IBODBF 18

Just as Shirea was muttering to herself, our eyes met. She snapped her mouth shut after realizing that I’d been watching her the whole time.

I was starting to get a read on her. She’s the type who can’t hear anything once she gets worked up.

Not exactly my favorite kind of person to deal with but it’s a relief she at least knows how to reel herself back in. That part probably stresses her out too. After all, to become a head of house, you have to know how to stay composed.

“…What did you bring?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking what kind of dessert you brought.”

“Oh! I brought a bunch of different stuff that looked good. If there’s anything you like that’s not here, I can ask them to bring it!”

Shirea shook her head. No need, apparently. She could’ve just said so more casually.

Anyway, it felt a little awkward standing out here talking, so we headed to the tea room together.

When we opened the door, the other heirs I’d seen at the ball were already gathered.

But… this wasn’t quite the atmosphere I had imagined. I thought everyone would be chummy since the heads of the houses seemed to get along, but nope, it’s awkward as it could be.

“…Hi?”

I sat down and greeted them first. No one responded.

I thought the twins would be the chatty type, but they were just shy. Jaius, Shirea, and Leon… sigh. Whatever. It’s not like I planned this expecting anything back.

I opened the box and arranged the desserts in a neat circle on the table. Colorful macarons, strawberry cake, soufflé—basically everything I love.

“I brought all the tasty stuff I like! I hope you guys like it too!”

…

No one answered. I told myself I’d be fine even if no one responded, but… still, it kind of stung.

This wasn’t a gathering anyone else had asked for, but I’d really hoped to get to know everyone a bit. Instead, they were all just staring at the desserts like they were fake.

Then, finally—

“Thanks, Sen.”

Shirea was the first to speak. Of course, my first friend!

“Mm! Eat up, Shia!”

After her, the twins spoke up too.

“Thanks.”

…Okay, scratch that. Only the twins responded. Leon and Jaius were still dead silent.

I guess Jaius is always like that. And Leon… must be super shy. Shirea didn’t seem to like that about him much.

Is that why their relationship is so bad?

“If you want more of anything, just say so!”

“This is plenty.”

The twins nodded in agreement with Shirea. Alright, those three are fine. That just leaves Leon, sitting across from me.

He looked all hunched over in his seat. Is he uncomfortable? He should try straightening his shoulders a bit.

“Sen, don’t worry about him.”

“But…”

“If he wants to eat, he’ll eat. He’s not a baby who needs hand-holding.”

Shirea clearly didn’t want me fussing over Leon. It’s probably her way of trying to toughen him up… but honestly, it felt like it was having the opposite effect.

Still, maybe noticing how I kept glancing at him, Shirea eventually placed a macaron—the same color as hers—in front of Leon.

So she does care, even if she acts like she doesn’t. Blood really is thicker than water.

“Jaius, you’re not eating?”

“I don’t like sweets.”

“Whaaat? You could’ve told me.”

“It’s fine.”

I hadn’t considered that someone might not like sweets. The others were eating happily, so no problem there, but I’d have to remember that about Jaius.

Wait… then what was that earlier? Didn’t he act like he wanted to eat it all himself?

Or maybe he just didn’t like the situation and had no appetite?

I could see that. Some people get like that around strangers.

Honestly, my whole reason for coming to the annex was to get to know everyone better. I’d planned out all sorts of conversation starters, but now that we were all together, I had so many more questions.

What do young dragons in this world do every day? My daily life felt almost the same as in my previous life. Was the Baekryong family adapting to me?

And then there were all the little things Eve had told me about the other families. I wanted to know how true they were.

So I waited until most of the snacks were gone. People talk more when their bellies are full.

After a while of awkward and barely-there conversation, the plates were finally empty. Time to get things rolling.

“Hey, um…”

“I was wondering when you’d finally speak up, you looked like you were bursting to.”

Shirea’s tone said, figured as much, and the twins nodded like they agreed.

Was I that obvious? I thought I’d hidden it pretty well. Still got a long way to go if I want to be like Daddy.

“What’s life like for you guys back home?”

“What do you mean?”

“Uh… like, what do you usually do at home?”

Even after I rephrased it, they just tilted their heads, still confused.

Maybe I needed to start by sharing my own routine.

“I’ve been taking pheromone classes. When I’m not in lessons, I play in the garden with Shushu or eat tasty stuff.”

“Well, same here, I guess. Except I’ve got more lessons than you.”

“Like what?”

Shirea paused, briefly shooting a glance at Leon before turning her gaze back to me.

“Heir training.”

Short and simple, said while sipping her tea.

There were two kids in the Cheongryong family. Usually, that kind of topic would be sensitive when siblings were involved.

I didn’t want to hear any arguments here. I just wanted us to laugh and chat like kids.

I was about to change the subject when—

“…I-I-I’m t-taking them too!”

Leon had finally spoken. His voice was so soft and stuttery I almost didn’t catch it.

At the same time, Shirea whipped her head around to glare at him.

I’d expected her to ignore him like usual, but she reacted more sharply than I thought.

“Why are you taking them?”

“…B-because I’m y-your older brother.”

“Big words for someone so spineless.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and Leon looked used to it. I wondered what had happened between them to make things this bad.

I reached out and gently grabbed Shirea’s wrist, like I was telling her to take it down a notch. She looked at me, then closed her eyes and sighed—short and deep.

Then she turned back to Leon.

“Leon. You can take all the heir training you want, but it’s pointless. I will be the heir.”

“…”

“And stop testing my patience. I’m only not killing you right now because of Mother.”

With that, she stood up and stormed out. Leon followed quietly soon after, head bowed like he had done something wrong.

And then… silence.

Just me, the twins, and the weight of everything that had just happened.

Well, and Jaius—who was completely unfazed, as usual.

Ugh. I feel like I just watched a family argument I wasn’t supposed to see. Maybe it was kind of my fault for bringing it up.

There’s only one heir seat, so of course there’d be competition. But this felt… less like rivalry and more like one-sided hostility.

I know power struggles are rarely pretty, but right now, Leon honestly looked a little pitiful.

We’re still just kids. It sucks that we have to treat each other like rivals already. If it weren’t for the heir position, maybe they could’ve gotten along.

“We’ll get going now.”

“Thanks for the treats, Senika.”

“Ah, y-yeah. See you tomorrow!”

The twins left, probably feeling just as awkward. They’re siblings too and maybe this felt a little too close to home.

That left just me and Jaius in the room.

Sigh. I still had so much I wanted to ask, especially about the hunting festival, but now that the mood had crashed, it was pretty much ruined.

I figured I should head back to my room too, but then—my eyes met Jaius’s. He’d been staring the whole time.

“What are you looking at?”

“Why that expression?”

“What kind of expression?”

“The kind that pities the Cheongryong family.”

What the—how’d he know?! At this point, I couldn’t tell if I was just transparent or if he was really good at reading people.