Concealing the Dragon and an Unexpected Visitor
Wintergard was a whirlwind of activity. Upon returning to the territory, Ian had planned to send a letter to Duke Kane at once, but an unexpected delivery forced him to set the matter aside for the moment.
“This isn’t too expensive, is it?”
“It is quite expensive.”
It was a video communication orb—a tool that aligned the owners’ frequencies to allow conversation across vast distances. The only downside was that crafting one was so difficult it made the orb obscenely costly.
“In that case, telling you about how we resolved the problem can wait. Let’s settle the most urgent matter first.”
“We should begin by decorating the child’s room. After all, though it is a dragon, it is still a child… ahem.”
Elando, the chief butler, had abruptly slipped into full grandfather mode the moment he gained a granddaughter. He lowered his head in embarrassment.
With Security Commander Galan away handling matters outside the castle, only those who worked within the inner keep had gathered: Kalden, Elando, Treasurer Marbel, and the head maid who oversaw all the castle’s maids standing behind the butler.
“We must keep the dragon hidden, exactly as Lady Ivelin instructed while she was with it.”
“I will have the administrators without families stay and work inside the inner castle.”
It would be sentencing someone to an endless hell with no days off, but considering the future benefits, Ian decided to compensate them with especially generous salaries.
“What about the inner castle knights?”
“I will select only those with sealed lips.”
The knight order’s skill and loyalty rose in equal measure, so there was little concern on that front. Still, the matter was heavy enough to potentially topple the entire territory, leaving them no choice but to be cautious.
“The servants and maids already live inside the inner castle. Will they be all right?”
“There are more loose-tongued people than one might expect.”
“The maids in particular. Haah… My apologies. I should have trained them better…”
“It’s fine. In a territory this dull, they need at least the freedom to chat if they’re going to endure it. What else can we do?”
He had to comfort the head maid, who looked far too remorseful. After pondering the issue, Ian realized the solution was to provide proper entertainment within the castle walls.
“The veterans in middle management will keep quiet, yes?”
“Hehe. I trained them myself, so they should be reliable.”
“At the very least, the staff directly under me are trustworthy.”
“Keep a tight watch for the time being. I’ll find something to relieve my stress.”
Ian had fallen into a fantasy world and eventually realized it was the setting of a romance-fantasy novel, yet he had intended to refrain from introducing modern knowledge as much as possible.
The time for such restraint has passed.
Had he been living alone, he would have carried the secret to his grave. But as Ivelin had pointed out, he was no longer a lone man. It was not a handful of party members but thousands of lives moving according to his orders and actions. He could no longer afford to obsess over every minor detail.
“Your Grace. With Lady Ivelin no longer at your side, you will need a dedicated maid.”
Ivelin’s official position was that of a maid, yet she was a former comrade from his adventuring party and one of the few women who could stand as a potential match for the Grand Duke. It was only natural for the head maid to speak to her with respect, and everyone present accepted it without question. Such things were possible in the North, where personal strength and charisma were valued above all else.
“Not necessary. Ivelin is looking after things for now, but soon a person who can serve as both researcher and tutor for the dragon will arrive. Of course, she won’t be able to remain at my side constantly, but I have no desire to keep anyone else close except her.”
“I… see.”
The head maid quietly nodded, cheering Ivelin, fighting! inside her heart.
“What of the dragon lair’s treasures?”
Marbel, whose eyes had looked half-dead until that moment, now sparkled with more life than ever. Dragon lair treasure—of all possible things. For a man forced to run a perpetually tight budget, there could be no better news.
“Be patient. Even if we retrieve them now, we cannot sell them immediately. Ivelin and I may have dealt with the lich, but the lair itself lies within the duke’s territory.”
Kane was not shameless enough to demand the lair’s riches on that pretext. As a long-term partner, sharing a portion of the treasure in exchange for even greater assistance later was the wiser path.
“And it is time we reorganize the army.”
“You mean the specialization you mentioned previously?”
“Correct. We have simply divided them into front and rear lines, but that is too dangerous when we do not yet know what lurks inside the Demon Realm.”
Those who fought at the front and those who supported from the rear. Beyond those two categories and the special branches of knights and mages, there had been no further division. It had been feasible only because the soldiers possessed monstrous physical prowess. Even then, that was only when they remained on the defensive.
“I intend to subdivide the infantry according to their primary weapon, then add scout units for exploration and reconnaissance, as well as engineer, supply, and medic corps.”
“What are engineers?”
Even Kalden, who had spent his entire life defending the North, found the term unfamiliar.
“The beginning and end of any battle. They remove terrain obstacles that impede combat and enable our forces to maneuver more organically.”
This was pioneering, not mere subjugation. Ian could state with confidence that engineers would be the most vital branch in the true sense of opening new land rather than simply fighting.
“Among the soldiers, there must be those who are strong yet strangely poor at actual combat, correct?”
“There are. Combat cannot be won through strength alone.”
“Prepare a list for now. We will have to wait until we find suitable instructors.”
“Will Lady Ivelin be training the scouts as expected?”
