~Prince Andrelandros

  Lady Florence's shocked face amused him. He hadn't come here with the intention of asking to invest in her business. Actually, he hadn't intended on seeing her at all tonight, and it was only a coincidence, or perhaps fate, that had brought him to the front of this shop. Her shop.

  Midnight Garden Cafe, he mused. It sounded mysterious, just like Lady Florence herself. While a far cry from the parlours at the palace, the interior of the cafe was clean and inviting—fancy enough to satisfy any nobles that might stop by, yet plain enough that any commoners would not be intimidated.

  She had struck a perfect balance, creating a versatile establishment that already seemed popular. How on earth had Lady Florence accomplished yet another amazing feat? Had she any help?

  "Are you the sole proprietor?" he asked her, sipping his delicious coffee. He'd had no plans to sleep anytime soon, so the coffee was a welcome beverage.

  "Um…no, Your Highness. Landros." She blushed. "Sorry…I keep forgetting."

  "It's alright as long as we're alone," he replied. "So, who is the other owner? Your father?"

  Her eyes widened. "No! Goodness, no, he must never know about this place. I trust you'll keep my secret?" He nodded. "The other owner is Sir Thorne Black, a knight under Lord Trevor Rowanward."

  "I see." It appeared either Lady Florence did not know Black's true identity, or she suspected Landros did not. Regardless, learning she was involved with Rowanward's alter ego was yet another interesting discovery. What was the bastard playing at? Was he trying to get even closer to Lady Florence, through dubious means? "I was serious about investing, Lady Florence. Dorandia needs more business owners like you—women owners—and even though I won't become king, I am invested in my country."

  Lady Florence seemed surprised by his honesty. If she hadn't learned it yet, she would soon learn that his personality was vastly different from that of his older brother or father. He had no qualms about utilizing a direct approach when necessary, forgoing any social niceties.

  "That is admirable, Landros. Of course, we would be happy to accept your investment. Shall I schedule a meeting for the three of us?" Her cheeks held a faint blush that hadn't been there earlier.

  "Just send me a letter of the time and place, and I'll be there," he said.

  Landros drained his cup and set it on the table. Then, he got up to shut the door, closing the two of them inside. Strictly speaking, this was not proper. Lady Florence's reputation could be put at risk. But what he planned to talk to her about was of utmost secrecy. No one must overhear. He sat back down, lazily draping his arm across the back of the settee.

  "Your Highness?" she asked, her delicate brows drawn together. He could sense her apprehension—it was obvious that his presence made her nervous. Something like regret briefly flitted through his chest.

  "I have something less pleasant to discuss with you," he said. "This is confidential information, but since it involves you, I see no problem with clueing you in."

  He sighed, then propped his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands in front of himself. There was no good way to say this. He didn't want to frighten her further, yet he knew the possibility of her becoming directly involved was very high. It was prudent to warn her.

  "There is going to be war," he finally said, meeting her gaze.

  She gasped—Landros's heart lurched ever so slightly. He had frightened her. "What? But why?"

  "It involves your little dragon friend, Regas."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Raius," she corrected automatically, then brought her hand to her lips. "Apologies for interrupting, Your Highness."

  He waved a hand, unconcerned with the slight breach of decorum.

  "Yes, Raius. Apparently, a team from Liutan?ia infiltrated Mount Doran and attempted to steal his…egg. He killed them all and escaped."

  "He…killed them all? How many were there?" There was no missing the distress in Lady Florence's voice. Was she concerned for Raius...or the Liutan?ians?

  "Over a dozen."

  Lady Florence slumped slightly, placing her hand on the settee to support herself. Her eyebrows almost disappeared into her veil, they were raised so high.

  "That many," she murmured.

  He decided to be frank with her.

  "Lady Florence, the Liutan?ians broke the treaty our two countries have abided by for decades. It was an act of war, punishable by death. They knew the risk of what they were attempting. The King is actually glad Raius took care of them, because if he hadn't, then they would've escaped with the knowledge that we have a dragon on our side. But now we have both the dragon, as well as knowledge that they, too, have one in captivity. A female."

  "This is…this is all so much, Your Highness," she mumbled, bringing a hand to her forehead and scrunching her brow. "So, Dorandia is going to attack Liutan?ia? Do you have Raius, then?"

  Landros frowned. "No. We do not. He fled the mountain, and we have seen no sign of him. This is where you come in, Lady Florence. The King wants to use you to connect with Raius, to bring him in to make a pact between himself and Raius. I do not agree with this. Unlike dragons of the past, Raius is nowhere near full-grown. Using him in battle would likely only endanger him. And he's the only one we have."

  His father hadn't asked his opinion—wouldn't ever consider it—but that was the way he felt. His father was making a huge mistake in trying to use Raius. Was it treason to nudge the King's plans awry? If so, it was worth the risk. If the King were to attempt to use Raius, it would only lead to overconfidence, which would be deadly.

  "Your Highness, I'm afraid I wouldn't be of much use to you, anyway," she said, disrupting his thoughts. She fiddled with her fingers in her lap. "I am not in contact with him, nor do I know how to reach him. All I see are…dreams. I think they are snippets of his thoughts, but it could all be by imagination."

  "Do you think he'll come to you, eventually?" Landros' voice deepened.

  Reluctantly, Lady Florence nodded. "I do not know when, but the…desire I feel, the pull…it's only grown stronger ever since I connected with him in the Hellscape. Whether it's his feelings or mine, I imagine we will eventually be drawn together like magnets."

  "You do not sound pleased," Landros said, noting her scrunched features. Could it be that the feelings are one-sided? That the dragon had made a false conclusion by assuming Lady Florence would also want to be his mate?

  She sighed. "I do not know him, Your Highness. I suppose it's not very different from an arranged marriage, except the groom is another, uh, species. I just—" she blushed. "I don't know how it would…work out. I did some research and now know that there have been dragon-human pairings in the past, so it's possible. But I did not have a say in this. It feels unfair not to have any choice at all in the matter."

  "Do you not know of the prophecy, Lady Florence?"

  She shook her head, confused.

  "It's the reason my father is so intent on sinking his claws in you, to use you, just like he intends to use Raius. He believes you are the 'dragon-speaker' from a thousand-year-old prophecy, a prophecy that said a dragon would return, born on the upcoming solstice. But he hatched early, so it's hard to say if the prophecy was wrong. However, the timing is still quite…coincidental."

  "Dragon-speaker? What's that supposed to mean?"

  ?????

  ~Florence

  It means, my heart Floooh-rrrrrence, that you can hear the ?thermind. You can hear me in your mind, just as I can hear you in mine.

  Suddenly, I sit very still, unsure if what I have just heard came from my own mind or from Raius.

  'Raius?' I project, trying to reach out to him without knowing how.

  "What is it?" Prince Andrelandros asks, his brows furrowed with concern. "Are you well, Lady Florence?"

  I am here, Floooh-rrrrence. Always.

  A tendril of heat uncoils low in my belly, below my navel, as I process his words. Why do they evoke such a reaction?

  "I—I hear him," I say, my vision unfocused. "In my mind. I hear him. Raius."

  ?????

  A Business Proposal', both the webtoon and show hehe. I couldn't resist using it as the chapter title!

  ??

  *I* know hehehehe but you, lovely readers, will have to wait to find out! Muahahaha!

  Lots of love, all you goobers. Stay safe, please.

  -xo??kb