Vol. 3 Ch. 22

Leon couldn’t refuse when his daughters expressed their desire to learn more and apply to Saint Heath Academy.

However, hearing their reasons for enrollment reminded General Leon of when Noa, at the "mature" age of one year and two months, applied to Saint Heath Academy with the rather bizarre reason:

“To defeat more dragon slayers!”

That had nearly killed him with laughter.

Now, Leon couldn’t help but wonder if, once his three daughters graduated from the academy, they’d hand him in as their graduation project.

Well, in any case...

Since Moon and Aurora had made up their minds, Leon would, of course, do everything in his power to help them. The next entrance test for Saint Heath Academy was a month away, just like when Noa applied.

Leon felt confident that both daughters would pass the test with flying colors.

Noa was incredibly talented, and neither Moon nor Aurora lacked in ability.

Though Moon had a laid-back attitude most of the time, it was only because she’d already learned what she needed to. Leon wasn’t the type of parent to push his children too hard with, “Why don’t you study ahead since you’ve already mastered this? Stop playing around!”

After all, too much pressure often backfired.

As for Aurora, there was nothing to worry about.

With her innate scientific mind, studying came as naturally to her as breathing—simple and essential to her daily life. Given her potential to one day reverse-engineer space magic on her own, her academic future was bright.

Plus, Leon already had experience tutoring Noa, so helping his daughters pass the entrance exam this time would be a piece of cake.

Piece of cake indeed! Easy as pie—

“While that all sounds pretty simple, aren’t you forgetting something?”

Later that evening, after hearing Leon’s optimistic plan, Rosvisser posed the question.

“What am I forgetting...?”

“Saint Heath Academy places great importance on family education. So, in addition to testing the young dragons, they also assess the parents.”

Rosvisser, dressed in a thin silk nightgown, lounged lazily on the living room sofa with her long legs crossed. “Remember when Noa applied, we had to take that ‘compatibility test’?”

Leon froze in realization.

The dragon queen was right.

Saint Heath Academy did have such a rule.

He recalled that when Noa applied, he and Rosvisser were still unfamiliar with each other, so they’d had to stay up all night playing “truth or dare” to get to know each other better.

It was during those nights they realized that, at least in terms of appearance, they both checked each other’s boxes.

Ahem, that wasn’t the point.

The point was—

“We’ve already taken that test when Noa applied. Do we really have to take it again?” Leon asked.

Rosvisser nodded. “If a dragon family has two children taking the academy’s test, and the time between their tests is less than a year, the parents don’t have to retake the compatibility test.”

“But if it’s more than a year, the parents have to take it again.”

Leon raised an eyebrow. “That’s an odd rule...”

“It makes sense. Even though dragons have long lifespans, a lot can happen in a year. Those events could change a person or even a marriage, don’t you think?”

As Rosvisser explained, Leon thought it over.

It made sense.

A year wasn’t particularly long, but in certain circumstances, it was enough to change a relationship—whether for better or worse.

So, the academy’s rule wasn’t unreasonable after all.

“It’s been two years since Noa enrolled, so we’ll definitely have to take the compatibility test again.”

Rosvisser spoke slowly, a subtle smile playing on her lips as she looked at her “pretend” husband by the bed. “So, Leon, how about another round of truth-telling?”

Two years had passed.

Back then, they were like fire and ice—barely tolerating each other for the sake of their daughter. If it weren’t for Noa, they might have fought each other tooth and nail.

But now, after two years...

Sure, they still fought—mostly in bed.

And one of those “fights” had unexpectedly resulted in another daughter.

Where was the justice in that?

Rosvisser felt it was quite necessary to have another round of truth-telling.

Leon felt the same way.

Besides, there weren’t many chances to hear Rosvisser speak candidly without her usual bravado. He had to cherish this moment.

“Alright, let’s do it—"

“Wait a minute.”

Rosvisser lowered her long legs, got up from the sofa, and walked toward the storage room, her dragon-wing slippers making a soft sound. “We still have a month before the test, so we can take our time with the truth-telling. So—oh, here it is.”

When she returned, she held a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

“So, how about we drink while we talk? What do you think?” Rosvisser smiled, waving the wine glasses.

Leon pursed his lips, feeling a bit nervous.

He remembered the last time she had gotten him drunk. She had easily pried open his heart and forced him to confess with his first direct declaration: “Melkvey, I like you.”@@novelbin@@

Now, she was trying to get him drunk again. No way!

“No thanks. I’m not feeling well. I can’t drink,” Leon made up an excuse.

“Not feeling well? Then you should drink more.”

Rosvisser took his hand and led him toward the balcony. “Dragon wine is different from human wine.”

“How’s it different?”

“Our wine heals you. It’s perfect for whatever’s ailing you,” Rosvisser said, as serious as could be.

Leon forced a smile, “Then when I retire, I’ll smuggle dragon wine between the Empire and the Silver Dragon Clan. I could make a fortune.”

The couple arrived at the small table on the balcony.

Rosvisser set the glasses on either side and uncorked the wine with a *pop*, pouring it into the glasses.

“Hmm? You’re not going to open a farm after you retire?”

After pouring, Rosvisser sat down, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed at Leon, her silver lashes fluttering. “I was hoping you’d teach me how to ride a horse.”

