After dinner, Rosvisser did something unexpected—she invited Leon to go for a walk.
Leon agreed.
But before they started, he needed to clarify just what kind of “walk” this really was.
“Is this a date?” he asked.
“No, it’s not,” Rosvisser denied outright.
“Oh, it’s a date,” Leon declared with certainty.
“It. Is. Not.”
“If you don’t admit this is a date, I’m not going.”
“...Fine, it’s a date.”
Justice. Rosvisser thought to herself, maybe this was just payback for the teasing earlier in the day.
With Rosvisser’s reluctant confirmation, Leon didn’t press further. Smiling, he rubbed his nose, “Alright, even if it’s just a pretend family, sometimes I’ve got to fulfill my husbandly duties and keep my stressed wife company on a stroll.”
Rosvisser gave him a sideways glance, pouting slightly in irritation. *That smug tone, but I bet he’s thrilled on the inside, isn’t he?*
“Hmph, don’t act so pleased. If you don’t want to walk with me, I’ll just go find Anna.”
“Anna’s busy.”
“Then I’ll find Milan.”
“Milan’s also busy.”
“Then I’ll go find Sherry!”
“Sherry’s out scouting—by your orders, remember?”
“You insufferable fool, are you walking with me or not?!”
Before her temper could fully flare, Leon reached over to take her hand. She tried to shake him off.
But Leon wasn’t fooled. He knew this wasn’t a genuine “no.” Just like when a woman says “don’t” but really means “do,” he figured this was one of those situations.
So he tried again.
And, as he expected, she let him hold her hand.
Even though she put on a reluctant face, muttering, “Who said you could hold my hand? You were complaining about walking with me, so don’t hold my hand then.”
It was clear—her words were just part of their little game.
“Your Majesty, if we keep bickering here, the sun’s going to set,” Leon said.
“Then let it set.”
“The sunset is beautiful.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Of course, it has to do with you. A beautiful view deserves a beautiful companion.”
His flattery hit its mark.
Rosvisser’s lips curved into a slight smile as she let out a soft hum, pulling Leon’s hand as they strolled out of the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.
At sunset, just as Leon had said, the sky blazed in brilliant hues, like a fire igniting the heavens.
They left through the back courtyard of the sanctuary, heading toward the clan grounds.
On the way, they encountered several members of the Silver Dragon Clan, who nodded respectfully upon seeing their Queen and the royal consort.
“So, why the walk through the clan grounds?” Leon asked. “I thought we’d just stroll around the courtyard.”
“Strolling around the courtyard doesn’t count as a date, does it?” Rosvisser replied, looking straight ahead.
Leon paused briefly, glancing down at their interlocked fingers. *So, this is her idea of a “date”?*
It was rare for Rosvisser to be so direct. She didn’t usually say things plainly, but this time... well, this was her version of being upfront.
Since she’d thrown out this “direct pitch,” Leon felt he ought to respond, but just enough to keep her intrigued for the next time, of course. Definitely not because he wanted an excuse to be closer to his “pretend” wife.
After a moment’s thought, he replied, “I think... as long as two people care about each other, anything they do together can be called a date.”
His hint was crystal clear.
Naturally, Rosvisser caught on to what he was implying. But considering she’d already initiated twice that evening, she decided to push him just a little further.
“Is that so?” she replied casually.
*Hmm?* Leon wondered. *That response felt awfully neutral.*
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“Yeah,” he added, a bit thrown off. “Like us.”
*Oh, so someone’s finally about to confess his true feelings!*
Rosvisser grinned inwardly, but on the outside, she kept her expression neutral. She countered, “Us? What about us?”
“We... we’re mutually a—” Leon stopped himself just in time, cleared his throat, and looked away. “Nothing.”
Watching him struggle with his words, Rosvisser couldn’t suppress her smile any longer. She gave his hand a playful shake. “Alright, I’m just teasing. I know what you mean.”
Now it was Leon’s turn to feign ignorance.
“Oh, you know what I mean? What do you think I meant?”
“I’m not telling.”
“If you don’t say it, how will I know you really get it?”
With a grin, Rosvisser turned slightly, her hand still holding his while the other wrapped around his arm. She leaned in close, her gentle scent drifting toward him as her soft chest pressed against his arm, her expression as playful as a girl next door.
“What I mean~~ is that you, Leon Cosmod, like me.”
Pause. One second.
Two seconds~
Three seconds~
Leon replied, “That’s it?”
Hello? Are you selectively misunderstanding me here?
*Do you even know what “mutual liking” means?*
Rosvisser’s smile widened. “And~~ I like you, too.”
