When I opened my eyes, it was still the dim dawn. Having dozed off while holding Oscar, I immediately checked his forehead.

His temperature was normal.

His breathing was fine too, and he wasn’t sweating or shivering.

‘Thank goodness.’

I unconsciously let out a long sigh of relief.

‘Is his body completely healed now?’

After alternating between high fever and hypothermia, he hadn’t regained consciousness despite daily healing magic.

I had imagined Oscar’s condition worsening several times and was constantly plagued by anxiety.

That’s why I kept checking Oscar’s condition whenever I could.

[System: ‘Black Dragon’ is sleeping.

-Status Abnormality: Sleep state continues

-Interaction with the subject is impossible during sleep state.]

Even checking the system window habitually now only showed the same message.

It had been a week already.

Oscar remained in an unbearably long sleep.

According to Benedict, dragons sometimes enter a ‘sleep state’ for a certain period to recover their condition.

What did it matter how long he slept if he could recover healthily? The only problem was my anxiety about something happening to Oscar.

‘Let’s not think negative thoughts. Everything will be fine.’

I patted Oscar’s back gently and slowly closed my eyes.

***

“…Ari.”

A slightly drowsy voice called me in my dreams.

“Ari-i~”

I must have been exhausted from worrying too much. When I didn’t respond, he whined cutely again.

‘…Oscar?’

When I opened my eyes, I met ruby-red eyes.

Oscar was on top of me, gazing down at me.

“You’re awake…?”

Instead of answering, Oscar nodded.

I thought it was a dream, but it wasn’t. Oscar had finally woken up.

“Are you feeling better now? Does anything hurt?”

“Mm.”

Oscar, his eyes still full of sleepiness, nuzzled into my embrace.

“I’m back.”

‘I’m back,’ he says. Though trying to act brave, he must have waited a lot.

“Yes. Welcome back.”

I smiled and hugged Oscar tightly.

“I waited for you a lot too.”

Come to think of it, Oscar always waited for me. This time, I was the one waiting for Oscar.

“You’re naughty. Such a sleepyhead.”

“Why?”

“Do you know you slept for a week?”

“Hehe. I didn’t know.”

Of course, he wouldn’t know since he was asleep the whole time. I unconsciously spoke with a hint of reproach.

“Actually, I came back really early. Because I missed you.”

Well, it doesn’t matter now that we’re together again.

“The answer was Oscar.”

Perhaps he had an interesting dream during his long sleep. Oscar was saying things that were hard to understand.

“Pardon?”

“Oscar.”

When I widened my eyes in surprise, his red eyes persistently followed mine.

“So pat Oscar. Okay?”

How cute. Oscar pressed his cheek against my hand like a puppy.

“Yes. You’re the answer for me, Oscar.”

Even though I didn’t understand what he meant, I should respond. I gently answered while stroking his head.

‘Yes. Maybe Oscar is the answer to this puzzling game.’

I had only waited for Oscar to wake up. Couldn’t focus on anything else during that time. Now I couldn’t imagine life without Oscar.

“Tch.”

But Oscar still seemed somewhat dissatisfied with my answer.

“Oscar. I’m saying this just in case.”

“Mm.”

“I don’t want you to use magic recklessly.”

“Using magic recklessly?”

“Yes. Like getting angry in dragon form or using transformation magic.”

“Does Ari hate that?”

Oscar asked with gloomy eyes.

“No, it’s not that I hate it, I’m just saying this in case. From what I found out, since you’re still young, such magic puts a strain on your body.”

“Oscar’s not a baby.”

Oscar pouted with a sulky expression.

“Right. That was my mistake. You’re not a baby. But you’re still a magnificent hatchling. Anyway, it’s not good for a hatchling’s body. I’m worried you might get sick.”

“….”

Was he really doing such things behind my back? Oscar remained silent.

“Won’t do it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If Ari doesn’t like it, Oscar won’t do it. Promise.”

Oscar held out his pinky finger.

‘He’s putting what he learned before to good use.’

Oscar was indeed clever.

“Yes. Promise.”

I gladly linked my pinky with his and pressed our thumbs together.

Not knowing exactly what this day’s promise meant, or what troubles it might bring in the future.

***

“Where’s Ari?”

When Oscar woke up from his nap and found Ariella missing, he became quite agitated.

“I apologize, but it’s time for me to attend to Oscar.”

In other words, it was time for Benedict to cast healing magic on Oscar.

Ariella had taken this opportunity to take a quick bath, leaving only Benedict and Oscar in the room.

