Chapter 54: Butterfly and Jewel

After the Grand Council ended, the celebration that followed began.

The atmosphere felt even more tense than before the meeting.

If earlier they had been relaxed exchanging information, now the groups displayed their internal cohesion.

‘They look like children.’

It was no different from fighting and then splitting into sides.

The only difference was that they held swords capable of mobilizing countless people.

The Empire was no exception.

As a great empire, even among those of ducal rank there were more than thirty.

But they did not act as a single entity; instead, they grouped themselves into internal factions.

Alexander, who had shown so much interest, found Perda and approached him familiarly.

“Did something happen?”

“I just talked a bit about the proposal.”

“Ah, I see. I didn’t think you would say with such ambition that you would conquer the Far East. If you need anything, just say it. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

“Thank you.”

With that, the conversation ended, and Alexander returned to acting as the leader of his group.

Zed, who quickly understood the atmosphere of the nobility, noticed the change.

“Did you have a falling out with the first prince? Before the council it seemed like everything was going well…”

“He’s simply ignoring me because I’m not useful to him.”

Perda left the group without hesitation.

From the beginning, he had no intention of mixing with them.

Soon another man approached, bowing at the waist.

“It is an honor to meet the consort of the incarnation of great power. I am Bernard Wayne, rector of Escolea.”

“It is an honor to meet the director of humanity’s greatest center of knowledge.”

The man who had proposed the topic of demon followers.

Perda frowned unintentionally.

“Is something wrong? Your expression…”

“No…”

Bernard’s shiny head reflected the chandelier’s light.

“It’s just that your head shines too much.”

“Ahem… let’s leave that aside. Thank you for today.”

“Thank you?”

“When the imperial prince intervened, the topic almost went off track. Thanks to you speaking, I was able to finish.”

Ah, that.

“Don’t worry. I hate those who play politics with monsters. I like capable people.”

“It’s not easy to deal with others with conviction. I think I’ll be able to get along well with you, Regent Valdrova.”

Bernard smiled awkwardly.

He seemed like someone plotting something, but that wasn’t the case.

He was simply too diligent and responsible.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I was planning to present a technology based on what I explained today. But seeing how the meeting went, I couldn’t find the right moment.”

“Technology?”

“Something I’ve dedicated my life to. The monster appearance prediction mechanism.”

“A prediction system… it sounds familiar.”

“Impossible. Escolea has been developing it in secret.”

It might have been secret, but Perda already knew it from the future.

‘Tesalos Wolcher.’

He had mentioned it.

He said it was close to completion, but it disappeared.

That with it, the workload would have been reduced by half.

Perda had considered that obsession ridiculous.

But now—

The ridiculous one had been him.

“Rector.”

“Yes.”

“When do you plan to reveal it?”

“Soon. Do you know Hallim? We rented a hall there and will gather merchants for an exhibition and presentation.”

Then, looking around, he whispered conspiratorially.

“And also to relax a bit.”

“Then I’ll have to stay alive until then.”

“Of course. It would be unfair to die without enjoying it. If you can, Regent…”

“If you invite me, I will attend.”

“Heh, like a true man.”

The rector gave him a knowing look.

“Then I’ll send you an invitation. I must greet others, excuse me.”

“Take care.”

The conversation with the rector was a great gain.

An exhibition in Hallim with merchants.

The monster prediction system already existed.

‘And I can also put him in my debt.’

Perda hated politics.

But if he needed something, he would obtain it no matter what.

That was why he had attended the Grand Council.

“Zed, Arwen.”

“Yes?”

“Yes!”

Same response, different tone.

“From now on, keep an eye on the rector of Escolea in secret.”

“That bald guy? What did he do for you to assign that?”

“He’s someone who could die at any moment. Watch that he doesn’t do anything strange and stay alert for any suspicious signs. It’s a priority.”

“Understood.”

Unlike Arwen, Zed did not respond immediately.

“I’ll do it, but why?”

“You talk too much for a knight.”

“I’m a fake knight. And the lord I swore loyalty to didn’t even hold my ceremony.”

“Do it and you’ll receive your reward.”

