Chapter 7: I’m Curious Too
zmg2tPerda, who was studying in the guest room, frowned as if he had misheard.JZNVEcH
oycc“You want me to meet with the lords?”67Ebcr3
xUEU“Yes.”EV4KM2
26CxCBut Luri nodded firmly.PQDo
Y4vNegt“Do you know why our lady Valdrova is called ‘queen’?”n5T
BNpmLZ“I do. She killed the black dragon Godwin, and the Arken Empire granted her the title.”WWHK
msTWThe black dragon Godwin.1QFJ4C
mHJunFhPillar of darkness and source of all evil.4ALS6
uiXA being of pure malice, who even played a part in the birth of the demon king and desired chaos on the continent.gjBc0pI
Syr7ltwThe one who finally took his life was the red dragoness Valdrova.ag4d
D1r“That’s how she earned the title of queen and established her domain on the front line of the far east—or so I’ve heard.”0Pv
fRy“That’s correct. I see you’re better informed than I thought. Do you know how many lordships are under Lady Valdrova’s authority?”0g9DfEZ
Wm9f9i“Fifteen, right? Including the outlying villages, the number reaches 108.”6nax
78WT8b5“…And the total population?”3C9H
84k“If I remember right, it was 5,256,532. But I don’t know the latest figures on births and deaths.”hYHk
W4NUpon hearing that response, Luri frowned, not hiding her discontent.RUf8JSA
Xv3lq“You sure know a lot for someone who claims to have no interest in power.”5vVfz
gWIcKThere was a hint of Dragon Fear in that contempt.WJtz
ecQchPerda merely shrugged.16NrLTd
gra“I’ll be her husband. What greater disgrace would there be than not knowing what my future partner does?”kaVyF
X14“Sounds convincing.”yexE
qTbQ78UOf course, Luri didn’t believe it. Her growing suspicions leaned more and more toward certainty.0LXH
iRRNIn truth, Perda hadn’t studied for that reason.vqKb
ox1wUJ‘I was just bored.’O50i7FJ
yNozDNEAfter opening his circle, he had time to spare. While trying to achieve it, a single day wasn’t enough.7kP0y9
OBuVJ2But now, with nothing else to do, he started reading about Valdrova—more for entertainment than anything else.QiB9f
2cByHG“In any case, how about meeting them?”yaf
t1M6“I’m not interested. If it’s not necessary, I’d rather not go.”xiUx
galVoHc“Even if you’re not interested, once you’re officially married to my lady, you’ll become her consort. If she handles external affairs, you’ll have to handle internal ones.”ANOjT4
BYDS9“So I’ll be like the housewife.”D3ONYgD
psZ“Exactly.”mfe
rIVRO5EA man as housewife.euf9j
hAIJkaIn the noble world, that was equivalent to saying he was more useless than his wife—something humiliating to the point of disgrace.r5w9N5A
axn‘But humiliating… it’s not.’qjjD
JB3832This was about being the partner of the feared Valdrova, the so-called tyrant. Her race was already in a completely different league, and Perda didn’t have the strength to match her.NfeRKcX
RNFBmAeJust managing internal affairs at her side was a big enough role.r7i
zyg‘Me, overseeing the lords…?’w6bnk1
3ZRGAfter some thought, he accepted the proposal.ZTg
aMsj“All right. I’ll go see them.”m6K
waZg6KV“Then I’ll proceed to summon them.”3il
EHmNRJLuri bowed politely and left.pL1e
xj5yBUntil the very last moment, Perda noticed how sharp she was and didn’t overlook the not-so-innocent look she gave him.vYXqDEx
79dgHe already knew exactly what her intention was.FPjW
72TE‘She still doesn’t trust me.’ojfX
6TvOc0XIt’s natural for people to covet what’s in front of them.qfA
uyOVLaEven the most upright, when power is within reach, want to taste it. And once they have it, they don’t let go. That’s how humans are.tEjCu
gENn‘But I’m curious too.’1oJZ0
