You Are Worthy of Love

“……”

Sian pretended not to notice the lingering gaze. Still, the glances were quite bothersome.

Sian, who had been observing the flowerbeds, sighed inwardly.

‘Even when I tell him to rest inside, he keeps doing this.’

About two more days had passed since Theodore started staying here.

The protagonist’s healing abilities were truly remarkable.

He had been in pain for two whole days due to the fever from his injuries, but afterwards, he showed incredible recovery.

Perhaps I should call him the male protagonist of a fantasy novel.

Since he had that level of recovery, he must have endured Drake’s cruel tortures. Sian’s mouth soon tasted bitter.

Theodore’s injuries were not from monsters.

The biggest wound was a clean, neat sword wound. A skilled swordsman had swung a sword to kill Theodore, inflicting a fatal injury.

It was likely a knight or assassin sent by his uncle, Kasar, to eliminate the crown prince, who was a thorn in his side.

‘To think they would do that to such a young child… Those trash.’

I know it’s just a world the author set up, but Sian was still angry.

Any adult with a clear mind should protect a child, shouldn’t they? Sian thought to himself, grinding his teeth.

Crack.

“Ah.”

“……!”

Giving it a little more force, the handle of the watering can Sian was holding snapped like a cracker. Sian stared blankly at the pink container rolling around on the flowerbed.

What was the point of watering soil that wouldn’t even grow a single plant properly?

It was a daily routine at Kali’s insistence, but no matter how I thought about it, it seemed like a useless act.

Sian clicked his tongue.

“Hic…!”

“……”

Theodore, who was behind him, hiccuped when Sian showed his displeasure and clicked his tongue.

It would be difficult to pretend not to notice anymore. Sian sighed and turned his head.

“What are you doing there?”

“Ah, no. That’s…”

Theodore, whose face had turned pale, stammered and lowered his gaze. He couldn’t bring himself to look Sian in the eye.

Theodore had learned Sian’s true identity just yesterday. It was because Kali had practically exposed it due to being unable to hold it in any longer.

But Theodore still found it hard to believe. A dragon.

Sian did have black hair and eyes, which Theodore hadn’t seen in the place he lived, but still, he seemed like an ordinary person. A little… no, very beautiful, though.

Theodore’s face flushed at the thought that he didn’t even realize he was having. Sian, seeing this, asked, puzzled.

“Why? Are you perhaps feeling unwell?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“……?”

Theodore had initially thought Sian was like a great magician in hiding.

The person with pointed ears and dark skin would be an elf, something you’d only see in storybooks.

Since such a person was using honorifics and treating him like someone superior, Theodore also guessed that the one who had saved him was no ordinary figure.

But even so, a dragon. Theodore couldn’t get his head on straight due to a feeling of inexplicability.

“This won’t do. Let’s go inside soon and stop staying outside for so long.”

“Ah…!”

Worried about Theodore’s condition, Sian scooped up the small body. Theodore groaned and unknowingly hugged Sian’s shoulder.

“I told you not to come out because your body shouldn’t get cold, didn’t I?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

Theodore, having been scolded, bowed his head. Sian’s words were blaming Theodore, but his tone was gentle. Theodore’s cheeks, nestled in Sian’s arms, turned rosy.

After the nanny was gone, there was no one who worried about Theodore’s health. No one cared about him. Sometimes he felt it would be better for everyone if he just disappeared.

‘Warm…’

In this moment, it didn’t matter if Sian was a terrifying dragon. No, he was definitely a dragon as gentle as this warm embrace.

Theodore thought to himself, drifting off to sleep.

***

“Hmm… I don’t have any clothes to put on him.”

Sian was pondering in front of a large wardrobe. It was all adult clothes, so there was nothing he could give to Theodore.

The clothes Theodore had been wearing when he was first found were torn and ruined with dirt and bloodstains.

He was now folding and putting on the smallest clothes Sian had.

But it was still too big, and it kept sliding off.

Besides, Theodore, unable to contain his curiosity, was running around the mansion like a puppy, making the clothes slip off even more.

‘But it does make him cuter…’

Then Theodore, defying Sian’s words, explored the mansion and tripped over the long hem of the pants.

Sian chuckled, recalling the memory.

‘No, this won’t do.’

Clenching his loose lips, Sian muttered inwardly.

Theodore was the male protagonist who would kill him in the original work.

This was just a temporary arrangement for now; when the time came, he would have to take him to the female lead and cut ties forever.

