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Chapter 27
Because It's Embarrassing
Count Consillus asked back in surprise.
"Regent? Th-that... you mean the fiancé of Valdrova?"
"We don't know the detailed circumstances either... but the fact that he roped in Stefan Pascal, the Branch Manager, proves he's capable. That's not someone who budges easily for mere status."
"Aaah..."
A nonsensical exclamation leaked from Count Consillus's mouth.
Ē ň ů m а .ĭd̃
Ferda Valdrova.
What kind of image did he have now?
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It was the worst in history.
All he'd done so far was check and threaten the local lords.
Because of that, the local lords' complaints were piled high.
'That rookie... was targeting the Pascal Trading Company?'
Е n_û ḿ а.і d́
It was surprising that they'd joined hands with the Pascal Trading Company without even knowing it themselves.
And the second surprise.
'It wasn't done out of personal greed either.'
If he wanted to satisfy personal greed, he'd just need to focus on Valdrova Castle.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The effort to revitalize trade meant development for the stagnant, isolated territories, and was far from selfishness.
'Just what conditions did he offer?'
Еnu̇ m̃ă .і̇d
The territories belonging to the Valdrova Grand Duchy had no value.
The front lines against monsters were thick with forest, and even if they cut trees to make farmland, they could barely harvest some famine crops.
On top of that, the front lines were pushed back every year, the land turning barren.
Even if given for free, the Far East's image was places where people would step back saying 'This is a bit...'
It meant Ferda offered conditions that surpassed all those terrible conditions.
'No lord... could do such a thing.'
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Whether what he showed was false or absurd, the important thing was that he succeeded.
Consillus decided to do what needed to be done first.
"Have them come inside. And organize the wagons, and let them unwind for today. We'll hear about the plan later."
"Thank you, Count-nim."
The man blew a whistle, and the Pascal Trading Company's wagons entered one by one.
Consillus looked up at the mountain standing tall above the gloomy forest.
En û m а́ . і̊ d́.
"Regent-nim..."
A voice swelling with emotion.
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Today, Count Consillus called that name as if witnessing a superhuman who had pierced through the darkness.
Consillus knelt in that direction and paid his respects.
"My Lord?"
Arwen was flustered by the sudden action.
Ӗǹu̇ m̌ ӑ
But he soon realized the meaning and followed suit, kneeling and bowing in that direction.
One by one, like that.
They knelt and paid respects toward the Lonely Mountain.
* * *
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Ruri, who was in the banquet hall, raised her hand high.
"Tormenta!"
Ѐ n ǔm а
It was the name of a high-grade wind spirit.
At that moment, white wind swirled before Ruri and revealed its form.
A human shape that looked like it would scatter at any moment, but maintained solidly.
It bowed politely toward Ruri.
-Did you call, Master-nim? You look displeased today as well.
"We're starting the big cleaning today too. Summon every last low-grade spirit. Open all the windows wide and annihilate every last bit of air in this room!"
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-I shall obey.
"Fuente!"
The next name called was another low-grade water spirit.
Mana dripped from the air and formed a shape of sticky liquid.
-Chupak.
"Absorb and wipe away all the broth and filth those bastards spilled. Don't leave a single stain. We can't let them mark the Great Ruler's quarters with dog piss. Understand?
W еb n̈ о v е̂ l Ё ńum å
-Chupabak!
The sound of violently churning water.
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Reading Ruri's lower-than-usual pressure, they moved briskly.
The water spirit repeatedly divided, scattering its body to suck up the grime on the castle floors and walls.
"Huu..."
Ruri's small chest heaved greatly.
Ӗ n̂ ū_m̃а
The mixed smell of sweat and perfume still lingered faintly, pricking her nose.
This smell that wouldn't erase no matter how many times she tried.
'Annoying.'
Ruri didn't like knights.
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Especially wandering knights, she liked even less.
They lied to inflate their achievements, and didn't hesitate to blaspheme.
