"Student Melkvey." Leon tapped his palm solemnly with the small teaching cane, doing his best impression of a stern, exemplary teacher.
Hmph.
Exemplary teacher?
More like a wolf in sheep's clothing!
Rossweise complied unwillingly—just as he had so often complied with her before—closing her eyes and forcing out the words, "Yes, teacher."
"Watch your attitude, Melkvey."
Rossweise sighed. "What's wrong with my attitude, teacher?"
Leon lightly tapped Rossweise's cheek with the tip of the cane.
If she remembered correctly, the last time this cane appeared, she had been the one striking Leon's chest with it.
"Is this the attitude you use when speaking to your teacher? Try again."
Rossweise bit her lip, mustered her emotions, and replied in a sweeter tone, "Yes, teacher~"
"Mmm, that's better. Oh, Student Melkvey, your 'school uniform' today is quite unique. Especially the black stockings."
Rossweise forced a smirk. "Isn't it because I thought the teacher would like it? That's why I wore it."
"Bold! How could I, your teacher, like such superficial things? Don't wear it next time!"
"Yes, teacher, I won't—"
Rossweise glanced at Leon's expression.
Clearly, her previous response hadn't fit the "teacher-student" script he had in mind.
This guy even acted in a 'Parental Love' drama with our eldest daughter, and now he thinks he's a real star, huh?
Rossweise angrily gripped the bedsheet and rephrased her words. "No, teacher, I just… I just like wearing this outfit for you to see."
She felt like throwing up at her own words!
But better to feel sick than to have those bunny girl photos end up in my big sister's hands.
"Hmph, since it's your first offense, I'll let it slide this time."
"Thank you, teacher."
"Did you complete yesterday's homework?"
Rossweise raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Teacher, haven't we gone half a month without any homework? Ah! Hiss—!"
Leon lightly struck her backside with the small cane. It wasn't too hard, but it was enough to make her yelp.
"I didn't assign homework because I forgot. You not reminding me is a sign of your laziness. Understand?" Leon lectured firmly.
Blushing, Rossweise quietly rubbed her slightly sore bottom. "Understood… teacher."
"Now, let's go over tonight's assignment. Listen carefully."
"Yes, teacher."
"The assignment is called 'The Three Honors and Three Shames.' It's a creed every proud dragon slayer knows by heart. I'll recite it for you now, so pay close attention."
Rossweise's face was covered in black lines. "Tea-teacher, is it possible that, maybe… I'm actually a dragon, not a dragon slayer… so, should we maybe change the assignment?"
Snap—
This time, he struck her other buttock.
Rossweise bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes as she miserably held her rear. She swore that if she ever caught him off guard, she would make him pay tenfold!
"Whatever assignment the teacher gives you, you must complete it obediently. Understood!" Leon asserted with the authoritarian air of a strict schoolmaster.
"Yes… teacher."
"The first of the 'Three Honors and Three Shames': Honor loyalty to the empire, and shame colluding with the dragon race."
"Honor loyalty to the empire, and shame… colluding with the dragon race."
Damn it!
Forcing a dragon to be ashamed of colluding with her own kind!
Wasn't that going too far!
Inhale, exhale.
Deep breaths, deep breaths.
Rossweise comforted herself silently. This is just the perverted taste of a dog of a man, nothing more! Just a kink!
Next, Leon taught her the following two lines.
Rossweise had never regretted her perfect memory as much as she did now. If possible, she really wanted the Creator to take away her vocal cords.
"Student Melkvey is very clever, learning so quickly," Leon said.
"Thank you for the praise, teacher."
Rossweise hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Teacher, is it time for class to be over?"
"What do you think?" Leon countered.
Rossweise blinked. "I think… it's time for a little break…"
"Hmph, Student Melkvey, with the major exam approaching, you can't always think about resting. Next is the cultural appreciation class."
Damn dragon slayers and their endless schemes, even adding cultural appreciation classes.
Fine, I'll see what you have to 'appreciate.'
This queen has lived for two hundred years. What can a twenty-something little sprout like you show me that I haven't seen before?
Leon took off his shirt.
Clear muscle lines, as if sculpted, solid from his shoulders down his arms to his waist, every inch filled with power.
And the dragon tattoo representing "longing" and "loyalty" was boldly branded on his chest, emitting a faint glow.
Oh. So this is the 'culture' we're appreciating?
You're testing the Dragon Queen with this?
What Dragon Queen couldn't withstand such a test?
Childish!
Rossweise's gaze slowly traveled up from Leon's solid waist, past the dragon tattoo, and settled back on his face. "Teacher, this doesn't seem to have much to do with cultural appreciation class, does it?"
"Of course, it's related. Today, we're learning about 'The Tolerance and Absorption of Foreign Cultures.'"
Rossweise couldn't help but swallow nervously. The title somehow didn't sound right…
Tolerance and absorption… in other contexts, they were perfectly normal phrases.
