The Count's Daughter (2)
"It's true." Melania didn't believe Alpha. The arrogant human who had tried to grab her horns the moment he was summoned. By now only five otherworlders remained, though dozens had originally been called. Among them, Alpha wasn't the first man to call her a female and reach for her horns. There had been that man who introduced himself as Gold Sun. When he realized he couldn't overpower her, he begged for a single chance to use a dragon's body if he produced results. From Melania's perspective, granting that wasn't impossible—if he actually delivered results!
At first she thought it was because he had only been in the Breeding Chamber. The man called Gold Sun immediately claimed he would create a pregnancy test. He found a way to confirm pregnancy using the women's urine. It was nothing more than a cheap magical trick, of course. The price for lying was obvious, so the man known as Gold Sun was hanged on the spot. She didn't even bother sending him to hard labor to replenish the summoning resources. The cost of lying while coveting a dragon's body was heavy—too heavy to ever draw another breath in this world.
That was why she naturally assumed Alpha's words were lies as well. She suspected he had performed some magical tampering on the urine samples he brought. So Melania spent the past few days summoning human women herself and having them urinate on trays planted with barley and wheat, distinguishing between pregnant and non-pregnant women. As time passed and the method truly proved to be 70–80% accurate, Melania burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… Did I finally win the lottery too?"
Summoning otherworlders was like a gacha game among dragons. Otherworlders arrived with special perks, so if luck was on your side, you could greatly develop your territory. It wasn't a method used often because it consumed vast resources, but when problems like the Black Death struck, it became a frequent solution. To solve the crisis that had come to her territory, Melania had already spent her entire fortune—territory funds, the gold and jewels in her lair, everything. The thought that she had found a talent worth every coin made her laugh heartily. If the territory developed, those resources could be replenished easily. A developed territory could generate income from other lands beyond mere taxes.
"Ignis… You're next…"
Melania smiled, eyes gleaming as she thought of her rival.
"Hmm. Before that, we have no money, but we need to replenish manpower. Tell Wellington to assign the newly arrived administrator to the Black Death and Pregnancy Countermeasures Headquarters."
She intended to provide Alpha with every possible support so he could produce even greater results.
*
Scratch, scratch—!
Only the sound of pens scratching across paper echoed through the department office of the Black Death and Pregnancy Countermeasures Headquarters. Normally it would have been livelier with occasional chatter between Erika and me or the senior Breeders on break, but this silence was caused by a single woman who had newly joined our department.
"Shall we take a short break?"
"Huh? Commoners these days have no sense. Shouldn't you ask permission before opening your mouth?"
Elisa Soryu. Why the daughter of a count had come to the small Bicken Territory ruled by a baron was something I neither knew nor cared to know. I just wanted her gone quickly. She was uncomfortable. Annoying. I wanted to fuck her. I wanted to shove my cock into that arrogant mouth and drill proper female manners into her. But I held back. Partly because of Erika, but not only because of her.
This was the Black Death and Pregnancy Countermeasures Headquarters. Though newly established, it wasn't some shabby stable. It was attached to other administrative departments inside the lord's castle. If I trained her here, we would be discovered immediately. So I simply endured, again and again. Erika's expression was worth watching too. She had only mentioned break time because Elisa had asked to be informed, yet she was scolded for it. It was a situation that would make anyone angry. Still, even she was clearly holding back after hearing the words "count's daughter."
"Phew… Now I can finally breathe clean air! The filthy air commoners exhale… Without air-purification magic, I would have suffocated to death!"
Crash—!
"Ha—!! This is why noble bitches are always like this!! So arrogant, thinking only of themselves! Just you wait. Once I reach Master rank, I'll make you regret it!"
The moment Elisa Soryu finally left at quitting time, Erika shouted in fury. I understood her feelings completely—I felt the same. Part of me wanted to join her in cursing Elisa to relieve the stress. But I couldn't. An Alpha Male like me venting stress by gossiping like Beta Males or females was unthinkable. So I simply endured, again and again.
"Huu—! I thought I could finally breathe, but now I'm stuck in the same space as commoners again. Aaah—! I really want to die."
…Should I return her to Wellington? No, let's not.
"Is that all for today's work? As expected, things finish quickly now that a noble like me is here!!"