“She will. It may be difficult at the moment, but no one surpasses her in that field.”
“Then we shall first divide the branches by primary weapon and focus on helping them adapt.”
The meeting that had begun because of the dragon concluded with discussions on military specialization and future plans. Everyone returned to their quarters late at night, bodies heavy with exhaustion. Yet Ian activated the artifact Duke Kane had sent.
Huh. Have you already resolved the matter?
“It somehow turned out that way… sir.”
The letter accompanying the artifact had stated that, given their new relationship as Grand Duke and Duke, they should at least observe minimum courtesy. Ian, who had previously spoken politely out of respect for his elder in life and the intense memories from their adventurer days, now had to awkwardly adopt the stiff, formal tone appropriate to their stations.
Kuk kuk. What a shame Kiana cannot see that awkward expression. So, what was the cause?
Ian told him everything—about the lich, the dragon lair, and even the existence of the dragon, trusting Kane completely.
Huh. It is fortunate I received your call while alone. A dragon, you say…
“I have called for the right person, so you will receive the results first, Duke.”
Sharing of knowledge after the lair’s treasures… Since you have shown such trust, I must repay it in kind. Is there anything you require?
“Good axes and various tools would be welcome. The more food the better.”
My heart wishes to send artisans as well, but there are too many eyes watching…
“Oh, that’s right! Kiana will be heading to Wintergard.”
“Pardon?”
The unexpected news made him forget the formal tone he had been maintaining. Why would someone who should be diligently attending the academy come to a place where there was nothing but snow to see?
She can graduate early and claimed she requires field practice. And the place that child chose is none other than Wintergard.
“But wasn’t she in the magic department?”
Well. I heard she is also double-majoring in administration. That is all for now!
“Wait…!”
Kane ended the transmission without another word. Ian could only fall asleep while worrying how he would break the news to the others, who had no idea a bomb was about to land on them tomorrow.
In a private dormitory at the academy, Kiana glanced around the room she had finally grown somewhat accustomed to, then checked her luggage one last time.
“Good.”
“My lady.”
“Ah. Mel. I’ll be right there.”
At the call of Mel—her dedicated maid who had been with her since childhood and was waiting outside—she hurriedly grabbed her bags and stepped out.
“Please let me take the luggage.”
“It’s fine. I can drag it. You’re already carrying so much, Mel.”
As she said, Mel’s hands and back were already loaded with bags. Whether it was because she was a maid that she was so strong, or she had become a maid because she was strong, Mel showed no strain. Still, Kiana did not want to burden the woman who was practically an older sister to her any further.
“My lady. Are you truly going?”
“I must.”
It was not simply a matter of field practice. Something of that level could have been changed easily with the power of the ducal house. Having learned the secret that Wintergard and Adrahan were hiding, she had no choice but to remain in Wintergard—whether she liked it or not—until the relationship between the two territories stabilized. She could not be the one to shatter the trust the two lands had built from a connection in the past.
“Lady Adrahan! Have a safe journey!”
“Sob. Why must you go to such a place of all places….”
Though she was merely departing for field practice, the location made the young noble ladies who followed her shed tears as they saw her off. Among them was a woman with pink hair.
“My lady…”
“It’s fine. We’ve already broken the engagement, and I have no desire to concern myself with it. Once field practice ends, I won’t even be returning to the academy. What does it matter?”
After the third prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, Kiana had asked her father to break the engagement. The third prince had gladly accepted, and the emperor had permitted it once he learned the circumstances. It would be a lie to say she felt no bitterness, but she had grown tired of being caught between their childish games of love.
“Mel. Remember this well. I am not going because I wish to pursue romance with His Grace the Grand Duke.”
To claim she had no feelings would be a lie. The affection she had cherished in a corner of her heart since childhood had never disappeared.
“Father and His Grace are pursuing plans that look far into the distance. I have no intention of adding my own romantic troubles to that.”
“My lady…”
Watching her young mistress suppress her emotions and maintain composure, Mel felt tears rise unbidden.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
She did not know what work awaited her there, nor whether she could control her feelings. At the very least, she wanted to learn exactly what kind of person the first man she had ever loved truly was.
Although Chief Butler Elando and Treasurer Marbel could approve many documents, some still required the Grand Duke’s personal seal. Despite his behavior that suggested he might twist his entire body in refusal of work, Ian sat diligently reviewing papers while sipping the tea Elando had prepared.
“Again. Reject this one as well.”
Several documents were declined midway. The waiting administrator beside Marbel swiftly collected them and carried them back to the administrative office.
“The coal reserves are being prepared adequately?”
“Yes.”
“Make sure no one freezes to death this winter. And what of the standardized equipment I ordered?”
“It is progressing well. For now, they are crafting prototypes from wood with similar weight and shape for training purposes.”
“With their wealth of real combat experience, they should adapt quickly once the proper gear arrives. Whew. Hm?”
While listening to Marbel’s report on current progress, Ian noticed a sliver of silver peeking through the crack in the door. It was far too short to be Ivelin, and above all, the small horns jutting out made the identity of their owner far too obvious.