It was past eleven on Tuesday night. In less than an hour, Rossweise's 218th birthday would be over. But the birthday girl still had not come home.
Leon had originally planned to bring Muen along. He wanted to surprise the mother and daughter. He wanted to make up for last year, when Muen missed seeing him wake up on Rossweise's birthday.
But it was so late now. Muen had been asleep for a long time. Noah had returned to St. Heath Academy yesterday morning.
Tomorrow, when Muen woke up, he could happily tell her, "Guess what, sweetheart? Dad managed to catch Mom's birthday this year!"
Muen would be thrilled. But that was tomorrow. What about tonight?
The main reason Leon had agreed to organize Rossweise's birthday was because she had brought up their daughters.
But now, with the daughters either at school or asleep, it felt like he had organized this whole surprise just for Rossweise.
Leon sat on the sofa in Rossweise's room and sniffed. "Crafty Mother Dragon. Next year, I won't bother with your birthday at all."
For now, he would just make do. Yes, just make do.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Rossweise was walking to her room, carrying several gift boxes.
Although adult dragons only held a big banquet every ten years, it didn't mean they got no gifts on the actual day.
The boxes in her arms held presents from her sister Isabella, from the head maid Anna, and from a few female classmates she had been close to in her school days.
She had stayed late at work to handle some matters. That was why she was only returning now.
She had thought about checking on her daughter, but Muen was usually asleep by this hour, so Rossweise decided not to.
Besides… she hadn't seen Leon all day, except at dinner. Was he hiding because he felt he had messed up her birthday?
Rossweise shook her head, deciding not to think about it. It seemed tonight would just end quietly, with nothing special.
She reached her room and went to open the door, only to find it slightly ajar. The room inside was dark.
Her hands full of boxes, Rossweise blinked. She thought for a moment, then pushed the door open with her shoulder. "Leon, are you in my room—"
Boom!
The moment she stepped inside, the lights suddenly blazed on. A muffled sound followed, and several party streamers fluttered down onto her silver hair.
The sudden noise gave her a slight start. Before she could react, a pair of hands covered her eyes from behind. It was Leon. She knew his touch very well.
In the entire Silver Dragon Temple, besides him, no one would dare barge into her room and blindfold her.
Honestly, where was the proper behavior of a captive? Then again, captives weren't supposed to celebrate their master's birthday. Thinking this, she felt a little better.
"Happy birthday, Mother Dragon," said the familiar voice behind her.
Rossweise didn't struggle. She just stood quietly, still holding the gifts.
Hah. This scoundrel. He had actually managed to surprise her.
After a brief flicker of joy, she teased him. "Wouldn't it be better if you replaced 'Mother Dragon' with my name?"
"Next time, I promise."
Rossweise chuckled. "So, is it a human custom to blindfold someone for a birthday?"
"Not entirely," Leon thought about it. "Now, walk slowly toward the living room. There's another surprise for you."
Rossweise shrugged and began to move slowly. Leon stood behind her, guiding her and watching her steps. "Lift your feet a little higher. There's a step here."
"Okay."
Side by side, the couple slowly entered the living room. Rossweise sniffed the air and smelled burning candles. She was puzzled. Did humans light candles for birthdays? Was this another custom?
But just as she was about to ask, she caught another, fainter scent mixed in…
"A creamy smell?!"
Cream.
Damn it.
The moment Rossweise thought of cream, her whole dragon body tensed.
The memory of being pelted with cream puffs at the school sports day was still vivid. The mere scent of cream now made her want to run.
"I know what you're thinking, but it's not that," Leon reassured her, his hands still over her eyes. "Are you ready? I'm letting go now."
"Okay," she replied, already planning to smear a cream puff on Leon's face if that was what she saw.
The next moment, Leon slowly removed his hands. After her eyes adjusted to the light, Rossweise looked down and saw a huge cake in the middle of the living room!
The cake was at least as big as a coffee table, which explained the strong cream smell. It was decorated with small pieces of fruit, mostly oranges, strawberries, and mangoes.
On the top layer, a message was written in jam: "Happy Birthday, Rossweise."
Rossweise looked at the spectacle before her and couldn't help but marvel slightly. She had seen many cakes and received many birthday wishes before.
But to combine them and make a cake so ridiculously large was a first. Rossweise set down the gifts she was holding. "Do humans always eat cake on birthdays?"
"Yeah, it's a tradition," Leon said.
Rossweise nodded thoughtfully. "Are they all this big?"
"No, not all of them. This is what I meant about the details being different."
"I only see a cake bigger than my coffee table. What details?"
"The candles. Count them. There are exactly two hundred and eighteen, one for each year of your age."
There were indeed many candles. No wonder Leon had needed such a big cake; a smaller one couldn't have held over two hundred candles.
She approached the massive cake, the candlelight flickering in her silver eyes.
She didn't fully understand these human customs, but the novelty of it all left her quite satisfied. She was impressed Leon had managed to prepare such a large cake in secret in just a few days.
Was he truly the greatest dragon slayer? He was too good at hiding his tracks. She had really thought he was trying to avoid her.
Rossweise reached out a delicate finger, scooped up a little cream, and tasted it. It was very sweet, but not overwhelming.
It was a thousand times better than a cream puff. The sweetness lifted her mood, and she smiled. She turned to Leon. "You did a good job. Human birthdays… are quite interesting."
"It's not over yet," Leon said.
Rossweise's eyes lit up. "There's more?"
She found herself unexpectedly looking forward to what other surprises humans had.
Seeing Leon's sly smile, Rossweise walked with him to the cake. He pointed at the candles. "Now, blow out the candles and make a wish."
"Huh? Why do I have to blow them out to make a wish? And… do birthday wishes really come true?"
