Chapter 135

Give Me a Hug

"Me?"

"...Who else would he summon besides you, Sir Ferda? It's not as though Master knows anyone else."

Luri answered flatly.

Considering how foolish the question had been, her irritation was understandable.

"I understand."

Ferda changed into fresh clothes more quickly than usual and headed for the lair.

The enormous iron doors were far too large for a human.

It was his first time returning here since the day Valdrova had suffered from her bloodlust.

Standing before the doors, Ferda knocked carefully.

Almost as if someone had been waiting for him, they slowly opened.

"Mr. Ferda."

The one who greeted him wasn't clad in armor.

Valdrova wore a dress.

For a brief moment, it felt as though his soul had left his body.

He barely managed to recover before offering a respectful bow.

"I greet Your Highness the Grand Duke. Thank you for inviting me into the great dragon's lair."

"No... I simply wanted you to come here at least once."

Her gentle voice was tinged with shyness.

That soft, timid tone struck straight at Ferda's heart.

He quickly looked away, taking in his surroundings.

The room was vast, dark, and barren.

Yet...

this was Valdrova's room.

His fiancée's room.

A woman's room.

Though it was nothing like the bedroom of an ordinary young lady,

he still found himself inexplicably nervous.

"I-Is there a reason Your Highness summoned me?"

He was so tense that he stumbled over his words.

Valdrova paid it no mind.

"I heard... you're leaving on a campaign. To where those enormous monsters are."

"That's correct."

Thinking she seemed worried, Ferda reassured her.

"But you needn't be concerned. There are many of them, but humanity has more than enough strength to deal with them."

"I know."

She smiled gently.

"I believe in you, Mr. Ferda."

"That's why I called you."

She fidgeted with her fingers.

"I... wanted to help you somehow. So that I could give you strength."

Help?

How?

The question must have shown plainly on Ferda's face.

Valdrova cleared her throat.

Then, as though performing on stage, she stretched both arms dramatically into the air.

"Ferda!"

she declared.

"If thou return safely after completing thy conquest... then from my treasury, I shall bestow upon thee my most precious treasure!"

Ferda silently stared at her.

Valdrova hesitated before extending her arms again.

"I-I shall..."

Apparently she had expected some sort of reaction.

Realizing that, Ferda bowed respectfully.

"It is a great honor that Your Highness would reward my service."

Only then did the awkward atmosphere finally ease.

"However... there is no need to give me one of your treasures."

"B-But... the other dragons all do this. They reward those who accomplish things on their behalf with wonderful treasures..."

"That may be true for them."

He smiled softly.

"But I am Your Highness's fiancé."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Valdrova looked as though the sky itself had collapsed.

Had he said something wrong?

"So... because you're my fiancé... does that mean you don't need my treasures?"

"I meant I'd do it even if you gave me nothing."

"Oh..."

Only then did she understand.

She covered her face with both hands.

Embarrassment from misunderstanding his words...

mixed with the shy realization that he would devote himself to her without expecting a reward.

Her face turned bright red.

"Even so... I still want to give you something. You've worked so hard while I wasn't there... Is that all right?"

"Yes. Refusing any further would hardly be the proper way to treat one's fiancée."

"O-Okay..."

Silence followed.

Neither of them knew what to say next.

"Master."

Luri stepped in.

"Why don't you choose a gift for Sir Ferda?"

"Huh? O-Oh! Right!"

Valdrova nodded vigorously before clearing her throat.

"W-Would you... like to see my treasure vault?"

For a split second...

the sentence sounded dangerously suggestive.

"If you'll permit me, I'd be honored."

"Then... come with me."

Valdrova led the way toward the treasury.

As they reached its entrance, Luri stopped walking and gave them a polite bow.

"I hope the two of you enjoy yourselves."

Only the two of them entered.

Unlike the cave-like lair, the treasure vault had been properly furnished.

"Wow..."

Ironically, the one more excited than Ferda was Valdrova herself.

"Seeing it in human form... there really is a lot."

She looked around with sparkling eyes.

"I'm always a dragon when I come here, so it never felt like much."

"Is that so?"

"Mm-hmm! Isn't it amazing?"

"Yes."

To be honest...

Ferda wasn't so sure.

By human standards, it was certainly an enormous fortune.

But by dragon standards...

it was pitifully small.

Most dragons possessed treasure hoards dozens of times larger than this.

Evil dragons openly plundered whatever they desired.

Even so-called guardian dragons accepted mountains of gold and priceless relics under the pretense of funding protection or development.

Yet the infamous Valdrova had never done any of that.

She had simply secluded herself for centuries.

Naturally...

her treasury had never had the chance to grow.

Rolling a gold coin between her fingers, she smiled.

"I heard you're using this money to build your village."

"Which is why I've always felt guilty."

"Hm? Why?"

"Because I'm spending Your Highness's possessions."

She blinked.

"But... why would that be a problem?"

"I like it."

Her smile shone like the morning sun.

She looked genuinely happy.

Simply knowing that he was making use of her belongings brought her joy.

Ferda found that innocent sincerity utterly endearing.

"Please... only say things like that to me."

