"Hmm... it's, it's pretty good," Leon couldn't just tell the little maid to her face that he was going on a date with her queen, she could go chill somewhere else.
Even though Milan wouldn't get angry, in fact, she might even get excited over some CP gossip, but that would still more or less make it seem like he was completely under Rossweise's thumb.
Rossweise looked at the dumb look on her husband's face and couldn't be more satisfied in her heart.
'Mhm mhm, that's right, just this kind of—'
["Why is it like this? I really want to be alone with her, but why did she bring someone else along? Boohoo, my wife, my dear wife, I want to hold your little hand but can't."]
—expression.
'Ah, men. Not too long ago he could still go fifty-fifty with me, but now~'
'You're doomed, you're in love~'
"Milan, go check over there. I'm going with His Highness the Prince to the other side," said Rossweise.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Milan was sensible and immediately turned and ran off.
With her eyes off Milan, Rossweise looked at Leon and asked with a mischievous grin, "Just now, did you think for a second that our two-person evening was going to be ruined?"
"Tch, psycho snake," Leon waved his hand and turned around, not wanting to bother with this dragoness.
Rossweise took the chance to grab his hand, "Sulking, are we, my little lion?"
"Don't disgust me, mother dragon... that's enough."
Keep talking and it's going to turn into some cheesy CEO love drama.
'Wouldn't that be a loss of face for me, General Leon?'
Rossweise covered her mouth and giggled, dropping the tease, "Alright, alright, I'll stop."
She tilted her head toward the cherry blossom grove, "Let's go, take a walk?"
"Mhm."
The couple walked hand in hand, slowly strolling through the cherry blossoms.
They first chatted about their daughters' studies, then talked about the last resurrection tournament with Constantine.
"The Empire has already mastered that freakish fusion magic, looks like future battles won't be easy," said Rossweise.
"It's not too bad," Leon said, "My detonation spell doesn't target individual dragon scales, it causes all six scales to explode at once. And in the future I saw, those heart-guarding scales were all stored together, so... I guess the Empire must be cursing me to death right now."
Rossweise chuckled, "Then why didn't you use the detonation spell earlier? That way, Constantine wouldn't have been able to resurrect in fusion beast form, right?"
"You mean, one morning I wake up, open my eyes, randomly snap my fingers on a whim, and the Empire's dragon scale vault goes boom?"
Leon turned to look at the silver-haired beauty beside him, "That's way too lacking in ritual."
Rossweise lightly punched his arm, "You and your obsession with rituals. Because of that, the lawn and gazebo in my sister's yard all have to be rebuilt."
Leon laughed, "Rebuild then. Not like it's my money."
The couple bantered back and forth, and the topic naturally shifted from Isa to grandmother.
"Oh right, my grandmother sent a letter this morning. She's going to visit my sister next week."
Rossweise said, "I was thinking of taking the girls along. Perfect chance to take a family photo. What do you think?"
Leon nodded, "No problem."
"Mhm. Just right... maybe we can try asking Grandma again about... the Far North."
———
A week later, the Melkvei family reunited once more at Isa's Red Dragon Sanctuary.
This time was truly the most complete gathering ever. Everyone was here except the never-seen parents of Rossweise and her sister.
Leon held Luna in his arms, gazing at the house full of dragons, thinking: 'if this were back during the dragon-slaying days, and I turned in all these special-class dragons, wouldn't I be rich?'
Sigh, too bad. Now he'd already made three first-class merit babies with one of those dragons, times have changed, Lord Leon.
"Grandma, how long are you staying this time?", At the dinner table, Rossweise asked.
"Might be a while," Veronica replied, "There were some unexpected incidents in the Far North research project. I believe Headmaster Oullette should've mentioned it to you."
Rossweise nodded.
The unexpected incident Grandma referred to was that part of their research results was stolen by the Iron-Wing Dragon King.
Leon and Rossweise exchanged a look. They both knew where those so-called "results" had gone, straight into the Empire's hands.
But they didn't know exactly what the thing was. Veronica and Headmaster Oullette were both speaking in riddles, and no matter how they asked, they couldn't get a straight answer.
So they'd just have to wait until they met with Master and Rebecca later and see if they could dig up some useful intel.
What was certain was that whatever it was, it was important enough for the Empire to go all out to get it.
Might even be related to the Empire's cooperation with the dragons.
Leon had to figure it out.
"After the incident, we paused the exploration project. As for when it'll resume, it's not decided yet," Grandmother Veronica said, "At the very least, we need to figure out who stole our findings and what their goal is."
Leon already had the answer to the former.
As for the latter, that was the truth he desperately sought.
But limited by his human identity, even though he and Grandmother Veronica shared the same goal, he couldn't just reveal everything.
Even in that terrible future, when Rossweise confessed Leon's human identity to their daughter and grandmother, everyone eventually understood and accepted it.
