Chapter 46: Vain Hope
CuNgqXLeaving behind Vernell, whose face was sunken into emptiness, Perda began speaking with Count Consilus.EUZXv5
DLAt6“About the Grand Council…”rWl15L
5XtfThe topic was the meeting attended by all the highest-ranking nobles.7WWjsz
Lpx“I received a response that they would like me to participate.”wAeIFuc
FAg1n5“Ah… that is excellent news. At last there will be a voice representing the Far East…”hINeE63
cDEc90A tear fell from Consilus’s wrinkled eyes.EsNf
8V4ni“Forgive me. At this age, one becomes more sensitive.”EgHW
6qHC6C“It doesn’t bother me. They say only those of ducal rank can attend, what do you know about it?”8VUzPE7
rdoVyK“I wouldn’t say I know everything, but I’ll try to answer as best I can.”1AF3
RtUSO“What position do you think I’ll have there?”MGjJDsy
7fLkXgConsilus sighed before answering.NVYp
Q7MqIt wasn’t something good.cal
RSJyrCe“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…”WTp1
IXh0CConsilus stroked his beard and, pretending arrogance, said.tyFVmS
2yd2G0E“It’s like placing a real sword in the hands of a novice who should barely be playing with a wooden one.”y02
QyAsX“Do you also see it that way?”SKy5ky
clYmPPerda asked coldly.23pXm
Tg7prConsilus let out a laugh.i8lQWU
HzKCT“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.”0ifmFGN
FRpH“I appreciate you saying that.”kxjFEe
MJV“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.”lG7dvi
0JKzL“Yes, showing off in front of someone more knowledgeable is ridiculous. Do most fill that quota?”ofNpHQp
cZun“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.”m1h4c
JRfn“It’s not necessary.”2bZ1l
5M1ypHAlthough image was important, Perda did not want to compete with false appearances.tlUENbz
4jcTp“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.”pTK8i3c
PelpkPerda frowned.zFEc
O4AO4He hated the indirect way of asking favors.r6I
M9bc“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?”yY6ERWv
fJcSjNConsilus coughed, embarrassed.gqIYu
aVXX“What would this old man want with the Grand Council…? Ahem…”yGv
r5wtvbPerda was direct, and Consilus yielded.TKg
Yxn“You know a knight named Arwen, right?”1L9
d3cjuQW“The knight you mention.”Vl5y3
4xZ8IBHe had seen him several times; he even escorted him to the Empire.aDN9Kf
XAHN1“I would like that young man to see the Grand Council.”DmM
MMKk“You want to give experience to a mere knight?”BZeWKU
WRxgG“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.”wh3t
M0cF2It was an unusual request.PM76O9
pAHPeC9To take a knight just so he could gain experience.80d
uZIf9Perda even wondered if they were family.qEapQTu
68H“What relationship do you have with Arwen?”dpI
BjGt5xg“Haha, none. I only saw him once on the battlefield. For me it was insignificant, but for him it was not.”OgeJior
lReBCConsilus had no family.UXnHKy
qcmS9His wife died, his son as well.0yUidX
A9KCOQHe never remarried.q9qIl9
zJXFor him, Arwen was like a son.5T5zTFu
sjVq5l“Alright. I’ll take him.”WQu2
sK0yLu“Thank you for accepting this whim of an old man. Is there anything else you wish to know?”bMw
m3gEj“What do you think about presenting a proposal at the council?”Yms1
NGi“A proposal…? You have the right, so no one will stop you, but…”vXD
7eyHis expression worsened.te3nz
iNlD5Y“It could be counterproductive. Instead of allies, you could gain enemies.”zLjD
hBECf“I don’t care.”zWXeDM
NtzQGlUPerda was determined.7g3
5joOK“Forgive me, but may I know what it is about?”CCKiD
rKLB2SR“I will ask whether it is correct to call Grand Duchess Valdrova an evil dragon.”w8ss
vVhIMf“Grand Duchess Valdrova…”tac4s
q8284BmConsilus brought his hand to his temple.y6LZ0s0
naIA“You know she is not an evil dragon.”Z9FurjE
7nDSBhb“Of course. I do not know her completely, but I know she is not as wicked as they say.”lkt
fcId“She is considered such because she cannot control her nature. Isn’t that so?”uV8
uVcf“That is what is said…”fLqc
1JoPs“But what if she could restrain that fiery nature?”DzoONg
p4lrpcI“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.”FKTM
