Chapter 204 - The Language of Nobles

"Princess Olivia and the 2nd Prince are coming?"

Seated in her lair, Valdrova questioned Luri's report.

"Yes."

"Olivia is that... very beautiful woman?"

"Yes."

"The one who came to the festival?"

"The very same woman who nearly danced with Lord Ferda and was forever clinging to his side."

"I-I don't think it was quite like that..."

Bright blond hair and blue eyes. A woman whose smile was perfect, too. Even without any effort to remember her, her presence was like an awl tucked into a pocket: it would always poke through. Her radiance made Valdrova herself feel so shabby that she shrank before it.

"Shall I tell the princess she is not allowed in?"

Valdrova started at Luri's question.

"Why?"

"Well, you seem worried that Lord Ferda might take an interest in her. Shouldn't we prevent them from meeting?"

Valdrova recoiled.

"Ferda isn't that sort of person."

"Indeed, he isn't."

"Then why would you say that?"

"Because it is my duty to prevent anything that might displease you, my lady."

Valdrova flinched.

"As they say, there is no smoke without fire, and a tree without roots grows no leaves. If Princess Olivia stays by his side, even Lord Ferda might someday fall under the spell of her beauty."

"Even though I've spent more time with him?"

"That is how men are."

"They are...?"

"Yes."

Valdrova could not understand why Luri was so certain. She had never been in a relationship herself; what could she know about men?

Still, just as Luri had said, hearing Olivia's name had immediately made her anxious. She pictured Olivia at Ferda's side—and found herself thinking how well they suited each other.

Valdrova did not want to doubt Ferda. So, as Luri suggested, the ideal solution was not to see Olivia at all. If she needlessly tormented herself like this, Ferda would pick up on it with uncanny speed.

'Then he might think I'm a tiresome woman.'

The thought that he might someday tire of her and leave made her anxious. How could she put these feelings to rest?

Valdrova thought it over and reached a conclusion.

* * *

Valdrova Castle.

Olivia followed Luri's lead. They were heading in a different direction from her usual route, which made for a refreshing change.

'Valdrova...'

The dragon who defended the far east. She had meekly accepted the title of Grand Duchess that humans had arbitrarily bestowed on her and become the dragon who guarded that land.

But who treated her as a Guardian Dragon? She remained an Evil Dragon, nothing more than a watchdog.

Olivia herself had once wondered whether Valdrova's accomplishments were exaggerated and the dragon was nothing special after all. But that had been arrogant of her. Having taken part in the demonic creature subjugation campaign, she knew that with certainty.

When they marched out, everyone had yearned for hope, but Olivia had not been enough. She could move the masses, but she could not sustain them.

What transformed their morale was a single gesture. The red dragon had stood alone atop the Lonely Mountain and changed everything. No number of speeches from Olivia, however loudly delivered, could have achieved that. It had unmistakably been a sovereign's choice.

'And now that same Valdrova has summoned me...'

What could she possibly like about a mere human enough to summon her?

No, Olivia had a fair idea of what this was about. If Valdrova was a woman like her, it had to be for that reason.

'Don't flirt with someone else's fiancé... Something predictable like that.'

She had heard it often enough. Ever since she reached adolescence, men had shown an interest in her—from boys her own age to old men, from those with fiancées to those already married.

["So young, and already flirting with other women's men."]

["Who will marry her when she grows up, acting so shamelessly? Tsk, tsk..."]

It was deeply unfair to Olivia, who had never once regarded a man as a romantic prospect. She always maintained appropriate boundaries, just as she had learned in her etiquette lessons, and conducted herself properly to avoid misunderstandings. Yet it was always the men who overstepped those boundaries.

There were even women who lashed out at her in jealousy when neither party had crossed any line. Men looked at her with lust-filled eyes; women glared at her with jealousy. Olivia was always exhausted.

If Valdrova the Crimson Dragon was a woman, this meeting had undoubtedly been prompted by jealousy.

'Then it's simple.'

She merely had to say she would have no further dealings with the man. She could swear in God's name that she would not even exchange a few words with him, but walk past him as though he were a stone. That would settle everything. Olivia could spare herself pointless conversations and avoid some of the needless jealousy directed at her.

'... But I don't want to do that.'

Her relationship with Ferda was not simply that of a man and a woman. He was a partner she could trust, and also the god she held in her heart. She could not lightly promise to cut ties with him.

What should she do, then?

'Perhaps I won't make it back today.'

The thought made her give a small laugh.

"My lady, the princess of Arken is entering."

Luri had led Olivia to the castle garden. It was tended with such exquisite care that even the imperial palace's dozens of gardeners could not compare. In its center stood a roofed pavilion with a table set for tea and refreshments. A woman in red sat there.

'That's... Valdrova.'

She had already seen Valdrova's human form twice. Voluptuous curves and pale skin, contrasted by two pairs of fearsome horns. Their tips gleamed with a particularly sharp light that unsettled Olivia.

'I can handle this much.'

She must not lose her composure, whatever happened. Even in a dragon's jaws, she had to hold out to the very end.

Olivia offered a courteous greeting.

"I greet the great Aspect of Fire, Lady Valdrova."

"..."

Valdrova merely inclined her head without answering.

That gesture alone was enough for Olivia to draw a conclusion.

'She seems displeased.'

She certainly had not invited Olivia here with good intentions. An unbearable sense of pressure seemed to squeeze Olivia's chest.

Luri pulled out a chair behind her, and Olivia sat across from Valdrova.

"It is an honor to behold you, Your Highness. I had heard that you were a woman, but you cannot imagine how delighted I am to have this opportunity to meet you in person before my brothers."

"..."

