I Married the Dragon I Killed

Tilda, who had entered the Dandollo family as an adopted daughter-in-law, was dissatisfied with everything.

The reason was simple.

Because that mansion did not belong to her.

Tilda, unable even to act like the mistress in a house that was not hers, felt nothing but irritation toward that place.

“Hmhm~.”

But today she was sitting on the sofa humming cheerfully.

There was only one reason she was so happy.

The ring she wore on her hand.

A band made of shining silver with a huge diamond embedded in the center.

But it was not an ordinary diamond.

It was a red diamond extracted only by miners who descended beneath the infernal border of the Tomb of God in the west of the continent.

It was called a Blood Diamond because it had cost tens of thousands of lives, and it was a rarity among rarities impossible to obtain with money alone.

Tilda loved knowing that such an exclusive jewel, something no one else could obtain, was adorning her hand.

However, that happy smile did not last long.

“My love, did something good happen to you?”

The moment she heard that voice, Tilda’s happy moment vanished immediately.

The one who ruined her mood was Henri Dandollo, the young heir of the Dandollo family.

Her fiancé and the man who had given her that ring.

Tilda turned her head.

A theatrical smile appeared on her face.

“I was thinking about you.”

“What a coincidence. I was thinking about you too.”

Henri smiled brightly, completely oblivious to everything, and kissed Tilda’s hand.

Then he forcibly settled himself beside her on the sofa.

Even the contact through their clothes irritated her, so Tilda shifted slightly away and asked,

“How is business going lately?”

“Business? It’s going wonderfully! I heard the dwarves in the west found a vein of rare minerals used for magical materials. Money is literally going to rain from the sky.”

Henri clapped excitedly while swaying his body with enthusiasm.

But the only thing that came from Tilda’s mouth was a sigh.

Henri’s smiling expression filled with confusion.

“What’s wrong? Those are good news.”

“Of course they are. For now, they are good news. But why do I feel like I cannot see the future?”

“You cannot see the future? From my point of view, it seems we’ll continue prospering without problems…”

“That’s because you are too optimistic. I don’t see it that way. I don’t even know how I’m going to live from now on. Those beasts are still trying to take what belongs to me.”

“You mean your in-laws?”

Tilda nodded.

“Those two are worse than you can imagine. Do you have any idea how much they made me suffer when I was little?”

Emotions began rising in her throat.

With a voice filled with resentment, she continued speaking.

“Those beasts think I came into this family only to take advantage of you! They want to turn me into the villain in everyone’s eyes and leave me as a useless woman incapable of moving a single finger!”

Tears began running down her cheeks.

Just seeing a single drop made Henri’s heart tremble.

“Tilda, my love. Don’t feel insecure. My love exists only for you.”

Henri gently took her hand.

“Look at this. This diamond. It’s your favorite jewel, right?”

“……”

“When I placed this on your finger, I made a promise. I swore I would make you happier than anyone else in this world. So you no longer have any reason to feel insecure.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

Henri kissed the back of her hand again as he spoke softly.

“My love, for you I would even pluck the stars from the sky.”

Tilda, who had been crying sorrowfully, finally smiled.

‘This idiot really is this easy.’

They say all men become simple in front of a woman, but Henri was especially severe.

That was the kind of person Henri was.

Unlike his father, who expanded the business through aggressive investments and risky methods, Henri was docile and preferred a relaxed style.

He was not meticulous and had an impulsive personality.

‘But even so, he has ability.’

The western exploration had only been possible thanks to that impulsive talent of his.

Even if he was ugly and quite older, his usefulness was enough to tolerate him.

At the very least, she needed to keep using him until she resolved all the troublesome problems around her.

It was then that one of the employees approached and whispered into her ear.

“The fire was a success.”

Those were good news.

“Faster than expected. Understood.”

“What was faster?”

Henri asked.

“It’s a secret.”

“Secrets between fiancés?”

“It can’t be helped. I’m preparing a gift for you.”

“Oh… f-for me?”

A smile appeared on Henri Dandollo’s face.

He slowly slid his hand toward Tilda’s shoulder and spoke.

“That gift for me… couldn’t you show me just a tiny bit?”

