My Slain Dragon Bride

Chapter 262. Red Autumn

Ferda returned to his training room.

The only thing inside the dimly lit room was a candle.

In the room illuminated by the candlelight, Ferda looked up at the portrait of Valdrova.

Unlike her shyly smiling expression, her eyes had been torn away.

Pain welled up inside him.

It contained her entire life—a life in which she wanted to be happy, yet that happiness had never seemed to come true.

Ferda stared at the portrait, trying not to lose sight of his original resolve.

’But...’

She had said that the cause of her misfortune might have been Ferda’s previous life.

’Godwin.’

The Black Dragon who had been called the Aspect of Darkness.

The criminal who had suddenly created bizarre creatures in the forms of the Demon Race and Monsters in this world, throwing everything into chaos.

The decisive factor that had caused her unhappiness.

No words came from his open mouth.

The blade of regret pierced through Ferda’s heart and cut into it, demanding an answer for his sins.

The Shadow Circle, forged from regret, violently trembled.

He was so overwhelmed by that emotion that he felt as though he might simply die from it.

It didn’t matter.

The Ferda of the present thought that perhaps it would be better if he did just that.

—Don’t do that.

A voice came from within Ferda.

At first, the voice had been indistinct, but now it was clear.

The Shadow Circle became astonishingly calm.

It was not Ferda’s will.

A moment later, the black shadow moved independently of Ferda’s intentions, taking shape like an independent entity before appearing behind him.

It gently embraced Ferda.

It was an embrace like that of a mother wrapping her arms around a child she had known for a very long time.

Yet the embrace was terribly cold.

An existence that had no reason to compromise, and therefore no reason even to converse.

That was what Ferda had thought of her.

Yet now, Ferda spoke to that existence.

"Are you... truly the Goddess of the Moon, Sierra?"

—That is indeed my name, though it is not a familiar name to you. You used to call me by another name.

Anna Rosnova.

Ferda asked her.

"When have you been here?"

—Do you remember what I said to you when I died as Anna Rosnova?

He knew.

There was no way he could forget.

The memory of that day was the last warmth Anna had left behind for Ferda.

It was the only flame remaining in a life that had been like an endless monsoon.

"Even if my flesh is reduced to ashes and scattered, I will always be by your side. So don’t be sad."

—Yes. That’s what I said.

"You never lied to me, did you? You were simply somewhere I couldn’t see."

—That’s right.

"The misfortunes that came after your death weren’t coincidences either."

—That’s right.

"Even the fact that I came to hate everything and seek revenge?"

—Yes. I did that.

"...."

Ferda clenched his fists.

His throat tightened with anguish, but in the end, he asked even that question.

"Was making me kill Valdrova... also part of your scheme?"

—That was my ultimate goal.

"Ultimate... goal?"

—I pushed you to the brink as a stepping stone toward that goal.

"Do you hate Valdrova that much?"

—She made your resolve meaningless. That alone is enough to make me, as a god, furious.

Ferda gritted his teeth.

The hatred and anger that had disappeared when he returned to the past.

That enormous emptiness was trying to fill itself with those very same emotions.

Even now, it felt as though that power might become Ferda’s new source of strength.

He couldn’t believe that his one and only sanctuary had actually been the root cause that had ruined everything.

—But don’t misunderstand. I didn’t want to kill that child simply because of personal hatred.

"You mean there wasn’t even the slightest bit of personal grudge?"

—Of course, I can’t say that those feelings don’t exist. But ultimately, revenge is nothing more than something that would be nice to have, and if it isn’t there, so be it. It is something trivial.

Ferda became angry.

Calling it something trivial itself made him feel as though she regarded him as nothing more than a puppet to be used for amusement.

"What is this magnificent goal you’re talking about, Mother?"

—I already told you. It is for you to live.

Ferda could clearly feel it.

Those words were the unvarnished truth from her as his mother.

"Are my survival and Valdrova’s death connected?"

