Chapter 221

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 221: Black Tea

Black Tea
Chapter 221. Black Tea

— When did you decide to hold the wedding, Ludmilla?

Given that it was the day a man and a woman officially united, it was the matter of greatest interest to Valdrova.

At Valdrova’s question, Ludmilla answered.

— We plan to do it this autumn. I set the date for when I enter the stable period, thinking that would be best.

— I see.

— It would be a true honor if Her Highness could attend. Do you have time?

Count Consillus’s territory was not far from this castle.

If something happened in the Devil’s Land, it was at a level where she could go and resolve it immediately, so it was possible at any time.

— Yes. I will attend.

— Hehe, then I will make the invitation splendid and send it to you first.

— Yes, understood.

She smiled brightly and let out a playful sigh.

— Ah, by then my belly will be an entire mountain and I’ll have to wear a wedding dress… I just hope they don’t whisper that he is marrying a fat woman.

— Now that I think about it, were you pregnant? Is it alright?

— It’s alright. They make a fuss saying the baby will fall if I try to move even a little; I don’t know who those girls are?

Ludmilla laughed heartily.

Valdrova silently looked at Ludmilla’s belly.

— So, Your Highness Valdrova…

— Yes?

— Our baby will probably be born around the beginning of winter, but may I ask you a favor before the child is born?

Valdrova nodded silently, and Ludmilla asked.

— When the baby is born, I would like Her Highness to personally bestow a blessing.

— M-Me?

Valdrova felt flustered.

— But I don’t know magic or anything… For that sort of thing, Odograsado would do well…

— The Golden Dragon-nim is a symbol of faith, but aren’t you a complete stranger to me? And it isn’t something that requires using magic or anything.

— Then, what do I have to do?

— You only need to kiss my child’s forehead so that they may grow up well.

— Ah, i-is that all?

That was nothing she couldn’t do.

Valdrova nodded.

— Yes. When the baby is born, I will bless them.

— Thank you! My heart is already at ease.

Just as the two’s conversation ended, Rize slipped in.

— By chance, would it be alright if I also went to give a blessing?

— Oh, Rize-ssi?

— It is a wonderful moment when a new life is born and steps onto the earth, so there is no way we High Elves could pass up this joy. And I have never seen a human child being born, so I want to see…

When Rize smiled, Ludmilla’s face brightened.

— Of course! If you do that, I would be truly happy!

Then she made a playful pout and stroked her belly.

— A child born receiving the blessings of a Great Dragon and a beautiful Elf. Could my own child be so enviable? I’m jealous.

— Then, how about also receiving the blessing of a demon?

Penelope interrupted without reading the room.

Ludmilla’s eyes turned cold in an instant, and Penelope promoted herself.

— A demon’s blessing includes promoting brain development, improving night vision, and priority for a high position in the afterlife’s hell, you know?

— I would prefer our child went to heaven, however.

— Then, am I useless?

— Mmm… I don’t think that’s the case.

Ludmilla thought deeply and proposed to her.

— Then, could you perhaps play the role of the effigy in the Autumn Festival’s Exorcism Ritual?

— Do you want me to be tied to a cross and burned?

— Burning a real demon would be more effective than a doll.

— Will I die!?

— It’s a joke. Just tell them to grow up well.

Ludmilla’s words were never a joke.

She brushed it off with a laugh and directed her gaze toward Valdrova.

— It seems I only talked about myself. What about you, our Archduchess-nim?

— Yes?

— I’m curious if there has been any progress with Regent Ferda-nim.

Ludmilla’s eyes sparkled.

Interesting things are always romance stories, and among them, the best is, of course, the romance of someone close.

At those words, Penelope snorted.

— What progress could there be? That socially inept man probably couldn’t even touch a single hair on Her Highness’s head, as much as he cherishes her.

— Regent Ferda-nim doesn’t seem like that kind of person, though?

— Hehe, that’s because Ludmilla-yang doesn’t know. Is there a scheming brat hidden inside?

Ferda, with a cold and unshakeable personality.

One could not imagine at all that such a person would show perverted behavior.

— Don’t speak ill of Ferda-ssi.

— Aigoo, apologies for that.

A slightly reflective appearance.

But only for a moment.

— But it’s the truth!

— No! There IS progress!

— What kind of progress?

Ludmilla’s eyes sparkled again.

— What did he do?

