Chapter 4
“Ah, hello, Cassis?”
I greeted him with an awkward smile.
Cassis looked at me, who had suddenly appeared with a cake, and asked,
“Why are you here?”
“The young lady said she wanted to eat cake with the young master.”
Excuse me? When did I ever say that?
I quickly looked at the maid who had put words in my mouth.
Cassis slightly turned his body and replied,
“Come in.”
After Cassis allowed me inside, the maid placed the cake on the table, bowed politely, and left.
Hey, sister? Why are you leaving? Stay with me!
I watched the maid disappear with a desperate look, but eventually gave up.
I timidly entered his room and plopped down on a chair.
Well, I probably wouldn’t be punished just for eating a piece of cake with him.
Steam was rising from the warm milk the maid had poured into a cup on the table.
Cassis sat across from me, but he didn’t even look at me.
Instead, he stared out the window.
His reaction was so indifferent that it was as if I were invisible.
As soon as the maid left, his face quickly became gloomy.
I didn’t know what he was thinking about, but it didn’t seem like anything good.
I cautiously watched him before asking,
“Are you not going to eat the cake?”
“You eat it.”
Cassis answered coldly, as if he had been waiting for me to ask.
He seemed annoyed that I had suddenly come to his room.
Honestly, even when I tried to be friendly with him, he was still difficult.
I pouted slightly before taking a sip of milk.
If you don’t eat it, I’ll eat it all myself.
I raised my fork like I was going into battle.
Then I suddenly felt that Cassis only pretended to be kind and mature in front of adults.
He had acted kindly toward me in front of the maid earlier too.
That seemed to prove it.
I stared at him again for a moment before quickly shaking my head.
Why should I care about the male lead?
It’s not like gold will suddenly appear while I’m sleeping.
And it’s not like caring about him will prevent my family from being ruined.
That’s right.
It was much more important to enjoy the cake right in front of me.
My eyes lit up as I answered,
“Then I’ll eat it all.”
After saying that, I began eating the cake enthusiastically right in front of Cassis.
I happily chewed the cake in my mouth when Cassis asked incredulously,
“Don’t people usually ask twice?”
“I already asked once. Do I have to make you say it two or three times like a child?”
“……”
Ah.
I was feeling so good that I had revealed my true thoughts too clearly.
I suddenly remembered him saying, “This is why I don’t like children.”
Without realizing it, my words had come out sharper than intended.
I glanced at Cassis.
Strangely, he didn’t answer.
He simply bit his lower lip tightly.
Oh no.
If he suddenly looked hurt, I would feel guilty.
The atmosphere had become strangely heavy.
At this rate, even the cake I had been happily eating might give me indigestion.
So, as if I were generously giving him a chance, I picked up a large piece of cake with my fork and held it toward his mouth.
“Do you want some?”
“You said not to make me say it twice or three times.”
“It’s delicious. Try it.”
“……”
When I gently coaxed him, he reluctantly put the cake into his mouth.
Look at you. You wanted to eat it after all.
“Here. Let’s eat together.”
I placed the fork in his hand and encouraged him.
It wasn’t easy for a child to refuse cake when it was right in front of them.
He had pretended to be all grown-up and refused it, but I was about to eat it all by myself.
He must have felt pretty sad.
With my stomach full, my adult way of thinking returned, and I looked at him fondly.
Fortunately, Cassis started eating the cake, pretending he had no choice.
He looked strangely cute, so I quietly giggled and pushed the milk toward him.
“Your throat might get dry, so drink some milk with it.”
“I can take care of myself. Don’t treat me like a child.”
He glared at me briefly before gulping down the milk.
“Ah! It’s hot!”
Cassis stuck out his tongue and fanned his mouth with his hand.
Then he suddenly flinched before pretending nothing had happened and continued eating the cake.
Aww. Look at you eating so well.
I also took a sip of milk and smiled happily.
A few days later, Count Monstera returned to the territory after finishing his business trip.
He probably hadn’t even recovered from the fatigue of the journey yet, but after hearing that Cassis had come to Montes to recover, he immediately held a dinner banquet.
Perhaps he wanted to take good care of him because he was the son of a duke.
I walked down the hallway, dressed beautifully.
Count Monstera’s business trip had lasted quite a while.
So I was happy to see my father again after such a long time.
I was also looking forward to the presents he would bring.
Whenever Father returned from a business trip, he often brought back unusual and fascinating things.
Especially the items powered by mana were incredibly interesting.
Feeling strangely excited, I even hummed a little song as I entered the dining room.
The count, who had been chatting with Cassis, noticed me and immediately welcomed me.
“Come here.”
“Daddy!”
