The couple contained their excitement for the moment. There was one thing they had to confirm before getting too ahead of themselves.
"Noah, did you just say that your classmate Helena managed to convince… Aunt Claudia?" Leon asked, keeping his voice carefully neutral.
Noah nodded, her expression earnest. "Aunt Claudia's clan rarely makes public appearances, even at places as neutral as St. Heath Academy. Helena's the only young dragon from their tribe attending school here."
Leon and Rossweise exchanged a glance that lasted a fraction of a second too long.
It looked like it was finally time to break out the champagne.
"So, which tribe exactly does Helena belong to?" Rossweise asked, her tone as cool and measured as ever, belying the sudden racing of her heart.
"The Sea Dragon Clan."
Just three simple words, but they sent a silent, powerful thrill of excitement through both Leon and Rossweise.
From the time Tiger had given Leon the Nine Gates of Hell manual, to the recent acquisition of Soul Judgment, and even Leon's harrowing journey twenty years into the future where he learned of his daughters' fates—all these pivotal events had one common, mysterious thread:
The Sea Dragon Clan, and specifically, the name Claudia Poseidon.
She was the author of both Nine Gates of Hell and Soul Judgment, as well as the future mentor and savior of their daughters in that bleak timeline.
Most intriguingly, this mysterious, incredibly talented, and seemingly compassionate member of the Sea Dragon Clan might have a deep, unknown connection to Leon's master, Tiger. It strained belief to call it mere coincidence that both of the invaluable, ancient manuals Tiger had procured were written by the very same dragon.
Leon had longed for months to meet Claudia, to understand what kind of person—what kind of dragon—she truly was. And if he could glean something, anything, about her relationship with his master, all the better.
But the Sea Dragon Clan had walled themselves off from the world for the past thirty years. Combined with the complicated and often rigid "social etiquette" among the older dragon clans, Leon, an outsider and a human, had found no legitimate avenue to request an audience.
Now, thanks to their precious daughter and a simple school play, they finally had a chance to lift the veil of mystery surrounding Claudia Poseidon.
Leon wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
Neither was Rossweise.
They shared another look, a silent agreement passing between them in an instant. Noah, perceptive as ever, noticed the subtle shift. "Mom, Dad? Do you know much about the Sea Dragon Clan?"
Noah knew they were famously reclusive. She had even asked Helena about them directly, but Helena herself didn't seem to know much about her own clan's internal affairs or history. But the way her parents' expressions had momentarily stilled when she mentioned "Sea Dragon Clan" piqued her sharp curiosity.
Leon chuckled, a practiced, easy sound, and shook his head. "Not really. We've just rarely heard about any activity from the Sea Dragon Clan in recent decades, so I suppose they must be a particularly secluded and quiet tribe."
"True," Noah agreed, accepting the explanation for now. "In both the Young Dragon Division and the Youth Dragon Division, Helena's the only one from her clan. So Helena convincing Aunt Claudia to make a public appearance and perform in this play was no small feat. Are you sure you and Mom don't want to join?" she asked again, giving them one last out.
After seeing Vice Principal Wilson interrogate and embarrass them on stage so many times, Noah had become acutely aware of her parents' distinct aversion to grand public displays of affection.
Meanwhile, Muen, snuggled in Leon's lap, was too preoccupied with her self-appointed role as the VIP spectator in the ongoing drama of "How to Convince Mom and Dad to Have Another Baby" to pick up on the deeper currents.
As for Aurora, Noah seriously suspected that it was her clever little sister's behind-the-scenes maneuvering that had directly led to their parents being forced onto the stage for the Academy's recent model family award ceremony—a social ordeal they were still recovering from.
So…
One sister secretly wanted a new sibling; the other just wanted to stir up chaos for her own entertainment. That left Noah, as the responsible eldest, shouldering the duty of being the family's "little confidant," tactfully minding her parents' comfort and privacy to maintain a healthy, stable family dynamic.
