Chapter 27: Chapter 27
Chapter 27 - Because She’s Embarrassed
Count Consilus asked in surprise,
"Regent? You mean... Valdrova’s Fiancé?"
"We don’t know the full story ourselves... but judging by the fact that he managed to win over Mr. Stephan Pascal, the branch manager, he certainly has exceptional ability. He’s not someone who can be swayed by status alone."
"Ah..."
A hollow sigh escaped Count Consilus’s lips.
Ferda Rosnova.
What kind of image did he have now?
The worst imaginable.
All he had done until now was intimidate and keep the regional lords in check.
Because of that, resentment had steadily built up among the local lords.
That brat... was actually making moves against the Pascal Trading Company?
The first surprise was learning that he had allied himself with the Pascal Trading Company without anyone noticing.
The second surprise was...
He didn’t do it out of personal greed.
Had it been for his own ambitions, he would have focused solely on Castle Valdrova.
Instead, his efforts to revitalize trade were clearly intended to develop the isolated territories that had long stagnated, something far removed from selfish motives.
Just what kind of terms did he offer them?
The territories belonging to the Grand Duchess Valdrova’s domain held little value.
The front lines were packed with forests meant to hold back the monsters, and even if the trees were cleared to make farmland, all they could grow were occasional famine crops.
On top of that, the front lines retreated every year, leaving the land increasingly barren.
Even if someone offered those lands for free, most people would hesitate and say, "That’s a bit..."
That was the reputation of the Far East.
Which meant Ferda had offered terms so attractive that they outweighed every one of those disadvantages.
No other lord... could have accomplished such a thing.
Whether what he had shown them was genuine or complete fantasy no longer mattered.
What mattered was that it had succeeded.
Count Consilus decided to do what had to be done first.
"Let them enter. Have the wagons organized, and let everyone rest and celebrate for today. I’ll hear the details of the plan later."
"Thank you, Count."
The man blew his whistle, and the wagons of the Pascal Trading Company entered one after another.
Count Consilus looked up at the towering mountain that rose above the gloomy forest.
"Your Grace, the Regent..."
His voice swelled with emotion.
Today, Count Consilus spoke that name as though he had witnessed a transcendent being emerging from the darkness.
Facing that distant direction, he knelt respectfully.
"My lord?"
Arwen was startled by his sudden action.
But he quickly understood its meaning and knelt as well, offering his respects toward the same direction.
Then one by one...
Each person knelt in turn, paying homage toward the lonely mountain.
***
Luri, who was inside the banquet hall, suddenly raised her hand.
"Tormenta!"
It was the name of a high-ranking Wind Spirit.
At that moment, white winds swirled before Luri, gradually taking shape.
Though it resembled a human figure that seemed as if it might disperse at any moment, it remained firmly intact.
The spirit politely bowed toward Luri.
—You summoned me, Master. You seem to be in a bad mood again today.
"Today we’re beginning another thorough cleaning. Summon every lower Wind Spirit without exception. Open every window wide and completely purge all the air inside this room!"
—As you command.
"Fuente!"
She then called the name of a lower Water Spirit.
Mana dripped through the air before taking the form of a sticky liquid.
—Chu-bak.
"Absorb every bit of broth and filth those damned creatures left behind and wipe everything clean. Don’t leave a single stain. We cannot allow something like dog urine to mark the residence of the Grand Duchess. Understood?"
—Chu-ba-bak!
The sound of water being stirred violently echoed through the hall.
Sensing that Luri was in an even worse mood than usual, the spirits hurried to obey.
The Water Spirit repeatedly divided itself, scattering its body throughout the castle floor and walls as it absorbed every trace of grime.
"Fuuu..."
Luri’s small chest rose and fell deeply.
She could still faintly smell the lingering mixture of sweat and perfume tickling the tip of her nose.
No matter how many times she tried to erase it, the odor refused to disappear.
How irritating.
Luri hated Knights.
She especially hated Wandering Knights.
Not only did they exaggerate their achievements, but they never hesitated to insult others.
The insult she referred to was the endless tale of the brave knight who defeated an evil dragon.
It made up seventy percent of every knight’s heroic tales and was one of the stories people loved hearing the most.
Strangely enough, while the story never changed, the hero’s name always did.
Whenever wandering knights paid bards, they simply replaced the protagonist’s name with that knight’s name before spreading the tale.
As a result, nearly half of all Wandering Knights became known as Dragon Slayers.
Dragon Slayers who ran screaming into the hallway while wetting themselves.
There truly was no more disgusting breed.
Still, His Grace accomplished his objective.
More than fifty Wandering Knights had come, and together they had brought over fifteen hundred corpses.
When they saw the mountain of bodies, they had even foolishly asked,
"Isn’t this a little too many?"
Even the cleanup afterward had become a problem.
Fortunately, the second son from the Pascal Trading Company whom we recruited took care of that.
Verified laborers and assistant researchers poured in and quickly handled the cleanup.
Even so, traces of monster corpses remained near the entrance and where the wagons had been parked, leaving behind a faint smell of death.
To think I’d actually come to prefer the smell of those disgusting creatures.
