Chapter 4: The Condition to Become the Queen’s Consort
GfmlLuri left the dragon’s lair and led Perda to a different place.zjlN0W
QJrxKRIt was the castle built on the mountainside, visible even from a distance.qhu
Awt9j2dThere was a path that connected directly to the tunnel entrance leading to the lair, and by following it, they reached the grand hall.yeYsVcU
Tgh“Impeccable.”EB1n
Q8nPerda could feel that Valdrova took marriage very seriously.rudY
LQbBZoOtherwise, she would never have ordered the construction of such a noble castle over her own lair, nor adapted to human standards.QvaK2j
hTNYm‘It was built for the engagement with the Third Prince, wasn’t it?’N2Jbit
eAftIf that prince had married Queen Valdrova, he would have gained immense power by default—he would have ruled over the entire East.xxB
i67That’s why this residence was built to match his status.KSNw
MS6But the incident that ruined everything had turned the place into an empty space.qfN
opiwAfter the prince’s death, abandonment would have been the natural course.YEv
DYPaPAnd 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.xWw
i00xMd4“Who maintains this castle?”S3b
CfQm7Ag“I do.”gQ9PJS
moSV“No one else?”NYvdHTE
AHy“I’m the only one who serves my lady.”ZYr
M1jIob2“Then all of this…”DWN
vte“I manage it myself. That’s enough of an answer.”7RPg
pFNShe replied dryly, again and again.MnYe
Rf5The fact that Perda had accepted the engagement was frankly repulsive to her.KiqpSLn
ofk‘Like a dog.’rIH
qwhBhNot as an insult, but literally.ldRpd
L7ZA dog that growls when it senses its master’s affection turning toward another.DQfo
0csNYVkAnd Perda chose not to give it much thought.BOc9bt
zyC546‘As long as she doesn’t bite, I don’t mind.’51e
eERG2qAA guard dog only needs to protect the house well.3ZDetX
Qb7Luri led him to a huge room.XLVRCO
aQc1‘It’s like five of mine put together.’qjr
gqgDeX8It was comparable to the emperor’s chambers.1k0Ts
qdGLMp“This is the guest room.”4tFFa
Kjwv“Guest? It’s too big.”iJVMevL
WeLXacK“These are guests of a dragon—a sovereign.”IMT
sWOgkViA dragon was on the same level as an emperor.8IAz4
A8CxMBeing received there made clear what his current status was.ytY
0PZ4zae“So, for now, I’m just a guest.”1ammi
4Ml“Yes. Since you are not yet the fiancé, you are only that—a guest.”cAGUY3
CNv“And do you treat all guests this hostilely?”Sgtb
EBhdm39He asked out of simple curiosity.nxMp3E
VeXy9“No. I just hate humans.”qyWg
CZ7dOS“Well, that’s honest.”YXaZT
zez5Nv“And out of all of them, I hate you the most.”EZG
HpF6dX“Too honest.”XQ9JL
oyF“I have no reason to hide it.”c7XI
sqHHer face stayed expressionless, but she shrugged her shoulders with boldness.o3ax8Kr
J1dIt was as if she were asking to be struck.0E1mz5
5ba1t“Well, it’s better that way. At least you’re not hiding it.”pq7ci
ds6buAnd for Perda, that was preferable.jpCd
bXPJzmJFar better than a smiling noble hiding a dagger.mxo4
A6LnOBut the more calmly he accepted her words, the more disgusted Luri seemed to feel.lPILX
FmV“I have a question.”GBH2nm
42g“What is it?”jwVHiQ
Wd6bD“Aren’t you afraid of me?”gbNOLTQ
BDfPerda tilted his head.KUR
XH8wb“Why would I be?”YUiGaoG
ngDSW“I tried to snap your neck. If not for my lady’s signal, I would’ve done it.”RGo
B7QK8mgCrack—b7Baf3
lqRf0Luri clenched and opened her fist; it sounded like bones cracking.YPG3
YFFpI‘She could have killed me…’8u2z5rY
SqhsPHe already knew that.eLoOu8J
44aCLfBut Perda had never thought to dodge her hand.G7TyqJK
AHkq‘If the engagement didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have a reason to live anyway.’wie5Yj
7nnI6FZSo dying wouldn’t have bothered him either.MNLk1F
kE6Changing the topic, he said.G3NuJ
yOjYV9“Let’s save the ridiculous dominance games for later. When’s the ceremony?”m6l
EAn2“In one month.”EyH
bgD0gg“Official?”LLS
qsGU“If by ‘official’ you mean inviting unwilling guests, then no. It will be simple, here in the lair. Just three people.”0Xs
7FE“Three?”d9LoCD
74ZbX“My lady, myself, and you.”fYrAm
6cIORShe pointed at him with her chin.J3ZlKS8
BLrow“I see. One month, then.”g3YvY
mGjWV“Now that we’re on the subject, I should add something.”liM
dJ5“What is it?”qpACX11
Oiqww“That month is also a deadline. A time limit for you to prove you have the qualifications of a consort.”b3cn
al6qwPerda thought getting married was an incredibly difficult road.Rhroh
qWIh“Is that an order from Queen Valdrova?”qL1VWd4