Every time she opened her mouth, I wanted to ram my cock into it…
Name: Elisa Soryu
Traits: Swordsmanship LV7, Search LV1, Vigilance LV2, Magic LV7, Dance LV13, Administration LV27
Mana LV18, Mana Operation LV3
Her Administration level was comparable to Alex's Swordsmanship level, which had reached the highest rank of Sword Expert. In other words, just as Sword Expert at the highest rank allowed movements beyond human limits, her speed at processing documents also surpassed human capability.
"Well then, I'll be on my way. Since we finished early, I hope the two of you will at least wash your bodies. I feel like the commoner stench is going to cling to me as well."
Therefore—
'I need to discipline her.'
This department needed Elisa right now. Not the arrogant female who flaunted being a count's daughter, but a female who would shake her hips the moment she saw my face. I slowly began planning how to break Elisa down.
*
Night had fallen and the moon had risen.
"Lady Elisa, are you satisfied with the work?"
"Ha—! Don't even ask. Breathing the same air as commoners is exhausting. Without air-purification magic, I feel like I'm going to suffocate to death."
Wellington was enjoying wine and conversation with Elisa. The reason Elisa Soryu, daughter of Count Soryu, had come to the baron's house was simple: to maintain control. The Bicken Territory possessed abundant resources for a barony—food, minerals, magic stones, everything essential to a territory was self-sufficient. That was why Count Soryu sent his own children to exert influence over the Bicken barony, his vassal house. If the barony suddenly tried to declare independence, it would be disastrous. Especially now, when the count's power had been weakened by the Black Death. The barony was struggling too, but the difference between 100,000 versus 10,000 and 10,000 versus 1,000 was enormous. Both were differences of ten times, yet the former was hard to reverse even after one or two defeats, while the latter could be overturned with just one or two losses.
"My apologies. It was an order from Lady Melania… I had no choice."
"Of course. If it is the Dragon's direct command…"
Wellington and Elisa voiced their complaints while drinking wine. From Wellington's perspective, he might dislike Elisa as a watcher sent to exert influence over the territory, but that wasn't entirely true. As a vassal house, simply showing loyalty to the person dispatched by the count for surveillance and influence could bring substantial support. Great nobles leading vassal houses needed to demonstrate appropriate tolerance. Otherwise, the vassal houses would immediately rebel and declare independence.
'If things go well, a political marriage might even be possible.'
Following that thought, Wellington looked Elisa Soryu up and down. Mysterious blue hair. Blue eyes that seemed to hold the sea. A monocle, given only to top academy graduates as proof of her excellence as an administrator. She was more than qualified to become the new lady of the barony, replacing his wife who had died of the Black Death several years ago.
'This is why vassal houses are like this.'
Elisa also noticed Wellington's gaze and felt slightly uncomfortable. She had been told by her mother, the head of the family, to get along with Baron Wellington, but this kind of look was repulsive. Still, what could she do? She was ultimately a tool of the count's house. If those above her ordered it, she had to obey. Even if Wellington was old enough to be her father, if her family demanded a political marriage, she would have to comply. That was why she had preserved her chastity until now.
'Has it already been fifty minutes?'
Soon it would be an hour. Being alone with a man in a small room for an hour like this—if things continued, she would end up pregnant. She would lose her chastity. Elisa stood up. Since her family had not yet chosen a partner for her, she could not lose her virginity here.
"It was a pleasant conversation today as well, my lord. Then I shall return to my room."
"Yes. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, my lady. Have a comfortable night."
Elisa rose and headed to her room.
"Haa."
The moment she returned, Elisa collapsed onto the soft bed and let out a sigh. The thought of having to work with commoners in the same department again tomorrow made her feel like vomiting. Still…
"A pregnancy test, huh… Well, I suppose it's useful."
It was the department that had created something ridiculous with barley and wheat. They were now preparing countermeasures against the Black Death. If this succeeded, her position within the Soryu family would rise significantly.
A few days later.
"Huh…? Huh…? What…?"
Elisa Soryu had to desperately work her broken brain while staring at a man's penis she had never seen before.
Click, click.
"You have to open that door from the outside."
"Don't come near me! Commoner!!"
Elisa shouted at Alpha as he approached, but there was no one in this place who would help her.