The Queen's heart gave a traitorous flutter, though her expression remained a masterpiece of cool indifference. She would never let him see how his invitation pleased her. Allowing him that knowledge would only inflate his ego to unbearable proportions.
And she absolutely could not let that happen.
Before agreeing, Rossweise made a point of clarifying, "So, to be perfectly clear, you are the one asking me on a date, correct?"
She emphasized the "you" and "me," making it abundantly clear who held the initiative in their 'pretend' marriage.
Leon shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded with exaggerated earnestness. "Yes, yes, it was all my idea."
Rossweise let out a soft, satisfied hum. "Good. That way, you can't claim later that I was the one who insisted."
"Sure, sure. In that case, let's get going. We can even grab some dinner."
"Alright."
Rossweise had initially assumed the meeting on Constantine would last until the next day, which is why she'd informed Anna they would return tomorrow evening. But thanks to Leon's last-minute proposal, which had unsettled the more ambitious Dragon Kings, the proceedings had concluded early.
It also meant she now had a free evening to enjoy Sky City with Leon before heading home.
After leaving the Twilight Tower, the two strolled side-by-side through the city's vibrant streets. The evening breeze had grown cool, so Leon shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Rossweise's shoulders.
She was wearing a formal white suit—perfectly appropriate for the council meeting but useless against the chill. Not that a Dragon King could catch a cold, but it was the sort of gesture expected from a 'dutiful husband.'
As she felt the residual warmth from the jacket's lining seep into her skin, a slight, involuntary smile touched her lips. "Not bad. You're finally learning to be considerate."
"Just doing my part to avoid being labeled an unfit 'pretend husband,'" he retorted.
It seemed that to protect his stubborn pride, he would go to great lengths to defend his value, even in a fabricated role. She let out a soft, dismissive huff, a blend of pride and her usual graceful aloofness coloring her tone.
They continued their walk, their conversation meandering through light, casual topics.
"Oh, by the way," Leon began, "at the start of the meeting, that host introduced himself as a servant of the Twilight Tower's master. Do you know who this 'master' actually is?"
Leon's years of fighting dragons and his education at the Dragon Slayer Academy had given him extensive knowledge of draconic history, but he had never come across any mention of a "Twilight Tower Master."
Anyone powerful enough to establish a neutral city like Sky City and command the respect of all Dragon Kings had to be a figure of immense significance. True neutrality required formidable strength to enforce.
"I don't know much about him," Rossweise admitted. "The master is an extremely mysterious figure. It's said he personally built Sky City, and its creation predates even the Silver Dragon Clan."
Leon's eyes widened in surprise. "That far back? Then why would he go to the trouble of creating a neutral city just for dragons to... retire in?"
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm not sure. But I recall hearing from the elders when I was young that the story behind Sky City runs much deeper than it just being a neutral territory."
"Regardless of the wars, disasters, or crises that have shaken dragonkind throughout history, Sky City has always maintained absolute neutrality."
"So... it might just be a legend."
She tapped the heel of her shoe lightly against the cobblestone, the sound crisp in the evening air.
"I quite like this city, though," she mused, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "Strolling through it with someone important... it has a certain relaxed charm to it."
In her usual focus when discussing serious matters, Rossweise had let her guard down and voiced a thought she hadn't intended to share.
Leon's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what was that last part?"
"What? I said it's a neutral city with a lot of legends. Why?"
"Not that part—the sentence after that."
"I... uh..."
She opened her mouth, but her mind, now fully alert, replayed her own words, and she realized what she had just let slip.
Fortunately, Silver Dragons were renowned for their speed. Surely a simple, hastily spoken sentence couldn't undo her.
"I didn't say anything else. You must have misheard."
"No, you definitely said something," Leon insisted, a grin spreading across his face. "You said that walking with someone important feels relaxing."
A faint pink hue dusted her cheeks. She instinctively pulled the collar of his jacket tighter around her neck. "Even if I did say that, what makes you think you're the one I consider important?"
Leon took a deliberate step back and spread his hands in a gesture of mock innocence. "Well, aside from me, do you see anyone else you know around here?"
"You—! Oh, never mind. I don't have time for this nonsense!"
With an indignant huff, she strode ahead, a mix of irritation and embarrassment fueling her steps. The sharp click of her heels echoed on the pavement as she marched forward.
Leon followed, keeping a few paces behind, his shadow merging and parting with hers under the glow of the streetlights.
After a pleasant dinner, they resumed their leisurely walk.
"By the way," Rossweise asked, her curiosity getting the better of her, "why did you want to stay for a date tonight?"
While she was secretly delighted by the idea, she couldn't shake the feeling that Leon had an ulterior motive.
