IMTDIK 67

Chapter 67: The Second Tea Party

Ferda checked on Valdrova Castle. A whole month had passed since he’d been away, and he wondered if anything had gone wrong. But everything was running smoothly.

His first stop was Vernell’s research lab. Theories that had once seemed incomprehensible were now gradually taking shape, thanks to fifteen assistants helping him. Progress was being made.

Still a long way to go.

His biggest challenge, however, was Malcolm.

“Malcolm, can you put this in the right input slot?”

“The right one? Got it!”

“No, the right one! The hand you eat with! No, not there! Ahh!”

For the geniuses around him, Malcolm was a disaster. He couldn’t tell left from right, east from west. A fool among the brightest minds. Teaching him even the simplest tasks was driving Vernell to the brink; his thick hair was thinning from stress, while Malcolm smiled brightly, completely oblivious.

Magical engineering is meant for humans, not just mages.

If someone like Malcolm could grasp it, ordinary people could too. That was Ferda’s goal.

Anyway, everything here seems fine.

As he walked by, a loud voice echoed down the hall.

“Hyyaaah!?”

Ferda’s sharp senses caught it immediately. It was the demon, Penelope.

What is this witch doing here?!

The “witch” in question was Echidna.

“Huhuhuhu, if a demon can be here, why not a witch?”

The situation became clear immediately. Echidna pointed a knife at Jed, while Penelope clung to his leg. Jed looked flustered, trying not to panic.

“Ah, Jed. Don’t worry. I won’t harm you. I just want to perform a contract separation spell.”

“A contract separation spell?”

“Yes. I’ll sever the part of your contract mark and give it new life to remove the curse. Then you’ll have a clean body, just like before.”

“…Wait. Are you saying you’ll cut off my arm?”

“And you’ll endure constant pain for the rest of your life! But that pain is nothing!”

Jed’s shock bled into his voice.

“Are you crazy?”

“It’s fine! Even if you only have one arm, I’ll still love you forever!”

“But I love my arm!”

“You’ll overcome it! With our love!”

The scene was chaos. Ferda knew why. The contract he had orchestrated between Penelope and Jed was the cause. It was meant to protect Penelope from returning to Hell and keep her under watch while preventing her from revealing Sitri’s Life Vessel.

Penelope may have been chained, but she accepted the deal. Hiding in the dragon’s nest was safer than running from place to place.

And Jed…?

Jed was flustered, desperate, silently begging Ferda for help with his eyes. But Ferda turned his back. Handle it yourself.

Everything else seems fine.

Even if something had happened while he was gone, he wasn’t aware of it.

A small girl approached in a maid uniform.

“Ferda. Everything is ready.”

“Alright.”

He adjusted his tie. Shadowy hands emerged from his clothing, straightening his outfit once more. He had faced demons, assassins, and crises that could have destroyed the kingdom, but nothing made him as nervous as what awaited him now.

It felt like hiding a wet sheet in a closet as a child—safe for now, but inevitably, it would be discovered.

But his anxiety vanished as soon as he saw the balcony. A tea table had been set. And sitting there, silent and immovable, was an armored dragon knight.

Again, today.

This was the third time she had done this, and Ferda was no longer surprised. She stared at him silently, her helmet shaped like Valdrova’s head, radiating authority.

Why is she just sitting there?

He stepped closer, imagining the expression beneath the helmet. Then he realized…

“…Zzz.”

Valdrova was asleep. Her head slumped toward the table, almost face-planting, before jerking back upright.

“…Mmm… hmm?”

Half-asleep, she blinked at him.

“…Ferda?”

Then suddenly:

“Huh?! Ferda?!”

She jumped, startled.

“Oh! Oh! Y-You’re here!”

“Yes. It’s good to see you, Lady Valdrova.”

“Uh, um… welcome, Ferda. I, uh…”

Ferda helped her regain composure.

“You must have been deep in thought. Lost in your worries.”

“Huh? Oh, well… actually, I was just sleeping…”

“When a king is caught sleeping, it’s polite to say they were thinking.”

“O-Oh! That makes sense! Yes, I was thinking! Definitely!”

She nodded repeatedly, flustered and relieved.

“Are you alright, Ferda?”

“Yes.”