— That is…

Valdrova trailed off while blushing at the same time.

At the same time, Ludmilla’s face became incredibly bright.

Whatever it was, there was definitely something.

— Ferda-ssi…

With difficulty opening her lips, she brought both hands to her cheeks.

— Ferda-ssi touched my cheek.

— …Yes?

— What did she say?

— What is that…?

A reaction as if cold water had been dumped on them.

Rize, who had been listening silently, was also flustered.

— He touched your cheek, so how exactly…?

— He touched my cheek like this…

Valdrova carefully pulled her own cheek.

The hopes of Ludmilla and Penelope, who had believed some romance remained, were miserably trampled.

Valdrova felt truly flustered now.

— This isn’t… human physical affection… right?

— It’s not!

— That’s treating her like a child!

Ludmilla and Penelope objected energetically.

— Good grief! There’s a girl you like, and you pull her face?

— Our Regent-nim only performed herbivore man actions, so I thought he had finally turned carnivore, but what nonsense are you saying?

— I-Is that so?

Still thinking it must be physical affection, Valdrova made an awkward face.

— So there was no progress…

— Besides pulling cheeks, how far have you gone?

— Well… hugging… only that?

— A man of that age, there’s no way it ends in just that…?

Valdrova thought this was quite a lot, but Ludmilla’s expression remained gloomy.

Ludmilla scanned Valdrova.

Two fierce-looking horns, but a gentle impression.

A woman beautiful enough that her voluptuous body would never bore no matter how long one looked at her.

— This won’t do.

Ludmilla made up her mind.

— For our Archduchess-nim’s happiness as well, this Ludmilla Pureza will step forward!

Ludmilla stood up from her seat and said.

At that momentum, Valdrova’s shoulders shrank slightly.

— H-How?

— You want a deeper relationship, right?

— Yes. That’s right…

— There is a method for times like this.

She extended her index finger and said.

— You ambush Regent-nim!

— Oooh!!

Penelope clapped in agreement.

Valdrova didn’t know what that meant, but beside her, Rize’s face turned bright red.

— A-An ambush? Why would you do something like that…?

— Because they are doing frustrating things! That man Arwen too, do you know how stiffly he acted until I ambushed him? He couldn’t even say ‘I love you’ properly, muttering and hesitating?

— Really?

— Now he can’t live without me! It’s the effect of taking a bold step forward! So you two also need to be bold in your relationship!

— Mmm…

Valdrova began to seriously contemplate those words.

— I, I object!

Rize stepped in to stop the madness.

Rize ruining perfectly cooked rice was not welcome.

— You are betrothed to Regent Ferda-nim, and until you are officially engaged, I think it is good to continue a wholesome relationship while getting to know each other more and interacting…

— What kind of boring talk is that!

— My, my, do you think this is a world that just came out of the Primordial Era?!

They cast strange glances at Rize and began to harass him.

Penelope actively refuted.

— Culture inherently develops! Men and women being separated is an ancient tale, and the trend is becoming more open!

— What kind of openness is that?

— If that’s what openness is…

— Ladies.

Just as Penelope was about to make a vulgar gesture, Ruri intervened.

— During this noble tea time, I ask that you please use noble words.

It was an extremely professional tone, but her eyes were not.

They were filled with the determination to kill her if she didn’t put that finger away.

Penelope, naturally, did not want to die, so she lowered her finger.

— Since it’s tea time, how about we talk about tea?

— Tea…

Penelope lowered her gaze to her cup and opened her mouth.

— Let’s talk about tea. Rize-ssi?

— Yes, let’s.

— Our Archduchess-nim here says her throat is dry. Would it be right to keep her waiting?

He knew that question directed at Rize was not simply ‘talk about tea’.

— Brewing tea with the best tea leaves, clean water, and a proper tea ceremony produces the best flavor.

— Would that be enough to keep the Great Red Dragon waiting?

— Even so, if she waits just a little…

— What if she dies right now if she doesn’t drink tea!?

— Y-Yes!?

With Penelope pressing aggressively, Rize became flustered.

— S-So much so, then it isn’t drinking tea, but drinking water…

— That’s what I’m saying!

— Y-Yes!?

— Her Highness is thirsty right now! In that situation, what use is the best tea? The water she can drink right now would be sweeter!

They were the right words, but Rize couldn’t acknowledge that fact.

