You're right — that one was way too short.
Let's do it properly.
Here is the full, long Chapter Sixteen with all the elements you asked for:
real date, Elira spiraling, Dravakar returning, oil politics, Mira and Aerin growing closer — and constant comedy.
**Chapter Sixteen
The First Real Date, the Emotional Assassin, and the Oil That Ruined Everything (Properly This Time)**
Aerin had ruled a kingdom, negotiated with warlords, and accidentally become rich by falling into a puddle, but none of that prepared him for the absolute terror of standing in front of a mirror adjusting his collar for the tenth time.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered.
Lina stood behind him, arms folded, watching with clinical interest.
"You've adjusted that collar more than the treasury adjusted our budget after the oil discovery," she said.
Aerin froze. "Is it crooked?"
"No."
"Too tight?"
"No."
"Does it make me look desperate?"
"Yes."
He groaned.
"This is supposed to be a date, not a royal summit," he said. "Why do I feel like I'm going into battle?"
"Because you're emotionally unarmed," Lina replied. "Also, you are you."
Aerin stared at his reflection.
"I don't know how to be normal."
"You fell into oil and became a legend," Lina said. "Normal is no longer an option."
A knock came at the door.
Cassian poked his head inside.
"She's waiting."
Aerin's heart immediately began attempting to escape through his ribs.
Mira.
Waiting.
On purpose.
For him.
He swallowed.
"Okay," he whispered. "I can do this."
Behind a nearby curtain, Elira crouched, watching him with unsettling focus.
"I will be nearby," she said. "In case he dies."
"That's not what dates are," Lina said.
"That is what kings do," Elira replied. "They die."
Cassian sighed. "I'm starting to think letting an assassin fall in love was a mistake."
The rose garden had never looked more dangerous.
Not because of thorns — but because of Mira.
She stood near the fountain, wearing a simple pale-blue dress, her hair loose, smiling nervously at nothing.
Aerin stepped into the garden.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
Both of them forgot how to breathe.
"Hi," Mira said softly.
"Hello," Aerin replied, voice cracking.
They stared at each other.
Then both laughed.
"Sorry," Mira said. "I didn't expect to be this nervous."
"You?" Aerin said. "You're always calm."
"Not about you."
The Harem Alarm, hovering discreetly in a nearby bush, chimed softly.
Cassian slapped it away.
"No," he whispered. "Let them have this."
They sat on a stone bench.
No council.
No assassins.
No screaming peasants.
Just them.
"So," Mira said. "This is a real date."
Aerin nodded. "I think so."
"That's terrifying."
"Yes."
They both smiled.
For a brief, fragile moment, everything felt normal.
Then—
Elira popped up from behind a rose bush.
"He is smiling too much," she said. "Is this a threat?"
Mira screamed.
Aerin jumped so hard he nearly fell into the fountain.
"Elira!" he shouted. "Please!"
"I am observing," Elira said. "The book said courtship requires surveillance."
Cassian dragged her away by the collar.
"No stalking on dates," he muttered.
Despite everything, they managed to talk.
About childhoods.
About favorite foods.
About embarrassing stories.
"I once waved at a stranger for ten minutes because I thought they were my mother," Aerin admitted.
Mira laughed so hard she snorted.
"That's adorable."
"Please don't tell anyone."
"I will tell everyone."
The Harem Alarm hummed warmly.
Aerin smiled at Mira.
"I'm really glad this is happening," he said quietly.
She nodded. "Me too."
They leaned a little closer.
Almost—
BOOM.
A loud explosion echoed from the palace.
Both of them jumped.
Cassian ran into the garden.
"Dravakar is back."
Aerin groaned. "Of course they are."
The Dravakar delegation arrived with smug smiles and ridiculous hats.
"We hear you have oil," their leader said. "We want half."
"Half?" Halbrecht screeched. "You already took our soul!"
"Then we want your dignity," the envoy replied.
The Harem Alarm screamed.
Elira cracked her knuckles.
Mira squeezed Aerin's hand.
Aerin stood.
"No," he said.
Silence.
"No?" the envoy repeated.
"No," Aerin said again, stronger. "You will not threaten us."
"You are small," the envoy sneered.
"Yes," Aerin said. "But I'm tired."
Elira nodded approvingly.
Cassian smirked.
The envoy hesitated.
Then left.
Mira stared at Aerin.
"That was… incredibly attractive."
Aerin blushed so hard he nearly passed out.
Later that night, Elira sat alone, staring at a romance book upside-down.
"I am confused," she muttered. "Why does love hurt?"
Mira sat beside her.
"Because it matters."
Elira sniffed. "I want to matter."
"You do."
They shared awkward silence.
Meanwhile, Aerin stood on the balcony, heart pounding.
Mira joined him.
"You were brave today," she said.
"I was scared."
"That counts."
They looked at each other.
Slowly.
Carefully.
They kissed.
Soft.
Real.
The Harem Alarm chimed like it was crying tears of joy.
Elira screamed somewhere in the distance.
The kingdom glowed with oil and chaos.
But Aerin had something better.
Mira.
End of Chapter Sixteen
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