I Married the Dragon I Killed — Chapter 63: Penelope

Chapter 63: Penelope

What‍⁠‍ appeared before their eyes was not‍ a normal prison.

A normal prison separates⁠‌⁠ spaces with bars.⁠‍

But‌‌ there, there were⁠‌‍ temperature-controlled capsules, lined‌⁠ up diagonally like‍ coffins.

And‌ inside each one,‌ there was a person.

Not‍⁠ only humans.

Orcs, elves, goblins, even‌‍ rare races.

All‍ lay there with⁠ no trace of‍ color in their⁠‍ faces.

A knight who was observing noticed something.⁠‌‍

“They’re‍‌⁠ all alive. They’re‍‌ still breathing.”

“Let’s⁠⁠ rescue them quickly!”‌‍⁠

When‌‍‌ they tried to‌ open a capsule,‌ Zed stopped them.

“What rescue? Our objective‍ is a demon.”‌

“Are‍‌ we just going⁠ to watch innocent‌ people die? That⁠ goes against knighthood!”‌‍⁠

“And‌ you still call⁠ yourselves knights?”

Zed‌‍ looked at them with disdain.

“They’re‌ going to die‍ frozen or they’re‍⁠ going to explode.‍⁠ The second is⁠ better. I’m going after the demon.”‍‌

Before‌‌‍ leaving, he added.‌

“And‍ don’t be idiots.”‌

They‍ had no choice‍‍ but to accept⁠ that he was⁠ right.

They‍ left with guilt.‍‍

Zed⁠⁠ didn’t.

They⁠‍ checked the rooms⁠⁠‌ one by one.‌‌

But‌ it didn’t take‍ long.

Bang!‍⁠‌ Bang! Bang!

“Aaaah!‍ Let me go!⁠‍‌ Let me out! What did I do to be here?!”

The‌ screams echoed through‌⁠‌ the hallway.

“Could⁠‍ that be her?”‍‌‍

“I hope not.”

They‍ headed toward the‍ source.

A capsule was shaking⁠ violently.

“Open‍ this! Now! Don’t‌‌ you know who‌‍ I am? I’m⁠ Penelope, daughter of the great demon‍⁠ Sitri!”

“Damn, it is her.”‌

With‍‌⁠ a grim expression,‌ the knights opened⁠⁠ the capsule.

The⁠ demon stopped banging,‌⁠ confused.

“Eh?‌ You actually opened⁠ it? Wait! Time!‍ Time! Don’t hit‍ me! I’ll stay‍‌ still! Really… huh?”⁠⁠

She‌‌ slowly opened her‍ eyes.

“What?⁠ You’re not guards.”⁠‍‌

“You are—”

“Where⁠ are the guards?‍ Who are you? Did you come to kill me?”⁠‌

“Are‍ you Pen—”

“Wait!‌‌ I didn’t do‍ anything! I have‌‌ nothing to do‌ with them! Let‌‍‍ me li—!”

Zed covered her mouth.

Total‌ silence.

“From⁠‌ now on, only⁠ answer yes or no. If it’s‌‌ yes, nod. If⁠‌ it’s no, shake your head. Understood?”⁠⁠⁠

“Mm.”‍

“Be‌ quiet.”

Seeing⁠⁠ the sword, Penelope⁠ calmed down.

She‌ nodded.

“Is⁠ your name Penelope?”‍‌

She‌‌ nods.

“Are⁠‌ you sure?”

She‌ nods.

“We‍⁠⁠ made a deal⁠ with Sitri. We‍ get you out⁠ of here in⁠‌ exchange for infiltrating.‌⁠ Follow us.”

“Mm?!”‌

“I‍‌ said yes or‌‍ no.”

“Mm‌ mm!”

“She’s⁠‍ resisting a lot.”‍

“Does⁠‍ she want to⁠⁠ say something?”

“Yes?‍‍ Hey, pink hair.‌ I’ll let you‌ go for three‍⁠ seconds. Speak clearly.”‌

Zed‌ removed his hand.‍

“waitamomentletmeexplainthisisntwhatitlooksliketheycapturedmebutitwasntlikethat—mmff!”⁠‌

“Useless.‌‌ Tie her up‌ and carry her.”‍‍‍

“Understood.”‍⁠‌

The woman didn’t manage⁠ to say anything.‌‍

She‌‍ resisted so much⁠ that she ended‍⁠‍ up getting hit‍‍⁠ and lost consciousness.⁠

***‍

As‌‍ they advanced through‍⁠‌ the storm.

Perda‍ felt something.

It‍‍‌ wasn’t his imagination.⁠‍‌

Consilus, who was at the front, looked‌⁠ back.

“Did‌ you feel it?”‍‌

“Yes.”⁠

“What‍ was it?”

