Chapter 27: Because I’m Embarrassed
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: Because I’m Embarrassed
Count Consilus asked back in surprise, his voice trembling.
“The Regent? Are you… are you truly speaking of Valdrova’s fiancé?”
“We don’t know the full details ourselves, but… considering he managed to win over our branch manager, Stephan Pascal, he certainly has talent. The manager isn’t the type to be swayed by mere status.”
“Ah…”
A hollow gasp escaped the Count’s lips.
Ferda Valdrova.
What was his current reputation? It was the absolute worst.
Up until now, all he had done was threaten and keep the local lords in check. Because of that, resentment among the provincial nobles was reaching a breaking point.
That greenhorn… was targeting the Pascal Trading Company all along?
It was shocking to realize they had joined hands with the Pascal Trading Company right under everyone’s noses. But the second shock was even greater.
It wasn’t even out of personal greed.
If he had been looking to fill his own pockets, he would have focused solely on Valdrova Castle. Instead, his efforts to revitalize trade were for the development of the stagnant, isolated estates—a goal far removed from self-interest.
Just what kind of conditions did he offer?
The lands belonging to the Archduchy of Valdrova were practically worthless. To keep the monsters at bay, the front lines were thick with dense forests. Even if one cleared the trees to create farmland, they could barely harvest a few hardy survival crops. To make matters worse, the front lines were pushed back every year, leaving the land desolate.
The Far East was a place where people would hesitate even if you offered the land for free. Yet, Ferda had presented terms that outweighed all those disadvantages.
No other lord… could have done this.
Whether what he showed them was a lie or something absurd, the fact that he succeeded was what mattered. Consilus decided to prioritize the immediate tasks.
“Come inside. Have the carriages organized and take the day to rest and recover. I will hear the details of the plan later.”
“Thank you, Count.”
The man blew a whistle, and the carriages of the Pascal Trading Company began to enter one by one.
Consilus looked up past the gloomy forest at the mountain standing tall against the sky.
“The Regent…”
His voice was thick with emotion. Today, Count Consilus spoke that name as if he had witnessed a hero emerging from the darkness. He knelt in that direction and offered his respects.
“My Lord?”
Arwen was startled by the sudden gesture. However, he soon realized its meaning and knelt as well, bowing toward the mountain. Then, one by one, the others followed.
They all knelt, offering their respects toward the Lonely Mountain.
* * *
In the banquet hall, Ruri raised her hand high.
“Tormenta!”
It was the name of a High Wind Spirit.
In that instant, a white wind swirled in front of Ruri, taking shape. It was a human silhouette that looked as if it might scatter at any moment, yet it held its form firmly. It bowed politely toward Ruri.
— Did you summon me, Master? You seem to be in a foul mood again today.
“We’re starting the grand cleaning again. Summon every lesser spirit without exception. Open all the windows wide and purge every last bit of air from this room!”
— As you command.
“Puente!”
Next, she called the name of a Lesser Water Spirit. Mana dripped from the air, molding itself into a viscous liquid form.
— Splosh.
“Absorb and scrub away all the grease and filth left behind by those damn fools. Do not leave a single stain. I cannot allow the Great Ruler’s residence to be marked like a dog’s kennel. Do you understand?”
— Splosh-splosh!
The sound of water churning violently filled the room. Sensing that Ruri was in a worse mood than usual, the spirits moved with frantic efficiency. The water spirit began to divide repeatedly, scattering its body to suck the grime off the castle floors and walls.
“Whew…”
Ruri’s small chest heaved.
The faint scent of sweat mixed with perfume still seemed to prick at the tip of her nose. No matter how many times she tried to erase it, the smell lingered.
How annoying.
Ruri did not like knights. She especially disliked wandering knights. Not only did they lie to inflate their achievements, but they also didn't hesitate to commit blasphemy.
To Ruri, "blasphemy" referred to the standard repertoire of stories about brave knights facing off against evil dragons. These tales made up seventy percent of all knightly boasts and were among the public's favorite stories. Curiously, the stories were always the same, but the names changed every time.
Whenever bards received money from wandering knights, they would swap the protagonist’s name for the knight’s and spread the tale. Consequently, about half of all wandering knights were known as "Dragon Slayers."
Dragon Slayers who would run into the hallway with piss trailing down their legs. They were truly a loathsome breed.
At least he achieved his primary objective.
Over fifty wandering knights had come, and the total number of monster corpses they brought exceeded 1,500. When Ruri saw the mountain of bodies, she had been so stunned she asked, “Isn’t this a bit much?” The cleanup was also a nightmare.
That part was handled by the second son of the Pascal Trading Company, whom he brought in.
A swarm of verified laborers and assistant researchers had arrived to quickly process the remains. Still, traces of the monster carcasses remained at the entrance and where the carriages had parked, leaving a faint stench of death.
