BDBF 13

Lord Rowton, it’s been a while.”

“So it has. Every time I invite you to my territory, you never come. I have no choice but to come see you myself.”

“I don’t want to visit Rowton territory. It’s too hot.”

“The manor is cool, though.”

“The journey there is hot, so I don’t like it.”

From their conversation, it seemed the two families were quite close. Lord Rowton didn’t seem to be flirting; rather, he looked like he was teasing Hale because his rejections were amusing.

I had heard that the Five Dragon families weren’t on bad terms with each other, so maybe it wasn’t strange after all.

“Oh right, I’m late with introductions. I’m Gabi Rowton. How wonderful it would be if I had a cute, affectionate daughter like you.”

“…Huh?”

“Oh! No, I mean we should meet often.”

“She’s my daughter.”

At Gabi’s meaningful remark, Hale quickly reached out and blocked me from view.

Gabi glared at him with wide eyes.

“Who doesn’t know that? She’s your exact copy. I was just saying it’s a pity I only have two sons.”

Then she shifted her gaze to the two boys beside her, and back to me again.

“These are my twin sons.”

“I’m Rizley.”

“I’m Erisen.”

They were fraternal twins, but their faces were different. However, everything else was eerily identical—down to their tone and behavior.

After exchanging greetings with the Yellow Dragon family as well, Hale took my hand and turned away. Then he sighed and knelt down to meet my eye level.

“Why?”

“…Because we have to meet people I don’t want to see.”

“Black Dragon family?”

“Senica, listen carefully. That family is closer to snakes than dragons. They’re extremely cunning.”

This was the first time I’d heard Hale openly speak badly about another family.

Was it because they disliked humans? But it felt… like a resentment that had lasted a very long time.

“Hey, Hale.”

At that moment, a sharp, refreshingly cutting female voice came from behind him.

“You’re teaching your daughter some very nice things, huh?”

Hale stiffened so visibly that I could tell from behind.

He slowly stood and turned around.

“…Vivian?”

“Why do you look so surprised? It’s not like I came somewhere I shouldn’t be.”

The moment Hale turned, my gaze met a pair of crimson eyes. The red lips that matched them curved slightly.

A woman with long, jet-black hair approached, her expression clearly displeased.

Judging from the situation, “Vivian” seemed to be the person my father had been about to talk about earlier.

“Th-That’s….”

Of course. Otherwise Hale wouldn’t be so flustered. It was obvious—he’d been caught badmouthing someone.

“What did I ever do to you that you’re still avoiding me?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Vivian crossed her arms in irritation. I could vaguely understand why Hale said she was like a snake. She had a strangely unsettling presence—like a faint, eerie scent.

It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, but she still looked scary, so I decided to pretend I heard nothing and looked away.

That’s when I noticed a boy my age standing next to Vivian. He had been staring at me the whole time—his gaze was quite intense.

With black hair and red eyes just like Vivian, he clearly belonged to the Black Dragon family.

But this one… felt more like a cat than a snake.

“Cat? Huh!”

I accidentally said it out loud without meaning to. I quickly covered my mouth, but it was too late.

Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem to hear me. He just kept staring at me without reacting, not even with hostility.

“…Do you have something to say to me?”

“……”

“You’ve been staring. Do you have something to say or not?”

“……”

No matter what I asked, he didn’t respond. What was I supposed to do now? I glanced at Hale for help.

But—

“No way!”

“I swear on your daughter!”

“Why are you dragging my daughter into this?”

“I heard exactly what you said, but you keep denying it!”

The adults had started arguing again in earnest. It was a sight I’d never seen before.

Honestly… father, don’t be so childish and just admit it already.

From a distance, I saw Teo and Vivian’s aide running over. It looked like the situation would end soon.

But the real problem wasn’t the adults—it was this boy who was still staring at me.

“Hey.”

“……”

“Speak properly when I’m talking to you. Why are you staring at me?”

