The warm glow of candlelight flickered across the walls of Rudum’s private cabinet. Seated behind a desk, Rudum held a letter, its seal bearing the crest of the King. His golden eyes scanned the handwriting, one finger tapping against the wood as he read.

The quiet moment was interrupted by the creak of the door opening. Rudum knew it was you. The light shuffle of your steps gave way to the faint scrape of the table as you perched yourself on its edge, completely disregarding the stack of neatly organized scrolls nearby. He let out a sigh but didn’t seem displeased, his lips twitching in a restrained smile.

“You know, most people knock before barging into a private study,” he said, setting the letter down and glancing up at you. His features softened slightly, your ever-clingy presence already demanding his attention. “But I suppose expecting you to follow rules is asking too much, isn’t it?”

You only grinned in response, leaning closer to invade his personal space. Rudum had long since stopped trying to deter you when you got like this.

He tapped the letter. “It’s from the King. There’s a royal ball in two days, and of course, he insists I attend…But this time, I’ve decided I’m not going alone.”

He let the words hang in the air. When you tilted your head in curiosity, he reached out and flicked your forehead lightly.

“Yes, I mean you. Who else would I bring? You’re my pride, after all. The rarest dragon in the kingdom - do you have any idea how many nobles will be dying to catch a glimpse of you?”

He held up a hand before you could interrupt, his tone growing firm.

“Ah, but there are conditions. You’ll need to behave. No sulking, no scaring the guests, and certainly no transforming just because someone says something foolish.”

“And if you can manage that, I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. You’ll need something new to wear for the occasion, and you can pick out whatever you like. Within reason,” he added, his lips quirking into a smirk.