal Guard.”

He wanted to gauge how much I knew of the situation with this question.

“Well, I don’t know why he was causing that commotion with Black Magic, but isn’t Deron your Grace’s son-in-law? That’s why I thought it would be best to hand him over directly, to you, Your Grace. Having a family member involved with such things would cause all sorts of headaches.”

My prepared answer was both naive and serious.

If Logan’s eye for people is no different from other dukes in novels, he will be able to know the true value contained in that answer.

Because I implicitly included the inside story in order to figure out his intentions.

Logan nodded his head slightly a few times.

His face was a bit more relaxed now.

He seemed relieved.

Whatever he must be thinking, this must be a good sign.

“I see. Let me see his face. I’ll personally interrogate the Wor-Him.”

“As you wish.”

I took off the bastard’s hood.

Since I knocked him out with a bit of electricity, he had his head bowed until now.

Then, after asking for the Grand Duke’s permission to wake him up...

I shocked him again

Zap!

“Kuh-heuk?!”

The bastard’s head jerked up, startled by the sudden shock.

It didn’t take long for him to recognize this place.

His eyes widened, his mouth opened and his nostrils flared.

“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke?!!”

Logan’s face hardened fiercely as soon as he looked at the bastard.

A face befitting of a great general who sweeps away entire armies with a swing of his halberd. 1

I wasn’t even the one he was glaring at, yet, my buttocks clenched.

There’s no need to elaborate on how scary the Grand Duke looked.

If I ever saw this man running at me with that face, wielding a halberd...I would piss myself on the spot.

Anyway.

Facing Logan’s murderous face, Deron was terrified like a puppy placed in front of an angry tiger.

As if swallowing his anger, Logan spoke in a barely contained tone.

“There’s no need for words. We both know what happened on that day.”

“It’s slander!! I ran away that day because Lumia tried to kill me!! The maid died trying to stop that!!”

Veins popped on Deron’s neck as he yelled, desperately lying about the events of that day.

If he had seen Lumia withering away and dying in the ruins, holding a bloody handkerchief, he wouldn’t have dared to utter such nonsense, but since the only witness to the incident, the maid, died and Lumia also ran away that very day, it won’t be easy to prove Deron’s lies.

There’s nothing like a CCTV here in the Medieval Age, so eyewitness testimony holds great power unless there is definitive evidence.

Of course, since the Grand Duke stands at the very top of the societal hierarchy, he could force his way without much effort. However, it’s usually unsettling to behead someone whose guilt has not been clearly proven.

“Can’t you see that Lumia ran away?! She ran away because she was afraid her crimes would be exposed! Please believe me!”

Then, the Grand Duke ignored Deron’s cries and looked into my eyes.

“Lord Elden. You were the one who captured this Worm...Tell me what you think.”

Of course, Deron, who was driven into a corner, couldn’t just sit back and watch a third party intervene.

“Y-Your Grace! You cannot listen to this Wastrel’s words-!! He’s a...?! Urk! Mmph-!!!”

Squeeeeze-!!

Of course, the Grand Duke also couldn’t just sit and listen to the bastard’s intervention.

He extended his large hand, and made a grasping motion, as Deron’s face shriveled, as if it would cave in.

I guess he knows how to use the force too...

As expected of a Novel Duke...They can do anything!

“Quiet Worm. So, let me hear your thoughts, Lord Elden.”

Of course, he’s not asking purely out of curiosity about my thoughts.

Depending on the answer, he’s probably trying to gauge whether Lumia is with me.

I decided to answer comfortably.

That’s why I brought the bastard here to meet him.

“He’s lying of course. That’s an absurd insult to the Third Northern Duchess, Lumia Winterfell.”

“......”

Logan looked at me as if to rummage through my eyes.

I didn’t avert my gaze either.

To convey Lumia’s feelings on her behalf.

Logan withdrew his gaze.

The corners of his mouth moved subtly.

Then, he relaxed his hand which was curved into a grasping motion.

“Huk-! Your Grace! You must believe me! This useless Wastrel is the one lying-!”

This guy.

When he was corrupted he couldn’t care less about dying, but now he’s fearful of dying huh...?

Despite his desperate words, the Grand Duke only looked at him for a moment before speaking,

“In other words, since there are no witnesses to the incident, your words, as the involved party are credible, is that it?”

“Yes!! That’s right!”

With a snort, the Grand Duke turned his head towards the back of the room,

There, stood a small closed door.

As he looked at that door, he commanded.

“Come in.”

The person beyond the door.

As expected, was it Advisor Gelwood who was waiting for the evidence?

Even if it’s the Middle Ages, this place is at the pinnacle of aristocratic society where conspiracies and schemes run rampant, so there must have been some device prepared using top-secret magic that is not known to the public.

Wondering what mysterious magical technology would front-kick the bastard and make him fall off a cliff, I stared at Advisor Gelwood entering through the open door, but...

“...Huh?”

The moment I saw a young girl following behind Advisor Gelwood, who entered empty-handed, I couldn’t help but let out a surprised gasp.

The maid I bumped into while turning a corner after I declared my withdrawal...

The maid who greeted me at the end of the Grand Ducal Betrothal, the one I asked to take care of Lumia.

The maid who I thought had been killed by Deron’s hand while trying to protect Lumia.

And.

The only witness to the events of that day and the owner of the blood-stained handkerchief Lumia was holding.

“Marien...?”

“Lord Elden.”

It was the maid Marien.

“The witness you’ve been rambling about is right here, so why don’t you try blabbering again?”

Deron’s judgment was thus soon carried out.

“Gelwood. I want this worm in the deepest, darkest dungeon in this palace. Inform the torturer to cut off his limbs, and pull out his teeth while keeping him alive and awake through it all. He won’t have the sweet release of death, till I order it.”

The mastermind of the Regretful Trio...

Meet his end, just like that.

Not as a death after being bested, nor as a villain who turned a new leaf, but as someone who was denied death.

“Aaaaaargh—!! N-No!!”

This marked the beginning of a Tragic story, filled with regret, tears, and pain that no one would read or hear of.

1. This a Lu-Bu Reference.