Yerpi gently stroked the back of the crying child in her arms.

“No one thinks you’re disgusting. The reason people don’t approach you easily is because they want to treat you carefully, not because they hate you. I can guarantee that.”

If there was one thing Yerpi had learned from searching for Dante, it was that the servants within the mansion didn’t dislike the child.

Though misunderstandings had piled up because of Meidi, no one truly treated the child like a monster or despised them.

In fact, there were even people who thought Dante disliked them.

It was an unavoidable choice that the child, already frightened in advance, had to avoid people.

At her firm words, Dante’s eyes widened.

Yet, despite Yerpi’s assurance, the young dragon couldn’t fully believe her.

That was because of the nanny who had manipulated the child up close, shaping them to her own liking.

[But… Meidi…]

“She probably told you everyone hates you. But that’s not true. There’s someone who still likes you, doesn’t there?”

[Someone likes me?]

“Of course.”

The boy’s voice trembling in her mind resonated deeply.

Yerpi added further words to solidify her certainty.

“There will be many more in the future. So, shall we try gathering a little courage together?”

She said this, hoping the child would choose her over that nanny.

“Meidi will be punished. Even apart from you, that maid has committed many crimes.”

At the mention of the nanny, the small body stiffened.

After fidgeting in Yerpi’s arms for a long while, Dante finally struggled to speak from within.

[…But she used to be kind.]

There were times she genuinely smiled at me, and moments when her embrace felt gentle.

Unable to finish his words, Dante finally burst into tears.

The child could no longer defend their caretaker.

Because more than anyone, they knew each of her actions toward them had truly been abuse, and that she had used them.

[I’m scared.]

Scared of being alone again.

Most of all, terrified that no one would ever hold them close again.

Yerpi tightly embraced Dante.

“It’s okay. I’ll be by your side.”

[…Really?]

“Yes. Truly.”

The warmth of her embrace and the confidence in her voice held an invisible strength.

That strength was lifting up the fragile, crumbling young body.

“You’re safe now.”

The child wept in the arms of someone who kept telling them it would be alright, over and over.

In the arms of someone who stayed with them as they finally released all the tears they had held back for so long.

***

The punishment for Meidi began with fully exposing all the crimes she had committed.

Just shifting all accusations onto the young master she served and embezzling all the funds meant for the child—these alone pushed Meidi’s charges beyond ten counts.

Among them, the gravest crime was the abuse of a Growen bloodline.

Meidi was sentenced to the harshest penalty in Growen—exile to the winter lands.

The criminal, having confessed to all charges, had all her possessions confiscated and was sent to the deepest region of the winter lands: the Frost Cliff.

The Frost Cliff was an extreme zone, perpetually covered in clouds that never lifted, also known as the Land of Darkness.

There was no set duration for the exile.

Those sent there were fated to labor in darkness, never seeing the sun again, until they froze to death.

In truth, enduring was nearly impossible.

Most didn’t survive even half a year.

Not only Meidi, but others who had closely associated with her and scavenged scraps from her side suffered the same fate.

They were given appropriate punishment for the charges of tolerating a criminal and aiding her, then expelled from the mansion.

A new wind began to blow through the stagnant mansion.

Though it started with weeding out certain people, the previously chaotic atmosphere quickly settled.

All thanks to the lady of the house.

One month after Meidi left the mansion, the garden in the late afternoon around two o’clock was peaceful under the warm sunlight.

By Yerpi, who was sipping tea, stood her personal maids.

Pepe, Erka, Marian, and Snoel.

They had taken their positions as maids and were assisting Yerpi, helping the lower maids gradually regain order.

Yerpi set down her teacup and turned her gaze toward the lawn.

The well-tended garden scenery was now perfect for small creatures to play in.

As if to prove it, a young dragon was leaping about on the glistening green grass.

Dante would run excitedly, but whenever he encountered a flower as tall as himself, he’d bury his nose in the leaves, sniffing curiously before sneezing.

Watching the child run, roll, and chase butterflies, one could easily lose track of time, captivated by his cuteness.

The maids also seemed to agree, their eyes sparkling as they watched Dante.

It was Erka, a maid from the Summer Territory, who spoke first.

“How could someone be so adorable?”

Marian chimed in with a sigh of admiration.

“I know. I never saw much of him before, but he’s truly, incredibly cute.”

Pepe and Snoel nodded in silent agreement.

One month had been both long and short.

In that time, the atmosphere within the mansion had changed greatly—especially the way people looked at Dante.

As Dante began appearing more often in the mansion, the maids were utterly charmed by the cute young dragon.

They had only been cautious before. In truth, Dante was a popular young master with many admirers.

Initially wary, Dante gradually realized the maids’ feelings were genuine, especially after repeatedly seeing them blush when they looked at him.

Dante was slowly adapting to this new atmosphere.

Evidence of this was that the child had become much brighter. Yerpi picked up one of the sweets on the table—a small cookie generously topped with peach jam.

“Dante, come here.”

[!]

At her call, Dante, who had been rolling on the grass, quickly bounded over to Yerpi.

[Yerpi!]

Sitting at her feet, Dante’s eyes sparkled. His tail wagged vigorously—clearly in a good mood.

He looked just like a loyal puppy obeying its master. The maids, though thinking the same, dared not say it aloud, covering their mouths to suppress their exclamations.

Yerpi opened her arms toward Dante. The young dragon immediately leapt up onto her lap, as if he had been waiting.

“This cookie is really delicious. I think you’ll like it too.”

[Peach smell!]

The cookie in her palm vanished into Dante’s mouth. Crunch, crunch. After chewing the small treat, Dante sighed in delight.

[Delicious!]

“I knew it. Have more.”

Yerpi kept bringing cookies to Dante’s lips.

The maids also wanted to give him cookies, but restrained themselves. Only the Duchess was allowed to feed him so freely and casually.

Currently, Dante shared the Duchess’s bedroom.

Though he had brightened up a lot, he still harbored caution toward people and trusted only the Duchess.

The mansion’s residents loved seeing the Duchess and Dante together, saying it felt like watching a fairy tale.

But someone viewed this relationship with displeasure.

Raymond stepped into view, having been watching the garden from behind a building corner.

“You two seem close.”

The maids quickly bowed their heads in response.

Surprised by the sudden appearance of the Duke, Yerpi tried to stand up while holding Dante.

“What brings you here…?”

“Never mind.”

Raymond pressed down gently on Yerpi’s shoulder.

His gaze, having briefly studied her face, soon shifted to Dante.

[…Hmph.]

“Oh.”

At that glare, Dante abruptly turned his head away. Yerpi instinctively gasped in surprise, but Raymond, seemingly used to such reactions, didn’t show any sign of irritation.

Though Meidi had been expelled and the mansion’s atmosphere had brightened considerably, the relationship between Raymond and Dante remained distant.

Raymond struggled to handle Dante, and his overly stiff attitude was insufficient to mend the deep-seated resentment the child held.

‘What should I do?’

In the end, only Yerpi, caught in the middle, was left in an awkward position.

These tensions had increased about a week ago, ever since Raymond began frequently appearing at scenes where the two were together.

[Dante, let’s go play somewhere else!]

Dante, who had already turned away from Raymond, urged to leave. His words ultimately provoked Raymond’s irritation.

“I should probably summon the Seer. Dante Growen.”

At his words, Dante clamped his mouth shut. Whenever Raymond made a demand, Dante would always pretend not to understand.

[Hiiing.]

Dante whimpered and buried himself in Yerpi’s arms. Yerpi’s awkward smile met Raymond’s blazing eyes.