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156 Spare the Rod, Spoil the Leon
update icon Updated at 2025/6/24 6:10:12

Roswitha had decent flexibility and excellent coordination, so learning yoga wasn't particularly challenging for her.

Milan, during her teaching sessions, was genuinely surprised by her queen's physical advantages and quick learning pace.

This wasn't flattery but an honest observation.

As for Leon, he barely listened in for ten minutes before getting up and leaving, saying he was off to play with NoaMuen.

It wasn't fair to blame the Dragon Slayer for his lack of concentration; the mother dragon's long legs were simply too distracting. Any longer, and his Dragon Mark might start glowing.

Watching Leon leave in a rush, Roswitha thought to herself that she had overestimated his patience to sit through the whole session. Who knew he'd leave so quickly?

"Hmph, good riddance. If he'd stayed, I wouldn't have been able to focus on my practice," Roswitha thought to herself.

For some reason, whenever Leon was by her side, her attention would invariably drift.

This had started about two months ago.

At the time, she often had to deal with leftover work in her study late at night. If she stayed busy for too long, Leon would bring her a simple late-night snack.

Sometimes he would just sit quietly nearby, not saying a word, a calm presence.

But even then, Roswitha would find herself distracted.

As a workaholic, she was never the type to let external factors disrupt her workflow—

And yet, Leon's presence inexplicably affected her.

"Tch, damn man," she thought, "This must be some cosmic incompatibility between us, destined to clash in every way."

Roswitha shook her head and dismissed her scattered thoughts, refocusing on her yoga practice.

To be fair, doing yoga did seem to have its benefits.

It's a comprehensive exercise that not only activates the entire body but also aids in postpartum recovery.

Most importantly, yoga brought Roswitha a sense of calm and centeredness.

Relying solely on Jade Dragon Fruit had its limits. Pairing it with targeted yoga practice benefited both Roswitha herself and her baby.

Leon might have unwittingly done something that brought her peace of mind, Roswitha mused.

The yoga session continued.

Hours later, Leon returned from outside.

Carrying a chill from the snowy outdoors, he didn't step into the house immediately. Instead, he shed his snow-covered coat at the entrance, patted the snow off his head, and waited for the cold to dissipate before putting on indoor slippers and entering.

Pregnant women were sensitive to cold, and Leon was keenly aware of this. He paid close attention to such details in their daily life.

When he reached the bedroom, he found that Milan had already left.

Only Roswitha remained, practicing a yoga pose.

She recognized his footsteps as Leon's and didn't bother to turn around, continuing with her routine.

The pose Roswitha was practicing at that moment was known as the "Pilates Push-Up." Unlike traditional push-ups, this movement required one leg to be bent with the knee touching the ground while the other leg extended straight, aligning with the spine. The elbows rested near the ribs.

This posture shifted the focus away from the arms, instead challenging core strength around the waist and abdomen.

"Wow, that's pretty spot-on," Leon said as he approached her, sitting cross-legged beside her.

Roswitha continued doing the push-ups, her slender arms looking delicate but firm, her waist and hips undulating like rolling mountain ranges.

She shot Leon a glance, saying, "Milan said the same thing. Want me to teach you?"

"No thanks." Leon waved a hand. "I have no intention of doing weird moves in tight yoga pants. I'll stick to traditional workouts."

"Hmph."

Not giving him another glance, Roswitha continued her Pilates push-ups.

Before leaving, Milan had explained that this was a foundational movement, helpful for building a solid base for future yoga sessions.

Conveniently, Roswitha now had plenty of time. She could practice as long as she wanted.

Sitting nearby, Leon watched her and was suddenly reminded of their school's sports day.

At the time, in order to help Noa achieve good results, he had gone all out to restore his physical fitness.

Push-ups, sit-ups, long-distance running—those were daily staples.

He distinctly remembered one particular moment while doing push-ups: Roswitha had crawled beneath him, teasing,

"If you run out of strength, you'll end up kissing me, you know~"

For Leon, who hadn't fully regained his strength, finishing 500 push-ups was an impossible feat. Yet, with this mother dragon watching from below, offering that kind of "incentive," he pushed through and completed them, gritting his teeth the whole way.

He also recalled that during dinner that evening, his arms were so tired he couldn't even lift them to eat, relying on little Muen to feed him.

Returning to the present, Leon narrowed his eyes as he observed Roswitha. Mischievous thoughts began brewing in his mind.

Seconds later, Roswitha's line of sight suddenly included Leon's face—upside down, no less.

Because of the nature of the Pilates push-up, Leon couldn't crawl under her like he'd done before.

Moreover, given her pregnancy, any accidental pressure on her belly was a no-go.

So, Leon opted for a more unconventional approach. He positioned his head directly under her face.

Though they now saw each other upside down, it didn't really matter. The effect was the same.

