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Chapter 34
Tea Party
Ferda is a noble.
He was born into the Rosnova Knight Family.
His title is Viscount, and he was a vassal of Duke Houston.
As an honorable knight family, Ferda had received strict basic etiquette.
Although he was driven out of his family under the name of the Duke's fiancé, he stubbornly became an Archmage and gained status no less than High Nobility.
Ẃ.е bn̄ оv̀.е l̂ Е n̂um a
But such a Ferda was actually far from socializing.
In the Rosnova Family, he had no opportunities because he was an illegitimate child, and when he was an Archmage, he refused to mingle.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
'Since I didn't even touch what others prepared.'
After nearly being poisoned several times, he didn't touch food prepared by others.
Even when his body became one that couldn't be killed by poison, it was the same.
Rather than deepening human relationships, his strategy was to grind them with hatred and discard them.
Е̇ṅũ m̆a
So this was the first tea party in Ferda's life.
The time was 1 hour before the tea party,
"This is the arcade where Ferda-nim and Master can enjoy various leisure activities after marriage. The tea party will be held here."
Ruri guided Ferda to the appointment place first and informed him of things one by one.
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Since escorting was Ferda's role, she made him aware of the surroundings as much as possible.
Ferda turned his gaze toward the terrace.
E ńŭ m̂ а̂
"It's a place where the West is visible."
"It's arranged so you can focus solely on entertainment."
The feeling was certainly different.
The Devil's Land, where even the sunlight appears gloomy, naturally deepens one's thoughts, but this place just felt peaceful.
It's just the right place to feel leisure while watching the setting sun.
"And the tea party will be held here."
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Two chairs and one table placed to enjoy the terrace scenery.
On top were two teacups matching the number of people, a tier tray treated with cooling magic, and decorated desserts.
They were splendid and things he'd never seen before.
"What are these sweets?"
"Macarons, Mont Blancs, pastries... they have various names. I selected 20 types from over 150 kinds of desserts that can be made by selected patissiers from the Imperial Household."
"I see."
Еnū m̄ ȧ..ĩ d
Thinking she'd gone through quite a bit of trouble, he tried to move on, but Ferda suddenly mulled over what she said.
That she personally selected them means... .
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"Does that mean you tasted them yourself?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"All 150 kinds?"
When he emphasized that, Ruri made a displeased expression.
Ѐ n ũ m а̄
"I know what you're thinking. You think I ate them to satisfy my own greed?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Ferda answered honestly.
Since he'd seen Ruri eating honey-preserved treats deliciously at Escolea, he couldn't deny it.
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Ruri frowned deeply.
"You're having rude thoughts. I made many preparations for this tea party. I worried about whether I missed anything, savored them once more, and strictly selected them to serve. There's no labor like this labor, and you don't understand that?"
Еnǔ m̈а́ . і̆d̈.
All I hear is that she ate 300 desserts.
A deadpan face that would fool ordinary people.
Even suspicious Ferda would have been taken in by that ironclad face.
If only she hadn't made a fatal mistake.
"There's sugar powder on your lips."
At Ferda's words, Ruri wiped her lips with her finger.
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White powder came from her mouth.
She glanced at it and naturally popped it into her mouth.
"I just needed to discern whether there was poison or not. Master won't fall for shoddy poison, but Ferda-nim is human."
"I see."
"You don't believe me. You're not treating me like a pig, are you?"
"There's no way you're a pig. Your loyalty is like a dog's... if I had to put it."
Wӗb n̂ о v̂ ѐl̂ Ӗ n̂ŭ ṁа̀
Ferda gave a small nod.
"So you're a pig-dog."
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"Please let me hit you just once. I'm begging you like this."
Ruri with a face boiling with anger.
For Ferda who didn't like pain, there was no occasion to say such things.
Then Ruri glanced at the sun and stepped back.
Eň um а̇ . ī d̀
The appointment time was approaching.
"I'll go bring Master. In the meantime..."
Ruri sending a fierce gaze.
"Please don't touch the tray."
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"Don't worry."
Because I'm not you.
Е́ń um̆ а̀ . ĭ d́
Ruri went out the arcade door to bring Valdrova.
Ferda quietly waited for Valdrova.
'This will be the second meeting.'
