My Slain Dragon Bride

Chapter 83: Chapter 83

Chapter 83 - Golden Blood

A noble tea party.

No tea party, regardless of its kind, was ever held in a shabby manner.

Even if it meant stretching the budget, the venue would be decorated as lavishly as possible on the day of the gathering.

That display itself represented the host’s wealth, history, and influence.

That was why tea parties held in the Imperial Capital were on an entirely different level in both scale and grandeur.

Since the young heirs destined to become the next lords, Knights, and heads of their Houses gathered in one place, the atmosphere was vibrant beyond compare.

Young noble sons and gentlemen wore immaculate formal uniforms with their House crests pinned proudly to their chests, while noble daughters and princesses wore colorful dresses as brilliant as blooming flowers.

Every one of them had come adorned with the desire to become the center of attention.

Yet despite such earnest ambition, there was one overwhelming presence within the Empire that reduced them from flowers to mere blades of grass growing beside the blossoms.

Olivia Arken.

With golden hair and blue eyes, she was a beauty so breathtaking that rumors claimed even the sight of her opening her sleepy eyes in the morning was enchanting.

The Emperor’s daughter, blessed with both beauty and talent, she was considered the most desirable bride in all of history.

"Look, it’s Lady Olivia."

"So the rumor was true. She really came to this tea party."

"How can someone be that beautiful...?"

Her beauty drew admiration from both men and women alike.

Every young nobleman pretended to wander about while stealing glances at her, circling around her from afar.

They knew full well that someone of their status could never dare approach and speak to her.

Still, there were always a few who firmly believed that without courage, no man could win a beauty.

"It is an honor to meet the Imperial Princess. As the Guardian of the Golden Dawn and the Blade of the Frontier, I would like to introduce myself—"

"I apologize, but."

The one who interrupted him was the young woman seated beside Olivia.

Smiling brightly, she said,

"We’re currently having a gathering among the ladies. Only members of the Golden Rose may join this conversation."

"Ah... I see..."

"Then, if you’ll excuse us."

In the end, the young man returned without even managing to say his name, leaving with nothing but embarrassment.

The seated ladies watched the defeated figure walk away and giggled.

"Those little insects who don’t know their place keep showing up."

"Exactly. Even the son of Duke Mursel was rejected, yet a mere Margrave thinks he can speak to Princess Arken? How presumptuous."

They laughed softly as they mocked him.

Holding her teacup, Olivia tilted her head.

"Still, if he’s someone who protects the frontier, perhaps I should have at least greeted him?"

"Oh my, there’s absolutely no need for that!"

"That’s right! If you’re too kind to those beneath you, they’ll start getting carried away!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Of course it is!"

"Ah... Princess Arken truly is so pure..."

"It makes me want to protect you for the rest of my life!"

The noble ladies practically swooned over her.

Olivia watched them with an innocent expression.

Smiling gently, she thought,

Protect me? What nonsense.

Olivia knew exactly how beautiful she was.

She knew how to use that beauty, and at the same time, how to protect herself with it.

These attendants genuinely admired Olivia while secretly envying her.

Because every man only looks at me.

No matter how expensive the jewelry they wore or how famous the designer who made their dresses, no one could take their eyes off Olivia’s overwhelming presence.

To those luxurious accessories, her existence could only be irritating.

Someone who shone brilliantly alone was destined to invite jealousy and envy.

Olivia knew exactly how to handle people like them.

She deliberately chose to surround herself with women who envied her.

She did so by creating an elite social club known as the Golden Rose.

It was the perfect symbiotic relationship.

I can protect myself without saying a single word, and the girls guarding me get opportunities to approach the men they fancy.

Olivia protected her own flower, while her attendants selected and claimed the prospective grooms drawn toward it.

Once romance blossomed, they simply left the Golden Rose, but there would always be someone new to fill the vacancy, so there was no need to worry.

It was a social circle whose loyalty only grew stronger as its members rotated.

"As expected of someone with Golden Blood flowing through her veins. You’re perfect in every way!"

Golden Blood.

It was the expression used because the Arken bloodline was believed to possess the qualifications necessary to rule as Monarchs.

Olivia despised those words.

The same Golden Blood flowed through her veins, yet instead of reaching into the political arena, she was rolling around in this ridiculous flower garden.

