Chapter 67: The Second Tea Party
RGYQEPerda observed how things were progressing in Castle Valdrova.QczI
DGHrOIfHe had been absent for an entire month, so he thought perhaps some kind of problem might have occurred, but everything was advancing smoothly.reoEWA
ITtThe first place he went to was Vernell’s laboratory.a7t7u72
yGLEven Vernell’s incomprehensible theories were beginning to be refined into something relatively easy to understand.tpDlJj
02xgIt was the result achieved thanks to the 15 assistants helping him.0DN3hXp
jtGP‘The great mountain is still far away.’elLU
qLXThe biggest challenge was still Malcolm.CVG
jeo“Sir Malcolm, could you place this into the slot on the right?”Mfc
B1pfR“The right, you say? Understood!”WIgO
rgCQ5“No, the right! The hand you eat with! No, not there! Aaagh!”7vWPh
OW6For those who had lived competing among geniuses, Malcolm was practically a calamity.zoZ
EI5FBsThe moment someone used words that were even slightly complicated, he immediately made a face like he understood nothing.65vcR
zdsbhT6He confused east, west, north, and south.U0Bnb
67ZyGTEven right and left.kRwDmuZ
rBOldSThe most stupidly idiotic being in history.ISY
mmzEven geniuses had to manage to make a fool understand things they themselves did not fully understand.wzJf2sv
oirDGFAVernell had torn out so much of his hair that his once abundant head of hair now revealed his scalp.eNDc
bMelAnd yet the cause of it all, Malcolm, still kept smiling as innocently as a dog on a walk.Zyhaii
g8u‘After all, magitech is something designed to be used by people who are not mages.’2RCJKZk
qXsW1EtIf someone at Malcolm’s level could, even if he was incapable of applying it, at least understand its function and manipulate it, then ordinary people could use it too.FgK
HixR7LvThat was the ultimate goal Perda wished to achieve.hd2gO
3KMcoQ‘Anyway, everything here seems to be going well.’Ov0GY
o1R08As he watched them clutching their heads from stress, Perda heard a loud voice from a corner of the hallway.wQNEdoA
TPtnT“Hyaaaah!?”wfM
FFQtHqKJust from hearing it, he knew who it was.jdPs9Nq
qelLhIThe demon Penelope.tFvnLq
etj89Y“W-what is this witch?! Why is a witch walking around so freely inside a dragon’s castle?!”znIZOP
iOkqN5dThe “witch” she referred to was undoubtedly Echidna.MOgpeuG
kvFAI“Fufufufufufu, if a demon can walk around here, then why couldn’t a witch toooo?”96Vvj
tMLPerda wondered why they were involved with each other, but the answer appeared immediately.eQb
Swa“Uh… Miss Echidna, could you calm down and listen to me?”FHWHC3
PHDfBIt was because of Zed.VHGK3p
ufJRWhen he approached, it became clear.dW3XOS
2VsPenelope was clinging to Zed’s leg.LUDK
3XbZed looked completely desperate.deM3
nG4And Echidna was pointing a sword at him.4cB
7jKGcEchidna’s eyes were unfocused.tcA9
cZRXNhG“Aah, Sir Zed. Please do not worry. I am not going to harm you. I will simply attempt a contractual separation.”mSKO9e
1z36BMJ“Contractual separation?”nTKfMWc
UAl9kUh“Yes. I will cut off the part where the mark Sir Zed made was engraved and grant it new life to avoid the curse. Then your body will once again become completely clean, just like before.”sW2Kub
MdCMxG“…That sounds exactly like you’re going to cut off my arm.”homRt
huZ“And afterward you will have to live enduring terrible pain every day. But that pain will be nothing!”UW27B7M
hLeD5Zed, completely dumbfounded, finally said what he truly thought.Iqt1SHX
zFsvoK9“Are you insane?”E8z9
mXb“Please do not worry! Even if you only have one arm, I will love you forever, Sir Zed!”U2pMI2o
wnQS“Well I love my arms!”rTIPxV
CffpSH“We will overcome it! With the power of our love!”oEzImB
TpHn51MThere was another completely different disaster here as well.nUg4j
HSZFJBJust listening to the conversation made it easy to deduce the cause.Zjwjnd3
FGfjnk‘Because of the pact he made with Penelope.’4wzFr5m
wAiOn the day of the rescue, Perda had forced Penelope and Zed to sign a contract.l7bX