"What are you doing?" Roswitha asked, her tone icy as she held herself up on her arms.

"Just giving you a little motivation to do a few more. If you suddenly run out of strength, you'll end up kissing me—a Dragon Slayer. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

This nearly identical phrase from the past immediately triggered Roswitha's memories.

She knew Leon was bringing up old stories, and she merely chuckled dismissively. "Childish."

Despite her remark, Roswitha made no move to chase him away, instead continuing her push-ups.

In Leon's perspective, her flawless face moved up and down, drawing closer and farther, while her silvery hair lightly brushed against his cheeks, creating a teasing tickle.

Hours of yoga had left a light sheen of sweat on Roswitha's face.

Her silver eyes gazed at Leon from above, their expression both languorous and alluring. It was unclear whether the look came from fatigue or deliberate charm.

Her warm breath landed gently on Leon's face, carrying the faint freshness of her mouth.

After a while longer, Roswitha's pace noticeably slowed.

Several times, her lips brushed lightly against Leon's nose tip, but she stubbornly pushed herself back up each time.

"If you're out of energy, just stop. Skipping a few doesn't hurt," Leon teased with a grin.

What was this damn man smug about? Roswitha thought.

She could stop anytime; after all, she hadn't set a specific goal for herself.

The only reason she persisted was out of habit—a need to compete with him.

Yet here he was, gloating.

Leon Casmod, you’re like a child who gets too unruly without discipline—go unchecked for three days and you're climbing the walls; leave you alone for two months and you're as arrogant as they come.

Roswitha suddenly paused, propping herself on her elbows. Her beautiful face neared Leon's, so close they shared each other's breath.

Leon’s grin froze. A sense of impending doom washed over him as he started inching away.

But it was too late.

Roswitha extended a hand to cup his chin, preventing him from slipping out from under her face.

Considering their upside-down positions, this motion came quite naturally.

Leon met her gaze. Even upside down, her alluring face was every bit as mesmerizing.

As their eyes locked, an old, familiar surge of affection and longing sprang forth between them.

Roswitha used one hand to cradle his chin while the other toyed lazily with his gradually warming earlobe.

As she felt her Dragon Slayer’s breathing grow quicker, a knowing smirk crept across her lips.

"You’re right, darling. I’m out of strength…ready to accept your punishment."

"Roswitha—"

She didn’t know what he intended to say, nor did it matter.

She decided they’d discuss it after the kiss.

Kissing in a completely upside-down position was something neither had tried before.

The sensation was…peculiar.

The angle allowed Leon’s nose to take in the fragrance of Roswitha’s neck, a uniquely tantalizing scent, especially distinct on a pregnant woman—heady and intoxicating.

Their lips and tongues also connected at unfamiliar angles, the touch both strange and familiar.

For the first time in a long while, they indulged fully in their mutual “addiction.”

And in a completely novel way.

Soft hands caressed each other’s cheeks, slowly trailing to the back of their heads. They applied slight pressure to intensify the closeness of their kiss.

If the kisses they’d shared before were shadowed by the cover of night—when darkness worked its magic to foster boldness—

What excuse did they have now, making out under the broad daylight, shamelessly sprawled on the floor?

Admitting "I just want to kiss you" still seemed difficult for the two of them.

And as the passion surged, Leon's Dragon Mark began to faintly glow.

Sensing it, they quickly broke apart.

Still, before fully withdrawing, Roswitha leaned in a little closer and kissed Leon lightly on the throat.

Afterward, she rolled back onto the yoga mat, lying on her back.

The two lay face-to-face, though still in their respective opposing postures. Yet, it hardly mattered.

Roswitha stretched her elegant arm to toy idly with Leon’s other earlobe, as though intentionally dragging out their intimate connection.

Leon, meanwhile, allowed her warm fingertips to roam effortlessly across his face.

They listened silently to each other’s gradually steadying breaths.

Fixing her gaze on the ceiling above, Roswitha suddenly broke the silence with a question.

“Actually, you didn’t make me do yoga just to mess with me, did you?”

Leon closed his eyes, raising a hand to grasp Roswitha’s wrist. “Nope. I really just wanted to mess with you.”

“Oh? So it wasn’t out of concern that your lonely, housebound wife on maternity leave might be growing too bored, leading you to devise this 'revenge' plan that both aligns with your usual behavior yet conceals your true intentions?”

How could an outstanding Dragon Slayer ever do something "unintentionally"?

Everything he did was meticulously planned, considering every possible outcome.

Leon looked back at her, calling her name one word at a time, "Roswitha."

"Hmm?"

She gazed at the Dragon Slayer's tender and affectionate eyes, thinking he was about to say something embarrassingly sweet and cheesy.

However, as it turned out, she had overestimated Leon.

"This afternoon, 500 push-ups. It's all for your own good, my dear wife."

"...Just go and die already!"