Golden Blood

A noble tea party.

No tea party is ever held in a shabby manner.

Even if it means going a little overboard, they decorate as lavishly as possible on the day of the tea party,

For that in itself represents the host's wealth, history, and capability.

That was why the tea parties held in the Imperial capital boasted a scale and grandeur of an entirely different level.

With young blood who would become the next lords, knights, and heads of houses gathered in one place, it was also a uniquely lively venue.

The young lords and sons of nobles wore neat formal uniforms bearing their family crests over their hearts, while the young ladies and daughters of dukes wore colorful dresses that looked like flowers turned upside down.

Everyone had come adorned with the desire to become the protagonist of this gathering.

Yet despite that earnest desire, there was one overwhelming presence in the Empire that made them look less like flowers and more like blades of grass growing beside one.

Olivia Arken.

A beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, with blond hair and blue eyes—so beautiful, it was said that even the sight of her sleepily opening her bleary eyes in the morning was enchanting.

As the emperor's daughter, she possessed both beauty and talent, making her the most desirable bride throughout history, past and present.

“There, that's Lady Olivia.”

“They said she was attending this tea party. So it was true.”

“How can she be so beautiful…….”

Her beauty drew gasps of admiration from men and women alike.

Every young nobleman hovered around her, pretending to wander while stealing glances in her direction.

They knew perfectly well that their station did not permit them to speak to her.

But there were occasionally those who firmly believed that a beautiful woman could not be won without courage.

“I pay my respects to the Imperial Princess of the Empire. As the Guardian of the Golden Dawn and the Blade of the Frontier, I would like to introduce myself, but—.”

“I'm sorry, but.”

The person who interrupted him was the woman sitting beside her.

She smiled sweetly and said,

“I'm currently in the middle of a gathering with the young ladies. Only members of the Golden Rose may join the conversation at this table.”

“Ah, yes…….”

“Then.”

The man ultimately returned without even managing to say his name, humiliated and red-faced.

The women sitting there snickered as they watched the loser's retreating back.

“More ignorant flies who don't know their place have come again.”

“Exactly. Even Duke Mussel's son was rejected, and some mere margrave has the nerve to try to speak to Princess Arken.”

They continued to tear him apart with amused little laughs.

Olivia tilted her head while holding her teacup.

“Still, if he is someone who guards the frontier, shouldn't we have at least offered him a greeting?”

“Oh my, there's no need for that!”

“That's right! If you don't keep your inferiors in line, they'll start climbing all over you!”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“Yes! Of course!”

“Ah, as expected of Princess Arken, you are so innocent…….”

“I really want to protect you until the day I die!”

The young ladies made gestures of utterly adoring her.

Olivia watched them with an innocent expression.

She smiled and thought,

‘As if I want to protect them.’

Olivia knew how beautiful she was.

She knew how to use that beauty, and at the same time, she knew how to protect herself with it.

These guards genuinely admired Olivia while envying her at the same time.

‘Because all the men only look at me.’

No matter how many priceless jewels they wore or how elegantly they dressed in clothes made by renowned designers, men did not spare them so much as a glance in the face of Olivia's overwhelming presence.

From the perspective of luxury goods, her presence was bound to be an annoyance.

When someone shines proudly on her own, she is bound to invite envy and jealousy.

Olivia knew how to handle them.

She had chosen to surround herself with people who were jealous of her.

Specifically, in the form of an elite social club called the ‘Golden Rose.’

It was a perfect symbiotic relationship.

‘I can protect myself without saying a word, while the girls serving as my guards can approach the men they like.’

Olivia protected her flower, while the guards selected and carried away the prospective husbands who flew toward it.

Once they began dating, they would have to leave the Golden Rose, but there was no need to worry, because their places would always be filled.

It was a social club structured so that its members' loyalty grew with each cycle.

“As expected of a bloodline with golden blood flowing through its veins, you are perfect in every way!”

Golden blood.

That was the phrase born from the belief that the Arken bloodline possessed the qualifications necessary to rule as emperors.

Olivia hated that word.

