Translator: Nox

I Married the Dragon I Killed

Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Isabella

A few days later, a dragon spawn arrived from Iorga.

“Greetings. I am Isabella Iorga, dispatched to this location. I have come to perform administrative duties at Valdrova Castle starting today.”

True to her Iorga lineage, the pair of horns on her forehead were rounded and non-threatening.

Her eyes were sharp, and her movements were so disciplined that she felt like a strict proctor just by looking at her.

He had heard a spawn would be arriving, but there was one discrepancy in the paperwork.

“I heard the news, but I was told the spawn coming here was named Yuria?”

“I volunteered in Yuria’s stead. Rest assured, as Lady Erica’s chief secretary, I pride myself on having task-execution capabilities far superior to Yuria’s. Within the Tower, I am known as the cold-blooded secretary.”

Isabella pushed up her glasses with a solemn expression.

It was clear she overflowed with self-confidence, but there was no way of knowing if she was actually superior.

He was already well aware of the arrogance of dragon spawn.

“Anyway, I understand.”

“The alliance proclamation ceremony is scheduled to take place in one week. It will be conducted based on a document personally signed by Lord Blancaros and will be announced throughout the Serdes Continent. Do you have any questions?”

“I’ve already heard the details in writing from Leader Erica, so I’m not particularly curious about that.”

“Understood. Please review the alliance agreement details to be sent to the Leader and affix your seal.”

As it was an important document, Ferda checked every single word before stamping it with the royal seal.

He thought that was the end of it, but another document flew over and landed in front of him.

“This document is a consent form for the powers required as an administrator. This is a power of attorney delegating judicial and collection authority to me, as well as the authority to make decisions when outsourcing is required for administrative tasks….”

The contents of the document were simple when summarized.

Ferda would personally sign off on major tasks such as tax collection, law enforcement, and diplomacy, but Isabella, as the administrator, would directly handle smaller tasks, private disputes, and the management system for tax collectors.

“The delegation documents are all finished.”

“Is that all?”

“This is only the beginning. We need to meticulously review the security levels within the castle. Except for resident workers, I intend to send out all handymen and those without a rating. And—.”

From then on, they discussed administrative tasks within the castle.

She persuaded Ferda by fluently explaining why the things he had changed while talking with Mori were realistic, citing reasons of efficiency and aesthetics.

As the discussion regarding castle administration neared its end, Isabella glanced out the window.

Spread out below was a forest devoid of the sounds of beasts.

“I’ve heard rumors, but it seems Valdrova Castle truly lacked a castle town.”

“I was told it’s too difficult for ordinary people to live here.”

“Where do you plan to accommodate the adventurers?”

“Wouldn’t Count Consilus’s fief suffice?”

“That is a poor idea,” Isabella replied coldly.

“To build national power, population is the highest priority, above capital and food. We must begin urban planning in this vicinity to accommodate the adventurers.”

“I’ve heard it’s difficult for ordinary people to live near here; I feel you are overlooking that.”

“That is only true if there are no experts capable of using magic. I will request Blue Eye to dispatch mages responsible for managing magic circles. Of course, since this is a concept of employment, I will prepare a budget proposal to organize a magic squad and seek your approval. If we can just resolve the anxiety caused by Dragon Fear, this city will be more than suitable as a capital.”

A capital….

The one who had said those words was Olivia Arken.

She hoped this place would become a second capital.

It was planned for someday, but wasn’t it too early?

“What about the Empire’s interference?”

“That’s like refusing to make soy sauce for fear of maggots. They won’t be able to act recklessly. Adventurers will gather in the Demonic Land, and it is only natural that such a gathering will form a city. We have the justification of an Eastern Subjugation; if they dare to block it, Iorga will show its will to resist.”

The Empire might have viewed Valdrova as nothing more than a guard dog until now, but Iorga was a group of mages that exerted influence across the entire continent.

Ferda was satisfied with her statement that they would provide proper care.

“We need to recruit merchant groups, and I see you, Regent-nim, have already brought one in. The Pascal Trading Company, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“A single large trading company is not enough. Even if it’s not western merchants, we must trade actively with the north and south as well.”

