"Aren't true gentlemen supposed to sleep in separate rooms?" Baroness Meryl, lying in bed, looked at Baron Roman who had come in after knocking and teased with a smile.
The personal maid lowered her head, secretly smiling.
Baron Roman wasn't in the least embarrassed, raised his thick eyebrows, and replied, "On my lands, the baron has the right to sleep wherever he chooses."
"No wonder everyone wants to be nobility."
"There have to be some privileges to inspire one's fighting spirit. If not, who would dare to lead the charge against the Snow Demon?" the baron said.
"What Lord Baron says always makes some sense," Meryl commented with a laugh.
Watching the couple banter, the personal maid quietly retreated to the door, "Madam, I won't disturb you and the master any further, I will leave now."
"Go back, have a good sleep," the baron waved his hand.
The couple lay side by side on the big bed, and after a light kiss, they made no further moves but held each other, whispering softly.
"That boy Russell, he really is lucky, just a few days on the estate and he picks up a Spirit Insect out of nowhere. It's a rare birch fungus that can produce magic materials at that," the baron mused. There were many spirit insects that could produce magic potions; they were not exceptionally rare.
"It's about time Russell had some good luck. Aside from when he was born receiving the fortune of inheriting our Rainflower Family's good looks, the rest of the time his luck has been unremarkable."
"Good looks aren't really a stroke of luck. Like Roland, inheriting the Fluorescent Fungi Family's cultivation talent—that's a stroke of luck," the baron said dismissively. To him, good looks were secondary; talent was everything.
"Cultivation can also rely on consuming potions to get stronger. If Russell is fortunate enough to make a contract with a Fantasy Beast, he could become a powerful Phantom Beast Knight," Meryl argued. "However, being handsome is something that will follow Russell for life."
"At best, it can deceive some ignorant girls."
"Perhaps he could even deceive Great Dragons."
"Speaking of Great Dragons… well, lately, Russell seems to have somehow offended Mr. Ross. Mr. Ross is quite dissatisfied with him and has even developed hostility," the baron sighed suddenly, troubled by this.
Meryl consoled him, "Aren't dragons just like that, more capricious and fickle than us women?"
"How could that be."
"How could it not be? You have been fawning over Mr. Ross for decades, yet Mr. Ross has never allowed you to ride him even once."
"That's definitely different, Mr. Ross doesn't let me ride because we're not compatible, and in some aspects, I haven't met Mr. Ross's standards. Becoming a Flying Dragon Knight isn't something one can achieve merely through affection."
"Perhaps Russell could ride a dragon."
Baron Roman laughed, "There aren't that many dragons for Russell to ride. Everything about the Fluorescent Fungi Family is built on Mr. Ross… Ah, I had also been thinking, whether it's Roland or Russell, as long as one could ride a dragon, our family could advance further."
Continuing, Baron Roman shook his head, "Russell is growing up, but… it seems he has almost no chance of riding a dragon now. The only hope left for the family now is Roland."
"Isn't there also Roson's two children?" Meryl said casually.
Baron Roman shook his head without hesitation, "No, Royal and Royer are not qualified to even attempt riding dragons. Roson's current status is merely that of my vassal!"
Roson Fluorescent Spore was the baron's own brother, and his two sons, Royal and Royer, were the baron's nephews.
Meryl was very pleased with this answer, "It's good that you can make that distinction clear."
The baron countered, "Why do you think I would confuse the two? I'm not without an heir—both Roland and Russell are excellent!"
"You and I can make the distinction, but your mother, Lady Ingrid, may not necessarily see it as clearly."
"Yes, mother does hold Roson dear, but that has nothing to do with the family succession. She just likes the hot spring at Roson's place, that's all."
"I was just making a casual remark. Now, Lord Baron, it's time for bed."
"You always worry about these needless things."
"Alright, alright," Meryl kissed the baron, shifting the topic abruptly yet smoothly, "Tomorrow Russell is going back, and I want to give him another batch of supplies. I've asked his personal servant, life at the manor's outlying estate is quite spartan."
"He's just a Lord, there's no need to maintain an extravagant facade. A bit of hardship might not be a bad thing."
"He's still growing, still stretching upwards."
"As you wish," the baron had no intention of arguing over some supplies.
Yet Meryl sighed deeply, "Alas, Russell has grown up... Roland is courting the Grand Duke, Rolin has married, now Russell has his own fief, and in a few more years, Lola will leave my side too. I really don't want to grow old."
The baron wrapped his arms around his wife, "Such is life, don't worry, you'll have me by your side as we grow old together."
Meanwhile.
In Russell's room, where he had gone to bed early, even breaths signaled he was already asleep.
When his consciousness cleared again, Russell was thrilled to find himself once more in the eagerly anticipated Gloomy Dreamland.
"Ga!"
A familiar cry immediately shook Russell with excitement, "Ice Cream! My golden finger! I knew you wouldn't abandon me!"
"Ga?" The Little Dream Dragon fluttered its wings, slowly flying over, tilting its head, clueless about what the person in front of it was so excited about.
"Where have you been these past few days?" Russell swung himself onto the Little Dream Dragon, instantly lighting up the entire Gloomy Dreamland, with the Magic Light radiating everywhere.
"Ga?" The Little Dream Dragon was baffled.
Its intelligence was extremely limited and didn't match that of the Great Dragons of legend, said to be even wiser than humans; it could only understand some simple instructions.
Russell couldn't get an answer, so he guessed, "Is it because that blast of Dragonflame three days ago greatly sapped your strength, so you had to rest for three days?"
"Ga?"
"Ga your head! Ga!" Russell laughed, slapping the Little Dream Dragon playfully, then shouted, "Take off, Ice Cream!"
"Ga ga!" The Little Dream Dragon understood and, with Russell aboard, flew circles around the familiar Fluorescent Castle.
Russell knew almost everything about the magic creations in the Fluorescent Castle, so he simply enjoyed riding the Little Dream Dragon, flying joyously.
Until the Little Dream Dragon grew tired again, "Ga."
Russell leapt off, waving to the Little Dream Dragon as it flew back, "Okay, go have a good rest, Ice Cream. I'm going to ride you to conquer the whole Dragon Sleep Continent in the future!"
The next morning.
Russell got out of bed feeling refreshed, his gloomy thoughts of the past few days swept away, in a great mood, smiling at everyone he saw.
"Mr. Russell, you seem particularly happy today," remarked the old butler, Carter.
"Being able to sleep in a comfortable big house again, of course, I am happy," Russell replied with a smile, "What's for breakfast today?"
"Your favorite fish egg risotto, the kitchen has specially added smoked codfish strips, freshly caught this season from the ice holes."
"Hmm..."
Russell was noncommittal.
Fish egg risotto was a favorite of his predecessor, who could eat two large bowls of it for breakfast, especially with added codfish strips.
But now, he was missing Chinese food more.