WTt1kE“It can be changed. Of course, if even after hearing my explanation they insist without reason…”PFB7X
kbGA killing intent appeared in Perda’s eyes.LXld0
XuapnIE“Then they will have to give an answer or pay the corresponding price.”xeWP22
ho710o9Consilus’s Adam’s apple moved sharply.DEGJ
XtWTv0uThat suffocating sensation he had felt the first time.5TFLf
8yjuCThe same gaze with which he killed Tesalos Wolcher without blinking.wOA
FWPzfg“The negotiation hall is in the territory of Blancaros. Please avoid letting it come to violence.”H35zbD
tiKifv“Don’t worry. I’m not an idiot.”dIRwmI
H7XYJjZPerda rested his chin on his hand.PpXw8u
hLbRDsXOne month, huh?NiuPnN
wYtRwThe Grand Council was attended by nobles of ducal rank or higher, along with kings.FDNAv
JF9i‘And also the dragon spawn.’vIS7
7gRfetMRepresentatives of beings capable of overturning entire nations.L05Fg7Q
uzuj8It was a human society and, at the same time, a society of dragons.xO6mdR
Y6QIf Perda said he didn’t feel the weight on his shoulders, it would be a lie.0y090lb
kmnNjHnEven so, he had to do it.ZVn
8xLThat was the reason for his existence in that place.4GFr
Nvgje***10I
HUwvPerda decided who he would take with him.mAr01
2TUyrlFirst, as Count Consilus requested, the knight Arwen.r6mSL
ELHThen, Zed Swallow, excellent as a representative figure.4X3YM
NXyj1‘With me, that makes three. It should be enough.’7Hy
kRkAlthough he could take up to five, Perda had no intention of filling the quota.cvW
zSDyqy8He was not interested in bringing other lords either, and they did not dare to ask.YZswAJb
YCbhtWhen he had already decided to go with only three people, someone unexpected approached.moos3
Q0R“I will also go to the Grand Council.”d8pOpKK
7wAhIt was Ruri.INEh4i
hEokUPerda replied.iuHwaD
yOOQtQ“There’s nothing delicious to eat there.”rl5c3SX
eK4“Do you think I’m a pig?”aZi0
QUoi“A pi—”TnrQ9
8sI8“If you say something strange, I’ll rub you again.”G6xQys
LSyPerda closed his mouth.arK
6vWy0YShe was a woman who did what she said.byKJi
q7DxkQJ“At least I won’t damage your image. Will you give me permission?”Eoaia
Dj06TTI“I’ll repeat it, you won’t gain anything good by going. Silverwind regularly participates there.”LkfFU
1c9BIThe silver dragon Silverwind.go43hy
aM57q0Ruri was not Valdrova’s spawn, but inherited the blood of Silverwind.oKPrb4
U5wf0Silver dragon spawn hated Valdrova.c5Nw
BiT1apNBecause she killed Silverwind.Y5Ff8
OAkTo them, Ruri was nothing more than a traitor.91zkAEM
JkmTgnThere was no reason for her to go to a place where she would gain nothing good.vrVg
cbk2ahnBut her response was different from expected.pcZOh1
kLAg4ON“That’s precisely why I’m going.”pCO7mx
568EePerda looked at her seriously.Rd1Iv
IEo“Then tell me your objective clearly. Don’t try to hide it.”gyZWy
TWtN9His voice became harsh.uc2kN
h93“…I just want to exchange information.”65cNa6
6MkRuri muttered before answering.4HPR
vMEnV6z“I’ve been too isolated from Silverwind. I need to know if they still hold resentment toward my lady.”mOBqH3b
Zsa9eQn“Isn’t that obvious?”nb7
Wp3X3Ruri was a dragon spawn.3kdgNN
7ukAnd one of a silver dragon.95L8ZQ
pfOThat meant she knew better than anyone how they thought.X9w
Car9“They won’t feel any goodwill toward Valdrova.”6hBM2X
vAx7Bh“A long time has passed. Maybe that hatred has calmed.”FjD85CV
M9j09B“Dragons do not let go of grudges. You know that.”EySAbC0
wKqHHDragons do not abandon vengeance.Uj5Js
MysMEven if the target dies, the hatred passes to the next generation.l0M
bDAVSilverwind would never forgive Valdrova.c0PEA
5HOXRuri knew it better than anyone.YOx
BM0TCpO“Even so… I want to talk to them.”aQB4
zVUuLoPerda observed her.b61Kw
ZxOShe wanted to cling to that small possibility called “maybe.”RyfpxNv
V7X7J“No.”fKBafR
jE0yBPerda cut her off.AwFxS
gHHThat was why no.jnZmO3
E0O0xmvBecause he knew that hope had no future.PkZ7PzK
QOIE1“We’ll go as three. You stay here and take care of the place.”2Fo
Py8sUURuri’s body tensed.E4qXL6a
meuGShe tried to hide it with a neutral expression.AEJ
tUrHWBut her resentment was evident.hQV0nY9
nfvzF“…Understood.”eZ31
