Chapter 23: Come Back, Old Kang
At this, Roseweiser remembered that Saint Xis Academy indeed had this rule.
“Yes, but it’s not urgent. We can take it in a few days,” Roseweiser said.
Munen thought for a moment and suggested, “How about this, Mom, when we visit Aunt Isa, we take the family photo there, how does that sound?”
Munen’s suggestion was quite good.
Roseweiser glanced at Leon.
Leon nodded slightly, signaling it was fine.
Now, Leon had no resistance to things like taking pictures.
After all the “Holding Hands with Dragons,” “Kissing Dragons,” and “Having Babies with Dragons,” what was “Taking Pictures with Dragons” compared to those?
I’m already a “Hero of the Dragon Clan,” what do I have to fear?
Really.
“Alright, we’ll go to Sky Castle with Aunt Isa and take the photo there.”
“Yay~”
After dinner, Leon and Roseweiser returned to their room.
Roseweiser went straight to the study and took out a photo from the desk drawer.
Leon also walked over, leaning against the doorframe of the study, his arms crossed, “What is that?”
Roseweiser turned the photo toward Leon and said, “Our first family photo.”
Leon squinted slightly as he looked at it.
The photo was well-preserved, not yellowing but still showing some signs of age.
It was a picture of him, Roseweiser, and Noa and Munen.
However, in this small group of four, there were three “Sima faces” (blank expressions).
At that time, his relationship with Roseweiser was still quite poor, and they could only maintain their fragile bond through their daughters.
At that time, Noa even had some reservations toward him and would ask for permission to hug him.
If it weren’t for the entrance test, the three of them would have never appeared in the same picture.
Leon walked over, took the photo from Roseweiser’s hands, and studied it carefully,
“In just two years, Noa and Munen have changed so much.”
At that time, the two little ones were still at the standard loli height and appearance, and holding them in his arms felt just right.
Now, two years later, they had grown much taller.
This kind of growth speed was something human children couldn’t achieve.
“The growth rate of dragon cubs is very fast. By about eleven or twelve years old, their bodies are fully developed, and they enter the second stage of internal development,” Roseweiser said.
“Internal… development?”
“Yes, like strengthening bones, meridians, organs, and magic circuits. The second stage of development finishes around the age of twenty, by which time their bodies will be strong enough to support their transformation into dragon form.”
Dragon form…
Leon suddenly remembered that when he traveled to the future, Noa and the others were about twenty years old, and Xiao Guang had said she had just learned to transform into a dragon, unable to fly for too long.
How wonderful, being able to grow big wings and fly around at twenty years old.
At twenty, General Leon was still on the harsh battlefield, surviving with Rebecca and Martin, eating tree bark.
Roseweiser came over, stood beside him, and looked at the first family photo with him.
After a moment, Roseweiser asked, “What were you thinking at that time?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, when we took this photo, what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking of you, my wife.”
Roseweiser rolled her eyes helplessly, gently elbowing his chest, “Stop buttering me up, I’m seriously asking you.”
Leon recalled the scene at the time and responded, “I was probably thinking… How long do we have to keep up with this fake family? I hope all of this… ends soon.”
Hearing his answer, the Queen’s pupils shifted slightly.
She wasn’t the type to dwell on old matters, nor would she explode in anger over them.
But Leon’s response made her feel a bit sentimental.
Sentimental about how time had passed, and how the once captive who had been forced to stay here had now become an indispensable part of the family.
Roseweiser lowered her silver eyes, the corners of her lips involuntarily curving upward.
Leon noticed her small gesture and raised an eyebrow, asking, “What are you smiling about?”
“Hmm? Nothing, I’m not smiling,” Roseweiser quickly returned to her usual cold demeanor.
Leon clicked his tongue and then asked, “What about you? What were you thinking at that time?”
“I was thinking about how to torment you.”
“…Hmm, that fits my stereotype of you, mother dragon.”
Roseweiser chuckled and punched his chest lightly before placing the photo back into the drawer.
Then, she turned, leaning gently against the edge of the table, watching Leon as she asked, “So when did you change your mind?”
“When did I…?”
Leon paused for a moment, then said, “Probably after Constantine’s invasion.”
Old Kang, sent by the Empire, came to the Silver Dragon clan to eliminate Leon.
But who knew it would be like the old lady on the swing—coming and never returning.
After dealing with Constantine, Leon returned to the Empire to clean house.
It was also during this trip to the Empire that both he and Roseweiser realized how much they depended on each other.
So when Leon said he changed his mind after Constantine’s invasion, it made perfect sense.
Roseweiser’s situation wasn’t much different.
“Oh? That late?” Roseweiser tilted her head, smiling as she asked.
“Late? When do you think it was?”
The Queen smiled, her smile charming and seductive. She reached out and gently pulled Leon’s collar, bringing him closer to her face.
Looking into Leon’s deep black eyes, she softly said, “I thought it would have been much earlier. After all, this means you were conquered by this Queen, the great hero Casmod.”
Leon lowered his eyes, looking at the delicate hand holding his collar, and then raised his hand to grip her slender wrist, “Changing your mind means you’ve conquered me?”
“Isn’t that so?” Even though her wrist was held, Roseweiser continued to gently trace Leon’s cheek with her nails.
“You’re wrong, Roseweiser. The reason my mind changed is because I’ve already conquered you.”
He released her wrist and wrapped his arm around her slim waist.
Their black and silver eyes locked, seeming to spark an invisible fire.
Logically, at this point, the flirtation should have escalated into a kiss, touching faces, and then heading to the bedroom for what couples do.
However, Roseweiser suddenly hit the brakes.
“We have to wake up early to go to my sister’s house tomorrow, we can’t fool around tonight.” She gently pushed Leon away, but her smile didn’t fade.
…
Footnotes:
- “XP”: Refers to “experience points,” a term commonly used in gaming to measure progress or growth, here used humorously to indicate mutual attraction based on appearance.
- “Mother Dragon”: A playful term used by Leon for Roseweiser, highlighting her strong, commanding presence.
