Chapter 170

Chapter 170. The Archduke’s Visit

His face contorted, but he did not lose his temper.
— Do not play dumb. The Princess alone could not have accomplished something like that.
— Correct. I went to that bastard’s mansion.
— And?
— He tried to give me drugged black tea, so I gave it to him instead. In the process, I got angry and called people to search the place, and that was how I found out about that filthy site.
— Mmm, is that so?
Valdemar let out an exclamation of interest.
For someone who had lost his right arm, his reaction was far too calm.
— Did you set off that bastard’s trigger? That couldn’t have been easy…
— I know those scheming perverts well.
There is a common pattern that mages exhibit.
Once they break through the Circle stages, they look down upon lower Circles.
No matter what happens, they believe they cannot be surpassed in skill, so a hierarchy is established.
That superiority always leads to carelessness.
Ferda had exploited that blind spot dozens of times.
— Truly unfortunate.
Valdemar stroked his chin and murmured.
— A time would come when I would have to discard him, but for now, he still had some utility left.
I thought his reaction was suspiciously lukewarm for someone who had lost his right arm; there was a reason.
— Do you want to know what my plan was?
— I am not curious.
— Originally, I was thinking of bringing that magitechnology fellow from your territory.
Although it was a fact he already knew, it irritated Ferda.
An urge to wipe that smug expression off his face arose.
— I would give him a research environment, money, and support to use precious resources like water. Would that be all? Nobles from all over would beg him to take their daughters. I would marry him off, have him bear children. Doesn’t that sound quite nice?
— You would be creating things to lose.
— Exactly. That is the purpose of tying them down. Things a human cannot discard on their own while in their right mind; you hang them around their neck one by one. At first, he will accept them eagerly, but before he realizes it, his neck will grow stiff and hurt.
Emotions take the lead, thinking is dulled, and rational judgment becomes impossible.
Telling me this means he knows there is no way to recruit Vernel no matter what happens.
— Becoming my new right arm like that. That was the plan.
— The price of the Marquis of Belung’s loyalty is to become a boiled dog?
Valdemar chuckled.
— Loyalty toward me is meaningless. It is all about what one can do for this nation. De Belung has nothing left to offer the nation, but Vernel is a man with much to give.
He was a bastard who deserved to die, but that is only from Ferda’s perspective.
Acad’s father had stopped the Third Prince’s ambition.
And Acad had worked hard on the quarantine for the sake of this empire.
— Since we are on the topic, allow me to ask. Do you think you are different?
His eyes sharpened.
Tension crackled, as if a sword would be drawn at any moment.
— How many people support you? Right now, it might be a manageable number. But looking at your track record, your forces will gradually grow. Before you know it, you will have grown too large to embrace them all.
— ………
— Eventually, a time will come when you must give something up. Whether to live as a ruler, or simply as an emotional human.
— Are you a ruler?
— I am.
— For a ruler, you certainly cannot hide your ugliness.
Ferda provoked him with a sneer.
— The reason you are so upset is not because you failed to get Olivia, is it?
Valdemar’s expression flickered once more.
In that moment, he became an infinitely emotional human.
— Yes, if it were not for that… I would not be this angry.
Valdemar admitted it bluntly.
— You have done so much to me; if I simply let you go, my reputation will not bear it.
— Then what are you going to do?
Ferda does not back down either.
He was curious to know what kind of scenario he had devised in his mouth, how he would carry it out.
Go ahead.
Just as Acad did, I will take it and suffocate you.
It was at the moment Valdemar tried to speak.
Outside suddenly became noisy.
Footsteps running urgently somewhere.
Aware of it, Valdemar set the conversation aside and signaled the assistant behind him.
— What is happening outside?
— I will find out.
Leaving those words, the assistant stepped out.
— Let us wait a moment.
— Sure. Would you like a cup of tea?
— ………
Valdemar did not speak.
Shortly after, the assistant returned.
He returned and whispered into his ear.
Ferda subtly pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the story.
— It seems… the one acting so haughtily was me.
Valdemar’s gaze was extraordinary.
Within it remained the greed of one who had seen a precious gem, and the regret that it could never be his.
— Be careful on your return.
— I will.