“Blah, understood.”

At the word “reward,” Zed calmed down instantly.

He had probably complained just to get to that.

After sending them off, Perda observed the surroundings again.

While analyzing the factions, he saw Olivia.

She was with priests dressed in white with golden edges.

‘The side of the Holy State of Odograsa?’

It was strange.

The Arken Empire and the Holy State of Odograsa did not coexist.

Two suns could not shine together.

And yet—

A woman in a dress that clearly revealed her cleavage was talking with priests.

At that moment, as if she had noticed his gaze, she met eyes with Perda.

She smiled with her eyes and made a subtle gesture for him to come closer.

Uncomfortable.

But if he had to mingle with someone, Olivia was not a bad option.

Thinking that, Perda walked toward her.

Olivia’s eyes, fixed on him, shone with her usual perfect smile.

She placed her hand on Perda’s shoulder.

“Allow me to introduce you.”

There were two men.

An elderly man of frail build with a crown, and a middle-aged man with scars on his face, standing like a soldier.

“This is Regent Perda Valdrova, future consort of the great red dragon Valdrova. You already know him, right?”

“Heh, of course we do. It would be impossible not to know him.”

The old man stroked his white beard as he laughed.

From his sleeve protruded an arm so thin it seemed like bone and skin.

Despite wearing high shoes, he was much shorter than Olivia.

His figure looked so fragile that even his clothes gave the impression they might crush him.

However, when looking into his eyes, everything changed.

In his golden gaze, a divine light seemed to burn.

Even Perda, who had burned away all faith within himself, felt the presence of a god in those eyes.

Perda showed respect.

“It is an honor to meet the Son of Miracles, Father of the Holy State, His Holiness Gregorio.”

“The pleasure is mine, Regent Perda. I heard it is your first time at the Grand Council.”

“That is correct.”

“For it being your first time, it was quite bold.”

“I imagine you did not like it.”

Gregorio shook his head.

“No. It is a question that this old man has also asked himself at some point. Whether the evil dragon Valdrova is not, in fact, the guardian of the east.”

“Really?”

“I speak on behalf of Odograsa. That is why I must be cautious. I cannot support your position immediately.”

He gave a light pat on Perda’s arm.

“But if you demonstrate your will to clear up that misunderstanding, I will not be able to avoid supporting you in the name of the golden scales.”

The name of the golden scales.

An absolute oath among the followers of Odograsa.

Spoken by the religious leader himself, it implied genuine intent.

At least on the surface.

But Perda did not fully believe it.

Even that leader prioritized interests.

“I appreciate your words.”

“Follow your path. If you believe in the god in your heart and move forward, you will surely receive an answer.”

When he finished, Olivia intervened.

“Then we will take our leave, Your Holiness. Take care of your health.”

“May the golden blessing accompany you.”

After the formal greeting, Olivia naturally clung to Perda’s arm.

She did not give him time to refuse.

“Let’s go.”

With subtle movements, she guided him as if he were leading her.

When they had moved far enough away, Olivia spoke.

“I heard what happened at the meeting.”

He did not like her gaze.

“Was that proposal your idea?”

“Yes.”

“It was foolish.”

Despite her cold words, Olivia smiled sweetly.

From her expression, no one would imagine the content of the conversation.

“It was necessary.”

“It was not something to say in your debut. It could bring negative consequences. The image of the Far East could have been poorly defined.”

Her tone was sharp, nothing like someone raised among luxuries.

“A princess who speaks with the leader of another country comes to scold me?”

“Excuse me? Do not compare me. I am always like this. I am like a butterfly.”

“A butterfly?”

Olivia smiled.

She released his arm and walked—no, floated—with her dress fluttering.

“I fly from one place to another, surrounding everyone. It seems like they can catch me, but they cannot, and they end up following me. Neither too light, nor too unreachable.”

She truly was like a butterfly.

A perfect balance.

Then she gently returned to Perda.

“Even so, it was not entirely bad. Your declaration to conquer the cursed land did not leave only a bad impression.”

“Is that so?”

“Look at those old and cowardly faces. It means they clearly remember your face, even though before you were just an extra.”

