In this golden era, Irene was a little girl born with an extraordinary destiny. She was the last of her kind, the last generation of the great and powerful dragon. Unlike other dragons, Irene had a special ability: she could manifest as a human even as a child.

Her life was forever changed on that fateful day. The other dragons had been brutally slaughtered by humans, and Irene was unlucky enough to witness the tragedy unfold before her very eyes. Her parents were slain before her, and she was left alone in a world that feared and hated her kind.

The noble family, known across the land for their wealth and influence, found a small child trembling amongst her slain parents' lifeless bodies. Mistaking her for a victim of dragon abduction, they took pity on her and brought her back to their grand estate.

The human, looking at the terrified girl, asked gently, "Child, may I know your name?" He extended a hand towards her, hoping to comfort her.

The girl, still shaking, placed her small trembling hand in his, unable to speak.

The human, seeing the girl's fear and recognizing her trauma, spoke soothingly, "It's okay, child. I won't harm you."

Irene, still terrified but mustering up her courage, replied in a small voice, "I-I'm Irene."

The noble family who took Irene in had suffered their own losses at the hands of dragons. They harbored a deep hatred for her kind and regarded her with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.

However, little did they know that they had invited a dragon into their home, for hidden beneath the facade of a terrified child was a creature they despised. This dragon child had to live a life of constant terror, for if her secret was ever discovered, it would mean certain death.

Irene was plagued by anxiety, constantly terrified that she would accidentally expose her true identity as a dragon. She knew that if her secret was discovered, it would mean certain death. She had to play the part of a human girl perfectly, never revealing her dragon nature to anyone.

The man, his smile warm and sincere, looked at Irene and spoke firmly. "Irene, from now on I will adopt you and from today on, you will treat me as your father. Call me 'Dad'."

Irene's heart skipped a beat as she heard his words. She was overwhelmed with emotions - fear, gratitude, and uncertainty. Despite the mixed feelings, she managed to summon a small smile and replied, "Yes, Dad."

As the carriage finally came to a stop in front of the massive mansion, Irene couldn't believe her eyes. The building seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, with lush gardens and ornate fountains adding to the magnificence.

Stepping out of the carriage, she was suddenly aware of a pair of eyes fixed upon her. A boy, seeming to be around her own age, was watching her with an intense stare.

The sound of a young boy's voice cut through the air. "Dad, who did you bring home today?"

The man replied, "Meet your new adopted sister, Irene. She will now be a part of our family," he added, the finality in his tone making it clear that there would be no further discussion.

The boy, however, seemed skeptical. He continued to look at Irene with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

The boy's words hit Irene like a punch to the gut. "You will never be my sister. You will never be her."

Irene felt a lump form in her throat as the boy's words sunk in. Despite the adoption, he seemed adamantly against her becoming a part of their family.

She knew that this kind of reaction was inevitable, but she chose to respond with a smile.

Despite the boy's reluctance, she had no plans to back down or let his attitude discourage her. 

The boy's actions had crossed a line when he pushed Irene and caused her pain. The father was furious and disappointed that his son would behave in such a manner.

With a firm voice, the father turned to his son and said, "In our noble family, respect is of the utmost importance. Irene will be my daughter and therefore, she will also become your sister. That fact will not change, whether you like it or not."

The boy's face twisted in anger and defiance at his father's words. He was clearly not happy about the situation, and the fact that the girl he had pushed was now set to become his sister only added to his irritation. Despite the father's firm stance, the boy didn't seem open to accepting Irene as part of the family and looked as if he might protest further.

The son's voice was filled with disgust and disdain as he made his feelings clear. "No matter what you say, I will not accept her as part of our family. She does not fit the picture of a noble."

Irene swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure at the boy's harsh words. She could sense the tension in the air as the father attempted to reason with his son.

The father's frustration with his son was written across his face, and his threat to cut off his son's allowance hung in the air. Then, suddenly, Irene spoke up.

"It's alright, Master," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I am grateful for your kindness, but I do not believe I am suited to be your daughter. Would you consider allowing me to become your maid instead?"

The father was taken aback by Irene's proposal. He had already made up his mind that she would be his daughter.

"No," he said firmly. "You will be my daughter, and I promise to treat you better. I want you to call me 'Dad' from now on."

Irene was caught off guard by the forcefulness in the father's tone. It was clear that he was leaving no room for negotiation on this issue.

Zayn couldn't hide the intrigue in his voice as he chimed in, his words dripping with anger and jealousy.

"Now you prioritize your new daughter over your deceased one and act as if I don't exist anymore," he said, his voice filled with venom.

The atmosphere was tense as the father's voice rose in response to Zayn's outburst. Just as the tension was about to escalate further, the duke's assistant stepped in.

"Duke," they said, cutting through the tension of the moment, "We have a meeting to attend to."

The duke nodded, his demeanor instantly shifting.

Irene's eyes widened in surprise as she heard this new information. She had never imagined that the man, whom she had assumed to be a wealthy businessman or landowner, was actually a duke.

With the duke excusing himself to attend the meeting, Irene was left alone with Zayn. The boy's hostile gaze fixed on her, and he spoke up with a chilling smirk.

"Listen up, poor girl," he said derisively. "Just because you're supposedly my 'new sister,' don't get the idea that this house belongs to you. As far as I'm concerned, you'll always be my lowly servant, and I expect you to obey my every command. If you don't, you can expect to be punished."