My Slain Dragon Bride

Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Chapter 81 - Something Common

Stephan asked with an expression as though he had just been struck hard on the back of the head.

"What... did you say?"

Without the slightest change in expression, Ferda repeated himself.

"I said that you would be of no use."

"W-What do you mean by that? To say I’m useless now, after everything..."

"I had a private conversation with Ahmad Hashim. He offered me a partnership."

Hearing that, Stephan finally understood.

"A partnership... Then you’ve really landed an enormous opportunity..."

It was an offer on a completely different scale from the simple cooperative relationship Stephan and Ferda shared.

The largest city in the Southern Region—a place where wealth would eventually gather—hadn’t even been built yet, and yet Ahmad had offered Ferda an equal position.

Unless the southern side had completely lost its mind, they would inevitably be the ones making the greater sacrifice, making it an overwhelmingly favorable proposal for Ferda.

"...Did you accept it?"

Stephan asked, struggling to steady his trembling voice.

"If I were to accept that proposal, there would no longer be any reason for me to maintain a relationship with you."

What welled up inside Stephan was a deep sense of betrayal.

Naturally.

He had made aggressive investments solely because he had been convinced by Ferda’s words.

Unable to contain himself, he protested.

"Didn’t we sign a contract? I have the exclusive rights to all Magitech Engineering products, and you even signed it. If this goes to court, Your Grace will be at a disadvantage."

"Indeed. Even if you won, the most I would lose would be paying a small amount in damages. No... you’d be fortunate if you could even recover that much."

"On what grounds can you say that?"

"Because you aren’t fulfilling the contract either."

Stephan froze in shock.

"When have I ever betrayed you? Are you referring to what I explained just now?"

He mentally reviewed everything he had said.

No matter how he looked at it, there wasn’t any clause that would let him take advantage of Ferda.

Well... there were a few, but nothing major.

It was merely the kind of arrangement commonly made between merchants and lords, one that leaned slightly in the lord’s favor.

"Do you remember what I said when I first brought you in?"

Ferda asked.

"I said that as much as you cooperated with me, I would cooperate with you. And I promised to make you the master of your trading company."

"Yes."

Stephan recalled those words and nodded.

"Yes. You did make that promise. But there is no longer any need for that. We no longer need the Pascal Trading Company."

"How valuable is the Pascal Trading Company?"

"It would not be an exaggeration to say that nearly half of all goods within the Empire pass through it."

"Yes. That is precisely the kind of company it is. A company with influence throughout the Empire."

After hearing those words, Ferda’s expression grew even colder.

"And yet you just declared with your own mouth that you’re willing to abandon such a company."

"We can build another company like it. We’re pioneers in Magitech Engineering, and as long as we continue our research—"

"Stephan."

Ferda cut him off.

"Yes, Your Grace."

Ferda picked three grapes from the fruit basket and placed them on the table.

"How many grapes are here?"

"Three."

"Yes. Three. They represent me, Vernel, and you."

He pointed to the grape representing himself.

"I promised to become your connections. And up until now, I’ve been working to build those connections."

"That’s correct."

Next, he pointed to the grape representing Vernel.

"And Vernel provides you with ideas through his research and development, allowing you to create innovative products. He successfully completed today’s work, and tomorrow he’ll continue working just as hard."

"That’s correct."

"And finally... you."

He rested a finger on Stephan’s grape and rolled it across the table.

"Your role is to provide capital and supply goods. In this system, each of us has our own role, and each role must continue turning."

"Yes..."

"And yet you’re trying to abandon the greatest trading company on the continent. Do you understand what that means?"

Ferda pressed his finger down onto Stephan’s grape.

"It means you’re nothing more than one of countless ordinary merchants."

The soft grape could not withstand the pressure of his finger and burst.

"A merchant who compromises by giving up even what he already possesses is not the kind of merchant this Grand Duchy of Valdrova needs."

Stephan silently stared at the crushed grape.

Ferda’s fingertip was stained red.

He couldn’t help imagining himself being crushed just like that grape, dying like a worm.

"Then... what should I do?"

"I’m not asking for anything difficult. Fulfill the contract. Become the master of the Pascal Trading Company. That is your responsibility."

Stephan’s mind was in turmoil.

Again.

The same overwhelming pressure he had felt back at his father’s estate.

Now it was Ferda who was imposing it upon him.

"...Must there really be bloodshed?"

If Stephan wanted to become the head of the Pascal family, he would have to throw himself into that struggle.

His older brother Merchit, who ran the mercenary business.

His younger sister Tilda, who was trying to expand the family’s influence through a political marriage with another major trading company.

And his father, Herman Pascal.

To become the master of the company, he would have to either persuade them all... or defeat them.

Stephan did not want that.

To fight his own family...

In a world where family members pointed swords at one another until one side died... was he truly expected to draw his own sword as well?

"Whether you fight or not is not for me to decide."

