Romance With My Dragon Prince

Was It Really Just A Date?

STELLA

I hesitated before asking my next question. "Earlier… when you said we were saved by a magic mechanism in your body… what exactly did you mean?"

Kieran’s expression grew more serious. "My parents placed a protective spell on me when I was young," he explained. "It was a rare kind of magic that activated in extreme danger. It didn’t just protect me—it extended to those I was with. That’s why you were brought here too."

I thought about this for a moment. "So if I wasn’t with you at that moment, you would have still been saved, but I wouldn’t?"

Kieran nodded. "Yes. The magic is tied to me."

A chill ran down my spine. If we hadn’t planned that date, if his enemies hadn’t known his location, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be involved in any of this. But fate had other plans, and a series of unexpected events had brought me to this world.

I clenched my hands slightly before asking, "Then… what happens now? How do we go back?"

Kieran sighed. "That’s the part I don’t have an answer for yet," he admitted. "The magic that brought us here was automatic. It wasn’t something I controlled. Getting back will be much more complicated."

Frustration welled up inside me. Not knowing how to return was a terrible situation to be in.

I looked down at my hands, lost in thought. "I… don’t know what to feel about all this," I admitted. "It’s so much to take in."

Kieran nodded, his voice gentler this time. "I know. Take your time. You don’t have to accept everything all at once."

I lifted my gaze to meet his. "Can I ask one last question for now?"

"Go ahead."

I hesitated before saying, "Why did you take me to the forest that day? Was it really just a date?"

For a second, his expression flickered—so fast I almost missed it. He leaned back slightly, his eyes shifting toward the bonfire. "I did want to take you to my favorite place," he said. "That part was true. But… I also had a feeling that something was going to happen."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Kieran exhaled. "I don’t know how to explain it. Just a gut feeling. Something about that day felt… off. And I was right."

A chill ran through me. Had Kieran somehow sensed the danger before it happened? If so, why hadn’t he told me?

I furrowed my brows and asked, "If you somehow sensed danger, why didn’t you tell me? And why did you plan that date in the first place?"

He didn’t answer right away. He looked toward the darkening sky, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he turned back to me.

"I didn’t think it would turn out this bad," he admitted. "I knew something felt off, but I thought it would just be a small fight. I’m used to dealing with enemies, and I was confident I could handle them, even without weapons." He paused before adding, "But I underestimated them. More than that, I underestimated my own importance as an heir to my family. That miscalculation led us to this situation."

I processed his words carefully. I wanted to ask more about his family, about what it meant for him to be an heir, but I held back. If he wanted to talk about it, he would. For now, I decided to let it go.

"Okay," I said simply, not pushing the topic further.

Kieran glanced at me before giving a small nod, as if appreciating that I didn’t press him for more details. After a brief moment of silence, he spoke again.

"It’s getting dark. Let’s head inside," he said. "The night in this world can be unpredictable."

I agreed and followed him back into the cave. The warmth of the bonfire welcomed us as we sat down, side by side. There was a small gap between us—just enough that we weren’t touching, but close enough to feel each other’s presence.

At the far end of the cave, I noticed a pile of neatly stacked firewood. I glanced at Kieran. "Did you gather all that?"

He shook his head. "No, it was already here. This cave must have been used before."

I looked at the firewood again, then at the entrance of the cave. The sky outside had darkened, and the sounds of the forest grew quieter, as if the night itself carried a presence of its own.

I hugged my knees slightly, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my skin. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I had been in my world, living my normal life.

After some time of silence, Kieran turned to me, his voice softer than usual.

"You should use my coat," he said, glancing at it. He had laid it on the ground for me earlier, but I hadn’t used it since waking up. I had placed it between us, silently hoping he would wear it instead.

"The night will get colder, and you’re not used to it," he continued. "It won’t bother me—I have dragon blood, so I can handle it."

I hesitated for a moment but then took the coat, brushing off the dust that had gathered on it before wrapping it around myself. I pulled it tighter and mumbled, "Thanks."

Kieran nodded before continuing. "Tomorrow, I’ll go outside and gather information. I need to find out what’s happening in this world right now and how long it will take for us to reach the Dragon Kingdom." He leaned back slightly, staring into the fire. "I also need to check if magic scrolls for transport are available. They’d make things easier, but we’ll need proper identity documents for them. I have a basic understanding of how things work, but I don’t know the recent news, so it’s best for me to ask around."

I listened carefully.

"What should I do while you’re gone?" I asked.

"You should stay in the cave," he said firmly. "I’ll leave a trace of my dragon breath outside—just a slight amount. It won’t spread far, but if anyone or anything comes too close, they’ll sense it. It should be enough to stop them from getting any closer."

I nodded. "Okay."

A thought crossed my mind, but I hesitated before voicing it. If Kieran could transform into a dragon, why didn’t he just take me directly to his kingdom? That seemed like the easiest option. But since he hadn’t mentioned it, I decided not to ask. Maybe there was a reason he didn’t suggest it, and I didn’t want to seem like I was questioning his choices too much.

Instead, I simply pulled his coat around me again, feeling its warmth as the fire crackled beside us. The night outside grew darker, and the sounds of the forest faded into the distance. For now, all I could do was trust Kieran and wait for tomorrow.