Chapter 4: The Condition to Become the Queen’s Consort

Luri left the dragon’s lair and led Perda to a different place.

It was the castle built on the mountainside, visible even from a distance.

There was a path that connected directly to the tunnel entrance leading to the lair, and by following it, they reached the grand hall.

“Impeccable.”

Perda could feel that Valdrova took marriage very seriously.

Otherwise, she would never have ordered the construction of such a noble castle over her own lair, nor adapted to human standards.

‘It was built for the engagement with the Third Prince, wasn’t it?’

If that prince had married Queen Valdrova, he would have gained immense power by default—he would have ruled over the entire East.

That’s why this residence was built to match his status.

But the incident that ruined everything had turned the place into an empty space.

After the prince’s death, abandonment would have been the natural course.

And yet, the place was in perfect condition. It wasn’t some rushed cleaning in anticipation of Perda’s arrival, but the result of ongoing care.

“Who maintains this castle?”

“I do.”

“No one else?”

“I’m the only one who serves my lady.”

“Then all of this…”

“I manage it myself. That’s enough of an answer.”

She replied dryly, again and again.

The fact that Perda had accepted the engagement was frankly repulsive to her.

‘Like a dog.’

Not as an insult, but literally.

A dog that growls when it senses its master’s affection turning toward another.

And Perda chose not to give it much thought.

‘As long as she doesn’t bite, I don’t mind.’

A guard dog only needs to protect the house well.

Luri led him to a huge room.

‘It’s like five of mine put together.’

It was comparable to the emperor’s chambers.

“This is the guest room.”

“Guest? It’s too big.”

“These are guests of a dragon—a sovereign.”

A dragon was on the same level as an emperor.

Being received there made clear what his current status was.

“So, for now, I’m just a guest.”

“Yes. Since you are not yet the fiancé, you are only that—a guest.”

“And do you treat all guests this hostilely?”

He asked out of simple curiosity.

“No. I just hate humans.”

“Well, that’s honest.”

“And out of all of them, I hate you the most.”

“Too honest.”

“I have no reason to hide it.”

Her face stayed expressionless, but she shrugged her shoulders with boldness.

It was as if she were asking to be struck.

“Well, it’s better that way. At least you’re not hiding it.”

And for Perda, that was preferable.

Far better than a smiling noble hiding a dagger.

But the more calmly he accepted her words, the more disgusted Luri seemed to feel.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Perda tilted his head.

“Why would I be?”

“I tried to snap your neck. If not for my lady’s signal, I would’ve done it.”

Crack—

Luri clenched and opened her fist; it sounded like bones cracking.

‘She could have killed me…’

He already knew that.

But Perda had never thought to dodge her hand.

‘If the engagement didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have a reason to live anyway.’

So dying wouldn’t have bothered him either.

Changing the topic, he said.

“Let’s save the ridiculous dominance games for later. When’s the ceremony?”

“In one month.”

“Official?”

“If by ‘official’ you mean inviting unwilling guests, then no. It will be simple, here in the lair. Just three people.”

“Three?”

“My lady, myself, and you.”

She pointed at him with her chin.

“I see. One month, then.”

“Now that we’re on the subject, I should add something.”

“What is it?”

“That month is also a deadline. A time limit for you to prove you have the qualifications of a consort.”

Perda thought getting married was an incredibly difficult road.

“Is that an order from Queen Valdrova?”

“No. My decision.”

“Your own decision? And a servant can make that kind of call?”

“When necessary, yes. The truth is, my lady is too soft for her reputation.”

She was astonishingly blunt.

“And I suppose you’ve already noticed. That’s why you didn’t bow to the tyrant queen. No one in all of history has shown such behavior toward a dragon, except you.”

“I see.”

“If she tolerates it, it’s because she’s decided to marry a human. But I’m not that soft.”

Her silver eyes gleamed coldly, like a blade against his neck.

“A consort worthy of a sovereign must be at the appropriate level.”

A dragon and a human.

The distance was vast—greater than that between an emperor and a beggar.

Luri had just imposed a colossal condition on him.

“Then, do you expect a mere human to immediately obtain power equal to a dragon’s?”

“Of course not. I don’t expect you to become strong overnight.”

She scoffed in disdain.

“You just need to show capability. That’s enough.”

She clenched her fist tightly.

“It’s not about will. Willpower solves nothing. What matters is that you show—even just a spark—of potential within a month. That’s what’s needed to be Queen Valdrova’s consort.”

Perda understood everything and thought,

‘My fiancée has an excellent servant by her side.’

Even if her words were harsh and she hated him, she was demanding exactly what was truly needed.

That showed that, beyond her hatred, her loyalty to Valdrova was absolute.

‘With such devotion… why didn’t I see her in my past life?’

When he attacked the lair, Luri wasn’t there.

A mystery—but not important right now.

“Fine. Let’s say I prove my ability. To what level should I rise? That of the emperor, maybe?”

“No. At least enough that other sovereigns don’t look down on you.”

Which meant far surpassing the emperor.

“Understood.”

“Huh?”

His calm response puzzled Luri.

“Isn’t that a bit arrogant? Are you stupid or underestimating dragons? Either one annoys me.”

