Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy

“Well...Everyone ready to depart?”

The next morning,

After a light breakfast, we loaded our luggage onto the wagon and gathered in front of the inn, ready to go.

It was finally time for us to set off for Winterfell, the Capital of the Grand Duchy.

So, I asked them if they were ready.

“.........Yes.”

Ariel mumbled without even looking at me.

“......”

My Teacher narrowed her eyes as she glared at me.

While I could understand Ariel’s reaction, I for one was completely lost as to why Rachel was being so grumpy, when I asked her why this morning, her only reply was ‘It’s nothing’.

But it was definitively something.

Of course, I didn’t press further, assuming she was just being mad out of embarrassment for showing her nude form.

Just like a kid sulking to hide their shame.

Regardless, our priority was to hasten our departure for the Grand Duchy.

The distance was considerable.

To avoid sleeping in the wild, we needed to move quickly.

Therefore, as soon as Lumia - With her hood on - climbed into the wagon, we set off towards the southern gate of Winterfell.

Lumia grumbled a bit, saying she could walk now, but I dismissed her claims.

So, our Journey continued without any major incidents until we neared the southern gate.

The wind at our backs pushed us forward.

The warm sunlight illuminated our path.

And the melody of the chirping birds refreshed us.

Everything seemed to aid our journey to the Grand Duchy, allowing us to reach the entrance of the capital’s bridge leading to the Grand Duchy’s southern gate by late evening as the moon rose.

“Ho, Ho, Ho. The Gods must be favoring us today! What a swift journey, indeed!”

“Yes. We were fortunate.”

“Ho, Ho! This old man still can’t help but marvel at Winterfell’s walls...”

As Rendler said, the southern gate boasted a grandeur and majesty surpassing any structure we’d seen in the western territories.

Medieval fortresses were built around the walls for defense.

Various trenches filled with water were dug to impede the advance of enemy soldiers on the walls.

A single bridge served as both the entry and exit.

The Grand Duchy’s southern gate bridge, built over a river easily 500 meters below, boasted an impressive height.

Its length made even the massive gate seem trivial in comparison.

With a mountain range of sheer cliffs and snowy peaks to the east, a deep natural moat below, and formidable walls facing forward that one wouldn’t dare to climb, the southern gate alone could rightfully be called an impregnable fortress.

After walking for about twenty minutes, admiring the breathtaking scenery and historical architecture, we reached the checkpoint in front of the gate.

Simultaneously, tension filled the air.

After all, we had Lumia with us in the wagon.

Unless they looked inside, they couldn’t find her, and traditionally, nobles’ carriages weren’t searched.

But if the Grand Duke ordered for all carriages to be searched, then only the King’s procession would be spared...And if Logan was feeling especially grumpy...Even the King had to bear with it.

So, things could get hairy at any moment now.

Of course, even then, we wouldn’t be harmed.

If we’d safely brought Lumia away from Deron, logically we would be rewarded instead of punished.

However, for reasons unknown, Lumia had chosen a lonely death far from the Grand Duchy and refused when asked about returning home.

Given the circumstances, she hadn’t been exiled, so Grand Duke Logan might be waiting for her return.

But, the lack of a massive search for his missing youngest daughter suggested otherwise.

As if he valued the Family’s prestige over his own daughter’s life.

Anyway.

If we were discovered during inspection, things might go against Lumia’s wishes, so I hoped for a smooth passage.

“Next.”

While one might argue it was foolish to risk passing through the Grand Duchy, we had no better option to reach the Marquisate of Eris.

During the winter, all other paths to the Marquisate became too dangerous, and since the Grand Duchy was located right between west and east, it was the only option for now.

If we tried to evade going into the Grand Duchy at any cost, we could have to go south, passing through the ‘Forsaken Winter’, a place of terror for northerners despite its exciting name.

A modern Bermuda Triangle of sorts.

Rumors said choosing suicide was preferable to facing a snowstorm there, and many who dared venture disappeared in the Forsaken Winter.

Thus, paradoxically, passing through the Grand Duchy capital was the safest way east, bringing us here.

Of course, all our worries proved laughably unnecessary.

“Identification, please.”

“Elden Raphelion.”

“Hiii—! Y-You can P-pass through!”

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

We cleared the checkpoint with ridiculous ease.

Hmm...

Perhaps living as a villain might...

Not be so bad?

With such a frivolous thought we entered Winterfell.

