After dinner. Oscar’s room.

I lay beside Oscar to put him to sleep, patting him gently.

“Can’t sleep?”

Usually, he would have dozed off by now, unable to fight sleep.

I casually asked Oscar, who was still wide awake.

“If Oscar sleeps, Ari will leave.”

“Are you anxious?”

“Mm.”

Though he didn’t show it, he must have been quite shocked by my leaving him behind today.

“I’m sleeping here.”

“Mm?”

“Today, I want to sleep together with Oscar.”

“I like sleeping together. Hehe.”

Oscar seemed happy, nuzzling and burrowing into my arms.

“Ari.”

“Yes.”

“Ari gave this to Oscar.”

Oscar fiddled with the necklace around his neck.

“I did.”

“Oscar wants to give things like this too. But what if I have nothing?”

His eyes were quite serious.

‘Ah right, when he first offered those shiny collections, he said they were gifts.’

He wanted to give me presents, so he offered things he liked. I pinched his soft cheek and answered.

“You don’t have to give me anything. You’re my gift, Oscar.”

I thought that would resolve it, but Oscar still looked unsettled.

“Ari. What if Oscar.”

“Yes.”

“What should I do if there’s something I want?”

Right. You can’t just suppress desires completely.

I needed to teach him the proper way.

“You can ask permission from the owner, or exchange it for something they want.”

“Exchange? Like what?”

“For example, money.”

“How do you get money?”

“You earn money as payment for working hard.”

They say those who like to eat are also curious about many things.

The glutton Oscar was full of curiosity even at bedtime.

“Oscar will earn money too.”

“How?”

“Don’t know. Hehe.”

As expected, he was full of enthusiasm without any concrete plans.

“You’ll do well at whatever you choose.”

Finding such a hatchling too adorable, I planted a kiss on his forehead.

***

“Why so glum?”

Leon asked dryly while looking at my face. I was walking alongside him on the street.

At dusk, the darkening streets were already bustling with a festival atmosphere.

Today was the day of the fireworks display, the highlight of the festival.

“You used to love fireworks. I brought you out specially, so what’s wrong?”

“It feels weird coming to places like this with just you.”

When I tried to laugh it off, Leon started questioning what was so unsatisfactory.

“Are you thinking about your former fiancé?”

“No.”

“Or is it that Grand Magician you’re thinking about?”

“No, what are you even saying?”

“Are you disappointed because you’re here with your little brother instead of a man?”

Leon glared at me.

“Stop those silly thoughts. Be satisfied with your handsome little brother today.”

“It’s not that, so please stop saying nauseating things.”

“Then what is it?”

Leon seemed to be way off the mark.

“I just wonder if we should have brought Oscar too.”

“Looking at it, you’re the one with separation anxiety, not him.”

“Still, Oscar might feel cooped up staying only at home.”

“It’s nighttime. What if we lose him in all these crowds?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Besides, we came out today to let you rest. It’s a holiday. Who thinks about work on a holiday?”

Seeing me constantly watching over Oscar at home must have concerned him, as Leon had arranged this schedule with Oscar days ago.

Fortunately, Oscar let us go without resistance.

“Take him on a picnic to the nearby lake later or something. Today, forget everything else and just enjoy yourself.”

“Alright.”

Though he grumbles, I feel that only Leon takes such thorough care of me.

“But you know, about Oscar. Hasn’t he become more mature since he was sick?”

“Yes. They say dragons grow fast. His swordsmanship has improved a lot too.”

Leon smiled proudly, then suddenly changed his expression and questioned me.

“By the way, what have you been teaching him lately? Did you teach him extortion or something?”

“Why?”

“10 gold for holding my sword. 10 gold for polishing my shoes. He keeps asking for money. I’m going crazy since I can’t refuse when I’m living on allowance myself.”

“Really?”

“And he seems to have taken a liking to making money by plucking Father’s white hairs. Every time he sees him, he looks ready to pluck his entire crown bare.”

He said he would earn money, and it seemed Oscar was generating income through quite various methods.

Imagining that scene made me chuckle, it was so cute.

“Why is he earning money?”

