Vol. 3 Ch. 52

The bull, now cleansed of its furious spirit by the Queen herself, ultimately ended up as beef hotpot.

Of course, with several tons of meat, there was no way Leon and his family of five could finish it all, even if they ate to their hearts’ content.

Leon initially suggested that Rosvisser transform into her dragon form to polish it off. He quickly closed his mouth when she swatted him with her tail.

In the end, they invited the maids and a few guards to join them for this unexpected feast.

The group gathered in the courtyard, eating hotpot, singing songs, lighting a bonfire, and sharing laughter.

Rosvisser, having exhausted herself in training that afternoon, drank only a small amount of wine. After eating, she found a patch of grass and sat down.

The cool evening breeze lifted her silver bangs, revealing her smooth, jade-like forehead. Her exquisite face, sculpted with precision, held a sleepy elegance, her lashes long and defined, her nose small and delicate, her gaze lowered with a hint of fatigue. This slight weariness lent her an aura of mature, unguarded charm.

Footsteps approached and stopped beside her.

Leon glanced at the orange juice in her hand and remarked, “Your Majesty doesn’t seem in the mood tonight.”

“Hmm? Why do you say that?”

“You haven’t had any wine.”

Rosvisser paused, then smiled faintly. “I’m tired; I don’t feel like drinking.”

Leon knelt beside her.

“Tired, huh?” he echoed. Since she’d taken the *Soul Judgment* manual from her master, Rosvisser had devoted herself intensely to practice.

Leon knew the reasons behind her determination to become stronger.

Having faced so many unexpected dangers, Rosvisser was now aware that the world was changing rapidly. If they didn’t adapt, they might be swallowed by the shifting tides of their era.

Excessive practice had worn her down, and that was one reason for her low spirits. But there was something more…

“Still thinking about this afternoon?”

“What?”

“That first attempt at *Soul Judgment*—the one that didn’t work so well on that stubborn bull. Or at least, it seemed that way.”

Rosvisser pouted and lightly bumped her shoulder against his. “You didn’t have to remind me. At least give your wife some face.”

Leon chuckled but then grew serious. “It’s not about saving face. Think back to what I said just now.”

Rosvisser raised an elegant brow, replaying his words in her mind.

After a moment, she spoke, “You said… it seemed like it didn’t work. Why emphasize *seemed*?”

“Because this afternoon’s test on the Furyhorn Bull revealed some subtleties about *Soul Judgment*.”

Leon explained, “It operates differently from the magic we’re familiar with, so the results are… well, less defined.”

“Less defined?”

“Exactly. Let’s take a basic example: If your dragon flame can cause 100 points of damage, and my *Xumi’s Shadow* can block 90 points, you’d end up dealing 10 points to me. But—”

“Hold on.” Rosvisser raised her hand.

“What?”

Leon thought she’d guessed his next point and started to look pleased, but she continued, “Why am I only dealing 10 points? Are you saying my attacks are just a light graze?”

“...It was an example; don’t be so literal.” Leon muttered, “If we’re being picky, you wouldn’t even scratch me—hey, don’t pinch me! I surrender!”

Rosvisser released his side, squinting slightly. “Just remember, Cosmod, I have plenty of ways to deal more than 10 points of damage to you, with or without magic.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty is formidable. Back to the topic, shall we?”

She nodded, listening closely.

“To put it simply, traditional magic can be measured by straightforward numbers for effect—though it’s often more complex in real situations. But *Primordial Magic*, particularly *Soul Judgment*, can’t be quantified so easily. The book says *Soul Judgment’s* power depends on the opponent’s emotional intensity.”

“That bull wandered into your territory by chance and got tied up here, naturally full of rage.”

“You saw it yourself. At first, it roared at you defiantly, but after you used *Soul Judgment* the first time, it calmed down noticeably.”

Rosvisser’s eyes flickered, and she mused, “Yes, then it started mocking me.”

Leon snickered, “That’s beside the point. Didn’t you transform into a dragon and scare it right back?”

“Mm… I didn’t really pay much attention when you explained it briefly this afternoon,” Rosvisser admitted. “But… are you sure its mood shift wasn’t just from me scaring it?”

“I’m sure. The shift happened before you transformed.”

Leon shrugged. “So… your practice was effective. Just remember to view the results through the lens of *Primordial Magic*, not typical magic.”

Listening to Leon’s explanation lifted Rosvisser’s spirits a bit. She knew he wasn’t just trying to cheer her up; Leon was always serious about magic, never joking or sugarcoating when it came to training. He understood well that in the world of Samayel, magic—or rather, power—was the only reliable currency.

