-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Hatchlings and the Human World
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“By the way, brother.”
“Hm?”
“What's a hatchling?”
Lucian had been dwelling on what Ria said about hatchlings and 'play'. He just hadn't found the right moment to ask until now.
“We dragons live for about 1,500 years on average.”
“Fifteen hundred years?”
He thought Ria living for 300 years was an eternity, but a dragon's lifespan was beyond imagination.
“We're generally divided into hatchlings and adult dragons around the 300-year mark. In other words, you only become an adult after you turn 300.”
“So since you're 295, you're not an adult yet?”
“Hmph! Five years will pass in the blink of an eye. I'm practically a young adult dragon!”
“I want to be an adult soon, too. When I grow up, I'm going to travel the world with Ria.”
“Dream on. How are you going to take Ria anywhere? She's bound to the mansion, unable to move a muscle.”
“Somehow! If I become strong enough, I can set Ria free. When that happens, you should come travel with us too.”
Kaizareu flinched slightly, then turned his head away with a huff.
“Why would I spend my first 'play' with you two?”
“What's 'play'?”
“What do you even know?”
Kaizareu's look of disgust didn't faze Lucian in the slightest. He'd grown numb to such expressions from a very young age.
“Ria said it's only natural for me not to know much since I'm young. She said if I don't know something, I should just learn it. So tell me! What is 'play'?”
His harmless chattering, completely unaffected, left Kaizareu with no choice but to answer meekly.
“Dragons live for a very long time, so we get bored. To relieve that boredom, we blend in with humans or other races. Living among them with a new identity, hiding the fact that we're dragons—that's what we call 'play'.”
“Why hide that you're a dragon? People would love it if they knew.”
“Lucian, not everyone is like you. There are plenty of wicked humans in the world. They'll do anything to get their hands on us dragons. That's why dragons don't really like humans. Nothing good comes from getting involved with them.”
“But you said you live with people during this 'play'.”
“I told you, we do it while hiding our true identities. And it's just for fun, so we can do it or not. Of course, some of us enjoy 'play' for hundreds of years.”
Kaizareu stopped abruptly, looked around to see if anyone was nearby, and whispered to Lucian.
“This is a secret, but there's a dragon among the northern nobles here.”
“Really?”
“Shh. It's a secret. He's a real piece of work, so he doesn't like anyone knowing his true identity. Besides, it seems his family is quite famous among humans. He's an odd one, maintaining that family for nearly 200 years.”
“So, is that dragon noble the head of the family the whole time?”
“No, not exactly. It seems he uses servants to hide his identity. The strange thing about him is that he despises humans, yet he lives closer to them than any other dragon. Weird, isn't it?”
“You're close with me! You like humans, right?”
Struck by his absurd confidence, Kaizareu was momentarily speechless.
If any other human had said that, he would have been furious, but coming from Lucian, it wasn't infuriating at all. It was actually quite adorable.
“Huh?”
Without thinking, Kaizareu grabbed Lucian's cheek. The addictively soft texture made him grab the other one and start squishing them.
Lucian squeezed his eyes shut and let out a groan.
“Oww! Brother, that hurts!”
“You little rascal. You're quite something. You look like a harmless kid on the outside, but what's going on in there?”
When Kaizareu let go, both of Lucian's cheeks were flushed red. It looked so much like he was blushing that it made him laugh.
“I'm not close with any humans.”
In fact, he rather disliked them. To the point where he'd kill any who dared to act up in front of him without knowing their place.
“What about me?”
Kaizareu crossed his arms and looked down at him. He really did look like a little white rabbit.
“You're the exception! You're Ria's groom!”
“Hehe, so that makes me special?”
“How did you reach that conclusion?”
“Because I say so!”
“You cheeky little brat…”
He pressed down on Lucian's hat, making the boy yelp and struggle. Kaizareu's snickering was short-lived; he wiped the smile from his face, met Lucian's eyes, and spoke seriously.
“You can't act like that if you ever meet another dragon, okay?”
Seeing him serious for the first time, Lucian's eyes darted around.
“Dragons dislike humans more than you can imagine. No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they despise them.”
Though they could live for 1,500 years, the oldest dragon in history only lived to be 1,354. As humans evolved, the lifespan of dragons shortened.
In the past, dragons were objects of envy and respect, but now, they were treated more like prey.
How could dragons possibly like humans when these beings, who lived for a mere 60 years on average, dared to hunt them?
‘And things got even worse 300 years ago.’
He didn't know exactly what had happened. It was before he was born, and he had only heard bits and pieces from his parents.
A dragon from the Red Dragon clan, so powerful he was considered the next leader, had taken up with a human and then vanished without a trace.
One might wonder why a simple disappearance would cause such anger, but for a dragon to vanish without a trace meant one of two things.
First, death.
Second, being sealed away.
‘Kaizareu, never trust a human. They are ungrateful wretches who know nothing of gratitude and will only stab you in the back.’
The image of his mother, crying and venting her rage one day, came to mind.
His mother had said that dragon was her beloved older brother.
Influenced by his parents, he, too, leaned toward despising humans.
‘Well, no need to tell him all that.’
It was unlikely Lucian would ever meet another dragon besides him in his lifetime.
Kaizareu readjusted Lucian's hat and entered the village with him.
* * *
“Whoa…”
“Look at your mouth. A fly's going to get in.”
“There are so many people. And it's so big!”
The two had arrived at a village about a thirty-minute walk from the mansion.
Since the mansion was situated on a hill in the middle of a forest behind the imperial palace walls, the village was also located at the foot of the mountain.
Lotrin Village, mostly inhabited by those who couldn't afford to live in the central district.
Even though it was an outlying area away from the center, it boasted a comparable level of energy and size.
