The Day a Boy Dared to Approach Kira

Kira, now a bubbly three-year-old, was happily playing in the royal garden. The soft breeze rustled her silky black hair as she twirled around, giggling, her tiny hands grabbing at the butterflies that fluttered past her.

Nearby, Zephirion and Lorien stood like statues, watching her every move.

Lorien, arms crossed: “Father, what if an enemy tries to kidnap her?”

Zephirion, dead serious: “Then we burn the kingdom to the ground.”

Lorien nodded in agreement.

And then—it happened.

A young noble boy, around five years old, cautiously approached Kira. He had light brown hair and a bouquet of freshly picked flowers in his tiny hands. His small face turned pink as he nervously shuffled forward.

Little Boy: “U-um… Princess Kira… these are for you.”

Kira blinked, tilting her head curiously. “For me?”

Before she could even think of taking them—

BOOM!

Two shadows loomed over the boy.

Zephirion and Lorien appeared in an instant, blocking the poor kid’s view of Kira like two towering walls of doom.

Zephirion, darkly: “…And who are you?”

The boy’s eyes widened in terror.

Lorien, cracking his knuckles: “You dare approach my little sister?”

The poor noble boy trembled, clutching his flowers as if they could save him.

Kira, oblivious to the horror behind her, was still trying to catch butterflies.

Zephirion: “State your intentions.”

Boy, stammering: “I-I just wanted to g-give her flowers!”

Lorien: “Flowers? HA! That’s just the first step. Next, you’ll be writing her love letters, then asking to hold her hand—AND THEN WHAT?!”

Zephirion, nodding: “Exactly. This is how it starts.”

The boy burst into tears on the spot.

He threw the flowers on the ground and ran away screaming.

Zephirion and Lorien smirked in satisfaction.

Mission: Protect Kira— ✔ SUCCESSFUL.

But their victory was short-lived.

“ZE. PHI. RION. LORIEN.”

The garden froze.

Aeris stood a few feet away, arms crossed, a dark aura surrounding her.

Both dragons instinctively stepped back.

Zephirion (thinking): Oh no.

Lorien (thinking): Abort mission. Abort mission.

Aeris, marching up to them: “Did you just make a five-year-old cry?”

Zephirion and Lorien (in sync): “…No.”

Aeris glared.

Zephirion and Lorien gulped.

Lecture of Doom

Aeris cracked her knuckles.

Zephirion and Lorien instinctively took a step back.

Aeris, deadly calm: “So let me get this straight… You two made a little boy CRY because he gave Kira some flowers?”

Zephirion: “It’s called protecting our daughter.”

Lorien: “Yeah, Mother! What if he was planning something?”

Aeris, narrowing her eyes: “Planning what? A tea party? A game of tag?”

Before they could respond—

SMACK!

Aeris delivered a swift smack to Zephirion’s arm.

Zephirion: “Hah—?!”

SMACK!

She turned to Lorien and bonked him on the head.

Lorien: “Ow! Mother, I’m your son!”

Aeris, glaring: “THEN ACT LIKE ONE AND NOT A THUG!”

Lorien pouted and rubbed his head.

Zephirion, grumbling: “I was just keeping the pests away…”

WHACK!

Aeris slapped his shoulder again.

Zephirion: “Hff—WOMAN, STOP HITTING ME!”

Aeris, hands on her hips: “I will stop hitting you when you stop being an IDIOT!”

Lorien snickered.

Aeris immediately turned and hit him again.

Lorien: “Why me again?!”

Aeris exhaled dramatically.

Aeris: “Listen here, you two overgrown babies. Kira is going to grow up. One day, she’s going to have friends, and MAYBE even a husband—”

Zephirion and Lorien: “OVER MY DEAD BODY.”

Aeris pinched the bridge of her nose.

Aeris, muttering: “I married an idiot and gave birth to another.”

Meanwhile, in the background, Kira was still playing peacefully, humming to herself, completely unaware of the absolute chaos happening behind her.