Iliakos

______Louis was wandering the Amethyst Kingdom's halls, on the hunt for decorating inspiration, when he happened to peek into the library. His attention was instantly caught by the warm-hued imperial that was settled by a window, reading. Instantly smitten, Louis adjusted his clothes fastidiously before approaching.
Iliakos glanced up as the other approached, surveying him briefly before returning his gaze to the scroll in front of him. Undeterred, Louis seated himself by the window.
______"Why hello there--"
______"Can I help you?"
______Slightly taken aback, Louis began again. "I was just passing by, but I couldn't happen to notice one as regal, and dare I say beau--"
______"If you don't have anything important to say, I am quite busy."
______"Uh, okay then... but if you ever--"
______"That will be all." The dismissal was obvious, and Louis sulked away. At least he had been inspired to redecorate the library at home.

(I can see Erekk venturing to trade some precious trinkets and geological finds, only to be cute and absentmindedly flirt with a prince! xD Hope you don't mind that I briefly include the butlers.)


______The regal imperial scuffed through some sort of a commotion just beyond the lair. The Royal Family's servants were holding against an outsider dragon, and they reluctantly kept him in the entryway, tiring of his excuses.

______"Oh, make way, make way. What is the problem here?" The imperial prince grumbled, looking over at the strange pearlcatcher who was at the center of all the noise. "Would you mind moving out of the way? How is anyone supposed to come in and out?"
"He's not to be allowed in as I understand." Spoke one elegantly dressed skydancer. "He is a trespasser and came unannounced. He is to be interrogated before we allow him any further."

______"Tuh!" scoffed the other butler, a well-dressed mirror. "And a fire dragon, no doubt scraping the lands for irons and other filthy sooty things. Heh, he looks as if he is made up of them. Oh, worth a fortune, in polished gravel." She chuckled, making fun of the pearlcatcher.

______Despite all the prodding snaps and questioning and jeering insults, the pearlcatcher seemed rather composed, but really, he was irritated. He sighed, trying to explain. "It took me a very long time to journey here. Forgive my feet's tragic error, I seem to have shaken a hive. But I'm willing to face sting and jaws if it means a decent trade."

______"No trade will be made without proper permissions, sir." Spoke the skydancer.
"Who even speaks like that?" laughed the mirror butler. "So melodramatic! He's obviously a complete charlatan. No, wait, charlatans are infamously charming. Whatever he is, we shall usher him out for you my prince."

______The imperial was intrigued by the pearlcatcher, and a little curious as to his business there. An inferior traveler such as he was either stupid or brave, and fire dragons were known for both qualities. He held up a claw. "I'll interrogate him. There's no need to be hasty about sending him out."
The pearlcatcher frowned. "I've almost had enough of interrogations today." He gripped his pearl and folded his arms around it. "My 'demands' are inconsequentially minor. I'm sure any member of royalty could meet them."

______"I don't trust him my prince." The mirror butler whispered to the imperial. "He looks like a thief."
"I'll be the judge of that Isabella. Away with you both." The imperial commanded. The butlers obeyed, though watched closely from afar, chattering their suspicions with one another.

______"Let's hear your 'demands' traveler." The regal imperial spoke.
"First, an introduction." the pearlcatcher returned, standing before him. "My name is Erekk. I'm a noble from the ashfall wastes." He tipped his hat brim and whisked his tail around himself properly. "Despite appearances, I got enough crammed in my skullcase to know when I'm outclassed. Am I to assume you are a prince?"

______"Yes. I am." The imperial blinked back, bluntly speaking. "And you will speak to me as such."
______"You'll pardon my impetuousness, but no." Erekk replied. The imperial prince was taken by surprise. He gasped with a slightly angry astonishment. "'No'?"
Erekk shook his head, with a handsome smirk.
______"Well! It seems you're a fool then." The imperial sneered back. "You realize you are speaking to one who could have you executed you on the spot, don't you?"

______"I do." Erekk smiled.
______"Do you have a death-wish, Erekk?"
______"I do," He kept his smile standing ground unflinching. "actually."
______"Oh, but I thought you had some business here?" The royal imperial scoffed, flicking his tail with him as he circled the pearlcatcher.
______"With you, undoubtedly." Erekk sighed, now showing impatience. "Your name you haven't yet sung to me, highness."
______"Not that you could even roll it out your jaws, traveler." Scoffed the prince.
______"Try me." Erekk challenged, stroking his pearl he held.

______The imperial seemed a little flustered that this pearlcatcher was so bold. The audacity and gall was riveting, and almost admirable. He huffed with a superior look. "I am Iliakos, feared, revered and gifted prince of my home. That is all you need to know of me."
______Erekk smiled at his gaudy stature and self-important look. He tilted his head in a half-bow. "Indeed it is."
______Iliakos let a grumble quietly escape his throat. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

______Erekk couldn't keep from a light chuckle, but quickly sighed out his confession. "You'll forgive my amusement. There is nothing amusing about you highness."
______"That's right!" Iliakos huffed, blinking in realization before frowning. "You think you are being cute?"
______Erekk smiled widely, unpacking something from one of his satchels. "Cute? Why, your majesty, I'm flattered you think me befitting of such a description. Truly."

______Iliakos was suddenly seething with embarrassment and vexation. The nerve! He grit his jaws, but hid his gulp. "You-! You- insolent-!"
______"If it pleases you to know, prince Iliakos," Erekk smiled, looking meek but in control at the same time. "the wrath that has met me from the lash of tongue and claw has been far worse than your own could be. You remind me of some of the royals in my own clan. Of course, many of them are princesses in similarity."

______Iliakos was nearly seeing red. "Princess-?!"
______"My own father delights in punishing me simply for being related to royalty, let alone looking his way." Erekk scoffed, pulling out some rare baubles and jewels from his satchel and setting them down before the imperial. "Well, it does please me you are punished for-" Iliakos stopped, looking at the pearlcatcher and then at the shining rare jewelry he pulled out, then back again. "D-id you say, 'related to royalty'?"
Erekk carefully laid out a very catching piece of rare pale gold necklaces and rings, dusting them off. "Yep."

______"So...you are a prince?" Iliakos raised a brow at him, in disbelief.
______"My brother is." Erekk smirked. "Well, half-brother. I'm just a noble dragon trying to make a decent trade where I can." He set out the last pieces of artifacts and rare jewels before Iliakos, taking a seat comfortably. He saw the prince's eyes were drawn to all the glimmering, delicate, golden, shining pieces, and picked up a thick, talon ring in his claws turning it over to him. "Interested?"

______Prince Iliakos was not sure if the pearlcatcher was referring to himself, or the jewelry. He shook his head, of course the jewelry! Still he scoffed to hide his flustering embarrassment, chuckling and facing Erekk. "You come here, uninvited, behave so discourteously, insult my authority, only to offer me jewels and trinkets?~"
______Erekk smiled back and nodded his hat down with a bow. "Well, it's all in a day's work. I assume a royal as decorated as you is interested then."

______Iliakos spoke lower, in a confessed hush. "I want the entirety of this collection!~ I'm not just interested, I need to have these!"
______"Well," Erekk flashed a smile, giving him a nod. "Say no more Prince Iliakos. Let's trade.~"