After thinking for a moment, Rossweise replied, "I put it... in a very safe place."
Leon raised an eyebrow, "A very safe place? What place can be safer than your own body? Besides, why take it out of your body? This should only have negative effects on you, right?"
Rossweise lowered her eyes, silver pupils quietly glancing at Leon's chest.
After a long time, she continued speaking, "When I say safe, I don't mean it can protect my dragon scale. But... can protect something more important."
Although the original purpose had nothing to do with "protection."
Leon narrowed his eyes, "You're also starting to speak in riddles, I—"
"I'll tell you later, now is not the time," Rossweise said.
Leon opened his mouth, still wanting to continue asking.
But he also knew Rossweise's nature, if she didn't want to say something, even beating her to death wouldn't make her say it.
Although very worried about her without the heart-protecting dragon scale, for now, he could only wait until she felt it was the right time to ask clearly.
The couple fell silent after hurriedly ending this topic.
Leon flipped through the preview projection in the camera to pass the time.
Rossweise looked at him, hesitated, then said, "Want to go take a look at the border?"
Leon did not refuse, "Okay, let's go."
———
[Silver Dragon Territory Border]
Months of continuous war had made this place barren, traces of magical bombardments everywhere.
Wanting to restore it to its former appearance, it seems it will take some time.
The two strolled slowly through the forest.
Rossweise took the initiative to try holding Leon's hand.
Because the previous topic about the heart-protecting dragon scale seemed to have made him a little unhappy.
The couple had been together for so long, had fought, had bickered, although usually liked secretly competing against each other, most of the time, they were very honest with one another.
Especially on important matters, Leon and Rossweise never hid anything from each other.
So Rossweise hiding the heart-protecting dragon scale... was why Leon cared so much.
Of course, Rossweise also knew that Leon's concern wasn't only because she didn't explain it to him in time.
Another main reason was, losing the heart-protecting dragon scale, for Rossweise, was extremely dangerous.
He didn't want anything to happen to Rossweise.
Moreover, Leon had learned in the future that Rossweise had fallen into a coma because she had no dragon scale protection, which made him even more confused why Rossweise would place such an important dragon scale somewhere called "safe."
And still riddling him.
All along the way, Leon wasn't much in the mood for chatting, just walked silently with his head down.
So Rossweise thought, better coax her fake husband to cheer up.
So as not to be noticed by their daughters when they get back home.
She tried to hook Leon's arm.
Seeing that Leon did not refuse, she boldly, slowly slipped her slender fingers into his broad palm.
Finally, fingers tightly interlocked, fingertips gently resting on each other's hand backs.
They very much enjoyed kissing each other;
But rarely did they walk hand-in-hand.
Not because holding hands was less stimulating compared to kissing, but because maintaining ambiguous physical contact while staying absolutely clear-headed... felt a bit unfamiliar to them.
While kissing, it was inevitable to trigger the resonance of dragon patterns, making the couple hazy and euphoric, enjoying the pleasure of entangling with each other.
Even without triggering dragon patterns, the hormones and dopamine secreted by the brain would make them enter a slightly tipsy state.
In short, their minds weren't very clear, just wanting to immerse in the forbidden entanglement with each other.
But holding hands wouldn't cause that.
While staying absolutely clear-headed, still producing ambiguous physical touch with each other.
Such a feeling, for them, was very... strange.
Thus, the couple seldom held hands.
Even when no one was around, they merely brushed shoulders at most.
Rossweise's palm was initially a little cold, but after holding for a while, with the warmth passing back and forth, her small hand quickly heated up.
Leon suddenly thought of something, asked, "Your frequent cold hands and feet, is it also related to losing the dragon scale?"
Rossweise slightly froze, lowered her eyes, and nodded.
Leon opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Rossweise wanted to explain jokingly, saying, actually cold hands and feet aren't a big deal, there are heating pads at home, or at worst, I could rub out two dragon flames~
However, just as she was about to speak, she felt the hand holding hers tighten a little.
As if trying to lock more warmth into her palm.
"What are you... doing," she asked softly.
"Before you get that broken dragon scale back, I'll reluctantly take a bit more care of you."
'Really too hard on yourself, Casmodeous, even blushing from the difficulty.'
The queen chuckled lightly, her fair cheeks blooming with a rosy blush.
"Suit yourself then."
Rossweise gently swung the hand linked with Leon's, "Then if my dragon scale can never come back, what would you do?"
"I'll chop off my hand and tie it to your wrist."
"...I thought there would be a more romantic answer."
'Well, forget it, forget it.'
