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Elegant Power (7)
He stared at Hanz, Ivan, and the administrator one after another. “A possibility alone shouldn’t let us push our comrades and subordinates into the fire. Especially at the words of a woman who just went to see flowers, who must not have seen the different monsters there…”
“Godwin Valks.”
Lily’s shoulders stiffened. Her husband’s voice was unfamiliar, like a stranger’s.
It was as if the air had been torn at the hands of a sword. Even an instinctive fear arose from a sense of intimidation.
Gray eyes dissected every trace of his vassal. “Do you think of me as someone who pushes his subordinates into the fire?”
Valks’ eyes widened in astonishment. “I have sinned! How could someone like me who swore allegiance to you have such a repulsive thought…!”
“Then why do you have such a thought for a lady whom you have to serve with all your heart? Do you treat her as a peculiar woman who has caused me to fall into her delusions, making me unable to make proper decisions?”
In summary, he meant that if Lily’s words were nonsense, would he have been an idiot to bring her into the conference hall?
Vlad, leaning against the backrest, tapped the armrest with his long fingertips. “Unless it is senility, how can you insult your master, the lady of the land, in front of me and my vassals? Have you not changed the filthy outlook you’ve had on women all your life?”
The vassals who had similar ideas to Valks had their thoughts fall like overripe fruits at his punishing stare.
“What kind of punishment would a disrespectul vassal face? Hans.”
Hanz shrank back as if he were a squirrel stuck between beasts. “Commonly, based on how severe…”
“Vlad!” Lily, who had become very pale, added hurriedly, “I’m fine. He has made a reasonable point, so please allow me to convince him.”
“It is not a matter of persuasion.”
For a while, he had planned to watch. But he thought that the words were getting ruder.
“You don’t even need to convince an underdog. Lily.”
Lily bit her lip. “I want to do that.” Her hands were clasped tightly on her lap and trembling faintly. “So please… do it for me.”
Vlad’s eyes softened slightly, frowning in dissatisfaction then sighing in resignation. “Do whatever you want.”
It was a situation that once again gave a huge shock to others.
They never thought their lord was a man who could be so generous. They even felt a slight sense of betrayal.
Lily, who was very relieved that a beheading had been prevented, spoke quickly, “I’m not telling you to enter Ataka now, Lord of Cadis. I was going to suggest that we review the feasibility and discuss the plan with the administrative officers. As you said, it… It’s an area I don’t know.”
No matter how certain the status hierarchy was, no man would be happy with a woman who knew more than them in the area of their expertise, especially a commoner.
She lacked the ability to subdue the commotion. However, she knew how to bend flexibly to get what she wanted.
Lily  had been hated to the point where she learnt how to adapt to different situations whenever she faced a disagreement.
“I just want to repair Cadis road while reviewing the materials. I am also very interested in welfare projects…”
“…Welfare…” Valks quickly thought of something.
Isn’t this the same mistake we usually overlook at the castle gate?
The relief and shame took over Valks’s face. He reacted so negatively like a dog when he thought that she was making a threat that would harm the estate.
The attention was completely passed on to Lily.
Vlad, who recognized her intentions, almost smiled.
“Yes.”
Lily was trying to lay the groundwork so that minerals could be transported as soon as mining began. She seemed to be a weak and frail woman, but this time, she didn’t have any plans to back down on this project.
Hans, who was standing as if he had been stuck to the ground, muttered blankly, “Madam is really…  a miracle.”
He was ready to burst into tears.
Vlad got up as he looked at Hans talking to himself.
He saw the reaction and didn’t say anything. It seemed that the situation was quite satisfactory.
Ivan slowly slipped away from the mood. “Once resources increase and roads are repaired, the opening will be instantaneous, Madam.”
Lily let out a small sigh. “Yes, you’re right. In terms of welfare… It would be great to open the city and hold a festival. We can use it as an opportunity to promote the metal smelting technology of Cadis craftsmen.”
(smelting – the extraction of metal from its ore by a process involving heating and melting.)
“I’m sorry, but that won’t happen. Lily.”
The atmosphere became cold as if ice water had been poured over it.
Vlad stared at his wife.
Lily’s refreshing green eyes were shaken by unexpected embarrassment.
The silence stretched on.
She grabbed the hem of her dress with her hand on her lap.
“… Are you talking about a festival? Or the opening…?”
“Anything that causes confusion.”
“I understand you are concerned about safety.  However, it will bring vitality to the city.”
“I have no intention of sacrificing your safety for a fleeting vibrancy. So, forget about that topic.”
The thin hopes of the administrators crumbled like old dust.