The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

At that moment, Desmond's attention was drawn to something peculiar on the map. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a gray dot separate from the carriage, gradually moving away and retracing its steps.

"What's this gray dot?" he wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued.

A system prompt flashed before him, shedding light on the mysterious dot's significance. It appeared that the dot indicated someone who possessed information about Desmond. The system employed a master key, cross-referencing spoken words to mark individuals with gray dots on the map. These dots would vanish if they moved beyond a 15-meter radius from Desmond and would only persist for a day.

Desmond's mind raced with possibilities, suspicions taking hold. "Vesta? Is this his doing, trying to sabotage my marriage with his daughter?" He pondered the motives behind this unexpected development.

His gaze turned serious as he set aside the academy guidebook, drawn closer to the window. His trained eyes caught sight of a soldier carrying a horse, with a small bag secured around his waist.

Noting the distinct characteristics of the messenger, Desmond reached for an empty parchment from the nearby bookshelf. Settling back onto the sofa, he retrieved his pen and began jotting down key words and phrases related to Vesta and his family.

"Marriage... Academy... Clementine... Guardian... Beasts Attack." He made note of these crucial aspects, delving into the depths of his own analysis to glean further details.

"First, let's consider the topic of marriage. Given Clementine's personality, she would likely orchestrate a match with Diana, especially considering my mother's peculiar reactions towards her. As for my father, he would probably welcome another daughter with open arms. The only obstacle is Vesta, Diana's father. However, it appears that Diana also harbors feelings for me..."

Desmond's voice remained calm and devoid of emotion as he analyzed the situation, even when broaching the subject of Diana's emotions.

"Based on my estimation, this plan would likely be set into motion after our graduation from the academy. The question is whether Vesta would act impulsively, disregarding his daughter's feelings."

Stroking the quill on the pen's tip, Desmond continued to recollect Vesta's behavior, nature, and every reaction he had observed.

"Let's skip this part," he murmured, crossing out the first crucial point before moving on to the second topic—the academy.

"Academy..." Desmond muttered, his voice trailing off. "It seems there's nothing particularly important or relevant to me, except for the bodyguards Weston provided..."

Desmond's pen danced across the parchment, capturing his thoughts and insights as he delved deeper into the intricacies of the situation at hand.

With that, Desmond crossed out the third important point and shifted his attention to topic number three: Clementine.

"Hmm... perhaps this has something to do with my previous words to Clementine?" Desmond pondered. However, he quickly dismissed the notion. "No... she's not the type to casually divulge personal matters to anyone. I even suspect that Diana has been pressured not to share certain details with her father."

Once again, Desmond struck through the third point, refocusing on the next topic. As he sipped his tea and savored a bite of cake, his thoughts moved to the fourth point.

"The remaining topics are the Guardian and Beasts Attack..." Desmond mused, racking his brain to recall any problems that may have necessitated Vesta's role as a guardian. After considerable contemplation, he shook his head. "There's nothing... being a guardian for Vesta and the issue of beast attacks are not problems I have encountered, nor are they directly related to me.

They are my parents' concerns. However, the system explicitly stated that this matter pertains to me..."

Desmond placed his pen on the table and, feeling the weight of his thoughts, cradled his head in his hands as he gazed at the last two crucial points written before him.

Control Element.

Summoning his magic, Desmond cast a spell, creating miniatures that represented each important element he had noted. He scrutinized the miniature replicas, crossing out those he believed he had analyzed thoroughly.

Left behind were two miniatures—a likeness of Vesta and a representation of a beast.

"What... I can't figure it out..." The burden of his thoughts had become overwhelming. He rose from the couch and turned his attention to the window.

"Ah..." Desmond inhaled deeply, relishing the fresh air as it swept past him, gently caressing his face. The horse-drawn carriage maintained a steady pace, creating a breeze that offered a slight resistance.

Opening his eyes once more, Desmond focused on the carriage ahead. "Think, this is our first encounter, so the only way he could have obtained such detailed information is through Diana..."

Having enjoyed his brief respite outside, Desmond returned to his sofa, settling down with his chin resting on his palms. His gaze returned to the two miniatures before him. Suddenly, the gray dot on the map disappeared.

"Truly... I'm incredibly curious about what he said..." Desmond whispered to himself, the weight of uncertainty lingering in his thoughts.

As Desmond gazed at the heavy, velvet curtain behind which Laura had fallen asleep, a flicker of hesitation washed over him. "I wanted to seek her opinion," he whispered to himself, his voice laced with weariness. Yet, a nagging doubt lingered, casting shadows of futility upon his intentions.

He wondered if it would be in vain, if her words would merely pile on top of the already burdensome thoughts weighing upon his mind.

His brow furrowed as he wrestled with his internal struggle. With a deep sigh escaping his lips, Desmond reluctantly accepted that he had exhausted all other avenues. The desperate ache for a solution left him with no choice but to resort to the solitary path. "This is precisely why I detest relying on others," he murmured, the bitterness seeping through his words.

"System analyzes the potential words conveyed by Vesta to the messenger, with the main variable being Vesta as the Guardian and the Beasts' attack as a secondary variable."

[

Task in progress...

Using Slot 1

Status: 0% complete

]

[The system attempts to compile all the analyzed answers by the Host...]

[The answers have proven to be complex! Saving to the database...]

[Generating multiple simulations using the saved answers as output...]

[First simulation: Successful!]

[Second simulation: Failed!]

Desmond stared at the transparent screen in front of him, realizing that this process might take a while. He decided to go back to reading the guidebook while issuing commands to the system...

Run this in the background, please...

[

Task in progress...

Using Slot 2

Status: 0% complete

]

[Progress: 50%...]

[Status: Completed]

As word of Desmond's departure alongside the Guardian reached the ears of the wealthy elite, whispers spread through the opulent halls and grand chambers of the palace. The news, like a vibrant flame, danced from one eager ear to another, captivating the attention of those who reveled in the affairs of the privileged.

Within the confines of a lavishly adorned room, a young girl sat regally, her posture exuding an air of entitlement. Several maids attended to her every need, their nimble fingers catering to her whims. With a graceful gesture, she extended her delicate hand, and a maid diligently slipped a glove onto it, ensuring that every detail adhered to the princess's exacting standards.

Meanwhile, another maid carefully poured a drink into a cup held in the princess's other hand. The liquid cascaded smoothly, its fragrance mingling with the rich ambiance of the room. The air was heavy with the scent of exotic perfumes, interwoven with the subtle aroma of freshly brewed tea.

Intriguingly, a new arrival interrupted the tranquil scene. A maid swiftly entered the room, her footsteps light yet purposeful. She held an air of urgency as she approached the princess, who gracefully paused her sipping, her eyes fixated on the messenger.

"Princess," the maid began, her voice respectful yet tinged with an air of excitement, "the boy you requested to oversee has departed for the academy. He travels in a horse carriage, accompanied by none other than the Guardian himself." The significance of this revelation hung in the air, charging the room with an electric energy.

The princess, her lips curving into a sly smile, took another leisurely sip of her drink, relishing its flavor. Her foot crossed over the other, a symbol of confident nonchalance. "The Guardian himself, you say?" she mused, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Can we truly trust this information?" Her eyes glimmered with a mix of amusement and intrigue, a testament to her cunning nature and thirst for knowledge.