Chapter 52: Nevertheless
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Nevertheless
“I stand before you today to speak of my betrothed, the Archduchess of Valdrova.”
Among the assembly, the faint-hearted looked as though they were on the verge of hyperventilating. Seeing their trepidation only bolstered Ferda’s confidence.
“At the eastern edge of the continent, a land where all living things once roamed freely was laid to waste by the Evil Dragon, Godwin. It became a land of death—a place where monsters are birthed without end.”
Ferda channeled his conviction into his voice, giving every word a heavy, undeniable weight.
“For one hundred and fifty years, the great Red Dragon, Valdrova, has served without recompense, fighting the monsters of the East. Yet, what are the epithets attached to my partner?”
It was a name that had once made the world tremble in terror. But as that terror faded into the past, it had curdled into a name of contempt. A name of mockery.
“‘Tyrant.’ ‘Evil Dragon.’ Monsters swarm incessantly from the distant Land of Demons. They tear at her scales and rip her skin. Those claws are aimed at your homes and your families. Despite such devotion, she asked for nothing. Even in the depths of agonizing pain, she maintained her silence and fought on steadfastly. We are the beneficiaries of her grace. Even a beast knows gratitude. Therefore, I have stood up today to wash away this stain of infamy.”
Ferda’s gaze swept across the room. Many had gathered, but their expressions fell into predictable categories: the indifferent, the curious, and the vultures calculating how to exploit the situation.
However, their eyes were all fixed on one spot: the Dragon Spawns occupying the front seats. They were the masters of mystery, the Aspects, and the servants of the immortals.
“Did you say you are Regent Ferda Valdrova?”
One of them spoke up. Ferda expected a protest from the Silver Dragon Spawns, but instead, it was the voice of a dignified woman. She had azure hair and horns that lacked a predatory edge.
‘Was her name Erica Iorga?’
It was indeed Erica Iorga, the leader of the Iorga Spawns. With her striking blue hair, sharp jawline, and piercing eyes, she was beautiful enough to be mistaken for an Imperial Princess rather than a leader of Spawns. She rose from her seat, offering a greeting with an elegant gesture.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Regent Ferda. I am Erica Iorga, representative of Iorga and the Tower Master of the Blue Eye.”
“A pleasure to meet you as well.”
“I am loath to begin our first meeting with harsh words, but given the nature of this motion, I shall not beat around the bush.”
Erica’s eyes locked onto Ferda’s. Her pupils, sharp and predatory, were ill-suited for her clear, sky-blue eyes.
“To put it bluntly, this is a motion where the only logical conclusion is a simple ‘no.’”
The conviction embedded deep within her gaze was directed solely at Ferda. It was not a good sign. Those eyes were drawing everyone in the Grand Council to her side.
“One hundred and fifty years ago, when the Dragon-Demon War broke out and we struggled for twelve years, it was Lady Valdrova who pierced the heart of Godwin and became a war hero.”
Her tone was soft and rational. However, Ferda did not take her words at face value.
“But that was not the end. Lady Valdrova could not control her own power and went on a rampage. Many people, many races, and many lives were lost. Do you know how many?”
Erica asked the question, then immediately pressed her point.
“As you are to be Lady Valdrova’s consort, and as you have put forward this motion, I trust you have done your research.”
This was a point he had to answer. To claim ignorance would be to walk into a trap. Ferda spoke the truth.
“The casualties were half... of the total lives lost to Godwin during the entire Dragon-Demon War.”
Half the number of people had died in just half a day. It was the greatest catastrophe recorded in history.
“Yes, half. And that was the result of a mere twelve hours, compared to the damage inflicted over twelve years. And...”
Erica slightly turned her head, drawing the room's attention elsewhere. It was Goz Silverwind.
“Even Silverwind, the leader of the Silver Dragons, passed away because of it.”
Goz Silverwind said nothing. Rather, he could not speak. He was a man of hot-blooded temperament, more prone to using his fists than words. He was pressing his lips tight, clearly struggling to suppress the curses that would pour out if he opened his mouth.
However, Ferda, the proposer of the motion, showed no sign of being intimidated. If he were the type to be discouraged by this, he wouldn't have spoken in the first place.
“The circumstances were different from the war with Godwin. At that time, it was a total war; the entire forces of Serdes had Godwin surrounded, and countless soldiers and beasts were concentrated in one place. If one goes on a rampage in such a crowd, high casualties are inevitable.”
