Chapter 50: Grand Council

“I think the same.”

“……”

Upon hearing Perda’s response, Erdes stepped back slightly.

The tense atmosphere disappeared as if it had never been there, replaced by open laughter.

“Yes? I feel like I can talk well with you. Unlike those old men, you’re young. I’d like us to be able to talk like this more often.”

“I’ll make sure to contact you first.”

“Or I will. Prince! I’m going to go look around elsewhere. You know, beauties are busy.”

“Yes, of course! Have a good time!”

Erdes took her glass and left.

Once she was far enough away, Alexander turned his head.

“Do you have any connection with the magic association?”

“No.”

He did, but that was something from the distant future.

“I’m not going to reproach you. If there are grudges, it’s better to resolve them quickly.”

Even though he said it like that, Perda knew.

Alexander was desperate.

For a useless first prince, consolidating a power base required enormous strength, and that strength was magic.

“By the way, I heard that lately they’ve been importing magical beast corpses to the Far East…”

Faced with the sudden change of topic, Perda replied.

“That’s right.”

“We didn’t really have anywhere to bury them, and burning them every time was a hassle, so having them transported is very much appreciated.”

Alexander smiled, but his expression showed urgency.

‘Admit what you’re doing.’

Perda hesitated.

Keeping the production of mana stones a secret had been his decision.

It was still too early to reveal it.

He had thought about avoiding the answer, but upon seeing Alexander’s eyes, he couldn’t.

‘He’s a bastard who pointed his sword at his own father for the throne.’

No matter how he justified it, he was irredeemably ambitious.

That was an unchangeable truth.

He wanted to rule over a hundred million subjects.

That was why he flattered Erdes, trying not to oppose her.

‘That’s why Erdes thinks I inherited Tesalos’s work.’

In the end, everything was connected.

Perda thought about it.

Both options were bad, so he had to choose the lesser evil.

“In reality, we are researching the production of mana stones using magical beast corpses.”

He decided to tell the truth.

Alexander, clearly interested, leaned in to listen.

When it comes to magic, money is always involved.

“Mana stones? Something like those… crystal spheres mages use?”

“They’re similar, but not the same. This object simply contains pure mana.”

“I see…”

Perda explained what was known so far.

“For example, would it serve to support a mage’s magic?”

“It could, but it doesn’t allow mana recovery or direct use by the mage.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Also, its efficiency is around 7%, so for direct use by mages…”

“Ah, understood. Impressive.”

Alexander let out one admiration after another, but his interest gradually faded.

“Anyway… that has nothing to do with black magic, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Of course, when researching, one ends up touching various areas. What matters is intention, right? What I want to know is whether you can guarantee that there is not the slightest intention in that direction.”

Alexander insisted like a parrot.

Perda was about to repeat the same answer, when—

A faint scent brushed past his nose.

Perda knew that smell.

“For it being the first time you see him, you’re cornering him too much, brother.”

The soft voice made several men turn their heads.

It was Olivia Arken.

Dressed in a dazzling gown, she smiled with a seductive air.

Alexander, upon seeing her, laughed again.

“Ah, my dear sister! Now that I think about it, the regent already met you before, didn’t he? You were the one who received him in my place. I wonder if you treated him well.”

Alexander lightly placed his hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“Oh? Why are you so concerned?”

Olivia replied with an innocent smile.

Alexander’s hand slowly slid along her shoulder.

“Because there was a problem. A big one for the imperial family.”

“It was just an unnecessary concern. Lord Perda is a person of great generosity.”

“In moments like this, for the stability of the empire, one cannot be careless. Do you remember the incident in the imperial warehouse? It almost turned the country upside down. If I think about it, if you entered politics, you would only bring trouble.”

“Oh really? But everything was resolved without problems. Ah, right, now that I think about it, brother, you don’t even know what happened, do you? Because as soon as the level one alert was activated, you ran away—I mean, evacuated.”

With a natural expression and eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, they smiled while stabbing each other with words without mercy.

It was uncomfortable even for those listening.

‘Both are troublesome.’

Perda could only admire it.

It seemed like a hereditary trait of the Arken family.

“That’s standard procedure. If the heir of the empire dies, the empire collapses. I must survive for the sake of the empire.”

“Ah, of course. Naturally. The heir.”

Smiling with eyes curved like a crescent moon, she lightly covered her mouth with her fan.

No, she pretended to cover it while revealing a faint mocking smile that provoked the other.

“A very fitting attitude for someone who, after raising the sword of rebellion with ambition, ended up retreating pathetically.”

“Heh, this bitch… has more than she deserves and only uses it to seduce men, that’s why they call her a dangerous woman.”

“Isn’t that better than having it and not knowing how to use it? For example…”

Olivia discreetly lowered her gaze toward Alexander’s crotch.

“Father said he wanted to see his grandchildren. When do you plan to give him one?”

Alexander’s face turned red, very different from his smile.

Then he shifted his gaze toward Perda.

“Be careful. Beautiful roses have thorns. Who knows if those thorns are poisoned?”

He said it in a serious tone, like a warning.

Perda observed him in silence.

His face remained expressionless, but he couldn’t hide how pathetic he found him.

‘And yet he talks so much, being someone who already got pricked by that thorn.’