Valdemar rose from his seat and vacated it.
Ferda’s assistant, a moment later, entered as well.
— Regent-nim. You will need to prepare quickly.
Ferda interrupted what he was about to say.
— Is Her Highness the Archduke coming here?
— Yes, that is… how did you know?
There is no way he wouldn’t know.
I just heard it myself.
Meanwhile, in the Archduchy of Valdrova, inside the Red Dragon’s lair.
— Ferda-nim… Understood.
Ruri, having received the message from the spirits.
Valdrova asked.
— Good news?
— Yes. It says the plan is going smoothly in every way.
— Mmm, I see.
With fidgeting fingers, Valdrova’s face grew red.
Ruri did not like that anxious expression.
The one who should be burning with impatience and courting is Ferda, yet the Empress remains motionless; what a sight.
She was so restless that the letters she had been writing fluently became twisted like a child’s scribbles.
Regardless, Ruri relayed what she had heard.
— Since the Far East has frequent special circumstances, autonomy has been strengthened. There is also no justification to interfere with magitechnological research, so there will be no problems for Hestia Village.
— Could they interfere before?
— If you had intervened directly, Milord, it would have been resolved even faster.
— Mmm…! T-that was so…
Valdrova turning her head in embarrassment.
— Of course, if Milord had moved, the problem would have grown.
— I do not express myself well and I am bad at taking criticism, so perhaps that is why…
— It is not that. Ferda-nim’s authority would have been called into question.
— Ferda-ssi? Why?
Ruri replied.
— Ferda-nim is still a novice Regent of only one year. Even with many achievements in one year, some see it as beginner’s luck. If Milord had intervened then, Ferda-nim’s voice would have been considerably weakened.
— Mmm… So, simply put, staying still did half the work?
— No. It means Ferda-nim chose the difficult path, and in doing so, protected not only his own authority, but also Milord’s.
Ferda is her fiancé, but he is also Valdrova’s subordinate.
The fact that the subordinate resolved it without the superior proves that the superior also has capability.
That was dragon society.
— It is truly fortunate that Ferda-nim handled his work so well.
— Right, right. There are many who like Ferda-ssi, and Ruri also likes Ferda-ssi now.
— I-is… that so?
Wondering if she had misheard, she asked again.
Innocent golden eyes look at Ruri and smile brightly.
— Ruri also likes Ferda-ssi now, right?
Her heart dropped like a stone.
Ruri desperately narrowed her eyes, wide as the moon, to hide them.
— What do you mean by that?
— Huh? I mean… when you said Ferda-ssi brought good news, you looked super happy…
— Isn’t it natural to be happy when good news arrives?
— Even so, were you too happy about it?
Ruri hated humans.
Especially after the Third Prince, she did not trust any noble son.
— I was a bit worried because Ruri was so wary of Ferda-ssi at first. Now it seems you are seeing Ferda-ssi properly and opening your heart, so I’m glad.
— Ugh…
Her face burns, her expression crumples.
First, the misunderstanding that she meant she liked him as a lover.
Second, there was nothing wrong with her words.
That is why I hate this.
That smiling face.
With that face, she sees right through me, and even the expression I tried to maintain at my own pace crumbles.
“Milord is this kind of person.”
Like an awl hidden in a pocket that finally pokes through, she is the Empress.
Those eyes possessed an insight that rivaled that of Silverwind, whom she considered her father.
She simply does not speak and forgets quickly, so she only appears clumsy and as if she had nothing but flower fields in her head.
“Milord’s words are correct.”
Honestly, she did hold favorable feelings toward Ferda.
But not as man and woman.
If asked whether she loved Ferda, she could shake her head.
If she defined that favor, it would be familial love.
“Family…”
Ferda is a person like family.
When Ferda is around, she finds herself taking another glance at his face, and when she is anxious, his face is the first thing that comes to mind.
If he says everything will turn out fine, for some reason she truly feels it will be so, and she feels relieved.
The only one toward whom she had ever felt this was Silverwind, whom she considered her father.
“The same feeling as toward Silverwind-nim…”
Ruri found that fact terribly embarrassing.
A man much younger than her seems mature to her, she admires him, feels comfortable, and now even wants to rely on him.
