I Married the Dragon I Killed

With a smile on her face, Olivia approached Perda.

Out of courtesy, Perda decided to greet her first.

“Imperial Princess, it is an honor to see you…”

“Shh.”

Olivia gently placed a finger over Perda’s lips.

Her finger was delicate, and an intense floral fragrance spread through the air.

“Here, I am not an Imperial Princess. I have come as an ordinary believer, as a member of the relief group.”

“Is that so?”

“And what are you doing here, Lord Perda?”

He couldn’t tell her that he had come to meet one of his subordinates, so he decided to lie.

“A beggar stole one of my gold coins and ran away. I came after him.”

“Even if you were angry, how could you venture so deeply into a place like this?”

“You’re right.”

“There are far too many people who wish to harm you, Lord Regent. I cannot allow you to expose your identity like this.”

Olivia let out a soft laugh and slightly moved her hand behind her.

One of the men accompanying her took out a robe and handed it to him.

“Come with me under my protection.”

Perda silently looked at the robe.

Under any other circumstances, he would have simply ignored it.

But the main cause of the conflict that had tormented him over the past few hours was standing right in front of him.

Just as Garnet had said, asking the person herself could also provide an answer.

“Very well.”

Perda put on the robe.

“Walk beside me. A little closer.”

Practically ignoring all of the other bodyguards, Olivia had Perda walk beside her.

He asked somewhat uncomfortably,

“Aren’t we standing a little too close?”

“I believe there’s something you want to tell me. Isn’t that precisely why you accepted this absurd situation?”

She was remarkably perceptive.

“But first, come with me for a moment. We have something to do.”

“…Understood.”

Perda wasn’t curious about why Olivia was there.

However, the matter he wanted to discuss was far from trivial, so he decided to accompany her.

Their destination was the beggars’ shelter.

Skin blackened from poor hygiene.

Body odors far removed from any pleasant fragrance.

The cries of children seemed to sing a song of despair.

In a place like that, Olivia seemed like a ray of light.

The beggars, who had previously been apathetic and lifeless, immediately began to move when they saw her.

They even brought out the children they had carefully kept hidden, lined them up, and knelt.

Had they discovered that she was the Imperial Princess?

No.

They weren’t even allowed to gaze upon an Imperial Princess’s face.

They were untouchables.

To them, heaven was represented only by the local thugs and the Church of Alte’s relief groups.

They had probably assumed Olivia belonged to the latter because of the robe she was wearing.

And in fact, that was exactly why she had come.

The guards accompanying her began distributing the supplies they had brought.

Each time one of them handed over freshly baked bread and a cup of water, Olivia personally gave them to each beggar.

“This is the grace and mercy of the almighty Alte.”

Olivia repeated the same words every time.

And the beggars mechanically replied,

“We give thanks for the grace of the great Alte.”

She attended to each of them in turn.

It was a slow task.

And above all, one filled with unpleasant odors.

Some even deliberately brushed Olivia’s fingers, trying to feel the softness of her hands.

But she showed neither disgust.

Nor fear.

When she had finished distributing all the bread and water, her delicate hands were covered with stains.

“Is this part of the training to become a Saint?”

Perda asked.

As she wiped her hands with a scented handkerchief, Olivia replied,

“Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been doing this for a long time?”

Perda answered bluntly.

“Not really.”

After all, she was the Imperial Princess.

And, on top of that, a woman full of schemes.

Perda found it difficult to believe that someone like her helped others purely out of goodwill.

“I thought you’d say that.”

Olivia simply smiled.

“As I told you before, there are far too many people living in this Empire. So many that people eventually forget how valuable each individual life is. It’s like replacing a part inside an enormous machine.”

Even if countless people died.

The imperial capital would continue to function.

Olivia had already mentioned what she believed the solution to that problem was.

“That’s why you said a second capital was necessary.”

“Yes. Only when we’re about to lose something do we truly realize how valuable it is.”

That could also be interpreted as a political move to gain support.

However, even those nobles famous for caring about the people never devoted themselves as sincerely as Olivia did.

Not even Valdemar Golt, the so-called Hero of the People, regarded the untouchables as people.

