༺ Beginnings ༻
There weren’t many ways for a commoner to become ‘successful’ in this world.
Especially for a woman.
They could become an outstanding merchant, a steward of a noble’s house above the Earl rank, marry into a wealthy family…Or become a famous courtesan in the Kingdom’s largest pleasure districts.
The path to success for a common born was long and narrow.
And that same path unfolded before Rachel, who was born in a small village to the west of Raphelion County.
“Dad, buy me a sword.”
The day she turned 13, Rachel made a sudden request of her father as she helped him with fieldwork.
“What? You want a sword?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“If I earn a lot of money, I can make you happy, can’t I, Dad?”
“Hahaha-. My daughter, your father is already happy.”
“B-But, people told me we should dream big! So I’m going to become a noble’s personal bodyguard. It’s safe and I’ll earn a lot of money!”
“……Rachel. Listen to your father. Women can’t become personal bodyguards.”
“Why?”
“……Because they are inherently weaker.”
Weak.
When she turned 17, Rachel realized that ‘being weaker’ wasn’t the whole reason.
It was during her fourth year of swordsmanship training, which she started out of sheer stubbornness.
She realized that aside from a woman’s ‘weakness’, the society itself was steeped in male chauvinism.
In the nobles’ eyes, women were merely possessions.
To them, a low-born woman was just a ‘sexual slave’.
They would never entrust a woman with the important duty of protecting their lives or upholding their honor.
It was unfair.
Rachel was confident that she would succeed. She believed she had talent.
Yet, she was never given the opportunity to showcase her skills.
“I won’t give up! I’ll become a personal bodyguard no matter what!”
Her pride and stubbornness drove her.
Thus, Rachel didn’t give up on the sword, and at the age of 19, when her father passed away in a tragic accident, she stained her hands with blood for the first time.
Her anger at this unfair world exploded.
She wanted to overcome this harsh reality.
She wanted to slash through this injustice.
So, Rachel willingly jumped onto a rough path.
It was during that period when she headed towards the chaotic Northern Regions of Winterfell.
The young woman slashed through whoever stood in her way and trampled upon anything in her path.
As a result, she acquired the moniker of the [ The Purple Knight ].
However,
She failed numerous times at the personal bodyguard recruitment events.
Despite her humble origins, Rachel applied to events hosted by all nobles, including Earls, and she always defeated her opponents, yet, she had to swallow the bitter taste of failure and rejection.
But she didn’t give up.
And, after a long time, she finally managed to become a bodyguard for a Count.
[Elden Raphelion]
Her determination shone through, fulfilling the promise she had made to her father.
Of course, Rachel also became aware of the vulgar side of nobility while being the personal bodyguard of one as a woman.
“Heh-. I had to personally defy Father’s choice just to hire you.”
“Thank you. I shall guard Young Master with my life.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Pardon?”
“If you strip now, I’ll double your promised salary.”
“……”
Rachel grasped the hilt of her sheathed sword.
On her first day as a bodyguard,
She nearly severed the Young Master’s head.
Fortunately,
“……Well, if you are content with your current salary, there’s no need for that.”
The Young Master quickly retracted his vulgar proposal in the face of Rachel’s overwhelming killing intent, preventing a disaster.
But of course, his attempts to claim her never ceased.
However, Rachel never once considered the option of quitting. Not just because of the money, but also, because her job was too comfortable.
Her charge, Elden Raphelion, was different from the other nobles she had ever seen.
He didn’t rely on others when threatened.
He would confront and punish everyone who stood against him, himself, a true battle maniac unafraid of staining his hands with blood.
Moreover, he was quite skilled in combat.
Since the Young Master could handle most of his adversaries on his own, there was hardly anything for her to do.
Of course, in Rachel’s eyes, his fighting style was nothing more than sloppy brawling, but unlike the other noble scions, he was good enough to protect himself.
Rachel had become the personal bodyguard of someone who didn’t need it. Thus, she could laze around all day.
It felt like a reward for the harsh and unfair life she had lived until now, a compensation for having defied and risen against her fate as a woman.
Her job was easy, as long as she let the constant crass language of her charge go into one ear and out the other.
And so, five years passed.
“To reach the red-light district, we need to head to West 18th Street.”
Even if she had nothing to do, Rachel would always accompany Elden on his outings.
Every time he went to a new place, he would always visit the red-light district first.
Afterwards, he’d go to a tavern to guzzle alcohol and then become a drunken troublemaker.
Things always followed this exact pattern.
However,
“……Let’s go eat something. Somewhere romantic.”
The order was reversed.
That was strange, but using her past experiences, she guided him towards a tavern.
And then,
‘Something’s odd.’
Setting aside the fact that he allowed her to eat at the same table, his wish to learn under her was completely bizarre.
