Chapter 46: Vain Hope

Leaving behind Vernell, whose face was sunken into emptiness, Perda began speaking with Count Consilus.

“About the Grand Council…”

The topic was the meeting attended by all the highest-ranking nobles.

“I received a response that they would like me to participate.”

“Ah… that is excellent news. At last there will be a voice representing the Far East…”

A tear fell from Consilus’s wrinkled eyes.

“Forgive me. At this age, one becomes more sensitive.”

“It doesn’t bother me. They say only those of ducal rank can attend, what do you know about it?”

“I wouldn’t say I know everything, but I’ll try to answer as best I can.”

“What position do you think I’ll have there?”

Consilus sighed before answering.

It wasn’t something good.

“If I’m honest… it won’t be favorable. You are new, you haven’t even completed a year, and you are young. And you don’t rule by your own right, but as a regent. If I translate it…”

Consilus stroked his beard and, pretending arrogance, said.

“It’s like placing a real sword in the hands of a novice who should barely be playing with a wooden one.”

“Do you also see it that way?”

Perda asked coldly.

Consilus let out a laugh.

“Of course not. You may lack experience, but seeing that you seek advice for the development of the Grand Duchy, I know you truly wish to improve.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

“In any case, in the White House of the neutral territory of Blancaros, only five people may enter, including servants. It is not allowed to bring too many people.”

“Yes, showing off in front of someone more knowledgeable is ridiculous. Do most fill that quota?”

“That’s right. They go well dressed, with servants and heirs, to display their status. If you wish, I can assign you my knights as an escort and prepare you for an entrance as imposing as possible.”

“It’s not necessary.”

Although image was important, Perda did not want to compete with false appearances.

“If you already have someone to take, that’s fine, but could you at least take one of my men? He will not dishonor the name of the Grand Duchy.”

Perda frowned.

He hated the indirect way of asking favors.

“I don’t like beating around the bush. If there is trust, say it directly. What is your objective? Do you want to go yourself?”

Consilus coughed, embarrassed.

“What would this old man want with the Grand Council…? Ahem…”

Perda was direct, and Consilus yielded.

“You know a knight named Arwen, right?”

“The knight you mention.”

He had seen him several times; he even escorted him to the Empire.

“I would like that young man to see the Grand Council.”

“You want to give experience to a mere knight?”

“He may be a simple knight, but he is loyal and honorable. He has served his entire life in the Far East and lacks worldly experience. I think seeing something like that would be useful for him.”

It was an unusual request.

To take a knight just so he could gain experience.

Perda even wondered if they were family.

“What relationship do you have with Arwen?”

“Haha, none. I only saw him once on the battlefield. For me it was insignificant, but for him it was not.”

Consilus had no family.

His wife died, his son as well.

He never remarried.

For him, Arwen was like a son.

“Alright. I’ll take him.”

“Thank you for accepting this whim of an old man. Is there anything else you wish to know?”

“What do you think about presenting a proposal at the council?”

“A proposal…? You have the right, so no one will stop you, but…”

His expression worsened.

“It could be counterproductive. Instead of allies, you could gain enemies.”

“I don’t care.”

Perda was determined.

“Forgive me, but may I know what it is about?”

“I will ask whether it is correct to call Grand Duchess Valdrova an evil dragon.”

“Grand Duchess Valdrova…”

Consilus brought his hand to his temple.

“You know she is not an evil dragon.”

“Of course. I do not know her completely, but I know she is not as wicked as they say.”

“She is considered such because she cannot control her nature. Isn’t that so?”

“That is what is said…”

“But what if she could restrain that fiery nature?”

“If she can control that impulse and has no intention of harming humans, she could easily rid herself of the label of an evil dragon. But you should not have too many illusions. In the Grand Council there will be no one on the side of Grand Duchess Valdrova.”

“It can be changed. Of course, if even after hearing my explanation they insist without reason…”

A killing intent appeared in Perda’s eyes.

“Then they will have to give an answer or pay the corresponding price.”

Consilus’s Adam’s apple moved sharply.

That suffocating sensation he had felt the first time.

The same gaze with which he killed Tesalos Wolcher without blinking.

“The negotiation hall is in the territory of Blancaros. Please avoid letting it come to violence.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not an idiot.”

Perda rested his chin on his hand.

One month, huh?

The Grand Council was attended by nobles of ducal rank or higher, along with kings.

‘And also the dragon spawn.’

Representatives of beings capable of overturning entire nations.

It was a human society and, at the same time, a society of dragons.

If Perda said he didn’t feel the weight on his shoulders, it would be a lie.

Even so, he had to do it.

That was the reason for his existence in that place.

***

Perda decided who he would take with him.

First, as Count Consilus requested, the knight Arwen.

Then, Zed Swallow, excellent as a representative figure.

‘With me, that makes three. It should be enough.’