The more so, the stricter she should be as Valdrova’s assistant, but it was not easy.
“This fact…”
Must not be known by Valdrova, at least.
It is an embarrassing secret that must never be told, one that could break the assistant image she had maintained all this time!
— I will review the writing practice you did.
So she forcefully changed the subject and examined Valdrova’s handwriting.
An elegant young lady’s handwriting was found there.
Toward the end, it became crooked, but that was because she was moved by Ferda’s story, so she let it slide.
— You have reached quite a high level now.
— Right?
— See, you can do it if you try.
— Yes, I suppose so……
Valdrova could not hide her surprise either.
— Learning is this fun.
Valdrova looked at the letters she had received and smiled with satisfaction.
— I want to show off my handwriting to Ferda-ssi. I hope he returns soon.
— My lord would praise anything you do, wouldn’t he?
— Right? Hmm…… Then shall I try to be recognized as the Armored Knight?
Unlike Valdrova, she viewed it with objective eyes, so it was an excellent choice.
However, there was a problem.
— I will not stop you if my lord wishes, but it will not be good.
— Why?
— Think about it. What if my lord and that Armored Knight bastard wrote with the exact same handwriting?
— Hmm…… They wouldn’t know, right?
— They wouldn’t know?
— N-no……?
— The one who has counted the number of monsters my lord killed since you arrived as his fiancé?
— R-really?
Ruri thinks it is a truly creepy record.
Valdrova smiled shyly at the fact that he had watched her so carefully, unlike herself.
Ruri could not understand that feeling, but she let it pass.
— Furthermore, the handwriting you are practicing now is what noblewomen use. If a large man writes with a woman’s handwriting, that is strange in itself. It is better to practice and use a man’s handwriting separately.
— Hmm…… Then I will keep this handwriting and practice a second one.
It bothered her to have to learn again what she had already learned, but the fact that she could receive more praise made her smile.
«Besides that, something good happened to Ferda too, so can I talk about that?»
She has a hunch that there will be a proper story between a man and a woman.
When he returns, let us have a tea party.
And let us share many stories.
— Hmm……
Valdrova closed her eyes, thought in silence, then opened her mouth.
— Ruri-ya.
— Speak.
— Is Ferda-ssi… satisfied?
Ruri tilted her head.
— Satisfied… in what sense?
— You haven’t been by his side all this time, right?
— We are still betrothed, and in human terms, he is practically a live-in son-in-law. Even sharing a room, not contacting one’s partner is common.
— I-is that so?
— Of course, my lord Valdrova does not need to follow such etiquette. If there is anything you wish, please do not hesitate to say it.
At Ruri’s words, Valdrova fidgeted and barely opened her mouth.
— So… about that……
She asked.
— What if I go to the capital to welcome Ferda-ssi?
The grand boulevard connecting the outer walls of the Arken Empire’s capital to the Imperial Palace is famous for being the widest on the continent.
Eight carriages could travel side by side with room to spare, and from dawn to dusk, the street is packed with people.
It leads to the Imperial Palace, but simultaneously serves as a great root leading to all roads.
The only time that street can be cleared is when the blood of the Arken family, the imperial family, moves—and not even Valdemar can control that street.
Such a street was cleared for someone who was not royalty.
On the Serdes Continent, only one existence is recognized as superior to the Emperor.
— The Red Dragon, Her Highness Valdrova, is making a procession!
— Shouldn’t that person be in the Far East? Why the Empire…?
Things were already noisy due to the demon worshipers.
The Red Tyrant of the Far East, whom they had only heard about in rumors, setting foot in the Empire at a time like this was no ordinary matter.
People eventually abandoned their work and headed to the boulevard.
Dragon.
Since the Dragon-Demon War, exchanges with dragons had dwindled—this was a generation that had never seen a dragon.
Even if it were a fearsome dragon, the desire to confirm it with their own eyes could not be stopped by anyone.
Who knows?
Maybe someone would buy them free beer for the story of having greeted that dragon.
Tens of thousands of crowds gathered to watch the cleared boulevard.
— Mind your manners!
Ruri’s voice echoed through the sky.
All imperial citizens placed both hands on the ground and pressed their foreheads against the earth.
