"You cannot withstand the true counterattack of the dragon race."
In the end, Augus, this abandoned pawn, still cast a curse upon Leon in the final moment of his life.
And among this whole string of "last words," the part Leon couldn't ignore the most was, ('Take away everything around you.')
Perhaps the Leon of the past wouldn't have cared about such threats from an enemy. He would have only thought of it as the powerless rage of someone about to die.
But the current Leon... was different.
Because the 'everything' around him had become fuller than before.
In the Empire, he had a master who risked life and death to help clear his name, and a female gunner who could have lived out her days peacefully in the patrol squad but instead chose to stand by his side again.
And here, he also had three daughters whom he deeply loved.
As well as that nominal wife.
The number of people could be counted on two hands, yet they supported Leon's entire world.
He had never thought about what he would become if one day he lost them.
It's not that he didn't think about it. It's that he didn't dare to think about it.
But Augus's deathbed intimidation forced Leon to start thinking about this issue.
Facing the Empire and those dragon kings hiding in the shadows, could he really protect everything he cherished in this conspiracy that had been brewing for decades?
He had never doubted his own ability, but now... he was desperate to become stronger.
"Ever since you came back from the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan, every night you stand here alone for a long time," The silver-haired beauty walked slowly to his side, leaning alongside him on the balcony railing.
Her footsteps were very light, or maybe Leon was simply too deep in thought, so he didn't hear her coming at all.
Rossweise wore a loose strap nightdress, with familiar dragon-wing slippers on her feet. Her soft chest faintly visible, and the dragon pattern on her chest gently rose and fell with her breathing.
Her hair was scattered and slightly damp, and a pleasant floral fragrance lingered on her body, she had clearly just finished bathing.
"Ah... I couldn't sleep," A beauty was beside him, yet he had no heart to appreciate.
Rossweise looked at her captive. This fool had clearly been preoccupied these past few days.
She had originally planned to wait for him to come talk to her on his own, to share his troubles and worries.
But this dog man was like a sealed gourd. When something was on his mind, he would never take the initiative to tell anyone. He would just bottle it up again and again.
If it were the past, Rossweise definitely wouldn't have been interested in giving him psychological counseling. As long as he didn't show that depressed face in front of outsiders and played the part of a fake husband with her, maintaining their fake family, that was enough.
But now... this was, after all, the man who once said "Melkvei, I like you." Rossweise still wanted to keep hearing things like that, so—
'Just a little~ just a little~ care for him.'
Her gaze fell on the list in Leon's hand.
The list had been gripped until it was a bit wrinkled, but he himself didn't even notice.
It seemed the psychological pressure was indeed heavy.
Rossweise had a thought and didn't plan to directly ask what Leon was worrying about. She wanted to start indirectly, talk with him first, then slowly lead into the topic.
"Those three dragon kings skilled in space-type magic. I've already told you about them before."
Rossweise said, "Do you need this queen to give you a science lesson about the other two on the list?"
Nowadays, every time Leon heard the words "this queen," he wanted to laugh.
Not the mocking kind of laugh.
He just felt... when this mother dragon used those three words to refer to herself, it was kinda cute.
A strange kind of gap moe.
And it seemed like only when she was with him did she emphasize the words "this queen."
When talking to those maids, Rossweise never called herself that way.
He had no idea what kind of fight she was picking with him.
He curled his lips, "Sure, go ahead."
"Radiant Star Dragon King · Star. From what I know, he's an even older dragon king than Constantine. In the enlightening reading materials of Luna and the others' generation, Constantine was described as a dragon hero. But when I was little, the dragon hero in books was Star. That shows just how old this guy is."
"But our dragon race is quite different from many other races, including humans. Most races' individuals gradually weaken as they age, but dragons don't."
"Even powerful types like Constantine get stronger and stronger."
"Radiant Star Dragon King · Star is the same. But I've only seen brief records of him in dragon books. As for what his current strength is like. I'm not sure."
Leon nodded, "Then what about this Warhammer Dragon King?"
"Oh, he's a bit special. The entire race only has him left."
Leon was stunned, "For real? A one-man army?"
"Mhm, you could say that."
"Then wouldn't it be easy for other clans to take him down?"
"Not at all."
Rossweise said, "Because he's all alone and has no attachments, Adam has no scruples in doing anything. Whether it's chasing or being chased, revenge or being avenged. Wherever Adam goes, only blood-soaked land and endless hatred are left behind. For a long time, he was the nightmare of the entire dragon race."
