The castle of the Duke of Remdragon.
The place said to have been built by legendary dragons has been locked and secluded for the past hundred years.
“Five years old?”
“The same age as our young master.”
“No, how is that the same? Our Young master is a dragon.”
“He was already able to communicate when he was two years old.”
“Not cute at all.”
“And besides, that child is human. A pure-blooded human in the Grand Duke’s castle!”
The Grand Duke’s castle was always surrounded by countless rumors.
Some said that instead of rain, gold fell from the sky.
Others claimed that the dragon had collected human heads, filling entire rooms.
Most of these were absurd rumors… but there was some truth within them.
[The dragon’s servants are not human. They carry the blood of species that have long since left the human realm.]
“Hmm. Is there really a need for a formal greeting?”
The one speaking was Gale, one of the last remaining werewolves in this world.
“Anyway… He probably just picked some random child to fulfill the promise to the humans.”
Lev, a young half-elf, had long legs, a handsome face, and ears that were slightly pointed—different from humans.
“The guards at the banquet said that the child arrived looking like a complete beggar.”
“No matter what, could a princess of a kingdom really be in such a state…?”
They tilted their heads.
But when the child finally appeared before them…
“Please pay your respects. This is young master Erga’s fiancée. All servants and guards of the Grand Duke’s castle shall address her as ‘Miss Baby’ and treat her with due respect. She is our Grand Duke family’s one and only precious little lady.”
Elton introduced Sephiel in that manner.
“Hello, Miss Baby. We are the soldiers guarding this forest.”
“Hewwo.”
Sephiel placed her hands on her stomach and bowed.
It was the polite greeting she had learned from Berry the day before.
Seeing her, they all thought the same thing in unison.
‘She’s adorable!’
‘She’s so tiny!’
Her ruby-like eyes were bright and sparkling, and her hair, neatly tied with ribbons on both sides, was a silvery white.
She was smaller than expected, but her cheeks were rosy and plump.
As she looked around curiously, she suddenly grew shy from the attention and quickly hid behind Berry.
It was… so unbearably cute.
“Hey, smile. Smile!”
“We won’t hurt you, Miss Baby.”
Perhaps their efforts worked because Sephiel looked at the soldiers and smiled shyly.
The soldiers clutched their hearts, letting out groans of admiration.
Sephiel then curiously explored the soldiers’ quarters in the forest.
“What dwo ywou guyys dwo?” (What do you guys do?)
“We protect the Grand Duke’s territory, to prevent anyone who would harm the Grand Duke from entering the forest.”
Sephiel’s face brightened.
‘Maybe Lotto is still here.’
Roto, the one who had brought her here in a carriage, was supposed to return alone to the Allegro royal family.
If he did, he would surely face severe punishment.
‘I wonder if he is circling around the castle and trying to catch me.’
The Grand Duke’s castle, Remdragon Castle, was surrounded by nature. There were walls, but inside and outside was all forest.
‘What if he sneaks past the walls and hides in the forest?’
With sharp eyes, Sephiel examined the soldiers.
‘Hmm. The soldiers look very strong.’
Feeling reassured, she grinned.
Even if Lotto attacked and tried to kill her, he would freeze at the sight of these soldiers.
The corners of Sephiel’s mouth naturally went up.
“Cwool! Thank ywou for provtectying me!” (Cool! Thank you for protecting me)
“Haha, hahah…”
The soldiers, unused to such praise, couldn’t stop their faces from grinning.
“But why are ywou all weaying hwelmets? That must be so hyot.” (But why are you all wearing helmets? That must be so hot.)
“Huh that…..”
To hide their pointed elf ears, of course.
“And why are your hands covered? Won’t your hands get sweaty?”
To hide their rough werewolf hands…
“Lwook at that! That statyue lwooks so cwool!” (Look at that! That statue looks so cool)
That was a war golem…
“Wow! It movved! Did I syee that wight?” (Wow! It moved! Did I see that right?)
