Chapter 144: A Troubling Word
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 144: A Troubling Word
Valdrova’s massive draconic form shrank as she descended, the air shimmering around her. She was in the middle of polymorphing.
“Lord Ferda, please close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“As she draws closer, Lady Valdrova will take her human form. You will end up seeing her face,” Ruri explained.
Ruri was right. Ferda hesitated, then cautiously asked, “Could I not just take a small peek?”
“……I shall correct myself. Turn your body away entirely. If you so much as turn your head, I will personally see to your scrubbing.”
His greed had only succeeded in raising her guard. Following Ruri’s stern instructions, Ferda turned around. The sudden wind pressure from the dragon’s approach vanished, replaced by the soft thud of someone landing lightly on the grass.
“Master, I am here.”
“Yes.”
Along with a clear, melodic voice came the clatter of something being set down. Valdrova stole a glance at Ferda’s back before whispering urgently to Ruri.
“Ruri, do I… do I look strange at all?”
“You look the same as always. There is nothing to worry about.”
“Um… is there anything stuck to me? Any dirt?”
“Nothing is visible to my eyes, so do not fret.”
“Ho-how is my voice?”
“It hasn’t changed a bit, has it?”
“Ahem! Right! Hmph!”
She cleared her throat, trying to vent the heat of her racing heart. Ferda had his back turned, but he wasn't deaf. The trembling in her voice made his own chest vibrate. Her anxiety was contagious.
“You may turn around now,” Ruri said.
Ferda turned. Before him sat a woman so beautiful it took his breath away, her face partially hidden behind a mask. The valiant warrior who had been slaughtering monsters moments ago was gone; in her place sat a shy woman with menacing, elegant horns.
It felt fresh. He was used to seeing her clad in her Dragoon Armor at this tea table, but seeing her now as a petite, beautiful woman made him feel as nervous as if they were meeting for the first time.
I still can’t believe it.
To think he had danced under the moonlight with a woman like this.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
“Yes, Mr. Ferda!”
She was clearly over-energized. She was the first to strike up a conversation, her words tumbling out.
“A-are your injuries alright?”
“Yes. As I said then and now, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Uuu… I’m sorry. I got too carried away and ended up… Mr. Ferda….”
“It was nothing. I was only flustered because everyone else was making such a fuss.”
Ferda desperately tried to reassure her. Surprisingly, this stemmed from his own desires. They had finally progressed from holding hands to embracing; he couldn't let her distance herself again. Ferda was determined to hug her once more, even if it meant risking his heart being pierced by her horns again.
Valdrova felt the same way.
“Next time, I’ll bring a definitive solution! Something that won’t stab you, Mr. Ferda!”
“Could you… perhaps hide your horns?” Ferda cautiously suggested.
Ruri hid her dragon traits, didn't she? Other dragons had long hidden their true forms to enjoy their "play" among the short-lived races. He assumed Valdrova could hide her horns and tail as well.
“I wish I could. I can manage the tail, but I can’t do anything about the horns….”
If she couldn't, she couldn't. It was a heartbreaking reality. Ferda soothed his bitter disappointment with a sip of black tea.
“Um… how was I?”
“How were you…?”
“The way I fought. When I was fighting the monsters… I’m curious what you thought.”
Her fighting style was always the same: overwhelming, brutal, and merciless. One could say she lived up to her title as the Aspect of Power perfectly. The pattern was familiar, yet to Ferda, it always felt new.
“It was a posture befitting an Aspect. If the people of Hestia Village had seen it, it would have stirred their local pride.”
“Is that so?”
Valdrova didn't quite understand what "local pride" meant, but she assumed it was something good. However, that wasn't the reason she had asked the question. Her fidgeting fingers betrayed her true intent.
“Then, um…”
Swallowing her words shyly, she finally asked, “Did it…”
“Did it?”
“Did it make you horny?”
“Pffft!”
Instead of an answer, the sound of tea being sprayed violently filled the air. Ferda covered his face and turned away, coughing and unable to speak. The one who had dropped the bomb was just as flustered.
“M-Mr. Ferda, are you okay? What’s wrong?!”
As Valdrova panicked and Ferda remained speechless, Ruri’s eyes sharpened like lit wicks.
“Master, do you even know the meaning of what you just said?”
“Huh? Well… I heard that men use that word when they like a woman in that way….”
“And do you realize how vulgar that word is?”
A deep shadow fell over Ruri’s face.
“Do you realize it is a word a sovereign should never utter?”
“Uh….”
“And that it is a word a woman should never say to a man?”
“I didn't know that… Mr. Ferda, did I commit a grave rudeness?”
Ferda didn't answer, his head hanging low. The tea remaining in his mouth dripped from his lips.
“Look at this. He is so speechless he cannot even function,” Ruri noted dryly.
“I-I’m sorry! Mr. Ferda… I’ve been rude again. Because I’m an idiot… again….”
“No, cough, it’s fine. I just… it just went down the wrong pipe, so please don’t take it to heart….”
Ferda couldn't bring himself to look at Valdrova’s face. Thinking she was hated, Valdrova swallowed a groan. In the awkward silence, Ruri spoke with the authority of a mother.
“Return to the cave for now. We shall finish our ‘talk’ there.”
“Uuuuu….”
Valdrova flapped her wings and flew back, looking utterly dejected. Once she was gone and only the cold wind of the summit filled the silence, Ruri spoke.
