"Holding hands is his lie. Embracing is the real goal."
Rossweise looked at his outstretched palm and was about to reach out her hand in response.
But before she could, the damn man directly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
The queen was already weak and exhausted, her footing unsteady. She nearly fell straight into Leon's embrace.
The sudden hug caught Rossweise completely off guard. Held in Leon's arms, she froze, her entire dragon form stiffening in shock.
Leon tightly wrapped his arms around Rossweise's slender waist, pulling her deep against his chest.
That tender, protective gesture made it seem as if Rossweise might vanish the very next second.
He said nothing, did nothing else—just held his wife close, burying his face in the crook of her neck, feeling her body warmth and her gradually quickening heartbeat.
Rossweise finally snapped back to reality.
Her face instantly flushed a bright red.
What was this about?
Ha, you, Leon Cosmodeous, are you seriously hugging me openly in front of everyone now?
It's broad daylight, with everyone here—your daughters, the maids—and you dare to hug me like this?
Then… then… I can't even imagine what you'd do when we're alone!
The Silver Dragon Queen's mind was in chaos, with only her bashful instincts remaining, guiding her body.
Her tail uncontrollably began to turn red, eventually standing straight up—like an antenna attached to her tailbone.
Truth be told, even when facing the combined assault of two great Dragon Kings earlier, Rossweise hadn't felt as flustered and sweaty as she did now, being held by Leon.
Muen blinked, then quietly covered the eyes of Little Light in her arms. "Kids shouldn't watch."
Noah walked over and covered Muen's eyes as well. "Kids shouldn't watch."
Milan quietly circled behind and covered Noah's eyes. "Kids shouldn't watch."
Alright, alright, so only the maid squad gets to watch this juicy scene, is that it?
Shirley supported Anna's arm. The head maid was covered in wounds but still didn't forget to ship her favorite couple.
"What a pity…" Anna murmured.
"What?" Shirley asked.
"I didn't bring my camera. Otherwise, I could have taken a whole photoshoot of His Majesty's shy moment."
Shirley glanced down at the bleeding wound on Anna's chest. "Head Maid, you're still bleeding… Can we stop the bleeding first before shipping the couple?"
"It's fine… a mere fatal wound! Who cares when I'm enjoying the sweet moment of my ship!"
"…Head Maid, you've been ruined by shipping for life."
.
.
.
At that moment, Rossweise was still in her "red-hot" state.
She didn't respond to Leon's embrace.
Because she didn't know how to.
Moreover, Leon was holding her so tightly she couldn't lift her arms. She could only keep them pressed stiffly against her sides, her hands barely clenched—like a penguin.
Her silver tail slowly drooped, and her tense body relaxed slightly.
"Are you just going to keep holding me without saying anything?"
"I missed you so much."
"..."
Hiss~~~ hiss~~
Was someone boiling water?
Oh~~
Turns out it was the steam rising from the queen's shyness.
"Idiot… can't you say something else with so many people around…"
"No."
"Then let me go, and we'll talk when we're alone."
"I won't."
Rossweise: "?"
"Then how do you plan to let me go?"
"If you say you missed me too, I'll let go."
"..."
The queen slowly turned her head to look at Anna and the others, who were clearly more eager to hear "I missed you too" than "I do."
If those three weren't injured, they'd probably be squealing with excitement by now.
Rossweise bit her lip.
It wasn't that she was unwilling to say it.
She was just… really too embarrassed!
Anna, Shirley, and Milan would definitely turn this piece of gossip into legend!
But, knowing this damn man's personality, if she didn't say it today, no one would be going anywhere.
Fine…
Just say it.
What was there to be afraid of?
I am the Silver Dragon Queen!
"I missed you—"
"Ahhh! She said it! She said it! Your Majesty said it! Ow—Shirley, why did you hit me?"
"Can't you wait until His Majesty finishes speaking before popping the champagne?"
"Ugh, sorry~"
.
.
.
Leon slowly released Rossweise.
It was so warm.
It was the warmth left behind by someone who had gotten shy.
"Daddy~"
Seeing that her parents had temporarily finished their affectionate moment, Muen finally seized the chance to get close to her father.
Leon turned, bent down, and picked up Muen, also holding Little Light in his arms.
"Daddy, Muen missed you so much! Muen thought you didn't want us anymore," the little dragon girl said, looking utterly pitiful.
"How could that be? Muen, didn't I just come back?" Leon paused, noticing his little treasure seemed to have put on a bit of weight recently, and asked, "Have you been eating a lot lately?"
"Mm..."
"Second sister ate lots and lots of steaks in the first month after you disappeared, Dad," Little Light explained matter-of-factly.
Leon was taken aback. "Why?"
"Because! Because… every time you left before, I'd eat steak at your funeral, and then you'd show up," Muen declared with utmost seriousness.
"..."
I see.
Steak was the summoning ritual for Dad.
He smiled and rubbed Muen's soft cheek. "Next time, we need to watch our diet. Otherwise, Daddy won't be able to carry you."
The diet was for the children's health, after all.
Muen nodded vigorously. "Got it, Daddy."
Leon smiled and then turned his attention to Little Light.
They exchanged a few glances, and finally, Leon said slowly,
"Good job, Little Light."
The little pink-haired girl blinked in confusion. "I… what did I do? Why is Dad praising me?"
"Time isn't about how much you have, but how you use it," Leon said. "You really did it, Little Light."
Before the reversal magic began, the future Noah had mentioned that Little Light had never received Leon's approval before he vanished into the spatial rift.
And for the past 20 years, Little Light had always yearned for her father's praise.
So, even though the little pink-haired girl didn't understand the full story now, Leon couldn't wait to praise his precious daughter.
To say that Aurora C. Melkvey was the MVP of this temporal salvation would be an understatement.
"Though I still don't really get it… but Dad praised me, yay!"
"Then how do you plan to repay Dad for his praise?" Leon deliberately leaned closer.
Most children would understand they should give their father a kiss in this situation, making the old man happy.
But Little Light wasn't most children.
"Alright, Daddy, take this!"
She threw a playful uppercut!
Leon had seen it coming.
But he still pretended to be defeated, all to coax a smile from his daughter.