**Chapter 47: Pop the Champagne!**
Morning dawned, and Moon, still half-asleep, mumbled around a mouthful of dream, “Sis… what’s for breakfast…”
Silence reigned supreme.
“Hello? Sister?”
Moon slowly opened her eyes and realized Noia was already up, well ahead of her blurry face.
With a jolt, she hopped off the bed and scurried to the bathroom, the study, and the hallway, only to find Noia was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, she made her way to the balcony, peering down into the courtyard below. There stood Noia, flanked by Leon and Roswiser, both looking like real-life scarecrows—heads tilted back, gazing at the sky at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle, utterly motionless.
Moon scratched her head, “Is this some new wooden doll game or what…”
Muttering to herself, she got dressed, ran a comb through her hair, and quickened her pace downstairs.
Upon reaching the courtyard, she bounded up to Leon first, her eyes sparkling, “Dad, what are you doing?”
“Waiting for the Message Dragon.”
“Eh?”
Moon blinked her big, beautiful eyes before hopping to Noia, asking, “Sis, what are you doing?”
“Waiting for the Message Dragon.”
Moon: ?
With her little head full of question marks, she finally bounced over to Roswiser, “Mom, you’re not waiting for the—”
“Waiting for the Message Dragon.”
Moon raised her hand and pinched her cheeks, “You all are waiting for the Message Dragon? Who’s going to make breakfast for Moon then?!”
Fast forward half an hour to the dining room—our adorable crew of four was munching their breakfast.
“By the way, even if the results are out, the Message Dragon should not fly over this early, right?” Leon mused.
“Academy efficiency is always on point. When I was in school, I got my results first thing in the morning,” Roswiser replied, serving breakfast like a culinary champion.
Leon looked up, eyebrows raised, “You also graduated from Saint His Academy?”
“Absolutely.”
“In that case, should Noia call you Mom or Senior?”
“Just eat your food,” Roswiser replied with a smirk.
Moon, on her side of the table wielding toddler-sized cutlery, glanced between her parents and said solemnly, “Why do you two seem even chummier after that trip to the academy?”
The couple froze mid-bite, exchanging a look.
Leon smirked, “Is that so…?”
Moon nodded enthusiastically, “Of course! You two weren’t cracking jokes during meals before!”
“Silence is golden while eating. And besides, your dad and I… we were already doing pretty well. Now finish your breakfast, Moon,” Roswiser emphasized.
“Okay, okay!”
“I’m done!” Noia announced, dropping her cutlery and jumping off her chair. “You all eat slowly! I’ll keep waiting for the Message Dragon!”
Seeing her dad and sister rush off like they were on fire, Moon exclaimed, “They’re so eager!”
Roswiser patiently sliced some bread into little manageable pieces, spread a layer of strawberry jam, and offered it to Moon, “Your dad and sister are really dedicated to their results. Plus, your dad used to be a real brainiac.”
The kind of brainiac who entered school at ten, graduated at fifteen, and was practically a dragon-slaying champion. Leon was practically ready to print a banner for Roswiser to hang in the living room.
Moon poked at her strawberry-jam-covered bread and wondered aloud, “Hmm… When can Dad teach me how to study?”
Roswiser smiled, gently patting her head, “Soon, my dear. Once you grow a little more, you can start learning from Dad.”
“Really?” Moon’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Yep, really!”
“Yay!”
“So, to grow big and strong, you need to eat well! Now finish your breakfast,” Roswiser encouraged.
“Okay!”
Moon dove into her food with the enthusiasm of an excavator at work.
Roswiser smiled in satisfaction, appreciating how well Leon’s parenting tricks worked.
After breakfast, Roswiser took Moon’s hand and led her back to the courtyard.
Leon and Noia were still standing there, necks craned in the same balloon-animal formation, peering skyward for that elusive Message Dragon.
A true scholar’s dedication to results, why, they had the patience of saints.
With a flourish, Roswiser waved to the maids to prepare some tea and snacks.
The family of four munched and waited…
And waited…
Until evening rolled around, and there was still no sign of the Message Dragon.
Roswiser sighed softly, “I’ll go make dinner. We’ll come back and wait after eating.”
Just as she turned to head toward the Holy Temple, Leon’s voice rang out from behind, “The Message Dragon! The Message Dragon is here!”
Followed excitedly by Noia, “Really?! It’s the Message Dragon!”
Turning around, Roswiser spotted a Message Dragon gliding smoothly toward the Holy Temple, finally landing in the center of the courtyard.
The four of them rushed forward in a frantic dash.
On the dragon’s back, a bamboo tube was strapped securely.
Leon yanked it off and opened it, revealing a pristine envelope.
The envelope was exquisite—a deep navy blue background boasting gleaming gold lettering that read “Melkway,” sealed neatly with red wax, bearing the emblem of Saint His Academy.
“Dad, open it quick!” Moon squealed in anticipation.
Leon nodded, tearing the wax and opening the envelope.
The contents were straightforward:
Dear Noia K. Melkway, congratulations on passing the examination at our Academy.
