Kays Translations

Chapter 119: The Thawing Season

Fabienne and I had grown much closer after my visit to the Ambert estate. Our conversations now felt natural rather than carefully formal.

“It’s always wonderful here,” she said.

“I’m glad you enjoy it.”

“I wish our estate had a greenhouse.”

“I can build the heating and humidity system. Your family would need to provide the building.”

We stood inside the great House Heine greenhouse. It rivalled the royal castle’s facility in size and quality. Alongside medicinal plants, we now cultivated ornamental flowers and other useful species.

Fabienne loved growing plants and looked at the structure with open envy. I would gladly help equip a greenhouse for her, but constructing the building itself was beyond what one child could reasonably do.

Winter had passed its peak, and heavy snowfalls became less frequent. Friends began visiting again. Fabienne wasn’t the only guest; Edward, Billy, Platon, Nathalie, and Melissa also came when the roads allowed.

“I heard that both Lord Alex and Lord Cain will attend the Royal Academy this spring,” Fabienne said. “Will you miss them?”

“The mansion was lively this winter, so it may feel quiet. But Mira will still be here.”

“Kyu!”

Mira answered from Fabienne’s arms.

They still showed no sign of speaking, and their body had barely grown since hatching. I wondered whether that was normal for a holy dragon and decided to ask Mars.

After walking through the greenhouse, we crossed the snowy garden and entered the mansion through the rear door. Warm air greeted us immediately.

“I feel alive again,” I said.

“Thanks to another magic tool you created,” Fabienne replied.

Mira seemed largely unaffected by cold because of their thick fur. Summer might be more difficult. I briefly imagined trimming it, then pictured Mars collapsing in horror at the sight of a shorn holy dragon.

During tea, Rosalia, Alex, Cain, and Mars joined us.

“Mars, Mira doesn’t seem to be growing. Is that normal?”

“I have wondered the same thing. Unfortunately, the surviving records don’t describe the growth process. They merely state that an adult holy dragon can become as large as a house.”

He looked deeply disappointed by the absence of information.

The game had treated the holy dragon as a small companion most of the time. It grew only when carrying its rider. Mira might develop the same transformation rather than increasing steadily in size.

Remaining small would make life in the mansion easier, but I still wanted to see signs of inner growth.

“Kyu?”

Mira tilted their head at me, as adorable as ever.

The sunlight gradually strengthened, and spring approached. Soon we could resume regular walks on Mount Claire.

Meanwhile, the House Heine estate became increasingly busy. Both my brothers were preparing for the Royal Academy.

Alex would enter his final year, while thirteen-year-old Cain would begin as a first-year student. They required uniforms, textbooks, stationery, and countless personal items.

Some purchases could have waited until they reached the townhouse, but noble families throughout the kingdom would be shopping at the same time. Delaying might leave important orders unfinished.

Rosalia, Mira, and I were mostly obstacles during the preparations, so we tried to remain quietly in the library, our rooms, or the workshop.

I rarely entered the compounding room. The knight order was less active during winter and consumed few potions, while new ingredients were difficult to obtain. None of my pre-winter Adventurers’ Guild requests had progressed.

Even powerful adventurers could do little against deep snow and severe cold.

“Will you eventually attend the same academy as Brother Alex and Brother Cain?” Rosalia asked.

“No. I’ll attend the academy in the territorial capital.”

“Then you’ll still live here?”

“Yes. I can commute from the mansion.”

The local academy offered dormitories, but remaining at home meant comfort, food, and access to my laboratory. I had no desire to abandon those advantages merely to imitate the independence my brothers sought.

“Then I can stay with Big brother forever!” Rosalia said happily.

I smiled without answering.

The future wouldn’t be so simple. Rosalia might marry into another family, and as a third son I might one day be adopted by a house without an heir.

In fact, I already knew one such family.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter