I Married the Dragon I Killed

Perda stepped up to the witness stand and began to speak.

“I am Perda Valdrova, representative of the Far East and fiancé of Her Highness Grand Duchess Valdrova, the illustrious Aspect of Fire.”

As befitted an assembly, he introduced himself with complete formality.

“Please explain what happened in the Far East during this incident.”

“Yes.”

Perda went through the documents that Morida and Isabella had organized together, one by one.

He added explanations where necessary and omitted everything irrelevant, presenting only the information pertinent to the case.

As soon as he finished his testimony, the questioning began.

“There is something I would like to ask.”

It was Joseph Faust, the Leader of the Church of Alte.

“According to the report, you remained isolated for a month.”

“That is correct.”

“It also states that every water source, including the underground ones, except for the reservoirs, was completely contaminated. How did you survive during that month?”

“We discovered a new water source in the Far East.”

“But that new source would also have been contaminated. And you did not use weather magic to replenish it.”

“Correct. That is why we subjected it to a purification process before turning it into drinking water.”

“What do you mean by a purification process?”

“We removed the demonic energy from the water using magitech engineering formulas.”

“Oh…”

As soon as Perda finished speaking, the chamber became noticeably quieter.

Everyone shared the same interest.

“I imagine that must have caused health problems. What happened?”

“After removing the demonic energy, the water turned out to be even purer than the water in most rivers.”

“According to whom?”

“According to Blue Eyes.”

Since Blue Eyes was the Aspect of Water, no one dared question the credibility of the source.

That was when Perda deliberately added,

“This achievement would never have been possible without Blue Eyes’ cooperation.”

“I see here that Blue Eyes provided you with several prototype units.”

The murmurs that had subsided filled the chamber once again.

That was precisely why Perda had attributed the credit to Blue Eyes.

‘Adjusting the value.’

The saying excess is just as bad as deficiency existed for a reason.

If he made all the credit fall solely upon Vernell in order to increase his value, the result would be counterproductive.

Having Vernell’s value rise publicly would do nothing to improve the security of the Far East.

Even Vernell, who was satisfied with the current situation, had agreed with Perda’s strategy to protect himself.

The only certainty was that, even while sharing the credit, Vernell’s value had already risen far too much.

That was why the next question revolved around him again.

“Now I would like to ask another question. Besides that, I heard that magitech engineering played a very prominent role. There was a weapon called the magitech rifle.”

The speaker was Oldin Luster, the Veteran Hero.

His muscular build and the scar running across one of his eyebrows gave him an intimidating appearance.

He was a man worthy of being called Valdemar’s right-hand man.

“That is correct.”

“As far as I know, that rifle was never reported to the Empire. Did you keep it secret all this time?”

What a ridiculous question.

“The magitech rifle was developed exclusively in the Far East because of our role as the defensive wall against the Demon Lands. Furthermore, we participated in the exhibition organized by Escolea with the support of the Pascal Company, where we demonstrated it publicly before numerous nobles and merchants.”

In other words.

If you didn’t know about it, that was your problem.

“It is a weapon capable of immediately strengthening the Empire’s defenses. Don’t you think the Imperial leadership should have been informed?”

In other words.

Why didn’t you show it to the Empire first?

“As you know, the Far East enjoys broad autonomy because of its proximity to the Demon Lands. Since the Empire rarely interfered in our affairs, we simply acted according to that custom.”

In other words.

Since you always left us to fend for ourselves, we assumed we were free to act as we saw fit.

The questioning continued in that hostile manner.

It was truly ironic.

They treated the man who had won an overwhelming victory far more harshly than Alexander, who had lost an entire legion.

Such was human greed.

Not even the achievements of a war hero could prevail over avarice.

“Supreme Councilor Luster, I believe that is enough. Regent Perda Valdrova, if you have nothing further to add, you may step down.”

“Yes.”

In the end, Akad stepped in to calm the atmosphere.

“I will call the next witness. Louis Lutenia, commander of the Second Regiment of the Far East Provisional Alliance and deputy chief of staff.”

“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”

“Please give your testimony.”

Louis Lutenia began explaining the strategy used to defeat the colossal-class demonic creature.

Logically, the person who had designed the entire strategy should have been the one explaining it.

That meant it should have been Eri, the Platinum Adventurer.

And in her absence, the next highest-ranking person.

But Olivia, the actual chief of staff, remained seated among the audience without saying a word.

As Louis continued speaking, Perda felt something strange.

It was as though he were implying that the entire strategy had come solely from his own mind.

They said that, for a strategist, a situation like that was the same as having one’s own child taken away.

How was she reacting?

