Shut Up, Malevolent Dragon! I Don’t Want to Have Any More Children With You

The queen’s heart skipped a beat, though she maintained a cool, indifferent expression on the surface. There was no way she’d let him see just how pleased she was about his invitation. Letting him know she was thrilled would only make his ego soar.
And she wasn’t about to let that happen.

Before agreeing, Rosvisser made sure to clarify, “So, just to be clear, *you* asked *me* on a date, right?”
She emphasized “you” and “me,” clearly invested in who had the upper hand in this fake marriage.
Leon shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded emphatically. “Yes, yes, it was all me.”

Rosvisser let out a satisfied little hum. “Good. That way, you can’t go claiming later that I dragged you into this.”
“Sure, sure. In that case, let’s get going. We can even grab some dinner.”
“Alright.”

Rosvisser had originally thought the meeting on Konstantin would last until tomorrow, which is why she’d told Anna they’d be home by the next evening. But thanks to Leon’s last-minute proposal, which put the power-hungry Dragon Kings on edge, they’d wrapped up early.
It also meant she’d get an evening with Leon to enjoy Sky City before heading home tomorrow.
After leaving Twilight Tower, the two strolled side by side through Sky City’s bustling streets. The evening breeze grew cool, so Leon shrugged off his coat and draped it over Rosvisser’s shoulders.

She wore a formal white suit—appropriate for the meeting but useless against the chill. Not that Dragon Kings could catch a cold, but it was still fitting for her ‘fake husband’ to do such things.
As she felt the warmth still lingering on the inner lining of his coat, her lips curved slightly. “Not bad. You’re finally showing some thoughtfulness.”
“I’m just preventing you from claiming I’m an unfit fake husband.”

To maintain his stubborn pride, it seemed he’d go so far as to defend his worth as a ‘fake husband.’ She huffed softly, a mix of pride and grace lacing her usual cool tone.
They continued walking, chatting about whatever came to mind.
“Oh, by the way, at the start of that meeting, there was a host who introduced himself as the servant of the Twilight Tower’s master. Do you know who this master actually is?”

Leon’s years fighting dragons and his education at the Dragon Slayer Academy had given him an extensive knowledge of dragon history, but he’d never heard of this “Twilight Tower Master.”
Someone powerful enough to create a neutral city like Sky City and gather the Dragon Kings had to be significant, after all. Neutrality requires strength.
“I don’t know too much,” Rosvisser admitted. “The master is an extremely mysterious figure. It’s said that Sky City was built by him personally, and that its creation predates even the Silver Dragon Clan.”

Leon’s eyes widened in surprise. “That long ago? Then why would he go to the trouble of creating a neutral city for dragons to… retire?”
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m not sure. But I remember hearing from the elders when I was young that the story behind Sky City runs much deeper than just being a neutral city.”
“Regardless of the wars, disasters, or crises in dragon history, Sky City has maintained absolute neutrality.”
“So… it could just be a legend.”

She tapped the stone beneath her heel, the sound echoing crisply.
“I quite like this city. Strolling through it with someone important… it has a relaxed charm.”
Rosvisser was usually so focused when discussing serious topics that she let her guard down and said more than intended.

Leon raised an eyebrow. “Wait, what did you say?”
“What? I said it’s a neutral city with a lot of legends. Why?”
“Not that part—the next sentence.”

“Uh… I…”
She opened her mouth, but her mind quickly caught up, and she realized what she’d just blurted out.
Fortunately, the Silver Dragons were famous for their speed. Surely a simple slip of the tongue couldn’t defeat her.

“I didn’t say anything. You must’ve misheard.”
“No, you definitely said it,” Leon insisted. “You said that walking with someone important feels relaxing.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and she instinctively clutched his coat’s collar. “Even if I said that, what makes you think you’re the one I consider important?”

Leon took a step back and spread his hands. “Well, aside from me, do you see anyone else you know around here?”
“You—! Oh, forget it. I don’t have time for this!”
She huffed, striding away in a mixture of irritation and embarrassment, her heels clicking sharply against the cobblestone as she walked.

Leon followed, keeping a few steps behind, his shadow blending with hers under the streetlights.
After dinner, they continued their leisurely stroll.
“By the way, why did you want to stay for a date tonight?” she asked.

