Chapter 249 - Red (Summer Bonus Illustration 3)

Meanwhile, at Valdrova Castle.

"Master Ferda will be here soon."

"Y-Yes!"

"There is no need to be nervous. Master Ferda is..."

Luri faltered for a moment. She remembered seeing Ferda's right hand, the one found in the audience chamber.

"Luri?"

"...safe, after all."

Luri finished as though nothing were wrong. Valdrova nodded quietly.

"Ferda is coming..."

Valdrova unconsciously laid a hand over her chest. Her heart was pounding as though it might burst straight through her skin.

"The refreshments are ready. I have also laid out everything Master Ferda will need to make tea."

"Yes... Hm?"

Belatedly realizing what that meant, Valdrova asked, "Is there something urgent you need to do?"

Luri fidgeted with her fingers as she answered. "My apologies, my lady... but I would like to take some time off, starting today."

Surprise filled Valdrova's face. The ever-capable Luri, who never so much as mentioned wanting a rest, was announcing a vacation.

"Yes. Of course."

Valdrova was delighted. She had long thought Luri ought to take a break sometime.

"Where will you go?"

"... I intend to spend it at a place in the west called Crystal Lake. I would like to relax, do some fishing, and buy myself a little food."

"The west..."

Valdrova gazed at Luri with moist eyes. Luri always met that gaze squarely, but now she gently closed her eyes to avoid it.

"How many days will you be away?"

"A week... should be enough."

"Do you have money?"

"What I have on hand should cover my travel expenses. If necessary, I have ways of raising funds, so there is nothing to worry about."

"All right, then." Valdrova smiled as she spoke. Her smile was always kind.

"Have a safe trip."

"Thank you."

Luri bowed and turned away. Once Valdrova could no longer see her face, it twisted painfully. Her lips repeated the words she could not bring herself to voice.

'I'm sorry.'

Luri had promised Valdrova that she would protect her man. But she had failed to protect him.

'If Lady Odograsado hadn't been there... could we have restored his right hand?'

If threats and tearing the place apart had still failed to restore it, if she had returned with Ferda's right hand still wrapped in bandages, would Valdrova still have welcomed her with a smile?

'She would have.'

Valdrova would have forgiven her. She would have consoled her, saying it could not be helped, that she had done her best. She was such a hopeless woman that she could not even properly get angry.

'That's why I can't forgive myself.'

Luri also knew that her inability to get angry left her festering inside. She could not add to the burdens of someone who had spent her life blaming herself for things she had done—and even things she had not.

That was why she needed time off. But not to enjoy a leisurely rest by a lake in the west. She had another destination: the far north, where cold air flowed even in midsummer. Silverwind's stronghold.

* * *

After quickly taking care of the village's most important business, Ferda returned to the castle. The nobles of the far east were planning to prepare a proper banquet in his honor there. He accompanied them to the castle halfway up the mountain, where an unexpected flag stood before the gates.

'A distinguished guest is here.'

That flag was rarely used. It had not been flown even for the princess and the 2nd Prince's visit. That meant someone of still higher standing was waiting ahead. Ferda quickly realized who that guest was.

He stopped his carriage, called Concillus over, and said, "We will walk from here."

"Yes, my lord."

"The lady of the castle will be coming out. Tell everyone to straighten their attire and be fully prepared."

"The lady of the castle... Understood."

Concillus passed the order to each of the nobles' carriages, and they disembarked after Ferda. Together, they walked toward the gates.

"Pay your respects!"

A woman's powerful voice rang out. Normally, that announcement would have fallen to Luri, but the voice belonged to Garnet, who had returned ahead of them. The nobles dropped to their knees.

A moment later, the castle doors opened, and someone walked cautiously out. The nobles who raised their heads for a sidelong glance caught sight of the figure and hurriedly bowed them again in shock.

The silhouette was that of a woman. Yet she had two pairs of horns and a thick tail that no ordinary human could possess. There was no mistaking it. Their liege, whom they had never once properly seen despite settling in the far east, stood before them.

'What terrifying pressure.'

'I must keep my wits about me...!'

There was no Dragon Fear. Their nerves alone were enough to do this to them. Simply being in a dragon's presence felt suffocating. They knew exactly how disgraceful they would look if told to raise their heads now.

