IN LOVE WITH THE BLACK DRAGON

CHAPTER 5: MENTALLY UNSTABLE

"I want to sleep,so if you need me,just wake me up"Draco said as he laid on the crown Prince of the largest and greatest kingdom's bed.

Esmerald sighed

-----TWO HOURS LATER ----

Prince Esmerald, dressed in a simple tunic and leggings, stood in front of the ornate mirror in his bedchamber, adjusting his humble cloak and wide-brimmed hat.

Satisfied with his disguise,he checked if draco is awake and was satisfied to see him asleep before he made his way to a seemingly ordinary bookshelf in the corner of his room. However, with a subtle press of a hidden mechanism, the bookshelf swung open, revealing a narrow secret door.

The prince slipped through the doorway, finding himself in a dimly lit passageway. He paused for a moment, listening to ensure that no one had followed him. Satisfied that he was alone, he continued down the passageway, the secret door creaking shut behind him.

Unbeknownst to the prince, a pair of piercing eyes had been watching him from the shadows.The figure had seen the prince in his disguise, and had watched as he revealed the secret door, and had observed as he slipped away into the passageway.

The figure's gaze lingered on the secret door, their eyes burning with an intensity that seemed to hint at secrets and dangers yet to come. The figure followed the prince.

Prince Esmerald left the tunnel behind and slipped into a narrow alleyway.

"Wow"A voice said behind him.

Prince Esmerald froze in place as he heard the voice.

"No,I must be imagining it"He said as he slapped his head.

A figure emerged before him,prince Esmerald slowly raised his head and his gaze met with a green one."Draco"He said as he made a sad and disappointment face

"I was wondering where you were going to,so I followed you".

"This is bad"he muttered "But you were asleep"

"Yeah I was but my ear caught something and I saw you entering the tunnel"

"s**t"He cussed.

"Let's go"Draco said as he led the way.

"Hey hey hey"Esmerald called as he followed him

"How did you know where to go?"He asked as draco led them into the market.

"I told you,I was a friend of Zarin and I lived in this kingdom before"He said and his face turned sour.

"Let's go to the kapeleion"Esmerald said as he led the way.

(The kapeleion, a humble tavern where travelers and locals alike gathered to share tales and enjoy a cup of fine wine.)

"it hasn't changed one bit"Draco said as they made their way through the crowded marketplace, their senses overwhelmed by the cacophony of sounds, sights, and aromas that filled the air. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted from the nearby bakery, enticing passersby with its savory aroma. The sound of merchants calling out their daily specials and the clanging of hammer on anvil from the blacksmith's shop created a lively atmosphere that was both chaotic and charming.

As they navigated through the throngs of people, a captivating aroma wafted into Draco's nostrils, momentarily distracting him from their journey. The scent was sweet and alluring, reminiscent of fresh flowers and warm honey.

Esmerald, oblivious to the enticing smell, continued walking, but Draco's attention was drawn away, his curiosity piqued. Without a word, Draco veered off course, following the enticing aroma as it led him through the winding streets of the city. Esmerald, realizing draco was no longer by his side, turned back to search for him, but Draco had already disappeared into the crowd,He became worried and looked for him.

As Draco turned a corner, he spotted a young girl wearing a bright yellow dress, the source of the alluring aroma. She was arranging her goods with precision, attending to a customer.The girl's dark hair was tied back in a neat braid, and her bright smile illuminated the surrounding area. Her laughter was like music to Draco's ears.

Draco approached her, his eyes fixed on her, and stood beside her, mesmerized. The girl, sensing his presence, turned to face him, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Draco, however, did not seem to notice the girl's gaze, his attention focused solely on her face. He was entranced by her beauty, his mind unable to process anything else.

Kyros who had been chatting with her just moments before, noticed Draco's unnerving gaze and his face darkened with anger. He took a step forward, his eyes flashing with a protective fury.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. "Can't you see you're making her uncomfortable?"

Draco, however, seemed oblivious to the his(kyros) words, his gaze remaining fixed on the girl with an unnerving intensity. He didn't flinch, didn't blink, didn't even seem to be breathing. It was as though he had been turned to stone, his eyes frozen on the girl's face.

