Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 14

It was truly a bizarre sight.

A dragon hiding under the bed refusing to come out, and me sitting on the messy carpet in my dress.

And two men who couldn’t take their eyes off me.

It seemed I was the only one maintaining composure in this situation.

“Sister, can you focus on a book in this situation?”

Leon was the first to break the silence. He asked, seemingly dumbfounded, as he watched me reading.

“Well, it would be boring to just wait, wouldn’t it?”

I was searching through the ‘Dragon Encyclopedia’. I wanted to find something to make Oscar a bit more comfortable.

Since the book was as thick as an encyclopedia, it wasn’t easy to find anything useful in a short time.

“Are you enjoying this? My remaining arm is going numb.”

“Then put down your sword. Stop making a fuss.”

“You don’t know how scary dragons are.”

“You be quiet too and mind your own business.”

“Are you going to keep talking nonsense?”

Leon grumbled and looked at Viscount Hayworth. Viscount Hayworth asked with a worried face.

“Ari. It’s all good, but you’ll catch a cold sitting on the cold floor. Why don’t you sit on the sofa?”

“I need to be in his sight. Oscar is scared because I wasn’t here.”

“Then at least sit on this.”

Viscount Hayworth hastily handed over his jacket.

“Thank you, Father.”

I was about to refuse but accepted it out of consideration for Father’s kindness and sat on it.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Master, it’s Jenny.”

What could Jenny want all of a sudden?

The pupils of both men and mine shook. Even in this situation, we quickly exchanged glances to handle the situation.

“Leon, you look the most normal, so you go.”

“Yes, that would be best.”

At the urging of the father and daughter, Leon scratched his head and opened the door slightly.

“What is it?”

“Um, Young Master. It’s well past dinner time, are you alright?”

It seemed she came looking for us since there was no sign of us even though it was dinner time.

“It’s fine, later……”

“Leon!”

I quickly called out to Leon who was about to refuse. Leon turned back with a puzzled face.

“What?”

“I’m hungry, so tell her to bring something light. Say we’ll eat here.”

“What?”

Are you crazy? Leon cursed using his eyeballs and mouth shape. He seemed to be conscious of Jenny’s eyes.

“I’m too lazy to go out! Um, tell her to bring it on a tray. Definitely beef. Okay?”

You’ve been in the knights for so long, read the room, man!

I glared back at him, and Leon nodded obediently.

“Uh, something light. Beef. On a tray. 3 portions plus Oscar’s. Got it?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Fortunately, the loyal Jenny disappeared from the door without any suspicion.

Phew, the two men and I wiped our brows in relief.

***

The two men were looking at me with disapproving eyes.

“Please sit down and eat. The food is getting cold.”

I casually encouraged them to eat. Leon still had a sulky expression.

“Do you have to go this far?”

It was an expression as if he was looking at the most pathetic thing in the world. No wonder, as I was still sitting on the carpet.

A noble lady sitting on the carpet to eat dinner. It was indeed unimaginable.

“What’s the big deal?”

Oscar is more important. Is it such a big deal to eat on the floor? I shrugged and put a piece of steak in my mouth.

“Anyway, I don’t understand why men like weirdos like Sister.”

“Leon, that’s too harsh to say to your sister.”

Viscount Hayworth bristled. Though his tone was quiet, his eyes were as fierce as could be.

“It’s not harsh. Soon, her true nature will be known to the whole world.”

“Our Ari is nothing short of perfect. Domestic, pretty, and kind.”

“Yes, yes. A perfect weirdo.”

“Leon Hayworth. Do you want to give back your allowance?”

“Where in the world do you give something and then take it back, Father?”

“In the Hayworth family, we do. The head of the family makes the rules. Unfortunately for you, I’m the head of the family.”

“I’ll be quiet, Father.”

As expected, threatening with money works best. Leon, who had been chattering noisily, shut his mouth tight.

I placed Oscar’s plate in front of the bed and continued eating, pretending not to notice.

It was past dinner time, and he had caused such a ruckus that the room was in this state. He was surely hungry.

Moreover, today’s menu was tenderloin steak, Oscar’s favorite.

Was it my imagination? The low growling sound from earlier had subsided.

“Mm, the meat is so tender.”

I deliberately let out an exclamation of admiration.

Leon looked at me chewing meat on the floor with rotten eyes.

I glared at him sharply as if to say ‘Do you want to die?’, and he let out a hollow laugh and started to play along.

“You’re right. The meat quality today is killer.”

That’s right. I gave a thumbs up with a satisfied face, and Viscount Hayworth joined in.

“And how about the juiciness? It’s fantastic, like fireworks exploding in your mouth.”

“Isn’t it, Father? I almost bit my tongue while chewing that meat.”

I responded to Viscount Hayworth’s natural exaggeration with a double thumbs up.

It seemed like he was persisting more because we kept looking in and worrying. It had been a while since I deliberately stopped looking under the bed.

Rustle, rustle.

I perked up my ears at the sound of something moving but pretended not to notice.

Then, a maple leaf-like hand slowly peeked out. It quickly snatched the steak from the plate and darted back in.

‘He seems to have transformed into human form.’

The fact that he transformed meant he had calmed down a bit, so we’ve overcome one big hurdle. I secretly wiped my chest, letting out a faint sigh.