“Neither.”

“Don’t think it’ll be easy. Especially for someone as weak as you.”

“I don’t think it’ll be easy either.”

“Then what’s with that attitude?”

“Don’t worry about that. In one month, I’ll show you a level of ability that convinces you.”

“……”

Luri pressed her lips together in frustration.

It felt like he was throwing her own words back at her.

‘Such confidence.’

She couldn’t understand where it came from.

She knew how the Empire used engagements like this a polite way to dispose of the unfit.

But Perda was different.

‘Enough.’

He had once reached the eighth circle—the youngest in history—and had even used the ninth circle’s wish spell.

He had made even an emperor kneel before him.

‘Becoming someone worthy of a dragon… it’s possible.’

And if it was possible, then for Perda, nothing was impossible.

His face filled with conviction.

“Disgusting human.”

Was all Luri could say, her face full of irritation.

***

The Castle Built Above Valdrova’s Lair bore her name Castle Valdrova.

Perda stayed there for a week.

Life, overall, wasn’t bad.

The only issue was that he had to handle nearly everything by himself.

A noble always had at least one servant to assist him; without one, there was no prestige.

Under normal circumstances, anyone would have been furious if told they had to live without attendants.

But for Perda, it wasn’t a problem at all.

‘I’m already used to living alone.’

In fact, having someone try to dress him felt uncomfortable.

His life in Castle Valdrova was far more bearable than it had been in the Rosnova mansion, where he was constantly on edge, surrounded by people who despised him and wanted to see him fall.

Those who approached him with seeming kindness were really just waiting to drag him into a pit.

‘Luri may hate me, but compared to that, she’s a luxury.’

At least she didn’t tamper with his food or grease the marble to make him slip.

That made her seem like a well-behaved puppy by comparison.

‘Though who knows how long that’ll last.’

Luri had imposed a task on him prove within a month that he wasn’t useless, but someone with potential.

‘A month’s deadline.’

What could he possibly show in so little time?

After thinking it over for a long while, he always came to the same conclusion.

‘Only magic.’

Perda had a talent for magic.

If he showed even a flicker of it, maybe Luri would acknowledge him.

‘To use magic, I must open a circle.’

The circle consisted of spinning the chaotic mana within until it formed a closed circuit.

The problem was that Perda didn’t know how to do that.

Well… actually, he did. All it took was overwhelming hatred and a desire for revenge.

If he followed the same path as before, he could reach the eighth circle even faster than in his past life.

‘But I mustn’t do it that way.’

He remembered his master’s words.

— The first button is the most important. Depending on whether your first circle is red or blue, your life as a mage will change completely.

Of course, you don’t have much to worry about.

A fat, lecherous man obsessed with money, but who at least fulfilled his role as a magic instructor.

The red circle was born from emotional outbursts.

The blue circle was based on calm and meditation.

Each had its pros and cons.

Blue was slow to form, but stable; that’s why 80% of mages chose it.

Red was fast, but unstable; depending on extreme emotions, it could consume the mage and turn them mad.

‘I need to open a blue circle.’

Only that way could he avoid repeating the same tragedy.

But the circumstances weren’t in his favor.

‘Forming a blue circle takes at least three years…’

And he had only three weeks to show convincing results.

It was a ridiculously short deadline—but Perda didn’t rush.

He knew he would find a way.

***

“Are you preparing?”

For the first time, Luri asked him a question while serving him breakfast.

Perda stabbed a piece of salad with his fork and replied calmly.

“Yes, I’m preparing.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like anything’s changed.”

“It’s a matter of persistence. Over time, it’ll work.”

“I see.”

Luri didn’t seem to have high expectations.

For days, Perda had been researching methods to open the blue circle.

The only thing he had discovered was that, even though both used the same mana, the flow was completely different.

‘In the end, I won’t be ready for the ceremony…’

To have spoken so confidently and achieved nothing wasn’t like him.

But even so, he remained calm and continued searching for a solution.

Then, just as he was about to welcome a new sunrise—

Krrrrrumble!

A roar shook the castle’s foundations.

A crash strong enough to make the walls tremble.

It had happened nearby.

“What’s going on?”

Luri answered without blinking.

“My lady is conducting a monster hunt.”

“Monster hunt?”

“Yes. Exterminating the creatures that crawl from the Cursed Land in the east.”

Boom!

Perda might have overlooked that explanation on another day.

But this time was different.

‘Maybe…’

He felt a sense of premonition.

The path he was looking for might lie there.

“I want to see that battle.”

“What?”

Luri’s face remained expressionless.

“It’s not in your best interest. No one who has seen my lady fight has kept their sanity.”

Perda recalled his past life.

He had seen dragons many times, but none had shaken him like the red dragoness.

Maybe it was because she showed him direct hostility—but still.

The difference in level was real.

Even as a ninth-circle archmage, he had felt fear.

What would happen now, when he was nothing more than a weak human?

Would he scream in terror, lose composure?

“So don’t entertain pointless curiosity.”

“No.”

Perda shook his head.

This wasn’t simple curiosity.

It was research.

It was the search for an answer.

“I want to witness it—that battle.”

The duty of one who aspired to become her consort.