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Chapter 53
Since hatching from the egg, this was the first time the evil dragon had been able to enjoy a peaceful nap.
The holy power wrapped around the hand of the Mercenary King, Armiphera, who had brought him here, was so warm.
It felt like gentle sunlight was washing over his entire body, cleansing him and making him pleasantly drowsy.
So, after that honey-sweet nap—
“Chicken poop smell…”
The lingering sweetness of sleep vanished instantly at the feast of chickens unfolding before his eyes.
Even within the memories he had inherited, there had been nothing as pungent as this stench of chicken droppings, and the mighty evil dragon was left speechless.
Still, the chickens weren’t as brainless as the insult “bird-brained” suggested.
These pitiful creatures had been so intimidated by the dragon’s presence that they had all fled to the farthest corner of the coop.
They had sensed just how extraordinary this evil dragon was.
As he was revising his opinion of the chickens—
“Oh? You woke up!”
A young voice drew near.
Something fluffy like a white cloud suddenly appeared before his eyes.
On the other side of the chicken coop was a silver-haired girl, her hair fluttering in the crimson glow of the sunset.
At the sight of her, the evil dragon spoke immediately.
“Insolent thing.”
Nibellia turned to Detter, who had come with her.
“What does ‘insolent’ mean?”
“Well… I’m not sure. Must be a difficult word since it’s a dragon saying it.”
Detter, resting his chin in one hand with a troubled look, added,
“But my lady, do you know? They say lizard meat tastes really good. Slice it fine, pound it flat, coat it in breadcrumbs…”
His voice was kind and gentle when speaking to his precious young lady.
But to that brazen little lizard whelp, his eyes flashed with killing intent.
“Wow, that sounds delicious!”
Nibellia clapped her hands in delight.
Then her eyes met the evil dragon’s.
“……”
“……”
The standoff between Nibellia and the dragon ended quickly.
Gulp.
“…It really does sound delicious.”
Nibellia remembered the lizards she had hunted and eaten back when she was a cat, using her fearless hunting skills.
“Eek!”
The dragon hurriedly scratched at his collar with his forepaws in panic.
Fortunately, the evil dragon wasn’t eaten. He was safely rescued.
Armiphera, who had followed after, lifted the dragon Ater as if he were a puppy.
But unlike earlier, she couldn’t hug him to her chest.
“…First, we’d better wash him.”
She carried him to the nearest bathroom and scrubbed him with warm water, fine soap, and even scented oil.
“Uuuh…”
The dragon closed his eyes and made incoherent sounds as his body melted under the soothing touch.
Once cleaned, the evil dragon Ater was even dressed up.
Armiphera stuffed his forelegs into the dress of a porcelain doll she had played with as a child, and placed a ribboned hat on his head.
“So cute!”
Armiphera beamed, saying it reminded her of old times.
“There really are so many insolent creatures here…”
With his chubby paws he irritably fiddled with the ribbon tied around his neck.
But despite the grumbling, his wagging tail betrayed complete peace.
Until—
“…Oh my.”
He had not expected to meet the Saint in this state.
Muniel was struck speechless the moment she saw Ater, prettily dressed up and cradled in her daughter’s arms.
Even a seasoned holy knight, usually unflinching, sputtered out his tea in shock.
“…Insolent things.”
Still, the dragon did not take off the ribboned hat.
“Grandma and Grandpa will check whether the evil dragon is dangerous or not.”
“And if he is? Hmm…”
Nibellia wished the adults would hurry up and finish their talks with the dragon.
That way, she could finally know whether she’d get to eat that lizard—no, evil dragon—or not.
But their discussions dragged on for days.
Tired of waiting, Nibellia carried on with her usual routine.
After a good night’s sleep and a trip to kindergarten, she worked to earn funds.
Today, she cleaned the stables with Soles and Aref.
Would it taste good?
Nibellia swept diligently across the stable floor with a broom woven from dried broomsticks.
Her outfit today was perfect:
Overalls made of tough fabric, boots covering her plump calves, hair tied up under a brimmed hat.
She even wore a magical cooling scarf that lasted eight hours, making her look every bit the part of a stable girl.
“Horses! Just wait a little!”
Nibellia called to the horses sticking out their long necks to watch her.
“Once I finish cleaning, I’ll play with you. Good horses wait patiently!”
The horses obediently pulled their necks back in.
