Vol. 5 Ch. 2

The bedroom was bustling with activity as the Silver Dragon clan’s physicians worked meticulously, ensuring every detail was accounted for.

Maids hurried in and out, fetching hot water, wringing towels, and readying baby clothes. Despite the apparent chaos, everything moved with a precise rhythm under the direction of Inye and the head maid, Anna.

In the midst of the commotion, faint, strained sounds of pain came from Rosvisser. She was enduring the agony of childbirth.

In a corner of the room, Leon stood with Aurora cradled in one arm while holding Moon’s hand. Noa stood nearby, watching.

The four of them observed the scene, knowing there was little they could do to help. Earlier, Leon had asked Inye if there was anything he or the girls could do.

Inye had simply replied, “Not yet. Wait for your time to act.”

Not wanting to distract her or the others, Leon led his daughters to a corner to stand by quietly, ready to assist if needed.

Aurora, clutching her father’s shirt tightly, tucked her small tail between her legs. Her pink eyes were full of worry as she stared at the bed, listening to her mother’s weak groans.

“So giving birth is this painful… Mom is amazing,” she murmured softly.

Aurora was known for finding joy in everyday moments, often lightening the mood. This wasn’t just due to her playful personality but also her extraordinary sense of empathy.

Her ability to deeply connect with others made her adept at understanding happiness from different perspectives. However, that same empathy now allowed her to fully absorb the tense, oppressive atmosphere in the room.

Despite her young age, she could sense the weight of the pain her mother was enduring. The oppressive energy of the moment was palpable to her.

Leon tightened his hold on his youngest daughter, knowing she needed reassurance.

Looking down at her, he decided to lighten the mood.

“You know, when you were born, it was even more intense.”

Aurora looked up at him, curious.

“Why do you say that, Dad?”

“Because on the day you were born, the head of the Dragon King was hung on our doorstep. Scary, right?”

Aurora’s tense expression softened into a small smile, her anxiety easing slightly.

Just as she was about to joke back, she felt the hand holding her tremble slightly.

She looked up again and met her father’s eyes. The man who had just cracked a joke to comfort her was clearly masking his own worry.

It dawned on her: her father’s lightheartedness was a façade.

Unlike her sisters, who were too focused on their mother to notice, Aurora realized her father was just as anxious as she was. His lips were even a little pale.

Aurora had never seen her father like this.

To her, he was always the unshakable hero, the man who faced danger with ease and always came out on top.

But now, as her mother labored, he was relying on jokes to keep himself steady.

Aurora didn’t say anything. She simply hugged him tighter.

Leon silently watched the women and physicians at work. The occasional sound of Rosvisser’s groans reached his ears, and his mind wandered back to a similar moment years ago.

When Aurora had been born, he had stood just like this—with Noa and Moon at his side—watching helplessly from the corner of the room.

That day, after Konstantin had launched his attack, Leon had donned his black-and-gold armor and gone out to fight.

By the time he returned, Aurora had already been born.

Slaying a dragon was quick work, taking only a few minutes. But those same minutes had been the most excruciating of Rosvisser’s life.

Though he had been told afterward that it wasn’t as bad as he imagined, hearing about it could never compare to seeing it firsthand.

The suffocating tension in the room now made even the famed dragon slayer feel powerless.

Even knowing Rosvisser was in the care of the finest physicians of the Silver Dragon clan didn’t stop him from worrying.

His sister-in-law, Isa, had even abandoned her own affairs to come and assist. Childbirth was a delicate task, and Leon’s role was to stay out of the way, leaving everything to Isa and Anna.

This helplessness weighed heavily on him.

“Your Highness!”

The maid Milan called out, snapping him from his thoughts.

Leon perked up, thinking there was finally something he could do to help.

“What is it, Milan?”

“Please escort the princesses to the balcony. More physicians will be arriving shortly.”

Leon’s brief excitement was quickly dashed.

“…I see.”

Nodding, he lifted Noa and led the girls to the balcony.

Noa poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.

“Here, Dad.”

Leon took the glass and sipped it. “Thanks.”

“Come on, Dad, pull yourself together,” Noa said, noticing his unease. After a moment of thought, she added,

“If Mom saw you like this, she’d probably tease you, wouldn’t she?”

Leon imagined the scene. If Rosvisser saw him pacing around, anxious and restless, she’d likely say something like:

“What’s wrong, Leon? Scared of something this small? What a baby! Come here, baby, call me big sis!”

Or maybe:

“Honestly, you’re my husband, the Silver Dragon Queen’s consort. Act like it! Don’t just be good at slaying dragons, dummy.”

The thought made Leon chuckle, easing some of his tension.

“Hey, brother-in-law,” Isa’s voice called out.

Leon looked up to see her entering the room.

“Took you long enough. If you’d stayed out there any longer, I’d have had to drag you in myself.”

Leon scrambled to his feet.

“Can I help now?”

“Yes, you can. Do what you’re best at: keep the kids entertained.”

Leon blinked. “That’s my specialty?”

Isa rolled her eyes. “Stop standing there like a statue and follow me.”

She grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the bed, weaving through the crowd of maids and physicians.

When they reached Rosvisser’s side, Leon’s breath caught.

Sweat drenched her hair, plastering it to her pale face. Her silver eyes were half-closed, her breathing shallow.

“Leon… you’re here…” she whispered weakly.

Her voice was so faint it made Leon’s chest ache.

For a moment, he couldn’t speak. His heart felt like it was being squeezed.

Isa nudged him sharply from behind, breaking his trance.

“I’m here,” he said, kneeling beside the bed and taking her trembling hand.

As he held her hand, Rosvisser’s strained face softened into a faint smile.

“I must look terrible right now…”

“You look beautiful, as always,” Leon replied gently.

“You’re lying… you idiot…”

Leon brushed the damp hair from her face and cupped her cheek. Smiling tenderly, he said,

“I’d never lie to you, Rosvisser. No matter the time or place, you’re the most beautiful queen I’ve ever seen.”

“Hmph… fine, I’ll… believe you… for now…”

Behind them, Anna whispered to Milan and the physicians,

“Now’s the time. While His Highness is distracting Her Majesty, let’s proceed with the delivery.”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

As the critical moment of childbirth began, the room grew even more tense.

“Leon… I hate you…” Rosvisser murmured suddenly.

Leon blinked, startled. “Why would you say that—”

Isa jabbed him in the back again. “Don’t overthink it, moron. Your wife is in labor. Just agree with whatever she says.”

Leon nodded quickly.

“Right, you hate me. I’m the worst.”

“If you want me… to not hate you…” Rosvisser began weakly.

“Yes, tell me. What should I do?”

She glanced briefly at Isa, and the sisters exchanged a knowing look. It was a look that said, *Finally, he fell for it.*

Rosvisser turned back to Leon, her voice barely a whisper.

“You have to promise… to grant my next request…”

“Anything. Whatever you want,” Leon said without hesitation.

Her lips curved into a faint smirk.

“First… you must promise… never to teach the baby… how to play the suona.”