The Legendary Knight: Rise of the Primordial Dragon

Seraphina’s sleepy pink eyes slowly opened, the view of her bedroom gradually coming into focus. A bittersweet, cocoa-like scent filled her nose, her face resting on something soft yet unmistakably firm.

’Wait! Firm?’ Her eyes widened as she looked to her side. Vlad slept beside her in a sitting position similar to hers, his legs spread across the bed and his upper back resting against the headboard. Her face was nestled against his shoulder, while her inner hand rested over his on her thigh.

’Wh-when did I fall asleep?’ she screamed inwardly, the sleep completely vanishing from her eyes. ’What got into me yesterday? I let a man sleep with me on my bed. Where is my dignity? Where is the shame? When did I become so scandalous?’

Her eyes turned upward, meeting Vlad’s peacefully sleeping face. She slowly lifted her index finger and poked his cheek.

"It’s all your fault, Commoner," she whispered in a barely audible tone. "My brain stops functioning whenever I’m with you."

Vlad’s brows twitched slightly from her touch. She instantly withdrew her hand and closed her eyes.

---

"When did my room turn into a palace?" Vlad murmured in a husky voice as he opened his eyes, scanning the grand room in confusion. "W-wait a second!"

He released a low gasp as his gaze shifted to the sleeping figure of Seraphina beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. Now he understood the source of the sweet, rosy scent he had been breathing in.

"How did I let myself doze off here?" He sighed, facepalming with his free hand. His other hand was still resting on Seraphina’s thigh, with her hand placed over his.

Without even realizing it, his gaze lingered on Seraphina’s serene face longer than necessary, taking in her neatly contoured crimson eyebrows, cute little nose, and plump red lips.

’Why is he staring so intently!?’ Seraphina exclaimed inwardly, feeling his gaze even with her eyes closed. ’W-will he try to take advantage of me?’ She barely managed to keep herself from showing any expression. ’N-no, I can’t let him do that! I must stop him.’

She was about to confront him, but unexpectedly, she didn’t move.

’Wait! I cannot accuse him when he hasn’t done anything yet. I shall wait and see how far he will go. Then I will teach him a lesson. Now make your move, Commoner.’

Vlad’s hand slowly moved towards her, his eyes never leaving her face. He grabbed her nose between his thumb and index finger.

’M-my nose?’ Seraphina frowned inwardly. ’Oh, come on. Do something more... so I can beat you,’ she convinced herself.

"Can’t believe this bratty girl could look so beautiful while sleeping," Vlad chuckled, gently pinching her nose.

He carefully lifted her hand from his, slipped his own arm beneath her knees, and grabbed her shoulder with the other as he moved her down onto the bed. He covered her with the blanket up to her neck and whispered, patting her head, "Rest well."

Once he moved away from the bed, a crimson hue spread across her cheeks, reaching all the way to her ears.

’Kyaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!’ she screamed inwardly. ’H-how dare he call me bratty!? I-I must beat him to teach him a lesson. Does he think that saying I’m beautiful will make me let my guard down? I will show him that I am no easy girl!’

Thinking that he must have already left, she jolted upright, reaching a sitting position.

"Does he think that if he is handsome, he can say anything he wants?" she snapped, scratching her head, her hair completely disheveled.

"I guess I will take that as a compliment."

The familiar voice reached Seraphina’s ears, widening her pink eyes. She slowly turned her head and found Vlad sitting on the sofa, a freshly brewed pot of coffee resting on the table before him. He poured the coffee into a cup while looking at her, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

Seraphina was left completely frozen. She could feel her soul leaving her body. She slowly lay down and covered herself with the blanket up to her head.

’I have never been more embarrassed in my life before!’ she cried inwardly, repeatedly hitting the pillow as she turned onto her stomach.

"Why are you still here?" she demanded in a sharp tone from under the blanket.

"It’s already eight in the morning," Vlad’s voice came from surprisingly close, just beside the bed. "I will definitely be caught if I leave now."

"Then what should we do?" Seraphina asked.

"For starters, have some coffee. My hand is getting tired."

"P-place it on the table," she replied, slightly moving the blanket down until her eyes were visible. "I am not in a state to show myself."

She found him standing beside the bed, holding a tray with a coffee cup on it, steam rising from the drink.

"You look perfectly fine to me, though," he chuckled with a warm smile. "Drink it before it gets cold."

She slowly rose, moving her hands over her head to fix her disheveled hair, though it was a futile attempt, and took the tray from his hand.

She placed it on the bedside table and said, "I haven’t brushed yet."

"You are surprisingly hygienic," Vlad remarked, raising an eyebrow in intrigue. "I heard most nobles prefer bed coffee."

"I can’t put a thing inside my mouth before brushing," she scoffed, moving her legs down to the edge of the bed as she prepared to rise.

"Wait," Vlad said.

He moved to the other side of the bed, picked up her bunny-faced clogs, and placed them on the floor below her feet.

"The floor is cold."

"Th-thank you," Seraphina whispered as she slipped her feet into the clogs. Taking quick steps, she bolted towards the bathroom.

She had only opened the door when Vlad asked, "Sera, may I use your bathroom after you?"

"You could have just used it without asking, idiot," she declared as she closed the door behind her.

"Th-that idiot keeps messing with my heart," Seraphina whimpered, placing her palm against her chest as she leaned against the door.

She came out after ten minutes, her disheveled hair tied into a heavy bun. Vlad was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone, his cup of coffee sitting untouched before him.

"You may use it," she murmured, moving towards the bedside table where her cup was placed. For some reason, the sound of her heartbeat was louder than her footsteps.

Vlad nodded and went into the bathroom. The moment he opened the door, he was struck by a strong floral fragrance coming from inside.

"O-oh God, did she break a perfume bottle in here?" Vlad gasped as he closed the door behind him, shaking his head.

"I-I hope it doesn’t smell in the bathroom," Seraphina muttered, her eyebrows raised in restlessness. "Just in case, I emptied my air freshener before coming out."