Henry was coming to visit. Since my condition had improved, he was visiting as promised.

‘I’ll tell Oscar to stay in his room, meet Henry briefly, and send him off.’

Since Oscar had become more docile after becoming my companion dragon, I didn’t think it would be a problem.

However, an unexpected issue arose.

“Miss! We, we have a problem!”

As Laura was helping me finish getting ready, Jenny burst in breathlessly.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“The gift carriage sent by His Highness arrived first and well…”

“Gift? Suddenly?”

A gift from Henry. It was unexpected and bewildering, but he had given me cake before.

I wondered what kind of gift it was that made Jenny so surprised.

“What did he bring?”

“I brought one to show you, Miss. Here it is.”

Jenny handed me something. It was a baby shoe just the size of my palm.

“……”

As soon as I took it, my heart sank.

‘Oh right. Henry doesn’t know baby Oscar is gone. What should I do…’

I froze in awkwardness while the maids made a fuss.

“I think it was sent for baby Oscar.”

“You silly girl. How could you bring this? It will make the Miss sad.”

Laura scolded Jenny. She seemed embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Miss. But since it’s a gift from the imperial family, I thought you should know. I guess I made a mistake.”

Jenny also seemed uncomfortable seeing me at a loss for words.

“No, it’s right to tell me the truth. I should know. I’ll explain it well to His Highness.”

I comforted Jenny, who didn’t know what to do. It was better to know in advance than to receive the gift unprepared and be surprised.

Looking at the cute little shoes, I imagined baby Oscar wearing them.

“They’re pretty. It would have been cute if a baby wore them.”

Oops, was I being insensitive this time?

Suddenly, the atmosphere became solemn, and I heard sniffling. When I looked up, Jenny and Laura were crying.

“Oh, no. Girls. Why are you crying?”

“Where did the baby go? I miss him so much.”

Laura, who had been scolding Jenny earlier, wiped tears with the back of her hand.

“Stop it. We shouldn’t cry. How difficult must it be for the Miss?”

Jenny was also sobbing while trying to stop Laura.

“We’re being silly. The Miss must be having the hardest time.”

“We’re sorry, Miss.”

They forcibly swallowed their tears and resumed helping me get ready.

‘It can’t be helped. The maids must have grown very attached to baby Oscar.’

Unlike me, who was strict when needed, they were baby Oscar’s absolute supporters.

Even though they were mistreated and threatened with death when I wasn’t around…

I guess baby Oscar was just too cute not to love.

I felt a pang of sympathy, but I needed to meet Henry soon.

‘I need some time to think…’

Though I felt sorry for them, I needed to act a little.

I tensed the tip of my nose and ordered them with the saddest face I could make:

“Girls, I’d like to be alone for a moment…”

“Understood, Miss. His Highness’s carriage will arrive soon, so please compose yourself and come out.”

At my command, the maids promptly left. A headache was coming on.

“Why is Henry doing this? Is it because I lied that Oscar was my own child?”

I muttered frantically while looking in the mirror.

“Why did I even tell such a lie?”

I wanted to discuss this headache-inducing situation with someone, but since I had lied alone to avoid the situation, I had to solve it alone.

“Still though. I even said I couldn’t forget the baby’s father! Oh, Mother!”

As I was about to flop down on the bed, forgetting about getting ready, I locked eyes with Oscar.

Truly, I was so startled I almost had a heart attack.

“O-Oscar. When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I just urgently wanted some candy.”

Oscar grinned and took a lollipop from the candy basket and put it in his mouth.

‘I wonder if he heard my muttering?’

My face burned with embarrassment. I felt a bit resentful that I couldn’t even talk to myself freely in my own room.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“About the own child thing?”

“……”

“Or about not forgetting the baby’s father?”

“……”

He definitely heard. My already flushed face grew even hotter, feeling like it would burn up.

“Is that a secret, Master?”

“Yes.”

“But why did you tell the prince?”

“Y-you should sit on the sofa, not the bed, Oscar.”

