Noa said that her essay was completed smoothly.

Although she couldn't guarantee she would 100% clinch first place, with her unique theme of "Parent's Love", making it into the top eight was not a problem.

The couple was very happy for their daughter.

However, based on past experiences, they did not rush to pop the champagne this time.

"Until the first-place trophy is in hand, weld the champagne cork firmly shut—no one touch it."

It was worth noting that the essay was entirely completed by Noa herself. During her writing process, the couple did not offer any suggestions, nor did they "check in" on her progress.

They both understood that the creative process of writing an essay, when observed or intervened, would strip it of its original potential.

So, out of respect for their daughter, Leon and Roswitha tacitly chose to wait in silence.

Even when Noa finished her essay and did not offer to show it to them, they chose not to ask.

When results were announced later, and should Noa win a decent ranking, the class would hold a small awards ceremony. The excellent essays would also be shared with everyone for appreciation. They figured it wouldn't be too late to admire their daughter's work then.

When it came to respecting their child, the couple always managed to stay in sync without needing any discussion.

After all, the cornerstone of raising a child is respecting them.

The day after finishing her essay, Noa returned to the academy on the Leviathan.

It would take a few days for the rankings to come out; all they needed to do now was wait patiently.

Leon stood in the front yard, holding Muen in his arms, with Roswitha by his side. Together, they watched the mighty dragon Leviathan disappear into the distance.

Only when that colossal figure vanished from sight did Leon finally turn around. With one arm holding Muen, he used the other hand to pinch her chubby little cheek.

"So, Muen, what would you like to play today?"

As he asked, Leon began to carry her toward Silver Dragon Castle.

Roswitha, too, turned and followed a few steps behind them.

The little tuft of hair on Muen's head swayed with her deep thoughts—a rare occurrence, as she seldom thought hard about anything.

After a brief moment of pondering, Muen spoke with great seriousness, "Daddy."

"Yes?"

"What exactly were you and Mommy doing by the seaside that day?"

Leon froze mid-step.

Even Roswitha, walking behind him, stopped in her tracks.

Leon turned to glance at Roswitha, who casually shrugged as if to say, "I have no idea how to explain this. You're on your own."

Damn it.

Dragoness, you're the one who leaned in first that time!

Two days ago, during the last event of their date, they had gone for a stroll along the seaside.

As they walked, this unlucky couple had started teasing each other.

It began with them barefootedly stepping on one another's feet—Roswitha was at a disadvantage because this brat Leon, realizing he couldn't step on her feet, decided to target her tail instead.

This led them to move to the shallow water by the shoreline for a splashing battle.

At some point, Roswitha slipped and fell backward.

Quick as a flash, Leon grabbed her wrist, supported her slender waist, and helped her back up.

However, due to the momentum, Roswitha failed to steady herself and accidentally ended up falling into Leon's arms.

The two locked eyes, standing knee-deep in the waves. Their pupils reflected the sunset, and the atmosphere grew undeniably romantic.

Then... from some inexplicable impulse, she kissed the corner of Leon's lips.

That was it, really. Nothing more.

Truly. Nothing. More.

After all, right after that quick, fleeting kiss, they both realized the kids might be spying on them somewhere, so they refrained from going overboard.

They had thought such a fleeting kiss would go unnoticed.

But could it really have been seen after all?

Hold on a second.

If Muen had truly witnessed Mommy and Daddy kissing, she wouldn't be asking, "What were you doing back then?"

Instead, she'd be teasing them with something like, "Were you two kissing~?"

This means... she and Noa were indeed watching them but might have had their eyes covered by Anna at that critical moment?

Which explains her curiosity now?

Seeing her parents silent, Muen chimed in, "Anna said that part wasn't suitable for kids to watch, but Muen is soooo curious! What were you doing, Daddy and Mommy?"

Ah, so it was Anna's timely intervention after all.

The head maid had good intentions, but she underestimated Muen’s curiosity.

At this tender age, little dragonlings are incredibly curious.

If Leon and Roswitha didn't come up with a convincing answer now, they would definitely be hounded by this question for the rest of the week.

After some thought, Leon decided to give a more delicate explanation.

"Oh, we didn't do anything special. Mommy was just thanking Daddy."

"Thanking?" Muen tilted her head.

"Yep. You see, Mommy slipped and fell, and Daddy caught her in time. She was just using a grown-up's way of showing appreciation."

Leon added, "You see, adults have their ways of showing gratitude, and kids have their ways. It's important not to copy each other's methods, okay? Do you understand, Muen?"

Muen's face lit up with sudden realization. "Ooooh, I see now!"

"That's right, that's all it was."

Muen paused, then asked thoughtfully, "So when will Daddy use the grown-up way to thank Mommy?"

Leon: ......

Roswitha: "Pfft—"

She wanted to burst out laughing.

