It wasn't obvious at first, but when Liam finally handed the gift to the baby dragon, the cover alone stole Orien's breath.
For a second, silence blanketed the room.
Riley froze, horrified.
Had he picked the wrong thing? Even Liam blinked in surprise when Orien recoiled from the box as though it burned.
Was it too strange? Too boring? Too… human? Did he overestimate the interests he had noted down?
To break the awkwardness, Riley rubbed the back of his neck and let out a sheepish laugh. "Happy birthday, Lord Orien!" he said brightly, the cheer in his voice sounding just a little too forced.
And then it happened.
At the very forefront of the gathering, the baby dragon trembled.
His eyes glistened. And without warning, the tears he had been stubbornly holding back spilled free, trailing down his cheeks like rivers.
"!!!"
Panic instantly erupted. No one expected this reaction. Was the gift cursed? Poisoned? Did it offend him?
