Aeris’s POV

The next morning, I woke up with a grin so wide, it probably looked sinister.

Today is the day.

Today, Zephirion, the great and mighty Stupid Lizard, would finally break.

I rolled out of bed, snickering to myself, and as usual, the maids stared at me in pure confusion and fear. Probably because I looked like I was plotting a murder.

Oh well.

"U-Um… my lady?" one of them dared to ask.

"Yes?" I turned to her, smiling sweetly.

She flinched.

"No… nothing," she stammered before quickly bowing her head.

Good.

After getting dressed and making myself look presentable enough for breakfast, I marched downstairs, my plan already set in motion.

---

Breakfast Table – The Battlefield

There he was, sitting gracefully, sipping his tea like the untouchable king he thought he was.

Ugh. Smug as ever.

His long, black hair cascaded over his shoulder, and his red eyes glowed faintly in the morning light. His tan skin made his black and gold robes look even more regal, and the ridiculous amount of jewelry only added to his arrogance.

Too perfect. Too untouchable. I had to ruin it.

I took my seat across from him, eyeing him like a predator studying prey.

He simply glanced up at me, amused.

I cleared my throat dramatically. "Good morning, Your Majesty, the Great and Mighty Stupid Lizard."

The entire room froze.

The maids? Frozen. The knights? Pale as ghosts. His assistant? Looked like he was considering quitting his job.

Zephirion?

He simply set his teacup down and arched a brow.

"Pardon?"

I smirked. "Oh, I said good morning, Your Majesty, the Great and Mighty Stupid Lizard."

The air was so tense, I swear I saw one of the knights silently praying for my soul.

Zephirion just stared at me, unreadable as ever.

Then—

He chuckled.

He. Freaking. Chuckled.

WHAT?!

I was expecting rage, a glare, maybe even a death threat— but he just found it funny?!

"You're quite bold, little blossom," he said smoothly, his deep voice dripping with amusement.

Oh, he did NOT just ignore my insult and call me that stupid nickname again.

I clenched my fists. "Don't call me that."

"Call you what?" He leaned forward, smirking. "Little blossom?"

I wanted to flip the entire table.

WHY WON’T HE GET ANGRY?!

Fine. You want to play, lizard? Let’s play.

I reached for the salt and, ever so innocently, poured a little too much into his tea when he wasn’t looking.

He took a sip.

And then another.

I sat there, watching. Waiting.

But he simply set his cup down and looked straight at me.

"You’ll have to try harder than that," he said.

I internally screamed.

The knights and servants were silently losing their minds, probably expecting me to be struck by lightning at any moment.

But instead, Zephirion simply continued his breakfast.

I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

This was going to be harder than I thought.

---

Plan B – Humiliation Attempt

Fine. If I can’t make him mad, I’ll embarrass him.

I reached for the fruit platter and grabbed a perfectly ripe grape.

With precise aim, I flicked it straight at his forehead.

It hit.

The room gasped.

Zephirion blinked.

Then, slowly, he turned his head to me.

I quickly grabbed a second grape and shoved it into my mouth, chewing innocently.

"Something wrong, Your Majesty?" I asked with the most innocent eyes I could manage.

Zephirion tilted his head slightly, his eyes glowing faintly. "Did you just throw food at me?"

"Me? Never," I gasped. "How could I, when you are so mighty and wise, oh Great and Mighty Stupid Lizard?"

I swear I heard a knight choke on air.

Zephirion exhaled a slow breath. "You're playing a dangerous game, little blossom."

"Am I?" I smiled sweetly.

He watched me for a long moment, then…

He smiled.

An actual, genuine smile.

The knights froze. The servants stared in horror. His assistant dropped a plate.

It was unnerving.

Zephirion never smiled.

Ever.

"What… what just happened?" one of the knights whispered in terror.

"Did he… just… smile?" another one asked.

"I think I need my eyes checked," a maid muttered.

Meanwhile, I was fuming.

HOW IS HE SMILING?!

And then, it hit me.

I was getting more frustrated than him.

No. No, no, no.

That’s not how this was supposed to go!

I was the one who was supposed to watch him get mad! I was the one who was supposed to be amused by his anger!

Instead, I was here internally combusting while he was just… smiling like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

No. I refuse to lose this battle.

I straightened up, my determination doubling.

Fine. If annoying him wasn’t working…

Then I would make his life hell.

Let’s see how long that smile lasts.

---

Zephirion’s POV – Watching the Chaos Unfold

I knew she was planning something.

I had been watching her since yesterday, so I already expected trouble.

Still, I had to admit… she was entertaining.

From the moment she greeted me with that ridiculous name, I felt the entire room hold its breath.

And when I didn’t react, I could almost hear her soul leaving her body.

Adorable.

Even when she tried to poison my tea with salt, she stared at me like an excited little troublemaker, waiting for me to explode.

I didn’t.

Because watching her slowly lose her mind was much more amusing.

Then, the grape.

She threw food at me.

She actually threw food at me.

I should have been furious.

Instead…

I smiled.

I watched as the entire room malfunctioned, my knights looking like they’d just witnessed the end of the world.

And Aeris?

Oh, she was seething.

Absolutely raging.

I sipped my tea, feeling a rare sense of amusement.

This game was getting interesting.

To be continued