Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Family Dinner
The dishes at the dinner were all personally cooked by Rosweisse.
'Her cooking skills are quite good; no wonder Luna wants so badly to eat her personally made pan-fried steak.'
After busying herself for over an hour, a sumptuous dinner was prepared.
Rosweisse took off her apron, looked at Leon on one side of the dining table.
The words "can't wait" were written all over his face.
"Luna, go call your sister for dinner."
"Okay!"
Luna jumped down from the chair and hopped out of the room.
Rosweisse sat at the head of the table, biting a small hair tie in her mouth. She then raised her hand, stretched it to the back of her slender swan-like neck, tied up her silver long hair, and finally fixed it with the hair tie.
After tying her hair, Rosweisse noticed Leon still watching her with a playful expression and asked,
"What is it?"
"How does it feel to have two kids at once?"
"Pfft—"
Rosweisse thought it was something serious.
Turns out this fool is still smug about that matter.
"Sigh, what a pity." Leon sighed.
"What's a pity?"
"Not being able to witness the birth of the two daughters with my own eyes. Shame! shame!"
Faced with Leon's teasing, Rosweisse smiled faintly. "It's okay, if you really want to see me giving birth, we can—"
Leon's smile froze, and he felt a chill down his spine. "Can?"
"We can do it a few more times, actively prepare for another child."
"...Totally unnecessary."
"Hmph, idiot!"
"Tsk."
'This "Hmph, idiot" sentence... the tone is exactly the same as Noah's tone at noon.'
'As expected of mother and daughter.'
After a bit of bickering, the door lock turned, and two sets of footsteps approached slowly.
"Daddy, Mother, Sister is here~"
With the sound of a childish voice, two identical little dragon girls entered the dining room doorway.
Long black hair, silver highlights, dressed in luxurious little dresses, paired with exquisite white stockings.
Their facial features and height were exactly the same, indistinguishable.
The only visual difference was that Luna had a strand of hair on her head that would stand up or droop down based on her mood, which Noah didn't have.
Of course, aside from the hair-strand identifier, their expressions could also determine who was the older sister and who was the younger one.
Luna liked to smile, her face always showing a sunny and cute expression;
Noah always wore a cold expression, like a little adult.
"Good evening, Mother," Noah said respectfully.
"Mm, introduce yourself. This should be your first formal meeting." Rosweisse said.
"Yes, Mother."
Noah's indifferent gaze slowly moved to Leon.
"I am the eldest daughter of Silver Dragon Queen Rossweise, Noah K. Melkwei, one year and two months old."
'Her wording is quite refined, completely unlike a child her age.'
Well, considering the only child Leon had met of the same age was Luna, she was his standard of reference.
Noah's speech and demeanor were worlds apart from Luna's.
"Leon, aren't you going to introduce yourself to your daughter?" Rossweise said.
"Oh, right... sorry."
Leon cleared his throat, squatted down to Noah's eye level, and said,
"Hello, Noah. My name is Leon Casmodeous. I am your father."
Noah looked him in the eye and replied neither humble nor pushy,
"Noted."
Leon was stunned.
'Noted?'
'Why does such formal language feel so out of place when coming from a one-year-old girl?'
'What kind of daughter would reply to her dad with such abstract phrasing?'
Before Leon could react, Luna whispered to Noah, tugging at her sleeve, "Sister, say more, say more, don't make Daddy feel awkward."
Noah glanced sideways at her sister and said sternly, "Adults are talking, kids shouldn't interrupt."
"Ugh..." Luna pouted and fiddled with her fingers, silently stepping behind Noah.
CLAP, CLAP—
Rosweisse held back her laughter and clapped her hands. "Alright, introductions are over. Let's eat."
Noah took her sister's hand and walked to the dining chairs.
Even though they weren't taller than the chairs, Noah effortlessly lifted Luna up first, seating her in place.
Then she moved to the adjacent chair, placed her hand, braced herself, and climbed up.
Rossweise looked at Leon, who was still in a daze, and asked, "Why aren't you seated? Are you too full to eat already?"
Leon snapped back to reality and awkwardly returned to his seat.
Rossweise sat at the head of the table.
Leon sat across from the two daughters.
On the table were the dishes Rossweise had meticulously prepared.
Luna couldn't wait to cut into the steak on her plate.
But before she could start, Noah stopped her.
Noah, expressionless, picked up a napkin from the table and carefully tied it around Luna's collar.
"Hold the knife in your right hand, fork in your left. Don't get it wrong this time, Luna," Noah instructed.
"Mm-hmm, I won't get it wrong, Sister."
"Alright, eat."
Leon silently watched this scene unfold. Although his eldest daughter had just been curt with him, he had to admit, this little one was far more mature than she appeared.
Whether this maturity was an act or her nature, her demeanor exceeded Leon's expectations.
Looking at Rossweise, she seemed entirely accustomed to it.
It was as if her eldest daughter's precocity and sensibility were expected.
The mother and two daughters began enjoying the steak, and Leon lowered his head, picking up his fork to try Rossweise's cooking.
The steak was perfectly seared, tender, and flavorful, with a rich aroma filling his senses as he took a bite.
"Sister, I can't cut it," Luna turned to Noah for help.
Noah nodded, took the knife and fork from Luna, and skillfully cut the steak on her plate.
"You need to use your thumb for more force too," Noah advised.
"Mm-hmm, got it!"
"Alright, eat."
Noah returned the fork to Luna and then turned to Rossweise, asking,
"Mother, do you need me to cut yours too?"
"No, thank you."
"Okay."
Hearing this, Leon raised his head and looked at Noah.
Coincidentally, his eldest daughter also looked at him.
Leon felt amused.
'Is my daughter going to ask him if I need help too?'
'Should I let her help? Or politely decline?'
'Letting her help might give her a chance to shine, but would it make her think her dad is useless?'
'Declining, though, might seem rude.'
Leon was conflicted.
'Ah, better to wait and see what she says.'
Noah opened her mouth.
Leon was filled with anticipation.
She opened her mouth again.
'Is she feeling shy?'
'It's okay, we're family. Take your time.'
'Say it, dear daughter.'
"None for you."
Noah mouthed the words.
Leon wasn't blind. He saw it clearly.
But before he could react, Noah sneezed.
"Ah-choo—"
Noah immediately pulled out two napkins. "Sorry, Mother. I couldn't hold it in."
Rossweise covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter. She waved her hand, "No problem, no problem... I almost couldn't hold it in either..."
Luna blinked. "Mother, why are you suddenly so happy?"
Rossweise used a napkin to hide her grin, trying to look composed. "Because your Daddy is happy, so I'm happy too."
Luna's eyes lit up. "Eh? Why is Daddy happy?"
"Because Daddy finally met the last family member he longed for, and we're having this family dinner together. Luna, don't you think Daddy would be happy?"
Luna turned her hopeful eyes toward Leon. "Is that true, Daddy? Were you always looking forward to this family dinner?"
Leon: ...
'Actually, not really...'
"Leon, the child is asking you a question. You weren't looking forward to it? You're not happy? You wanted to meet your eldest daughter, and I made that happen. So don't hold back your happiness. Smile, Leon. Smile." Rosweisse added mercilessly.
"Haha, haha, haha, I'm overjoyed, everyone." Leon forced a smile.
"Yay! Then let's eat like this every day, okay?" Luna suggested.
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