Ferda replied coldly.

"I merely hope you’ll prove that you’re someone the Grand Duchy of Valdrova truly needs."

***

There had been a minor disturbance, but the exhibition concluded successfully without a single fatality.

The auction continued afterward in Halim, but nothing particularly caught Ferda’s attention.

At least one sword looked promising, so he bought it to encourage Malcolm and handed it over to him.

He nearly burst into tears the moment he received it. I almost took it back.

Even after passing the Imperial Knight examination and earning the title of Knight, he was still far too immature to truly be called one.

Well... that’s exactly why I still need him.

There was no rush in deciding Malcolm’s fate.

That could wait until he no longer had any value as a sample.

In any case, everything in Halim had finally come to an end.

With the auction concluded, the scholars began packing up as the exhibition officially ended.

Some wore satisfied expressions, while others sighed after suffering heavy losses.

Vernel, however, showed neither joy nor disappointment.

Inside the carriage, he reviewed the blueprints for the Magitech Rifle as though every second mattered.

Perhaps the practical demonstrations had inspired him, because he was working his mind just as intensely as he had while preparing for the exhibition.

Just as they were preparing to leave Halim, Ferda noticed a bright reflection of sunlight.

The headmaster of Escolleia, Bernard Wayne, was approaching.

"Did you enjoy the exhibition?"

"Yes. There was an incident, but overall I was quite satisfied."

"That’s good to hear. I’m looking for Vernel. Would you happen to know where he is?"

Ferda subtly gestured toward the carriage.

"If you don’t mind, may I have a word with him?"

Ferda looked into Bernard’s eyes.

He sensed a faint trace of guilt over what Bernard had done.

Is he planning to apologize?

Vernel had finally been driven into a passionate state through his anger.

There was no reason to pour cold water over that now.

Still... he has found a new driving force, hasn’t he?

The successful exhibition itself had become Vernel’s new source of motivation.

Ferda decided that Vernel no longer needed his anger toward Bernard, so he stepped aside.

Bernard climbed into the carriage and called out.

"Vernel."

Vernel glanced at him before looking away again.

"There’s no need for us to talk."

"I have something I wish to say to you. I—"

"I already know."

"I know why you said those things."

Bernard fell silent.

"How could you possibly know?"

"Because I’m a scholar too. I once studied under you. Everyone knows that you’re especially strict with geniuses. That’s why you treated me the way you did."

"..."

Vernel lifted his head and gazed at the ceiling.

He remembered the past.

But there was no pain in those memories anymore.

"Back then... I was truly furious. I was disappointed. I even felt betrayed. But not anymore."

"Because you were right."

Wonder filled Vernel’s voice and eyes—the same wonder he had once possessed long ago.

"You were right, Headmaster. My perspective was too narrow. I focused on the one percent and failed to see the remaining ten."

"Thanks to the opportunity you gave me this time, I was finally able to broaden my horizons."

"..."

"So... next time, I’ll bring you something so revolutionary that you’ll have no choice but to acknowledge it."

Smiling brightly, Vernel spoke the familiar words.

"May the Light of Truth..."

Hearing those words, Bernard was inwardly startled.

It was a phrase every student at Escolleia Academy knew.

Bernard smiled and completed the saying.

"...Set you free."

The complicated emotions between them still remained.

But the deep chasm of hatred had disappeared.

Bernard patted Vernel on the shoulder.

"Go and overturn heaven and earth with your ideals."

"When that day comes, I’ll treat you to a cup of tea."

Bernard never apologized.

And Vernel never wanted that apology.

They were both people who pursued ideals and sought the truth.

Having reaffirmed that they were united by that single conviction, they each continued walking their own path.

"We’re departing!"

At the front of the convoy, Malcolm blew his horn, and the carriages began to move.

It was time to return to the castle.

It had taken them ten days to reach this place.

And it would take another ten days to return.

As that long and tedious journey stretched before him, Ferda’s thoughts drifted increasingly toward Valdrova.

My heart... what are you doing now?

Receiving no answer to that silent question, the carriage rolled onward without end.

***

A dragon’s daily life was deeply connected to its nest—its lair.

As such, it was only natural for dragons to display their power and authority by constructing lairs that reflected their own unique characteristics.

In that regard, Valdrova was different from other dragons.

Valdrova’s lair was more like a refuge... or an underground prison.

Originally, it had been nothing more than a damp cave filled with cold winds.

But after she had settled there, it became a place where dry, warm breezes constantly flowed.

Curled up inside it, Valdrova found herself thinking,

I’m bored...

Though she was an immortal who had lived for countless years, whenever she became aware of the slow passage of each day, boredom inevitably enveloped her entire being.

The only reason she had been able to endure living in such a dark place for so long was because of Luri.

And because I never had time to think about anything else.

The constant fear of when her Bloodlust would overwhelm her again had never left her any room to feel bored.