“What exactly did you do to make your mana flow look like that?”

“I never gave permission for you to touch my body.”

When Benedict asked mockingly, Oscar replied coldly.

“What’s wrong with friends helping each other?”

Friends? How dare he.

Oscar let out a scornful laugh.

“Just because I laughed, you think you’re my friend?”

“Yes.”

“A mere human not knowing their place.”

Even when Oscar glared threateningly, Benedict remained unfazed.

“I didn’t want to either, but I couldn’t refuse. Lady Hayworth personally asked for my help.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“It’s true. Without me, you might never have seen Ari’s face again.”

“Ari?”

Killing intent flashed in Oscar’s red eyes.

“Who are you to call her Ari?”

“Well, everyone calls her that. So I tried it too.”

“Not you. Only I can use nicknames besides her blood relatives.”

“Did Ari make that rule?”

“I made it. Got a problem?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll tear that insolent mouth of yours.”

Oscar snapped his fingers, but the black magic that formed dissipated. Seeing this, Oscar’s face turned pale.

“You probably don’t have the strength for that yet.”

“Shut up. It’s just because I slept too long. Give me a moment to get my life in order.”

“I doubt it. Even if you force out magic, in your current state, you can’t harm me at all.”

“Why not?”

“Because your body is full of my healing magic right now.”

In fact, Benedict was from the Dragon Guardian family.

He was the legitimate heir of the O’Neil family and a great mage.

Whether Oscar liked it or not, he had to accept his help.

“How disgusting!”

“Is your temper as bad as this?”

“Did you hide Ari?”

“I wish I had such authority.”

“Tell me or I’ll kill you.”

Oscar hated everything about him. His breathing, the strange smile on his lips – everything irritated him.

“She went to take a bath.”

“I want to go take a bath too.”

“Then I’ll go too.”

“I might not be able to use magic, but I can still use physical force. Want your neck broken right now?”

“I told you earlier. The healing magic connects us.”

“….”

“What should we do? If I die, you won’t be able to see Ari either.”

Oscar breathed heavily in frustration. Meanwhile, Benedict was thoroughly enjoying his temporarily granted ‘taste of power’.

“Won’t you tell me what you did?”

“What’s it to you?”

“If you tell me, it could be valuable for research.”

“Get lost.”

Oscar glared at Benedict while spitting out sharp words.

“Humans are only interested in their own greed.”

“Are you any different?”

“What?”

“You seem to be obsessed with only Ari.”

“Shut up.”

He had promised not to do anything that would strain his hatchling body anymore.

He wanted to be with her every moment. Afraid someone might take her away.

He had used polymorph because he was anxious about those targeting her, but Oscar wasn’t too happy about it either.

She had accused him of being a fraud, even called him a playboy, and even refused to pat him, treating him like a stranger.

He had generously told her ‘the answer is Oscar’, but was she even listening? She seemed completely uninterested.

She only worried about ‘Hatchling Oscar’s’ well-being.

“Don’t even dream about it.”

“Whatever it was, you won’t be able to do it for a while anyway.”

What an annoying human. Who does he think he is, acting like he knows everything? Oscar ground his teeth while looking at Benedict.

The O’Neils should be renamed from ‘Dragon Guardians’ to ‘Dragon Antagonizers’.

“Oscar, are you awake?”

Just then, Ariella entered the room after finishing her bath.

“Ari!”

The moment he heard her voice, Oscar jumped off the bed. He ran over on his short legs and threw himself into Ariella’s arms.

“Did you miss me?”

“Mm. Did you?”

“Of course.”

“Hehe.”

Oscar deliberately acted cute with Ariella, as if showing off to Benedict.

‘See that, idiot? Jealous?’

Whether he did or not, Benedict’s expression didn’t change at all.

“Ari. When is the magic mister going home?”

“Ah, he’s going to help until you’re better.”

“He can go home though. Doesn’t that mister have a job?”

Oscar pushed out his lips and complained.

“Well, researching dragons is my job, and I’ve already set up my research lab in the guest room.”

Benedict replied with a deliberately teasing tone.

“Ah right. And my bedroom too.”

“Commute without the bed.”

“Sorry, but I don’t want to. Maybe it’s because I’m twenty-five, but my stamina isn’t great.”

“So what? Not my problem.”

“How cruel. This is why I have to take care of myself.”

While the hatchling and the great mage were bickering, there was a knock at the door and the maid Laura entered.

“My lady. His Highness the Prince has come to visit.”

Just then came the news that another male lead had barged in.