But that outcome only happened under extreme, unique circumstances.
If Leon revealed himself now, with many pieces missing, no one could guarantee that the result would be the same as what he had lived through.
He couldn't gamble the present happiness on an uncertain future.
That would only hurt his daughters, and hurt... Rossweise.
So... just wait and watch for now. At least their goals were aligned.
"Mhm. Then Grandma, you'll have more time to spend with Luna and the others," Rossweise said with a smile.
Veronica smiled as well, took Little Light from Isa's arms, pinched her soft little cheeks, "Been so long, Little Light has grown up."
The little pink-haired girl smiled with squinty eyes, hugging her great-grandma tightly and instantly forming an unbreakable ancestral bond.
From the hundreds-of-years-old dragon elders to the two or three-year-old second sister, Silver Dragon Third Princess Aurora specialized in charming both young and old.
"Oh right, Grandma, since you're not in a rush this time, let's all go take a family portrait in Sky City tomorrow," Isa suggested.
Veronica had no objections, "Sure, it's rare for the whole family to gather like this."
When she heard the word "family," Isa blinked, set down her knife and fork, pursed her lips, and tentatively asked, "Grandma, though you've never wanted to tell Little Rose and me about our parents... it's been so many years. At least tell us if they're still alive, right?"
Based on the timeline, more than two hundred years ago was when the dragon race was suffering internal chaos.
One day allies, next day enemies.
So dragon kings falling in battle was not unusual.
Isa always thought the reason Grandma rarely spoke of their parents was likely because they had already perished in the dragon civil wars.
Hearing this, Rossweise also looked up at their grandmother. She, too, had been waiting years for an answer to this question.
Seeing the sisters bring it up again, Veronica sighed softly, "Alright. You two are now qualified queens. It is indeed time you learned a bit about your parents."
"Isa, you asked if they are still alive."
"I can tell you with certainty, they are."
Hearing such a firm answer, the sisters were visibly moved.
Isa opened her mouth to ask more, but was waved off by their grandmother.
"I know what else you want to ask, Isa, but I can't say exactly where they are or what they're doing. I can only tell you, your parents are undertaking a great mission, far greater than anything we're doing in the Far North."
With that, Veronica lowered her head and continued slowly cutting her steak, as calm as if the previous exchange had never happened.
Seeing this, Rossweise and Isa exchanged a look and didn't press further.
Just knowing their parents were alive was enough.
As long as they were alive, there would eventually be a reunion.
After the slightly heavy topic, the family started chatting about the children.
After all, it was a rare family dinner, it was better to talk about happy things.
After dinner, the maids came to clean the dining room.
Leon and family retired early to the guest rooms.
Back to the familiar couple's suite, something they were long used to.
———
Midnight, Red Dragon Sanctuary rooftop. Isa leaned lightly on the railing, a bottle of red wine in hand. No glass, just sipping straight from the bottle.
Her beautiful face was slightly flushed from the alcohol, and the cool night wind blew her long hair like fire burning in the dark.
Before long, the rooftop door opened, and Veronica stepped out.
"Still not asleep, Grandma?"
"You're sneaking drinks again," Veronica stood next to Isa, her tone slightly stern.
Isa smiled tipsily and sheepishly set the bottle aside, "Not drinking, not drinking anymore."
"You used to sneak into my wine cellar with Little Rose all the time. That's why now she's like you, wants a sip whenever she's free."
"Aw, Grandma, queens like us need to know how to drink. It's a way to win the people's hearts," Isa argued righteously. She still had a quick mind, clearly not drunk.
Veronica rolled her eyes at her granddaughter but eventually smiled helplessly, "You two... always make me worry."
Isa pulled Grandma into a side hug, cheek to cheek, "In front of others, we're mighty queens ruling over all. But in front of you, we're still clueless little girls~"
"Two-hundred-year-old little girls?"
"Tch~ As long as I don't marry, I'm always a little girl."
"But your sister's not. She's been married for three years."
At that, Isa suddenly thought of something, "Oh right, Grandma, when Little Rose came last time, I saw her new necklace. She said it was a wedding gift from you."
"That's right. What, you want one too?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Then go get married and I'll give you one."
At that, the Red Dragon Queen grabbed her grandmother's hand and began stomping and acting spoiled, "I'm a sworn single! You know that, Grandma! Please just give it to me~"
She was definitely a bit tipsy. Otherwise, even with how close she was to her grandmother, Isa wouldn't act like this.
Like give her a bed and she'd be rolling on the ground begging for gifts the next second.
Veronica shook her head and laughed, then pulled out a delicate little gift box from her pocket, "Here, for you."
Isa froze mid-whine, sobered up half a second later, "Whoa, Grandma, you're really the best."
"Open it and see."
Isa nodded and opened the box. Inside was a jade thumb ring.
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