Night fell quietly.
Leon watched the maids and doctors gathered around the large bed, trying to catch a glimpse of Rossweise through the gaps in the crowd.
But they surrounded their queen so tightly that Leon could only hear the faint, pained moans coming from her direction.
It usually takes about eight to ten hours from the onset of contractions to a successful delivery.
During these ten hours, the pain Rossweise would have to endure was unimaginable for Leon as a man.
He had read many educational books on pregnancy and prenatal care, understanding just how excruciating childbirth could be for a woman.
At the same time, he felt a profound sense of helplessness.
He couldn't offer much help; everything was left to the professional doctors and maids.
Hearing their mother's soft, pained moans, his two daughters grew increasingly anxious.
"Daddy… is Mommy in a lot of pain?"
Muen clutched Leon's sleeve, her large eyes glistening with tears, her voice trembling slightly. "Muen doesn't want a new baby anymore… Muen just wants Mommy not to be in pain…"
Leon lowered his head, holding Muen's cold little hand and gently stroking her hair. "It's alright… Muen, don't worry. Mommy… will be fine."
His mind was in turmoil, completely at a loss for words. Any attempt at comfort felt pale and powerless in that moment.
Fortunately, Noah was a very competent older sister. She hugged her sister, letting her lean on her shoulder, gently patting her back, and whispering soft words of comfort.
Leon looked at his two daughters and hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Noah, Muen, let Daddy take you back to your rooms first. When Mommy is done, I'll call for you, okay?"
Right now, it was just the beginning of the contractions. In a few hours, Rossweise's pain would be far greater than it was now. It was enough that his daughters wanted to be with their mother; Leon didn't want them to endure this torment alongside him.
Hearing this, Noah gently tugged Muen's hand and softly asked if she wanted to go back and see Mommy later. Muen sniffled and nodded.
"Alright, then Daddy will take you back."
Leon stood up, holding his daughters' hands, one on each side, and quietly left Rossweise's bedroom.
He gently closed the door and led his daughters toward their shared room. The cool air in the hallway offered a slight sense of relief.
Leon closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
But before he could fully savor this brief moment of respite, a loud crash came from the hallway window.
Before Leon could react, a body engulfed in flames crashed down in front of him like a cannonball.
Shards of broken glass flew before his eyes, the intense heat scorching his face. His dark pupils widened in disbelief at the scene before him.
It was an attack!
The instincts of a top-tier Dragon Slayer kicked in. Realizing what was happening, Leon immediately regained his composure. Before his daughters could react, he covered their eyes.
Startled by the loud noise, Muen instinctively clung to Leon.
She gripped her father's pant leg tightly and asked anxiously, "Dad, Daddy… what happened?"
Leon gently covered his daughters' eyes, careful not to press too hard and frighten them further. He quickly assessed the charred corpse before him. The tail and armor were still smoldering, revealing it to be a guard of the Silver Dragon Clan.
Without a doubt, the Silver Dragon Temple was under attack.
"But why now, of all times…" he muttered, hearing hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Are you and the princesses alright?" It was Milan, rushing toward them.
When she saw the corpse of her clansman in the hallway, her face also showed a look of horror.
Leon moved to stand in front of Noah and Muen, using his body to block their view of the corpse. "Don't look back. Go with Sister Milan back to Mommy's room."
Noah's breathing was uneven. Given her intelligence, she had likely deduced what was happening. Nevertheless, she bravely took her sister's hand and, under Milan's protection, returned to Rossweise's room.
Leon then stood up and walked to the broken window, gazing into the distance. Although dusk had passed half an hour ago and the sky had darkened, a red glow on the horizon ominously signaled an impending crisis.
The Silver Dragon Temple responded swiftly to the attack. As soon as the assault began, they immediately mobilized. All elite guards gathered around the temple, and two silver dragons began circling overhead.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. Leon turned toward the noise and saw several guards and a maid coming to handle the body. The maid hurried into Rossweise's bedroom.
Leon followed her inside.
"Head Maid, it's… it's a surprise attack by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan!" the maid reported, her voice trembling. She bore multiple burn wounds, evidence of a recent battle.
Anna's brow furrowed deeply. "The Crimson Flame Dragon Clan? Constantine? Why would he suddenly attack the Silver Dragon Clan? And…"
She glanced at the bed where the queen was in labor.
Rossweise had her eyes tightly shut, her delicate face covered in sweat, her expression clearly showing pain.
"And why now, when Her Majesty is at her weakest…?"
But there was no time for Anna to analyze Constantine's motives. The mad dragon had been running rampant for the past year, attacking cities and territories without restraint.