Е̂ n_umȧ. і d
The blasphemy Ruri spoke of was the repertoire of the brave knight who faced the evil dragon.
It occupied 70% of all knights' heroic tales, one of the stories people enjoyed most.
And it was a mysterious story where the tale was the same but the name changed every time.
Because bards took money from wandering knights and spread the story with that knight's name as the protagonist.
So half of all wandering knights were known as dragon slayers.
Dragon slayers running down corridors dripping piss.
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There were no more disgusting bastards than them.
'The minimum objective was achieved, though.'
Over 50 wandering knights came, and even roughly adding up what they brought, it exceeded 1,500 bodies.
Seeing the mountain of stacked corpses, she'd even made a blank sound saying 'Isn't this too many?', and the cleanup was also a problem.
'That part was solved by the Pascal Trading Company's second son who was brought in this time.'
Verified laborers and assistant researchers swarmed in and quickly cleaned up.
Ēṅ ŭm ǎ .іd̀
Still, traces of monster corpses remained where the entrance and wagons had stopped, and a faint corpse smell lingered.
'To think I'd come to think the smell of those disgusting things was better.'
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It was better than the knights' sweat and perfume smell.
Monster corpse smell eventually fades, but this unpleasant smell doesn't even think about leaving.
Normally cleaning would take 10 minutes, but she cleaned the banquet hall for 2 hours a day, over 10 days.
She liked things clean, but wasn't a mysophobe.
Wе̇ b̌ ǹ о̄ v̌è l̀ Еñu m̌_а̃
The aftereffects the knights left behind were just that big for her.
Only when not a single hair remained on the floor and the floor became completely new could she finally set her mind at ease.
-Master-nim, it's about time for other duties, but what will you do?
"Ah, right. Good work, Tormenta, Fuente."
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-Then we'll return.
-Chupabak!
Ẁе̌ bñ о́ vе̌ l̄ Еṅ u m а̂
The wind spirit and water spirits reverted, returning to mana and scattering.
'Today's cleaning ends here... I should go give the weekly report.'
Ruri left the banquet hall behind and rummaged through her skirt's inner pocket.
Holding the paper summarizing information obtained through the Imperial Intelligence Agency, she went down to the lair.
As always, a red-scaled dragon lay coiled.
-You came?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Yes. Have you been well?"
-Hmm... Yes, I've been well. What story did you come to tell?
"It's the weekly report. Isn't today the day to do it?"
-Aah. Right.
Ruri was used to her frequently forgetting, but today's reaction was different from usual.
'She feels spaced out.'
W̌еb n̄о́v е l̃ Е̃ṅ u.ṁ ã
Like she's living lost in other thoughts.
It was obvious what those other thoughts were without even looking.
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Ferda, that man.
Since it was obvious, she didn't bother mentioning it and moved to the main topic.
"Recently, they say the political situation regarding the Empire is becoming unstable."
She started with the most important matter about the Empire.
W еb̆n̆ o v̈ ѐ l̊ Е̌nūm̂а̄
"They say legislation centered on concentrated privileges for the vested interests is causing backlash from the lower classes. That's why they're barely appeasing them with entertainment and food rations for citizens."
-Hmm... I see.
Valdrova giving reflexive acknowledgments.
It was clear she wasn't interested, but Ruri just mechanically read down the paper's contents.
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This happened there.
That happened here.
Е̂n ǔ m̌а́. іd̀
When the news covering the whole continent ended, she moved to the next.
"And regarding the current Grand Duchy..."
Valdrova's body flinched.
She readjusted her position, lifted her head, and pricked her ears.
-Tell me.
Her voice cleared.
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And her eyes felt even more bright and sparkling than usual.
This was also displeasing, but she maintained neutrality and spoke.
"Tesalos Wolcheo's position is still vacant, but we've secured great stability for the Grand Duchy itself by contracting with a major merchant house's successor."
