Translator: Nox

I Married the Dragon I Killed

Chapter 120

The conversation continued, though it strayed far from the original purpose of recruiting Bernel to the Empire.

“I heard you’ve acquired the Dandolo Merchant Guild. Is it the Hestia Merchant Guild now?”

“That is correct. How is the reaction within the Empire?”

“It’s an emergency. The Pascal Merchant Guild and Dandolo—now called Hestia, right?—those two have shifted their weight toward the Far East.”

It was just as he had heard.

“Hestia seems to be winding down its operations to establish its headquarters in the Far East, so that shouldn’t be much of a problem. However, the Pascal Merchant Guild is a serious concern. The Empire might issue an administrative order to restrict their trade with the Far East.”

Stefan had already mentioned this point and said he could handle it on his own.

Ferda casually floated Stefan’s strategy to gauge her opinion.

“What if the Pascal Merchant Guild took charge of the external sales of magical engineering goods?”

“Oh, if they played a card like that….”

Olivia racked her brain, her expression turning serious.

Her blue eyes sparkled with more vitality than when she was smiling.

“Even the Empire wouldn’t be able to touch them easily. They would have to be mindful of the Far East. Was this Chairman Pascal’s idea?”

“It was the idea of the next chairman.”

“I see.”

A faint smile played on her lips.

“The situation is quite favorable, but you must be careful, Regent. Have you heard the recent rumors?”

“You mean the one about us siphoning off refugees.”

“Yes, those people are utterly loathsome.”

Olivia’s beautiful face contorted in disgust.

“How could they say such things after you looked after them through that long winter?”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Even if we sent the refugees back, what would they do? They’d just go back to being exploited and bled dry by their lords! They treat people like pets, tossing them aside once the granaries are full in the autumn! There’s a limit to treating people like fools.”

It was a remarkably passionate reaction for something that didn’t involve her directly.

She truly was someone who aimed to draw support from the common people.

“The Administrator informed me that we need someone who can exert influence within the Empire.”

“In that regard, I cannot offer direct assistance.”

Olivia looked apologetic.

She pondered for a moment before asking Ferda, “Come to think of it, Hestia is still lacking an elite class, isn’t it?”

The ‘elite class’ referred to the upper echelon—not just nobles, but scholars, merchants, artisans, and priests.

While some who called themselves artisans had come from various regions, they were mostly just handymen, hardly fitting the definition of an elite.

“On the merchant side, Stefan is in the process of forming a guild. As for scholars, Bernard, the Chancellor of Escoleia, is recommending interested academics while coordinating the Far East exploration project.”

“With scholars and merchants, you could say seventy percent of the gap is filled.”

“The problem is the priests.”

Ferda, who possessed the aptitude of a black mage, was fundamentally incompatible with priests.

Furthermore, he loathed the hypocrisy of the Alte faith—preaching philanthropy and mercy while being ruthless toward heretics.

‘And yet, priests are necessary.’

Most of the people in this village were from the Empire, and the vast majority were Alte believers.

With the Far East spewing monsters right before their eyes, they desperately needed a spiritual pillar.

“I might be able to help with that. I’ll look into someone from the Alte Church. Since this is a land where diverse people mingle, I’ll find someone from the moderate faction.”

“I would be most grateful if you could do that.”

“Don’t mention it. Isn’t this all on the path toward our common goal?”

Olivia beamed.

“Since we’re on the subject of the Alte Church, have you considered holding a banquet at Valdroba Castle?”

“A banquet… you say?”

Olivia rested her head on her hands, propping her elbows on the table.

Her smile was radiant.

“The Alte believers will soon be preparing for the Start of Spring Festival. The nobles will be doing the same. It’s the season to announce the joy of spring with a banquet.”

“Is that so?”

“So, I think it would be a good idea to host a Start of Spring Festival for the youth of the Empire. It’s a great chance to get acquainted with those who will lead the South and the North, not just the Empire. Don’t you agree?”

“I agree the intent and the effects would be positive, but….”

Ferda voiced the concern weighing on his mind.

“Do you believe they would actually attend a banquet hosted by me?”

Banquets were the most important events for nobles.

Because they were so significant, everyone vied to host their own Start of Spring Festival.

Being able to host one was a testament to one’s influence.

In other words, it was a battle for power.

Currently, Ferda’s social network was nothing short of ‘disastrous.’

“Why wouldn’t they come?”

Olivia’s eyes curved into a smile.

“I’ll be there.”

She had decided to become the bait herself.

The declaration that the Flower of the Empire—a woman of impeccable lineage, conduct, and beauty—would attend was enough to capture the attention of young men from all over.

Where men of the ruling class gathered, women naturally followed. One thing would lead to another, and a crowd would inevitably form.

‘A banquet….’

Annoyance preceded any sense of excitement or fluttering heart.

Was he, at his age, supposed to mingle with these green youths?