P6LQDP“No. My decision.”t7SBfd
yJ5UQ“Your own decision? And a servant can make that kind of call?”u3hwGDU
efuTxn“When necessary, yes. The truth is, my lady is too soft for her reputation.”fdcClG
QxNr9She was astonishingly blunt.V0m
4yElr9“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.”5tep
Wk94“I see.”qUeh
RZ0“If she tolerates it, it’s because she’s decided to marry a human. But I’m not that soft.”Fk4s
PomHer silver eyes gleamed coldly, like a blade against his neck.IASHA
w3stA“A consort worthy of a sovereign must be at the appropriate level.”EWp
e7qc8A dragon and a human.sfL6r
U3ZBThe distance was vast—greater than that between an emperor and a beggar.Nu7oN
IvkakmvLuri had just imposed a colossal condition on him.4OG9fB
rv2“Then, do you expect a mere human to immediately obtain power equal to a dragon’s?”7gwlB
jNmln“Of course not. I don’t expect you to become strong overnight.”T6J
gtNX7UfShe scoffed in disdain.EVf
CNZa“You just need to show capability. That’s enough.”KTc0yn4
70WFzwShe clenched her fist tightly.1SX
KmTgA3F“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.”8oxn
2mEkwdiPerda understood everything and thought,kd4PF5j
apixCq‘My fiancée has an excellent servant by her side.’QokKty
k9AivP5Even if her words were harsh and she hated him, she was demanding exactly what was truly needed.eeaFo
2cfThat showed that, beyond her hatred, her loyalty to Valdrova was absolute.oZozT
ZJAP‘With such devotion… why didn’t I see her in my past life?’cMuVEe
cXorWhen he attacked the lair, Luri wasn’t there.nMD
jGa2A mystery—but not important right now.9KOPB
enREpW“Fine. Let’s say I prove my ability. To what level should I rise? That of the emperor, maybe?”xrdP
FxcHVD“No. At least enough that other sovereigns don’t look down on you.”LkUx
zXbFWhich meant far surpassing the emperor.EVI
7TgiVp“Understood.”te4
4M7Rc“Huh?”e03
LyaHis calm response puzzled Luri.rGgK
DWQEK“Isn’t that a bit arrogant? Are you stupid or underestimating dragons? Either one annoys me.”FpC
uOrU“Neither.”ogg
rTe“Don’t think it’ll be easy. Especially for someone as weak as you.”h788
pEfv5EA“I don’t think it’ll be easy either.”dFYYij
5Jc“Then what’s with that attitude?”pqfCk5
MSNK“Don’t worry about that. In one month, I’ll show you a level of ability that convinces you.”rmB5
h0NHOAx“……”HFsDO
QJjPLuri pressed her lips together in frustration.GTPWV
VaMuKIt felt like he was throwing her own words back at her.o8ZhaP
kKMltSf‘Such confidence.’3po1Zq
0WseShe couldn’t understand where it came from.qVZgeO5
pDXLov3She knew how the Empire used engagements like this a polite way to dispose of the unfit.b20IR
KiJKOkBut Perda was different.0ROL0
O76X7C‘Enough.’TeokT
wALMHe had once reached the eighth circle—the youngest in history—and had even used the ninth circle’s wish spell.WhBe
SPFl2vhHe had made even an emperor kneel before him.CpGxX
3rt‘Becoming someone worthy of a dragon… it’s possible.’cvA
lSaAnd if it was possible, then for Perda, nothing was impossible.RwO
K3qSSqkHis face filled with conviction.o8PG4v
qFAY“Disgusting human.”ixQqb3B
yvQWas all Luri could say, her face full of irritation.FnK
xK7Zj3b***mO3wD
asSpxXThe Castle Built Above Valdrova’s Lair bore her name Castle Valdrova.dmjZlaU
2KDyDnuPerda stayed there for a week.YZ02osm
CRjduLife, overall, wasn’t bad.blc
C51TrlrThe only issue was that he had to handle nearly everything by himself.6AJe
TxvA noble always had at least one servant to assist him; without one, there was no prestige.Kts63Q
psuUUnder normal circumstances, anyone would have been furious if told they had to live without attendants.0TcwRm8
ixIJw5But for Perda, it wasn’t a problem at all.FqnQ
1u0B‘I’m already used to living alone.’w6Cvmr
C3Es3uIn fact, having someone try to dress him felt uncomfortable.fxCZKbz
GmZO5uHis 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.RYdRU
2zGThose who approached him with seeming kindness were really just waiting to drag him into a pit.6KgeCuG
Z8Qb5E‘Luri may hate me, but compared to that, she’s a luxury.’uXE
Vwpk6At least she didn’t tamper with his food or grease the marble to make him slip.P6d97r
XePqNqThat made her seem like a well-behaved puppy by comparison.uEBwNB
4sp‘Though who knows how long that’ll last.’GlVv
gWpdQCLuri had imposed a task on him prove within a month that he wasn’t useless, but someone with potential.5dQ
XSW5‘A month’s deadline.’kSK