Marco‌ could barely walk.‍

“It‍⁠ wasn’t the wind.”‌⁠

“Then?”‍

“Silverwind’s⁠ dragon spawn. They’re⁠ searching for intruders.”⁠‌

Marco⁠ turned even paler.⁠‌‍

“Then‌⁠‌ we’re in trouble?”‌

“No.‌‍‍ They passed over⁠ us. They haven’t‍⁠ detected us yet.”‌⁠

But‍‍ it was dangerous.‌⁠

If⁠‍⁠ they descended from‍ the sky like‌⁠ meteors, there would⁠ be no chance.‌

“I’ll‍‍ increase the speed.”‌

Perda⁠ followed Consilus.

Shortly‌⁠ after, a black‍⁠ silhouette appeared through the storm.

They‍⁠⁠ had returned to‍‌ the cave.

The‌ others were waiting‌ there.

“Everything‍ ready?”

“The‌‌ target?”

“We‌ have her.”

Zed⁠‌‌ lightly kicked the‌‌ unconscious girl.

Pink‍ hair.

White‍ skin.

She‍ shone like marble.‌

But⁠⁠ her horns, black‍‍⁠ eyes, bat wings,‍ and shovel-shaped tail‌ revealed her as‍⁠ a demon.

“Quickly.”‍

“The laboratory was empty.”⁠‍

“There‍ were no problems.”

“Then‌ we withdraw.”

They‍‌ boarded the portal.‍‌

Perda‍‍ thought.

‘Too‍⁠ easy.’

Three‌ minutes remained.

Perfect timing.

Neither‌‌ short nor long.⁠⁠‌

As‍ if everything had‌ been calculated.

‘Too‍ perfect.’

Demons⁠ do not make‌⁠ unfavorable deals.

“We‌‍⁠ need to hurry.”‍‌

Said‌⁠ the mage.

“What’s‌ wrong?”

“A‍ dragon spawn is⁠ approaching.”

“Toward⁠ here?”

“Yes.‍ They’ve detected us.”‍

“Erase all traces! Immediate⁠‌ retreat!”

It must not be discovered that someone‍‌ from the domain‍‍‌ of Grand Duchess‌ Valdrova was here.‍

In⁠‌ a hurry, they⁠ began erasing traces⁠‌ with the tools‍ they had brought.⁠‌

Barely‍⁠‍ 2 minutes remained.‍

Perda‌ thought.

He had to resolve‌ that uneasy feeling‍‌ within that time.‌‌‍

“Mm⁠ mm…?”

Penelope‍‍ woke up, looking‌‍‌ around.

When⁠⁠ she saw Zed,‌⁠‌ her eyes widened.⁠

“Mmff!⁠⁠‌ Mmff!”

“Stay‍ still. I’ll make⁠⁠‍ it easy.”

“Mmff!‍⁠ Mmff!”

Zed‍ raised the dagger.⁠‌⁠

Penelope desperately shook her‍‍ head.

Tears⁠ and snot ran‍⁠ down her face.⁠‌

Pure‌ fear.

Perda‍ frowned.

“Wait.”‌‍

The‌⁠ dagger stopped.

“What‍ is it?”

“Remove‌ her gag. I want to hear⁠ her.”

“There’s‍ nothing to hear…”⁠⁠

Even‍‍ so, Zed obeyed.

“Uff…‌‍‌ thank you. No,‍ wait, I have to explain what‍ happened earlier, I—”⁠⁠‍

“Shut‌ up. I decide⁠ what you say.‌‍ Or I’ll slit⁠ your throat.”

“Ah!‍‍ No! Don’t kill‌ me! I’ll answer⁠⁠ everything! Yes!”

“That.”⁠⁠‌

Perda⁠ gestured with his⁠‌‌ chin.

“Why‌‍‍ are you afraid of dying?”

“W-who isn’t afraid of‍ dying?”

“Demons‍ who die in‌‌‌ Serdes just return⁠ to hell. Momentary‌ pain. For you,⁠ it’s going home.‍ Isn’t it?”

“T-that’s‌ true, but my‍ case is different!⁠ If I return,⁠ I’ll really die!”‌‍

Penelope⁠⁠ shouted, almost hysterical.‌

“What‌⁠⁠ does that mean?”‌

“My‍ mother doesn’t want‌‍ me to be rescued! She wants⁠⁠ me to die!⁠⁠ I can’t go⁠ back to hell!”⁠‌

Penelope‌ cried desperately.

“Then⁠⁠‌ tell me why‌ she wants to‍‍‍ kill you.”

“Because‍‌ I…”

She‌‍ hesitated.

“Don’t‍‍⁠ think. Tell the‍ truth.”

“I⁠‍‌ can’t! If I say it, something happens! I can’t‍ say it! Aaaah!⁠ I’m going to‍ go crazy! Why⁠‌⁠ am I so‌ stupid?!”

