I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 34

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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 34
An Invitation Letter from the Imperial Palace.
For what reason?
After seeing the envelope—ornate and refined, overlaid with gold leaf—
I broke the red wax seal and drew out the letter inside.
I read it aloud so that Luke and Kai could understand the contents as well.
“To Eria, the Rising Star of Croiman…….”
In short, the Imperial Princess was inviting me to the Imperial Palace for her birthday celebration.
‘The Imperial Princess wasn’t able to attend the tea party held in Croiman last time.’
I’d heard she was in poor health and could barely leave her residence.
“The Banquet is still about a month away, so there’s plenty of time,” Luke murmured after hearing the full contents.
He was reading the letter to himself.
“Were you brothers invited as well?”
“Yes. We’ve been invited every year.”
True enough—nearly every young lady and gentleman living in the capital would be invited.
Events as grand as the Imperial Princess’s birthday didn’t happen often.
She was the only remaining Legitimate Heir and the strongest candidate for the Next Emperor.
Of course, an Illegitimate Child—a prince—had been born a few months ago, so her succession couldn’t be guaranteed at one hundred percent, but…….
‘I absolutely have to make a good impression.’
She was close to my age and the same gender, a member of the Imperial bloodline.
There was more than enough opportunity to build rapport.
“What does the Imperial Princess like most?” I asked Luke, trying to choose a gift she would treasure.
But.
But.
“I have no idea. I’ve heard almost nothing about her.”
I’d forgotten.
That Luke was a terribly thorough outsider to Croiman…….
‘I should have made friends with someone at that tea party, no matter what.’
I suddenly understood why Luke wanted to make friends for me.
A sense of regret bloomed a little late, though it did bloom.
But what’s past is past.
“I’ll ask Edward! He’ll definitely know something.”
He would certainly have some knowledge.
Foolish Theodore wouldn’t care about the Imperial Princess or anything else.
“Yes. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
“Thank you! And……. I think we should get to the Magic Tower as quickly as possible.”
Since this is my first external engagement, there’s so much to prepare.
Edward only teaches history and economics in etiquette lessons.
It was time to begin learning proper aristocratic decorum from him, bit by bit.
My first event had earned good reviews because of my innocence, as he said it would.
But if I show no real progress, I’ll end up looking hollow-headed.
“The earliest we can manage is……. about two days from now. Does that work?”
Luke asked while briefly considering the schedule.
I nodded earnestly and smiled brightly.
“That’s plenty! Is there anything special I should bring?”
“Nothing in particular, but I do have one question.”
“What is it?”
Luke looked at Kai, whose hand he was holding.
“At the Imperial Palace Banquet, I’m planning to decline attendance by using a Magic Tower business trip as an excuse.”
“Is it because of Kai?”
“Yes. If all of Croiman attends the Banquet, I won’t be able to handle him.”
I understood completely.
I was also uneasy about leaving Kai here alone.
Even if Kai wasn’t the type to cause trouble recklessly.
It was definitely better to have someone looking after him nearby.
“So you’ll be staying in Croiman with me?”
Luke shook his head.
“If I’m using the business trip as my reason, I’ll have to submit a report afterward.”
“So you’ll have to go no matter what.”
“That’s why I want Kai to travel with me.”
I glanced at Kai, gauging his reaction to Luke’s suggestion.
He wore a pleasant smile, the kind that put people at ease.
‘But he doesn’t look particularly happy about it.’
“How long will this business trip be?” Kai asked, breaking his silence.
He’d been listening quietly until now.
“I’d say two nights, three days should be sufficient for now.”
A hairline fracture appeared in Kai’s smiling face.
Anyone with a keen eye would have spotted it immediately.
But Luke seemed oblivious.
Whether because he was awkward with matters of the heart,
or because he’d seen through Kai’s true feelings but simply didn’t care enough to dwell on it.
“Understood,” Kai replied, lowering his head slightly.
He bowed with quiet acceptance.
“The situation at the site could make it longer, though.”
Luke’s bombshell sent Kai’s eyebrows shooting upward.
His grip tightened on my hand with sudden force.
Thanks to the signal I gave, Kai’s expression softened again, returning to its usual gentleness.
“Is there anything else you wished to discuss?”