Uc20Perda didn’t know himself as well as he thought. What kind of choice would he make when revenge no longer drove him?FIMx6w
GyCsGP7He decided to test it on the stage she was preparing for him.4QWHzuv
H7Fce“All right. I’ll see them.”70TG5bg
kqE***nN0xci
2OI8On the continent of Serdes, there was a saying about nobles.yP98mFZ
L7Fuow“The more inland they live, the fatter their bellies; the more on the frontier, the leaner they stay.”kaIa
SytW7The reason was simple life in the center was comfortable, while the front required constant vigilance against monsters.GrlDdK
r3FhcLqBut the lords of the far east broke that cliché.ut9ls
ma1“Sir Bosch, what a belly you have!”0oPjd
DPHxnkG“Haha! With so many worries, I can’t stop eating to ease my nerves.”d9NNF
zft2TLThe Eastern Frontier Assembly.U32SRz8
tNS6wlbThere gathered the fifteen lords under Queen Valdrova, all with cheeks wobbling from fat. It had been a long time since they had met like this.78HU3sx
PpJr“But what urgent matter called us together? Things have been peaceful lately.”7F5c
1F6qNz“Can’t believe you’re so out of the loop. Haven’t you heard? Our queen has taken a fiancé. She wants us to meet him.”hwcYsSN
Gav“A fiancé?”8uDouLZ
GLAOne of them, surprised, opened his eyes wide.Jr4
nKL3d“What kind of lunatic would get engaged to the queen?”hVDUmfz
o50“That’s what I’m saying. Only a true fool would accept something like that…”WSFyN
vl9vFti“Looks like they picked the dumbest of the dumb.”wNS
YCuVh4eAt the same time, they all began to wonder who this madman could be.qIl54Cg
hJO“They say he’s the third son of House Rosnova.”tBSx
0SP“Rosnova? The knightly house that guards the Arken Empire! That bloodline is supposed to produce great talents.”cl4
a135“But apparently not this third one. From what I’ve heard, he’s so weak even common soldiers surpass him. Even his own father rejected him.”EuMK
FEi“Weaker than a regular soldier? Then he’s trash.”cbc
8nyPQ8“Ha! And we have to waste time on that kind of garbage…?”Nk7
RbGG“And he’s late too. What nerve.”d3iXiU
jH5nn50The older nobles were already visibly annoyed. It irritated them that some snot-nosed brat would show up with airs.QMzT0
VRq8Q6“So, what shall we do, gentlemen?”O4d
zwDJrgD“What do you mean?”xzP325
W8ftLqd“If he’s going to be the queen’s consort, he’ll have a certain status. How should we receive him?”TtPJ
HjafeThe eldest replied.t8i5Ql
QDR“Either way, Valdrova will crush him. Why bow to him?”ZJl
Y8sAI“Right.”BZkYC
0VE4OV2“Bow to that good-for-nothing? Not a chance.”IMWEowa
2bC5JPTThey all seemed to agree.JHjo
daM“Lord Perda Rosnova makes his entrance!”NIfG
3JOThey adjusted their clothes and straightened up. After all, they were frontier lords, responsible for their people.9ajG4K
5LFIThey intended to crush the new arrival’s confidence from the very start.u3Yb5
5PlThe doors of the conference hall opened.l0ebBW
vQF24Gray hair, blue eyes.NO9IDd
Td1q5DiA crimson suit adorned with Valdrova’s golden emblem—sign of the queen’s consort.pLO5qQe
mfXSThat’s what they expected.XRegeNe
Nd7wWhat they didn’t expect was Perda’s very presence.DxfHCkC
XsI4“This is the supposed trash…?”1Lw4Q
GmJF“Well, he’s quite the trash—tall and sharp-eyed.”FLm2
bgh9His body might have been weak compared to warrior bloodlines, but his bearing and manners spoke of nobility.V4nq3
TB28z8aAnd most of all—it was his eyes that struck them.bDL
WuQi9ZoThey weren’t the arrogant eyes of a rebellious brat.yPOjW
DJCCKIn those pupils was a serene lake, deep and heavy.6KoTH
ZHqQ3YHBefore that poise—so improper for his age—all of them tensed.wbo
