As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“

” [

! The great and mighty, perfect Dragon is here!]

“…!”

The three men reacted in their own ways. Robin’s eyes widened as he gaped, then tilted his head in confusion. Aiven flinched, and Hendrik quickly suppressed his surprise and laughed heartily.

Hendrik was the first to speak. “

! What is this cute giant lizard!”

“

?” [W-What? Cute, what? Gi-Giant lizard?]

Robin then spoke with a puzzled expression. “Is it a beast from Perils? I know the animals there are large, but I’ve never seen a lizard grow this big. It looks just like the toy dragon figurines sold in the capital.”

“

, those have become quite popular; they’re being made and sold everywhere.” Hendrik chimed in.

“

” [Tooooooy?!]

Finally, Aiven, with his usual stoic face, gave his opinion. “…This is a black dragon.”

“…!”

“…!”

Hendrik and Robin looked at Aiven as if they had been struck.

“

” [That’s right! Dark human!]

Ren jumped down from Maxion’s arms and stood on two feet. The baby dragon, with short, chubby hands on its hips, closed its eyes and arrogantly lifted its chin.

Robin blinked in disbelief. “T-That thing…?”

Ren’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

“

” [‘That thing’? This human is really rude.]

“It doesn’t look like an adult. Is it a baby dragon?” Quick to adapt, Hendrik looked at Ren with interest.

Luize spoke up. “That’s right. Its name is Ren, and it was born yesterday.”

“Born on the last day of the sharp wind moon. Children born then are said to have difficult temperaments like the winter wind. Was there no mother nearby?”

“

” [No. There’s none. I’m the only dragon left in this world now.]

“There’s no one else. It says it’s the last dragon in the world.” Edward translated the dragon’s words without a change in expression, prompting Robin to exclaim.

“How can Your Excellency understand dragon speech? Is there such magic?”

“I can understand without using magic. It seems I have dragon blood in me.”

“

, I see… Wait, what?”

“It’s likely one of my ancestors was a polymorphed dragon.”

“Whaaaaat?” Robin’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“As expected.”

“I thought so.”

Hendrik and Aiven nodded as if they had expected this.

Robin looked exasperated. “Is this something so easy to accept? Am I the only one left behind again?”

“…The symbol of the imperial family is the black dragon.”

Aiven replied calmly, and Robin retorted with a vein popping in his neck. “Then is the pope also a descendant of dragons since the temple’s symbol is the white dragon?”

Hendrik added an explanation. “

! Besides, His Excellency’s magical ability surpasses that of any existing wizard. His body is also extraordinarily strong without any special training.”

“That’s true, but… hasn’t the black dragon been a symbol of the imperial family since the founding of the empire? We learned that in history. So that’s why.”

“

” [Correct. The first emperor, an ancestor of Edward, and the imperial consort were polymorphed dragons.]

While Robin was lost in thought, Ren casually revealed the imperial family’s significant secret. Edward’s face showed faint embarrassment. His red eyes fixed on Ren. At this moment, he was glad only he could understand dragon speech.

Ren looked up and met Edward’s gaze. The baby dragon tapped his calf with its small forepaw.

“

” [The emperor was the black dragon Run, and the consort was the white dragon Ron. They went out to play and ended up founding both the temple and the empire. So, since my parents are your ancestors, I am technically your ancestor. I’ve been conscious for decades in the egg by human time, so you should respect me a bit more. Got it?]

Edward looked at Ren and murmured. “…Is that so?”

“What did the dragon say now?” Robin asked, having snapped out of his thoughts.

Edward wiped the stiff expression off his face and replied with a playful smile. “The dragon says it’s hungry.”

“Again? We fed it milk in the village just before we arrived. Ren, you have quite the appetite.” Luize marveled.

“

” [Every time you say that Luize thinks I’m a glutton!]

Ignoring whatever Ren was complaining about, Edward continued. “It’s time for dinner. I’ll have mine in the room with Ren. Everyone else, return to your rooms. I’ll leave my meal to Maxion.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

“Already? Alright. See you tomorrow, Ren.”

Maxion and Luize responded one after the other.

“

” [What? I want to stay with Luize!]

The baby dragon, with a flustered expression, waved its forepaws and tried to approach Luize. However, Edward lifted Ren into his arms. Holding Ren’s forepaw, he waved it back and forth.

“

” [

]

While Ren blinked its large, round eyes in confusion, Edward spoke. “It’s saying goodbye to everyone. It’s best to continue the discussion tomorrow. It’s time for a newborn dragon to eat and sleep.”

“Yes!”

“Yes.”

“…Yes.”

Hendrik, Robin, and Aiven responded while staring at Ren’s jelly-like, squishy forepaw. A faint blush appeared on Maxion’s cheek and quickly vanished. And soon, everyone dispersed to their rooms.

“

” [Why did you send everyone away when it was getting fun?] Ren looked up from Edward’s arms with a puzzled expression.

“Did you say the first emperor and his consort were both polymorphed dragons?”

“

.” [Yes.] Ren nodded.

“But Run and Ron…” Edward trailed off.

According to what he knew, Run, the black dragon, had gone mad one day and killed Ron, the white dragon. After that, it had rampaged through the empire, destroying houses and buildings and burning crops with its breath. But the one who founded the empire did that? He had many questions, but he couldn’t ask a baby dragon who had just hatched about its parents’ history.

“…It’s best to rest now.”

“

” [Why? Are you tired?]

“A baby dragon who traveled a long way after being born must be tired.”

Edward placed Ren on the bed. Ren waved its forepaws on the soft bed.

“

” [

? Play with me. Human Edward! And I have memories from inside the egg! By human standards, I’m probably in my old age!]

“A dragon is considered an infant until 500 years old by human standards.”

“

” [You didn’t even know I was a dragon when I spoke in a grand voice back then!]

“So it was you back then?”

“

” [Of course. I’m the only dragon in this world. If I hadn’t spoken grandly, you would’ve ignored me. ‘Human Edward.’] Ren imitated the voice of the deer they met in the underground prison when calling Edward.

“

.”

Regardless, even with high intelligence and memories from inside the egg, it was true that a dragon remained an infant until 500 years old.

Pouting, Ren puffed out its cheeks and curled up in an ammonite shape on the bed. “

!” [Who’s a baby, Baby! You’re just a little chick human!] Muttering, the baby dragon fell into a deep sleep the moment its eyes closed.

Despite its pretense, Ren was indeed tired from the long ride and all the new people it had met.

Soon, light snores echoed softly in the room.

Edward chuckled quietly, staring at the window.

The harsh winter wind rattled the window.

He snapped his fingers, silencing the noise from the window.

* * *

Maxion promptly ordered dinner and brought it to Edward. On his way out of Edward’s room, he met Luize, who had just finished changing.

“Maxion, wait. Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“Then join me. Everyone else seems to have eaten already.”

“Alright.”

Maxion agreed readily and went downstairs with Luize. They ordered beef stew, fried fish, and fries.

“Did you open the box from under the rock behind the house?”

“No. You should open it. It’s in my room because we were busy sorting out the luggage. I’ll bring it to you later.”

“Thanks.”

“…Luize.”

“Yes?” Luize looked at him curiously.

Meeting her gaze, Maxion cautiously spoke. “Can we open it together?”