*Brista POV

I was at the main hallway.

"Aw man, you sure have a nice home, lady."

"Thank you. Don't run off on your own, now, or you'll get a... some spanks."

Crap, it had not occurred to me even in the slightest, to have to say this... It's like having that moment with Reena all over again!

The child beside me smirked.

"No worries, I'll behave. I know how to. Speaking of which, Leera sure is late... The restaurant'll be out of food this way!"

"Hey, you said you'll behave! Is that any way to call on your... elders?"

Grimm, you sure owe me big time.

"Ah, whatever; doesn't matter if the person referred to isn't actually here. Got it, lady?"

He pointed right at my nose.

"...Seriously, I wish I were your mother."

"Sheesh, too bad. You. Are. Not. Bleh~"

...My Dragoness pride...

"Now then, which way is Reena's room... Let's see..."

He dashed off at vampiric speed.

"Hey, now-- Get back here!"

"Catch me! Teehehe~"

Oh, when I get my hands on you..!

Thus, a cat-and-mouse ensued; him with his insane speed and I with my purple-smokes.

Darn, he's quite nimble--or at least, I had no idea how fast he could get. Gotta end this before he breaks anything...

"...Gotcha!"

"Uwa!! Hey, that's dirty... Let go of me!"

After what seemed to be an hour, I managed to grab his right leg from under him and have him dangling and flailing frantically. Phew! Don't hope to get anywhere like this!

"Nah, you asked for it. Gotta regard yourself very lucky I'm not getting to actually spank you, young man."

...Actually, that was just inches away. If you had had the grace to call me by name, well then--

"Uh... hello, Mom?"

Reena stared at us, astounded. Yeah right, you might as well picture the ultra-rare sight of The Dragoness holding a male eight-year-old child by the leg in the palace grounds...

"Is... is that some child from outside, or you just didn't have the grace to tell me that I had another sibling all this time?"

"Ngh... I said, let go!!" the child yelled again. Nice try.

"Still at it, eh... Quiet!"

"Urk... Scary..."

"There now, just be a good boy..."

"Mother? Does Dad know anything of this? You're not making a big mistake..?"

"Hmph. You wish."

"What's that supposed to mean?! If such a scandal breaks out--"

I turned to regard Reena as calmly as I could.

"What scandal? It's your father I'm holding. His much-younger form, that is. Right now we're waiting to have dinner somewhere with your Aunt Aleera. Care to join?"

Complete silence.

"EXCUSE ME?!"