"The plan from the Dragon Kings' meeting half a month ago—the one where everyone voted on how to deal with Constantine—has already been set in motion," Rossweise stated, her voice calm and measured as they walked.
"Each clan has sent people to station near the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's territory to keep an eye on him around the clock."
She glanced at Leon, her silver hair catching the evening light. "I'm thinking of sending Shirley. What do you think?"
After dinner, Leon and Rossweise strolled side by side along the training track in their backyard, the soft sunset casting a golden glow over their steps. In the background, their daughters' cheerful laughter filled the air, a stark contrast to the seriousness of their discussion.
Leon walked with his hands casually in his pockets, but his focused expression betrayed the deep thoughts running through his mind.
"That'll work," Leon nodded after a moment's consideration. "But I have a request."
"What is it?"
"I want to go along."
Rossweise stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowing slightly. "You want to go? What for?"
"There are… certain things I want to ask Constantine face-to-face."
Rossweise could tell from his tone that Leon wasn't joking, nor was this some impulsive decision. He'd clearly thought this through carefully.
"The dragons working with the empire are all extremely tight-lipped," Leon explained. "They'll never share anything about the empire. But Constantine is different. He once cooperated with them, but he was also horrifically mistreated by them before he escaped. By now, he probably resents them deeply, so I'm thinking he might spill a thing or two."
Leon's master had discussed this tactic with him early on: gathering information through the dragon clans. So far, he'd exhausted all his other resources, and progress had stalled. But Constantine's falling out with the empire had opened a new path forward.
Though "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" didn't really apply to the complicated relationship between Leon, Constantine, and the empire, Leon figured that if Constantine wasn't going to be an ally, he could at least be a source of insider information.
"But you have a grudge against Constantine, too," Rossweise pointed out, analyzing the situation practically. "If you two meet, it'll end in a fight."
Leon was sure she'd object to him going to the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's territory, but her next words caught him off guard.
"I'll go with you."
Leon paused, surprised by her offer.
Rossweise's face was dead serious as she spoke, and as he looked at her unwavering expression, he was reminded that his "contract wife" wasn't an ordinary woman.
An ordinary wife would never let her husband go on a dangerous mission like this without trying to stop him—or would insist on coming along for protection.
But Rossweise was a Dragon Queen. Danger? She'd just charge in alongside him.
Leon shook his head with a small, affectionate smile. "No, you can't go."
Rossweise blinked, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "Why not?"
Up until now, she and Leon had faced every challenge together, relying on their teamwork and the powerful bond created by their dual Dragon Marks. So why was he suddenly refusing her help?
"All the dragon clans have stationed people around Constantine's territory to monitor him. That alone would set him off. But if you, a Dragon Queen, were there too, he'd see it as a full-on invasion," Leon explained logically. "So it's better if I go alone. Less threatening."
Rossweise considered his explanation thoughtfully, her strategic mind recognizing the truth in his words.
With her hands clasped behind her, she swished her tail over the ground, muttering softly, "You just don't want me to come with you."
Aww, was she feeling a bit left out?
Leon chuckled and gently took Rossweise's hand, his thumb lightly tracing her cool skin as he said in a soft voice, "I promise I won't fight Constantine. If he tries anything, I'll just run."
"As if I'd believe that, you idiot."
Rossweise huffed, attempting to shake his hand off. But when she couldn't, she simply let him hold on, muttering, "When Constantine challenges you, you're probably going to shout something like, 'For the honor of the dragon slayer!' and charge right in."
"Wow, five years of living together, and you know me so well, wife~."
"Fake wife, thank you."
"If even my fake wife knows me this well, I can't imagine how it'd be with a real one."
Rossweise gave him a humorless smile, rolling her eyes. "You're just hilarious, Cosmodeous."
Leon continued to stroll down the track, still holding her hand, appreciating the normalcy of the moment amidst their dangerous plans.
"Seriously, though. I know we think of Constantine as just some battle-crazy dragon, but after the incident at the ruins, I got the impression he's capable of reason. He's not going to start a fight the moment he sees me."
Despite his reassuring words, Rossweise still seemed unsure. "Then swear to me—no heroics if things go south."
"I just promised you I wouldn't."
"A promise is one thing; a swear is another."
Leon's master had always said women were linguistic creatures who valued every word, but it wasn't until now that he truly understood what that meant.
"Alright, alright, I swear."
"Swearing's not that simple. You need to swear on something important."
Leon thought for a moment, then stood still, raising three fingers to the sky as he solemnly declared, "I, Leon Cosmodeous, swear on the name of my beloved donkey that I will not fight Constantine."
Rossweise blinked in surprise, then let out a soft chuckle.
Well then. If he was swearing on that childhood pet he'd told her stories about, then she could trust he wouldn't pick a fight unnecessarily.
Even though she'd never met his donkey, she knew it was precious to him—a symbol of a simpler time before betrayal and war.
Finally, she relaxed, her shoulders losing their tension. "Alright then, tomorrow I'll have Shirley take you."
"Great! Wait for my good news."
.
.
.
The next day, Leon accompanied Shirley and the Silver Dragon's assigned surveillance team toward the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's territory.
True to her loyal nature, Shirley refrained from asking any unnecessary questions. Whatever the prince said went; if he said to fly left, she flew left. If he said to fly right, she went right. The silent, get-the-job-done type that Leon appreciated.
Upon reaching the Silver Dragon Clan's designated watchpoint, Leon hopped off Shirley's back in her dragon form.
"Thanks, Shirley. You guys set up camp here—I'll go in alone."
Bringing in the Silver Dragon guards would only worsen tensions on both sides. Even though Constantine was rational, showing up with a whole unit on his territory would definitely spark a confrontation they couldn't afford.
Shirley tucked in her wings, shifting into human form with practiced ease.
"Please, Prince, be careful. If anything goes wrong, signal with the flare."
Leon glanced down at the flare in his hand. Rossweise had given it to him before he'd left. Although she'd agreed to let him go alone, she still insisted on taking precautions—a testament to her care beneath her regal exterior.
"Got it. Thanks."
"We'll be here waiting for you, Your Highness."
Leon nodded, turning to look at the boundary of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's territory. The landscape ahead looked harsh and unwelcoming, much like its ruler.
A gust of wind stirred up dust and sand, causing him to narrow his eyes against the gritty air.
"Constantine," he murmured to himself, steeling his resolve. "Let's have a talk."