—Of course.

She answered.

"Then if I die, everything will be resolved."

—I told you, but I won’t let that happen. You already sacrificed yourself once for her.

Sierra gently pressured Ferda with her soft voice.

—And you failed. You know what happened because of that, don’t you?

"Nothing happened."

—That’s the problem. Nothing happened. Even though everyone hated you, nothing happened.

"So you’re planning to manipulate me somehow again this time? Using that hatred and anger?"

—I won’t do that.

"How can you be so certain?"

—Because you’re a failure.

Sierra said it plainly.

Ferda bit down hard on his lips.

—Did that hurt your feelings?

"Would you expect me to take it as a compliment?"

—That’s not what I meant. I simply wanted to kill Valdrova, that foolish girl, and properly create the world you wished for. I embraced you for that purpose. But that intention didn’t proceed as I had planned.

"......."

—Ever since this world was created and I established myself here, I have given birth to countless children. Every one of them had a purpose. I gave birth to them solely for those purposes, and any failures who did not fit their intended purpose were disposed of without mercy.

"...."

—But you were different. Among all the failures I gave birth to, you were the one failure I didn’t want to kill. I became somewhat curious about where the path you were walking would lead. Perhaps that is what happened because, for the first and last time, I played the role of a mother.

"It sounds like you’re saying that my fate of being toyed with for your amusement hasn’t changed."

—I’m giving you a chance. A chance for you to forge a new path and a new fate.

A new path.

What did he have to do to create that path?

Did he need to lead even more people and expand his territory?

Or did he have to seek even greater power for himself?

Ferda became even more confused.

If Sierra had cursed him viciously and spat nothing but hatred toward Valdrova’s name, he could have simply regarded her as an enemy.

But he couldn’t understand what she wanted.

—I want you to become unhappy for choosing that woman.

"...."

—I simply want you to acknowledge that she is the source of your suffering and abandon her. That is all I have ever seen.

"...."

—I only want you to live. Whenever you throw yourself into a place of certain death, I will help you so that I can save you. And...

A cold hand slid down across his chest.

Her hand skillfully grasped Ferda’s circuits.

—You will have to pay the price.

The pressure gripping the Shadow Circle disappeared.

At the same time, the embrace surrounding him vanished, as did the sensation that had restricted his five senses.

What he saw once again was her portrait.

’The fate where one of the two must die.’

If such a choice existed, Ferda would naturally have sacrificed himself.

But Sierra had blocked that choice.

Her will was to make him live as a monster rather than die as a human.

In the end, all that remained was the implication that Valdrova had to die.

A tragedy in which there was no choice.

But she had said something else at the same time.

Ferda was a failure who refused to submit to fate.

And she said that she disposed of failures without mercy.

’But she didn’t.’

She had said that she wanted to watch him a little longer.

Why?

Was it simply because she enjoyed watching Ferda suffer until he eventually met a tragic end?

That could certainly be seen as the sadistic and merciless nature befitting the Goddess of the Moon.

But judging from everything they had discussed so far, she didn’t seem to enjoy pointless acts like that.

If there was some meaning behind leaving Ferda alone—

’It might mean there is a third choice.’

Not a tragedy in which one of the two had to die, but a choice where both of them could become happy.

Perhaps such a choice existed somewhere.

Rather than dream about it, Ferda decided to interpret it that way.

Even if that wasn’t Sierra’s intention, his despairing emotions had finally calmed.

’I am not Godwin.’

Godwin, who had rebelled in an attempt to reduce everything to nothing.

It wasn’t an ambition to swallow the entire continent.

It had been forged from his feelings toward Valdrova.

That was the only trace of Godwin that remained within Ferda.

’So I won’t fail like Godwin did.’

Whatever future lay ahead of him.

He would never allow anyone to hurt her.

No matter what trials awaited him, he would find a way.

Firming his resolve, he rose and went outside.

Even Ferda had not expected what happened next.