0J8GdCUPerda spoke.DEEDsi
mAqK“Tell me.”ztdbcT
lobthbuHis voice was that of a youth just past adolescence, but it carried the weight of an adult hardened by time.z2dps
w90huux“I’ll soon be the husband of Queen Valdrova.”OEBJ
tqCHe stood with his hands behind his back, and his blue eyes swept over each of the nobles.KWsah8
d41UGAn extremely insolent gesture—yet none spoke. No, they couldn’t.L8H
iK6Dzt0“So, should I address you with respect… or with condescension?”6BPY
zkpOnly then did they realize.Oy7j
vVWleValdrova’s fiancé wasn’t some fool or throwaway.AuHR
ZSxxO***gjzz
sxsnSPBHalf an hour earlier.dtVHI
mSC78Perda had arrived about thirty minutes before at the Eastern Frontier Assembly.jVOs
d0MqeHCSince it was an official matter, he traveled by carriage.S2zCOs
zrr0zLooking at his watch, he murmured.PVKNKu
YLzR“I’m quite late.”LjAKc
yTf4Perda was strict about punctuality. Being a minute late already bothered him; ten minutes, to him, was nearly a crime.oz5F
EchBut Luri, who was responsible for the delay, responded with total coldness.pdoP
zQqct“You’re mistaken. Arriving ten minutes late is the foundation of any show of strength.”bImZ
EpQW49z“Is that necessary?”rN35mhw
bZrh“It’s a fundamental principle among dragons — the key moment to establish hierarchy.”KEoihuJ
jcRXM5“Even if one isn’t interested?”TzldHh
lb13“Always remember who you will be consort to.”lpTi
aAiVA75The consort of Valdrova.sUjOF
7pyyO4Upon hearing that, Perda mentally repeated it without thinking.XERh
1AGBLuri walked one step behind, following him.aMcQOBo
T9KIlGAs they moved along the red carpet, Perda wondered.mS7dgr
6dg6t7‘If I become the consort of Queen Valdrova, what will my rank be?’nZOlL
NUMvCU8The world of nobility was complicated.fkTrB
TaRcVIn the capital, hierarchy depended on official positions.NTNilNX
LP3DIn the outer regions, however, the sword carried more weight than law, and prestige was measured by years of service.H9e1cLv
6dgl‘Being the consort officially equals being a king, but that won’t be enough.’GTb1R
dqgD07NHe was eighteen years old.tkgyC
up0bVaMTo everyone, he was far too young and inexperienced.r4EbJrA
V4M3ddFor a fiancé to suddenly appear and act like a king would only provoke resistance from the lords.rSw
QF80mFThus, while walking, he reached the entrance of the hall.21W
FY1Inside were fifteen seats arranged in a circle.MOqC
lGSiUWWThe one directly aligned with the entrance was empty — Valdrova’s seat.IEAUzsb
XUTB1c7That is to say, his seat.eFU4Hm4
ve6Instead of heading there, Perda remained standing in the center and raised his gaze to meet theirs one by one.Opl14TH
GCexF2O“Tell me. I will soon be the consort of Queen Valdrova.”lb0Kov
OCbsqIt was a genuine question.tko1v2
aOrZR7“Should I address you with respect or with condescension?”mxRn
ilwJCAs he looked them in the eye, he was trying to measure where his place should be.5W5Rn
dlAPvzThey all observed him tensely, and no one answered.7JweQYc
cQdpuPerda scratched his head.qUj6KTM
1hkmuH“Was my question really that hard?”c5B
pEWwg“N-no, not at all…”fEwwd
7Vk“It’s just that…”soTilfY
AbrThe reason was simple — if they answered that he should treat them with either respect or condescension, they would be drawing a line of hierarchy right then and there.vV8c
ZHhfdNo one expected that this boy arriving as a fiancé would immediately try to impose “order.”6ry3l
15ePrThe oldest broke the silence.AjJQa2
oDWWbLY“We are lords under the light of Queen Valdrova. It would be proper for you to treat us with respect.”Cc9x