But why did they feel different coming from Leon?
Before Rossweise could react, the dragon mark on her own chest began to shimmer gradually.
Once both marks resonated, it was unstoppable, like a boulder rolling down a mountain.
Leon leaned down, extending his hand to gently caress Rossweise's slightly flushed cheek.
Initially, Rossweise tried to turn away, but she couldn't resist Leon's gentle advances and the resonant pull of their marks. She soon fell into a bewildering daze.
Her lips parted slightly, and her teeth lightly nibbled on Leon's fingertip.
Their hearts seemed to connect through their fingertips, sending tingling shivers through them both.
"Student Melkvey, aren't you being naughty, daring to tease the teacher?" Leon whispered softly in her ear.
Rossweise released his finger, her face flushed, and wrapped her arms around his neck, silent.
Leon leaned closer to her. The couple was face to face, their noses almost touching, breathing the same air, at a distance that was absolutely blush-inducing.
Since the night at the hot springs, they had lost their initial reluctance and shyness about kissing. Just like at the seaside, Rossweise would still impulsively kiss the corner of Leon's mouth.
They exchanged glances for a moment, and then their lips met in a gentle, tender embrace.
However, just when Rossweise thought the embarrassing teacher-play session was over and they were moving to the main event, Leon surprised her with some unexpected new tricks.
"Turn around, Miss Melkvey," Leon said.
"W-What…"
Before Rossweise could understand, Leon flipped her over.
After a moment of shock, Rossweise immediately realized what was happening and hastily used her tail to block him. "No, Leon… you can't do this!"
Leon pushed her tail aside and pressed down on her shoulders. "What's wrong? Student, it's all for your own good, you know."
"Even if we're reaching the same destination, the path is different, so the feeling will be different too!"
Rossweise didn't want to easily try something she hadn't experienced before; it made her feel very insecure.
But unfortunately, she wasn't in control now.
The bunny girl costume was removed, and one of the black stockings was taken off as well.
Rossweise attempted to resist, but this time, Leon was in the lead. The influence of the dragon mark on him was much weaker than on Rossweise.
Seeing her resistance was futile, Rossweise could only let Leon take control. She buried her face in the pillow, unable to look.
Only when she felt the real sensation did muffled sounds escape into the pillow.
This was a new attempt for Leon as well. Despite aiming for the same destination, the approach was different. He took a moment to adapt before leaning close to Rossweise's ear.
Her ears were red and hot, and she could feel the warmth of his lips lightly touching them.
"Now… Miss Melkvey, recite the 'Three Honors and Three Shames' I just taught you."
Rossweise's heart trembled, her face still buried. "No!"
"Recite it! If you don't, the teacher will punish you severely~"
Each pause was accompanied by another deliberate movement.
"You…!"
Rossweise lifted her head, disheveled silver strands clinging to her face. "To honor the Empire is an honor, to collude with the dragon clan is a shame…"
"Mm-hmm, very good. And then?"
"To honor the battlefield with blood is an honor, to flee in the face of the enemy is a shame…" Rossweise continued reciting.
As she recited, she realized that as long she obediently recited this ridiculous creed, the situation would become slightly more bearable.
Well then.
What did it matter if I recited this nonsense? Anything to make this damned night end sooner!
However, Leon wouldn't let Rossweise off easily just because she recited well. After all, there was a principle of alternating soft and hard approaches, right?
Gradually, Rossweise also sensed that something was amiss.
She knew deceitful men had plenty of tricks. He wasn't the same naive dragon slayer he used to be.
"To collude—collude with the dragon—ummm—"
"Why did you stop? Miss Melkvey, continue reciting. The teacher hasn't heard enough yet."
Even though he said he hadn't heard enough, he had no intention of letting Rossweise continue reciting properly. But if she didn't recite well, she would be punished by the teacher.
Damn. It was a vicious cycle!
"I won't recite anymore! Just punish me!" Rossweise blurted out, her face crimson.
"This is what you said, Miss Melkvey."
Her cheeks burning, she buried her face in the pillow again.
As things progressed, the sensations amplified by the dragon marks became increasingly intense and intoxicating.
But perhaps due to the change in their position, Rossweise felt that Leon was fighting more bravely tonight.
Could it be because of his recovery after half a month of rest? Seems I've underestimated him.
"Miss Melkvey… I just said the title of this lesson is 'Acceptance and Absorption of Foreign Cultures.'"
Rossweise gripped the corner of the pillow, not responding.
"You've just learned about tolerance… Now, it's time for absorption."
"Of course, foreign cultures have both flaws and essence."
"What should we do then? Hmm?"
With her eyes closed, Rossweise replied helplessly, "Discard the flaws, retain the essence."
"Yes, Miss Melkvey. You must absorb all the essence of these foreign cultures. Understand?"
Rossweise gritted her teeth. "Understood, teacher."
The night grew darker, but it seemed there was still a long, long time until the end of class.