Perda had noticed it as well.

“You have no allies now, but if you prove your ability, they will soon bow to you. Even with just a 1% chance.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because the great Valdrova has a unique privilege. Territorial expansion.”

There was only one place to expand.

The Far East. The cursed land.

A territory no one desired.

But if said out loud, it would sound like a joke.

Because in reality, her territory was shrinking.

“If you manage to purify that land and turn it into ours, it will become a second capital.”

“A second capital…?”

“The empire is saturated. Many young people leave their lands seeking success in the capital. They call it the imperial dream.”

“Having dreams is not bad.”

“No, it is not. But in the current empire, they are worth nothing. Do you know how many arrive and die?”

“It is not something that interests me.”

“In any case, if you prove the value of that land, the Far East will cease to be a wasteland and will become a land of opportunity. More territory, more population, more power.”

The east would grow.

Perda asked.

“Do you think the empire will just stand by?”

Olivia replied.

“Of course not. They will suppress it as if they do not care what happens to Valdrova.”

The Arken Empire would not abandon the power it holds in the capital.

Even if someone had to die.

“That is why you must help me.”

Her tone became heavy.

As if what she would say next was the important part, Perda focused his attention.

“What do you mean?”

“I am a butterfly, but at the same time I am also a jewel placed at auction. A jewel that sooner or later will be sold to the central nobility.”

The title of princess that elevated her was, at the same time, a chain.

It was nothing surprising.

It was not a tragedy exclusive to Olivia.

In strict noble families, most daughters lived the same way.

The better they were educated and the more beautiful they grew, the higher the chances of being given to even more influential families.

Men rose in their own way, women in theirs.

A princess was the ultimate card the emperor held.

Then Perda understood.

Why she maintained relations with the Holy State of Odograsa.

“I must become a saint.”

Olivia smiled deeply.

“If I become a saint, I will be able to free myself from the price of being a princess.”

“No one will want to claim a devout saint and provoke the wrath of the gods and the faithful.”

“Exactly.”

Olivia possessed every symbol of oath, devotion, and recognition.

But she lacked something crucial.

Her condition as a princess.

‘If she stops being a princess and becomes a saint…’

She would cease to be a tool of the emperor and become a figure with power of her own.

Not just a beautiful flower, but a savior.

She would gain religious support.

And she would stop being a “jewel at auction.”

She would form a stable base of power.

It sounded good.

But Perda already knew.

‘Olivia will not succeed in becoming a saint.’

That was why she broke her oath.

She seduced her own blood, became a femme fatale who led the empire to ruin, and in the end took her own life.

Perda remembered it clearly.

“Can you do it?”

In her eyes there was a hidden message.

For me.

Her delicate voice stirred protective instincts.

Perda looked at her directly.

“I will do it.”

But not for you.

“If you cooperate enough.”

But for my fiancée.

This was nothing more than an agreement.

“Of course.”

Olivia, upon looking into his eyes, was surprised for an instant.

Her voice trembled ever so slightly.

Her face almost flushed, but Perda did not notice.

Perda released her arm.

“Then I will take my leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“I feel like it is time to look for a lost girl.”

“A lost girl?”

Perda let go of her hand and left.

The men who held Olivia’s hand were always the same.

In their eyes there was a desire to possess.

And they never let go—she had to release them.

But Perda was not like that.

He left without looking back.

As if the most beautiful woman in the empire did not matter to him at all.

Rather, Olivia could not take her eyes off him until he disappeared.

‘An ally who is not swayed by emotions.’

Someone who eliminates unnecessary variables and acts logically.

That was exactly what Olivia needed.

‘And yet…’

Not being looked at was not as pleasant as she thought.

A faint disappointment washed over her.

But she had no time for that.

The nobles began to surround her.

“It is an honor to meet the princess of the Arken Empire, Lady Olivia.”

“I am Ken, son of the Duchy of Huse…”

As soon as Perda disappeared, the flowers gathered around the butterfly.

No—

Beasts with dirty money trying to buy her.

Olivia smiled at them.

Like a precious jewel.