MHHC Chapter 33

A Terrible Joke

He spoke as he closed the still-open door. Only then did Adelheid come to her senses and carefully set down the armful of books she'd gathered. Her bright pale green eyes, which had been sparkling with excitement, quickly settled into composure. She spoke.

"I wanted to finish the conversation we couldn't complete this morning. According to the contract we made yesterday, I wagered 'everything' of mine as payment."

"That's... right."

"Then when exactly must that payment be rendered? Immediately when Your Grace's wish is fulfilled, or after I die......"

"Die?"

Valentin's eyes narrowed instantly. Adelheid answered timidly.

"What I mean is, whether the payment is only this life's body, or whether it includes my soul as well. If it includes my soul too...... then shamelessly, may I live my own life until I die? That's what I was curious about."

As if finding her answer amusing, his eyes widened before he soon burst into giggles. Valentin was growing more human with every passing minute and second, but his laughter alone still sounded eerily inhuman.

"Adelheid. Your soul... is truly tempting, but... if I could... make such a bargain... I would have done so... long ago."

"Um, you mean."

"Even as payment... for a contract, I cannot... forcibly bind... a soul."

It was an unexpected answer, and Adelheid felt somewhat pleased in her confusion. It was like a ray of hope sprouting in a future that had been filled with terrible predictions. If his words were true, the 'everything' she had to bear would end with this life.

Not being dragged by her soul to hell or some monster's lair after death to endure eternal, unending torment.

"Don't feel... too relieved. I'm getting... a bit jealous."

Valentin grumbled upon seeing life return to Adelheid.

"Was that... all?"

"Ah."

Adelheid let out a short exclamation as if she'd forgotten completely, then quickly continued.

"There's one more thing I need to tell you. Soon, His Imperial Majesty will be sending an envoy. It seems a victory celebration will be held at Northofen to commemorate the triumph. As supreme commander, Valentin must attend without fail. Um, there's something that worries me......"

"What... are you worried... about?"

"I heard that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince seems to have joined hands with Young Duke Oskar."

"Oskar? Ah......"

Valentin seemed to think 'oh right, there was such a fellow' as he stroked his chin and lips. Adelheid added more explanation.

"If that's true, then His Imperial Highness summoned you with deliberate intent from the start. If you act even slightly careless at this victory celebration, he'll immediately try to strip Your Grace of succession rights to the throne. Claiming that Your Grace's mind is unsound."

"So?"

Valentin tilted his head and asked again. His face showed no comprehension whatsoever of the gravity of this situation. Well, it would be more absurd if a monster who was a 'Shadow' understood every aspect of human customs.

Adelheid calmly added an explanation.

"If that really happens, it will become difficult to maintain even the Grand Duchy of Ansgar."

"I see."

"So, for at least the next ten days, you absolutely must practice etiquette and speech as much as possible."

Adelheid glanced at Valentin's face.

"Your speech being somewhat slow is acceptable, but your etiquette is still awkward. You can read the Grand Duke's memories, can't you?"

"Some things... I remember, but... some are... blurry."

"I can teach you a few of the etiquette rules used when having an audience with His Imperial Majesty immediately. The problem is our budget."

"Budget?"

"The nobles in the capital follow the latest fashions when having their clothes tailored. Your Grace has been on the battlefield, so you likely have few proper banquet outfits. Just having new banquet attire tailored and the carriage maintained will cost a great deal."

"Hmm."

"Of course, it's fine to attend as you are now. But I think it would be better to have at least new banquet attire made, even if we must stretch ourselves. That way the nobles won't look down on Ansgar. Even if Your Grace's etiquette has some deficiencies. If we use a portion of the spoils of war we've just acquired, we should be able to manage that much."

Adelheid felt a strange sensation discussing money matters so surprisingly comfortably with someone.

Until then, the poverty of Ansgar Castle had felt entirely like her fault. Whenever she heard about shortages of firewood in winter, or fabric being procured barely enough, or repairs to the old main tower being postponed due to money—she would be swept with feelings as if she were a criminal.

Because she knew that most of Ansgar's household funds had been scraped together to marry 'the daughter of Reichenau.' But 'Valentin,' though he wore her husband's appearance, was not human but monster inside.

The preciousness of an existence that accepted her as she was, without prejudice! Just having someone by her side who earnestly listened to her words made her feel this reassured—it was marvelous.

