Half a month later, the new enrollment test for young dragons at Saint Hiss Academy proceeded as scheduled.
Coincidentally, it was a Monday, a good opportunity to send Noa back to school as well.
After arriving at the academy, the family parted at the entrance to the teaching building.
“Don’t get nervous during the exam. Believe in yourselves and trust your dad—you’ll definitely pass.”
As the eldest sister, Noa gave her younger siblings a serious pep talk before leaving.
The two younger ones nodded earnestly and assured her they were confident about the test.
The school bell soon rang. Although Noa had much more to say, she had to cut it short, waved to them, and hurried off to class.
After bidding Noa goodbye, Leon and Roswitha took Muen and Aurora to the third floor, where the exam registration desk was located.
However, as soon as they entered the teaching building, they ran into none other than Vice Principal Wilson.
"I’ve already heard from the administrative office that your family, the Melkevis, would be signing up for the new class of young dragon enrollment tests. I didn’t expect it to be true!”
Vice Principal Wilson’s eyes gleamed like a sailor who had discovered a new continent.
Before the actual enrollment test registration, there was a preliminary survey to estimate the number of participants, helping the academy allocate the appropriate number of staff.
Leon's family had, of course, participated in this preliminary survey.
What they thought was a straightforward administrative cooperation turned out to catch the interest of this old dragon. It was hard not to suspect that he had specifically instructed his staff to immediately report as long as the Melkevi family signed up.
All for the sake of paying attention to his favorite couple. The old man was relentless.
After brief pleasantries, the vice principal rubbed his hands together and glanced at the two small dragon girls.
“So, which one of you is enrolling this time?”
Muen stood on her tiptoes, raised her hand enthusiastically, and said, “Grandpa Wilson, both Aurora and I are signing up!”
“W-what?!”
*Slap—*
Leon slapped his forehead.
It was over.
It was too late!
“Ms. Roswitha, Mr. Leon, is this true? Both of your precious little princesses are enrolling in this year’s young dragon program?!”
The light in Vice Principal Wilson’s eyes grew even brighter.
He no longer resembled a sailor who had discovered a new continent—he was more akin to an astronaut who had discovered a new planet.
“Yes... yes, Vice Principal,” Roswitha said with a slightly helpless smile. “The kids want to learn, and there’s no stopping them.”
“Ha!—Ha!—”
Upon receiving confirmation from the parents, the old dragon dramatically clutched his chest and began gasping for air.
Leon raised an eyebrow in alarm. “What’s going on? Are you having an asthma attack?”
“N-no, Mr. Leon, I’m just overwhelmed—overwhelmed with excitement!”
“...It’s just a registration. There’s no need to be so excited.”
Vice Principal Wilson waved his hand gravely. “How can you say that? Your eldest daughter, Noa, passed the enrollment test with the youngest age and the highest scores. She has maintained her status as the top student of her grade for two consecutive academic years and will undoubtedly become an outstanding Dragon Clan warrior in the future.
“And as her sisters, your two younger princesses are surely equally exceptional.”
“You’ve provided the academy with three such outstanding students. How could I not be excited?”
The vice principal gave the two little girls an approving glance before clasping Leon’s hands. “Mr. Leon, given your family’s remarkable performance during the last test, I can make an exception this time. I’ll allow your daughters to skip the test and gain direct admission!”
Hearing this, the couple frantically waved their hands in refusal. “Ah, no, no, there’s no need for that, Vice Principal. We’ll just go through the normal procedures.”
Their reasons for declining were twofold:
First, neither Leon, Roswitha, nor their daughters believed in taking shortcuts or seeking special treatment.
Second, they needed to manipulate the testing process to implement a certain “plan.”
“No problem at all, folks,” the vice principal insisted. “The academy reserves a few direct-admission spots every year. It’s perfectly aboveboard.”
“Thank you for the kind offer, Vice Principal,” Roswitha said, “but we really don’t need it. Muen and Aurora are fully capable of passing the test on their own.”
After a few rounds of polite refusal, the vice principal relented with a sigh.
Seeing his reaction, the couple exchanged a glance.
Did the old dragon seem... disappointed?
Not that it mattered. If anything, the vice principal's disappointment might work in their favor for their “plan.”
And yet—
“Ah! As expected from the model family of our academy. Such integrity and hands-on parenting are an example for every dragon to emulate!”
Leon & Roswitha: ...
You’re invincible, old timer.
You win. Who can top you?
“Well, are you familiar with the process?” the vice principal asked. “The little ones will take the written test, while you two will attend the family interview on the fourth floor.”
Leon nodded. “Understood. No problem.”
“Great. Staff members will guide you to your interview shortly. I look forward to seeing you’re performance this year.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the vice principal departed.
The couple heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Suddenly, Leon felt a tug on his clothes.
Looking down, he saw it was Muen.
“What’s wrong, Muen?” Leon squatted down to her level.
“Daddy... I’m a little nervous.”
Despite her earlier confidence in front of her older sister, the young Muen couldn’t help but feel jittery now that the test was about to begin.
This was perfectly normal. If anything, *not* being nervous would’ve been strange.
Leon smiled and pinched her cheek. “Didn’t your sister say it earlier? Believe in yourself. You’re Noa’s sister—you can do this. You’ve got this.”
Muen’s little hair tuft wobbled as she lowered her head, gnawing gently on her lips. After a brief but intense internal struggle, she nodded vigorously.
“Okay, I’ll do my best, Daddy.”
“Attagirl, Muen.”
Just then, a teacher from the registration desk announced,
“All young dragons participating in the entrance test, please proceed to the third floor!”
“Go on, Muen, Aurora. Just do your best—no pressure.”
“Yes, Daddy!”
The two little dragon girls held hands and headed to the third floor.
Leon straightened up and turned to Roswitha. “Looks like it’s time for us to prep for the interview. We’re sticking to the plan?”
The queen nodded. “Yes.”
The couple exchanged a knowing look, then said simultaneously,
“Operation ‘No-Social-Mortification at the Ceremony’—commence!”
Two years ago, their eldest daughter Noa had been the youngest ever to pass the entrance exam with the highest scores.
Leon and Roswitha, likewise, aced the family interview with the top scores.
They thought things were settled and were simply awaiting admission.
Little did they know, at the freshman orientation ceremony, Vice Principal Wilson would crown them the “Model Family” of the academy and invite them on stage to share their family management tips in front of hundreds of dragons.
But that wasn’t the worst of it.
Just as the ceremony neared its end, under the vice principal’s insistence and the relentless cheering of the crowd, the couple was urged into a public kiss, pushing the ceremony—and their embarrassment—to a new peak.
Two years later, determined not to follow the same old disastrous road, the couple devised Operation “No-Social-Mortification at the Ceremony.”
This time, they had three objectives for the interview:
Stay low-key.
Stay low-key.
Still --- Stay low-key!
“As long as we perform ordinarily in the interview, and as long as the kids pass their test, we’ll avoid being voted the Model Family, and we won’t have to go on stage,” Roswitha explained.
“Got it. Muen and Aurora can do their best—the ‘adult plan’ shouldn’t affect the kids.”
“Exactly!”
“So, do you have specific ideas for the interview? Like, what should we say?”
“Just tell them I’ve lost all passion for you these past two years.”
Leon blinked. “That’s too fake, dear. How could you possibly lose passion for me?”
Roswitha jabbed him in the chest. “It’s for the success of the plan!”
“Oh... so you still have plenty of passion for me, right?”
The queen speechlessly rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say. I don’t feel like arguing.”
Joking and chatting, they finally arrived at the interview room.
They shared one last look, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
