Vol 7. Chapter 25: The Meticulous Married Man

[Prompt: Suppose you now possess sufficient authority and influence. Please draft a fifty-year development plan for Saint Heath Academy, covering education, faculty, land resources, etc. No word limit.]

[Scenario: A young dragon student named Leon was caught by a disciplinary officer in an unauthorized area of the Academy. His points were deducted, and a parent was summoned. The parent turns out to be a Dragon King from a prestigious clan. How would you handle this situation?]

[Please list at least five reforms or changes Saint Heath Academy has implemented over the past 300 years.]

[Please elaborate on the contributions of any past Principal, Vice Principal, or professor to our dragonkind.]

...

The exam paper was full of questions like these.

All aimed at evaluating a candidate’s foresight, macro-level planning ability, skill in navigating social-political nuance, and historical knowledge of the academy.

"Just like Principal Wilson said—there really aren’t any standard answers to these," Leon thought silently.

Some questions practically oozed “mainstream dragon narrative” from between the lines—so righteous and grandiose they might as well have been propaganda pieces.

But Leon knew—if he actually tried to write a pile of boot-licking nonsense, praising certain clans or the academy itself with flowery language, his score would tank.

Because that kind of answer meant nothing. The board wouldn’t even bother reading it.

Back during his month of prep, Rosvisser had warned him about this exact thing.

“Most people don’t know how to answer political or historical essay questions. They think if they just stay close to the power center, they’ll score high. That’s dead wrong.”

“Your answer has to have more depth than just flattery. It needs your perspective. And it has to be grounded in real context.”

“It’s like kissing ass—it sounds easy, but some people can do it so well the other person beams with joy. Others try, and it’s instantly repulsive.”

“Same logic applies to exams like this. So don’t underestimate them. No matter how shallow the question looks, think it through before writing.”

The tips she gave came from her decades of experience as a Dragon Queen.

Of course, there was no way she could pass everything down to Leon in just a month—but with just a few tricks and his own comprehension, she believed he'd handle today’s exam just fine.

And sure enough, Rosvisser was right.

Leon followed her advice to the letter. He took every seemingly “easy,” politically loaded question seriously, responding with thoughtfulness and sincerity.

Besides Rosvisser’s help, Leon also had one more person to thank: Rebecca.

Back in the day, before Rebecca officially joined the Azure Dragon Army, she had applied for a position in the Empire’s royal civil service—an exam system not so different from this one.

The questions she faced had been similar to the ones Leon now faced.

And her results?

Exactly what you'd expect.

Letting someone like Rebecca—the once-infamous “crazy loli” archetype—take that kind of exam was a disaster waiting to happen. She’d have rather bitten the examiners to death on the spot.

Leon still remembered her dramatic retelling of that experience. It was the first time he really understood what these exams were like.

"Heyyy~ What’s the divine son writing over there? Done already?"

Isha’s light teasing snapped Leon out of his memories.

He blinked, then smiled awkwardly.

"Ah, zoned out for a second."

"Okay okay. What did you write for question three?"

Leon: "?"

"Sis... didn’t Principal Wilson just say ten minutes ago we’re not allowed to discuss answers?"

"I’m not discussing," Isha replied seriously.

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Then what are you doing?"

"I’m asking you directly for the answer. You tell me, I write it down. That’s not ‘discussion.’"

“...Fine. I’ll jot it down and pass it over to you.”

The whole situation reminded Leon of his academy days. Back in the Academy, he’d often be pestered by classmates begging for answers during exams.

Leon wasn’t like other students—aloof, guarded, or pretentious.

If someone asked him, he’d just give it.

Back then, people used to say, “Leon is really one of °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the good ones!”

Isha chuckled. "Congrats. You’ve passed the test. We really are a loving family! When I get back, I’m telling little Ros—"

"Isha, if you want an answer, I’ve already written mine," Beren interrupted with a warm smile.

Isha looked over, then narrowed her eyes at the paper ball he tossed her way.

Hmph. Ice-cold.

"Beren, I was joking with my brother-in-law. But thanks for your generous offer—please keep it to yourself."

She tossed the note right back.

Jokes were only fun with people who knew how to play.

With someone tone-deaf like Beren, it was just annoying.

"Okay, back to question D. Take it seriously," she said, sounding exactly like a stern older sister.

"Mmhmm..."

Leon glanced at Isha resuming her writing, then looked over at Beren again.

Combined with Isha’s earlier whisper—"don’t talk to Beren"—and her current situation dodging blind dates...

...

"Tch... don’t tell me—!"

...

...

By the time the written exam ended, it was already evening.

Principal Wilson’s aides arrived to collect the completed test papers.

