The Next Day
The entire estate was in chaos.
Servants dropped their trays. Knights forgot their drills. The maids squealed and sprinted from room to room. The birds in the sky above even seed to caw a little louder.
Why?
Because a dragon had been born.
Not just any beast. It was the Dragon—the apex predator of legends, creatures once said to be blessed by gods, symbols of might and divinity. Now, that very creature had been seen dozing peacefully in Lord Kael’s arms.
A true-born dragon.
Within hours, rumors swept through the estate like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Lord Kael has a dragon as his pet!"
"Pet? More like it calls him Papa! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"You’re kidding! A dragon, like the real winged, scale-covered, magic-blazing kind?!"
"What kind do you think?! So gecko with ambition? I used to think Lord Kael was cursed... but he’s truly favored by the heavens."
"Now that I think, Kael seed to be really blessed by The Gods. Raising a dragon, I don’t rember anyone able to do that?"
"I told you he was different. Only soone chosen by destiny could raise a dragon."
Just walking through the hallways made Kael’s shoulders feel heavier—not from burden, but from the crushing weight of reverence.
Servants bowed deeper and Knights saluted with more respect. Even the usually arrogant mages lowered their heads when he passed.
Kael muttered to himself, "Is this what power feels like? I didn’t even do anything..."
Still, not everything was perfect.
Raising a dragon was no picnic.
Other than Lyria and himself, the newborn refused to be near anyone. If soone got too close, it would tremble, puff up its cheeks, and let out a wail so heart-wrenching it could lt a demon’s ears. The only words it had spoken were "Mama" and "Papa."
And it refused to leave Lyria’s embrace even while she slept.
Lyria seed to have been adapted to the role. Kael saw Lyria reading an ample number of books on parenthood.
"Also, she has been smiling more lately. What a pleasant scene?"
It was truly soothing.
---
Later That Morning
The central hall had been cleared. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting soft colors across the marble floor.
Lyria sat in the center, cross-legged, a bead of sweat trailing down her cheek. Nestled snugly in her arms was the silver dragon, no bigger than a house cat.
Its white scales shimred like snow under moonlight. Fluffy silver fur trailed down its spine, making it look more like a celestial rabbit than a fire-breathing beast. Its two tiny horns were slightly crooked, and its big round eyes blinked slowly, drowsy from nap ti. Occasionally it sneezed out a puff of cold mist, before curling tighter into Lyria’s chest with a soft yawn.
"So cute it’s unfair..." Lyria whispered, patting its chubby cheek.
But her joy froze the mont the man before her took a step forward.
A suffocating coldness filled the hall.
The man’s gaze, sharp as a frozen blade, scanned her from head to toe.
This was the first ti Lyria had seen him in person as before she didn’t dared to close onto him.
Grand Duke Ruth.
His towering figure stood like a monunt to war. Impeccably dressed in a black coat with crimson threads, he didn’t move much—but the air around him bent with authority. His gaze finally landed on the dragon in her arms, and his lip curled.
"This is the dragon everyone’s been fussing about?" he muttered, with a cold expression as he observed the small being.
"Doesn’t look like much.Just the sa as other lizards!"
’What?!’
"FUCKKK!"
Kael, Ramos, and Rami, who had been standing quietly at the side, nearly had a collective heart attack
They scread inwardly:
’Who says that to a literal newborn dragon?!’
’And lizard...For god sake, you are comparing a random lizard to a Dragon.’
’Can’t he see how adorable it is? Never mind...this guy’s not human at all.’
Unbothered by their inner turmoil, Ruth clicked his tongue.
"I expected sothing... larger. Maybe more majestic. Not this weak little thing."
Ramos’s face twisted like a boiling kettle. "Damn it! I can’t take this! Let go, brat. I’m gonna fight this nace to death today!"
"Today, I am gonna teach him so manners and let him know the aning of the word respect."
Kael didn’t even glance at him. He was already walking away. "When did I stop you? You’re free to go, old man."
"???"
Ramos then looking around, saw Kael and Rami stepping back from him.
Ramos glared and then looked around in hesitation. Kael turned back with a mocking grin. "Uncle, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you charging at him?"
The old man gritted his teeth, released his sword, and huffed.
"Hmph! As an elder, I’m showing him... magnanimity. Besides, if we start fighting, this entire land might be erased."
