Vol 7. Chapter 1: Birthday Gift

*Perfect Melody*

After Atos was banished back to the Void, the aftermath of the invasion crisis quickly settled.

Thanks to the intervention of that young God of Time, the Silver Dragons had suffered remarkably few casualties during the war.

But the true decisive force that turned the tide—without question—was the combat prowess of the White Homeland Faction. Their performance elevated the Silver Dragons’ prestige throughout dragonkind and across much of the Samael continent.

And with that prestige came wave after wave of diplomatic alliances and social obligations.

So in the months following their victory, Rosvisser had been endlessly busy, working around the clock to handle all affairs great and small.

Even with Anie assisting her, Rosvisser still worked late into the night every day.

But today... was a little different.

Today was Leon’s birthday.

That morning, Aurora ran into the kitchen holding a handheld camcorder.

The slightly shaky footage radiated all the charm of a home video.

Two busy figures soon appeared on-screen: Moon and Muse.

“Muse, hand me the eggs. This time I’m really gonna nail it.”

“Calm down, Third Sis. If we mess up again—”

Fourth Sis paused, then glanced at the nearly empty egg basket in the corner before continuing,

“—then we won’t be eating anything made with eggs next week.”

“Trust me, Muse. I placed twenty-seventh in our cooking class at the academy.”

Moon was dead serious.

Right on cue, Aurora raised the camcorder in one hand and the other dramatically in the air.

“I can confirm Third Sis is telling the truth. Unfortunately, there were only thirty students in the class.”

“Shut up, Aurora!”

“Okie-dokie, Third Sis~~”

Aurora lowered her head again and obediently resumed filming.

After a moment of hesitation, Muse handed over the last three or four eggs.

Moon cracked them into a glass bowl on a small stool and started whisking with fierce determination.

While she was distracted with mixing, Aurora sidled up to Muse and whispered,

“So your gift for Dad is... a cake?”

Muse nodded.

“But if it’s a cake, Third Sis could do it herself. Why are you helping too?”

“I’m secretly here for moral support.”

Muse looked up at Aurora, eyes full of resignation.

“Because Third Sis said if she screws up and the cake turns out terrible, we’ll at least share the guilt together when we have no proper gift to give Dad.”

“...”

“I did it! It’s rising!”

Muse’s eyes lit up. “How’d you do it, Third Sis?!”

“Yeast! I added yeast!”

Aurora chimed in with glee,

“Amazing, Third Sis! As the second-to-last in class, remembering that fermentation needs yeast is honestly incredible!”

Moon rubbed her face, managing to leave a smudge of flour on the tip of her nose, and turned toward Aurora.

“Aurora, I’m gonna assume that was a compliment.”

“It was a compliment, Third Sis.”

Moon raised her whisk triumphantly.

Tears of joy sparkled in the Dragon of Fun.

—

Next stop: the temple’s back garden.

Aurora made her way through a shaded path until she found Xiaoxue sitting by the flowerbeds.

The camera zoomed in on her delicate face; her golden eyes shimmered like gems in the sunlight.

A pile of carefully selected petals rested beside her, and something sat gently cradled in her hands.

“Xiaoxue, what are you working on for your gift?” Aurora asked from behind the camera.

Xiaoxue squinted at the lens with a smile and continued focusing on her task.

“I’m «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» weaving a flower crown for Leon-uncle.”

“Not bad. I was going to give Dad a flower crown too.”

“Really, Aurora? Then why didn’t you?”

“Because when I imagined placing it on his black-and-white funeral photo during the ceremony, it looked way more aesthetic that way.”

“...”

Xiaoxue chuckled helplessly.

“The crown I’m making is different from the ones used in funerals, you know.”

Aurora leaned in to inspect the materials.

“I recognize the sunflowers. They mean ‘always follow the light and truth.’ What about the ones in the center?”

Xiaoxue set down the half-finished crown and patiently explained,

“Red roses—they stand for courage and admiration. Leon-uncle did so, so much to protect us, so I’ve always respected him deeply.

“Then there’s gladiolus—it represents strength, resolve, and never giving up. That fits him perfectly.

