Leon secretly sighed in his heart. Looks like he couldn't dodge this after all.
He turned his head and looked at Rossweise.
The smile at the corner of Rossweise's mouth deepened, "Just a kiss on the cheek, that's all."
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up her somewhat smug smile.
Why was she showing such a smile?
Was it because she thought Leon wouldn't dare kiss her?
Was it because she thought that kissing her, his fake wife, in front of everyone would make him feel embarrassed?
Or... was it some other reason?
'Heh... Mother Dragon, you're really childish.'
'We're already an 'old married couple,' what wouldn't I dare to do!'
Leon mustered up his courage and slowly leaned toward Rossweise's fair and delicate side profile.
Beside him, Luna had already clenched her little fists in nervous excitement.
You know, their parents almost never showed affection in front of them.
To see it today, of course, she was both nervous and excited.
Little Light was naturally the same.
But...
Finally a rare moment of intimacy in front of their two daughters, and... it's just a kiss on the cheek?
The little pink-haired one would never be satisfied with that.
Her eyes shifted slightly, and just as Daddy was about to kiss Mommy on the cheek, Little Light suddenly shouted from the side, "MOMMY!"
"Hmm?", Rossweise reflexively followed the sound of her daughter's voice, and in doing so, completely forgot about Leon, who was right in front of her.
And so—
"Mm..."
Their lips met at just the right moment.
Watching their Mommy and Daddy dumbfounded after successfully kissing each other on the lips, Little Light proudly raised her little tail.
———
By now, Leon's three precious daughters had all successfully enrolled in Saint Heath Academy.
To one day defeat more dragonslayers like their father, they had begun their rigorous studies. For some reason, every time Leon thought of this, his heart ached a little inexplicably.
He had thought that personally teaching Little Light and helping her win first place in the entrance exam, then stabbing her old father in the back with that fact, was already the peak of filial piety;
But little did he expect that in a few years, when his daughters graduated from the academy, they might even use their old father as their graduation project.
Sigh, oh well.
After all the twists and turns, bumps and scrapes, the children would still end up learning more skills, and that was never a bad thing.
Today was Monday, and all three daughters were not home.
The next time they'd meet would be Friday night.
Five days, only the first time Leon returned to the Empire to deal with traitors had he been apart from them for this long.
Other than that, father and daughters practically saw each other every day.
Now that the girls were suddenly all gone, Leon felt a bit unaccustomed.
That evening, Leon lay on the balcony's lounge chair, looking at the quiet night sky, wondering whether his little darlings were also about to go to bed now.
Before long, light footsteps came from behind.
Rossweise slowly walked up to his side and placed two cups on the small wooden table.
Leon glanced over and then said, "I don't really feel like drinking tonight."
Alcohol, at certain times, really was a good thing, able to help people temporarily forget their worries and troubles.
But Leon didn't intend to numb himself with alcohol. He didn't mind immersing himself in missing his daughters.
"It's not alcohol. It's tea."
"Tea? I remember you never drink tea."
Rossweise lifted a pot of hot tea and poured two full cups.
In the teacups, wisps of steam rose slowly. The rich aroma spread out. Even if one wasn't a tea expert, it was clear this was top-quality stuff.
"It's this year's model family reward. The vice principal specially requested it from Principal Oullette."
"...Alright then. A moment of social death for a pack of good tea, not a bad trade."
Rossweise's eyes moved slightly, then she raised two fingers, "Correction—not once, but twice."
Leon raised a brow, "Twice?"
"Forgot? Just a few days ago, after the interview ended, you kissed me in public to prove to the vice principal that you love me. Doesn't that count?"
"..."
The queen gave a faint smile, sat down slowly, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip.
Indeed, very fragrant.
"Mother Dragon, why do I feel like not only do you not mind the embarrassment from that, but you even seem to... enjoy it?"
Rossweise gazed at the night view ahead, starlight reflecting in her silver eyes. She curled her lips and asked lazily, "Really?"
"How not?"
Leon was sure of it now. "At the entrance ceremony the other day too. When I was going to kiss you, you didn't have the slightest thought of resisting!"
Rossweise slowly turned her head and met Leon's eyes, "What, you wanted me to resist your affectionate gestures?"
"Uh, well..."
"Alright then, from now on don't touch me. Holding hands is off-limits too."
"N-no, that won't do..."
"Hmph, idiot."
That "idiot" was said with crisp clarity. She took another sip of tea and continued admiring the night view.
After a short silence, Leon spoke again,
"I think I get it."
"Hmm? Get what?"
"You just want to show off affection in front of other people, don't you?"
"Do I?"
"You do," Leon nodded with conviction.
"I won't admit it, hehe."
"Hey, you—"
Having been caught by this dog man, how could she possibly admit it?
Of course, Rossweise hadn't really hidden this little thought of hers either.
She wanted Leon to guess it.
Then stubbornly deny it.
That way she could enjoy the sight of Leon's awkward, helpless expression.
So cute. She could never get enough of it~
Leon's mind was sharp too. He immediately saw through this Mother Dragon's intentions.
"You're already the mother of three kids, how are you still so devious?"
"Heh, this queen isn't 'devious.'"
"Then what is it?"
"Spice."
Leon twitched slightly at the explosive word. "S-spice..."
"Yeah, couples need a bit of spice between them, right?", She turned slightly, resting one hand on her chin, gazing at Leon.
Her silver eyes blinked slowly, and paired with that charming smile, she was irresistibly seductive.
"Even if we're just pretending to be a couple, we still need spice," she said.
"...Childish."
Calling her childish, she didn't deny it.
Having been a responsible queen all day, what's wrong with being a little childish at night?
Besides, the dog man wasn't an outsider, no need to feel embarrassed.
"Drink your tea. Next up is the next bit of spice."
"There's more?"
"Of course. The night is long, little lion. We've got a lot of time to kill."
Leon lowered his eyes to the hot tea on the table.
He wondered: could tea get someone drunk?
If not, why was this Mother Dragon fired up again?
Hmph, whatever. The daughters weren't home, no harm in indulging a little. Let's see what tricks she's got.
Leon picked up the teacup and downed it in one go.
"Come, back to the room."
Rossweise stood up, walking toward the bedroom in her dragon-wing slippers.
Leon, not understanding, also stood up and followed.
In the bedroom, Leon was just about to turn on the light, but Rossweise stopped him.
"Wait, don't turn on that light."
She said, then found another switch, and with a click, the room was instantly bathed in warm orange light.
The lighting was dim, but had atmosphere, you could even say it was... suggestive.
This kind of light was usually used for dates.
Leon put both hands in his pants pockets, leaning lazily against the door.
"This little trick? You call this spice? Please, we're like an old married couple, give me some surprise, will you?"
Having lived with the Mother Dragon so long, what big scenes hadn't General Leon seen?
A light? You think that's enough to get him?
What a joke.
"Don't rush."
Saying that, Rossweise walked to a phonograph.
She turned it on, and gentle music slowly began to play.
"What kind of music do you like to listen to?"
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