Some time later, a new emperor ascended to the throne of the Ruben Empire. The imperial citizens, who had suffered under the tyranny of the Grand Temple, enthusiastically welcomed the news that the new emperor was a mage, cheering for the dawn of a new magical era.

Grand Priest Philas received punishment directly from the dragon’s hand, and priests who had committed crimes were stripped of their positions. 

The emperor proclaimed witch hunts to be twisted evil acts based on outdated perceptions and declared that he would offer consolation and compensation to the victims in place of the Grand Temple.

Not long after the emperor’s ascension, a new balance of power emerged in the empire. 

The emperor expressed deep gratitude to Dragon Caselos for reviving the declining magic and opening a new era, offering him the title of Duke. The dragon, who had fallen in love with a human, gladly accepted the emperor’s request and was granted a duchy.

His territory included the land where his mansion was located, extending all the way to the border beyond the Rutwal Mountains. With the dragon’s powerful magic, the duchy achieved remarkable development within just a few years.

And several years later, a large figure paced by the window where the gentle autumn sunlight settled. 

Casiel, who had been anxiously ruffling his hair, hurriedly approached the door that swung open with the sound of a baby’s cry.

“It’s a beautiful little duchess!”

The healing priest, dispatched to assist the duchess in childbirth, announced the birth of a new life with a joyful voice. 

Rushing past her to Riena’s side, Casiel caressed her sweat-soaked black hair with trembling hands.

“Casiel…”

“How are you feeling?”

Seeing her faint smile suggesting she was fine, he finally relaxed and wiped his face. Next to Riena, whom he had been too focused on to notice earlier, lay a tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, breathing softly in sleep.

“She barely cried after being born and fell asleep right away. Ginia says she’s never seen such a calm baby before.”

Riena chuckled amusedly, feeling his hand caressing hers. Casiel, unable to take his eyes off the child’s silver-gray hair, turned to the healing priest and asked about the health of both mother and child.

“Both are very healthy, so there’s no need to worry.”

True to the healing priest’s words, Riena was in excellent health. Casiel had been so overprotective during her pregnancy that she now felt almost liberated after giving birth. 

Thanks to Casiel, who had summoned three healing priests, she had no pain at all despite having just given birth. Though she wouldn’t be able to use magic for a while. She nodded and smiled at Casiel.

“I’m so perfectly fine it’s almost strange. I wonder if I really just gave birth.”

“I’m relieved, Riena. I…”

He couldn’t express how anxious he had been while she carried their child. Although she was generally healthy, the baby had dragon bl＊＊d mixed in. 

Among all dragons throughout history, he was the first to take a human mate. With no precedent to indicate how it might affect the mother’s body, his anxiety had only grown. 

Sometimes, his gaze toward her swollen belly seemed so severe that he and Riena had their first argument.

“Come here and hold her once.”

Knowing his anxiety all too well, Riena deliberately put on a brave face to comfort him. At her words, Casiel carefully took the peacefully sleeping child into his arms and smiled faintly, unable to take his eyes off the tiny features.

“She has your face, Riena. She’s beautiful.”

“Really? I was hoping she would look like you.”

Casiel already seemed completely captivated by the child. Riena, who had been muttering that a child resembling him would surely be the most beautiful and handsome in the world, looked up at him with determination and raised the corners of her mouth.

“I think we should have another one.”

“Let’s have you recover first, Riena.”

Casiel restrained her when she tried to get up with a bright smile. Gently laid back down by his hands, Riena closed her eyes, feeling his touch wiping her face with a wet cloth.

Soon, news of the duchess’s birth spread throughout the duchy beyond the ducal castle. The dragon’s daughter and future duchess was named “Yunis.” 

Temples located throughout the duchy rang their bells in celebration of her birth, and the citizens, caught up in the festive atmosphere, blessed the little duchess’s arrival. 

These were peaceful days.

* * *

As early winter approached, the servants at the ducal castle became busy with preparations for winter. 

While checking a tapestry embroidered with fig trees in the already decorated dining hall, Riena heard tiny footsteps pattering toward her and turned around with a bright smile.

“Mommy!”

“Yunis. I told you not to run.”

