I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 8

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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 8
“Eria and Kaiden?”
Edward recalled the incident outside her room earlier and what had happened during the meal.
“Eria seems like a well-mannered girl, I thought.”
Despite appearing five years his junior, she carried herself with a maturity not unlike his own.
She understood when to step forward and when to hold back.
It was always Theodore who initiated the quarrels and provocations, never her.
In private, she possessed the boldness to stand up to Theodore without hesitation.
At the formal dinner table, she carried the wisdom to handle him with an elegant smile.
……
The corner of Edward’s mouth twisted upward, barely perceptibly.
Theodore tensed at the sight.
It was a habit Edward displayed when something displeased him.
Theodore’s instinct proved correct—Edward found this conversation about her oddly uncomfortable.
He didn’t care to examine why.
But the fact that his heart resisted it was something Edward couldn’t simply control at will.
“As for Kaiden, he still appears rough in many ways, though that’s understandable given his circumstances.”
“I see, sir.”
“But why do you ask?”
“It’s just that you seem…”
…quite displeased with her.
Theodore swallowed the rest unspoken.
He was two years younger than Edward, and he knew his own emotional maturity hadn’t yet caught up to his brother’s.
But that didn’t mean he lacked perception.
‘He doesn’t want to show that he dislikes her.’
Theodore, witnessing Edward harbor such open distaste for someone, felt genuinely unsettled.
‘It can’t be just because she was adopted.’
If it were, Edward would have shown the same reaction when Theodore first arrived at this mansion.
Theodore grasped the Silver Locket Pendant hanging at his neck and fidgeted with it.
It was a habit that emerged whenever he grew anxious or lost himself in thought—uncharacteristic of him.
“What do you mean? Why did you stop talking?”
Theodore only then realized he’d cut himself off.
He dropped his hand from the pendant and hastily improvised something.
“I was just thinking—if you’re too kind to her, sir, and she becomes overconfident, she might bring shame to the Croiman Family.”
“Ha. Eria? You should worry about bringing shame on yourself instead.”
Theodore had already sensed that Eria wasn’t the type to do such a thing.
But at Edward’s jest, he felt genuinely hurt and let his brows droop.
Noticing the sting, Edward lightly tapped his shoulder and spoke.
“I’m sorry if that stung. Still, Theodore. Even if you don’t care for her, don’t let it show.”
……
“She’s already struggling enough to adapt here.”
Dislike, he’d said.
To be precise, Theodore didn’t actually dislike Eria.
When he’d first heard the news, he’d even thought he should treat her well.
The way Edward had treated him when he first arrived at the mansion.
Seeing her brought back memories of himself from a year ago—parentless and without a place to belong.
And that girl had traveled alone, a dragon at her side, no less.
He found himself wondering: how had she ended up here without a guardian?
‘But the expression on his face when she was with us back then…’
He’d seemed profoundly shaken.
Theodore had never seen Edward lose control of his expression to that extent.
Perhaps that’s why he can’t bring himself to be warm toward her.
Something about it felt like a betrayal of his brother, who had been so kind to him.
Theodore understood Edward well.
He was the firstborn of the Croiman Family, the cornerstone of the nation itself.
The sole direct heir.
An heir to a position that demanded perfection at every turn—and so Edward was always composing himself, always performing.
Nearly everything about him was flawless.
There was only one thing—a fatal flaw: he could not inherit the succession.
‘Perhaps his displeasure with her stems from that very thing.’
Theodore lowered his head slightly.
Even so, he’d thought Edward might be a bit more candid when they were alone together.
But it seemed opening up remained difficult for him still.
“Understood.”
“Right then. I’ll head out first—rest here longer if you’re tired.”
“Yes.”
As Theodore bowed faintly, Edward offered a light greeting and stepped outside.
Theodore watched the older man’s back as he walked away, cradling a large book in his arms.
For some reason, his brother’s shoulders seemed to carry a weight as heavy as the volume he held.
***
Several days had passed since arriving at the Croiman Mansion.
Contrary to her worries, everything had unfolded as naturally as water finding its course.
Save for the first day, she hadn’t seen any of the family members once.
Whether this counted as natural flow or simple failure to adapt—floating on the surface—she couldn’t say.
‘Still, they’re hardly the idle sort.’
Luke hardly needed mention.
Edward, positioned as the designated heir, seemed constantly occupied with various lessons and training.
Theodore appeared to be the one with time to spare, yet
she’d caught not even a glimpse of his smallest shadow.
Though in a way, the blessing was that without pressure to impress them, she could train with Kaiden freely.
Kaiden, too, had adapted to the mansion better than she’d feared—a relief.
“Eria, cold……”
Kaiden, who’d been sleeping beside her, nuzzled close and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“Miss, you’re awake? Oh my, Master! When did you arrive?”
Well, perhaps she’d let him adapt a touch too well.
Eria offered an awkward smile as Annie had just entered the room, offering an explanation.
“Baby dragons prefer warm embraces.”
“That may be so, but the servants who don’t know about you will find it strange, Master.”
She didn’t mind.
Raising Kaiden properly mattered far more than what strangers might think.
At Annie’s words, Eria gently patted the back of Kaiden as he burrowed deeper beneath the quilt.
“Kaiden, shall we get up now?”
She pulled back the blanket, letting the warm morning light wash over him.
Kaiden frowned and buried his face in her embrace, but after a moment, he nodded reluctantly and drew back slightly.
“Sleepy……”
“Want to sleep a little longer?”
“…Does Eria?”
“I’m getting up now. The weather’s lovely—I thought I’d take a walk.”
“Me too… want to go.”
For all his words, Kaiden looked ready to collapse into sleep at any moment.
“No. Sleep a bit more. I’ll be back soon and wake you right away.”
Kaiden didn’t answer, drifting back to sleep instead.
With him growing so rapidly, needing plenty of rest came naturally.
Eria smiled softly and gently stroked his plump, soft cheeks.
Then she carefully rose from the bed, taking care not to disturb his sleep.
There was time before afternoon training with Kaiden.
A visit to the Garden seemed fitting.
After asking Annie to prepare for a walk,
she changed into a light Yellow One-piece Dress with the maid’s assistance.
Eria smiled and spoke.
“I’d like to take this walk quietly.”
Annie hesitated before asking slowly.
“Are you truly certain you’ll be all right alone, Miss?”
“Yes, there’s no danger since I’ll be within the mansion grounds.”
“Still… the Garden is quite expansive. You might lose your way easily.”
“It’s fine. If I haven’t returned by afternoon, wake Kaiden then.”
Then he’d be able to find her quickly enough.
Dragons have very keen senses, after all.
“Understood. Please be careful.”
Annie bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Left alone in the room, she caught her reflection in the mirror and adjusted the hem of the dress with an awkward touch.
Would anyone actually wear something so… juvenile?
She turned away sharply and left the room.
Then she hurried toward the Garden.
“Oh? A rabbit.”
She wandered into the Garden, taking a leisurely stroll.
A white rabbit hopped through the bushes, moving about with easy grace.
She knelt down on the ground and followed the creature’s movements with her eyes.
The rabbit tilted its head toward her—wary, perhaps.
Yet it didn’t bolt away into the distance.
It was a familiar response.
The other animals she’d seen in the Research Laboratory had acted the same way.
The creatures that had initially been skittish around her somehow warmed to her presence with surprising ease.
Suddenly, she recalled what Luke had told her about the Beast Tamer skill.
She’d thought a Beast Tamer was simply someone who could befriend animals more easily.
‘If I tame this rabbit, then perhaps this little one too…’
Would it obey every command without question?

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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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