How To Break Qaq If The Dragon Catches The Wrong Person? Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Shoelaces

“Young Master Mian, have you finished getting ready?”

Outside, the door was knocked three times at a steady pace. Sasha’s polite voice traveled through the thick door, calm and without any hint of urgency.

“Almost,” Mian replied, feeling a little embarrassed. He answered, somewhat clumsily fastening the last button of his jacket, and then prepared to put on his shoes.

The staff at the Royal Palace were highly efficient. Yesterday, several professionals came to take his measurements, and this morning, clothes and shoes of the correct size were already delivered to his room.

However, Mian was still not quite used to human clothing, so he struggled to put them on easily, fighting alone with the complicated zippers and buttons for a long time.

“Understood.” Sasha responded, pausing as if considering for a moment, then added, “Prince Kairis is waiting for you outside.”

Mian was startled by this news. He hurriedly slipped on his shoes, not caring whether he had put them on correctly, and pattered quickly to the door.

Sasha, who was outside, seemed to have eyes inside the room. Before Mian could push the door open, Sasha opened it first.

Mian’s hand was left suspended in mid-air.

He looked up and saw Kairis standing directly opposite his room.

Unlike the heavy armor he wore when traveling yesterday, Kairis was only wearing a set of Prince’s casual attire today. The exquisite formal wear made him appear even more tall, sharp, and exceptionally distinguished.

He was currently listening with his head slightly bowed as a Royal Steward reported something to him, his expression calm. Hearing the movement from the doorway, he instantly looked over.

Mian froze for a moment, then quickly lowered his hand and walked up to him step by step. “I… I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Kairis lowered his gaze, examining the slightly dazed person… the dragon… in front of him.

Perhaps he rushed out too quickly, or perhaps he hadn’t mastered the art of dressing, but Mian’s hair was slightly messy.

But his eyes were very bright.

He stared up at Kairis unblinkingly, looking as if he had something to say, or perhaps he simply hadn’t fully reacted yet.

Kairis paused, then casually smoothed Mian’s hair as if it were an afterthought.

Then his gaze shifted downward, noticing something.

After a moment of silence, he lowered his head and indicated, “You’ve put your shoes on the wrong feet.”

Mian: “?”

He followed Kairis’s gaze to his feet but couldn’t discern any difference between the two shoes he was wearing.

Though, it did feel slightly uncomfortable.

But wearing shoes was not something he was accustomed to—he rarely took Human Form when he was home, and he had never worn shoes before.

So Mian naturally attributed this slight discomfort to his general unfamiliarity with human footwear, assuming that this was just how it felt.

When Kairis pointed it out, he instinctively wanted to bend down to switch the shoes, but Kairis held his arm.

“To the sofa,” Kairis said, not letting go. He led Mian directly to the sofa used for resting in the hallway.

Mian obediently sat down on the soft sofa, took off both shoes one by one, switched their positions, and then put them back on, one by one.

“All done.” Mian stood up and walked a couple of steps with a sigh of relief, swinging the laces. “It really is much more comfortable.”

Kairis: “…”

“Don’t you think yours look different from everyone else’s?” he reminded Mian in a calm tone.

Mian looked at Kairis’s shoes, then at his own, and quickly noticed the discrepancy.

Why were the strings on his shoes so long and messy? They weren’t neat at all…

Unlike Kairis’s, which were neat and attractive.

Mian immediately understood what he meant and sat back down, beginning his struggle with his shoelaces.

He struggled and struggled again.

“…Forget it.” Kairis watched the entire process of the Little Dragon, who seemed to be experiencing humanity for the first time, wrestling with the laces. He rubbed his brow helplessly and walked over to him.

“Sit still,” he said.

Mian straightened up, utterly confused.

The next moment, Kairis crouched down and personally began tying Mian’s shoelaces.

The action was so natural that the surrounding people didn’t react in time.

—And when they did react, everyone was in a silent state of chaos.

Some froze in place, their usual trained composure failing them, the shock in their eyes almost projected onto the wall. Some stared wide-eyed, shifting their feet, instinctively wanting to step forward to assist their esteemed Prince. Some secretly gasped, wanting to say something, but were too stunned to speak.

Sasha was the first to recover.

As one of the most senior royal stewards in the palace, he quickly and discreetly quelled the brief, small commotion, then immediately shifted his gaze elsewhere.

Seeing his attitude, the others finally came to their senses.

Although shocked, they were no longer new to the palace. Seeing Sasha’s reaction, they quickly and honestly stood beside him, looking down and focusing inward, pretending not to have witnessed the scene.

Mian didn’t notice what was happening with the group of people beside him. His eyes were only filled with admiration and praise for Kairis’s shoelace-tying technique.