NQLXW3IIt was to prevent Penelope from returning to hell and, at the same time, monitor her movements.Uixc
hqpdQxAnd he had also placed a powerful silence mechanism on her to prevent her from revealing anything about Sitri’s Life Vessel without his permission.IZvOYv
ZdyAlthough technically Penelope was the one wearing the collar around her neck, for her the conditions were extraordinarily favorable.5UkQUq
IjXAfter all, hiding in a dragon’s nest was far safer than living on the run everywhere as a fugitive.gOn6zu0
qQhsJ‘And maybe it’s not entirely bad for Zed either?’khf
NIow2B5He was a man who reacted automatically to any woman.opLAPW
gqo1gSUAnd Penelope was still a woman, so perhaps he did not dislike it completely.XEE92
3qYBtPerda never explained Penelope’s true use to Zed.vsbU
JOtDLIt was enough for him to know that she was an extremely precious daughter of Sitri.0Ub
KmyT6b5While Zed was trapped between a demon and a witch, he made eye contact with Perda.mdOaDpa
Nhks4IZed spoke only with his eyes.jhe0
xW2hz2ASave me.vu5GYP
8fGC5BA man speaks with his back.BsE
zfIohkPerda responded like a true man.dfrAeY
iwtHHe turned his back on him.Dx9qtw
SFjHandle it yourself.ZoQX
o6QUWEI‘Anyway, everything is still functioning without problems.’tXB
nXf8kOWhile he had been away, nobody knew what had really happened.sQcJhr
ifk1CEverything continued moving forward without anyone realizing anything.Rysi
DO6“Sir Perda.”jN7cYJ
zmKkThe small girl in a maid uniform, Ruri, approached as always.MldSd
JN2“It is prepared.”pcn
6wcK2“Understood.”yU0C
98u55xPerda unnecessarily adjusted his tie.r6J8kn
Ww06Black hands emerged from his clothes and began fixing his outfit once again.cH9uB
sr46He had taken the risk of negotiating with demons to obtain information.w0AdRz
x0SCGqHe had killed the one who threatened to take Ruri away.ZDw7ZNp
n6vTDTwo situations capable of endangering the very existence of a country had fallen upon him.eDc4N
6mB53And yet none of those moments had made him as nervous as this.CiZ
ynj05It felt like when, as a child, he hid beneath the wardrobe a blanket he had wet after peeing himself.fbcDy
M22I06YA secret that perhaps nobody would discover immediately but that would inevitably come to light someday.jgq
BKEUDHowever, that anxiety disappeared the moment the door to the recreation hall opened.7NWoS
MKtDxO3What he saw was a completely open balcony.nTMfoJ
4a7A table prepared for a tea party.LHq
5ulmuxAnd a strangely familiar dragon knight armor.eoKYDP
qxXV‘Again today?’f3L
9GKuFIcHe had already seen it twice before, so it was not that surprising.QmNQ
p8UnySShe remained seated, silently observing that place.ZfenO
ZllX0The helmet made in the likeness of Valdrova’s draconic eyes imposed pressure on anyone who looked at her.2Dw5Sg7
Yxsu‘Why is she so still?’1Bjf
Pqwdm8dPerda slowly walked forward.y5VxQks
QqEmrEEAnd he began imagining what expression might be hidden behind that helmet.HTQoLlw
6FAaDzpBefore he reached the worst of his imaginings, he understood.PLtqe1y
MBpRXk“Zzz…”bJUiV
p6mDtShe was asleep.RUh
XLdV3lSValdrova’s head tilted forward.Wh8qMY
z32Q2Y5It looked like she was about to fall face-first onto the floor, but she raised herself again.IE2DS
P1zS0MN“Mnh… hm… mm?”3agKfvF
RkK6Valdrova’s helmet slowly lifted toward Perda.g4NL0u
f2vfWQE“Mm… Sir Perda…?”4qyeW
nrze1JA sleepy voice echoed faintly.45kWt
zujShe stared at him.2XInI4
tUdNkqs“Huh!? S-Sir Perda?!”QQpQsl
vAvShe hurriedly stood up to greet him.vwj
D8bY“Y-you came!”S501
YuQp“Yes. My respects to Grand Duchess Valdrova.”4Nm
UCXnI“W-welcome, Sir Perda. I… um…”IsA
QmA6Valdrova could not find a suitable excuse.O92mR
7erPerda decided to help her.N1bKzUd
T7Eg“It seems you had many things on your mind. You were deeply lost in thought.”bQF
P0e13F“Eh? Ah… well… actually, I had fallen asleep…”tAv9R
gSu“Normally, when a king falls asleep and wakes up, it is courtesy to say something like that.”eWt7zsj
