I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 5

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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 5
“Yes.”
Ren replied with a brusque tone.
It was plainly disrespectful, but this was something Ren often did when he harbored some grievance against Luke.
“Why?”
Why? Wasn’t it obvious?
For his entire life—three generations of service to this prestigious family—and now some strange child of unknown origin and purpose had waltzed in and was acting as she pleased.
How could he think well of her?
Stung by Luke’s apparent blindness to his loyalty to the house, Ren pressed him with barely suppressed emotion.
“Then, why does the Duke favor the young lady so much?”
“I don’t favor her particularly.”
“Right, sure. There you go again. Again…”
He’d said the same thing when they first met the Duchess.
Swallowing the rest of his complaint, Ren picked up a thick stack of documents piled high on the desk in the Office and spoke.
“I’ll handle these, and bring the important matters back to you for review.”
“What about the ones from the Mage Tower?”
“No, those are the ones I sorted separately this morning—the Croiman Family correspondence I brought up to you.”
“Then do as you see fit.”
Ren placed the documents on a small desk in the corner of the Office and sat down to work.
Luke finished his current task and raised his head to gaze at the framed portrait hanging on the wall.
Luke himself, two young boys who resembled him, and—
A poignant picture of someone he could no longer see.
“…Are Edward and Theodore keeping up with their assignments?”
“Their assignments, sir? Which ones do you mean?”
At Luke’s question, Ren asked back, puzzled, and he added,
“Their diary.”
“Ah, the one the Duchess set for them? The second Young Master writes only when he feels like it, but the first Young Master writes every day without fail.”
“Is that so?”
“I hear the first Young Master mostly writes about swordsmanship he learned that day and what he ate, while the second Young Master writes mainly about what he learns from his tutor.”
“Some things never change.”
After hearing Ren’s explanation, Luke let out a low chuckle and spoke quietly.
“I wonder what that child will write.”
“That child—you mean the young lady Eria, sir?”
“Is there another child?”
“…No. You’re right. I’m curious too. What sort of remarkable diary she’ll bring.”
Ren shook his head as if in defeat while watching Luke’s face.
His expression was rigid at first glance, but Ren was certain he looked genuinely pleased.
‘How did the Duke come to be like that? What has that child done…’
Eria Croiman.
She was a type of girl Ren had never seen in his life.
What kind of life must one live to conduct herself with such confidence before Luke Croiman?
Ren had grown up like an inseparable friend since infancy, so he could treat Luke with a certain ease despite the hierarchical distance between them.
But all the other servants feared Luke—that was abundantly clear.
Her peculiar knowledge of dragons, her quick wit uncommon for a child—
All of it was strange.
Perhaps because she was so unusual.
In Ren’s view, Luke had somehow fallen under that girl’s spell without even realizing it.
***
Kai and I changed into the clothes Annie had prepared for us.
Kai gripped my hand tightly while working at the candy Annie had given him.
Annie carried what little luggage I had.
As we left the Mage Tower, two carriages stood waiting in tandem ahead of and behind us on the path to the Duke’s Residence.
There weren’t many people around—why were there two carriages?
“Is the Mage Tower Master also heading home?”
“No. The front carriage is for you and the dragon, and the rear carriage is for Secretary Ren. Captain Liliana will be escorting us.”
Liliana?
“The captain who helped me back there?”
Why is she suddenly coming to the Duke’s Residence with us?
As I looked toward Annie with a puzzled expression, she nodded and explained.
“That’s right. She’ll be protecting you during the journey home today.”
“Isn’t Captain Liliana affiliated with the Mage Tower? She’s allowed to work at the Duke’s Residence?”
“Ah, well…….”
“The Mage Tower provides a service whereby it loans knight orders to the noble families it patronizes.”
Liliana, who must have been listening for some time, walked toward me and answered my question in Annie’s stead.
She lowered herself to one knee with dignified precision, bowing her head to me.
Several knights following her knelt down as well.