I took a deep breath as if inhaling the scent of home.

The place was quiet.

The streets were blanketed in snow.

Everything had turned completely white.

Surveying the Grand Duchy I’d left in May when everything was thawing, now returning in November as everything froze, I muttered an incongruous sentiment.

“It feels like coming home.”

And so, after six months, I returned to the place where everything had begun.

Where the villain Elden Raphelion was reborn.

Where I first opened my eyes to this otherwordly medieval fantasy.

A place that felt vaguely like home, somewhat nostalgic.

**

“I’ll go take care of some business then.”

After securing lodgings, I ventured out alone into the streets, with the excuse of doing some errands.

But in truth, it was nothing important.

I just went to buy two healing scrolls from a nearby scroll shop.

And perhaps...

“Indulge in a bit of nostalgia.”

It was hard to pinpoint why Winterfell felt so familiar, despite not being my real home and lacking significant memories.

My stay hadn’t even been that long.

This homecoming sensation might be mere affectation or forced pseudo-homesickness, but I decided not to overthink my desire to stroll the night streets.

After all.

The Grand Duchy of Winterfell was a special place for me.

Scrunch, Scrunch-.

I walked towards the scroll shop, taking in the night scenery.

Luckily, I managed to buy the scrolls from the shopkeeper when he was preparing to close his establishment.

The Grand Duchy was just a momentary stop at our Journey’s destination,

The Marquisate of Eris.

We planned to leave through the eastern gate after a quick breakfast tomorrow.

It would take a full day of travel just to reach the eastern gate.

Such was the size of the Grand Duchy.

Today and tomorrow.

In two days, we’d be outside the Grand Duchy, embarking on the long journey to Eris.

Perhaps that’s why I yearned to savor the night’s ambiance.

Moreover, this might be my last visit to Winterfell for who knows how long.

“The moon’s especially bright tonight.”

Leaving the shop with my scrolls, I leisurely walked under the moonlit streets.

Then, a voice calling my name stopped me in my tracks.

From behind.

“Elden?”

An unfamiliar voice.

Yet one that called me casually.

It wasn’t Ariel.

Nor it was Rachel.

So I turned around, puzzled.

And,

“......?”

I faced an unfamiliar woman.

Her midnight cloak had the crest of the Magic Association.

And her crimson hair contrasted with those gemlike dark blue eyes.

She seemed about my age.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the famous Elden Raphelion...Or should I say, infamous?”

The woman frowned as she looked at me as if seeing something unpleasant.

Yet, her mouth soon curled into a faint smile.

A smile that harbored a mix of many things, like joy, horror, anger, and....Delight?

I frantically searched my memories, but sadly, nothing came to mind.

Whether due to my transmigration blurring all the Original’s memories or because Elden simply barely knew or cared about her...I couldn’t utter a word, unable to recall her name.

The woman crossed her arms, flashing a sardonic smile.

“Still as rude as ever, I see?”

“Uh... um...”

“I didn’t think you’d completely forget. You really do exceed expectations, don’t you?”

“Hmm...”

Judging by her reaction, it seemed the original Elden had done something to her as well...

Why couldn’t this guy do something good for a change...

Perhaps that’s why I felt so cowed by her sharp demeanor since the karma for the Original’s mistakes would probably fall on me as well.

When she mentioned her name, my heart sank even further.

How could it not?

“Anna Ventria.”

The moment I heard that name, I remembered exactly what the original Elden had done to her.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the betrothal candidate you cruelly rejected just because you thought she was ‘ugly’?”

Oh...

This is...

Am I screwed?

I thought, when suddenly...

The reason for the mix of contempt and joy in her smile became clear.

“Well, I had absolutely no desire to be betrothed to the likes of you either, so I’m actually quite grateful.”

Ah?

Woman are you thanking me or threatening me?

Confused by her ambiguous words, I couldn’t greet her, respond, or apologize.

I just stood there dumbfounded.

All I could do was awkwardly change the subject and question the reason for this fateful encounter.

“Uh... It’s been a while. But what brings you here...?”

If I remember correctly, she wasn’t from here, but from Tmirion Duchy far to the south.

The same territory as the original Elden.

I asked, with a hint of reproach, how we happened to meet by chance in this vast, foreign land at such a late hour.

But Anna answered me with that same confusing smile.

“I was dispatched to investigate reports of dark magic near Winterfell’s Grand Castle.”