I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 19

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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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Episode 19
I’d thought he was about to tell me some great secret, but it turned out he just wanted to wrap things up quickly.
Still, for Theodore, it was a genuinely good proposal.
I answered by nodding without hesitation.
We cleaned up the situation rapidly and headed straight back to the Mansion.
***
“Eria!”
The moment I opened the door, Kai burst out in his pajamas.
Squeeze—
His grip was so tight I could barely breathe.
“How was your lesson today, Kai?”
Kai had started learning how to handle Mana today.
And from no less than Luke Croiman, the empire’s greatest archmage.
‘When I asked if he had a separate instructor, he said he’d teach directly. I was really surprised.’
It seemed he thought of himself as my master because of the Contract, so he wanted to do right by me.
In any case, Luke had been terribly busy today—preparing for the party and teaching Kai.
It must have exhausted him.
It was a pity that the Harrison Noble Daughter incident happened while Luke was out teaching Kai.
…I wondered what he’d say when I reported it later.
“…It wasn’t fun.”
While I was lost in thought, Kai dropped a bombshell.
“What? Why?”
In previous lives, he’d always said magic lessons were enjoyable.
“Didn’t see you all day.”
“Me?”
Kai nodded desperately, then buried his head in my arms.
It was so endearing and pitiful that I stroked his hair to comfort him.
‘People will start arriving soon.’
Feeling awkward, I tried to gently push him away.
“Don’t go…”
He held me tighter, pleading.
“…Alright. I won’t.”
While I embraced Kai at the doorway without even stepping into the room—
“Miss!”
Annie came rushing over from down the hall, breathing hard as she inspected my Dress.
Noticing the large stain on my clothes, Annie’s face fell with disappointment.
“That Harrison Noble Daughter really went too far! This Dress took all night to choose…”
The news traveled fast, as always.
“I’m fine. Theodore and Edward helped me.”
“So I heard. They may not always show it, but both are kindhearted and considerate.”
Was that so?
I wasn’t entirely sure myself.
“Well, it’s almost time for dinner, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right. You can’t keep wearing that, so let me help you change.”
“Thank you.”
Kai listened quietly to our conversation.
He released me from his embrace with visible reluctance, moving with deliberate slowness.
I gently brushed his flushed eyes and opened the door.
“Kai, I won’t be long. Let’s go eat dinner together.”
“…Okay.”
I smiled faintly and entered the room with Annie.
Kai held me in his gaze, his eyes shining like jewels.
Until the door closed and I could no longer see him.
That image bothered me, so I hurried to change.
After changing, Kai and I arrived at the Dining Room to find everyone already there.
“Sit here.”
We took the seats Luke indicated.
Edward and Theodore were seated across from us in turn.
The moment we sat, servants efficiently began serving, and the meal commenced.
‘I wonder if Kai’s gotten used to how to eat properly by now.’
I stole a glance at him, worry gnawing at my chest.
Kai was concentrating so intently that sparks seemed to dance in his eyes.
As if he couldn’t afford to let even a single morsel fall.
He placed each piece of food in his mouth with deliberate care.
Then chewed it thoroughly for a long moment.
His round cheeks puffed out especially full today.
I nearly laughed aloud and quickly turned my head away.
“……So.”
Luke’s quiet words drew everyone’s attention to him.
“You had some business with the Harrison family’s young noble lady.”
The serene dining room froze in an instant.
……It’s here.
I need to handle this well.
I swallowed hard and gave a slight nod.
“What exactly happened, Eria?”
“I think I was rude to the noble daughters present, especially to the Harrison noble daughter. I’m sorry about that.”
“‘You’ were the rude one.”
Luke set down his utensil, his expression turning cold.
“She was the one who spoke to me first, and it seemed she wanted to get closer, so I was happy about it…….”
“What did she call you?”
“She called me Eria. It seemed like she wanted to be friends!”
I clasped my hands together and smiled brightly.
Pretending to know nothing was rather embarrassing.
‘But I have to do this. This is my greatest revenge.’