FIg“Ah, i-is that so? You’re right! Yes, I was thinking! Of course!”uaHSK
vqJkCXHappy to have found an excuse, she nodded repeatedly.x85
ZtOjsaWShe was terrible at lying.plhi0T
qU7U5y“Is Sir Perda alright?”6vULpZo
ZqhHQ“Yes.”fs6apa
pZn“I heard there were problems with the carriage. That’s why you said you passed through Count Consilus’s territory…”NMJbbYQ
66LPerda glanced at Ruri.gVIJl
BEb2ZHShe, standing still like background decoration, gave a slight nod.D32Pv
QdlJsSo Perda nodded as well.rZRcx
h2R868“Yes, that is what happened.”rgqRPl
vBxc“You weren’t injured, were you?”slUs
7YGZR“It was nothing serious. It could be resolved with some light repairs.”ALzEn1
KiEA“What a relief. I was a little worried.”SitI3Yj
pyHDShe truly looked relieved.iDHd6Ks
CzcaB4vAnd precisely because of that reaction, the secret had to remain hidden.BZ4i
jddYTd“What did you talk about at the Grand Council of Dukes?”bIk
69aPerda began recounting what had happened there.OKBx
52JHrMainly matters related to territorial disputes.v1BI
QgzlhH“I see. On the continent of Serdes… although I’ve heard wars happen from time to time.”c41jk
q6B6HCTerritorial conflicts between elves and dwarves.TWHCIJX
zhNJI18“They’re still fighting? I think it was like that in the past too…”W0ohch6
uE3EYM5Most of the stories were of that sort.l9cbsw0
GMvyIFConflicts.yqNiDDF
x3dResentment.iJc4aq0
QFiThere were no stories capable of bringing out a smile.Wf9
yfpRdAnd even so, Valdrova listened attentively.26E
VgBn2JAnd that was precisely what made it frightening.HpPrMI
W4NtLHe feared that he might eventually make a mistake, swept away by her innocence.LTj
wERtz2It was not easy to stain that pure snow with mud.iSud
MpAFB“And besides…”8UhBVc
6wQzKThe conversation reached its final part.i6gir
Dky“We spoke about the conquest of the East.”OR18
5kd“The conquest of the East?”uYGc
HvWgF“I declared that we would conquer the Demon Lands that lie on our border.”FUCkwiy
2ox“Ah.”uHSQT
Pq4DhDemon Lands.BQUB
38JTJoUpon hearing those words, even Valdrova, who had responded with interest until now, fell silent.6Bok3
BkvxBUnconsciously, she began stroking her arm.p8C
byuHer gaze drifted beyond the balcony.7OiER
X22The scenery of early autumn, when the colors were at their richest.16bA
mMegJThe ordinary landscape every inhabitant of the continent of Serdes saw every day.tVR
dJaV“Even that place they now call the Demon Lands…”SLGZ
DH6Her voice became nostalgic.A0Fs
x1oEaLl“There was once a time when it had scenery just as beautiful as this.”CctdkZW
JPTawY4Complex emotions dwelled within her voice.Xp2xKHO
4mSmUF“Even though it is now stained black, do you think it can someday regain such beautiful colors?”Y9ms
NMoSOf course it can.oIk6qun
BBNRyjHe could have ended it with a simple answer like that.SfL
o91jiakBut Perda could not do it.P9Jvotf
yKv“It will not be easy.”q9W
OazHe did not give her false reassurance.r1INW
8J13L“But I will do whatever is necessary to restore the scenery you once saw.”YLp
CPsWHInstead, he showed his determination.shg28iK
zZs“Is that so?”2vaW1
zCnhYValdrova smiled happily, as if those words had truly reached her heart.tt5L
dY5F0X“If there is anything I can do to help, I will do my utmost.”HYTv5lC
ZjIVn9She clenched her fist tightly.Yo09
AZwzv“My fiancé is working so hard that I cannot simply sit still and do nothing.”ipacn
MZa“If Your Grace chooses to extend your hand to me, it would be my greatest honor.”w14
yI28YmKAs he watched that, Perda felt his heart calming down.XNunWZ
v7ftCHe did not need to interpret hidden intentions.f7r
Zgz3LHe could accept her words exactly as they were.3dkF
GZpHpjThat was true purity.c1yvhaI
pxy75cQ“Uh… don’t you have anything else to tell me?”zXBT2N
Skxwc“No, nothing else.”ggwbss
tzJm3LL“Ah… I see…”nJpQ
WCuSHcAValdrova turned her voice away uncertainly.ABe59
B3bzUWhat had she been expecting to hear?VRTBzp
SL6fljWhat kind of conversation had she wanted?YWV3y