The sound of hurried eating came from inside.

‘How cute.’

I laughed silently. My heart seemed to stop every time I saw that soft hand peeking out.

‘Those short, insignificant fingers. I want to grab them and knead them.’

It was maddening trying to suppress the rising urge to dote on him.

Clank.

The sound of an empty plate hitting something.

A tiny hand fumbled around on top of the plate, then quickly retreated inside.

“Hing.”

I also heard a disappointed sound. It seemed he had already devoured all the steak on the plate.

‘It’s probably not enough for Oscar.’

If we were eating together, he would ask for more. It seems he’s still not fully over his anger.

“Ah, I’m so full, I can’t eat anymore.”

I put down the plate with the steak I was pretending to eat in front of him.

After confirming Oscar’s hand popping out, I focused on reading again.

***

It was a dim dawn.

I drowsily opened my eyes, feeling something squirming in my arms.

Soft black hair. It was undoubtedly Oscar, curled up tightly, sucking his thumb while sleeping.

“Oh my. You must have been very tired.”

Feeling sorry for him, I hugged him tightly.

Even after the meal, Oscar didn’t come out, and it eventually became late at night.

I tried to persuade Leon and Viscount Hayworth to leave.

I told them that he had already transformed into human form and just hadn’t fully calmed down, so I could handle it alone.

In the end, we agreed that Leon would guard the sofa. After that, I must have fallen asleep after lying down on the carpet with a shawl.

“I’m sorry, Oscar.”

I stroked Oscar’s hair.

I should have explained properly and talked before leaving. This happened because I ended up using a shortcut.

I didn’t know he would be this upset. I felt really bad.

“……Such devotion. Really.”

Leon grumbled, criticizing.

“He seems fine now. You should go to bed too.”

“It’s fine. Give him here. I’ll put him on the bed.”

“Be careful not to wake him.”

“Is he the master or what?”

Despite complaining, he lifted Oscar carefully.

“Thank you, Leon.”

“So, let’s come back early from now on, Sister.”

Leon laid Oscar on the bed and flopped back onto the sofa. He seemed to be trying to catch a quick nap.

I lay down next to Oscar and examined his hands. Was it because I couldn’t wipe them after the meal? The delicious smell of steak was strong.

‘He’s so cute, I want to bite him.’

I couldn’t help but smile, remembering the hand that peeked out from under the bed.

‘When he wakes up, I’ll give him candy and then a bubble bath.’

He must have gotten covered in dust in that corner. There would be a lot of grime to wash off.

Thinking about that, I found myself smiling again without realizing it.

“……Adi.”

Oscar called me in his half-asleep state.

“Yes. I’m here, Oscar.”

“Oscar sorry.”

Oscar suddenly apologized. I looked at his face while caressing his cheek.

Is it because he made a mess of the room? It’s partly my fault for not explaining properly before going out.

His ruby-like eyes looking at me were brimming with tears.

“From now on, I’ll only eat a little bit. And I won’t get angry.”

“What?”

“……Don’t abandon me……”

He said as if squeezing out the words and then burrowed into my arms. His maple leaf-like hands holding me tightly were full of strength.

‘Oh, what should I do.’

When he woke up alone in the empty room, did he think he had been abandoned? I didn’t know he would be this hurt.

What’s so good about being comfortable?

I felt a sting in my nose without realizing it.

“Why would I abandon you, Oscar?”

“Ari won’t abandon me?”

Oscar’s red eyes grew as big as marbles.

‘How could I abandon this adorable thing.’

I slowly patted Oscar’s back.

“Shall I tell you a secret?”

“Ung!”

“Actually…”

I whispered in Oscar’s ear.

“……I can’t live without you either, Oscar.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

This glutton saying he’ll eat only a little.

How desperate must he have been to make such a promise? My heart ached.

“So don’t worry, you can eat a lot.”

“Is that okay?”

Oscar asked, his eyes sparkling.

“Yes. You need to eat well and grow big.”

“Can Oscar live with Ari forever?”

“Of course.”

I held out my pinky finger to Oscar.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a promise. Oscar, give me your pinky too.”

Oscar wiggled his pinky finger out. I hooked our pinkies together and smiled brightly.

“When we make a promise like this, we have to keep it.”

“Promise.”

“That’s right. Promise. And then we seal it with our thumbs like this.”

“Hehe.”

“From now on, I’ll always tell you before I go out.”

“Ari. Don’t abandon Oscar.”

Oscar said in a rather firm tone.

As if I would. It’s my duty to raise this troublemaker into a proper adult dragon.

When he becomes an adult, he’ll probably leave for the ravine, but until then, I must stay by his side and protect him.

“Yes. I will never abandon you.”

I answered with a confident tone.

“Now, promise.”

“Promise.”

We pressed our thumbs together firmly to seal the promise. I also planted a kiss on Oscar’s forehead, as if sealing it once more.

“Hehe.”

Oscar beamed with a big smile. I wanted to pinch his soft cheeks, but I needed to let him sleep a bit more.

“Shall we play the nose game?”

“Uung!”

He smiled drowsily, already with sleep hanging heavily in his eyes. Soon after, I could hear regular, gentle breathing.

“Then, I’ll see you in dreamland.”

I pulled the blanket over Oscar and slowly closed my eyes too.