Chapter 73

Isabella

A few days later, a Dragon Spawn arrived from Iorga’s side.

“Greetings. My name is Isabella Iorga, and I have been dispatched here to serve as the administrator of Valdrova Castle starting today.”

As befitted a descendant of Iorga, the pair of horns growing from her forehead were rounded and nonthreatening.

Her eyes were sharp, and every movement was disciplined. Just looking at her made Ferda think of an exacting dorm supervisor.

He had been told that a Spawn would be coming, but there was one discrepancy in the paperwork.

“I was informed of your arrival, but I heard that the Spawn coming here was named Yuria.”

“I volunteered to take Yuria’s place. Rest assured, as Chief Erika’s senior secretary, I can confidently say that my ability to perform this assignment far surpasses hers. Within the Tower, I am known as the cold-blooded secretary.”

Isabella pushed up her glasses and assumed a stern expression.

Her confidence in herself was obvious, but whether she was truly as capable as she claimed remained to be seen.

Ferda was already well acquainted with the arrogance of Dragon Spawn.

“In any case, understood.”

“The alliance proclamation ceremony is scheduled to take place one week from now. It will be conducted on the basis of a document personally signed by Lord Blancaros, and the alliance will be announced throughout the entire Cerdes Continent. Do you have any questions?”

“Chief Erika already explained that matter to me in writing, so there is little I need to ask.”

“Understood. Please review the terms of the alliance agreement to be delivered to the Chief and affix your seal.”

Since it was an important document, Ferda carefully inspected every single word before stamping it with the royal seal.

He thought that would be the end of it, but another document immediately flew over and stopped in front of him.

“This document is a letter of consent granting me the authority necessary to act as administrator. This is a power of attorney delegating judicial and taxation authority to me. It also grants me the authority to make decisions whenever subcontracting becomes necessary for administrative work—”

The contents of the document were simple when summarized.

Ferda would personally approve major matters such as taxation, law enforcement, and diplomacy, while Isabella, as administrator, would directly handle minor affairs such as private disputes and the organization of tax-collection officials.

“That concludes all documents concerning the delegation of authority.”

“Is that everything?”

“This is only the beginning. We must conduct a meticulous review of the castle’s security clearance system. With the exception of permanent staff, all laborers and unclassified personnel will be expelled from the castle. Furthermore—”

They continued discussing the castle’s administrative affairs.

Isabella reviewed the changes Ferda had made after consulting Mori, explained how practical they would be in reality, and smoothly persuaded him by citing efficiency and appearance.

As their discussion of the castle’s administrative problems neared its end, Isabella casually glanced out the window.

Below them stretched a forest devoid of even the cries of beasts.

“I had heard about it, but it seems Valdrova Castle truly has no settlement beneath it.”

“I was told that it is too harsh a place for ordinary people to live.”

“Where do you intend to accommodate the adventurers?”

“Would Count Consilus’s territory not suffice?”

“That would be a poor decision.”

Isabella answered coldly.

“When building national power, population takes precedence over capital and food. We must begin designing a city around this area so that the adventurers can be accommodated.”

“I heard that ordinary people cannot easily survive near this place. It seems to me that you are overlooking that fact.”

“That would only be true if we lacked specialists capable of using magic. I will request that Blue Eyes dispatch mages to maintain the magic formations. Naturally, this would be employment rather than assistance, so I will prepare a budget proposal for the formation of a mage platoon and submit it for your approval. Once we eliminate the anxiety caused by Dragon Fear, this city will be more than suitable to serve as a capital.”

A capital...

Olivia Arken had once said the same thing.

She had hoped this place would become a second capital.

It was intended to happen someday, but was this not far too soon?

“What about opposition from the Empire?”

“That is like refusing to make sauce for fear of maggots. They will not dare interfere recklessly. Adventurers will gather in the Demonic Lands, and such a gathering will naturally give rise to a city. We have the justification of an eastern conquest. Should the Empire dare obstruct it, Iorga will make its opposition clear.”

Until now, the Empire had likely regarded Valdrova as little more than a guard dog protecting its doorstep.

Iorga, however, was an order of mages whose influence extended throughout the entire continent.

Ferda was satisfied to hear that they intended to support Valdrova properly.