'I'm fortunate it was him who came to dwell in my husband's body.'

Adelheid exhaled in relief as she thought this, then was startled at herself for regarding him as good fortune. To realize how much familiarity she'd come to feel toward him in just half a day—it was unspeakably astonishing.

'Could it be the aftermath of the contract, as he mentioned? The atmosphere has definitely changed from before. Previously, even with him before my eyes, he didn't seem like a person—but now he's beginning to truly feel like a fellow human...'

Adelheid glanced at Valentin's neat face with anxious eyes.

Was it truly all right to trust him this much? To ignore all those elaborate legends about the 'Shadow'? To disregard all those transmitted records of how cunning, devious, and vicious he was?

'But this life is already beyond redemption. At the very least, because of the contract, he won't be able to harm people.'

If everything related to the contract was all lies.

At the sudden thought, a chill ran through her entire body. If it were really like that, there would be nothing that could stop Valentin.

He was the calamity foretold for Ansgar, the end of the North. Nothing more, nothing less. Such enormous fate bearing down could not be prevented by mere human strength.

Adelheid's clenched fists tightened slightly.

"Adele. What... are you thinking... about so hard?"

At Valentin's call, Adelheid's head snapped up. Realizing she'd been lost in other thoughts for quite a while with him right in front of her, Adelheid turned instantly pale.

That habit was one of the things Count Reichenau had found most abhorrent. Fortunately, Valentin didn't seem particularly displeased.

She hastily continued, reading his mood.

"Regarding the budget I mentioned, I'll discuss with the butler how to use the minimum amount possible."

"You can use... as much money... as you want. Do whatever... you wish."

She could use as much as she wanted? Adelheid's eyes widened. Did he not yet know about Ansgar's financial situation? Perhaps being a monster, he was unfamiliar with human concepts related to money. Just as she had been during her days as Reichenau's 'second young miss'...

"Adele."

As if he'd guessed her thoughts entirely, Valentin burst out laughing. With each passing minute and second, he was drawing closer to humanity—but his laughter alone still carried an eerie, inhuman quality. He grinned as if she were adorable and grabbed both of Adelheid's cheeks. Her soft cheeks compressed slightly within his large palms.

"You have... no idea... how much wealth... a dragon... possesses."

"What?"

Her voice came out somewhat mumbled because of her pressed cheeks.

"I could feed... not just Adele, but... all of Bitzleben... for thousands of years."

"Thousands of years."

"I could buy... an empire... and make Adele... empress. I can't... burn the capital... because Adele... would hate that."

"Em-empress? Burn the capital?"

It was Adele who was horrified by Valentin's casual words.

"Y-you're not serious, are you?"

"Why?"

"I, I've never even thought of such things. Such, such impious thoughts—truly, not even once..."

"Really?"

Valentin narrowed his eyes as if finding it hard to believe. Adelheid widened her eyes and nodded emphatically, as if pleading to be believed. She was afraid someone might overhear and misunderstand. She cast a glance toward the firmly closed door for no reason.

Valentin grasped Adelheid's chin and turned her gaze back to him.

"But... your husband... said he wanted to become... the greatest. If I... rise high, it means... you beside me."

He drew in a breath as if with difficulty.

"Will rise... to that position... too."

"What do you mean."

"At least... while I'm in this body, Adele must be... beside me. Because you're... my wife."

At those words, Adelheid couldn't hide her shock.

She'd thought the 'Grand Duke's' ambition amounted to caring well for Ansgar Castle, building a virtuous reputation among the Ansgar people, and winning a few more wars. Had she made the mistake of judging too complacently from the start? Was the 'Grand Duke's' ideal far loftier than that?

Setting everything else aside, Valentin's words sounded as if he were seriously considering competing for the imperial throne.

'That's... too dangerous.'

Adelheid realized the true nature of the vague fear she'd been feeling. The very fact that she would have to be away from the North for a long time with Valentin was an enormous burden.

The imperial capital always teemed with sages gathered from all over the world, each one formidable enough to see through the 'Shadow's' true identity. If they noticed Valentin's true nature? If she too was accused of being a witch?

'We might truly die for such foolish overreaching.'

Her heart, tensed with nervousness, pounded noisily in her ears.

Valentin laughed at Adelheid's face, frozen pale as ice. He bent at the waist so their gazes met on level. He said:

"Don't... be afraid."