[Azura´s POV]

The whole Duchy has been in chaos. Since I left to hunt for meat, but instead brought back a half-dead Prince of the empire.

“You did well, little one.” Alisud Rubio Neferpitou, my first cousin and the future duke of Quica, was always the sentimental type.

He was the first to praise me before scolding me after doing something this dangerous, but before I could rejoice in my praises to Dune Rubio, my second cousin and Alisud’s little sister. Was already spitting fire,

“Did well? She could have died, you know,” Dune shouted.

They have been quite relaxed. Considering we have a dragon in the layer of ´the dragon’s most hated`, maybe I am feeling uneasy because of the words he said while I carried him to safety.

 “I can smell that wretched smell of the curse. Blood, you people should not exist. I should kill all of you now.”

He had said that had made me fearful that our secret might be out, but I still took him to safety because I am a nice girl with a big heart.

“I sent a messenger to the capital about the prince’s arrival and the state he is in,” the duke explained.

“Did you call your uncle? He might know more about how to oversee this situation than we.”

“He will be here first thing. Tomorrow morning," Alisud explained, “in the meantime, Azura will be put on duty. Taking care of his royal highness.”

“Why me?”

I did not hate taking care of wounded people, but the Crown Prince was a different matter. He kept on insulting humans in his sleep. And it made me feel on edge.

3RD POV (Kaldor)

“Ugh, that horrible stench,” Kaldor said, grumbling. The sight of the silky black hair that came dashing to save him was now much closer to reach.

“Hey, human, wake up.” Her silver eyes looked excited with a hint of hesitation. For someone who had just woken up, she looked very beautiful. In Kaldor’s mind, his mother, the white dragon, was the only woman who could look this beautiful after sleeping.

“You are awake,” she reluctantly said. Says, “My name is Azura. I greet Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, for the life of the

 empire.”

“Who gave you etiquette lessons? It is the light of the empire.” Kaldor grumbles.

“Well, my etiquette teacher is not at fault, your majesty. I meant life because, as the next emperor, you are the hope to keep this empire alive. But I am sorry for not calling you the light like you wanted,” Azura replied with clear dissatisfaction on her face.

“Annoying humans,” Kaldor curses. Under his breath.

“I will be here with a physician. and an adult soon.” Azura bows politely before leaving.

He saw the same silky black hair that had saved his life walking out of the door. He had imagined her face when he saw her jump in front to save him, but his imagination was heavenly. Flawed, her starry gray eyes alone made his face heat up.

“His majesty the Crown Prince, I am Dune Neferpitou. I will be helping to assist you.”

Her scent was not that of a human; It was a combination of both a dragon and a human. It was neither as repulsive as the human scent is nor as welcoming as that of a dragon. She had the same gray eyes as Azura, but in some ways, they were different.

“Are you related to that rude human over there?” he pointed at the clearly irritated Azura.

“Yes, your majesty, she is my cousin.”

“Hmph, you should teach her proper etiquette; she lacks heavily.” The crown prince pouted.

Dune smiled with a knowing look, like she was expecting worse from her than just having bad etiquette.

“I apologize for her terrible actions; I will teach her better.”

“Is there anything your height? Would like, if not, please rest. The wizard who healed your wound told me you need rest.”

“No, that will be all.”

“You can rest for now, my father. Will visit tomorrow to guide you around the north”, Dune explains.

“Why don’t you let that servant guide me?” I pointed at the mischievous troublemaker. She snorts, but I ignore, “She seems to have a lot of time on her hands.”

“I am sorry for your majesty, but I have a lot to learn until I can guide someone as great as his majesty, so I will stick to just saving your helpless self from assassins, little Prince.” I see a glint of mischief in her eyes, clearly not caring if she offends me or not.

“Are you mocking the crown prince? You have some nerve; I am a whole two years older and wiser than you.” Azura seemed to have plenty to say back, but Dune's warning immediately halted her from having the last word.

She pouts angrily, glaring at me as Dune turned to me. She resorted to childish games, shooting me funny faces.

“I apologize to your majesty, I have sinned.” She finally said, but her tone did have a hint of guilt.

I nodded, acknowledging the apology. She bowed before walking away, leaving me with Dune, who was explaining why I could not have her as my escort.