### 22 Falling in Love with Someone
(Combo Edition)
The daughters wanted to learn more, and naturally, Leon wouldn’t refuse.
But bringing up the reason for their enrollment was bound to remind General Leon of the time Noia enrolled in Saint His Academy at the “ripe old age” of one year and two months:
“To defeat more Dragon Slayers!”
Seriously, this was enough to make a father want to dramatically clutch his chest in anguish.
Who knows, maybe when the three daughters graduate from the academy, they’ll present their old dad as their graduation project.
Well.
In any case, since Moon and Little Light had made up their minds, Leon was definitely all in to mentor them.
With a month left until the next test at Saint His Academy, he felt confident they’d pass, just like Noia did.
Noia had high talent, and Moon and Little Light were no slouches either.
Sure, Little Moon was a bit laid-back and zen about things, but that was only after mastering everything she needed to learn.
Most importantly, Leon wasn’t the kind of parent who would say, “You’ve learned enough, so stop studying and go play!”
Putting too much pressure on kids often backfires.
As for Little Light, he didn’t need to worry at all.
With her innate talent for science and her holy physique, studying was as easy for her as breathing—an integral part of life!
In the future, Little Light could probably single-handedly come up with reverse space magic! Her research skills were obvious.
Plus, Leon already had experience mentoring Noia.
This time, with the three of them working together, passing the enrollment test would be a piece of cake—a no-brainer!
“While that does sound easy, are you overlooking something?”
That evening, Roswiser raised this question after hearing Leon’s grand visions.
“I’m overlooking… what?”
“Saint His Academy has always valued family education, so in addition to testing the little dragons, parents must also undergo additional assessments.”
Roswiser, in a translucent nightgown, reclined on the sofa, legs crossed, looking lazy yet majestic. “When Noia enrolled, didn’t we face that ‘communication test’ too?”
Leon suddenly realized.
What Mother Dragon said was indeed true.
Saint His Academy had this rule.
He remembered how, back then, when Noia enrolled, he and Roswiser weren’t too familiar, so they ended up staying up all night playing “Truth or Dare” to get to know each other better.
It was during those nights that they discovered, just from looks, they were exactly each other’s type—
Cough, cough, that’s not the point.
The point is—
“Wait, we already took the test when Noia enrolled. Do we really have to do it again?” Leon asked.
Roswiser nodded. “If a dragon family has two kids who both take the academy’s test, and the gap between the tests is less than a year, the parents don’t have to take the communication test again.”
“But if it’s over a year, a retest is required.”
Leon raised an eyebrow. “There’s such a rule…?”
“Yep. Because while dragon lifespans are long, a year can bring all sorts of changes that might alter a person, even a couple’s relationship, right?”
Listening to Roswiser explain, Leon pondered carefully.
That seemed to have some truth to it.
A year can feel short or long, but it’s definitely enough time for circumstances to change a relationship.
Maybe for the better, or perhaps the worse, who knows?
So it made sense for the academy to have such a rule.
“It’s been two years since Noia enrolled, so we’re definitely taking the communication test again.”
Roswiser spoke slowly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked at her pretend husband by the bed. “So, Leon, how about another round of truth-telling?”
It had been two years. Looking back, they were practically arch-enemies back then; if it weren’t for their daughter, they would’ve gone to blows.
But two years later…
Sure, they had their fights, but more often they were “fighting” in the bedroom—
And, oops, they even ended up with another daughter!
Where’s the justice in that?
So Roswiser felt it was indeed necessary to have another round of truth-telling.
Leon was thinking along similar lines.
Plus, moments like this when the Mother Dragon wasn’t being stubborn and actually spoke from the heart were rare. He had to cherish it.
“Alright then—”
“Hey, hold on a second.”
Roswiser got up from the sofa, her long legs gliding over to the storage room in her dragon-wing slippers. “Since we still have a month before the test, we can take our time with this. So—oh, here it is.”
With that, she returned from the storage room holding a bottle of red wine and two fancy glasses.
“So, we can drink while we talk. What do you think?” Roswiser smiled, shaking the glasses.
Leon bit his lip, suddenly feeling a bit nervous.
He remembered the last time this Mother Dragon poured him a drink, leading to her easily prying his lips open.
His first bold declaration of “Melkway, I like you!” had come right after downing that drink.
Now Roswiser wanted to get him tipsy again? No way!
“Nope, I’m feeling unwell, can’t drink.” Leon stammered, coming up with a random excuse.
“Unwell? Then you absolutely need to drink!”
Roswiser pulled him by the wrist and led him to the balcony. “Our dragon wine is nothing like human wine.”
“How so?”
“Our wine cures ailments, especially for feeling unwell.” Roswiser said, completely serious.
Leon forced a smile, trying to suppress a laugh, “Then when I retire, I should just sell your magical dragon wine between the empire and you silver dragons. I might make a fortune.”
As they talked, the couple had already reached the small table on the balcony.
Roswiser set the glasses down with a plop, popped the cork off the wine, and poured into the glasses.
“Hmm? Aren’t you going to run a farm after you retire?”
After pouring the wine, Roswiser settled down leisurely, propping her chin on one hand, gazing at Leon with her shimmering silver eyelashes fluttering, “I still want you to teach me how to ride.”
“I never said we’d open a farm together…” Leon grumbled.