Embarrassed and at a loss for words, I pointed out where he was sitting.

“But Master.”

“Yes?”

“I saw in picture books that other people’s dogs and cats sleep on their owners’ beds. I have evidence.”

Oscar showed me the fairy tale book he had brought.

The picture book showed cats and dogs curled up on beds.

‘Dragons are cunning indeed. Now he’s even bringing evidence. He’s using his brain.’

Still, not a chance. I closed the book with a thud and glared.

“Sorry, but these are dogs and cats. Dragons are not allowed.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Since you’re my dragon, it’s my decision, right?”

“…Yes. Oscar is Ari’s dragon.”

Having lost the argument to my arbitrary logic, Oscar obediently got up from the bed and sat on the sofa.

Still, seeing him grinning, he seemed pleased with the words “my dragon.”

“Not Ari, Master.”

“Not Ari, Master.”

When I corrected his form of address, Oscar repeated it, clearly committing it to memory.

‘He keeps subtly pushing boundaries. Even entering my room as he pleases.’

I felt indignant but had no time to scold him. Henry’s carriage would arrive soon.

“Hey Oscar.”

“Yes, Master.”

“We’re having a guest, so… could you wait quietly in your room?”

“Is the prince coming?”

So he already knew Henry was coming. I couldn’t hide it anymore.

Since it had come to this, I decided to be honest.

“Yes. It won’t take long.”

“Can’t Oscar meet him, too?”

“No. We need to have an important conversation.”

“But I’m friends with the prince too…”

Oscar’s expression quickly turned gloomy.

My head hurt. From Oscar’s perspective, Henry would still be his friend, but even if they met, I had no way to explain Oscar’s sudden growth.

“Oscar. You’re adult Oscar now.”

“Oh, right. I’m an adult.”

Oscar hit his knee, having completely forgotten that fact himself.

Well, I guess it’s understandable. His growth was too rapid, and it hadn’t been long since he returned as an adult.

“I need to explain why baby Oscar is gone. It would be better if we talked alone for a bit.”

“Hmm.”

“So can you stay quiet?”

“Is Master in trouble because baby Oscar is gone?”

“No, not exactly. Since he even brought gifts, I think I should explain properly.”

Oscar slowly nodded.

“Okay. Adult Oscar will hide well.”

“Thank you, Oscar.”

“No problem.”

Oscar accepted surprisingly easily.

‘Why is he being so docile? Has he finally matured?’

Something felt off, but I was already preoccupied with meeting Henry.

I quickly appeased Oscar, sent him to his room, and headed to the drawing room.

***

‘I didn’t expect… so many…’

I stared in bewilderment at the mountain of child gifts piled in one corner of the drawing room.

Befitting a member of the imperial family, the scale of gifts was beyond imagination.

From children’s clothes and shoes to toys and various fairy tale books. It included practically everything a child might use.

“Are you surprised?”

“Ah, yes. A little.”

“I think I went overboard. I just picked everything that children his age need and like, and it ended up like this.”

Henry scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly, looking embarrassed.

‘Sigh, where do I even begin to explain?’

The mountain of gifts made me feel more desperate. He must have prepared them to make a good impression since I said it was my child. It felt awkward to reject his kindness.

Still, I had to say something.

“Well, Your Highness, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. But toys aren’t necessary anymore.”

“Why, Nuna?”

“Because… there’s no child to play with them anymore.”

“What?”

Henry’s eyes widened.

‘How should I say this? Saying the child’s father took him away would be most plausible?’

I was a bit worried whether the excuse I had hastily thought of earlier would sound strange.

“Actually, the child’s father…”

As I was about to explain, there was a knock at the door. Knock, knock.

Was it my imagination? I suddenly felt chills.

Before I could answer, the door creaked open.

“Hello, Prince.”

And a very childlike voice was heard.

‘Oh my goodness…’

Sure enough.

There stood someone I hadn’t expected at all.

Child Oscar had returned.