Aeris had made up her mind.

She was going to escape.

Again.

No matter how many times he caught her. No matter how many times he mocked her efforts with that infuriating smirk of his.

She gritted her teeth, gripping the edges of the servant’s cloak she had stolen. It was oversized, enough to hide her face, and the dim lighting of the hallways worked in her favor.

"This time… I won’t fail."

Carefully, she made her way down the halls, keeping her steps light and avoiding the guards’ patrol routes she had memorized over the past few days. The exit was just ahead. She could feel it.

Step. Step. Step.

Her heart pounded as she neared the door leading to the outer courtyard. Almost there.

Her fingers touched the handle—

"Going somewhere, little blossom?"

Her entire body froze.

That damned voice.

She turned her head slowly, her stomach sinking as she met those piercing red eyes. Zephirion stood just a few steps away, arms crossed, the same arrogant smirk stretching his lips.

Aeris clenched her fists.

Again. AGAIN!

How?!

She had been so careful this time!

Her irritation boiled over. One day. One day, she would rip that smirk off his face.

But not today.

Not when she was trapped again.

With a sigh, she yanked off the servant’s cloak, glaring at him. "I swear, you have nothing better to do than to ruin my plans, do you?"

Zephirion’s smirk widened. "Your plans? Ah, you mean these pathetic attempts at escaping?"

Her eye twitched. Pathetic?!

He took a step closer, looking far too entertained. "Go on then, little blossom. Try again."

Aeris hated the way her breath hitched. The way his voice, deep and smooth, mocked her without effort.

She was going to win one day.

But today was not that day.

—---

It became a silent game.

Aeris would try every method she could think of.

Hiding in barrels? Failed. Stealing a horse? Failed. Bribing a servant? Failed. Climbing out the tallest tower using a rope of sheets? Failed.

Every. Single. Time.

He caught her.

And every time, Zephirion would stand there with that smug, infuriating expression, watching her like she was an amusing puzzle he wanted to solve.

It made her blood boil.

And yet—

One time, when she had tried sneaking out through an underground tunnel (which had collapsed halfway, nearly getting her stuck forever)—

She caught him smiling.

Not smirking. Smiling.

Not the usual arrogant, mocking grin—

A real, amused, entertained smile.

It lasted barely a second.

But Aeris saw it.

And so did the knights standing nearby.

The way they froze, eyes widening as if they had just seen a ghost.

One of them even rubbed his eyes, muttering, "I must be hallucinating."

Another whispered, "Did… did His Majesty just smile?"

Zephirion, realizing the stares, immediately schooled his expression back to his usual cold indifference. He turned sharply. "Get back to your duties."

The knights scrambled away as if their lives depended on it.

Aeris, despite her failure, despite her frustration—

Smirked.

So the mighty, terrifying Dragon King could smile after all.

And if her escape attempts were the reason?

Well… maybe she’d keep trying.

As Aeris was dragged back to her chamber yet again, she sat on the bed, arms crossed, her lips pursed in frustration.

"That damn dragon."

She had tried every possible way to escape, and he had caught her every single time.

No matter what she did, he was always there.

It was infuriating.

And yet…

She thought back to earlier.

That moment.

That tiny, fleeting smile.

She had seen it.

Not a smirk. Not a cold grin.

A genuine, amused smile.

She had never seen him express anything real before. It was always smugness, arrogance, or that unreadable, intimidating aura.

But that smile…

It was so brief. So unlike him.

Aeris found herself staring at the ceiling, thinking about it longer than she should have.

But then, realization hit her.

She sat up quickly, shaking her head.

"What the hell am I thinking?!"

Her face burned with embarrassment.

Why was she even dwelling on his smile?!

She needed to focus on escaping!

No—actually…

Aeris paused, her expression slowly shifting.

If escaping was impossible…

Then maybe—

Just maybe—

She should make his life hell instead.

A wicked smirk spread across her lips.

"Oh, Zephirion. If I can’t run from you…"

"Then I’ll make sure you regret keeping me here."

To be continued