Please report to the academy in three days to attend the enrollment ceremony.
“Yay! You did it, Sis! Way to go! And Mom and Dad are awesome too!”
Moon gleefully twirled around Noia like a spinning top.
Leon handed the letter to Roswiser, who read through twice before breaking into a relieved smile.
She let out a long breath, leaning toward Leon, “Thank you.”
Leon spread his arms, bewildered, “What for? It’s all Noia’s doing. She’s incredibly smart.”
“Can I drink?” Roswiser suddenly inquired.
“Uh, me?”
He nodded.
“Not… a professional, but I can give it a whirl.”
“Well, let’s celebrate tonight. I’ll go make dinner.”
“Sure.”
Roswiser carefully tucked the envelope away and ambled back toward the Holy Temple.
After taking a few steps, she paused and turned back, “Want to help? So you don’t complain about how you’re not part of this family.”
“Mother Dragon, I see your spite level has gone up.”
Leon retorted with a chuckle as he hurried along behind her.
An hour later, dinner was ready.
Roswiser even opened a bottle of vintage wine she said she had saved from when she was crowned the Silver Dragon Queen fifty years ago.
She poured Leon a glass. “Is this okay?”
Leon nodded in approval.
Dinner was quite lavish.
As they gathered around, Moon eagerly laid out plans for her sister’s future at the academy.
“No little dragons, hear me? No bringing boys home—girls are a no-go too—study magic well, and protect Moon once you graduate!”
Noia listened diligently, making sure to absorb all the rules.
After several rounds of drinks, the two little ones scampered off to their rooms, ready for some serious sister talk.
Roswiser sat back in her chair, a bit dazed, sipping her wine, cheeks flushed from the excitement.
She hadn’t felt this happy in ages.
After a moment, she reached for the bottle to pour herself another glass but was stopped by Leon, who held the bottle firmly.
“You’ve had enough, Roswiser.”
“Why? Concerned about me?” Roswiser giggled, tipsy.
“Who’s concerned about you? If you drink too much and can’t get up in the morning, who’s going to take Noia to the academy?”
“What’s the problem? I can still fly even if I’m drunk!”
Leon sighed, “In the Empire, even if we’re drunk, we can’t ride horses.”
“That’s you humans! Us dragons don’t fear anything…”
Leon got up, helping Roswiser steady herself, “Let’s get some fresh air on the balcony to clear your head.”
“Nooo, one more sip…”
“Let’s save it for tomorrow when we take Noia first.”
With a mix of coaxing and dragging, Leon managed to get her to the balcony.
With Roswiser leaning against the railing, the cool evening breeze brushed her face while her hair flowed like silver sand in the night.
Leon stood beside her, hands in his pockets, waiting for her to sober up before ushering her back to bed.
They stayed silent, listening only to the sounds of the night’s wind.
After what felt like ages, Roswiser tilted her head back and spoke softly, “I’m so worried about her.”
“Noia?”
“Yeah. Though she’s mature for her age and responsible, she’s still just a kid. She’s never been away from home, living on her own.”
She closed her eyes, continuing, “Will she remember to do laundry? Will she be picky with food? Will she remember to eat breakfast on time?”
“What if she runs into some not-so-nice folks and gets caught up in trouble?”
“How’s she going to manage studying? What if the teachers aren’t as good as you? What if she gets bored and doesn’t pay attention?”
“And what if she gets sick? Can she figure out how to see a doctor by herself?”
“Leon… I’m really worried about her. I’m so worried…”
The last word was whisked away by the evening breeze.
She was drunk.
Leaning slightly, she rested her head on Leon’s shoulder.
Leon let out a resigned sigh, muttering, “Women are trouble,” but he still dutifully carried Roswiser back to the bedroom.
He removed her shoes, tucked her in, and got a glass of warm water ready at the bedside.
Once everything was set, Leon sighed again, casting a glance at the tipsy Roswiser.
What a beauty, lying there. Her silver hair splayed on the bed, her peaceful sleeping face made it hard for him to disturb her.
The shoulder strap of her nightgown slipped down, revealing pale skin and a hint of the Dragon Pattern.
Leon gulped, willing himself to look away and escape.
But just as he turned, a gentle grip caught his wrist.
“Aren’t you gonna take this opportunity to get back at me…” Roswiser whispered, “my Dragon Pattern is already reacting…”
Leon bit his lip, summoning strength to break free from Roswiser’s hold.
“Go to sleep, Mother Dragon.”
Hmph, you think I’d pounce just because you called? Where’s my dignity gone?!
You need to be awake for the vengeance to hit hard for maximum impact.
After all, a good Dragon Slayer knows when to strike, allowing the prey to let their guard down before delivering the final blow.
He turned off the bedroom light and shut the door, his footsteps fading away.
The night grew quiet, and Roswiser fell under the weight of drowsiness, sinking deeply into slumber.
Soon, the tranquil room resonated with her steady breathing.
By the way, if this lovable family could foresee what’s about to unfold at the enrollment ceremony in three days, the academic world would define their actions tonight with a buzzword: pop the champagne!
