The Countess Lady’s Pet Dragon

Chapter 9: Exposure (3)

The Next Morning an awkward silence lingered in the mansion’s parlor.

Four people…
No, to be precise, three people and one creature were silently staring at each other.

“Are you saying…this child is Schwartz?”

It was Vernus and Melissa who first broke the silence.

“Yes.”

“Huh…”

“What on earth is this all about…?”

At Milia’s calm nod, Vernus and Melissa looked at the boy sitting next to her with a stunned expression, sighing quietly as if they had run out of words.

His dark blue hair resembled the night sky, and atop his head, a pair of horns had grown. A tail covered in black scales swayed behind him, and his amber, slit-shaped eyes held a hint of nervousness.

It was a form they were all too familiar with.

“It’s the first time I’m meeting you in this form, Count, Madam…”

“I-I see…”

“I don’t even know what to say…”

The boy, lowering his head awkwardly, made Vernus and Melissa look even more troubled.

Their reaction was understandable.

A dragon turned human.
It was something out of a fairy tale.

“So…you’ve been able to change into this form since a year ago?”

“Yes…though I’m still not very skilled at it.”

At Melissa’s question, Schwartz nodded, fiddling with his horns.

“Hmm…”

Watching him, Vernus let out a low groan.

Right now, his mind was more confused than ever.

It was a sensation he hadn’t even felt when he was trapped in an enemy camp with a small squad after falling into a barbarian ambush.

“Sigh…”

But that wasn’t what was important right now.

“Once again, we owe you for saving Milia’s life. Thank you.”

Last night’s assassination attempt on Milia—everyone present knew that without Schwartz, she wouldn’t be alive.

“I only did what I had to.”

Schwartz answered modestly, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“Do you desire anything? If you have a wish, I will do my best to grant it.”

“A wish…”

Trailing off, Schwartz glanced at Milia, who gave a silent nod, understanding what he wanted to say.

“Sigh…”

Though he had thought it over countless times, speaking it aloud was not easy.

But it was something that had to be said.

“I want to stay by Milia’s side.”

“…”

At his declaration, silence blanketed the room again.

They say sometimes silence is more frightening.

Schwartz, feeling the weight of that silence, stared resolutely at Vernus. The die had been cast.

“Do you understand what that means?”

“Yes, I understand perfectly.”

Vernus broke the silence with his question, and Schwartz nodded firmly.

“Hmm…”

Vernus fell into deep thought, letting out a low hum.

Watching him, both Milia and Schwartz felt their mouths go dry.

Minutes passed…

“You may do as you wish.”

“…?”

Both Milia and Schwartz stared wide-eyed at him, unable to believe what they had just heard.

Did they hear that wrong?

“Why the surprise?”

“No, it’s just…are you sure? Isn’t this too sudden?”

Surely it wasn’t an easy decision.

But it appeared so, at least to them.

“Of course, it’s not easy. But there is one condition.”

“A condition?”

At Vernus’ words, Milia tilted her head, and Schwartz, tense, asked cautiously.

Whatever the condition, as long as he could stay by Milia’s side, he was ready to face anything, even hellfire.

“One year. During that time, you will remain here as Milia’s attendant and learn everything required of you. That is my condition.”

“One year…”

It was both a long and short time but it didn’t matter.

If he could stay by Milia’s side, one year was nothing.

“Understood.”

“Good. Discuss the details with Milia.”

“Yes.”

With a nod, Schwartz responded to Vernus, who stood up. Milia and Schwartz both bowed slightly and began to walk toward the hallway.

Then, suddenly…

“Schwartz, could you wait a moment?”

Melissa, who had been silently watching, called out to them.

“Yes, Madam. What is it?”

“It’s nothing serious. Come here for a moment.”

Looking puzzled, Schwartz tilted his head but followed her beckoning.

“Sit here.”

And then, the unexpected happened…

She patted her lap lightly, signaling for him to sit.

“Huh…?”

“Uh, Madam?”

Both Schwartz and Milia stared in disbelief.

“It’s fine. Come on.”

“Uh, well, um…”

Feeling thoroughly unprepared, Schwartz hesitated, thinking maybe Vernus would intervene, but Vernus simply sipped his tea, unconcerned.

“Eek!”

“M-M-Madam!?”