“I never said I’d run the farm with you,” Leon muttered.

“Oh, so the ‘wife who’s not too beautiful or too plain’ you plan to marry isn’t me?” Rosvisser pretended to sound disappointed.

Leon reflexively denied, blurting out, “Of course not!”

Rosvisser froze, her smile faltering.

She lowered her eyes, her voice quiet. “Oh, I see.”

Leon panicked, glancing at her. She seemed genuinely upset.

His heart raced as he tried to think of something to say.

He knew the conversation had been lighthearted banter between a couple, but his careless words, “Of course not,” hadn’t gone through his brain.

In the past, when their relationship hadn’t been as close, such words wouldn’t have mattered.

But now, things were different.

They were at a stage where certain words carried much more weight.

He couldn’t just let this hang in the air.

“B-because you’re too beautiful,” Leon said quickly. “You’re so beautiful that you completely exceed my standards.”

He anxiously watched her reaction.

Sure enough, women are auditory creatures, and dragon queens were no exception.

Rosvisser suppressed a smile, teasing, “Oh, so now being too beautiful is my fault? Then why don’t you find someone less beautiful and stop bothering me?”

“No way. Who’d want someone less beautiful when they can have someone like you?”

Leon grinned, pulling out a chair to sit beside her. “As the saying goes, ‘How can a woman protected by a lion fall for a dog?’”

The queen raised her eyebrow, resting her chin in her hand. “And?”

“And how can a man blessed by an angel settle for less?”

General Leon had once again pulled out a perfectly tailored line.

“Who blessed you, dummy? Don’t make things up.”

Rosvisser, except when she was jealous, was easy to appease. Once given an out, she’d let it go, and Leon was silently grateful.

Though, unbeknownst to him, only *he* had the privilege to make peace with her so easily.

Anyone else? Dream on!

The brief interruption over, Rosvisser slowly raised her wine glass. “Now, let’s begin our truth-telling game, shall we?”

Leon glanced down at the red wine.

It seemed there would be no escaping the wine tonight.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

After a pause, Leon added, “But this time, you can’t force me to say... weird things.”

Rosvisser smiled sweetly. “Alright, I won’t force you. Cheers~”

She raised her glass toward him.

Leon picked up his glass and clinked it gently against hers.

After the toast, they each took a sip.

The wine was rich and full-bodied. Even though Leon didn’t drink often, he could tell this was one of her finest vintages.

“First question...”

Rosvisser turned to face Leon, leaning her arm on the table, her other hand supporting her delicate face. Her silver hair fell softly around her as her bright eyes locked on the man in front of her.

“In the past two years... have you fallen in love with someone?”

“...”

*Whoa, starting off with such a loaded question?*

Leon looked down at his wine glass, wondering if it had somehow turned into a liquid version of a truth serum

. How else could a question have this much power?

“Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t force me to say weird things?”

“I’m not forcing you. I’m just asking if you’ve fallen in love with someone.”

Rosvisser had a point. “I didn’t say who. Why are you so flustered?”

Leon was speechless.

Alright, fine. You win. What can I do but give in?

Blushing, Leon lowered his head, staring at the floor of the balcony. He muttered, “Yes.”

“Louder, I didn’t hear you.”

“Yes!”

“Yes what? Say the whole sentence.”

“...In the past two years, I have fallen in love with someone.”

Rosvisser smiled, satisfied. “Hmm, that’s a tough one. I wonder who that someone could be~”

*Haha, Your Majesty, you’re so funny,* Leon thought to himself.

“Your turn to ask,” Rosvisser said generously.

“Alright. What about you? Have you fallen in love with someone?”

Leon returned the question.

Rosvisser seemed to have anticipated this.

She calmly took another sip of wine before softly replying, “What do you think?”

Her alcohol tolerance was always good, but she blushed easily. After one sip, a rosy hue spread across her fair cheeks.

Rosvisser gazed at Leon with half-lidded eyes, her silver irises sparkling with mischief and warmth.

Her intense stare made Leon feel hot and uncomfortable. He quickly looked away, awkwardly replying, “H-how should I know if you’ve fallen in love with someone...?”

“You know. You definitely know. Now say it.”

“Say what?”

“Say whether or not I’ve fallen in love with someone.”

Wait—

Wasn’t he supposed to be asking her questions?

Why did she expect him to answer his own question?

“Come on, Rosvisser, be reasonable. I asked you.”

“I don’t care, I just want to hear you say it.”

Rosvisser had perfected the art of playful defiance.

“Have I fallen in love with someone, Leon?”

*Ugh...*

This was so awkward.

If he said no, Rosvisser would flip the table and start a fight.

But if he said yes, the identity of “someone” would be painfully obvious...

And honestly, this kind of answer was so embarrassing!

“Well? Have I fallen in love with you—I mean—someone?”

Rosvisser nearly slipped, accidentally revealing her true feelings. She giggled, correcting herself.

Leon sighed, unable to win against her. He nodded.

“Yes, Rosvisser, in these two years, you’ve fallen in love with someone. Satisfied?”

“Hmph. Next question...”

*Compatibility test? Truth game?*

It was all just part of their playful romance.