I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 50
Chapter 50
The Grand Council
“I feel the same way.”
“…….”
Upon hearing Ferda’s response, Erdes leaned back.
The murderous tension vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by a boisterous burst of laughter.
“Is that so? I get the feeling we’re going to get along. You’re young, unlike those old fossils. I hope we can have chats like this often in the future.”
“I will make sure to contact you first.”
“Or I’ll just reach out myself. Prince! I’m going to head elsewhere now! They say a beauty is always busy, don’t they?”
“Yes, of course! Please, take care!”
Erdes picked up her glass and left the spot.
Alexander, watching until her back was sufficiently distant, turned his head toward Ferda.
“Do you happen to have some history with the Magic Association?”
“I do not.”
There was plenty, but that was a story for the distant future.
“I’m not trying to scold you. It’s always better to resolve lingering issues or grudges quickly, after all.”
He spoke those words, but Ferda knew better.
Alexander was sweating bullets.
For an incompetent 1st Prince to solidify his power base, he needed a massive source of strength, and that strength was magic.
“More importantly, I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been importing a large number of monster carcasses to the Far East lately.”
Ferda responded to the sudden change in topic.
“That is correct.”
“I was just thinking how troublesome it is to burn them every time because we’ve run out of burial space. It’s quite a relief to have those corpses moved away.”
Alexander spoke with a smirk, but unlike his casual tone, his expression betrayed a sense of urgency.
‘Confess to me what you’re up to.’
Ferda deliberated.
It was Ferda himself who had decided to keep the production of Mana Stones a secret. He deemed it premature to reveal it right now.
He had come prepared to give a vague excuse, but looking into Alexander’s eyes, he found he couldn’t simply brush him off.
‘This is the man who pointed a blade at his own father because he craved the throne.’
No matter how hard the man tried to justify himself, he was a greedy scoundrel. That was an unchangeable truth.
He was blinded by the throne. He desired to reign over a hundred million subjects. That was why he flattered Erdes so desperately, trying his best not to offend her.
‘That’s why Erdes thinks I’m succeeding Tessalos’s work.’
In any case, there was a connection.
Ferda weighed his options. Both were terrible choices, and he had to pick the one that was less so.
“Actually, I am researching a way to manufacture Mana Stones using monster carcasses.”
He told the truth.
Alexander leaned in, his interest clearly piqued. Anything related to magic meant money.
“Mana Stones? What are those? Are they similar to those… crystal balls mages use?”
“They are similar yet different. These are items that purely contain mana.”
“Ho…?”
Ferda explained what was currently known to Alexander.
“So, for instance, do they assist a mage’s mana?”
“That could be one use, but they cannot replenish mana or be used directly by a mage yet.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Furthermore, the efficiency is only at about 7%, so for actual mages to use them…”
“Ah, I see. That’s impressive.”
Alexander let out a series of exclamations. However, Ferda could see the interest he held dropping away bit by bit.
“Anyway… are you certain this has nothing to do with black magic?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, research often requires reaching into various domains. Intent matters, does it not? What I mean is, can you assure me that there isn’t even a shred of such intent involved?”
Alexander was being persistent.
Just as Ferda was about to repeat himself like a parrot for the umpteenth time, a faint fragrance brushed past the tip of his nose.
Ferda knew this scent.
“You’re pushing him too hard for a first meeting, hyung-nim.”
The elegant voice naturally caused the men to turn their heads.
It was Olivia Arken.
Befitting the Flower of the Empire, she wore a magnificent dress and a smile laced with allure.
When Alexander saw Olivia, he burst into laughter again.
“My sister has arrived! Come to think of it, the Regent must have met you once already. My sister welcomed you on my behalf, didn’t she? I wonder if she treated you well?”
Alexander casually rested his hand on Olivia’s shoulder.
“Oh my? Why would you worry about that?”
Olivia replied with a bright smile.
Alexander’s hand, which had been about to settle, slid down her shoulder line.