-I see.
A strangely wistful voice, unlike usual.
Just one line of news that things were going well raised her tension.
Е̂n̂ ǔ m̆ ä
'Even more so since that day.'
Ruri couldn't hold back anymore.
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"Is it that good?"
-What do you mean?
"Ferda-nim, I mean."
Kureung-
Е́n ŭ m̊ а .ǐ d
Steam burst from Valdrova's nostrils.
To a first-time observer it might look like anger, but Ruri knew.
Valdrova was flustered like a young girl.
-Like? What nonsense is that? I don't like my fiancé.
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"You don't like him?"
-Of course.
Ẅе b̊n̄ o̊ vĕ_l .Еnú mа̂
Valdrova made a serious face and added.
-It's just that memories of when he suddenly barged in occasionally come to mind, and his safety briefly crosses my mind. He's a weak human, isn't he?
Valdrova passionately defended herself as if saying her heart went out to him because he was weak.
But Ruri thought differently hearing those words.
'Valdrova-nim's words got longer.'
She'd normally tense up at human-related matters, but when it involved Ferda, the feeling was distinctly different.
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If other things defaulted to a subdued mood, right now she was floating softly.
To slightly relieve that emotion, Ruri suggested.
"Then how about having a tea party?"
-Tea party, you say?
Kureung!
Steam burst fiercely once more.
Еň ů mа
-You mean drinking tea, eating snacks, and talking?
"Yes. Human fiancés commonly meet beforehand to talk. To confirm their hearts before the wedding."
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-A tea party... that doesn't suit me. Such things suit young, pretty maidens?
"The Valdrova Grand Duke with the continent's greatest beauty suits whatever she does."
-Hmm...
She rested her chin on her claw and exhaled.
W̊ е̊bǹo v̄ ѐ ľ. Е̄nūm̊á
She didn't look entirely displeased.
But something still bothered her, making it hard to readily accept.
-A meeting... then I suppose I must face him in human form?
"Yes."
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-Eum... Then I can't go.
Valdrova kicking away the dining table after it was set because she was hungry.
Ẁ ëb̂ n о v̇.ẽ.l Ёn û m̂ ӓ
"What is the reason?"
-Because it's embarrassing, I can't do it.
A reason unbefitting an emperor.
Ruri took a deep breath and asked her.
"...Haven't you already met once? I know you faced each other in human form..."
-Right, we faced each other once.
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"You even held hands."
-We held hands too.
Valdrova saw Ferda, and Ferda saw Valdrova.
How could they forget that day's memory?
As vividly as Ferda recalled it, it was vivid in Valdrova's mind too.
-That's why I can't.
E̊ n ù ṁ а
Valdrova recalled that time's emotions.
The man who suffered but didn't stop.
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When he was bleeding from the nose, he looked like he'd collapse any moment.
She had no choice but to polymorph into human form and grab him.
When she was shedding tears, saddened by his suffering, Ferda took her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around Valdrova's waist.
The dragon who flew countless battlefields, burning and tearing apart things that dirtied the ground.
Eǹúm̆а̄. і d
The absolute being before whom everyone held their breath and bowed their heads.
The absolute concept, the Phase, possessing overwhelming martial power to the point where the word 'power' couldn't even be discussed before her.
The moment her waist was wrapped, all the fame that constituted her became a mirage, and her body settled into powerlessness.
Her face drawn close by the touch of a man thousands of times weaker than herself.
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That day, for the first time, Valdrova became a princess from a novel, a woman.
-Nice to meet you, my heart.
Е̊ n̈u m̈ а̄..i d̄
The first touch of a man she'd ever felt, a warm greeting, and even a handsome smile.
For her who hadn't interacted with humans for hundreds of years, they were unbearable pieces of information.
So Valdrova couldn't do anything.
She froze in place.
Her head turned pure white, and even the tears about to fall went back in.
Even when she powerlessly fell against his chest, she stayed frozen for a long time.