6vDTqcGRuri turned around and left without saying goodbye.hI6wm
MhE5***dUrkX
qPTvxAPerda tried the training method again from time to time.pxMw
VocHe managed to enter concentration and reach the awakened state.ewRVYU
vtPWBut there was no rotation in his Red Circle to sustain it.0Wc
YlDwq‘What am I lacking?’SkBxN
1MH9yIf he lacked hatred, he could feed it.Elv7yB
00VptThat was why in the past he envied the strong and fought them.u7WSOwJ
8AI5But this feeling… how was it filled?7paP9
pZMjGyShould he look only at her every year, every month, every day, every second?RkuS
l1AS6W‘Fill…’nZzTsz
kvEIt was a ridiculous idea.ozCwkI
aPjRDesire is not thirst.konWu
h4SMEven if thirst disappears, it only leaves room for something greater.VwEpIB
E2GbkAnd 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.ROb
29UCCZrPerda sought revenge for the sake of revenge and killed countless people.Zpn3Gk
9Dpq2The emotions were born entirely from his own heart.8ER
Mp8rThat was why, the more he tried to resolve them in a hurry, the easier it was to stray down the wrong path.uUPtR03
O8a1O‘What is it that I lack…?’1Z1Ya
hZPnJHe closed his eyes and quietly entered his inner world.hYVb
Bz8wHer face.qhw
XlyWhat he wanted most was to see again that face he had only seen once.xmBUGT
fsKCBut Valdrova would not show her face.mfx
MCAAYBecause she suffered from social phobia.2Sngpty
KINSo he erased that thought from his mind.qcFu0QQ
kVnBkSomeday, that would end up devouring him.j5L
Bsuea3b“…Meditating definitely isn’t for me.”aR9LTD1
S0OHe was a man more accustomed to filling his mind than emptying it.f43PgnE
2IPA0PlInstead of sitting and feeding fantasies, it was better to go for a walk and replace them with other thoughts.EnVeMW
I8IRThus, Perda stood up.n9ezF
FcZHJ6KIt was late at night, with the moon leaning toward the west.kjjL3Qj
IHsNw5The silent hallway was bathed in a faint blue light.WII7
7pTNnePerda stopped by the window and looked at the moon.uP0l3BT
niOZIt was a full moon.yDmY
hnt“Anna Rosnova.”tzaaC
DLl8sThe name escaped like a sigh.6iyZ
w2c2It was his mother’s name.cxIdv
B8dOn full moon nights, he always thought of her.hQ6PQn
olGWhen he was a child, Perda hated the night.Y8rY6
EOYhNIn the dark shadows, he imagined monsters lurking, ready to pounce on him.MLZEWK
VhxEven now, he did not like the night.Aafb
VrYVdc5Because every time he was in danger, it was always at night.MG2y
qoWdoNEAnd yet, he looked at the moon.oYkf
lhw3Because it was one of the few comforts he had.W9hMcwA
tymAfThat light that shone brightest in the deepest darkness was the only way to remember his mother’s faint smile.l1gJhDt
LUm7EUntil the moment he was consumed by his thirst for revenge, he had always found comfort in it.ZCgCt
qxI6R‘Mother…’ITTYws
zoIbMA beautiful woman, with blonde hair and blue eyes.NSCqgP
L1n9Perda filled his mind with that memory.OkOMH
9ZluHe distanced himself a little from his obsession and tried to see himself objectively, filling himself with his mother’s presence.D3J7vb
U7vbyMThen it happened.mpD
PIVpaEwFrom the long hallway, the sound of footsteps began to be heard.TN9
n8N9BClink, clink.eSGr
nIDIn another castle, he would have thought it was a guard or a patrolling knight.UPlW
FZ0xtBut in Valdrova’s castle, the only one who patrolled was Ruri.u5Jdx
tUqcu2And Ruri wore a maid’s uniform, not armor.5jRYL
8S3‘That means…’Hsk
3J35I6Perda doubted his own thought.RIy
OaTYusSomething like that couldn’t be happening right now.ZnejJ
8xhcN4However, the sound that grew closer and the silhouette that began to reveal itself convinced him.41PtOX
eSrKetFrom the darkness emerged dragon cavalry armor.jUHOe
j63PAnd there was only one person who could wear it and walk through that castle.OeeDwLg
dMSoLMy fiancée.iomeUyK
EicQOfValdrova.8BEB8iZ
4pWShe was standing in front of him.om05WjM
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationShe still wearing a armor looks like she’s still embarrassed to face him directly also social phobia
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationOhh she surprised me 😮