Once things settled into peace, Rossweise would inevitably awaken her inner "Silver Dragon Queen of Jealousy" and stir up small waves in their calm life.
From past experience, Leon knew that when Rossweise acted jealous, it wasn't just about expressing her feelings. There was always another purpose behind it.
He was sure this time was no different.
With that thought, he gently pressed down on the arms she had wrapped around his neck and asked softly, "Just tell me what you want. You don't need to use jealousy as an excuse."
Rossweise didn't answer right away. She tilted her head slightly, shrugged his hand off, and wrapped her arms around his neck again.
Leon pushed them down.
She lifted them again.
He pushed them down.
She lifted them once more.
After several rounds of this, Leon chose to surrender.
This Dragon Queen was as stubborn as a mule—what else could he do but give in?
Satisfied, Rossweise smiled a captivating smile as she held onto Leon's neck. She leaned in closer, so close that their breaths mingled. Her silver eyelashes fluttered gently, each blink lightly brushing against Leon's skin, sending a subtle, electric tingle through him.
And then there was her scent. It was a fragrance you couldn't see or touch, but it wrapped around him like an invisible spirit, captivating his senses.
In the past, her natural scent had been light and fresh.
But after giving birth to Aurora, it had become deeper, richer, more intoxicating—and yes, sometimes a little overwhelming.
"First of all, your question is too logical," Rossweise said softly.
"Logical? What do you mean?"
"What kind of husband bluntly asks his wife what her real motives are when she's acting jealous? Hmm?"
There was a delicate quality to Rossweise's tone and expression.
It wasn't quite a smile, but not entirely serious either, as if she was teasing him while also fully enjoying the moment.
She seemed to be savoring this atmosphere—not overly sweet, but just enough to let her appreciate every little detail.
Perhaps it was because the man in front of her was simply too compelling. Every time they found themselves in such a mood, she would carefully absorb every part of it.
Rossweise was also skilled at enhancing this kind of atmosphere.
Like an expert bartender, she was mixing a high-proof cocktail of ambiguous intimacy between them.
"To put it simply... you're being too direct."
"You've known me for years."
"And you've known me for just as long."
The Queen leaned in closer, her nose lightly brushing against his. "Indulge me."
"I remember my wife being a queen, not a spoiled little princess."
"Oh? You don't like this side of me?"
Leon let out a helpless sigh.
After a brief moment of thought, he made his decision.
In the next instant, Leon swiftly kissed Rossweise on the lips.
The beauty was momentarily surprised but quickly accepted the brief, restrained kiss.
Just as Leon was about to deepen the kiss, Rossweise pulled back slightly, though she remained close, their faces still intimately near.
With a teasing smile, she asked, "What's this? I'm still feeling jealous, and you just kiss me like that?"
"Since we're going to end up here anyway, why bother with the intermediate steps?"
"Hmph, my sister was right."
"That clever sister of yours, who channels all her intelligence into gossip and romance, has something to say again?"
"My sister said that after being married for a while, men lose their patience."
Rossweise gently brushed her thumb over Leon's warm, flushed earlobe. "You used to be so patient, spoiling me until I was completely satisfied before making a move. Now, you just want to skip to the final step. Ah, men~"
Leon rolled his eyes.
It wasn't that he lacked the patience to make Rossweise happy, nor was he in a hurry to be intimate with her.
The reason he wanted to skip the middle steps was that he didn't want to be led around by her.
Rossweise wasn't like other women. She never let her emotions control her. In fact, she was the opposite—she mastered her emotions perfectly.
That included jealousy.
For her, jealousy was just another tool to "persuade" Leon. In her words, it was merely a form of "fun" between husband and wife.
And every time he had to coax her, Rossweise would seize the opportunity to make him do something she wanted, thereby achieving her goals.
But this time, Leon wasn't going to let her have her way.
He needed to resist.
As a married man, he was going to resist!
"Why so quiet? Hm? Did I hit a nerve?" she teased. "I—mm~..."
Before she could finish, Leon wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him.
Her soft body pressed firmly against his chest. Given their height difference, Leon only needed to glance down slightly to see the delicate dragon markings on her chest and the alluring curves below.