"Yes... I suppose so."

Olivia answered in an unenthusiastic voice.

The atmosphere immediately turned cold.

Because of her lukewarm response, the young ladies’ gazes became sharp.

"Y-Your Highness... I-I’m terribly sorry! I never meant to offend you..."

"Oh my, even if Lady Hons had no such intention, it certainly sounded unpleasant to us."

"Exactly. How could you bring up such a topic at a gathering like this?"

The noble ladies echoed one another as they cornered her.

The young lady of House Hons began to panic.

They intended to seize upon her weakness and force her out.

These snake-like women...

Olivia despised them, yet answered with perfect composure.

"Oh my, whatever is the matter?"

"I thought I had offended Your Highness..."

"How could that be? I was merely lost in thought. My apologies. I wasn’t even paying proper attention to everyone gathered here..."

Olivia’s blue eyes shimmered with moisture.

Her attendants were startled and hurried to smooth things over.

"Not at all!"

"Lady Olivia looked wonderful while deep in thought. It was like looking at a painting."

The women laughed gracefully as they let the matter pass.

Inside, they were undoubtedly calling her a hypocrite pretending to be kind.

Let them gossip all they want.

A mask worn until the very end eventually became one’s true face.

Someone shifted the heavy atmosphere by changing the subject.

"More importantly, have you all heard?"

"Heard what?"

"The news about Regent Ferda."

At those words, Olivia’s hand paused for just a moment.

"It seems he performed spectacularly in Halim this time."

"Oh my, Halim... isn’t that the land of heretics?"

"I heard women there wear outrageously revealing clothes to seduce men..."

"Oh my, what are you imagining? That’s not it at all! There was an exhibition by Escolleia."

"As if the exhibition was all there was. I’ve heard every man who goes to Halim completely loses his soul there..."

As expected of a conversation among noble ladies, the topic quickly began drifting off course.

"And then?"

Olivia finally spoke.

Though she had attended countless tea parties, it was exceedingly rare for her to join a conversation about a man.

"What happened there?"

"Hm? Ah... apparently a Monster Rift opened, and Monsters poured out. Seven Wolf Monsters, they say."

"Oh my, as many as seven?"

"I heard Regent Ferda distinguished himself there, and astonishingly, not a single person died."

"Really?"

"Oh..."

The young ladies merely blinked with indifferent admiration.

It wasn’t a subject they cared about, nor did they understand just how remarkable such an achievement truly was.

But Olivia was different.

In the middle of a surprise attack, not a single casualty... That’s practically a miracle.

She had always been interested in tactics and strategy.

Believing that one day she might command an army herself, she had studied numerous military records to sharpen her understanding of warfare and continuously learned about the enemies she might one day face.

She fully understood just how extraordinary Ferda’s achievement had been.

Did he use Black Magic?

The lost Shadow Arts Grimoire of Barbatos surfaced in her mind.

During his visit to the Empire, it had reportedly disappeared after its seal weakened during a fierce battle with the investigators.

That report itself existed only because Olivia had personally ensured it was written that way.

The truth remained unknown.

Some mysteries are better left unsolved.

That was Olivia’s way of serving the greater good.

"I’ve heard rumors that he uses Black Magic."

Just as she was thinking that, someone voiced the very thought aloud.

It was none other than the young lady of House Hons, who had previously misspoken.

The moment gossip began, everyone’s ears perked up with interest.

"Black Magic?"

"Yes. They say that the instant the Monster Rift appeared, Regent Ferda alone reacted quickly enough to pierce the head of the Monster emerging from it."

"Isn’t it a bit of a stretch to accuse someone of using Black Magic simply because of his reaction speed?"

"According to what people higher up are saying, Regent Ferda himself orchestrated the Monster Rift. They claim it was all a scheme to earn favor in Halim."

The easily influenced noble ladies nodded as though the theory sounded plausible.

Watching their reactions, Olivia felt disgusted inside.

"What do you think, Your Highness?"

The young lady of House Hons passed the question to her.

Olivia blinked her innocent eyes.

"My lady."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"No matter what, I don’t think it’s right to accuse someone who rescued the people without suffering major casualties of being a Black Mage."

"Ah... w-well..."

