Leon stood on the podium, a sense of disbelief washing over him.
Before the entrance exams, he and Rossweise had spent an entire night crafting a plan. Their goal was simple: make sure their daughters passed, but with scores just low enough to avoid being named the model family.
They had practiced countless interview answers and brainstormed nearly a thousand potential questions. They had even attempted a brief, fake separation to try and dampen their obvious chemistry—though that effort had failed completely.
The unfortunate truth for this clueless couple was that their bond was too strong. A simple act could not lessen their deep feelings.
After all that work, they thought they had succeeded. Even when Muen placed second, they believed they had narrowly avoided the public spectacle they dreaded.
However!
Just as they were ready to celebrate their victory, fate revealed its cruel twist.
The cause of their impending "social death" was none other than their youngest daughter, Aurora!
Leon felt like his life had become a messy table covered with nothing but tragic disappointments.
"Daddy~ Daddy~ I got first place. Why aren't you happy?" Aurora tugged on his sleeve, blinking her large, innocent eyes up at him.
Leon looked down and rubbed her small head. "Daddy's not unhappy. Daddy is very happy. Look, Daddy is even smiling—ha, ha, ha—"
"Daddy, your smile sounds worse than crying," Aurora said, her words as sharp as ever.
"..."
"Look at Mommy, she's really happy, but she's still being modest."
Modest?
Leon glanced at Rossweise.
The Dragon Queen did not look upset at all. Her expression remained cool and dignified, but if one looked closely, there was a faint, undeniable curve at the corner of her lips.
She was clearly pleased.
What are you so happy about, Mother Dragon?! Our entire plan has been utterly destroyed by our youngest daughter!
"Keep your composure, Leon. Although we failed, look on the bright side," Rossweise said telepathically.
Leon raised an eyebrow. "What bright side?"
"Your daughter won another championship for you."
Rossweise paused for a moment before delivering another sharp blow. "Oh, and we got second place, too."
"Well, thank you so much for reminding me!"
Although the first-place model family was officially Aurora, Leon, and Rossweise, Vice Principal Wilson had specially invited Muen, the second-place finisher, onto the stage as well.
After all, they were one family. It would not have been right to leave poor Muen standing alone in the audience.
Once the whole family of four was on stage, Vice Principal Wilson joined them.
As was tradition, the first to be interviewed was Aurora.
"Hello, Aurora Melkvey," the vice principal said warmly, bending down to her level with a kind smile. It was obvious he had a soft spot for the Melkvey family's little dragons—each one was clever and talented, exactly the kind of student St. Heath Academy wanted.
Leon shot a glance at the old man, muttering inwardly:
Uppercut, uppercut, give him a good uppercut!
Of course, this was just Leon's mental rant. Aurora's tendency to throw an uppercut was situational. If she knocked the vice principal's glasses off during the entrance ceremony, their family would dominate the academy's gossip mill for years.
"As everyone knows, this year's exam was significantly harder than in previous years, yet both you and your sister Muen scored remarkably high," Vice Principal Wilson said. "Could you tell us what your study routine is like?"
In her sweet, innocent voice, Aurora replied seriously, "We listen to Daddy."
"Oh? So, you're saying that you and your sister owe your success entirely to your father?"
"Yes."
Such a good daughter. Why are you always so honest, but every word feels like it's stabbing your father in the heart? Leon thought. If I had known this, I wouldn't have taught you two so well!—It's all my fault for being too excellent!
Leon coped with his embarrassment by telling himself cold jokes in his head.
The vice principal, satisfied, stood up and wrapped an arm around Leon's shoulders like an old friend.
Leon shot a sideways glance at the hand on his shoulder. He really did not like dragons who had no sense of personal boundaries.
"I'm sure most of you have heard of Leon Cosmodeous. A few months ago, he was the one who prevented the crisis of the spatial rift, saving many nearby clans. Our principal, Angelina Olette, even affectionately called him—"
"The Hero of the Dragons!"
With those words, applause erupted from the audience.
But on stage, General Leon was drenched in cold sweat.
Damn it!
Who was the first to start clapping?! Was it you?! I'll chop off your dragon horns later and use them to make liquor!
