“Douglas, isn’t there anyone you like?”
“Haa?”

Douglas’ mouth dropped open in surprise at my question.

“What an abrupt thing to ask.”
“No, no, there’s no deep reason behind it. It’s just… I worry since there’s no feminine presence around you…”

Douglas remained unconvinced even as I continued to explain.

“Why would thou concern thyself with such a thing? Did someone say something to thee?”
“Well, actually…”

I began to tell Douglas about what had happened yesterday, recalling it as I did.

I was having a mini tea party with the maid, Abby-san when,

“Douglas-sama doesn’t have a lover, does he?”

She suddenly brought that topic up out of nowhere.

“Umm… I don’t think so? I’ve never heard anything like that before.”
“That’s such a waste.”
“A waste?”
“Yes.”

Abby-san leaned forward a bit and continued.

“Wouldn’t you say that he’s undeniably good-looking? He also has that wild vibe going on, and I bet a lot of women are into that. Reliable men are popular. And have you seen Douglas-sama’s chest? It’s so broad. I’m sure there are plenty of women who’d love to bury their face in that chest!”

“Uh, ahh…”

Abby-san was unusually somewhat excited.  I rarely saw her like that, so I was taken aback.

“Well…”

And then, there was a shift.  Abby-san rested a hand against her cheek

“Dougals-sama’s stubbornness is a bit of a flaw though…”
“Certainly.”

Together with Abby-san, I found myself troubled by the thought.

Needless to say, Douglas’ true identity is that of a dragon.  Nowadays he has taken on human form and has blended into life in this town. Although whenever we go shopping together, I’ve noticed ladies stealing glances of him at the market.

Douglas foolishly mistook those glances for murderous intent—but there was no doubt about it. The ladies were captivated by him.

“Douglas-sama is quite the sinful man. Even if they don’t want to marry him, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were women who at least want to date him.”
“Right!?”

Abby-san’s voice grew louder.

“In that case, Eliane-sama, isn’t it possible he actually has a girlfriend or two, and you just don’t know about it?”
“Hmm… I can’t really picture that…”

How should I put it… He might be popular, but I just can’t see Douglas being interested in human women.

Still…

“Maybe I should just ask him directly.”
“Yes! Please do! And if he doesn’t have a girlfriend, then—”

“…And that is what happened.”
“Another pointless matter…”

Douglas shook his head with an expression of exasperation upon hearing my explanation.

“I have no need for a human mate. Naturally, I don’t have a lover. To begin with—”
“In that case!”
“Ah, huh?”

I cut Douglas off and leaned in close to his face. Perhaps overwhelmed by my intensity, Douglas stepped back

“We’ll help you out!”
“Help me… with what exactly?”
“Come on, it’s obvious! We’re going to help you find a girlfriend!”

Douglas looked completely baffled.

“…There are many things I’d like to question, but why dost thou concern thyself with me? My reproductive functions differ greatly from those of humans. Though I can bestow seed the human way—”

“Nooooooooooo!”

I covered Douglas’ face with my hand.

“W-What are you saying all of a sudden!? Talking about reproductive functions and seeds… that’s way too obscene!”
“What part of that was obscene? Thou art far too innocent. Besides, thou art also hopeless at romance. With Nigel, thou hast… become such companions, have you not—”
“We have not!”

My life is going just fine, thank you very much!

“Douglas! You need to understand women’s feelings better! A lot of women would be uncomfortable if you said something like that!”
“I understand less and less of what thou art trying to say.”
“Besides, falling in love with someone is, well… t-t-totally different from that kind of thing!”
“Haa…”

Douglas still didn’t look convinced.

“You really should try having a girlfriend, at least once. You need to learn more about feelings of love and affection.”
“Even if I were to yield ten thousand steps and accept thy honeyed words, how does one go about ‘making’ a lover—”

Just as Douglas began to speak,

A sudden and swift movement occurred.

