I Married the Dragon I Killed

Perda asked William again.

“Are you saying they reduced it by 3%, or that they only gave her 3%?”

— That’s right. Even I find it hard to believe such a figure when I explain it.

Olivia, whose objective contribution had been no less than 45%.

No matter how hard they tried to force it down, it was a contribution that easily deserved at least 30%.

Perda asked William how such an absurd figure had come about.

Summed up in a single sentence, the justification concluded that it had all been a matter of luck.

The problem was that Olivia, as an Imperial Princess, had only received education appropriate for nobility and had never properly studied military leadership or tactics.

Therefore, they argued that even if her decisions had valid reasoning behind them, the fact that someone without tactical training had directed military operations had put the army at risk, and that it was already generous not to hold her accountable for it.

Furthermore, they added that during the campaign she had ordered the formation of pursuit units using overly risky tactics, exposing the army to unnecessary danger.

Thus, they acknowledged that she had acted as chief of staff, but maintained that most of that merit should be attributed to those who had actually carried out the actions.

The reason Alexander had personally welcomed everyone and showered them with praise was Olivia herself.

“I gave you a document. Didn’t you see how they used it?”

— Yes, I did. They used the report you provided to argue the legitimacy of her merits, but it didn’t carry much weight.

“Why?”

— Because, in the end, the son of the Duke of Lutenia remained silent.

Lutenia had been the second-in-command of the temporary alliance and chief of staff.

In the merit evaluation, he had received 15%, the second-highest figure after Olivia.

“And how much was he ultimately assigned?”

— 30%.

No wonder he stayed quiet.

He had shamelessly taken a third of Olivia’s merits.

Naturally, the highest honor that should have gone to her ended up in his hands.

Perda could perfectly imagine how they had handled the entire matter.

They had turned it into a zero-sum game.

If your share increased, someone else’s decreased.

That was how they convinced many young nobles and knights.

To increase their own rewards and gain more recognition, someone had to be sacrificed.

And that person was Olivia, who alone accounted for nearly half of all the merits.

For those who did not even appear on the list because of how insignificant their contributions were, gaining even 1% was a major opportunity.

They had no reason to refuse.

Sacrifice one person to make many happy.

It was that simple for them to abandon the duties of a noble and the honor of a knight.

The princess was too beautiful.

Far too beautiful for someone of their level.

They knew they could never reach her.

Between flattering an unattainable fruit and obtaining tangible benefits, they chose the latter.

It was more rational and more profitable.

‘How disgusting.’

Even so, Perda could not tolerate it.

They called her the flower of the Empire, followed her everywhere, and the moment a reward appeared before their eyes, they sold her out without hesitation.

— Even so, there were those who acted as true knights and refused it.

“I hope you were one of them.”

— Of course. Even if I accept rewards, the ones I truly deserve are enough for me. I can’t accept inflated merits.

“Then what percentage did they recognize for you?”

— 10%.

Perda flipped through a copy of the records Morida had organized.

William was listed with 5%.

Exactly half.

Since they had previously tried to take Vernell away, Perda asked what kind of offer they had made William.

— They offered me the position of Guardian Knight of the Imperial Guard.

Guardian Knight.

A title reserved for the elite among knights and one that could only be granted directly by the Imperial Family.

The intention was obvious.

Leave the Duchy of Valdrova and come here.

“And did you accept?”

— I only accepted the honorary title.

In other words, a nice title without an official investiture ceremony.

For a knight to say that was equivalent to politely refusing the offer while making it clear that he already served another lord.

A Guardian Knight was a position comparable to that of a count.

Seeing William reject something like that made Perda feel inexplicably satisfied.

“When will you return?”

— I was planning to leave tomorrow morning, but now I intend to depart immediately. They offered support through teleportation magic.

“There was no need to rush so much.”

— I have obligations to fulfill as captain of the guard, don’t you think?

What a diligent man.

“Very well. Then come to the castle as soon as you arrive. As soon as you return, we’ll hold the rewards ceremony and banquet.”

— Yes! I’ll return as quickly as possible!

***

After William returned via teleportation, Perda distributed bonuses to the tactical soldiers who had participated in the war and funded the celebrations.

It wasn’t difficult, as there were still supplies left over that had been prepared for two full days of festivities.

Perda was thus able to spend the remaining resources.

The infantry soldiers, meanwhile, had the opportunity to taste meals normally reserved for nobility, receiving treatment worthy of true war veterans for the first time.

Everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

Then Perda’s communication crystal began to flash with a blue light.

Perda placed his hand on it and established the connection.

