Chapter 174: Postpartum Blues
Days went by like a leisurely river, and the negative vibes brought about by Constantine after the war were slowly fading away.
Everything seemed to be heading in a positive direction — at least for the Silver Dragon Race.
But for Leon, life didn’t seem all that different. If he had to say anything, it was the arrival of their little daughter that made him busier than a one-armed juggler at a carnival.
Other than that, everything was pretty much the same — until he noticed that Roswiser’s mood seemed to sink lower each day.
She was the one who had initially vowed to lift the spirits of the Silver Dragon Race, even going so far as to throw a bonfire party.
And thanks to her efforts and pep talks, the Silver Dragon folks gradually got back into shape, and the whole clan began to operate like a well-oiled machine.
Yet here was Roswiser, the catalyst for it all, feeling more out of place than a cat at a dog show.
Leon could sense that her gloominess wasn’t stemming from work-related stress.
Nope, there was something else gnawing at her.
In recent days, Roswiser’s emotional turmoil escalated like a balloon at a birthday party — soon to pop.
Sometimes, she even went out of her way to avoid him.
This left Leon scratching his head.
Had he accidentally said something to set her off?
That didn’t seem likely; they knew each other too well. They had unspoken boundaries, and whenever one of them was about to cross that line, they’d take the hint and stop talking.
Besides, if he really had ticked her off, with Roswiser’s fiery personality, she wouldn’t just sulk for days; she’d either let him have it on the spot or throw something at him.
After some back-and-forth in his mind, Leon decided it was time for a chat.
In the evening, while dinner was still a few moments away, Roswiser wrapped up her day’s work and found herself perched alone on a swing in the backyard.
As the sun set, casting elongated shadows that danced with the breeze, her silver hair fluttered like a flag of melancholy, and her lovely face was painted with worry.
The swing moved softly, chains groaning slightly as if sympathizing with her sorrows.
With silver eyes fixed on the ground, she was lost in memories from ages ago:
“Promise me one thing: don’t let Leon return to the Empire within a year.”
That was a pact she made with Taige when they first met.
Back then, Roswiser never truly planned to let Leon go.
Forget one year — she would keep Leon by her side for ten or even a hundred years, making him her very own captive for life.
Consider it punishment for this arrogant human daring to offend her.
However, as time passed and so many things happened, the relationship between her and Leon had shifted like tectonic plates.
Neither of them was trying to size each other up by learning about their races because one person could never represent an entire species.
Instead, they focused on understanding each other.
And the more time they spent together, the more Leon transformed in Roswiser’s eyes.
In the past, she’d regarded him as an enemy — a j*rk who’d even taunt her at d*ath’s door;
But as the daughters grew, as she experienced her ten-month pregnancy, and with the arrival of their latest bundle of joy, Leon’s better qualities started to shine like stars in the night sky.
Responsibility, accountability, integrity.
Among all the beings Roswiser had encountered, Leon was the one to showcase these traits best.
No doubt, he was an exceptional father, and as a pretend husband? He was doing a pretty decent job there, too.
His love was as pure as a freshly fallen snow. When he showered someone with affection, they undoubtedly felt like the happiest person on the planet.
From the start, he never showed disdain for their daughters, despite them being half-bloods born of a union with an enemy. He loved them wholeheartedly, no holds barred.
The little one was still too young to comment on, but Noia and Moon were swimming in Leon’s profound love.
Roswiser could clearly sense the difference between her daughters and other young dragons.
They basked in life and cherished it, holding a strong concept of “family” which most dragons simply didn’t possess.
Roswiser knew this was all thanks to Leon.
If it were just her, their daughters might still awkwardly call her “Mother.”
He had long gone from being a captive to a member of this “family.”
And after Constantine’s war, too many mysteries had surfaced, all too coincidentally aligned with Leon’s promises.
She had an inkling that, far away in the human Empire, another silent war awaited Leon.
Logically speaking, he needed to return to unravel these surfacing mysteries;
Emotionally, Taige’s actions probably required Leon’s aid and support.
Now, the countdown to her one-year agreement with Taige had come due.
That was her reason for being so blue these past few days.
Despite having made a decision in her heart, she remained wrapped in self-conflict.
What was the point of keeping mum?
How long could she go on pretending to avoid this?
Leon would find out sooner or later and leave this place — no question about it.
“Ugh…”
For the umpteenth time that day, she sighed, each one heavier than the last.
Creeeak — Creak —
Suddenly, she felt a gentle push from behind, and the swing began to sway.
A broad, cool hand rested on her back; she didn’t need to look back to know it was Leon.
She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed when he’d come up behind her.
“Having fun, Your Majesty?” Leon asked, continuing to push the swing.
Roswiser gripped the iron chains on either side, her silver hair flying about; her gaze dropped as she felt the movement beneath her, her voice low. “What are you doing here?”
“I noticed you’ve been in a bad mood lately; what’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
The reply was decidedly frosty.
As everyone knows, when girls say “I’m not angry,” it doesn’t mean they aren’t.
Before they unleash their dissatisfaction with a roar, that “anger” is like a cat in a box — you won’t know whether it’s alive or dead until you open it.
“Come on, spill it — is it… postpartum depression?”
“No, it has nothing to do with having a baby.”
“Oh… then it has to do with me?”
Roswiser shut her eyes; sometimes she really wished he wouldn’t be so perceptive.
Seeing her silence, Leon knew he had hit the nail on the head.
He gently supported Roswiser’s back and gradually brought the swing to a halt, stepping in front of her, hands on his chest,
“Come on, speak up, Your Majesty. What did I do to upset you?”
Roswiser, still on the swing, finally lifted her gaze.
The sunset’s glow backlit Leon, creating a halo that accented Roswiser’s profile.
He stood tall and straight, his gaze somewhat higher than hers.
Their eyes met, neither of them shying away.
This scene reminded Roswiser of three years ago in the dungeon, when Leon had faced her like this.
Only now, the evening breeze was far more pleasant than the dank air of the dungeon.
He was still as ruggedly handsome as ever, the scars on his face exuding a rugged charm unique to males.
Roswiser opened her mouth, thinking this might be the perfect opportunity to spill the beans about Taige’s one-year agreement.
It was already… time to stop hiding.
But just as she was about to speak, Moon’s voice rang out from a distance,
“Mommy, Daddy, dinner’s ready~! Sister said if you two keep moping around, we won’t wait for you!”
Leon turned his head and called back, “Tell your sister that if she keeps spying on us, I won’t teach her magic anymore!”
As soon as he finished, Noia leaped out from the bushes beside Moon, her tail up like a flag. She pointed at Leon and shouted, “That’s absolutely not allowed, Daddy!”
Leon chuckled, turned his attention back to Roswiser, and said, “Let’s go back and eat.”