"It's not a guarantee, it's for good luck. And you have to blow out the candles before you can move the cake."
Rossweise looked at the 218 candles and swallowed nervously. "Do I have to blow them all out? Can't I skip it?"
"No. You said you wanted to strictly follow human customs."
Leon's smile turned mischievous. "Your Majesty, please blow."
Rossweise squinted at him. All the joy and gratitude she had felt a moment ago vanished. Dog of a man. I knew you wouldn't be sincerely nice.
Fine, she would blow. But if he wanted to play games, she wouldn't let him off easy either.
She grabbed Leon's arm, pulling him down with her in front of the cake. "Let's blow them out together."
"Why do I have to blow out the candles on your birthday?" Leon's heart skipped a beat as he tried to resist.
"Blowing out candles with your queen should be an honor for a captive, shouldn't it?"
"…"
"Hurry up."
Rossweise tugged his sleeve, her expression determined. She wouldn't let go until he blew.
Fine. He had dug this hole for himself.
The couple exchanged a look. They took a deep breath at the same time, filling their lungs, and blew at the 218 candles.
Huff— Huff— Cough, cough!
One by one, the candles went out. By the time the last one was extinguished, both of them were completely out of breath.
They leaned on each other's shoulders, gasping for air.
After catching her breath, Rossweise glared at him. "Humans are so boring! What kind of custom is this?!"
"Hey, normally there are only a dozen or two candles, maybe twenty-something. Who has hundreds like you dragons?"
Rossweise scoffed and straightened up. "And then? Make a wish over the cake?"
"Yeah."
"Can I wish for anything?"
Leon nodded. "Yes. But it's just for good luck. There's no science to it, so don't blame me if it doesn't come true."
"Oh… Can I say my wish out loud?"
"Up to you."
Rossweise turned to the cake, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands together. "I wish—"
Leon listened intently, curious about what the Mother Dragon would wish for.
"—that my captive never escapes."
Leon rolled his eyes, rendered utterly speechless.
"Mother Dragon, wishes don't work like that!"
"You mind your own business. It's my birthday, and I'll wish for whatever I want."
Leon waved a hand, not willing to argue. He picked up the large cake knife nearby. "We can eat the cake now. Which piece do you want?"
Rossweise rubbed her chin, her gaze moving over the huge cake. It finally settled on the words 'Happy Birthday.' "This part."
Leon cut that piece and handed it to Rossweise. Then he cut out the part with her name from the message and put it on his own plate.
Rossweise frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Eating Rossweise," Leon replied calmly.
"You…!"
He took a big bite. The jam inside was tart and sweet.
After swallowing, he couldn't help but comment, "Rossweise tastes really good!"
Rossweise gritted her teeth. She swore that when Leon's birthday came, she would cut out his name and smear it all over his face. Then she would make him eat it!
The cake-eating session soon ended.
Rossweise put her hands on her hips, counting on her fingers. "Blowing out candles, making a wish, cutting the cake, eating the cake. All done. Hmm…"
Leon tilted his head. "What's wrong? Not satisfied?"
Earlier, Rossweise had said that if she wasn't satisfied, Leon would have to think of something else.
Rossweise thought for a moment, then nodded. "Not entirely satisfied."
It had been quite fun, but she wanted to tease him a little more. She wanted to see if he had any other tricks.
"What's wrong?" Leon asked.
Rossweise looked around. Her gaze finally landed on the pile of gifts she had brought in. She asked, "What about my birthday present from you?"
"When dragons celebrate, there are no cakes, no wishes, but you do have the tradition of giving gifts, right?" Leon couldn't resist teasing.
Rossweise snorted lightly. "Forget it if there's none. This birthday barely qualifies as you doing your job."
Barely qualifies?
Sorry, but "barely qualifies" did not exist in Leon Cosmodeous's dictionary!
He gestured toward the balcony with his chin. "Follow me."
"What for?" Rossweise asked.
"To see the gift I got for you," Leon replied.
With that, Leon walked out onto the balcony. Rossweise followed him.
The couple stood side by side, looking up at the deep night sky.
"Where's the gift?" Rossweise asked.
Instead of answering, Leon slowly raised his right hand, ready to snap his fingers.
"What does that mean?" Rossweise asked, confused.
Snap—
A brilliant blue light shot up from the distant woods, piercing the night sky.
Rossweise looked toward the light. "Is that… lightning?"
The dazzling blue light was reflected in the Silver Dragon Queen's eyes. Under her gaze, the light gradually converged, separated, and recombined.
Finally, it formed a short sentence written in lightning across the night sky:
"Rossweise, Happy Birthday."
On her 218th birthday, with just one minute left, Leon Cosmodeous had written this blessing for her across the heavens. It was unique, and it was fleeting.
So, when he was standing on her balcony a few days ago, he was choosing the right angle… This guy… He really had put thought into it.
But lightning couldn't last long, not even with magic. The "happy birthday" made of lightning lasted less than five seconds before fading into the vast night.
But it was enough.
"Only things that are fleeting—" Rossweise murmured softly.
Leon finished the sentence for her. "—have a meaning worth cherishing."
She turned her head. "Did Anna tell you that?"
"Anna told me. And from your reaction, I know you're satisfied," Leon said.
Rossweise didn't argue. She nodded. "Yes. Very satisfied. I didn't expect you to be so good at organizing birthdays."
"Of course," Leon said proudly.
"Oh? How so?"
Leon puffed out his chest. "I've always been the one to organize my Donkey's birthdays. I'm quite skilled at it."
If it weren't for the beautiful lightning blessing he had just given her, Rossweise would have kicked him off the balcony right then and there.