Vol. 4 Ch. 26

Isha felt a strange tension at that moment.

Perhaps it was due to the fragrant coffee and the sweet milk scent lingering on the young dragonlings that made her face soften. She gently stroked the children, guiding them into the café and allowing them to play quietly on their own.

She sat down in the empty seat across from Claudia, while Leon and Rosvisser took seats next to her, with Leon on her left and Rosvisser on her right.

The four of them faced each other, each with a cup of coffee in front of them.

Claudia took a sip of her coffee, her eyes narrowing with discomfort as she set her cup back down. She looked across at her sister, then glanced at Leon. A subtle, unreadable expression lingered in her eyes, as if she were scrutinizing the two of them closely.

Her gaze moved from Rosvisser’s face to Leon’s, lingering slightly longer, as if she were silently assessing them.

Isha, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, “You called me here—what exactly did you want to say?”

At her question, Claudia looked at her and replied, “Well, to be honest, even I don’t know why you two wanted to meet here today.”

Leon raised an eyebrow at her, but Rosvisser gave him a reassuring glance, as if to say, “It’s alright. Let’s just get this over with.”

After a brief pause, Isha finally broke the silence. “If it’s not urgent, then why do I feel like something big is going on?”

Leon exchanged a glance with Rosvisser. Her eyes showed a bit of hesitation, but she nodded, urging him to go ahead and say what they’d both been thinking.

Leon finally broke the silence. “Isha, we... need to tell you something important.”

Without waiting for her response, Leon continued, “This might come as a shock to you, but I’m sure you’ve suspected something.”

At his words, Rosvisser, too, gave Isha a look that conveyed her unease, suggesting that she had also been wrestling with this moment for some time.

Isha’s eyes widened slightly, and she couldn’t help but glance between the two of them, a sense of nervous anticipation beginning to settle in her stomach.

Leon hesitated, as if mentally preparing himself.

“Isha… don’t be scared, alright?”

She gave him an uncertain look. “Why would I be scared?”

At that, Leon took a deep breath, seemingly gathering his courage. Sitting next to him, Claudia looked just as tense, as if she was about to witness something serious unfold.

Isha leaned forward, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “It’s fine, go ahead and say whatever you need to say. I’m not going anywhere.”

Leon relaxed a bit. “Good, because this isn’t easy to talk about, but we need to be honest with you.”

Rosvisser gave Leon a reassuring nod. “Yes, it’s best we tell you now.”

Leon glanced at Rosvisser, and she nodded back, urging him to continue. Finally, he turned to Isha.

“Isha, the truth is... we need to prepare you for what’s to come.”

Isha’s expression was calm, but there was a faint hint of curiosity and suspicion. “And what exactly do I need to prepare for?”

Leon and Rosvisser shared a brief, tense look.

Leon spoke up, “Isha, I know this might seem unexpected, but… we believe it’s time you knew the truth about our family.”

Isha’s gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing slightly. “The truth? You’re making it sound like there’s some big secret.”

“Not exactly a secret, but… we just want to make sure you’re fully aware of what’s at stake,” Leon said, his voice cautious.

Rosvisser interjected, “It’s about Little Light. We feel it’s time to discuss her future, particularly concerning her talents and the Red Dragon Queen’s legacy.”

Leon looked at Isha, his gaze softening. “I know you’ve always had faith in Little Light’s abilities, and you trust her completely. But…”

Isha’s expression became guarded. “But what?”

Leon cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s just that… her future might not be as simple as it seems.”

Isha’s patience seemed to waver. She sighed and muttered, “If you’re going to drag it out, maybe it’s better to just tell me plainly.”

Leon exchanged a glance with Rosvisser, then spoke in a firmer tone, “If you plan to fully embrace her potential, then you need to be prepared for the difficulties that come with it.”

Watching her sister’s reaction, Isha looked both confused and intrigued, a little caught off guard.

“You’re speaking as if she’s destined to be royalty,” Isha scoffed. “What, are you planning to crown her or something?”

Leon let out a nervous laugh. “Not exactly, but we want to make sure she’s equipped for whatever may come.”

“Are you really going to destroy the family over this? How far are you planning to go?”

Hearing Isha’s words, Leon’s expression grew uncertain. He hesitated for a moment before replying, “Rosvisser and I… we haven’t given up. There’s no way we’d separate, especially now when we’re already planning for our next child. We wouldn’t throw away everything so easily.”