That was just a gargoyle resting…
But since they couldn’t explain, the soldiers just looked off into the distance.
They had decided to hide their non-human identities from Sephiel for a reason.
Decades ago, a noblewoman once visited the Grand Duke’s castle.
Upon seeing werewolf soldiers, elves, and vampire-blooded servants, she collapsed from shock and died.
For Sephiel’s safety, they had all agreed to keep their identities hidden from her.
Among them, Lev, the captain of the elf guard and commander of the knight division, spoke.
“Uh….Miss Baby.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want me to lift you high?”
“Huh?”
Sephiel tilted her head.
‘But it sounds like a good offer.’
A thought passed through Sephiel’s mind, and her eyes naturally sparkled.
“Well, it’s like this… Heave-ho!”
“Kya–haha!”
Sephiel was so thrilled that it felt like stars were bursting before her eyes.
Being lifted up and down with hands tucked under the armpits was such a fun game that it felt like she could pass out from excitement.
“Shall we give you a shoulder ride?”
The soldiers shyly began offering one by one.
In the end, Sephiel had fun riding on the soldiers’ backs and looking around here and there.
“Lwook ovyer thyere! A veyy larvge byird!” (Look over there! A very large bird)
Sephiel said.
—Squeak. Squeak!
A wyvern soaring in the sky—an enormous bat-like bird with a wingspan of nearly two meters.
Seeing it in real life, most people would faint at such a fearsome monster.
‘But it’s both a mount and a pet of the Grand Duke’s family.’
The servants hurriedly turned their gaze towards Sephiel.
“Instead of lifting you high, how about a swing game?”
“What is that?!”
The swing game was an incredible activity where Sephiel was held at the sides and swung back and forth.
‘Ah, this is a whole new world.’
Sephiel was so excited that she kept laughing out loud.
‘This is the first time I’ve laughed like this.’
Perhaps because of that, the soldiers looked so pleased that their expressions practically melted with warmth.
“Lwook at that. It’s so svhiny!” (Look at that. It’s so shiny)
“Haha! That’s because our soldiers always polish their swords well.”
“Uncle, ywou’re really hwandswome!” (uncle, you’re really handsome)
“Ah, no, that’s because we have elf blood—”
“Shut up, you clueless fool.”
One soldier, who had almost spoken without thinking, was elbowed in the ribs and immediately shut his mouth.
“Thank you. Hahah.”
Sephiel also took the opportunity to get along with the Grand Duke’s servants for the sake of the future.
“The Gyand Dyuke’s fwood is the byest in the wowrld. Thank ywou!” (The Grand Duke’s food is the best in the world. Thank you)
“Weaying pietty clovthes makes me happy. Thanks a lwot!” (Wearing pretty clothes makes me happy. Thanks a lot)
Sephiel also politely greeted the servants waiting in front of the Grand Duke’s castle.
They all let out exclamations of joy, some even making expressions like they were dying to pat Sephiel’s head.
‘Well, this is better than my old life of being mistreated.’
Sephiel felt satisfied.
‘But they still won’t let me inside the main building.’
It wasn’t disappointing since it was expected.
‘Besides… If I wasn’t careful, I might run into that person.’
‘He’s a bit scary… Not really my thing.’
Berry, noticing how exhausted Sephiel was after running all over the Grand Duke’s estate, gently patted her head before bringing her back to the annex.
“Beyyi.”
“Yes, Miss Baby?”
“Ywou know, when the maysters are all gwone… where dwoes that gyu go?” (You know, when the masters are all gone… where does that guy go?)
“Are you talking about Young Master Erga?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s sleeping. Very deeply.”
“Even duying the dway?” (Even during the day?)
“Yes. Before reaching adulthood, half-dragons go through many unstable phases. Sometimes, they sleep for incredibly long periods. There are times when they even have to lock themselves in a special room made of enchanted magic stones.”
“Then whyen he grwow up?” (Then when he grows up?)
“When he grows up….”
Berry said kindly.