“I’ll have to speak with Stefan about that.”

“As the administrator, I will handle it. We will be able to find sufficient common ground with the Pascal Trading Company as well.”

“Then do so.”

Beyond that, things poured out without pause.

Road reorganization, investment and donation funds, urban planning strategies, and so on.

Ferda thought he had studied in his own way, but compared to Isabella, it was like a drop in the ocean.

She poured out new ideas fluently, connecting strategies one by one, and utilized the resources Ferda possessed in the right places.

‘She truly is worthy of being called a chief secretary.’

She didn’t use rhetorical wordplay but summarized the core points and delivered only what was necessary.

She emphasized practical benefits by dealing with important issues decisively and private matters flexibly.

‘I thought I was getting a chicken instead of a pheasant, but a phoenix has descended.’

She was certainly a trustworthy talent.

She was so trustworthy that it was almost frightening.

‘Why did such a talent come to this castle?’

Ferda was curious about that.

If the spawn named Yuria had come, he would have assumed Erica sent her, but Isabella had volunteered.

The descendants of Iorga are dragon spawn.

Fundamentally, they have a base of unique pride that they are different.

In particular, their pride in the Blue Eye created by Iorga is so immense that they loathe leaving the Magic Tower.

Being dispatched to Valdrova Castle was practically no different from being sent into exile.

Was there any reason for such a capable secretary to go out of her way to come to an exile site?

While he was thinking that, Isabella organized the spread-out documents.

“For now, let’s leave the brief outline at this, and we will draft the roadmap together later. I will conclude today’s work lightly with this. You’ve worked hard.”

“Right, good work.”

“May I ask one question?” Isabella asked with a solemn expression.

“Regent-nim, by any chance, do you enjoy alcohol?”

“I don’t even touch it.”

When Ferda spoke bluntly, Isabella’s body flinched slightly.

The woman who had been speaking so fluently showed a hint of fluster.

“It was an issue I should have checked beforehand, but it’s not as if a prohibition law has been declared in this castle or anything, right?”

“It’s nothing like that. I simply don’t drink.”

“I see. Confirmed.”

She immediately looked relieved.

For some reason, that sight bothered Ferda, so he threw a question at her.

“Do you enjoy alcohol?”

“I drink a little. The drink after work is quite special, after all.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Even if the race was different, a mage was a mage.

A mage’s friends are alcohol and women.

He wouldn’t say anything if she did both, so he could naturally tolerate one.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked and entered the office.

It was the girl in the maid uniform, Ruri.

“Ferda-nim, at the castle gate… Huh?”

She was coming in for some business when she spotted Isabella and her gaze was drawn that way.

“So you’re the one dispatched for Valdrova-nim this time.”

Ruri furrowed her brows and walked toward Isabella.

When she stopped about three steps away, the height difference between them was visible to the naked eye.

However, Ruri didn’t lose heart and initiated a staring contest.

“Since it’s your first day, I’ll be clear. I am the one who has served the most in this castle. If you remove or replace items without my consent, you won’t be able to avoid friction.”

The atmosphere was truly serious.

It was forged from a firm will that she would start a war if her things were even touched.

To Ferda, it looked a bit different.

‘She’s like a dog marking its territory.’

Prejudice is a terrifying thing.

To Ferda, it looked like nothing more than a Chihuahua barking its head off.

Isabella looked down at Ruri.

Her rational eyes gleamed as she opened her mouth.

“So small and petite….”

“Pardon?”

She pushed up her glasses with her middle finger.

The words she had just uttered were spoken coldly, as if they had been misheard.

“I heard that you, Ruri Silverwind, handle all duties in the management here.”

“That’s right.”

“I shall call you Ruri-yang from now on. I have confirmed that the level of cleanliness here is higher than that of our Magic Tower. However, the administrative work is five minutes before a total mess. There are many things that don’t fit efficiency and practicality.”

“Worrying about such things does not fit the dignity of a dragon.”