“The important thing is that she did go on a rampage and caused those sacrifices. Regardless of the circumstances, she killed half as many as the Evil Dragon Godwin did, and she did it in half a day.”
“She killed Godwin, who had tormented the Serdes Continent for twelve years!”
“And she murdered Lord Silverwind—a brave warrior who cared for others more than anyone, and a supreme leader.”
Valdrova, the one who had brought death to the most wicked Evil Dragon and the greatest Guardian Dragon on the same day. Since those two events happened simultaneously, Valdrova’s reputation had been left in a state of limbo.
However, Ferda had evidence.
“That rampage was not Valdrova’s will, nor was it caused by the essence of the Aspect of Power.”
“If it wasn't her essence, then what was it?”
“It was an incident caused by contamination from the chaos dwelling within the heart of the Evil Dragon, Godwin.”
Ferda had discussed this extensively with Mori before bringing it up.
“Chaos dwelt within Godwin’s heart. The one who came into the closest contact with that chaos was Lady Valdrova. Since she was the one to directly destroy the source within the heart, she was affected by it, whether she liked it or not.”
Erica’s gaze sharpened.
“It is true that Lady Valdrova was the closest to Lord Godwin. However, you are mistaken about one thing.”
Erica once again took control of the atmosphere.
“Lady Valdrova was not the only one fighting there. Everyone fought desperately. There were many more who were within range of Godwin and were wounded.”
Ferda knew this as well. By cross-referencing records, he knew that Valdrova had actually sustained relatively less physical damage than others.
“If what the Regent says is true, then every dragon present should have been affected. Including Lady Iorga, who suffered deep wounds. Yet, she remains perfectly fine.”
Erica turned her gaze toward an old man sitting next to her.
“Lady Odograsado, how are you faring?”
The old man chuckled, and she continued.
“Lady Odograsado is one who is clad in a shining golden faith. How could she possibly fall for Godwin’s shallow tricks?”
At that firm denial, Erica raised her head.
“See? If your words were true, many should have been eroded and contaminated during the Dragon-Demon War.”
“...”
“The chaos seeped in because she destroyed the heart? Perhaps. But look at the present. Unlike the others who overcame their wounds and stood back up, what is Lady Valdrova doing?”
Erica infused raw emotion into her voice.
“She does not wish to protect anything. She is like a beast that has tasted blood. It is as if the destructive instinct she awakened is irreversible. The only things that can suppress that instinct are the monsters flowing out of the Land of Demons, and she chose them only because they leave the fewest complications. Is that not why she stays near the Land of Demons yet shows no will to eliminate it?”
Ferda began to see Erica differently. She was a wall. And not just any wall. She was the wall in the North—the massive barrier erected to block the frost giants and demons coming from beyond the frozen lands.
It was called the Frost Barrier.
Ferda had seen that wall before. There was no mercy or tolerance for anything beyond it. Erica’s argument was just like that wall—granting not a single inch of leeway, offering only intolerance and ruthlessness to those who approached.
‘Why?’ Ferda wondered. ‘Why is she so desperate to destroy her?’
He couldn't understand this struggle to thoroughly ostracize Valdrova. If Goz Silverwind had been the one raging, he would have understood perfectly. But the Iorga faction, who had no direct involvement, was acting desperately, as if to leave no room for reconsideration.
Ferda read the room. His eyes scanned the entire Grand Council. The nobles were siding with her. Alexander, who had acted as if he were on Ferda's side just moments ago, was now holding his breath and watching the situation, likely making political calculations to see where the profit lay.
‘How loathsome.’
In Ferda’s eyes, everyone was eager to kill her, to strip her bare, to devour her.
‘I expected this.’
He might not know much about politics, but he knew what humans were. The moment someone gains attention and comes under attack, the pack joins forces to tear them down. If Ferda didn't have the name Valdrova behind him, they would have been prowling around to pick him apart one by one.
Ferda always kept this in mind.
‘And yet...’
His insides began to boil. The more they boiled, the more Ferda’s face contorted into a cold, impassive mask. He had abandoned the idea of persuading them from the start. Even so, it wasn't easy to stay still while facing this head-on.
Ferda felt a surge of upheaval in his heart. The anger he had discarded and suppressed was now mocking him. And so, he asked.
‘Valdrova. My heart...’