The young lady of House Hons began panicking once more.

The atmosphere, which had been ready to feast upon gossip, reversed in an instant.

"Indeed. How tactless of you."

"A noble lady slandering a hero... I think this is something that should be properly dealt with."

The others showed even more blatant hostility than when they had first cornered her.

There would be no recovering from this.

She was, for all practical purposes, expelled from the Golden Rose and would spend the rest of her life isolated at every noble tea party.

There was no malice in it.

This was simply the grave she had dug for herself.

She would have to accept it.

Still... the Regent truly is making everything proceed smoothly.

Ever since declaring his intention to conquer the Land of Demons, he had gained Iorga’s support and now even earned glory in Halim.

There was no one capable of stopping the hero’s advance.

He would undoubtedly create a second capital.

I need to accomplish something as well...

Compared to him, Olivia had made no progress at all.

What she needed in order to build influence within the Empire was to become a Saintess.

Yet all she did was maintain her figure, exchange meaningless chatter with noble ladies, and memorize trivial etiquette she cared nothing about.

Which tea tasted better.

How certain pastries were prepared.

Being an Imperial Princess was suffocating.

This is far too distant from becoming a Saintess.

Even if someone became a monk and devoted an entire lifetime to faith, becoming a Saint or Saintess was no easy feat.

How could it possibly be achieved while living such a luxurious life?

Even so... I have to do it.

If she could only become a Saintess, then she too would obtain that cursed Golden Blood.

***

After returning, the very first thing Ferda did was inspect the progress of the town’s construction.

The scene before him differed from the future Isabella had described in her reports.

"A great deal has been completed."

He had only been away for about three weeks, yet the previously chaotic atmosphere had largely settled down, and several buildings had already been erected.

Enough permanent housing had been completed that every temporary tent had been dismantled.

"Indeed. The progress has exceeded all of our expectations."

"How far ahead of schedule are we?"

"Two months."

"So it’s far beyond merely exceeding expectations."

Isabella, the blue-haired Dragon Spawn administrator, adjusted her glasses.

For those possessing the Aspect of Knowledge, nothing wounded their pride more than statements implying their calculations had been wrong.

Even so, Isabella calmly explained.

"The speed of the original workers remained within our projections. Naturally, labor shortages and supply issues were factors we considered. However, this variable was like a bolt from the blue."

Isabella was not speaking merely to protect her pride.

Ferda understood that well, which was why he asked her.

"What is this variable?"

"It’s apparently an armored knight."

"An armored knight?"

Isabella nodded.

"Yes. He seems to be a wandering Knight. Since he appears to have taken a Oath of Silence, the nearby workers simply call him the Armored Knight."

"Hmm..."

Ferda looked over the personal records and payment ledger.

The personal information contained only what could be confirmed through outward appearances.

After reading it, Ferda immediately realized something.

"So it isn’t a Oath of Silence."

"Is that so?"

"Those who truly take a Oath of Silence usually carry an identification plaque bearing their name and affiliation. It’s a way of identifying themselves without having to speak."

As someone born into a Knight Family, Ferda knew this well.

Someone who had taken a Oath of Silence might live as a wanderer, but it would be unusual for such a person to work as a laborer at a construction site.

Then perhaps they were paying him handsomely.

Ferda turned his attention to the payment records.

"He is already receiving more than twenty times the wages of the other workers."

He was being paid two silver coins, equivalent to two hundred Copper Coins.

Yet Ferda frowned.

"Too little."

Isabella nodded in agreement.

"To be honest, even thirty silver coins a day would not be enough for someone of his caliber."

"Then why not pay him more?"

"He didn’t seem dissatisfied. In fact, once we offered more than two silver coins, he refused to accept any additional payment, as though he believed receiving that much was already excessive. Since he wasn’t willing to take more, there was no reason for us to insist."

"Hmm..."

Considering the salaries and worth of ordinary Knights, what was the value of only two silver coins a day?

It was exploitation so severe that the employee would have every right to put a sword to the employer’s throat.

Working at a construction site that already bruised one’s pride, while accepting such pitiful wages, spoke of character far beyond that of most ordinary people.

Or perhaps... he has a secret worthy of such restraint.

Perhaps he had a dark past.

Perhaps he had killed someone.