“Lord Ferda, the Master has left.”
“……Right.”
“Stand up now. Do you not have work to do?”
“I suppose I do….”
Despite his words, Ferda didn't find it easy to get up. Ruri tilted her head at his strange behavior, then, struck by a sudden suspicion, she asked, “……Did it really make you horny?”
“…….”
Ferda could not answer.
* * *
A message arrived from the Blue Eye.
— We’ve purified the contaminated land near the waterway. We’ll be reopening it toward the Far East Region soon.
Calling it "purification" was a bit of a stretch; they had essentially excavated the entire area and replaced it with fresh soil. Regardless, clean water would soon begin to flow. The citizens would surely cheer at the news that they no longer had to drink water drawn from the loathsome Land of Demons.
— Also, I have a proposal.
“Go ahead.”
— We’d like to begin full-scale investment into Marquis Burnell’s Essence Weight. What are your thoughts?
“We would be grateful for the investment, but what is it you want in return?”
— Nothing major. Since we are allies, we’d like you to mention that we cooperated in this development. Shall we call it a favor to maintain our prestige?
They wanted to save face. The fact that they had succeeded in purifying the contaminated water—something the Aspects of Water had failed to do—was a blow to the pride of the Blue Dragon Spawn. Marquis Burnell’s value was truly skyrocketing.
“As we are allies and you are offering support, I have no reason to refuse, but I must consult with Burnell first.”
— Yes, it is a matter of scholarly pride, after all. There’s no rush.
Erica didn't push. Maintaining a relaxed demeanor as if nothing were urgent was the most basic of basics.
— That aside, I’ve also contacted the High Elves.
It was regarding the decoding of the records left by Linne, the Research Director of the Dark Elves. Ferda had been secretly hoping for an invitation to visit them immediately.
— They said to contact them again this summer, unless it’s an emergency.
“Is something happening on their end?”
— Who knows? When it comes to Elves, if things don't go their way, they’ll easily skip over a decade.
Skipping a decade… Put that way, waiting until summer felt incredibly short.
“That works out. I have matters to attend to here as well, so I won’t be able to leave for a while anyway.”
— Even when we’re in a position to prevent continental chaos, acting that way is just so typical of High Elves. Sinister long-lived races, always keeping their minds bonded.
“Aren't you also a long-lived race?”
— Do we look the same as those lazy fools to you?
There was venom in her voice. Just as it would be offensive to generalize Orcs and humans as "short-lived races," the Dragon Spawn clearly felt the same about their own distinctions.
“Anyway, I understand. I’ll inform the administrator.”
— I’ll bring more good news soon, so I’ll leave things in your hands over there.
With that, the communication with Erica ended. Soon after, news arrived that the massive procession of nobles traveling with the Imperial Army had safely entered the Empire. The one who delivered the news was William.
“How was the banquet?”
— It was incredibly lavish. Word is spreading that it can’t even be compared to what was held at Valdrova Castle.
As the Regent, it was unpleasant news for Ferda, but he had no choice but to accept it.
That was the goal from the start.
Alexander must have overextended himself to wash away his infamy and demonstrate that the Empire was superior. The thrill of entering the Imperial Palace—a place usually so difficult to access—combined with the sheer scale of a banquet that met those high expectations… it was designed to make the banquet at Valdrova Castle look like a mere neighborhood party.
“So, is the atmosphere good?”
— On the surface, yes, but… William spoke with a troubled tone. — I believe there’s going to be a problem.
“What do you mean?”
— The Crown Prince’s movements are suspicious.
From William’s perspective as a third-party observer, the situation was as follows: Alexander Arken, the Crown Prince, had met and greeted every single noble and knight entering through the city gates. He praised them as true heroes and patriots of the nation. Even at the banquet, he was busy elevating the status of the nobles. For those who dreamed the "Empire Dream," it was enough to make their pride soar.
— It seems he has an ulterior motive beyond simply praising heroes.
“It would seem so.”
What he gained by elevating them was their allegiance. Alexander was currently wooing the 250 young lords and ladies. There was nothing Ferda could do about it at this stage.
“Report the progress to me by tomorrow.”
— Yes, sir. Understood.
The mana of the communication device dissipated, and Ferda stared at the crystal ball for a long time.
The reason Alexander is gathering allies…
There were plenty of reasons. Being called a puppet of the demons, or the fact that an entire legion under his command had been annihilated. There were obvious reasons, but Alexander wouldn't act solely on those. He was using those obvious reasons as a front to hide his true intentions.
What could it be?
Is it… Olivia?
No matter how much he thought about it, the most likely scenario was that he was laying the groundwork to suppress her. Given her extraordinary intellect, it would be a lie to say she hadn't predicted this turn of events. How would Olivia use her wit to respond? Whatever it was, she would handle it skillfully. That was the Olivia Ferda knew.
* * *
The next day, William reported in a much more serious tone.
— As expected, trouble has broken out.
“In what way?”
— In the assessment of war merits, the Princess’s contributions were undervalued in the official announcement.
Yesterday’s concerns had become reality.
“Tell me the details.”
William explained the situation. After the banquet, there was to be a medal ceremony. Upon seeing the list and the criteria for assessing merits, Olivia had protested. Ferda wondered just how low they had set her contribution.
— In the official assessment for this operation, the Princess’s contribution was set at 3%.
That was going a bit too far.