It was obvious that Olivia’s actions were driven by a conviction that went far beyond politics.

After watching her for a moment, Perda made a decision and spoke.

“Grand Duke Golt made me a proposal.”

The smile disappeared from Olivia’s lips.

“What proposal?”

Perda answered calmly.

“He offered to guarantee the Far East’s safety in exchange for handing you over to him.”

“Did you accept?”

Rather than showing surprise, she simply asked the next question.

“He postponed my answer. It was his decision.”

“So he wants to force you to think it over. That means he’s very confident in himself.”

“It seems so.”

An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

The hood of the robe concealed Olivia’s expression.

Perda began wondering whether bringing up the subject had been a mistake.

As they continued walking, Olivia stopped.

Her gaze, hidden beneath the hood, was fixed on a certain spot.

There sat an old woman and an extremely thin child begging for alms.

The child lay weakly in the old woman’s arms while she held up a wooden bowl, pleading for compassion.

“Do you know something?”

Olivia spoke without taking her eyes off them.

“What is it?”

“Grand Duke Valdemar Golt promoted a policy specifically intended for people as poor as them. Free education.”

“He allowed children who didn’t even have water to wash their faces to learn how to read, write, and do arithmetic.”

Education was a privilege reserved for the upper classes.

And knowing how to read also meant having an opportunity to climb the social ladder.

“Don’t you think that’s a policy worthy of the Hero of the People?”

“Isn’t it?”

“No.”

Olivia slowly shook her head.

“It isn’t. Because I know that a policy like that is nothing more than a useless measure disguised as good intentions.”

She gestured with her chin toward the child in the old woman’s arms.

“For people like them, obtaining food for today is far more important than receiving an education for some distant future. And using a child to awaken other people’s sympathy is far more profitable than investing in that child’s future. That is precisely why there’s even a business dedicated to renting out children like that.”

Renting out children.

After hearing those words, Perda looked at the old woman and the child again.

It was obvious.

They bore absolutely no resemblance to each other.

They were complete strangers.

“That’s why, if we truly want to build a better future, we must not give money to beggars who ask for alms in that way. If we prove that renting children generates profit, then those children will spend their entire lives as tools of adults, and poverty will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.”

It was a cruel statement, but a rational one.

It seemed as though she was going to ignore them and continue walking.

However, Olivia crouched down and placed a silver coin in front of them.

The old woman bowed her head deeply in gratitude for her kindness.

No matter how rational or logical the solution might be, Olivia was still human.

In the end, she was incapable of turning her back on the tragedy right before her eyes.

“…Regarding Grand Duke Golt’s proposal.”

Olivia spoke.

For the first time, an emotion clearly appeared in her voice.

Perda knew that emotion very well.

A cold blade forged from profound sorrow intertwined with burning rage.

“Accept it.”

It was vengeance.

***

The second day in the empire

In the morning.

Despite the tranquility conveyed by the bright morning sun, the attack against Perda had already begun.

In front of the luxurious inn where he was staying.

A group of people began to gather and erected a platform.

Once the stage was ready, a middle-aged man dressed in noble attire stepped onto it.

“Citizens of the Empire, I beg you to hear my words!”

With the help of a mage using a voice amplification spell, he immediately captured the attention of everyone passing by on their way to work.

“Today, I stand before you to denounce a murderer!”

Such a shocking declaration naturally drew a crowd.

“My name is Perry Yurei! I am a duke of the Kingdom of Heinkel, not of the Empire, and therefore I am not a member of the Imperial nobility!”

The title of duke was practically equivalent to that of a king in another nation.

For someone of such rank to stand in the middle of the street respectfully addressing commoners was truly astonishing.

“Today, I stand here as a father who lost his son! My son’s name was Marcus. Unlike this unworthy father, he was a young man with a brilliant future. He would undoubtedly have ruled his territory with wisdom, unlike the failure that I am. And yet…!”

Duke Yurei’s hands began to tremble.

The pain of losing a child was a feeling that transcended all differences in status.

