I Don’t Want To Be The Protagonist of a Romance Novel – Chapter 35

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It had been several months since the barbarians, who had been repeatedly attempting meaningless sieges every other day, had not dared to challenge the Great Wall.

The Nord Duchy had once again faithfully fulfilled its role as the empire’s northernmost frontline.

And this time, they had faced the largest barbarian tribe in recent times, numbering several thousand, who had gathered their forces and invaded after a period of quietude.

“…So it’s Her Grace the Nord Grand Duchess.”

“I heard she slew countless barbarians who had the audacity to attempt to breach the wall this time.”

“She’s not called the Black Lion of the Empire for nothing. No matter what anyone says, isn’t she the strongest swordswoman in the North?”

As the teleportation magic circle flickered, Eileen emerged from the halo of light, accompanied by her attendants.

The Imperial Palace’s teleportation magic circle was a top-tier security facility in itself.

Naturally, only mages who had been thoroughly vetted not only for their magical abilities but also for their background and ideology were allowed to manage it.

The mages in charge of the magic circle whispered among themselves.

They thought they were speaking softly, but Eileen’s superhuman hearing could pick up even the faintest sounds without fail.

Upon hearing the mages’ murmurs, the corners of Eileen’s lips twitched slightly.

Of course, to the public, she was widely known as the iron-blooded Nord Grand Duchess, so the subtle difference was imperceptible to others’ eyes.

‘It seems Her Grace the Grand Duchess is in a good mood about something.’

The aide who always assisted Eileen inadvertently thought.

And in fact, Eileen was in a good mood. Being in the far-flung North, she wasn’t someone who could easily visit the capital.

That’s why she had been thinking of making time recently to visit the capital to see Rudrick’s face.

But as if reading her mind, the barbarians from beyond the wall had launched a massive invasion, and it just so happened that Eileen herself had gone out for an inspection at that very moment.

Naturally, the barbarians, unable to overcome the sturdy wall and the Black Lion of the Empire, suffered a crushing defeat.

Leaving behind hundreds of corpses, they fled in a hurry as if their tails were on fire, so they wouldn’t be able to challenge the wall for the time being.

Thanks to that, she was able to leisurely make a personal visit to the capital like this.

She had ample justification. Given the scale of this battle, which was one of the largest in the past few years, she had the pretext of personally reporting the victory to the emperor.

And for the remaining time, she was free to wander around as she pleased.

Of course, most of that free time would be spent meeting Rudrick.

“Aide, is it more pressing to report the victory to His Majesty first?”

“No. I heard that His Majesty is ill and needs to coordinate the schedule first, but I don’t know when the coordination will be completed.”

“So that means there are no pressing matters until the report.”

“Yes. Then will you go see the Imperial Court Mage first? The amount you have decided to sponsor the research lab this time is quite substantial, isn’t it?”

“…Hmm, then let’s do that.”

Eileen nodded her head as if she had no choice at the aide’s words.

In truth, she wanted to rush straight to the research lab as soon as she arrived in the capital, but unfortunately, the position of Grand Duchess required her to be mindful of how she appeared to others.

It was a position where she had to maintain her dignity, so to speak.

In such a situation, when the aide made a suggestion as if reading Eileen’s mind, Eileen accepted it as if she had no other choice.

‘I chose my aide well.’

It was a suggestion that pleased her, like scratching an itchy spot.

Eileen, who inwardly smiled with satisfaction, took the lead and began walking.

Of course, her outward expression remained stoic.

Even for the Imperial Court Mage, sponsoring 50,000 ducats annually for three years was a somewhat excessive amount for a mage’s research lab.

But honestly, even though she was generously donating such a large sum, she didn’t care about the business talks at all.

Sponsoring such an amount was merely a pretext to freely meet Rudrick.

Leaving the tedious task of directly negotiating with Lorenzo and drafting the contract entirely to the working-level staff, Eileen’s steps quickened a bit with the thought of seeing Rudrick’s face first.

Rushing to the research lab in the separate palace.

The aide, who made eye contact with Eileen, nodded his head and knocked on the closed door of the research lab.

“Imperial Court Mage, Her Grace the Nord Grand Duchess has arrived.”

At that, the closed door immediately opened, and Lorenzo, who had rushed out in his socks, welcomed Eileen.

“It may be humble, but please come in, Your Grace.”

“Imperial Court Mage, it’s been a while.”

Eileen, who received the greeting with a nod, entered the research lab.

The first thing she did was scan the research lab with her eyes, where various research materials and equipment were scattered in a disorderly manner.

Then, her eyes met Rudrick’s, who was standing in an awkward posture.

‘…Maintain composure.’

As soon as she saw his face, the corners of her mouth twitched as if a smile was naturally forming, but Eileen, suppressing it with superhuman patience, merely sent a brief greeting with her eyes and sat down.

