Chapter 65

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 65: Salt and Sand

Salt and Sand
Chapter 65. Salt and Sand
Thump!
A deep sound of an explosion echoed within Abel’s body.
At the same time, Abel’s body became limp.
The groans of pain, the trembling; everything vanished.
— Ah…
A choked cry burst from Ruri’s mouth.
She thought.
That all of this was a dream.
That she was actually in her bed, and that a demon had snuck into her chambers to show her a nightmare.
But she did not wake up.
The more she focused on waking up, the closer the cold reality drew.
— Aah…
Ruri walked toward Abel with faltering steps.
She turned his collapsed body over.
His pupils had no focus.
His pulse had disappeared.
His body temperature turned cold.
She tried to use healing magic.
But she knew it was impossible.
Because his heart was shattered.
If the heart is shattered, no Dragon Spawn can survive.
Ferda must have known this too.
Ferda had no intention of leaving him any chance to live.
The sensation of this tragedy unfolding in a cold and dark place where blizzards roared dug into her mind.
A Spawn of the Silver Dragon had died.
Another of the Father’s children died today.
What that other child had seen was also visible to her.
And that man was standing right in front of her.
— At this very moment…
A voice forced its way through a clogged throat.
— Do you know what you have done, Ferda-nim?
— I know.
Ferda replied indifferently.
— It is murder.
As cold as the northern air.
— It’s not just murder… Ferda-nim.
Ruri’s hand trembled.
— A child of Silver Wind died. You murdered someone who inherited his blood. Do you know what that means?
— I know.
— No. You don’t know.
Ruri lifted her head.
She walked toward Ferda.
— You killed someone who inherited dragon blood. They will not stop their revenge.
— I know.
— Until you die… they will never stop.
— I know.
— If you know it!!
Ruri grabbed Ferda by the collar of his clothes.
— You would have never made this choice!
Everything she had built.
— Because of your actions!
Due to Ferda’s actions.
— The peace I protected for Valdrova-nim has shattered!
It collapsed pointlessly.
— You… because of you…
Ruri lowered her head.
The hand holding his collar trembled slightly.
Her two legs trembled, barely supporting her body.
She thought.
Can this be fixed?
Can this be brushed aside as if it were nothing?
What exactly is going to happen?
She tried to gauge the events to come, but she couldn’t.
This exceeded her capabilities.
There is no way this can be resolved amicably.
— Hah, hah…
Tension strangled her throat.
She exhaled harsh and ragged breaths of air.
Her mind went blank.
— It’s… because of you.
What poured from her mouth was resentment.
— Valdrova-nim… was quite happy even without you.
Cruel words she did not mean gushed forth.
— You…! Because you tried to enter her life…!
But Ferda did not move.
Ferda looked down at her.
With eyes as if he were looking at a pitiful creature.
— Ruri.
— Don’t speak my name with that mouth! With that mouth…!
— Ruri.
A cold voice caught the confused Ruri.
— Look at me.
Ruri raised her head.
Aimless silver eyes looked at Ferda.
— Abel had to die. This choice was inevitable.
— There was a choice. And I made that choice.
— That choice of giving yourself up was the worst.
— Does it even matter if I’m here or not? You only need Valdrova-nim, isn’t that right? Isn’t it enough to maintain peace?
— To begin with, there was no peace.
— Yes there was! Right there, clearly! The peace that I created existed!
Ruri retorted harshly.
The doubt that she might be wrong swelled in her chest, but she refused to acknowledge it.
She didn’t want to make everything she had done meaningless.
— Ruri.
Ferda asked.
— Did I break the peace you created?
— Yes.
That is a fact.
— Did I put my fiancée in danger?
— Yes.
That is also a fact.
— Then was I wrong?
— …
Ruri could not answer.
She didn’t understand why she hesitated to give that answer.
He clearly killed Abel.
Because of that, peace was broken.
Valdrova is in danger.
Then is that wrong?
It wasn’t.
Somewhere in her heart, something said otherwise.
— You… are wrong.
She lacked the courage to admit it.
She threw another tantrum.
— Is that how it is?
Ferda brushed her hand aside.
At his gesture, Ruri’s hand was guided.
Ruri’s eyes went wide.
It moved just past his neck, making her wrap her arms around his neck.
— Then kill me right here.
Ruri asked with a trembling voice.
— Are you… serious?
— That’s what I asked of you.
Ruri recalled something she had set aside in her memory.