“……”

I tried to sound intimidating, placing my hands on my hips, but he just blinked slowly instead of answering.

Ugh! I was going to explode at this rate. Just as I was about to give up and turn away—

“…Ah.”

He finally opened his mouth. But it was too noisy around us, so I couldn’t hear him.

“What?”

I frowned and leaned closer, cupping my ear.

“Say it again. I didn’t hear you.”

“You’re small.”

I scowled at him.

He had said the one thing I hated most, without even changing his expression.

His face remained calm, as if he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.

“Hey! You wanna die? What’s your name?”

“…Senica?”

After the aides intervened and the adults’ fight was finally stopped, they all looked down at us with confused expressions.

I clung to Hale’s leg and pointed at the boy.

“Dad! I hate him!”

“Huh? What happened?”

“He’s small too, but he called ME small!”

“……”

“It’s annoying! Tell him to go home!”

Hale blinked a couple of times.

Then I felt betrayed by my own father.

“Pfft!”

That laugh was definitely… not exactly mocking me, but it clearly meant he agreed with the boy.

I didn’t even need to confirm it.

I let go of Hale’s pants. Immediately, a flustered voice called after me, but I covered my ears and turned away.

I could faintly hear my name being called from behind, but I pretended not to hear and walked toward the terrace.

The sky, once orange, had turned a deep navy blue.

I wanted to lean on the railing and brood dramatically, but unfortunately…

“Ugh!”

I was too short. I could barely reach the railing even with my arms stretched up.

Fine. I gave up and sat on a nearby bench instead.

Hmph. Let them worry a little.

“Even in the south, it gets a bit chilly after sunset.”

Startled by an unfamiliar voice in what I thought was an empty space, I turned my head.

The face I saw in the dim light wasn’t particularly welcome.

“What? Why are you following me?”

“Just because.”

“Go away! I don’t want to be with you.”

“You were the one who told me to have fun.”

“……”

Okay, that was true… but I didn’t see how that had anything to do with him following me.

He had insulted me earlier, yet here he was trailing behind me like nothing happened.

Yeah, I’ll just treat him like air.

“You were the one who compared me to a cat first.”

“……”

“I was just responding accordingly.”

Ah…? Did I…?

“I didn’t come here to complain about that.”

“Then why did you follow me?”

“My comment about you being small was meant as a compliment. Did it upset you?”

“What kind of compliment is that?! Calling someone small isn’t a compliment!”

“Then I apologize.”

…Wait, did this guy just apologize to me?

Completely out of character.

Did he come all the way here just to apologize? No, if he was going to apologize, he shouldn’t have said it in the first place.

Are you trying to give me candy after hitting me?

I couldn’t understand him at all. Maybe this is why Hale called him a snake.

“…Seriously. Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

“My mother told me to apologize if I upset someone.”

His mother… the same woman who was arguing with my father earlier?

She said that?

Well, even though my father was childish, their mother didn’t seem much better.

Still, his upbringing didn’t seem completely lacking in manners.

Maybe his earlier rudeness came from lack of social experience.

From what I remembered about the Black Dragon family, they didn’t interact much with humans or other families.

Maybe he just hadn’t met many outsiders before.

“…But doesn’t that include humans too?”

I tossed out a baited question.

Would he take it?

“Yes.”

“Your family hates humans.”

“Hating something doesn’t mean you have to show it.”

“Is that what your mother taught you?”

“No. That’s my own opinion.”

…Huh?

He answered so naturally and without hesitation that I’d assumed he was taught that way.

“Humans aren’t hated by my mother. It’s closer to hatred.”

“…Then what do YOU think?”

“Just another group of beings sharing the same world. Nothing more, nothing less.”

……

Is this kid really my age?

He looks older than me by at least a few years, and he speaks so clearly and calmly.

This is… kind of embarrassing for me in comparison.

No way. I should show him I’m smart too.