I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 22

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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 22
……Why is he suddenly acting like that?
“Even when we’re alone, should I call you Edward?”
“No.”
See?
He prefers a clear hierarchy.
I tried to accommodate his preferences, and now I can’t figure out what’s bothering him.
“You decide how to address me.”
“Yes, ‘sir.'”
I answered deliberately, putting weight on each word.
He let out an exasperated laugh and leaned back against the sofa.
Edward lifted his teacup and took a sip, then frowned.
“It’s too sweet.”
“I added rock sugar to it.”
“I know that.”
Honestly, I have no idea what this ridiculous conversation is about.
“I haven’t had any, so please take mine.”
Edward didn’t refuse and took my cup.
He took a sip of the fresh tea.
“To be clear before you misunderstand—I’m not trying to control everything you do.”
He was quick to clarify.
“Is that so?”
“Ever since you and that dragon arrived, too many unexpected things have been happening in our house.”
He wasn’t wrong, so I nodded.
“I thought it would be better if we could anticipate and prepare for these things.”
His words didn’t quite land, so I tilted my head.
Edward elaborated.
“From now on, whenever you plan something, even if it’s just a rough outline, give me a heads-up.”
“It might be difficult to tell you everything.”
“Then at least hint that you’re planning something.”
“And what do I get in return?”
“As long as it doesn’t harm Croiman, I’ll share whatever information might be useful to you.”
That sounds good.
I nodded at the appealing proposal.
I had no reason to refuse.
“And tell me why you came here in the first place. Don’t lie.”
“Since the conditions are weighted more in your favor, you’ll be giving me good information, won’t you?”
“Clever.”
“I don’t like bad deals.”
“Clearly.”
He chuckled and set down his cup.
A soft smile spread across his lips.
His relaxed eyes seemed far more at ease and warm.
A gentle vitality kindled in his dark green gaze.
‘……So he could smile like that.’
This was the first time I’d seen a genuine smile from him—not some calculated expression.
Admittedly, it was annoyingly handsome.
I hate to admit it, and it irritates me a bit.
In this moment, Edward looked like a painting come to life.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Realizing I was staring, Edward’s face hardened immediately.
Thank goodness he was back to being the young master I knew.
“It’s nothing!”
…….
I answered with a bright smile, and his brow furrowed sharply.
Still, he didn’t press the matter any further.
“Shall we consider the deal struck.”
“Yes.”
“While we’re at it, why don’t we exchange one piece of information each right now.”
“You mean information we each have?”
“Yes.”
Hmm, what might that be……
It’s difficult to ask Luke for help, but I need this information desperately.
I’d never really thought about it before.
“Father told me you said you wanted to become family first.”
While I was considering my response, Edward beat me to it.
“Did you deliberately approach Father to get into this household?”
“Half right and half wrong.”
His expression clouded with incomprehension.
“I did approach the Duke.”
“……I thought so.”
“But I didn’t come here trying to join this household.”
“Then what?”
“I just wanted a little help from the Duke. He’s incredibly strong, after all.”
“True enough — he’s quite remarkable.”
Pride and respect flickered across Edward’s face as he spoke.
“Why did you need Father’s help?”
“I wanted to survive. I escaped from where I used to be.”
Edward’s expression wavered, uncertain.
He asked me carefully.
“……Are you a Runaway Slave?”
“No. I was an experimental subject.”
“So……. Wait, what did you just……?”
“A subject of Biological Experiment.”
Edward’s mouth fell open, his face struck by profound shock.
I hadn’t realized he could make that same vacant expression as Theodore.
He gulped down the tea that had already gone cold.
In one swift motion, he drained the entire cup.
Then he began to pace the room like an anxious puppy.
“……So that’s why you had a dragon.”
“You catch on quickly.”
“What was the purpose of the experiment?”
Well, that’s difficult to explain in detail.
I should brush past it vaguely.
“I don’t know exactly. I just took strange medicine every day and received injections.”
“Right, so, no, I mean, yes……. So that’s it.”
Edward stammered through his words, trailing off.
‘Does he think he’s being rude to me?’
I’m really fine with it.
“……Did I just ask you something you didn’t want to talk about?”
“I’m all right. I’m not uncomfortable about it now.”
“If that’s the case, does Theodore know about this?”
“No.”
“Is there a reason you haven’t told him?”
“I simply didn’t see the point in telling him. What’s so important about it?”
“……Did you just say that?”
“Yes?”
What’s this about? So unlike him…….
Why is he suddenly angry?
Edward, worked up, drained even the tea with its excess of Rock Sugar dumped in.
Still unsettled, he paced restlessly around the room.
“Eria.”
“Yes?”
“I thought you were rather clever, but it seems you’re just pretending to be smart.”
“……What?”
“Right now, there’s nothing in Theodore’s world more important than you.”
“Hmm, the rabbit in the Garden?”
“You really are all pretense and no substance.”
What exactly is his point?
I’ve never seen him care about anything besides the rabbit anyway.
“Eria. I know I’m overstepping. But…….”
Edward’s words hardened.
He wasn’t sure if this was worth saying at all.
Or if silence would be better.
He drew a slow breath.
“If you’re thinking at all of telling Theodore, I think it’d be best to tell him someday. Really.”
“Why?”
“Theodore thinks better of you than you imagine.”
“…….”
“You’re his only sister.”
His only sister.
I never expected to hear that from Edward’s lips.
Hearing it like that, I suddenly felt the reality of having become a true family with them.
“Theodore’s the type who gives his whole heart once he cares about someone. Problem is, he’s even simpler than he is stubborn.”
Edward grumbled as if in complaint.
Though I had to agree that Theodore was simple.
“My past doesn’t matter much to me.”
“I think it matters.”
“It shouldn’t concern you or Theodore.”
“Which is why I’m……no. At least to Theodore it should matter.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Why won’t you believe me?”
As if expelling raw, unfiltered emotion that had been bottled up inside.
Edward raised his voice.
Was he angry?
Or was he worried?
We weren’t even real family—we’d only known each other this long.
How could he be so emotionally invested in someone else’s matter?
He wasn’t in my position.
He’d grown up in circumstances where he couldn’t possibly empathize with me at all.
‘I simply can’t understand it.’
I’d thought I’d come to know something about him.
But I feel like I’m back to square one.
What on earth was Edward thinking?
Why was he so angry over my past, which wasn’t even that important?
……Or was he simply trying to look after Theodore?
True, if only the two of us knew about this, Theodore might feel a bit wronged.
‘……I still don’t understand.’
I’d only know if I had real family of my own.
Like Theodore and Edward.
“Understood.”
In the end, I had no choice but to go along with Edward’s words.
“I’ll tell Theodore as well.”
When the right moment comes. Someday.
Though I don’t know when that will be.
‘I mean, it’d be strange to bring it up without being asked first anyway.’
I’ll speak when the mood naturally allows it.
“……Sigh.”
Edward ruffled his hair roughly and exhaled heavily.
Only after a while did he answer me.
“Right. Listen to what I’m saying, you stubborn girl.”
This lord of mine had a way of subtly making someone feel foolish.
A slight sting at that, but I let it pass.
That wasn’t what mattered now.
“In any case, you understand why I’ve been staying here, don’t you?”
Edward, who’d been resting on the sofa, barely nodded.
“To some extent.”
“Then I’ll tell you what I want now.”
“Go ahead.”
What would be the right subject to bring up?
Since this is our first time, I think it would be good to ask an important question.
In that case, it seems best to…
“Tell me about the Wicked Dragon, Dia.”

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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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