Leon lay perfectly still, every muscle tense, his hands pressed tightly against his thighs. The dragon mark on his chest remained dormant, its usual faint glow absent. This was strange. If Rossweise was planning some kind of nocturnal ambush, the mark should have reacted by now.
So what was the dragon queen up to?
Forced to rely on his other senses, Leon listened intently. The soft rustle of silk against cotton sheets, the subtle dip of the mattress as she shifted her weight. Then, the familiar, delicate scent of her perfume filled the air around him. Strands of her silver hair cascaded down, lightly brushing against his cheek. She was close—so close he could feel the warmth of her breath. Yet, the dragon mark remained silent. This was… perplexing.
He decided to maintain his charade and observe.
"Leon." Her voice was a whisper in the darkness, soft yet deliberate. "Tell me, were you just telling my sister what she wanted to hear? Or were those promises real?"
Huh?
Why was she asking this now? And why did she seem to believe he would answer?
A memory, sharp and clear, surfaced in Leon's mind. That night she had sneaked into his room, searching for the incriminating Bunny Girl photo. She had asked him a question then, too, and he, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, had answered without thinking. The outcome of that night had been… predictable.
He had never asked her how she did it. He had assumed it was some dragon charm or trick, a spell to make a sleeping person speak their truths.
So that was her game tonight. She had waited until half-past two, the witching hour for truth, to ask questions he would never answer while awake.
Hmph. Childish dragon. But two can play at that game. Alright, my queen, let's play.
"It wasn't empty words," Leon murmured, keeping his voice low and drowsy. "It was all true."
Rossweise drew in a sharp, quiet breath. "You mean… you would take care of me? Protect me? That… that is also true?"
"Yes, it's true. I will protect you. Even if it costs me my life." Leon spun the lie effortlessly, embracing the role of the enchanted sleeper.
Under the pale moonlight, her silver eyes widened, trembling with an emotion he couldn't name. She knelt beside him, the reality of his words seeming to crash over her.
Tiger said asking questions at this hour would reveal his true heart. Does that mean… does Leon truly… care for me?
Rossweise brought a hand to her chest, feeling her heart hammer against her ribs. A flush of heat spread through her, warming her skin beneath the thin nightgown. Her cheeks grew hot.
"But we are enemies," she pressed, her voice barely a whisper. "How can you hold such feelings for an enemy without it conflicting with your very soul?"
Leon remained silent for a moment, carefully constructing his response.
"In my heart… you are no longer my enemy. You are my wife. My beloved. The person I wish to protect for all my life."
Ugh, so cheesy! Leon cringed internally, his toes curling under the blankets. He would never say such things to her in the light of day. But under the guise of this spell, he could say anything. It was all a farce, but who knew? Perhaps he could glean something from her reaction.
To Rossweise, however, every word seemed to come from the deepest, most honest part of him.
She was stunned into silence. Her mind, usually so sharp and orderly, was now a chaotic whirlwind. She didn't know what to ask next, what to say.
This changed everything. When it was a game, a performance for their daughters and the outside world, she could play the part of the wife. She could banter, she could outmaneuver him, they could torment each other as they always had. But if this was real… what was she supposed to do now?
Never underestimate the panic of a woman who had gone over two centuries without a single romance. The sheer terror of genuine affection was enough to make her tail twitch nervously at the mere thought of holding hands!
The silence stretched for a long, heavy ten seconds. Curiosity getting the better of him, Leon risked cracking an eyelid open the tiniest bit.
The great Silver Dragon Queen was frozen in place, her expression a tumultuous mix of shock, fear, fluster, and a dozen other indescribable emotions.
Oh ho ho~
Sweating now, Your Majesty?
Blushing like a maiden, Your Majesty?
At a loss for words, Your Majesty?
Does Professor Leon need to give you a lesson on handling the psychology of your archenemy?