She‌‌‍ couldn’t say it.

She knew it, but‌ she couldn’t reveal it.

And‍⁠ Sitri wanted to‌ kill her.

Everything‍ pointed to something.⁠

Perda‍⁠ thought.

There⁠ was an answer.‍

Something he had heard before.

Something‍‌ he ignored.

But‍‌ it was important.‌

Do‍‌ not make deals with demons.

“I‍ see.”

At‍‍ that moment, he‌‍ understood.

Perda murmured.

“It⁠ was you.”

“Regent!”⁠

Zed‌⁠‌ shouted.

They were about to cross.

“You⁠‍ have to come! There’s no time!⁠‌ 30 seconds!”

Perda‍‌ made a decision.‌

He stood up.

“Zed.”⁠⁠

“Yes?”

“Take‍⁠ care of this‌‌ baggage.”

“Huh?”‌⁠

Perda‍ threw him his⁠⁠ bag.

“Huh?”⁠‍

Zed‌‌ caught it.

But‍ another object flew⁠ toward him.

Pink⁠‍ hair.

“Uaaah!”‍

“Ugh!”‌‍

Penelope’s‍‍‌ body slammed into‍‌ him.

Both⁠‍‌ fell into the‌⁠ portal.

The‍‍ Binding Bridge only⁠ allowed 8.

“Regent—”⁠‌‍

The‌ portal closed.

The‌ shout was cut‍‍ off.

Perda⁠‌ was left alone.⁠‌‍

Alone‍‌ on the frozen⁠‌ mountain.

If‍⁠ he were alone,‍ there would be⁠‍ no problem.

He⁠⁠⁠ would just have⁠ to wait.

But‌ it wouldn’t be‍ like that.

It’s‌ coming.

At‌ that moment, the‌‍ sound of the⁠ storm began to‍ fade.

In⁠⁠ its place, footsteps‌ on the snow.‍

A figure emerged from⁠ the blizzard.

No‍ moon, yet clearly⁠ visible.

“Well‌ now, this I didn’t expect.”

Silver‌‌ hair.

Sharp‍ horns.

Silver⁠⁠ eyes.

A Silver Dragon Spawn.⁠

The⁠ same one who⁠ had been above⁠⁠ them.

“I‌ thought I’d find‌‍ a rat, but⁠ I found something‌ different.”

He‌‌‍ smiled.

Like⁠ a cat before‌ a trapped mouse.⁠

“Nice⁠ to meet you,‍ regent of Valdrova.”

***⁠⁠

Upon‍‍ returning to Valdrova’s‍ castle, Ruri immediately‍⁠⁠ began cleaning.

No⁠⁠‌ less than 20⁠ days had passed‌‌⁠ without touching anything.

She‌ had left spirits‍ in charge of⁠ basic cleaning, but‍ without supervision they‌ didn’t work diligently.‍⁠

So,‌‌ late at night,‌ she began to‌ clean.

“Are you finished?”

— Kyu.

“Good⁠‍ work. You may‌‌ withdraw.”

— Kkyuung!

At‍ the word “withdraw,”‌‍ the spirits became⁠ excited.

The‌ spirits assisting her were summoned back.‍

Soon,‌ she was alone‌ in the room.⁠‍‍

Ruri‌ looked at the‌ room she had⁠ cleaned.

It‍‍ was a bedroom.⁠‍

More‍ precisely, the place‌ where Valdrova and Perda would celebrate‌ their wedding and‌ share a room.‌

For someone who was‌ still only a fiancé, it was‍ something distant.

But⁠ Ruri neglected nothing.⁠⁠

Ruri‍‍ was a maid.

The job of a maid was to‍ adjust and maintain⁠ the master’s environment.‍

To‌‌ achieve that environment,⁠‌ normally more than⁠ 50 servants were needed.

To‌ reach perfection, at least 100.

But‌⁠ in that castle,‌ aside from Ruri,⁠ there was no⁠⁠‌ one else.

Even⁠‌⁠ so, it was enough.

She‌ was not a weak human maid.‍

She⁠⁠ was a Dragon⁠⁠‌ Spawn.

And⁠ among the Silver‍ Dragon Spawn, she‌‍ was one of the strongest.

Her⁠ ability made it⁠ possible to maintain‍⁠ that castle in‌ perfect condition.

Even‌ after decades, the⁠ cleanliness remained impeccable⁠ without major renovations.‍

‘That‌ is what I can do.’

Maintain‍ perfection.

Perfection‌ means everything is⁠⁠ within expectations.

And‍ what is within‍⁠ expectations can be‌‍ controlled.

In⁠‍ that castle, there‌ was nothing outside⁠⁠ her control.

Her‌ life was a perfect circle.

‘Perda…’

At least, until he‍ appeared.

‘Perda‌ Rosnova.’

