Chapter 73

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 73: Isabella

Isabella
Chapter 73. Isabella

A few days later, a dragon generation arrived from Iorga’s side.
— Greetings. I am Isabella Iorga, sent on secondment. I have come to carry out the duties of administrator at Valdrova Castle starting today.
As befitting a descendant of Iorga, the pair of horns on her forehead were rounded and non-threatening.
Her eyes were sharp and her movements carried discipline; the simple act of looking at her gave the sensation of standing before a strict supervisor.
He had heard that a dragon generation would arrive, but there was a discrepancy on paper.
— I heard the story, but I was told the dragon generation coming was named Yuria.
— I volunteered in place of Yuria. Please rest assured, as, being Chief Erika’s Chief Secretary, I pride myself on possessing mission execution capabilities far superior to those of Yuria. Within the Tower, I am known as the Merciless Secretary.
Isabella adjusted her glasses upward and assumed a solemn expression.
He could tell she overflowed with self-confidence, but whether she was truly exceptional remained to be seen.
The arrogance of the dragon generations was already well known to him.
— In any case, understood.
— The Alliance Declaration Ceremony is scheduled for a week from now, at any rate. It will be based on the document signed personally by Lord Blancaros and will be announced throughout the Serdes Continent. Do you have any questions?
— On that point, I heard the details in writing from Chief Erika, so I am not particularly curious.
— Understood. Please review the details of the alliance’s conclusion for the Chief and affix your seal.
Since it was an important document, Ferda finished verifying every single character and stamped the Royal Seal.
He thought that was the end of it, but another document flew over to land in front of him.
— This document is a consent form for the necessary authorities as an administrator. It is a Power of Attorney delegating judicial authority and collection authority to me, as well as the power to decide when outsourcing is necessary for administrative work…
The content of the document was summarized simply.
For major matters such as tax collection, law enforcement, and diplomacy, Ferda himself would approve them directly, but for minor matters, small disputes, tax collection manager systems, and the like, the administrator—she herself—would handle them directly.
— All documents related to the delegation are ready.
— Is that all?
— Now it begins. We need to meticulously review the security levels inside the castle. With the exception of resident staff, all temporary workers and those without authorization will be entirely expelled. And…
After that, they discussed the administrative affairs of the castle.
While speaking with Mori, she persuaded Ferda convincingly, fluently laid out reasons of efficiency and appearance regarding the parts that had changed, and asked how they actually were.
Around the time the discussion on the castle’s administrative matters was concluding, Isabella cast a glance out the window.
Stretched out below lay a forest without the sounds of beasts.
— I had heard about it, but it seems Valdrova Castle truly does not have an adjoining city.
— They say it is too hostile for common folk to live here.
— Where do you plan to accommodate the adventurers?
— Wouldn’t Count Consillus’s territory work?
— That is a bad idea.
Isabella responded coldly.
— To build national power, population takes priority over capital and food. We must begin urban planning around here to accommodate the adventurers.
— I heard common folk find it difficult to live near here; I feel you are overlooking that.
— That is only true if there are no professionals capable of manipulating magic. I will request Blue Eye to dispatch mages to manage the magic circles. Since this is employment, I will prepare a budget proposal to form a magic squad and obtain approval. If we only resolve the anxiety caused by the Dragon Fear, this city would be worthy even as a capital.
A capital…
The person who had said that was Olivia Arken.
She wished for this place to become the Second Capital.
It was bound to happen someday, but wasn’t it too soon?
— What about pressure from the Empire?
— That is the fear of not making soybean paste for fear of maggots. They will not be able to act recklessly. Adventurers will gather in the Demon Land, and that congregation will naturally form a city; that is the natural order. Given that we uphold the pretext of the Eastern Conquest, if they dare to block it, Iorga’s side will show the will to resist.
The Empire might have seen Valdrova merely as watchdogs of the house until now, but Iorga is a group of mages that exercises influence far and wide across the continent.