Lucian had never been outside the Cold Palace or the mansion in his entire life. He had no idea there were so many different people in the world.
As Lucian, completely captivated, started to wander wherever his eyes led him, Kaizareu grabbed his shoulder.
“Did you forget we came here to run an errand?”
“Oh, right.”
Thanks to Kaizareu, Lucian remembered his duty.
Lucian carefully unfolded the note he took from his pocket and checked the shopping list.
“...Spices, clothes for me, shoes, and a wooden sword!”
“Are you learning swordsmanship by any chance?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“How would I know? It says 'wooden sword' right here. I guess there wasn't a sword at the mansion that was right for you.”
He found it amazing how Kaizareu could deduce all that without being told. When Lucian looked at him with sparkling eyes, Kaizareu's lips twitched.
“Ahem! Let's get the ingredients first.”
“Okay! ...But where are we going?”
“You're really something else.”
Since this was Lucian's first time in a village or market, Kaizareu personally took his hand and led him around.
The two first bought the various ingredients Ria had requested at the market. There was more than they expected, so they stored the purchased items in Kaizareu's subspace.
“Alright, now we just need to get your clothes, shoes, and the sword, right?”
“Right!”
“Let's see... Where would be a good place?”
Kaizareu looked around. As a dragon who wouldn't bat an eye at most treasures, it was unlikely he'd find any clothes to his liking here. Especially not the shabby clothes sold at the stalls.
Seeing the coarse, plain clothes, Kaizareu scowled.
“Brother, this is cheap. Let's buy this.”
“Oh my, what a cute little customer. Did you come with your big brother?”
When the woman at the stall asked in a friendly tone, Lucian jumped in surprise and hid behind Kaizareu. It just made him look like a shy child, wary of strangers.
The woman smiled warmly and looked up.
“The child is so cute. Your younger brother, young man...?”
The woman trailed off, unconsciously closing her mouth. The intimidating aura coming from Kaizareu was no joke.
It wasn't just his atmosphere; his very posture radiated a noble grace.
Not only that, but his clothes and accessories were all precious items commoners would never encounter, and his hands and skin were so fine it was as if he'd never done a day of hard labor in his life.
She knew instinctively. This person was no commoner.
Wondering if she had made some terrible mistake, the woman lowered her head, her hands trembling.
“You.”
“Ye-yes... What is it, my lord?”
“Where is the most expensive clothing shop here?”
“What price range are you looking for, sir?”
The woman, who had tentatively started to raise her head, quickly bowed it again when she saw Kaizareu's cold glare.
“Th-the shops where the noble lords buy their clothes aren't in this village, sir. They're all in the central district. But if you're looking for the best clothing shop in this village...”
The woman pointed to a relatively well-paved street outside the market.
“You can go to 'Beruang' on that street. It has a green sign.”
“Hmph, I see. Let's go, kid.”
“Uh, oh...”
Lucian glanced back and forth between the striding Kaizareu and the woman, then gave the woman a quick bow before hurrying after Kaizareu.
Only after Kaizareu was some distance away did the woman let out a sigh of relief.
“Goodness, I've lived to see a noble lord visit a place like this.”
He seems kind to the child, so he can't be all that bad. Maybe he's his guardian?
Aside from how scary he was, he was breathtakingly handsome, so the woman craned her neck to sneak another peek at Kaizareu. He had already left the market and entered another street.
“We're going in here?”
Lucian and Kaizareu soon arrived at 'Beruang'. It was clear at a glance that the clothes here were in a different league from those sold at the market.
But they also looked just as expensive. Sure enough, the prices of the displayed clothes started at 60 silver.
Lucian fiddled with the 3 gold coins in his hand.
“Brother, I don't think this will be enough.”
“I know.”
“You know, and you still want to buy here? I'll just buy something from over there.”
As Lucian tried to head back to the market, Kaizareu grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him into the shop.
“Stop complaining and follow me. I'll buy it for you.”
Lucian, who had been struggling, blinked his eyes.
*Ting-a-ling-*
“Welcome!”
An employee shot up from her seat to greet the two. She was smiling her usual professional smile, but she faltered upon seeing the extraordinary beauty of Kaizareu and Lucian.
Then she noticed Kaizareu's attire and an abacus started clicking in her head.
This one was a big catch!
“Is there a particular design you're looking for, sir?”
“Bring out some clothes for this kid to wear.”
“Yes! Please wait just a moment!”
*Boss! Boss!*
While the employee went to get the owner, Kaizareu plopped down on a sofa set to one side. Lucian glanced around nervously before carefully sitting down next to him.
Seeing him stick so close when there was plenty of empty space, Kaizareu narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you so timid? First time in a place like this?”
“...Yeah. There are too many people.”
At first, it had all been fascinating, with so much to see that his head was spinning, but as time went on, the crowd started to feel a little scary.
To be precise, unpleasant old memories were slowly creeping back up.
The place Lucian had lived before coming to the mansion was the Cold Palace. A place with only five servants. Moreover, the tiny palace where he lived was surrounded by high walls, completely cut off from the outside world.
Then, people had suddenly stormed in for the Spirit Wedding, and amidst a crowd of strangers, Lucian had been dazedly sent off to the ghost mansion.
Living in the ghost mansion now was a thousand, ten thousand times better than living in the Cold Palace, but that didn't make the memories of that time any better.
Kaizareu, unaware of the circumstances, just thought Lucian was being peculiar.
“This isn't even that many people. You said you wanted to travel. Big cities have far more people than this.”
Lucian flinched. When he peeked at Kaizareu, he saw one corner of his mouth lift into a smirk.
“Where'd the little kid who boasted about traveling with Ria go?”
“I-I'm definitely going to travel! I'm not scared of people!”
Lucian stared intently at the people walking on the street. It was his own way of trying to overcome his fear.