“I am Liliana Joren, Captain of the Mage Tower 2nd Knight Order Silver River. At the request of Duke Croiman, I have taken responsibility for the safety of Princess Eria.”
The knights who had been following Liliana rose to their feet with the same measured discipline.
“It’s good to see you, Captain. Did the Tower Master request you directly?”
“Yes. Since I am well acquainted with matters concerning Princess Eria, he deemed me the suitable choice.”
Liliana’s gaze shifted toward Kai.
Kai’s once-gentle eyes sharpened with caution, his pupils beginning to slit vertically.
I hurried to introduce Kai before any unnecessary friction could arise.
“This is Kai. The one who was inside that egg back then.”
“Then this child is…….”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Liliana examined Kai from head to toe with genuine fascination, then withdrew her gaze.
She extended her hand toward me and spoke.
“Allow me to assist you into the carriage, Princess.”
“Thank you.”
I released Kai’s hand and took hers with proper courtesy, boarding the carriage.
Once inside, I extended my hand to Kai again.
But instead of taking my hand, Kai leaped lightly upward and disappeared into the carriage in an instant.
Then, grasping my now-purposeless hand firmly, he grinned broadly.
“Princess!”
When Kai called out to me, Annie started in surprise.
“Was he addressing you, miss?”
“Yes, I think he decided that’s my name.”
“He learns remarkably quickly.”
Dragons are said to acquire language at an extraordinary pace.
Kai certainly seemed to be among the fastest learners of his kind.
I’d need to teach him as much as possible on the way to the Duke’s Residence to prevent any mistakes.
I settled into my seat and sat Kai beside me, then spoke to Annie.
“How will you be traveling?”
“I’ll be sitting in the storage compartment at the back of your carriage, miss.”
“That sounds uncomfortable.”
“It’s quite all right, miss. There isn’t much luggage.”
I nodded in understanding and adjusted myself into a proper sitting posture.
The carriage door closed, and I could hear voices conversing outside; soon enough, the carriage began to move.
“Princess, candy?”
Kai pulled out a piece of candy from his pocket and offered it to me.
I shook my head lightly.
“It’s all right. You have it. And my name is Eria. Eria.”
“Eria.”
I pointed to myself as I spoke, and Kai mimicked the gesture.
Then he pointed to himself and said:
“Kai.”
“That’s right, your name is Kai. Kaiden.”
“Kaiden.”
Watching Kai smile brightly, I smiled back.
So we continued to exchange words throughout the entire carriage ride.
***
The carriage, which had been jolting along, came to a stop.
I cracked open the window and peered outside.
A magnificent structure sprawled before my eyes—so vast it was difficult to take in at a glance.
Was that the Duke’s Residence?
“Eria, are we here?”
Kai, who had learned enough words to hold simple conversations, looked at me and asked.
“Looks like it.”
“Am I quiet now?”
During the few hours in the carriage, Kai had grown noticeably more skilled at communicating in language befitting his age.
But he was still clumsy with propriety.
That’s why I’d asked him to remain silent whenever we weren’t alone together.
“Yes. Stay quiet for a moment, will you? Please.”
“Okay, Eria.”
“Thank you.”
Kai smiled softly and nestled deeper into my arms, his voice small.
“Good.”
“Right. But people will be opening the door soon, so we should let go now.”
“Mmm…….”
Kai’s expression fell as he withdrew from my embrace.
The sight of his round eyes drooping made me smile without thinking.
‘I never tire of that look.’
Kai at this age had a charm all his own, one unique to this moment in time.
I stroked his back gently in comfort, and thanks to that, Kai’s face brightened again.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Annie’s voice.
“We’ve arrived at the Duke’s Residence, miss.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage door opened, and Liliana offered me her hand as before.
I took her hand and descended, then waited for Kai to get down before moving from my spot.
As expected, Kai jumped down without accepting anyone’s help.
He landed lightly and grinned at me, glanced around at the assembled staff, and his expression turned rigid.

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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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