Tilda smiled innocently as well.

“No. I’ll show it to you later, so endure it for now.”

“Eh, you can’t even show a tiny bit to your fiancé?”

“I love surprises. If Henri finds out beforehand, I’ll feel like all my effort was wasted.”

She puffed out her cheeks and lowered the corners of her lips while pretending to be displeased.

Henri chuckled when he saw her.

“Alright. I’ll pretend I don’t see anything, even if I find out.”

“If you pretend not to know, that means you already know.”

“Even if it doesn’t seem like it, I’m good at acting.”

“Yes, of course, hohoho.”

Tilda let out a cheerful laugh.

Seeing her in such a good mood, Henri showed a relieved expression.

“I think I should get going now. It’s time for my father-in-law to have dinner, right?”

“You could leave that to the maids. Isn’t it bothersome?”

“I was already neglectful while observing Hallim, and besides, he is Henri’s father after all.”

“Haha, wow… both my father and I are far too fortunate to have a daughter-in-law like you.”

Henri scratched his head while grinning foolishly.

He even began humming about how happy he was with his life, and Tilda responded with an elegant laugh.

That smile lasted exactly until the moment she left the room and the door closed behind her.

Then Tilda’s face turned completely cold.

She walked along the red carpet toward the patriarch’s room.

As she advanced, a maid discreetly approached her side.

“How is he?”

“The same as always.”

“Really? Good. Is everything prepared properly?”

“Yes.”

“Give it to me.”

Tilda received the tray.

And then the door opened.

“Father-in-law, it’s Tilda. I’m coming in.”

Tilda entered the patriarch’s room.

Inside the room stood out the mural where the history of the Dandollo family was written and the family tree of the main bloodline.

Since the family had maintained its lineage for more than two hundred years, its pride was also enormous.

The person who expressed that pride the most was Rico Dandollo, Henri’s father.

Rico Dandollo had been the most aggressive merchant in the entire history of the Dandollo family.

To contain Herman Pascal, who continued expanding aggressively, he threw himself into high-risk, high-reward businesses.

But in addition to ability, he had extraordinary luck, and Rico Dandollo’s businesses continued growing until they built the reputation he currently possessed.

However, no matter how much money he earned, no merchant could escape time.

And for Rico, that time was already almost exhausted.

He was an old man incapable even of holding a spoon, someone who could barely breathe and who seemed to live between today and tomorrow.

“Good morning, father-in-law. How are you feeling today?”

Tilda asked.

She knew she would not receive an answer.

Tilda continued speaking alone.

“Today the weather is quite pleasant. I think it would be a good idea to go outside for a little fresh air.”

“……”

“Although with your current condition, even sitting somewhere must be difficult. What a pity.”

“……”

“But even so, doesn’t it give you strength when this daughter-in-law comes to speak with you?”

Tilda placed porridge into Rico’s mouth.

“They say one of Henri’s contracts uncovered a vein of rare minerals. I heard they have a great affinity with mana, so they are practically going to sit atop a mountain of money.”

“……”

“Isn’t it amazing? That son of yours whom everyone called useless trash just a few years ago, lamenting that the Dandollo company would be ruined if he ever led it, is now bringing another era of prosperity to the company.”

“……”

“And do you know who turned that useless son into someone like that?”

“……”

“Me. It’s all thanks to me.”

Tilda displayed a smile full of narcissism.

“I am truly an incredible woman.”

She pushed the wooden spoon into his mouth.

“I am not a woman who will destroy this company as you believe.”

She moved the spoon inside his mouth.

“Everything will become mine. The Pascal company, the Dandollo company, this mansion……”

A little rougher.

She shoved the spoon even deeper into his mouth.

So deep that it seemed impossible for it to fit that far.

“Even your life, which is no different from a plant anymore.”

Kughk! Kughk—.

The blocked throat caused Rico’s face to grow increasingly pale.

Tilda enjoyed the sight.

Just before he completely suffocated, she pulled the spoon out.

Air flowed back into his obstructed lungs.

“But you still have to keep living. Because it benefits me more if you stay alive a little longer instead of dying right now.”

“……”

“I heard that in order to alter the will you hid, you first need to remain alive. Truly, I don’t understand why you had to create unnecessary secrets and make me go through all this trouble.”