“We must recruit merchant companies. I understand that Your Highness has already drawn one in. The Pascal Trading Company, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“One major trading company will not be enough. Even if we cannot attract merchants from the west, trade must also be conducted actively with the north and south.”

“I suppose I will need to speak with Stephan about that.”

“As the administrator, I will handle it myself. I am certain that I can also reach a satisfactory agreement with the Pascal Trading Company.”

“See that you do.”

Her proposals continued pouring out without pause.

She spoke of restructuring the roads, investment funds, donations, and urban-development strategies.

Ferda had believed himself reasonably well studied, but before Isabella, his knowledge seemed insignificant.

She effortlessly produced one new idea after another, linking them into a coherent strategy while making effective use of every resource Ferda already possessed.

She certainly deserves to be called a senior secretary.

She did not play with rhetorical flourishes, but summarized the core of each issue and conveyed only what was necessary.

She handled important matters firmly while remaining flexible regarding minor issues, consistently emphasizing practical benefit.

I thought I was settling for a chicken in place of a pheasant, but a phoenix has descended instead.

She was unquestionably someone he could trust.

In fact, she seemed so reliable that it was almost frightening.

Why would someone this capable come to this castle?

That was what Ferda could not understand.

Had the Spawn named Yuria arrived, he would simply have assumed that Erika had ordered her to come.

Isabella, however, had volunteered.

The descendants of Iorga were Dragon Spawn.

At their core lay an unparalleled pride in the belief that they were fundamentally different from others.

Their pride in Blue Eyes, the organization created by Iorga, was especially immense, and they detested leaving the Magic Tower.

Being dispatched to Valdrova Castle was practically no different from being sent into exile.

Why would such a capable secretary willingly come to a place of exile?

While Ferda was pondering that question, Isabella began gathering the documents she had spread across the desk.

“That should suffice for a brief overview. We can draft the detailed roadmap together at a later date. Let us bring today’s work to a light conclusion here. Thank you for your efforts.”

“Yes. You did well.”

“May I ask you one question?”

Isabella asked with a solemn expression,

“Regent, do you happen to enjoy drinking?”

“I never touch alcohol.”

When Ferda answered flatly, Isabella’s body flinched slightly.

The woman who had been speaking so fluently suddenly looked flustered.

“This was something I should have checked beforehand. The castle has not been placed under prohibition or anything of the sort, has it?”

“Nothing like that. I simply do not drink.”

“I see. Understood.”

She immediately looked relieved.

For some reason, the sight bothered Ferda, so he asked her a question.

“Do you drink?”

“Only a little. A drink after work is particularly special.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Even if their races differed, a mage was still a mage.

A mage’s companions were alcohol and women.

No one would criticize them for indulging in both, so naturally, he could tolerate at least one.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked before entering the office.

It was Luri, dressed in a maid uniform.

“Lord Ferda, at the castle gate... Hm?”

She had come to report something, but upon discovering Isabella, her attention was immediately drawn toward her.

“So you are the person dispatched here to assist Lady Valdrova.”

Luri frowned and walked toward Isabella.

When she stopped with about three steps between them, the difference in their height became plainly visible.

Even so, Luri refused to be intimidated and initiated a silent contest of wills.

“Since this is your first day here, I will make one thing clear. No one has served this castle more than I have. Should you remove or replace anything without my consent, you will not be able to avoid friction with me.”

The atmosphere was utterly serious.

Her words were backed by a firm resolve that suggested she would start a war if Isabella so much as touched her belongings.

Ferda, however, saw it somewhat differently.

She looks like a dog marking its territory.

Preconceptions were truly frightening things.

To Ferda, she looked like nothing more than a Chihuahua barking furiously.

Isabella looked down at Luri.

Her rational eyes gleamed as she opened her mouth.

“So small and petite...”

“Excuse me?”

Isabella pushed up her glasses with her middle finger.

Then, as though Luri had simply misheard her previous words, she spoke coldly.

“I was told that you, Luri Silverwind, have been responsible for all matters concerning the management of this castle.”

“That is correct.”

“I shall address you as Miss Luri from now on. I have confirmed that the standards of cleanliness here exceed even those of our Magic Tower. However, the administrative work is an utter disaster. Many of the procedures are neither efficient nor practical.”

