It was during those nights that they realized, in terms of appearance, they both fit each other's XP perfectly—
Ahem, that's not the point.
The point was—
"When Noah enrolled, we already took the test, do we have to do it again?" Leon asked.
Rossweise nodded, "If a dragon family has two children and both participate in the academy's tests, and the gap between the two tests is less than a year, then parents don't need to undergo another cooperation test."
"But if it's more than a year, then we have to take the test again."
Leon raised an eyebrow, "There's such a rule…"
"Yes, because while dragons live long lives, a year is still enough time for all kinds of things to happen. These things could change a person, or even change a couple's relationship, don't you think?"
Listening to Rossweise explain, Leon started to think carefully.
It seemed like there was some truth to it.
A year may not be long or short, but in certain circumstances, it could change the relationship between two people.
It could be for the better, or the worse—there's no way to predict that.
So it made sense for the academy to have this rule.
"It's been two years since Noah enrolled, so we're going to have to take the second cooperation test."
Rossweise spoke slowly, her lips curving into a slight smile as she looked at her "fake husband" at the bed's edge, "So, Leon, how about another round of truth or dare?"
Two years had passed.
Looking back, the two of them had once been at odds, and if it weren't for their daughter, they would have fought long ago.
But two years later…
Though they'd had their fights, more often than not, those fights happened in bed—
And they accidentally had another daughter in the process.
Where would they go to argue that?
So, Rossweise thought it was necessary to have another round of truth or dare.
Leon had similar thoughts.
Additionally, there was another point: chances to hear this mother dragon speak her heart were rare.
He had to cherish it.
"Alright. Then—"
"Wait a minute."
Rossweise put down her long legs, stood up from the sofa, and walked to the storage room, wearing her dragon-winged slippers, "Anyway, since there's still a month before the test, we can take our time with the truth or dare game. So—oh, here it is."
She finished speaking and came out of the storage room holding a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses.
"So, we can drink and reveal our truths, what do you think?" Rossweise smiled, shaking the glasses in her hand.
Leon pressed his lips together, feeling a little reluctant.
He remembered the last time when this mother dragon poured him a glass of wine, and then she easily pried his mouth open.
His first bold declaration, "Melkvey, I like you," had come right after finishing that glass of wine.
Now, Rossweise wanted to pour him more, ha, not a chance!
"No thanks, I'm not feeling well, I can't drink."
"I'm not feeling well? Then you need to drink."
Rossweise walked to the bedside, took his wrist, and led him toward the balcony, "Our dragon wine is different from your human wine."
"How is it different?"
"Our wine can heal. It's especially good for curing discomfort." Rossweise said seriously.
Leon smiled faintly, "Well when I retire, I'll sell red wine between the empire and your Silver Dragon tribe. Maybe I'll make a fortune."
As they talked, they arrived at a small table on the balcony.
Rossweise set the two glasses on either side, then with a pop, she opened the wine bottle and poured the wine into the glasses.
"Hmm? You're not opening a farm after you retire?"
After pouring the wine, Rossweise sat down leisurely, resting her chin on one hand, looking at Leon, her silver eyelashes fluttering, "I still want you to teach me how to ride horses."
"I never said I was opening a farm with you…" Leon muttered.
"Oh, so 'marrying a woman who is neither beautiful nor ugly' didn't refer to me?" the Queen said in mock disappointment.
Leon habitually responded sharply, "Of course not."
Hearing this, Rossweise froze, her smile momentarily stiffening.
She lowered her gaze, her voice deep, "Oh, is that so?"
Leon glanced at her. The mother dragon seemed upset.
He felt a slight panic and opened his mouth to say something.
Actually, Leon knew that the conversation earlier was just the playful teasing between a couple, but his last remark, "Of course not," was made without thinking.
If it were before, when he and Rossweise weren't as close, such remarks would have been harmless;
But now, things were different.
Different stages of a relationship require different ways of speaking.
A seemingly innocent sentence, depending on the timing, could have entirely different consequences.
"Be—because you're so beautiful."
Leon said, "You're so beautiful, you completely surpass my expectations."
He then secretly observed Rossweise's reaction.
Sure enough, women are auditory creatures, and the mother dragon was no exception.
She held back a smile, then asked, "What, is being beautiful my fault? Then go find someone ugly, don't come to me."
"Well, I'd rather not. Who would go for someone ugly when there are beautiful ones?"
Leon grinned, pulling out a chair and sitting down, "As the old saying goes, a woman protected by a lion would never fall for a wild dog."
The Queen raised an eyebrow, "And then?"
"A man who has been favored by an angel would never willingly fall into depravity."
General Leon truly was a master at "playing the game"—one set of lines after another.
"Who's been favoring you? Fool, stop saying nonsense."
Apart from when she was jealous, Rossweise was easy to appease; a few kind words were enough to smooth things over, and Leon privately thanked his lucky stars.
But little did he know, only he, Leon Cosmodeous, had this kind of privilege.
If it were someone else, trying to appease the Silver Dragon Queen with a few words?
Dream on~
After the little interlude, Rossweise slowly raised her glass, "Now, truth or dare, shall we begin?"
