“What?”

Was it a somewhat abrupt question? Benedict burst out laughing as he asked back.

‘Oh no, was I too direct?’

After hesitating for a while and suddenly asking something strange, I would have been flustered too.

I hurriedly made up an excuse about writing a novel.

“Ah, I’m developing a male protagonist. I’m stuck, so I wanted to ask for research purposes.”

“About kleptomania?”

“Well! Since dragons are symbols of wisdom and mystical beings, they might not do such immoral things. So I was wondering if it goes against the setting!”

My face turned bright red as I made excuses until I was out of breath.

“…My Lady.”

“Yes?”

“Just what kind of male protagonist are you writing?”

“…Well, um.”

I mean, for someone who’s supposed to be a novel’s male protagonist, kleptomania was quite an awkward setting.

But I needed to ask about Oscar, and I couldn’t reveal that he was a dragon.

So even though it was a bit forced, I couldn’t think of any other suitable excuse.

“My male protagonist is going through a rebellious phase. The female protagonist helps him overcome it, and love blooms. It’s a proper rehabilitation love story. Haha.”

Though I made it up, a male protagonist who steals things while going through rebellion… even I thought it was quite ridiculous.

I anxiously watched Benedict’s expression while suppressing my nervous heart. Fortunately, he didn’t seem particularly suspicious.

“What does he steal?”

“Things like cufflinks, tie pins, hairpins, and chandelier pieces, small things like that…”

Ah, did I get too specific? Startled by my own words, I quickly added, “…that’s what I’m considering. Is it too random?”

After hearing my words, Benedict thought deeply and answered.

“What do you think is the common thread between those items, My Lady?”

At his question, I carefully recalled Oscar’s collection.

Cufflinks made of emerald.

A tie pin decorated with ruby.

A pocket watch embedded with small sapphires.

A hairpin made of cubic zirconia.

Pieces of chandelier.

As Benedict said, these items had one thing in common.

“They’re all sparkly things.”

“That’s right.”

He smiled faintly.

“Dragons love shiny things. It’s their instinct to bring what they like to their nest.”

Looking back, Oscar had taken those things from under my bed. He must have gathered them one by one with those maple leaf-like hands and placed them there.

Imagining it made me shiver from how cute it was, but stealing others’ belongings wasn’t something that could be dismissed as just cute.

“That’s why dragon nests are all sparkly.”

“Nest?”

“Yes. Even if it’s not shaped like a nest, if there’s a place where a dragon spends most of their day, that’s their nest. More precisely, it’s called a dragon’s lair.”

Benedict added in detail.

The place where Oscar stays most often… I quickly thought about Oscar’s daily routine.

‘After eating, when he’s full, he lies on my bed asking for belly rubs. Takes naps on my bed. After sword training, he lies on my bed reading fairy tales. Even when he sleeps in his own room, he comes to my bed in the middle of the night…’

Come to think of it, the place where Oscar spent most of his time was ‘my bed.’

‘Then is my bed Oscar’s nest?’

No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like a reasonable assumption.

“Grand Magician. What happens if someone touches the things collected in that nest?”

“Pardon?”

“Do they kill them?”

It was an extreme question, but it was exactly what Oscar had said.

“Yes. It happens quite often actually. Dragons are very possessive.”

Benedict answered without showing any particular surprise.

To think that those threats of killing everyone, made with such a cute face, were serious. I didn’t want to believe it.

Benedict, unaware of my circumstances, kindly provided an additional explanation.

“Dragons usually don’t attack first. Most people who die by dragons meet their end when they touch the jewels in their nests.”

“I-I see…”

I had hoped that wasn’t the case. I responded somewhat glumly.

‘Still, I can’t just ignore him stealing other people’s things. What should I do?’

My head throbbed.

‘What if I try to stop him and meet a horrible end?’

Even though he usually listens to me well, Oscar was a Black Dragon, known for being particularly fierce even among dragons.

And I was someone who could potentially meet a gruesome ending due to Oscar’s rampage.

“Your face has turned pale, My Lady. Are you alright?”

As I was lost in thought, Benedict asked with concern.

“Ah, I was just immersed in thinking about the novel. I’m sorry. So even if it’s a dragon’s instinct, is it difficult to correct?”

“Well, the concept of stealing being wrong is a human moral value.”

“…That’s true.”