Then he realized that his current physical body was also still quite young.

“Understood.”

“You’ll do it?”

Olivia blinked, her face showing she hadn’t expected such a quick answer.

“Is there a problem?”

“I expected you to think it was a waste of time, so I was prepared to persuade you. I feel a bit deflated, I suppose?”

You know me well.

Had Isabella not warned him beforehand, he would have said exactly that.

“Since you’ve agreed, very well. You don’t have a party planner, do you?”

“No.”

“I’ll send a team from the Empire this time. You’ll be hosting banquets frequently in the future, so it would be wise to hire a team permanently.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

As someone who played the role of a hostess in the Empire, Olivia was knowledgeable and skillful.

‘If she had been the 3rd Imperial Prince instead of the Imperial Princess, she might have surpassed her other brothers.’

She, too, bore a cruel fate.

Ferda mused.

“Do you know the dance currently in fashion in the Empire?”

Ferda’s body flinched momentarily.

“It’s called the ‘Moonlight Step.’”

“I don’t know it.”

“That won’t do. If the host of a banquet is behind the trends, they’ll become a laughingstock. People will say the Regent of Valdroba has no interest in the world.”

“…I’d rather just give up on the idea.”

“Oh, no take-backs allowed.”

Olivia giggled.

“Don’t be like that; let’s practice a little. It’s derived from a light waltz. You’ll learn it quickly once you get the hang of it. You know the waltz, at least?”

“…….”

“My goodness, you don’t know that either? I thought it was a given for anyone from a noble family….”

Maybe he should just scrap the banquet.

Olivia made a show of thinking for a moment, then stood up and held out her hand to Ferda.

“Come.”

“…What is this?”

“You have to stand up to dance. Hurry up and get up.”

He knew he needed to practice, but he hadn’t realized she meant right this second.

“Don’t you want to share a wonderful dance with Grand Duke Valdroba-nim?”

Valdroba.

The first banquet he would share with his fiancé.

Imagining that scene, Ferda’s lips moved before his brain could calculate.

“I do.”

“Right? Then every second is precious, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be more perfect if someone who knows dance well—and a woman who knows women well—taught you?”

Ferda felt a strange sense of persuasion in those words.

But unable to just take the bait, he reflexively looked at Ruri.

For some reason, she was quiet.

Did she intend to turn a blind eye because she’d been bribed?

‘Even if she’s easy to tempt with food, she’s not the type to be so loose.’

She definitely had something up her sleeve.

Ferda let out a sigh.

Regardless, he couldn’t put this off any longer.

“Fine.”

Setting the discussion aside, they decided to practice the dance.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Her Highness’s Polymorph form… what is her physique like? She is a woman, I assume?”

Physique.

Ferda looked at Olivia.

Since she was the only point of reference he had.

“She is slightly shorter than you, Imperial Princess.”

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem for me to teach you.”

Olivia’s fingers interlaced with Ferda’s.

The already narrow distance between them closed even further.

“Now, hold my hand like this… imagine the music is playing. Da-ra-ra-ran, da-ran. Yes, tap your foot lightly here and to the left….”

He learned the dance under her guidance.

Ferda did his best to move his body according to her instructions, and as her humming came to an end, her evaluation was as follows:

“Hmm… you’re quite clumsy at dancing.”

To put it politely, he was a total klutz.

Olivia couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

She had assumed that his usual gravitas meant he was hiding great dancing skills beneath it.

But dancing was physical.

And physical activity was what Ferda was worst at.

“You’ve gone silent?”

“…What can I do? I was kicked out because of this useless body.”

“Useless? When you’re so dignified….”

Her voice trailed off, laced with a hint of allure.

“Let’s just get the feel for a light waltz and the Moonlight Step. For now, just focus on the hold.”

“Must we keep dancing?”

“Of course. I pride myself on my teaching skills. You’ve wounded my pride, Regent. You have no idea how high the price is for wounding a woman’s pride. You’ll be dancing all day.”

He didn’t know, and he didn’t want to know.

She’d dragged him into this, and now she was being completely unreasonable.

“I’ll help you master it in a single day, so just follow my lead.”

“Does that mean you’re staying until tomorrow?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Before being an Imperial Princess, you are an unmarried woman. Won’t rumors spread if you stay at a strange man’s house?”

“A strange man? But you’re a man who is already taken, Regent.”

“There is a saying: do not even fix your shoelaces in a melon patch.”

“You worry too much. I have a perfectly good excuse.”

“And what is that?”

“Hand Bernel Marquis over to me.”

Olivia made a sudden strike.

“I cannot.”

“I see. Then we shall have a very long discussion about this matter. The Imperial Princess will continue her marathon meeting. In the meantime, having nothing else to do, we might as well practice dancing. For Valdroba-nim’s sake.”

Would that really work?

