Chapter 123

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 123: A Common Occurrence

A Common Occurrence
Chapter 123. An Everyday Occurrence.
The scandal between Ferda and Olivia.
Valdrova had only learned of it today.
‘Why didn’t Ruri tell me?’
The reason Valdrova had not found out until now was that Ruri, her source of information, had not mentioned it at all.
‘She doesn’t usually say such things anyway……’
Ruri filtered out anything she believed would worry Valdrova.
Valdrova knew this implicitly.
‘And it’s probably just a groundless rumor anyway.’
Ferda is someone who is always devoted to her.
Valdrova believed this without hesitation.
However, anxiety still crept in a corner of her heart.
‘Olivia Arken.’
She had heard endless rumors about that person’s reputation.
A woman praised as the number one candidate for a wife, possessing talent and beauty, with social grace and propriety to boot.
She had never actually seen her, but there had been an opportunity.
She had heard that Olivia would visit Valdrova Castle once.
But Valdrova had no interest in such things.
More precisely, even if she had been interested, at that time she was absorbed in the construction of the village.
She felt more fulfillment in the sweaty construction site.
‘Should I have gone to see her that time after all?’
It was something others would drop everything to attend. Should she have gone to confirm it?
How beautiful must she be to receive such praise?
And does she truly suit Ferda?
‘Ferda is…… someone too good for me.’
Ferda built this place.
He interacted with many people.
Even when there were critical voices, she heard far more stories about him being a benevolent ruler who cared for his people.
What am I then?
A red dragon huddled in her lair.
A dragon who wears armor because she is afraid to face people.
A pathetic dragon who cannot even properly show her face to her fiancé.
‘For me…… he is someone too good.’
Anyone would think that he suited Olivia, who was praised for her beauty, far more than herself.
Feeling depressed, she idly poked the ground with her fingers.
She needed something to cut off these gloomy thoughts.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At that moment, the alarm bell began to ring violently.
Since it was connected to the monster appearance prediction device, it was a signal that monsters were approaching.
The workers leaped to their feet, surprised.
— It seems monsters are coming?
— It has been quiet lately, and now they launch a surprise attack at a time like this.
Monsters.
With the thought that she had to protect the people, Valdrova stood up.
But the workers stopped her.
— Ah! Sir Knight! There is no need for you to step forward.
?
— We will take care of this. So please, sit down!
Their faces showed smiles full of conviction.
What could simple common humans do?
The workers hurried somewhere and brought something back.
It was a staff.
No, calling it a staff was an exaggeration; it had all kinds of things hanging from it like the tool of a voodoo practitioner.
They all moved in formation like soldiers. They climbed the castle wall under construction, knelt in unison, and aimed their staffs at the ground below.
It was a stance similar to that of crossbowmen.
Presumably, something would shoot out of those staffs.
But what could shoot out?
It was then that it happened.
Contrary to her anxiety, a powerful force was felt from within those staffs.
‘They can’t even use mana, so how?’
Since she did not understand magic well, there was no way to resolve her question.
Shortly after, the women who had been gathering in the forest appeared.
They looked nervous, but not frightened.
— What are you doing not running for your lives?! Do you want to be eaten?
— The monsters were shuffling along, so we took our time too.
— Shuffling along? What do they look like?
— I don’t know. They all looked like lumps, and their movements were slow and clumsy.
— Just get inside quickly!
At those words, a man nodded knowingly.
— Melters.
Shortly after, the monsters revealed themselves.
— Grrrrrr……
Unlike other monsters that took beastly forms, these were more akin to lumps.
They were monsters that had become neither one thing nor another due to excessive mutation from overexposure to residual mana.
So, while their strength was unknown, their speed was on par with that of zombies raised by a dark mage.
Even so, monsters are monsters.
Even a single Melter requires hundreds of stabs from an entire company of spearmen to be annihilated.
In the process of killing it, one or two people always die.
There were six of those things in total.
A foreman raised his hand high and shouted.
— Aim!
The workers shouldered the staffs and aligned their sights.
The foreman brought down his raised hand forcefully, like the blade of a guillotine.
— Fire!
Papapapang!
A sound and a flash that shook heaven and earth.
Valdrova’s eyes saw it clearly.
Something that pierced the torsos of the monsters at the speed of light from inside those tubes.
