As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 232

[Side Story 3: The Dragon’s Adolescence- Part 2]

 

While everyone in the palace was preoccupied with the news of the imperial heir, the one person who still paid attention to Ren was none other than Luize. As she worked at her desk, with a special cushion placed just for Ren, she spoke.

 

“Nothing has changed for us, but everyone else is acting like it’s a huge deal, right?”

 

“Ppi.” Ren nodded in agreement.

 

“By the way, you can polymorph now, right? You’re just not doing it because you haven’t decided on a gender yet?”

 

“Ppippi.” Ren nodded again.

 

“Have you decided on a gender?”

 

Nod, nod. As Ren nodded even more enthusiastically, Luize smiled and put down her pen.

 

“So, which side will you transform into? According to Edward, once you decide, you can’t change it for a hundred years. And even then, very few change after they’ve decided.”

 

“…Ppii?” Ren tilted its head in confusion and picked up its special pen, scribbling clumsily on a blank sheet of paper.

 

[Can I change?]

 

“Yes, that’s what they say. Didn’t you know?”

 

Nod, nod.

 

At Ren’s response, Luize thought for a moment before speaking. “Now that I think about it, Ren, you haven’t learned much from the previous dragon generation, have you? There’s probably only so much information available in the Imperial Library… I should gather what I can and assign you a tutor.”

 

“Ppik.”

 

At the mention of studying, Ren made a reluctant face, and Luize spoke firmly.

 

“You can take your time learning the Imperial language whenever you feel like it, but the knowledge related to dragons is essential for your future. You need to know this.”

 

Although studying wasn’t something Ren was thrilled about, it had been feeling frustrated lately with how little it knew about magic and its own body, so Ren understood the necessity of learning.

 

Dragons naturally acquired magic from birth, like moving their limbs. However, with more complex magic, the older dragons would usually pass down their techniques. They also taught necessary knowledge, like the languages, cultures, and etiquette of various countries.

 

Normally, the age gap between a Black Dragon and a White Dragon was about 5,000 years, providing plenty of time for one to learn and then teach the other. But due to Run’s early death, the gap between the birth of the Black and White Dragons this time was short. All Ren had learned from its predecessor was what it had heard while still in its egg, and even then, the disinterested older dragon hadn’t bothered to teach much.

 

Ren had understood the Imperial language, but not the written characters, so it had to start learning them slowly after arriving at the palace. Of course, using language magic allowed it to communicate without any issues, but Luize didn’t want Ren to live its life illiterate, relying only on magic. Fortunately, Ren had expressed a desire to at least learn how to read and write.

 

Under Luize’s determined gaze, Ren reluctantly nodded. “Ppi…”

 

Luize gently stroked Ren’s head. “Gathering the information you need and assigning you a teacher will be the last task I handle for a while. After I give birth and recover, I won’t be able to get around as much as I do now. They say previous empresses all became abnormally sleepy in the early stages of pregnancy, and I’m already feeling that. I’ll probably have less time to play with you too.”

 

“Ppik!”

 

Ren made a dissatisfied face, but Luize smiled and continued. “Still, I’ve felt much better with you by my side. Once I recover, I’ll play with you even more than now.”

 

“Ppi!” Ren perked up its ears and nodded brightly.

 

“Thank you for understanding.”

 

Ren’s gaze slid from Luize’s face down to her lower belly, which was hidden by the desk. It had been ten days since the news of Luize’s pregnancy became known. While Luize promised they’d play more after she recovered, seeing the palace bustling with preparations for the new imperial child made it seem like she would only get busier once the baby was born.

 

“Ren, will you get along with the child once they’re born?”

 

“Kkung… Ppi!” Ren nodded, though it didn’t seem entirely enthusiastic.

 

“Why are you like that? Do you not like babies?”

 

For a moment, Ren gave Luize a peculiar look before shaking its head hurriedly. “Ppii!”

 

“So, you like them?”

 

Ren nodded its small head vigorously. “Ppik!”

 

“That’s a relief.” Luize smiled at Ren and resumed her work.