Rosvisser gently tightened her grip on his hand. “That’s right… What we’re talking about here isn’t just about us or our relationship. It’s also about you, sister.”

Isha’s eyes softened slightly, touching the tip of her nose with her finger in a moment of rare vulnerability. She quietly asked, “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

Rosvisser smiled softly, lifting her chin with a dignified air as she looked at her sister. “We wouldn’t be able to face you if we walked away. No matter what happens, we’re family.”

Leon, noticing the determination in Rosvisser’s gaze, couldn’t help but nod in agreement. She looked at him with a hint of amusement, and he responded by subtly squeezing her hand.

“Alright then,” Isha said with a small, resigned smile, “Since you two are so committed, who am I to argue?”

“Well, now that that’s settled, let’s get back on track. After all, the dragons of the continent… who else would be bold enough to step up?”

At the mention of the dragon kings of the continent, Isha’s mind filled with both pride and an awareness of her own responsibilities. It was rare for her to be in such a flustered state, yet she quickly composed herself.

“Alright, let’s not get distracted,” she said, now fully focused on the task at hand, as she reached for her cup to take a sip of her cooling coffee.

Afterward, she looked at the two of them and let out a deep breath, her expression much more composed.

"Sister… actually, my union with Rosvisser was completely unexpected."

"Unexpected?" Isha looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"It all started like this—"

---

Leon would never forget the courage he mustered that day to approach Rosvisser. He recalled the anxiety that flooded his mind as he explained everything to her sister, laying bare the origins of their relationship.

For nearly fifteen minutes, he maintained a composed and calm expression, even as he felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his forehead. He clenched his hands to keep them from trembling, determined not to let his nerves show.

During the entire time, Isha’s expression didn’t shift, though Leon could sense an intensity in her gaze that never wavered. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was assessing every word he said, searching for any signs of deception or hesitation.

And yet, that reaction struck him as… strange.

It seemed as though there was a faint amusement in her gaze, as if she found the entire situation mildly entertaining.

As he continued to speak, Leon couldn't tell if this impression was his own misinterpretation, but he couldn't shake the thought. He briefly hesitated, his words faltering for just a second before he quickly resumed.

Finally, as Leon finished recounting the story, he noticed Isha’s silence. She had listened attentively, her expression unreadable.

A quiet, heavy atmosphere settled around them, making the entire room feel deathly still.

Outside the window, the faint rustling of leaves could be heard, with the occasional muted laughter of people passing by. Meanwhile, the silence inside felt overwhelming.

After a long pause, Isha finally responded, breaking the silence. “So, that’s the whole story…”

Leon nodded, feeling as though he had unburdened a weight from his shoulders.

Outside, the last light of the sunset cast its glow into the room, illuminating their faces and casting long shadows across the floor. The final moment of daylight faded, as if marking the end of Leon’s confession.

*Ding—Ding—*

The sound of a bell echoed softly as the door to the café opened, accompanied by the faint clinking of coffee cups.

Claudia glanced around as she sat beside Leon, her expression subtly contemplative. Breaking the silence, she turned to him and spoke.

“Leon, we don’t have to continue if it’s too much.”

Leon, taking a deep breath, shook his head. “No, it’s alright. I wanted to tell her the truth, even if it’s complicated.”

Slightly uncertain, Claudia remained silent, waiting as Leon looked at Isha.

“Sister,” he began carefully, “I know this might come as a shock, and you may not want to hear it, but I have to say it. For years, you’ve been like family to me. You’re… not just Rosvisser’s sister to me, but my sister as well.”

Isha gave him a puzzled look. “Leon, what are you trying to say? Why are you saying it like this?”

“Forgive me, sister, but… we are—”

“We’re family,” he continued, looking her directly in the eyes. “Even if you find it hard to believe, even if you don’t agree, you are a part of our lives. To me, you’re family.”

Isha fell silent, taking a slow, deep breath before speaking softly, “My sister’s husband is a foreigner, yet you’re telling me that we’re family?”

Leon nodded with a gentle smile. “Yes. Even if we’re from different worlds, you’re part of this family.”

Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Isha’s expression softened, a mix of disbelief and tentative acceptance crossing her face.

“Sister…” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. “If that’s truly the case, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Leon gave a small, understanding smile. “Because we wanted to be sure. We didn’t want to overwhelm you, and we wanted to make sure you were ready to hear it.”