To think I’d actually prefer the smell of those disgusting things.
It was better than the smell of the knights' sweat and perfume. The smell of monster corpses eventually faded, but that unpleasant human stench refused to leave.
A cleaning job that would normally take ten minutes took two hours a day, and she had scrubbed the banquet hall over and over for ten days. She liked cleanliness, but she wasn't a germaphobe. It was just that the "impact" the knights left behind was that severe.
Only when not a single strand of hair remained and the floor looked brand new did she finally feel at ease.
— Master, it is almost time for your other duties. What would you like to do?
“Ah, right. Good work, Tormenta, Puente.”
— Then we shall depart.
— Splosh!
The wind and water spirits reverted their forms, returning to mana and scattering into the air.
That’s enough cleaning for today… I should go deliver the weekly report.
Leaving the banquet hall, Ruri rummaged through her skirt pocket. She headed down to the Lair, carrying a sheet of paper summarizing information obtained through the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
As always, a red-scaled dragon lay coiled there.
— Have you come?
“Yes. Have you been well?”
— Hmm… Yes, I have been fine. What have you come to discuss?
“The weekly report. Today is the scheduled day, is it not?”
— Ah. Right. It is.
Ruri was used to her being forgetful, but today’s reaction was different from usual.
She seems… floaty.
As if she were lost in thought. It wasn't hard to guess what those thoughts were about. It was Ferda, that man. Since it was obvious, Ruri didn't mention it and got straight to the point.
“It is said that the political situation in the Empire has become unstable recently.”
She started with the most important news regarding the Empire.
“The legislation of laws centered on intensive privileges for the ruling class has caused a backlash among the lower classes. Consequently, the authorities are trying to pacify them with entertainment and food rations.”
— Hmm… I see.
Valdrova offered a reflexive response. Ruri could tell she wasn't interested, but she continued reading the contents of the paper mechanically. This happened there; that happened here. Once the news covering the entire continent was finished, she moved to the next topic.
“And regarding the current state of the Archduchy…”
Valdrova’s body shifted. She adjusted her posture, lifted her head, and perked up her ears.
— Tell me.
Her voice cleared instantly. Ruri could feel her eyes becoming brighter than usual. Though she didn't like this either, she maintained her neutrality and spoke.
“The position of Thesalos Wolcher remains vacant, but by forming a contract with the heir of a major merchant house, the Archduchy has secured significant stability.”
— Is that so?
Her voice sounded uncharacteristically wistful. Just one line of news that he was doing well caused her mood to soar.
It’s been even worse since that day.
Ruri couldn't hold back any longer.
“Do you like it that much?”
— What do you mean?
“I am speaking of Lord Ferda.”
Krrr—
Steam puffed from Valdrova’s nostrils. To a stranger, it might look like she was angry, but Ruri knew better. Valdrova was flustered, like a young girl.
— Like him? What are you saying? I do not "like" my fiancé.
“You don’t?”
— Of course not.
Valdrova added with a serious face.
— It is just that the memory of when he suddenly intruded occasionally comes to mind, and I am briefly concerned for his well-being. Is he not a weak human?
Valdrova defended herself passionately, acting as if she only cared because he was weak. However, Ruri thought differently.
She’s getting talkative.
Usually, Valdrova was wary of anything involving humans, but when it came to Ferda, the vibe was completely different. If her default state for everything else was a bit low, right now she was practically drifting on a cloud.
To help her resolve those feelings even a little, Ruri made a suggestion.
“In that case, why not hold a tea party?”
— A tea party?
Krrr!
Another powerful puff of steam escaped her nose.
— You mean the kind where one drinks tea, eats sweets, and talks?
“Yes. It is common for human fiancés to meet and talk beforehand. It is a way to confirm their feelings before the wedding.”
— A tea party… That does not suit me. Such things are for young and beautiful maidens.
“The Archduchess of Valdrova, who possesses the greatest beauty on the continent, would suit anything she does.”
— Hmm…
She tapped her chin with a claw, letting out a breath. She didn't seem to hate the idea. However, something was still holding her back from accepting it readily.
— A meeting… Then I would have to face him in human form, wouldn't I?
“Yes.”
— Mmm… Then I cannot go.
Valdrova was kicking away the table just as Ruri was setting it for her.
“What is the reason?”
— I cannot do it because I am embarrassed.
It was a reason quite unbecoming of a sovereign. Ruri took a deep breath and asked her.
“……Have you not already met once? I believe you faced each other in human form then.”
— Yes, we faced each other once.
“And you held hands.”
— We held hands.
Valdrova had seen Ferda, and Ferda had seen Valdrova. How could she forget the memory of that day? Just as Ferda remembered it vividly, it was etched into Valdrova’s mind.
