"By the way, I haven't seen Ameralda-nee since I had woken up. Where did she go?"

I asked Alicia as she cleaned my wounds.

"Now you mention it... I haven't told you. Ameralda-nee-sama is in maternity period now."

She said.

"I see... Eh? Just now, what did you say?"

I was surprised when I heard it.

"Ah! What I mean maternity period isn't what you think of!! Etto!! Etto!!"

Alicia panicked. Her face was turned red from embarrassment.

"Ah, etto- Ano- t-this is part of the Bridal Training from Mother Dragon."

She said in panic.

"Then, what do you mean by that?"

I said. Alicia gasped.

"In that case, let me explain."

An unfamiliar voice said. I turned my face to the doorway and saw a mature lady with strong motherly aura spilling out from every corner of her feature.

"Mother Dragon-sama!!"

Alicia greeted her in hurry. I also lowered my head to greet her.

"There's no need to be that spirited, Alicia. So, Dragon Emperor-sama, do you still wish to know it?"

The mother dragon asked.

"Yes, I do."

I said resolutely.

"You know that my race is a mother dragon right?"

I nodded at her question.

"My constitution allows me to lay eggs despite not having any husband. But, those eggs are just empty husk of divinity vessel. No matter how long you wait, they won't hatch a dragon."

She said.

"But, that empty egg will hatch if a male and female poured their mana into it together. The male must gave enormous amount of mana at the beginning and every 7 days as the female would take care of the egg as she poured her magic power moderately every day until it hatched."

She said.

"So, that's maternity period. Then, is that counted as an adopted child?"

I asked.

"No, after hatching, the baby will have the genetic properties, mana waves, and soul code identical to the parents. So, no matter how checked it, the result will state that the baby is theirs. Even I had laid those eggs I had no connection to those babies."

She said.

"The duration of the maternity period is varied based on the mana quality of both parents. The quickest is a year and the longest is unknown."

She added.

"That's pretty long isn't it?"

I commented.

"But, that will be a good experience and good way to kill time. After all, your training is just beginning right?"

She said. I couldn't refute that. I looked at Alicia. She didn't say anything or rather she muttered something in low tone and her face was so red like boiled octopus and her eyes were swimming around as her body was fidgeting a few times.

"So, Alicia, since your Danna-sama has awakened, will you try it too?"

Mother dragon asked.

"I-If Ren-sama doesn't mind it. I-I would like to try it."

She said. I felt heat gathering in my face. I averted my eyes and scratched my cheek.

"Ara? What such innocent couple."

Mother dragon teased.

"Then, it's decided."

She said.

"I haven't said anything though."

I said indifferently.

"You don't want to, Ren-sama?"

Alicia asked. She looked up to me with pleading looks. When she looked like this, there is no way I would refuse right? In the end, we followed Mother Dragon to the egg nest. The 10 meters X 10 meters room with soft bedding covering the floor had 10 eggs lying around.

"Just pick up which egg you want."

She said.

I activated my appraisal eyes.

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 3

Growth Speed : 3

Innate Talent : None

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 5

Growth Speed : 1

Innate Talent : None

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 1

Growth Speed : 10

Innate Talent : Increased Vitality

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 5

Growth Speed : 5

Innate Talent : None

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 7

Growth Speed : 1

Innate Talent : Clairvoyance

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 2

Growth Speed : 3

Innate Talent : Sacred Song Talent

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 1

Growth Speed : 1

Innate Talent : None

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 1

Growth Speed : 3

Innate Talent : Telepathy

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 4

Growth Speed : 9

Innate Talent : None

Hatching Time : Unknown

Dragon Egg (Dormant)

Growth Rate: 10

Growth Speed : 5

Innate Talent : Magic Talent, Magic Eyes, Negative Status Resistance

Hatching Time : Unknown

When I appraised them, I found that each of them had different traits. Alicia was looking around between the eggs. I approached the egg with most innate talent. It was lying near Alicia's feet. As I reached for the egg, Alicia picked it up.

"Yosh, I've decided to take you."

She said. She looked at me with dumbfounded looks.

"What are you doing, Ren-sama?"

She asked.

"Ah, no. Nothing. I'm just curious about that egg. So, you decided to take it?"

I said awkwardly.

"So, you've decided?"

Mother Dragon asked. We nodded.

"Then, you should do that in your room. I'll give my guidance for the first month. The rest will be assisted by the servants. I'll tell your maid later."

She said.

"But, I was concerned with something. Alicia, you're not 15 yet right?"

I asked.

"Yes, I'm 14 next month."

She said.

"If I were in my previous world I wonder if this is can be counted as a Lolita complex or not."

I muttered.

"Did you say something, Ren-sama?"

Alicia asked.

"No, nothing. Let's head back for now."

I said. She nodded and we headed back to our room. Mother Dragon accompanied us back into the room.

"Now, Emperor-dono, please relax your body on the bed. Alicia too, please lie down beside Emperor-dono."

Mother Dragon said. We did as she said. She put the egg at the space between us.

"Now, both of you please pour your mana into the egg. Emperor-dono please pour as much as you can. Alicia, use half of your mana capacity into the egg. You can't use everything at once as you will need to pour your mana again every 6 hours."

She said. We nodded and began pouring our magic power. I activated my Insignia and Crest at the same time as I poured everything I had into the egg. I felt my consciousness drifting away. I stopped before I completely exhausted.

"That was quite a lot magic power you poured just now. Alicia too, your mana is quite a lot. Even it's quite a lot but it's quite common for the dragon race to have that amount of mana so, there shouldn't be a problem."

She said.

Ascended Dragon Egg

Growth Rate: 50

Growth Speed : 9

Innate Talent : Magic Talent, Magic Eyes, Negative Status Resistance, Elemental Resistance

Hatching Time : 11:29:23:59:18

It seems like the egg would hatch in a year. I smiled seeing the egg. There were faint magic runes floated on the egg surface as it moved around. Alicia was gently patting it like a good mother. Seeing such beautiful sight I smiled and kissed her forehead before taking some rest.

@ z