Leon didnât want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings, so he didnât chat with Konstantin for long. After saying, âMy child will definitely outshine yours,â the headmaster, Otlett, appeared in the academy square, giving Konstantin a perfect exit to speak with the headmaster and vice principal about pressing matters.
After leaving the rooftop two minutes apart, Leon walked through the crowd and spotted Rosvisser and Claudia chatting.
"Here to see Helena off, Senior?" Leon greeted warmly.
Claudia nodded, smiling. âI thought of letting her come alone but decided to try a new approach to family education. Iâm learning from you and RosvisserâI hope youâll share some tips with me sometime.â
Leon laughed, brushing off the compliment. âWe donât have any special methods; we just let things happen naturally.â
Rosvisser interjected, âSo, Konstantin came looking for you?â
Leon nodded. âYes.â
âWhat did you talk about?â she asked curiously.
âJust about his clanâs children re-enrolling here. Heâs taking this seriously, personally speaking with Headmaster Otlett about it.â
Rosvisser shrugged, âThatâs quite the commitment.â
Claudia chimed in, âYou borrowed the ghost lotus from me to help Konstantinâs daughter recover. Did he mention her?â
Leon nodded again, scratching his temple. âYes, HefeiâKonstantinâs daughterâsheâs doing better now. With the help of the Red Flame Clanâs alchemists, sheâs gradually recovering.â
Leon seemed like he had more to say but hesitated.
Rosvisser noticed, tilting her head. âYouâre holding something back. I can tell from your face,â she said firmly.
Before Leon could respond, Claudia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. âYou can read him that well?â
âAs the Silver Dragon Princess, Iâve seen enough to pick up on subtle cues.â
Leonâs expression had been subtle, but Rosvisser saw right through him.
âWeâve been married nearly six years. I know exactly what heâs thinking,â she said with a smirk.
âAll Iâm thinking of is you, my queen.â
âOh, stop it.â
Claudia watched their playful exchange with a slight smile. âAlright, Leon, what else did Konstantin say?â
Leon coughed and glanced away, reluctant to meet their eyes. âHe, uh⊠suggested we should consider having another child.â
Rosvisser and Claudia blinked in stunned silence as a breeze swept through, amplifying the awkwardness. Somewhere, a crow seemed to punctuate the silence with a single âCaw.â
âSince that blow to his head, heâs been a bit off,â Claudia observed. âBut this⊠this is a bit much.â
Rosvisser exhaled, crossing her arms, tail tapping the ground in irritation. âWhy would Konstantin even care about our family decisions? I get it when my sister or grandmother nudges us, but him?â
Claudia chuckled. âSo the whole Melkvey family loves children, huh?â
Leon scratched his nose sheepishly. âApparently, Konstantinâs determined to beat me. He said that one day heâd defeat me and that his child would one day defeat mine. To âeven the playing field,â heâs suggesting we add one more to our side.â
Rosvisser scoffed, âRidiculous⊠but, well, itâs Konstantin. That kind of logic does suit him.â
Despite knowing Konstantinâs fierce competitiveness, Rosvisser hadnât expected him to be so invested in ensuring his legacy carried on the rivalry.
Claudia pressed on, âSo, are you considering it?â
Leon moved closer to Rosvisser, taking her hand naturally. âI havenât made a decision yet. Iâve thought about it, though, but itâs not simple. Between raising Noa, Hefei, and Mia, Iâm not sure if weâre ready.â
Claudia folded her arms, observing the two with a thoughtful gaze. âAre you worried Noa and her sisters might get jealous if thereâs another sibling?â
Rosvisser shook her head, âNot at all. Theyâre understanding and even asked for another sibling a few times. Noaâs wanted a younger sister or brother.â
Leon chuckled, adding, âActually, Moon wants an older sibling.â
Rosvisser laughed, squeezing his hand. âSheâs still young and doesnât fully understand. Do you?â
Leon grinned, letting her take the lead in the conversation.
Rosvisserâs smile faded, and her tone became serious. âItâs not that weâre against the idea⊠Itâs just that things arenât exactly stable. The Empire may seem peaceful, but certain clues hint at future conflicts. Having a child right now could interfere with Leonâs responsibilities.â
Claudiaâs eyes glinted with understanding. âYou mean tracking down imperial remnants and uncovering their leaders?â
Leon nodded solemnly, âExactly.â
Claudia nodded thoughtfully. âThatâs certainly important. Butâ" She paused, making them lean in, ââthat doesnât mean having a child isnât also important.â
Rosvisser and Leon exchanged glances, waiting for Claudia to continue.
âLetâs be honestâMelkveys are known for their love of children. That doesnât just apply to the Red Dragon King and your grandmother,â Claudia remarked with a knowing smile. âLook at you two! You adore children and have raised yours exceptionally well.â
Her point hit home. The love they poured into their daughtersâ upbringing was proof enough of their commitment to family.
âBesides,â Claudia continued, âeveryone knows Leon is a doting father. Even among the Sea Dragons, Iâve heard about it. And living with him has shifted some of my old views on family.â
She glanced meaningfully at Leon, who had deeply influenced Rosvisserâs perspective as well, turning her into a more nurturing mother over their six years together.
âI understand,â Rosvisser said softly, âItâs just that given the current situation, making that decision doesnât feel easy.â
Claudia smiled. âIf you both love children and donât mind having another, then whatâs holding you back?â
Rosvisser and Leonâs hesitation stemmed not from unwillingness but from waiting for the right reasonâa reason strong enough to outweigh their concerns.
âChasing down imperial remnants is a crucial mission,â Claudia affirmed, âbut so is strengthening our Dragon Clan.â
âOur numbers are already low. You two have given us three wonderful children, but we need more.â
âWait⊠Claudia, I get that the Dragon Clan is small, but expecting Leon and me to handle the clanâs expansion alone seems a bitââ
âYou two have advantages!â Claudia interrupted, smiling.
âWhat advantages?â
âFirstly, your bond is solidâno risk of separation. Secondly, dragon-human hybrids are clearly superior to pure dragons in strength.â
âAnd most dragons, like the Wildborn, canât bear many offspring without risking the motherâs health. But those born through live birth, like you, donât face such risks. A mother can recover within weeks.â
Claudia clapped her hands together, grinning. âSo, with all that said, go home, you two, and start planning for a third baby!â
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TL NOTE
: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!