"Forgive me. I have forgotten my place and prattled on."

"N-no..."

Her first words were terribly hesitant. Her voice came out so gentle that Olivia wondered if she had misheard it, before she spoke again, forcing weight into her voice.

"Not at all."

Olivia had the impression of a child needlessly playing king, but made an effort to dismiss it. She answered carefully so as not to give offense.

"Then I am relieved. That you should wish to speak with me leaves me, Olivia Arken, deeply moved."

"I... see."

"If I may, Your Highness, might I sample your tea?"

"You... may..."

An uncomfortable silence soon settled over them again after Valdrova's halting reply.

Olivia could normally break a silence like this whenever she wished. As the lady of the imperial palace, she had learned how to guide a conversation with skill. Yet she could not readily find the right approach to begin one.

'I can't get a read on her...'

Sitting face-to-face with Valdrova, Olivia felt that everything she knew only grew more tangled.

Valdrova the hostess, who had strode into the Start of Spring Festival and eclipsed everyone present. Valdrova the dragon, who had stood tall atop the Lonely Mountain. Valdrova the human before her now, like a young noblewoman making her first entrance into society.

These three had to be one and the same person, yet she could not reconcile them. All she needed was to identify what sort of person she was dealing with, but even that proved difficult, forcing Olivia to keep watching her words.

Olivia kept one question in mind: Why had Valdrova summoned her here?

She would not jump ahead with easy assumptions. For now, Olivia had to be innocent. An innocent Olivia knew nothing. So she casually ventured a question, feigning ignorance.

"I would have thought you might prefer to speak with the 2nd Prince rather than me, Your Highness..."

"... Why do you think so?"

"I am a princess. A princess is essentially the lady of the palace. With someone like me, you would find yourself discussing only private, trivial matters. As a wise ruler, you must place affairs of state and the national interest first, so surely my brother would be the more suitable choice..."

"Ah, um... Well..."

Valdrova stumbled awkwardly over her words.

"Those discussions, well... Someone like Mr. Ferda—no, what was the term again... At any rate, I deem such matters best left to someone like Ferda...!"

"I-I see."

What on earth had she been trying to say? By now, Olivia was thoroughly bewildered. The masked Valdrova's movements betrayed her extreme discomfort.

"... I wished to speak with you because you are clever and beautiful."

Olivia felt her heart drop. Being called clever and beautiful by another woman when they were alone had never led to anything good. She forced a smile, pretending not to understand the implication.

"I am deeply honored that an immortal should think so highly of a mere mortal. Yet humans are ultimately only beings fashioned in the image of a god. Surely we could never surpass the beauty of a dragon, a being so close to divinity."

"..."

Valdrova did not answer. From behind her mask, her gaze was fixed on Olivia's eyes.

What was she thinking? Olivia felt the pressure.

"You truly are clever. So much so that I think you and Ferda would suit each other."

Olivia could no longer smile. To say that Olivia suited her own fiancé so well... The moment those words were spoken, it was as good as over.

Struggling to calm her pounding heart and keep herself from breaking into a cold sweat, Olivia spoke.

"I, Olivia Arken, offer you my apologies here and now, Your Highness."

"H-hm...?"

"It is improper for a young man and woman in their prime to be alone together, and all the more so when one is already promised to another... I have been terribly foolish."

"Hm??"

"But the Regent's meetings with me have remained strictly political. He always maintains clear boundaries, so even any misunderstanding that might lead to a scandal would soon be cleared up."

"I-is... that so?"

"Yes. Surely it is because he loves you very much, Your Highness."

"Loves..."

She murmured the word like a young girl.

"He speaks of you often, too."

Valdrova leaned forward.

"W-what does he say?"

The strain left her throat, and her gentle voice slipped out. Startled though she was, Olivia continued.

"He often says that you are far too beautiful for him. He says that he discovers something new about you every day, and that you are like a muse to him."

That was a lie, of course. Ferda always ended their conversations after discussing business and said little about Valdrova. Olivia had only said it to please her.

Now that the words were out, she began to regret them.

'Did I overdo it?'

Exaggerate too much, and a lie would soon be exposed. With a dragon's keen insight, Valdrova would have immediately realized that Olivia's words were false.

"R-really?"

Apparently not.

Valdrova's shoulders squirmed, and she ducked her head. What that gesture told Olivia astonished her.

'Is she feeling shy?'

A dragon of such advanced years, simply because her fiancé had spoken of her often? It made no sense. She was not some immature young noblewoman squealing over a prince on a white horse. How could she act like that?

Olivia concealed her inward astonishment behind a fond smile and moved on.

"Still, as the saying goes, one should not even retie one's shoelaces in an apple orchard."

"...?"

Valdrova looked as though she did not understand, so Olivia elaborated.

"It means one should avoid actions that invite misunderstanding. I am afraid I used a figure of speech known only to humans."

"Ah, no. I knew that..."

"In any case, if my meetings with Regent Ferda cause you concern, Your Highness..."

Strangely, the words seemed to want to retreat into her mouth. Olivia had not known it would be so difficult to say them herself, but at last she told her.

"I will stop meeting with the Regent."

She had said it herself, yet it hurt as though she had been the one abandoned.

"Hm? Th-there is no need for that!"

"Pardon?"

Olivia raised her head.

"I mean that you may meet with Ferda. Did you not say those meetings were necessary?"

"But... does it not trouble you that I meet with Regent Ferda? Should I not therefore stop seeing him?"

Valdrova had said it herself: Olivia was very clever and beautiful.

"That is not why I summoned you."

"Then...?"

"As I said, I merely thought you clever and beautiful."

"And you said we seemed very well suited to each other."