— That is why I cannot.
Valdrova recalled the emotions of that moment. That man, who wouldn't stop even while suffering. When he was bleeding from his nose, he looked as if he might collapse at any second. She had no choice but to polymorph into her human form and catch him.
While she was weeping in sorrow at his pain, Ferda had taken her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist.
The dragon who had flown over countless battlefields, burning and tearing apart those who defiled the earth. The absolute being before whom everyone held their breath and bowed their heads. The Aspect of Power, with such overwhelming might that the word "strength" felt inadequate in her presence.
The moment his arm wrapped around her waist, all the prestige that defined her became a mirage, and her body was overcome by a sense of helplessness. Led by the touch of a man thousands of times weaker than herself, her face had come inches from his.
That day, for the first time, Valdrova had become the princess of a novel—a woman.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my heart.”
The touch of a man felt for the first time in her life, the warm greeting, and even that handsome smile. For someone who had had no interaction with humans for hundreds of years, it was an overwhelming amount of information to process.
So, Valdrova had done nothing. She had frozen on the spot. Her mind went blank, and the tears she was about to shed vanished. Even when he had slumped helplessly against her chest, she remained frozen for a long time.
Every action from that moment remained vividly in Valdrova’s mind.
My heart…
— Krrr!!
Valdrova covered her face with her wings. She remembered Ferda’s actions, and simultaneously, she remembered her own unsightly behavior. Thinking about it again triggered a reaction.
Her heart burned as hot as a lava furnace. She felt a tickling sensation throughout her body that made her want to move restlessly. As she shifted about, her chest filled with air as if she had forgotten to exhale.
Valdrova slowly let that breath out.
Hiyuuuuuuuuu…
A long, whistling sound echoed through the cave.
That sound again…
It was the sound Ruri hated most. Valdrova always made that noise when she was soaked in excessive happiness. It was a hundred times better than her being miserable, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either.
“I believe holding a tea party is a good idea. What will you do?”
Valdrova peeked at Ruri through the gap in her wings.
— What do you think I should do?
“Master, you are the Aspect of Power. The Aspect of Power should be able to express her will decisively.”
In other words: Don't dump the decision on me.
— Right. I should…
Valdrova scratched her chin with a claw. She tilted her head back and forth. She flipped her massive body over and over, agonizing over the decision.
She’s dying to go.
Ruri had already deciphered the answer from Valdrova’s movements. Her desire was also directed toward Ferda. But just because she had the desire didn't mean everything would go according to her will.
The dragon who burned and tore monsters apart without hesitation was, in this regard, a bigger coward than anyone.
— I just want to stay here for the time being… I am not yet confident enough to face my fiancé.
“Understood. Then we shall postpone the tea party. I will take my leave now.”
Valdrova was the type to flip the table even if you pushed her toward it. Ruri bowed politely and turned to leave.
— Ruri.
“Yes.”
— Have things been difficult for you lately?
Ruri didn't understand the intent behind the question.
“No. Not particularly.”
— Ah, I see. I smelled a strong scent of sweat on you, so I thought perhaps you hadn't even been able to wash.
“……A scent of sweat?”
Ruri had an excellent sense of smell. But as a dragon, Valdrova’s was even better. And there was no way Ruri would sweat just from managing the castle.
— Do not overwork yourself, my Master. I do not wish for you to push yourself too hard.
“……Do not worry, My Lord.”
Returning to her room, Ruri immediately tore off her clothes and burned them. Then, she vowed to make bathing mandatory for every knight before they could set foot inside the castle.
* * *
Ferda was in his office with Mori.
Since joining hands with Stephan Pascal, he had resolved the supply issues that the Empire had failed to fix. Ferda was now working to quantify those gains.
“What is the progress on the items in the supply plan?”
Mori replied in writing.
— At 32%, the critical supplies have been concentrated and completed in the Consilus Territory. We will gradually continue supplies to the other estates.
“What are the projections resulting from these supplies?”
— If we proceed according to the supply plan, it will contribute 30% to public stability, increase individual combat capability by 45%, and boost morale by 30%.
“It seems the potential is at its peak.”
Mori nodded. Since Ferda had moved for the development of the territory, this was something to be happy about, but…
“There’s going to be trouble soon.”
Ferda wasn't purely celebrating. Mori tilted her head in a silent question. Ferda answered the unspoken inquiry.
“There are people in this world who can’t stand to see others succeed.”
The types who always try to spoil things the moment something starts going well. And those people were currently the ones sitting at the top of the Arken Empire’s leadership.
People who, even if they were incompetent themselves, couldn't bear to see someone else excel.
Without even needing a few days to pass, those consumed by greed were already rushing toward Ferda.