Chapter 306: Two Is the Minimum

Thankfully, concerns about dignity were quickly forgotten as the young dragonling watched with rapt attention, taking in the sight before him.

As someone who had once been scandalized by the very concept of professing affection, the great Orien found that it did not seem so bad after all, provided it looked like this.

Obviously, it could have been better. The space was cramped for a dragon, and there was a clear lack of displayed valuables. Any respectable hoard would have benefited from at least three more glittering fixtures. But for a place that could allegedly process transactions in mere moments, Orien decided it was acceptable.

More than acceptable, actually.

Because the moment his uncle and now official auntie were handed something clearly interesting, everything else faded into the background.

“!”

Unfortunately for the dragonling who was trying to blend in, he couldn’t particularly ask the little sprite for an in-depth explanation about that thing his uncle and aunt received.

But even without hearing anything, just seeing it was enough for him to make a decision.

His eyes locked onto the objects the instant the human with the extremely round head presented them, holding them out with severely trembling hands.

But no matter.

The intense shaking didn’t diminish his interest in what the puny human was holding.

They were red.

A deep, rich red.

And on the front of it was something clearly golden that shimmered faintly when the light struck it just right.

Under the bed sheet and the oversized sunglasses, the baby golden dragon nearly cooed.

He wanted it.

He wanted it yesterday.

Even with the tinted lenses obscuring his vision, the glow still reached him. It slipped past the glasses and settled straight into his chest, warm and insistent. Orien leaned forward without realizing it, claws curling in anticipation.

He needed to see it up close.

He could borrow it.

Just for a moment.

No one would notice.

With careful, quiet determination, Orien prepared to waddle forward. The sheet dragged softly along the floor as he took a step.

Then he stopped.

Because when he looked again, he saw his uncle’s face.

Kael was holding the sparkling item in his hands, gaze lowered, expression completely unguarded.

Completely unlike the dragon lord’s usual expression. His uncle didn’t look fierce, nor did he look proud.

Instead it was soft.

Fond.

Almost reverent.

Orien froze.

He understood immediately.

That thing would never be touched by anyone else again.

Others might see it. They might glance at it. They might admire it from a respectful distance.

But with the way his uncle held it, with the way his thumb rested against the edge as though committing the weight of it to memory, no one would ever borrow it.

Truly a dragon, in all possible senses.

Orien felt a surge of longing.

He had to have one.

Fortunately, they were already here.

And even better, the precious object seemed to come from that wall in front of those two.

That meant there were more.

Many more.

Orien’s eyes gleamed behind his sunglasses.

It would be the perfect time to get one for himself.

That way, he would not have to borrow his uncle’s at all.

___

The decision came swiftly.

Orien straightened beneath the sheet, tiny claws curling with resolve. He was going to get one. Right now. There was no reason not to.

But just as he shifted his weight to waddle forward, a whisper brushed his ear.

“Lord Orien,” Liam murmured quietly, “where are you going?”

The question, soft as it was, somehow carried. The nearby magical beings tilted, attention subtly drawn to the moving bundle.

Orien noticed but didn’t particularly care as there was nothing to worry about this time around. He was perfectly fine.

“A small matter,” he replied plainly. “I’m simply going to get that red thing for myself.”

He said it with absolute certainty, even though he didn’t fully understand what the item truly represented. See, dragons didn’t particularly have tangible items tied to mating save for blood, and so to the youngling, nothing particularly clicked.

But then he remembered something.

The bead. The compensation he had given to the little sprite that caused such a commotion.

They still hadn’t found it.

And even if they did, it didn’t seem like Liam would still like it after what he experienced.

Orien paused, gears turning as best they could in his little head. Then he looked back at the equally bundled figure beside him.

“Would you also like me to get one for you?” he asked. “I believe with the right words, they should be able to hand over at least two.”

He sounded confident. Proud, even.

The covered stump angled slightly, as if waiting for approval.

That was when Lady Cirila finally gave in.

She had been listening quietly, amusement threatening to spill over for several long moments. Now she cleared her throat lightly.

“My dear,” she said warmly, lips twitching as she spoke, “you are partly correct. You would indeed be able to get two. In fact, you would likely only be able to get them in twos.”

