More than half an hour later, Leon went to Rossweise's room. Muen had just returned, and he was helping bring dishes from the kitchen.
Leon hurried over and took the plate from Muen's hand. "Go wait for dinner, Muen. I'll handle this."
"Okay, thanks, Dad!"
Holding a plate of sandwiches and several cups of milk, Leon was about to leave the kitchen when he noticed a dish covered with a lid on the counter. He gestured toward it with his chin.
"Do I need to bring that up too?"
Rossweise glanced over while washing her hands. "Not for now. Just bring what you have."
"Alright."
As Leon set the dishes on the table, Muen had already tied her bib, ready to eat. "Sandwich! Yay!" Muen cheered, raising her fork.
Leon placed the sandwich in front of Muen. For himself and Rossweise, breakfast was simple milk and bread. Though "simple" was relative—dragon milk was top-tier.
Unlike humans who used ordinary cows, dragons used Ironhide yaks. Those were genuine S-class dangerous creatures.
While other races hunted them for challenge and honor, for dragons, they were a source of delicious beef products.
The nutritional value of Ironhide yak milk was several times that of ordinary milk. Thanks to this, Leon's body had recovered so quickly.
After finishing washing her hands, Rossweise joined them at the table. She removed her apron, rolled up her sleeves, and tidied her hair. "Alright, let's eat."
"Dinner time!" Muen eagerly grabbed the sandwich and began cutting it with her knife.
With silent understanding, the couple pushed some side dishes toward Muen's side of the table.
The young dragon girl, being quite young, naturally didn't notice the subtle dynamics between her parents, but she knew that eating heartily would make them happy.
She ate her sandwich while poking at the side dishes. Muen ate with great enthusiasm.
Despite her small size, a young dragon's appetite was considerable. She hadn't reached Rossweise's level, where she could go days without eating and remain unaffected.
As they ate, Leon noticed Muen had picked out all the purple cabbage from the side dishes and placed it on an empty plate beside her. He didn't pay much attention until Rossweise said, "You shouldn't be picky, Muen."
Muen paused her eating, breadcrumbs still clinging to her lips. She blinked her large, pretty eyes. "Mom, Muen doesn't like purple cabbage, so Muen doesn't want to eat it."
"You're at an age where proper nutrition is important. If you're picky, you won't grow tall. Right, Leon?" Rossweise said.
"Huh? Let her eat what she wants—ouch!" Leon yelped as Rossweise kicked his shin under the table.
"What did you say? I didn't catch that," Rossweise said with a bright, flower-like smile.
Rubbing his leg discreetly, Leon shot a glance at the dragoness. To avoid further trouble, he said, "Um, Mom's right, Muen shouldn't be picky now. Balanced nutrition is important for a healthy body."
After a pause, Leon added, "Noah never picks at her food."
"Is that so? Then Muen won't be picky either! It's just purple cabbage, Muen isn't afraid!"
With that, the young dragon girl speared the purple cabbage with her fork, eyed it as if it were a formidable foe, and swallowed it in one gulp.
She puffed up her chubby cheeks and tightly closed her mouth, as if afraid the purple cabbage might escape.
After a moment of struggle, Muen finally managed to swallow the mouthful of purple cabbage.
Leon indeed had a knack for handling his youngest daughter. But more than anything, he doted on Muen. "Alright, one bite is enough, take it slow. Have some more sandwiches," he said.
"Thanks, Dad! Dad's the best!" Muen exclaimed happily.
Rossweise smiled faintly, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I forgot, I still have a vegetable salad to bring out. Wait a moment." She got up and headed to the kitchen, returning with a bowl of salad.
Leon recognized the large bowl—wasn't it the one he'd seen covered with a plate in the kitchen earlier? But Rossweise had just said it wasn't necessary to bring out, and now she claimed she forgot.
Leon swallowed subtly, an uneasy premonition creeping into his mind. He glanced sideways at Rossweise.
