I took a moment to explain the lotion—which was all-in-one lotion, specifically—to Oriane and Celeste. The instructions on the box that it had come in recommended using a cherry-sized dollop of the stuff, but that explanation turned out not to be a great point of reference since neither of them had even heard of cherries before. Instead, I told them to use a roughly thumb-sized quantity of cream, which they would need to rub on their faces in the mornings and evenings after washing with soap.
“You can also use a little extra on days when your skin feels particularly dry,” I concluded.
“I see! I’ll do just that, then,” Oriane replied.
“Let’s try it right away, mother! Today, even!” Celeste said.
“Oh, naturally!”
The earl cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose I could get a word in at some point, you two?”
“Oh, pardon me, dear! I suppose we have been rather monopolizing Sir Mukohda, haven’t we?” Oriane said.
“I’m sorry, father,” Celeste added.
The earl’s intervention had finally gotten the two of them to calm down a little. It really did seem that women having a keen interest in cosmetics was a constant, no matter what world you ended up in.
“I apologize for my wife and daughter,” the earl said. “They’re both enormous fans of your beauty products. Though I suppose I hardly have any right to criticize, do I?”
Nope, you sure don’t! And don’t worry, I didn’t forget to pack something for you in that box as well. “I brought bottles of hair tonic and shampoo as well,” I said.
“Oh? Wonderful! Thank you for that. I’m afraid I’m quite the addict, at this point. I couldn’t live without them!” the earl said as he ran a hand through his newly abundant hair. Willem nodded along in understanding as well.
Oh, right. I almost forgot that Willem had a balding problem before too. You’d never know it, looking at him these days.
“You brought potions too, didn’t you, Mukohda?” Willem prompted.
“Oh, right!” I said. “Yes, the guildmaster is correct. There are some potions in the box as well—three lower-grade, one mid-grade, and one high-grade.”
“Oh, truly? That’s generous of you indeed! I’m much obliged, Mukohda.”
I was relieved to see that the earl was happy with his gifts...but it struck me that I’d given something to him, his wife, and his daughter, but hadn’t brought anything for his son. In my defense, I hadn’t even known he had a son until the moment I’d stepped into the room. I didn’t think that the earl would hold it against me, but the idea of leaving the kid out just didn’t sit right with me, somehow.
I paused for a moment to sort through my mental inventory of everything I had, trying to come up with something that a kid his age would like, but I ended up drawing a blank. As I pondered the matter, though, I noticed that Bastian was staring very intently in a particular direction. I followed his gaze...and found myself looking at Fel and Gon, both of whom were lazing about like they owned the place.
Ooooh, I get it. I guess kids his age do go nuts over big animals.
Just then, the earl seemed to notice his son’s point of interest as well. “Are you curious about those two, Bastian?” he asked.
“Yes,” Bastian replied in a quiet, slightly bashful tone.
“Would you like to try touching them?” I asked.
“Can I, really?!”
《Hey, Fel, Gon,》 I said telepathically. 《Mind letting Bastian touch you a bit?》
《You are referring to the smaller of the whelps?》
《Whatever for, my liege?》
《I’m pretty sure it’d make his day, that’s all. Just think of it as fair trade for the dragon steaks I’ll be making for you later.》
《Peh! If I must.》
《If you say so, I suppose.》
Neither of them sounded happy about it, but at least I’d gained their consent. “Go ahead,” I said to Bastian.
Bastian walked up to Fel first.
“I advise a gentle touch, whelp.”
“Okay!”
“F-Fel!” I yelped. You’re talking to an earl’s son! You can’t call him that!
“Hah hah hah! No need to worry; I don’t mind at all,” the earl said. “After all, Bastian really is just a whelp compared to a mighty fenrir!”
“Oh, wooow! He’s so fuzzy!” Bastian had a big ol’ grin as he stroked Fel’s fur. “Can I touch the dragon too?” he asked, turning his excited gaze to Gon next.
“That’s fine. Right, Gon?”
“If you must, yes,” Gon begrudgingly replied.
“You heard him! He’s all yours.”
Bastian stepped up to touch Gon next, a little more timidly this time. I wasn’t surprised that he’d hesitated—Gon was a dragon, after all. Even a kid who was beside himself with curiosity would be at least a little scared of him.
“Whoooa! His scales are really hard and rough, father!” Bastian said as he carefully probed Gon’s armored hide.
“This is your lucky day, Bastian. Most people go their whole lifetimes without ever having the chance to touch a fenrir or an ancient dragon!” the earl replied. He and Oriane watched over their son with smiles on their lips.
I’d been under the impression that most nobles were cold and uncaring toward their families, but at least in the earl’s case, that hadn’t turned out to be true at all. It was actually sort of heartwarming to watch them have their little moment.
Eventually, the earl spoke up again. “Oh, yes. Both of you are welcome to spend the night at my home, if you’d like,” he said.
Ugh! “Yeah, I, umm, think that would be a little tough, considering all of them,” I said, glancing over at my familiars.
“Hm?” The earl blinked. “Of course I wouldn’t expect your familiars to stay elsewhere! They’re as welcome in my home as you are.”
It’s really not as easy as you think it is, actually! “The thing is, they’ll have to eat dinner, and they, umm...they eat a lot. I mean, really, a lot.” Trust me, I know better than anyone just how hard it is to feed these four!
“Oh, that won’t be a problem at all,” the earl said. “What would their preference be? Raw meat?”
I think I spoiled them out of their raw meat phase a very long time ago, actually. They’re only happy if they can eat the same food I do! And tonight in particular...
“We do not eat raw meat,” Fel said. “Tonight, we shall be feasting upon dragon steaks. Do not interfere.”
“Indeed! I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into them,” Gon added.
There was an extended moment of silence.
“D-Dragon steaks?!” the earl shouted. His wife and daughter were frozen solid, and the guildmaster was pressing his face into his palm.
I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my brow. Did you really have to say that one out loud, guys...?
“Oh, wow, dragon meat? I wish I could try it too,” said Bastian. He was taking the news better than anyone.