Episode 26
Erina watched the ribbons fluttering in Luan’s hands, her mind drifting back to memories of the children.
She recalled how the dragons were delighted by the ribbons when she tied them for the first time.
Although within a few weeks, they had grown so large that the ribbons could only be tied to their tails, they still wore the ribbons to picnics, and in the end, she had tied the ribbons to their wrists to keep them close.
All these memories came rushing back to her, carried by the sight of a simple ribbon.
Erina swallowed the lump rising in her throat. This was not the place to cry.
“Erina? Which one do you think looks prettier, this one or this one?”
“Ah, um… I think this one.”
Erina chose a color different from the one she had given to the dragons. After waiting for Luan to pay, they stepped outside.
“Thanks, Erina! I can’t stay long today, but how about we meet again the day after tomorrow? Let’s have lunch together. It’ll be my treat to thank you for helping me pick a ribbon!”
“No, you don’t have to treat me. Let’s just meet and enjoy some good food.”
“Alright, it’s a deal! See you at lunch in two days!”
With a plan made, Erina left the town and began the journey back to her house in the forest.
As soon as she stepped away from the bustling streets, she finally let go of the lump she had held back.
“Re-sen, Lia, Poi…”
Her voice cracked as she whispered their names. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, leaving drops of her sorrow along the path back home.
***
Back at her house, Erina collapsed onto her bed, letting her tears soak into the pillow.
Only after she had cried until she could cry no more did she rise, her face swollen and messy with tears, snot, and drool.
Just then—
“Good afternoon, Miss Erina.”
Erina’s heart nearly stopped at the unexpected male voice.
“Ack! D-Dylan?!”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“H-how did you get in here?!”
Erina pointed at Dylan, who was sitting nonchalantly at her dining table, wearing a sheepish smile.
“I knocked several times, but you didn’t answer… I thought you might not be home.”
“That doesn’t mean you can just let yourself in!”
“My apologies.”
Dylan’s gentle smile contrasted sharply with Erina’s frantically pounding heart.
She was certain that if this kind of meeting happened a few more times, her heart wouldn’t survive.
“I have something to discuss with you, Miss Erina.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“First, though… Perhaps you should freshen up a bit.”
Dylan conjured a large, floating water bubble and set it before her.
His subtle suggestion made Erina acutely aware of her disheveled state.
Her face was puffy from crying, her upper lip shiny with snot, and her mouth smeared with dried saliva.
Mortified, she brought the bubble to her face.
The bubble split into smaller ones that gently swirled around, cleaning her face delicately.
Although startled at first, Erina quickly grew used to the sensation.
Within a minute, the water had vanished, leaving her skin damp and cool. Then a soft breeze blew away the remaining droplets, and an unseen herbal oil left her face smooth and refreshed.
“Wha—?”
Erina searched for traces of the water bubble, but they were gone.
“It’s just a little help,” Dylan said, shrugging slightly.
“Oh… thank you. So it was magic after all.”
“Yes, magic indeed.”
Dylan pulled out a chair for her with impeccable manners.
Embarrassed but grateful, Erina thanked him and sat down, finally free from her earlier bedraggled state.
“I apologize for the abrupt visit,” Dylan began.
“Time is of the essence, so I couldn’t afford to delay.”
“Oh, it’s alright. But… what do you mean by time is of the essence? Is something wrong with the children?!”
Erina’s face filled with alarm as she leaned forward, prepared to rush to their aid.
Dylan quickly raised his hands to reassure her.
“No, no, the children are fine! If anything, the issue lies with me.”
“With you? What happened?”
Erina scrutinized him from head to toe. Dylan still looked as composed, handsome, and well-kept as ever. Whatever trouble he claimed to have, it didn’t show.
“It’s nothing too serious,” Dylan admitted with a dramatic sigh.
“As I mentioned before, my older brother and his wife passed away under tragic circumstances. Ordinarily, the family leadership would have passed to him, but now it’s just me and my three niblings.”
“Y-yes…”
“I don’t believe I am capable of leading our family as it should be led. My goal is to ensure my brother’s children grow strong and capable so they can assume that responsibility. To that end, I must dedicate myself fully to their upbringing.”
Dylan’s explanation was a web of half-truths spun with an air of sincerity.
What he truly meant was, I don’t want to lead, so I’m rushing to raise my niblings to take over.
But his eloquent delivery masked his intentions.
Erina, moved by the apparent burden he carried, nodded earnestly.
To her, Dylan and the triplets were still pitiable and noble dragons striving to overcome their hardships.
Seeing her sympathetic response, Dylan allowed himself a small smirk, hidden behind an even deeper look of supposed distress.
“But still, it seems I’m insufficient as their uncle. I only want them to grow up carefree, but they’re showing no will to continue their growth.”
“Resen, Ria, and Poi?!”
“Yes. It must be because there’s something about me they don’t like.”
“That can’t be! Those sweet children…!”
Erina trailed off, her disbelief evident.
Dylan barely held back from shouting that she should come see the chaos the children had caused herself.
Instead, he managed a small smile, which appeared melancholic to Erina.
“So, the reason you’ve come here is…?”
“Yes, though it’s shameless of me, I’ve come to earnestly ask you for a favor.”
Dylan seized the moment to bow deeply.
“No! What could you possibly need from me…?”
“I’d like you to come to the Sylvian Empire.”
“Wha… Excuse me?”
The unexpected nature of Dylan’s request left Erina dumbfounded.
She tilted her head, unable to comprehend his words.
Dylan took a deep breath, carefully composing his expression to exude the image of a dependable dragon devoted to his niblings and his family’s well-being.
“I feel ashamed and regretful to come seeking your help again after promising to repay you, but… the children need you, Erina. They miss you terribly and can’t let go of their time here. However, they must adapt to life in the Empire; I can’t recklessly bring them back here to the forest.”
Erina processed Dylan’s words slowly.
According to him, the children were struggling to adjust to their life in the Empire.
Worry for the little ones quickly overtook her expression.
Dylan delivered the finishing blow.
“That’s why I humbly request you to come to the Sylvian Empire, even if only for a while, to teach or care for the children. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please.”
“Wha—me? In the Empire? But I don’t know anything about it, and I don’t have the skills to teach the children!”
Erina sprang to her feet, only to find Dylan suddenly standing right in front of her, causing her to yelp softly in surprise.
He had, once again, revealed his tendency to use magic in trivial matters.
“Miss Erina, if deciding now is too difficult, I will return in three days. Please give me your answer then. I want to give you plenty of time to think it over.”
“I don’t think even three days will be enough to change my mind!”
“It will. The children need you, and so do I. I wouldn’t have come otherwise. Just bring yourself, Miss Erina. I will ensure that you experience no inconvenience while living in the Sylvian Empire.”
“No matter how much you say that…”
“Then, I will see you in three days.”
Before Erina could voice another refusal, Dylan cut her off with a polite bow and disappeared as silently as he had arrived.
Left alone, Erina could only let out a helpless laugh, recalling the whirlwind that was Dylan.
