Once things settled down a bit, Rossweise would inevitably awaken her inner "Silver Dragon Queen of Jealousy" and stir up some waves in their otherwise peaceful life.
From experience, Leon knew that whenever Rossweise got jealous, it wasn't just about expressing her dissatisfaction—there was usually another motive behind it.
He was sure that this time was no different.
With that in mind, Leon gently pressed down on the arms wrapped around her neck and softly asked, "Just tell me what you want. You don't need to use jealousy as an excuse."
Rossweise didn't answer immediately. She tilted her head slightly, shrugged off Leon's hand, and once again wrapped her arms around his neck.
Leon pushed them down.
She lifted her arms again.
He pushed them down again.
She lifted them once more.
After several rounds of this, Leon chose to give in.
This dragon queen was as stubborn as a mule—what else could he do but give in?
Satisfied, Rossweise smiled seductively as she embraced Leon's neck. She leaned in closer, so near that their breaths intertwined. Her silver lashes fluttered softly, each blink lightly tickling Leon's skin, sending a subtle, tingling sensation through him.
And then there was her scent, a fragrance that was neither visible nor tangible, but it still wrapped around him like an invisible sprite, encircling his senses.
In the past, her natural scent had been light and refreshing.
But after giving birth to Aurora, it had deepened, becoming richer, more intoxicating—and yes, quite overwhelming at times.
"First of all, your question is too rational," Rossweise said softly.
"Rational? 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 something delicate in Rossweise's tone and expression.
It wasn't quite a smile but wasn't entirely serious either, as if she was teasing yet basking in the atmosphere at the same time.
She seemed to be relishing the moment—not overly sweet, but enough to let her savor every little detail.
Maybe it was because the man in front of her was just too irresistible. Every time they sparked such a mood between them, she would carefully take in every bit of it.
Rossweise was also adept at enhancing this kind of atmosphere.
Like a skilled bartender, she was crafting a high-concentration cocktail of ambiguous intimacy between them.
"Simply put... you're too straightforward."
"You've known me for years."
"And you've known me for just as long."
The queen leaned in closer, her nose brushing lightly against his. "Spoil 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 up his mind.
The next second, 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 away, though she stayed close, their faces still intimately close.
With a teasing smile, she asked, "What's this? I'm still feeling jealous, and you just kissed me like that?"
"Since we're going to end up here anyway, why not skip the middle steps?"
"Hmph, my sister was right."
"That clever sister of yours, who channels all her brilliance into gossip and romantic scandals, has something to say again?"
"My sister said that after being married for a while, men lose their patience."
Rossweise lightly brushed Leon's warm, flushed earlobe with her thumb. "You used to be so patient, spoiling me until I was completely happy before you made any moves. 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 it because he was in a hurry to touch 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 quite the opposite—she mastered her emotions perfectly.
That included jealousy.
For her, jealousy was just another tool to "coerce" 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, achieving her goals in the process.
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 strike a nerve?" she teased, "I—mm~..."
Before she could finish speaking, Leon wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him.
Her soft body pressed firmly against his chest. Given the difference in height, Leon only needed to glance down slightly to see the delicate dragon markings along 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, luring 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, right? What else could 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 end 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, letting go of him.
Leon secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But just when he thought the flirting had come to an end, Rossweise walked over to the phonograph and restarted the dance track from earlier.
"You don't have to spoil me, but we're not done yet."
Rossweise turned slowly, bent slightly at the waist, and extended her hand in an inviting gesture.
"May I have this dance, Mr. Cosmodeous?"
"...Please, spare me, Your Majesty!"
Rossweise straightened, 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 entered the next segment, Leon stepped forward, bowed, and offered his hand.
"Miss Rossweise, may I invite you for a dance?"
"Hmph..."
The queen suppressed a smile at the corner of her lips. "I'll reluctantly accept."
She extended her hand, 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 dance 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 be polite."
She carefully lifted her feet, resting them on top of Leon's.
The dance steps were slow, with no wide, sweeping motions, so this position didn't disrupt their rhythm.
And to reward her husband for being so considerate, Rossweise stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed the corner of his mouth.
As the background music moved into the 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 of why he had rejected that senior all those years ago.
She had no sense of self.
She only knew how to follow, forsaking 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 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 nearing the bed.
"I was just thinking... it's quite an accomplishment 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 their quickening heartbeats.
"Two hundred years is too long. We... seize the day."
"Seize the day?"
"From dusk... until dawn."
Leon kissed Rossweise.
They slowly tipped sideways, letting gravity pull them onto the soft bed.
Just before Leon pulled off her nightgown, Rossweise reached out with her tail, delicately hooking the bed curtains with the tip and drawing them closed.
The curtains fell slowly, enclosing the bed in privacy, as the only sounds left were the soft, intimate whispers and the rustle of movements beneath the canopy.