But soon enough, one by one, they peeked out again to keep watching her.
Especially Benty, with his golden coat like a ripe wheat field, stared endlessly with worried eyes, as if afraid Nibellia might fall.
“The horses really do like Nibellia.”
Soles, loading hay onto a cart, muttered in amazement.
“They always did like Nini.”
“My lady is like the queen of animals.”
Aref, helping carry hay, said with admiration.
By now, it felt natural that his captain should have so many followers.
Even though it stung a little that he wasn’t the only follower, she had promised marriage only to him.
So he accepted it.
After all, captains were meant to have many subordinates.
“But in our house, she’s still lowest in rank.”
And Nibellia herself acknowledged this readily.
At the very top of the Deiamor family hierarchy was Celetina.
That would never change. Thanks to her, the family had entered an unprecedented golden age.
“Next is Father. He’s the head and the Marquis.”
“I think the Saint and Holy Knight are stronger though…”
Aref struggled to understand.
From what he had seen, the Deiamor family seemed to revolve around Muniel and Ardoreth.
“Well, that’s true.”
Soles didn’t deny it.
“But since they stepped back from the front lines, they just let Father do as he pleases.”
“……”
“So, family hierarchy and house hierarchy are different things.”
“Family and house are different?”
“They are.”
In that moment, Soles looked not like a gentle ten-year-old brother, but like a noble with a cold, sharp heart.
Nobles…
From what Aref had overheard back at the orphanage, he had imagined nobles as cruel monsters who saw people as tools, caring only for their own gain.
“…Brother.”
Aref clenched his suddenly cold fingertips into his palms.
“Soles.”
“Yeah?”
But Soles, and the rest of the Deiamor family, were nothing like what he had imagined.
The Deigladis family was the same.
“I like you, brother. I respect you.”
“Out of nowhere?”
Soles blushed, embarrassed by the sudden words, but after a pause, honestly replied that he liked Aref too.
Only then did Aref’s heart ease.
“What? What?”
Nibellia dragged her broom over.
“Who do you like?”
“Aref says he likes me.”
Soles smiled.
At this, Nibellia narrowed her eyes at Aref.
“Aref!”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I told you not to cheat on me!”
And yet here he was again.
Nibellia threw her broom aside and clung tightly to his arm.
It was a childish gesture, since she didn’t yet know how to link arms properly, but her anger was real.
“…What?”
Completely unprepared to be accused of cheating, Aref looked to Soles in desperation.
But Soles found the whole situation hilarious, and ignored his pleading eyes.
“Nini, are you worried I’ll cheat with Aref?”
“Yes!”
“Hmm…”
With mischief in his eyes, Soles slung an arm over Aref’s shoulder.
Then pressed their cheeks together.
Nibellia stomped her feet.
“No! Don’t! Don’t do that!”
She wedged herself between them, trying to push them apart.
Thankfully, Soles ended the prank quickly.
He wasn’t one to enjoy teasing too much, and pushing it further might make Nibellia truly upset with him.
That would never do.
“Bad brother! You’re bad!”
“Sorry. Please forgive me, okay?”
“No!”
“Then when will you forgive me?”
“Hmm…”
After some thought, Nibellia answered,
“After snacks.”
“Alright.”
Next came Aref’s turn.
Nervous, he quickly blurted out the excuses he had prepared while Soles was being scolded.
“I—I like you best, my lady. I want to become a great knight someday and always stay by your side. But if other people or cats like me… I don’t know what to do about that.”
His voice trailed off.
“Aref.”
Nibellia gave him a helpful piece of advice.
“From now on, if anyone dares say they like you…”
“Yes.”
“Hit them.”
“What?”
“Beat them up!”
“Violence should always be left as a last resort.”
Hearing what had happened at the stables, Kaleo gave Nibellia a troubled look.
“Hitting doesn’t solve everything.”
“It solves almost everything.”
Armiphera, lounging on the office sofa, butted in.
Kaleo shot a sharp glare at his wild-rose of a little sister. Startled, Armiphera quickly sat up and bolted.
“Daddy.”
Nibellia spoke.
“Is hitting not a good method?”
“No.”
“Why? Nini used to hit all the time.”
Back when she was a cat, her swift and fierce punches had worked everywhere.
“…What did you hit?”
Did she really go around beating someone up without me knowing?
Not knowing the full story, Kaleo broke out into a nervous sweat.
