Chapter 23: The tiger falls in Pingyang and is ridden by the dragon

Sleeping with the dragon mother, bearing offspring with the dragon mother, taking a leisurely walk with the dragon mother and once again, holding hands with the dragon mother. In an era of advanced information, if Leon’s actions were exposed, regardless of his intentions, he would face public scrutiny.

After Muen left, they didn’t release each other’s hands. However, as the awkwardness peaked, it became less noticeable.

In such a situation, how much more awkward could it get?

Once their hands were held, onlookers were busy shipping and secretly cheering. Leon, blushing, cleared his throat, still holding her hand, his face turning away.

“If you don’t want to hold hands, you can let go,” he suggested.

Rosvitha, blushing, insisted, “It’s okay, let’s keep holding hands to avoid gossip.”

“Sure,” Leon said, glancing at Rosvitha.

Recalling her earlier suggestion to get closer, Leon couldn’t help but ask, “You seem unusually gentle today.”

For a dragoness, Leon would use “gentle” only in his daydreams.

When saying it aloud, “gentle” might be more appropriate.

“Is that so?” Rosvitha inquired.

“Yes,” Leon confirmed.

Rosvitha’s pupils flickered, calculating something, but she quickly resumed her serious demeanour.

“It seems I have tamed you, dragon slayer. Now that we get along well, you’re the one who seems uncomfortable.”

Leon adopted a playful tone, bantering, “Talking about being comfortable or not, it seems the tiger has fallen into the plains and is bullied by the dog.”

Rosvitha raised an eyebrow, playfully tightening her grip, “Wrong, it’s the tiger that has fallen into the plains and been taken by the dragon—”

She deliberately prolonged the tone, leaving it as a cliffhanger.

Leon turned his head, intrigued, “Taken by the dragon?”

“Taken by the dragon rider.”

“Damn.”

Leon rolled his eyes but realised they were still holding hands.

The fingers were interlocked, making it difficult to shake them off. This unintentional shake made them truly feel the sensation of holding hands.

With palms facing each other, heat couldn’t escape, and soon a thin layer of sweat appeared. Their steps stirred their hands, allowing them to rub each other’s palms.

It felt tingling and ticklish, causing an itching sensation in their hearts.

“There are chairs ahead. Let’s sit for a while,” Rosvitha suggested.

“Okay.”

As they both sat down, they instinctively withdrew their hands.

At that moment, they both breathed a sigh of relief. But they felt the emptiness in their palms and the coolness that followed.

Leon didn’t take the initiative to hold Rosvitha’s hand again. Leaning against the chair, he enjoyed the warm sunlight, finding comfort in its rays. It could temporarily help him forget the loneliness of being away from home.

She glanced at Leon, whose eyes were closed and savouring the moment, thought for a moment, and asked, “Do you miss home?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

However, though his attitude seemed somewhat perfunctory, his inner feelings were genuine.

He truly missed home.

Rosvitha’s pupils trembled slightly as she asked, “Your parents—”

“I grew up in an orphanage and never met my parents. My master and mistress adopted me.”

“Oh… then we’re similar.”

“Are you an orphan?”

It was a bit tense, like scolding someone.

But Leon, being straightforward and candid, didn’t think too much about it.

Fortunately, Rosvitha didn’t really understand the human social logic of cursing. She just shook her head and earnestly responded, “No, what I mean is, I haven’t met my father and mother either. Our grandmother raised my sister and me.”

As she said this, she slightly lowered her head, finally willing to change her dignified and elegant sitting posture.

Leon opened his eyes just a sliver, secretly sizing her up.

The proud queen, at this moment, appeared a bit lonely.

Leon closed his eyes again, with no intention of empathising with her, just teasing as usual. “Oh, that explains it.”

Rosvitha looked at him, “Explains what?”

“That explains why you’re not good at being a mom.”

“I’m not good at being a mom—being a mother?”

“You see, when Muen and the others aren’t around, you always use the word ‘mother.'”

Rosvitha frowned, “Is there something wrong with the term ‘mother’?”

“Then, how do they address you?”

“They call me ‘dad.'”

Leon shrugged, “See, according to the usual way of addressing, ‘dad’ is always paired with ‘mom.’ Muen prefers to call me ‘dad’ instead of ‘father,’ indicating that she prefers this more affectionate term.”

“Isn’t the term ‘mother’ endearing?” Rosvitha asked seriously.

“Of course, it’s not that it’s not endearing. It’s just too… formal. It makes things a bit awkward.”

Upon hearing this, Rosvitha contemplated for a moment and nodded, “Okay.”

“No need. If I lose, you can do whatever you want.”

She added, “Except for letting you go home.”

Leon chuckled but didn’t say anything.

After the topic was addressed, they remained silent for about twenty minutes.

Rosvitha slowly stood up and said, “Let’s go. We have another place to go.”

“What place?”

“Well… Actually, inviting you out this time wasn’t just for a walk. I also want to show you something.”

Rosvitha said, “I can’t let you go home, but this should help alleviate your troubles.”

Leon didn’t inquire about what it was but squinted at Rosvitha, “You’re really acting a bit strange today, Mother Dragon.”

Rosvitha shrugged, “Since you don’t believe me, forget it. Let’s just go back now.”

With that, Rosvitha turned around and walked back the way they came.

But she heard Leon calling from behind before she could take a couple of steps.

“Hey, take me to see what it is.”

Rosvitha, with her back to Leon, a hint of a smile playing on her lips—

Finally, I’m hooked!