When his final hope disappeared, Melissa grabbed Schwartz’s arm and pulled him onto her lap.

“Mother!? What are you doing!?”

“Madam…what is this about?”

Seated on Melissa’s lap, Schwartz gave her a bewildered look.

“I’ve always wanted a son like you. Indulge me for a moment, won’t you?”

“Ahaha…”

Feeling her hand pat his head, Schwartz let out a weak laugh.

Like mother, like daughter…their behavior was strikingly similar.

“By the way, are these really horns? May I touch them?”

“That might be a little…They’re more sensitive than you’d think.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Schwartz’s troubled expression, Melissa let out a hum of interest.

Ah, this is hopeless.

Just as Schwartz resigned himself to his fate, Melissa reached out and began touching his horns.

“@()%)($#@!)($)*@”

“I’m sorry. I just had to try it once.”

At the strange sensation on his head, Schwartz let out an indescribable cry, and Melissa, smiling mischievously, looked down at him.

As expected, Schwartz could do nothing but endure.

Finally, after some time…

“My dear, that’s enough. Schwartz looks uncomfortable.”

“Thank you, Schwartz, for playing along with my little joke.”

At Vernus’ clearing of his throat, Melissa let go, looking a little disappointed.

“No, it’s me who should be grateful.”

Schwartz bowed his head respectfully.

The Valentine family…Vernus, who welcomed him, Melissa, who treated him like a son, and Milia, who gave him a place beside her—this was his precious family, worth more than anything.

“Please take care of our daughter, Schwartz.”

“Yes, Madam.”

With a soft smile directed at Melissa, Schwartz mirrored it with his own.

“Now, let’s go to my room. We need to plan what’s next.”

“Yes, Milia.”

With that, Schwartz followed Milia out of the parlor, bowing once more to Melissa before disappearing into the hall.

“Huu…”
Entering the room, Schwarz let out a brief sigh.

“You must have been pretty nervous, huh?”
Milia chuckled softly, looking at Schwarz.

“You were nervous too, my lady.”

“That’s true. Honestly, I was a little surprised. I didn’t think things would resolve this easily.”
Nodding in agreement, Milia spoke as if still a bit bewildered. She had prepared herself for the worst possible outcome and was still unsure if the current situation was real.

“Ah… I feel completely drained.”

“So do I…”

But the tension didn’t last long. Feeling the fatigue from the release of their earlier stress, both Milia and Schwarz leaned back, she onto the bed, and he onto the sofa.

Who knows how long they stayed like that.

“Schwarz, come here for a moment.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Responding to Milia’s call, Schwarz rose from his seat and approached her.

“Sit here.”
Milia patted the spot beside her.

“R-right here?”

“Yeah. Why? Don’t like it? Then how about sitting here?”
She grinned mischievously, pointing at her lap, prompting Schwarz to wave his hands in protest and reluctantly sit next to her.

“Eek!”

“Whoa!?”

In an instant, Milia grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her, causing Schwarz to tumble, burying his face in her lap without resistance.

“L-lady Milia!?”

“Shh. Stay still.”
She clicked her tongue and began stroking his hair, calming him as he fumbled to form words.

“…”

What exactly was this situation?

He didn’t dislike it, but there was an odd feeling that something important was slipping away. Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Milia hummed softly as she continued to run her fingers through his hair.

“I won’t see you for a whole year.”

“Seems like it.”

At Milia’s melancholic remark, Schwarz nodded with a slightly bitter smile. In a week, she was set to enroll at Central Academy in the kingdom’s capital, Barenberg.

Truthfully, Schwarz wanted to follow her, but it wasn’t possible. According to the academy’s regulations, first-year students were not allowed to bring their dragons.

The policy existed because first-year students were required to undergo compulsory education, and there wasn’t enough space to accommodate the dragons brought by all the nobles from across the kingdom. However, from the second year onward, since attendance wasn’t mandatory, fewer students remained, freeing up space for dragons.

In short, no matter what, the two of them had to be separated.

But knowing they would meet again, Schwarz was certain that the separation was worth enduring.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how you’ll be in a year.”

“I’ll do my best not to disappoint you, my lady.”

Schwarz smiled faintly as he responded to Milia.

And so, the day they would have to part drew ever closer.