The meeting in Ferda's memory was only seeing her face properly.
At the first engagement ceremony, he only saw her chin, and when she couldn't control her Blood Qi, Ferda was out of his mind.
This was the first time having a proper conversation.
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'First... huh.'
The sudden feeling was at a loss.
'What should I say first...'
Ferda touched his lips with his hand.
If it were a normal meeting, he'd just naturally blend into the atmosphere.
The reason for this meeting now stemmed from Valdrova's anxiety.
Еñú m а
And Ferda had no answer for that.
So he called a man with expertise in this area, Jed Swallow.
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-That thing? It's better to just pretend you don't know.
Jed Swallow.
He was a man who seduced many women while acting as a Swallow Tribe member.
-You don't need to explain, just show it with action. There's no need to unnecessarily sink the mood with depressing talk, right? Just pretend you don't know and liven up the atmosphere.
Е́n_umа̊
Ferda thought it made sense.
It would be good to apologize for being fed up, but he wouldn't want a depressing atmosphere at a tea party like this.
'Pretending not to know might be the most correct.'
Not bringing the problem to the surface was also a method.
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The important thing was ultimately making sure Grand Duke Valdrova didn't feel anxiety.
Ferda steeled his heart and waited for her.
Еṅu mâ. і d
-Master is entering.
Ruri's voice heard from outside the door.
At the same time, the door opens.
Ferda brought out his prepared greeting and welcomed her.
"Welcome—."
Ferda's words were cut off.
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No matter how much it was Ferda, he couldn't help but be flustered at the sight.
Red hair with golden eyes.
Her face, so beautiful that even a single painting would be sacrilege to contain it.
Was not there.
'Dragon Knight?'
What entered through the door was a single Dragon Knight.
Е̄ ň ǔ m̈ ă
A helmet and armor designed to stimulate humans' innate fear.
Of course, instead of that fear, bewilderment took its place for Ferda.
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At the same time, he felt a sense of déjà vu from that armor.
'Where did I see it... ah, it was the engagement ceremony.'
It was the armor he saw when he came out after overturning the engagement wine and getting an earful.
That means the one inside is definitely Valdrova.
Ё n ũ m̊ а .і̌d̂
Why did she come out wearing that armor?
Ferda glanced at Ruri standing behind her.
Their eyes met.
Ruri stared quietly and then shook her head.
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It was a gesture saying please don't ask.
Finishing his thoughts, Ferda courteously bowed again.
W̄ ě b̌ ň о̂v.еl̃ Еn̈ ù m а
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my King."
Then both hands gathered demurely and the dragon-head helmet nodded forward slightly.
Her behavior felt like an awkward young lady just debuting in society.
Clank clank.
She entered inside stepping on the carpet with stiff movements and sat opposite Ferda.
Screech—.
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The chair screamed.
Despite the considerably heavy armor, the chair endured well without breaking.
'As if nothing happened...'
Ferda recalled Jed's advice and opened his mouth.
"I'm truly delighted that you proposed this meeting first."
Nod.
Ẽ n ù m̀а
The only response was a single nod.
An awkward silence circled.
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Everything stopped centering on that silence.
Cold sweat ran, and breathing became difficult.
Ferda tried to lead the conversation, opening his mouth with difficulty.
"It's armor befitting the Dragon's Aspect."
Е̊ ň uṁ a
Nod.
She answered by nodding her head once more.
"How have you been?"
"....."
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He threw a topic that couldn't be avoided without conversation.
Valdroba made a circle with her index finger and thumb.
Eṅ üṁа̄
"It was good. That's a relief."
Nod.
Ferda felt like he was dying.
He wanted to sigh and relieve tension, but he couldn't even dare to do that.
His tense chest boiled, but it only made him feel stifled like a tightly sealed pot.
Meanwhile, Ruri poured tea into cups, thoroughly performing her role as a screen.
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Let me replenish moisture to my parched throat.
Ferda picked up his cup.
'Come to think of it, did the helmet have a drinking hole?'
He suddenly watched how she would do it.
She just sat still with her gaze dropped to the floor.
"Can you eat and drink wearing that armor?"
Е n̊ um ã . i̇d̆
"....."
She brushed her helmet, then tapped the lip area.
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And suddenly raised her head as if realizing something.
As if she hadn't thought that far.