When‍‌ she first met⁠ him, he was a weak human.⁠⁠

At⁠‍‌ first glance, a young noble barely‌‍ older than her.⁠

A mediocre being from‍ whom nothing was‌ expected.

‘He wasn’t.’

Perda‍ was different.

Not⁠⁠⁠ exactly the opposite‌ of what was‌ expected, but he didn’t fit either.‍

He‍‌ was unpredictable.

He⁠‌ acted arrogantly, yet‌‍‌ always bore the consequences.

He⁠ seemed like an‍ emotionless psychopath, but⁠ in front of⁠‍‌ Valdrova he behaved⁠‌ like a child.‌

Not‌‌ fitting his age,⁠⁠⁠ and yet somehow⁠‌ fitting it.

Indefinable.⁠

Incomplete.⁠⁠‌

‘A variable…’

Yes.‌⁠

It‍ was that variable that was breaking‍ the current calm.‌

Ruri‍⁠ hated variables.

What⁠ cannot be controlled⁠‌ made her feel‍⁠ powerless.

And‍‍ she hated powerlessness.⁠

That was why it‍ had to be‌ eliminated.

But⁠‌ she couldn’t eliminate‍‍ Perda.

He‍ was Valdrova’s fiancé.‌‍⁠

And‌ so, everything began‌ to change.

Situations‌⁠⁠ beyond her control‍‍ even began to‌‍ appear.

‘It wasn’t something bad.’‌‌

It‍ was a positive⁠ change.

The‌‌ territory, once stagnant,‌ began to develop.⁠

And‌‍⁠ Perda was starting‍⁠ to establish his⁠ recognition and reputation.‌

He‌ did things without‍ hesitation that Ruri‍‍‍ would never have⁠ done, changing everything.

The‌ emotion she felt⁠ at those achievements‍‌ was strange.

She⁠ already knew what‍‍⁠ it was.

‘Impatience.’‍‍‍

She‌⁠ had lived for centuries.

She⁠ had served for centuries.

And‍⁠ yet,

A boy barely 18 years old, in⁠⁠ less than a year, could change‍‌‌ everything.

He⁠ could take everything‌⁠⁠ from her.

That‌‌ was why she‍‍ tried to contact‍ Silverwind.

Amid so many changes,‌ she thought that‌ perhaps they had‌ also changed.

Or‍ that even if⁠‍‌ they hadn’t, she‍⁠ might be able⁠‌⁠ to do something.‍

‘But‍‌ I couldn’t do⁠⁠ anything.’

She⁠ was powerless.

In‌‍ situation, in strength,‌⁠⁠ in everything.

Everything‌‌ was outside her‍⁠‌ expectations.

‘And…‌⁠⁠ I…’

The taut fuse finally⁠‍ ignited.

For‌ approaching Silverwind unnecessarily.

For‍⁠‌ causing Perda to‍ encounter Goz.

Maybe⁠‌ it could have‍⁠‍ been handled better.‍⁠

If‍‌ Perda hadn’t been⁠⁠⁠ so blunt.

If⁠ he hadn’t shown⁠ hostility so openly.‍‍

Perhaps⁠‍ everything would have‌ been different.

Yes.⁠

The‍⁠ one who worsened‍‌ the situation was‌ Perda.

It would be easy‌ to blame him⁠‌ and find peace.⁠‌

But‌‌ Ruri couldn’t do‍ that.

‘If⁠‌‌ I hadn’t gotten involved from the‍ beginning…’

Everything‍ started because of‍⁠‌ her.

And‍ even so, what⁠ she said was—

“Who‌⁠ asked you to‌ help?”

She‌ clenched her fist.⁠

The discomfort between them‍ was already obvious.‌⁠

And⁠⁠⁠ it would last‌⁠ much longer.

She⁠ didn’t know how‌⁠ to look at‌ him.

Nor‌ how to face⁠‌ him.

She‌ didn’t know what‍‌ to do.

That uncontrollable variable.

It‍⁠ was even affecting her emotions.

Ruri⁠⁠⁠ was confused.

Suddenly, the air in‌‍ front of her‌ stirred.

A wind spirit appeared⁠ hurriedly at her‍ side.

— Kkyuung! Kkyuung!

The‍ spirit was agitated.⁠‌

Ruri⁠ recognized it.

It⁠‌‌ was one of‌⁠ the ones she‍ had sent to‍⁠ watch over Count‌‍ Consilus’s castle.

“Speak.”‍

The⁠ spirit reported, nervously.‍‌⁠

Ruri‌ tried to listen⁠⁠ calmly.

But‍ she couldn’t.

“Is‍‍‌ that… true?”

The⁠ variable kept moving⁠ without stopping.

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Haimiya_cutie.
Body Integration
1 month ago

Looks like she heard about Mc
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Chapter 63: Penelope

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