Chapter 43: How Infuriating
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: How Infuriating
Ruri’s intrusion into the Imperial Palace might have seemed impulsive, but in truth, it was a move born of cold, rational logic.
By shattering the magic circles and forcing the mobilization of every mage and knight, she had signaled the gravity of the situation. It was a warning—a demonstration of the consequences should anyone dare harm the Dragon’s consort.
To that end, Ruri had revealed everything she usually kept hidden.
Her tail, her horns, and that fierce, piercing gaze.
If the enemy commander proved to be someone she could reason with, they would eventually ask for her affiliation. Ruri would simply reply that she was an attendant of the Archduchess of Valdrova, and they would negotiate from there.
‘Lord Ferda will be safe regardless.’
Even if he were injured within the palace, there were resident priests on hand. Each possessed divine power equivalent to a bishop; healing Ferda’s wounds would be trivial for them.
‘And yet...’
The thought kept circling her mind.
She couldn't shake the unease.
Just as there is a vast gulf between immortals and mortals, there is a fundamental difference between Dragon Spawn and humans. What if the injury was so severe that he wouldn't wake even after being healed? What if some demon in the Sealed Warehouse had cursed him? What if he had succumbed to temptation and entered into some absurd contract?
Anxieties that would surely cause the Archduchess grief cluttered her mind. A master’s burden was a servant’s to share.
Ruri did not let the anxiety sway her; she maintained her composure until the end. She knew all too well that emotion would be of no use in this situation.
Ruri cut a path forward, slicing through the palace gardens that blocked her way. Once she broke through the wall of rose vines, she found the knights, who had been scrambling in a panic, waiting for her.
Among them, Ruri spotted a familiar man.
‘Ferda.’
Gray hair and blue eyes. A tall, slender frame. And a solemn expression that belied his age.
Ferda Valdrova.
He was exactly as she remembered. Despite the reports of his injuries, he appeared perfectly fine.
‘He’s safe.’
In an instant, the crushing weight of anxiety lifted from her heart.
With the worry gone, she should have felt relieved. However, the sensation was different from her usual sense of peace. It wasn't the satisfaction of seeing a deep stain finally washed away, nor was it the relief of escaping a maddening dread.
What filled Ruri’s heart was something else entirely.
‘...How infuriating.’
She was livid.
The void left by her massive worry was instantly filled with white-hot rage.
‘The man who is the Regent, the man who is the Archduchess’s fiancé—he goes to useless places, causes trouble, and gets himself hurt?’
The last thread of her patience snapped, and she unleashed her Dragon Fear.
She directed it straight at Ferda.
The innocent knights, caught in the crossfire without knowing why, felt as if their hearts were about to burst.
“C-Commander! Give the order, quickly...!”
If they just stood there in a standoff, they would collapse before the fight even began. The knights guarding the palace had to make a decision: fight or retreat.
“A-At...”
Just as the commander was about to give the signal to attack, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Wait. Hold on.”
Unlike the trembling commander, the man’s voice was perfectly calm.
“I will handle this.”
“Pardon? Excuse me, but who are you...?”
“I am Regent Ferda. I am a guest here today.”
Ferda pointed toward Ruri with his chin.
“And that maid over there is an attendant of the Archduchess of Valdrova.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The Knight Commander’s tension eased, if only slightly. Since the Regent of Valdrova was here, it meant they could talk this through.
“So, could you give us a moment?”
Naturally, the commander had no choice but to comply. He was curious as to why she had broken through the magic circles and unleashed Dragon Fear, but settling the situation came first.
The knights maintained their formation and stepped back as Ferda walked forward.
With every step he took, the Dragon Fear grew more intense. His expressionless face began to crease, and the veins in his neck stood out.
‘It really feels like walking into a dragon’s maw.’
He stopped five paces away from her.
Ruri traced a circle in the air with her finger, and a gale of pure white wind swirled around them, forming a shimmering dome.
Ruri, who had been keeping her mouth tightly shut, let out a long sigh through her nose. It was as if she were venting the pressure that had built up with her rising temper.
“We are cut off from the outside here. Nothing we say will leak out.”
“I see.”
“So... I’m just going to say it.”
Ruri spat out her surging emotions.
“Have you lost your mind?”
She was brutally honest.
“Does the man who is the Archduchess’s fiancé not understand the weight of his position? Is that why you’re running around doing foolish things?”
“It was necessary.”