Leon blinked, thinking that the real reason was far too embarrassing to voice aloud.
With the girls home for summer break, his days were filled with training Noah in magic during the mornings and tutoring Muen and Aurora in their studies during the afternoons. He and Rossweise barely had a moment alone together except at the dinner table or after they retired to their room for the night.
Even though their 'marital duties' hadn't diminished, the opportunities for genuine, uninterrupted connection had become scarce.
He simply wanted time alone with Rossweise—no distractions, no concerns about Constantine or the other Dragon Kings. He just wanted to be here, in this moment, with the person who mattered most.
And tonight in Sky City offered them a rare chance for exactly that.
Back in the present, Leon shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I noticed you've been under a lot of stress lately, so I thought it would be good for you to get out and relax a bit."
After a brief pause, he added, "Anna can handle things back at the sanctuary, and the girls are fine, so there's no need to rush back."
The first part of his explanation didn't affect Rossweise much, but the mention of their daughters struck a chord.
It was true. Since the girls' summer break had begun, she and Leon had barely had a moment of peace. They had been constantly occupied, their time fragmented by family responsibilities.
The Queen connected the dots instantly: her husband was craving some alone time with her.
A faint, understanding smile touched her lips. "Alright, then. Let's relax a bit."
She understood his true feelings but chose not to call him out on them.
Partly to spare the pride of a stubborn man.
And... partly because she, too, deeply desired some uninterrupted time with her husband.
But as the night grew later, it was time to find lodging. Neither was particularly keen on wandering the streets until dawn, so they made their way to a nearby hotel.
As they stepped into the lobby, Rossweise was suddenly reminded of Isha's teasing remark from the council hall: "The feel of home and a hotel are worlds apart, you know~"
That meddlesome red dragon, she fumed internally. She doesn't even have any real romantic experience herself, yet she spouts lines like a seasoned expert. Is this what they mean by 'those who can't do, teach'?
Rossweise shook her head slightly, dispelling the thought. It was just a hotel stay; nothing more.
They approached the front desk together.
"Welcome!" the receptionist greeted them cheerfully. "We have rooms with queen beds, water beds, and several themed suites available. What type of accommodation would you prefer?"
The moment the words "water beds" and "themed suites" left her mouth, both Leon and Rossweise felt a simultaneous, uncomfortable twitch. They swallowed hard, their composure cracking for a split second.
They exchanged a single, fleeting glance, then spoke in perfect, hurried unison: "Two rooms!"
The receptionist blinked, momentarily taken aback. In her professional experience, she would have pegged them as a couple—perhaps even a married one, possibly with children.
So why two separate rooms?
She watched as they shared another quick, almost furtive look before pointedly averting their eyes from each other.
Leon's Internal Monologue: I've already overstepped by suggesting the date. If we share a room now, she'll think she's won this little game of ours. I can't let that happen!
Rossweise's Internal Monologue: Asking for two rooms is my test to see if he'll fight for us to be together. But if he's also insisting on two rooms, fine! There's no way I'm inviting him into mine!
The receptionist scratched her head, perplexed. "Uh, alright then. Two rooms it is. I'll just—"
"Hold on, I need to use the restroom," Leon interjected suddenly.
"Certainly, sir. It's just down the hall to the left."
Perhaps the recent meal disagreed with him, for he clutched his stomach and hurried off in the direction she indicated.
Watching his retreating back, a sly glint appeared in Rossweise's silver eyes. She turned back to the receptionist. "Miss, could I make a special request?"
"Of course, ma'am. What is it?"
"When he returns," Rossweise said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "please inform him that we only have one room left. A queen room."
The receptionist blinked again, this time in mild confusion.
Rossweise allowed herself a small, victorious smirk. You don't get it? That's fine. Marry a man as stubborn as dragon scales, and you'll learn.
She had said she didn't want him in her room. She never said she wouldn't find her way into his.
Not long after, Leon returned to the front desk. Rossweise shot the receptionist a discreet, meaningful glance, which the woman immediately understood.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir!" the receptionist exclaimed, putting on a convincing show of regret. "It seems we only have one queen room available now."
Leon's eyes widened in exaggerated disappointment. "Only one room? Are you serious?"
Beside him, Rossweise feigned her own dismay. "What a pity."
Leon heaved a dramatic sigh. "It's so late now; other hotels are probably fully booked as well."
Rossweise nodded in solemn agreement. "It seems we have no choice but to make do."
Together, they let out a synchronized, melodramatic sigh. "Ah, what a shame."
The receptionist struggled to suppress a laugh, muttering under her breath, "A pair of true actors, these two."