"But later, perhaps he got tired of such a life. Adam began working as a 'mercenary.'"
Leon frowned slightly, "Mercenary?"
"Yeah. Whoever offers more among the dragon clans, he helps them. Burning, killing, looting, exterminating clans, destroying cities, he'll do anything for enough pay."
Rossweise said, "But no news of Adam has been heard for nearly a hundred years. Maybe after cooperating with the Empire, he gave up his old job?"
"Maybe...", Leon pondered what Rossweise had just said, "All alone... no attachments..."
"Exactly. A person with no scruples is unstoppable. Probably that's the idea," As the words fell, Rossweise seemed to realize something.
She turned her eyes to look at Leon.
Just moments ago, this fool had been seriously listening to her explain, but now he looked dazed again.
'Oh~'
Now she understood.
'The problem lay here.'
Hearing that Adam was unrestrained because he was all alone, able to do whatever he wanted, Leon must have connected that with what Augus said before dying.
Good, now that she'd found the root of the problem, she could prescribe the right medicine.
"Spaced out again, idiot," Rossweise said faintly.
"Huh? Oh... sorry."
"I guessed what you're thinking," The queen stared into the deep night sky, a mischievous smile on her lips. Though she was speaking to Leon, she didn't look at him.
Leon looked at her exquisite profile, "What?"
"You're worried about me."
"Good night."
"Hey, don't—", Rossweise quickly grabbed him. Of course, General Leon never actually intended to leave, that's why she was able to pull him back so easily.
"Can't we just talk properly?", Leon was speechless.
Rossweise snorted softly, "Then let me rephrase it. You're worried about us. That's okay, right?"
Leon rubbed his nose and replied gloomily, "Mm."
Rossweise turned to lean sideways on the railing, arms crossed over her chest, looking into his eyes, "As expected, my sister was right."
"What did your sister say?"
"All daughter-obsessed men in the world are 'family knights.'"
"Huh?"
"Just a joke. It basically means you care a lot about your family and loved ones."
Leon shrugged, that was a silent confirmation of Rossweise's evaluation.
Seeing that this dog man wasn't all that interested, Rossweise figured she should just get to the point.
"Leon, have you heard this saying? Family is your strongest support."
"Yeah, I've heard it."
"Do you think it makes sense?"
Leon thought for a moment and replied, "I guess... family is the support, the home port, isn't that what everyone says?"
That's how he had always viewed this 'fake' family of his.
Whether the harbor was fake or not, as long as it could dock the ship, it was a good harbor.
"So you, dummy, have been led into a trap by 'everyone,'" Rossweise said.
"What... do you mean?"
"For an ordinary person's family, it's true that family is the last resting island when there's nowhere else to go. But have you ever thought, your wife is not an ordinary person?"
Rossweise smiled as she looked at his slightly moved eyes, continuing slowly—
"Come on, dear husband, your wife is the Silver Dragon Queen. If you think I don't have the ability to protect myself in this chaotic world, then how did I make it to where I am today?"
"I'm not blaming you, Leon. I just want to remind you, don't think I'm a woman who needs to rely on others for a sense of security."
"You keep thinking about how to protect us in this conspiracy, but have you ever thought that maybe I can stand by your side just like I am now?"
"Why can't we face those unknown dangers together?"
"Noah, Luna, and Little Light are your daughters, do you think they're not mine too?"
"Leon, don't shoulder everything alone. You have to understand, you're not alone anymore."
"It's true that people with no scruples are invincible and unbeatable."
"But—", The queen stepped forward, raising her hand to gently press against Leon's cheek.
Silver and black eyes met, their pupils reflecting each other's image.
"The place where the person who misses you is, that is your true home."
She smiled with narrowed eyes. Leon had never seen her smile so gently.
That softness, as if it could soak into his very bones.
"So, stop always trying to be the hero alone. Your wife... will get upset."
General Leon is a classic softie who doesn't respond to force. After playing fake husband for so long, how could Rossweise not understand him?
After that heart-to-heart, the dumb straight man's expression finally eased up a bit. Ar least not as gloomy as before, like someone owed him 800 dragon lives.
He put away the list, let out a relieved sigh, and then said, "Thanks."
Leon thought the usually generous queen would say something like "you're welcome."
But who would've thought—
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