The night was deep, and a soft breeze blew, bringing a touch of coolness. Leon carried Rossweise away from the backyard of the Silver Dragon Temple, heading straight for the mountain behind.
Rossweise recognized this path. "Are you taking me to the cherry blossom forest?"
Leon nodded silently.
"What are we going there for?" Rossweise asked.
"Because from there, you can see the whole Silver Dragon Temple," Leon replied.
Rossweise frowned slightly, not quite understanding his meaning. Why would he take her to see the Silver Dragon Temple from that place? Was there some special meaning?
With this doubt in her heart, they arrived at the cherry blossom forest.
Leon found a cherry blossom tree at the edge of the forest. Compared to the other trees, this one was thicker and taller, with a strong trunk.
Leon stood under the tree, turned around, and looked toward the Silver Dragon Temple. "There, can you see it? That is your temple."
From this height, the entire Silver Dragon Temple was clearly visible. The grand castle stood among the mountains, its lights bright, like a hidden paradise separated from the world.
"What exactly are you planning?" Rossweise asked.
"Do you remember my first escape a month ago?" Leon asked.
Rossweise's pupils shook a little. Of course she remembered Leon's first escape. After she caught him, she took him to the mountain on the edge of the empire and tied him to a tree where they could see the whole empire—
Could it be?
"Leon, you would not—"
"It seems you have figured it out, Your Majesty. Yes, the idea of 'an eye for an eye' is not only for your dragon race. As a human, I also have a strong sense of revenge and ceremony," Leon said.
Rossweise leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding his collar tightly. "Leon, in this way, we really are the same."
Leon laughed softly. "That is what they say, my dear wife. A couple that gets revenge together, stays together."
"Hmph, then how do you plan to get me onto the tree?" Rossweise asked with a smile. "The bone density of dragons is much higher than humans. Just carrying me here must have used a lot of your strength, has it not?"
"Who said I have to put you on the tree?" Leon replied. "Rossweise, please understand, I am not trying to copy exactly what you did. I am doing my best to make your humiliation as extreme as possible."
Rossweise pressed her eyebrows down. "Leon…"
Ignoring her, Leon helped her stand and turned her to face away from him, toward the trunk of the cherry blossom tree. "Stand still, be good."
Rossweise put her hands on the trunk, trying to turn around to resist, but before she could say anything, Leon grabbed the back of her neck, making her look down at the Silver Dragon Temple below.
Rossweise knew she could not escape this fate. But the more she knew what was going to happen, the more she wanted to resist, the more she felt unwilling.
Leon enjoyed his revenge ceremony. The dragon tattoo shone softly in the night.
The lights of the temple were reflected in Rossweise's silver eyes, sparkling brightly.
"Do you see it, Rossweise? Your palace is right in front of your eyes," Leon said. "Do not blink, my dear. Look at it carefully. All your pride and dignity come from there."
"But… but can you tell me what we are doing right now?" Leon asked. Every word she had once said to him was now returned to her, one by one.
"Is it not just you, the defeated dragon slayer, being humiliated again?" Leon's words felt like fire on her face.
The feeling of shame ate at Rossweise. She gripped the rough tree trunk tightly, trying to fight the inner conflict and struggle with a little pain.
Damn it. She should be feeling angry right now. So why… under Leon's humiliating words, was she… wanting more?
But she could not tell Leon her desires. She could only follow his rhythm and slowly feel and enjoy it.
As they became more joined, Rossweise closed her eyes, letting Leon enjoy his desires. Maybe because of the strong movements, cherry blossom petals fell gently from the tree, scattering on Rossweise's head and shoulders.
Her body enjoyed this fallen revenge; her will wanted to resist, but the wonderful feeling was too addictive.
So… since things had come to this, and she could not change it, why not… meet Leon's revenge in her own way, as the Silver Dragon Queen?
She suddenly opened her eyes. Before the peak came, she used her tail to gently wrap around Leon's wrist, which was pressing on her waist.
