I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 18
“Cr, Croiman… Duke.”
Harrison’s voice trembled violently.
Her face had gone past pale—a sickly, mottled gray.
“I, wh, who could…”
Harrison glanced around pitifully, her voice breaking.
But no one came to her aid.
Not even the group that had been laughing and chattering with her moments before.
They all averted their eyes in embarrassment, or hid their faces behind their fans.
In the end, Harrison began wringing out her soaked hair with her own hands.
As tears fell like drops of rain, her already ruined makeup smeared darker across her face.
‘Well, this is awkward.’
I hadn’t meant to humiliate her quite this thoroughly.
At first, I’d only meant to make a show of concern for her.
The others would have scolded her instead of me.
And I’d gain a bit of favorable opinion in the process.
‘Things got out of hand.’
If I said it hadn’t felt satisfying, I’d be lying.
She was the one who started the quarrel, after all.
But there were limits to how far one could go, and the moment you crossed them—
public opinion would flip like turning over a hand.
I needed to conduct myself carefully.
If I didn’t, my already negative reputation would only suffer more.
If the rumors spiraled beyond my control—
even those who had shown me a shred of sympathy would turn their backs.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Luke seemed to want me to make a proper ‘friend.’
I still didn’t understand why he needed me to have friends, but…
to earn his points, I had to build connections at this Tea Party.
‘And the more people I have to help with my revenge, the better.’
I handed her my Handkerchief and whispered,
“Lady Harrison, are you alright?”
“…Does it look like I’m alright right now?”
Harrison answered in a voice only the two of us could hear.
She ignored my Handkerchief and continued wringing out the water from her clothes.
She was certainly prickly.
It seemed she wasn’t even bothering to hide her temperament anymore.
‘Then I don’t need to be so courteous either.’
I began wiping her Dress with my Handkerchief without hesitation.
“W, what are you doing? You can’t just touch someone’s Dress without permission—”
“Why don’t we head to the Mansion once you’re a bit better? We’re roughly the same size, so one of my Dresses should fit you well.”
“…”
“It must have been a dress you treasured. I’m sorry.”
I said this loudly enough for those nearby to hear.
Harrison, who had been complaining in a low voice, fell silent.
The people around us began to whisper.
Some spoke about Theodore and Harrison,
but most of it was about me.
That I wasn’t as bad as they thought, that I had a kind heart.
That for someone untrained, I handled the situation rather well.
Remarks that looked favorably on me, yet unconsciously held me down with condescension.
‘It’s fine. Compared to what I heard earlier, this is generous.’
My feelings weren’t good, but this was the reaction I needed right now.
“…Don’t use my Reputation for your benefit, Lady Harrison.”
This time, Harrison’s voice dropped with genuine anger.
I smiled brightly at her, trembling with clenched fists.
Leaning close so that my mouth wouldn’t be visible to others, I spoke quietly.
“Does it shame you?”
“…”
“If you hated it, you shouldn’t have crossed the line. Isn’t that right?”
Their eyes met.
Harrison’s face went blank for a moment, words abandoning her.
Fear flickered across her expression.
As though she’d just glimpsed some terrible thing.
“Princess Aria. What in heaven are you—”
Her trembling pupils steadied.
Then, just as quickly, her face flushed crimson.
Embarrassed, it seemed, at having felt that moment of terror.
She shoved me away and cried out.
“I don’t need a dress. I want fair compensation.”
“What sort of compensation?”
“An apology from Prince Theodore.”
All eyes turned toward Theodore.
He opened his eyes wide, feigning perfect innocence.
He tilted his head and gave a casual shrug.
At his brazen refusal to accept responsibility, everyone fell silent.
I turned my gaze toward Theodore, forcing down what was trying to burst out from within.
I couldn’t quite tell if it was laughter or a sigh.
‘No one’s ever given me quite such a headache as he has.’
……Though no one’s ever been quite so invaluable, either.
“Please offer a formal apology here and now.”
Harrison pressed her demand boldly.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
The moment I refused outright, Harrison’s face crumpled in bewilderment.
She hadn’t expected a rejection—not from the party more clearly at fault.
But I couldn’t grant it.
Not when it was far from being the right thing to do.
After all, Theodore had acted to protect me.
If I of all people agreed to her demands, I’d only put him in a difficult position.
‘……Besides, I don’t want to.’
“B-but then, is the Croiman family simply going to let this matter drop?!”
“That is not the case, Princess.”
The moment he spoke, everyone gasped and stirred.
Myself included.
‘……Edward?’
He had appeared, though he’d been nowhere to be seen until now.
A profound silence settled over the room.
Every eye fixed upon his movements.
“It is regrettable that such an incident should occur at an event meant for celebration.”
Edward broke the silence, walking slowly toward us.
Then he draped a cloak across Harrison’s shoulders with easy grace.
Harrison flinched, her face blooming scarlet.
She peeked at Edward sideways, her fingers fidgeting.
Others began fanning themselves rapidly or pressing their hands to their cheeks to hide their blush.
……It seemed a handsome face truly was a weapon without equal.
“I understand the distress you must feel regarding what you’ve experienced, Princess.”
“……Thank you.”
“It is true that Theodore’s actions were unsuited to the circumstances.”
Harrison’s face brightened.
“Then please, offer me an apology—”
“I shall offer you compensation equal to the value of the dress you wore.”
Edward cut off her words with a cold precision, his expression warm and smiling.
The light in her face froze in that instant.
“What do you mean—”
“Princess Harrison.”
One step forward.
As Edward drew near, Harrison stumbled backward in alarm.
“Remember what you said to my youngest sister.”
Edward grasped her as she shrank back in fear.
And with careful hands, he placed a robe upon her head.
He opened his mouth, his voice low and grave, barely audible.
“I hope you won’t forget what happened today.”
……
“What becomes of those who underestimate Croiman.”
The figure in the reversed Robe nodded slowly.
Edward guided Harrison with an even softer smile.
She followed him without complaint.
……
Her gaze crossed with Edward’s as he moved to leave.
Behind his warm-seeming smile.
A stare ice-cold as winter touched her.
Shiver.
Light goosebumps broke across her arms.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
She had no idea.
For some reason, breathing had become slightly uncomfortable.
This air, this atmosphere—honestly, it unsettled her.
But outwardly, she lifted her chin all the more boldly and returned his smile.
She wouldn’t be frightened by a mere look.
‘Edward Croiman, you’re only fifteen after all.’
Even if not all his thoughts were readable.
She knew his true nature wasn’t as complicated as it appeared.
As Croiman’s heir, he always pretended to be upright and virtuous.
But his real self differed quite markedly from what others believed.
Seeing her smile, Edward’s mouth fell.
He turned sharply and left the room with Harrison.
‘Is it finally all over?’
Now that she’d somehow crossed this great hurdle, her entire body felt heavy.
The party, whatever—she just wanted to rest now.
‘……Kai.’
On a fine day like this, it would have been better to simply lie at ease with you.
“Aria.”
She spun her head toward the sound.
“……Theodore?”
“Why are you so startled? Were you thinking of something else?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Nothing, she says.”
Theodore, muttering with a fretful tone, held out his Handkerchief to her.
Refusing without reason seemed rude, so she accepted it.
“Your precious Dress, you said.”
……That was just you playing up to Luke, you fool.
She offered a cursory thanks, and he drew closer.
Shielding his mouth with his hand so no one else would hear, he whispered softly.
“Let’s just go home.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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