IBTBD 55

Chapter 55

“Shhh—shh, shh, shhh!”

Taking a deep breath, I screamed so loudly that the entire office seemed to shake.

“Cherry…?”

“Che… Cherry Cherry?”

The siblings, who had been exchanging silent curses with each other just moments ago with their eyes, now turned their gaze to me.

‘First step of catching attention—successfully passed.’

I sneaked a glance at the expressions of the young dragons, then immediately moved on to the next stage.

“Shh… shhh…”

I let out a pained sound while limping on one leg.

I didn’t forget to drop my head pitifully and blink slowly.

Yes. This operation was—

I was at the point of giving a meaningful smile with my head bowed.

“Oh my, Cherry nee~!”

Gerard, who had been clinging to the door, ran toward me with a loud commotion.

“Did you hurt your leg? Where could you possibly get hurt with such tiny, short legs…!”

“Cherry, let me see.”

König, looking serious, quickly reached out, but Gerard didn’t give him a chance.

“Doctor! We must call a doctor immediately. The noble lady should summon the most skilled doctor in the territory along with Lia.”

Gerard emphasized the word “together,” raising his eyebrows.

Being perceptive as always, it was clear he had already figured out my intention—to separate König and Yeloise.

“…Me?”

“Yes! Only you, noble lady, can handle this!”

“Isn’t there a physician in this old castle?”

“Lord Noah, who resides in this old castle, is excellent, but Cherry-sama is different from us. I’ve heard there’s a doctor specializing in animals in the duchy. I couldn’t bring them because of their high pride… but as a noble lady, you could surely convince them!”

Gerard spoke quickly without even wetting his lips.

Of course, about 70% of what he said was a lie.

It was true that, among the aristocracy, pet ownership became a trend, and doctors specializing in animals had appeared.

However, none had ever been invited to this Black Dragon Castle.

Moreover, I’m not even a real animal.

I’m the same kind of beastman as them.

And the most important thing—

‘This operation is clearly a beauty trap!’

How on earth am I “short and chubby”?

I sharply pushed away Gerard’s hands, which had been carelessly rubbing me.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

Though it left no mark, cunning Gerard even used that to his advantage.

“Ah, Cherry-sama, the pain must be so intense for you to urge me like this… oh, how agonizing it must be for your tiny body.”

Truly, his acting was worthy of being the number-one sly schemer of Black Dragon Castle.

Yeloise’s expression, previously skeptical of Gerard, gradually turned serious.

“…That won’t do. There’s nowhere for that tiny body to be hurt. Cherry Cherry, trust me. I’ll bring the most capable doctor from the duchy—or rather, the empire.”

And König Kreuz was no exception.

“Tch… we’ll talk about this later.”

He backed off quietly, saying nothing further.

“Shhh.”

The dragon siblings, manipulated by a single sly snake.

Is this Black Dragon Castle really okay like this?

Yeloise disappeared like the wind, and the feigned illness combined with the beauty trap came to an end.

König and I returned to the bedroom late.

“Cherry, are you really okay?”

Even after knowing it was all a performance between Gerard and me, König still checked my complexion.

“Shhh.”

See? I’m fine.

Every time, I jumped on the soft bed and showed fancy rolls around the bed frame.

All the moves were honed from surviving the fierce feeding competitions in the Grizzly Mountains.

‘Until then, I was a greenhouse squirrel who didn’t even know how to climb trees properly.’

I nodded proudly, arms crossed.

Tap.

A single finger landed on my head.

It was the usual gesture he made when he had something to say.

“Cherry.”

“Shh?”

“Just so you know, I’ve never had anything taken from me before.”

From anyone.

Perhaps because it was bedtime, König’s voice sounded even lower.

I looked up at his swirling golden eyes and nodded briefly.

“Shhh.”

Well, that figures.

König, unlike other aristocrats, had no greed.

But that didn’t mean he liked sharing what was his.

‘Of course, no one would dare covet the possessions of Duke Kreuz.’

I couldn’t help but giggle softly.

“Even if it’s a sibling,” he said, staring straight at me.

His tone carried determination—he would never give up, even if he had to clash with his only sister.

‘Could it be… this dragon…’

Seeing him so resolute, I couldn’t help but frown.

“Shhh, shhh?!”

Is he planning to break the promise with Yeloise and take the mine for himself?!

I couldn’t help but scold him.

No matter how powerful the Kreuz family, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

This auction would yield great gains, but if the crystal wasn’t mined, the losses would be enormous.

To improve the odds, collaborating with Yeloise to get more reliable information was crucial.

‘No one could rival the Rose Guild in intelligence gathering.’

From the imperial capital to the frozen northern ends, there was no place untouched by the Rose Guild.

In other words, their intelligence capabilities were immense.

‘Plus, cooperating with Yeloise would reduce risk.’

It was perfect for König.

How could I persuade him?

I rested my chin on my hand, thinking carefully.

Then—

“So, don’t do that again.”

He gently rubbed the back of my head and began stretching my cheek.

“Shhh? Shhh, shhh!”

Wh-what! Let go!

I couldn’t resist with just two fingers and flailed on the bed.

It wasn’t pain—it was pride.

I’m the leader of Grizzly Mountain and a hero of this Black Dragon Castle.

This treatment was unacceptable.

‘What on earth did I do wrong?’

I couldn’t understand this mischievous dragon.

“Shhh!”

I glared at him, burying my face in the blanket, and finally got my answer.

“Don’t sit on anyone’s lap willy-nilly.”

“…?”

I seriously doubted my ears.

So, he was sulking because I sat on Yeloise’s lap?

Ridiculous.

“Shhh!”

It’s for your own good!

I pounded my chest in frustration.

Because of my little act, I was able to summon Yeloise to the office and learn that she held the crystal.

Yet—

“Traitor mouse.”

‘T-traitor mouse?’

The shocking words made me stagger.

König, still sulking, twisted my tail.

And he wasn’t done.

“That’s the kind of thing only guys like Gerard do.”

The final blow.

‘…Only guys like Gerard?’

Gerard sat on Princess Yeloise’s lap?

I paused, puzzled, then nodded.

That guy would do anything to survive.

It made sense.

“Shhh…”

I nodded in admiration of Gerard’s abilities.

‘Still, he wouldn’t sit on your lap, right?’

And cautiously, I glanced to the side.

König, who had been annoying my tail, was sound asleep.

Now he could sleep well without my lullaby.

Though he still needed my tail, of course.

‘He was tense from Yeloise’s sudden appearance. No wonder he’s tired.’

I bit the corner of the blanket and covered him up to his neck.

Praying he would have peaceful dreams.

Deeper and deeper into sleep.

‘Then now… it’s my turn to move.’