The long, distinct fingers moved quickly and skillfully through the thin laces. The entire scene was very pleasing to the eye—but the moment was too brief. He hadn’t watched enough, nor had he managed to see exactly what happened.

Kairis finished tying the laces on both shoes in just a few seconds, with a speed that felt like magic.

And they were tied beautifully.

When finished, Kairis straightened up and said to him with a normal expression, “Stand up and walk around.”

Mian snapped out of his daze, stood up as instructed, and walked a couple of steps. His eyes lit up.

It turned out human shoes were quite comfortable to wear!

Although still a little awkward, he should get used to them after a few days.

Happily thanking Kairis, Mian looked left and right at his shoes—and the beautiful laces Kairis had personally tied for him—feeling immensely satisfied.

“Let’s go.” Kairis waited until Mian had looked his fill, then gestured to Sasha and the Royal Stewards waiting nearby.

Everyone recovered and followed.

However, their gazes were still slightly evasive, wanting to look, yet not daring to stare directly at the esteemed shoes that the Prince had personally tied the laces for.

In the Great Hall, the King and Queen were seated on their respective Thrones.

It was past the time for the morning court, so there were no ministers present, making the hall seem somewhat empty.

A moment later, Prince Kairis arrived, slightly late, accompanied by an unfamiliar boy.

The two bowed simultaneously to the King and Queen seated on the Thrones.

After straightening up, Mian’s attention was immediately drawn to the Queen, who was seated beside the King.

The lady on the Throne was graceful and noble, wearing a beautiful red gown with a train that swept the floor. On her head was an exquisite crown studded with precious gems, making her appear even more pricelessly noble.

Kairis’s features bore some resemblance to hers, though hers were softer. It was clear the Queen was very well-maintained; her face was flawless, making it impossible to guess her true age.

But Mian’s attention wasn’t focused there.

His gaze inadvertently fell upon Her Majesty the Queen’s… crown, and he couldn’t look away.

The reason was simple: the rubies adorning it were simply too beautiful.

Every gem on the crown possessed a balanced and intense red color, immediately indicating their immense value. They sparkled and reflected the light, large, bright, and extremely dazzling.

The Dragon Race naturally possesses an innate fascination with all things shiny, and Mian was no exception.

Even though he had plenty of beautiful gems piled up at home, he had never seen stones so meticulously designed and finely cut, making them appear even more exquisite and radiant.

Kairis noticed his gaze and looked down at him.

A moment later, Mian finally came to his senses, realizing his prolonged staring might be inappropriate, and quickly withdrew his gaze.

The Queen’s eyes, however, brightened.

She scrutinized Mian for a while, then couldn’t resist turning to her husband and whispering, “Your Majesty, this Little Dragon is truly beautiful.”

This was the first time she had ever seen a member of the Dragon Race.

The King gently patted his wife’s hand, which was resting on his sleeve, and reminded her in a low voice, “Alright, be mindful.”

Hearing this, the Queen realized her slight lapse in decorum. She cleared her throat and sat up straight.

“You must be the child from the Dragon Race. What is your name?” the King asked first, his voice carrying the inherent authority of a monarch, an imposing presence that couldn’t be entirely suppressed even when deliberately softened.

Mian was a little nervous. Hearing the question, he quickly replied, “Hello, Your Majesty. My name is Mian.”

The King acknowledged him, glanced at his son standing beside him, and then withdrew his gaze. His voice remained serious, though he paused almost imperceptibly. “You can… stay in the Palace for now. Tell the servants if you need anything.”

This child looked obedient and endearing, and the King felt a little bad that his own son had deceived him this way.

But thinking of Fes’s recent actions, his mind grew heavy.

He would apologize to the Dragon Race later.

He thought.

Mian didn’t notice the King’s complex internal thoughts. He nodded at the instruction, responding politely and with a hint of happiness, “Yes, thank you.”

He was perfectly embodying the phrase “helping the seller count the money after being sold.”

In contrast, Kairis remained completely composed.

The King shook his head helplessly.

There was a moment of silence. Now that the meeting was over, he rubbed his brow, about to wave his hand to dismiss everyone.

But Kairis suddenly spoke.

“So you came to find me.” He looked at Mian and asked calmly, “What do you need me to do?”

Mian was stunned by this, only realizing after Kairis’s reminder that this was the most important matter.

He hadn’t told Kairis right away!

“I’m here to take you away,” he answered, looking at Kairis with a hint of apology in his eyes.

Kairis was silent for a moment. “And then?”

At this, Mian became a little embarrassed, stammering his reply, “O-of course, you’ll come back and live with me.”

The Great Hall instantly fell into silence.

Mian didn’t notice anything amiss. Seeing Kairis remain silent, he hesitated for a moment, then looked up and asked him very seriously, “When do you plan to leave with me?”