 

“Pyuk.” Ren, after watching her closely for a while, sighed softly and curled up to close its eyes.

 

As Luize reviewed the last document, her eyes widened. “The last document is… a report. Oh, right! The scouts who went to the northern wilderness are returning tomorrow.” Her expression brightened noticeably as she read. “My goodness, Ren! They discovered a white egg in the north! It seems to be a White Dragon’s egg.”

 

“Ppiham- Ppuik?” Ren, groggily waking from its nap, glanced between Luize and the document.

 

“A White Dragon might be born soon. You’ll have lots of friends.”

 

“…Ppii?” Ren tilted its head.

 

“I wonder what a White Dragon will look like. Probably similar to you, right?”

 

“Ppi…i?”

 

“I hope they’re as cute as you. Oh, but it’ll probably take a while for them to hatch, won’t it?”

 

“…Ppi.” Ren, with an uneasy expression, nodded slightly.

 

“I hope it happens soon. The palace will be so lively. I can’t wait.”

 

“…”

 

As Luize happily imagined the future, reviewing the document once more, Ren, instead of responding, quietly curled up on her lap.

 

“…Ren?”

 

“Ppi.”

 

“You’ve been clingier lately.” Luize chuckled as she stroked Ren’s head.

 

* * *

Not long after, a white egg arrived at the imperial palace. Once it was officially confirmed to be a White Dragon’s egg, the entire imperial palace—and even the empire—buzzed with excitement again. The palace staff became busier, Edward’s schedule intensified, and those around him, of course, found themselves caught in the whirlwind of activity.

 

“Hey, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Ren around lately.”

 

“Hahaha, Ren is probably playing with its caretaker.”

 

But a few days later, Ren’s caretaker was found bound and gagged in a corner of the palace garden. A note, written in Ren’s handwriting, was pinned to her forehead.

 

[It’s not that you don’t want to play with me. I don’t want to play with you. I’m leaving.]

 

The imperial palace was thrown into chaos once again.

 

* * *

Everyone gathered to figure out where the young dragon might have gone.

 

“Ren, where are you!”

 

“Ren!”

 

“Ren!”

 

“Lord Ren!”

 

“Reeeeeeen!”

 

As everyone searched every corner of the imperial palace and secretly scoured the capital and its surroundings, Edward stood in front of Ren’s room, muttering. “…Seems like Ren lied.”

 

At that moment, a servant, spotting him from afar, hurried over. “Glory of the continent and sun of the empire! Your Majesty, Sir Edvin has formed a knight order to head into the Perils Forest immediately to find Ren. We are also ready to request cooperation from foreign nations.”

 

“No need. I’ve found Ren.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

The servant looked confused, but Edward smirked slightly as he stared at the tightly locked door.

 

“The dragon is here. Call those who were closest to Ren—Maxion, Hendrik, Robin, and Aiven. Make sure not to wake the empress.”

 

“…Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

Shortly after, those summoned by Edward gathered in front of Ren’s room. It was indeed strange that its room, which should have been empty, was locked. Everyone, including the caretaker, took turns calling out to Ren and coaxing it, but there was no response from inside.

 

“Ren, are you really not going to say a word to us?” Finally, Robin, looking puzzled, knocked on the door and finished speaking. There was still no sign of movement from within.

 

“Your Majesty, are you sure Ren is inside?”

 

“I’m certain. The locked door won’t open even with a key, and more importantly, I can sense the dragon’s presence. Fortunately, Ren still hasn’t learned to properly suppress its mana.”

 

“I see. It is strange, though. That dragon was always so talkative, but now it’s completely silent.”

 

“Haha, maybe it’s adolescence?” Hendrik chimed in.

 

Edward then turned to the chef from the side palace and asked. “What’s Ren’s favorite snack lately?”

 

“A cake topped with plenty of fresh strawberries and whipped cream, Your Majesty.”

 

“Prepare it and leave it here. Everyone else, vacate the side palace for half a day.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

Half a day later, when everyone returned to Ren’s door, they were greeted by an unbelievable scene.