"How about taking it off?"
Shake shake!
Е ṅ ū m̂ а́ . і́d̄
She vigorously refused.
A will not to show her face no matter what was felt.
Ferda, who tried to continue the conversation as if nothing was wrong, also started finding this awkward atmosphere difficult.
'She proposed a tea party, but doesn't eat or drink...'
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
If only we'd conversed, it would've been less awkward, but she was even refusing to converse.
'As expected, she's angry.'
W е̂b̄ ň ô v̌е l E̊ṅu̇ m̆ а_
Valdroba had made Ferda think she was fed up with her until now.
After making her anxious, he's acting flippant here.
He's truly a hopeless bastard.
That's why Ferda decided to apologize to her.
"I'm sorry."
Clatter!
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Valdroba's armor greatly shuddered.
"For me to cause worry to the Grand Duke, and then to act flippant like this... It was a pathetic thought. I should have apologized first... ."
-.....
"You can criticize me. Since I was the bad one, whatever you say—."
"Th-that's not it!"
Ferda was startled.
W е̂ ḃ nо́ v́ е̌ĺ Ѐ nǔ m̆а̄
A loud sound rang from within the helmet.
There was a gap from her tone, but what surprised him was separate.
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The voice itself.
What burst from the helmet was a heavy warrior's voice.
"Th-that is..."
Valdroba also seemed surprised by her own voice, covering the helmet's mouth area.
W̄е̂.b̌ n o v e ĺ Еṅ u ḿ а̀
"Th-that... I, not speaking... it's not that I'm angry, and it's not that Ferda-ssi did anything wrong."
The scary Dragon Knight's head fidgeted with fingers as if embarrassed.
"Th-that... I just couldn't sp-speak to Ferda-ssi... I just couldn't ans-answer... th-that's all..."
"Ah."
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Ferda then recalled one thing.
It was what Ruri told him at the engagement ceremony.
W̄ eb̄ ńоv́еl. Е n̈_u̇ mа̃
'Anthropophobia.'
She finds humans difficult.
Right.
Even knowing that, why did I think she was angry?
I was too focused on my own thing and forgot what she had.
"I'm sorry. My thoughts were short. Please forgive me."
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"No. I'm the one who's sorry... Calling you here and keeping my mouth shut... ."
"No, I... ."
Just repeating apologies to each other, the conversation cut off with a pop.
In the sunken atmosphere, Ferda couldn't dare open his mouth.
He secretly searched to see if there was magic that could break this silence.
"Th-that..."
Ê ǹ ũ ḿа. i d̀
Valdroba, whose words had opened, brought up a conversation topic with difficulty.
"The reason I'm wearing this armor..."
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Ferda waited for her to finish speaking.
"Ruri... said my expression shows everything."
Ferda tilted his head at that answer.
"What do you mean your expression shows everything?"
Е nûm̄ӓ
"When I'm in human form... she says everything shows on my face. So... I wasn't confident what expression I'd make when I see Ferda-ssi..."
She hesitated and finally finished her words.
"So I wore itoooo."
The end of her words leaked out with a wheee, and Valdroba covered her mouth with both hands.
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"It's really... stuupid... right?"
The heavy warrior's voice trembled delicately.
Ẃ ěb̊n о v̈ ѐ l Ĕn u m̈а̌
Looking at her behavior, it could be felt for certain.
How hard it is to hide her emotions.
'Truly...'
Not being able to hide means pure.
Because she's that pure, even if she wears a shell, makes heavy sounds, she couldn't hide even the essence felt in her heart.
'Beautiful.'
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That's why she's beautiful.
Ferda answered her question.
"That's not true. I'm also trembling right now, this moment."
Valdroba raised her head and looked at Ferda.
It felt like her eyes were scanning him.
"Lie."
Ŵ е̂ḃn̄ о̇v́ ē l̀ Ѐnūm̀ а̊
Valdroba said that.
"Excuse me?"
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"You say that but you don't look like you're trembling much... I'm stuttering and all, but Ferda-ssi looks fine."
"It's because I want to look good. I'm forcibly pretending not to tremble."
"Is that so?"
She reacted as if she couldn't understand.
W̊е b̀ñо_v̈е̌ l Е n̄ umа̇
Since Valdroba revealed her embarrassment, now it was Ferda's turn to reveal his.
