BDBF 05

“Ah……”

The development was so unexpected that I didn’t know how I was supposed to react. It wasn’t my fault, but… maybe because I was half-human too, it felt like I shared some of the blame.

Seeing my stiffened expression, Eve hurriedly added,

“I only told you this so that you wouldn’t be surprised by their behavior when you meet the Black Dragon family in the future. There’s no other reason.”

“O-okay……”

Eve probably hadn’t meant to target me for being half-human. She was most likely just warning me in advance for when I eventually encountered the Black Dragon family.

Even so, because I had been human in my previous life and was now half-human in this one, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

After all, I had always thought this way.

Humans were selfish creatures.

* * *

“Lord Patriarch, it’s Eve.”

“Come in.”

Eve lightly pushed open the heavy, gold-decorated door and entered Hale’s office.

Setting down his pen, Hale welcomed her.

“It’s been a while.”

“If you hadn’t assigned me to teach the young lady pheromones this time, you probably wouldn’t have seen me for another fifty years.”

“I know you’re doing me a favor, so stop bragging about it.”

With a faint smile, Hale sat on the sofa in the center of the room instead of at his desk. Eve followed and took a seat as well.

“How does Senica seem?”

Hale hated dragging conversations out with unnecessary introductions, so he got straight to the point.

“You said her growth, which had been progressing well, recently stopped?”

“According to the records Rita showed me, her growth rate has clearly slowed compared to before.”

“After examining the young lady’s pheromones, I think I found the reason.”

Eve raised one hand. Soon, a sphere of pheromones darker than darkness itself floated above her palm.

It wasn’t Eve’s usual pale sky-blue pheromone.

Hale frowned and silently demanded an explanation.

“It’s the young lady’s pheromone.”

“……”

“It’s black—something that should never appear in the White Dragon family.”

“……Does that mean she’s a child of the Black Dragon family?”

“No, that’s not it. The color may be like this, but the energy it gives off is definitely that of a White Dragon pheromone.”

Eve couldn’t explain why Senica’s pheromones were black. It was her first time encountering something like this as well.

“I think the reason the young lady’s growth is slowing down is because these pheromones can’t properly purify themselves within a human body.”

“Is there a solution?”

“At the moment, I can’t say for certain. I’ll search for a method as thoroughly as I can, but later on… we may need help from the Black Dragon family.”

The moment the possibility of involving the Black Dragon family was mentioned, Hale’s expression darkened sharply.

Knowing what had happened in the past between Hale and Vivian, the head of the Black Dragon family, Eve kept her mouth shut.

After remaining silent for a while, Hale slowly blinked and nodded.

“……Understood.”

“The good news is that she should grow safely until around fifteen in human years. Though the process of reaching adulthood may be difficult.”

“Whether or not we ask the Black Dragon family for help… we’ll decide after seeing Senica’s condition then.”

“I’ll follow your decision completely, Lord Patriarch.”

“I’m really glad you’re here. You’re dependable.”

Hale spoke brightly, as though he hadn’t been wearing such a dark expression moments ago.

But the atmosphere he tried to lift didn’t last long, and a heavy silence settled over the room once again.

Usually, Eve would leave immediately once the conversation was over. But today, she was deeply worried about Hale’s mental state.

She had grown up alongside him ever since he was born as the heir, so she knew his fragile side better than anyone.

And Senica wasn’t just any heir—she was the child his wife had left behind. Naturally, Hale would be especially sensitive about her.

So Eve decided to break the heavy silence.

“Lord Patriarch.”

Lost in thought as he stared into empty space, Hale turned his gaze toward her. She immediately continued.

“May I ask you one thing?”

“Since it’s you, I’ll allow it specially.”

Seeing him quickly return to his usual self, Eve smiled faintly.

“Though you’d ask even without my permission.”

“As expected, you know me well.”

“So, what is it you want to ask?”

Even though he already understood why she had spoken up, Hale still didn’t drag the conversation out.

“Why me?”

“I told you already. Because you’re dependable.”

“……”

“And there’s no one more suitable than you.”

‘Suitable,’ huh…

Eve tilted her head, clearly not fully understanding his answer.

Seeing this, Hale added further explanation.

“Hm, since you’ve been away from the estate for so long, I suppose you don’t know. Let me explain personally.”

Hale crossed his legs, his expression turning serious.

“I heard the elders who never liked me have been plotting treason.”

“Ah……”

“I heard about it quite some time ago, so they’ve probably already planted spies around me.”

