In the damp and shadowy dungeon, Leon was bound tightly by enchanted chains, unable to move.

His shattered armor barely clung to his body, and the fresh red marks around his wrists showed just how fiercely he had struggled.

But it had all been in vain.

Three days ago, he had led the Empire’s dragon-slaying army to the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, determined to eliminate the evil dragon that had brought calamity to the land.

But no one expected that Leon would be betrayed.

Not only was he stabbed in the back, but the army’s position was also exposed to the Silver Dragon clan.

Without Leon’s leadership, the dragon-slaying army quickly fell apart and scattered.

And Leon himself was captured alive, imprisoned here in this dungeon.

For three days, he had not taken a single drop of water, seeking only death.

Better a swift death than to be humiliated and tortured by these dragons.

Yet bound by enchanted chains, he couldn’t even take his own life.

Or perhaps—even if he were freed, he was already too weak from hunger to do so.

Through his fading consciousness, distant noise reached his ears.

A celebration.

He had heard from the guards.

A week-long banquet held by the dragon clan—to celebrate defeating Leon Casmod, the Empire’s strongest dragon slayer.

What a wasteful race…

But he no longer had the strength or the will to judge others.

Drip… drip…

Water fell steadily from above, each drop striking the chains.

The monotonous sound felt like a countdown to his life.

After an unknown amount of time, the dungeon door opened.

“You may leave. I want to speak with our great hero—the dragon slayer—alone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Creak...

The door shut.

Then came the soft sound of high heels striking stone.

The sound echoed through the vast dungeon, drawing closer and closer.

Then...

It stopped.

Someone stood before his cell.

Leon forced himself to lift his head.

What he saw first was a cascade of brilliant silver hair—like a river of stars hanging in the sky.

But the tail beneath the hem of her dress made his body tense.

Silver hair. Dragon tail. Your Majesty…

He realized her identity.

The Silver Dragon Queen—Rosvisser.

Rosvisser opened the cell door and stepped inside, walking slowly until she stood before him.

There was a faint scent of alcohol on her, and her elegant face carried a slight flush—she had likely drunk too much at the celebration.

They stood very close.

One—ragged, battered, his armor dim and broken.

The other—regal, flawless, her silver hair pristine, her slit pupils filled with amusement and disdain.

Backlight streamed through the dungeon’s lone window, falling across Leon’s back and the queen’s face.

It looked less like a defeated dragon slayer facing a proud queen...

And more like a fallen believer begging forgiveness from a saint.

Rustle...

Her silver tail shifted beneath her dress.

Rosvisser used its tip to lift Leon’s chin.

“A rather handsome man. The scars suit your face perfectly.”

The queen rarely praised anyone.

Unless they truly deserved it.

But Leon only sneered and shook off her tail.

Rosvisser frowned. Her tail snapped forward, coiling tightly around his neck.

“How dare you show me such disrespect.”

Her voice was cold, laced with royal authority.

The tail tightened.

Leon’s face turned red. His weakened body couldn’t withstand the lack of air for long.

Yet he continued to stare at her—unyielding.

They remained locked in that silent struggle.

Just as Leon was about to suffocate...

Rosvisser withdrew her tail.

“A stubborn one. But it’s useless. You’re going to die soon.”

“Do as you please. Just make it quick,” Leon said.

“Hmph. Is that all the great dragon slayer can say before death? How disappointing.”

She smiled mockingly.

“Tell me, hero—do you have a wife? Children? If not… your bloodline ends here, doesn’t it?”

Her words struck deliberately.

The victor’s privilege—mocking the defeated.

“The fall of a dragon slayer usually heralds the rise of a new hero. But in your case… it seems there will be no successor.”

Her fingertip traced the wound on his face, her tone dripping with false pity.

“What a shame. Someone as powerful as you—if not for betrayal—might have achieved far greater glory. Your descendants would have lived in wealth and honor. One day, perhaps, dragonkind would have fallen to your people. You would have been remembered for generations.”

She leaned closer.

“But... You’re about to die here.”

Scratch...

Her nail cut lightly across his face, opening a fresh wound.

A trace of blood stained her fingertip.

She didn’t wipe it away.

Instead, she brought it to her lips...

And licked it clean.

Leon slowly raised his head.

Looking at her smug expression...

And the faint blood at the corner of her lips...

A thought of revenge formed.

He recalled a spell he had once learned.

A spell that could only be used once in a lifetime.

And there was no better moment than this.

“Your Majesty…” Leon’s voice was hoarse.

“Oh? Begging for mercy now? I won’t forgive you so easily, hero.”

“You asked… whether I had descendants.”

Rosvisser raised an eyebrow.

“And do you?”

“Not before…”

Leon met her gaze.

“But now—I will.”

Before she could react...

Their eyes locked.

In that instant, Rosvisser’s body weakened, her mind growing hazy.

Ripples seemed to spread through Leon’s eyes—eroding her will.

She moved toward him, uncontrollably...

Wrapped her arms around him...

And kissed him.

Leon despised dragonkind.

But for the sake of revenge...

He endured.

…

An hour later, Rosvisser slowly opened her eyes.

Fatigue weighed heavily on her body.

Her clothes were disheveled.

Her skin bore faint marks.

“You’re awake, Your Majesty. Or should I say… Queen Mother now?”

Leon’s voice came from not far away.

She turned.

The enchanted chains binding him had been released.

Yet he hadn’t fled.

Perhaps he knew escape was meaningless.

Rosvisser clenched her jaw, stood, straightened her clothes, and grabbed his collar.

“What did you do?! What did you use on me?!”

Leon did not answer directly.

“You made two mistakes.
First—you should never have been alone with the Empire’s strongest dragon slayer.
Second… I don’t care about your preferences. But you shouldn’t have tasted my blood.”

Her eyes trembled.

For the first time, uncertainty flickered in her gaze.

“A one-time spell. Blood Enchantment. As long as the target drinks your blood, it breaks their will… and forces compliance. I wouldn’t normally stoop to such methods. But you pushed me there.”

He smirked faintly.

“So yes… I have a child now.”

He looked at her.

“It’s inside you.”

Her anger and shock clashed violently.

For a moment...

She didn’t know what to say.

What to do.

Everything felt meaningless.

Moments ago, she had mocked him from above.

Now...

He struck back just as mercilessly.

“Your Majesty… you can feel it, can’t you? You understand your kind’s rules. I am now your only possible partner. If you kill the child later—that’s your choice. But by then, I’ll have been dead for months. You won’t be able to have another.”

He continued, relentless.

“You said my bloodline would end. Well—now you understand how that feels.”

Each word pierced her like a blade.

But even as he spoke...

His body weakened rapidly.

His vision dimmed.

His breath grew shallow.

Death approached.

“Your Majesty… you probably want to kill me now.”

He laughed faintly.

“No need. My time is already over…”

His heart faltered.

His breathing stopped.

“Silver Dragon Queen Rosvisser… give birth to our child… And then… I’ll be waiting for you—in hell.”

Silence.

His body went still.

The last piece of his broken armor slipped from his shoulder and hit the ground...

Clang.

The sound echoed endlessly in the dungeon.

Striking against Rosvisser’s heart.

After a long silence...

She slowly steadied herself.

Her eyes lifted.

A fierce, unyielding fire burned within her pupils.

“You want to die?”

Her voice was cold.

“Not that easily. Leon Casmod… our child won’t be without a father.”