The city was exactly what its name suggested. The Dragon Clan's Sky City was high up on the horizon, nestled in the clouds. Only creatures with very strong flying skills could reach it.
After flying for several hours, Leon's family finally reached the edge of Sky City. Because dragons are so big, the area outside the city was huge, with plenty of space for many dragons to land at the same time.
Rossweise chose a fairly open spot to land. Leon jumped down, holding his daughters. Rossweise pulled her wings back and turned into her human form.
"Alright, let's go inside."
The family of four walked to the photo studio. When they entered, one wall was covered with artistic photos in many different styles. The photographer was a middle-aged woman wearing glasses—no, she was a middle-aged dragoness. She looked kind, was dressed simply, and had a smiling face. She walked up and shook hands with Rossweise.
"It's a great honor for my little shop to take the family portrait for the Silver Dragon Queen."
"Oh, you're too kind. Everyone says Professor Selena's photography skills are the best among dragons. Being able to book you is our family's good luck."
"Your Majesty, you flatter me. Come, let's try on the clothes first."
Leon, carrying Muen, followed closely behind. As they followed Selena to the fitting room, Leon leaned over and whispered to Rossweise, "You're the Dragon Queen. Can't you just order her to come to our home to take the pictures?"
"Dragon Kings can only give orders to their own kind.The dragons in Sky City don't belong to any single clan."
"Your queen status seems a bit low-level," Leon teased.
Rossweise glared at him."Well, it's higher than yours, anyway."
The four of them followed Selena into the fitting room. Selena picked out a suit and was about to tell Leon about it when she noticed something.
"Your Majesty, your husband's tail…"
"Oh, my husband doesn't like to show his tail. He prefers being tall to having a tail. Could you please pick a suit for him that doesn't have a tail opening?"
"Of course,Your Majesty."
She got a regular suit with no tail opening for Leon. He obediently put it on.
"Wow! Daddy looks so handsome in a suit!"
Leon was about 1.9 meters tall with a typical V-shaped body. He looked slim in clothes but was very muscular without them. In his over twenty years of life, he had only worn a suit once—at his Dragon Slayer Academy graduation when he was fifteen.
He didn't think there was anything specially handsome about it. But that day, many younger students lined up to ask him out to eat after the ceremony.
And Leon, at that time, seriously replied, "I have to go back and help my master with the donkey's hooves. Next time for sure."
Snapping back to the present…
Leon looked at himself in the mirror. It was true, he looked much more mature and steady than in previous years. Muen wagged her little tail excitedly, looking at her handsome old dad and praising him non-stop.
Leon rubbed Muen's head. Then he turned to his "not good with words" eldest daughter.
"Does Daddy look handsome?"
Noah hesitated.She looked away and mumbled, "Uh, yeah, pretty handsome."
A suit is the best makeover for a man. It makes his style better and shows off his body shape. Since the eldest daughter said he looked handsome, he must look quite handsome. Leon looked proudly at Rossweise.
The Queen looked him over carefully. Finally, she nodded and gave her opinion.
"It does feel a little strange without a tail."
Mother dragon, I will never wear a tail in my whole life! I'd rather die than put on a tail. It's a disgrace for a dragon slayer.
After picking clothes for Leon, Selena also chose a formal dress for Rossweise.
The dress was an off-the-shoulder style. It was mostly black, with dark red details at the waist and on the skirt. This added a bit of mystery and elegance to her noble look. But because it was off-the-shoulder, the neckline was a bit low, showing a small pattern of dragon scales on her skin.
Rossweise shyly covered her chest. "Professor Selena, could you please pick one with a slightly higher neckline?"
"Of course,Your Majesty." Selena smiled like she was saying, Young people these days are so fussy.
Leon shrugged and didn't say anything else.
In the end, Selena picked another well-fitting dress for Rossweise. The two daughters, of course, couldn't be left out. Picking their clothes was easy. If one was happy, the other was sure to be happy too.
After more than half an hour of getting ready, the family of four was finally set for the photoshoot. The first set of photos was the family portrait. Leon held Muen, and Rossweise held Noah. The two of them stood side by side.
In the camera's viewfinder, their poses and positions were standard. But it didn't quite look like a normal family portrait.
Selena put down the camera. She asked politely,
"Your Majesty, could you and your husband please try a more loving pose?"
The unlucky couple looked at each other. Both felt awkward.
Rossweise: "Loving…"
Leon: "Pose…"
Selena smiled. "Yes, yes. It has to be super loving."
The two looked at each other, then turned their heads away at the same time.
Rossweise cleared her throat twice."Selena, do you have any poses you recommend?"
Selena thought for a moment and replied,
"Generally speaking,the husband and wife should be loving, but it shouldn't be too much. So, try hugging, touching noses, and looking into each other's eyes with deep love."
"Come on, Selena, stop teasing us," Rossweise said.
Seeing the two of them so embarrassed, Selena was confused.
"You already have dragon marks. What's the problem with getting a little closer for a photo?"
I don't understand you young people, Selena thought.
"Well, if none of those work, how about you two make a heart shape with your tails?"
"Tails making a heart…"
"Yeah, that's right. It's very cute and playful."
Rossweise glanced at Leon. It was too late to get a tail for this guy now.
But after thinking about it,making a heart seemed like the only gesture they could both accept.
Hiss…
What should they do?
"Can I use my hand, Selena?"
Leon said, "My wife can use her tail, and I'll use my hand. We should still be able to make a heart shape, right?"
Selena raised an eyebrow in approval. "Good idea! That's a pose we've never tried before. Come on, you two, get ready. Let's take the picture like this!"
Leon raised his arms, bending them to form the top curve of a heart. Rossweise's silver tail lifted gracefully, its tip curling to complete the bottom point. Their creation hovered between them—a strange but sincere symbol of their union.
"Perfect! Now look at each other!" Selena instructed.
Their eyes met. For a moment, the awkwardness faded. Leon saw the faint blush on Rossweise's cheeks. She noticed the determined set of his jaw, the way his eyes held hers without flinching.
Click.
The shutter captured the moment: a dragon queen and her dragon slayer, bound by magic, children, and circumstance, creating a heart together against all odds.
Muen giggled, clapping her hands. Noah watched quietly, a small, almost invisible smile touching her lips.
It was far from a normal family portrait. But for them, it was perfect.