Beneath the sheet, Orien puffed up. Even without seeing him, everyone could picture the proud stance.

“But,” Lady Cirila continued gently, “to receive such a thing, you would need a partner.”

“?”

Orien stopped.

The sheet tilted to the side as his head did.

“Oh,” he said after a brief pause where he had made intense calculations. “That’s no problem.”

He turned toward Liam at once.

“Little sprite. Come with me and we will get our own.”

The words were delivered without ceremony. To Orien, this was obvious.

The surrounding adults stiffened.

“Huh?” Liam squeaked. “M-me? You want to get that with me?”

Orien stared at him, baffled.

“Of course? Who else would I get it with?”

“What? Really?” Liam blurted out, genuinely stunned.

“Do you have someone else you wish to go with?” Orien demanded, aghast at the very idea since they had always done everything together. But suddenly Liam was reacting like that.

Liam froze.

He swallowed.

“My lord,” he said slowly, carefully, “are you sure…?”

The white sheet rustled violently.

“You dare doubt me?” Orien exclaimed. “Do you not believe we can get our own?”

His wings fluttered beneath the cloth in sharp indignation.

Distress bubbled up inside him.

Could the little sprite who once promised so many things to him just abandon him like that?

Was it because he thought the counter where that round man was hiding was too high?

That was ridiculous.

Orien could fly. He could most definitely reach that counter to demand they hand over those precious things.

But just as he was about to huff and declare that he would simply get it himself, movement brushed against his side.

Arms wrapped around him.

The bundle behind him pressed close in a tight, sudden hug.

“Huh?”

___

The wrapped golden dragonling froze.

The sudden contact caught him completely off guard, his whole body locking in place beneath the sheet as if he had been struck by a spell. For a brief moment, his mind went blank.

Then he reasoned it out.

The little sprite was apologizing. Of course he was. That was only right after doubting him.

Satisfied with that conclusion, Orien relaxed.

Only for Liam to speak.

“Okay,” the child said softly, clearly having thought through many things in a very short amount of time. “I will get one with you someday. But I don’t think we can get one today.”

Orien had already begun huffing in pleased agreement at the word ’okay’ when the rest of the sentence caught up to him.

He stiffened.

“What?” he demanded. “How come? I’m telling you. I may not look it, but I have enough money!”

He snarled faintly as he said it. Ever since learning that many important human things could be bought with what his auntie called money, Orien had made it a point to solicit money from the adults who had them. So when the time came to visit the temple, he would be more than ready.

So what kind of hurdle was this?

“Um,” Liam whispered, sounding careful, “that’s great, my lord. But I don’t think it’s about the money. I think it’s because we’re too young?”

“Huh?” Orien snapped. “Too young? How can that be?!”

But before he could continue, a voice spoke from behind him.

“Yes. He’s right.”

Orien jolted.

“Even now, you’re too young,” the voice continued calmly. “Wait for a millennium and then you can get one too.”

“!!!”

“A millennium?!” Orien nearly jumped out of the sheet. “WHAT kind of wait is that?!”

Even the ingredients for the great burger didn’t take centuries!

But the protest died in his throat when he turned around finally realizing who spoke such demented words.

His uncle and official auntie stood there.

Riley was staring at him pointedly, tongue clicking once.

The dragon lord spoke once again, voice level and unforgiving. “It took almost a millennium for me to get married. It would only be right for you to wait at least two.”

“!!!”

Orien’s world tilted.

He looked at Liam in shock, his sunglasses slipping crookedly down his snout until Liam reached up and pushed them back into place.

“Like Big Brother said,” Liam added gently, “we’re too young to get married.”

“M-married?” Orien stammered, wings fluttering wildly beneath the sheet as his feet nearly left the ground. “Married?!”

“Yes,” Riley said, hands on his waist as he raised a brow. “Who would have thought that someone who didn’t even like professing affection would propose inside the actual bureau?”

He leaned in slightly.

“Worse, you even got our little baby to agree. Did you even tell him you loved him first?”

Orien gasped so hard it felt like the air had been stolen from the room.

“W-who is g-getting m-married?!” he demanded faintly, on the verge of collapse.

“You and I, my lord,” Liam said quietly. “I already agreed. So unless you don’t want me anymore then…”

“WHAT?!”

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