Grrrrrr……
The bodies of the horde of Melters were pierced and simply collapsed.
— Wowww!
— We defeated monsters!
They roared like soldiers who had achieved a great feat in a major battle.
Although they were slow and clumsy monsters, they were still monsters.
Upon confirming that they, who had nothing, now possessed the power to protect themselves from monsters, they felt an euphoria.
Valdrova could not hide her astonishment.
‘So common people like this can kill monsters……’
Even if she was not intelligent, she had observed what happened throughout thousands of years of life and struggle.
Valdrova had never imagined a situation like this.
No, who would have ever thought it?
When the demons were created, the majority opinion was that they should submit to Godwin.
But the humans did not.
And they tore down the speculation of the immortals, who were considered absolute wisdom.
Humans are such wonderful beings.
Where strength falls short, they squeeze out wisdom and courage to produce a power stronger than that of anyone else.
Valdrova felt immensely proud of Ferda, who had created that power.
At the same time, the question she harbored in her heart grew larger.
She tightly clutched the hands she had folded over her chest.
The night before the Spring Festival, Valdrova went to find Ferda.
As always, wearing her armor.
Ferda knew that she had come out today.
But he also knew that without an excuse like this, she would not come to see him.
— Do you need mana?
Normally she would have said yes, but today was different.
— No.
— Then……?
— I just wanted to talk a little……
Ferda felt as if someone had struck the back of his neck.
This was the first time she had come to him directly wanting to talk without seeking an excuse.
His heart beat loudly.
It felt as if they had become a man and a woman properly enjoying a secret date.
As Ferda said nothing, Valdrova fidgeted with her fingers.
— Is it a bother after all?
— Not at all. Please, come in.
They sat down.
She took off her gauntlet and placed it on the table.
— I…… want to hold your hand.
— ……Yes.
There was something proactive about her.
Her suddenly changed appearance was pleasing, but also unsettling.
After all, most of Valdrova’s driving force stemmed from anxiety.
Ferda placed his hand over hers.
He felt her more tense than usual.
— T-that is……!
Valdrova struggled to bring up a topic of conversation.
— Today…… the monsters were approaching from the castle wall……
— Yes. You observed from the top.
— Eh? Ah, yes! That’s right!
Valdrova nodded repeatedly.
— There…… did common people kill monsters?
— I didn’t see it directly, but the report says they caught six Melters. Even if they are Melters, they are still monsters that common people cannot handle. It must have been an unusual sight for you, Your Highness. How was it?
— It was…… amazing. It made me realize once again how amazing Ferda is.
He could feel eyes of admiration beyond that helmet.
Ferda replied.
— That wasn’t me. It was the work of someone named Vernel, who worked hard.
— Even so, if it weren’t for Ferda…… those people wouldn’t have even thought they could kill monsters. Isn’t that so?
— No. Hearing you, I suppose I did contribute that much.
If Ferda had not taken the initiative, it would have been impossible.
Because by now, monsters would still be recognized as beings difficult to catch.
— Ferda…… is changing so many things here.
Building a village, giving the people the power to protect themselves.
She felt some of that.
To say that, she opened her mouth with difficulty.
— I am, um, practicing the waltz.
— ……Do you mean the waltz?
— Yes! That…… I said it weirdly again……
It didn’t matter.
Her nervous appearance was so cute.
Even wearing that terrifying dragon-headed helmet, the young woman inside was vivid in Ferda’s eyes.
— Tomorrow…… is the day we dance, right?
The day we dance.
“We” means “we”.
We means you and me.
Ferda and Valdrova.
— That’s right.
— I…… will wear a pretty dress and stand proudly beside Ferda. Like a ho, ho…… host?
— Hostess……
— Yes, like a hostess!
He could feel the effort she was putting into it, as if she were conscious of something.
Ferda knew.
How much courage it took for her to say that she would actively take a step forward.
He was glad to be the first to hear that courage.
Ferda smiled slightly.
— I will look forward to it.
The entrance to Hestia Village was as crowded as could be.
Before the morning sun had even risen, a procession of carriages carrying young ladies and lords from various regions continued.
250 noble guests in total.
It was not just 250 people coming.
Each one had a coachman, some servants, and at least ten elite knights and soldiers for escort.
With 250 young lords and ladies participating, that meant a minimum of at least 2,500 servants.
