Irritated, Reunite snapped his fingers. As he did, the appearance of the young boy vanished, and a well-built man emerged. Surprisingly, he had a handsome face, comparable to Duke Hart or Carlos.

When he mentioned that he said it like he was just making a casual remark about seeing his youthful self in Duke Hart, it wasn’t just a random statement.

“If I walk around in this form, the owner of this house wouldn’t like it much.”

“You mean Duke Hart?”

“Yes.”

Well… That makes sense.

Originally, he couldn’t stay here as an adult male.
When Reunite flicked his hand again, he instantly transformed back into the appearance of a young child.

‘By the way…’

Nelia felt strange after seeing Reunite in the form of a robust adult man. Even though it was the appearance of a young child, the idea of sharing a bed with such a man felt awkward… she also felt sorry for Duke Hart.

Nelia stared at Reunite with an unpleasant look, and Reunite noticed and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“After seeing you in the form of a robust adult man, it feels awkward to sleep in the same bed with Reunite.”

Reunite sighed in frustration, “Do you think I would have such thoughts about you?”

“…”

“It’s ridiculous. Let me make it clear; I could never have such feelings for you.”

Having such certainty, it didn’t make her feel good either.

The words seemed to imply, ‘Do you think I’d ever fall for someone like you?’

As Nelia glared disapprovingly at Reunite, he met her gaze with a puzzled expression, asking, “What’s the matter?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Even I have circumstances that I can’t tell others.”

Slightly solemn, Reunite’s expression seemed to convey a sense of sadness.

Even though it was the appearance of a young child, his small eyes revealed a hint of loneliness between the eyelashes.

Nelia sighed and gently stroked Reunite’s head. He didn’t resist the touch.

After a while, Reunite, looking at Nelia, said, “I must have shown a pitiful sight.”

“Everyone has things they can’t tell others.”

Saying so, Nelia sat down on the bed with a thud.

Reunite silently stared at Nelia. Uncomfortable under his heated gaze, Nelia asked, “Is there something on my face?”

“I know why you chose me.”

What did he choose me for?

“Elena’s tears…?”

Reunite turned his gaze away from Nelia and replied, “No.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s a secret.”

If he wasn’t going to tell, why mention it in the first place?

While grumbling, Nelia suddenly realized that she had spent quite a bit of time talking with Reunite.

“Reunite, we need to go for the meal, so hurry up and wash your hands!”

“Hmm? Can’t I just go down like this?”

“No, you might get sick if you don’t!”

Nelia picked up Reunite and took him to the bathroom.

“I won’t get sick from just going downstairs.”

“I won’t allow it; you might get sick!”

With Reunite in tow, Nelia realized that quite some time had passed while chatting.

The next day, Nelia, who was still half-asleep, woke up to the sound of Reunite’s voice.

“Nelia, get up quickly. You’ll be late.”

Nelia opened her eyes with a sigh.

A fresh face, as if he had washed up, greeted her – it was Reunite.

“Young people these days sleep so much; what’s to be done?”

Nelia groggily got up with a mumble.
“For whose sake is this…?”

“Who do you think caused me to oversleep?”

“Reunite. You took all the blankets again yesterday.”

Nevertheless, Reunite, perhaps still having a conscience, transformed into the appearance of a small dragon and said he would sleep at the head of the bed.

Certainly, that’s what happened at first.

However, before she knew it, Reunite had come to my side and was pulling the blanket over.

“Why does a dragon cover itself with a blanket?”

“I also like the warm feeling.”

Nelia sighed and got up from the bed.

After washing up in the bathroom and changing into clothes, when Nelia tried to leave with her outerwear, Reunite naturally stuck close by.

Nelia stopped and looked down at Reunite.

“Why are you following me?”

“Why wouldn’t I follow? We have to go to the Royal Palace together today.”

“Do you think that place is a playground? Absolutely not.”

When Nelia firmly refused, Reunite furrowed his eyebrows.

“Then, are you telling me to stay here alone?”

“I can’t bring you along in your child form. I asked Ton, the butler of this mansion, to take good care of Reunite.”

“I don’t want that. Being with a strange human…”

“With Ton around, there will be plenty of delicious things for you too.”

At Nelia’s words, Reunite hesitated.

“I heard there’s a freshly baked cream cake.”

“Hmm, it seems like you’re uncomfortable, so I’ll stay here for today.”

Smirking, Nelia looked at Reunite, who answered with a serious face.

Nelia felt a strange sensation as if something was lifted, looking at Reunite who seemed delighted.

She soon realized the nature of that sensation.

It was because Reunite’s appearance, excited about desserts, resembled her past self.

“…Was I like that too?”

If she had been excited like Reunite, it might explain why the Duke brought her desserts every day.

Nelia scratched her head with a wry smile.

She felt a strange sense of sympathy for Reunite, who was eager for dessert.

With a muddled expression, Nelia went downstairs to the first floor, where the Duke would be waiting.

Below, the Duke was indeed waiting for Nelia. Taking out a pocket watch to check the time, he noticed it was a bit later than usual.

“Duke, I apologize for being late. Let’s go quickly.”

The Duke and Nelia boarded the carriage.

Duke Hart asked Nelia, who sat in the carriage seat, “Did you sleep late yesterday, Nelia?”

“Ah… yes. I couldn’t sleep well.”

Duke Hart quickly showed a worried expression.

“Yesterday, you said you felt signs of a cold; perhaps you’ve caught a cold?”

Upon reflection, she had told a lie as if it were nothing.

Nelia shook her head.

“The signs of a cold seem to have disappeared. Yesterday was just… I couldn’t sleep well. Everyone has days like that.”

“Yes, I’m relieved if it’s just that. Still, today a sunstone will be installed in Nelia’s room.”

Reunite would like that; the room would become warmer.

“Thank you, Duke.”

Nelia responded with a light smile.
As usual, the Duke wore a warm smile like spring sunshine and looked at Nelia. However, soon the Duke withdrew the smile and hesitated as if there was something to say.

“I didn’t know Nelia had such a younger cousin.”

The Duke seemed to be about to talk about Reunite. Since the Duke and Nelia were always together and he had never mentioned having a younger cousin, he might have been somewhat surprised by the sudden appearance of Reunite.

‘No…’

Come to think of it, Nelia hadn’t talked much about her family to Duke Hart either. It was partly due to her personality, but she also didn’t know her family well enough to share various stories about them.

The time Nelia spent with her family was very short. It hadn’t even been a year. The only family member he knew was Layton.

‘I’m not in my right mind, for sure.’

Although the Duke mentioned investigating people around her, fortunately, her family didn’t seem to be included in that list.

Nelia pondered how to explain the suddenly appeared younger cousin, Reunite, to Duke Hart.

“Well… Actually, Reunite is my cousin, but I haven’t seen him a few times in my life. We weren’t that close.”

“I see.”

“Yes… Besides, as I mentioned, it was a request I received very abruptly from my uncle, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you in advance. Otherwise, I would have taken Reunite to the Royal Palace and then come, hahaha…”

Nelia hoped the Duke would be deceived by this awkward story.