Given her parents' well-established personalities, she had fully expected them to decline the play offer. She hadn't truly pinned her hopes on their participation. She just wanted to share the idea with them, to include them in this part of her life—
"We'll do it, Noah."
Rossweise was the one who spoke, her voice firm and clear. "Your father and I will join the play."
Hearing this, Noah's eyes widened, then sparkled with pure, unadulterated joy. "Really, Mom?"
Rossweise smiled, a genuine, warm expression that softened her regal features, and gently pinched her daughter's cheek. "Really."
"You're the best, Mom~" Noah beamed, her usual composure melting away as she wrapped her arms around Rossweise's neck, planting a soft, affectionate kiss on her cheek.
Noah so rarely showed her affection so openly. For her to offer a kiss so willingly showed just how much she had secretly wanted her parents to be part of this.
Seeing this, the father standing beside them felt a familiar, warm pang of jealousy.
"Ahem—" Leon cleared his throat rather pointedly, trying to make his presence known.
Hey, dear daughter, you kissed Mom—don't I deserve one too?
We're a family here, and families are about equal treatment!
Noah turned to her father, a mischievous, knowing smile playing on her lips—an expression that reminded Leon so much of her mother's sly grins. "What's wrong, Dad? Are you not feeling well?"
Leon froze for a second, recognizing the playful glint in her eyes.
Wow, like mother, like daughter. Noah might have that cool, aloof exterior, but beneath it lay the same cunning, teasing streak as her mother.
Sweetheart, couldn't you have taken after your dad's straightforward, uncomplicated nature a little more?
Look at your father—always direct, never coy.
"No, my throat's perfectly fine," Leon replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Noah tilted her head, her smile not fading. "Then why the cough, Dad?"
"My mouth just felt a bit… dry all of a sudden."
"Oh? So does that make your throat feel dry too?"
"Exactly. It's called a chain reaction."
"Oh, I see," Noah said, her eyes twinkling. "So what should we do about it?"
"…"
"Why aren't you saying anything, Dad?"
"So… you're really not going to kiss your old dad, huh—"
Before Leon could finish his mock grumble, Noah leaned over and gave him a quick, soft peck on the cheek.
"What was that, Dad?" she asked, her grin widening, looking every bit the mischievous little fox.
Leon scratched the bridge of his nose, slightly flustered, and turned to ruffle the hair on Muen's head to hide his pleasure. "N-nothing."
Though it had taken a bit of wrangling and transparent hinting, he'd finally earned his kiss from his eldest daughter.
He was content.
They continued to chat for a while longer about the play's general arrangements—rehearsal schedules, lines, and costumes—before Noah, ever the responsible big sister, herded her two younger siblings off to bed.
The hotpot feast in the courtyard was also winding down, the bonfire burning to embers as maids and guards began cleaning up.
Leon and Rossweise strolled away from the fading noise, the cool night air a comfort.
"I won again," Rossweise remarked suddenly, a hint of smug pride lacing her voice as they walked.
Leon rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at his lips. "What did you win now?"
"Noah kissed me first, and then she kissed you."
"That's only because you were the one who announced we'd join the play," Leon reasoned, playing along. "If I'd been the one to make the decision, Noah would've kissed me first."
"Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that." Rossweise crossed her arms, her silver tail curling up in a little, triumphant flourish.
"Hmph, not worth arguing about," Leon grumbled, conceding defeat without actually admitting it.
Rossweise chuckled softly. She knew that whenever that man said something "wasn't worth arguing about," it was his code for having conceded the point.
Ah, well. Our dear General Leon is just a bit thin-skinned. As his wife, it's only fair I look after his pride, even if he can't admit it out loud.
A fake wife has to play the part of a real wife sometimes, especially when it helps keep the domestic peace.
"Well then," Rossweise said, her tone shifting to one of quiet determination as they reached the quiet path leading to their chambers. "Let's prepare ourselves. It won't be long before we finally meet the mysterious… Claudia Poseidon."