When Ferda finished recruiting all the talents,
The last name he wrote was his own.
And he asked like this.
— If I put my fiancée in danger, if I act wrongly, kill me without hesitation.
Ruri, naturally, did not believe it.
There is no living creature in the world that wants to die.
Humans, of course, and Dragon Spawns too.
Even dragons themselves.
— If I die, the peace you protected will return.
Ferda was different.
His eyes showed no hesitation.
From the moment he killed Abel until now.
The determination that resided within him had not wavered once.
Ruri spat out the question she could not understand, the one she had kept in her heart.
— Ferda-nim… don’t you regret that action?
— I don’t regret it.
Ferda thought about it over and over.
He thought before acting, he thought while acting, and he thought even at this very moment.
The conclusion was always the same.
— Even if I turned back time a thousand times, I would save you.
— Why?
Unlike her wavering pupils, his shone with clarity.
It was a light Ruri did not possess.
— Because I do not doubt that this is for my fiancée, Valdrova.
That light brushed Ruri’s cheek.
— She needs you more than she needs me.
The moment she heard those words, everything that made up Ruri collapsed.
— Just… why?
The hand holding Ferda’s neck loosened and slid down his body.
— Why… when I’ve lived longer… I’ve served Valdrova-nim for longer…
Her voice held moisture.
— Why a human like you…
Ruri hated humans.
Human greed only served to hurt Valdrova.
Ferda was different from those humans.
But.
She hated Ferda more than any human.
Why?
He is doing it for Valdrova.
He truly has the power to do it.
She hates him to death.
— Why, can’t I… be like you…
Ruri’s body collapsed forward.
She didn’t want to lean on a man she hated.
But showing him her tears was even more detestable.
— Keuhk, heuk…
Ruri desperately tried to swallow her sobs.
But knowing she couldn’t, she buried her face in his clothes to forcefully silence the sound.
Ruri shed tears absentmindedly while taking in a faint scent.
A long time ago, a village was reduced to ashes in a great fire.
The man who took in the only surviving girl.
She smelled the scent of that man.
Ferda returned to Count Consilirus’s castle with Ruri.
— Thank you.
— …
Ruri did not answer.
Since she cried, she hadn’t uttered a single word.
— Go back now.
Neither affirmation nor denial.
Instead, her hand gave the answer.
She couldn’t let go of the hem of his clothes.
The anxiety lingering in her heart seeped through her hand.
— Ruri.
— …
— Are you afraid that war will break out?
She nodded slightly.
It meant she was worried, but that wasn’t all.
— There’s no need to worry. If I am right, war will not happen.
— …
— Return to your lady’s side. Return as if nothing had happened and prepare the tea party.
— …
— Can you do that for your lady?
Only then did Ruri let go of his collar.
In the end, without saying a single word, she flew away.
Ferda adjusted his clothes and opened the balcony door.
The castle interior was already a mess.
— Kill that demon bitch at once!
— Don’t just kill her, burn her to death with holy light!
Knights with their horns fully erect.
— Hwaaang!! I don’t want to diiiie!!
The pink-haired demon whimpering loudly enough to shake the castle.
— No, calm down and listen to me!
And Jed breaking out in a cold sweat trying to mediate between them.
— Sir Jed, step aside!
— Have you been bewitched by that demon bitch?!
— Damned plug knight! Hand over that bitch this instant!
— No, you guys can’t say anything! I’m not protecting this bitch, I received orders too!
— Hwaaaa, Knight-nim! Save meeee!
— No, crazy bitch! Let go of my leg! Ugh, seriously, why the hell am I going through this because of that guy?!
They say there is no high or low ranking work, but accepting this job was a mistake.
Jed regretted it over and over.
— Just kill her once and for all!
— Hwaaaang!!
— What exactly is going on?
— This demon bitch worse than a dog hijacked the gate Regent-nim was coming through and caused this disaster… huh?
— R-Regent-nim?
The subject of the commotion, that very Regent, appeared, and silence fell in an instant.
— Are you alright?
— I’m fine. Ribs and fingers are broken, but nothing serious.
— That demon said you let her in, lying…
— Waaang! It’s not a lie!
— It’s not a lie. I let her in. So put away your murderous intent and go back.
— Ah, yes. If you say so…
— See! It’s true! Why do you accuse me of being a liar?! The real life of a demon is so sad, truly ubeu-beup…
— You’ve been making shitty noise for a while now, seriously!
