“…So. You picked up this lizard?”

“Yes! No, no. I’m telling you it’s not a lizard, it’s a dragon!”

Boom-crash!

Merrien’s face was incredibly bright as she explained how she had picked up the dragon, even giving up her own chair.

Unlike her, Ariel, who was looking down at the dragon with his arms crossed, couldn’t hide his discomfort.

Since bringing this creature home, she had been getting soft cushions from the maids to place underneath it, continuously infusing it with Holy Power.

Merrien was treating the dragon with utmost care.

Even more than when he was Whitey!

As if reflecting his mood, the light shower outside the window turned into visible heavy raindrops and then into a downpour, with thunder and lightning striking.

“…Peep.”

The dragon tightly shut its eyes after making a tiny whimper under Ariel’s piercing gaze.

“Hah.”

Ariel gritted his teeth.

The dragon’s skin, though small but seemingly quite thick, was trembling as if it might peel off any moment.

“Why. Why are you acting like this? It’s just a baby. It was caught in the rain!”

She had barely saved it with Holy Power on the way here, and now this tiny creature was on the verge of cardiac arrest from Ariel’s glare.

Merrien held the dragon to her chest, protecting it from his murderous aura.

“…How dare you nestle in Merri’s arms?”

Ariel’s pupils suddenly became sharp.

“You’re dead.”

He pressed his fingers together. In an instant, the dragon that had been safely cradled in Merrien’s arms was dangling by its nape from Ariel’s hand.

“Peep!”

The dragon flapped its small wings pitifully.

“Yeah, right. I’m not happy to see you either.”

“…Peeep!”

Whether it was a final struggle, the dragon squeezed out a cry, but.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s never meet again.”

Ariel just picked at his ear indifferently.

Then, despite the thundering lightning and pouring rain, he suddenly opened the window.

He even raised his hand as if about to throw the dragon right out.

“Ariel! Are you crazy?”

Merrien jumped up from her seat in shock.

“Sorry, Ariel! I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

But somehow, an unfamiliar voice was heard. And not just that…

“Huh?”

Merrien rubbed her eyes.

The creature that had been a tiny dragon instantly transformed into a boy.

Moreover, with red hair and black eyes, his appearance seemed somehow familiar.

“…Dance teacher?”

At Merrien’s unconscious mumble, both heads turned sharply.

The dance teacher’s face was always carefully hidden behind a black veil.

However, the only things known about them – the red hair and that peculiarly otherworldly aura.

That alien aura that seemed hardly human was very similar to this child’s.

Of course, she didn’t think the dance teacher and this child were the same person.

It was just a spontaneous comment.

‘Ariel, what should we do?’

‘Don’t know. You’re dead later.’

While their secret conversation was carried out through lip movements, Merrien realized she had missed the most important fact.

She pointed at the boy with an expression of disbelief.

“…Wow, you transformed into a human? Amazing.”

Right, forget about the dance teacher. That wasn’t what was important right now.

The creature that had been a small dragon until just moments ago had become a boy.

Still dangling from Ariel’s hand.

In fantasy novels, dragons usually can’t transform into humans until they’re fully grown, right?

Such a tiny, nearly dead dragon transforming into a human.

It was fascinating to see transformation magic for the first time in person.

“Haah.”

Ariel threw the boy onto the bed as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have. Fortunately, the window letting in wind and rain had already been closed.

Despite the rough handling, the boy landed quite steadily on the bed and, while watching carefully, mouthed ‘what should we do’ again to Ariel.

“……”

All he got in return was a cold stare.

But somehow, Ariel’s gaze seemed distinctly different from usual.

‘Wow, he looks really troubled.’

So much so that Merrien forgot her earlier surprise at the dragon’s transformation magic and focused on Ariel’s expression.

He hadn’t made this face even when Forcite had shown up uninvited at House Hartez.

It was a frustrated expression completely devoid of his usual composure.

He closed his eyes tightly to calm his anger. After quickly collecting his thoughts, he suggested in a very gentle voice.

“Merri. Could you leave us alone for a moment?”

“Huh?”

When he opened his eyes again, his usual relaxed smile was there, but deep-seated irritation could be felt underneath.

However, Merrien had no intention of immediately agreeing and leaving.

“What if you throw him out the window when I’m gone?”

Merrien, who had somehow ended up standing with her arms crossed in a solemn pose, put force into her eyes.

As if to say she would absolutely not allow such a thing while she was around.

“I wouldn’t do that. This kid and I know each other. Earlier was just a joke.”

“…Really?”

No wonder he didn’t seem surprised at all.

‘So they did know each other after all.’

Well, even if this guy was a bit crazy, anyone would be surprised if a dragon suddenly transformed right before their eyes.

Though she quickly dismissed most of her suspicions, she didn’t forget to keep watching him with skeptical eyes.

At that moment, when Ariel glanced sideways, the boy nodded his head frantically as if having a seizure.

“Yes, yes. That’s right. Me… mmph!”

Until he got a slap on the mouth and went quiet.

‘They seem really close.’

Though it seemed rather one-sided bullying, since they both confirmed it, she decided to believe them for now.

Merrien, who had completely dropped her suspicions by now, turned around.

“Hmm, alright. Then I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Yeah, sorry. It’ll be very brief.”

As things went according to his wishes, one corner of Ariel’s mouth turned up.

In contrast, the boy’s face was turning deathly pale in real-time as if ready to give up on life.

Merrien, oblivious to everything, finally left the room.

‘After saying that much, he probably won’t throw him out the window.’

Someone who hates being disliked that much wouldn’t do such a thing.

After leaving the room, Merrien leaned her head against the door and became lost in thought.

“Perhaps… did the dragon transform into a human?”

“Ah, you scared me!”

Without sensing any presence at all, Merrien jumped at the butler’s sudden whisper.

However, the butler remained very calm, as if not surprised at all.

He just kept whispering quietly without even looking at Merrien’s face.

Bending forward and covering his mouth with one hand while scanning the surroundings, he looked like someone delivering secret, confidential information.

“Ahem, ahem…. How did you know?”

Feeling like she should join in somehow, Merrien also moved closer to the butler and whispered. She didn’t forget to clear her throat awkwardly to cover her surprise.

“That dragon is someone who has a very special and close relationship with the Duke. Currently, because it’s a certain month…”

AAAAHHHHH!!!

The butler, who had straightened his back seemingly pleased to share information unknown to Merrien, abruptly stopped speaking at the scream from inside the room.

The two exchanged glances.

“Please pretend you didn’t hear anything.”

“…Hear what?”

Merrien muttered while staring blankly into space.

Was she supposed to pretend she hadn’t heard what the butler said, or that scream from inside?

The butler didn’t say anything more.

He even gently grabbed the doorknob, worried that Merrien might open the door.

***

After Merrien headed outside without suspicion, Agnes, in the form of a boy, couldn’t even stop her and imagined dozens of terrible futures about to unfold.

‘Please don’t leave.’

At this moment, all he could do was pitifully cry out inside while watching Merrien’s retreating back.

But wishes don’t always come true.

The moment the door closed, the air in the room turned ice cold.

“Haha….. Ariel. My only dear friend.”

“You really must be dying to die, Agnes.”

The sound of grinding teeth echoed through the room.

Agnes realized for the first time that even with a child’s fresh forehead, cold sweat could form like this.

Slowly, very slowly, forcing his lips into a smile while turning his head, he found his dear friend wearing an expression that looked ready to crush him immediately.