“That is no answer. Even if it was necessary, if word of this had reached my Master, everything would have been ruined. Are you even aware of that?”
“I know. And I knew you wouldn't tell her.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you cherish your Master. You wouldn't want her to be disturbed.”
He knew that if someone were to come from Valdrova Castle, Ruri would be the first.
“Yes. Because it is my duty to serve my Master. However, it seems you do not love her as much as I thought, Lord Ferda.”
“I, too, cherish her.”
“And yet you let news reach me that you were injured in the Sealed Warehouse? Fine, I’ll let that slide for now.”
Ruri had grown even angrier as Ferda approached, and there was a specific reason for it. Even he had overlooked one thing.
Ruri grabbed Ferda’s wrist and brought her nose close to it.
“And yet, you dare walk around with the scent of another woman’s perfume on your hands?”
“...”
She shook his wrist and demanded, “Who was it?”
“...Olivia Arken.”
“You mean the ‘Flower of the Empire’ with that vulgar physique?”
The venom in Ruri’s expression deepened. Simultaneously, her grip on his wrist tightened. It felt as if his bones might snap.
“...She does have that epithet.”
Ferda decided to ignore the first part of her sentence.
Not only was he injured, but her Master’s fiancé had been holding hands with the most beautiful woman in the Empire. Ruri’s entire body trembled. Her gaze, which had been fixed on Ferda, dropped to the floor as if she could no longer bear to look at him.
“Are you the kind of man who just grabs any woman’s hand? Did you approach my Master just to get a chance to hold her hand, too?”
“Don't jump to conclusions. She grabbed it of her own accord. I had to play along to talk to her. It’s not like I enjoyed it.”
“...I don't believe you.”
Ruri’s left hand clenched into a tight fist.
Watching her seethe with rage, Ferda asked with a resigned face, “Do you want to hit me?”
“...”
“Strike me once, if that will satisfy you.”
Only then did Ruri’s eyes drift up from the floor to look at Ferda. She saw his sharp jawline and his cheek. That face—the one she had often wanted to strike because his blunt words were so obnoxious.
Her emotions didn't subside; they kept surging.
Finally, Ruri reached out.
Ferda closed his eyes tightly, like a condemned man.
Several seconds passed, but he felt no stinging sensation on his cheek. Instead, he felt his collar being tugged and straightened.
“So... did you get what you wanted?”
Ferda nodded.
“It was a fruitful endeavor.”
“I see.”
Having finished tidying him up, Ruri pulled her hands away. The spot her hands had passed over was now perfectly neat.
“Please, do not disappoint my Master.”
“I understand.”
Ruri studied Ferda’s expression as she spoke. Only after seeing his face, which looked as if dead emotions were flickering back to life, did she feel at ease.
“Well then.”
With another gesture from Ruri, the hemispherical space dissolved, and everything returned to normal. Ruri gave the knights a fleeting glance before taking flight, leaving the Imperial Palace behind.
The knights and mages, who had been watching with bated breath, stared up at the spot where she had vanished.
“...Situation resolved.”
“Phew!”
“Huff, huff...”
They had essentially let an intruder go free, but no one dared to point it out.
“But is it really okay to just let her go? She’s an intruder, isn't she?”
Except for one person who lacked any sense of the atmosphere.
* * *
Once the Level 1 alert was lifted, the commander walked over to Ferda and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for settling the situation.”
“No, I should be the one apologizing. This happened because of my carelessness, and it caused quite a stir.”
“Not at all. We should be satisfied that we avoided a bloodbath and didn't incur the Dragon’s wrath. How would you like us to handle this, Regent?”
If Ferda chose to make an issue of it, it could lead to a messy, protracted dispute. But that wasn't what he wanted. Now that he had an ally in Olivia Arken, it wasn't wise to make unnecessary enemies among the Imperial family.
“Let’s just let it slide, as you said. No need to point fingers. Thanks to this, didn't you learn that a single Dragon Spawn can break through your magic circles?”
“That is true. I’ve been thinking the Magic Division has been too focused on their own interests lately; this gives me a good excuse.”
The commander nodded, looking pleased. Ferda didn't know the specifics of palace politics, but it was clearly a fierce battlefield.
“It seems our business is concluded. May I take my leave?”
“If you are finished... of course. But why not stay the night at the palace? You were injured today; it might be best to rest for a couple of days and monitor your condition...”
The sun was still up, but sunset was approaching. As the commander said, it would be better to rest for the day.