She had the exact same golden blood flowing through her veins, yet wasn't she rolling around in this flower garden instead of reaching into the political world?

“Yes, well, I suppose so.”

Olivia answered in a lukewarm voice.

The atmosphere turned cold.

Because Olivia had answered so flatly, the young ladies' gazes grew fierce.

“Oh, I-I'm sorry, Princess! I didn't mean to offend you…….”

“Oh my, even if Miss Hons had no intention of doing that, it sounded unpleasant to us.”

“That's right. How could you bring up such a subject in a gathering like this?”

The young ladies chimed in and ganged up on her.

Miss Hons began to fumble helplessly.

They intended to seize on the slightest weakness and drive her out.

‘Snakes, every last one of them.’

Olivia detested them, but answered with an unruffled expression.

“Oh my, why are you all acting like this?”

“I feel as though I was rude to Princess Arken…….”

“How could that be? I was just lost in thought for a moment. I'm sorry that I couldn't even focus on all of you in a gathering like this…….”

Olivia moistened her blue eyes.

The guards were startled and struggled to smooth things over.

“No, of course not!”

“You looked wonderful while lost in thought, Lady Olivia. You looked like a scene from a painting.”

The women laughed lightly and brushed it aside.

Inside, they were surely chewing her out as a woman who only pretended to be kind.

Let them chew her up if they wanted.

A mask worn to the very end eventually becomes one's true face.

Someone changed the subject to dispel the heavy atmosphere.

“More importantly, have you all heard?”

“Heard what?”

“The news about Regent Ferda.”

Olivia's hand paused for a moment at those words.

“Apparently, he distinguished himself at Halim this time.”

“Oh my, Halim…… Do you mean that blasphemous land?”

“I heard that women wearing extremely scandalous outfits bewitch the men there…….”

“Hoho, what are you imagining? It's nothing like that! There was an exhibition held by Escolleia.”

“Was that all there was? I heard that every man who went to Halim had his soul sucked right out of him…….”

As befitted a conversation among ladies, the subject began to wander off course.

“There.”

Olivia opened her mouth.

Though she had attended many tea parties like this, it was extremely rare for her to speak up when the subject was men.

“What happened there?”

“Pardon? Ah, well, apparently a monster rift formed and monsters came out. They say there were seven wolf monsters.”

“Oh my, as many as seven?”

“They say he distinguished himself there, and can you believe it? There wasn't a single fatality.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh…….”

The young ladies heard that and blinked, letting out awkward exclamations of admiration.

They had no interest in the story and did not know how impressive it was.

But Olivia was different.

‘Not a single fatality in the middle of a surprise attack…… That is practically a miracle.’

She had always been interested in tactics and strategy.

Thinking that she might one day command an army, she had studied various historical records to hone her sense for military strategy and had steadily learned about the enemies she might have to face.

Olivia knew how remarkable Ferda's achievement had been.

‘Did he use black magic?’

The lost Shadow Grimoire of Barbatos lingered in her mind.

It was reported that during the visit to the Empire, its seal had loosened after a fierce battle with an investigator, and that it had vanished through the opening.

But that was only how the incident had been reported because Olivia had used her influence; its true nature remained unknown.

‘A question should be left as a question.’

That was what Olivia did for the greater good.

“I hear rumors that he used black magic.”

As she was thinking that, someone brought up the subject.

It was Miss Hons, the one who had made the slip of the tongue.

As soon as the gossip began, everyone pricked up their ears with interest.

“Black magic?”

“Yes. They say that in such a sudden situation, Regent Ferda alone reacted and pierced the head of the monster emerging from the rift.”

“Isn't it a bit of a leap to conclude that he used black magic just because of his reaction speed?”

“According to the higher-ups, Regent Ferda himself caused the monster rift. They say he pulled a stunt to make himself look good in Halim.”

The impressionable young ladies listened and nodded as though they found the idea plausible.

Olivia watched their reactions and felt sick inside.

“What do you think, Princess?”

Miss Hons passed the baton to her.

Olivia blinked her innocent eyes.