It was still better than the sweat and perfume left behind by those knights.
The smell of monster corpses would eventually fade.
This unpleasant scent, however, showed no sign of disappearing.
A cleaning job that normally took ten minutes had become two hours a day for ten straight days as she cleaned the banquet hall over and over again.
She liked cleanliness, but she wasn’t obsessive.
The impact those knights had left on her had simply been that overwhelming.
Only after not even a single strand of hair remained on the floor and the hall looked completely brand new could she finally relax.
—Master, it’s about time you attended to your other duties. What will you do?
"Ah, you’re right. Good work, Tormenta, Fuente."
—Then we’ll be taking our leave.
—Chu-ba-bak!
The Wind Spirit and Water Spirit reverted into pure mana before dispersing into the air.
That should be enough cleaning for today... Now I should go deliver the weekly report.
Leaving the banquet hall behind, Luri searched the hidden pocket inside her skirt.
She took out a document summarizing intelligence obtained through the Imperial Intelligence Bureau and descended into the Lair.
As always, a single Red Dragon lay there with its body coiled.
—You’ve come.
"Yes. Have you been well?"
—Hmm... Yes, I’ve been doing well. What have you come to discuss?
"It’s time for the weekly report. Isn’t today the scheduled day?"
—Ah. Right.
Luri was already used to Valdrova forgetting things so often, but today’s reaction felt different.
She seems absent-minded.
It was as though she were completely lost in thought.
And there was no need to guess what those thoughts were about.
Ferda—that man.
Since it was so obvious, Luri didn’t bother mentioning it and simply continued.
"Recent developments suggest that the situation within the Empire has become increasingly unstable."
She began with the most important topic—the Empire itself.
"The government has been passing laws that heavily favor the privileged class, causing widespread resentment among the lower classes. To suppress the unrest, they’ve been relying on entertainment and food distribution for the citizens."
—Hmm... I see.
Valdrova responded automatically.
Luri knew perfectly well that she wasn’t paying attention, but she continued reading the report in a mechanical voice.
Something had happened over there.
Something else had occurred elsewhere.
After finishing the news covering the entire continent, she moved on.
"And now, regarding the Grand Duchess’s domain..."
Valdrova’s body suddenly stirred.
She adjusted her posture, lifted her head, and perked up her ears.
—Go on.
Her voice had noticeably brightened.
Even her eyes sparkled more than usual.
Luri disliked seeing that as well, but she maintained her neutrality.
"Although Teshalos Wolcher’s position remains vacant, we’ve signed a contract with the heir of a major merchant company, greatly improving the stability of the Grand Duchess’s domain."
—I see.
Her voice sounded almost dreamy.
A single sentence saying that things were going well was enough to lift her spirits.
She’s become even more like this since that day.
Luri could no longer hold back.
"Are you really that happy?"
—What do you mean?
"I’m talking about Lord Ferda."
Grrr...
Steam burst from Valdrova’s nostrils.
To someone meeting her for the first time, she might have appeared furious.
But Luri knew better.
Valdrova was simply flustered like a young girl.
—Happy? What are you talking about? I do not like my Fiancé.
"You don’t?"
—Of course not.
Valdrova continued with a serious expression.
—I merely remember the time he suddenly stepped in from time to time, and I occasionally find myself worrying about his safety. He is a weak human, is he not?
Valdrova passionately defended herself, insisting that she only cared because he was weak.
Luri, however, saw things differently.
Lady Valdrova is talking much more than usual.
Whenever humans were involved, Valdrova normally became tense immediately.
But anything related to Ferda felt completely different.
Usually, her mood remained low by default.
Now, however, she seemed to be floating on air.
To ease those feelings, even just a little, Luri made a suggestion.
"Then how about holding a tea party?"
—A tea party?
Grrr!
Another strong puff escaped her nostrils.
—You mean drinking tea, eating sweets, and talking together?
"Yes. Human fiancés often meet in advance to spend time together and confirm each other’s feelings before the wedding."
—A tea party... It doesn’t suit someone like me. Such things are meant for young and lovely maidens.
"The Grand Duchess Valdrova, whose beauty is unrivaled across the continent, would look wonderful doing anything."
—Hmm...
She rested her chin on one claw, letting out a quiet breath.
She didn’t seem to dislike the idea entirely.
Yet something still bothered her, preventing her from accepting it outright.
—Meeting him... Then I suppose I should appear before him in human form?
"Yes."
—Hmm... In that case... I suppose I can’t go.
Valdrova rejected the meal that had been prepared for her, despite having been told she must be hungry.
"What is the reason?"
—Because... I’m too embarrassed.
It was hardly a reason befitting a Monarch.
Luri took a deep breath before asking,
"...Didn’t you already meet once? As I recall, the two of you already faced each other in human form..."
—Yes, we met once.
"And you even held hands."
—We did hold hands.
Valdrova had seen Ferda.
And Ferda had seen Valdrova.
How could either of them possibly forget that day?
Just as the memory remained vivid in Ferda’s mind, it was equally vivid in Valdrova’s.
—That’s precisely why I can’t do it.
Valdrova recalled the emotions she had felt that day.
