First Date Fiasco
Date... I decided to drink in moderation, but more than that... 'Are we really lovers now?'
Even after the humans left, my heart kept pounding for a while. It was a drunken confession, but my owner said, "I love Ricoris too!" My petals quivered with excitement.
Flutter flutter! Miel spun circles around me in a celebratory dance. Her translucent wings sparkled with blue light. It was adorable how she bobbed her tiny antennae to express her joy.
Cecilia spread her flame-like wings wide and flitted about. It was flashy, like celebratory fireworks.
'Heehee, thanks!'
My owner was still standing beside me. Instead of her usual icy expression, she wore a soft smile. Just looking at her made my heart race again.
Owner...
I etched the words into the ground with my slightly trembling roots. This time, I added lots of hearts!
"Hm? What's up, my Ricoris?"
My owner gently stroked my petals. 'Hehe.' A shiver ran through me as her cool touch trailed down the petals and brushed my corolla. A bit of pollen scattered.
Are we... lovers now...?
Gathering my courage, I asked. My roots trembled with tension.
"Lovers?"
My owner echoed, sounding puzzled.
"Yes, you're my most cherished subordinate."
Yes...? That's not what I...
"You're my one and only subordinate, so you're as precious as a lover." My owner carefully tended to each petal. Like... tending to a houseplant...
'Huh...?'
Something felt off... That wasn't what I wanted...
What I mean is... um... lovers... in love...
"Yes, I really do love you. Hehe." My owner smiled tenderly and stroked my petals. But for some reason, her touch felt a little sad.
Flutter... Even Miel's wingbeats slowed. Cecilia's fiery wings seemed a bit dimmer. She drooped her antennae and settled back on my petals.
Owner... do you know what lovers are?
A sudden doubt crept in, so I asked carefully.
"Lovers? Well, it's what humans do. When two people like each other, right?"
My owner explained as if describing something fascinating.
No! Lovers are... um... they love each other and get married and...
"Married? Yes, that's another interesting human custom. A ceremony where two promise to live together forever. Fascinating, isn't it?"
'Gasp!'
Is this how my owner sees humans? Don't dragons from another world do romance!?
"What's wrong? Do you want to have a wedding like humans?"
My owner laughed, amused by my reaction.
No... well...
It was sort of right, but... Flustered, my roots scratched awkwardly at the ground. Something was wrong. My owner really didn't seem to understand love.
Owner... if I may ask, how old are you?
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked carefully.
"Hm... Not sure exactly, but around 6,000? 7,000?"
'Ack!'
My petals swayed from the shock. Is this average for dragons!?
All this time... have you been alone...?
I asked carefully with trembling roots.
"Well... Nis visits sometimes, but mostly yes, alone."
My owner said it so casually. No trace of loneliness in her voice.
'A 7,000-year-old unicorn!'
No wonder... After 7,000 years alone, of course she doesn't know love! In that case...!
It's okay! I'll teach you what love is, Owner!
Sudden energy surged; I boldly etched large letters with my roots. I even drew a flower in full bloom!
"Hm? So cute."
My owner still thought I was playing, but... that's fine! I'll teach her step by step from now on!
'Alright, let's start!'
What do lovers do first? Hmm... Ah! Right! A date! A romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant!
'But... I eat blood...'
My petals shrank a bit in worry. Dinner means candles, fancy dishes... I just suck blood with my roots...
Flutter flutter! Miel noticed my dilemma and bobbed her antennae as she approached. Her wings sparkled, signaling she'd handle it. Like she'd catch a monster and we'd figure it out.
'Oh! Great!'
Yes! Romance expert Miel! I trust you!
'Bugs! Fetch some fresh monsters!'
Flutter flutter! At Miel's wingbeats, the bugs scattered in all directions. The Isis Flies soared high for scouting, the Frost Centipedes skittered along walls tracking scents, and Frost Hoppers bounced up the ice walls.
Cecilia stayed obediently on my petals.
'Yes! My daughter stays by Mom!'
And Glessia... was sleeping in the corner. You lazy bum...