"What happened… Anna…" Rossweise slowly opened her eyes, struggling to speak.
Anna pressed her lips together and said softly, "We are under a surprise attack by Constantine, Your Majesty. I will arrange for our forces to defend us. Please, focus on the delivery; everything will be fine."
"Constantine… no, I need to… I need to be with you—"
Rossweise's breathing was heavy, her silver eyes trembling as she tried to sit up, but the doctor beside her quickly stopped her.
"Your Majesty, you must not move right now, or it will be dangerous for both you and the baby," the doctor said sternly.
Rossweise collapsed back onto the bed, the pain in her abdomen making it impossible for her to think clearly.
But she subconsciously murmured, "My daughters… my daughters… Leon, Leon!"
The maid and the doctor automatically made way.
Leon moved through the crowd and approached the bed, gazing solemnly at the pale-faced Rossweise. She half-opened her eyes, looking at Leon, her lips trembling. "Leon… protect our daughters…"
She knew Constantine's strength and understood the urgency of the situation. But she also knew that only Leon could protect their daughters, even if it meant risking his own life.
"I will, Rossweise. I promise you," he said, his voice firm.
He had never made a promise to Rossweise before. This was the first time. He hoped it wouldn't be the last.
"Your Highness, for safety, we plan to evacuate Her Majesty through the rear mountain. Please bring the princesses and follow us," Anna said.
With Rossweise about to give birth and unable to issue orders, everything fell on Anna's shoulders. Fortunately, she was up to the task.
After a brief moment of panic, Anna immediately devised a plan. The combat strength of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan was among the best of the dragon clans. Moreover, with the queen at her weakest, facing them head-on without a leader wouldn't last long. A temporary evacuation was the best option.
However, Anna had underestimated Constantine. This wasn't just a spontaneous attack; it was… premeditated.
Just as they were preparing to evacuate Rossweise, the maid at the door came in again to report, "Head Maid, the front and rear of the temple are surrounded by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan. Even the secret passages have been destroyed, and…"
Boom!
Before the maid could finish, everyone heard a deafening explosion from above.
The next moment, a massive shadow plummeted from outside the window, crashing heavily into the front courtyard of the Silver Dragon Temple.
The impact of the dragon's body caused a powerful tremor.
Leon steadied himself and tightly held his daughters' hands as he looked out the window. A silver dragon had been pierced through the chest by a fireball, its blood staining the trees and bushes in the courtyard.
It was the same dragon guard that had been circling overhead just moments ago, now slain by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan.
With the fall of the dragon guard, it meant that not only was the ground surrounded, but the airspace of the Silver Dragon Clan had also been seized by the enemy.
The speed of the attack was astonishing, as if no tactics, reconnaissance, or intelligence were needed.
Anna clenched her fists, biting her lip.
"Gather all elite guards and swear to defend the temple to the death!"
At this point, with no way to retreat or escape, there was no other choice but to fight to the end.
Ten minutes ago, everyone in the Silver Dragon Temple had been bustling about, preparing for the queen's delivery.
Ten minutes later, a life-and-death battle had erupted without warning.
Everything happened so suddenly, like a ludicrous farce.
Anna began issuing detailed combat orders:
"Order Shirley to command all elite guard units under her and spare no effort to stop the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's invasion."
"Dispatch four squads from my maid team to attempt a breakout from the rear mountain. Our priority is still to evacuate Her Majesty."
"At the same time, mobilize all messenger dragons in the temple. Request assistance from neighboring dragon clans and the Red Dragon Clan."
"Lastly, I will personally go to the battlefield to buy time for Her Majesty's delivery."
"Is everything clear? Understood… then go and carry out your orders."
The maids and guards responded in unison, their voices resolute. They knew the stakes—this was a battle to protect their queen and the future of the Silver Dragon Clan.
As Anna finished speaking, she turned to Leon. "Your Highness, I leave Her Majesty and the princesses in your hands."
Leon met her gaze and nodded solemnly. "I will protect them with my life."
Outside, the sounds of battle grew louder—the roar of flames, the clash of weapons, and the cries of dragons filled the air. The Crimson Flame Dragon Clan was closing in.
Leon looked at Rossweise, who was gripping the sheets in pain, and then at his terrified daughters. A surge of determination washed over him.
He was no longer just a prisoner or a pawn in their twisted game. He was a father, a protector, and he would do whatever it took to keep his family safe.
The battle for the Silver Dragon Temple had begun, and Leon Cosmodeous would stand at its heart, a Dragon Slayer turned guardian, ready to face the flames of war.