The results of the promotion assessment would not be officially announced for about a month.
In the meantime, the young dragons who had participated in the test were not required to return to the academy, essentially granting them an extended holiday that seamlessly transitioned into the summer vacation. For these future pillars of dragon society, the value of such an uninterrupted break was immense.
Noah only needed to return to the academy briefly at the very end to attend the formal graduation ceremony for the young dragons division.
It happened to be a weekend, and with Muen and Aurora home as well, the three sisters—who were rarely all together under one roof for long—finally had ample time to relax and play games. For the entire day, except for meals, their parents barely caught a glimpse of them.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with this arrangement. In fact, it gave the couple more precious time alone together.
Rossweise, now visibly pregnant, had to significantly reduce her royal workload. By midday, fatigue would inevitably wash over her, leaving the afternoon's administrative duties to her ever-capable aide, Anna.
This new schedule meant Leon had even more time to dote on and spend with his expectant wife. Whether it was her intoxicating maternal aura or the way her pregnancy seemed to bring out a softer, more vulnerably girlish side, Leon found himself increasingly and helplessly drawn to her.
In short, the family of five had been enjoying a perfectly harmonious and peaceful time—until an unexpected visitor disrupted their domestic tranquility.
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Early one morning, Muen stood in the front yard, her entire body thrumming with tense vigilance.
Her stance was low and ready, feet planted firmly apart, small fists clenched at her sides, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her silver tail swayed slowly and cautiously behind her as she stared with laser-like intensity at the main gate. Even the little antenna-like tuft of hair on her head was unusually stiff, standing perfectly upright like a tiny, determined sentry.
In stark contrast, Aurora stood nearby, still clad in her pink pajamas decorated with little stars. A lopsided, ice cream-themed sleeping cap was tilted lazily atop her head, and her eyes were still misty with sleep. She clutched an old, well-loved toy bear—a relic from the past that Leon had given Rossweise during their early courtship.
"Second Sister... why did you wake me up so early?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness, her small body swaying as though she might collapse back into sleep at any moment.
"Yesterday, Big Sister received a letter," Muen declared, her tone grave and solemn.
"She got a letter... so what?" Aurora managed around a massive yawn. "It is probably just... um..." She trailed off, her eyelids drooping.
"Aurora? Are you seriously falling asleep while standing?!" Muen exclaimed, grabbing her younger sister's shoulders and giving her a gentle but firm shake.
Aurora jolted upright, forced to open her eyes fully. "Huh? What? Second Sister, you said something about a letter? And then?"
"The letter was from Helena!"
"Wow... that is really... unusual," Aurora replied, her tone utterly flat and unimpressed.
"It is not unusual at all!" Muen retorted, her frustration growing. "Helena said she is coming over today to take Big Sister on a date!"
"A date?" Aurora repeated, still unconcerned. "So what? It is just a date—"
"A DATE?!" Aurora suddenly shrieked, her sleepiness vanishing in an instant. "You mean the kind where they hold hands, and spend the entire day together eating, drinking, and having fun?!"
Muen nodded emphatically, her expression grim.
"Exactly! Is not it dangerous? Helena is trying to steal Big Sister away! She is here to cause trouble!"
"Uh... I just think it sounds entertaining to watch," Aurora admitted with a lazy shrug.
Aurora did not believe for a single second that anyone, least of all Helena, could actually take Noah away from Muen. While Muen, in her passionate simplicity, might not fully grasp the unshakable depth of Noah's affection for her, Aurora had seen it clearly her entire life. Especially given Muen's own very public and frequent declarations that she was a proud "sister fanatic."
Noah's more reserved and subtle way of expressing her feelings often left Muen with the false, anxious impression that her beloved Big Sister could be somehow "stolen away" by her best friend.
"So... are you planning to block Helena from entering the house?" Aurora asked, curious about her sister's plan.
"No, that would be rude," Muen said, shaking her head with a surprising sense of propriety.
"Ah, my Second Sister, sacrificing the personal for the greater good. Truly a model of Silver Dragon etiquette," Aurora teased dryly.
"I am going to join their date."
"...What?"
"My parents and Big Sister always find new ways to shatter my rising sense of pride in them," Aurora sighed dramatically, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Second Sister, instead of awkwardly joining their date, would not it be much better to secretly follow them?"
"Why?" Muen asked, tilting her head in genuine confusion.
"Three people on a date is just weird and crowded, and you would have to constantly be on guard, directly competing with Helena for attention. It sounds exhausting."
Muen scratched her head, considering this.
"But what is the point of just following them? I would just be watching from afar, suffering in silence."
"Not at all!" Aurora countered, her eyes glinting with a clever light. "You could be a master strategist! Take detailed notes on all the places they visit and the things they do. Later, you can recreate the exact same date with Big Sister, but just the two of you. The same activities, the same route, but with a different person—this would make the contrast in her enjoyment and feelings crystal clear. You would prove yourself the superior companion without saying a word!"
Muen's eyes lit up like twin suns.
"Brilliant idea! Aurora, you are a genius! Let us do it your way!"
Aurora smiled sweetly, secretly immensely relieved. She was, of course, almost entirely bluffing. Muen's frantic antics to insert herself between Noah and Helena were completely unnecessary. Noah would never emotionally abandon Muen, and Helena was not even thinking along romantic lines—her heart saw Noah as a cherished close friend and nothing more.
Aurora had merely redirected Muen's obsessive, chaotic energy into a more harmless and, for Aurora herself, highly entertaining avenue. Besides, standard three-person outings were nothing new; Aurora had already grown tired of them. But the idea of a covert "stalking the date" scenario? Now that was fresh, new, and promised excellent entertainment value.
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As the two sisters finalized their scheme, a familiar, deep-throated roar echoed through the clear morning sky.
Looking up, they saw 'the bus Leviathan' descending. Though it was a smaller model than the ones used for mass transport at Saint Heath Academy, it was still an impressive and majestic sight.
Helena, who could not yet transform into her dragon form, had hired the "ride service" to bring her to the sanctuary.
"She is here! Second Sister, quick, hide!"
"Got it!"
The two young dragons scurried with practiced haste into a nearby, thick ornamental bush, their silver and pink hair the only things barely visible through the leaves.
The Leviathan landed gracefully in the front courtyard of the Silver Dragon Sanctuary. Helena disembarked, retrieving a glowing golden crystal from her small pouch and handing it to the Leviathan's handler as payment.
Then, smoothing her dress, she strode toward the sanctuary's main entrance with an eager, happy smile.
"Wow, Second Sister, she is really dressed up today," Aurora whispered, peeking through the foliage.
"Shut up, Aurora," Muen hissed back, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, Second Sister."
As Aurora had noted, Helena had indeed put significant effort into her appearance. She wore a fluffy, playful wave cap adorned with a delicate Persian chrysanthemum that swayed gently in the morning breeze. Her silky, sea-blue hair was styled beautifully, cascading down to her waist like tranquil ocean waves glinting under the sunlight.
Her blue-and-white summer dress radiated youthful energy and was complemented by her long, slender legs wrapped in pristine white stockings. The proportions of her figure were, admittedly, flawless for their age. On her shoulder hung a cute, donkey-shaped satchel that looked handcrafted and unique.
Having spent most of her time in practical academy wear, Helena rarely dressed up, but today marked her first proper, planned outing with Noah. Naturally, she wanted to make it special.
"You are here, Helena!"
From the sanctuary entrance, Noah's voice called out, warm and welcoming.
"Good morning, Noah-chan!" Helena replied, her smile widening. "Just like we promised, let us enjoy our day together now that the exams are over!"