One shot book (Male reader x Various)

Dragon's Taxes

A/N: Ha! I ain't dead yet. I just have a huge ass writer's block. So, I found a subreddit with writing prompts and found a fun propmt. The prompt will be in bold cursive and the text regular. Hope you like it!

The new king has decided to tax dragon hoards. You are the official sent to collect the exact amount they owe.

You were the kingdom's hailed Hero. Or was. Age has caught up to you and you decided to retire. At the same time of your retirement, a noble had passed away, leaving no descendants to inherit his lands. And so the king has granted it to you and raised you to the rank of nobility as thanks for your services to the kingdom. You had squashed rebellions, lead the Royal Army against their warfaring neighbours, won and even ventured out with your party and defeated the Demon Lord.

You were getting too old for dangerous tasks, your fitness wasn't what it once was. You could still beat any knight in the kingdom to the dirt, as you had proven time and time again in the Royal Annual Tournament. You had won this year as well. Again.

But turbulent times were behind you. The kingdom finally knew peace for a long time. And so priorities shifted from war and battle to matters of stewardship and economy.

The king had placated new tax reforms, sparing no one. Commoners, nobles, yes, even you had to pay tax. However, this tax was based off wealth. Meaning the nobles had to pay way more than they had to over a decade ago. And even dragons, known far and wide as the biggest hoarders in history, wouldn't be spared.

And so, one day, a letter arrived at your castle.

Dear Ascalon 'the Indomitable', Count of Blackstone, Hero of the Kingdom, Slayer of Dragons and Sword of the Faithful

I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Your deeds have become legends amongst the commonfolk and bards sing your praises far and wide.

However, as you know, my tax reforms have not made me popular. And my attempts to get the money the nobles owe me have been moderately successful after some pressure. Still, the mighty and intelegent dragons refuse to budge.

I have tried everything, from diplomacy to using less than honourable means. However, my soldiers, diplomats and spies have never returned. And if they did, they were wounded or burned.

However, I know that you have slayed your fair share of dragons in your glory days. I know you're older now and ahve a family of your own. But your name is sure to be known among dragonkind. I hope that a personal visit from you can finally persuade them to hand over the wealth they owe me.

May the Faith be with you,
Aethyrion Caesarius 'the Great', King of Aestaria, Saint of Floraine and Conqueror of Inphersa

You sighed.

"What is it, honey?" your wife asked you as she entered the room, carrying your newborn son in her arms.

"The king wants me to collect taxes," you sighed, looking at her. She hasn't aged a day since the day you met her three and a half decandes ago. You, on the other hand, had started to grow wrinkles and your hair had started turning grey.

"Collect taxes?!" Lilith exclaimed indignant and pouted, her pointed ears turning red. "You're the Hero, not a tax collector!"

"Not from regular people, but from dragons."

"Oh." That silenced her for a second. "That'll be tough."

"Yeah. How's he doing?" you said, pointing to the child in her arms.

"Oh, he's doing fine! He's such a cutey! He looks so much like you!' she said happily, holding out the baby to you.

You took your youngest son from her arms and cradled him yourself. You looked down at him. He did look like you. But he had her eyes: vertical, slit pupils, like a cat's. And two stubs growing on his forehead. They would later grow out into majestic horns. Like your wife had. He was half you and half her. Half-human, half-demon.

You raised him a bit and kissed his forehead. He cooed.

"He likes his dad," your wife said. "But... what will you do?"

"I will try to fetch the taxes."

"Really? It'll be dangerous," she said, twirling a strand of her platinum hair around her finger.

"I know, love. But if I don't do it, someone else might get wounded, or worse. I got the best chance of coming back."

"Fine, but you're not leaving before..." she looked at you with a smug grin.

"Before what?" you asked.

"You know what." She took the child from your arms and put him in the crib.

Your eyes widened in realisation. "We already did that last night!"

"And every night before that since our marriage."

"I'm getting too..."

After that exhausting night, you headed out. You came to the first cave. An enormous red dragon landed in front of you. "Who goes there?!" it demanded.

"I am Ascalon 'the Indomitable'," you introduced yourself.

"And how do I know it's not a fluke?" it replied.

"Who else wears armour made from dragon scales and plate forged in dragonfire?"

The dragon looked closely aat you and paled. "Whatdoyouwant?" it nearly peeped.

"The king has put tax reforms into place, demaning 30% of your total wealth."

"Fine, take what you need. But not a coin more."

"Will do."

And so you went around the kingdom, tracking down dragon lairs and gathering the taxes. Mostly without any trouble. And if they did... you were far from inexperienced on how to deal with dragons.

Each time you would return back to your castle, Demon Lord Lilith would be waiting for you, together with your plentyful children. And so you lived long and happily ever after.