“I heard your carriage had problems and you stopped at Count Consilus’s estate…”

Ferda glanced at Ruri. She nodded slightly, confirming she had reported everything.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You weren’t hurt?”

“There was no serious issue. Just minor repairs.”

“That’s good. I was a little worried.”

Her concern, pure and heartfelt, reminded him why he had to keep things secret.

“What did the Grand Council discuss?”

Ferda explained briefly: mostly land disputes.

“I see. Wars still happen on the Serdes Continent?”

Conflicts between elves and dwarves, still unresolved. Valdrova listened carefully. His heart tightened; he could not reveal everything.

“And…”

As the discussion drew to a close:

“They talked about the Eastern Conquest.”

“The Eastern Conquest?”

“They declared their intent to conquer the Cursed Lands.”

Valdrova fell silent, touching her arm, her eyes tracing the balcony view. The early autumn landscape stretched before her, vibrant with life.

“But that land… it wasn’t always called the Cursed Lands.”

Her voice was soft, carrying memories.

“Once, it used to have such a beautiful view. Now it’s dark… but… do you think it can return to those pretty colors again?”

Ferda could not offer false hope.

“It won’t be easy. But I will do anything to bring back the view you remember.”

She clenched her fist, determined.

“If there’s anything I can do, I will help as much as I can. I cannot just sit while my fiancé works so hard.”

“If Your Highness offers your hand, it would be my greatest honor.”

Watching her, he felt at ease. Her words were genuine, pure. No need to read between them.

“Um… do you have anything else to say?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Oh… okay…”

Valdrova’s voice trembled slightly. What did she expect him to say?

Ferda sipped his tea, cooling his thoughts.

“Well… Ruri told me something…”

“Yes?”

“That you… held hands with a woman named Olivia.”

He choked on his tea.

“Pfft!”

Valdrova’s eyes widened.

“Ferda? Are you okay?!”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to disturb you… I just wanted to talk…”

Ferda wiped his mouth and looked toward Ruri. She quickly averted her eyes. So she really told her everything.

He clenched his jaw.

“What… could I even say? That Olivia held my hand first? That it meant nothing?”

But he let it go.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have held hands with another woman in front of my fiancée…”

“N-No, no! I don’t care about that!”

She waved her hands, flustered, but her lowered gaze and fidgeting fingers betrayed her.

“So… um…”

She looked up carefully. “Maybe…”

Tilting her head, she asked softly, “Maybe… you want to hold my hand too…?”

Ferda’s mind blanked.

“…Huh?”

“Your Highness’s… hand?”

“Yes. We’ve done it once before… I think I can do it again…”

This was no casual gesture. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

He inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

“I… want to hold it.”

“Okay. Wait a moment.”

She removed her gauntlet. Beneath the armor lay a small, delicate hand, soft and fragile despite the strength she wielded. She curled her fingers shyly, making it look even smaller.

“H-Here!”

Ferda reached carefully.

“Hic!” Valdrova’s hand jerked away.

“Why?”

“Ah, um… I just… I’m afraid I might not control my strength well… I need a moment…”

Her voice trembled.

Ferda suggested gently:

“If strength is the problem, how about I place my hand over yours?”

“Oh! That’s a good idea!”

Valdrova placed her hand palm-down on the table. Ferda placed his on top.

Crack.

The table fractured. Granite. Unbreakable granite.

So this is why she’s called the ‘Force of Power’…

He smiled, remembering their first meeting, when he had impulsively held her hand, intertwining their fingers.

Even now, he did not let go. Warm skin. Steady pulse.

Even if his hand got hurt, he wanted to feel it, properly, before letting go.

“Are you still struggling with your blood energy?”

“No… I’m fine.”

“But you didn’t go hunting yesterday.”

“R-Ruri?!” Valdrova flinched.

“Is it true?”

“Well… yes… but it’s okay. Monsters will come today anyway.”

“If you don’t hunt, you might harm yourself.”

“….”

Suddenly, she felt the familiar warmth of his magic. Her heart calmed instantly.

“Ferda…”

“It’s fine.”

“This… is enough.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Ferda stopped.

Silence followed. Awkward, but unbroken. Neither spoke. Neither moved.

They lingered, savoring this fragile, precious connection.