Ferda was satisfied with their promise to take care of things properly.
— We need to attract merchant companies, but the Regent has already attracted one. The Pascal Merchant Company, correct?
— Correct.
— A large company is not enough. Even if they are not Western merchants, we must actively trade with the North and South as well.
— On that point, I will have to speak with Stefan.
— I, as administrator, will handle it. I can also find a sufficient compromise with the Pascal Merchant Company.
— Do so.
Beyond that, things poured out without pause.
Road reorganization, investment funds, donations, urban planning strategies.
Ferda thought he had studied reasonably well, but before Isabella, it was barely a drop in the bucket.
She spat out new ideas one after another, connecting strategies one by one, and utilized everything Ferda possessed in the right places.
“Truly worthy of being a Chief Secretary.”
They were not word games using rhetoric, but summarizing only the essentials and delivering only what was necessary.
She emphasized practicality by handling important matters firmly and trivial matters flexibly.
“I thought I would get a pheasant instead of a chicken, but a phoenix descended.”
She was definitely a reliable talent.
So reliable it was almost frightening in reverse.
“Why would such a talent come to this castle?”
Ferda was curious about that.
If it were the dragon generation Yuria, he would have thought Erika sent her, but Isabella volunteered.
The descendants of Iorga are dragon generations.
Fundamentally, they have a unique pride in being different as their foundation.
Especially their pride in the Blue Eye created by Iorga is tremendous, which is why they intensely hate leaving the Magic Tower.
Being dispatched to Valdrova Castle was practically no different from exile.
Was there any reason for such a capable secretary to deliberately come to a place of exile?
While he thought about that, Isabella organized the scattered documents.
— For now, this is enough for a brief overview; we will write the roadmap together later. Let us finish today’s work lightly with this. Thank you for your hard work.
— Yes, good work.
— May I ask a question?
Isabella asked with a solemn expression.
— Does the Regent happen to enjoy alcohol?
— I don’t even lose sleep touching it.
When Ferda cut her off firmly, Isabella’s body shuddered slightly.
The woman who had been speaking so fluently showed a bewildered look.
— It was something I should have verified in advance, but there isn’t a Prohibition Order declared in this castle or anything of the sort, right?
— There isn’t. I simply don’t drink.
— I see. Confirmed.
She immediately showed a look of relief.
For some reason, that appearance bothered Ferda, so he threw a question at her.
— Do you enjoy alcohol?
— Just a little. A drink after work is exceptionally special.
— Mmm, I see.
From a different race, but a mage is a mage.
A mage’s friends are alcohol and women.
He wouldn’t complain even if she did both, so one was naturally acceptable.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door and entered the office.
A girl in a maid uniform: Ruri.
— Ferda-sama, at the castle gate… eh?
She was coming on some business, but upon spotting Isabella, her gaze was stolen in that direction.
— So you are the one sent for Valdrova-sama this time.
Ruri furrowed her brows and walked toward Isabella.
Leaving about three steps of distance, their height difference was visibly confirmed.
But Ruri did not back down and initiated a stare-down.
— Given that it is your first day here, I will state it clearly. The person who has served the longest in this castle is me. If you take or replace things without my consent, you will not be able to avoid friction.
The atmosphere was truly serious.
It was forged with a firm resolve that seemed to suggest she would start a war if anyone touched her things.
To Ferda, it seemed a bit different.
“Like a dog marking territory.”
Preconceptions are truly terrifying.
To Ferda, it only looked like a barking chihuahua.
Isabella looked down at Ruri.
Her rational eyes gleamed as she opened her mouth.
— Small and compact…
— Eh?
She readjusted her glasses upward with her middle finger and spoke.
Coldly, as if the words she had just spat out had been misheard.
— I heard that you, Ruri Silver Wind, handle all management in this castle.
— That is correct.
— From now on, I will call you Ruri-chan. In terms of cleanliness, it is confirmed to be superior to the standards of our Magic Tower. But the administrative work is a complete disaster. Many things do not match efficiency and practicality.