“Concern for such things is beneath the dignity of a dragon.”

“You will need to concern yourself with them. Among all the dragons whose assets have been assessed, Lady Valdrova possesses the least wealth. It is so little that it has already disrupted the budget I originally intended to establish.”

“Are you dissatisfied with that?”

“Rather than dissatisfied, I am saying that proper financial management is necessary.”

Luri was displeased to hear that Valdrova lacked wealth, but she could not bring herself to refute it.

Valdrova truly had lived without showing much interest in rare treasures for a very long time.

“There will be changes within the castle as part of the administrative reforms. Before making them, however, I will seek you out and ask for your understanding. Would proceeding in that manner be acceptable?”

“As long as you do that, I have no objections.”

“Understood. Then I shall take my leave. I will see you tomorrow, Regent Ferda.”

“Very well.”

The sound of her heels echoed across the marble floor.

Like the senior secretary of the prestigious Magic Tower of Iorga, Isabella withdrew with an elegant stride.

Luri watched her leave with an expression tinged with disgust.

“I do not like that woman.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Why would I be jealous of those water lizards? I simply find her unpleasant.”

Whenever Isabella looked at her, Luri had sensed something strange.

She had clearly won their exchange, yet somehow it did not feel as though she had won.

It was because of the subtle discomfort caused by the gaze behind those glasses.

Ferda, of course, had no interest in that.

He simply assumed she was jealous.

“So did you come here just to mark your territory?”

“Please do not speak of me as though I were some stray dog prowling around the neighborhood. Chancellor Escholeia has arrived.”

Chancellor Escholeia.

In exchange for saving his life, Ferda had been promised the blueprints for a device capable of predicting the appearance of demons.

He had deliberately refrained from pressing the matter because so much had happened, but it seemed the chancellor had not forgotten.

“He must have traveled a long way. See that he is properly received first. Tell him I will meet him in two hours.”

“Understood.”

Luri withdrew.

Ferda wanted a short break, but there was another matter requiring his attention.

A crystal orb rested on his desk.

The orb, which had communication magic engraved into it, was blinking.

That meant someone was attempting to contact him.

Ferda placed his hand on the crystal and accepted the telepathic communication.

—Hello, Regent Ferda.

It was Erika Iorga.

“Yes, Chief Iorga.”

—You are not going to cut off the communication this time, are you?

“If that is what you wish, I can end it immediately.”

—Let us not be so cold. We are about to become allies, are we not? I received the document confirming that you reviewed the terms of the alliance.

“Is that why you contacted me?”

—That was one reason. Someone other than Yuria arrived, correct?

“Yes. She said her name was Isabella.”

—Yes, that is her. What do you think of her? Should she not be to your liking, I can send Yuria as originally planned.

It sounded as though Erika was trying to reclaim her senior secretary, and Ferda instinctively felt reluctant to agree.

“That will not be necessary. She is decisive and competent. I believe she is precisely the kind of person we need.”

—That is true. She is excellent at her work. She is my senior secretary, after all. She is so interested in practical affairs that she secretly enrolled at Escholeia under a false identity and earned a doctorate. However...

A long sigh followed.

“Is there a problem?”

—No. Let us not discuss that. It would be better for you to discover it slowly. It is not as though she is a bad person.

She is perfect when it comes to work.

Erika’s muttering only made Ferda more curious.

Just what kind of problem did that woman have?

It was surely the kind of issue that was troublesome, yet had no direct impact on her work.

—As stated, the proclamation will be held in one week. You have that much time, so please prepare thoroughly.

“Understood.”

—Then, for the sake of our alliance, I will be contacting you often from now on.

Erika spoke in a voice that sounded as though she were smiling before ending the communication.

The proclamation is in one week...

It was said that beginning was half the battle.

Ferda could already foresee mountains of paperwork.

It would be a headache, but he did not dislike it.

This, too, was for Valdrova’s sake.

Ferda looked outside.

For now, all he saw was an impenetrable forest blanketed in trees.

Someday, it would be filled with buildings and people.

Citizens and carriages would move busily through the streets, singing Valdrova’s name and praising her.

And so Ferda would endure this suffering.

For the sake of his one and only fiancée.