Epic Of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2456: Insensitive?

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After everyone else woke up, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with my family and Triton. Most of my friends were still napping, except for Ruby, who had been awake for a while. She wasn't joining us, though. She was simply watching from a distance, for some reason.

I called her over once I noticed, telling her I knew she was there. She emerged from the nearby shadows, blushing deeply as she walked to the table.

Was she nervous? Perhaps she already missed Jotunheim and wanted to return to the vampire village where her kind lived peacefully.

"Hmm! I hate to admit it, Uncle, but I'll miss your damn food. It's really good! Between you and me, I was getting tired of fish...!" Triton said, stuffing his cheeks with pancakes.

He especially loved foods he rarely found back home, like pancakes, strawberries, all sorts of fruits from outside, potatoes, and more. Basically everything I prepared from Earth ingredients.

"Right? Dad's food is the best!" Benladra giggled, eating her chocolate cereal. "I love this crunchy cereal with milk. It's so nice and refreshing. Have you tried it, Triton?"

"Not yet. Can I?" he asked.

"Sure, let me get you some!" she said, eagerly preparing a bowl of milk and pouring chocolate cereal on top.

I created them as experiments, and more new flavors were coming soon. Instead of recreating them from memory with my powers, I made them from scratch using local ingredients, just for the enjoyment.

"Dear, these eggs with bacon are delicious this morning too..." Hel said, savoring her breakfast. "Hmm, may I have more coffee? I've grown addicted to its bitterness."

"Of course, my queen," I replied, quickly refilling her cup and offering toast. "Would you like to try peanut butter with strawberry jam? It's wonderful."

"Huh? All right," she said, taking a bite. "Hmm! Oh, the combination of flavors... It's exquisite."

"Haha, I'm glad you like it," I laughed.

Since arriving with us, Hel has become quite a food enthusiast, always eager to sample new dishes or drinks. Yesterday she devoured plate after plate of elven cuisine, leaving the butlers scrambling to keep up.

Primordial Mother Dragons all possess enormous appetites. They usually suppress them, but after thousands of years, Hel's had fully awakened, explaining her constant hunger.

"Ruby, what's wrong? Aren't you hungry?" Miranda asked. "And wait, why were you lurking in the shadows earlier?"

"I-I wasn't lurking! I was just... resting in the shadows. That's what I do..." Ruby muttered, her face glowing redder. "I'm sorry..."

"There's no need to apologize. Miranda, don't be harsh with her, okay?" Benladann said gently. "She's Ruby, our friend. She's like a sister to us."

"I know. I'm just trying to cheer her up, sorry," Miranda replied. "You've been acting strange lately, and I'm worried. That's all."

"A-Ah... I didn't realize you cared so much, Miranda..." Ruby said softly. "I'm sorry for making you worry. It's really nothing. Just silly thoughts."

"Really?" I asked, concerned. "You can tell us anything, you know? We're your family too." I gently took her cold little hands, hoping to offer some comfort and warmth.

"Aaahhh..." Ruby sighed, her blush deepening as she quickly pulled away. "I-I can't! I just... I'm sorry!"

She fled, transforming into a small bat and vanishing down the corridor.

"Eh...?" I stared after her, stunned. "What's going on with her?"

"Maybe she's hitting puberty?" Yuki suggested, raising an eyebrow. "No, wait. Ruby's already over a hundred, right?"

"Yeah, she's definitely past that," Miranda confirmed.

"Then what could it be? She turned bright red when Drake touched her," Andromeda observed thoughtfully. "Hmmm..."

"Yeah, I wonder. Could someone be toying with the innocent heart of a girl in love?" Benladann teased, sipping her tea.

"Eh? What?" I exclaimed, shocked. "I'm not toying with anyone's heart..."

As I tried to process their words, I heard footsteps approaching.

I thought it might be Ruby returning, but it was someone else.

"Uuh, mornin'... I woke up early today..."

Amethyst shuffled in, looking adorably sleepy as usual.

"Um, there was this little bat flying through the corridor. It went into Ruby's room... That wasn't her, right?" Amethyst asked. "She scared me when she zoomed past..."

"It was her," I confirmed. "I think I should go check on her."

"Can't we come too? We're Ruby's friends," Benladra said. "I want to help if she's upset about something..."

"A-Ah, well... I think I should talk to her alone," I replied. "Just in case it's something... not suitable for kids. Ruby isn't a child, after all."

"Ugh, I know, Dad! And neither am I..." Benladra pouted, crossing her arms. "Do you have to be so insensitive sometimes?"

"Eh?!" I gasped.

I clutched my chest, feeling my heart shatter.

Had she just raised her voice at me?

Called me insensitive?

Oh no...

She was entering that phase, wasn't she?

Puberty was hitting, and she was growing more rebellious.

"Benladra, I didn't mean... I'm sorry," I apologized quickly. "Please don't be mad at me..."

"Uuh... whatever," she shrugged, pushing her plate aside. "Hey Triton, want my cupcakes? I'm not really in the mood for them."

She was rejecting her favorite cupcakes?

The ones I baked with love every morning?

When had this started?

This felt too sudden.

"You don't want them?" Triton asked.

"I'm kind of bored of the flavor..." Benladra muttered.

She was bored of them, huh?

That was normal. People grow tired of the same thing eventually.

Yes.

Everything was fine.

"Daddy, can I have another slice of cheesecake?" Kate asked sweetly, tugging my arm with her tiny hand.

Ah, my precious Kate. She was still my little girl, unchanged.

"Of course, dear," I said, bringing her another slice right away. "Here you go. If you ever get tired of it, just say so. I'll make something different."

"Hm? But I like this one..." she said happily, munching away.

"Dada, pass the milk!" Drakda demanded, waving his little hands.

My mischievous Drakda was the same as ever too.

He had always been a bit rebellious, so puberty probably wouldn't change him much.

"Of course!" I said, handing him the milk.

"Amethyst, sit next to me!" Drakda said, attempting to sound charming for his crush. "Want anything? I can share."

"Eh? Really, kid?" Amethyst smiled, taking the seat beside him. "What's that brown stuff you're eating?"

"Cereal! Dad made it. Want some?" he offered.

"Sure," she nodded.

Poor Drakda was one of those boys with a hopeless crush on an older girl. It would never work out for obvious reasons.

Though if Amethyst waited for him to grow up... no, that wasn't happening.

She didn't seem interested in romance anyway, and she had already matured long ago.

So perhaps...

Well, I would leave it to his efforts and luck.

"All right, I'll go check on Ruby now..." I sighed, standing up.

I reached her room and knocked softly.

Knock, knock.

"Ruby, are you there? I brought some of your favorite blood. Can I come in?"

"D-Drake?! Ahh, wait! It's messy here... Just a second! Please wait!"

"Okay, take your time."

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