I ran toward the count, who had knelt down on the floor with his arms open, and threw myself into his arms.
Father hadn’t shaved yet, so his rough chin scratched against my cheeks as he rubbed them repeatedly.
“Ouch! It hurts!”
“Didn’t our Ring-Ring miss Daddy?”
“Of course I did!”
As soon as I answered, the count looked at me with eyes full of affection and attacked me with his beard again.
I struggled in his arms, trying to escape his affection.
Ahh, Father’s rough chin is impossible to endure.
Then my eyes met Cassis’s.
Cassis’s pupils were shaking badly, as if he had been shocked by the sight of me and my father.
He looked as though he had witnessed something he shouldn’t have seen.
But the moment he made eye contact with me, he quickly turned his head away.
Because of that, I couldn’t see his expression anymore.
After the chaotic welcome ended, we began eating.
Cassis answered the count’s questions politely and behaved like quite the gentleman.
Everything about him, from the way he sat to the way he spoke and moved, was full of dignity despite being a child.
In contrast, I ate like a child, spilling food everywhere and getting scolded by Mother.
I wanted to eat neatly without getting food on myself or dropping anything.
But it was as if there were holes in my chin.
Whenever I looked down, there was always food spilled somewhere.
Then Count Monstera spoke with a hearty laugh.
“Since Cassis is here, we should have a party.”
“A party?”
I blinked and asked in surprise.
Cassis, who was eating beside me, looked just as surprised.
The count laughed warmly.
“Cassis has arrived, but we haven’t even held a welcome party for him. Since he’ll be staying for quite some time, I think it would be good to hold a party and introduce him to the neighbors.”
“That’s a good idea, dear. This will also give Cassis a chance to become friends with the children around his age.”
“But, Count…”
Cassis joined the conversation, but then bit his lip.
When he hesitated to continue, the countess asked gently,
“What is it, Cassis?”
“It’s nothing. I was just going to say thank you for welcoming me so warmly.”
“My, aren’t you sweet?”
Mother smiled warmly at Cassis.
She seemed proud that he knew how to be grateful even for small things.
After that, I secretly watched Cassis, whose expression had become gloomy.
Ever since he heard the word party, he hadn’t touched his food.
Does he hate parties?
I had a strange feeling about it, but I didn’t know the reason.
I could only tilt my head in confusion.
“Thank you for inviting me, Countess.”
On the day of the welcome party, Elissa arrived early.
She handed a bouquet of pink roses to the countess and greeted her.
Her shy expression and the tiny hand she carefully held out were adorable.
I narrowed my eyes at Elissa’s bright smile.
Argh. She’s glowing.
How did she manage to do everything so adorably?
Mother seemed to think the same thing, because her expression was especially bright.
She looked fondly at Elissa, who had brought such a pretty bouquet with her tiny hands.
“You didn’t have to bring anything, but thank you.”
“I thought it would be rude to come empty-handed, so I made this.”
“Oh my, you made this yourself? You’re very talented, Elissa.”
“Hehe, thank you, Countess.”
Elissa lifted the hem of her dress gracefully in response.
Then she suddenly grabbed my hand, her eyes shining.
I could tell what she wanted just by looking at her eyes, so I laughed.
She’s always in such a hurry.
“I’m only going to show you for a little while.”
“Okay!”
“Where are you going?”
“To the backyard!”
“Don’t be late coming back!”
“Yes!”
I answered energetically before heading toward the backyard with Elissa.
“I’m so nervous.”
As we walked, Elissa muttered with an excited expression.
I puffed out my chest and emphasized,
“I’m showing it to you for the first time.”
“Really? I’m so happy, Yveline.”
Elissa looked at me with a touched expression.
I simply shrugged.
When we arrived at the backyard, I immediately opened the door to the glass garden.
As soon as we entered the greenhouse, the air was much warmer than outside.
The temperature was carefully controlled so that the plants inside could grow properly.
We passed the colorful flowers and headed toward a cage that had been placed separately in the center.
A transparent protective barrier made of magic stones had been installed around the cage.
Inside it was an enormous egg.
Yes.
It was an egg.
Its color was pitch-black, as if it had been burned.
But the occasional trembling proved that it was definitely alive.
Elissa stared at it with her mouth hanging open.
“Is this really a dragon egg?”
“Yes. Father said he got it this time.”
“Wow. I’ve never seen such a huge egg before.”
Elissa pressed her face against the transparent barrier as if she wanted to climb right through it.
I also kept my eyes fixed on the egg.
A dragon.
I couldn’t believe I was actually going to raise one of those dragons that supposedly lived only in rugged mountain ranges.
I remembered what Count Monstera had said when he gave me the dragon egg.
I couldn’t help but grin.