Tsk... Fine, save the top fighter...
But are there monsters left in the labyrinth? Whatever, they'll find some.
…
"Kroooaaar!"
A monster's roar echoed from afar. The bugs buzzed busily.
'They found something!'
Soon, Glessia... Huh? Glessia!? She'd woken up somehow and dragged in a massive wolf. She'd hunted hard enough not to get called a bum this time.
Frost Warwolf? I've seen regular Frost Wolves, so is this the evolved form?
I stroked Glessia's antennae with a root. She shrugged proudly... then slurrrp! She took a sip of honey and flopped back in the corner!
Hmm... Good job anyway...!
'Now then!'
Flutter flutter! Under Miel's lead, the bugs mobilized to decorate. Icicle Arachnes hung sparkling ice crystals with silk, like chandeliers! Frost Moss sprinkled blue powder with wingbeats, like soft lighting! Miel and Cecilia danced gracefully in the air to set the mood.
'Perfect! As expected of Miel!'
Owner! Will you dine with me?
I drew a heart and words while my owner watched in wonder. How's this? Fancy restaurant level, right?
"Hm? I don't need to eat anything..."
'Eek!'
My petals drooped. Come to think of it, I'd never seen her eat... She doesn't at all...
But no giving up!
Still, the atmosphere...!
"Alright, I like being with you."
My owner sat before me. Her silver hair shimmered in the reflected ice light. Her cool face lit with curious eyes.
"Oh... A guardian of Set Hanryeong."
'Ooh! Good job, Glessia!'
I worried about no labyrinth monsters, but she must've nabbed it from my owner's home fence. Great work!
'Finally, romantic...'
But...
Smooch... smooch... The sound of me slurping the wolf's blood echoed through the cavern. And stabbing with sharp roots... Rub rub.
'Heehee...'
Feels good, but... My owner just calmly savored flower nectar as usual.
Ah... No matter how pretty the setup... This isn't romantic at all...
'This isn't it...'
First plan: failure... Petals drooped.
I never imagined our first date like this... Novels always have cool first dates.
No, can't give up yet! This is just the start!
'Next, a walk!'
Lovers stroll and talk! We'll walk the labyrinth...
Owner, let's tour the labyrinth!
"Sure? Can I uproot you?"
Yes!
My roots gripped the ground instinctively, but my owner grabbed my stem and pulled smoothly. No pain this time—just slipped right out. Has she gotten the knack? Or am I stronger? Embarrassing with my whole body exposed, but more than that...
'This... isn't romantic at all!'
Dangling from her hand as we toured the labyrinth... Like carrying a plucked weed! Dirt dripping from root tips... Not romantic!
"Aren't these ice crystals pretty?"
My owner held one up before me. Beautiful, sure, but... Sigh. Second plan: failure...
…
Last resort...
'Dance!'
Always in romance fantasies! Hero and northern duke bond at balls!
Petals swaying gracefully, stem bobbing lightly! I tried to look elegant before my owner. Twirling slowly, petals fluttering... corolla waving... Surely romantic...
"Pfft!"
My owner burst out laughing.
"What are you doing? Too cute~"
'Uwaaa...'
Now it looked like a dancing cactus doll from my human days! Romance? Ha... All three tries failed.
Romantic dinner ended in blood-sucking, elegant walk became weed-pulling, romantic dance... just a joke.
Is this the lover date I imagined? Not the romance I knew...
My petals slowly curled inward.
Was I foolish? Trying to show a dragon human love...
Ah... But I'm not human either...
Miel drooped her wings and antennae, sensing my feelings. Cecilia folded her fiery wings slightly and settled on my petals, like saying 'it's okay.'
Maybe... I'm rushing too much? For my owner, alone 7,000 years, teaching love so soon might be too much. And I've been a flower not long either!
Still... Being with her like this is happiness I couldn't dream of in my past life.
We'll go slow. At her pace...
Thinking that lightened my heart. A sweet scent wafted from my petals—not shame or disappointment, but warm anticipation.
"Everyone! Ta-da!!"
Then Nis's bright voice echoed through the cavern after so long.