Yet if he truly carried such a secret, it was strange that he refused to accept more than two silver coins.

"In what way is he helping? Does he happen to understand construction methods?"

"No. He’s a complete beginner with no fundamental knowledge of construction. However, he handles every task that can be solved through sheer strength alone, allowing us to complete buildings far ahead of schedule."

Extraordinary physical strength...

Hearing that, Ferda thought of a certain individual.

"This armored knight."

"Yes."

"Does he, by any chance, look so heavily armored that simply seeing him makes it hard to breathe?"

Isabella pondered for a moment before answering.

"No. He wears ordinary half-plate armor like any typical Wandering Knight."

"I see."

Ferda had suspected it might be Alberdo, the walking fortress.

Since there had been no eyewitness reports of him, it seemed the giant managed to move surprisingly stealthily despite his enormous body.

Such monstrous strength...

A man who had advanced the construction schedule by two whole months through brute force alone.

"If you’re concerned, shall I begin an investigation?"

Ferda shook his head at Isabella’s suggestion.

"No. Leave him alone for now. There’s no need to make him suspicious and drive him away."

Only a fool slaughtered the goose that laid golden eggs.

"However, we cannot overlook the value of a man like him. Think of a way to ensure we can continue making use of him."

"A wise decision."

Anyone who could benefit the Grand Duchy of Valdrova would be recruited by any means necessary.

And if they could not be recruited...

Then circumstances would be arranged until they had no choice but to join.

And if even that fails... I’ll squeeze every last drop of value from him.

Not a single drop would be wasted.

He would become nourishment for this city that was taking shape.

That was the proper course for the town being built for Valdrova.

"Come to think of it."

Isabella looked at Ferda.

"What shall we name the city?"

"Isn’t Valdrova sufficient?"

Isabella’s tone became noticeably firmer.

"That is already the name of this castle and the Grand Duchy itself. If it is spoken casually and too frequently, its dignity will naturally diminish."

"Even if that is my intention?"

"Even I, a Spawn of Iorga, cannot accept such a thing. On this matter, I must firmly refuse. I hope you understand."

After hearing her explanation, Ferda decided to concede.

She usually respected the Regent’s decisions whenever possible.

The fact that she had used the word firmly meant this issue held profound significance among Dragons.

"Then we’ll have to come up with a new name."

"I anticipated that, so I held a naming contest."

As though she had been waiting for this moment, Isabella pulled a sheet of paper from her document folder and handed it to Ferda.

"There were many excellent suggestions, but in the end we narrowed them down to two. Diarine, meaning the Frontline Against the Land of Demons, or Alterios, symbolizing the light that illuminates the darkness. What do you think?"

Diarine.

Alterios.

"Diarine sounds rather bleak, while Alterios seems too closely associated with the Alte Faith."

"It was intentionally designed that way. Since ninety percent of the Empire follows the Alte Faith, it would be advantageous."

It was a strategy intended to attract immigrants.

Strategically, it certainly had its merits.

But Ferda had no desire to do such a thing.

His experiences with the Alte Faith had rarely been pleasant.

The Church of Alte showed no mercy toward heretics.

When he possessed the Red Circle and his elemental affinity test had revealed Darkness, they had practically been desperate to kill him.

Because of that, he preferred a name that would not immediately remind people of the Alte Faith.

Isn’t there a better name?

Then a memory suddenly surfaced.

"What was the name of the project that was being carried out to save my fiancée?"

"Do you mean Project: Hestia?"

"Hestia..."

It was the name of the woman who had guarded the sacred flame since ancient times.

Nowadays, it was rarely used and was barely mentioned in history lessons, remembered only in passing.

The woman who protected the fire.

Not bad.

"What do you think of Hestia?"

"I generally prefer names with a heavier and more dignified atmosphere... but something lively isn’t as bad as I expected. I’ll proceed with that name."

Ferda quietly repeated it several times.

Hestia.

Hestia...

The sound rolled naturally off the tongue.

And he liked its meaning as well.

Valdrova was the master of strength and fire.

This place would become the city that protected the flame.

A fortress for those who guarded it.

Which means I should extract every ounce of value possible from that armored knight.

Until the day the man changed his mind, Ferda intended to make full use of everything he could.

That was Ferda’s resolve.