There are moments in every man's life where he must decide between fight or flight.
Standing there, in a frilly pink maid outfit, cat ears drooping in defeat, and the literal Queen of Shadows telling me I was a potential candidate for her consort, I knew exactly which choice was the correct one.
Flight. Full. Freaking. Speed. Flight.
"W-Well! Would you look at the time?" I stammered, inching backward toward the door that had somehow become a black swirling void. "I should really check on my—uh—laundry! Yep! Super important human business, can't leave my socks unattended, you know how it is!"
The Shadow Queen took one slow, graceful step toward me.
The void behind me snapped shut.
"Leaving so soon, Caretaker?" she purred, her voice soft, dangerous—like a lioness playing with her prey before going for the throat.
I threw up both hands in panic. "Listen! I'm flattered, really! But I'm just a broke, ramen-loving, emotionally unavailable guy with a tendency to cry during sad anime episodes! I'm not qualified for this—this—whatever this is!"
Veylor laughed so hard the floor shook. "Oh, this human amuses me! No courage, but all the spirit of a cornered beast."
Lady Eira crossed her arms, her icy gaze practically drilling holes through my soul. "Are we really entertaining the idea that this pathetic mortal could stand beside the Queen?"
I raised my hand meekly. "I fully support that opinion, by the way."
The Shadow Queen closed the distance between us with alarming speed, her bare feet silent against the floor. She stood so close, I could feel the warmth of her body and the faint, intoxicating scent of lavender and danger.
"Liam…" she whispered, her fingers gently tilting my chin upward.
My heart did a full somersault.
"This isn't about qualifications," she murmured, her crimson eyes locking onto mine. "It's about whether you can survive me."
I swallowed hard. "Pretty sure my survival chances are at negative two right now…"
Suddenly, her hand dropped from my chin, and she turned away, her long golden hair flowing like liquid light.
"Fine," she said, her voice cool again. "Run if you wish. But know this—once you leave that door, there is no coming back. You'll live a normal, painfully boring human life. Alone. Unremarkable. Forgotten."
She glanced back over her shoulder.
"Or… you stay. And take a chance at something extraordinary."
The air seemed to still, the weight of that choice pressing down on my chest like a mountain.
Me. A broke nobody with bad luck and unpaid bills. Stand beside a literal goddess of shadows?
It was insane.
Unthinkable.
Utterly impossible.
And yet…
Some small, stupid, rebellious part of me whispered:
Why not?
I clenched my fists, feeling the tiny bell on my maid outfit jingle pathetically.
This was it. My final stand.
"…Fine." I exhaled shakily. "But I have conditions!"
The Shadow Queen turned fully toward me, one delicate eyebrow arched.
"Oh?"
"First," I said, holding up a trembling finger, "No more frilly outfits. My pride is hanging by a thread here!"
A soft, amused smile tugged at her lips. "We'll see."
"Second! I want an actual bed. Not the half-deflated air mattress I've been suffering on since you moved in."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Granted."
"And third!" I swallowed hard, my face burning. "If I'm really a candidate for this 'consort' thing… at least take me out on a normal date first! Like normal people!"
The room went dead silent.
Veylor choked on his drink.
Lady Eira's mouth actually fell open.
The chibi demon fainted.
And the Shadow Queen?
She stared at me… then did something no one expected.
She laughed.
Not a cold, mocking laugh—but a genuine, melodic, almost… happy laugh.
"Very well, Liam Zhang," she said, walking toward me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Prepare yourself, then. You've just officially agreed… to a date with the Queen of Shadows."
My knees wobbled. "W-Wait! I wasn't serious—!"
Too late.
The Shadow Queen snapped her fingers, and the room around us shifted again.
New surroundings. New chaos.
And apparently…
My first date with the Shadow Queen had already begun.
To be continued…