"The reason I haven't seen you lately is because I was also afraid."
"Of what?"
"Darkness dwells in the mana inside me."
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"Darkness...?"
"Yes. Darkness dwells in my mana. So I worried that darkness might harm Your Highness. That's why..."
W е b ň о̌ v́ е l Е num̂ а
Ferda's eyes turned to her again.
His blue eyes shone like sapphires.
"I didn't have the confidence to face you."
"....."
There was no answer.
Valdroba, hearing those words, fidgeted with her fingers and repeated clenching and unclenching her fist.
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An action like she's suppressing surging emotions.
"Ferda-ssi is..."
And a restrained voice.
"You were worried about me?"
"Yes. Was I being presumptuous?"
"No. That's... a little... because I'm happy..."
Еn̄ ů m̄а́. і̂ d
Only then it showed.
That all those actions were like a delicate woman.
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"That makes you happy?"
The threatening helmet nodded lightly.
"Until now, except for Ruri, I've never thought someone worried about me... People think I'm strong. Actually, I am too. But... Ferda-ssi is afraid I'll get hurt? So... that's strangely... nice."
She placed her hand on her chest and collected her emotions.
Е̊ń ū m a
"What Ferda-ssi gave me that time..."
The day suffering from uncontrollable Blood Qi,
"What I felt... was a sensation I'd never felt even once."
Valdroba retraced that day's memory with a voice immersed in emotion.
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"Something warm and cozy circulating inside my body... I think if someone hugged me, it would feel like that. Something like that couldn't do bad things to me, right?"
"Is... that so?"
We̊ b̂ ñ о̀ v̀е l È n u̇ḿа̀
"Yes."
Fidgeting hands again.
Legs twisting.
Unlike the solemn tone, girlish actions stood out too much.
"Just being like this makes me so happy. This moment facing Ferda-ssi is so happy... It's so happy that..."
Valdroba's voice cut off sharply.
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"Ah."
As if realizing something she wasn't conscious of.
"Are you okay?"
"Th-that... I'm sorry but... c-can I... st-stand up...?"
"Yes?"
"Th-that... I... th-this is... m-more... m-more... I... I'll sc-scream... so it'll be a nuisance... so sor-sor..."
Ŵ êbno vе l Ё ñ um̈ а̌
Valdroba trembling uncontrollably didn't know what to do,
"I'm sorrry!"
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With an apology, she threw herself onto the terrace.
Ferda and Ruri just quietly looked down at that spot.
At a glance, a height dizzyingly far from the floor.
But no one thought Valdroba would get hurt.
Е̊n̈ ŭ m̃а̄. іd
Ruri, who had only been standing like a screen, opened her mouth.
"Well, with this much, I guess we can say the tea party was a success."
She popped a dessert from the tier tray into her mouth.
Ferda looked down at where she fell and mulled over her words.
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'Right.'
And suddenly realizes.
Ӗn̄u m̀ а̀. і ď
'Valdroba was such a trivial woman.'
A pure woman who couldn't even properly see her fiancé's face.
Such a woman forcibly acted the King under the weight she carried.
'But the world isn't easy.'
He knows this too.
As if even that triviality is too much for her, things try to suppress her.
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Swarming monsters,
The Empire's corruption,
Her past,
All of it constantly tested and pressed down on her.
'I swore.'
To protect what she loves, and grant what she only wished for.
W e b ṅôv̀ е ĺ_ Ѐ n̄ u̇m̌а́
That Valdroba's name would ultimately be reborn not as a synonym for fear, but as a name of joy.
For that, what Ferda needed was decisiveness.
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'Sometimes boldly.'
Ruthlessly if necessary.
The fear that he might harm Valdroba could no longer shake him.
Sense of duty became fuel and ignited his fading heart.
Е̊ n̊ ú m а̌ . і̀.d́
* * *
The next day, Ferda called Jed and talked about his plan.
Listening to that story, Jed asked this.
"Are you in your right mind?"
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It was a considerably rude remark, but surprisingly, it was the word Jed chose after much thought.
Ferda's plan was that absurd.
Ẁ еb.ñ о̌v̈е̃ l Ē_ń umа
"You're going to rob the Imperial Warehouse?"
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