It was only after she no longer had to suffer because of it that she finally realized what boredom felt like.

Whenever she sensed the pain beginning to return, Ferda would always come and help her.

And during those times, they would always exchange a few words.

—Greetings, Grand Duchess Valdrova.

—O-Oh, h-hello!

—I’ll begin now.

—Y-Yes!

...No, that wasn’t even a conversation.

Calling it a conversation was generous.

Ferda was the only one who ever spoke.

Valdrova merely nodded or shook her head.

It couldn’t be helped.

Her daily routine consisted of going outside and killing monsters.

What would happen if she actually made that her conversation topic?

—I went out today and killed monsters.

—I see.

—One of them wouldn’t die even after I tore it apart with my claws, so I set its insides completely on fire.

—Ah...

—There were monster parasites hiding inside it too. They squirmed around while burning quite nicely.

—I... see...

He’d definitely be horrified.

Valdrova could vividly imagine the expression Ferda would make.

As though he were thinking,

This... is my fiancée?

Just imagining that expression made her miserable.

I swore I’d change...

She blamed herself over and over again for being someone whose vocabulary consisted of little more than "hello," "goodbye," and a few exclamations.

The suffering caused by her Bloodlust had lessened...

Only to be replaced by an entirely different kind of pain.

Should I ask for Ferda to come visit...?

Maybe this time she could actually prepare a topic to talk about.

Of course, she had already thought that eight different times.

Nothing had changed.

The reason was simple.

Because I have nothing to talk about.

Just as sprouts could never grow from soil where nothing had been planted, there was no conversation because there was no subject to begin with.

Besides...

She had only just realized that today wasn’t the right time anyway.

Ferda said he went somewhere called... Halim.

From Luri’s expression alone, she could tell it wasn’t a pleasant place.

Luri had frowned and sighed the moment she mentioned Halim.

Valdrova simply assumed it was something like a battlefield.

He’s been even busier lately, too.

She also knew that Ferda had formed an alliance with Iorga.

Iorga...

Valdrova felt uncomfortable just thinking about that name.

The Blue Dragon, Iorga.

Iorga had always disliked Valdrova.

Whenever Valdrova said anything, Iorga would frown, criticize her, and try to crush her spirit.

Valdrova knew there had never been any malice behind it.

Even so...

She had always found Iorga incredibly difficult to deal with.

I wonder... if Iorga is doing well.

It had been so long since she’d last seen her that her face had become hazy in memory.

Yet she still remembered the kind of person she was.

Brilliant.

Beautiful.

A Guardian Dragon respected by countless people.

No matter which village she visited, people would admire her rather than fear her.

A village...

Her thoughts naturally drifted onward.

Come to think of it... it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a human village.

Her wandering thoughts eventually arrived at curiosity.

How many hundreds of years had it been since she had last walked through a human settlement?

What did they look like nowadays?

Were they still similar to the ones she remembered?

Or had everything changed?

That curiosity stirred her body on its own.

Her enormous dragon form gradually shrank...

Until she became a single young woman.

"I... want to go."

She absentmindedly fidgeted with the hem of her skirt as she murmured to herself.

If she were to leave, she had to do so in human form.

Valdrova never wanted to meet people while looking like a dragon.

People would be frightened... if they saw my dragon form.

But she couldn’t simply go out as a human either.

I’m the one who’s afraid... in my human form.

A dilemma with no solution.

Valdrova slowly turned her head.

There, resting against the wall, was a suit of armor.

Maybe... that armor...

Wouldn’t it work?

She had worn that very suit when she met Ferda.

By now, she had grown used to it.

Its eye level was slightly higher as well, so perhaps she wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable.

"But... isn’t this a little scary...?"

It was enormous.

Broad and heavily built, it gave off an intimidating presence.

More importantly...

It had been crafted in Valdrova’s own image.

The helmet was shaped exactly like her dragon’s head.

The terrifying face that made everyone tremble in fear.

"Couldn’t it... become something less intimidating...?"

Valdrova sighed softly.

Then...

As though it had heard her muttering, the armor suddenly twitched.

"Huh?"

Srrrk—

The fearsome dragon-shaped helmet slowly began to melt away.

Nor was it only the dragon head.

Every decorative element that had been designed to emphasize a dragon’s majesty gradually disappeared.

Before Valdrova could even understand what was happening, the armor transformed into an entirely new appearance.

"Ah...!"

An astonished gasp escaped her lips.

What remained at the end of the transformation was something wonderfully familiar.

"It’s... ordinary."

It was neither flashy nor magnificent.

Just a slightly worn half-plate armor.

The sort of armor that anyone would look at and think belonged to nothing more than an ordinary knight.

"So ordinary..."

Valdrova’s golden eyes sparkled.

To her...

Ordinariness was something more precious than any treasure in existence.

As though enchanted, she stepped inside the armor.

It was time to break out of the egg.