“Miss.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Even so, I don't think it's right to call someone who saved the people without suffering any serious injuries a black mage.”

“Pardon? Uh, well…….”

Miss Hons began to fumble helplessly again.

The atmosphere that had been ready to pick apart the gossip changed in an instant.

“Indeed. She has no sense of propriety.”

“A young lady badmouthing a hero…… This is something for which she should be properly held accountable.”

They displayed an even more blatant disgust toward Miss Hons than when they had first ganged up on her.

There would be no recovering from this.

She had effectively been expelled from the Golden Rose and would spend the rest of her life on the fringes of tea parties.

‘There is no malice.’

This was a grave she had dug herself, so she would have to accept it.

‘In any case, the Regent is progressing smoothly.’

Since announcing his intention to conquer the Demon Lands, Iorga had supported him, and he had even distinguished himself at Halim.

No one would be able to stand in the way of that hero's progress for the time being.

He would surely create a second capital.

‘I need to do something too…….’

By comparison, Olivia had made no progress.

What she needed to establish her influence in the Empire was to become a saintess.

Yet all she did was maintain her figure, exchange pointless gossip with the young ladies, and study the knowledge of empty formalities that did not interest her.

Things like the taste of black tea and how pastries had been beaten and baked.

Being an imperial princess was suffocating to this extent.

‘I'm so far from becoming a saintess.’

Saints and saintesses were people who could not become one even if they became monks and devoted their entire lives to it, so how could she possibly manage it while living such a magnificent life?

‘Even so, I have to.’

If she could only become a saintess, she too would be able to possess that damned golden blood.

* * *

After Ferda returned, the first thing he did was inspect the progress of the village's construction.

The scene before him differed from the future he had pictured through Isabella's reports.

“You've made a lot of progress.”

He had been away for about three weeks, but the disorderly atmosphere had been brought somewhat under control, and several buildings had gone up.

There was even enough space to completely remove the tents that had served as temporary shelters.

“Indeed. It has gone well beyond our expectations.”

“How far ahead of schedule are we?”

“Two months.”

“This is more than simply exceeding expectations.”

The blue-haired dragon spawn and administrator, Isabella, adjusted her glasses.

It was the sort of remark that would most bruise the pride of an Aspect of Knowledge, but Isabella calmly explained.

“The pace of the original laborers was within our estimates. Of course, we also had to account for people leaving and for supply issues, but this was a variable like a bolt from a clear sky.”

Isabella was not saying this merely to defend her pride.

Ferda knew that, so he asked her,

“What was the variable?”

“They say it was an armored knight.”

“An armored knight?”

Isabella nodded.

“Yes. He appears to be a wandering knight, but the nearby laborers call him an armored knight, perhaps because he has sworn an oath of silence.”

“Hmm…….”

Ferda looked at the man's personal details and payment statement.

The personal details had been pared down to whatever could be confirmed from his appearance alone.

Ferda realized something when he saw them.

“It wasn't an oath of silence.”

“Is that so?”

“Normally, someone who has sworn an oath of silence receives a tag bearing his name and affiliation. It means that even if he cannot communicate, he can at least reveal his name.”

Ferda knew this well because he came from a family of knights.

Someone who had sworn an oath of silence could live the life of a wanderer, but it did not make sense for him to work as a laborer on a construction site like this.

Then perhaps they were filling his pockets with money. Ferda looked at the payment statement.

“He is already receiving more than twenty times as much as the other laborers.”

He was receiving two silver coins, worth no less than two hundred copper coins.

But Ferda frowned.

“An enemy.”

Isabella nodded in agreement.

“In truth, he is a talent worth at least thirty silver coins.”

“Then why haven't you paid him that much?”

“He doesn't seem dissatisfied. He appears to find it strange to be paid at all, and refuses to accept more than two silver coins. Why would we go out of our way to give him more?”

“Hmm…….”

Considering the salaries and value of knights, what was two shillings a day worth?

It was exploitation so severe that he would have had no excuse if the employee immediately held a blade to his employer's throat.

He worked at a construction site that was bound to bruise his pride, and the low wage made his character seem even more remarkable than that of an ordinary adult.