— Criticizing details like that does not fit the dignity of a dragon.
— Details must be criticized. Among confirmed dragons, Valdrova-sama’s assets are the lowest. It is to the point that the budget we originally attempted to secure would fall through.
— So you have complaints?
— Rather than complaints, it means proper financial management is needed.
She felt bad hearing that the assets were low, but she did not dare refute it.
Because Valdrova had truly lived without interest in rare treasures since the past.
— There will be changes inside the castle for administrative reform, but before that, I will visit Ruri-chan to ask for understanding. Will it be acceptable to proceed with work in that manner?
— If you only do that, I don’t mind.
— Understood. Then I will take my leave. Until tomorrow, Regent Ferda.
— Sure.
Footsteps echoed over the marble.
As befitted the prestigious Magic Tower and Iorga’s Chief Secretary, she withdrew with elegant steps.
Ruri watched her retreating figure with an expression mixed with disgust.
— That woman irritates me.
— Are you jealous?
— No, why would I be jealous of those water lizards? It’s just a bad feeling.
Ruri felt a strange sensation when Isabella looked at her.
She had clearly won, but it didn’t feel like she had won.
It was triggered by a strange discomfort before the gaze beyond those glasses.
Of course, Ferda had no interest in that.
He only thought she was jealous.
— So you came to mark territory?
— Please do not speak as if I were a stray dog wandering around the neighborhood. The Chancellor of Escolleia has arrived.
The Chancellor of Escolleia.
In exchange for saving his life, he was supposed to receive the blueprint for the Demonic Appearance Prediction Device.
He hadn’t pressured him on purpose because something big came up, but it seems he hasn’t forgotten.
— He came from very far away, so attend to him appropriately first. Tell him I will see him in two hours.
— Understood.
Ruri withdrew like that.
Partly to take a brief breather, but there were other matters too.
The crystal ball on Ferda’s desk.
That crystal ball engraved with Communication Magic was blinking.
It meant someone was trying to establish contact.
Ferda placed his hand on the crystal and received the telepathic communication.
— Hello, Regent Ferda.
It was Erika Iorga.
— Yes, Chief Iorga.
— You won’t cut the telepathy this time, right?
— If you wish, I will cut it this very moment.
— Don’t be so stingy. We are about to become allies, aren’t we? I received the document confirming you reviewed the conclusion of the alliance.
— Is that why you are sending telepathy?
— Partly. It was a different girl instead of Yuria, right?
— Yes. She said her name is Isabella.
— Yes, that’s right. How is she? If you don’t like her or something, I will send Yuria as originally planned.
He felt a reflexive rejection at the implication that she was trying to take back her Chief Secretary.
— That will not be necessary. I thought she was exactly the talent needed, doing things properly.
— True, she works well. Whatever they say, she is my Chief Secretary. She is so interested in practical work that she secretly went to Escolleia hiding her identity and earned a doctorate. But…
A long sigh exhaled.
— Is there a problem?
— No. Let’s not tell this story. It’s better to find out slowly. That girl isn’t bad or anything like that.
“She is perfect at work.”
Muttering like that only made it more worrisome.
What kind of problem does that woman have for her to act like this?
Bad vibe, but it was definitely the kind of problem that wouldn’t become a work issue.
— As you said, the declaration is in one week. That time is granted, so please prepare well.
— Understood.
— Then. For the sake of our alliance, I will be contacting you often from now on.
Erika spoke in a voice that sounded as if she were smiling slightly, and then cut the telepathy.
“Declaration in one week…”
They say starting is half the battle.
Ferda foresaw a mountain of documents.
It will be a headache, but it’s not bad.
This was also work for Valdrova.
Ferda looked outside.
Right now, only a forest thickly covered with trees in a complicated manner.
There, buildings will fill it and people will fill it.
On the streets, people and carriages will move with eyelets of activity, and they will sing Valdrova’s name and praise her.
So Ferda will endure this pain.
For my only fiancée.