Vol 7. Chapter 14: A Wife’s Duty

Once all the introductions were done, the group slowly strolled across the academy field in the setting sun.

The evening light stretched everyone's shadows long across the grass.

Hera held Muse in her arms, walking side by side with Rosvisser at the front.

With her cheek nestled against Hera's shoulder, Muse used the sunlight to form the shadow of a dove with her fingers, casting it across the lawn.

Moon bounced along behind them, trying to catch the fluttering “dove.”

Noa kept close to her to make sure she didn’t fall while playing too hard.

Leon brought up the rear—clutching his jaw—

Walking right behind the master of the uppercut.

"Ah~ what a warm scene, Dad. Why don’t you smile a little?"

Aurora smirked at him.

Leon rolled his eyes, silently vowing that from now on he would never again spill this little black-hearted puffball’s embarrassing past.

"Oh right, Dad."

"Mm?"

The mischief-dragon's gaze slid past her elder sisters to fix on Hera’s back up ahead.

"So is this pretty auntie... like, one of our relatives or something?"

Auntie, huh...?

Technically, by seniority, you and your sisters should be calling her Grandma.

But among dragons—and most long-lived races, really—seniority wasn’t exactly something with a rigid system.

After all, absurdly long lifespans often meant that age and generation didn’t line up.

Even among humans, who barely lived a hundred years, it wasn’t unusual for a 30-year-old to call someone in their teens—or even a newborn—Uncle or Auntie.

All the more reason for long-lived clans to abandon strict ranking.

In the Melkvey family this sort of thing was the norm.

Leon’s foster mother Dia was the elder sister of Lott and Charlotte, who were siblings of Claudia.

Claudia’s daughter was Helena.

So by seniority, Leon and Helena would be equals.

And if Leon wanted to marry Helena...

Well—if they actually followed such a rigid seniority system, things really would go to hell.

So among them, there was no fixed rule. People went by whatever was convenient or felt natural.

Leon didn’t even know Hera’s exact age. Judging by her appearance, she looked around the same as his teacher’s wife—like a stunning woman in her thirties.

So Aurora calling her “Auntie” wasn’t an issue.

But as for whether she was family...

Leon shook his head.

"Not yet."

Aurora stopped walking and looked at her dad in surprise.

"Not yet? What’s that supposed to mean, Dad?"

Then she fell quiet and muttered under her breath,

"Why does it feel like no matter what happens in this family, it always veers off in a weird direction..."

Leon chuckled helplessly and patted her on the head, explaining:

"Because... it’s not just me—Hera-senpai probably hasn’t decided what to make of our relationship either. So right now, we’re not technically 'relatives' in the traditional sense."

He paused, then added:

"But it seems like Aurora likes her."

That much was clear from Aurora and Hera’s earlier interaction.

Even though Leon’s warning had been... a bit much, the two of them had still managed to perform a full “Why are you chasing me / Why are you running” act on their first meeting.

But if you knew Aurora’s personality—

If it were someone she didn’t like, or someone boring or annoying, she wouldn’t bother engaging with them at all.

The fact that she wanted to interact meant she liked Hera.

So Leon said,

"My little dragon likes Hera."

"Of course I do. I’ve always liked pretty aunties—you know that, Dad."

"Remember when you were little, you had a dream to get hugged by every pretty auntie in the world?"

Leon laughed and drew in a quick breath.

"As long as you like her. I just wonder how your mom’s conversation with Hera is going."

"Hmm... they’re probably talking about something serious and proper."

Leon nodded. "I think so too. By the way, Hera-senpai used to be a leader of her own tribe~"

Aurora’s eyes lit up.

"Then she and Mom are probably swapping experiences! Looks like we were right."

"Yup, exactly."

"Then maybe they’re talking about politics, leadership, responsibility and—"

"Really? That kind of plant extract really works for whitening?"

"It does, senpai. I used to work late all the time, and my skin got terrible. But that serum really helped—slowly brought it back. I totally recommend it~"

"Ooh I need to write that down. Anything else, Rosvisser? You really seem like a pro when it comes to skincare and beauty."

"It’s not that much, senpai. Do you have any specific concerns?"

"Um... hydration? Got anything for that?"

"Sure do, senpai!"

......

Leon narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the silhouettes of his wife and his... mom?

And sighed.

"Man, look how in sync they are. Truly worthy of their respective clans."

Aurora nodded. "Totally, totally."

Standing dead center of the formation, able to hear both her mother and Hera’s conversation and her dad and Aurora’s, Noa silently turned her face aside.

"Sigh... you’re all so close, and yet so far."

The overachiever princess gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

Later, as the sun finished setting, they left the academy and headed to a restaurant.

On the way, Hera turned to Rosvisser.

"I thought you'd be just like me—nervous about such a formal meeting. But after talking with you... you’re so composed. As expected of the Silver Dragon Queen."

Rosvisser gave a modest smile and shook her head.

"It doesn’t really have much to do with being a queen, senpai. I’m not nervous because—"

She paused, the words caught in her throat.

Because Rosvisser had wanted to say: Because I’m treating this like meeting ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) my in-laws.

But then Hera would ask: Meeting your in-laws and you're not nervous? That’s even more impressive!

And Rosvisser would reply: No, no. I mean I’m treating this as the meeting—with you as the in-law. And I’ve already met Leon’s family many times before. So I’m calm. I’ve practiced. I’m good at it.

That little internal fiction was how she eased her nerves.

And even though she wasn’t really nervous anymore, that explanation was definitely too silly. Too off-topic.

So Rosvisser chose a different path.

"And why is that?" Hera’s blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Rosvisser smiled softly, the corners of her lips gently lifting.

"Because I see you, senpai, as a long-lost elder of the family. And when you’re reunited with your own people after so long, what’s there to be nervous about? Don’t you think so?"

Hearing that, Hera’s pupils trembled faintly. She murmured the keyword to herself:

"Elder... huh."

She lowered her gaze slightly, as if something had settled in her heart.

Rosvisser didn’t press further. She simply glanced back toward Leon while Hera was lost in thought.

That earlier response had been deliberate—planting the seed.

“Elder” was the word she’d chosen to tell Hera:

The Melkvey family is ready to welcome you. You’re already one of us.

She knew Leon had been worried about his relationship with Hera for a long time.

And as his wife, it was her duty to help him complete his life.