Leon looked down at the red wine on the table.
Looks like he couldn't escape Rossweise's wine this evening.
"Alright, let's go."
After a brief pause, Leon added, "But this time, you can't make me say… those strange things."
Rossweise smiled lightly, "Alright, I won't force you. Come~"
She raised her glass and presented it to Leon.
Leon also raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Rossweise's.
After the toast, they both took a sip.
The wine was rich and full-bodied, a bottle that Rossweise had kept for many years. Even Leon, who wasn't much of a drinker, could tell how fine it was.
"The first question…"
Rossweise turned toward Leon.
She rested one arm on the table, the other hand supporting her delicate chin, her silver hair falling from her ear, and her beautiful eyes gazing at the man before her as she asked softly,
"In these past two years, have you fallen in love with anyone?"
"🙂"
What a heavy question to start with!
Leon glanced at the wine in his glass, thinking, this isn't liquid dragon power, why is it so potent?
"Didn't we agree not to force me to say these strange things?"
"I'm not forcing you. I'm just asking if you've fallen in love with anyone."
Rossweise reasoned, "I didn't specify who. Why are you so nervous?"
Leon was at a loss for words.
Alright, alright, you've said everything, what can I do?
I'll comply!
General Leon blushed, lowered his head, stared at the floor of the balcony, and answered in a low voice, "Yes."
"Speak louder, I can't hear you."
"Yes!"
"What's that? Say the whole thing."
"…In these past two years, I have fallen in love with someone."
The Queen narrowed her eyes, smiling with satisfaction, "Hmm, so hard to guess, who is this someone~"
Haha, Your Majesty, you're really funny, Leon thought to himself.
"Your turn, ask away," Rossweise said gracefully.
"How about you? Have you fallen in love with anyone?" Leon returned the question.
Rossweise seemed to have expected him to ask the same.
She calmly took a sip of her wine, then gently asked,
"You~ tell~ me~"
Her wine tolerance was usually high, but she easily blushed.
After a sip, her fair face flushed a soft pink.
Rossweise looked at Leon, her silver eyes narrowing slightly, emitting endless flirtation and charm.
Leon felt his body burn under her intense gaze, even feeling a bit uncomfortable.
He quickly turned his eyes away, hurriedly replying, "I—I don't know if you've fallen in love with anyone…"
"You do know. You know. Tell me."
"Say what?"
"Say if I've fallen in love with anyone."
Wait—
Aren't I the one asking questions here?
Why do I have to answer for you?
"Mother dragon, can you please be reasonable? I'm the one asking you," Leon tried to reason with her again.
"I don't care, I just want to hear you say it."
Rossweise had mastered the art of being unreasonable,
"Have I fallen in love with anyone? Answer me, Leon."
Ah…
This feels so strange.
If he says no, without thinking, the mother dragon would flip the table and start arguing with him;
If he says yes, the "someone" would be way too obvious…
Also, this way of answering is embarrassing!
"Say it, Leon, have I fallen in love with you—ah no—fallen in love with someone."
[The Queen: I almost let my feelings slip after a little wine, hehe 🙂]
Leon, unable to resist her, sighed and nodded,
"You have, Rossweise, in the past two years, you have fallen in love with someone. Is that good enough?"
"Hmph. Next question…"
What cooperation test, what truth or dare?
It was just a little playful couple's game~
…
After tutoring Muwen and Little Light for a few days, things went exactly as Leon had expected: the daughters loved to learn, and the old father loved to teach. With this mutual effort, their progress was very fast.
Moreover, the two little dragon girls, being study partners, naturally developed a sense of competition.
With how close the sisters were, it wasn't about trying to outdo each other or surpass each other; rather, keeping a little bit of competitive spirit in everything they did could improve their efficiency.
When Noah studied alone, relying on her incredible talent and innate "study king" physique, she passed the Saint Heath Academy test with the highest score in just a month.
As for Muwen and Little Light now, Leon believed they would also get good scores.
Of course, even if their results were average, Leon wouldn't criticize or feel any dissatisfaction.
After all, the Melkvey family is all about mutual love—except for me and that mother dragon.
The father and daughters were steadily progressing.
On this weekend, Noah returned home for the holidays.
This time, she didn't bring any friends back.
Coincidentally, during dinner, Rossweise also brought up the topic of visiting Isha.
"Are we going to Aunt Isha's house?" Muwen asked eagerly, her eyes shining.
"Yes, Aunt Isha said in her letter that she misses you both very much," Rossweise said.
"Yay~ We're going to Aunt Isha's!"
Although Isha didn't have children of her own, she loved her sister's three little dragon girls dearly.
Naturally, the children responded warmly to Aunt Isha's affection, and they were always happy whenever they were told they would visit her.
"But… didn't Aunt Isha's place recently get caught in the war?" While excited, Noah voiced some concern about the situation at Aunt Isha's place.
"It's okay, Aunt Isha's place has settled down now."
Rossweise reassured her, "We can visit her without worry."
Noah nodded, "Okay."
Muwen blinked, as if she thought of something, and asked, "By the way, mom, don't we need to submit a family photo for the entrance test?"