After waking up, the first thing Leon did was give instructions for the future. He looked at his two daughters and spoke in a very sincere tone.
"Noah, after I… am gone, take good care of Muen. She is still young and doesn't understand much. You are her sister, so please look after her."
"Muen, listen to your sister, and don't make her angry. Your sister will come back to spend weekends with you. Behave well at home."
"Ah, what worries me the most as I leave is you two sisters. Both of you are just over a year old. How could your mother bear to let me go—"
Noah replied flatly, "You are just staying at Mom's place for one night. Why are you making it sound like you're going to the execution ground?"
"Well, in a sense, going to the execution ground might be happier. At least getting beheaded is quick."
Muen, listening to Dad's description, suddenly understood and said excitedly, "Oh, I get it! Mom wants to eat Dad, right?"
"Huh?"
"I read in a book that after praying mantises get married, the female eats the male!"
Muen, your mom does want to eat me, but it's not the same kind of eating. And… why are you so happy about it!
Dutiful daughter, without your filial piety, how can Dad sleep well?
"All right, don't talk nonsense with the daughters, making it seem like I'm scary." Rossweise's lazy voice came from behind.
Leon's back went cold, and he turned his head embarrassedly. The silver-haired beauty leaned against the door, her arms crossed.
"I just felt like I wanted to discuss some… interesting things with you tonight."
Leon's eye twitched slightly. "Interesting things?"
"Yes, like the birth of the universe."
Leon: "The birth of life, right?"
Rossweise: "The mysteries of the world."
Leon: "The mysteries of the human body, perhaps?"
"Anyway, you have five minutes to say goodbye to your daughters."
"Farewell… What a unique choice of words."
Rossweise smiled, waved gently, and went into her room.
Leon sighed, turned around, and patted Muen's little head. He wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Ah, saying too much would only bring tears.
So, under the puzzled eyes of the two little ones, Daddy walked into Mommy's room. His back looked determined, resolute, and even a little heroic, as if facing death.
Muen blinked her beautiful big eyes. "What are Daddy and Mommy going to do?"
Noah took Muen's hand. "I don't know either. Let's just go with the flow, childish adults."
.
.
.
Leon walked into Rossweise's room.
The lights were not on. The blood-red sunlight streamed through the curtains, filling the living room. Rossweise poked her head out from the kitchen doorway. The tap was running as if she was cleaning something. "Oh, so soon. Have a seat. I'll wash two cups and be right there."
Leon did not respond. He quietly walked to the living room and sat on the sofa. Rossweise came over with two glasses of wine. She took a sip from her glass and continued, "Actually, I was hoping you would win."
Leon was shocked, looking at her. "Why?"
"If you had won, I would have had to give you a month off. During that month, you could have taken good care of yourself. When you're in better shape, it will be even more fun~."
She sighed with disappointment. "Oh well, it's a pity that the former Dragon Slayer, the strongest of his time, still lost to me."
As she spoke, Rossweise made a scissor gesture with her hand. "Twice, nonetheless."
Leon attempted to defend himself. "The first time I was ambushed, and yesterday's match, I was not in good condition."
"No worries, come a few more times in the future. My favourite part is seeing you refuse to give up even after defeat."
Leon did not want to continue the conversation. He placed the wine glass on the coffee table. "Alright, just do whatever you need to do."
"Wow, in such a hurry to be tormented by me?"
Rossweise smiled lightly and glanced at the wine glass. "Are you not going to drink?"
"I will not."
"But I want you to drink, Leon."
Leon glanced at Rossweise. He knew that this statement was her final "warning."
If he continued to defy her, she would resort to more drastic measures. After some thought, and to make tonight more bearable, Leon slowly reached out to take the glass of wine.
"Wait, it's too late. I don't want you to drink this wine now."
"Then what do you—"
Splash—
Rossweise poured the wine in her hand all over her own chest. The crimson liquid flowed over the curves of her body, soaking the nightgown and darkening the dragon pattern.
She laughed, turned around, and sat on Leon's lap. She extended her arms to embrace his neck.
"Drink it, all of it~."
The scent of Rossweise and the rich smell of wine filled Leon's nostrils. It was exquisite and intoxicating.
The faintly visible dragon tattoo began to shimmer with a soft light. Rossweise eagerly leaned closer to Leon's mouth. "Drink it all, Leon."
Leon, once again, had nowhere to escape. He slowly leaned forward.
"Open your mouth."
"What are you doing…"
"Open."
Unable to resist her, Leon obediently opened his mouth slightly.
Rossweise suddenly bit her own lip. A drop of blood welled up and fell, landing perfectly in Leon's mouth.
"I remember it very clearly. Yes, that's right, the Enchantment of Blood. Recently, I have been studying this enchantment. Although it can only be used once in a lifetime, I cannot wait to repay it in kind."
Leon swallowed hard and spoke thoughtfully. "Don't blame me for not reminding you, Mother Dragon. Besides the limit of using the Enchantment of Blood once, there is another drawback. The caster will be in an extremely weakened state after using it. You should think it over carefully."
Rossweise smiled calmly. "Of course, I know. However, the extent of weakness also depends on the caster's physical condition."
With that, she used her index finger to gently wipe away the wine at the corner of Leon's mouth. "Your broken body back then surely couldn't withstand the backlash. But I am different. I am the Dragon King, and the Enchantment of Blood has almost no effect on me. So, my dear dragon slayer—"
Rossweise stood up straight, cradling Leon's face and making him look into her eyes.
In those silver pupils, ripples of deep affection slowly spread.
"The game has begun, my delicious captive, Mr. Leon Cosmodeous."