But she held back.

Oh, my dear daughter, waiting for your father to thank me in any way other than begrudgingly? Not unless the sun rises in the west.

"Alright, Muen, no more such questions. You’ll understand when you grow up," Roswitha said. "Now go play in the backyard with Daddy. Be careful, okay? Mommy has to get back to work."

Muen nodded cheerfully. "Okay! Mommy, you work hard~"

Roswitha walked up, gently pinching Muen's cheek, before turning toward Silver Dragon Castle.

Leon carried his youngest daughter to the backyard.

...

After dinner, Leon sat at his desk, holding the last of the Bunny Girl photos in his hand, wondering where to hide it.

The other four photos had already been stashed in places where Roswitha would never find them.

As for this last one, he hadn’t yet decided.

While he pondered, he heard the sound of the door lock turning.

Leon quickly opened the drawer and placed the photo inside.

Click, clack. High heels clicked rhythmically against the floor.

Roswitha, wearing a long dress, entered Leon's room.

Leon glanced at her and asked, "What’s up? You planning to sleep here again tonight?"

Roswitha sat on the edge of his bed, crossed her legs, and smiled. "What, I can’t?"

"Tch. Suit yourself."

Leon had two cards up his sleeve—a healthy body after two weeks of recovery and his Bunny Girl photo collection. His strategy was simple: if the enemy moved, he retaliated decisively; if the enemy didn’t move, he waited patiently.

Of course, that was the ideal plan.

If the dragoness gave him any opportunity, he wouldn’t hesitate to go on the offensive.

Roswitha toyed with her hair, gazing out the window as she spoke casually.

"Didn’t you ask me what else you said in your sleep that night?"

Leon raised an eyebrow and swiveled his chair to face her. "What did I say?"

Roswitha smiled knowingly, then looked down and started fiddling with her nails.

"You mentioned you liked mature women... and black stockings or something..."

Gulp—

Leon swallowed hard.

Did he really talk about his secret fetishes while sleep-talking?

Had Roswitha slipped him some truth serum or something before bed?

"Well, that’s understandable. After all, even the strongest Dragon Slayer is still a man. It’s normal for men to have a few fetishes."

Leon forced a neutral smile. He knew this dragoness had a habit of turning tables mid-conversation. A plot twist was coming.

"But—"

See? Here it comes.

"I can understand the thing with stockings and mature women, but... Bunny Girl? Now that I just don’t understand."

Bunny Girl?!

Leon’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be... she had found out about the photos he secretly took of her dressed as a Bunny Girl?!

No, no, impossible.

He had just checked all four hiding spots earlier, and they were still perfectly concealed. Roswitha couldn’t have discovered them.

It had to be that he talked in his sleep... exposing his taste for Bunny Girls?

Leon found it hard to believe.

"Leon, do you like Bunny Girls?" Roswitha asked with a playful smile.

Leon squirmed in his seat, then adjusted his posture. He didn’t deny it. "What if I do? Personal fetishes are private and entirely free!"

Yes, personal preferences are free. So are fantasies.

Roswitha shrugged. "I didn’t say anything about it. Why are you so flustered?"

She scratched her head as if recalling something. "Oh, and you also said..."

She deliberately dragged out the ending, gleefully savoring Leon’s mix of tension and curiosity.

"Said what?"

"You said you wanted that female classmate to wear a Bunny Girl outfit for you."

Bang—

Leon slammed the table. "Audacious dragoness! Lies and slander! I would never say such nonsense! And even if I did, it would’ve been about having *you* wear a Bunny Girl outfit for me!"

Roswitha was momentarily taken aback.

Well, well. Someone just blurted out their true feelings amid his temper tantrum.

Quickly regaining her composure, Roswitha decided to strike back. "Me? In Bunny Girl attire? Keep dreaming, kid. That’s never going to happen."

Leon’s thoughts stirred as he glanced toward the drawer. Caught in the moment, he countered her boldly, "What if you *do* wear it? Then what?"

"Then what? That’s impossible in the first place," Roswitha shot back confidently.

Leon waved dismissively. "Don’t worry about whether it’s possible or not. Just answer me—*if* you wear it, what then?"

The queen let out a cold snort, crossed her arms confidently over her chest, and said,

"I don't care what kind of scheme you're plotting, but trying to use charm spells or something like that to force me into this—it's simply impossible. Those little tricks of yours are far too obvious to escape my eyes. As for me actually wearing the Bunny Girl outfit for you to see? Hmph, do with me as you please afterward."

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. But you'd better think carefully, Dragon Slayer—if your little plan falls apart, what consequences might follow? You definitely know better than I do, don't you?"

Leon stood up, self-assured, and said, "My dear queen, I don't need to play any tricks, because... I've already done everything I needed to do."

As he spoke, he slowly opened the drawer by his side.