I first drove the Dis brothers out of my room.
It was impossible to expect them to get along with Leon right now.
The best course was to keep them apart.
Why on earth are they acting like that?
The Dis brothers were fools, yes, but they had never shown such open hostility toward others before.
Come to think of it, even Garen had been oddly antagonistic toward people. Perhaps this too was the result of the “ever-looming threat of death” they lived under.
“Finally, some peace.”
“Would you like to step out for a talk?”
Though Leon’s anger toward the Dis brothers had not fully subsided, he nodded without resistance.
That was a little unexpected.
Is it because his trait will soon evolve into absolute authority…? The little tyrant is quieter than I thought.
At any rate, we began walking together through the city streets.
A trace of anticipation slowly appeared in Leon’s eyes.
“Are we having apple pie again today?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Today we’ll go to the bakery with the finest croissants on the entire Eastern Continent. We may have to stand in line.”
“I’m a prince.”
“Rank and birth don’t matter here. This is Queibaileng, and the Patriarch of the Queibail family forbids abusing one’s status to seize unfair privilege.”
“Everything here is a new experience.”
Surprisingly, Leon accepted it without fuss.
Maybe he wasn’t just a little tyrant—he was a clever little tyrant, who knew when to lash out and when not to.
Good. The time is right.
The truth was, I also wanted time alone with Leon.
After all, he was the one destined to make my stocks soar.
I was eager to know what plans he had, whether he truly intended to go to the Arbina Well, and if so, whether he was properly prepared.
I had invested my entire fortune—it was only natural to be curious.
“Your Highness, I heard you take great interest in exploring ruins and venturing into labyrinths. That was the reason you were so pleased when this investment went through. Is that true?”
Leon frowned slightly, answering defensively.
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
Exploring ruins and labyrinths was, in fact, Leon’s greatest political weakness.
Knowing why he grew guarded, I wasn’t offended.
“I find it romantic.”
“…What?”
Leon flinched mid-step.
“Why does that surprise you?”
“You’re the first lady I’ve ever met who’s called it romantic.”
“Is that so?”
“To be precise, the first one who sounded sincere. Usually, when someone says that, it’s just empty flattery.”
Honestly, I almost flinched myself.
If not for my dignity, I might have.
“But from you, I sense genuine sincerity. Why is that?”
“Because I truly support Your Highness’s expeditions.”
Leon looked utterly baffled.
“So… why?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“No, none.”
“I honestly think it’s wonderful.”
“Others laugh at me, saying it’s foolish.”
“Whatever the field, giving it your all—your passion—is beautiful.”
“…Are you mocking me?”
“I mean it.”
“…An amusing lady, indeed.”
“That’s why I sincerely hope Your Highness gives everything to this expedition. I’ll be cheering for you from afar.”
“I’ll take that to heart.”
We walked a little further before I asked again:
“Where will this expedition take you?”
“The Eastern Continent, as it happens. Not far from here lies an abandoned temple, neglected and unmanaged. They say demon-shaped monsters have appeared nearby. A classic sign of a labyrinth forming.”
Inside, I rejoiced.
The temple itself wasn’t the point—the real treasure was the well within. But either way, Leon had described the right place.
“Excellent.”
Without meaning to, a smile slipped from me.
Though I didn’t know how, my dignity must have made it look graceful.
I offered the standard encouragement of the Empire’s people.
“May you obtain mysteries there.”
Leon had always admired his father, the Emperor.
He had vowed that one day he would be a ruler like him.
But one day, his father said:
“Leon. How long will you persist in such pathetic antics?”
“….”
The Emperor had supported Leon in all things, except for his ruin expeditions and labyrinth forays, toward which he was deeply skeptical.
“You cannot be unaware of your own position.”
Leon was the Second Prince.
The son of the second empress.
The First Prince, son of the late First Empress, was still very much alive—and he and Leon actually got along quite well.
That prince had long ago recognized his own shortcomings, and believed Leon should inherit the throne.
But the empire’s high nobles would never allow it.
“Do you not know the dark hearts of those who would drag you down and seat your brother on the throne instead?”
“I know them well, Your Majesty.”
It was only natural the high nobles preferred the First Prince.
He would be far easier for them to control.
Unlike Leon, the First Prince was gentle, pliable, not suited to rule with strength.
“For heaven’s sake, restrain yourself. Did you not suffer a great failure in your last expedition? I heard even some porters lost their lives.”
“That was…”
Leon clenched his fists.
That had been sabotage.
One of the expedition members had deliberately pushed several porters off a cliff. They died instantly.
The high nobles spread the tale widely, tarnishing Leon’s honor and reputation.
Later, Leon uncovered and punished the noble who had orchestrated it, proving it was a plot. But the damage had already been done.
“Incitement is easy. Undoing it is hard. That’s why you must leave no weaknesses exposed. You know this well. Why can’t you abandon such folly?”
After a long silence, Leon spoke.
“Do you love me, Father?”
“What?”
“Do you love my mother?”
“What nonsense is this, Leon!”
Leon respected his father.
But he did not love him.
“You should have asked me at least once why I gather expeditions, why I haunt labyrinths.”
The Emperor had truly loved only one woman: the First Empress.
Officially, she was said to have died.
But the truth was different.
One day, she had vanished without a trace.
The only guess was that she had been swallowed by some labyrinth.
I wanted to find her for you, Father.
But he never said those words.
As the Second Prince, Leon had always strived to please his father.
He obeyed in all things—except this one.
The Emperor had never once asked why.
It was as if he believed Leon should simply obey without question.
“You truly love my brother, don’t you? The child born of the wife you cherished.”
“You speak too bitterly. You are my son as well.”
“There is always a finger that hurts more. I understand.”
Leon gave a small, weary smile.
At this point, what was the use?
He had lived this way too long.
“I love ruins and labyrinths. I love the edge-of-death tension, the blood-spattered carnage. The sharpness of that danger thrills me.”
Leon smacked his lips.
He looked almost possessed.
Even I don’t know anymore what’s true within me.
That wasn’t how it had begun.
At first, he only wanted to find the mother his father had loved.
But as time passed, his heart had shifted.
“This is what keeps me alive.”
He had been born a political creation.
The Emperor had married the Second Empress for politics—so Leon, too, was a child born of politics.
Thus, to be recognized, Leon had to be useful.
He strove to be useful in all things, but he needed something to release the knot in his heart.
That was what ruin and labyrinth exploration became.
“Never speak such madness outside.”
“Of course.”
Everyone mocked Leon.
He knew well that if he cared for his political standing, he should abandon such a pastime at once.
They say the First Empress was wise. If she returned…
Perhaps then Leon wouldn’t need to play the perfect Second Prince.
She would be the First Prince’s pillar of strength.
Then Leon could shed the burden of being “the useful second son.”
The thrill of labyrinths was real, but so was his longing to find the First Empress.
His expeditions were both his only weakness—and his truest self.
But today, he had met someone new.
“Whatever the field, giving it your all is beautiful.”
It was the first time anyone had sincerely cheered him on.
Sayla was smiling softly.
“May you obtain mysteries there.”
A formulaic blessing usually, yet somehow it sounded different from her lips.
As if he really would discover a mystery there.
Why does she cheer me on so sincerely? Have I ever received such pure encouragement before?
A breeze stirred, teasing her hair. Sayla brushed it elegantly behind her ear.
In that moment, her dignity and inner strength shone—something no flatterer could ever possess.
Thud.
Leon’s heart felt as though it had fallen.
Everything was new.
Names changed again, please fix it