At the end of the *Castle Mystery* game, each participant gained something, while losing something as well.
- Claudia learned how to interact more naturally with her daughter.
- Helena fulfilled her wish of playing an interactive game with Noa.
- Noa emerged victorious, obtaining the *Night Spirit Crystal*, which could enhance the efficiency of her primal energy accumulation.
- Moon managed to protect her elder sister, successfully thwarting the attempt of the small sea dragon to âcapture the tower.â
- Aurora witnessed the grand âfather-daughter showdown of the centuryâ and thoroughly enjoyed the ultimate spectacle.
- Isha got a taste of just how terrifying her sister and brother-in-law could be when they joined forces.
Meanwhile, Leonâdespite losing the game with absolute abandonâwon himself a âbunny girl experience cardâ for the night.
This once again validated the saying:
"You all might gain a little, but I, Leon, never lose out."
The two of them left the game arena.
The usual duration for this game was intended to be seventy-one hoursâthree days.
But who would have thought that Aunt Isha would go insane during the game, practically transforming into an honorary dragon slayer, while Leon and Rosvisser even raised their dragon-slaying swords, ending the match outright.
With the combined might of the *Ai family*, it seemed no gameâŠ
would ever last until its scheduled end.
---
*Further Family Bonding*
However, since it was a rare chance for the family to go on an outing together, they couldnât just head home after one game, so they decided to continue enjoying the day.
Aurora's mother expressed a stubborn desire to visit *Sky City*, and the adults naturally agreed.
As always, Isha attracted the children like a magnet, the little ones pulling her along as they darted through the streets and alleys.
Leon trailed a short distance behind them.
"Your sister really seems to love children," Claudia remarked.
Rosvisser nodded in agreement. "Although my sister is committed to a life without marriage, she absolutely adores kids."
Claudia, slightly pensive, shifted the topic, asking,
"Then, does she know about you and Leon?"
"Whatâ?" Rosvisserâs gaze followed her sisterâs silhouette, her beautiful face showing hints of worry and hesitation.
"After the Imperial showdown concluded, Leon and I did discuss whether or not we should tell her the truth."
"And the result?"
Leon chimed in with his own thoughts, hands tucked in his pockets, squinting slightly as he, too, watched Isha and the kids from afar.
"For the past three years, though she hasnât noticed anything, secrets canât stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, either weâll have to come clean for some reason, or sheâll discover it herself."
"After the uproar we caused at last nightâs banquet, itâs unlikely she hasnât caught wind of something."
"Thatâs why I sometimes wonder if itâs better to approach her first, rather than waiting for things to come out awkwardly."
After listening to Leon, Claudia paused thoughtfully, then spoke.
"That does make sense. But what if Isha canât accept that her sister married a human?"
Leon and Rosvisser halted in their tracks at this question.
"What are you saying?" Leon sighed. "Big Sis is an incredible person. Sheâs not like the other dragonsâsavage or violentâso I canât imagine her being on opposing sides."
"If she truly canât accept it, then⊠perhaps Iâll just have to lose her."
Claudia raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Leave? Where would you go?"
"Back to the Empire, to lead the *Lionheart Society* in strengthening the new nation," Leon replied, his tone grave.
"This is also why I believe now is the best time to come clean. The Empire has changed; without Kletâs rule, I can return to my roots. No matter what, that place is my home."
Without much hesitation, he took Rosvisserâs hand in his, fingers interlacing with hers.
"And I canât allow my presence to ruin the bond between Rosvisser and her sister."
"If Big Sis canât accept me, staying there would only destroy the family Rosvisser and I have worked so hard to build."
"Our beginning may have been a mistake, but the ending must not be."
"The best choice would be for us to leave the Silver Dragon Clan and, from time to time, let Rosvisser visit."
Claudia slowed her steps, contemplating.
After a moment, she spoke softly.
"Why are you so focused on the beginning and the end?"
"Hmm? What do you really mean?"
"You may have started on the wrong foot, but that mistake led to a beautiful future," Claudia remarked, with a gentle smile, glancing at the couple. Her ocean-blue eyes held a warm gaze.
"Iâve seen so much with you all these years. This journey has been more thrilling than my centuries of life."
"Why only focus on the beginning and the end?"
"During these past five beautiful years, hasnât Isha been there too, witnessing and joining in?"
Leon and Rosvisser exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them.
They were forced to reveal that Rosvisser was now expecting their second child.
When Aurora was born, her first words were âAunt Isha.â
The whole family gathered in Sky City when Grandmother returnedâa truly rare, joyous day in the history of the Melkvey family.
Even during Konstantinâs resurrection attack, Leon, Rosvisser, and Isha had joined forces to fend him off.
In that string of memories, Leon realized he had occasionally overlooked the contributions of another presenceâ**the Red Dragon Queen, Isha**.
After a brief silence, Claudia continued.
"I agree; now is the best time to come clean. But it seems, even if the timing is ready, the two of you might not be."
Rosvisser pressed her lips together and nodded slightly.
"Do you know how I felt when I found out Leon chose a human to be with?" Claudia asked, her face showing a flicker of complex emotion.
"I was confused. I didnât understand why my sister would fall for a human."
"But what could I do? Leon is his own person, with his own life and choices."
"If she doesnât have the freedom to love as she wishes in her long life, whatâs the point? In the end, I accepted Leon not because of societyâs expectationsâ"
She looked over at Leon.
"But because I knew my sister married the man who loved her the most."
"As her sister, all that matters is her happiness."