While she was pleased about the date, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Leon had some ulterior motive.
Leon blinked, thinking that the real reason was hard to admit.
With the girls home for summer, his days were spent training Noa in magic in the mornings and helping Moon and Aurora with their studies in the afternoons. He and Rosvisser barely had alone time except at the dinner table or when they retired to their room.

Even though the ‘assignments’ hadn’t lessened, the physical… interactions had remained purely surface-level.
He just wanted time alone with Rosvisser—no one else, no work, no worries about Konstantin or the rest of the Dragon Kings. He just wanted to be here with the one who mattered most.
And tonight in Sky City gave them a rare chance for just that.

Back in reality, Leon shrugged, pretending to be casual. “I noticed you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, so I thought it’d be nice to get out and relax a bit.”
After a moment, he added, “Anna can handle the work, and the girls are taken care of, so there’s no rush to head back.”
The first half of his explanation didn’t affect Rosvisser much, but the mention of their daughters reminded her.

Since the girls had been on break, she and Leon hadn’t had a moment’s peace. They’d been constantly busy.
The queen connected the dots quickly: her husband wanted some alone time.
She gave him a faint smile. “Alright, then. Let’s relax a bit.”

She understood his true feelings but didn’t call him out.
Partly to spare the pride of a stubborn man.
And… partly because she, too, wanted a bit of alone time with her husband.

But with the night growing late, it was time to find a place to sleep. Neither of them was keen on wandering the streets until morning, so they headed to a nearby hotel.
As they entered, Rosvisser remembered Isha’s earlier comment back at the meeting: “Home and a hotel have totally different feels~”
**That meddling red dragon**, she fumed. She didn’t even have experience in romance, yet here she was, spouting lines like a pro. Is that what they mean by ‘those who can’t, teach’?

Rosvisser shook her head to clear her thoughts. It was just a hotel stay; nothing more.
They approached the front desk.
“Welcome! We have rooms with queen beds, water beds, and several themed suites. What type would you prefer?” The receptionist asked cheerfully.

The moment they heard “water beds” and “themed suites,” both Leon and Rosvisser felt an uncomfortable twitch and instinctively swallowed.
They exchanged a glance, then said in unison, “Two rooms!”
The receptionist blinked, momentarily thrown off. In her years of experience, she would’ve pegged them as a couple—or perhaps even a married couple with children.

So why the two rooms?
She watched as they shared another brief look before quickly averting their eyes.
Leon’s internal monologue: *I’ve already crossed a line suggesting the date. If we stay in the same room, she’ll think she’s won this game. Not happening!*

Rosvisser’s internal monologue: *Two rooms is my test to see if he’ll go the extra mile. But if he wants two rooms as well, fine! No way am I letting him into mine!*
The receptionist scratched her head. “Uh, alright. Two rooms, then. I—”
“Hang on, I need to use the restroom,” Leon interjected.

“Certainly, it’s just down the hall to the left.”
The recent meal might have disagreed with him, so clutching his stomach, Leon rushed toward the restroom.
Watching his retreating figure, Rosvisser’s silver eyes gleamed as she turned back to the receptionist. “Miss, can I make a special request?”

“Of course. What is it?”
“When he comes back, please tell him that only one room is available, a queen bed.”
The receptionist blinked, mildly perplexed.

Rosvisser smirked. “You don’t get it? That’s fine. Marry a ‘stubborn as dragon scales’ fake husband, and you will.”
She said she didn’t want him in her room. She never said she wouldn’t go into his.
Not long after, Leon returned to the front desk. Rosvisser shot the receptionist a discreet glance, who immediately caught on.

“I’m very sorry, sir! We only have one queen room left,” the receptionist said, throwing herself into her performance.
Leon’s eyes widened in exaggerated disappointment. “Only one room? Seriously?”
Rosvisser feigned her own

 dismay. “What a pity.”
Leon sighed. “It’s late now; other hotels might not have rooms either.”
Rosvisser nodded. “Looks like we’ll just have to settle for it.”

Together, they sighed melodramatically. “Ah, what a shame.”
The receptionist stifled a laugh, muttering to herself, “A pair of true actors, these two.”