"The plan from the Dragon Kings' meeting half a month ago—the one where everyone voted on how to deal with Constantine—has already been set in motion."
"Each clan has sent people to station near the Red Flame Dragon Clan's territory to keep an eye on him around the clock."
"I'm thinking of sending Sherry. What do you think?"
After dinner, Leon and Rosswessi strolled side by side along the training track in their backyard, the soft sunset casting a golden glow over their steps. In the background, their daughters' laughter filled the air.
Leon walked with his hands casually in his pockets, but his serious expression betrayed the deep thoughts running through his mind.
"That'll work," Leon nodded. "But I have a request."
"What is it?"
"I want to go along."
Rosswessi stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowing slightly. "You want to go? What for?"
"There are… certain things I want to ask Constantine face-to-face."
Rosswessi could tell from his tone that Leon wasn't joking, nor was this some impulsive decision. He'd thought this through.
"The dragons working with the empire are all extremely tight-lipped," Leon explained. "They'll never share anything about the empire. But Constantine is different. He once cooperated with them, but he was also horrifically mistreated by them before he escaped. By now, he probably resents them deeply, so I'm thinking he might spill a thing or two."
Leon's master had discussed this tactic with him early on: gathering information through the dragon clans. So far, he'd exhausted all his resources, and progress had stalled. But Constantine's falling out with the empire opened a new path forward.
Though "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" didn't really apply to Leon, Constantine, and the empire, Leon figured that if Constantine wasn't going to be an ally, he could at least be a source of insider info.
"But you have a grudge against Constantine, too," Rosswessi pointed out, analyzing the situation. "If you two meet, it'll end in a fight."
Leon was sure she'd object to him going to the Red Flame Dragon Clan's territory, but her next words caught him off guard.
"I'll go with you."
Leon paused, surprised.
Rosswessi's face was dead serious as she spoke, and as he looked at her unwavering expression, he was reminded that his "contract wife" wasn't an ordinary woman.
An ordinary wife would never let her husband go on a dangerous mission like this.
But Rosswessi was a Dragon Queen.
Danger? She'd just charge in alongside him.
Leon shook his head with a small smile. "No, you can't go."
Rosswessi blinked, a bit annoyed. "Why not?"
Up until now, she and Leon had faced every challenge together, relying on their teamwork. So why was he suddenly refusing her help?
"All the dragon clans have stationed people around Constantine's territory to monitor him. That alone would set him off. But if you, a Dragon Queen, were there too, he'd see it as a full-on invasion," Leon explained. "So it's better if I go alone."
Rosswessi considered his explanation thoughtfully.
With her hands clasped behind her, she swished her tail over the ground, muttering softly, "You just don't want me to come with you."
Aww, was she feeling a bit left out?
Leon chuckled and gently took Rosswessi's hand, his thumb lightly tracing her cool skin as he said in a soft voice, "I promise I won't fight Constantine. If he tries anything, I'll just run."
"As if I'd believe that, you idiot."
Rosswessi huffed, attempting to shake his hand off. But when she couldn't, she simply let him hold on, muttering, "When Constantine challenges you, you're probably going to shout something like, 'For the honor of the dragon slayer!' and charge right in."
"Wow, five years of living together, and you know me so well."
"Fake wife, thank you."
"If even my fake wife knows me this well, I can't imagine how it'd be with a real one."
Rosswessi gave him a humorless smile, rolling her eyes. "You're just hilarious, Cosmodeous."
Leon continued to stroll down the track, still holding her hand.
"Seriously, though. I know we think of Constantine as just some battle-crazy dragon, but after the incident at the ruins, I got the impression he's capable of reason. He's not going to start a fight the moment he sees me."
Despite his words, Rosswessi still seemed unsure. "Then swear to me—no heroics if things go south."
"I just promised you I wouldn't."
"A promise is one thing; a swear is another."
Leon's master had always said women were linguistic creatures who valued every word, but it wasn't until now that he truly understood what that meant.
"Alright, alright, I swear."
"Swearing's not that simple. You need to swear on something."
Leon thought for a moment, then stood still, raising three fingers to the sky as he solemnly declared, "I, Leon Cosmodeous, swear on the name of my beloved donkey that I will not fight Constantine."
Rosswessi blinked in surprise.
Well then. If he was swearing on that, then she could trust he wouldn't pick a fight.
Even though she'd never met his donkey, she knew it was precious to him.
Finally, she relaxed. "Alright then, tomorrow I'll have Sherry take you."
"Great! Wait for my good news."
---
The next day, Leon accompanied Sherry and the Silver Dragon's assigned surveillance team toward the Red Flame Dragon Clan's territory.
True to her loyalty, Sherry refrained from asking any unnecessary questions. Whatever the prince said went; if he said to fly left, she flew left. If he said to fly right, she went right. The silent, get-the-job-done type.
Upon reaching the Silver Dragon Clan's designated watchpoint, Leon hopped off Sherry's back in her dragon form.
"Thanks, Sherry. You guys set up camp here—I'll go in alone."
Bringing in the Silver Dragon guards would only worsen tensions on both sides. Even though Constantine was rational, showing up with a whole unit on his territory would definitely spark a confrontation.
Sherry tucked in her wings, shifting into human form.
"Please, Prince, be careful. If anything goes wrong, signal with the flare."
Leon glanced down at the flare in his hand. Rosswessi had given it to him before he'd left. Although she'd agreed to let him go alone, she still insisted on taking precautions.
"Got it. Thanks."
"We'll be here waiting for you, Your Highness."
Leon nodded, turning to look at the boundary of the Red Flame Dragon Clan's territory.
A gust of wind stirred up dust and sand, causing him to narrow his eyes.
"Constantine, let's have a talk."