“You will have to worry. Among the confirmed dragons, Valdrova-nim’s assets are the smallest. It’s to the point where the budget I originally intended to set has been thwarted.”

“So you’re dissatisfied?”

“It’s not dissatisfaction so much as saying that proper financial management is necessary.”

Ruri felt offended by the comment about the small assets, but she couldn’t bring herself to refute it.

In truth, Valdrova had lived without interest in rare treasures for a long time.

“There will be changes within the castle for administrative reorganization, but I will seek your understanding before that, Ruri-yang. May we proceed with work in that manner?”

“As long as you do that, I don’t mind.”

“Understood. Then, I shall take my leave now. See you tomorrow, Regent Ferda.”

“Do that.”

The sound of heels echoed on the marble.

As expected of the chief secretary of the prestigious Magic Tower, Iorga, she withdrew with an elegant gait.

Ruri watched her retreating back with an expression mixed with loathing.

“That woman is unpleasant.”

“Are you jealous?”

“No, why would I be jealous of those water lizards? It’s just an unpleasant feeling.”

Ruri felt a strange sensation when Isabella looked at her.

She had clearly won, but she felt as if she hadn’t.

It was caused by a strange discomfort in the gaze behind those glasses.

Of course, Ferda had no interest in that.

He only thought she was being jealous.

“So, did you come here just to mark your territory?”

“Please don’t speak of me like a stray dog wandering the neighborhood. The President of Escoleia has come to visit.”

The President of Escoleia.

In exchange for saving his life, he was supposed to receive the blueprints for the demon appearance prediction device.

There had been major events, so he hadn’t intentionally rushed him, but it seemed he hadn’t forgotten.

“He must have come a long way; first, treat him appropriately. Tell him I will see him in two hours.”

“Understood.”

Ruri withdrew.

He wanted to take a brief moment of leisure, but there was another matter.

The crystal ball placed on Ferda’s desk.

The crystal ball, inscribed with communication magic, was blinking.

It meant someone was trying to contact him.

Ferda placed his hand on the crystal and received the transmission.

—Hello, Regent Ferda.

It was Erica Iorga.

“Yes, Leader Iorga.”

—You’re not going to cut off the transmission this time, are you?

“If you wish, I can cut it off right now.”

—Don’t be so heartless. We’re about to become allies, aren’t we? I received the document confirming you checked the alliance agreement details.

“Is that why you’re contacting me?”

—It’s one of the reasons. A different child went instead of Yuria, right?

“Yes. She said her name was Isabella.”

—Yes, that’s right. How is she? If you don’t like her for some reason, I’ll send Yuria instead.

For some reason, it felt as if she was trying to get her chief secretary back, so he felt a reflexive sense of refusal.

“There’s no need for that. I thought she was exactly the kind of talent needed, given how sharp she is.”

—That’s right, she’s good at her job. She is my chief secretary, after all. She’s so interested in practical work that she even went to Escoleia in secret while hiding her identity to get a doctorate. But….

A long sigh followed.

“Is there a problem?”

—No. Let’s not talk about this. It’s better for you to find out slowly. It’s not that the child is bad or anything.

Because she’s perfect at her job.

Her muttering only made him more curious.

Just what kind of problem did that woman have for her to act like that?

It was bound to be the sort of thing that was bothersome but didn’t particularly affect work.

—As I said, the proclamation will be in one week. That gives you some time, so please prepare well.

“Understood.”

—Then. For the sake of our alliance, I’ll be in touch often.

Erica spoke with a voice that sounded like she was smiling and then cut off the transmission.

‘The proclamation is in one week….’

A good start is half the battle.

Ferda foresaw a mountain of paperwork.

It was a headache, but it wasn’t bad.

This, too, was for Valdrova’s sake.

Ferda looked outside.

Right now, it was a forest covered in confusing trees.

That place would be filled with buildings and filled with people.

People and carriages would move busily through the streets, and they would sing Valdrova’s name and praise her.

Therefore, Ferda would endure this pain.

For the sake of my one and only fiancée.