“You will find the true form of Him.”
“Are hap-dragwons diffeyent from tryue dragwons?” (Are half-dragwons different from true dragons?)
“Yes. It’s different. Half-dragons have a human appearance, but when they mature, they gain the ability to transform between human and dragon forms.”
“…..But isn’t it twoo byig? When they grwow up, they’ll be hyuge” (But isn’t it too big? When they grow up, they’ll be huge)
“Haha, but they usually have a human form. But they mostly stay in their human form. The Grand Duke, as well as the first Grand Duke, do the same. That transformation ability is called ‘polymorphism.’”
Sephiel nodded. There was no harm in gathering information about the real power holders of this household—the dragons.
“Can ywou tyell me more? What else is diffeyent from hyumans?” (Can you tell me more? What else is different from humans?)
“Yes, of course.”
Berry continued to explain.
“Dragon blood is much stronger than human blood, closer to something divine. For example, the Young young master’s grandmother is a half-elf, and his mother is a human.”
“Hmm… then, that myeans he’s not really a hap-dragwon, wight?” (Hmm… then, that means he’s not really a half-dragon, right?)
‘Since he only had about one-fourth dragon blood, wouldn’t that make him a quarter-dragon?’
Sephiel thought.
“That’s the interesting part.”
Berry explained kindly.
“Dragon blood never gets diluted. No matter what race they mix with, dragon lineage only ever takes in exactly half of the other’s blood. That’s what makes them a superior race—stronger than humans, stronger than elves.”
Sephiel nodded quietly.
“That’s fwascyinating and cwool.” (That’s fascinating and cool.)
“Is it? Haha. Are you curious about the Young Master?”
“Just a little bit….”
Sephiel answered a little hesitantly.
Sephiel wasn’t particularly interested in Erga himself, but the topic of dragons was interesting.
Berry then added another fact: The Grand Duke’s family only ever had sons.
“When a dragon gives birth to a half-dragon, they only ever give birth to children of the same gender as themselves. For example, if a female dragon has children with a male human, only female half-dragons will be born.”
“I see.”
As expected, the dragon tribe is interesting.
Then, all of a sudden, Sephiel remembered something.
‘Right, the Allegro royal family supposedly has demon blood in their lineage.’
And that blood wasn’t inherited by everyone.
Sometimes, ‘mutations’ like Sephiel were born.
“Hey, then what abwout deymons?” (Hey, then what about demons?)
“Demons…?”
Berry’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Our Miss Baby should not be interested in things like demons.”
“Hmm. But they’re not a supeyior ryace, wight?” (Hmm. But they’re not a superior race, right?)
“Yes, That’s right. Demons are not a superior race. If a bloodline isn’t of a superior race, it disappears after three generations, leaving only pure humans behind, and only humans are born after that.”
Sephiel nodded slightly.
There was an old saying:
<Allegro and Remdragon have been at odds for 300 years. But dragons and demons have been enemies for 10,000 years.>
That meant that the demons and dragons were on bad terms.
‘They said my blood is so diluted that I’m basically just a human with unusual looks now.’
‘Still, it was best not to let anyone find out that I resembled demons.’
Sephiel thought so.
‘The people at the Grand Duke’s castle haven’t seen demons in a long time, and demons have various appearances anyway.’
Silvery white hair and red eyes.
That was said to be a characteristic of the ‘sorcerer Demons’ who once lived deep within the Allegro royal forest.
Even if they were the servants of the Grand Duke’s family, there was no way they would know the appearances of all the demons, so Sephiel wasn’t too worried.
And as if that thought was right, they didn’t seem to find Sephiel’s appearance strange.
“Yep, I’ve learvned a lwot abwout dragwons now.” (Yep, I’ve learned a lot about dragons now.)
Only then did Berry’s expression soften.
“Haha, really. Miss Baby is so smart.”
Then, she gently patted Sephiel’s head once more.
“You did very well today.”
“…..”