That had been his approach when training Noa in magic, and now, acting as Rosvisser’s sparring partner, he was just as committed.

“Alright, I understand,” she replied, her tone noticeably lighter.

Leon felt relieved. “Happy now?”

“Maybe just a little,” she said, gazing at the bonfire.

“Well, when you’re happy, aren’t I supposed to get a reward?”

“Mm, I’ll prepare a nice warm basin of water for your feet when we get home.”

“...Not that kind of reward.”

Rosvisser slowly turned her head, a playful smile curving her lips. “Oh? Then, what kind of reward would you prefer?”

They locked eyes, black meeting silver, their gazes intense and unyielding, like embers sparked by the crackling bonfire nearby.

As the evening breeze brushed against them, the warmth felt intoxicating.

Slowly, they leaned closer, her breath carrying the faint scent of orange soda.

“Mom! Dad!”

A child’s voice pierced the moment.

Rosvisser quickly pulled back, flustered, while Leon also withdrew his hand. But then he paused, thinking:

Wait… why do we *always* get interrupted at the worst moment?

No way. Tonight, I’m claiming that kiss, *no matter what.*

Just as Rosvisser retreated, Leon leaned forward, cupping her neck and pressing his lips firmly against hers.

The Queen was caught off guard, only realizing what had happened the moment their lips met. With their daughters approaching, they shared this daring, exhilarating kiss, their hearts racing.

Fortunately, they parted just in time.

Rosvisser’s cheeks were flushed as she wiped her mouth, stealing a glance at their daughters, who were now approaching. She whispered, “You really are fearless, aren’t you?”

“Just fearless enough to hope the Queen takes a little break.”

“Shut up!”

“Mom! Dad~”

Moon and Aurora each scrambled into their parents’ laps.

Noa, on the other hand, settled down between her parents, cross-legged.

The family of five sat on the grass, savoring this rare weekend together.

Moon excitedly recounted the new spells and skills she’d learned during the week, while Aurora rambled on about the amusing things she’d seen.

Then it was Noa’s turn.

Their eldest daughter, always full of surprises, brought up something unexpected.

“The Young Dragon Division is hosting a play contest, and I signed up.”

Leon nodded. “That’s great! Is it an original play or something else?”

“Of course it’s original!” Noa said proudly. “Helena wrote the script, and I’m in charge of casting.”

Leon’s eyes darted from Moon in his lap to Aurora beside him. Judging by their calm expressions, they’d clearly been pre-cast in Noa’s production.

“Moon and Aurora are in, but we still need two more actors.”

Noa’s wide eyes sparkled as she looked up at her parents. “Mom, Dad, do you want to join us?”

Leon pursed his lips and glanced at Rosvisser.

She hesitated as well. To be fair, the two of them had a bit of a complicated history with stage plays.

They recalled their first date in Sky City, where one of the “activities” had been attending a play. And, to their horror, they’d been selected by the host to reenact a classic proposal scene in front of everyone. It had been enough to shake their confidence for a lifetime.

And now… it seemed fate’s wheel had turned full circle once more!

“Well…” Leon didn’t want to disappoint his daughter and decided to ask about the story, “What’s the plot about?”

“Oh, it’s amazing!” Noa began seriously, “It’s about a brave knight who’s betrayed and captured by his enemies. But then, he meets the princess of the opposing side, and they fall in love—”

“Alright, I get it. No need to say more.” Leon covered his face, suppressing a groan.

Noa tilted her head. “But it’s an original story, Dad. How did you know the rest?”

Oh, honey, if you hadn’t mentioned it was original, I’d have thought you were writing my biography…

“Then, at the end, the princess falls into a coma, and the knight’s kiss revives her!”

Moon added enthusiastically.

Leon

’s eye twitched. “You’re telling me… there’s a kiss scene?”

“Of course! Moon thought you two were perfect for the roles. Right, Aurora?”

Aurora: ?w? Absolutely!

Why else would I agree to be in this play, if not for a front-row seat to all the drama?

Leon scratched his head, unsure. Rosvisser seemed equally reluctant. The trauma from their past performance still lingered, and another play? They’d be spreading all their couple’s “drama” for the whole academy to see!

Noticing her parents’ reactions, Noa’s smile faded. She lowered her voice, saying softly, “If you two don’t want to, that’s fine. I’ll find someone else.”

“Noa…”

“Well, Aunt Claudia finally agreed to perform too…” Noa added wistfully.

Leon & Rosvisser: ?

The two exchanged glances.

And in the unspoken conversation between them, one thought was clear:

“Well, now it looks like we have no choice but to join.”