bRnS“Is that so?”5dl11
gPb“But all present here have been loyal to the realm and have protected our people. It would be fair for the consort to return that consideration.”8QzM
UTNIt sounded like a reasonable answer, but in truth, it was an evasion, “according to what you decide.”hMJ
avpJPerda looked at him and asked.ORV72Vs
78XKxUp“What is your name?”mmPK7
hx9oIm“Ulbera Concilus.”zFr1W
B5SyN“I see, Count Concilus? May I call you that?”58W
tQdLQ“Yes.”BvX
QG5NThe old man gave a pleased smile.bbbHjkn
Gi58“Then.”h9ISIy
z4FlXL“Yes?”m58r
FndO“Should I treat you with respect or with condescension? You didn’t actually answer my question.”K9N0
328Perda narrowed his eyes at him.Opx3JC
WdSUgvThe elder, uncomfortable, replied.hvDtVE
3Sshnu“The proper way would be to treat us with condescension.”HwYT
iGP“I see. Then the answer is clear. If I had started by treating you with respect, that would’ve been a problem for you, wouldn’t it?”kp1
lRC“Yes… said like that, it couldn’t be better.”s8vdQc
nG2ipIt was his first political experience, but he understood what had just happened — he had asserted himself over them.408
J7G2op‘It wasn’t my intention to overpower them…’RZ0mhp
b7bHe wanted to clarify and added.nOkXH0
glR“Don’t worry. Becoming consort won’t change things too much. I’m not interested in what you do; rule however you see fit — exploit or be generous, it’s your business.”xTZRnD
QQB“Exploit, you say? How can you speak like that?”jGTPpBK
oo8286A young man, around his early twenties, stood up with a furrowed brow.xyOZ
qhWuHis presence was fierce, and on his chest he wore the insignia of a mage.BNPi
Utm4aPerda understood immediately.W9Dp
6qFvCUs‘That was a slip.’5jT
xfuFp“I meant no harm. I just spoke carelessly.”oIE
sFAg8Y“But you seem to brag too much about being the queen’s fiancé. You should show more respect, boy. If we faced each other as mages, you’d have to bow to me.”w8iJm9
5knW5“W-what…?!”xtwWz
180oWk“How can you speak like that?!”FyZoPxz
Kz4DThe older, plumper lords were sweating buckets, trying to calm him down.7P6b
smQxyrIt was like watching a spark light a fuse right before their eyes.rOLc2G6
NwcO“Hmm…”a4RRu
VFIpKmmPerda wasn’t angry at his insolence.akGN
RLhNHe just wondered.EcjxGq
CxV‘Could I defeat this man?’4lE4
QwW40Now that he had awakened as a mage, he could see the flow of mana.IGSvv
LQwP3W1And the mana that man — Tesalos — contained wasn’t insignificant.mnj
T42TTapping his temple with his index finger, he asked.uKh5PqX
Zi3“What’s your name?”YTbp
7BQmtbm“Tesalos of House Wolcher!”uEcG
GQedCPerda repeated the name to himself.nWo
Q8G4KH1Tesalos Wolcher… it rang a bell, but that wasn’t important now.glq
fqXC1N“And what circle have you reached?”AfiZ
I1C“The fourth. I’m a 4th-level mage.”WLw
H0M3Mk“Hmm. Nothing special.”zpQDA2W
VDosFnJ“…Nothing special?”CDB4Vd9
L9dnTesalos was stunned.2pf
dPiNA 4th-circle mage was already considered someone of great renown anywhere.kDY1
kWv‘Consort or not, I’ll kill him right here.’NuAz
FVjrThe fire of rage boiled in his blood.dl5MMAm
0Op4eeIf not for the title of queen’s fiancé, he would’ve already insulted him and cast a spell.49qo
eN23“I’m interested in what you said. May I ask you for something?”L8z1x
shGo6mw“After showing me such insolence, you still have requests?!”iOehYI
iialocHis face turned red, but Perda nodded calmly.F9F
yfsn“I’m sure you’ll like it. Fight me.”dnod
BpPLkHe had practiced enough.blz
EiJk3Now was the time to test himself in real combat.ETEsl55
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