“They say dragons like shiny things. I guess he likes gold coins because they shine.”

“He’s so peculiar.”

While chatting with Leon, I spotted a street stall selling accessories and stopped in my tracks as if enchanted.

Though not luxurious, they were selling cute hairpins and sparkling brooches.

“How cute.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim. While examining various items, I picked up a hairpin with small jewels.

“Sister, did you like things like this? Want me to buy you one?”

Seeing me fiddle with it for a while, Leon casually asked.

“Didn’t you say Oscar cleaned you out?”

“I have enough money to buy something like this, you know?”

“No thanks. Don’t squeeze blood from a stone.”

I quickly put the hairpin down.

“Just reminded me of Oscar collecting shiny things.”

“You’re just as bad. Didn’t you just give him that mana stone necklace or whatever recently? You’re spoiling him.”

Leon clicked his tongue, then frowned when he saw the long line at the bakery across the street.

“Ah shoot. I knew this would happen. Should’ve come earlier.”

“It’s fine. I don’t need to eat it.”

“But it’s your favorite pastry. The festival-limited pastry. We’ve had it every year, how can we not have it after coming all this way?”

“No, why would there be such a long line for pastries…”

Gulp. As I tried to refuse again, the wafting aroma made me swallow repeatedly.

I wondered just how delicious this bread must be for Ariella to have eaten it without fail every festival.

Seeing such a long line, it must be really good. With Leon’s constant encouragement, I was getting curious.

“See? You want it. Go wait by the fountain. I’ll buy it quickly and come.”

“Thanks.”

I pretended to give in and accepted Leon’s offer.

***

‘Sometimes being in crowded places like this isn’t so bad.’

The main square with the fountain was buzzing with anticipation for the fireworks. I felt my mood lifting along with everyone else’s.

Perhaps there was a rumor about the fountain granting wishes, as people were throwing coins into it while making prayers.

‘Maybe I should make a wish too.’

I took a coin from my pocket and threw it into the fountain like others were doing.

The coin made a plop sound as it sank into the water. I clasped my hands and bowed my head before it.

‘Please let me survive and raise Oscar safely into a proper adult dragon.’

My wish had remained the same since I first met Oscar.

“Might you be Lady Hayworth?”

While I was concentrating on my prayer, I heard an unfamiliar presence. I drowsily opened my closed eyes.

Some strange man was acting familiar to me.

“…Yes?”

He suddenly pulled off the hood of the robe I was wearing. As the robe came off, my pink hair cascaded over my shoulders.

“It is you. I almost didn’t recognize you with that on.”

“What rudeness is this?”

“Hey, Hans. Didn’t I tell you it was Lady Hayworth? Wasn’t I right?”

Whoever he was, he was extremely rude. When he gestured, two more men who appeared to be his companions joined him.

“I’m a reporter from the Imperial Daily. These are my colleagues.”

“Why did you break off the engagement with His Highness the Prince? Was it really because of His Highness’s private life?”

“Or was it because of that man you danced with at the Imperial ball? Who was that man?”

The three reporters surrounded me and began bombarding me with questions.

“I don’t do interviews in places like this. Especially not with such rude people. Please move aside.”

Though I clearly expressed my refusal, they showed no signs of backing down.

“This isn’t just any matter, it’s an Imperial engagement cancellation. The public has a right to know, my lady.”

“Is there some reason it shouldn’t come to light?”

“If you don’t want any misunderstandings, why don’t you just tell us clearly?”

They pressed me relentlessly like a pack of piranhas that had found their prey.

“Who? Lady Hayworth? That Prince’s ex-fiancée?”

“Wow, she’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman in my life.”

“What? I want to see too.”

To make matters worse, people in the square started gathering around, murmuring.

‘What should I do.’

In an instant, crowds of people swarmed around me. My heart pounded and my blood ran cold at the sudden situation.

Just then, someone grabbed my wrist.

“There’s going to be a loud noise, don’t be startled.”

Just as the low voice penetrated my ear, there was a bang! sound of something bursting.

The square instantly turned into chaos.

“Shall we run?”

When I came to my senses, someone was leading me away from that place.