Gah

"Shouldn't true gentlemen sleep in separate rooms?" Baroness Meryl lay on the bed, watching Baron Roman enter after knocking, and teased him with a smile.

Her personal maid lowered her head and secretly chuckled.

Baron Roman showed not the slightest embarrassment. Raising his thick brows, he replied, "On my territory, a baron has the right to sleep anywhere."

"No wonder everyone wants to become a noble."

"There must be certain privileges to spur people's fighting spirit. Otherwise, when facing Snow Demons, who would dare charge ahead with all their might?" said the baron.

"There's always some sense in what Baron Lord says," Meryl said with a smile.

Watching the husband and wife tease each other, the personal maid quietly retreated to the door. "Madam, I won't disturb you and Master any longer. I'll be leaving first."

"Go on, get a good night's sleep." The baron waved his hand.

The couple lay side by side on the large bed. After a light kiss, they went no further, merely holding each other as they whispered in private.

"That boy Russell really is lucky. He's only been in the territory for a few days, yet he picked up a Spirit Worm for free. And it's even a rare Birch Worm that can produce magical materials." The baron sighed. There were many Spirit Worms that produced magical potions, so those were not particularly rare.

"Russell deserves a little good fortune. Other than being blessed with luck at birth and inheriting the Monochoria Family's handsome looks, that child's luck has been quite ordinary at every other time."

"That hardly counts as being blessed with luck. Someone like Roland, who inherited the Fluorite Mushroom Family's talent for cultivation—that is true luck," the baron said dismissively. To him, looks were secondary; talent was everything.

"Cultivation can still be strengthened with medicine. If Russell is lucky enough to contract with a Phantom Beast in the future, he can still become a powerful Phantom Beast Knight," Meryl retorted. "But whether he is handsome or not will stay with Russell for life."

"At most, it can fool some ignorant young girls."

"Maybe it can even fool dragons."

"Speaking of dragons... how should I put this? Recently, Russell somehow offended Lord Ross. Lord Ross has been very dissatisfied with him, even becoming hostile." The baron suddenly sighed, troubled by the matter.

Meryl comforted him, "Aren't dragons just like that? More temperamental and fickle than us women."

"How could that be?"

"How could it not? You've fawned over Lord Ross for decades, yet Lord Ross has never let you ride him even once."

"That is definitely different. The reason Lord Ross won't let me ride him is because I'm incompatible with Lord Ross, and because I haven't met Lord Ross's requirements in certain respects. Becoming a Wyvern Knight isn't something you can manage through affection alone."

"Maybe Russell can ride a dragon."

Baron Roman laughed. "Where would there be so many dragons for Russell to ride? Everything the Fluorite Mushroom Family has is built upon Lord Ross... Sigh, I had originally thought that whether it was Roland or Russell, as long as either could ride a dragon, the family could advance another step."

As he spoke, Baron Roman shook his head. "Russell was clearly beginning to mature, but... now it seems he has almost no chance of riding a dragon. The only one the family can count on now is Roland."

"Aren't there also Rosen's two children?" Meryl said, seemingly casually.

Baron Roman shook his head without hesitation. "No. Royal and Roil are not qualified to attempt riding a dragon. Rosen's current status is merely that of my vassal!"

Rosen Fluorite Mushroom was the baron's younger brother, while his two sons, Royal and Roil, were the baron's nephews.

Meryl was very satisfied with this answer. "It's good that you can distinguish that clearly."

The baron asked in return, "Why would you think I couldn't distinguish it? It's not as though I have no heirs. Roland and Russell are both outstanding!"

"You and I can distinguish it, but your mother, Old Madam Ingrid, may not be able to."

"Yes, Mother is indeed close to Rosen, but that has nothing to do with the family succession. She merely likes the hot spring at Rosen's home."

"I was only making a casual remark. All right, Baron Lord, it's time to sleep."

"You always like worrying about such needless things."

"All right, all right." Meryl kissed the baron, then stiffly yet smoothly changed the subject. "Russell is going back tomorrow. I want to give him another batch of supplies. I asked his personal manservant—the living conditions at the manor's annex are truly quite shabby."

"He is only a knightly lord. Why would he need to maintain such extravagant appearances? Letting him suffer a little may not be a bad thing."

"He is still developing, still growing."

"As you wish." The baron had no intention of wasting more words over a small amount of supplies.

Yet Meryl sighed faintly again. "Sigh, Russell has grown up too... Roland has gone to grow close to the Grand Duke, Rowena has married, and now Russell has his own fief. In a few more years, Laura will leave my side too. I truly hate growing old."

The baron drew his wife into his embrace. "That is life. Don't be anxious. I'll grow old with you."

At the same time.

In Russell's room, Russell, who had gone to sleep early, was already breathing evenly.

When his consciousness became clear once more, Russell delightedly discovered that he had once again appeared in the Dark Dreamscape he had been longing for.

"Gah!"

A familiar cry instantly made Russell tremble with excitement. "Snowy! My cheat! I knew you wouldn't abandon me!"

"Gah?" Little Dream Dragon flapped his wings and slowly flew over, tilting his head, not knowing why the person before him was so excited.

"Where have you been these past few days?" Russell flipped onto Little Dream Dragon's back, instantly lighting up the entire Dark Dreamscape as magical light bloomed everywhere.

"Gah?" Little Dream Dragon was baffled.

His intelligence was extremely limited, nothing like the dragons of legend, said to be even wiser than humans. He could only understand a few simple commands.

Unable to get an answer, Russell could only speculate himself. "Was that blast of dragon flame three days ago so draining that you had no choice but to rest for three days?"

"Gah?"

"Gah my ass!" Russell laughed and smacked Little Dream Dragon once, then shouted, "Take off, Snowy!"

"Gah gah!" Little Dream Dragon understood. Carrying Russell, he flew circles around the familiar Fluorite Castle.

Russell was already familiar with nearly every magical creation in Fluorite Castle, so he simply rode Little Dream Dragon and flew happily.

Until Little Dream Dragon grew tired again. "Gah."

Russell flipped down from his back and waved at Little Dream Dragon, who was about to fly away. "All right, go back and rest well, Snowy. I'll still need to ride you to conquer the entire Dragon Sleep Continent someday!"

Early the next morning.

Russell rose refreshed. The gloom of the past few days had been swept away, and he was in an excellent mood, offering a smile to everyone he met.

"Young Master Russell, you seem especially happy today," said Carter, the old steward.

"I get to sleep in a comfortable big house again. Of course I'm happy." Russell smiled. "What's for breakfast today?"

"There is your favorite fish roe egg fried rice. The kitchen specially added shredded smoked cod, made from fresh seasonal cod caught through the ice."

"Mm..."

Russell neither agreed nor disagreed.

Fish roe egg fried rice had been his predecessor's favorite. He could eat two large bowls of it for breakfast, especially fish roe egg fried rice with shredded cod.

But now, he missed Chinese food even more.