“Oh, so the ‘marrying an average-looking woman’ part isn’t about me?” The queen feigned disappointment.
Leon, ever the stubborn one, blurted out, “Of course not.”
With that, Roswiser froze, her smile stiffening a touch.
She lowered her gaze, her voice heavy, “Oh, is that so?”
Leon stole a glance at her, noticing her expression was a bit unhappy.
He panicked internally, opening his mouth to say something.
He knew that their previous banter was just playfulness between the couple, but his last remark about not being about her had clearly been a brainless slip.
Had it been before, when their relationship wasn’t as solid, saying such things would’ve been fine;
But things were different now.
With every stage in their relationship, their dialogue shifts as well.
The same words can have entirely opposing effects depending on when they’re said.
“B-because you’re very pretty.”
Leon added quickly, “You’re so beautiful, you’ve gone way beyond my expectations.”
He observed Roswiser covertly after saying that.
Sure enough, women are auditory creatures, and the Mother Dragon was no different.
She held back her urge to smile, asking back, “So, being beautiful is my fault? Then you should find an ugly one, and leave me alone.”
“Let’s just skip that, who seeks out ugliness when there’s beauty available?”
Leon beamed, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “As the saying goes, how could a woman protected by a lion fall for a stray dog?”
Roswiser raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand, “And then?”
“How could a man favored by angels ever settle for the fall?”
General Leon Casmod was truly a master of the game—one solid line after another.
“Who favored you? Silly, stop saying weird things.”
Besides when she got jealous, Roswiser was easy to handle. Just give her an out, and Leon silently felt relieved.
But little did he know, only Leon Casmod had the privilege to handle the Silver Dragon Queen this way.
Let someone else try to charm her with just a few words? Dream on!
After their little interlude, Roswiser slowly lifted her wine glass. “So, shall we start our round of truth-telling?”
Leon peered at the red wine on the table.
Looks like he couldn’t escape Roswiser’s drinking game tonight.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
After a pause, Leon added, “But this time, you can’t force me to say… say those weird things.”
Roswiser smiled lightly, “Okay, I won’t push you. Come on~”
She raised her glass, presenting it to Leon.
Leon also lifted his glass and clinked it lightly with hers.
After toasting, they each took a sip.
The wine was rich and flavorful, a fine vintage she had cherished for years. Even someone like Leon, who didn’t drink often, could taste its nuances.
“The first question…”
Roswiser turned to face Leon directly.
She resting her arm on the table, propping her beautiful face with one hand, silver hair cascading softly from her ear, her beautiful eyes fixed on him as she softly asked,
“In these two years, have you fallen in love with someone?”
“……”
Whoa, starting off strong, aren’t we?
Leon glanced at the wine in his glass, pondering why the first question felt so intense. Was this really just regular dragon juice?
“W-wait, didn’t we agree not to push each other into weird territory?”
“I’m not pushing you. I’m just asking if you’ve fallen in love with someone.”
Roswiser had her facts straight, “I didn’t specify who. Why are you panicking?”
Leon was speechless.
Sure, let her finish her line of questioning, what else could he do?
Ultimate compliance!
General Leon’s face reddened as he looked down at the balcony floor, deeply and quietly replying, “Yes.”
“Louder, I can’t hear you.”
“Yes!”
“What does ‘yes’ mean? You need to elaborate.”
“……In these two years, I have loved someone.”
The queen narrowed her eyes with a satisfied smile, “Oh? I wonder who this mystery person could be~”
Haha, Your Majesty, you’re hilarious, Leon thought to himself.
“Now it’s your turn, ask away.” Roswiser said grandly.
“Then what about you? Have you fallen in love with someone?” Leon decided to flip the question back at her.
Roswiser seemed to foresee him asking her the very same question.
She calmly took a sip of her wine, then sweetly replied,
“You~ tell~ me~”
Her drinking capacity was usually impressive, but even she easily flushed.
With one sip, her pale cheeks blossomed with a rosy hue.
Roswiser gazed at Leon, squinting slightly, those silver crescent moon eyes oozing unspoken allure and charm.
Leon found himself burning under her fiery gaze, feeling a bit like he was on needles.
He quickly looked away and stammered, “I—I have no idea if you’ve fallen for someone or not…”
“You know, you definitely know. Now spill it.”
“Spill what?”
“Tell me whether I’ve fallen for someone.”
Wait a minute—
Was I the one asking?
Why am I being put in the position of answering for you?
“Mother Dragon, let’s stick to the rules, I’m supposed to be asking you.” Leon tried reasoning with her again.
“I don’t care! I want to hear you say it.”
Roswiser had mastered the art of “being unreasonable” flawlessly.
“Have I fallen for someone? Give me an answer, Leon.”
Ah…
This feels so strange.
If he says no, he can bet the Mother Dragon will flip the table and start a fight;
But if he says yes, it would be painfully obvious who the “someone” was…
And honestly, this method of answering was downright embarrassing!
“Come on, Leon, have I fallen for you—oh wait, I mean—have I fallen for someone?”
The Queen nearly spilled her heart out after a glass of wine, giggling lightly. 🙂
Leon couldn’t argue anymore, so he sighed and nodded,
“You have, Roswiser, in these two years, you have definitely fallen for someone. Happy now?”
“Humph. Next question…”
What communication test, what truth-telling?
It was just a cute little roleplay for the couple~
