Vol 7. Chapter 47: In Each Other’s Arms

Rosvisser finally had a rare free afternoon. She’d originally planned to attend a royal banquet, but the host had something come up last minute and postponed it to a few days later. Coincidentally, Rosvisser had worked late last night to finish today’s duties in advance—so she found herself with some precious time to rest.

She was wearing a camisole nightdress, lounging on the balcony of her bedroom with a glass of wine. Sunlight danced lazily across her graceful figure, warm and pleasant—utterly relaxing. But an afternoon this lovely... was meant to be shared with someone else.

"I wonder if the sunshine over at Saint Heath Academy is this warm too."

The Dragon Territory was vast, and the academy sat at least a hundred kilometers from the Dragon Sanctum. So weather differences between the two places were common.

Rosvisser’s entire mind had drifted into her thoughts, the wine beside her untouched. She turned onto her side, gently curling her tail over her belly. It was Wednesday. Still two days until Saturday. She didn’t even know if Leon could come home this week... It had already been over thirty days since he left for his post at the academy. He hadn’t been home once.

Not missing him? How could she not.

The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She poked her head up from the lounge chair—not exactly regal, and far from graceful. She looked more like a college girl on summer break at home, too lazy to even put on makeup.

Of course, there was no need for her to check. Only a handful of people could walk into her bedroom inside the Silver Dragon Sanctum. She turned back anyway, hoping against hope that the person ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) walking in would be the one she missed so desperately.

But alas... it wasn’t.

"Your Majesty, you haven’t had lunch yet. I’ve brought it for you," Anna said as she stood at the door with a tray.

"Mmh. Thank you, Anna."

The Queen pulled her head back in and pointed to the small wooden table beside her.

"Just leave it there."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Rosvisser didn’t feel upset just because it was Anna and not Leon. She knew that kind of surprise was practically impossible. But even so—she couldn’t help but hold onto a little hope.

Anna set the tray down. Just as she was about to take her leave, Rosvisser spoke up first.

"Sit and chat with me, Anna."

The head maid froze for a second. She’d served Her Majesty for decades—but hearing her ask for a simple conversation was exceedingly rare.

Clearly, Her Majesty was in low spirits.

Anna nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."

She pulled up a chair and sat beside Rosvisser, gently asking:

"Are you thinking about His Highness?"

Anna had expected her to respond in her usual tsundere way—something like ‘Hmph, as if I’d miss him!’  But instead, Rosvisser replied without a moment’s hesitation:

"Mm. I’m thinking about him."

When a tsundere no longer hides it, that means she’s speaking from the very depths of her heart.

Anna lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, then said:

"Your Majesty, I’ve been by your side ever since you rose to Princess Consort. It’s been sixty years. If there’s anything on your mind, you can always talk to me. I know I may not be the one who can solve your worries—but I’m certainly a worthy listener. So, if you feel like talking—I’ll listen earnestly."

Anna understood. Her Majesty’s sorrow all stemmed from the Prince Consort.

It was a simple illness—but a difficult one to cure. The only way to bring relief was to let her speak her heart, to let the torment of longing find a different form of release.

In the vast, nearly unmanageable Prince’s Sanctum, only someone like Anna—an “old retainer”—could truly put Rosvisser at ease, let her speak freely, without any walls between them.

Rosvisser’s silver eyes gazed into the distance. After a pause, she finally spoke.

"Actually, it was my idea for Leon to apply for the academy vice principal election. I thought it would bring change—to him, and to our lives. Like a calm, still well suddenly having a stone tossed into it. The ripples and stir stirred the waters back to life. It wasn’t that I found our life together dull—I just thought, after more than a decade of the same... making a change couldn’t hurt, could it? But now I realize... I was wrong."

Anna listened quietly, lifting her head to look at Rosvisser’s profile. Like watching her own daughter.

Rosvisser continued:

"I didn’t want Leon to leave me. Or—be so far away, for so long. I know. We dragons live long lives, and separations, even deaths, are bound to happen—some brief, some permanent.

And I’ve lived long enough. I’ve gone through many already. But Leon’s different, Anna. Do you understand? Every day we’ve been apart, I regret suggesting he run for the election. Do you think I’m being... childish? I’ve tried to control myself, but I just can’t."

Rosvisser curled her tall frame into a smaller ball. She hugged her knees, resting her chin on top, her silver hair cascading down to hide her face.

"Pretty immature, right? Even though we’ve been married for ten years, I still act like a little girl. Sometimes I wonder if I wasted these past two hundred years of life. How can a stupid dumbass like him keep me tossing and turning every night, unable to sleep?"

She sniffled.

Anna handed her a tissue.

Rosvisser accepted it—but didn’t wipe away the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

The little princess had grown a bit.

The queen softly murmured:

"Or maybe... maybe I really did do something wrong, Anna? Maybe I shouldn't be taking this so seriously? In modern terms... am I just some lovestruck fool? I don’t know, Anna. I really don’t know..."

As she spoke, Rosvisser buried her face into her arms.

After a brief silence, Anna leaned forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She gently stroked her hair and the edge of her ear, speaking with tender warmth.

"You didn’t do anything wrong, Ross. How could loving someone ever be a mistake? You’re not a love-obsessed fool—on the contrary, despite suffering from longing, you’ve still handled all your daily work flawlessly. That’s admirable, isn’t it? Mmh... remember back when you first came to the Silver Dragon clan?"

The silver hair in her arms twitched—like a nod.

Anna smiled and went on:

"Back then, you were tiny and so nervous. When the maids spoke to you, you hid behind Veronica’s back, terrified. But when the previous Silver Dragon King received you, you weren’t afraid at all. You said you’d train hard and become the youngest king in Silver Dragon history.

And you did.

I’m saying all this so you understand, little Ross—I’ve seen your strength, your perseverance, your softness over the past two hundred years. I know who you truly are. You’re not some childish girl.

You are the most successful ruler of our Silver Dragon generation.

You are also the Prince Consort’s most beloved wife.

Like I said—loving someone isn’t wrong. Missing someone isn’t wrong.

Don’t let your longing spiral into self-doubt. Let your longing remain pure, okay, little Ross?"

Anna had said more in this moment than she had in decades. And Rosvisser had taken it all in.

"To make longing more pure, huh... What a strange way to put it."

She lifted her hand, wiped the corner of her eye with her wrist, and slowly uncurled her body. Sunlight bathed her once more—still as warm as ever.

Anna squinted, looking at her intently.

"You’re not sad anymore, little Ross."

Rosvisser glanced at Anna, then turned away with a touch of tsundere in her voice.

"You should be calling me ‘Your Majesty.’"

Anna blinked, then smiled even wider.

"Yes~~ yes~~ Your Majesty."

Rosvisser collected herself, stood up, crossed her arms under her chest, tail flicking slightly.

"Alright, Anna. I’m getting back to work. Bring me tomorrow’s reports and documents!"

Anna also stood and was just about to nod in response—when suddenly, a frantic voice called from the bedroom door.

It was Milan.

"Your Majesty! ...He’s back!" Milan gasped, clinging to the doorframe.

Anna furrowed her brow slightly.

"Speak clearly, Milan. Who’s back?"

"His Highness the Prince is back!"

"His Highness—?! Then Her Majesty—"

Anna turned—only to find that the queen who had been beside her just moments ago had vanished.

She looked outside.

Her Majesty had already leapt from the balcony, dragon wings unfurled.

Anna stepped to the railing and looked down into the courtyard.

The married couple were already in each other’s arms, holding one another tightly.

Seeing that scene, Anna smiled with deep relief.

"That’s wonderful, little Ross...

...no, Your Majesty."