Chapter 13: How to Raise a Dragon! (2)
After a chaotic morning breakfast filled with meat platters, gasping maids, and a flying black-winged "cat," peace had finally returned to the mansion.
Now, in the calm that followed the storm, Naoki, Cierra, and her maid Lina sat in the cozy drawing room.
Sunlight filtered gently through tall windows, casting a warm glow across the room. Naoki lounged comfortably on one end of a velvet sofa, while Cierra sat primly on the other, her expression calm but her eyes still sparkling with excitement. Lina stood in the corner, pretending to adjust the vase of flowers for the fifth time just so she could stay within earshot.
In front of them, nestled atop a plush pillow like royalty, the little dragon lay curled up and snoring softly. Her belly was visibly round from the feast. Naoki had made sure to request a table full of meat dishes from the chefs, not just for himself, but for their unusual new companion.
Despite it being morning, the kitchen staff had rushed to serve grilled beef, roasted duck, and even seared lamb upon Naoki's unexpected order.
"From now on, serve meat with breakfast too. Every morning."
The chefs didn't argue. Not when a mysterious magical creature was involved.
Despite her tiny size, the dragon had devoured everything from roast beef to duck legs, even attempting to nibble on a napkin when no one was looking. She had a bottomless appetite and apparently no food restrictions, so long as it was edible, she'd try it.
Naoki sighed, watching the dragon sleep.
Naoki leaned forward, eyeing the snoring creature with suspicion.
"…Are you sure she's a female?"
"Of course she is." Cierra replied with confidence.
"But how can you tell? She looks like a black jellybean with wings. There's no way to..."
Cierra held up a finger dramatically, cutting him off.
"It's a female thing, Dummy."
Naoki blinked. "A what now?"
"A female thing," she repeated proudly. "A special, intuitive bond that only women possess. Something your dull head could never comprehend."
Hearing this Naoki raised one of his eyebrows.
Cierra crossed her arms, tilting her head ever so slightly. Her playful tone dropped into something more serious.
"Now stop trying to divert the conversation," she said. "And speak truthfully. how did you get this dragon?"
Naoki blinked. "Huh?"
"You heard me, Dragons aren't exactly… common. Especially ones that jump out of shadows."
In the corner, Lina subtly leaned in, pretending to rearrange a teacup that was already perfectly aligned. Her ears were practically twitching.
Naoki slumped back against the sofa with a sigh.
"A fairy gave it to me… when I was in a coma."
"LIAR!" she shouted, pointing a dramatic finger at him. "Do I look like a child?"
Naoki didn't flinch. In fact, he calmly continued with the same poker face.
"The fairy said 'There's a beautiful girl named Cierra who prays every night with her whole heart. I was moved by her divine love. So as a token of that heartfelt devotion… I give you this dragon. The embodiment of her pure feelings… A love in the shape of a smile.'"
Swoosh...thunk!
A love arrow to the chest.
Cierra's entire face turned beet red. Steam might as well have been rising from her head like a boiling kettle. Her lips trembled. She didn't know whether to scream or melt into the sofa.
The maid in the corner murmured, a hint of admiration in her tone,
"Clever boy... using her own emotions like that. Impressive."
"I-I…uhm..no...yes...haa!" Cierra snapped out of it, flustered. "I know no fairy gave you anything! So speak the truth!"
Naoki tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Oh? So… what you're saying is your prayers weren't real? That you didn't actually wish for me to wake up? Because if your prayers were fake… then maybe that's why it's 'impossible' a fairy gave me this egg."
Cierra opened her mouth to argue, then stopped.
Her brain locked up. Her logic jammed. Her emotions tangled. And now she was just… quietly combusting.
Speechless.
She sat down again, fuming and red-faced, arms crossed but clearly spiraling.
Right at that moment
Click...creeak...
The doors creaked open.
"Big brother!"
Lyra entered the drawing room like a spring breeze, eyes immediately sparkling the moment she saw the dragon curled on the pillow.
Naoki turned with a grin. "Lyra. Perfect timing."
She rushed in, then paused awkwardly at the sight of Cierra.
Lyra blinked, then gathered her dress and gave a graceful curtsy, just like she had practiced.
"Oh! Um… hello, big sister."
Cierra's expression instantly softened. The fluster from earlier faded as a warm smile spread across her face.
"Hello, my cutie pie," she said sweetly, opening her arms.
Lyra giggled and ran over, hugging her without hesitation. "You're really pretty, big sister."
Cierra patted her head gently, beaming. "And you're even prettier, little angel. What brings you here?"
Lyra grinned up at her, then looked at Naoki with sparkles in her eyes.
"Everyone in the manor is talking about your pet! Some are calling it a mini griffin. Others think it's a demon cat. One of the kitchen maids said it might be a 'good omen from the heavens."
Naoki blinked. "wow. Rumors really grow legs and run,huh!"
"Oh! And as promised, I didn't say it was a dragon!"
She puffed up her chest slightly, proud of herself. "I just said it was a cute pet with wings. I did well! I did well!"
Naoki chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Yes, you did well."
Cierra smiled softly at the sight. "Very well, actually. You're a trustworthy little sister."
Lyra swayed happily from side to side, clearly glowing from the praise. "Hehe~ So, do I get a reward?"
Naoki raised a brow. "What kind of reward?"
She pointed to the dragon sleeping soundly on the pillow in front of them. "I want to help name the baby dragon!"
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To be continued....