Zephirion’s POV

The library was my sanctuary.

A place of silence, knowledge, and order.

The vast chamber was filled with ancient scrolls and books collected over centuries, neatly arranged on towering shelves. A golden chandelier bathed the room in warm light, and the scent of aged parchment and ink lingered in the air.

I was searching for an old arcane manuscript, one that detailed the origins of dragonkin magic, when—

THUMP.

Then another.

And another.

The sound of papers falling.

I sighed, already knowing the cause of this disturbance before turning around.

And there she was.

Aeris.

My little blossom of chaos.

Standing right in the middle of my study table, documents and scrolls scattered all over the floor.

She was holding an ink bottle upside down, letting the dark liquid drip onto the carefully written reports, ruining them beyond repair.

And she was laughing.

Sinisterly.

Like an actual villain.

Her eyes glowed with mischievous delight, her shoulders shaking as she chuckled.

"What," I said, voice calm, "do you think you're doing?"

She grinned at me, unapologetic.

"Oh, just… adding some artistic touch to your boring, stupid papers."

I stared at the absolute mess she had made. The reports, some written by my most trusted scholars, were now soaked in ink, unreadable.

The scrolls were crumpled, torn, and kicked under the table.

And some books?

Missing.

A quick glance at her hiding something behind her back told me exactly where they had gone.

I inhaled slowly.

"Give me the books, little blossom."

She tilted her head dramatically. "Books? What books?"

I extended my hand. "The ones you’re hiding behind your back."

She took a step backward, clutching them tighter.

"No."

"Aeris."

She smirked. "Make me."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Do you have a death wish?"

She gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Oh my, Your Majesty! Is that a threat? How terrifying! Whatever shall I do?"

Her mock-horror only deepened my irritation.

She was pushing her luck.

And she knew it.

I took a step forward, and she immediately dashed to the nearest bookshelf, climbing it like a child.

I watched, unimpressed, as she pulled herself up, perching on the second shelf like some kind of gremlin.

She held my books above her head, grinning smugly.

"You know, this library is actually kinda nice," she mused. "Maybe I'll live here from now on."

I exhaled sharply.

"You are impossible."

"And you’re too serious," she shot back.

"Come down."

"Nope."

"Aeris."

"Not a chance, lizard."

"…Did you just call me a lizard again?"

She smirked. "What? Do you prefer ‘Great and Mighty Stupid Lizard’ instead?"

I stepped closer, and her smirk faltered slightly.

"Wait—what are you—"

Before she could react, I reached up and grabbed her by the waist, lifting her off the shelf effortlessly.

"HEY! PUT ME DOWN!" she yelped, kicking her legs in protest.

"You wanted me to ‘make you’ give me the books," I reminded her dryly.

She froze.

Then, realization dawned on her face.

And finally, she scowled.

"…I hate you."

I smirked. "That makes two of us, little blossom."

Then, before she could squirm away, I swiftly pinned her to the nearest wall, one hand braced beside her head, the other effortlessly prying the books from her grip.

She gasped, eyes widening.

"Wha—What are you—"

I smirked, leaning in just enough to see her face heat up in irritation.

Aeris's body tensed.

Her breathing hitched for just a second.

I leaned in closer.

Closer.

Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked flustered for the first time.

Ah.

So she thought—

She thought I was about to kiss her.

How amusing.

Her entire body was stiff, her lips slightly parted in shock.

I hovered there just long enough to watch realization sink in—She blinked.

Then scowled.

"YOU—!"

I chuckled lowly, stepping back. "What’s wrong, little blossom? You look disappointed."

Her face burned in frustration.

"As if! You—You—STUPID LIZARD!"

I laughed, a deep and rich sound that made her even more furious.

"Keep struggling, little blossom," I murmured, turning away. "It’s entertaining."

She gritted her teeth.

I could already tell—

She was plotting her next move.

And honestly?

I couldn’t wait to see it.

--- Aeris’s POV

I hate him.

I really, truly, from the bottom of my soul, hate him.

That smug, infuriating, ridiculously arrogant, unbearably handsome—NO, NOT HANDSOME. STUPID LIZARD.

I fumed as I stormed out of the library, my face still burning from what just happened.

I can't believe I actually thought—

No. No.

We are not going there.

I shook my head furiously, grinding my teeth as I stomped into the hallway.

"Stupid lizard," I muttered under my breath.

"Stupid, smug, oversized reptile."

"Oh look at me, I’m the almighty Dragon King. I can pick up people like they weigh nothing! I can pin them to walls and lean in like I’m about to kiss them just to mess with their heads! Oh, I’m so powerful, so untouchable—"

I kicked a random stone in frustration.

"ARGH! WHY DID I THINK HE WAS GOING TO KISS ME?!" I blurted out, slapping my own forehead.

The maids walking past froze.

They stared at me.

I stared back.

Silence.

Then, I slowly turned away and kept walking.

Pretend nothing happened, Aeris. Just pretend nothing happened.

---

I reached the royal garden and collapsed onto the grass.

The cool breeze brushed my face, calming my frustration slightly.

I was so close.

My plan had been perfect.

Ink everywhere. Papers ruined beyond saving.

I was even perched on top of a freaking bookshelf, and somehow, he still got me.

And worse—

HE MADE ME EMBARRASS MYSELF.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

I had never been this frustrated in my entire life.

Not when I was reborn into this strange world. Not when I was nearly sacrificed to a dragon. Not even when I realized I was now stuck in this castle.

But Zephirion?

Oh, he was driving me insane.

And the worst part?

He wasn’t even angry.

No yelling. No throwing a fit.

No revenge.

Just that stupid, calm, unreadable face.

And the smug little chuckle.

I glared at the sky. "WHY DOES NOTHING GET TO HIM?!"

Seriously.

I had spilled juice on him. I had tried to escape multiple times. I had ruined his library.

And all I got was—

A chuckle.

And that annoying little nickname.

"Little blossom."

I swear—

If I had a gold coin for every time he called me that, I’d be the richest person in the world.

I grabbed a flower from the grass and crushed it in my palm.

Fine.

Fine.

If I can’t escape…

Then I’ll make his life miserable.

I smirked, already plotting my next move.

"Oh, stupid lizard," I whispered to myself. "You have no idea what’s coming next."

To be continued