Chapter 3: What I Desire

The empire leaves no land unconquered.

That was the motto of the Arken Empire, which expanded its influence from the center of the Serdes continent.

Within the empire, that motto intoxicated the people, but for the outer regions, it was little more than ridiculous arrogance.

When Perda lived in the Rosnova house, the first thing he learned was that that phrase was nothing but empty words.

In fact, in Serdes there were many lands never conquered, and the East was the clearest example.

The Cursed Land.

The East, after the appearance of the demon king, became a place saturated with magic.

Although it was contained, the impact persisted—plants grew abnormally and animals became several times more ferocious.

Thus the Cursed Land was born.

And on that front stood the sovereign who ruled—Queen Valdrova.

‘That’s why they also called her the demon dragon.’

Whatever the truth was, the image people had of her was that of a brutal dragon.

It was rumored that she had absorbed the power of the demon king, that she was secretly forming an army of monsters.

‘For the little she actually did, her infamy is excessive.’

There were endless conspiracies about her, but no one ever dared to accuse her or point at her directly.

Even the most foolish knew that touching a single hair of a dragon was a suicidal act.

Rustle, rustle—

As they walked down the path, a noise in the bushes reached Perda’s ears.

When he turned his head, the maid walking ahead spoke first.

“Don’t worry. As long as you’re by my side, they won’t dare attack.”

They had to be monsters.

And that girl seemed to have eyes in the back of her head.

‘Well, she’s a dragon’s servant. It’s not strange that she’s different.’

Perda calmly watched her from behind.

She looked like a doll.

The maid uniform fit her body, revealing the shape of a young girl in the midst of growing.

Her silver hair, tied in a side ponytail with soft lines, gave her a charming appearance.

Had they not met in Valdrova’s domain, anyone would have taken her for an attractive maid.

“What’s your name?”

“Luri.”

She replied in a dry tone.

“Nice to meet you, Luri. How much farther do we have to walk?”

“About two more hours.”

“That’s quite a bit. It didn’t seem like it took you that long to get here.”

“Of course. Alone, it takes me ten seconds to arrive.”

Two hours versus ten seconds.

The difference was absurd.

“Then why don’t you take me that way to the lair?”

“Because I’d have to carry you in my arms.”

“Don’t worry about me. I can handle a flight.”

“No, I simply refuse because I don’t want to.”

“……”

How brazen.

If it had been another maid wearing that uniform, Perda would have slapped her without hesitation.

“If you don’t want to, there’s nothing to be done.”

But Perda didn’t do it.

In foreign land, a noble could lose his life over pride.

And more importantly—she wasn’t an ordinary human.

A dragonspawn.

Dragonspawn were humans chosen and blessed with the blood of a dragon through a “rite of ascension.”

Just by receiving that blood, they naturally awakened magic and gained tremendous strength.

Even if her body seemed small, she could easily defeat a pair of knights.

And besides, Luri could hide her horns and tail—a sign of power far superior to other dragonspawn.

That’s why Perda remained silent and followed her steps.

For his weak body, it was exhausting.

His pace gradually slowed until he fell behind.

Then Luri turned her head.

“Are you tired?”

“Yes, I am. Can we rest for a moment?”

“There’s no time for that. Let’s keep moving, my lady is waiting.”

Her silver eyes gleamed coldly, demanding he press on.

“All right, all right.”

Perda took a deep breath and forced himself to continue.

Getting married was no easy task.

***

The red dragon’s lair, called the lair, was beyond the empire’s so-called front line.

Beyond a dense, unexplored forest stood a solitary mountain. On its slope rose a castle so large it could be seen from afar on a clear day.

‘Many think that castle is Valdrova’s lair.’

But Valdrova didn’t live in the castle.

The entire mountain was her lair.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Luri turned and gave a few brief warnings.

“It’s a bit dark. Don’t make a scene—there’s nothing beneath your feet.”

“Understood.”

“Well, sometimes stalactites fall… avoid them if you can. If you’re capable, of course.”

She explained lazily, almost taunting him.

Perda didn’t react and just nodded.

“Very well.”

Luri led the way again.

Soon, a massive iron door appeared before them.

It had no decorations—just overwhelming thickness, like a seal made to contain what lay beyond.

Luri gently knocked on the door.

“My lady, your fiancé has arrived.”

There was no reply.

Instead, a tremor ran through the ground—the body of something enormous stirring.

Even behind the heavy door, the air bristled.

It was clear that a terrifying dragon lived inside.

Thump—

Something hard struck the metal door.

Luri turned to Perda.

“I will deliver the message.”

She opened a small side door and went in.

On the other side, there was absolute silence.

Perda waited patiently.

Three minutes later, Luri returned.

“There is a message from Queen Valdrova.”

She cleared her throat and spoke.

“I know well that you have come here by order of the Arken Empire to be engaged to me. Even knowing of my atrocities, you have set foot in my domain. That is worthy of praise.”

Perda didn’t like the tone.

He knew what would come next was a rejection.

“But I don’t intend to drag you into this engagement by force. So go back to where you came from.”

For anyone, that would be salvation—freedom.

The Perda of his childhood would have fallen to his knees with joy.

But the Perda of now was no longer the same.

“Oh, really? Then go and tell her this.”

Luri’s eyebrow arched.

“It’s true that it was the empire’s order, but coming here was my own decision. I won’t return. I want to continue with the engagement.”

“……”

Luri stared at him.

Her expressionless face was cold and unsettling, but Perda didn’t flinch.

“Not going to pass it along?”

“…Fine.”

She went back inside.

Ten minutes later, she came out carrying a bundle in her arms.

“New message. You’ve been brave to come here on your own. I’ll value your determination and give you a royal treasure with which you can lay your foundation. Take this gold and build a new life elsewhere.”

