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Chapter 141

Across from the terrace, Ryoukichi and the rest watched over my conversation with Vaje with warm smiles. With smiles on their faces, they returned to the guest lounge and expressed their gratitude to Vaje for her efforts.

The first person to speak to Vaje was Ryoukichi. Ryoukichi placed a hand on Vaje’s shoulder in an attempt to cool down the dragon who was burning with heat that would set those around her ablaze. Clearly, we could not have Vaje burning down the royal palace.

「Well done, Vaje. If you speak with Lord Dran in person, you’ll gradually be able to converse naturally. I’ll help you, so take your time getting used to Lord Dran’s presence.」

Maternal concern gushed forth from Ryoukichi, though Liu Yuu seemed rather dumbfounded by her own mother. Perhaps Liu Yuu was finally in her rebellious phase.

「Mother, you may very well be the reason for Vaje’s nervousness. Besides, you kept Dran’s identity as Lord Dragon a secret from me even after you found out.」

「Fufu, doesn’t a secret shared between two sound lovely, Liu Yuu?」

Ryoukichi’s mischievous laughter was unlike someone who was a mother of a child. Liu Yuu could not find an answer to reply to her mother and let out a soft sigh instead. A thought that I had for a long time popped into my mind. Somehow, Liu Yuu could never be a match for her mother. Perhaps it was even more accurate to say that Ryoukichi was always a step ahead of her daughter.

「Mother, please practice some prudence. Is it appropriate to be acting so besotten before your daughter?」

「Hoho, that’s because Lord Dran is such a charming man. I always envy Selina and Dramina who are by his side. Don’t you share the same thought, Liu Yuu?」

「That’s true, but you don’t seem afraid of your words to someone who’s an Ancient-Celestial Dragon. In my opinion, I’m envious of that just like Selina and the rest. Vaje, what do you think?」

Despite Liu Yuu’s statements, it seemed like she was not one to be speaking in such a manner. After all, she clearly forgot how startled Vaje was to find out that she was the daughter of the Water Dragon.

「Oh, uh… If you ask me whether I’m envious, I definitely am. My envy and jealousy are piled as high as mountains, but if I continue staying by Lord Dran’s side, my insides and nerves are going to be twisted to bits.」

Vaje let out a huff with her nose and puffed up her chest in pride while speaking. Though, from the looks of Vaje’s current behavior, there was certainly no doubt about her final statement coming true. It would be great if Vaje could return to how she used to behave, but it was certainly inappropriate to force her to ruin herself and puke up blood.

As the three dragons chattered over this and that, discussing their attitudes and their personal issues, Selina and the rest listened with a rather uninvolved demeanor. Unlike Vaje and the other dragons, perhaps these non-dragons were simply unbothered by my status as an Ancient-Celestial Dragon.

「Am I the only one who thinks I’m treating Dran too casually after seeing Vaje’s fuss?」

Selina spoke with a slightly discomforted tone. Her neck and tail tilted to the side, failing to understand Vaje’s risk of hurling up her insides if she stood by me for too long.

Fumu, how adorable.

Diadora was the one who budged the least. For the longest time, I had the impression that this spirit of the black rose maintained a detached attitude except when she was trying to seduce me.

「Well, in that case, how about switching to saying Lord Dran, Lord Dragon, Mighty Ancient Celestial-Dragon from now on? It might be hard to make such a swift change, but it’s just a matter of time before I get used to it, like Vaje. What do you think, Dran? If that’s what you wish, I’ll do so for you.」

Diadora was prone to utter just teasing words at times. I loved this about her, but she was clearly aware of my answer.

Fumun.

「Please don’t do that. It takes quite a bit for me to handle Vaje’s attitude toward me. If you and Selina do the same, I’ll cry.」

I did say that I would cry, and I definitely would. Such certainty was nothing to be proud of or something to brag about, but I would cry.

「I knew you’d say that. Selina, you heard him. Even if Dran is the reincarnation of an Ancient-Celestial Dragon more powerful than the gods, any change in your current attitude will make him feel isolated. He’ll cry from that. If you don’t want to see him cry, you’d better stop with this notion.」

「Well, I get it, but… stop sounding so proud and looking so dignified while talking about Dran crying. Goodness.」

Despite the ongoing conversation, I would certainly discard my pride and bawl pathetically if Selina and the rest started treating me like a stranger.

「Well, that’s it. If you have complaints or protests against Dran, feel free to trouble him by keeping him at a distance.」

「That’ll be the most effective with Dran. He’ll surrender immediately. Though, Dran’s crying face must be precious. I hope to see that someday. Let’s save this trump card until we’re in the mood for it.」

Fumu…

Selina and Diadora were looking at me with conniving looks on their faces, and their sculpted beauty made them look even more terrifying. There was no doubt that they had grasped a sore spot of mine to blackmail me with. My only relief was that Dramina was not participating in whatever Selina and Diadora was muttering about.

That being said, when I shifted my gaze to Dramina, she was smiling bewitchingly as she listened in to the conversation between Selina and Diadora. The words that came out of Dramina’s mouth were beyond my imagination.

「In that case, I’ll gladly console the heartbroken Dran who has been brushed off by you two. Showing kindness to a partner in their time of need is the best way to bolster intimacy, and that’s an unshakable truth of this world.」

Such consolation would be heartening, but this calculative answer sparked a thought in my mind—women sure were terrifying creatures.

「What? That’s cheating, Dramina!」

Selina swished her tail in evident protest, and Dramina flashed her an elegant smile. In an instant, Selina was dazzled by that smile to the point that her legs went weak. Right before she toppled onto the ground with a whimper, Diadora managed to catch her and keep her upright.

Although Selina was supposed to have grown immune to Dramina’s beauty, an intentional smile like this one was still too much to handle. Even Diadora and Liu Yuu, who were bystanders, were starting to blush.

「Fufu, I may not be experienced in love, but I’ve lived far longer than you. Selina, here’s a lesson from a senior in life. As for everyone else, we’ve agreed on being Dran’s partners, but I’m sure you haven’t given up on being number one, have you? In that case, I’ve got to make use of whatever opportunity that comes my way to appeal to him.」

I was reminded that Selina had not given up her position as my legitimate wife yet.

Every single day, I was occupied with loving each of these ladies down to every bone, every hair, and every drop of blood in their bodies. It was hard to even try to rank them in any order.

As I mulled over who was first or second, or how I could even rank them, the ladies continued their conversation.

「That’s true, but Dramina has keen eyes, so you mustn’t let your guard down! She’s already on the same wavelength as Dran…」

Selina seemed to shudder with unease, though Diadora appeared unbothered. Rather, Diadora noticed my gaze and looked over with her obsidian eyes. A smile unnoticeable by Selina spread on her face as she flaunted her waxy and bare shoulders to me. That very smile of Diadora was akin to that of an elder sister watching over a younger sister fondly; a smile of someone who had gained certain insight.

Diadora was smiling because she knew Dramina was not being serious. After all, if Dramina truly intended to pull something like this off, she would not have declared her plans to Diadora and Selina. She would have planned for a similar situation and struck without the other two noticing. The fact that she was speaking so candidly about such actions meant that she was merely teasing Selina for her amusement.

Clearly, Dramina’s loved ones were not confined to me. Selina and Diadora were part of those she cared about.