A silver dragon soared through the sky, crossing mountains and rivers, leaving human territory and returning to the realm of dragons.
Leon lay on Rossweise's back, listening to the rush of wind in his ears and feeling the rhythm of her dragon wings.
He quietly reached out and gently stroked the dragon's back beneath him.
The scales were cool to the touch, yet surprisingly comforting.
Leon slowly closed his eyes. At this moment, he had countless questions for Rossweise, but he also knew now was not the time.
Throughout the journey, Rossweise didn't initiate any conversation, flying in silence.
It was like a few days ago when she had sent Leon back—both of them wordless.
But this silence was different from before.
It was like a question they had always avoided and denied, but under the circumstances, they had unexpectedly arrived at an unforeseen yet reasonable answer.
Although they still didn't want to face this answer, in the past, they avoided it because they didn't want to; now, they avoided it because they didn't dare.
Even the strongest human and the Silver Dragon Queen had things they dared not face. It would be quite embarrassing to say it aloud.
After about two hours, Leon felt Rossweise gradually slowing down and descending.
He sat up and looked down.
Although he could see the Silver Dragon Temple, it was still quite a distance away. From this position, even if Rossweise slowed down, she wouldn't be able to reach the temple.
Before Leon could ask what she was planning, Rossweise gently landed on the ground.
She lowered her massive dragon form, and Leon leaped lightly from her back.
Then, Rossweise also transformed into her human form.
She was still wearing the same dress she had on when she sent Leon off that day, though there were some stains of mud on the hem.
Her beautiful face also looked slightly tired and weary.
"She said she never left, meaning… she had been waiting for him in that forest all these days," Leon thought.
Rossweise didn't say anything, just walked to a clump of bushes, sat down, then snapped her fingers, conjuring a small dragon flame to ignite the dry wood in front of her.
As the campfire crackled to life, its light illuminated her delicate yet weary face.
"After being drenched in the rain for so long, come warm yourself by the fire," she said.
"Uh… alright."
Leon walked over and sat on the bush next to her, keeping some distance between them.
Rossweise's face remained expressionless. She glanced at Leon, then at the empty space beside her.
Everything was understood without words.
Leon immediately shifted closer, shuffling over on his bottom with small steps.
The couple sat side by side, the warm flames driving away the chill from their bodies, bringing comfort and coziness.
The wood crackled, and Rossweise propped her chin with one hand, gazing silently into the fire. The flames reflected in her silver eyes, making her pupils look like exquisite, precious gemstones.
Leon pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, "Were you… waiting for me all this time?"
Rossweise nodded. "Initially, I intended to wait for you for only three days. When three days passed, regardless of whether you returned or not, I was going to leave."
Hearing this, Leon counted the days. "But it's been… four or five days since I returned to the Empire?"
"Yes, I waited for you for two extra days."
Leon's pupils flickered. "What if I had been delayed in the Empire for a few more days…?"
"Before I left, I instructed Anna that I might be away with His Highness the Prince for a while. I told her not to worry and to take good care of the daughters during this time."
Leon nodded thoughtfully. It was indeed Rossweise's style to consider every detail. She wouldn't simply leave home for several days without making arrangements.
However, Rossweise's answer… seemed to miss the point. Leon didn't hear the answer he truly wanted. But he couldn't pester Rossweise like an infatuated young boy. That would seem immature. Adults didn't need everything spelled out so clearly.
Rossweise glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. After being together for so long, could Leon's little thoughts really be hidden from her?
"If you're delayed by two days, I'll wait for two more days; if you're delayed by ten days, I'll wait for ten more days; if you're delayed by half a year—"
Leon paused. "You'd wait for me for half a year?"
"You're quite optimistic, aren't you?" Rossweise reached out and pinched Leon's ear.
"Who has such a big face to make this queen wait for so many days, eating and sleeping in the wilderness? Waiting for you for this long is already considerate enough. Do you really want me to turn into a stone statue of a waiting wife?"
His ear being pinched hurt a bit, but more than that… it made him happy.
Yes, happy. That was the simple, plain adjective.
And right now, Leon probably understood his master's feelings from back then.
Back then, although his master's freedom was restricted by his mistress's numerous rules—even needing permission to smoke—his master was still cheerful every day, saying that being controlled by his wife was another kind of happiness in life, something you'd understand when you grew up.
Leon didn't know if "now" counted as the "grown-up" his master spoke of, but… let's just say it did.
Until Leon's ears turned slightly red, Rossweise thought she had pinched him too hard and immediately let go.
But after letting go, the queen noticed that he wasn't just blushing at the ears.
"Hmph, idiot."
Rossweise lightly bumped his shoulder. "Take off your shirt."
"Uh… uh?! What, what for?"
Between more open-minded couples, there's usually a "safe word" to stop uncomfortable experiences at critical moments. But for this pair of hapless spouses, not only did they lack a so-called safe word in their lives, they had even developed a whole new set of "start words" through their daily routines.
Words like "take off," "that's it," or "hmph, you think I won't?" When you heard these "start words," it meant tonight was going to be another passionate night.
But it seemed things weren't as Leon thought.
"Take it off to dry your clothes, or it'll be uncomfortable to wear them wet."
"Oh…"
Leon crossed his arms, pinched the corners of his shirt, and took it off.
He stood up, holding his shirt in front of the fire to dry.
"Why does it seem like you've come back from a trip to your hometown, but your brain hasn't fully returned yet?" Rossweise muttered, standing up as well. She took Leon's shirt and found a suitable branch from behind the bushes to hang it on.
"Isn't this better? No need to stand there all the time," she said.
Leon scratched his head. "Uh… good idea."
The couple stood side by side in front of the fire. Leon, shirtless, felt the warmth of the flames directly covering his body, warming him all over.
"Ah, are you injured?" Rossweise looked at Leon's waist and abdomen, asking with concern.
"What? No… where?" Leon asked.
"Here."
As she spoke, Rossweise reached toward Leon's waist. Her slightly cool, soft palm gently touched his abdominal muscles, and she leaned in closer.
Her slender fingers lightly traced Leon's skin, while her other hand subtly supported his lower back. She rested her delicate chin on his arm, her soft chest pressing against his arms. Her silver eyes gazed at his profile.
"Ah, I must have been mistaken," she said, getting very close, her body heat replacing the warmth of the fire.
Ah, the cunning mother dragon.
Leon gently placed his hand on Rossweise's back, pressing her palm more firmly against his abdomen.
Then, he reached out, sliding his hand along Rossweise's slender arm, shoulder, collarbone, neck, chin, and finally stopping at her slightly blushing cheek.
Rossweise slightly turned her head and kissed Leon's palm and wrist with her warm lips, her eyes always locked on his.
Beneath those mesmerizing eyes lay an endless ambiguity.
The seductive charm of the Silver Dragon Queen was something no one could imitate, and she only showed it in front of Leon.
The hand was a sensitive area, and being kissed like that by her immediately stirred Leon's emotions.
He instinctively held the back of Rossweise's head and drew her toward him.
At the moment the sun rose above the horizon, their lips met.