There’s No Way I Can Raise a Dragon Daughter

“Th-That is, from now on… I just thought I wanted to get a little closer.”

“Hehehe! Sounds good!”

It’s a crisis situation.

I hate to admit it, but it’s true that Dragania has been a good shield for me and my daughter so far.

One of the numerous threats was indeed Prince Nikolai’s advances.

But now that we are out of Dragania’s protection…

Can we really refuse Nikolai’s strong demands?

Will we end up kneeling to power?

As that thought crossed my mind, the feeling of crisis made my vision go dark.

“Don’t!”

I shouted and hugged Tia tightly.

The lovely Tia, perfectly fitting into my arms, is not something I can give to anyone.

She is my daughter.

She is mine.

“What do you mean, ‘don’t’?”

“I won’t allow it! No matter the prince, I can’t give up our Tia!”

“What are you saying?”

“Excuse me?”

But soon after, I realized that the situation might be a bit different from what I thought.

Did Nikolai really come to make advances toward Tia?

Even if he did make advances, does it make sense for an 8-year-old boy to harbor dirty thoughts?

As that thought crossed my mind, a wave of enlightenment washed over me, and my face turned hot.

“I will definitely reclaim first place in the year-end exams in the second grade! I came to spy on the opposing force’s capabilities! I will come often from now on!”

“Ah…”

Just as I thought.

There was nothing dirty, heinous, or disgusting as I imagined.

In my mind, Nikolai was certainly a lord demanding sexual favors…

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I couldn’t lift my head.

“What’s wrong, Julia? Your face is red.”

“It’s nothing… Let’s just get inside… I’ll bring some tea…”

Regardless of anything else, he is a royal guest.

Moreover, he is very friendly towards Tia.

I couldn’t afford to neglect my hospitality.

“Hehehe! Tia will show you around the house!”

“What kind of tiny house is this! Were you living in a place like this after leaving Dragania?”

“But it’s really cozy inside!”

“Let me see!”

Tia and Nikolai dashed into the house.

I hurried to follow them, only to realize that Kal was quietly standing behind, so I turned back.

He seemed to have something to say.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“You already know, but the prince is not very honest.”

Is that so?

I knew he was quite mature for his age, but I didn’t really get a sense that he was dishonest.

Of course, I didn’t express that and just nodded, and Kal continued speaking.

“You must have sensed it faintly. The prince has an affection for Tiamat.”

“Yes…”

“Of course, since this is childhood affection, no one knows how it will turn out later. Still, you can think of it as having some potential.”

“What kind of potential?”

“The possibility of marrying Tia to the prince.”

“……”

Kal’s expression was quite serious.

No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t seem to be joking or probing me.

“Th-That can’t be. Marriage is not something that can happen just because two people like each other. Tia is a commoner…”

“She is a remarkably talented dragonkin. Whether it’s going to battle or learning magic, she will certainly achieve great things. Social elevation is inevitable.”

“……”

“You don’t need to take it so heavily. After all, it’s a distant future, so just think of it as a possibility for now.”

“Yes…”

Tia could marry the prince.

Just hearing the possibility of that made my mind go hazy.

While there was a crisis consciousness about losing my daughter to someone, I didn’t think only negatively.

Tia would eventually fall in love and marry someday, and the higher the status of her partner, the better.

From that perspective, Nikolai, who is currently the first in line for the throne, could be an excellent match.

Moreover, I used to tutor him, and I’ve seen him playing with Tia several times, so I’ve had some level of character assessment.

The result of the assessment was that although he lacked some manners, he was mature-minded and a commendable child.

He wasn’t completely flawless, but at this level, the flaws were minor.

In fact, it would be more strange for a person to have no flaws at all.

Thinking about it, Nikolai seemed too perfect as a potential son-in-law…

“Ugh.”

“……What kind of delusion are you having already?”

“I-I’m not having any delusion!”

Kal’s voice snapped me back to reality.

Delusion? What delusion?

I certainly didn’t imagine Tia marrying Nikolai the Emperor and me moving to the palace to enjoy a lavish life with many attendants.

Really.

“The possibility exists. I understand. I will try not to create any trouble.”

“I am glad you understand.”

The point was this.

Tia is someone who could become the Empress.

So now, please be careful with everything.

Do not get involved with a faction like Dragania again, and I hope you do not cause any incidents that could attract issues.

“Please go inside.”

With that, I opened the front door.

The chill was creeping in, making me feel as though I would freeze to the bone.

“No! Foxes can’t come inside the house!”

“Jackson is the exception! Even in the palace, Jackson is allowed to roam freely!”

“That’s your family’s rule! If you come to our house, follow our rules! And who is Jackson?”

“Jackson is Jackson!”

“I don’t know! It’s confusing, so everyone in our house is just Hekheki!”

“There’s no way such randomness works!”

“Ugh! If you don’t like it, then get out!”

“This child, having no manners with a prince…!”

As soon as I opened the door, I could see the two of them growling at each other, still unable to get inside.

They really were funny characters.

They get along well when playing.

But when fighting, they act as if they are sworn enemies.

I locked eyes with Kal and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Mom, why are you laughing?”

“Why are you laughing?”

“No… Ahem. No, just come inside. It’s cold.”

“But Nikolai keeps trying to bring Hekheki inside.”

“He’s not Hekheki! He has a proper name, Jackson!”