“No.”
“Then, if I may, I should take my leave.”
I hastily ended the conversation, released Kai’s hand, and offered a formal bow.
Kai returned the gesture, bowing a half-beat slower.
“Has it gotten so late already?”
For some reason, Luke’s answer sounded reluctant to me—though that was probably just my imagination.
“…Yes, sleep well.”
“You too! Good night!”
I smiled brightly and practically ushered Kai out the door.
We hurried from the office and headed to our rooms together.
I waited at Kai’s door until he went inside,
but he simply stood there grinning prettily without making a move.
“You’re not going in?”
“No.”
It was one of the most decisive responses I’d heard from him in a while.
It seemed he intended to spend time in my room until bedtime.
“Fine then. Come with me.”
I had no real reason to object, so we ended up going into my room together.
“Oh, Miss! Young Master!”
Annie looked up from straightening the bedding and greeted us with a radiant smile.
“What’s that?”
She immediately noticed the ornate letter in my hand.
“It’s from the Imperial Palace.”
“Ah! It must be for the princess’s birthday!”
“You know about that?”
“Invitations from the Imperial Palace this time of year are always for that occasion.”
She drew closer.
She seemed curious about the contents.
I handed her the letter without hesitation.
But she looked taken aback, as if she’d only wanted to hear it read aloud, not actually hold it.
“I-I can’t read, ma’am…”
“Oh.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine! What does it say?”
Annie waved her hand dismissively, as if urging me not to worry, and steered the conversation forward.
“Just what you said—that it’s her birthday and she’d like me to come.”
Since the topic had come up, I might as well ask Annie something too.
“So, do you happen to know what the princess enjoys?”
“No, ma’am. The last I heard about her was when she was very small…”
Annie laughed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.
I quickly waved my hand to assure her it didn’t matter.
“Don’t worry. Edward will know what to do.”
I have faith in you alone.
“Oh! Now that you mention it, I think I remember something vague the young master said!”
Annie clapped her hands together in excitement.
The moment Edward was mentioned, something seemed to spark in her memory.
“Really?”
This was exactly the sort of thing I’d hoped to hear.
I wonder what the princess actually likes.
Sweet treats? Fine cosmetics?
“Oh, it’s nothing so grand, actually.”
Annie laughed, looking a little flustered.
“It wasn’t about what she specifically likes, exactly.”
“It’s fine. That doesn’t matter.”
Any information was better than nothing.
“What I remember is just that her personality is rather… unique.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry it’s so vague.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
The information Annie had given me wouldn’t help me pin down a clear direction, true enough.
But I preferred it that way.
If I’d known exactly what she liked, my gift might overlap with someone else’s.
A distinctive choice now would score far better points.
“Eria. Do you want to make a good impression on the princess?”
Kai, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, asked the question.
He drew closer to me and placed a hand on the coat I was wearing.
It was during our garden walk before heading to the office, when I’d been shivering from the cold.
This was the Jacket he’d given me.
I slipped my arm out with his help and answered.
“Yes, it’s really important. First impressions tend to last, after all.”
“You don’t need to worry so much.”
Kai smiled as he took the coat from me.
“There’s no way she could dislike you.”
He said it with absolute certainty.
Did he truly believe such a person couldn’t exist in the world?
Kai was so kind that he was always singing my praises.
Yet whenever he spoke like this, it always made my chest tighten.
The word “uncomfortable” best captured that subtle feeling.
Because I’d never heard such words from anyone but Kai.
‘Still, I’m grateful that he thinks so highly of me.’
But, Kai.
That’s because you’re a Dragon and I’m a Beast Tamer.
Non-human races seem to take a liking to me so readily.
Humans don’t seem to favor me nearly as much.
In fact, the feelings that come through take a toll on me.
“That’s right! You’re so lovely, miss! There’s no way she could dislike you!”
Annie chimed in enthusiastically from beside me, and Kai immediately agreed.
‘Come to think of it, there’s another one here too.’
Someone who thinks just as highly of me as Kai does.
I’d shaken my head firmly in denial, but it didn’t seem to register at all.
Those two really are peculiar.
They’re certainly not stupid.
But whenever it involves me, something seems to short-circuit their minds.

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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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