"Why?"

"If you say something like that in front of your little attendant, she'll come charging over with murder in her eyes."

"E-Eek... O-Okay!"

Valdrova nodded repeatedly, visibly frightened.

Together, they continued deeper into the treasury.

***

Following behind her, Ferda quietly surveyed the collection.

There's nothing particularly useful.

Dragons tended to collect treasures connected to their Domains.

Iorga gathered water-related artifacts and magical tools.

Silverwind collected objects tied to wind and finely crafted steel.

Following that pattern, Valdrova should have possessed fire-related relics or legendary weapons.

Instead...

there was nothing reflecting her Domain of Strength.

At the very least, he'd expected to find some ancient magic sword, even one that had been sealed or broken.

Is there really nothing?

As he continued looking...

one object finally caught his eye.

"That..."

It was...

technically a weapon.

But calling it one felt strange.

An old, ordinary spear.

Its dull gray shaft stood in stark contrast to the brilliant gold surrounding it.

Even its material was impossible to identify.

"Do you want it?"

Seeing him stare at it, Valdrova tilted her head.

"May I ask what it is?"

"It's something I used a very long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"Hmm..."

She thought for a moment.

"Around... the beginning of creation?"

The scale of time was on an entirely different level.

"I used it when I fought against the Chaos that covered the world."

"It was with me for my entire life."

It had literally accompanied her from the dawn of her existence.

Since the conversation had drifted toward weapons, Ferda seized the opportunity.

"Do you have any other weapons besides that spear?"

"I don't think so..."

"After that one, I never really used weapons again."

"Whenever I did..."

"They broke after a single swing."

"So eventually I stopped touching them altogether."

"I see."

It sounded less like weapons were useless...

and more like she was afraid of breaking them.

"If you want it, I'll give it to you."

"No."

He shook his head.

"How could I possibly accept something that has accompanied Your Highness throughout your entire life?"

The spear carried too much history.

He couldn't bring himself to ask for it.

Besides...

it would be of little practical use to him.

"Would you prefer a weapon?"

"I admit... I was hoping for one."

"I don't have any."

She fell into thought.

"Then... perhaps I could give you the materials instead?"

"The materials?"

"Or..."

She spoke as though suggesting the most ordinary thing imaginable.

"...Would it be better if I simply tore off one of my reverse scales and gave it to you?"

A dragon's scales were, naturally, priceless materials.

They were notoriously difficult to work with, but a single scale was enough to create a legendary artifact.

Some Dragon Spawns were even granted scales by their masters and forged them into weapons or armor.

The effectiveness of a dragon's scales increased in proportion to their size.

And the largest scale of all...

was the reverse scale.

The one that protected the vulnerable spot behind the dragon's neck.

Offering that scale meant only one thing.

It meant she trusted him enough to entrust him with her life.

"If you want it, Mr. Ferda... I'll give it to you."

"...Your feelings alone are more than enough."

He smiled gently.

"Please treasure your own body."

Naturally, Ferda refused.

***

They resumed their tour of the treasury.

Valdrova was hardly much of a guide.

Whenever something caught her attention, she'd immediately scamper over to inspect it with childlike curiosity.

Meanwhile, Ferda sifted past mountains of glittering gold in search of magical artifacts.

"...Hm?"

Something caught his eye.

Like the ancient spear earlier, it was unlike anything else in the room.

A massive framed painting.

The sort large enough to hang proudly in the entrance hall of a castle.

She doesn't seem like the type to collect artwork...

Curious, Ferda turned it around.

"Ah...!"

Valdrova hurriedly reached out to stop him—

but she was too late.

"..."

The moment he saw it,

he understood why she'd reacted so strongly.

The painting depicted...

Valdrova herself.

She wore an elegant dress.

Her long crimson hair flowed down her back.

She smiled warmly toward the painter.

At least...

her mouth did.

Her eyes had been violently slashed apart by something sharp.

Nearly half her face had been destroyed.

As Ferda silently stared at the ruined portrait,

Valdrova spoke awkwardly.

"I... received it a long time ago."

"I accidentally... scratched it."

She hurriedly added,

"I didn't really like the painting anyway."

"So... I just left it in storage."

She laughed nervously, trying to smooth the situation over.

But Ferda already knew.

She was a terrible liar.

If she'd truly disliked the portrait...

she would never have preserved it all these years.

"It looks creepy anyway..."

"It feels like a ghost might crawl out of it."

"So let's stop looking at it and find something else."

She tugged gently on the edge of his clothes, trying to pull him away.

Ferda neither answered...

nor moved.

The painting whispered something to him.

Her life.

Her desires.

The emotions trapped forever inside endless contradictions.

The longer he stared...

the more strangely something stirred deep within his chest.

Was this regret...?

Or love?

"...I've decided."

"Hm?"

"I've found what I want."

Looking directly at Valdrova, he asked,

"If I return safely..."

"...would you give me this painting?"

"W-What?"

She blinked in confusion.

"B-But why?"

"It's torn."

"And it's ugly..."

"Even if you displayed something like this..."

Her voice gradually trailed off.

Ferda simply looked into her eyes.