"Hold on to your last chance, Leon," she said. "Because I will seek even stronger revenge on you later. While you still control the situation, do your best to make me feel ashamed and hateful."
Leon reached back and grabbed Rossweise's tail, moving it aside. Then he leaned in and lightly bit her shoulder.
"I will satisfy you, Your Majesty," he whispered. "But do not go soft on me."
Cherry blossoms fell as their shadows moved. The atmosphere kept getting hotter, and finally, they both reached a peak of pleasure.
Tired, Rossweise sat leaning against the tree, catching her breath. Silver strands of hair stuck to her cheeks, and sweat dripped from her nose and forehead. The blush on her face had not completely faded. With her head lightly against the cherry blossom tree, she looked tired and delicate.
Her body, already not fully recovered, was now even weaker after the activity. But Leon clearly had no plan to let her go easily. He came closer, crouched down, gently lifted her chin, and brushed away the sweaty hair from her face.
"You worked hard, my dear wife," he said softly.
Rossweise shook her head and pushed Leon's hand away.
"Is that all? I thought you had more prepared," she said.
"It is far from over. I told you, I will satisfy you," Leon replied.
"Hmph, then show me what you have got tonight. There will not be another chance," Rossweise challenged.
"Do not talk to me about the future, Rossweise. I have always lived in the present."
Leon laughed playfully and went on leisurely, "And you, Mother Dragon, you—"
His original plan was to use some sharp and mocking words to make fun of Rossweise. But as he looked at the weak silver haired beauty in front of him, those very attacking words stayed on the tip of his tongue, and he swallowed them back without meaning to.
Leon pressed his lips together and finally said, "Hmph, you look beautiful now, like a broken porcelain doll, even more attractive when seeking revenge."
Rossweise glared at him. After a short look into each other's eyes, she turned her face away. "I am cold."
Leon did not hear clearly. "What?"
"I said I am cold."
They had rushed out earlier, and Rossweise was only wearing that strap nightgown. She hugged her shoulders, curled up her long legs, and wrapped her tail around her waist, making the blushes on her porcelain white skin even more obvious.
Even though the word did not quite suit this Mother Dragon, Leon still felt she looked a little pitiful at this moment.
This quiet scenery should be enjoyed alone.
Leon shook his head with a smile, then took off his coat and put it over Rossweise before picking her up. Suddenly, he felt that this version of Rossweise was… obedient?
Nestled in Leon's arms, Rossweise had no strength to move. She leaned her cheek against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, and her own cheeks warmed for some reason.
They arrived by a small stream.
Cicadas chirped, the night breeze blew, the stream flowed, and stars twinkled.
It was quite nice lying here.
But Rossweise knew Leon did not bring her here just to look at the scenery.
"So, is there meaning here too? I cannot see my temple from here."
"This stream, it is a place you really like, is it not?" Leon knelt between her legs and moved her tail aside, which was covering her stomach.
"What if it is?" Rossweise replied.
"Well, then I will make you like it even more. Whenever you come here, you will only think of me."
After some time, the two started the second round of battle.
Their bodies burned with desire, unbearably hot;
Behind them, the stream rushed, cool and refreshing.
What a contrast, ice and fire mixed together.
The forced battle speeded up Rossweise's body's ability to recover.
She had fainted when she first woke up, but now she had the strength to fight two battles in a row, even if she felt a little dizzy. This was the stamina of a Dragon King's body, truly amazing.
After the "second battle," Leon lay down next to her to rest. He took a map and a pen from his pocket and drew a circle on a spot.
There was already one circle on the map, which Rossweise recognized as the cherry blossom forest where they had just fought. And now, the new circle was at the place of this stream.
Rossweise looked at the other places on the map and suddenly felt dizzy.
There were still seven or eight spots marked with circles on the map. That meant… they still had to—
"My Queen, tonight, I will not let you off easily. After playing with me so many times, be ready for a crash course."
Leon picked up Rossweise and waded across the stream.
His revenge frenzy was far from over.