Moreover, he didn’t utter a single lewd comment, which had become a habit of his by now.
Additionally, he, who lived like a wastrel until now, didn’t touch a drop of alcohol.
‘……What is going on?’
Even when they left the tavern, he left a tip that was twenty times the cost of the meal.
She had never seen him ‘pay’ for anything, be it in a tavern or the red-light district.
The places of commoners were nothing more than a playground for him.
Although she never initiated a conversation with her Lord, her curiosity got the better of her, as she asked.
“My Lord, are you not drinking today?”
“Why would I drink when the sun is still high in the sky?”
“……”
This never seemed to bother him before?
She swallowed those words and asked another question instead.
“What do you mean by wanting me as your teacher?”
“Hm? It’s just that. You’ve been watching over me for five years now, so you must know where I’m lacking. You’ll start teaching me tomorrow, so prepare yourself.”
Upon hearing his reply, a single thought crossed her mind.
‘……Is the Lord planning on getting serious about his martial skills?’
**
Chirp, chirp, chirp-.
Waking up to the bird’s chirping was a pleasant thing.
Especially when the sunlight graced the room through the window on a late morning.
For Lee Jun-Woo who used to wake up at 6 A.M and prepare for work while listening to garbage trucks in the background, this was a luxury.
After this refreshing morning, I got up, took a relaxed bath, and got dressed with the help of some maids.
“Shall we depart then?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
With Rendler acting as my guide, my destination was the Main Castle, where the final evaluations of the Betrothal Contest would take place.
Lumia’s first official appearance would take place in the Grand Hall of the Main Castle.
Although similar to the great hall where I had dined with the Regretful Trio, the Grand Hall was a sacred place reserved only for the Grand Duke’s family or his esteemed guests; it was not a place most people could enter.
That was why,
“I shall await you here, My Lord.”
“Good.”
Rendler couldn’t enter the Hall.
No one except the contestants could.
And even us, the contestants had to be searched by the guards before being granted entry.
After passing through the security checks, I entered the Hall and saw the Regretful Trio sitting at a large round table.
If the great hall was lavishly decorated, then the Grand Hall carried a stiff and solemn atmosphere.
“You……?”
As I walked down the red carpet towards the round table, the Regretful Trio glanced at me as if seeing a ghost.
Ignoring their stares, I took a seat.
And then, I decided to strike while the iron was still hot.
“I’m only here because there hasn’t been a definitive answer to my withdrawal. But there’s no need to worry, my intentions are still the same.”
There, with this done I should be able to avoid any irritating questioning.
As soon as I said this, Blund laughed awkwardly as he said.
“Hahaha-. Worry? I was merely surprised to see you, that’s all.”
“I didn’t expect this either.”
Deron then spoke with a hint of disdain,
“Your declaration went unanswered, you say? Perhaps this was all part of your plot to attract some attention.”
“Indeed, that could have been his plan, Lord Deron. Your insight is truly remarkable.”
“Haha-. Seriously? Then consider me tricked. I had no idea this beast was capable of devising such a scheme.”
……Even when I had already moved to quell their irritating small talk, I couldn’t stop them completely.
Just the thought of having to endure this for another 15 days was enough to make me sigh.
I wanted to lash back at them for denigrating my pure desire to escape, but I knew it would only lead to more tiresome banter, so I chose to reply with silence.
It would only be a waste of breath.
Better if I let these fools talk and speculate as they please.
That was all they were good at, after all. This generous modern soul of mine has a heart big enough to understand the limitations of these fools.
However, I could still pray for this evaluation to start already, couldn’t I?
Fortunately……
“The Third Northern Duchess, Lumia Winterfell, is entering.”
The doors to the Grand Hall opened, signaling the start of the main event.
This would mark the beginning of a Tragic Romance Fantasy.
Of course, for me, this marked the beginning of my Plan B.
Following the Regretful Trio, I stood up from my seat like a coiled snake.
All our eyes were turned towards the Grand Hall’s opened door.
And then,
Click-Clack, Click-Clack-.
I saw a woman approaching the round table of the Grand Hall.
She was dressed in a white gown with a white fox mask, with her hair equally white. Indeed, she had an angelic presence.
“Greeting everyone.”
The woman who stopped at the head of the table greeted us.
“I am Lumia Winterfell.”
Behind the fox mask, her blue eyes observed the Regretful Trio, perhaps she was already plotting their downfall.
‘……’
And then, her gaze landed on me and I felt a shiver run through my spine.
She smiled warmly at me and opened her mouth.
“Fufu-. Didn’t I say we would meet again, Lord Raphelion?”
TL Note:
Yosh, another one for da day lads!
Soon this fox will be running after Elden’s Ring.
hahahahahahah
omg I’m so funny
give me your money.
See I can even make poetry now
MY TALENTS ARE EXPANDING!