‘Or perhaps he has a secret of equal magnitude.’

Perhaps he had a terrible past, or had killed someone.

But if he had a secret like that, it was strange that he refused to accept more than two silver coins.

“In precisely what way is he helping? Does he at least know construction methods?”

“No. He is a complete novice with no basic knowledge of construction, but he takes on every task that can be solved through strength alone, allowing us to raise the buildings far ahead of schedule.”

Superhuman strength.

Hearing that, Ferda thought of someone.

“That armored knight.”

“Yes.”

“Did he perhaps look so thick and heavy that he would take your breath away?”

At those words, Isabella thought carefully before answering,

“No. He wore half-plate armor, like an ordinary wandering knight.”

“I see.”

Ferda thought that he was the walking fortress known as Alberto.

Since no one had yet reported seeing him, it seemed he had learned to move stealthily despite his massive body.

‘Superhuman strength…….’

He was the person who had brought the construction schedule forward by two months through strength alone.

“If he concerns you, shall I investigate?”

At Isabella's suggestion, Ferda shook his head.

“No, leave him alone for now. It would be unwise to make him flee by showing that we are investigating him.”

Only a fool would kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.

“However, we cannot overlook that man's value. Think of a way to keep using him.”

“That is a wise decision.”

When someone was a talent who could help the Grand Duchy, they recruited him by any means necessary.

If they could not recruit him, they made it so that he had no choice but to be recruited.

‘And if even that fails, we drain him dry.’

They would turn every last drop of him into nourishment for the city being built.

That was the course of action for this village being built for Valdrova.

“Come to think of it.”

Isabella asked Ferda,

“What shall we name the city?”

“Isn't Valdrova enough?”

Isabella lowered her voice.

“That is already the name of this castle, as well as the name used to refer to the Grand Duchy. If it is mentioned too often, its majesty will naturally be diminished.”

“If that is the purpose, would it not be acceptable?”

“Even I, a spawn of Iorga, cannot permit such a thing. I will oppose it adamantly, so please understand.”

After hearing her words, Ferda decided to give up.

She normally respected the Regent's wishes, but she had used the word ‘adamantly.’

This matter clearly held great significance among dragons.

“Then we will have to give it a new name.”

“That is why I held a naming contest.”

As if she had been waiting for him to ask, Isabella took a sheet of paper from her folder and handed it to Ferda.

“Many good names were suggested, but in the end we narrowed them down to two. Diarine, meaning the foremost front of the Demon Lands, or Alterios, meaning a light that illuminates the darkness. What do you think?”

Diarine and Alterios.

“Diarine sounds gloomy, while Alterios seems related to the Alte religion.”

“It is indeed intended to appeal to them. Since nine-tenths of the Empire follows Alte, it would not be a bad choice.”

It was a strategy to draw in newcomers.

There were strategic benefits to it, but Ferda did not particularly want to do that.

He had had more than enough unpleasant encounters involving the Alte religion.

The New Alte Church showed no mercy to heretics.

When he had possessed the Red Circle and his affinity test had revealed darkness, they had been desperate to kill him.

So he hoped to choose something that evoked the Alte religion as little as possible.

What would be a good name?

Suddenly, Ferda remembered something from that time.

“What was the name of the project we were working on to save my fiancée?”

“Project: Hestia?”

“Hestia…….”

It was the name of a woman who had guarded the sacred fire since ancient times.

She was an obscure figure who was no longer commonly named and was barely covered even in history lessons.

A woman who guarded the fire.

It wasn't a bad name.

“How about Hestia?”

“I prefer a heavy and solemn atmosphere, but something lively is not as bad as I expected. I will reflect it in the plans and proceed.”

Ferda repeated the name several times.

Hestia, Hestia…….

It rolled pleasantly off the tongue, and he liked its meaning as well.

Valdrova was the master of strength and fire.

This would be a city for those who guarded the fire, and it would become a bastion.

‘Then we should wring as much as possible from that armored knight.’

He would do everything he could until the man changed his mind.

That was Ferda's resolve.