Just as he was reveling in his small victory, Rossweise found her voice again. "So… when did your feelings for me… when did they begin to change?"
Her tone was different now—softer, laced with a shy curiosity, like a young girl asking her sweetheart when he first noticed her.
Having no prior experience with matters of the heart, Rossweise was filled with a naive and earnest longing for such things. And now, in the deep of night, with Leon—in her eyes—asleep and vulnerable, she could let down the regal facade and allow this hidden, yearning part of herself to emerge.
"From… a long time ago," Leon answered, feigning sleepiness.
"How long is 'a long time ago'? Was it during our date in Sky City?" she pressed.
"No."
"Then… was it during the incident at the hot spring?"
"Still no."
"Then when—"
She stopped herself abruptly, the words dying on her lips.
Tiger said Leon would answer any question at half-past two. But he never said Leon would hold a conversation.
Rossweise's eyes narrowed, the warmth and fluster receding from her face like a tide. Her heartbeat steadied. The hormone-addled, love-struck girl retreated back into the depths of her heart, and the cool, calculating queen returned to the forefront.
She glanced silently at the wall clock.
2:33.
The last truth-telling session had ended precisely at 2:30. The effect was supposed to last only a minute.
But it was now three minutes past, and not only was he still answering, he was bantering with her.
Hmph… You dare deceive me, Dragon Slayer?
The queen clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening imperceptibly on the bedsheets.
Fine. You want to play a game? Then I'll play.
"Hmph, fine, don't tell me. I don't even want to know," she said, adopting a tsundere tone, then added with self-deprecating mockery, "Could it have been… after I wore that bunny suit?"
"No," Leon replied, still oblivious to his exposed ruse.
"Oh? It wasn't?" Perfect. That's the answer I wanted.
Rossweise chuckled inwardly, but on the surface, she feigned disappointment. "Oh, I thought it was because of the bunny suit. If it were, I would have put it on for you right away."
Leon's heart skipped a beat. Was there truly such a reward?
"Since you've sworn to protect me, I should reward you, shouldn't I?" Rossweise continued, fully committed to her performance. "If you were awake right now, I would definitely show you the bunny suit. Ah, what a shame… you're asleep. Too bad~ What a pity~"
The bunny suit.
Leon discreetly swallowed. How could he resist the allure of a classic skin making a return?
But he was wary. This could easily be a trap. The moment he "woke up," she would likely rescind the offer. If he later questioned her about the promised reward, she would know immediately that he had been pretending. The consequences would be… troublesome.
With an internal sigh, Leon reluctantly let the tantalizing image of the bunny suit fade away.
Seeing no reaction from him, Rossweise tilted her head. He's not taking the bait? It seems the temptation isn't strong enough.
The queen's mind, ever resourceful, conjured a new strategy. "Oh, I know. I could go put on the bunny suit right now. Then, when you wake up tomorrow morning, it will be a surprise."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Leon felt the mattress shift. Her scent began to fade. The soft sound of bare feet on the floor, the whisper of the wardrobe door opening, the rustle of fabric…
And then, the distinct, seductive sound of stockings being drawn up over skin.
She… she was actually going to put on the bunny suit?!
Leon swallowed again, hard. Even if she said he could see it in the morning, who could resist a classic skin available for a limited midnight preview?
What if… he just took a tiny peek?
Just one quick glance,secretly, quietly. She would never know.
Gathering his courage, Leon cautiously cracked his eyes open.
But within his limited line of sight, he saw nothing.
She wasn't by the bed,not on the sofa, not at the vanity.
The room had fallen into an eerie, complete silence.
Frowning, Leon opened his eyes fully, his gaze sweeping across the darkened bedroom.
There was no sign of Rossweise.
Hesitating for a beat, he slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Huh? Where did she go?"
In the next instant, a chilling presence materialized behind him. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Before he could even turn, a pair of gleaming silver dragon eyes locked onto him from the shadows.
"You're finally awake, darling~"