Though he was skeptical, Olivia didn’t give him room to judge and kept moving.

In the end, he found himself following her pace and practicing the dance.

Despite everything, Ferda also had a desire to dance well.

To do that, he needed help from someone who knew the trends and the steps.

Olivia’s gaze was fixed on Ferda.

She smiled the entire time she taught him.

As if she were genuinely enjoying every moment.

Olivia reflected on her life.

When had she started this tedious acting?

It seemed to have begun when she realized that even her nanny, the only person she thought was on her side, was the Emperor’s dog.

From then on, she had spent hours every day sitting in front of a mirror, practicing how to smile.

While others practiced to make their smiles brighter, Olivia did it to give her smile meaning.

Part of it was to manipulate men, but there was a more fundamental reason.

It was to prevent people from attaching useless meaning to her actions.

She was objectively aware of how beautiful she was.

A single glance or smile she gave unintentionally was enough to make countless men delude themselves into thinking she loved them, resulting in more one-sided displays of affection than she could count.

Because of that, she couldn’t even smile as she pleased.

In that sense, meeting Ferda was incredibly comfortable.

He didn’t mistake her smile for something else like other men did.

And even if she did smile for that purpose, he remained unshaken.

Because his heart was already elsewhere.

That was why she could make such requests.

“Regent. Why don’t you try smiling a little?”

“Smiling might be difficult.”

“You have to practice smiling too. Try imagining something pleasant even when we’re talking about trivial things.”

Even as she said that, his lips only twitched before returning to their original state, as if smiling were an impossible task.

Yet even that was quite satisfying to Olivia.

Because that smile was undoubtedly reserved for his fiancé.

‘How noble.’

A noble heart wasn’t simply about how much one believed in a god.

It was about constantly doubting oneself for one’s convictions, agonizing and suffering, yet shouldering the burden and moving forward anyway.

That nobility inspired Olivia.

Her circle, which even Alte couldn’t touch, moved softly.

It turned like a wheel heading toward her dream of becoming a saint.

Just a little more.

She wanted to stay like this just a little longer.

Knock, knock, knock—.

A knock broke the pleasant atmosphere.

At the sound, Ferda let go of Olivia’s hand.

Olivia put her mask back on.

Ferda watched her for a moment before commanding Ruri.

“Let them in.”

The Knight Captain entered, gave a brief salute, and spoke.

“Imperial Princess. You must depart now.”

He had expected it, but they were clearly intending to ruin the mood.

“I don’t think I can return today. We are discussing the technician—”

“It is the Emperor’s command. He has sent word for your immediate return.”

“Is there a need to depart as the day is ending? We should at least wait until morning to return.”

“There is no need for such concern. An Imperial Mage has already been dispatched. Preparations have been made for you to return via Teleport.”

“…….”

Ah.

The atmosphere and mood that had been so good scattered like a midsummer night’s dream.

She wanted to stay here a little longer….

Just as she was about to give up on resisting,

“We are in the middle of a conversation.”

Ferda intervened.

“She came here as a representative of the Imperial Family to engage in serious dialogue. Do you intend to interrupt?”

“The Imperial Princess visited this place for exchange with the Archduchy. It is unrelated to the recruitment matter.”

“So you’re saying we should act as if the conversation we’ve had so far never happened? Do you wish to turn a formal negotiation into trash?”

“That is not what I meant.”

Ferda was pressing him, his voice laced with displeasure.

Olivia stared blankly at Ferda.

For her, who had lived a life as someone’s trophy, this was the first time she had been treated with such human consideration.

Why was he acting this way?

Olivia knew the reason.

Ferda assumed there was a reason why she didn’t want to return, and he was backing her up.

He was helping her as an ally with a common goal of bringing down the Empire.

And yet,

Knowing that,

If he wore that expression and protected her,

‘I might truly start to get the wrong idea.’

Olivia stood up.

“It seems I can’t stay any longer. Regent, I shall take my leave now.”

“Will you not continue the discussion?”

“What can I do? If a grown woman stays at a strange man’s house, strange rumors will fly. Isn’t it better that I leave?”

Olivia threw Ferda’s own words back at him.

Ferda didn’t try to stop her any further.

“I wish you a safe journey back.”

“Yes. And since you’re hosting a Start of Spring Festival, I’m truly looking forward to it. I will be sure to attend.”

Leaving those words behind, Olivia walked out the door.

Until the very moment the door closed, she looked back at Ferda and waved.

---

Valdroba’s Lair.

—You’re holding a banquet in a month?

Valdroba, having heard the whole story from Ruri, asked her.

Within Valdroba’s fierce eyes, a pure light sparkled.

“Yes. He says the Start of Spring Festival will be held in a month.”

—I see.

For her, who longed for human banquets and wished to attend them, it was an incredibly alluring prospect.

It was one of the events Valdroba absolutely wanted to attend at least once.