“Fufufu… Please leave that to me, if you would.”
“…!”

Startled by the sudden voice from behind, Douglas leapt into the air and landed a short distance away.

“Wh-What… one of the maids of this castle? How didst thou circle behind me without my notice?
“That doesn’t matter in the slightest.”

So said Abby-san with books in hand.

And she didn’t just have two or three. There had to be more than ten? To think she could carry that many all at once… Abby-san is truly formidable.

She placed the books on a nearby table and spoke.

“Last night, I compiled a list of women in the city who would be suitable for Douglas-sama. At present, there are—ten thousand.”
“T-Ten thousand is far too many! And how didst thou gather that many names… in a single night!?”
“Yes. A simple task, really.”
“I must doff my hat to thy detection skills.”
“That’s Abby-san for you!”
“Ehhen.”

When I clapped my hands—pachi pachi—Abby-san looked quite proud of herself.

“So, Douglas-sama will have a face-to-face meeting with the candidates I listed. If a match is made, then you too shall have a lover.”
“I do not know what this ‘matching’ is supposed to mean… but meeting ten thousand women? That is madness. It would never end.”
“That’s true. Then I shall randomly select three from the list. Please meet with those three.”
“After gathering ten thousand, thou wouldst pick randomly in the end?”

Douglas gave Abby-san a look of disbelief as he pointed out the absurdity.

I thought things were actually progressing well, but then…

“I refuse.”

Douglas crossed his arms and declared it plainly.

“I have no time to waste on something so troublesome.”
“No time…? Douglas, aren’t you free?”

Douglas grimaced in irritation at my question.

“Do not speak as if I were some idle layabout. I am busy. I must hurry and complete the puzzle thou gavest me to kill time…”

“You are free.”   “You appear to have ample time, indeed.”

Abby-san and I spoke in unison.

I mean, you literally called it a way to kill time yourself…

But even so, Douglas,

“In any case! I have no reason to involve myself in such matters! I hold no interest in human affairs of romance!”

He raised his voice in defiance.

Mmm, I really thought it was a good idea, but convincing Douglas is turning out to be quite the challenge. No helping it. Maybe I should try a different approach.

“Could it be… that you lack confidence?”
“Haa?”
“You called me naive and inexperienced, but what about you, Douglas? Could it be you’re the one who’s actually unfamiliar with love?”

Douglas is incredibly competitive. He even competes with Ralph-chan the Fenrir over the most trivial things. So instead of just pushing him, I figured provoking him would be faster. But contrary to my expectations, Douglas looked at me with doubt.

“…Does it not trouble thee at all?”
“Yes?”

Douglas pressed further.

“About me taking a human mate—that is. If I were to gain this lover thou speakest of, what wouldst thou feel?”
“What would I feel…? I’d be happy, of course. No matter what, I think of you as a good friend, Douglas. And who wouldn’t be happy when a friend finds love?”

I really do want Douglas to find happiness too. I don’t know if getting a lover is the answer, but… going through this kind of experience could be good for him. It might help him become part of this city even more.

That’s what I meant, but…

“…Do not mock me.”

Douglas muttered under his breath.

“Eh?”
“I’ve changed my mind! I shall take part in this lover-making of thine! Eliane! When I find a lover, do not regret it, thou hear me!?”
“Y-Yes. Understood.”

I ended up responding after getting swept up by Douglas’ sudden intensity, but… why would I end up regretting anything?

Unable to make sense of it, I tilted my head in confusion.

“Oi, maid! Set up this so-called ‘matching’ at once! I shall utterly crush whoever it is!”
“I feel like you’re not quite understanding what ‘matching’ means… but very well. Please give me about two hours.”

And with that, Abby-san swiftly disappeared from in front of us.

“I am irresistible! Eliane, I shall prove it to thee!
“Y-Yes.”

Watching Douglas, who still seemed a bit annoyed, I couldn’t help but wonder why.

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