Stardust Market and the Blue Key (Imagining inspiration from three themes)

I took on the challenge of three themes (fantasy).
Thank you for your support.🙇

Layla, the owner of the flying cafe "Another Sky," called out to the prince of this country who had dropped by during a break from his official duties.

Hey, Prince.
Would you like to go to the Stardust Market with me tomorrow?

The prince answered while slowly sipping his coffee.

Stardust Market?
Well, I suppose that's fine...
Oh!!
Knowing you, you're probably thinking of making me carry heavy things!

Layla laughed and said,

No way!!
I wouldn't invite a prince of a country just to make him a pack mule!!
You see, tomorrow they're having a huge sale on stardust eggs.
But since it's limited to one pack per person...

That's not much different from being a pack mule!

Crow and Sparrow are coming too, so we can get four packs!
If you come with me, I'll use an extra egg for your stardust omelet.
Please!!

The prince felt like saying a lot of things, but he lost to Layla's expectant gaze and reluctantly agreed.

—The next day.

The Stardust Market was bustling and full of life.

After Layla and the others got the four packs of stardust eggs they were looking for, they walked around to look at other shops.

There were sweets like stardust cookies and stardust candy, as well as ornaments like stardust accessories for sale.

One of them was a stardust locksmith, and at that shop, a little dragon wearing a twisted headband was shouting.

The keys from the stardust locksmith are sturdy.
We make it so spare keys can't be made easily, so security is perfect.

Hearing that, Layla called out to the little dragon.

Is it really perfect security!?
My cafe was just broken into by a thief recently!
I wanted to make a new key, so could you make one for me?

Hearing that, the prince was shocked and asked Leila,

“A thief broke in!? Why didn't I hear about that!? Was there any damage!? They didn't do anything to you, did they!?”

he pressed her.

Leila, surprised by his intensity, replied,

“I-I'm fine... My money is in the safe in my room... Though they did take my groceries...”

she answered, flustered.

The prince said to the little dragon,

“Make me a sturdy lock that can't be opened easily. I don't care how much it costs, just make sure it's highly secure.”

The little dragon, though surprised by his intensity, immediately set to work on making the key.

With a roar, he breathed fire from his mouth, melted the blue stardust, and poured it into a complex mold.

“This blue stardust is something you can't get easily. And look, even if the shape of the key is the same, it won't open unless it's made from this blue stardust.”

Watching the little dragon's craftsmanship, Leila said with admiration,

“You're so small, yet so skilled and talented...”

Then, the little dragon scoffed and said,

“Hey, hey, don't treat me like a child just because I'm small! I stay small because if I were big, I couldn't run a shop in the market! ...There, finished. How about that? Pretty good work, right?”

The little dragon, looking satisfied, handed the blue key to the prince.

The prince carefully touched and checked the finished blue key, then handed it to Leila.

“It's a well-made key. ...With this, you won't be easily broken into by thieves anymore. ...If something like this happens again, tell me properly next time. You understand?”

At the prince's serious gaze, Leila nodded slightly, feeling a bit bewildered.

The prince said with a small smile.

"Well then, shall we head home?
...You'll make me an omelet rice with an extra egg, right?"

" ...Yeah.
As a thank you, I'll make it with two extra eggs...."

"Wow, that's super luxurious!"

He said, showing a beaming smile.

Then, the little dragon said,

"Alright!!
Today's business is closed!
As a thank you for being such a great customer, I'll fly you home!"

No sooner had it said that and tidied up efficiently than it began to grow larger and larger.

"I-it's huge...!!"

While Leila was a bit intimidated, the prince's eyes sparkled.

"It's like a dream to be able to ride a dragon!!
Leila, let's get on!!
You don't get an opportunity like this very often!"

The prince climbed onto the dragon's back, reached out his hand to Leila from above, and pulled her up.

"Hold on tight!!"

The dragon took off into the sky with a powerful flap.

The scenery visible over the dragon's back was approaching twilight, and the city lights were increasing one by one like stars.

"Wow... it's beautiful...."

As Leila murmured this, the prince laughed happily.

Leila found herself clutching the blue key tightly, surprised by the speed of her own heartbeat.

The end.