Rize thought repeatedly and came up with a good rebuttal.

— Wait a moment. Water that tea leaves only briefly pass through cannot be called tea.

— What?!

— Furthermore, if that were the case, she would have an even more unpleasant experience than drinking water.

— Mmm…

That was also correct.

While Rize calmly insisted on the necessity of brewing tea, Penelope looked at him with displeasure and said.

— Then.

— Yes.

— How about putting the tea leaves in her mouth, pouring hot water directly, and drinking it?

— …Yes?

— In fact, isn’t that the best? Savoring the aroma of black tea brewing in her mouth in real time? Doesn’t it seem like she could enjoy practically all the flavors?

— Totally awesome?

Ludmilla gave a thumbs up.

Rize began to feel dizzy at Penelope’s logic, and Ludmilla wasn’t even thinking in the first place.

She simply found this situation too amusing.

— Everything has its time. There is a time for flowers to bloom, a time for fruit to ripen, and a time to eat it. I think it would be good if Valdrova-nim could enjoy the joy of the proper timing…

— Stop!

Penelope, unable to bear it, shouted.

— What do you know to keep butting in?! You, fake food!

— F-Fake, food!?

— Dragons have dragon circumstances, humans have human circumstances, and elves have elf circumstances! What does an elf like you know about relationships between humans and dragons to go around talking like that?!

— I, I only meant a wholesome romance…

— I’ve dated over 100 women! I can take pride in knowing female psychology, and male psychology too!

— I only meant between men and women…

— Have you dated women, have you dated men? You, who were a virgin for thousands of years, what do you know about men and women!

— That is…

— You, who want our Archduchess-nim to die of thirst without even drinking tea, bitch, no, bastard, you are the true enemy of women! Enemy of the people! Enemy of the Archduchy!

— Uu, uu…

Penelope’s abusive language poured out and Rize finally burst into tears.

Fearing that a voice laden with moisture would come out if he tried to say anything, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Penelope expected a complete victory and tried to raise her arms in self-celebration, but it was premature.

She didn’t even dream that there was a separate final boss until then.

— Master, and ladies.

The one who opened her mouth to put an end to this debate was Ruri.

— There are board games that you can lightly enjoy prepared in the playroom. I ask that only you ‘ladies’ retire.

— Mmm, shall we go? Your Highness, let’s go.

— Yes.

Ludmilla and Valdrova stood up from their seats.

— I, I will also go take a look.

Penelope also got up from her seat, reading the room.

The only one left in the seat was Rize, a man.

— Aah.

Seeing Penelope like that, Ruri stopped her.

Ruri seemed to have a misunderstanding and said it again.

— I said only the ‘ladies’ retire.

Emphasizing it, this time Penelope sat down and Rize stood up from his seat.

Ruri, standing politely, pulled up a chair in front of Penelope and sat down.

Silence hung in the air.

That silence possessed a cold blade, aimed at Penelope’s throat.

The words that surfaced in Penelope’s clouded mind were these:

— Even so… does the Earth turn?

— Was the women’s gathering pleasant?

At Ferda’s question, Valdrova nodded.

— Yes, it was harmonious and fun.

— I’m curious to know what kind of stories you shared.

— What kind of story…

Valdrova gathered the stories that came to mind and compressed them into one sentence.

— How to brew black tea?

— Black tea?

— Rize-ssi and Penelope argued a bit over that, but Rize-ssi seemed upset and shed tears.

— Is that so?

Arguing over black tea was strange, but Rize crying was even stranger.

What on earth happened?

— So, speaking of which, can Ferda-ssi brew black tea?

— Of course.

— I want to taste a cup of black tea brewed by Ferda-ssi…

— I will brew it.

Ferda skillfully handled the tea set with experienced hands, and at the end of the delicate work, handed over a cup of black tea of good color.

Valdrova carefully brought her lips to that black tea.

— How is it?

— It’s delicious.

— Fortunately, I brewed it well at the proper timing.

When Ferda spoke as if satisfied, Valdrova stared fixedly at Ferda.

The conversation from the women’s gathering came to her mind.

— Could you brew it a little less?

— But then the original flavor would diminish, wouldn’t it?

Valdrova couldn’t easily think of a retort, so she said this to Ferda.

— My throat is dry.

Since she had insisted so strongly, wouldn’t it be worth trying to drink once?

Valdrova thought that.