Not returning to that hidden underground space, but rather... going back to the past.
If, after despair, fate generously gave Leon a chance to save everything, then the so-called "everything" definitely did not include Rossweise.
Because for Leon, she was unique, not something that could be categorized into any group.
In Leon's heart, there was a small world that belonged only to Rossweise, and she filled that small world completely.
Leon didn't want to include Rossweise in whatever big mission of "saving the future" he was undertaking—
She was Leon's present, the only present;
As for the future, it did not belong to her, nor to Leon, but to the two of them together.
"I understand, Noah. After we return, I won't leave Mom again."
Noah smiled faintly, "Then what about us sisters? You're just going to ignore us?"
"Of course I won't leave you all either."
"That's not so certain."
Noah lowered her head, fiddling with her nails, pretending to be nonchalant, "What if one day you and your dear wife get in the mood, leave us still young kids at home, and sneak off to go on a honeymoon?"
"Then you should be happy."
"Why?"
"Because after the Honeymoon ends, you might have a new little sister."
"...So the greatest dragon slayer and the silver dragon queen's life goal after getting together is just constantly having babies?"
"To expand the population of House Melkvei, it is our duty!"
———
At dawn, two royal carriages arrived at the gates of the imperial city.
The guards here had at least doubled, forbidding any civilians from entering or leaving. All merchant caravans had to undergo routine inspection.
"Captain, those two look like royal carriages, right?", A rookie who had just joined the post not long ago immediately noticed the slowly approaching carriages.
The security captain glanced in that direction and nodded, "Mm, not too common. Especially during martial law in the empire, they actually sent out royal carriages..."
The rookie pursed his lips, hesitated, and said, "I'll go check."
Just as he was about to step forward, the rookie was suddenly pulled back by the captain.
"What's wrong, Captain?"
The captain had a stern expression, "Kid, don't be stupid. Even though we're under martial law, those are the officials' carriages. Don't be like before, inspecting every single carriage thoroughly."
Thinking back to a few days ago, this hotheaded rookie lacked experience, taking twenty gold coins worth of military pay and worrying like it was worth two hundred. Wasn't that pure troublemaking?
Now the whole city was under lockdown, and this was a perfect chance to teach the newbie a lesson in handling a special situation.
After finishing his reminder, the captain let go of the rookie's shoulder, "Go on. You know what to do."
The rookie stood frozen for two seconds, then nodded stiffly.
He turned and walked toward the two carriages.
"Hey, let us through quickly! If you delay the noble's cargo, can you afford the responsibility?", the driver said with a bad attitude.
The rookie forced himself to stay calm and squeezed out a smile, "It's just a special period, uncle. I'll just take a quick look, won't waste any time. Please cooperate a bit with our work."
"Cooperate my ass!", The driver's attitude was tough, "There are still so many carriages ahead that need inspection. By the time we get through, the vegetables will be cold!"
"Uncle, with the time you spent yelling at me, I could've already finished. See that special lane over there? After the check, you'll go through there."
The driver snorted coldly, finally agreeing reluctantly, "Hurry up, don't waste my time."
"Alright, uncle."
The rookie secretly let out a sigh of relief.
This was probably his first "negotiation" with someone from another department.
'It can be considered... a success?'
The rookie arrived at the carriage's cargo hold, opened the door, and looked inside.
Just bottles and jars and a few large wooden crates, nothing stood out from the door.
The rookie hesitated for a moment, then bent down and entered the cargo hold.
He tapped the large wooden crates with his dagger, producing dull sounds.
At that moment, hiding at the very back of the cargo hold, Leon and Noah had already prepared to attack.
If the guy discovered them, they'd have to fight their way through the city gate.
Footsteps grew closer and closer. Noah stared at the floor of the cargo hold, slowly raising her right hand. Threads of lightning flickered in her palm.
But Leon pressed down her wrist.
Noah looked up.
"Shh~", Leon held a finger to his lips, signaling Noah not to act rashly.
Noah could tell that Leon was also drenched in sweat.
Breaking through the gate would mean facing countless enemies and unknowns.
She knew her father wasn't afraid of strong opponents, it's just that this wasn't a straightforward battlefield.
Raging and dangerous undercurrents would always surge in places they couldn't detect.
Creak—creak—
Boots stepped louder and louder on the wooden boards of the cargo hold.
Father and daughter huddled tightly in the corner, holding their breath.
This time, Noah really was going to act.
