With three days remaining before his duel with Odin, Leon and Rossweise found themselves with unexpected free time. The Tower Master's generous offer to cover all their expenses in Sky City was not something they could easily refuse, so Leon decided to use these days to both relax and mentally prepare.
After settling into their luxurious hotel suite, the couple changed out of their formal attire into comfortable, casual clothes. With the official meeting concluded, they could finally enjoy three full days of uninterrupted private time, free from the weight of royal appearances.
Little Muse sat on the soft, oversized bed, her bright ruby eyes wide with curiosity as she watched her parents move around the room.
"Leon, should I wear pants or a dress?" Rossweise asked, holding up a sleek pair of tailored trousers in one hand and a soft, cozy white dress in the other.
Leon, who was busy selecting a simple tunic for himself, replied without looking up, "You will look beautiful in anything, dear."
Rossweise rolled her eyes, a mix of exasperation and amusement in her voice. "I am not asking which one looks good on me. I am asking which one looks better overall for our outing."
"There is a difference?" Leon asked, finally glancing her way. He realized his mistake instantly. As a seasoned husband, he knew that failing to properly engage with this question could escalate into a minor "domestic battle."
"That was not dismissive!" Leon quickly defended himself.
"Oh?" Rossweise raised a perfect silver eyebrow. "Then what was it?"
"It was confidence," he said smoothly. "Confidence in you, my queen."
Her curiosity was piqued. "Confidence? Explain."
"Because whether you choose the pants or the dress, you will look equally stunning. My certainty was so absolute that I felt no need to even look to confirm it."
"Tch, sweet-talking as always." Rossweise tossed the pants toward Leon, who caught them effortlessly.
"Does this mean you are wearing the pants?" he asked with a grin.
"No, I am wearing the dress. Now fold the pants and put them back in the travel bag for me."
"Got it, dear."
Rossweise hummed a happy, contented tune as she changed into the dress, clearly appeased. Leon could not help but breathe a silent sigh of relief—he had successfully navigated a potential marital skirmish with a single, well-placed compliment.
It was the mark of a truly battle-hardened husband.
Once they were both dressed, Leon scooped up Little Muse, and the family of three headed out to explore the city. The Tower Master had offered them personal guides, but Leon and Rossweise had politely declined.
They preferred to stay low-key and avoid the attention that official guides would bring. More importantly, it was a rare and precious chance to enjoy some simple, quality time together as a family.
"Come to think of it," Leon remarked as they stepped onto the bustling street, "it has been a long time since we last went on a proper date."
Rossweise arched a brow, crossing her arms with a playful smirk. "You make it sound like you have been desperately wanting to date me for ages."
Leon paused mid-step, instantly regretting his wording. He knew full well that Rossweise, with her razor-sharp wit, could spin any innocent remark into a teasing trap. His "date comment" was practically an invitation.
But to his surprise, Rossweise simply walked a few steps ahead of him, her elegant silver tail swaying slightly as if to mask her own bashfulness. Without turning back, she said softly, "I would like that too, Leon."
"What?" Leon asked, unsure if he had heard her correctly over the city's noise.
She stopped and turned her head, speaking louder this time. "I said, I would like to go on a date with you too, you idiot."
Leon felt a wide grin spread across his face. He quickened his pace to walk beside her. He truly cherished this side of Rossweise—a softer, more openly affectionate version of herself that emerged after each pregnancy. Though it typically only lasted for a few months before her sharp-tongued, fiercely confident persona fully returned, Leon treasured every moment of it.
"You always become so gentle after we have a baby," Leon commented, a warm smile on his face.
"Really? Then you had better enjoy it while it lasts," she teased lightly. "Once I have fully recovered my strength, I will be back to tormenting you as usual."
Leon blinked and then grinned mischievously. "You know, that gives me a bold idea."
"Oh?" she said, tilting her head. "What idea?"
"Since you are so wonderfully gentle after each pregnancy, why do not we... simply keep having babies back-to-back? A perpetual state of post-pregnancy gentleness."
"Do you want me to throw you off the edge of Sky City right now?" Rossweise deadpanned, though a flicker of amusement danced in her silver eyes.
"There it is—the legendary temper returns," Leon joked, laughing. Rossweise shot him a mock glare before her eyes landed on a nearby storefront adorned with colorful toys and tiny clothes. "Let us go buy some new things for Muse," she said, effectively changing the subject.
"Sure."
The baby store was a wonderland of magical items, from Leviathan-inspired strollers to tiny, scaled claw warmers. Even the pacifiers came in various elemental designs and emitted soft, magical glows.
"Welcome! Oh, my, what an absolutely adorable baby!" the store clerk greeted them warmly, leaning down to coo at Muse.
Muse, far from being shy, babbled happily in response, her tiny arms waving with excitement.
"Does the little princess like this?" The clerk held up a colorful, crystal rattle and shook it gently. "It makes a very nice 'dong-dong' sound, you see?"
"Not hing! Not hing!" Muse babbled firmly, shaking her head.
The clerk laughed, undeterred. "Alright then, how about this?" She picked up a small, magically-bouncy ball. "You can throw it or kick it, and it will always come back! Great for active little ones!"
"Not~ hing~!" Muse declared, waving her arms in a dismissive motion.
"Still no?" The clerk scratched her head thoughtfully and then grabbed a set of interlocking puzzle pieces. "What about this? You can use these to create all sorts of wonderful shapes! It is very clever."
"Not hing! Not hing!" Muse insisted, though her eyes lingered on the bright colors.
"Your daughter has quite the discerning taste, sir," the clerk said to Leon with an apologetic but good-natured smile.
"Sorry about that," Leon said, chuckling as he gently pinched Muse's soft cheek. "She is currently obsessed with saying 'not hing' to everything. We are working on it."
"I will take the rattle, the bouncy ball, and the puzzle set anyway," Leon added. "Could you wrap them up for us?"
"Of course, sir! Was there anything else you needed?" the clerk asked.
"Clothes," Rossweise stated. "Something simple and comfortable, not too flashy."
"Right this way, please." The clerk led them to the children's clothing section. Muse's verbal response to every tiny dress and outfit remained a consistent—"Not hing!"—though her little hands often reached out to touch the fabrics she liked.
Leon and Rossweise eventually selected a few practical and cute outfits they agreed upon and brought them to the counter.
"How would you like to pay for everything today, sir?" the clerk asked.
Leon pulled out the gleaming, unmistakable gold card given to him by the Tower Master and handed it over.
The clerk's eyes widened in recognition. She quickly handed it back with a deep, respectful bow. "My deepest apologies, sir. I did not realize you were honored guests of the Tower Master. There is, of course, no charge."
"So this card really is that powerful, huh?" Leon mused, mildly impressed as he tucked it away.
"As good as meeting the notoriously reclusive man himself," Rossweise quipped, a smirk playing on her lips.
The clerk nodded eagerly. "Indeed, sir. This card is issued exclusively by the Twilight Tower. It grants the bearer unlimited spending privileges anywhere within Sky City. Your stay here is on the Tower Master's behalf."
"Not bad at all," Leon said, feeling the weight of the card in his pocket. It was shaping up to be the perfect tool to fully enjoy the Tower Master's hospitality over the next few days.
After all, if the old man was going to turn his private spar into a grand public spectacle, Leon figured he was entitled to get a little something out of the deal. Even exhibitions need to pay their performers, he thought with a private smile, one arm around his wife and the other holding his daughter. And for Leon, the best payment was seeing his family happy and provided for.