The couple slightly suppressed their joy.

Before celebrating, there was still a matter they needed to confirm.

“Noa, you just said that your classmate Helena managed with great effort to persuade... Aunt Claudia?” Leon asked.

Noa nodded. “Aunt Claudia’s clan rarely shows up in public. Even in absolutely neutral organizations like Saint Hiss Academy, it’s nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of them. Helena is the only young dragon from their clan studying at the academy.”

Hearing this, the couple exchanged a glance.

It seemed they could truly pop the champagne ahead of time this time.

“So, which specific clan are they from?” Roswitha asked.

“The Sea Dragon Clan.”

Those simple words caused Leon and Roswitha to fail to conceal their delight.

From the time Tiger handed over *Nine Hells Gate* to Leon, to the recent *Soul Judgment*, and the moment Leon crossed a spatial rift to travel twenty years into the future and learned about his daughters’ experiences, there had always been one key figure in these events:

The Sea Dragon Clan. Claudia Poseidon.

She was the author of both *Nine Hells Gate* and *Soul Judgment*, as well as the future mentor of their daughters.

And most importantly, this mysterious, omnipotent, and warm-hearted royal member of the Sea Dragon Clan might have some connection to Leon’s master, Tiger.

Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for Leon's master to twice provide him with martial arts manuals that just happened to have been written by Claudia. This certainly couldn’t be chalked up to mere coincidence.

As a result, Leon had always wanted to meet this Claudia to see for himself what kind of person she was.

If he could figure out the relationship between her and his master, so much the better.

However, as the Sea Dragon Clan had been reclusive for over thirty years and due to the “social etiquette” between dragon clans, Leon had never been able to meet Claudia despite his wishes.

Now, this time, his precious daughters had brought them a valuable opportunity to lift the mysterious veil surrounding Claudia.

Leon absolutely didn’t want to miss it.

And Roswitha certainly didn’t either.

While the couple exchanged glances, Noa asked, “What’s the matter, Mom and Dad? Are you familiar with the Sea Dragon Clan?”

Noa was somewhat aware of the fact that the Sea Dragon Clan was reclusive.

She had once asked Helena about her clan, but even Helena didn’t know much.

When Noa saw the subtle change in her parents’ expressions at the mention of the “Sea Dragon Clan,” she couldn’t help but ask.

Leon smiled and shook his head. “No, it’s just that we rarely hear about any activity from the Sea Dragon Clan. They must be a low-key and reclusive clan.”

“Yeah, in both the juvenile and young dragon divisions, Helena is the only student from the Sea Dragon Clan.”

Noa said, “So it was really hard for Helena to persuade Aunt Claudia to perform in this play. Are you sure you don’t want to participate?”

After facing Vice Principal Wilson’s persistent nagging multiple times, Noa had realized that her parents seemed less inclined to publicly display affection.

Muen, on the other hand, was in her own world as a premier “VIP spectator dragon,” with her little head filled with schemes to get her parents to deliver another little sister for her. Naturally, she paid little attention to such matters.

As for Aurora, Noa was now highly suspicious that the affair at the admission ceremony—where their parents were forced to win the championship, deliver a speech on stage, and kiss in front of everyone—was all part of Aurora’s secret plan.

So...

With one sister waiting for a sibling and another watching from the sidelines, it fell to the eldest, Noa, to step up and shoulder the responsibility of being the family’s warm little sweater.

Occasionally checking in on her parents’ mental health could really help maintain a harmonious family atmosphere.

That said, with Noa’s understanding of her parents, they were probably going to reject.

In the beginning, Noa hadn’t held out much hope. She just really wanted to do something with her parents for once—

“We’ll do it, Noa.”

Roswitha said, “Your father and I will participate in this play.”

Hearing this, Noa was quite surprised. Her eyes lit up, and she asked excitedly, “Really, Mom?”

Roswitha smiled as she pinched her daughter’s cheek. “Of course it’s true.”

“Mom, you’re the best~”

With that, Noa threw her arms around Roswitha’s neck and planted a light kiss on her smooth, soft cheek.

Noa hardly ever expressed her emotions this openly.

The fact that she initiated this gesture showed just how much she really wanted her parents to take part in this play.

Seeing this, the father standing nearby felt a pang of jealousy.

“Ahem—” Leon cleared his throat twice, making his presence known.

Dear daughter, after kissing your mom, aren’t you going to kiss your dad?

We’re all family here, and as family, we must treat everyone equally!

Noa turned to her father and smiled. “What’s the matter, Dad? Is your throat feeling uncomfortable?”

Leon froze.

As he looked at his beloved daughter’s playful and knowing smile, it gradually overlapped with the mischievous smirk he remembered seeing on Roswitha’s face.

Ah, just as he’d thought—she was definitely her mother’s child. No matter how chill, cool, or aloof Noa looked on the surface, deep down, she had inherited her mom’s devious side.

Sweetheart, couldn’t you have passed on more of your dad’s personality to her?

Look at your dad! So honest, always saying what he means, never playing coy.

“My throat’s fine,” Leon replied.

Noa tilted her head, her smile unwavering. “Then why were you coughing, Dad?”

“Well, my face suddenly feels dry.”

“And did this... dryness spread to your throat?”

“Exactly. It’s called a chain reaction.”

“Ohhh, so how do we fix that, Dad?”

“...”

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Dad?”

“So you’re just not planning to kiss your old man, is that it—?”

Before Leon could finish grumbling, Noa leaned over and planted a light kiss on his cheek.

“What were you saying, Dad?” Noa kept smiling, like a little fox whose scheme had gone perfectly.

Leon scratched the tip of his nose, turned his head, and ruffled the stubborn tuft of hair atop Muen’s head in his arms. “Nothing, nothing at all.”

Though the process was a bit bumpy, in the end, he got that precious kiss from his daughter.

Contentment achieved.

They went on to chat about the general arrangements for the play for a while longer, and afterward, Noa took her sisters back to bed.

The hot pot gathering was also drawing to a close.

Leon and Roswitha strolled slowly out of the courtyard.

“I won again,” Roswitha suddenly said, her tone laced with unmistakable pride and gloating.

Leon rolled his eyes at her. “What did you win this time?”

“Noa kissed me first before kissing you.”

“That’s only because you were the one who decided we’d join the play.”

Leon reasoned, “If I had been the one to decide, Noa would’ve kissed me first.”

“Tch-tch, that’s not necessarily true.” Roswitha crossed her arms, her tail curling upward with a proud little flick.

“Whatever. I’m not going to argue with you.”

Roswitha let out a chuckle.

When a certain gentleman says, “I’m not going to argue with you,” it means he’s admitting defeat in this round.

Well, well. Poor General Leon. Thin-skinned as he is, he’s probably too embarrassed to admit it outright—so as his loving wife, of course, I’ll let him save face.

Fake wife or not, sometimes you still have to fulfill a real wife’s duties, just to keep the household running smoothly.

“So, shall we start making preparations?”

Roswitha said, “We’re about to meet this legendary... Claudia.”