Must you go this far? Even after accepting all this slander and contempt? Must you still steadfastly love and protect the things you wish to love?
Then, his surging heart began to grow remarkably calm. The mockery of anger ceased. Fragile as if it might break, soft as a sprout pushing through the damp earth at dawn, yet melting his frozen heart and engraved deep within his chest, that heart answered Ferda’s question.
Nevertheless,
“In that case,” Ferda said.
I love them all.
“I shall prove it to you.”
At Ferda’s words, Erica asked, “You say you will prove it? Prove what?”
“That her choosing the Far East as her base was not merely a latrine to vent her destructive instincts.”
Standing on the podium, Ferda shouted more clearly than ever.
“As the representative of the Far East, as the Regent of the Archduchy of Valdrova, and as Valdrova’s fiancé, I declare here and now.”
If that was the case, what Ferda had to do was extremely simple. He would simply help her spread her steadfast wings. Raising his head proudly, he hammered each syllable into their ears with a loud, clear voice.
“I shall purify and reclaim this land defiled by Godwin—the father of demons, the source of chaos, and the Calamity Dragon.”
It was a declaration of the conquest of the Land of Demons.
At Ferda’s shocking declaration, the Grand Council began to stir.
“Conquer the Land of Demons?”
“The land that even the immortal Aspects found impossible...?”
Everyone was shocked, and their reactions were overwhelmingly negative. It was only natural. Since the creation of the Land of Demons after the Dragon-Demon War, many had tried to conquer it. However, everyone who had stepped foot there with dreams of conquest had failed. That land had been abandoned for a full hundred years after countless failed attempts.
“What Lady Valdrova, the great Aspect of Fire and Power, desires is the eradication of the monsters appearing in this land. The primary goal and final end of that eradication is the conquest of the Land of Demons.”
The young Regent was making an ambitious challenge.
“As she desires peace for this continent, I too shall lend my strength and act so that everyone can accept that ‘Evil Dragon’ is a false name.”
Ferda’s statement shook the Grand Council. He was the representative of an Archduchess attending the council for the first time. Being eighteen, young, and inexperienced, it was enough for people to call him incredibly insolent. Everywhere, experience and age were the factors that commanded respect.
But not for Ferda.
They thought he was acting this way because he had Valdrova’s prestige behind him. However, deep within their subconscious, it was different. A hidden hope flickered that perhaps this man with the broad shoulders might actually pull it off.
“This agenda...”
Blancaros’s voice echoed quietly through the hall. Simultaneously, all other voices died down. Even the Dragon Spawns were surprised to hear his voice.
“Let us leave the discussion here, Regent.”
Blancaros himself opened his mouth to make a request to Ferda. Ferda had no choice but to accept. The weight of the words was different simply because Blancaros, who usually conducted everything through representatives, had spoken directly.
“Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.”
Ferda decided to be satisfied with this for now. With this, his debut was over. Ferda returned to his seat, and Blancaros’s representative continued the proceedings.
“Moving on to the next agenda item.”
After that, trivial matters began to be discussed. To Ferda, they were nothing but insignificant stories, and he didn't listen closely.
‘Erica Iorga.’
Her name was echoing in his mind. Ferda’s old habit as a mage of vengeance was unconsciously carving that name deep into his bones.
‘It’s a useless habit.’
Ferda tried to ignore the long-standing impulse. It was then.
— Regent Ferda, can you hear me?
Speak of the devil. Erica’s voice echoed in Ferda’s ear. She was using telepathy magic.
— I have heard your opinion well.
At her voice, Ferda carefully gathered mana in his fingertips. After condensing it to a level that wasn't threatening, he lightly brought it to his head.
— I, Erica Iorga, view your opinion positively, and also—
Snap.
The resonance in his head stopped as if a line had been cut. Ferda had severed the telepathic link she had established. Erica’s body flinched at the sudden disconnection. She slightly turned her head and cast a glance toward Ferda. A look that asked, What do you think you're doing?
Ferda stared back and replied internally.
‘Get lost.’
She sent another telepathic message.
— Wait a moment, Regent Ferda. I understand you are in an emotional state. Don't block me and just listen to what I have to say—
Whenever she did, Ferda simply blocked her again.
— No, listen to me—
Another telepathy attempt, another block. For the remaining thirty minutes until the meeting ended, they engaged in a silent battle of sending and blocking messages.