nPYPerda brought the now lukewarm teacup to his lips.6Qt
56VWEf“It’s just that… Ruri told me…”a8v
kyhc“Yes.”1Uv4
KbgQakg“That you held hands with a woman named Olivia.”4WC
Plk“Pffft!”8jwmnQ
6047qThe tea went down the wrong way and he ended up spectacularly spitting it out.FGuoa
WalThe one most startled was not Perda, but Valdrova.wDBWKl
qJ8uIm“Sir Perda!? Are you alright?”DiYqM
o7rgs8“Yes, I’m fine.”kG9
F1r3u“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you… I just wanted to talk a little…”dd8K
IJ1DPerda wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and slowly turned his gaze.skAEMB8
RagiHe met the eyes of Ruri, who still stood there like a folding screen.zuO
LTAPqSo you even told her that?UJ7lc
50E8When he glared at her silently asking the question, Ruri looked away.6l6oRZ
XMgSIt would have been a lie to say he did not feel resentment.9SJmiEj
SfX0U5ESuddenly, his head began to ache.bo3Su
sdxWhat was he supposed to say to escape this situation?NdRQQ4
YDktIqThat she was the one who grabbed his hand first?aT3zzuZ
TpJWAThat yes, he held it, but it did not mean much?Ucu0
ahaYGDozens of excuses appeared in his mind, but Perda erased them immediately.bgDLodL
bNtxBa“I’m sorry. Holding another woman’s hand in front of Your Grace…”ryV
zDld8“Huh? Betrayal? I don’t mind something like that!”Rvms6d
22S2She waved her hands quickly.Kzjrb
noZ1“After all, Sir Perda is also a man, and I heard she was very beautiful, so I thought that… it was normal.”AIy
SH9She tried to appear understanding.SGO
Ka5l4But her restless fingers and lowered head proved otherwise.h0X
JjH5qlFGuilt began crushing Perda’s chest.56F
u1Xa“So…”zJEIxR
k18EqShe carefully looked up at him from below.t6yB
Qff“Maybe…”V9yGHh
9JVSTilting her head slightly, she asked timidly.61EVhJG
VSjuv“Maybe… you would also like to hold my hand…?”2iSYK
v7h3Perda’s mind went completely blank.2iR
GCTb“…Excuse me?”zXKKixm
ZZuxHe ended up asking stupidly.SHwf2
CYz“Your Grace’s… hand?”FXY
I8jH“Yes. Last time you already held it once… and I think I could do it too…”Rkw
AIxt9Even though showing her face was still too difficult.Owlj
BQuIf4bShe murmured that to herself while waiting for an answer.cSz37N
tHIV“W-what do you think?”IdNAOB
jdrNUnlike that seemingly light question, Perda was more careful than ever.c3fkGq
zqTThis was an irreplaceable opportunity.SlDu
IL7SHe could not waste it through a mistake.mNXIC
of3nuF2He forcibly calmed the trembling in his body and swallowed to steady his voice.gxGa
0Ldq“I want… to hold it.”SJWMnD
QHq6Q0“Understood. One moment.”sDS
G42GJ4She removed her gauntlet.xmrS2h
2AbULlAnd beneath that enormous armor appeared a small and delicate hand.nMPN
aEtV3jA fragile arm incapable of conveying the majesty of her strength.XwY
AUXVE5When she timidly clenched her fist, it looked even smaller.FUA
obd2T4“H-here it is!”RIA7T2j
9J0Sl9lShe showed him the palm of her hand.oiAf
kB8GXqPerda stared at it, completely absorbed.NgEt2D
IBHgThe slender fingers.gHdSzMz
crjswXNThe lines marked across her palm.fIIxtN
nTN3JBEverything looked like a perfect painting.4X6TZyr
plZ4Perda carefully took her hand—WZmH
5Bw8aOf“Hiiik!?”xunnrFc
jFDgzValdrova’s hand instantly flew backward.HJIe
P9JPJkHe did not even have time to feel whether it was soft or not.TnSbkc
3MP0z“What is wrong?”NXCWS
Z0QTRXP“N-no, it’s just… you see… I feel like I won’t be able to control my strength very well… so I need to… prepare myself mentally a little…”QBqItYb
fO9pRfHer voice became weaker and weaker, and her agitated breathing echoed inside the helmet.Uwd7aSe
cFKFPerda felt his chest twist, thinking for an instant that she was going to take it back.JDCy6A8
UDD2CValdrova placed both hands on her chest while trying to regain her breath.COkOLo
McuSince the tension would not disappear, Perda finally suggested—aIku3U
b68txs2“If controlling your strength is difficult… what if I place my hand on top instead?”Z88