With everyone kneeling, Ferda went a little farther forward and took her hand to pay his respects.

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

"..."

Valdrova did not answer. She merely acknowledged his greeting with a brief nod.

'A dragon indeed...'

'So stern even with her own consort.'

It was easy to draw that conclusion. Masked and not even deigning to reply, she seemed as cold as ice. She looked utterly unperturbed, as though she had always known he would return victorious from this war.

But Ferda knew.

'She's flustered.'

The nobles were not the only ones who were nervous. He could feel just how tense Valdrova was in her sweaty hand. She must have been waiting for him to arrive alone, only to freeze upon belatedly noticing the crowd behind him.

Valdrova withdrew her hand and quietly went up the stairs. Ferda rose and spoke to Count Concillus behind him.

"I may not be able to attend the banquet. If I'm absent, enjoy yourselves without me."

"But how could we, without the guest of honor...?"

Mid-sentence, Concillus suddenly seemed to realize something and nodded. "Understood. I hope the two of you have a wonderful time."

He had undoubtedly imagined something impertinent, but Ferda paid it no mind and followed Valdrova.

'No sign of Luri.'

The girl who clung to Valdrova like glue was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, he remembered the tears Luri had shed before him.

'I hope nothing's wrong.'

That led him to wonder whether something happening to Luri was the real reason Valdrova was so nervous. Stray worries threatened to plague him, but this was not the time to dwell on them. They were nearing the place where they would sit together.

Valdrova led him to the recreation room overlooking the western landscape. These days, she visited him in his office, the drawing room, and elsewhere, but their formal meetings always took place here.

"Allow me to get the door."

Ferda stepped ahead to open it for her, then followed her inside. The instant he heard the latch click shut, the worries threatening to churn through his mind vanished. He had realized that, after being surrounded by everyone's watchful eyes, they were now alone.

As he turned toward her with that realization, Valdrova's movements became those of an endearing young girl.

"Ferdaaa..."

Her voice reached him, sweet and plaintive, thick with melted longing. Every note carried how much she had missed him. Turning swiftly, she leaned toward him as though about to throw herself into his arms. Ferda prepared to catch her.

"Oh."

But she did not embrace him. Her forward-leaning body drew sharply back, her head retreating even farther. Her horns gleamed as menacingly as ever.

"I'm sorry. I got carried away again and nearly caused you trouble."

"... Not at all."

Ferda awkwardly lowered his hands, which now had nowhere to go. He had always thought that he wanted to be held tight in her arms, even if it meant getting his chest pierced.

Perhaps she understood his disappointment. Valdrova edged closer again and carefully took his right hand in a firm grip. Ferda raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"I'm home, Eleanor."

"Welcome home, Ferda."

She stroked his right hand as though it were precious. That touch, upon reuniting after several weeks, made Ferda nervous.

"Um...! L-Luri has gone on vacation."

"I see. Is that why I haven't seen her?"

"Yes, yes!"

How strange. That Chihuahua of a maid, taking a vacation. Still, it was not incomprehensible. The war had put Luri through terrible emotional strain.

Had she told Valdrova about his severed hand? The worry suddenly occurred to him, but he quickly banished it. As though fearing disaster if she read that thought, Ferda decided to change the subject.

"I'll prepare some tea. Please sit down and wait."

"Yes, yes!"

Valdrova meekly took a seat at the balcony table while Ferda readied the boiling water. The atmosphere was profoundly awkward.

"Has everything been all right in the domain?"

"Yes, everything was fine."

"I see..."

"..."

"..."

His mind was blank. He was usually the one to start conversations, but somehow he could not keep this one going. He soon realized why: Luri, who always bridged the gap at times like this, was absent.

'Being alone together isn't all good.'

He needed to set the right mood, but could he manage it alone? With that unease, he poured the red-hued black tea into her cup. Then he silently drank a cup himself. It tasted oddly bitter.

"Lately..."

Valdrova was the first to speak.

"Demonic creatures haven't been appearing much lately."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

That also meant she had no outlet for her hot blood.

"Is it very bad?"

"W-Well... quite bad...?"

"It seems things grew serious while I was away."

Ferda's expression was grave with concern. Seeing it, Valdrova fidgeted with her fingers.