Yunis’s silver-gray hair fluttered gently while running toward her. Despite his admonishing words, Casiel’s expression, following behind the child, was nothing but gentle. 

Riena’s eyes curved softly, thinking how the identical hair color and eyes unmistakably showed they were father and daughter.

“Look at this. I can do this now!”

Yunis stretched her tiny palm toward Riena, and when she closed her mouth, her soft white cheeks puffed up ready to burst. 

Riena, who had been watching her adorably, widened her eyes when she saw snowflakes emerge from the child’s hand.

“Did Daddy teach you?”

“Yep!”

Already developing faster than other children, and now a child barely past her second birthday could use magic. Dragon bl＊＊d couldn’t be denied. 

Looking at Yunis with amazement, Riena caressed the child’s soft cheeks and gave her a quick kiss.

“Our little duchess will become a great mage when she grows up.”

“Yep. I’ll teach my little brother or sister too.”

“Little brother or sister?”

“Tommy has a little brother, but Yunis doesn’t have one.”

Wondering what she meant, Riena looked up at Casiel, who gave her a sly smile and kissed her cheek.

“Count Mertol’s child we saw last time is named Thomas. He seems to have boasted a lot about his younger sibling to Yunis.”

“Ah, the one who kept holding Yunis’s hand? How old was he… five years old?”

She seemed to be referring to the blonde-haired child who had attended Yunis’s second birthday celebration. 

He had quickly become friends with Yunis, holding her hand tightly, and Riena had thought he was taking good care of her like a little sister, but it turned out he actually had a real younger sibling.

“Daddy said he’ll make Yunis a little brother or sister too!”

Yunis swung her arms with an excited expression. Each time she twirled her short arms, snowflake-like dust fell from her palms. Finally understanding the situation, Riena looked at the child with an amused smile. 

Thomas must have boasted about his younger sibling, making Yunis want one too, so she had probably begged Casiel.

“Do you want a little brother or sister?”

“Yes. Daddy said if I tell Mommy, you can make me one!”

Riena laughed helplessly and stroked Yunis’s hair. Casiel, who had been grinning while watching the mother and daughter, suddenly lifted the child and walked away without taking his eyes off Riena.

“Mommy and Daddy need to make a little brother or sister, so our little duchess should go play with her nanny.”

“Okay!”

Usually reluctant to part from her father, she now obediently allowed herself to be carried away, showing how badly she wanted a sibling. That aside, wasn’t Casiel the one who kept postponing having a second child? 

Wondering what had changed his mind, Riena went up to their room.

After waiting a little while, the door opened softly, and Casiel, his hair already disheveled, strode in.

“Did Yunis mess up your hair again?”

Tousling her father’s hair and giggling loudly was one of Yunis’s daily routines. Riena combed down his fine silver-gray hair with her fingers, and Casiel closed his eyes with a pleased expression, enjoying her touch.

“By the way, what made you change your mind about having a second child? You were saying we should wait a while.”

“Seeing how quickly Yunis is growing, I feel wistful. I think it’s better to give her a sibling before the age gap becomes too large.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want a second child. He had been worried that her human body might develop complications from bearing a dragon’s child, and he found it difficult to make her endure the pain of childbirth again, so he had postponed it until now.

But having more children was something Riena had always wanted, and seeing that his wife remained healthy even as Yunis grew this much, he became confident there wouldn’t be major issues. And once he was confident, there was no reason to delay any longer.

Casiel buried his face in the nape of her neck, inhaling her soft scent. While he gently bit her soft skin just hard enough that the teeth marks would soon disappear, Riena’s excited voice reached him.

“Just try to take those words back.”

Take them back? 

The thought of being able to explore her freely had already made him swell below. If anyone should worry about what was to come, it was Riena. He raised his head and winked, gazing into her sparkling violet eyes.

“You’re the one who should prepare yourself every day until you get pregnant.”

It was a declaration that he would torment her day and night, but to Riena, it sounded perfectly satisfying. 

She smiled broadly and kissed him. She intended to make a baby quickly before he changed his mind again. 

As expected, Casiel, particularly vulnerable to her seduction, soon made a scratching sound with his throat as he looked at her.

The day at the warm and peaceful ducal castle came to an end, quite different from the chilly weather outside.

Fin.

Thank you so much for reading this novel!