Back in the principal's office, when Angelina Olette had called him the "Hero of the Dragons" in private, he had already felt deeply uncomfortable.
At fifteen, Leon had joined the dragon-slaying army, facing and slaying hundreds of evil dragons. Yet, a few years later, the hero who had slain dragons had somehow become the hero for the dragons—
Ah, life was truly unpredictable.
And now, the vice principal had shouted this illustrious title in front of hundreds of dragons.
They might as well roast me over a fire right now!
Being hailed as a hero by the very species he had once fought against... it was profoundly weird and awkward.
"And Leon has raised three exceptional young dragons," the vice principal continued. "His eldest daughter, Noah C. Melkvey, is currently the top student in the hatchling division. I'm sure you've all heard of her, haven't you?"
"Yes~"
"Noah is amazing!" the little dragons in the audience echoed.
"Exactly. And now, Leon has brought his equally outstanding second and youngest daughters to St. Heath Academy. It's no exaggeration to say that Leon's contributions have laid a foundation for the future of the dragon race!"
Another round of applause rang out as the vice principal's praise was met with enthusiastic approval.
But just as he was about to continue, he felt a strange warmth on the hand resting on Leon's shoulder.
He glanced down, muttering, "Why is my palm sweating... am I too excited?"
Leon shot him a death glare, silently praying for this cursed ceremony to end soon.
The vice principal went on to heap more compliments on the "Hero of the Dragons," Mr. Cosmodeous.
Then he invited Muen and Aurora to hug their heroic father in celebration of their successful enrollment.
The heroic father, holding back tears, could do nothing but accept the hugs.
Afterward came the inevitable, classic question.
"Mr. Leon, now that your daughters' segment is over, let me ask you, do you remember what else you did when you stood here two years ago?"
Leon swallowed hard, sneaking a glance at Rossweise.
The Dragon Queen kept her gaze straight ahead, a faint smile playing on her lips. She showed no intention of joining the conversation or saving him.
Leon turned his eyes back to the vice principal, playing dumb in one last, desperate attempt. "I... I forgot, Vice Principal."
"Well, let me remind you. Two years ago, you stood in this very spot and kissed your wife, Ms. Rossweise."
Leon smiled sheepishly. "Did I? Haha, well, that was just me being young and foolish."
"Well, Mr. Leon, as this ceremony is coming to a close, how about you end it with a kiss, just like last time?"
"Uh..."
"What do you all think?" the vice principal called out to the crowd.
The dragons in the audience, always eager for drama, cheered in excitement.
"Yes! We support it!"
"I've heard the Silver Dragon couple is incredibly loving. Finally, we get to see them in action. Kiss! You have to kiss!"
"Kiss, kiss, kiss!"
"..."
The chants grew louder and louder.
Leon could not tell if this was still an entrance ceremony or if it had turned into a wedding.
"Oh~ Daddy is going to kiss Mommy~" little Muen chimed in, happily joining the chaos.
Leon sighed internally. There was no escaping this.
He turned to look at Rossweise.
Her smile widened slightly. "Just a kiss on the cheek," she said softly.
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly, noticing the smugness in her expression.
Why that smile?
Did she think he wouldn't dare kiss her?
Did she think kissing his wife in front of so many people would embarrass him?
Or... was it something else?
Heh... Rossweise, you're so childish.
We've been through too much together for me to be scared of this!
Leon steeled himself, slowly leaning in toward Rossweise's pale, delicate cheek.
Muen, standing nearby, clenched her small fists in excitement. It was rare to see her parents being so affectionate in front of her and her sisters, so she was both nervous and thrilled.
Aurora watched just as eagerly.
But...
Was a simple kiss on the cheek really enough?
Aurora was not satisfied with that.
Her eyes darted mischievously. Just as her father was about to plant the kiss, she called out, "Mom!"
"Hm?"
Instinctively, Rossweise turned toward her daughter's voice, momentarily forgetting Leon's proximity.
And then—
"Mm..."
Their lips met, in a perfectly timed, accidental kiss.
Watching her parents' stunned faces as they kissed on the lips, Aurora proudly flicked her little tail in triumph.