"Thank you, everyone. The results will be announced tomorrow," he said. "You’re all free to rest tonight in the single rooms prepared for each candidate. I wish you—"

"Excuse me, Principal," Beren interjected.

"Third phase? We just finished the first phase. Why jump straight to the third?"

Wilson simply smiled, gave no explanation, and turned to leave with his staff.

"Principal Wilson?"

His footsteps faded. No response.

Confusion spread among the candidates.

"So the second exam—‘real-scenario simulation’—has it already happened?" Claudia asked softly.

Leon kept his hands in his pockets and shook his head with a serious expression.

"Maybe not yet. Either way, best stay on our guard."

"Right."

"Wanna go eat, Sis?" Leon asked.

Isha nodded. "Let’s invite the others too."

"Good idea."

Leon turned to Claudia.

"You coming?"

"I’m on a diet. No dinner for me. I’m going to visit Helena."

"Okay, see you tomorrow then."

"See you."

With that, Leon and Isha left the library and headed toward the dining hall.

On the way, Leon hesitated... then finally asked:

"By the way, Sis—so you said you joined this competition to dodge marriage meetings. But that Beren guy seems like one of your old matches?"

"He chased me years ago. I turned him down." Isha replied bluntly.

"He probably heard my parents were matchmaking again, so he’s trying to worm his way back in."

She sighed, tilted her head back, her fire-red hair cascading down as she gazed upward.

"The world’s just a kid’s playground. No matter how I try to dodge, I can’t escape it."

Leon chuckled.

"So that’s why you told me not to talk to him?"

"Yup. He used to pester little Ros to dig up gossip on me from Granny Veronica. Made me really uncomfortable."

"One time, Ros finally snapped and scolded him—and he shut up after that."

“...Wait, my wife yelled at him?”

If Beren qualified to compete here, he must be a highly respected Dragon King. And Rosvisser actually chewed him out?

"Don’t you know your own wife? You’re the strongest Azure Dragon alive and she still dared to sleep with you, right?"

"...You’ve got a point."

After a beat, Leon asked:

"And this Wind Dragon King...?"

"She’s one of my closest friends in the dragon race—well, you could say my bestie. Back when Constantine was invading people’s turf on Dragon Island, she and I joined forces. That’s how we got close."

"I see," Leon nodded.

As they chatted, footsteps came up behind them.

"Isha! Miss Isha, wait a second!"

Isha’s brows furrowed deeply. She muttered with a groan:

"Like flypaper..."

Beren trotted up with a smile.

"Ah, General Leon is here too."

"Going for dinner? Let’s eat together. I’ve been here before—Principal Wilson once showed me around and introduced the specialties of the dining hall, I could recommend a few—"

"—That won’t be necessary, Beren."

Isha cut him off coldly.

"My brother-in-law and I don’t enjoy eating with strangers. Besides, the kids will be joining us."

"Kids...? Miss Isha, you already have children?"

Isha: "......"

She was about to explain, but paused—then went along with it.

"That’s right. I have a child. Her name is... Illus. Didn’t mean to keep it secret."

Leon: “Can’t say I expected that...”

"I see... I didn’t know..."

After a moment of hesitation, Beren lifted his head.

"Well, that doesn’t really—Miss Isha? Miss Isha!"

She and Leon had already walked away.

Isha didn’t even look back—just lifted her arm and waved.

"Bye-bye~"

Another rejection.

Blunt and merciless.

Beren clenched his fists, unwilling to give up.

Just then, a student from the Young Dragons Division walked up to him.

"Hello, teacher—some students are fighting over there. Could you help mediate?"

Beren blinked, then waved the boy off.

"I’m not a teacher here. Ask someone else."

"Oh... okay."

The student left.

Beren stared after Isha’s retreating figure and sighed to himself.

...

"He really is kind of an eyesore. And honestly, he’s way too old for you," Leon muttered.

Isha shrugged.

"In dragonkind, age barely matters in relationships. I mean, look at you—you’re thirty-three, and my sister’s over two hundred. But the two of you are still ridiculously lovey-dovey."

Leon immediately corrected her.

"Hey! Big Sis, can we not exaggerate things?"

Isha blinked, then smirked knowingly.

"Alright, alright. So stubborn even now, huh... You won’t even let me say ‘lovey-dovey’?"

"That’s not it."

"Then what?"

"I’m thirty-two. Not thirty-three. Thank you."

Isha gave him a thumbs-up.

"Such a precise man. Truly—once men hit thirty, they really start caring about age."

"Teacher! Teacher!"

A familiar voice called out.

Both of them turned to look—and froze.

“...Aurora?”