"Hmph, understanding the enemy is the first step to defeating them."

"And if you’ve seen Lar, you’d know that guy is incredible. He’s not even an adult yet, and he’s already such a fighter..."

Rafael glanced around for a moment, interrupted their conversation, and spoke,

"Fisher was found by Lar. Alright, alright, you two babysit these little ones for now. When Mier gets back, I’ll ask her to help Fisher handle her identity in the Dragon Court... But speaking of it, she might be busy because of the orders I gave in the military camp earlier."

"Military camp? By the way, Rafael, this time you’re back..."

"The Nali people and those Fake Court guys are on the move..." Kexier and Fasher’s expressions grew more serious, but before that, Rafael shook his head and said, "Don’t worry, I’m back to handle this. Before that, Fisher, stay here for now, I want to surprise her with our reunion; she should be in the Royal Court..."

Needless to say, the "her" referred to is the priestess, Rafael’s good sister mentioned earlier.

"Alright."

Fisher nodded, watching Rafael excitedly turn and walk away, but after just a few steps, the tip of her tail seemed to remind her of something, twisting half an arc. Then, as if led by her tail, she turned to look at Fisher.

At that moment, her eyes were somewhat evasive, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Just as Fisher was puzzling over her unspoken words, she suddenly spoke,

"And then, after that... Fisher, you... the two of us, go with me to a place... to the Flower Garden..."

"The Flower Garden?"

Fisher was a bit puzzled, but Rafael nodded her flushed face. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Beside her, Kexier, balancing Mier’s child with one hand, smiled slightly and then added,

"Fisher, that’s our Dragon-man Species’ holy place. Not only is it where schools for Dragon-man Species and other races are open, but what you may not know is, in our Dragon-man Species, newborns are given their names by elders there... Most crucially, Rafael’s mother, whom we mentioned before, Lady Yaril, is in charge of that place."

Fasher also chuckled and said,

"Rafael wants to take you to meet her mother."

Fisher was momentarily stunned, but understood the deeper meaning in Rafael’s actions. Yet when he looked back, he saw the Dragon Queen’s face turn even rosier, her gaze more evasive, though her words were still as firm as always,

"It’s just... just to take him to see how things are there... you... alright, just stay here for now, once I introduce my good sister to you..."

A thin wisp of steam surrounded Rafael, then she turned around and quickly walked away as if escaping, her tail swaying.

On her shoulder, the previously unfocused Emhardt suddenly perked up, bouncing left and right, as if preparing with stretching exercises, perhaps tired of staying in Fisher’s arms.

And Fisher watched as Rafael’s figure gradually disappeared, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

Actually, he wasn’t completely new to meeting the parents of a partner.

Back when he was young, during his passionate romance with Elizabeth at the Royal College, he had ventured into the Golden Palace to meet Elizabeth’s family and father. However, needless to say, it was an experience marked by unpleasant memories.

At that time, he saw the disappointment of eagerly bringing a cherished lover home, only to be openly and covertly mocked by those he trusted and relied upon the most.

The pressure was immense even for Fisher to bear, especially in a public banquet setting, where the Gedelin Royal Family couldn’t overtly disdain a young Helson student.

Fisher might have guessed that Elizabeth faced obstacles a thousandfold worse than his, but even so, after that failed meeting, she never gave up on him, even promising him her fervent "universal request" of love...

She stubbornly, recklessly held on, while it was Fisher who let go, oblivious back then and only now feeling remorseful.

Having learned from past lessons, Fisher was not at all worried about Rafael’s mother possibly being disappointed in this exotic outsider from an enemy nation. In fact, he was certain she would be.

No way out; even if she was broad-minded about races and nations, knowing he was such an insatiable, greedy person was enough.

The buffs stacked upon him were full; if she was rational, she’d surely object.

But Rafael’s willingness to do this already demonstrated the depth of her feelings, just as Elizabeth did in the past...

This time, however, he would not let go.

...

...

Rafael briskly walked down the Royal Court’s corridors, passing vividly painted ancient Dragon Court murals and Fermat Baha’s true visage.

She felt a sense of shame; back then, entering the ruins, she knew nothing, solely focused on what seemed to be a dragon god emerging from myth. Her perceptive sister, however, had memorized all the murals along the way, recreating them here.