“Hmm. Since we have guests today, should I let the foxes play inside the house this time?”

“Really?”

“Heck!”

In an instant, Tia and the foxes’ expressions brightened.

The rule that no foxes could enter the house was one I had established.

But these days, I secretly bring in foxes and play around when Tia isn’t home.

It’s a bit embarrassing, so I won’t mention that, and I think I should gradually work towards removing that rule.

“You guys, don’t get too excited and make a ruckus. If you drop or break anything, I’ll kick you out, alright?”

“Hehehehe!”

“Tia, wash their paws clean and let them in.”

“Got it!”

Tia, Nikolai, and the foxes jumped with joy and rushed into the house.

Then, Tia started showing them around the small house, surrounded by foxes, and Nikolai seemed to be quite excited as well.

Perhaps he appeared even more excited than when he visited the Dragania villa.

I felt happy.

Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind.

Had there ever been a moment as happy as now when I live a normal life without any worries or concerns?

I wished every day could be like today.

Where I could forget all pain and suffering.

I hoped that the days with no incidents or changes, like today, would continue.

I entertained such extravagant thoughts for a moment.

*

Change is necessary.

I wanted the monotonous routine of every day to come to an end.

At this moment, I wished to die.

The Duke thought this way again today as he opened his eyes.

“Ugh…”

As soon as he tried to rise, extreme pain overwhelmed him.

His bandaged arms were already soaked with blood.

The traces of self-harm, which began from his wrists and the back of his hands, had now spread over his entire arms.

It seemed he had developed a tolerance for self-harm, as he couldn’t escape reality without continuously increasing the stimulation.

Of course, if he turned back into a dragon, the wounds would heal quickly.

But the Duke insisted on remaining in human form.

He found himself disgusting.

The black scales that Julia hated felt revolting to him.

He thought he would never be able to turn back into a dragon again.

“Duke.”

“……What is it?”

There was a knock on the door.

When the Duke replied in a hoarse voice, the butler paused for a moment before speaking from beyond the door.

“The Emperor’s messenger has come to see you.”

“Bring him to the drawing-room. I’ll prepare and come out.”

“Yes. For now, I escorted him to the drawing-room and offered him tea, but he won’t budge at the main gate. It seems you will have to go out to meet him, my lord.”

The Emperor’s messenger had arrived in person.

It was not a common occurrence.

Thus, there weren’t many expected matters at hand.

One thing was certain; it wouldn’t be good news.

“Ha…”

The Duke quickly changed his bandages and got dressed.

He concealed his mutilated forearms with long sleeves and covered his wrists and hands with white gloves.

Dressed in complete military garb, the Duke looked quite presentable.

The only exception was his dark face, which seemed stiff and expressionless, as though he hadn’t smiled since that day.

“Schwarz Dragania, Duke.”

“……What is the matter?”

Shuffling.

The Duke walked over the yellow grass.

At the main gate, the Emperor’s messenger stood still in splendid clothing.

A sinister aura surrounded him, and the Duke finally stood before the messenger.

“It is His Majesty Emperor Vladimir’s decree. Duke Dragania, you have been dismissed from your post as of 11 AM today. Therefore, both the title of Duke Dragania and all associated lands are hereby confiscated.”

“……”

Here it comes.

It was time to pay back the consequences of acting without regard for politics in human society.

The tensions that had built up were about to explode.

“Please return the insignia bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.”

“……”

The messenger slowly extended his hand.

The Duke froze for a moment as he looked down at the insignia of the Dragania family hanging from his chest.

He never liked being bestowed a title by humans, being under them.

He knew that a day like this would come, and he didn’t deliberately avoid it.

As a result, the faction that represented the anti-imperial faction led Duke Dragania was formed.

Both sides engaged in fierce strategizing and reached a conflict level just short of civil war.

That conflict had finally peaked today.

If he were to slap the messenger’s hand away now, war would commence.

A fight to overthrow the emperor and bring dragons above humans would begin.

In the past, the Duke would have done just that without hesitation.

“……Hmm?”

However, the Duke’s hand was slowly coming closer to the insignia on his chest.

After removing the insignia, he stared at it for a long time, contemplating the dragon symbol engraved on it.

The messenger’s eyes narrowed.

He had assumed that rejection would be the outcome.

He thought the Duke would declare Dragania’s independence and attempt a coup at this moment.

That was why he had led knights here in advance to surround the villa.

He had even prepared himself to be killed by the Duke here.

Yet, the Duke, without any resistance, placed the insignia in the messenger’s palm.

“I have returned it. Now, I will become a solitary dragon. Please tell Vladimir that it was enjoyable while it lasted.”

“……”

Stumbling.

The Duke turned away and walked back toward the villa.

He was exhausted now.

He was tired of everything.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no act more ugly than getting caught up in human conflicts and making a fuss.

He had lived ugly, but he didn’t want to leave this world in an ugly manner.

“Oh.”

The Duke, or rather Schwarz, halted momentarily.

It dawned on him that even this villa was no longer his.

Schwarz suddenly realized.

‘I have nowhere to go.’

Or rather, he did have somewhere to return to.

There were children and family to return to.

But that felt like an old tale now.

The one who ruined all those relationships was none other than Schwarz himself.

As that thought crossed his mind, his vision suddenly darkened.

An unbearable self-loathing and despair overwhelmed him.

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