’Erase my ass.It’s you who might be erased?’ Kael thought, deadpan.
Kael clapped his hands dramatically. "Uncle, you’re so great."
"Of course! I’m the strongest!" Ramos puffed out his chest with pride.
And that’s when it ca.A cold voice sharper than any blade, shaking the pillars of the mansion—
"What were you saying?"
All eyes turned slowly toward Ruth.
His expression hadn’t changed, but his eyes now glowed with a slight hue. A flicker of deadly crimson swirled around his boot. The sheer pressure made Ramos choke on his words.
"N-Nothing! Just praising your overwhelming presence.."
Kael whistled. ’Uncle, you’re really the strongest.’
As Ruth’s cold glare pinned Ramos like a dagger through the soul, the old warrior’s voice faltered. He straightened, but the sweat already dotting his brow betrayed him.
"Stop... stop giving that look," Ramos stamred, trying to stand tall. "I was just... questioning Kael on so important matters."
Ruth slowly turned his gaze toward Kael. "And what would those be?"
Hearing that, Ramos’s mouth opened, then closed again like a fish out of water. He was about to cobble together an excuse when—
"Papa’s Papa..."
A soft, chiming voice echoed in the hall.
"...Huh?"
Everyone froze.
Ti seed to stop.
The tiny white dragon, oblivious to the stares, tilted its head sweetly. Then, with a flick of its tail and a flap of its stubby wings, it leapt into Ruth’s lap.
"NOOOOO!"
Kael and Ramos scread inside their minds, their souls montarily ascending to the afterlife.
Kael could already picture the dragon’s body charred to cinders. Ramos imagined dragon soup being served in a cold war council.
But instead of an explosion or a blade.Ruth’s expression... cracked.
Just slightly. His stoic face twitched. His body stiffened like a statue as the dragon snuggled into his lap, rubbing its fuzzy cheek lovingly against his coat.
"Papa’s Papa," the dragon repeated, beaming up at him with innocent glee.
Ruth blinked.
"Are you calling ?" he asked, staring at the creature as though it were a talking piece of moonstone.
"Papa’s Papa~" the dragon sang, nodding happily.
Kael stepped forward quickly and grabbed the dragon, pulling it back with a panicked whisper. "Don’t disturb him—"
But the dragon’s cheeks puffed up, and it started to whimper.
"P–Papa... Papa..."
"Oh no," Kael muttered, already sweating.
"Annoying," Ruth said at last, his voice still flat.
Kael tensed and already made up his mind to fight back if the old man drew his sword but at the next mont.
"Let it go."
"Huh...Th-That... are you sure?" Kael asked uneasily.
"I said, leave it."Ruth ordered him to wave his hand.
Kael reluctantly loosened his grip, and in the next heartbeat, the dragon flopped back onto Ruth’s lap like a seal diving into the sea. She wriggled happily, nuzzling against him with such genuine affection that it almost looked rehearsed.
Ruth froze again.
His gloved hand raised slowly. Hesitantly. Like a man defusing a bomb.
He placed his palm on the dragon’s head and—pat.
Once.
Then again.
Then a few more tis.
His motions were robotic, stiff, and incredibly awkward—like soone petting an animal for the first ti in their life. But the dragon seed blissfully happy, tail wagging like a puppy.
Ruth’s feelings, though unreadable on the surface, were storming inside.
It’s soft. Warm. Alive. Does it like ? Why? No one has ever... No creature has ever... What is this weird fluttering in my chest? Am I dying?
No, Ruth. That’s called affection.
The room was silent for a few long monts, everyone trying to process what they were seeing.
Finally, Ruth broke the silence.
"What have you nad it?"
Kael blinked. "Na? Uh... we haven’t nad it yet."
Ruth’s brows lowered, and he looked almost... disapproving.
"That won’t do."
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
Rami’s jaw dropped.
This was the first ti the Grand Duke had shown any personal interest in sothing not related to war, logistics, or death. He didn’t even bat an eye when Kael was born.
Rami, who had been present, knew that he hadn’t even nad Kael and Lyria and it was the Duchess who nad them.
And now, this dragon had received his direct attention?
Rami’s head spun.
Kael looked equally stunned, as if he’d been told the moon would be relocated to his backyard.
Then, Ruth spoke clearly and firmly.
"Let’s call it... Zelfie."
The dragon blinked and tilted her head.
"Zeffie?"
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