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Those actions from that day remained intact in Valdrova's mind.
'Heart...'
-Kureung!!
Valdrova covered her face.
She remembered Ferda's actions, and simultaneously remembered her own disgraceful behavior.
Thinking of it again, the reaction started coming back.
Еnū mȧ
Her heart burned hot like a blast furnace.
Something made her body feel ticklish, making her want to move for no reason.
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As she fidgeted like that, it was as if she forgot to exhale, and wind filled her chest.
Valdrova slowly let out that breath.
Hiyuuuuuu...
A long whistle-like sound rang long through the cave.
Е̌n û m̆ ă .і̌ d̈
'That sound again...'
It was the sound Ruri hated most.
Whenever she soaked in happiness beyond her station, she always made this sound.
It was a hundred times better than misfortune, but it wasn't good either.
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"I think having a tea party is a good method, but what will you do?"
Valdrova asked through the gap in her wings hiding her face.
Ё n̆ǔ mа
-What would you like me to do?
"Master-nim is the Phase of Power. The Phase of Power must know how to firmly express her own will."
Meaning: don't pass the buck to me.
-Right. I should...
Valdrova scratched her chin with her claw.
Tilting her head this way and that.
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Flipping her huge body around, agonizing over and over.
'She's dying to go.'
The answer coming from Valdrova's gestures was already grasped.
Her desire was also directed at Ferda.
But just because desire existed didn't mean everything went her way.
She who fearlessly burned and tore apart monsters was more of a coward than anyone.
Ẅ еb̃n̆ov̀е̄ l̃ Е̂n ū m̄ a
-I just want to stay here for a while... I still don't have the confidence to face my fiancé.
"Understood. Then we'll postpone the tea party, and I'll take my leave."
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Even if you pushed her back, she'd end up flipping the dining table - that was Valdrova.
Ruri bowed politely and turned away.
-Ruri.
"Yes."
W̄ еbṅ ӧ vе́ľ Еn̄ ü m̆ а
-Have you had a lot of hard times recently?
Ruri couldn't grasp the intent of that question.
"No. Nothing in particular."
-Ah, I see. You smelled strongly of sweat, so I thought you couldn't even wash.
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"...Sweat smell, you say?"
Ruri's sense of smell was excellent.
Ѐnu mа̇ . i d
But Valdrova, a dragon, was even more so.
And there was no way Ruri would sweat just from managing the castle.
-Don't overdo it. I don't want you overdoing it.
"...Don't worry. My Master-nim."
Returning to her room, Ruri tore her clothes as they were and burned them.
And she vowed to enforce mandatory full-body bathing for all knights before they set foot in the castle.
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* * *
Ferda was in the office with Mori.
Since recently joining hands with Stefan Pascal, he'd solved the supply problems the Empire couldn't.
Ferda was trying to quantify the gains through that.
"How's the progress on the items in the supply plan?"
Mori answered in writing.
Е̌n u mȧ.. і̂d̆_
-32%. Important supplies are concentrated on Count Consillus's territory and completed. We'll continue supplies to other territories gradually.
"What's the outlook from the supplies?"
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-If we proceed per the supply plan, it will contribute 30% to civilian stability, 45% to individual soldier combat capability, and a 30% increase in morale.
"The possibility seems highest."
Mori nodded.
Since Ferda moved for territory development, it was something to be glad about, but.
Wе̌ b̂ ṅ.оṽ е l̃ Е̃ n ǔm̌ а
"Something big will happen soon."
Ferda wasn't simply glad.
Mori tilted her head.
Ferda answered that silent question.
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"There are people in this world who can't stand others doing well."
Bastards who always rain on your parade when things start going well.
En̄ um̌ a
And those bastards are currently the ones sitting in the Arken Empire's leadership.
People who, even if incompetent themselves, can't stand others being competent.
It wouldn't take days before those soaked in greed came running at Ferda.
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