“Who knows? Maybe they’ll understand if they lose something precious themselves.”

Benedict just smiled amusingly and made cryptic remarks.

“So is it a story about kidnapping the female protagonist to the nest?”

“What?”

“That’s usually how dragon novels progress.”

Technically, it’s more like ‘a story about a Black Dragon arbitrarily turning my bed into his nest.’

I swallowed those words and forced a smile.

“Ah, I haven’t decided that far yet.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you so passionate about your manuscript.”

“…It’s because there’s a reward at stake.”

“I’ll look forward to visiting Hayworth.”

Whether he knew about my complicated feelings or not, Benedict smiled brightly at me.

***

I trudged home without any particular breakthrough.

No, rather, my heart felt heavy as if I was carrying a chunk of iron.

‘So collecting shiny things is their instinct.’

It’s a natural behavior for dragons. Maybe I was too harsh on him.

‘If I had known this before all this happened. I could have taken better care of Oscar.’

I felt troubled, thinking it was all my fault. Though I had told Leon, I also felt guilty about just leaving Oscar alone.

“You’re back?”

As I entered the Hayworth mansion, Leon greeted me.

“Yes. How’s Oscar?”

“I’ve been watching, but he hasn’t left your room yet. What’s going on?”

“Is he okay for now?”

“It’s quiet.”

I was worried something might happen, but that was a relief for now.

“Let’s go to the dining room. Father is waiting.”

Come to think of it, it was already dinner time.

Maybe because I had so many worries, I had no appetite at all.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Whatever’s going on, please just come. Don’t you know how Father gets when you skip meals?”

I hadn’t told Leon the specific situation yet either. Naturally, Viscount Hayworth didn’t know either.

‘Right. I can’t worry Father too.’

I followed Leon to the dining room with dragging feet.

***

Upon entering the dining room, Viscount Hayworth was already seated. Leon and I sat down at the table silently.

“…He always came with you, but where’s that little one today?”

Noticing Oscar’s empty seat, Viscount Hayworth asked casually.

It was unusual enough to be concerning, as Oscar rarely missed meals.

‘Oscar must be hungry too.’

That glutton skipping a meal.

As that thought crossed my mind, my mouth felt dry.

Just then, Oscar entered the dining room.

“Uncle Viscount.”

Instead of sitting down, Oscar walked straight to Viscount Hayworth. Then he held out his small fist to him.

When Viscount Hayworth bewilderedly held out his hand, Oscar returned what was in his fist. They were cufflinks and a tie pin.

“How did you…”

“Oscar took them because they were pretty, without saying anything.”

“….”

Oscar placed both hands above his navel and bowed his head respectfully.

“I’m sorry.”

The dining room froze instantly at this unexpected apology. Oscar immediately changed his target and ran to Leon.

“Master.”

“Uh… huh?”

“Oscar took this.”

Leon seemed to not have even known it was missing. He held the pocket watch Oscar handed him with a blank expression.

“I did wrong.”

Oscar made the same belly bow as before.

Next, he toddled over to Laura, who was serving the meal.

“Oscar took Laura’s hairpin too.”

“Young master, you don’t have to…”

“I’m sorry.”

He made a belly bow despite Laura’s protests. Then he took out the chandelier pieces and placed them on the floor.

“Dear chandelier. It must have hurt. Oscar is sorry.”

Oscar apologized while looking at the chandelier.

“….”

To think that a dragon, known for having unmatched pride, would apologize first. I couldn’t believe it even though I was seeing it with my own eyes.

Watching this, I was overwhelmed with indescribable emotions.

“Come here.”

Even when I called him, Oscar just looked at his fingertips with a tearful expression.

‘He must be feeling shy.’

Can’t be helped. I stood up from my seat, and crouched down to meet Oscar’s eyes.

And I hugged Oscar tightly.

“Well done, Oscar.”

“Ari. Oscar is sorry for getting angry.”

His struggling apology was so adorable.

“No, I’m sorry for not understanding how much you wanted shiny things.”

“….”

“Apologizing all by yourself – that must have taken courage. I’m so proud of you.”

I looked at Oscar admiringly while stroking his head.

“Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you.”

Though I asked with genuine intention to buy it, there was no answer.

“…Ari.”

“Yes?”

Oscar hugged me and whispered softly.

“I only need Ari.”