Clatter—

It was a bag full of gold and jewels.

She also tossed a document—a certificate bearing the royal seal.

Perda looked at it.

To him, that gold was nothing but stones.

“Go and tell her this—I’m not interested in power or riches. I came only for the engagement with Queen Valdrova.”

“……”

“You’re still hesitating. It doesn’t suit the queen’s maid to appear so clumsy.”

Luri didn’t respond and simply went back through the massive iron door.

“…Hah.”

She let out a sigh and slammed the door shut with a bang!

Her face, as impassive as always, revealed nothing.

But Perda, who had lived burning with hatred and vengeance, knew how to recognize what was hidden in her eyes.

It was disgust.

“I won’t drag this out. Leave here immediately.”

An order charged with emotion.

But Perda didn’t waver.

“Quite a short message to come from Queen Valdrova.”

“No. This is from me, my lady’s servant, of my own accord.”

She stepped slowly toward Perda.

With every step, her appearance changed.

On her head, a pair of horns rose as if piercing the sky, and the skirt that reached her ankles suddenly billowed.

She revealed without shame her form as a dragonspawn—threatening him.

‘Is that… Dragon Fear?’

He expected her to be powerful, but she exceeded expectations.

That a mere servant could wield dragon fear was extraordinary.

“That’s why I tell you—take the gold and leave while you still have the chance. If you wish, I’ll escort you back to the empire myself.”

A hatred with reasons, but still unjustified toward him.

Even so, Perda wasn’t shaken.

He had learned too much to be swayed by something so trivial.

“I, Perda Rosnova, will speak here with complete honesty.”

He looked at her seriously and continued.

“I didn’t come to this place forced by anyone.”

He remembered what he had felt through Valdrova’s heart.

A life of dreams that always shattered.

The weight of slander, the eyes full of disdain, the fight against her own murderous instincts.

Not even she herself had been on her side, and yet she kept fighting.

“I, Perda Rosnova, desire neither power nor treasures.”

Even if the queen didn’t know it, he remembered it well.

When Valdrova sacrificed her life, the only thing she wished for was someone’s happiness.

Even to Perda, selfish to the extreme, she gave her heart.

That’s why, even if she didn’t recognize him now—

“I, Perda Rosnova, have come only to be her fiancé.”

As long as he remembered, he would be her ally.

“Tell her that, as future spouses, we should speak directly to clear up any misunderstandings—not through a maid’s mouth.”

Luri’s patience finally reached its limit.

“How dare you! Do you even know who you’re talking to, to spout such insolence…?”

Her small hand shot straight for Perda’s neck.

If she grabbed him, she’d snap him like a dry twig.

Thump—

The sound of something hitting the metal door stopped her.

In an instant, Luri regained her composure, and the Dragon Fear vanished.

The girl who had just shown killing intent bowed to him.

“Forgive me.”

“Good. Go.”

Perda remained unshaken.

A while later, Luri returned with the queen’s message.

Her doll-like face looked displeased.

Perda knew instantly that she brought good news.

“Queen Valdrova has said that she understands your words well and agrees to proceed with the engagement.”

Just as he expected.

No matter how haughty the maid, she couldn’t go against her lady’s will.

“Perfect. I understand.”

“Then, this way…”

As if nothing had happened, the conversation returned to its formal tone.

Perda followed her silently.

***

That same night, beneath Valdrova’s castle.

Luri, the queen’s servant, returned to the dragon’s lair.

She crossed the massive iron door and went inside.

There, curled with elegance, lay a dragoness with red scales.

— You’ve returned?

Her golden eyes glowed in the darkness.

Luri bowed with grace and solemnity.

“In front of me lies one of the twelve great sovereigns, the embodiment of absolute power. I see you reclining with the majesty only one who rules the world can possess.”

— You think so? I’m just lying down, that’s all.

“True elegance is like that. When you try to imitate it, it looks grotesque. Real elegance is the kind one wears in the skin, unaware of it.”

— Really…?

Luri’s eyes sparkled with sincerity.

Valdrova reacted with confusion.

“Do you really plan to marry a mortal?”

— Isn’t that what I’ve always wished for? You yourself respected that decision.

“I said it back then without conviction. You can still change your mind. Revoking a decision is also a royal virtue.”

She insisted again and again, but Valdrova shook her head.

— I won’t take it back. That remains my will.

“Tsk…”

Luri clicked her tongue in frustration.

The queen didn’t mind and asked,

— Tell me, what is that man like—the one who will be my consort?

Luri shook her head.

“Don’t even mention him. He’s a weak human.”

— That weak?

“I thought that being from a knightly family he’d be strong, but he almost collapsed on the way. A sickly body.”

— And?

“Also, an absolute eyesore. They said he was eighteen, but his face looked like a neglected old man’s.”

— Luri.

“Sorry. The truth is… he has a rather delicate face. The type that makes a lot of women cry.”

— That’s not what I meant.

Luri knew exactly what answer her lady sought.

She didn’t want to say it, but had no choice.

“He’s not ordinary.”

— Not ordinary?

“I’m a dragonspawn. I have the blood of dragons. For me, instilling fear in mortals is easy. And yet…”

She recalled Perda’s figure.

“That man never feared me. That’s why I believe he’ll be able to look you straight in the eye.”

— Really?

Luri frowned.

A human should not be able to look a dragon in the face.

— Excellent.

But a smile appeared on Valdrova’s face.

— Someone who can look me in the eyes like an equal.

“Equal, you say?”

— Yes. As something normal.

But to Luri, that was anything but normal.

Two humans looking each other in the eye—that was normal.

But a human and a dragon—never.

The dragon commands, the human obeys—that was the ordinary relationship.

She had much to say, but couldn’t open her mouth.

If her lady was satisfied, nothing else mattered.