“It’s unfair that Olivier and the others get all the good stuff!”
The Dragon Girl, Rio, burst into complaints at the dinner table. The girl, who had been going out into town frequently lately, was upset because she hadn’t had any dresses made while she was away.
“Indeed, I agree. If Jared would fund it, I would certainly ask for one too.”
Rosa Roen followed Rio’s complaint. She was a fighter for the Assassination Organization Waalthe, but now that the organization had quietly disbanded, she was working as a waitress. Soon, the collaborator of the organization who managed the store was retiring due to age, and she was scheduled to take over the store as manager.
In her spare time, she was also teaching magic to her beloved young man, Conrad Alway. Conrad, Olivier’s younger brother, was learning magic from Jared, but he seemed to be learning a lot from Rosa, who shared the same fire attribute. Especially since she was the one he liked, his efforts seemed to double when she was in front of him. His relationship with Conrad’s mother was also good, and Rosa seemed happy to be getting closer to Conrad without Olivier and the others knowing.
It was a surprise when she went out of her way to bow to Jared and Olivier and offer to teach Conrad magic, but their compatibility seemed good, and she heard that her younger brother’s skill as a magician was rapidly improving.
“Oh my, then I guess I should ask for one too.”
Almeida joined in with a soft smile. She was Jared’s master and the one who saved his life, a cute girl around mid-teens. However, contrary to her appearance, she was actually older than Olivier and the others. Olivier’s heart stirred when she noticed Almeida looking at her beloved disciple with teasing eyes. This girl of unknown age sometimes felt closer to Jared than anyone else.
Having shared meals and sleepless nights with him, Olivier often felt a kinship with her, like siblings or even a mother and son. On the other hand, Olivier and the other women sometimes noticed Almeida looking at her disciple as a woman.
“We demand that dresses be made for us too!”
“I know. Everyone who wasn’t home today will have a tailor come to the house later, so don’t pout.”
Jared offered a wry smile to his younger friend, and Olivier chimed in.
“Honestly, Rio. You don’t have to puff out your cheeks like that. Right, Jared?”
“Speaking of which, where were you during the day? You’ve been going out into town quite a bit lately, is there no one accompanying you?”
Rio probably knew that Jared didn’t play favorites among the family, but she must have been frustrated to have missed out on a fun event without her knowledge. In that respect, no matter how much of a dragon or how long-lived she was, she seemed as innocent as her outward appearance, which was amusing.
Jared was planning to give dresses not only to Rio, but also to Rosa and Almeida, as well as to Lily, who wasn’t present, and the two secretary officers, Ernesta. Olivier was impressed by her fiancé, who was surprisingly attentive to the women.
“W-well, you see, um, that’s right, I’ve made a few friends!” Rio stammered. “So I’ve been playing in town with them.”
“…That sounds suspicious. I hope not, but have you found a boyfriend?”
The word “boyfriend” made the women flinch. Olivier’s mind didn’t picture a boy and girl their age holding hands, but for some reason, an adult man leading young Rio by the hand. It wasn’t a pleasant sight at all. If the girl were to get a boyfriend, she worried about how Jared, who had been visibly treating Rio as a sister lately, would react. More importantly, she wondered if a princess of the Dragon Kingdom should be so quick to fall in love. Of course, she believed love should be free, but considering the possibility of them being torn apart later due to their social status, she was torn as to whether she should watch over them as an adult or gently admonish them.
“G-go away! I don’t have a boyfriend! They’re really just friends!”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t make friends. I just want you to introduce them properly if you have someone you’re close to. That’s all.”
“I understand. Then I’ll invite my friend to the mansion next time!”
Rio, who had been pouting, broke into a smile when she learned she could invite her friend to the mansion. She wondered when she had made friends, but she had probably been holding back from inviting them to the mansion for various reasons. While her usual behavior was that of a child appropriate to her appearance, she might have been holding back due to Olivier and Hannelore. Many of the women envied her, as she showed no such restraint towards Jared. It was precisely because Rio, who had once attacked Jared in a fit of rage over her brother’s enemy, could still interact with him without restraint. And it was precisely because of that unrestrained nature that Jared doted on her like a sister.
Next to her fiancé, the Dragon Girl was closest to Emilia, who wasn’t here. Since they started living together, Olivier learned that her younger sister was surprisingly good at becoming close with others. Now she was practically best friends with Yeny and often stayed overnight at the Daum Barony, including today. She was treated like a daughter in their mansion as well, and Baron Daum personally went to ask Duke Alway for permission to invite her to his mansion. The girl who once envied Olivier and harassed her was gone. Now she was an honest girl, living her life regardless of her connection to the Ducal Family. Olivier was happy for her as an older sister.
“Ah, right. Um, I’ve been wondering if I should say this or not, but… I wanted to ask Olivier and the others something?”
“Oh? What is it?”
“You just said I could invite a friend over… but would it be alright if I invited someone else? No, if it’s not okay, it’s not okay. Actually, it would be more convenient for me if you said no.”
“…I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, but is there someone you want to invite? It’s fine with me. Right, Mother?”
“Of course. If they’re Rio’s friends, they’re important to us too, so don’t hesitate.”
“R-right. Thank you. But, will it be a bother?”
“That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate. We’re family.”
“That’s right. If you hesitate, I’ll be sad.”
Olivier inwardly tilted her head, wondering if it was her imagination that Rio’s hesitant question sounded as if she hoped they would refuse.
“By the way, Rio, who would you like to invite?”
Hannelore asked Rio, as if looking forward to it, and the girl whispered with a bitter expression.
“Brother.”