— Greetings, Regent! This is Joseph, official liaison of the Empire.

For an imperial liaison to make contact at that hour of the night meant that something serious had happened.

— I wanted to ask whether, by any chance, Her Highness the Princess is currently at Valdrova Castle.

Perda immediately frowned.

“And why are you asking me that?”

— I deeply apologize for asking such an uncomfortable question. However, this is a matter that must be resolved discreetly and quickly within the Empire, so I took the liberty of contacting you.

Hearing that, Perda understood the situation.

Olivia had run away.

“My answer is that I don’t know. What happened to the princess?”

— I cannot reveal details regarding that matter.

‘Look at these bastards.’

“You think it’s enough to tell me half the story and then refuse to explain it? I have several theories. What do you think will happen if I start discussing them everywhere? Perhaps then it will stop being a secret.”

Faced with the direct threat, he received only uncomfortable breathing before they finally answered.

— As you have probably already deduced, Her Highness Princess Arken has gone missing. We are currently searching the entire Imperial Palace and even the Empire itself to locate her.

“And now you’re investigating even those who have already crossed the border?”

— That’s right. We are comparing entry and exit records to determine her whereabouts. The captain of security returned only tonight, so he was also under investigation.

“I understand. If I receive any news, I’ll inform you immediately.”

— Thank you very much!

After repeatedly insisting that he keep the matter secret, they cut the communication.

“She ran away from home…?”

Honestly, it seemed understandable to him.

Her contribution had gone from 45% to 3%.

Her entry into politics had been blocked.

To Perda, it felt very similar to when he was not recognized as a mage and ended up becoming public enemy number one.

‘The difference is that I never even wanted that hatred.’

But the world wanted Perda to hate.

Otherwise, there was no reason for so much malice to have been directed at him.

Even now, when he remembered it, he still felt angry.

‘Erdes, that damned woman.’

He chewed on that name for a moment before returning to the main issue.

‘Princess Olivia has disappeared.’

How did she manage to escape?

She also possessed a Red Circle and could use light magic, but escaping through teleportation was impossible.

To leave a place under such heavy surveillance, she needed an accomplice.

And that accomplice had to be willing to take a risk as great as losing their head.

Even nobles were no exception.

‘And what does she gain from this?’

An ordinary person would conclude that it was simply an emotional outburst from someone weak.

However, Perda was convinced that Olivia was making a move.

He could not imagine her rebelling like a spoiled child.

Through this escape, she was undoubtedly trying to obtain something she wanted.

And she would obtain it.

Meanwhile, another image appeared in Perda’s mind.

It was not from the present, but from a distant future ruled by hatred.

She had become a femme fatale capable of dragging a nation into ruin and was standing atop a balcony railing.

For some reason, Perda thought she resembled him.

She had suffered because of her family.

She had hated her family.

And she had tried to kill her entire family.

In that, they were exactly alike.

The difference was that, to carry out his revenge, Perda had embraced hatred, while Olivia had chosen to put on a mask.

And Perda had succeeded.

Olivia had failed.

Olivia abandoned everything and launched a coup d’état with complete determination.

The princes and princesses died, but the Emperor remained alive.

After all, she too was human.

No matter how sound her reasoning and how firm her philosophy, before emotions she was nothing more than a wall of salt beneath the rain.

Even if she resisted fiercely, she was still someone capable of collapsing.

That was why Perda decided not to stand by and do nothing.

He had to find her before anyone else.

***

Perda left the castle and headed into the forest.

As always, it was a wild and neglected forest.

More specifically, a place just outside the area monitored by the Iorga spawn.

It was midnight.

The crescent moon was already beginning to disappear.

Beneath the shadows of the trees, in the darkness of the forest, Perda closed his eyes.

The moment he gave up one of his senses, all the others intensified.

Even the chirping of the nocturnal insects vanished.

And when an unfamiliar scent of sulfur began to spread gently through the air.

Perda spoke a name softly.

“Sitri.”

Immediately, he felt a sticky presence clinging to his back.

— You called for me, oppa?

She appeared behind him and ran her serpent-like legs over his entire body before sliding around to stand in front of him.

It was an obvious attempt to make him uncomfortable.

However, Perda showed no emotion.

He simply asked,

“Where is she?”

— Who?

“Olivia. You should know where that woman is.”

— Eh? How impatient. Do you think I spend all day spying on the princess who lives in the Imperial Palace?

“Someone as obsessed with lust as you can’t possibly not know.”

Perda knew.

When the Great Demon Sitri seduced humans, she took on the most attractive appearance possible.

And one of her favorites was Olivia herself.

