There's nothing more terrifying than a powerful woman smiling sweetly and saying, "Don't worry, I've planned everything."
And that's exactly what the Shadow Queen told me before snapping her fingers and warping reality like it was her personal dating app.
One moment, I was in my sad, ramen-scented apartment.
The next, I stood in the middle of a dazzling, moonlit garden… that was somehow floating on a freaking island in the sky.
The air was crisp and cool, filled with the scent of strange glowing flowers that pulsed faintly with every heartbeat. A massive silver moon hung just above the horizon, too close, too perfect, like someone had set the backdrop to "Ultimate Romantic Date: Final Boss Edition."
And me?
Still wearing cat ears and the remnants of my frilly maid outfit, now accessorized with a jacket she graciously conjured over my shoulders. How thoughtful.
"You said 'normal date'!" I cried out, turning in circles to take in the impossible view.
The Shadow Queen appeared beside me in a flash, wearing a flowing black dress that looked like it was woven from shadows and starlight. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and her crimson eyes sparkled with mischief.
"This is normal—for me."
"Well, for me, a normal date involves street food and awkward small talk, not… defying the laws of physics!"
She took a graceful step forward, barefoot on the floating stone path, and turned to me with a playful smile.
"Consider this… a cultural exchange."
I opened my mouth to argue—but then she extended her hand toward me.
Delicate. Elegant. Dangerous.
The kind of hand you take knowing full well you're stepping off a cliff but doing it anyway.
Against my better judgment, I took it.
The moment our fingers touched, the floating garden shifted beneath us, the sky itself swirling with colors I couldn't even name.
She led me through the impossible landscape like she'd done this a thousand times. And me? I was just trying not to pass out or fall off the edge of existence.
After a short walk (which felt more like being in a fantasy movie montage), we arrived at a stone pavilion set atop a glowing waterfall—yes, a glowing waterfall suspended in the sky.
A small table sat in the center, covered with a midnight-blue cloth and dishes that looked like they belonged in some Michelin-starred restaurant in another dimension.
She gestured for me to sit.
I did, cautiously.
With another snap of her fingers, the table filled with the most visually stunning food I'd ever seen—silver fruits that shimmered, crystal-clear drinks bubbling with tiny stars, and slices of cake that literally glowed.
I blinked. "Is this safe to eat? Or is this going to turn me into a frog or something?"
She let out a soft laugh.
"Mortal appetites are so… fragile. But worry not, I've adjusted everything to your kind's pitiful digestive system."
"Thanks, I guess?" I muttered before picking up a fork and cautiously poking at a slice of glowing cake.
To my surprise… it tasted like chocolate heaven.
Actual, literal perfection.
I groaned involuntarily after the first bite.
"Okay… this is unfair. Why does everything you do have to be so absurdly perfect?"
She rested her chin on her hand, watching me with quiet amusement.
"Because, Liam… perfection is the easiest thing to achieve when you've lived long enough to master everything."
For a few brief moments, it felt… normal.
We talked.
Well, she teased me relentlessly, and I tried not to embarrass myself by choking on starfruit or slurping down the sparkly drink too fast.
I learned she didn't have a favorite color (she claimed colors should fear her, not the other way around), she'd once conquered a kingdom just because she didn't like their fashion sense, and apparently, bubble tea had officially outranked ambrosia on her list of "divine creations."
And me?
I told her about how I once tried to microwave an egg in college and accidentally caused a mini explosion that got me banned from the dorm kitchen for a semester.
She laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered—if she wasn't the terrifying Queen of Shadows, and I wasn't her reluctant, contract-bound "caretaker," could this have been… a real date?
The thought barely formed before she suddenly stood, her expression unreadable.
"It's time for the final part of this date, Liam."
My heart skipped a beat.
"F-Final part? You mean like—wait—what kind of final part are we talking about?"
She stepped closer, her crimson eyes glowing faintly.
"A test."
That didn't sound good.
With a snap of her fingers, the beautiful sky island around us disintegrated into swirling mist. The ground beneath my feet vanished.
I fell—
Straight into darkness.
When I hit the ground, I wasn't dead… but I sure felt like I had landed in a nightmare.
The surroundings had changed completely.
No more romantic scenery.
I was now standing in the middle of what looked like an ancient, crumbling coliseum. Black storm clouds raged overhead, lightning flashing, the air thick with tension.
In front of me stood the Shadow Queen.
But this time…
She wasn't smiling.
She wasn't playful.
She stood tall, regal, terrifying. A dark crown hovered above her head, her gown flowing like living shadows, and in her right hand… a massive, obsidian-bladed scythe materialized from thin air.
"Liam Zhang," she called, her voice echoing through the arena. "If you truly wish to stand by my side… show me you have the will to fight for it."
To be continued…