The three dragons had come to a decision.

Something was undeniably wrong with Aeris, and they needed to uncover the truth before it was too late.

Zephirion, ever the strategist, had laid out the plan—watch her closely, never leave her alone, and wait for an opportunity to reveal what had taken hold of her. Caelum, the silent observer, would analyze every move she made, and Valerion, ever the emotional one, would be the first to react if things went wrong.

But none of them were prepared for what came next.

Aeris entered the room, her footsteps light, her eyes focused on only one person—Zephirion.

“Zephirion,” she called, her voice softer than usual, almost pleading.

His jaw clenched. This wasn’t her. It looked like her, it sounded like her, but it wasn’t the same fierce, stubborn Aeris who would rather die than show vulnerability.

He ignored her.

She frowned, stepping closer. “Zephirion, I need to—”

He turned away, but before he could take a step, her hand grasped his wrist, a firm yet desperate touch.

"Listen to me," she insisted.

“I don’t have time for this.” His voice was cold, distant.

Aeris’s grip tightened, frustration evident in her eyes. “Just listen to me!”

And then it happened—she pulled at him with more force than intended, and in a moment of imbalance, her foot slipped.

Zephirion instinctively reached out to catch her, but gravity was faster.

With a gasp, she stumbled back—dragging him down with her.

The world tilted.

A soft thud echoed in the room as Aeris landed on the bed, Zephirion falling over her, their bodies pressed too close.

A heavy silence fell between them.

Aeris’s breath hitched. She could feel the warmth of his body, the weight of his presence. His arms caged her in, his golden eyes piercing into hers—searching, questioning, conflicted.

She swallowed hard. “Z-Zephirion…”

He didn’t move. His gaze flickered to her lips—just for a second—before returning to her eyes.

Her heart pounded.

For a moment, it felt real.

Not a plan. Not an act. Not a deception.

Just them.

Then, as if on instinct, her lips parted, and a familiar nickname slipped out—

"Black Lizard..."

Zephirion froze.

Something inside him snapped into place, as if a puzzle had just been completed.

For the first time in days, certainty settled in his chest.

Because only she—the real Aeris—would ever call him that ridiculous name.

--------

(Zephirion’s POV)

Something was wrong.

I had known it for days now, and yet, every time I looked into her eyes, I hesitated.

Aeris stood before me, her voice softer, her touch lighter. It was all so wrong. She wasn’t the sharp-tongued, stubborn woman who challenged me at every turn. She wasn’t the Aeris who would throw sarcastic remarks like daggers, the one who would fight until her last breath.

This Aeris—who smiled too sweetly, who tried to cling to me, who yelled at the maid’s children—wasn’t her.

I turned away. I had no interest in playing along with this illusion.

“Zephirion,” she called, her tone almost pleading.

I clenched my jaw.

She stepped closer. “Zephirion, I need to—”

I ignored her.

Her hand grasped my wrist. It wasn’t the grip of a warrior, nor the hesitant touch of someone afraid. It was desperate.

"Listen to me," she insisted.

I remained silent.

She let out an exasperated sigh, her grip tightening. “Just listen to me!”

Then, in a single moment of miscalculation, she pulled harder than expected.

Her foot slipped.

Before I could react, gravity did its work.

Aeris fell back, and I fell with her.

The next thing I knew, she was beneath me, her body pressed against mine, her breath uneven.

My hands were braced on either side of her head, caging her in. Her face was so close—too close.

Silence filled the room.

Her blue eyes widened, staring into mine. My gaze flickered to her lips before I could stop myself. Too close.

I didn’t move. Neither did she.

Something flickered in her eyes—hesitation, confusion, something undeniably real.

For a moment, just a moment, it felt like her.

Then, she swallowed hard, her lips parting slightly, and a single name slipped out—

"Black Lizard..."

My entire body went rigid.

It was as if a fog had suddenly lifted.

My heart pounded.

Because only Aeris—my Aeris— My Little blossom—would ever call me that ridiculous name.

To be continued