Date

Hing…

I’ll drink in moderation, but more importantly…

‘Now we’re really lovers, right?’

Even after the humans left, my heart kept racing.

It was a confession made while drunk, but Master also said, “I love Rico too!”

The flower petals fluttered with excitement.

Flap flap!

Miel fluttered around me, dancing in celebration.

Her transparent wings shimmered in the blue light.

Her small antennae wiggled with joy, looking adorable.

Cecilia spread her fiery wings and flew around.

It was as dazzling as a fireworks display.

‘Hehe, thank you!’

Master remained by my side, still smiling softly.

Seeing that expression made my heart flutter again.

‘Master…’

I wrote on the ground with my trembling roots, adding lots of hearts this time!

“What’s wrong, Rico?”

Master gently stroked my petals.

‘Huh.’

The cool touch sent shivers down my entire body as it reached the pistils.

Pollen scattered slightly.

‘Are we… lovers now…?’

I gathered my courage and asked.

My roots trembled with anxiety.

“Lovers?”

Master tilted their head in confusion.

“Well, you’re my most precious subordinate.”

‘No… that’s not what I mean…’

“You’re my only subordinate, so you’re as precious as a lover.”

Master carefully stroked each of my petals.

Like tending to a plant…

‘Huh…?’

Something felt off.

What I wanted wasn’t that…

‘What I meant… is… loving each other…’

“Yes, I love you too. Hehe.”

Master smiled warmly and stroked my petals.

For some reason, the touch felt a bit sad.

Flap flap…

Miel’s wings slowed down.

Cecilia’s fiery wings dimmed a bit.

I settled back onto my petals, drooping my antennae.

‘Master… do you know what lovers are?’

I cautiously asked, filled with suspicion.

“Lovers? That’s what humans do. When two people like each other.”

Master explained it as if it were something fascinating.

‘No! Lovers… are… people who love each other and get married…’

“Marriage? That’s an interesting human custom. A ceremony where two people promise to live together forever. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

‘Huh!’

Is this how Master views humans?

Dragons from another world don’t fall in love?

“Why? Do you want to have a wedding like humans?”

Master smiled, finding my reaction amusing.

‘No… that’s not it…’

I was at a loss for words, and my roots awkwardly scratched the ground.

Something was off.

Master really didn’t understand what love was.

‘Master… if I may ask, how old are you?’

“Hmm… I’m not sure exactly… maybe 6,000? 7,000?”

‘Gasp!’

The petals swayed in shock.

Could this be the average for dragons!?

And Master has been alone all this time…

‘Have you been alone all this time…?’

I asked timidly, my roots trembling.

“Well… Nis visited sometimes, but mostly I was alone.”

Master spoke casually, without a hint of sadness in their voice.

‘A 7,000-year-old unicorn…’

No wonder they don’t understand love!

So…

‘It’s okay! I’ll teach you what love is!’

I gathered my strength and wrote boldly with my roots.

I even drew blooming flowers!

“What’s that? It’s so cute.”

Master still seemed to think I was just being playful…

But it’s okay!

Now I’ll teach you, one step at a time!

‘Let’s try it!’

What’s the first thing humans do when they become lovers?

Hmm…

Ah! Date!

A romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant!

‘But I drink blood…’

The petals wilted slightly in worry.

Dinner means cans and fancy dishes…

But I just suck blood with my roots…

Flap flap!

Miel seemed to notice my concern and wiggled her antennae to approach.

Her transparent wings sparkled, expressing encouragement.

She seemed to say she’d handle the monster hunting!

‘Oh! Great!’

Yes!

Romance expert Miel!

I’m counting on you!

‘Belez! Bring back some fresh monsters!’

Flap flap!

Miel’s wings fluttered as Belez scattered everywhere.

The Isis flies soared high for reconnaissance, while the Frost Centipedes crawled along the walls to find monster tracks.

The Frost Hoppers jumped around the ice walls.

Cecilia remained quietly on my petals.

‘That’s right! My daughter stays by my side!’

And Glacia was…

Asleep in the corner.

Ugh… That slacker…

Well, let’s save the strongest for later.

But are there any monsters left in the labyrinth?

They’ll find something, I suppose.

…

“Kuwoeoeo!”

A monster’s roar echoed from afar.

Belez moved busily.

‘They found something!’

Before long, Glacia appeared…

Huh? Glacia!?

She must have worked hard to hunt this huge wolf!

Glacia, well done!

‘Finally, a romantic…’

However…

Suck…

Suck…

The sound of me drinking the wolf’s blood echoed through the cavern.

And the sight of me piercing it with my sharp roots…

It wasn’t exactly romantic.

‘Hehe…’

While it felt good, Master just casually sipped the flower nectar as usual.

Oh… Even with such a beautiful setup…

It wasn’t romantic at all…

‘This isn’t it…’

First strategy failed…

The petals wilted slightly. 

I didn’t expect the first date to go like this.

In novels, the first date scenes are always so cool.

Oh well, don’t give up!

We’re just starting!

‘How about a stroll!’

Lovers always walk and talk together!

We’ll tour the labyrinth…

‘Master, let’s go sightseeing!’

“Okay, if you want.”

‘Yes!’

My roots trembled again, but Master gently pulled me out.

This time, it felt different, like no sensation at all.

Have they gotten better at it, or am I stronger now?

Even though it’s embarrassing to have my whole body exposed like this…

More importantly…

‘This isn’t romantic at all!’

Being dangled in Master’s hand while touring the labyrinth…

It’s like holding a weed!

And the dirt falling from my roots…

This is definitely not romantic!

“The ice crystals here are beautiful, aren’t they?”

Master showed me the ice crystals in front of me.

They were beautiful, but…

Sigh…

Second strategy failed…

…

As a last resort…

‘Dance!’

It’s a staple in romance fantasy novels!

The protagonist and the northern duke always dance together at a ball and grow closer!

I swayed my petals and bobbed my stem!

Trying my best to look elegant in front of Master!

Slowly turning, petals swaying…

Pistils trembling…

This was definitely romantic…

“Hahaha!”

Master burst into laughter.

“What are you doing? You’re so cute~”

‘Ugh…’

It looked just like the dancing cactus figurine I saw in my human life!

Not romantic at all!

Sigh…

All three attempts failed.

The romantic dinner ended with me drinking blood,

The elegant stroll turned into weeding,

And the romantic dance…

Just became a joke.

Is this the first date I imagined?

The romance I knew wasn’t like this.

The petals slowly closed.

Was I foolish?

Trying to show a dragon love, something humans understand…

But I’m not even human…

Miel seemed to understand my feelings, drooping her wings and antennae.

Cecilia folded her fiery wings and sat beside me, as if to comfort me.

Maybe… I’m rushing things?

For Master, who has been alone for 7,000 years, it might be too much to learn about love in such a short time.

And I’ve only been a flower for a short while…

Still…

Being able to be with Master like this,

Is a happiness I never imagined in my past life.

Let’s take it slow.

Match Master’s pace…

Thinking that, my heart felt lighter.

A sweet fragrance wafted from the petals.

This time, it was a warm, hopeful scent, not of shyness or disappointment.

“Everyone! Ta-da!!”

Then, Nis’s bright voice echoed through the cavern, a sound I hadn’t heard in a while.