The next morning, Leon slowly opened his eyes.
Before he could even try to sit up, a familiar soreness spread through his whole body.
Especially in his lower back.
To be precise, his kidneys.
Oh dear, the ache was both sour and deep.
It felt like Leon's kidneys could be taken out, grilled, and they would still taste sour.
After saving up his energy for six months and spending it all in one night—maybe even overdrawing a bit—waking up safe and sound was nothing short of a miracle.
After lying still for a while and getting used to the soreness in his limbs, Leon gritted his teeth, pushed himself up, and sat on the edge of the bed.
The room had already been cleaned, and the bedsheets were changed to a fresh set.
Leon frowned slightly. The sheets were new, but he was still in bed. That meant Rossweise must have moved him out of bed while he was asleep, changed the sheets, and then put him back.
So this soreness in my limbs… might not be entirely from last night's activities?
Damn dragoness, how dare you treat me like this? Is this how you repay your savior?
While cursing silently, Leon heard a sound from the dressing table.
He turned to look and saw Rossweise sitting at the dressing table, her back straight, her silver hair flowing down.
A ray of morning sunlight fell on her side, casting her shadow onto the wooden floor.
Dust particles in the light danced like playful sprites around Rossweise.
She calmly applied her makeup, her slender, agile fingers skillfully handling various brushes and pads.
Leon was actually a typical 'impatient' straight guy. In the past, he never liked going shopping with his 'mistress' or picking through countless cosmetics. He felt it was a waste of time.
But interestingly, he never found Rossweise's makeup routine boring. There was something special about this woman when she put on her makeup—so calm, so elegant.
Every movement of hers seemed casual yet full of charm. Staring at her for too long could easily make one enchanted. It was as if, even if the world were ending the next second, it would have to wait for her, the Silver Dragon Queen, to finish her makeup.
Or maybe it was because she was quiet and seemed to enjoy the process—a rare state for her.
Most of the time, she was busy, exhausting herself both physically and mentally. After finishing her makeup, Rossweise fixed her hair, completing her morning preparations. She slowly stood up, turned to look at the large bed, and said, "Oh, you are awake."
Leon sniffed and silently looked away, ignoring her. Rossweise raised an eyebrow, thinking, Did he get upset after my teasing last night? What is there to be upset about? Your past, your present, and your future will all be under my playful fingers. You will just have to get used to it.
Rossweise leisurely walked to the other side of the large bed, placing herself in Leon's line of sight.
This time, Leon did not turn his head away because he knew that if he avoided her again, she might just climb onto the bed. It was better to accept the situation.
Leon looked Rossweise over carefully. Her silver hair was casually braided and hung over her chest. She wore a dark sleeveless dress, slightly tight, showing off her curvaceous figure.
The thin straps rested on her shoulders, and because of her full figure, two patches of fair skin were visible on her chest. The silver dragon tattoo on her chest extended into the subtle curves, making people's imaginations run wild.
The queen crossed her arms, a playful smile on her face, quietly enjoying Leon's scrutiny. She rarely wore this style of dress before, but now that she did, it explosively highlighted her mature charm.
Wait a minute. Leon frowned. Since when did the concept of 'mature' come from a long-lived species?
Rossweise's current vibe… clearly had the feel of a married woman!
The calm, mature makeup, the serene expression, and that twisted braid, just like the essence of a 'married woman.'
Was she planning to change her style after having her second child? Switching to a married woman look?
Before Leon could figure it out, he watched as Rossweise slowly bent down, her hands on the soft bed, and leaned forward gradually. Like a cautious little cat, she crawled onto the bed, inching closer to Leon.
Leon shrank back a little. "What… What are you doing? It is morning, and the girls will be in soon."
"Why are you nervous? I am not going to do anything to you," Rossweise said with a smile. "Besides, we already did everything we needed to do last night."
Leon rolled his eyes at her and relaxed a bit. Then he asked, "What is with your outfit today?"
Adjusting her posture, Rossweise sat sideways on the bed, tilting her head and smiling at Leon. Instead of answering, she asked, "Do you think it looks good?"
Leon hesitated for a moment. "It is… okay."
Rossweise immediately lost her smile. "I will give you another chance to say that."
Leon stood his ground. "Even if you give me ten chances, this outfit is still—"
Rossweise cut him off. "Tonight, I will let our youngest daughter sleep with Noah and Muen again."
In an instant, Leon's expression changed. "This outfit is absolutely stunning, gorgeous, top-notch!"
"A real man knows when to bend," Rossweise said.
"Actually, I thought, now that we have our third child, I should dress more maturely. That way, when people see us, they will think we look more like a real family. What do you think?"
Leon blinked and nodded. "Makes sense. Should I stop working out and grow a beer belly, then wear a white tank top every day, smoke cheap cigarettes, hold a newspaper, and spend half an hour in the bathroom?"
"You can describe middle-aged, greasy men in such detail. Have you had any personal experience?"
"I am only twenty-three. I do not look like I have been through a midlife crisis, do I?"
"Heh… I advise you to watch your words. As my captive, you have an obligation to maintain good physical shape."
"Since when do captives have that obligation?"
"Well, other captives have been executed. Why do you think I have not executed you yet?"
"Because you cannot bear to."
"No, I want you to be my captive for life, never dreaming of escape."
"How did we go from talking about outfits to discussing being lifelong captives?"
After a few back-and-forths, the couple simultaneously and silently fell quiet, then quietly looked at each other.
Black and silver eyes met for a long time. Finally, the two of them could not help but laugh together.
Their marriage might be fabricated, even fake, but the unique understanding and harmony between them were real.
However, they believed this was just the understanding that archenemies should have.
But whether they were archenemies or destined partners, who could really say?