Leon's daughters wanted to learn more, and naturally, he wouldn't refuse them.

However, bringing up the topic of admission reasons inevitably made General Leon recall the time when Noa, at the "advanced age" of one year and two months, applied to Saint Hiss Academy with her reason:

"To defeat more Dragon Slayers!"

How "filial" she was.

Who knows, after graduating, his three daughters might even submit their old father as their graduation project.

Well.

In any case, since Muen and Aurora were determined, Leon would definitely do his best to guide them.

There was still a month left before the next admission test for Saint Hiss Academy—the same timeframe as back when Noa applied.

So Leon was rather confident in helping his two daughters pass the test smoothly.

Noa had exceptional talent, while Muen and Aurora were no less gifted themselves.

Muen might appear laid-back on the surface, but that was because she always made sure to master what needed to be learned before embracing her laid-back attitude.

Most importantly, Leon wasn't the type of parent who hold the attitude that "Since you've learned everything, can't you start previewing the next material? All you ever do is just play!" .

Putting too much pressure on children often backfires.

As for Aurora, there was even less to worry about.

With her innate sense of Scientific Sage, studying for her was as natural as breathing—effortless yet indispensable.

Her future capacity to handedly discover reverse-engineer space magic only underscored her scientific prowess.

Moreover, Leon had prior experience guiding Noa.

So this time, the father-and-daughters trio acing the Saint Hiss Academy admission test would be as easy as snapping one's fingers—effortless indeed.

"Though it does sound quite easy, have you perhaps overlooked something?"

In the evening, after listening to Leon's optimistic plans, Roswitha posed this pointed question.

"Overlooked... what?"

"Saint Hiss Academy has always placed a heavy emphasis on family education. Thus, in their admission tests, besides assessing the young dragons, they will also conduct additional evaluations for the parents."

Roswitha, dressed in a sheer nightdress, sat on the sofa with her long legs crossed in the living room, lazily leaning against the backrest, "Didn't we undergo that so-called tacit understanding test when Noa applied?"

Leon was struck by realization.

The mother dragon was right.

Saint Hiss Academy indeed had such a rule.

He vividly recalled that back when Noa applied, he and Roswitha weren't yet familiar with each other, so they had to stay up all night playing "truth or dare" to deepen their mutual understanding.

It was during those nights that they discovered they both perfectly aligned with each other's preferences in terms of appearance—

but that's not the point.

The point is—

"We already took the test during Noa's admission. Do we really need to do it again now?" Leon asked.

Roswitha nodded, "If a Dragon Clan family has two kids, both of whom have participated in the Academy's tests, and the interval between these tests is less than a year, then the parents are excused from undergoing tacit understanding test again."

"But if the interval exceeds a year, they must retake the test."

Leon raised an eyebrow, "There's a rule like that?"

"Yes, because while the Dragon Clan's lifespan is indeed long, a year's time is still enough for various things to occur—things that might change an individual or even alter a marital relationship, wouldn't you agree?"

Listening to Roswitha's explanation, Leon started to ponder.

It did make sense, indeed.

A year's time wasn't particularly long or short, but under certain circumstances, it could fundamentally shift the relationship between two individuals.

Perhaps for the better, or perhaps for the worse—both outcome was unpredictable.

Thus, the Academy's regulation seemed quite reasonable.

"It's already been two years since Noa's admission. It's certain that we'll have to undergo the test again."

Roswitha spoke slowly, a faint smile lingering at her lips as she looked at her fake husband lounging by the bed, "What do you think, Leon? Shall we have another heart-to-heart session?"

Two years had passed since then.

Reflecting on the past, the two were once at each other's throats—if not for their daughters, they might have fought outright.

But two years had gone by...

Sure, they've had their fights, but more often, those were fought on the bed—

They even accidentally "fought" themselves into having another daughter.

Where’s the justice in that?

So Roswitha felt it might actually be essential to have another heart-to-heart session.

Leon shared a similar sentiment.

And let’s not forget—getting this mother dragon to speak candidly wasn't a frequent opportunity. Leon had to cherish it well.

"Alright. So—"

"Wait a second."

Roswitha lowered her long legs, stood up from the sofa, and walked towards the storage room, her dragon-wing slippers padding softly on the floor. "There's still a month before the test. We can take our heart-to-heart session slow and easy. So—oh, found it."

With that, she walked out of the storage room, holding a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses.

"So, we can drink while being candid. How does that sound?" Roswitha chuckled, swirling the glass in her hand.

Leon pursed his lips somewhat nervously.

He remembered last time when this mother dragon tricked him into downing a glass of wine—his defenses crumbled instantly, leading to his first earnest confession: "Melkevi, I like you."

Now she was trying to do that again? Not this time!

"No thanks, I'm not feeling well—I can't drink much," Leon made up an excuse on the spot.

"Not feeling well? All the more reason to have some."

Roswitha clasped his wrist and led him toward the balcony. "Dragon Clan’s wine is different from yours, you know."

"How so?"

"Our wine cures ailments—perfect for feeling unwell," Roswitha quipped with a straight face, spinning her improvisation into fact.

Leon forced a dry smile. "Then maybe I should exclusively trade wine between the Empire and your Silver Dragon Clan after I retire. Could turn quite profitable."

As they conversed, the couple arrived at the small balcony table.

Roswitha placed the wine glasses delicately apart, and with a resounding 'pop,' she uncorked the bottle and poured the fragrant wine.

"Hmm? You're not farming post-retirement anymore?"

Roswitha sat down comfortably, propping her chin on one hand, her silver lashes fluttering lazily. "I was hoping you'd teach me how to ride horses there."

"I have never said I would open a farm with you…" Leon muttered under his breath.