1jMx7m“Ah! That might work! Then… let’s do it that way.”Ef3m
Rd6wFxIValdrova timidly rested the back of her hand on the table.zBKB1FR
7lSo7Perda slowly placed his hand over hers again.H2L
g7vdFqcCrack—2A83d
3wNwzrAt that moment, the sound of something breaking could be heard.dKy
TdyWhen he looked closely, he saw cracks spreading across the table.lNXrSvB
pvrW7e‘Didn’t they say this table was made of granite?’D1mGiL
p8n5nwA material so durable they claimed not even a Meteor falling from the sky could break it.IPsXu
XTLIf they had made a table out of that, it was probably the strongest table on the continent.JaKW9T
2r1‘They said it was nearly impossible to even crack it, but as expected…’afO
5zSShe was not called the Incarnation of Strength for nothing.t2j
ZVGLHuAs he thought that, Perda suddenly remembered something he had done before.07pET
8xz6OHCHis first meeting with her.pLE
dk7bThe irrational impulse he had felt when he wanted to see Valdrova’s face.NOWgle
qvp‘Now that I think about it… I think I even interlocked fingers with her.’Jj9m
ga33xHRPerda sincerely felt grateful that his right hand had not been pulverized back then.0yNV
UyTEjf6And even feeling that much fear, he still could not let go of Valdrova’s hand.HA5t
FXIKI8It was small and soft.B45T4
f5eThe warmth of her body and the clear pulse beating beneath her skin.Ige
4tGdA small part of her that he wanted to hold forever.RxPIXV
Yv0zAnd if he had to let go, then at least he wanted to engrave that feeling into himself without regrets.LiJ
jBoy‘Maybe it wouldn’t matter even if my hand ended up shattered to pieces.’OkP7
ciBRvKTFor a moment, he thought about giving in to the impulse.1OKMHt
BHNBut his reason crushed that idea.pSDdbYA
aDQLQEC“Have you still been suffering lately from the blood impulse?”AiPeAzO
kHJ1Valdrova shook her head.wUkUf
SCJF“No… I’m alright.”e9UFR
PTZrNgq“Lady Valdrova did not go hunting yesterday.”g1lcnLD
jBX“R-Ruri?”oRa
jvhmsWBValdrova startled.td83eF7
o5M3Ruri suddenly appeared, dropping that information before returning to silence.TuzH1
TCIH“Is that true?”k8CaV
59jk7a“That… yes… although I don’t think anything will happen. Just because monsters did not appear yesterday does not mean they won’t appear today either.”mALz
oug“But there is also no guarantee they will.”zTUMFmE
lPvbH7b“That… is also true…”Nolf93J
9adGxC9“And if you cannot hunt, you will end up hurting yourself.”Y1BnVqn
87q“……”4azYr
mhvwsValdrova fell silent.Z0K
CgAqIn an atmosphere like this, she had no idea what she was supposed to say.dLh
vFO6kkBut words were not really necessary.CQy7K
P3N0A“Ah…”pQ3fXei
CBPpYKpValdrova felt something slowly flowing onto the back of her hand.LbuF
aBBoriIt was a sensation she knew very well.1YxPG
84bsWQThe same thing that had calmed that blood impulse before.AJ3o0
zkN8jL“Sir Perda…”g1xr
urp“Do not worry.”j5UqQ
LYo25Valdrova closed her mouth.bfu
OAS9DWhat was entering her body slowly calmed the violent beating of her heart.9gAyh7
1AIbEven though she had already experienced it before, it still felt incredible.lN5juIh
PIOE0yThat impulse, which normally only disappeared after violently unleashing itself, was now fading away with absolute calm.wh7CWs
plfL6“Sir… Perda…”Ll0T
ri3“Yes.”fYLKC
JD6YG5“I think… that is enough now.”ivaUH
1JEo“Really?”n1fil
htI9myY“Yes.”WxQ9j4
RpqPerda stopped injecting mana.yHRjG
Tt3nWYSilence fell between them.ycR
Ve45A terribly awkward silence.O8piTRG
orSAnd yet, neither of them dared break it.CSbdv5
nuDBQf1Because they felt that the moment either of them spoke, both would end up rising from their seats.E7O
hDxVE8And the hands they had finally joined together with such courage would separate once more.wSe1
2hS3EpsJust a little longer.ebZWr
BCYM8XGThey enjoyed that awkward silence.iQo
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationWhat a wholesome couple.
Ernatio Degaldo (Ernatio D)
MortalLmao, he needs to get a very strong body in the future xD
ReadNova
Mortalsuch sweetness…