I spoke with deliberate cheerfulness, and his expression darkened further.
“And?”
“We were having a light conversation, and then the noble daughter stumbled and spilled her drink on my Dress.”
“……On ‘that’ Dress?”
Luke’s presence turned so ominous you could stab a man without anyone flinching.
Of course, I was deliberately scratching at his thoughts, so anger would be natural.
But this was getting terrifying—I wished he’d stop looking at me like that.
Anyone watching would think I was the one at fault.
“……Yes, the Harrison noble daughter bore no fault. She apologized, saying it was an accident.”
“An accident.”
“I… I’m sorry. I wasn’t careful enough with the Dress.”
Luke didn’t answer my last words.
I could feel his hands trembling from where I sat.
While I avoided his burning gaze and stared only at my cooling food.
Theodore, who had been drinking water casually, set down his glass with a sharp clink and spoke.
“Father did say he brought Eria from a red-light district.”
“Theodore.”
Edward immediately cut him off.
But Theodore merely shrugged and returned to his meal without concern.
Until that moment, Luke had been seething with rage.
But at Theodore’s words, something beyond anger crossed his face—pure shock.
When Luke’s eyes met mine, he suddenly looked away.
He bit his lower lip.
From that reddened lip came his final words.
“I’m sorry, Eria.”
……Suddenly?
“……Why would you apologize, Duke?”
The words tumbled out, unstudied and bewildered.
But Luke simply avoided my gaze, his expression complicated.
He turned to face Theodore and spoke with visible effort.
“My actions at the party were necessary—don’t concern yourself with them.”
“If I were to go back, I would have poured two teacups in both hands.”
“Theodore.”
Edward called his name once more.
Theodore met him with a look that said, ‘What did I do?’
Edward released a heavy sigh and shook his head.
“……Father.”
“What is it, Edward?”
“I think it would be good for Eria to have a tutor.”
“……Yes. If that had been the case, they wouldn’t have treated Eria so poorly.”
Luke answered, resting his chin on his hand.
“It’s necessary, of course, but bringing in an outside tutor is dangerous.”
“Because of Kai?”
“Yes.”
Kai dropped a single spoonful of soup the moment his name was called.
He seemed startled, having let his guard down while failing to follow the conversation.
I gently squeezed his hand beneath the table as if it were nothing to worry about.
He resumed eating with a reassured expression.
“Then I’d like to teach Eria myself in the meantime.”
At Edward’s words, I nearly dropped the spoon I was reaching for, catching myself at the last moment.
‘That startled me…….’
Why was he suddenly closing the distance like this?
To be honest, it wasn’t a bad thing for me.
Edward was so busy that there’d been little chance to meet him at all.
Until now, he’d shown no desire to see me either.
‘……If this works out well, I might even find out whether Edward can use magic.’
“I’d love that!”
Theodore jumped up in alarm at my cheerful response.
“Wait, do you even understand how exhausting that would be?”
“Theodore.”
Called out a third time, Theodore pouted his lips.
But this time he didn’t resist strongly and quietly returned to his seat.
Luke finally looked at me and asked carefully.
“You seemed busy enough with your training with Kai. Are you sure?”
“It’s fine. We’re almost done anyway.”
By now, Kai’s Transformation Form was nearly perfect.
The timing was fortunate indeed.
Luke nodded and turned to Edward.
“Since you seem to be overexerting yourself lately, I’ll allow it if you reduce your schedule.”
“Understood, Father. Eria, let’s talk after this is finished.”
“Of course, Edward!”
I nodded with a bright smile.
I still wondered why Edward was suddenly acting this way.
An indecipherable unease lingered in my chest.
‘I don’t need to expect him to transform his animosity into goodwill.’
As long as I could prove I was neither his enemy nor useless to him.
I believed Edward would willingly accept me.
Until then, I thought the situation was manageable.
“I took him for nothing but naive and overly cautious.”
……
“You’re craftier than I expected.”
I had no idea he would drop his mask the moment we were alone in the dining room.

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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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