The room was silent, empty as a forsaken vow.
“Where did she go? She was just here!”
The maid’s voice quivered with surprise before she steadied herself.
“I’ll summon the others to search for her at once!”
“Quick!”
Richard’s voice cut like a blade, sharp with urgency.
“Alert everyone! Secure all valuables—especially the treasury! Hurry!”
The maid blinked, caught off guard.
“Why, sir?”
“Move faster, or the treasury will be emptied!”
Richard grabbed her hand, pulling her into a swift run.
“She’s a dragon, for heaven’s sake. No wonder she didn’t perch on my shoulder—she’s after our gold!”
A few passing servants cast curious glances his way.
“Move! Fetch Mr. Pumanni at once!”
Richard waved a commanding hand.
“A dragon! A greedy dragon has slipped inside! Guard the treasury, or she’ll swipe every last valuable in ten seconds flat!”
Pumanni was Sophia’s father.
The servants exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of Richard’s frantic words, which only stoked his frustration.
After a flurry of questions, one servant drawled lazily, “Mr. Pumanni isn’t home.”
“Then take me to Sophia!”
Richard demanded.
“But the young lady isn’t available right now.”
“I’ll wait outside her room. Oh, and tell me—has she been throwing herself into charity work lately?”
“Oh, yes, yes!” the maid replied, a touch too eagerly, exchanging a quick glance with another servant.
“She’s been… handing out food to the poor, tending to the injured for free.”
The grand mansion began to hum with activity.
In Sophia’s bedroom, sunlight spilled through the window, its warm rays dancing across the face of the beauty nestled in her bed, as if the sun itself yearned to kiss her cheeks.
Sophia lay cradled by an enormous white pillow, so vast it could have served as a mattress, sinking into its softness as if lost in the depths of her dreams.
Her golden hair fanned out across the pillow, each strand catching the morning light in a cascade of shimmering gold.
She wore a crimson robe adorned with intricate golden embroidery, the fabric clinging to her curves, her chest straining against the loose garment.
The robe flowed along the contours of her body, a black sash cinching her slender waist.
Her sleeping form was serene, almost regal—one arm languidly tucked beneath her head, the other resting gently on her abdomen, as if caressing a distant dream.
Beyond the half-open window, the trees swayed without a breeze, their quiet rustle blending with the stillness of the room, a lullaby inviting weary souls to rest.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door rattled.
“Miss! Miss, wake up!”
“Mmm…”
Sophia stirred, rolling over to chase her slumber.
“Richard’s back!”
She draped an arm over her ears, muffling the intrusion.
“Richard’s coming to see you!”
Her eyes snapped open, revealing irises as blue as the sea.
“Wait…”
She propped herself up on one arm.
“What’s happened?”
A sudden blur of red plummeted from above, and Sophia instinctively caught it.
Blinking, she found herself holding a charming girl with long crimson hair, a pair of red dragon horns sprouting from her head.
A rose dangled from the girl’s mouth, and she playfully cupped Sophia’s face, her round, adorable features breaking into a mischievous grin.
“So cute,” Sophia murmured, charmed.
“Gah, my dear!”
The girl, Aurina, plucked the rose from her mouth and offered it to a bewildered Sophia.
“You’re truly a female worthy of this king plucking flowers for you!”
“Who… whose child are you?”
Sophia asked, tilting her head.
Aurina nestled into Sophia’s arms, one hand pressing against her chest, the other tipping Sophia’s chin.
“That’s not important. What matters is this king—”
Bang, bang, bang!
The door rattled again.
“Miss, Richard’s here!”
Sophia snapped fully awake, gently setting Aurina aside.
“No time for this.”
She clapped her hands, and the door swung open.
“Help me change out of this robe!” she called, hurrying to her wardrobe.
The maid rushed to her side, deftly slipping the robe off her shoulders.
Sophia rummaged through her clothes.
“Where’s my almsgiving gown? I saw it last week!”
“I believe it’s packed away in a trunk,” the maid replied.
“Why would it be there?”
“Well, it hasn’t been used in a while…”
“Find me something proper, quick! Richard can’t know I slept this late.”
Sophia’s voice was firm.
“I wrote to him that I rise at nine every morning for charity.”
“How about this one, miss?”
“Yes, that’ll do.”
At that moment, Aurina dragged a chair over and tapped Sophia’s leg.
“Sit, sit!”
Without thinking, Sophia sank into the chair.
Aurina, with surprising strength, hoisted it up.
“Gah! Mine now!”
With a gleeful squeal, she swung her legs and charged toward the door, carrying Sophia atop the chair.
“No! I haven’t changed yet!”
Sophia cried, clutching the armrests as the door loomed closer.
Her carefully crafted image as a diligent, benevolent saint in Richard’s eyes couldn’t crumble now.
Then another thought struck her.
“Wait, what’s happening?”
She glanced down, realizing Aurina was the one hauling her along.
Only then did she notice the dragon tail swishing proudly beneath Aurina’s skirt.
In a matter of moments, Aurina burst through the doorway, sprinting down the corridor with the chair—and Sophia—bouncing wildly.
Sophia gripped the armrests tighter, her chest heaving with each jolt.
“Put me down!” she pleaded.
“I’m not dressed!”
“No worries!”
Aurina called, dashing past stunned servants.
“This king doesn’t mind!”
“Be good, please! My fiancé can’t see me like this!”
“Gahaha!”
Aurina’s pace quickened.
“All the more fun, then!”
At that moment, she rounded a corner and slammed straight into Richard, clad in his plate armor.
Thud!
The collision was chaos.
Richard instinctively dropped into a stance, knees bent to brace himself.
Aurina stumbled but caught her balance, giggling.
“Gaha, almost got caught!”
Then she noticed the chair felt too light.
Shaking it, she found it empty.
Turning, she saw Richard clutching Sophia’s legs, Sophia herself sprawled upside-down, hands braced against the floor in an undignified tumble.
“Gah!”
Aurina set the chair down.
“Have a seat, don’t mind me. This king’s off!”
She spun to flee, but Richard’s hand shot out, snagging her tail.
Aurina bolted anyway, only for her feet to skid uselessly against the floor, her tail firmly in his grasp.
With a tug, Richard yanked her back as Sophia gasped, covering her mouth.
“Richard, how could you be so rough?”
“She’s a thief!”
Richard protested.
“Leave her unwatched, and she’ll strip the place bare!”
Aurina began chanting loudly, “I’m still a child!”
Sophia’s heart softened.
She rushed to Aurina, pulling her into a protective embrace.
“Let go, Richard.”
He released her tail.
“You nearly pulled it off! That must hurt, poor thing.”
“I’m still a child!”
Aurina chanted again, milking the moment.
Sophia turned to Richard, her voice sharp.
“It’s only been a few months, and you’ve turned so brutish! And you smell dreadful!”
“But she’s a dragon!”
“I’m still a child!”
Aurina piped up, nestled in Sophia’s arms.
“Exactly,” Sophia cooed.
“She’s just a child. So adorable.”
Richard sighed, exasperated.
“You’ll see soon enough. By the way, why are you still in your robe at noon?”
Sophia’s face froze.
“Uh…”