IMTDIK 42

Chapter 42: The Dragon’s Wrath

In the Valdrova Duchy, within the grand halls of Valdrova Castle, Ruri was delivering her daily report to Valdrova.

“Lord Ferda has safely arrived in the empire and is currently in discussions at the imperial palace,” Ruri reported, updating Valdrova on Ferda’s movements.

Valdrova let out a sigh of relief, a puff of smoke escaping her nostrils.
-That’s good. I’m glad he arrived safely.

“I’ve told you several times, haven’t I? Ordinary monsters wouldn’t dare attack that carriage,” Ruri added, trying to reassure her.

The Far East was largely undeveloped, considered a wasteland by many. Its dense forests teemed with monsters, making travel far more dangerous than in other regions. However, Ferda’s carriage was no ordinary vehicle. Hidden within it was a dragon scale, a relic that repelled monsters with its sheer aura. Wild creatures, driven by instinct, avoided the carriage at all costs.

To further ensure safety, Count Consillus’s knight, Arwen, had been assigned as an escort.

‘And yet…’ Valdrova couldn’t shake her unease. The thought of Ferda leaving her domain unsettled her deeply. As a Red Dragon, Valdrova was accustomed to having everything within her sight and control. The idea of Ferda venturing beyond her influence was like a thunderclap in a clear sky.

-Is he eating well?
-Are there any monsters lurking nearby?
-Is he feeling unwell?

These were the questions Valdrova had bombarded Ruri with just six hours after Ferda’s departure.

‘It’s like she’s nursing a sick chick,’ Ruri thought, exasperated. To Valdrova, Ferda, an 18-year-old mortal, was as fragile as an ant beneath her feet. His frail health only added to her worries.

Reluctantly, Ruri had attached a spirit to Ferda’s carriage, ensuring updates every three hours. But she hated these reports.

‘She’s losing her original composure more and more.’

Valdrova had two faces. In her dragon form, she was solemn and dignified, a lonely guardian exuding an air of tension. But in her human form, she shed that tension entirely, becoming a gentle, almost naive woman. Ruri could accept both sides, but she wished the boundaries between them wouldn’t blur so much.

Since Ferda entered Valdrova’s life, even her dragon form seemed to lose its majesty.

‘It’s all because of that man.’ Ferda had brought both gratitude and frustration. He was a man who had changed everything.

“I won’t report on his return journey,” Ruri declared.

Valdrova stirred at this.
-Why not?

“We’ve confirmed the journey is safe. There’s no need to track his return.”

-But the return could be just as perilous.

Ruri sighed. Valdrova was sounding more like a doting grandmother than a dragon.

“Then why not go meet him yourself?”

-Hmm… Valdrova hesitated, her discomfort with human interaction still evident.

Seeing her struggle, Ruri pressed on. “You don’t need to worry so much about Ferda. To us, 18 may seem young, but in human society, he’s a full-grown adult.”

-I know that.

“And he’s handling tasks you couldn’t manage yourself.”

-I know that too…

“So please, don’t overthink it. As long as you’re here, Ferda won’t face any real danger.”

Just as Ruri was calming Valdrova, a breeze stirred within the lair, forming a white figure. It was Tormenta, a high-level wind spirit, floating beside Ruri.

“There’s news about Ferda. Just a moment…”

-I understand.

Valdrova straightened, waiting for Ruri’s report. But as Ruri listened, her eyes widened in shock.

“What? What do you mean…?” She caught herself, lowering her voice, but Valdrova had already noticed.

-What’s wrong?

Ruri didn’t answer immediately, still listening to the spirit’s whispers.

-What’s happened?

“Just a moment, my lady.”

Valdrova’s golden eyes narrowed.
-What’s happened to my fiancé?

Her patience was wearing thin. The lair trembled as her emotions stirred.
-Tell me the truth. What’s happened to him?

Ruri finally spoke. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

-Then what is it?

“Just political matters. The spirit came to deliver the news quickly.”

-So my fiancé is safe?

“Yes.”

The trembling stopped. Valdrova sighed and coiled back into her resting position.
-Then why did you look so serious?

“I was just focused. My apologies for worrying you.”

-Hmm… Very well.

Valdrova trusted Ruri and calmed herself.

“I’ll take my leave now. There are still documents piling up in the territory…”

-Go ahead.

Ruri left the lair, walking silently through the forest until she was far enough to be out of Valdrova’s sensing range.

“Tormenta,” she called. The wind spirit appeared before her.

-Yes, my lady?

“The news your subordinate brought…” Her voice trembled slightly. “Do you swear it’s entirely true?”

Tormenta flinched, her usually expressionless face betraying a hint of unease.
-Yes. It’s recorded that Ferda was attacked by a magic inspector in the sealed warehouse and injured. I relayed the message as I received it.

The Regent of the Far East had been injured within the imperial palace. In human politics, such incidents might be resolved through diplomacy. But Ferda was no ordinary man—he was the fiancé of a dragon.

‘If Valdrova finds out, she’ll lose control.’ The other dragons would likely follow suit. This was a disaster that had to be prevented at all costs.

‘Dragons must not be provoked.’

But Ruri, a Silver Dragon, was different.

“Understood.”

Silver wings sprouted from Ruri’s back, glowing brighter than ever. With a single powerful beat, she shot into the sky, disappearing in an instant.

The Silver Dragon, mistress of wind and steel, was known for her unmatched speed. She was called the Silver Comet, a streak of light across the heavens.