“Because a problem has arisen, hasn’t it? A great problem for the Imperial Family.”
“It was merely a groundless fear. Lord Ferda is a man of great magnanimity.”
“For the sake of the Empire’s precarious security, it’s an issue that cannot be neglected. What about the incident in the Imperial warehouse that nearly turned the country upside down? No matter how I think about it, it seems nothing but danger follows you when you step into politics.”
“Is that so? But the matter has been settled smoothly. Oh, by the way, hyung-nim, perhaps you don’t even know what’s happening? Since you fled—I mean, evacuated—the moment the Class 1 alarm was issued.”
With an innocent face and eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, she struck back.
It was a scene of two people smiling while ruthlessly stabbing each other with words. It was enough to make those listening feel uncomfortable.
‘They both have quite the nerve.’
Ferda could only watch in admiration. He wondered if it was a genetic trait of the Arken family.
“Wasn’t that standard procedure? If the heir to the Empire dies, the Empire collapses. I must survive for the sake of the Empire.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. How could I forget? An ‘heir,’ indeed.”
She smiled with eyes curved like crescent moons and lightly covered her mouth with her fan. No, she pretended to cover it while letting a sneer slip through to provoke him.
“It is a way of life befitting someone who once ambitiously bared a blade of rebellion only to retreat so pathetically.”
“Haha, this foxy girl has far too much for her own good, seducing men everywhere. No wonder they call you a temptress.”
“It’s better than having something and not being able to use it, isn’t it? For example…”
Olivia glanced down toward Alexander’s crotch.
“Father said he wants to see a grandchild. I wonder when you’ll give him one.”
Alexander’s face turned beet red, contrasting with his forced smile. Then, he shifted his gaze toward Ferda.
“Be careful. A beautiful rose always has thorns. Who knows, those thorns might even be venomous.”
He gave that advice with a serious expression.
Ferda looked down at him silently. Though his face remained expressionless, he couldn’t suppress his disdain.
‘Rich coming from the guy who got pricked by those thorns.’
Though the exact details were unknown, Alexander had been in Olivia’s bedroom just before she died. In the end, hadn’t he been stabbed to death while trying to have his way with his own sister?
Alexander was ultimately a man who had fallen for Olivia’s beauty. Hearing such words from him felt pathetic.
“I am aware.”
“You are? Then that is a relief. If so, try to smile a little. Isn’t your face far too stiff?”
Alexander tapped Ferda on the back and wore a friendly smile like a jovial man. When he laughed, the surrounding nobles laughed with him.
Watching this, Ferda thought:
‘I want to go home.’
Valdrova’s face flickered in his mind.
“So, in short, there’s no practical use for it yet?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. For the development of the Far East territory, I shall begin to take an interest as well.”
It was likely a lie. The 1st Prince, who was busy earning points with the central nobles, couldn’t care less about the Far East.
“I am merely grateful for your interest, Prince.”
Thus, Ferda replied with a lie of his own.
“Try to meet various people before the council begins. It seems someone is calling for me.”
Alexander picked up his glass and walked away.
Finally, a moment to breathe.
But as soon as that thought crossed his mind, someone lightly tugged at his sleeve. It was Olivia. She was still standing beside him.
“Is there no one else you wish to see?”
He asked bluntly.
“They aren’t very important people. More importantly, there’s something else left to do.”
Olivia’s shoulder brushed against Ferda’s.
“The representatives of the Great Dragons will be arriving soon.”
The representatives of the dragons—meaning the dragon spawns were coming.
‘Dragon spawns.’
Ferda hadn’t encountered many dragon spawns. At most, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of the spawn of the Blue Dragon, the Master of Magic. He needed to see for himself what dragon spawns other than Ruri looked like.
“I am curious,” Ferda replied, and Olivia smiled radiantly.
“Then let us go together.”
Olivia extended her hand. Her red lips moved like those of a shy maiden. In this situation, any man would have felt his heart flutter.
