Vol. 5 Ch. 47

In the Melkvey household, tradition wasn’t limited to laughter and cheer.

The night was deep, but rest eluded them.

Rosvisser’s lips lightly traced the dragon markings on Leon’s chest, as though trying to interpret his emotions through touch.

Their gazes met, his dark eyes and her silver ones brimming with longing—an impending flood that neither of them could restrain.

Tonight, there were no elaborate games or playful experiments. Both of them wanted to focus solely on each other.

One might have expected their reunion, after months apart, to be filled with fervor and intensity, perhaps even some hesitation. But in the end, it was an honest and deeply intimate connection as they held each other close.

Leon’s scarred hands ran over Rosvisser’s soft, smooth skin, her touch reminiscent of a youthful maiden’s.

She adored this feeling. Only a man as wild and fierce as him could truly match her status as Dragon Queen.

At the same time, Leon wasn’t merely indulging her. He had his own needs and often issued commands that Rosvisser had to obey.

Sometimes, he would even deliberately act contrary to her expectations.

Over the years, Rosvisser had come to realize a simple truth:

Even after seven years of marriage, she could never fully conquer this man.

Yet she didn’t dislike it.

Leon had a way of navigating the fine line that both satisfied and captivated her without letting her completely dominate him.

It was on this line that he danced, tugging at her heart, keeping her entranced and unable to escape.

The rain poured outside, setting a rhythm for their night together.

It wasn’t until dawn broke, the rain subsiding into silence, that the exhausted couple finally rested.

They lay side by side on the bed. Rosvisser held the edge of the blanket over her chest, her face still flushed from their final moment together.

Her eyes remained closed, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip, as if savoring the lingering sweetness.

Suddenly, Leon leaned over and kissed her forehead gently. His hand brushed aside the silver strands sticking to her cheek, tucking them behind her ear.

“You’ve worked hard, Rosvisser,” he said softly.

No woman could resist the impact of those words after such a night, not even Rosvisser.

The physical exhaustion vanished, replaced by the emotional comfort of his words. She nestled closer to him, feigning coyness as she replied,

“You always say I’ve worked hard, yet you never hold back. You really don’t know how to cherish me.”

“Your tail was practically wagging earlier, and you say I don’t know restraint?”

“Shut up!”

Leon chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his thumb lightly stroking the edge of her delicate ear.

As the post-storm stillness settled over the house, Rosvisser took a moment to compose herself before asking,

“Are you sure it was Shadow who rescued Elizabeth in Flaming Valley?”

It was time to discuss serious matters.

Leon nodded.

“I’m certain. Elizabeth addressed him as ‘Master Shadow,’ and he disabled so many members of the Lionheart Guild in an instant without me even noticing. His power is unfathomable.”

Rosvisser thought for a moment.

“But he didn’t attack you, which means he wasn’t confident of defeating you—not completely, at least for now.”

“Exactly,” Leon agreed.

He sighed.

“But he’s completely figured out my weaknesses. My dragon flame, my combat style—he’s found ways to counter all of it. If it weren’t for the six-winged dragonhawk, I might’ve died in that volcano.”

There was no denying that the battle in Flaming Valley had been inconclusive.

On the surface, Leon had defeated the Flame Demon, but as he admitted, without the dragonhawk, it wouldn’t have been possible—at least not in that unique environment.

In Flaming Valley, the Flame Demon not only had the ability to resurrect endlessly but also dominated the skies.

Both prolonged battles and aerial combat were areas where Leon struggled the most.

It was clear that Shadow had thoroughly studied Leon’s tactics. If they faced off again, the outcome would likely still be uncertain.

“Shadow’s advantage lay in the environment,” Rosvisser analyzed.

“Only the Flame Demon has the kind of fire magic capable of piercing dragon flames—not even Konstantin can do that. And to cultivate a Flame Demon, the unique conditions of Flaming Valley are required. There’s no other place on the entire Samail continent with the resources and power necessary.”

“In other words, they can’t create another Flame Demon.”

“Exactly. So when it comes to dragon flame, I don’t think you need to worry too much. It can still be your trump card in future battles.”

Leon nodded, understanding her point.

“You’re right. Since the enemy has studied me so thoroughly, I’ll need to learn some new tricks.”

“Good.”

“But the biggest issue remains... flight.”

Leon stared at the ceiling, his voice heavy.

“Back in the dragon army, whenever we fought other Dragon Kings, they’d bluster, but you know their tempers—they’d eventually come down to fight head-on.

“And there were plenty of anti-air cannons in the upper dragon halls, so aerial combat was never a major concern.

“But look at this time—a temporary, winged fire-spewing monster with no explosive temper or recklessness completely cornered me with its air combat abilities alone.

“It’s not just this battle, either. Remember when Noa and I chased the dragonhawk that stole the Jade Dew Dragon Fruit? If it hadn’t been for Sherry arriving in time to help, we might not have recovered the fruit.”

“My shortcomings have been obvious for a long time, but I never took them seriously…”

At this point, Leon, usually so confident, closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

“This loss… wasn’t undeserved.”

Leon rarely admitted defeat to an enemy, but this time, Shadow had completely outmaneuvered him tactically.

Previously, he could rely on his overwhelming power to crush any opponent, but his one-dimensional style had made it easy for Shadow to counter him.

Leon exhaled deeply again, falling silent.

Rosvisser, noticing his uncharacteristic gloom, spoke gently.

“The situation isn’t as bad as you think.

“Even without aerial abilities, the six-winged dragonhawk is willing to help you.

“So aside from developing new tactics, you should also consider techniques that involve cooperating with the dragonhawk.”

“Or with me. After all, I can carry you when I fly.”

Her tone turned playful at the end, lightening the mood.

Leon’s frustration eased as he chuckled softly. He cradled the back of her head, pulling her into his arms, and kissed her forehead tenderly.

“I feel conflicted,” he admitted.

“How so?”

“I want to keep you safe, away from dangerous battles, but at the same time, I want to fight alongside you. I know that as Dragon Queen, you can’t always stay behind me.”

Rosvisser laughed lightly.

“It’s hard to balance being a husband and a warrior, isn’t it?”

Leon nodded.

“It is.”

“I’ve told you many times, Leon—I’m willing to face danger with you. I don’t want to keep repeating myself.

“Next time, let’s face it together.

“As husband and wife, we’re supposed to share everything, including hardship.”