“And gentians—they mean holding onto hope even in despair.”

She listed a few more flowers, and Aurora carefully recorded every one.

“Wow, that’s amazing, Xiaoxue. Just gathering these must’ve taken forever, huh?”

Xiaoxue nodded.

“A little bit, yeah. But it’s not a big deal. After all, this is my first time celebrating Leon-uncle’s birthday since coming to the temple. I wanted to be extra thoughtful.”

“Respect.”

Aurora tucked away the camcorder and glanced around.

“Oh right—Xiaoxue, have you seen Big Sis anywhere? I haven’t been able to find her all morning.”

Xiaoxue thought for a moment, then went “Oh~! This morning I saw her by the old locust tree near the training grounds. I think she was making some kind of handmade gift too.”

Aurora blinked. “Also handmade...?”

That made sense for a quiet type like Xiaoxue—but Big Sis?

She’d always imagined her gift would be something like “a birthday punch from the eldest daughter” (bushi).

...

Still, since it was Big Sis making something by hand, Aurora had to see it for herself.

She dashed out of the back garden, heading straight for the training grounds.

—

—

Inside the temple hall, Leon was slouched lazily at the base of the throne steps.

Anyone who didn’t know better might’ve thought today’s birthday boy had turned into some kind of spineless mollusk.

Rosvisser sat tall on the throne above, dealing with the mountain of official documents still waiting for her attention.

She glanced down at Leon.

In all of Silver Dragon Territory, who else would dare sit so casually at her feet?

But hey—she was the one who chose this mutt of a man, so she’d just have to spoil him herself.

“Beep~ once~~”

A sound floated up from below.

Rosvisser ignored him.

“Beeep~~ again~~ hey ouch!”

A pen sailed through the air and thwacked him square on the back of the head, landing neatly by his side.

“If you have something to say, spit it out.”

“Your Majesty, do you know what day it is today?” Leon picked up the pen cap she’d thrown and spun it between his fingers.

The lady on the throne paused, thinking, then suddenly sat up.

“Oh!! Right—thank you for reminding me! I almost forgot how important today is!”

Leon didn’t say anything, but the smile tugging at his lips was impossible to hide.

So she really had forgotten.

“Now’s your chance, Leon. It's time to make me feel a little guilty.”

“You forgot my birthday, Little She-Dragon. How will you make it up to me? A nurse cosplay apology would be nice. But... It’s fine, it’s fine. You remembered now, I won’t be petty about...”

“I’m meeting with Anie later to make bead bracelets. Don’t wait for me at lunch, I want to finish the bracelet while I can.”

Leon: ?

The birthday boy sat bolt upright, eyes wide.

“You’re the Queen! Skipping lunch to make bracelets? What kind of example is that?!”

“And why can’t a Queen make bracelets?” Rosvisser tilted her head with a teasing smile. She leaned back in the throne and lifted her slender, pale fingers, wiggling them playfully.

“‘Every dragon has a heart for beauty.’ – Rosvisser, righteously and unrepentantly.”

“...”

Leon had no retort.

He stood there helplessly, like a thirty-something-year-old married father of four who had just defeated the Lord of the Void and inherited the power of Zeus—and yet felt like a little kid left out on his own.

Rosvisser looked at him—pouting, deflated, but unable to stay mad—and finally burst into laughter.

“Alright, alright. I was just teasing you. You really think I’d forget your birthday?”

Leon finally relaxed a little.

“Not funny! That wasn’t funny at all!”

“There, there~~” Rosvisser cupped her mouth with a giggle.

She really loved teasing her “husband.”

“Did you at least prepare a gift for me?” Leon asked.

“Of course I did.”

“What is it, what is it?”

Rosvisser didn’t answer right away. Instead, she gave him a mischievous smile.

“No~~ telling you~~”

She stuck out her tongue in a playful face.

Just as Leon was about to press her for an answer, Rosvisser cut in,

“Milan, take the Prince out for a walk. I need to concentrate.”

“This way, please, Prince Leon.”

“...Why do you show up the second she calls you? You maids have definitely been eavesdropping this whole time, haven’t you!”