"Oh, so the 'marry a woman who's not too pretty or too plain' plan didn't actually mean me," the queen feigned disappointment.

Leon instinctively denied to his stubborn streak: "Of course not."

For a moment, Roswitha froze, her smile stiffening.

Her gaze lowered slightly as her tone darkened: "Oh. I see."

Leon glanced at her discreetly—judging by her expression, the mother dragon looked genuinely upset.

Panic stirred in his chest as he opened his mouth and tried to redeem himself.

Leon understood perfectly well that they were just playfully teasing. However, his earlier "Of course not" had been said without much thought.

If it were in the past, when he and Roswitha wasn't familiar with each other like now, this kind of words would not be a problem.

But it wasn’t the same situation anymore.

Their relationship had evolved, and with it, so had conversational nuance. Words that could pass harmlessly before might now carry unexpected impact.

"Be... because you're very beautiful."

Leon stumbled to clarify, "You're so beautiful, so you're way above my standard requirements."

His eyes darted to gauge Roswitha's reaction.

And as expected, women are auditory creatures. This Mother Dragon was no exception.

She fought to suppress the upward tug of her lips and retorted playfully, "So—being beautiful is my fault now, huh? Then go find someone plain; don't stick around with me."

"Never mind that—you’ve got the looks. Why settle for plain?"

Leon grinned, taking a seat, "It’s like the proverb—once protected by a lion, how could a woman love a stray dog?”

The queen tilted her chin, arching an eyebrow, "And then?"

"Once blessed by an angel, why would a man settle for damnation?"

The General Leon was in peak smooth-talking form.

"Who blessed you? Idiot—don’t make things up."

Other than when jealous, Roswitha was surprisingly easy to appease. For Leon, providing a convenient way out was enough to resolve an impending argument. He silently thanked his lucky stars.

Little did he know, he—Leon Casmode—was the *only person* who could win over the Silver Dragon Queen this effortlessly.

Anybody else trying? Dream on.

After their minor spat subsided, Roswitha gracefully raised her wine glass. "Well, shall we begin the heart-to-heart session?"

Leon glanced down at the wine on the table.

Looks like tonight, he wasn’t escaping this dragoness’s sly motive to ply him with drink.

"Alright, let’s do it."

After a brief pause, Leon added, "But this time, you can’t force me to… say those weird things."

Roswitha smiled lightly. "Fair enough. I won’t force you. Cheers~"

She lifted her glass, presenting it to Leon.

Leon picked his own, clinking with hers delicately.

Afterward, the two took small sips.

The wine was rich and mellow—one of Roswitha's treasured bottles, even Leon, who rarely drank, could appreciate its exquisite flavor.

"First question..."

Roswitha angled herself, facing him fully.

She leaned one arm atop the table, while the other hand cupped her finely sculpted cheek. Her silver locks fell softly past her ears as her brilliant eyes rested on the man before her. The next words brimming with intrigue—

"In these past two years... has there been anyone you've fallen in love with?"

"..."

How did things get so serious, so fast?

Leon stared at the wine in his glass, pondering. Was this secretly some liquid version of *Black Dragon Bolus*? Because clearly, it had a kick way stronger than he anticipated.

"No... wasn't it agreed that you wouldn't force me to say these strange things?"

"I'm not forcing you. I'm just asking if you've fallen in love with someone."

Roswitha spoke with reason, "I never said who it was. Why are you panicking?"

Leon was at a loss for words.

Fine, fine, you've had your say. What else can I do?

Surrender!

General Leon blushed, lowered his head, stared at the balcony floor, and replied in a low voice, "Yes."

"Louder. I can't hear you."

"Yes!"

"Yes what? Be more specific."

"...During the past two years, I have fallen in love with someone."

The queen smiled contentedly, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, it's such a tough guess. Who could this someone be~?"

Haha, Your Majesty, you're so humorous, Leon silently retorted in his heart.

"It's your turn. Ask away," Roswitha said generously.

"Then what about you? Have you fallen in love with someone?" Leon turned the question back on her.

Roswitha seemed to have anticipated that he would ask the same question.

She calmly took a sip of the red wine in her glass and then softly countered with a question,

"What~ do~ you~ think~?"

Her drinking tolerance had always been good, but her face still flushed easily.

After just one glass, a rosy hue had already spread across her fair cheeks.

Roswitha gazed at Leon, her eyes slightly narrowing. The two silver crescents seemed to overflow with indefinable ambiguity and charm.

Leon felt his whole body heat up under her searing gaze, to the point where he was almost squirming in his seat.

He hurriedly averted his eyes and stammered, "I-I have no idea whether you’ve fallen for someone..."

"You know. You definitely know. Say it."

"Say what?"

"Say whether I've fallen in love with someone."

Wait—

Aren't I the one asking you questions?

Why do I have to answer for you now?

"Can you be reasonable, you dragon queen? I was the one asking you," Leon tried once again to reason with her.

"I don’t care, I don’t care. I just want to hear you say it."

Roswitha had perfected the art of "unreasonable antics" to an extraordinary degree.

"Have I fallen in love with someone? Answer me, Leon."

Ugh...

It feels so weird.

If he said no, there was no doubt this dragon queen would flip the table and start an argument;

if he said yes, the implication of who this "someone" was couldn't be more obvious…

Besides, answering questions in this way was really embarrassing, wasn't it?!

"Say it, Leon. Have I fallen for you—oops, I mean—fallen for someone?"

The queen thought, "Had a bit too much wine and almost let the truth slip."

Leon couldn't argue with her. He sighed, nodded, and conceded,

"You have, Roswitha. During the past two years, you’ve fallen in love with someone. Happy now?"

"Hmph. Next question..."

What tacit understanding test, what truth-telling sessions.

It was nothing more than a playful game for the couple~