At that, Isha closed her eyes briefly, letting out a slow breath as if to steady herself.

“Well… if that’s really the case, is there something you need me to do?”

Leon shook his head, his voice gentle. “No, there’s nothing you need to do. Just… knowing you accept this is enough.”

“Emmm… Sister? Did you hear what he said?” Rosvisser interjected with a playful smile, giving Isha a sidelong glance.

Isha, blinking slowly, looked at them both, her gaze steady. “Yes, I heard every word.”

Leon and Rosvisser exchanged relieved smiles as Isha’s expression softened further.

“I didn’t misunderstand, did I?” Isha asked, casting a curious look toward Claudia. “Honestly, I feel a bit out of place here, like I don’t belong.”

Claudia gave a light chuckle and took a sip of her coffee before replying, “I feel like a kid playing make-believe.”

She continued with a faint smile, “Well, that’s because, in front of you all, I’m still treated as someone younger and less experienced.”

Leon noticed Rosvisser’s expression shift subtly. He had known her long enough to read the emotions behind her eyes—she was starting to sense that Isha may have already known more than they had initially believed.

“Sister, are you certain you haven’t known all along who we really are?” he asked cautiously.

Isha met his gaze with a subtle smile. “Perhaps I did know a bit more than you might have thought.”

Leon could hardly believe it. “Wait… You’re saying you were aware of everything from the beginning?”

“Not everything,” she clarified, “but I had my suspicions. I knew that my sister’s husband would never be a simple man. And as time passed, I began to see through the little hints you both tried so hard to cover.”

Leon let out a soft sigh, his expression conflicted. “So, you knew… even about my origins?”

Isha nodded, her smile growing a bit mischievous. “Yes, I could sense it.”

“It was your battles, Leon,” she continued, “especially the one against the Red Dragon Queen. When you confronted her, I saw the power you held.”

Leon felt a wave of relief wash over him. “And yet, you still accepted me into your family?”

Isha’s expression softened. “Of course. Whether or not you were a member of the Silver Dragon Clan didn’t matter to me.”

“But,” she added, glancing at him thoughtfully, “I do have one question. When you fought that battle and called upon the Silver Dragon, were you already aware of the effect it would have on the clan?”

Leon was momentarily taken aback by her insight. “Yes, I was aware,” he admitted. “I knew that drawing upon that power would leave a mark.”

“Then it seems we understand each other,” Isha said with a knowing smile. “The day may come when even the strongest dragons face a test of their loyalty.”

Leon responded with a respectful nod, acknowledging her words. He felt a newfound respect for her wisdom and understanding.

“In the end,” he said, “we all have our roles to play, don’t we?”

“Yes,” Isha replied, “and I’ll do my best to fulfill mine.”

“But just as I was about to continue my investigation, my grandmother stepped in and stopped me.”

“At that point, I realized the boundaries she had set, and I knew that there was a limit to how far I could pursue this secret,” Isha explained. “So I decided to trust her judgment.”

Leon nodded slightly. “And that’s why you chose to keep quiet?”

“Yes, I told myself that if my grandmother approved, then I would trust her decision. She assured me that she would protect my sister and that this marriage would bring happiness to her and the man she chose. She didn’t just promise me—she truly believed in you both.”

Rosvisser looked at Isha thoughtfully before asking, “Did our grandmother know?”

Isha gave a slight nod. “Our grandmother is a very perceptive person. If she made this choice, then I imagine she must have noticed certain things.”

“Then… why didn’t she stop me or Rosvisser when we…” Leon trailed off, searching for the right words.

“Because she believed in you two,” Isha replied softly. “She knew that, together, you could maintain this family and honor her legacy.”

Leon's gaze softened as he realized the depth of her understanding. “In a way, she was always watching over us, wasn’t she?”

“Yes,” Isha replied with a small, patient smile, her voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia. “Our grandmother always used to say that she wanted us to live out her legacy, even if she couldn’t be there to witness it herself.”

“So I think that’s the reason she never objected to your marriage. It was her way of passing on her own sense of duty and faith.”

Leon felt a weight lift from his shoulders, a newfound sense of peace settling within him.

“Well, if our grandmother already accepted our union, then we can finally celebrate this openly,” he said with a gentle smile.

“Let’s continue walking this path together, in her honor.”