Chapter 72
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then… where were you originally from?”
“I don’t remember. I was taken when I was too young. From my very first memory, I already had this around my neck.”
He parted the white fur on his neck with his fingers.
Beneath it, a steel collar glimmered faintly.
Helene hesitated for a moment before asking,
“Slvenir… if you were freed from slavery… if you became a free man… what would you want to do the most?”
Slvenir blinked slowly, as if trying to understand why she was asking such a question.
Even then, his face betrayed no emotion.
A trained numbness. That lack of reaction pressed on Helene’s heart like a weight.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve lived my whole life as a slave. I’ve never imagined living another way.”
After finishing his words, Slvenir turned his gaze aside.
He lowered his head and waited silently for orders.
Helene looked at her loyal slave-guard—the one who had been by her side since she was a child—with a complicated expression.
He, bowing his head, couldn’t see the emotions flickering in her eyes.
That same night, after Helene’s departure.
In the library of the Ludwig Demon Lord’s domain.
“There’s something I just can’t wrap my head around.”
Ludwig was staring intently at a sheet of paper, pencil in hand, as he spoke.
“What is it?”
The delegation had left, and the Demon Lord’s territory had returned to its usual calm.
After seeing off the envoys and finishing her tasks, Ariella was now back at her desk—working through documents while also teaching Ludwig to read and write.
Months ago, in the forest, Ludwig had made her a promise: that he would learn to read. She was here to ensure that promise was kept.
She managed both jobs with unwavering focus.
The only obstacle slowing progress was her student himself.
“About Delac. Why don’t we just ask the Red Dragon to handle him for us?”
Ludwig was doing everything he could to avoid studying, constantly changing the subject.
But Ariella let it slide this time—it was about the future of the Demon Lord’s domain.
She recalled her days as a princess-in-training, when her tutors would teach through this kind of question-and-answer method. It was actually good training for a ruler.
“That would certainly be the easy way.”
“Exactly! So why not take the easy road?”
Ariella didn’t even lift her eyes from the stack of official papers as she replied:
“Because the dragon’s promise is a one-time thing.”
“You mean… once we use it, it’s gone?”
“Yes. If we waste that precious favor on someone like Delac, how would we handle the greater threats to come?”
Ludwig frowned, thinking deeply. Then he nodded in understanding.
Hearing Ariella casually call their powerful neighbor “someone like Delac” clearly pleased him.
“Yeah… you’re right about that.”
Delac was feared and influential, yes.
But in the demon realm, there were Demon Lords far stronger than him, ruling over vast lands.
Especially up north, where civilization was far more advanced—the scale of everything was on a whole other level.
Ariella always kept her eyes on the future, not just the present.
She left a note on the margin of a document for Geru, the finance officer, before adding:
“Besides, dragons normally stay out of demon politics.”
“How do you know that?”
“Where do you think you’re sitting right now?”
She answered his question with another.
Ludwig glanced around at the towering bookshelves that filled the library.
“You could’ve just said you read it in a book.”
“You were looking right at the answer, so I couldn’t resist.”
Thanks to the hatchling, Ariella had devoured every dragon-related text in the library.
She might even know more about dragons than some dragons themselves.
“But the dragons publicly forbade everyone from dealing with Fedwick, didn’t they? Isn’t that interfering? Why that and not this?”
Instead of being annoyed by his argument, Ariella was pleased.
He’s learning to ask critical questions now. Slow, but he’s growing.
She set her pen down and looked at him.
“That was different. Fedwick kidnapped a hatchling. That sparked outrage across all dragonkind. He touched their ‘reverse scale.’ They had a perfect reason to step in.
“But Delac hasn’t given them that kind of reason. Even if we have a promise from the Red Dragon, they won’t break their own code to help me.”
And even if they did, Ariella might end up deeply indebted to them—a dangerous position in these uncertain times.
“This time, I’d rather solve the problem without running to the dragon. Even if it takes longer and more effort than the Fedwick situation.”
Ariella knew this plan would be a long-term operation.
Ludwig’s face grew serious as he pondered her words.
She knew that the more time he spent thinking like this, the closer he’d come to being a wise ruler.
She let him reflect for a moment before speaking sharply.
“Now, if you’re done with your questions, get back to your writing.”
“Cheh.”
“Don’t just glare at the paper! Move your hands. You can’t write with your eyes. Writing’s done with your hand, not your stare.”
Ariella had chosen a simple, classic method to teach him:
She picked a book, opened it, and had him copy the text word for word.
But instead of resuming practice, Ludwig raised his pencil.
“Fine, but give me a new one.”
“Why? That one’s still practically new.”
It was nowhere near stub-length; it could last for hours more.
Ludwig puffed up proudly.
“Look, the tip’s worn out! I can’t write like this. I need a fresh one.”
“You’re joking, right? If the lead’s dull, you sharpen it. Or… are you seriously asking me to sharpen it for you?”
“Sharpen? Oh, so you’re supposed to cut it and keep using it?”
Ariella suppressed a groan.
Fine, he’s never held a pencil before. I’ll let it slide.
“You just shave off the wood around the tip until it’s sharp again.”
The words had barely left her mouth when—
Shing!
Ludwig casually drew the longsword at his hip.
She sighed deeply and held out her hand.
“Give it here.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you dare swing that thing at a pencil. Hand it over.”
She took a small folding knife from the stationery box and neatly sharpened the pencil.
“See? Watch me carefully. Now you try.”
Ludwig took the knife and pencil, and after some time, he presented his work.
“I’m done.”
Ariella blinked in surprise.
The pencil had been sharpened perfectly—no jagged cuts, just a smooth, flawless curve, like a master sculptor’s work.
And the tip was so fine it could have been a needle.
“Well… at least your knife skills are impressive. Doesn’t matter the tool.”
Ludwig grinned, pleased with himself.
“Alright. Back to copying.”
“But wait.”
He clearly wasn’t in the mood to practice writing.
“Another question?”
“Yeah.”
She was ready to dismiss him if it wasn’t important. But this one was.
“Delac’s slaves… most of them were kidnapped from other Demon Lords’ lands, right?”
“Yes.”
“What if we tell the other Lords? Wouldn’t they get angry that he stole their people and attack him?”
Even Richmond, who’d visited Delac’s lands, hadn’t known the truth.
Their sudden wealth came from enslaved demons, cursed with artifacts to break their will, which kept the secret safe.
If that truth got out?
“The problem is that Helene doesn’t have solid proof yet.”
There was no record showing which slaves came from where.
“If we reveal this without evidence, what do you think Delac would do?”
“Hmm…”
“My guess is he’d destroy the evidence first.”
“You mean… he’d kill all the kidnapped slaves?”
“Or move them to an even more hidden place, somewhere we’d never find. Like I said, we can only strike when everything is prepared.”
Ludwig’s face darkened. His voice dropped to a low, cold tone.
“…Among those demons Delac took… there must be some who came from our land, right?”
Ariella froze, her body stiffening at his words.