"N-No, it's... With you beside me, I haven't had to relieve those urges alone, and they've subsided quite a lot, so I don't actually need it as much, but... No, I mean..."

Valdrova rambled on. She was a terrible liar. As Ferda calmly waited, she worried her lip and finally confessed.

"I'm sorry. I only said that because I wanted to feel your mana."

"Oh, is that it?"

"Ugh..."

Valdrova covered her masked face with her hands.

"I'm sorry, Ferda... We haven't seen each other in so long... and all I can think about is something so indecent..."

Indecent? He wanted to tell her that hearing her say such things was far more indecent. After a moment's thought, Ferda rose, brought his chair over, and sat beside her.

"It's all right. Your hand, please..."

"Yes..."

Her slender fingers rested in his hand. Ferda was about to send mana flowing into her when it happened. As his mana moved, something stirred strangely in his Dark Circle. At the same instant, the image of Valdrova buried in his memories sprang vividly to mind.

A burning village. Valdrova weeping blood.

"Ferda?"

Her voice brought him back to reality.

"What's wrong?"

Ferda looked up. All he could see were two pairs of horns, red hair, and a porcelain mask. Perhaps that was why the expression of despair haunted him anew. He spoke to Valdrova.

"Just a little..."

"Yes?"

"Could you wait just a little longer?"

Ferda's mana was born of emotion. Valdrova had called it wonderfully comforting and warm. Right now, he felt he might pass along those memories and his anxiety with it.

This was the first time Valdrova had heard him say such a thing. However flimsy her excuse for asking him to hold her hand, he had never once refused. Why now?

"Of course."

She wondered, but did not ask. Instead, she carefully wrapped her hands around his.

"Actually... I don't need that."

She lowered her head onto his shoulder.

"Just holding your hand and being here like this makes me so happy."

Soft breathing, and a question filled with warmth.

"You feel the same, don't you?"

Yes, I do. Ordinarily, he would certainly have answered that way.

"I don't."

That was what Ferda said. Startled by his answer, Valdrova lifted her head to look at him.

"Eleanor."

Ferda looked terribly sad.

"I keep moving forward, believing that with my love for you, I can accomplish anything. I thought that as long as I had that, I would want for nothing."

In this war, Ferda had stood on the very brink of death. He had experienced his body being stolen from him, and even witnessed a hallucination of himself making Valdrova suffer. That was when he had realized.

"But that wasn't true. I..."

He clasped her hand tightly, as though unwilling to let go even if it killed him.

"I'm greedier than I thought."

Eyes like deep lakes gazed intently at her. She wanted to look away, but could not. Valdrova knew that look. She had seen it when they went to the Land of Demons together, when she was struggling. Those eyes held a resolve, and she had to face it.

"If you're greedy..." she asked in a trembling voice, "does that mean there's something you want?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

She asked, but in truth, she knew. Ferda's blue eyes had always spoken, and their message had reached her clearly. She had only pretended not to know because he had never said it aloud. Now that moment had come.

"Will you take off that mask when you're with me from now on?"

There was no avoiding it now. Valdrova bowed her head and quietly withdrew her hands. For someone called the Aspect of Power, she struggled terribly just to raise them to her mask.

"... I can't. I simply can't do it myself..."

Just as disappointment was about to cross his face, Valdrova leaned her face toward him.

"So... would you take it off for me, Ferda?"

Ferda nodded silently and reached out. Now he understood why she had trembled so. He had always wanted this, yet he felt the urge to gloss over his own resolve and give up. Anticipation filled him most of all, but fear jabbed at him like an awl in his pocket.

What if he saw Valdrova's face weeping red tears of blood? The anxiety his Dark Circle had created tormented him.

With resolve, Ferda removed the white porcelain. It was as though he had lifted a thick bridal veil to behold his bride. The face so precious to him shone vividly before his eyes.

Golden eyes, with vertically slit pupils. Some might call their gleam chilling, but to Ferda, those eyes were utterly lovely.

"Ferda..."

Her small lips moved, clear and vivid. He fought past the tension choking his throat and answered.

"Yes?"

"How... does my face look?"

At her shy question, Ferda studied her face once more.

"Beautiful."

She looked so lovely, nothing like what he had feared. Yet one thing, and one thing alone, was the same.

"And red."

"Very... red?"

"Yes."

Even now, she was blossoming into a deeper red.