“The higher-ups of the Grand Duke’s family may never meet you directly, but the servants will. They are not just servants but companions and vassals. Treat them kindly because one day, when you grow up…”
Berry said softly.
“They will be your subordinates.”
‘Wasn’t I just supposed to lend my name?’
Sephiel obediently nodded.
And then answered, “Yes.”
* * *
That evening.
Elton lined up his servants, including soldiers, in front of the main gate of the castle.
“Did everyone see Miss Baby today? I am showing you her face so that if you come across her near the annex in the future, you will be careful not to accidentally harm her. Please remember this.”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
“Understood.”
The various races responded in perfect unison. Elton gave a small nod.
“Everyone has been careful to hide the fact that they are not fully human, right?”
“…….”
“Have you been caught? Who are they? Elf warriors? Werewolves? Or maybe the vampires from the kitchen?”
Everyone raised their hands in sync.
Feeling a headache coming on, Elton spoke.
“All of you?”
“Yes.”
“The moment she saw us, she knew.”
Lev scratched his head as he answered.
“……”
“So… you’re telling me… she figured out all of your identities?”
“Yes.”
<But uncle, why did you call a wyvern a bird?> (But uncle, why did you call a wyvern a bird?)
<That’s because it is a wyveyn… Don’t elf wayyiors usually yide wyveyns and fly ayound?> (That’s because it is a wyvern… Don’t elf warriors usually ride wyverns and fly around?)
<The wewop uncles are syuper strwong! That’s why they can swing thwose hyuge, shiny swoyrds!> (The werewolves uncles are super strong! That’s why they can swing those huge, shiny swords)
<Net time, show me all ywour cwool moves!> (Next time, show me all your cool moves!)
<Thank ywou for woyking in the kitcvhen day and nigt, white vaympir uncles.> (Thank you for working in the kitchen day and night, vampire uncles)
Elton was speechless.
“How on earth….?”
“We are curious too.”
The elf soldiers scratched their heads in confusion.
“How did she know?”
“Berry and Marie will be here soon.”
“When they arrive, we should ask about the Miss Baby’s usual behavior.”
The servants.
A so-called lower species that served dragons.
There shouldn’t have been any information about their bloodline known to outsiders.
Elton furrowed his brows.
* * *
Sephiel was lying in bed.
“But, Miss Baby….”
Berry asked.
“How exactly did you figure out the true identities of our servants today?”
“Hmm… that’s bevcause… I ryead it in a bwook. Dragwons have seyvants….” (Hmm… that’s because I read it in a book. Dragons have servants)
Berry and Marie looked at each other at the same time.
“How could that be….”
“In the magical kingdwom where I was bwon… there were lots of bwooks… and… the loyal family learwned the ancyient langwuage… and in the ancyient bwooks… secrits… magic…” (In the magical kingdom where I was born there were lots of books and the royal family learned the ancient language and in the ancient books… secrets, magic)
Sephiel rubbed her drowsy eyes with her tiny fists.
‘Have you ever heard of advanced learning?’
Sephiel had been imprisoned in the royal prison.
She only learned the truth much later—when she was on the verge of death.
That prison of royal children with red eyes, like Sephiel, was confined.
Among them, there was a princess who had a relatively kinder father.
That child had collected rare books.
It was full of really rare ancient books.
‘Yeah, for some reason I can read the ancient language of the Demonic Clan.’
The ancient common language was something all members of the Allegro royal family could use.
But ancient languages of other races could only be read by those with special bloodlines.
‘And yes, I happen to be one of those people.’
Books written by demons around 300 years ago.
One of them contained records about the grand duke’s servants and the races they belonged to.
‘So I even knew what each race liked and disliked.’
For example, elves, despite being naturally good-looking, loved receiving compliments on their appearance. Some elves rode wyverns.
Werewolves were obsessed with maintaining their weapons.
Sephiel had been looking forward to meeting them.
She wanted to see those who carried the blood of legendary species with her own eyes.