A village that had only been in the hundreds in scale was suddenly packed with thousands of people.
Where many people gather, a lot of money flows.
Stefan duly displayed the prowess of a merchant.
Under the management of the Pascal Company and the Hestia Trading Company, various events and charitable activities were held.
Using the empty lots where no buildings yet existed, they held martial arts tournaments and sports festivals, working to raise the image of the region and attract merchants.
They received troops from the Far East Union for security, and the day passed without incident until evening.
The night of the Spring Festival was when the nobles would properly enjoy the banquet.
Chandeliers as bright as daylight and a luxurious atmosphere.
As the residence of a dragon, the interior boasted a splendor that rivaled the Imperial House, and the visiting nobles could not hide their admiration.
While socialization among the participants was in full swing, Ferda also began to prepare to go out.
Meanwhile, Isabella reported on some matters.
— They have confirmed the defense results and are now beginning the full numbering of the rifles.
— Numbering?
— From what I hear, they are assigning numbers as they modify them for mass production. That way they can produce dozens a day.
— I understand.
They had certainly achieved great results in defense.
Several commoners caught six Melters together, which meant that commoners could exert power similar to that of mages.
— Just in case, the young lords and ladies might bring up the rifles as a topic of conversation. Please be careful not to divulge information if possible.
— I will keep it in mind.
If he cannot be of help, at least he must not be a hindrance.
He swore time and again not to give any opportunity for the balance Isabella had established to collapse.
— Are the preparations ready?
— Yes.
At the appearance of Ruri, Ferda asked reflexively.
— The Grand Duchess?
— ……
Ruri did not answer.
Only the tilt of her head and her silence were answer enough.
She will not come tonight.
Ferda fastened the remaining buttons.
— Right. There must be a reason.
— I am sorry to disappoint you.
For Ruri to say she was sorry.
It meant that Ruri also wanted Valdrova to attend this banquet.
— No. Isn’t this an everyday occurrence?
— An everyday occurrence to be stood up by my master, so I am sorry.
No, she might simply be angry.
To say he was not disappointed because it was an everyday occurrence was a lie.
Last night, the words she had come to say resonated vividly in Ferda’s ears.
Even when he opened his eyes this morning, the first thing Ferda thought of was Valdrova’s hand.
His empty hand only remembered the sensation of her right hand resting on his.
But today, this hand overlaps with the hand of another woman.
«……Let’s not think about useless things».
Ferda squeezed the air.
That she is not here today does not mean she will not be here tomorrow.
If so, today must not be wasted in vain for tomorrow.
Ferda moved his feet toward the banquet hall with that thought.
— The Grand Fire Secretary of State, Regent Ferda Valdrova, enters!
The planner sent from the Empire shouted vigorously.
As Ferda, the banquet’s host, appeared, the music stopped.
The young lords and ladies paid slight respects to Ferda in turn, and Ferda ascended to his seat following the red carpet.
— I give you all the most sincere welcome to Valdrova Castle.
A clear voice that captured everyone’s attention.
— Today we are here to welcome spring after enduring a harsh winter. This Hestia Village is a small village that has been under construction since late last autumn. The time I have felt the duty of a lord is probably even shorter than that of all of you here.
Ferda eased the atmosphere with self-deprecating remarks.
— Nevertheless, you all accepted the invitation of this novice lord and came here. What does that mean?
Olivia Arken.
Everyone knows that it is the intense desire to build a friendship with the Princess of the Empire.
Because they know it, they had no choice but to await Ferda’s words with a certain unease.
— It means there is hope in your hearts.
Ferda said that.
— 150 years after the Dragon-Demon War ended, the territory of the Far East continues to shrink, and the Devil’s Land still stands strong. The evil dragon Godwin died, and the Demon King also died, but their will did not die and is revealing its ambition.
Ferda made eye contact with each and every person below.
— As humans of Serdes, as nobles who do not tolerate injustice, I confirmed today that you all truly desire the development and peace of the Far East. You have become new embers to reforge the torn armor for the new spring.
Ferda took his glass, raised it, and delivered his final words.
— So, for that flame, please, tonight I hope you laugh, converse, and dance. As long as there is love and friendship, our will will become one, unbreakable.
Ferda finished with a deep bow.
Applause erupted, and simultaneously the orchestra skillfully played cheerful music.
The banquet began.