Remembering the commotion she had caused back then, he imagined she could not possibly be pleased.

He discreetly turned his head toward where Olivia was seated.

As if by coincidence, their eyes met.

She, as though the discussion meant absolutely nothing to her, looked directly at Perda, smiled sweetly, and waved at him.

‘The more I get to know her, the less I understand her.’

This was hardly a situation in which she could behave so casually.

Perda simply looked away.

Louis finished his testimony.

There were no questions.

After all, in this incident he was a hero, not an accused man.

“With this testimony, we will take a recess. The session will resume in thirty minutes.”

The once-silent chamber gradually filled with conversation.

The Supreme Councilors remained in their seats, discussing matters among themselves.

Consilus, sensing the atmosphere, discreetly leaned toward Perda and whispered,

“It seems they’ve already reached a conclusion.”

“Then, for us, what truly matters begins now.”

“Indeed.”

This was the moment to remain completely vigilant.

And at the same time, to appear perfectly calm.

As though he merely wanted some fresh air, Perda left the chamber.

It was then that, by chance, he saw Olivia.

Someone was approaching the beautiful Imperial Princess.

It was Prince Louis Lutenia.

“P-Princess!”

The knights tried to stop him, but Olivia raised one hand, signaling them to stand down.

With flawless posture, she greeted him while looking directly into his eyes.

“Good morning, Prince Lutenia. I hope you have been well.”

She was completely different from the Olivia Perda knew.

Calm.

Perda discreetly extended a shadow toward them and formed an ear to listen to their conversation.

“I-I… Princess Olivia… I wanted to tell you…”

Olivia’s delicate fingers gently covered the prince’s lips.

“Please… don’t say anything.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak with him.

Her moist eyes and the faint breath escaping between her slightly parted lips gave the impression that she fully understood the tragedy hidden behind everything that had happened.

“I know. I know you never intended for this to happen. After all, you have a duty to uphold the name of House Lutenia, don’t you?”

“I…”

“So you don’t have to carry that burden. To me, there is something far more important than such trivial matters.”

“Something more important than that…?”

She clasped both hands together and smiled.

“What truly matters is that we all joined forces to overcome this crisis. Even if the credit has been mistakenly attributed in the eyes of others, as long as we know the truth.”

Seeing that scene, Perda was taken aback.

There was none of her usual seductive charm in her actions, only an almost sacred solemnity.

“That alone is enough to make me happy.”

At first, Perda wondered what she hoped to achieve with such an act.

But the effect was undeniable.

Louis’s expression became even more rigid.

He had fully expected her to hate him and curse him.

Instead, all he received was forgiveness so compassionate that it left him speechless.

Louis’s face flushed a deep crimson.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Ah…”

She looked away and hurried off, almost as if she were fleeing.

At the same time, he felt contempt for his own pettiness and regretted his actions.

Olivia watched his retreating figure with a melancholy expression.

‘Did she really change that much after reaching the Fourth Circle?’

The Red Circle was founded upon emotions.

And the stronger those emotions became, the more they consumed the person who harbored them.

Just as someone who reached the Fifth Circle through hatred would eventually become a madman,

someone who reached it through faith would gradually become what the world called a saint.

If that theory was correct, then Olivia’s heart must also have undergone a profound change.

Perda stopped eavesdropping on their conversation and walked over to her.

“Well, Regent.”

Olivia greeted him with a cheerful clap of her hands.

“My greetings, Your Imperial Highness.”

“My greetings to the consort of the Great Aspect of Fire. Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

“I imagine this is your first time visiting the Golden Council. If you don’t mind, I could show you around a little.”

Those friendly words concealed an ulterior motive.

She was inviting him to take a walk while they talked.

“Then I will gladly accept.”

With a faint smile, he walked beside the princess.

The knights watched them from a respectful distance.

Perda was the first to speak in a low voice.

“It seems you are getting closer and closer to becoming a Saint.”

“What do you mean?”

“If it had been me, I never would have been able to forgive him. I didn’t expect you to let him off so easily.”

“Forgive him?”

Her long eyelashes fluttered with feigned innocence.

“Isn’t that what happened?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Olivia tilted her head slightly.

The smile remained on her face, but an icy shadow fell over it.

“I never forgive those who betray me.”

Perda had only asked to make sure.

And, just as he had expected,

Olivia would never forgive someone who had stolen her achievements, especially considering how politically ambitious she was.

“When the time comes for Louis to make a mistake, I’ll be ready to place all the blame on him. You have no idea how much I’ll enjoy watching him lose his succession rights to my younger brother because of some foolish mistake of his own.”

“Then that attitude you showed just now…”

“It’s simply that the time has come to change my image.”