“It must be the faction centered around Elder Rikt.”

“I think there are others besides them too. That’s why I couldn’t entrust my daughter to just anyone.”

Thanks to Hale’s detailed explanation, Eve finally understood why he had called her the perfect candidate.

Because there was no possibility that she was one of the spies planted around him.

‘To begin with, from the moment I was born, I could never serve anyone other than Hale as my lord.’

Within the Yvienne family, it was practically an open secret that their family had served beside the patriarch for generations.

Though the beginning of the bond between the two dragons had not been by their own will, things were different now.

Neither openly showed it, but they relied on each other deeply. It was a simple relationship, yet difficult to explain with words.

“I didn’t realize you trusted me this much, Lord Patriarch.”

“You know now, and that’s enough.”

Fortunately, the voices they exchanged were much lighter than before.

“Oh, Eve. Senica’s condition stays between you and me. Absolutely no one else can know.”

This was the second time Eve had seen Hale care for and worry about someone this deeply.

She knew the pain he had endured after losing the mate he cherished and loved so desperately. She had watched him hit rock bottom from right beside him.

That was why she felt an even stronger sense of responsibility.

“Hale.”

She, too, felt guilty for having taken things lightly back then. So this time, she swore she would protect him—and everything precious to him—no matter what.

“If that’s what you’re worried about, you can rest a little easier.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Hearing the longing in Hale’s voice, Eve silently nodded.

* * *

Classes were held three times a week, or every other day. Which meant today was a day off.

I was so bored. So bored I felt like I was going crazy. After rolling around my room from side to side, I made up my mind.

I was going to explore the garden.

“You can’t.”

“Hiiing, why?!”

Rita opposed the idea. More specifically, she said I wasn’t allowed to enter without the patriarch’s permission.

“But I’m his daughter!”

“I’m sorry, but even so, no.”

I knew that although I was the patriarch’s daughter, I was still just a powerless child. And once Hale had been mentioned, it meant stubbornness wouldn’t work anymore.

Then there was only one solution.

If I wanted access to the garden that could make this boring life more interesting—

“Right now?”

“Yeah! I gotta go see Daddy!”

I stubbornly insisted on going to Hale’s office. Even though Rita clearly understood why I wanted to go, she still nodded.

Rita probably wanted to let me into the garden too, but was too scared of Hale’s orders!

Together with Rita, I headed toward Hale’s office. I heard he was working, but honestly, that didn’t matter much to me.

I had already realized just how much Hale adored me.

Knock knock—

After knocking, I immediately opened the door and entered by myself. Hale’s eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected me to come.

“Senica?”

“Daddy!”

Hale naturally scooped me up as I ran over and threw myself into his arms. Then he neatly fixed my messy bangs.

“What brings you here?”

“I came ta ask fer permission!”

“Permission? There shouldn’t be anything you can’t do in this estate.”

That’s what I thought too, but apparently there was!

I grabbed Hale’s hand, which was several times larger than mine. One of his eyebrows twitched.

“I wanna go ta the garden!”

“……The garden?”

“Yeah! I’m sooo bored stayin’ in my room all day.”

I could see his gentle expression stiffen. Why?

Honestly, I didn’t understand why the garden was off-limits. Did they hide something there?

Wait… don’t tell me…

Had they buried some family heirloom passed down through generations there?

“Rita said I need Daddy’s permission.”

“……”

“Can I go? Pleaaase?”

There was no immediate answer. He simply lowered his eyes silently as he listened to me.

I raised one hand and waved it in front of his face. His gaze, which had been fixed somewhere in empty space, finally returned to me.

“I’m the one who restricted it.”

“Why?”

“That’s… something I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“Hmmm……”

If he said he’d tell me when I grew up, then maybe my guess really was right.

Maybe there really was a family treasure buried in the garden, and he planned to tell me once I was older and began heir training.

I bit my twitching lips and nodded. If I’d find out eventually anyway, there was no point asking further.

“Senica.”

“Yeah?”

“What are you planning to do in the garden?”

“I wanna decorate it all pretty!”

“Is that so?”

Hale fell into thought again, but soon collected himself and smiled.

“Then go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Senica, there are very few things you can’t do in this estate. You may do anything you want.”

I already knew Hale was firmly on my side, but this made me feel it even more clearly.

“Yay!”

“However, not today. It hasn’t been used in quite a long time, so it’s probably dirty. I’ll at least have it cleaned up first.”

“Daddy’s the best!”

As expected, being the daughter of a kind and powerful ruler was the greatest!