L2EwlaWhat could he possibly show in so little time?zFI6umD
KeLxoueAfter thinking it over for a long while, he always came to the same conclusion.DoujBCj
zrT‘Only magic.’VXdZlNJ
I6WVTO9Perda had a talent for magic.NaKofBN
HTtSyDfIf he showed even a flicker of it, maybe Luri would acknowledge him.or3P90g
mlYld4n‘To use magic, I must open a circle.’dBC
QX2The circle consisted of spinning the chaotic mana within until it formed a closed circuit.zfhiRf
ta20wThe problem was that Perda didn’t know how to do that.BFPVJ77
3kh0eWell… actually, he did. All it took was overwhelming hatred and a desire for revenge.u3GApf
NVbPt0gIf he followed the same path as before, he could reach the eighth circle even faster than in his past life.j1Qrigf
DjEn‘But I mustn’t do it that way.’8e6MQQX
cvc1eMRHe remembered his master’s words.TnvI
cFf22s— 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.gx73CR4
6je9Of course, you don’t have much to worry about.slVhPdS
pmqqOSA fat, lecherous man obsessed with money, but who at least fulfilled his role as a magic instructor.q21
hOpThe red circle was born from emotional outbursts.WohE
EhWywpThe blue circle was based on calm and meditation.uJsLj
0zNEach had its pros and cons.ABohR
TPRFBlue was slow to form, but stable; that’s why 80% of mages chose it.lQ2X
pFwxYRed was fast, but unstable; depending on extreme emotions, it could consume the mage and turn them mad.7822I7
3sIi9n‘I need to open a blue circle.’bjiBj
oPdqOnly that way could he avoid repeating the same tragedy.vWyv
3lKokgBut the circumstances weren’t in his favor.4PUBcx
ef6kUI‘Forming a blue circle takes at least three years…’6uslqz
ThloiFAnd he had only three weeks to show convincing results.ObT4IH
hxDsBsIt was a ridiculously short deadline—but Perda didn’t rush.ki7R
CKonkHe knew he would find a way.rhhM
6cXsjA***KCM
e0Q“Are you preparing?”jt5xL5
vMilFor the first time, Luri asked him a question while serving him breakfast.7jO4I9
WppXzj6Perda stabbed a piece of salad with his fork and replied calmly.hmONL
98PZb“Yes, I’m preparing.”TxOsHO
yM8c61F“Well, it doesn’t look like anything’s changed.”NOi
1pP“It’s a matter of persistence. Over time, it’ll work.”51OHZ
THTNn“I see.”BJ0aKG
f21Luri didn’t seem to have high expectations.Z3Grzb
CNzFor days, Perda had been researching methods to open the blue circle.WalCP
el6The only thing he had discovered was that, even though both used the same mana, the flow was completely different.lQjqVI
K9w‘In the end, I won’t be ready for the ceremony…’G26F7Ka
5lITo have spoken so confidently and achieved nothing wasn’t like him.137k
GLOBut even so, he remained calm and continued searching for a solution.nWB4m
EldThen, just as he was about to welcome a new sunrise—uOjdBt
F6q5DykKrrrrrumble!1DJgG
triTA roar shook the castle’s foundations.jYtqU1H
4N4qA crash strong enough to make the walls tremble.dpM
iB20IIt had happened nearby.wyVg
HlxQ“What’s going on?”khhnlus
DsdLuri answered without blinking.Kqd3UE7
oe9“My lady is conducting a monster hunt.”r8Ojy
Nve38“Monster hunt?”SrS5
vNSoco7“Yes. Exterminating the creatures that crawl from the Cursed Land in the east.”P5vI5Y
gxIXekBoom!hsKY
3IFEPerda might have overlooked that explanation on another day.m6sJLtu
fiiM8But this time was different.8qy
PbqPG‘Maybe…’Mq7Xh7
wbcqHe felt a sense of premonition.AdoMrV
GDb8kuThe path he was looking for might lie there.a538gl
xljwR“I want to see that battle.”gC3E
Oihr3WU“What?”Et7r
UdWLuri’s face remained expressionless.FnOXl3c
tnwlb96“It’s not in your best interest. No one who has seen my lady fight has kept their sanity.”tNelQzb
bkOJMWPerda recalled his past life.98HQi
mij1scdHe had seen dragons many times, but none had shaken him like the red dragoness.NTZG1w
vUGBouJMaybe it was because she showed him direct hostility—but still.3XLgnV
Dy5cwThe difference in level was real.9dh
X1y28Even as a ninth-circle archmage, he had felt fear.i9UItKc
BjJWhNAWhat would happen now, when he was nothing more than a weak human?Xmt
oGK0Would he scream in terror, lose composure?PIem
7mlyyi1“So don’t entertain pointless curiosity.”ZwF
vnXoDY“No.”ZGXVxOZ
VkYf7tRPerda shook his head.6j7
yHOSnb4This wasn’t simple curiosity.IXPZN
YNX7FTIt was research.rarNb
y5nUkyIt was the search for an answer.PSX4EDj
ayqC“I want to witness it—that battle.”ycnwCWY
hFgThe duty of one who aspired to become her consort.9rx
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
𝙲𝚒𝚎l
Mortal8th?