'Right now, no alcohol, no external enemy, and getting Leon Casmodeous to say something like "reluctantly take care of you" is already very impressive.'
Rossweise knew her fake husband's nature well, and was naturally very satisfied.
The two continued walking toward the forest exit.
About half an hour later, they reached the border line of their territory.
Beyond this point, it was no longer the Silver Dragon's domain.
Leon stood near the border line, looking left and right.
"What are you looking for?", Rossweise asked.
"My military medal?"
Rossweise raised an eyebrow, "What military medal?"
"Constantine's head."
Murderers often had a habit of returning to the crime scene to appreciate their work;
Naturally, General Leon also had the habit of revisiting his medals after achieving feats.
"Oh, you mean that."
Rossweise said, "A few months ago, when the Empire and other dragons jointly attacked here, Constantine's head was taken away by them."
Leon puzzled, "What use is a dead dragon's head to them?"
Rossweise shrugged, "Dragons don't have a hobby of collecting heads. I guess it was the Empire that took it back, maybe using it as a prop for Dragon Slayer Army recruitment propaganda?"
Leon snorted a laugh, lightly bumped the she-dragon's shoulder, "You really have a wild imagination. But it does make some sense, the Empire indeed had many tricks for recruiting Dragon Slayer soldiers."
"How did you decide to join the Dragon Slayer Army back then?"
The two sat down by a huge rock near the forest exit.
"My master."
Leon said, "My master was a retired old Dragon Slayer. After adopting me, he always raised me according to Dragon Slayer standards. When I came of age, naturally I was sent to the Dragon Slayer Academy for training. Graduated, then joined the army."
Rossweise's eyes moved slightly, and she asked, "Then if... your master hadn't made you join the Dragon Slayer Army, what would you want to do?"
Leon sat on the big rock, one hand supporting his body, the other holding Rossweise's hand, looking up at the sky.
A few birds flapped their wings flying by, the breeze stirring the leaves with a rustling sound.
"I probably... would save up some money, then move to a remote countryside."
"Open a ranch, raise some cows, sheep and such."
"Oh right, and raise donkeys."
"Then marry a woman who's not pretty but not ugly either as a wife."
"Then have a cute daughter."
"Finally wait for the years to slowly wither me away. I think, if possible, this would probably be the life I want."
When waking up from two years of coma, Leon had imagined such a life too.
This thought had always been buried deep in his heart, never told anyone.
Not because it was some shameful secret, just because it sounded a bit... wishful thinking.
Born at the wrong time, living in an era of war, how could someone as talented as him live an ordinary peaceful life?
Rossweise supported her chin with one hand, the index finger of the other hand slowly tracing circles on Leon's hand back.
After a while, she said, "Then when the next Silver Dragon King ascends, let's live like you said."
Leon was stunned, "What?"
"Move to the countryside, open a ranch, raise some cows, sheep and donkeys, bring our daughters, and live there."
Pausing a bit, Rossweise added, "But the part about 'marrying a woman not pretty nor ugly' probably won't happen."
Leon turned his head, looked at Rossweise's delicate side face, smiled and picked up her words, "Because the woman playing my wife is too stunningly beautiful."
"Tch, flatterer."
"Clearly you hinted and guided me to say that, how come I became a flatterer?"
"I don't care, you're a flatterer. Always flattering me, who knows what evil ideas you're plotting," Rossweise teased and laughed.
"Yeah, you're right, I'm always scheming to usurp the throne and steal your Silver Dragon King position."
The two bantered for a while, then Leon changed the topic, "Speaking of my master... during this time, you must have gone to see him and Rebecca, right?"
Rossweise nodded, "Mm. After learning about the space rift situation, they also started searching within the Empire for ways to bring you back."
After a pause, Rossweise continued, "Last time we agreed to meet three months later, so from now it's about... a little over twenty days? Just in time, I'll bring you along then, so your master can be at ease."
"Okay," Leon responded verbally, but his expression seemed a little absent-minded.
Rossweise blinked her beautiful eyes, leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"
"Ah... remember yesterday I told you, in the future, when we're gone, it's Claudia Poseidon of the Sea Dragon Clan who teaches the daughters their skills?"
"I remember. But our Silver Dragon Clan has never established ties with the Sea Dragon Clan, Claudia has no reason to take care of the daughters, let alone teach them skills."
"Mm. And the book 'Nine Gates Hell' my master gave me was also written by Claudia, she even taught this move to Little Light."
Leon slightly narrowed his eyes, "Although it may sound a bit far-fetched, do you think... my master might have some connection with the Sea Dragon Clan?"
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