Romance With My Dragon Prince

In A Different World

STELLA

I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the sky—clear and blue, peeking through the gaps between the leaves of tall, unfamiliar trees. The air was fresh, carrying a faint earthy scent. A gentle breeze brushed against my skin, but my body felt weak.

I blinked a few times, trying to understand what was happening. My heart pounded as I remembered the explosion. The heat, the deafening sound, the fear—it was all real. But how was I alive? Where was I?

I tried to sit up, my limbs aching, my head spinning slightly. As I steadied myself with both hands on the rough forest ground, my eyes fell on Kieran. He lay beside me, motionless. His face was pale, his breathing faint but steady.

My throat was dry, and when I spoke, my voice came out hoarse. "Kieran…" I swallowed and tried again. "Kieran, wake up…"

Dragging myself closer, my fingers trembled as I reached out. I placed a weak hand on his arm and patted him gently. "Kieran, please wake up…"

But he didn’t move.

My body felt heavier with every breath. I tried to fight the dizziness creeping up on me, but my strength was fading fast.

My eyelids drooped as exhaustion took over.

My last thought before slipping into unconsciousness was fear.

We were in an unfamiliar forest, surrounded by unknown dangers. What if wild animals appeared? What if no one found us?

The world faded into darkness once more.

**********

Consciousness returned slowly. My body felt heavy, but I sensed warmth nearby, comforting against the lingering weakness in my limbs. Beneath me, a soft fabric cushioned the rough ground, and as I shifted slightly, I realized it was Kieran’s jacket.

The faint crackling of a fire reached my ears. The orange glow of the flames flickered gently against the rocky walls, casting long shadows in the dimly lit cave. The warmth of the bonfire soothed me, making me feel safer in the unfamiliar environment.

I took a slow breath, steadying myself, and pushed myself up. My strength had returned slightly, though my legs still felt a little weak. Taking careful steps, I walked toward the cave entrance.

Outside, the sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, the sun slowly dipping below the horizon. The sight was breathtaking, and for a brief moment, I forgot everything—where I was, how I had gotten there.

Then my eyes fell on Kieran. He stood at the edge of the cave, staring at the sunset. His posture was relaxed, yet there was something distant about the way he watched the fading light.

As if sensing my presence, he turned around. His gaze softened when he saw me awake.

"You’re up," he said, his voice calm yet carrying an undertone of concern. "How do you feel?"

I nodded slightly. "A little weak, but I’m fine." I hesitated before asking, "Where are we?"

Kieran was silent for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "What I’m about to tell you might sound unbelievable," he said, watching me closely. "But I need you to take it slow. I’ll explain everything, and you can ask anything once you're ready."

A strange unease settled in my chest. I sat down, and Kieran followed, sitting across from me. His expression was serious.

"This place… it isn’t your world," he said. "We were transported to another world—a world with magic, creatures that exist only in fantasy in your world. And… I am one of them, a dragon."

Before I could react, Kieran’s body shifted. Dark, leathery wings emerged from his back, his pupils changed to a striking gold, and a long dragon tail curled behind him.

My breath caught in my throat. My body moved before I could think—I jumped up, stumbling backward, putting distance between us.

Kieran didn’t seem surprised by my reaction. He simply remained where he was, waiting for me to process everything.

"As we were about to die in the explosion," he continued, his voice steady, "a magic mechanism within me—one my parents placed for emergencies—was activated. That’s how we ended up here."

My heartbeat was loud in my ears. None of this made sense. How could Kieran be…? How could any of this be real?

"I promise I’ll take care of you," he said gently. "Until we find a way to return you home."

My mind spun with questions, but one slipped out first. "You’re not coming back with me?"

Kieran hesitated. Just for a second, but I noticed it. Then he said, "This is my world. I have duties here."

There was something in his tone that seemed odd, but since Kieran didn't eloborate his intention, I didn't ask anything.

I wanted to ask if this is the end of our relationship, but I didn't have the courage to face the answer to this question, so I planned to let the time decide the path of our relationship.

I looked at the sunet behind Kieran quietly with questions filling my mind and having no courage to spill them out.

All of a sudden, Kieran extended his hand toward me, palm up. "Do you trust me?"

His question brought me out of daze, to her reality.

I stared at his hand. My thoughts were a mess, but deep down, I knew my answer. I stepped forward slowly, then placed my hand on his.

"If I didn’t trust you," I said softly, "I wouldn’t have accepted your proposal in the first place."

A small smile tugged at Kieran’s lips.

"But…" I hesitated, worry creeping into my voice. "How will I tell my parents that I’m okay?"

Kieran sighed. "Normally, no one from your world is supposed to know about this one. But my uncle—he’s also from this world—will make an exception. He’ll inform your parents so they won’t worry."

Relief washed over me, easing some of the fear in my heart. I believed his words. I believed that he had a way to communicate with his uncle.

Even if everything felt uncertain, I didn't have any other choice, but to believe him, believe my intuition that he is not a bad guy. I had no other choice but to believe that he is not lying about informing my parents about my well being.

He didn't tell me how he communicated with his uncle and if it is possible for me to communicate with my parents, but since he didn't bring that topic, I planned to not dwell on this. I convinced myeslf that there is nothing good for him by lying to me.

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?" My voice was quieter than usual, still laced with uncertainty.

Kieran gave a small nod, his golden eyes watching me closely. "That’s what I was expecting," he said, his voice calm. "As I told you, I’ll answer as long as I can. But there are some things I can’t reveal—things that involve secrets I’m not allowed to share."

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I decided to start with something simple.

"What exactly is this place?"

Kieran glanced toward the sky, as if gathering his own thoughts, then looked back at me. "This is a world different from yours," he said. "It’s a place where magic exists in its purest form. There are different kinds of beings here—dragons, elves, beastfolk, and others that your world would consider myths. The land is divided into different territories, each ruled by its own leaders. Right now, we’re in a neutral area, away from the major kingdoms."

I absorbed his words carefully. A world of magic. It felt impossible, yet here I was, in a fastasy themed world, with my dragon boyfriend.

"Then… what about you?" I asked. "You said you’re a dragon. Does that mean you can turn into a full dragon?"

Kieran smirked slightly, as if amused by the question. "Yes," he said. "But it’s not something I do often. My human form is more convenient for daily life. My full dragon form… well, it takes up a lot of space, and it’s not exactly subtle."

I blinked. "So you’re saying that if you wanted to, you could turn into a giant dragon right now?"

Kieran let out a short chuckle. "Not in this cave, unless you want the entire place to collapse on us."

Despite everything, I found myself smiling slightly. The casual way he spoke about something so unbelievable made it feel strangely normal.

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?"