Tilda stroked the old man’s chin with one finger.

For a moment she savored the feeling of dominating him.

Then her finger stopped.

“Huh?”

The smile on Tilda’s face froze.

Rico Dandollo, who could not even move a finger, had moved.

His eyes slowly turned toward her.

Both eyes trembled violently.

So bloodshot that he looked like he might turn into a ghost.

Killing intent.

It was hatred impossible to believe could come from an old man incapable even of speaking.

Tilda looked into those eyes and murmured coldly.

“It seems the dosage was insufficient……”

She discreetly pulled a small medicine vial from inside her clothes and dropped another drop into the porridge.

She did not even stir it.

She simply fed it directly into Rico Dandollo’s mouth.

Rico’s eyes once again lost their strength.

Once more he transformed into that frail old man who could barely breathe.

“Rest well, father-in-law. After all, you do not have much time left.”

Tilda smiled brightly again and brought her lips close to the ear of the now plant-like Rico Dandollo.

“When you die, I will send your son as well so you won’t feel lonely.”

After emptying the bowl of porridge, Tilda left the room.

In front of her stood the mansion employees.

“Did you make sure to place the blame properly on Merchit’s mercenary company?”

Tilda asked while handing over the tray.

“Yes. Merchit went to Castle Valdrova late at night to speak with Stephan, but he returned only two hours later.”

“So they threw him out that late at night…? It seems the conversation did not go very well.”

Tilda smiled in satisfaction.

“Now all that remains is to make it explode little by little. Little by little.”

“That’s right.”

“Continue with the plan. We’re going to take everything.”

“Yes.”

The employees began moving hurriedly.

The plan had begun.

‘Now everything will fall into my hands.’

Merchit Pascal and Stephan Pascal.

Even if they were blood relatives, to Tilda, who desired to seize the Pascal company, they were nothing more than obstacles.

Tilda raised her hand and observed the shine beneath the light.

The elegantly cut Blood Diamond gleamed beautifully.

“It would be perfect if it were not an engagement ring.”

Although she muttered that with slight displeasure, she was still happy.

Because the engagement would only last for a moment.

But the beauty of the diamond would be eternal.

***

Merchit returned that very same day.

Even though it was already late at night, not offering him a place to stay was practically the same as throwing him out.

With that, anyone could imagine that the conflict between Merchit and Stephan had deepened.

After that, Merchit began showing signs of becoming independent.

He started transferring all the businesses he had managed into the mercenary company and preparing to separate completely.

It was a maneuver to force them to make their move openly.

And just as he expected, they took the bait.

Herman Pascal moved.

Knowing that power must not be divided, he attempted to stop Merchit’s independence while at the same time once again trying to remove Stephan and expel him.

‘Just as Stephan had predicted.’

Herman did not know what was really happening.

He only knew that the two brothers had fought and that it was causing a division.

The best actor was the one who barged in without knowing absolutely anything.

Herman was playing an important role by eliminating everyone’s suspicions.

Father, Herman Pascal.

Brother, Merchit Pascal.

And himself, Stephan Pascal.

Under the name of the Pascal company, a three-way war began between the three men.

Everything was making it seem as though things were progressing exactly according to Tilda’s plan.

It was then.

“Regent.”

Isabella entered Perda’s office.

In her hands was not the usual mountain of documents, but a thin handkerchief.

“A carpenter said he found it while organizing construction materials. Since he could not read, he brought it to me……”

What Isabella handed over was a carefully folded black handkerchief.

When she opened it, letters written in a chilling red were revealed.

‘No… that’s not blood. It’s ink.’

If it were blood, it would not maintain such a bright red color.

But it did not matter whether it was blood or ink.

Perda knew only one organization that wrote with red ink on black handkerchiefs.

‘Black Bandana.’

A secret organization spread throughout the Serdes continent.

An underground organization that used the provocative slogan.

“There is nothing we cannot find, and nothing we cannot obtain.”

And as expected from an information organization, the contents were provocative as well.

— To the noble Perda Valdrova.

— We are aware of the recent events related to the Pascal company.

— We will soon come to see you.