So, he shouldn’t be too caught up in that angelic, adorable look.

It would be hard when they parted. Sian tried to control his heart and cleared his throat.

“Sian-nim?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah…”

Kali, who had come looking for him because he didn’t come down, asked with a puzzled expression.

Sian, who had been looking inside the wardrobe, turned to Kali, who had approached.

Oh, now that I think about it, Kali had clothes she wore when she was little, so they must be in the mansion.

Sian suddenly thought of this and asked Kali.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you have clothes you wore when you were little in the mansion?”

“…Yes, I do.”

“Where are those clothes?”

“……”

Kali looked at Sian with a doubtful look. Even if he was indecisive, a dragon wouldn’t be looking for those clothes to get nostalgic. Kali, having roughly guessed the reason, frowned.

“Why are you looking for those clothes?”

“Why? The kid has no clothes to wear, so I should put that on him.”

“I don’t want to!”

“Why?”

Sian was puzzled by the strong reaction. Kali glared at Sian and shouted.

“They’re my clothes!”

“They’re your clothes, bought with my money, to be exact.”

“Still, you gave them to me!”

“You’re not going to wear them anymore anyway, so why are you so attached?”

Unable to understand, Sian tilted his head. Could it be that the clothes she wore when she was young were Kali’s favorite possessions?

She had plenty of dolls and toys, but why did she have such a strange attachment?

Kali, feeling frustrated with Sian misunderstanding her, shouted again.

“I just don’t want that little kid to wear my clothes!”

“Well, the child will be leaving soon anyway.”

“……”

Sian spoke in a small voice. For some reason, there was a sense of bitterness in that tone. Kali clenched her teeth.

But as Sian said, that child with the unpleasant aura would soon be leaving.

So, she didn’t want to argue with Sian about such a thing. Kali reluctantly nodded.

“Alright. I’ll go find some.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Ha…”

Kali shook her head and rummaged through the wardrobe. When she was looking for them, she couldn’t find a single small piece of clothing, but strangely, when Kali looked, they were all found in an instant.

Kali, having taken out the clothes she wore when she was young, handed them to Sian with a sullen face.

“Are you really going to send that little kid away?”

“Of course. Find the merchant I asked you to find before, okay?”

“Okay.”

Sian came out of the dress room with the clothes. I wonder if the clothes fit Theodore well. I should try them on him soon.

Sian, not realizing that he was excited, ran towards the room where Theodore was.

Knock, knock.

“…Theodore?”

“Ah…!”

“……?”

Sian, feeling puzzled by the silence after the knock, called his name quietly, and a loud crash was heard.

Sian, surprised, burst open the door.

“Theo…!”

“Ugh…”

“re…?”

Theodore looked like he was tied up with clothes all over his body.

Although he didn’t know how he ended up like that, the shirt and pants were half off, tangled around Theodore’s body.

“I, I was trying to change…”

“Pfft.”

“Do, don’t laugh.”

Theodore, whose face turned red at Sian’s laughter, said resentfully.

Usually, he was good at changing, but the clothes were too big, and he was being careful of his injuries, so it ended up like this.

Besides, Sian was looking at him like this. He wanted to die of embarrassment.

“It’s okay. I’ll help you.”

“Ugh…”

“It’s just as well I brought clothes for you.”

Sian smiled and helped Theodore change his clothes. Fortunately, the clothes in the mansion fit Theodore well.

“Tha, thank you.”

“Well, it’s nothing much.”

“……”

Theodore glanced at Sian, who was smiling. Sian was very gentle today as well. In the imperial palace, the new servants and maids would be friendly at first, but in the end, they would turn on him.

He wondered if Sian would be like that, but he wasn’t. Sian even saved him from death.

Theodore, summoning up his courage, asked.

“Um… Why are you being so nice to me?”

“What?”

“Ah, I mean…”

Theodore fidgeted, rolling his eyes.

“You saved me, and you’re always kind… I’m just curious.”

“……”

Sian was momentarily speechless, looking down at Theodore.

The male protagonist, who should shine brightly in the future, was like this.

How much must he have been intimidated in the imperial palace for him to have such low self-esteem?

Feeling pity, Sian opened his mouth.

“You are a child worthy of being loved.”

“Yes…?”

“Theodore, you are pretty, cute, and kind.”

“Me, me?”

“Yes, and everyone you meet from now on will surely love you.”

Just like I do.

Sian stroked Theodore’s head with a heavy heart, who still couldn’t understand his words.