“Cough, cough! No need for that, seriously.” Hearing Alte’s threat, Abel could only force an awkward smile. “I was just saying it casually.”

Even though Abel knew his good buddy was joking, he really had no intention of continuing.

After all, he knew very well that if he kept showing off, the proud single Alte would absolutely throw him out.

“But about last night, Alte, you really did great.”

Hearing Abel’s praise, Alte took a sip of water and said without much care, “What did I do great?”

“Obviously I mean arresting those slave traders in the East District. The children and women they rescued are all thanking you now.”

“It was just something I was supposed to do.”

The two of them chatted on and off, and then Abel’s stomach let out a very ill-timed growl.

His Highness the prince scratched his head awkwardly and said,

“Now that we’ve talked this much, I just remembered I still haven’t had breakfast. What about you?”

“I haven’t eaten either.” Alte nodded like it was only natural. “If I’m not that hungry, I just combine breakfast with lunch.”

Hearing that, Abel sighed a little. “That’s not a good habit. You should at least eat a little for breakfast. The cafeteria’s over there, right? I’ll go bring you something back.”

As he spoke, Abel got up, ready to bring this workaholic a breakfast. But when he opened the door, he found a black-haired catgirl with her hand on the bell, as if she was just about to press it.

“Huh? Shia, what are you doing here?”

The moment Abel saw Shia, he couldn’t help but stare in surprise. Before he could say anything else, Shia spoke first.

“Isn’t it because someone skipped breakfast again? I came to bring food.”

After saying that, the black cat shot Abel a huge eye-roll. It looked a little pouty, a little spoiled.

Watching the two muttering at the door, Alte couldn’t help but complain.

“If you’re going to flirt, please don’t do it right in front of my door. Thanks.”

“Oh, right. Blocking the doorway isn’t great.”

The moment Abel heard that, he immediately pulled Shia into the office.

That gave Alte a headache.

“I wasn’t telling you to come inside and flirt either…”

Still, since they were already in, Alte didn’t say anything more.

Just as he was about to get back to work, the black cat gave him a polite bow and said,

“My silly husky has been under your care. Commander, you haven’t had breakfast either, right? I brought some for you too. I made it all myself, so I hope you won’t mind.”

The girl’s manners were flawless, like a noble young lady raised with proper refinement. Combined with her calm, gentle air, even though she looked very petite, she somehow gave off the feeling of a young wife.

“Ah…” Seeing Shia place the insulated lunch box on the desk, Alte quickly said, “Thank you.”

“No need.”

Shia gave Alte a slight smile, then sat down in Abel’s lap, looking perfectly obedient and well-behaved.

She was clearly even smaller than Favna, yet her aura was far more mature.

“I mean… if you sit like that, I might accidentally get food on you.”

Looking at Shia in his lap, Abel was so worried about getting crumbs on her that even eating became cautious and stiff.

Shia, however, lifted her little head and gave a soft huff.

“Mhm~ I haven’t eaten either.”

“Huh?”

Before Abel could react, Shia continued,

“Feed me.”

“Fe—there’s someone watching right next to us.”

“So what? Or should I feed you instead?”

With no other choice, Abel could only do as his wife asked, taking one bite himself, then feeding one bite to the cat.

Watching from the side, Alte…

Even the bun in his mouth stopped tasting good. It felt like he was chewing dog food. He silently complained in his heart.

I really want to throw these two out. Are they even human?

But as Alte kept eating, he noticed something.

Why did his portion seem a little too big?

“Miss Shia, did you make too much for my breakfast?”

“Nope.” After swallowing the mouthful of rice porridge, Shia smiled and said, “I heard from the vice commander that Commander Alte’s appetite has been pretty big these past few days, so I prepared a little extra.”

“...”

Hearing that, Alte felt like something was off. That black cat said it so casually, but his instincts told him it probably wasn’t that simple.

Still, it worked out. He could save some for that sleepyhead Favna.

Though why wasn’t that girl awake yet?

The sun was practically up her butt already.

Just as Alte was wondering whether he should go wake Favna up, the bedroom door opened.

“Haaah~”

A silver-haired shut-in dragon walked out of the bedroom with a yawn. Her hair was a little messy, and she rubbed her sleepy eyes as she drowsily said to Alte,

“Smells so good… Alte, are we having breakfast?”

“Yeah. Want a bun?”

The instant Favna appeared, Abel, who had still been feeding Shia, widened his eyes on the spot and stared at the little white dragon in disbelief.

But clearly, this sleepy shut-in dragon hadn’t realized there were other people in the office. She swayed over, took a bun from the lunch box, and started nibbling on it in small bites.

At that moment, Abel’s gaze locked tightly onto Favna.

No one can resist white hair! Just as I thought, my bro’s exactly the same as me!

Before Abel could get happy, Shia grabbed the soft flesh at his waist and gave it a vicious pinch.

“Owgh! Owowow! Trash cat, why are you pinching my waist!?”

That yelp finally jolted the still-groggy Favna awake. She turned toward the source of the sound and only then realized Alte wasn’t the only one in the office.

The moment she saw the two over there, the timid shut-in dragon got so scared that she immediately hid behind Alte, not even daring to stick her head out.

Seeing how shocked the two across from him were, especially Abel, whose eyes were practically popping out, Alte had no choice but to explain.

“Her name is Favna. She’s a maid I hired to help clean the place.”

Because Alte knew very well that if he didn’t explain clearly, who knew what this white-hair fanatic Abel would start imagining.

After introducing Favna to the two of them, Alte patted the girl behind him and said,

“The black-haired man over there is Abel, a prince of the Empire. The one beside him is his wife, Shia. They’re both good people, so you don’t need to be afraid.”

Abel was still stunned, but his wife Shia smiled brightly and greeted her first.

“Yo! Miss Favna, hello there~”

The black cat returned to calm in just one second, as if that earlier shock had all been fake.

Favna didn’t think too much about it, though. She just hid behind Alte and stammered,

“H-Hello.”