“What is this?”
Ferda asked, staring intently at her.
“Oh my? I’m asking you to escort me. Are you really going to let a lady go alone?”
Olivia blinked. Her hunched shoulders were the gesture of a defenseless girl.
Ferda took a slight step back.
“I am a spoken-for man.”
“Whether you’re spoken for or not, this is something you must do. Shouldn’t we do at least this much to solidify our mutual trust?”
“I shall leave it to Sir Zed—”
“Have you ever seen a woman sulk?”
A shadow fell over Olivia’s face.
“It’s not pleasant, you know?”
“…….”
As far as Ferda was concerned, he didn’t care.
When he maintained an indifferent expression, Olivia leaned her face an inch closer and spoke.
“Don’t you feel the need to solidify our trust as partners within the Empire? We’re going to share many secrets; I think it’s necessary to do at least this much.”
Olivia was persistently clinging to him while subtly threatening him. However, since Olivia was currently his only collaborator within the Empire, ignoring her words was also a concern.
“Sigh, fine.”
“You should have said so from the start.”
Ferda had no choice but to offer his hand. Contrary to his intention of just giving it a perfunctory hold, Olivia grabbed his hand firmly and beamed.
Ferda glanced toward Ruri.
Her face was expressionless. No, her lips were pouting slightly, wearing a face that said, ‘I don’t like this.’ It was a level of subtle change that no one but Ferda, who saw her face often, would ever notice.
Of course, Ruri did not openly express her dissatisfaction and acted like a proper attendant. Perhaps that was why he felt even more uneasy.
‘I really don’t want to be nagged later.’
This social circle was nothing but pain, both mentally and physically.
In a state of half-resignation, Ferda led Olivia toward the window.
Outside Blancaros’s domain, a golden carriage stood. Emerging from it were an old man and clerics wearing religious vestments and crowns.
“Do you know who they are?”
Olivia tucked her hand into Ferda’s arm, securing her hold.
“They are from the Holy Kingdom of Orosagrado.”
“That’s right.”
The Gold Dragon, Orosagrado. A nation built upon a religion that worshipped Orosagrado as an idol. Though it bore the name of a Holy Empire, it was actually closer to a union between the Holy Kingdom and its surrounding realms.
Orosagrado had no spawns. That was why the Pope and four high priests were walking in to attend this meeting.
A moment later, a blue portal opened.
The scenery visible through the portal was the cool landscape characteristic of the Northwest. From it emerged dragon spawns with blue hair and rounded horns.
“Those are Iorga’s spawns. They haven’t missed a single Grand Council.”
The forces of Iorga, the Master of the Magic Tower and known as the Eyes monitoring the continent. These individuals, who were more like researchers than mages, walked with the grace of nobles.
“Ah, they are coming too.”
Olivia looked up toward the sky. Five distinct dots flew toward them from the blue expanse. They approached relentlessly, like comets emitting a silver light.
Ferda had seen them through Ruri before.
‘Silverwind.’
Contrary to their aggressive flight, they landed gracefully and stepped into Blancaros’s domain.
Ferda confirmed their presence and shifted his gaze. Ruri, standing beside him, was staring down at them. Her eyes held an emotion quite different from anything he had felt from her before. He could feel just how tense she was.
“It looks like those three are all. It seems Storeus isn’t participating today. Well, it’s a relief not to have any troublemakers around.”
“They seem to have quite a reputation.”
“They are evil dragons, after all. Nothing but brawlers. Those things love starting fights.”
As the dragon spawns gathered, the onlookers began to move one by one. They were heading toward the Grand Council chamber.
“Now, you should head in.”
Olivia said, releasing her grip on his arm.
Her status was that of a Princess. She did not possess the voting rights held by the princes.
Ferda walked along with the crowd heading toward the council chamber.
The Grand Council, where the power players from across the entire continent gathered, was beginning.