“Imperial Court Mage. I have prepared all the documents related to the contract, so discuss it directly with the working-level staff.”

“How could I refuse? But honestly, it was unexpected.”

“In what regard?”

“I never thought that you, of all people, Your Grace the Grand Duchess, would personally sponsor my research lab.”

“If you’re truly grateful, it would be fine to lend me your disciple to the North for about a year or two later on.”

“Haha, I’ll consider it.”

Lorenzo, who smoothly deflected the request, guided the working-level staff to the table.

And the ones left behind were Eileen and Rudrick, and… lastly, Sylphia as well.

As soon as Lorenzo and the working-level staff went inside and vacated the room, Eileen’s gaze and voice, which had been warm beyond compare when looking at Rudrick, turned cold.

“It’s been a while, you. Not that it’s a pleasant feeling.”

“Oh my, I feel the same way. Long time no see, Your Grace the Nord Grand Duchess. You haven’t forgotten my name, have you? I’m Baroness Sylphia Andres.”

“…Huhu.”

At Sylphia’s words, which ended with a sharp accent, Eileen wore a cold smile.

In any case, they already knew each other’s identities.

It was just that they couldn’t say it outright because Rudrick was beside them. And although Rudrick, who was caught between the two, was looking at them with eyes that seemed to say, “Why are you both acting like this?”

Eileen, as if she had no interest in Sylphia, swiftly turned her head and opened her mouth while looking at Rudrick.

“Rudrick Weiss. It’s been a while since I last saw you in Elena’s office.”

“…Uh, well. I suppose so. Back then, you two were fighting so fiercely–”

“We’ve reconciled now, so let’s drop that subject.”

Eileen, who had cut off Rudrick’s words, shook her head.

In fact, if one considered only the facts, Elena’s fault was much greater.

It was because she had been so eager to quickly bring Rudrick from Weiss County to the Imperial Palace that she had neglected him after bringing him here.

In Eileen’s mind, she had absolutely no fault even if she were to die soon.

“Do you still have the artifact I gave you?”

“Ah, this?”

Rudrick rummaged through his inner pocket and took out an artifact that looked like a business card.

Although it appeared to be a simple card, it was a communication artifact that connected directly to Eileen Nord, none other than the Nord Grand Duchess.

Sylphia’s eyes narrowed as she watched from the side with her arms crossed.

Seeing that, Eileen smiled with a strange sense of triumph and nodded her head.

“You still had it with you.”

“Wouldn’t it be a big deal if I lost it? It’s an artifact that directly connects to you, Grand Duchess.”

“You don’t need to feel burdened. If it gets damaged or lost, I’ll give you another one anytime. And…”

Eileen paused as if she was about to say something.

Even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.

Regression was both a blessing and a curse.

Thanks to regressing to the past, she could meet Rudrick again, but paradoxically, because of that regression, all the memories she had built with Rudrick were now hers alone to hold, with no one else remembering them.

But if she had done it once, would it be difficult to do it a second time?

She just had to start building the relationship from the beginning again.

Just as even the tallest and grandest castle starts with a single brick.

And for now… She needed to correct the stiff way of addressing her as “Your Grace the Grand Duchess.”

“You can call me comfortably.”

“…Comfortably?”

“I mean you can call me by my name, Eileen.”

The words she uttered with great determination.

Saying it again anew felt a bit embarrassing, so a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks.

But of course, it was better to be called by her name, Eileen, by the person she loved, rather than being addressed stiffly as “Your Grace the Grand Duchess.”

A tiny crack appeared in that expressionless poker face.

Sylphia, who had been watching from the side, turned her head and made a gesture of gagging, but Eileen’s attention was already entirely focused on Rudrick, so she didn’t even bother to pay attention to Sylphia.

As the strongest swordswoman in the North, she could naturally keep her entire body, including her extremities, under her complete control, but now, her heartbeat, which had escaped her control, quickened.

Thump, thump.

Her heart was pounding so loudly that she worried Rudrick might hear it.

“…But you’re still the Grand Duchess, is it really okay?”

“It’s fine if it’s you. Well, if it were anyone else, I would have scolded them.”

Eileen, pretending to be nonchalant and unaffected, waited for Rudrick’s answer.

And finally…

“Then… Eileen?”

“…”

As her name was spoken from Rudrick’s lips, it felt like an electric current was coursing through her entire body.

Elation.

What other word could describe this feeling?

She wanted to smile brightly and respond, but in order to maintain her composure, she managed to give a faint smile and was about to say something.

At that moment, something warm flowed from her nose.

When she unconsciously wiped it with her hand, red blood was smeared on it. Rudrick exclaimed in alarm.

“Eileen! Your nose! Your nose is bleeding!”

“…Ah.”

Rudrick, startled, moved frantically to get tissues, and Eileen merely let out a feeble groan.

Sylphia, who had been watching, muttered with a rotten expression.

“How pathetic, really.”

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