“That boy participated in the Beginning of Spring Festival, was attacked, and disappeared without a trace! Until then, I believed monsters were responsible. But beneath Alte’s great light, there is no darkness that can remain hidden forever!”

His emotions continued to build.

And so did the atmosphere.

“I discovered who murdered my son! And today, I have come to denounce him before all of you!”

Duke Yurei pointed directly at the luxurious inn and shouted.

“Perda Valdrova, Regent and fiancé of Grand Duchess Valdrova! He is my son’s murderer!”

***

Everything unfolded exactly as expected.

Duke Yurei stirred everyone’s sympathy as a father who had lost his son.

And the rumor spread at an incredible speed.

People said rumors could fly without legs.

But this one spread throughout the entire Empire in barely two hours.

It was obvious that someone was pulling the strings from the shadows.

But that no longer mattered.

The only thing that mattered to the people was that Duke Yurei had lost his son.

And that Perda Valdrova was a murderer.

Perda once again made his way to the Golden Council.

The moment he stepped out of the inn, countless hostile gazes fixed themselves upon him.

It was exactly what should have happened the day before.

The criticism had simply arrived one day late.

“We’ll escort you there safely.”

Count Consilus wore an expression as grim as if he were marching onto a battlefield.

He knew that if any of those commoners managed to throw something that struck Perda, the situation would become completely irreversible.

Mounted on his horse, Perda looked over the crowd.

‘Anger and hatred.’

He showed not the slightest emotion.

He had no desire to understand those who were enraged without knowing the truth.

Nor did he intend to make them understand him.

Thus, he entered the Golden Council.

The man known for his devotion to his fiancée had now come to be treated as a criminal and had become everyone’s topic of conversation.

Even the security inspection before entering was far stricter than it had been the previous day.

“Regent.”

Just before entering the chamber, an old man called out to him.

The true architect behind the entire situation.

Valdemar Golt stood there with the commanding presence of a supreme judge.

“Are you prepared to give me your answer regarding my proposal?”

Everything would end if he simply handed over Olivia.

She herself had volunteered to serve as bait.

All he had to do was hand her over, and the Far East’s problems would disappear without further complications.

“Yes.”

Perda answered.

“Unfortunately, a person’s heart is not something I can change.”

“…I see.”

Valdemar did not press the matter.

Nor did he show any anger.

He merely nodded as though he completely understood the answer.

“I understand your decision.”

It was the calm before the storm.

Perda had believed that, at the very least, knowing what was about to happen would put his mind at ease.

But it did not.

The only thing he felt was his heart becoming calm once more, as though all the worries that had tormented him until then had vanished.

He quietly took his seat.

“Now that everyone has taken their seats, we hereby resume the session.”

With those words from the assembly’s chairman, Akad, the chamber fell completely silent.

“Before addressing the matter concerning the transfer of magitech technology, we must first deal with a crime that cannot be overlooked.”

Everyone knew exactly which crime he meant.

“Regent Perda, would you please step onto the witness stand?”

As though he had been waiting for that moment, Perda stepped forward without hesitation.

“Regent Perda, as you are already aware, Duke Yurei’s son was murdered, and you have been identified as the one responsible.”

The rumors had spread so quickly that even the proceedings had advanced at the same pace.

“Furthermore, Duke Yurei has submitted an official protest to the Empire. Since this matter may affect diplomatic relations between the two nations, he has been granted special permission to attend this Golden Council despite being a lord of the Kingdom of Heinkel.”

At that moment, Duke Yurei entered the chamber.

It was the first time Perda had seen him since the Assembly of Grand Dukes.

But there was no trace left of the bewildered and powerless man he had been then.

He was exactly as Valdemar had described.

‘A man with nothing left to lose.’

His eyes reflected the desire to drag everything into destruction in pursuit of vengeance.

’…It’s still not enough.’

Perda needed absolute confirmation.

“Regent Perda, do you admit to murdering the young Marcus Yurei?”

The chairman asked the question.

Perda was about to answer.

Then he turned his gaze toward Duke Yurei.

“Marcus Yurei…”

Perda did what he knew best.

“He committed a crime worthy of death.”

And he provoked Duke Yurei’s fury into erupting.