In the evening, a subdued stir arose from the courtyard. Leon held Muen in his arms and stood on the balcony, observing the proceedings below.
The Red Dragon Queen was departing the temple, surrounded by her honor guard. The day's formal visit had concluded.
"Aunt Isha~" little Muen chirped, pointing a small finger toward the striking queen in red.
"Do you know Aunt Isha, Muen?" Leon asked, curious.
Muen shook her head. "No. Muen only saw Aunt Isha in Mother's family photo. Aunt Isha wears all red. She's easy to spot."
"Family photo?" Leon asked, surprised. "Dragons have family photos?"
"Yes. There's a photo with Mother, Aunt Isha, and Great-Grandmother," Muen confirmed with a serious nod.
Before Leon could ponder the logistics of draconic photography, Muen bubbled over with another idea.
"Daddy, let's take a family photo sometime!" she cheered.
"Oh—sure. We can do that," Leon answered, his heart giving a strange, soft lurch.
"Yay! Daddy's the best—muuua~" Muen planted a big, firm kiss on Leon's cheek. Her tail wagged with pure, uncomplicated joy. A genuine warmth spread through Leon's chest. In the hard, uncertain days that stretched before him, his daughter—this half-human, half-dragon child—was likely his only source of pure comfort.
They chatted for a while longer before a soft knock sounded at the door. Leon set Muen down, took her hand, and went to answer it.
Outside stood the head maid, Anna. "Your Highness, the princess's dinner is ready."
"Oh, let's go," Leon said, starting to step out.
Anna held up a hand politely but firmly. "By order of Her Majesty, you may not leave this room. We will bring your dinner to you."
Another maid stepped forward, carrying a covered meal box. "Your Highness, this is by the Queen's direct order. Please, do not make things difficult for us."
"All right," Leon conceded with a weak smile.
"Daddy, I'll be back right after I eat," Muen promised.
"Okay," Leon replied.
Muen was a sensible child. Even with her bright spirit, she disliked causing trouble for others. Leon felt a surge of paternal pride.
The maids led Muen away. Leon carried the meal box back inside and sat on the floor beside the bed. The savory aroma made his mouth water—the food was clearly prepared with human tastes in mind, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables. He relaxed slightly and began to eat.
Some time later, the door opened again. Leon assumed Muen had returned, but the sight of a pair of familiar silver heels made the smile vanish from his face.
Rossweise entered. She removed her silver crown and set it aside with a soft clink. Then, with calm, deliberate movements, she took off her necklace and earrings. Seeing Leon seated on the floor, finishing his meal, gave her a moment's pause, but she offered no greeting. She brought a chair over, sat directly opposite him, crossed her long legs elegantly, and fixed him with a downward gaze.
As she adjusted her position, one of her high heels slipped off and clattered to the floor.
Leon felt the heavy weight of her stare. He finished his last bite and set the meal box aside.
"What are you doing?" he asked flatly.
"Was it good?" she inquired, her voice deceptively light.
"It's fine," he said.
"I asked if it was good. Say 'good' or 'not good'. Do not say 'fine'," she corrected, her tone sharpening.
This Mother Dragon's temper changes faster than summer weather, Leon thought wearily. He folded. "It's good."
"Is the meat good?" she pressed.
Leon hesitated, then said nothing.
Rossweise laughed softly, leaning her cheek on one hand. "Do you know what kind of meat that is?"
Something cold and uneasy jumped in Leon's stomach. With Muen safely away, Rossweise had free rein to torment him.
She extended her bare foot, then pressed her leg against Leon's neck, trapping him gently but firmly against the side of the bed. Her fair toes traced a path from his neck down his chest, over his stomach, and continued lower. Leon's hand shot up and caught her ankle.
"What do you think you're doing?" she said, her voice stern and regal.
Her silver tail lifted behind her, a clear sign she was not in a playful mood. "Take your hands off," she ordered.
A wise man knows when to avoid provoking a storm, Leon thought. He released his grip.
Rossweise increased the pressure. Her foot moved and pressed insistently. Leon's fingers clenched in the bedsheet, and he tilted his head back, trying to distance himself from the subtle, humiliating magic weaving through her touch.
It was impossible to ignore. Her jade-like foot was warm and unnervingly soft. Her toes were nimble and precise. She was, unmistakably, enjoying this strange and demeaning little game.
"How many dragon corpses have you stood over, bragging about your great deeds?" she teased, her voice a low purr.
Leon remained silent, his jaw tight.
"Hmph. You never imagined you'd be the one being stepped on, did you? What does it feel like now?" she asked, her eyes glinting.
He said nothing. She pressed harder. Leon grunted in discomfort but refused to answer.
"If you won't talk, then suffer," she declared, and with a flick of her tail, she swatted his clutching hand away from the sheets.
After about ten minutes of this silent, one-sided contest, Rossweise snorted. She looked down at her own foot and frowned with distaste. "So dirty," she pronounced. "All this grime is because of you."
"Why make it dirty now?" Leon murmured, assuming she meant dust or dirt from the floor.
Rossweise issued her next command, not a trace of kindness in her tone. "Bring me warm water. Wash my foot."
Leon blinked. "Huh?"
"Do as I say. This is your punishment for today."
He sighed deeply, the sound heavy with resignation. "I'm a Dragon Slayer… and I'm washing a Dragon Queen's feet…"
Leon went into the adjoining bathroom, filled a basin with hot water, and returned.
"This is too hot," Rossweise stated, without even testing it.
"How do you know it's too hot if you haven't put your foot in?" Leon protested.
"I said it is hot. Go and get more," she replied, her voice leaving no room for argument.
"Are you serious?" he muttered under his breath.
"Do you dare argue with a woman? Besides, I am not merely a woman. I am a Queen."
Leon had no retort for that. He went and fetched another basin of water.
"Now it's too cold," Rossweise complained immediately.
"Mother Dragon, are you quite done?" Leon asked, his patience wearing thin.
She suppressed a smirk. "Not behaving? Shall we start this entire process over again?"
Gritting his teeth, he went to fetch a third basin.
"This one is just right. Begin washing."
Leon supported her sole with one hand and poured water over her foot with the other. He scrubbed at the imaginary dirt on the top of her foot with a cloth. Then he brought the second basin and washed both feet together. His movements were clumsy, his expression a mask of simmering annoyance, but he obeyed. These were Rossweise's commands, and defiance in this state was futile.
As he worked, a slow, hot anger began to burn within him. The more he thought about her casual cruelty, her constant humiliations, the angrier he became.
He lifted her foot, looked at the delicate, perfectly formed jade sole, and slowly, deliberately, began to bring it nearer to his mouth.
"I can't take it anymore," he growled, the words torn from him.
Rossweise jerked her foot back in shock. "Wha—what are you doing?! Don't you dare do anything disgusting!"
"I'm going to eat the dragon claw raw," he said, the statement hanging somewhere between a threat and a bizarre, half-serious joke.
"Huh?"
"Ah!" Rossweise screamed, the sound muffled through her clenched teeth. "Leon Cosmodeous, I will kill you!"
.
.
.
The next morning, Muen stared at the two of them with wide, curious eyes.
"Mother, why do you limp when you walk?" she asked innocently.
Rossweise froze mid-step, her face a carefully neutral mask.
"Daddy, why is your face all bruised?" Muen turned her gaze to Leon. He said nothing, looking away.
Muen blinked, her young mind processing the evidence, and then a wide grin spread across her face. "Oh! You two must have been playing fun games without telling Muen!"
[Author's note: Yes, little Muen, you are absolutely right. Your mother and father played a very… 'interesting' game yesterday.]