Just one step closer, just one step, and Noah would strike without hesitation. Leon releasing her wrist meant he permitted it.
However, the other person suddenly stopped.
"Captain... was right. I'm getting twenty gold in pay, what am I doing worrying like it's two hundred?", The young imperial guard muttered, then chuckled to himself and turned to leave the cargo hold.
Bang—
The cargo door shut. Outside, the rookie's voice rang out, "All good, uncle! Let's go—this way, through the special lane! Oh right, don't forget to mention us gatekeepers in front of the nobles!"
"Yeah yeah yeah, open the gate already," the driver replied impatiently.
The carriage slowly moved, then began to speed up.
The father and daughter in the cargo hold immediately sighed in relief.
"Do you still remember that guy just now?", Leon asked.
"Mm... a few days ago, he insisted on thoroughly inspecting every merchant caravan's carriage. He was a very responsible rookie," Noah said.
"But in just a few days, he's already learned the empire's way of survival."
Noah shrugged, "So fast."
The speed of falling into the quagmire of corruption was always so fast that people couldn't react in time.
Two royal carriages, carrying the empire's top fugitive and his three daughters, sped off.
———
Facts proved that Leon's "never leave empty-handed" strategy was absolutely correct.
After successfully stealing the Heart-protecting Dragon Scale and returning to the "secret base," Aurora tried a few scales, but the reverse magic didn't activate successfully.
After trying over a dozen, they finally found one with magic properties similar to Ravi's.
The first test of the reverse magic also succeeded.
With the energy source resolved, all that remained was careful tuning and modifications to ensure there would be no accidents during the reversal. Like Dad being torn into shreds, or only the person being transported while the clothes stayed behind.
This process was also highly complex. Aurora dared not be careless and worked day and night to perfect the reverse magic.
With less than three months remaining, she had to send Dad back before then. That was the only way to prevent the battle where Mom risked everything and ended up in a coma.
During this time, Leon also practiced the Nine Gates Hell intensively, using techniques taught by his youngest daughter.
He also didn't forget to refine and store his mana.
The battle at the spatial rift failed because he didn't have enough preparation time. After defeating Stah, the three Ravis took advantage and trapped him in a space barrier.
But this time, with half a year of preparation and rapid mastery of the Nine Gates Hell, even if three Dragon Kings launched a surprise attack, General Leon would only smile and say, "Dinner time."
Noah and Luna continued their field work. In these last crucial months, nothing could go wrong.
Just like that, the four father and daughters each fulfilled their roles. Everything... was in preparation for the day the reverse magic would be complete.
However... even the busy and fulfilling war preparations couldn't keep Leon completely focused all the time.
His mind always drifted to something else.
Rossweise.
On the night with less than 24 hours left before the final deadline, Leon went alone to the room where Rossweise's crystal was stored, dragged over a chair, and sat beside the crystal.
The beauty within the crystal still lay there quietly, her brows relaxed, peaceful and beautiful.
Her hands rested on her stomach, palms pressing down on a photo.
It was a candid "couple shot" the photographer took of her and Leon when they went for a family portrait.
In the photo, the couple gazed into each other's eyes, emotions lingering.
On the back of the photo was the sentence Leon would never forget, [May the silver light always shine in the eyes of those we love.]
Leon believed that before Rossweise lost consciousness, she didn't know whether she would wake again.
Facing this unknown sleep, she chose this photo as her sole companion.
Noah said, Mom didn't understand emotions well, nor was she good at expressing them.
But she knew what she cared about, and what she couldn't live without.
In the worldline where "Leon didn't exist," she stood alone for six months. She was the loneliest queen on the throne and the saddest, most heartbroken wife.
Until the moment she fell into a coma, was she still believing... that Leon would return to save everything?
Over the past few months, Leon came here almost every night to spend long hours alone with Rossweise.
He didn't say anything, didn't do anything, just quietly watched his sleeping wife.
But...
Every time he stepped into this room, Leon had to mentally prepare for a long time.
He was afraid. He was terrified. Sometimes his legs would even tremble.
At the beginning, Leon's mental state was still alright;
But as time passed, especially these last few days, he became more and more afraid to walk to Rossweise's side, afraid to look at her, afraid to speak his heart to her.
He was actually a very sensitive person, very delicate, but terrible at managing his negative emotions.
Just like long ago, when the acting Dragon King Augus of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan told him, "The dragons will take everything from you," Leon fell into deep self-doubt and reflection.
That time, he managed to come out of it.
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