This is the etiquette used for the Emperor’s procession.
Because one who stands above the Emperor has set foot in the capital.
Contrary to the expectations of a carriage pulled by six white horses, what stepped onto that street were two small, slender legs.
A wide-brimmed satgat and a thin red cloth hanging from it.
The barely penetrating sunlight silhouetted the form of a woman.
The woman clad in red walked with dignity.
Those who had come out thinking it would be tavern gossip could not raise their heads, not a single one.
As if their instincts had become dictators dominating their bodies in that moment, they felt as though their heads were being crushed beneath boots.
The Archduke walked down the center of that long boulevard with only a single attendant.
Her destination soon came into view.
The Regent and fiancé, Ferda.
He was waiting with knights and carriages.
Ferda straightened his posture more than ever.
Within that form visible in silhouette is the Red Dragon, Valdrova.
The person who makes his heart race so much.
Contrary to expectations of trembling, his body was calm.
As she approached, Ferda knelt politely and bowed his head.
— I greet the Grand Archduke.
Valdrova responded to Ferda’s greeting.
— Raise your head.
An unusually solemn atmosphere.
The dignity of a king was felt.
— You are the one who will become my partner.
— ……Yes.
— I received word that you would return with good news.
— Not at all.
Through the red cloth, she extended her hand to Ferda.
— Come, let us return together.
Ferda stared at that hand for a long moment, then took it carefully.
— Yes, my King.
Guided by her hand, he rose and escorted her.
Valdrova walked elegantly and boarded the carriage.
The Empire’s reporters busily sketched the figures of Ferda and Valdrova, not wanting to miss that picturesque scene.
The door of the Archduchy’s carriage closed, and it set off.
The moment they passed through the castle gate, the dominated space regained its freedom.
The commoners who had bowed their heads could breathe again, barely standing up from their places.
Everyone thought the exact same thing.
Would anyone believe them if they described the fear they had just experienced?
The Archduchy’s carriage, having left the castle gate.
Ferda looked at Valdrova’s face.
The wide-brimmed hat was already removed, so her face was clearly visible now.
Aware of Ferda’s gaze, Valdrova smiled.
— Hehe, why like that? Your expression looks like puh-hah!
Valdrova’s words were cut short.
Ferda lunged at Valdrova on the opposite side and grabbed her by the neck.
— Shut your mouth.
Ferda’s voice trembled.
That tremor stemmed from rage.
— Speak. Who are you?
— I-I am me, your fianc—.
— There will not be a second time.
Ferda’s two eyes burned with a blue light.
— Her face is still vivid in my mind. A bitch like you cannot confuse me.
She may be the Emperor, but she is far from being the Emperor.
Those sharp eyes and slender build like the Valdrova here right now—never.
It might fit the words Dragon Emperor, Tyrant, but it is not Valdrova.
— Who are you?
If she speaks nonsense, she will truly die.
Valdrova screamed.
— Hiiieek! It’s Penelope! Save me!
The red hair turned pink, the two pairs of horns turned back into those of a demon.
It was Penelope.
Contrary to the expectation that facing that face would calm his anger, the rage only grew.
— Shameless demon bitch.
Ferda ground his teeth.
— Do you dare impersonate her, without knowing your place?
The reason Ferda was angry was not merely the impersonation.
As her form had approached, Ferda had mistaken her for the real Valdrova.
Only later did every element seem different from Valdrova, and finally, when Penelope opened her mouth, Ferda’s suspicion turned into certainty.
The time it took him to reach that certainty infuriated him.
— I-i-is that…? I was asked to do this too?!
— Who asked? She would never ask a bitch like you to do that?
— Surprisingly, she did?!
He could not believe it.
Ferda looked at Penelope.
She closed her mouth and sighed through her nose.
Ferda could not understand.
— Why……
Ferda asked like a man who had seen the world collapse.
— Did she ask a bastard like you to do that?
— Uh, um…… That is……
Penelope scratched her cheek awkwardly and replied.
— Because the Archduke and I are friends?
What kind of nonsense is this?
— T-that… will be a long story, and do I really have to tell it—?
— Tell me everything.
Blue flames burned in Ferda’s eyes.
— Everything that happened between you and her. Without omitting anything.