Eight times out of ten, she transformed into Olivia Arken to tempt men.

It was by far the appearance that produced the best results.

Even if she was only a copy created by a demon, hundreds of people had died clinging to the fantasy of embracing the Imperial Princess.

To Sitri, a useful Olivia was an extraordinarily valuable pet.

No.

She was probably something even more important than a pet.

And to obtain something so valuable, she would undoubtedly be waiting for an opportunity.

Part of her attention had to be fixed on Olivia at all times.

Therefore, if anyone could know where she had gone after escaping, it was Sitri.

— Let’s suppose I know. Why do you need her, oppa? Weren’t you completely in love with the Grand Duchess?

“I simply need her.”

— Mmm? So in the end, no matter what you say, you’re still a man.

“You keep spouting dog-like nonsense using human words.”

Perda made a disgusted expression.

But Sitri’s gaze did not change.

— Then let’s do this, oppa. I’ll try to seduce you for three minutes using this appearance.

Even in the darkness, Sitri’s figure was clearly visible.

Sitri’s demonic appearance began to change.

And little by little, she transformed into Olivia.

The eyelashes.

The lips.

The fingers.

Everything was identical.

Using Olivia’s voice, Sitri spoke.

— If you can resist for three minutes, I’ll tell you where she is. What do you think?

An hourglass appeared floating in the air.

It was a vulgar idea.

Exactly the kind of thing she would do.

“Do whatever you want.”

Perda replied indifferently.

Instantly, Sitri smiled as if he had fallen into her trap.

— How foolish. No matter how devoted you are to one woman, you’re still a man.

And without hesitation, she pressed her body against his.

The curves he had only seen from afar seemed to slide clearly against him.

Her breath brushed against Perda’s neck again and again.

She caressed him relentlessly.

Perda did not resist.

He simply let her do as she pleased.

The damp and suggestive sounds marked the passage of every second.

Perda mentally calculated that about three minutes should have already passed.

But the hourglass was still far from empty.

‘What a dirty trick.’

This was not a formal duel.

And she had never said that the hourglass represented exactly three minutes.

It was obvious.

Her real goal was to unsettle and humiliate him.

“You’ve finished already.”

— What? Really?

Perda pointed at the hourglass she herself had summoned.

Just as he said, the sand had run out quite some time ago.

Olivia—or rather, Sitri—muttered with obvious irritation.

— Just in case, I changed it to a four-minute one. And even then, I couldn’t seduce a single man in four minutes?

Then she glared at him using Olivia’s face.

— Oppa, are you impotent?

“No.”

— Then how is it possible that you don’t react when looking at this body? It doesn’t make any sense!

Perda could answer confidently because he had already confirmed that he was not impotent.

And above all, he knew the real princess.

If she behaved in such a vulgar manner, the first thing he would feel would be disappointment, not excitement.

“In any case, I won.”

— Mmm. You never lose. How annoying.

She pouted in disappointment, though she did not seem entirely displeased.

Then she smiled.

— A long time ago, I heard a story.

“Don’t start with your word games…”

— Listen until the end, darling. You know the story of the princess and the stable keeper who ran away from the castle together, right?

“…Yes.”

It was a classic tale of social ascension.

Even now, Perda could recite parts of it from memory.

— The answer is in that story.

Upon hearing that the answer was there, he closed his eyes and followed the thread of her words.

And he understood what she was trying to say.

‘…It can’t be.’

No.

That was impossible.

Perda tried to deny it again and again.

But the more he denied it, the wider Sitri’s smile became.

“Sweet dreams, oppa.”

When Perda opened his eyes again, Sitri had already disappeared.

He remained standing there as he reviewed his thoughts.

‘Did she lie to me?’

It had not been a formal wager.

She had no obligation to tell the truth.

But what would she gain by lying?

Sitri’s leash was in Perda’s hands.

And if what she had implied was exactly what he thought.

Then there was only one person who could be the stable keeper.

‘William.’

Captain of the guard.

The people’s sword.

The conclusion was too obvious, yet Perda still wanted to deny it.

William was one of the few examples of a knight he truly trusted.

He could not imagine him helping the princess escape on his own.

‘But nothing is absolute.’

After all, the reason William had come to that village in the first place was to save ordinary people.

And there was no guarantee that someone who had already crossed one line could not cross another.

Furthermore, it would also explain why he had returned that very night instead of waiting until the next day.

Perda did not know what to do.

‘If I don’t know…’

Then he would have to see it with his own eyes.

And discover the truth for himself.

Even if that truth turned out to be unpleasant.