As she flew, a storm of emotions brewed within her. Why had Ferda entered the sealed warehouse? Why had he nearly died within the imperial palace?

‘Do they dare mock my lady?’ Ruri had never liked the empire. The third prince, with his tainted bloodline, had approached Valdrova with ulterior motives. The nobles had even used him as a scapegoat for their own schemes. It was an insult—one that could not be forgiven. But Ruri had held back, not out of indifference, but because Valdrova had wished it.

Valdrova believed her own unhappiness was inevitable and had let go of hope without a fight.
‘And now, just as she’s found hope again…’ How dare they endanger the future consort of a dragon?

After five minutes of full-speed flight, the empire came into view. What had taken Ferda a week to reach, Ruri covered in mere moments. Her silver eyes locked onto the imperial palace.

‘It doesn’t matter who’s responsible.’ Someone would have to answer for this.

The Silver Comet descended upon the palace, crashing into the royal gardens.

“Code Red! All knights and mages in the palace, assemble at the royal garden entrance immediately!”

The garden was in chaos as knights and mages scrambled to the scene. Ferda, calm and composed, walked toward the commotion.

A young knight, clearly inexperienced, drew his sword and confronted him.

“Who are you? I’ve never seen you in the palace before!”

“I am Ferda Valdrova, the Regent.”

“Ferda Valdrova? Ah! The Regent who arrived today! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you!”

“No harm done. Are they gathering at the royal garden?”

“Yes, it’s a Code Red situation. Please, take shelter in your room.”

“That’s a good idea, but I think I’ll join you.”

“What?”

“Guide me to the royal garden. I’m not familiar with the layout.”

“That’s not advisable. It’s too dangerous for you, Regent.”

Ferda realized the knight had no idea what was happening.
“It’s already dangerous because of me.”

“Because of you…?”

The knight, Malcolm, looked utterly confused, his face blank.

Ferda sighed at the sight of such incompetence.
“What’s your name?”

“Ah, I’m Malcolm. From Pitch Hill. I don’t have a family name,” the knight stammered.

“Alright, Malcolm from Pitch Hill. Don’t strain your limited understanding trying to figure things out. All you need to do is guide me to where we’re going.”

“But… I have a duty to protect the citizens…”

“You’re not making much sense, are you? Would you rather lose your life, or resolve this situation favorably?”

“I’m prepared to lay down my life for this duty!”

Ferda stared at him, exasperated. This guy was beyond reasoning.

“Fine, I’ll find my own way,” Ferda said, brushing past Malcolm.

“Wait, you can’t go that way! It’s really dangerous!”

Malcolm trailed behind, shouting warnings but not daring to physically stop Ferda.

At the entrance to the royal garden, a large group of knights and mages had gathered, forming defensive lines.

“3rd Knight Division! Form a dense shield wall!”
“5th Knight Division! Form a dense shield wall and create a flanking formation!”

The knights moved swiftly under their commanders’ orders, blocking the entrance.

“2nd Mage Division! Prepare defensive spells!”
“3rd Mage Division! Prepare bombardment spells!”

The mages readied their spells, preparing to face the intruder.

“The intruder is moving! They’re heading toward the entrance!” shouted a mage who had cast a detection spell.

“All units! Prepare for combat!!”

Tension filled the air. Before them stood a wall of rose vines. Suddenly, a silver flash cut through the air, and the vine wall crumbled into a rectangular shape, as if a door had been carved into it.

The intruder stepped through. It was a silver-haired girl in a maid outfit.

‘Ruri,’ Ferda thought. Just as he had expected. If there was an intruder in the palace, it had to be her.

But she looked different now. Silver wings extended from her back, a thick tail peeked out from under her skirt, and a pair of lightning-shaped horns protruded from her head. An intense, instinctual aura radiated from her.

“A… a dragon?!” someone shouted. Morale plummeted instantly. Those who had never seen a dragon or dragon spawn were overwhelmed by her presence.

“Don’t panic! She’s just a dragon spawn!”

A dragon spawn—a servant created after undergoing the Ascension Ritual, inheriting the blood of a dragon. Each spawn was equivalent to a well-trained knight, capable of taking down three or four human knights with ease.

The commander shouted to boost morale, but even he couldn’t fully believe his own words.

‘A dragon spawn breaking through the palace’s magical barriers in one go?’

The imperial palace was one of the most secure places humans had created. Its defenses included three layers of magical barriers designed to block aerial intrusions. Even meteors couldn’t penetrate them. Yet this girl had shattered them single-handedly.

‘And since when do dragon spawns emit such a draconic aura?’

This confused even the knights who had faced dragon spawns before. Dragon spawns weren’t supposed to radiate such power. But this girl was, as if a dragon itself had taken human form.

Sweat dripped down the knights’ faces, and their hands trembled. The shield wall was on the verge of collapse, and some mages lost focus, their spells fizzling out.

“Ugh…” Even Malcolm, trailing Ferda, collapsed under the pressure of the aura. At the same time, he witnessed something unbelievable.

‘How is the Regent so calm?’

Ferda stood tall, unaffected by the aura, the only one still standing. His unwavering gaze was nothing short of miraculous.

“Your name was Malcolm, right?” Ferda casually asked.

“Huh? Ah, yes… that’s right,” Malcolm stammered.

“You were correct.”

“About what?”

Ferda’s gaze was fixed on Ruri, and her eyes locked onto his.

“I might be in danger after all,” Ferda muttered. Ruri was furious with him.