And they were all surprisingly friendly.
‘But, should I have pretended not to know? Did I just fail to read the mood?’
But everyone seemed happy.
One of the uncles had even exclaimed, “She’s not afraid of us!” with obvious joy, so Sephiel was quite pleased with herself.
As she was about to fall asleep, she rubbed her eyes again.
“Beyyi. Mayyi.”
“Yes?”
“What did you eat?”
No way.
Berry’s lips trembled.
“You see, my famyily alwvays… gave mwoney to those who took care of us. But..… my fathyer… probably dwon’t have mowney to give ywou, Beyyi and Mayyi.” (You see, my family always gave money to those who took care of us. But my father probably doesn’t have money to give you, Berry and Marie.)
Memories from her past life resurfaced.
The nobles gave money to their attendants, and those attendants, in turn, displayed loyalty with joy.
But Sephiel had no money to give.
She was a master, but also not a master.
‘But I really don’t have anything to give.’
Besides, Berry and Marie probably wouldn’t be happy even if she gave them money.
“Ywou know… thiss a secrit…” (You know, this is a secret)
Sephiel whispered.
“I’m so havppy to be here. So townight, I’ll have the bes dyeam eve.” (I’m so happy to be here. So tonight, I’ll have the best dream ever)
Sephiel murmured.
“I… dyeam… Beyyi and Mayyi… have to see it too…”
Berry’s hand, which had been stroking Sephiel’s head, fell away.
“Hm…. It has to be the bes dyeam eve. I pyowmise.” (It has to be the best dream ever. I promise)
“Make suye ywou eat it…..” (Make sure you eat it)
‘Because that’s all I can give you.’
Breathing softly, Sephiel slowly fell asleep.
‘How did she know our identities?’
Berry and Marie looked at each other.
The two sisters were descendants of dream demons—commonly known as succubi.
Their mixed blood was diluted enough that they didn’t need to consume dreams to survive.
But happy dreams were a delicacy.
“Mmm… Mmm.”
Sephiel was sleeping with the happiest face in the world.
That night, Berry and Mari peeked into Sephiel’s dream.
<Beyyi, Mayyi. Lwook at this! I can thyow the ball that far.>
Berry and Marie had a dream where Sephiel was running around in the garden of the annex, throwing a ball as big as the moon and jumping around in red shoes.
Then she ran toward Berry and Marie and hugged them tightly, showering them with affection.
Berry and Marie smiled with the warmest, most affectionate expressions.
After seeing that dream, tears welled up in both of their eyes.
“That’s the most beautiful dream I ever had.”
“Thank you, Miss Baby.”
* * *
“It’s suspicious, this is too suspicious.”
“Berry. Marie! Who exactly is that Miss Baby? How did she figure out who we really are?”
Berry and Marie belatedly arrived at the place where the Servants had gathered after putting Sephiel to sleep.
Berry and Marie were smiling happily.
“She is…”
“A very clever young lady.”
“Yes, and she has a very kind heart.”
“She is the kind of person who would share everything, even if she had very little.”
“She has the qualities of a true princess.”
“And she is more than worthy of being our madam.”
Berry and Marie’s expressions were like that.
“Insulting our Miss Baby is the same as insulting me.” Lev said.
“So, to summarize, the new Miss Baby isn’t even afraid of us.”
“Kind and cute.”
“She’s so quick-witted that it’s suspicious!”
“I think everyone should calm down.”
Elton, as the one overseeing the servants, tried to calm them.
“This isn’t something to be taken so lightly. No matter how young she is, we need to be fair in this situation. This might not be something we can simply overlook.”
“…….”
“Thinking objectively,” Elton said.
“I guess…..”
“What?” Berry said.
“Could she be a prodigy?”
Elton said seriously.
“That too is a very cute prodigy.”
Berry was silent for a moment, then added:
“So, a genius in both cuteness and intelligence!”
“Oh my god, that is truly an amazing talent.”
In the end, no one could remain objective.
* * *