Kyros stepped forward, his fists clenched, ready to defend his friend. The crowd, fueled by indignation and a desire to protect the girl, began to close in on Draco.

The atmosphere was charged with tension, the air thick with hostility. It seemed as though the situation could escalate into violence at any moment.

The girl, sensing the escalating tension, began to feel a creeping sense of fear. She tried to step back, to create some distance between herself and Draco, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot.

She was trapped, unable to move or look away, as Draco's gaze continued to bore into her very soul. As the crowd's anger and hostility towards Draco continued to escalate, their faces twisted with rage and disgust. They jeered and catcalled, their voices growing louder and more menacing by the second.

"You p*****t!" someone shouted. "Get out of here before we teach you a lesson!"

The crowd began to close in on Draco, their fists clenched and their eyes blazing with anger. Draco, didn't care because if the crowd touch him,he would burn them.

That was when Esmerald saw them and quickly inserted himself between the crowd and Draco. He raised his hands, pleading with the crowd to listen to him.

"Wait, please don't jump to conclusions!" Esmerald exclaimed, his voice loud and clear. "Draco isn't a p*****t, I assure you. He doesn't mean to look at the girl like that."

But the crowd was unforgiving, their minds already made up. They continued to jeer and catcall, refusing to listen to Esmerald's words.

Undeterred, Esmerald tried a different tactic. He looked around at the crowd, his eyes locking onto theirs.

"Listen, I'll tell you the truth about Draco," Esmerald said, his voice clear and confident. "He's not entirely... stable. Mentally, I mean. He's got some issues, and sometimes he doesn't realize how his behavior affects others."

"Ohhhhh"

The crowd's demeanor changed instantly. Their faces, once twisted with anger and disgust, now showed concern and understanding. They nodded sympathetically, murmuring among themselves.

"Poor guy," someone said. "He can't help it, can he?"

Esmerald nodded, relieved that the crowd was finally beginning to see reason.

"No, he can't," Esmerald said. "And that's why we need to be understanding and compassionate. We can't just judge him based on one incident."

The crowd nodded in agreement, their anger and hostility dissipating. They began to disperse, murmuring among themselves and casting sympathetic glances at Draco.

As the crowd dispersed, Esmerald turned to Draco, who has snapped out of his trance.

"We are very sorry ma'am"Esmerald bowed to Lilac.

"Make sure to take care of your friend,we don't want a mad man on the loose"Kyros said sarcastically.

Draco's eyes glowed out of anger .

"Yes sir,we are so sorry"Esmerald bowed.

"Let's get out of here," Esmerald said, his voice firm but controlled.

Draco nodded and eyed kyros."You will pay"He said in his mind.

Esmerald took him by the arm, leading him away from the scene.

As they walked, Esmerald couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had saved Draco from the crowd's wrath, and he had done it without resorting to violence or intimidation.

But as he looked at Draco, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disdain. He had never really liked Draco, with his awkward behavior and his strange, intense gaze. And now, he had to lie to protect him.

"Why did you do that?"Esmerald asked.

Draco sighed "This is the first time in my three thousand and five years of living that I lost control of myself"

Esmerald furrowed his brows"So,you don't know the reason you acted like that?"

"I don't"He replied "Why did you tell them that?" Draco asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Tell them what?"

"That I am not mentally stable"

Esmerald's expression turned cold. "I told them the truth," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're mentally unstable. Congratulations, you're officially a freak."

"If I hadn't said that, you would have been dragged to the palace and banished from this kingdom," Esmerald said, a hint of regret in his voice. "Actually, that's not a bad idea... you would have been banished and I would have been rid of you."

Draco's eyes widened and gasped."Can't believe you still wanna get rid of me" he pouted as he followed him(Esmerald.

----------

Kyros turned to her, his face etched with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with worry. She nodded, still trying to process what had just happened.

"So you know the man?"Kyros asked.

"Nope"she answered

"Must be a psychopath like the other man said".

"Yeah"

"Let's go home "Kyros said as he looked at the empty basket.

Lilac nodded and carried the basket.