Penelope trying to pour oil on the burning house.
Jed covered her mouth with a rag.
— Fortunately everyone returned safely from the sudden operation. I’m fine, so go rest.
Thus, the commotion settled down for the moment.
Ferda shifted his gaze.
What he saw were two people.
Jed breaking out in a cold sweat.
And Penelope dripping tears and snot.
— You two have unfinished business.
— —
Early dawn at Count Consilirus’s castle.
The black sky began to find color.
It was the twilight just before dawn broke.
Ferda waited without sleeping.
His ribs were broken, his fingers were bent.
He had restored his body with healing magic, but the aftereffects left him more exhausted than ever.
Even so, he endured the sleepiness and waited.
Shortly after, Ferda felt an energy intruding from the surroundings.
— Darling, are you back?
The Great Demon, Sitri, crawled out from the darkness.
— I was so worried things would go wrong, but it seems it worked out somehow?
— …
— Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do anything wrong, right?
— Right, it’s not your fault.
Ferda leaned back against the chair and crossed his arms.
— But it seems you expected me not to return safely.
— No way. Can one do business with a dead person? I looked forward to your return more than anyone?
Sitri showed a captivating smile.
But her expression was distinctly different from a few hours ago.
Impatience.
— Your dog is dead, Sitri.
— My dog? Who?
— Don’t play dumb. I know Abel Silverwind is one of your dogs.
— Oh dear, how terrible. Anyone who hates my darling is on the side of the demons, is that it? I hate that prejudice…
She denies it brazenly.
Her eyes curved like a crescent moon.
— Even if that Abel were my dog, there is no proof, right?
Sitri laughed deeply.
Just as she said.
There is no proof.
If one made a deal with a demon, a seal or a mana trace would be engraved.
Abel had none of that.
— Do you think you can frame a living demon without evidence? If you deny it so much, they will try to call me as a witness. Then I will deny it.
— Then I will be in trouble.
— The picture will be this: Regent Ferda, who meddled and committed murder, blaming everything on demons to avoid responsibility… And…
Sitri slid closer.
— It will just look like my darling struggling to survive. Even if it doesn’t look that way, humans won’t leave my darling alone.
She whispered into Ferda’s ear.
— And wasn’t it you, darling, who made a deal with a demon first?
Sitri revealed her true intentions.
— You borrowed demonic magic to sneak into the territory, and you rescued a demon.
Sitri would have already secured that evidence.
From the moment she offered the Bending Bridge, she had laid traps several layers deep so that Ferda could not avoid being caught.
— Poor, cute Regent-nim.
Sitri caressed Ferda’s face.
— Isn’t it strange? Why doesn’t the saying ‘do not make deals with demons’ change even with the passage of time? Because everyone makes the same mistake every time, no matter how much it’s emphasized.
— …
— Darling already crossed a river of no return the moment you used my Bending Bridge. If you had asked another guy before, would this have ever happened?
She mocks that every decision of Ferda was a mistake.
The tide is turning.
Demons always aim for that opening.
Sitri opened her mouth to propose.
— If…
Ferda spoke first.
— ‘If’ is the refuge of those who regret their actions.
Ferda raised his head.
— If you don’t regret, you don’t need the word ‘if’.
The atmosphere Sitri thought was hers overturned in an instant.
Sitri felt a sense of incongruity in those eyes.
Calm to an unimaginable degree for someone cornered.
Wondering if he was an idiot who couldn’t grasp the situation, but it wasn’t that either.
It was unmistakably a conviction forged from determination.
— Are you going to start a war? Or will you break the engagement with Valdrova? Either way, nothing good will come of it for you.
— Neither war nor nullification will happen.
Ferda spoke slowly.
— Abel was a follower of demons, and the fact that he cooperated does not change.
— Did you hear what I said?
Sitri was stunned.
— I said there is no evidence. Without evidence, how are they going to believe my darling? Are they idiots?
This game was overwhelmingly in Sitri’s favor.
She held many cards in her hand by this time.
She had finished preparing to counterattack no matter how he attacked her.
Ferda wasn’t an idiot either.
To block the fallout of a demon’s deal, Ferda had also made thorough preparations.
— Right, there is no evidence.
But by killing Abel, those cards all left his hand.
There are no cards to counter Sitri’s.
— So.
Instead, what he held was,
— From now on, you will create it.
A dog leash to tie up the demon.