Although he could take up to five, Perda had no intention of filling the quota.

He was not interested in bringing other lords either, and they did not dare to ask.

When he had already decided to go with only three people, someone unexpected approached.

“I will also go to the Grand Council.”

It was Ruri.

Perda replied.

“There’s nothing delicious to eat there.”

“Do you think I’m a pig?”

“A pi—”

“If you say something strange, I’ll rub you again.”

Perda closed his mouth.

She was a woman who did what she said.

“At least I won’t damage your image. Will you give me permission?”

“I’ll repeat it, you won’t gain anything good by going. Silverwind regularly participates there.”

The silver dragon Silverwind.

Ruri was not Valdrova’s spawn, but inherited the blood of Silverwind.

Silver dragon spawn hated Valdrova.

Because she killed Silverwind.

To them, Ruri was nothing more than a traitor.

There was no reason for her to go to a place where she would gain nothing good.

But her response was different from expected.

“That’s precisely why I’m going.”

Perda looked at her seriously.

“Then tell me your objective clearly. Don’t try to hide it.”

His voice became harsh.

“…I just want to exchange information.”

Ruri muttered before answering.

“I’ve been too isolated from Silverwind. I need to know if they still hold resentment toward my lady.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Ruri was a dragon spawn.

And one of a silver dragon.

That meant she knew better than anyone how they thought.

“They won’t feel any goodwill toward Valdrova.”

“A long time has passed. Maybe that hatred has calmed.”

“Dragons do not let go of grudges. You know that.”

Dragons do not abandon vengeance.

Even if the target dies, the hatred passes to the next generation.

Silverwind would never forgive Valdrova.

Ruri knew it better than anyone.

“Even so… I want to talk to them.”

Perda observed her.

She wanted to cling to that small possibility called “maybe.”

“No.”

Perda cut her off.

That was why no.

Because he knew that hope had no future.

“We’ll go as three. You stay here and take care of the place.”

Ruri’s body tensed.

She tried to hide it with a neutral expression.

But her resentment was evident.

“…Understood.”

Ruri turned around and left without saying goodbye.

***

Perda tried the training method again from time to time.

He managed to enter concentration and reach the awakened state.

But there was no rotation in his Red Circle to sustain it.

‘What am I lacking?’

If he lacked hatred, he could feed it.

That was why in the past he envied the strong and fought them.

But this feeling… how was it filled?

Should he look only at her every year, every month, every day, every second?

‘Fill…’

It was a ridiculous idea.

Desire is not thirst.

Even if thirst disappears, it only leaves room for something greater.

And when you keep filling and filling that thirst again and again, there comes a point where reason degrades into nothing more than a tool to satisfy that desire.

Perda sought revenge for the sake of revenge and killed countless people.

The emotions were born entirely from his own heart.

That was why, the more he tried to resolve them in a hurry, the easier it was to stray down the wrong path.

‘What is it that I lack…?’

He closed his eyes and quietly entered his inner world.

Her face.

What he wanted most was to see again that face he had only seen once.

But Valdrova would not show her face.

Because she suffered from social phobia.

So he erased that thought from his mind.

Someday, that would end up devouring him.

“…Meditating definitely isn’t for me.”

He was a man more accustomed to filling his mind than emptying it.

Instead of sitting and feeding fantasies, it was better to go for a walk and replace them with other thoughts.

Thus, Perda stood up.

It was late at night, with the moon leaning toward the west.

The silent hallway was bathed in a faint blue light.

Perda stopped by the window and looked at the moon.

It was a full moon.

“Anna Rosnova.”

The name escaped like a sigh.

It was his mother’s name.

On full moon nights, he always thought of her.

When he was a child, Perda hated the night.

In the dark shadows, he imagined monsters lurking, ready to pounce on him.

Even now, he did not like the night.

Because every time he was in danger, it was always at night.

And yet, he looked at the moon.

Because it was one of the few comforts he had.

That light that shone brightest in the deepest darkness was the only way to remember his mother’s faint smile.

Until the moment he was consumed by his thirst for revenge, he had always found comfort in it.

‘Mother…’

A beautiful woman, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Perda filled his mind with that memory.

He distanced himself a little from his obsession and tried to see himself objectively, filling himself with his mother’s presence.

Then it happened.

From the long hallway, the sound of footsteps began to be heard.

Clink, clink.

In another castle, he would have thought it was a guard or a patrolling knight.

But in Valdrova’s castle, the only one who patrolled was Ruri.

And Ruri wore a maid’s uniform, not armor.

‘That means…’

Perda doubted his own thought.

Something like that couldn’t be happening right now.

However, the sound that grew closer and the silhouette that began to reveal itself convinced him.

From the darkness emerged dragon cavalry armor.

And there was only one person who could wear it and walk through that castle.

My fiancée.

Valdrova.

She was standing in front of him.