“My apologies. I am a busy man.”
“Ah, you have a schedule? I understand.”
He didn't particularly have one, but Ferda simply wanted to leave this uncomfortable place as soon as possible.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Ferda said to the commander as if he had just remembered.
“Yes?”
“I’d like to take one of the knights here with me. Would that be alright?”
“A knight... you say?”
It was a sudden request and a difficult one to grant. Every knight of the Imperial Palace was a top-tier talent; even the very last one in the rankings could serve as an elite knight in any other kingdom.
However, the man asking was the Archduchess’s fiancé. It would be impolite to refuse immediately.
“Which one has caught your eye, Regent?”
“I’ve seen him before... but I don't recall his name.”
Ferda scanned the area for the man. It didn't take long to find him. He was currently in a push-up position, being scolded by his seniors.
“Malcolm, you bastard! You were out of position when we were forming the phalanx, weren't you?”
“You little shit! What were you doing while we were working our asses off? Sleeping?”
“A-Ah, I’m s-sorry! At the time, I was trying to stop the Regent...”
“Stop the Regent? And did you stop him, you idiot?!”
“I saw you! You were just walking through the garden!”
“I couldn't stop him! They said not to lay a hand on a noble...!”
“Don't you know that in a Level 1 alert, we come first after the Imperial family?!”
“I-I didn't know!”
“‘I didn't know’ doesn't cut it in the military! Do you really want to see the end of your career?!”
Ferda pointed at the man who was sweating profusely while receiving disciplinary training.
“That’s the one.”
“...That dead weight?”
The commander looked at him as if asking if he was serious.
“Is he famous?”
“In all the wrong ways. I don't know how he even got into the Imperial Knights, but he’s useless. He can't use a sword, and he rides a horse that looks like a donkey... Other than that, I have no idea how he got here.”
“Is that so?”
“I was actually thinking of kicking him out... Are you sure you want him?” the commander asked worriedly.
He wasn't worried about losing talent; he was worried he was passing off a ticking time bomb.
However, Ferda nodded firmly.
“He’s perfect. I’ll take him off your hands.”
“Understood.”
Every Imperial Knight was precious, but Malcolm was the exception.
* * *
As the sun dipped behind the hazy western mountains and the glow of twilight set in, the Valdrova official carriage departed from the capital.
At the same time, a man who had been hiding beneath the carriage holding his breath revealed himself.
“Phew!! It’s finally over.”
It was Jed. After leaving the Sealed Warehouse, he had somehow managed to escape and climb onto the carriage.
“Good work. The item?”
“I kept it safe right here. And I didn't open it.”
Jed pulled out a golden bundle from his coat. It was a black cover bound by silver chains and wrapped in golden silk. Ferda wouldn't be able to break these chains and open it by ordinary means. Since he had no intention of looking at it right away, Ferda wrapped it back in the cloth and set it aside.
“But, Lord Ferda... we’re going to be okay, right? I mean, we stole a book from the Sealed Warehouse. There’s no way they’ll stay quiet about this...”
“It’s fine. I’ve gained an ally, so things will be smoother.”
“Who’s that?”
“Olivia Arken.”
Jed’s eyes went wide.
“Oh! You talked to the Flower of the Empire? I heard she’s incredibly beautiful and pure. What was she like?”
“She’s sly.”
“Well, she is a noble lady... There are a lot of people like that.”
Jed had dealt with many nobles, but he couldn't hide his envy. She truly was a woman of bewitching charm.
Neigh!
As they were leisurely making their way out, the sound of a horse’s neigh came from where the knights were.
“Hey, hey! You there! I told you to stay in line! How many times do I have to tell you that things get messy when the horses get too close!”
“A-Ah, I’m s-sorry! Rosy, you brat! I told you to stop pestering them!”
Jed poked his head out the window at the unfamiliar voice. There, he saw a man who had hurriedly packed his belongings and piled them high on a saddle.
“I’ve never seen that face before. Who’s that?”
He was dressed as a wandering knight, but he looked incredibly amateurish—both in his attire and his manner.
“And why is he riding a donkey...?”
He wasn't on a horse; he was riding a donkey.
“His name is Malcolm. He’s an Imperial Knight, but also an apprentice. I plan to use him as a specimen.”
“A specimen?”
Jed tilted his head at Ferda’s words.
“Yes, a specimen.”
Ferda simply gave a short reply.