He never imagined that he would face another trial immediately after stepping outside.

The name of that trial was Luri Silverwind.

A girl with a small stature and the appearance of a young maid, wearing a maid outfit.

Her expression was no less frightening than a dragon’s.

She looked ready to kill Ferda at any moment.

"Did you enjoy your vacation?"

"...."

"Why are you making that face?"

"Do you really think you can say that after seeing what has happened to the castle?"

What happened to the castle?

"It’s running just fine. What’s the problem?"

"Running just fine?"

Apparently, that wasn’t the answer she wanted.

She even crossed her arms and stood with one leg cocked to the side before speaking.

"I will give you exactly one chance to admit your mistake."

Ferda thought about how Valdrova’s castle had been functioning.

After thinking carefully, Ferda finally realized it.

"I see."

Whenever something went wrong, picking this girl out first would usually lead to the right answer.

"That demon woman, Penelope, must have done something strange to Her Highness."

"...."

"Let’s capture her and quickly sentence her to death—"

"Wrong."

A dense killing intent erupted from her.

A scorching dragon’s breath burst from the mouth of the petite girl.

***

The lush green forest had been beautifully dyed in brilliant colors everywhere.

In a season when flowers did not bloom, the leaves had taken on colors more beautiful than flowers themselves.

It was a sign announcing the arrival of the bountiful autumn and the joy it brought.

That joy could even be felt inside the splendid red carriage traveling through the forest.

"Wowww...!"

Valdrova, riding inside the carriage, opened her mouth as she gazed out the window.

Her golden eyes shone with pure wonder.

"Mr. Ferda, Mr. Ferda! Are those called autumn leaves?"

"Yes. They’re called autumn leaves."

"I’ve definitely seen this scenery countless times before... But now that I’m smaller and looking up at it, I think it’s incredibly beautiful. Why didn’t I know about this all this time?"

I wanted to say that it was the same for me.

He hadn’t properly enjoyed the autumn foliage since his mother.

No, even if he had seen it before, he probably wouldn’t have been this sentimental about it.

"Now that you know, shouldn’t you enjoy it to the fullest?"

"I suppose so?"

Valdrova smiled bashfully.

Pointing outside the window, she said,

"Mr. Ferda, look at that too. Aren’t those red and yellow leaves incredibly beautiful?"

"If you’re talking about something like that, I’m looking at it right now."

"You’re looking at me, aren’t you?"

"Isn’t it something beautiful, blending red and yellow together?"

"Ah."

With that little exclamation, the amount of red gradually increased.

No matter how he looked at it, it was beginning to resemble spring rather than autumn.

The hand that had nowhere else to go eventually reached out and gently pushed Ferda’s face toward the opposite side.

"M-Mr. Ferda, look at those autumn leaves over there!"

"Yes?"

"You mustn’t turn around! That’s forbidden!"

"...Understood."

Ferda fixed his gaze outside the window.

’It’s not as pretty as I expected.’

An unnecessarily high, blue sky and unnecessarily colorful leaves.

All it made him think was that autumn had arrived.

"Mr. Ferda?"

A timid voice called his name.

"Yes, Eleanor."

"You’re not angry because of what I did... are you?"

"How could I be?"

"I-Is that so?"

She seemed relieved.

Perhaps because of that, Ferda felt a little mischievous.

"Still, it does feel a little lonely."

"Uh, um..."

She became flustered again.

She breathed softly, thinking hard, and eventually seemed to find a solution.

"Would you like me to hold your hand?"

There was no need for an answer.

Before he could even respond, her fingers slipped between Ferda’s and clasped his hand firmly.

He could feel the pulse traveling from her palm.

The same scenery unfolded before Ferda’s eyes.

’Now this is something worth looking at.’

After traveling for quite some time, they finally arrived at Count Consilus’s castle.

There, the wedding ceremony of Arwen, Count Consilus’s adopted son, and Lyudmila was underway.

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