Rossweise rested her chin in her hand, nibbling on a slice of bread.
Noticing Leon's gaze, she looked back. "What are you looking at? Eat your food."
"Oh…"
"Muen, try the vegetable salad," Rossweise said.
"Okay!" Muen leaned forward and scooped a small portion of salad onto her plate. "Wow, it's carrots! We haven't had carrots at home in a long time!"
Muen speared the orange-red pieces and happily put them into her mouth. Carrots.
Leon's eating motion froze. The impact of that word was no less than his master calling him by his full name.
Before Leon could react, Rossweise spoke again, "Muen, your dad has been eyeing that bowl of vegetable salad. What should you do now?"
Muen's antennae twitched slightly. "Help Dad serve a portion!"
"Okay, then hurry up."
"Sure thing!"
Once again, the young dragon girl got up and scooped a portion of salad onto Leon's plate. "For Dad," she said.
Leon looked down at his plate: salad dressing, cucumber, tomato, onion, and… carrots!!
It really was that thing!
What was the difference between this and an SSS-class dangerous species?!
Leon's hand holding the fork trembled slightly, and he unconsciously pulled his chair back.
"What's wrong, Leon? Why aren't you eating? Don't you like the salad Muen served you?" Rossweise asked.
"Um… Dad doesn't like it?" Muen looked at him with a pitiful expression.
Leon pursed his lips and forced a smile. "No, I like it. Dad definitely likes the salad Muen served. Dad will eat it right away."
"Yeah, Dad, eat up! Carrots are delicious!"
Damn it.
Why don't you take after your old man in not eating carrots?!
Leon thought angrily as he toyed with the salad on his plate with his fork.
He polished off all the side dishes except the carrots, then pretended to be satisfied as he patted his stomach. "Ah, truly delicious. Thank you, Muen!"
"If it's so delicious, why not finish everything?" Rossweise squinted and smiled, gesturing toward the remaining carrot dice on Leon's plate. "Are you being picky too?"
"I… I…"
"Dad, you just told Muen you shouldn't be picky and that nutrition should be balanced," the young dragon girl chimed in, mimicking her mother. "Otherwise, you'll be unhealthy. Dad, you always look so out of sorts, so you definitely can't be picky!"
"Muen is right, Leon. Your health is already not good, so you absolutely can't be picky," Rossweise spoke softly, as if she genuinely cared about Leon's health—which, to be fair, she did.
"Come on, eat up. Don't make Muen worry about your health." With that, she affectionately reached out and gently covered Leon's trembling hand.
"Taking care of your body is more important than anything."
Finally, the dragoness mouthed the word "husband" with her lips.
The mere thought of carrots had rendered Leon unable to think straight. All he knew was that under the tacit cooperation of the mother and daughter, he had no choice but to eat the remaining carrots.
Fine!
He would eat it!
Would a top-tier dragon slayer be afraid of a common vegetable?!
Eat! Just eat it! This humble meal…
Whoever said those who fear carrots aren't heroes!
Leon speared the carrot dice and bravely stuffed them into his mouth.
The moment the carrot attacked his taste buds, Leon felt he saw his death—though he had no idea what his death would look like.
"Oh~ Dad isn't picky, Dad's so great~ Then Muen wants to eat another piece of purple cabbage~" What a good daughter, understanding how to keep someone company.
Rossweise smiled faintly, picked up a whole carrot from the table, and took a gentle bite.
Crunch—
Leon awkwardly turned his head to look.
He saw Rossweise calmly chewing on that terrifying vegetable.
Noticing Leon's gaze, she deliberately took another bite in front of him, chewing slowly.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you want to eat too? Here." Rossweise extended the carrot toward Leon.
Leon: Get this filthy thing away from me! Quickly!
Satisfied with Leon's reaction, Rossweise couldn't help but feel pleased.
However…
Do you think it's over, dear husband? Our days together are still long~