Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 28

Merry Christmas to all my readers! To celebrate, I’m treating you to extra chapter updates. Please enjoy this special release of four bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Christmas Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before Christmas: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

“To request a private audience first. I’m honored.”

Benedict smiled gently.

“Shall we keep it short since you’re busy?”

“I’ve taken care of things, so please speak freely.”

Oscar replied nonchalantly. It seemed the coachman had momentarily left his post due to the earlier gesture.

“By the way. Is it alright for you to reveal your identity so openly?”

“It’s my choice.”

“Interesting.”

He had already noticed the moment they shook hands.

The O’Neil family had been ‘servants of dragons’ for generations.

The first head of the family had manifested magical power through a contract with a dragon, and that power had been passed down until now.

Having already reached the level of an archmage, he could sense the ‘dragon’s aura’ through touch.

If Oscar had intended to hide his identity, he wouldn’t have offered a handshake first.

In other words, Oscar had deliberately revealed his identity to Benedict.

Benedict was curious about the reason.

“You wouldn’t believe it anyway. It’s a lie.”

“If you knew, why did you act?”

“Probably for the same reason you pretended to be fooled?”

Oscar retorted to his question as if dumbfounded.

His tone suggested it was ridiculous to ask when he likely had the same thought.

Honestly, the reason they both put on such a clumsy act was to reassure Ariella.

There was no other reason.

“I’ve been found out.”

Benedict readily admitted to that part.

“Benedict O’Neil.”

“Yes, Lord Oscar.”

“Don’t use Ari.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

On the surface, he looked every bit a five-year-old, but his eyes were quite intimidating.

Finding it amusing, Benedict deliberately played dumb.

“You’re going to keep my dragon identity a secret, right?”

Oscar shot back at his feigned ignorance.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because it’s rare to find a humanized dragon that’s interesting, and you’d hate to see it swarmed by insects.”

“……”

“If things get out of hand, you, who lent that Dragon Encyclopedia or whatever, would be quite troubled too. Am I wrong?”

“You’re right.”

It was a sharp observation. Despite Oscar’s point-by-point argument, he didn’t deny it and just smiled faintly.

“Why do you think Ari is falling for your tricks? Because she’s stupid?”

Oscar let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s because she’s kind. She feels sorry for damaging your book.”

“I know.”

“Don’t use that for your benefit.”

“It seems Lord Oscar is also using Lady Hayworth’s kindness, though.”

When Benedict retorted primly, a murderous glint appeared in Oscar’s eyes.

“How insolent, for a human.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I mean don’t do anything foolish to Ari when I’m not around.”

“Then I’ll do it in front of you. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

He suddenly extended his hand. It was an invitation for a handshake.

“I’m O’Neil. You must know we’re a family serving dragons. I’ll serve diligently. Soon, Lord Oscar, you’ll come to like me too.”

“Now you can’t even distinguish between serving and defying.”

Oscar swatted away the hand without hesitation.

“The O’Neil family’s extinction isn’t far off.”

He smirked and then ran into Ariella’s arms, who had come out worried about him.

“Did you have a lot to talk about?”

“Yeah. Mr. Magic is Oscar’s friend.”

Again, he lied nonchalantly in front of her.

“The Archmage needs to leave now. We should say goodbye.”

Ariella, who had no idea what was going on, smiled brightly.

“Mr. Magic. See you next week!”

Oscar waved his tiny hand in farewell, acting as if nothing had happened.

***

“…Calling me an angel.”

I chuckled again. Even though I tried not to, the corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily.

Benedict’s words wouldn’t leave my mind all day.

I knew romance was a luxury, but that was a separate issue from constantly thinking about it.

First, I needed to accurately assess the situation.

‘Right. The danger signal might just be my own self-consciousness.’

Until recently, I was half-convinced that he despised me or was intellectually tormenting me.

Of course, he showed kindness by serving tea and lending books. But it was ambiguous whether it was actually affection.

Until then, the situation was unconfirmable due to our awkward relationship.

“Affection level. Benedict O’Neil.”

Now that we’ve started talking comfortably, it should be possible to check the affection level.

[Benedict O’Neil’s affection level is 80%. (Relationship: Stranger)]

It’s ruined.

Henry was at 81%, so this is clearly at the level of affection.

“No, what exactly did I do to make him like me?”

I tried so hard to keep my walls up. What could it be?

I pondered if there was anything I had done to inadvertently gain his favor.

‘No matter how I think about it, there’s nothing except borrowing that erotic book.’

Moreover, we only started talking to each other just a week ago.

“Is my face his type?”

Well, how could this face not be someone’s type? I might be too pretty to have a specific type.

“Well, I am an angel indeed.”