Yet, Leon kept his gaze fixed on her silver eyes.
As captivating as her body was, he preferred looking into her eyes.
They were deep and beautiful, like a mesmerizing galaxy, drawing him into their endless, dreamlike depths.
"Rossweise, what if I want to touch you right now? What are you going to do about it?"
"I'm your wife, aren't I? What else can I do but... let you have your way~" Rossweise smiled seductively. "But... you'll have to spoil me twice as much afterward."
Passion couldn't last forever.
It would inevitably fade by dawn.
Leon's thoughts flickered briefly. He wasn't keen on having his needy wife clinging to him after they were both spent.
Sensing his hesitation, Rossweise smiled faintly. "Fine, if you don't want to spoil me, you don't have to."
"It's not that I don't want to..."
"Well then, save your sweet words for next time," she said, releasing him.
Leon secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But just when he thought the flirtation was over, Rossweise walked back to the phonograph and restarted the dance music from before.
"You don't have to spoil me, but we're not finished yet."
Rossweise turned slowly, bent slightly at the waist, and extended her hand in a graceful invitation.
"May I have this dance, Mr. Cosmodeous?"
"...Please, have mercy, Your Majesty!"
Rossweise straightened up, her brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean, Leon? You could dance with that senior, but not with me? Fine, you mutt. Don't expect to sleep in my bed again!"
"Alright, alright! I'll dance."
"Too late, I don't feel like dancing anymore."
Rossweise crossed her arms and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
But she neither left the room nor turned off the phonograph.
The hint was glaringly obvious.
Before the music moved into its next segment, Leon stepped forward, bowed, and offered his hand.
"Miss Rossweise, may I have this dance?"
"Hmph..."
The Queen suppressed a smile at the corner of her lips. "I'll reluctantly agree."
She placed her hand in his, and Leon gently took it.
The two embraced once more, moving slowly to the rhythm of the music.
It wasn't a fast-paced song, so their steps were soft and gentle.
Rossweise was barefoot, and noticing this, Leon asked, "Aren't your feet cold?"
"They are. Are you going to do something about it?"
"You can stand on my feet."
"Then... I won't stand on ceremony."
She carefully lifted her feet, placing them on top of Leon's.
The dance steps were slow, with no wide, sweeping movements, so this position didn't disrupt their rhythm.
And to reward her husband for his thoughtfulness, Rossweise stood on her toes and lightly kissed the corner of his mouth.
As the background music transitioned into its next phase, the rhythm picked up slightly, and Rossweise stepped off his feet.
The couple danced gracefully in their bedroom.
The hem of her nightgown swayed freely under the warm, amber light, her long hair flowing, her silver tail flicking playfully.
Dancing with Rossweise reminded Leon why he had rejected that senior all those years ago.
She had had no sense of self.
She only knew how to follow, abandoning her own identity.
Leon didn't like that. He sought a relationship of equals, not one where one person changed for the other.
Rossweise, however, embodied equality perfectly.
In this dance, she didn't cater to Leon's steps or simply follow his lead.
By maintaining her own sense of self and individuality, she made the dance all the more perfect.
Leon admired her, not just for her beauty—which went without saying—but for her proud and resilient heart.
"Why are you smiling?" Rossweise suddenly asked.
Leon hadn't realized he was smiling.
He shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Tell me."
The dance continued, and they were gradually moving closer to the bed.
"I was just thinking... it's quite an achievement to win over a woman like you."
"Win me over? Hah, you'll need another two hundred years if you think you've conquered me."
The music ended.
The room fell silent, save for the sound of their quickening heartbeats.
"Two hundred years is too long. We... should seize the day."
"Seize the day?"
"From dusk... until dawn."
Leon kissed Rossweise.
They slowly leaned to the side, letting gravity pull them onto the soft bed.
Just before Leon removed her nightgown, Rossweise reached out with her tail, deftly hooking the bed curtains with its tip and drawing them closed.
The curtains fell slowly, enclosing the bed in a private world, as the only sounds left were the soft, intimate whispers and the rustle of movement beneath the canopy.