That man had continued moving despite his suffering.
When blood poured from his nose, he looked as though he might collapse at any second.
Unable to stand by and watch, she had no choice but to use Polymorph and take on a human form so she could catch him.
As she shed tears over his pain, Ferda clasped her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
She was a Dragon who had flown across countless battlefields, burning and tearing apart everything that defiled the earth.
An absolute being before whom everyone held their breath and bowed their heads.
A supreme existence whose overwhelming might rendered the very concept of strength meaningless in her presence.
The reputation and glory that defined her...
The instant his arm wrapped around her waist, they vanished like a mirage.
Her body was left powerless.
Drawn in by the touch of a man thousands of times weaker than herself, their faces came within inches of each other.
For the first time in her life...
Valdrova became the princess—the woman—from the stories.
—It is a pleasure to meet you... my heart.
The warmth of a man’s touch she had never experienced before.
His gentle greeting.
His handsome smile.
For someone who had gone centuries without interacting with humans, it was far too much to process.
So Valdrova could do nothing.
She froze where she stood.
Her mind went completely blank.
Even the tears that had been about to fall vanished.
She remained frozen for a long while...
Even after he collapsed helplessly against her chest.
Every moment of that day remained perfectly preserved in Valdrova’s memory.
My heart...
Grrr!!
Valdrova covered her face.
She remembered everything Ferda had done.
At the same time, she remembered the disgraceful way she herself had behaved.
The moment she thought back on it, the feelings surged through her once again.
Her heart burned like a blazing furnace.
Her body felt strangely ticklish, making her want to fidget for no reason.
As she shifted about restlessly, she unconsciously forgot to exhale, filling her chest with air.
Only then did Valdrova slowly let out her breath.
Hiyuuuuuuuu...
A long, whistle-like sound echoed throughout the cavern.
That sound again...
It was the sound Luri hated the most.
Whenever Valdrova was overwhelmed by happiness beyond what she could contain, she always made that noise.
It was a hundred times better than seeing her miserable.
Still, Luri couldn’t exactly say she liked it.
"I believe holding a tea party would be the best course of action. What do you think?"
Peeking through the gap between the wings hiding her face, Valdrova quietly looked at Luri.
—What do you think I should do?
"My Master is the Aspect of Strength. The Aspect of Strength must be able to express her own wishes decisively."
In other words...
Don’t push the decision onto me.
—You’re right... I should.
Valdrova scratched her chin with one claw.
Tilting her head from side to side...
She repeatedly rolled her massive body over as she agonized over the decision.
She wants to go so badly it’s obvious.
Luri had already figured out the answer from Valdrova’s every movement.
Her desire was clearly directed toward Ferda.
But having a desire didn’t mean everything would go according to her wishes.
She could mercilessly burn and tear apart monsters without hesitation...
Yet she was also the greatest coward of all.
—For now... I think I’d rather stay here. I still don’t have the courage to face my Fiancé.
"I understand. Then we’ll postpone the tea party. I’ll take my leave now."
No matter how much someone pushed her forward, Valdrova would still flip the table over in the end.
After offering a respectful bow, Luri turned to leave.
—Luri.
"Yes?"
—Have things been difficult for you lately?
Luri couldn’t understand why she was asking.
"No. Nothing in particular."
—I see. It’s just... you smell strongly of sweat. I thought perhaps you hadn’t even had time to wash.
"...The smell of sweat?"
Luri’s sense of smell was exceptional.
But Valdrova, being a Dragon, possessed one even keener.
Besides, there was no way Luri would work up a sweat merely from managing the castle.
—Don’t push yourself too hard. I do not wish to see you overwork yourself.
"...Please do not worry, my Master."
The moment she returned to her room, Luri tore off her clothes...and burned them.
Then she vowed that from now on, every Knight entering the castle would be required to thoroughly bathe before setting foot inside.
***
Ferda was in his office together with Mori.
Ever since joining forces with Stephan Pascal, they had solved the supply problems that even the Empire had failed to overcome.
Now Ferda intended to quantify the results they had achieved.
"How is the progress on the items listed in the supply plan?"
Mori answered by writing.
—Thirty-two percent complete. We’ve finished supplying the most critical goods to Count Consilus’s territory. We’ll gradually expand distribution to the other territories as well.
"And what are the projected results of the supply operation?"
—If the supply plan proceeds as outlined, it will contribute approximately thirty percent toward stabilizing civilian livelihoods, increase individual combat capability among the troops by forty-five percent, and improve morale by thirty percent.
"So the outlook couldn’t be better."
Mori nodded.
Since Ferda had devoted himself to developing the territory, it should have been wonderful news.
Yet...
"Trouble will be arriving soon."
Ferda didn’t look happy at all.
Mori tilted her head in confusion.
Ferda answered her unspoken question.
"There are always people in this world who can’t stand seeing someone else succeed."
The kind who rushed in to ruin things the moment they started going well.
And those people...
Were currently sitting at the top of the Arken Empire.
People who, despite their own incompetence, couldn’t bear watching someone else excel.
It didn’t even take a few days.
Those consumed by greed soon came running straight toward Ferda.
Comments