Leon, in his sleepwalking state, walked out of the room and headed straight for the back mountain behind the temple.
Rossweise followed closely behind.
Watching his movements, the queen couldn't help muttering, "What a cunning dragon slayer. He didn't hide the photos in the room after all. With such a vast back mountain, finding a few photos is like searching for a needle in a haystack."
Fortunately, she now had a human-shaped "magnet" who could attract that very needle.
She had also discovered a new trick for using the 2:30 AM phenomenon.
If she asked Leon for the truth directly, she only had about one minute. If she exceeded that time, he wouldn't respond.
But if she gave him a dare, judging by the current situation, Leon wouldn't stop until he completed it.
It seems better to use dares in the future; it's more effective, Rossweise thought with a knowing smile.
With that in mind, she followed Leon up the back mountain.
After about twenty minutes, they saw the cherry blossom forest ahead.
This stirred a not-so-pleasant memory for Rossweise.
Recently, after awakening her bloodthirsty instinct, Leon had brought her here as the first stop on their "wild adventure."
He claimed it was to treat her the same way she had treated him when she forced him in the woods outside the empire—to retaliate right here at the Silver Dragon Temple.
It just showed that two vengeful people shouldn't get married; otherwise, the household would never know peace.
Pushing the thought aside, she followed Leon into the cherry blossom forest.
But his steps didn't stop.
"Could they not be hidden here after all…"
To be honest, this cherry blossom forest held a certain significance for both of them—whether good or bad, it was meaningful. So Rossweise had thought Leon might have hidden the photos here.
Since they weren't, she continued to follow.
Next, in his sleepwalking state, Leon led Rossweise to a stream.
This place had left a deep impression on her; it was the second landmark after the cherry blossom forest.
That night, the stars filled the sky, and the cool river water flowed beneath them, a stark contrast to the heat of their bodies.
Rossweise let out a soft sigh, shaking her head to clear the jumbled memories and emotions. She looked at Leon, who showed no signs of stopping.
It seemed the photos weren't here either. They crossed the stream and ventured deeper.
Passing by several of their previous "landmarks," Rossweise noticed something subtle, or perhaps coincidental.
Every place Leon led her through was one of their original stops from their wilderness battle—and in the exact same order.
They say dreams reflect one's innermost thoughts. Perhaps sleepwalking does, too?
So, that wilderness "tour" must have given this man a great sense of accomplishment.
The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Hmph, enjoy your dream, Dragon Slayer. You'll have a rude awakening soon. The queen's mind churned as she continued to follow.
As they walked, they arrived at a grove of poplar trees. This wasn't one of the original stops.
The air was cool, and the night breeze rustled through the trembling leaves, creating a soft, whispering sound.
Creak… creak…
Underfoot was a carpet of fallen poplar leaves, crunching clearly with every step.
Suddenly, Leon stopped ahead.
Rossweise also halted, furrowing her brow as she gazed at the man's silhouette.
Another gust of wind blew through the woods, swirling the leaves between them.
Silver strands of hair brushed against Rossweise's face as she surveyed the area. Could the photos be hidden here?
But Leon didn't move to search. Instead, he stood perfectly still with his back to her.
Suddenly, Rossweise realized something.
Creak…
The man in front stepped on the leaves, slowly turning around. In the moonlight, his resolute face wore a smug, knowing smile.
"I've been tricked…" Seeing Leon's expression, Rossweise understood immediately.
He hadn't been asleep at all. He hadn't been following her "dream adventure" command. He had been playing along the entire time.
His compliance was just a weapon to deceive her. The moment an opportunity arose, he would strike back fiercely.
The poor queen, manipulated by the cunning dragon slayer, felt a wave of helplessness. His docility was merely a facade. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape his control.
Yet, she stored this feeling deep in her heart as fuel for future revenge.
Failure is the mother of success. As the saying goes, the east and west winds take turns. I refuse to believe I can't regain the upper hand.
She stumbled back two steps, her back meeting the rough bark of a poplar tree.
Creak… creak…
The man who held her firmly in his grasp approached slowly, the sound of crushing leaves echoing like the shattering of Rossweise's will.
Leon stood before her, watching her dazed expression, and chuckled.
"Although I don't know what kind of enchantment you used on me to make me follow your commands, it's obvious it didn't work this time."
Rossweise looked at him, thinking, You idiot, there's no enchantment. It's clearly your own bizarre weakness.
But she had no intention of telling Leon about the 2:30 AM phenomenon just yet. Despite this failure, it was still a useful method for extracting truth or leading him on dream adventures.
The day would surely come when it would be useful. And judging by his words, he was completely unaware of this weakness.
His master had probably kept it from him, just as Rossweise was doing now, to make him do more chores. She couldn't reveal it yet. If she did, Leon would undoubtedly try to overcome this strange vulnerability.
Who would complain about having an ace up their sleeve?
Even in adversity, the Silver Dragon Queen was steadily advancing, laying her plans carefully.
"You must be very familiar with the places we just passed, right?" Leon said, moving closer.
Rossweise, feeling trapped, pressed her head against the tree trunk, her body tense. With Leon right in front of her, she could feel his warm breath.
Scrutinized by those dark, playful eyes, Rossweise felt both embarrassed and furious.
So, his decision to take her back to those landmarks wasn't random. It was specifically designed to evoke her memories.
At that thought, Rossweise turned her head away, but Leon reached out and gently held her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Tell me, Student Melkvey, which part of this outdoor class did you enjoy the most?" Leon asked with a smile. "Was it the cherry blossom forest, the riverside, or… this poplar grove?"
Since her act had been exposed, Rossweise saw no need to pretend to be weak. "I didn't like any of it! Especially not here!"
"Very well, then let's make this poplar grove our final lesson for tonight."
"You…!"
To slay a dragon, you must also break its spirit. You are ruthless, Cosmodeous!
Before Rossweise could say more, Leon's broad, cool hand gently grasped her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace.
Then, his lips met hers with a fiery tenderness.
Rossweise struggled for a moment, patting Leon's shoulders, but it only made him kiss her more deeply and hold her tighter.
In the end, Rossweise surrendered.
Since resistance was futile, she might as well accept the passionate embrace before the storm.
After all, ever since Leon had unlocked the skill of kissing, he had always been quite gentle, nothing like the stereotypical "overbearing dragon king"—oily and rough.
As their kiss deepened, their dragon marks began to shimmer.
Crackle…
Her delicate body sank onto the bed of leaves, scattering golden fragments. Her hair splayed among the foliage like silver tassels in the twilight.
Rossweise's fingertips inadvertently picked up a leaf. She brought it to her lips and held it there.
Creak…
As she bit down on the leaf, it seemed to herald the beginning of a whole new game.