He said nothing.

Yet under that silent gaze...

she slowly found herself retreating.

"...All right."

At last...

she nodded.

"If you come back safely..."

"I'll give you this painting."

Oddly enough,

the moment she agreed,

Ferda felt a pang of guilt.

Asking for the ruined portrait might have sounded like asking her to expose the deepest scar in her heart.

So he took a step back.

"If Your Highness truly doesn't wish to part with it..."

"I'll give up."

"No."

She shook her head.

"It's what you want, isn't it?"

"I can't give my fiancé something he doesn't want."

Those words told Ferda everything he needed to know.

So he quietly asked,

"...Are you afraid of me leaving?"

"..."

Valdrova couldn't answer.

Silence itself became her answer.

She was afraid.

Calling him here late at night...

had been her way of easing her own anxiety.

Offering him treasures...

was simply another way of wishing for his safe return.

Everything she'd done...

had come from her fear of losing him.

Moved by that realization,

Ferda gently took her hand.

"I am Your Highness's fiancé."

He spoke softly, hoping to ease her fears.

"Half of my life already belongs to you."

"So long as I remain your fiancé..."

"I will think only of you."

"And I will live for your sake."

"..."

"So..."

"I promise."

"I will return alive."

Valdrova's fingers fidgeted inside his hand.

Hidden behind her white mask,

Ferda couldn't even begin to imagine the expression she wore.

"Mr. Ferda..."

"May I ask one favor?"

"Of course."

Internally...

Ferda prayed.

Please don't ask me not to go.

Instead...

she whispered,

"...Would you hug me?"

"...Pardon?"

For a moment,

Ferda wondered if he'd misheard.

But she nodded earnestly.

"I-I heard..."

"...that when a man and a woman embrace..."

"...good energy comes out."

"It makes bad thoughts disappear."

"And..."

"I want to give you some of that good energy."

"...Good energy."

Without thinking,

Ferda touched his own face.

His skin felt as hot as a fireplace.

Why am I getting embarrassed over something like this?

I already held her when we danced...

"...Very well."

"O-Okay...!"

Valdrova gathered her courage.

With surprising determination,

she spread her arms wide.

Carefully...

Ferda slipped his arms around her shoulders.

He embraced her first.

Only after he drew her close...

did Valdrova slowly wrap her own arms around him.

Her hands slid around his waist...

and rested against his back.

She's warm.

Even through a single layer of cloth,

she felt incredibly soft.

Like embracing a child.

A gentle scent drifted from her crimson hair,

warm like sunshine.

It filled him with peace.

For a brief moment...

he worried.

She's so warm...

Will she hate how cold I am?

***

Warm...

Valdrova was thinking exactly the same thing.

She had never known another person could feel this warm.

It's similar to receiving mana...

...and yet completely different.

Receiving mana soothed something within her.

But this embrace...

made her heart burn.

Just a little more...

Within the timid girl...

a tiny seed of selfishness sprouted.

I wish...

...this warmth would sink even deeper.

She leaned her face against his chest...

and hugged him tighter.

Thud.

"...Hm?"

The pleasant atmosphere shattered instantly.

Something felt...

wrong.

Ferda sensed an odd resistance near her horns and instinctively pulled back.

Valdrova blinked.

Directly before her...

she saw two perfectly round holes in Ferda's chest.

Exactly where she'd wanted to rest her head.

"...Huh?"

Even someone as oblivious as Valdrova wasn't incapable of understanding what had happened.

The pieces connected inside her head.

"...Huh...?"

"...HUH?!"

Panic exploded across her face.

"WHAAAAAAAT?!"

"Master, what on earth are you making such a fuss ab—"

Luri stepped inside.

Then froze.

Two neat holes had been punched clean through Ferda's chest.

"...W-What?!"

"What happened?!"

"I-I don't know!"

For a moment, Valdrova wondered if he'd accidentally touched a cursed artifact.

But that wasn't it.

There were precisely two holes in Ferda's chest.

And on Valdrova's head...

were two horns of exactly the same width.

The color drained from Luri's face.

"MASTER!!"

she shrieked.

"Haven't I told you countless times?!"

"Your horns are sharp!"

"You have to be careful!"

"How did you think hugging someone like that was a good idea?!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize to me!"

"Apologize to Sir Ferda!"

"Does this seriously look fine to you?!"

"Can't you see Sir Ferda has completely checked out?!"

"Waaahhh!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm so stupid!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ferda!"

"N-No..."

"Please be quiet!"

"Don't say another word!"

"Oh, honestly!"

"I've served you all these years, Master, and after everything I've witnessed..."

"...why does something like this always happen to me?!"

Luri continued scolding her master.

Valdrova continued apologizing over and over, sobbing that she was an idiot.

And the victim...

Ferda himself...

was actually fine.

The two horns had pierced him fairly deeply,

but they had missed every major blood vessel.

There wasn't much bleeding.

Nor was there much pain.

There was, however...

one thing he had to admit.

Luri had been right.

His mind had completely stopped working.

Because at that very moment...

Ferda had only a single thought.

If I were to die now...

I would have no regrets.