When did you descend? I smiled satisfactorily while checking my face in the mirror.

“Status window, charm.”

[System: Charm measurement impossible/999]

My charm stat is still intact.

But in that case, there was one question.

‘Benedict was supposed to be a difficult character to capture.’

I recalled the times before I knew about the unfortunate fate of the dragon going berserk.

Even when I tried to capture him seriously, he hardly fell for it. It was a bit strange.

Of course, there was one thing I could guess.

‘Could it be that our tastes in those kinds of books match?’

It was a bit odd from the moment he suddenly recommended that suggestive book.

‘Is that why he asked me to write?’

Of course, I was the one who first made that excuse, but it was Benedict who brought up the publication talk.

‘Surely there won’t be an R-rated event or something??’

As my thoughts reached that point, my face flushed and my heart started pounding.

‘Since they’re friends, maybe Oscar won’t go berserk? They said the probability of going berserk is greatly reduced when with a friend.’

A glimmer of hope arose, but I shook my head vigorously.

“I need to get a grip. What am I thinking?”

Indeed, the more you indulge in delusions, the more dangerous they become.

‘Right. What’s the point of guessing? Only Benedict knows what’s in Benedict’s mind.’

I had to stop this useless thinking and focus on the immediate task at hand.

[System: Daily Mission! Write one chapter of ‘Dragon Romance Novel’.

Do you want to proceed?

Yes / No]

I looked at this status window that had been floating for a while with bleary eyes.

Oh, my fate. This wicked game had made it a quest.

Even if I try to press ‘No’.

[System: Sorry! You cannot refuse a mission that has already been accepted.

If you forcibly refuse, it will switch to ‘Debt Repayment’ mode.

Please select a number to view related help:

1. Collection of “Stories of Those Who Spent Their Lives Paying Off Debts”

2. Mage Interview “My Mana Core Was Wrecked, But I Didn’t Die.” (If not that, something else might get wrecked.)

3. Essay “Even a Thousand Years of Love Is No Match for Debt.”]

With such gloomy messages popping up, I had no choice but to write.

“Ah geez, what am I supposed to write?”

I was tearing at my hair, unable to produce a manuscript.

I said I’d do it, but writing wasn’t an easy task.

I crumpled up the paper after scribbling a few lines with a quill pen.

Not only did I lack content, but I couldn’t write just any time.

I looked at Oscar, who had fallen into a light nap.

“We’re always together like this. How am I supposed to write?”

At least now he’s sleeping, so I could hold a pen.

The content was too embarrassing to write with a child nearby, so I couldn’t help it.

“Argh! I don’t know! I won’t do it!”

As I threw the quill pen, the system window chimed again.

[System: PLAY TIP! Reading nourishes creativity. When stuck, read some text.]

Right. Maybe something will come if I read. I decided to read anything I could to shake off this vagueness.

‘Should I read a gossip magazine?’

The first thing that caught my eye was the tabloid I had asked the maids to bring.

I used to read it diligently before, but since I started raising Oscar, I’ve been too busy to read it often.

‘Yeah. Maybe I can write something after reading some trashy stories. That’s how it usually goes, right?’

It was also the first gossip magazine I had seen since returning from the royal ball.

‘I am a bit curious about what happened to Henry.’

I opened the newspaper with a bit of tension.

<Has the Prince Not Given Up Yet?>

As expected, the usual target was on the chopping block.

<A Royal Ball Without the Prince’s Waltz>

It was worth gossiping about since the playboy prince didn’t dance even once at the ball.

<Interview with Prince’s Confidant: “He often skips meals and stares into space lost in thought. Probably lovesickness.”>

For someone called a confidant to speak so blatantly, and for it to be published in an article like this.

Henry really seemed to be a prince in name only. I felt a bit sorry for his situation.

‘Was he troubled after our encounter?’

I felt uneasy, but it was not like I had done anything particularly wrong.

Henry and I were over, and this must be the right thing.

<In-depth Investigation: Why Did the Viscount Hayworth’s Daughter Break Off the Engagement?>

Why? Just trying to survive at all costs.

Unlike the desperate truth, various speculations were rampant.

Those speculations were full of all kinds of scandals and betrayals.

<Who Is the Mysterious Man Who Danced with Her, Beating the Prince?>

Of course, there was also a story about me.

Remembering that night made my face flush.

‘This isn’t the time for this. I need to write quickly before Oscar wakes up.’

Having read enough, I picked up the quill pen again.

It seemed a bit much to start with explicit content right away, so I should build a wholesome narrative first.

‘Should I start with them meeting for the first time at a ball?’

After pondering what to name the male protagonist, I left it blank for now and started writing.