“The image of a Saint.”

“Exactly. A Saint.”

She held the amulet hanging around her neck while pretending to pray.

“To the common people, it will appear that I have finally received the gods’ calling. To the nobility, it will seem that I have renounced all worldly desires.”

After hearing her, Perda realized that Olivia was still the same as ever.

If the Red Circle had truly changed her personality, it would have been a problem.

Fortunately, that was not the case.

“Now all that’s left is for me to attain the Fifth Enlightenment.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“It won’t. But it won’t be the same as before either.”

At first, Perda thought she meant it would be easier.

But in reality, she was referring to her circumstances.

“Once you attain the Fourth Enlightenment, you receive the title of ‘Precursor.’ From that point onward, you can officially request instruction from the Church of Alte.”

“Instruction to become a Saint?”

“Yes.”

She was a jewel.

And a jewel that was about to slip away.

There was no way the Church would simply let her go.

“The Imperial Princess attained the Fourth Enlightenment as a believer of Alte, and that fact is already public knowledge. For the sake of appearances, the Church will have no choice but to make me an offer, and the Imperial Family will likewise have no choice but to accept it in order to maintain the balance of power. That is why Joseph Faust is on my side.”

Even though she had secured the support of one of the five Supreme Councilors, four enemies still remained.

Perda chose to simply accept that information and ask another question.

“And what will happen to your duties as the Imperial Princess?”

“I’ll have to balance both. Even so, I’ll have fewer social obligations, and that’s enough for me.”

Normally, it would have been the opposite.

But Olivia had always hated pretending to like people and making conversation with those she couldn’t stand, so to her, this was a blessing.

That said, when she announced the news publicly, she shed plenty of fake tears.

“I just want to confirm something, to be safe.”

Olivia asked cautiously.

“You know that this post-war hearing is actually aimed at you, don’t you?”

Perda nodded.

“Yes. I was told they already seemed to have reached a conclusion.”

“I don’t think so. In my opinion, they’ll move on to a second round of questioning. They’ll argue something along the lines of if it was possible to stop the colossal creature beforehand, why didn’t you do it?”

That matched the scenario she had predicted for the hearing.

“What do you think I should do?”

“When someone is too greedy, they always end up getting burned. You’ll have to give something up. Hand them one of the things they want.”

Give something up…?

It was the most realistic advice she could offer.

The Empire was vast.

And powerful.

Within that council, the Far East’s allies could be counted on one hand.

And if they could fabricate a pretext to interfere, they would.

Perda intended to continue the conversation.

But he no longer had the chance.

Although there were still fifteen minutes left before the session resumed, someone happened to appear and interrupted them.

“Oh, what a coincidence to find you here.”

It was Valdemar Golt.

He approached with a broad smile.

The moment Olivia saw him, she put her mask back on.

“My greetings, Grand Duke.”

“Haha. What a coincidence to meet Your Imperial Highness.”

“So it seems.”

Then Olivia discreetly took hold of Perda’s arm.

Just as he was wondering why she had done that,

he noticed Valdemar’s aura change for an instant.

His eyes briefly settled on Perda’s arm with unmistakable displeasure.

Then, in the very next moment, he smiled again with the same kindly expression as before, as though nothing had happened.

“The session is about to resume. You should head back.”

“We were just about to.”

“You’d better get ready.”

“You’re right. Regent, shall we return?”

“I have something to discuss with Lady Olivia. Go on ahead.”

It was not a request.

It was an order.

At that moment, Perda became certain.

That old man.

had ulterior motives regarding Olivia.

“If the Grand Duke wishes to speak with me, I suppose our guided tour ends here.”

Olivia released Perda’s arm and gracefully walked over to Valdemar.

After taking about three steps, she looked back and said,

“Think carefully about what I told you.”

She gave him a sidelong smile.

As Perda returned to the chamber, he reflected on those words once more.

She had said that, in order to protect many things, it was necessary to give up one.

What did he have to abandon in this situation?

Perda still had no answer.

***

“We will now resume the session. The Supreme Councilors have briefly discussed how we will approach this matter.”

Briefly?

It was obvious they had been conspiring until the previous night.

“The loss of the legion under Crown Prince Alexander Arken’s command is a tragedy that cannot be overlooked under any circumstances. However…”

Just as he had expected.

“Given that this was an extraordinary incident, we believe it is necessary to debate whether it truly could not have been prevented beforehand.”

Everything was unfolding exactly as Perda had anticipated.

“Therefore, before we move on to our conclusions, we will proceed with a second session. The topic will be was this tragedy truly impossible to prevent in advance?”

Now it was time to change the defendant.