He didn’t know all the details, but before dying, Olivia had been in Alexander’s room.

Hadn’t he tried to touch his own sister and ended up stabbed?

In the end, he too had fallen for Olivia’s beauty.

That was why his words were ridiculous.

“I know.”

“Do you know? Then all the better. In that case, smile a little. Your face is too stiff, don’t you think?”

Alexander patted him on the back, showing a friendly and natural smile.

When he laughed, the nobles around him laughed as well.

Perda, seeing that, thought.

‘I want to go home.’

Valdrova’s face faintly appeared in his mind.

“So, in summary, it still has no practical use?”

“That’s correct.”

“I see. From now on, I will also pay attention to the development of the Far East.”

Of course, it was a lie.

A first prince busy currying favor with the central nobles would not take interest in the Far East.

“I appreciate your interest.”

That was why Perda also responded with a lie.

“Before the council begins, go greet several people. I’m being called over there.”

Alexander took his glass and headed in that direction.

Finally, he could breathe a little.

But just as he thought that, someone gently tugged at his clothes.

It was Olivia.

She was still by his side.

“Is there no one else you want to see?”

She asked in a dry tone.

“They’re not that important. Besides, there’s something more important.”

Olivia’s shoulder brushed against Perda’s.

“The representatives of the great dragon will arrive soon.”

Dragon representatives—in other words, dragon spawn.

‘Dragon spawn…’

Perda had not dealt much with them.

At most, he had briefly seen one from the Blue Dragon, master of magic.

He wanted to see with his own eyes what the others were like, apart from Ruri.

“I’m interested.”

Upon hearing his response, Olivia smiled broadly.

“Then, let’s go together.”

She extended her hand gently.

Her red lips moved like those of a shy woman.

A situation that would make any man’s heart race.

“What is this?”

Perda stared at her and asked.

“Oh? I’m asking you to escort me. Are you going to let a woman go alone?”

Olivia blinked.

Her slightly hunched shoulders resembled those of a helpless girl.

Perda took a step back.

“I already have a commitment.”

“Whether you do or not, it’s something that must be done. If we want to strengthen trust between us, this is the bare minimum, don’t you think?”

“I’ll leave it to Zed—”

“Have you ever seen an annoyed woman?”

Olivia’s face darkened.

“It’s not pleasant.”

“……”

Perda did not care in the slightest.

Seeing his indifference, Olivia stepped closer and said.

“Don’t you think that, as allies within the empire, we should strengthen our trust? We both have many secrets—this is the minimum necessary.”

Olivia insisted, letting a veiled threat slip through.

But at this moment, within the Empire, the only ally he had was Olivia, so ignoring her was also problematic.

“Haah… fine.”

“You should have done that from the beginning.”

With no other choice, Perda extended his hand.

He intended to take it superficially, but Olivia held it firmly and smiled with delight.

Perda glanced sideways at Ruri.

Her face was expressionless.

No, in reality her lips were slightly pursed, as if saying “I don’t like this.”

It was such a subtle change that no one would notice it, except Perda, who observed her frequently.

Of course, Ruri did not openly show her displeasure and acted like an exemplary maid.

And perhaps because of that, it felt even more unsettling.

‘I don’t want her to scrub me again…’

Both mentally and physically, that social atmosphere brought nothing but suffering.

Half resigned, Perda guided Olivia toward the window.

Outside the domain of Blancaros, a golden carriage had stopped.

From it descended elderly men and priests dressed in religious attire.

“Do you know who they are?”

Olivia interlaced her arm with Perda’s, holding him firmly.

“From the Holy Empire of Odograsa.”

“That’s right.”

The Gold Dragon, Odograsa.

A nation built upon a religion that venerates him as a deity.

Although it is called a Holy Empire, in reality it is more of an alliance between the Holy State and nearby kingdoms.

Odograsa has no spawn.

That is why the Pope and four high priests attended in person.

Shortly after, a blue portal opened.

On the other side could be seen the cold landscape characteristic of the northwest.

From there walked dragon spawn with blue hair and rounded horns.

“They are Iorga’s spawn. As always, they never miss the Grand Council.”

Iorga, lord of the magic tower and known as the eye that watches the continent.

More than mages, they looked like researchers, walking elegantly like nobles.

“Ah, they’re also coming from over there.”

Olivia looked up at the sky.

Five strange points descended from above.

They looked like silver comets advancing without restraint.

Perda recognized them from what he had seen through Ruri.

‘Silverwind.’

Despite their speed, they landed gently and entered the domain of Blancaros.

Perda watched them for a moment and then looked away.

Ruri, at his side, stared at them intently.

In her eyes was an emotion different from anything she had shown before.

Her tension could be clearly felt.

“It seems only three came. I suppose Storreus won’t participate this time. Well, that’s for the best—it saves us trouble.”

“It seems they have a bad reputation.”

“They’re evil dragons, aren’t they? Nothing but troublemakers. They love provoking fights.”

As the dragon spawn gathered, the spectators began to move one by one.

They headed toward the Grand Council hall.

“It’s time for you to move.”

Olivia released Perda’s arm.

Her position was that of a princess.

She had no right to participate in the council like the princes.

Perda began to walk along with the crowd heading toward the hall.

The Grand Council, where the powerful of the entire continent gathered, was about to begin.