With anyone else, such lighthearted words might come across as insincere or careless.
But between these two stubborn fools, they knew each other all too well. For them, a confession was either completely genuine or left unsaid.
They gazed into each other’s eyes, an undeniable spark flashing between them, as if their affection was about to overflow like water from an overfilled cup.
Words could be deceiving, but their eyes? Never.
After a few quiet, intimate moments, they reluctantly reined in their emotions—saving the rest for later in the privacy of their bedroom.
After all, they were still in the middle of the Silver Dragon Clan grounds, with too many onlookers around to indulge in a public display of affection.
“Well, the sun’s set. Let’s head back,” Leon said.
“Mm.”
Hand in hand, they walked back to the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.
Just as they were about to reach the back courtyard, Rosvisser spoke up.
“This walk helped me unwind quite a bit. Thank you,” she said softly.
Leon took her compliment without hesitation, grinning with pride. He’d earned it!
“You know, you really don’t need to worry so much about Konstantin.”
Leon added, “I’ve got this feeling... that everything isn’t as straightforward as it seems.”
Rosvisser raised an eyebrow, “Oh? What makes you say that?”
“Even though Konstantin got his hands on the Primordial Power, it’s still the power of your dragon ancestors. Can it really be wielded that easily, and without resistance?”
Leon continued, “If the Primordial Dragon King Noah left a failsafe, then it could be the key to defeating Konstantin one day.”
Listening to his reasoning, Rosvisser grew thoughtful. “Ever since the empire first showed its ambition, nothing has gone exactly as expected. I suppose you’re right—this time will likely be no different.”
“Mm. No one can foresee the future, so there’s no use stressing over it. What matters most is staying focused on the present, and taking each step as it comes,” Leon said.
Rosvisser nodded in agreement, then teased, “Not bad advice, Your Highness. Where’d you copy that from?”
“I borrowed it from one of Noa’s essays.”
“Pfft, stealing your daughter’s ideas? Shameless.”
“Hey, I’m Noa’s guide in literature. A bit of borrowing is harmless, right?”
Leon defended himself, “Besides, when us cultured folks borrow, it’s called inspiration, not stealing!”
Rosvisser rolled her eyes, “You’ve really got an answer for everything.”
They continued bantering as they entered the sanctuary.
Just as they were chatting, a small figure emerged from the dining hall.
“Noa?”
Their daughter, arms full of bread and jerky, turned around with a slice of ham in her mouth.
“Didn’t get enough at dinner?” They walked over to her.
Noa released the ham from her mouth and nodded. “Mm-hmm, got hungry again.”
Leon looked at the pile of food in her arms. “You sure you’ll be able to eat all that?”
Noa glanced down at the stash, “I think... I can. I keep getting hungry lately.”
“I’ll ask Milan to make some more snacks for you,” Rosvisser offered.
“Oh, don’t trouble yourself, Mom. This is plenty,” Noa replied.
The three of them headed upstairs.
When they reached Leon and Rosvisser’s bedroom, Noa dutifully said her goodnights.
“Goodnight, Dad, Mom.”
“Goodnight. Make sure you get some exercise before bed,” Leon reminded her.
“Yes, Dad.”
Their little dragon turned and carried her feast back to her room.
Leon watched her go, then turned to Rosvisser, “Why is her appetite suddenly so big?”
Rosvisser shrugged, “She might be growing. Dragons need a lot of food while they’re developing.”
“Hmm... I’ll have the maids prepare some more high-protein dishes tomorrow, then.”
“Sounds good.”
The couple continued their conversation as they headed into their bedroom.
Meanwhile, in the sisters’ room, Moon and Aurora stared in surprise at Noa’s armload of food
.
“Big Sis, sneaking in snacks again?” Aurora teased.
“Here, have some jerky.” Noa handed a piece over generously.
Aurora shook her head, “I’m just curious why you’re eating so much these days. It started after we got back from the Far North, didn’t it, Moon?”
No response.
“Moon? Hello?”
“I’ll take some!” Moon’s eyes sparkled at the jerky in Noa’s hand.
Aurora: “...”
Noa handed the jerky to Moon, then bit into a piece of bread, lost in thought. “I don’t know what’s up. I’ve just been getting hungry a lot. Probably because of all the training. I’ve also been losing sleep from strange dreams.”
“Dreams? What dreams?” Aurora asked, ever the curious one.
Noa scratched her head. “I don’t know how to describe them... not nightmares, but definitely not pleasant.”
She didn’t share everything with her sister.
Because these dreams weren’t just dreams—they felt more like memories.
Memories... reaching across thousands of years.