Leon didn't waste time.
"I heard what the princess suggested," he corrected himself, leaning against the stone bench. "What are you planning to do?"
Asuma exhaled slowly.
"I don't know yet. If I serve the royal family, I lose my freedom. I won't be able to search for Anami."
His voice hardened slightly.
"That's not something I can give up."
Leon nodded.
"Yeah... not exactly a great situation." He shrugged. "I say we ditch this place."
Asuma gave a faint smile, but shook his head.
"The last thing I want is for you to become a wanted man. You're the heir to the Nortel estate. I can't drag you and Amira into something that could ruin your standing."
Leon looked up at the sky, hands behind his head.
"You know," he said after a pause, "I never wanted to be the heir."
Asuma glanced at him.
"My goal was to travel. See the world. But after our parents died... and my sister took over... everything changed." He let out a quiet breath. "She became famous. Powerful. And suddenly I'm stuck carrying a name I never asked for."
Asuma's gaze softened slightly.
"In this world... we don't always get to choose our fate."
Leon smirked.
"Yeah, yeah. Enough of that fate talk." He pushed off the bench. "What's the plan?"
Asuma shook his head.
"Still thinking. I've got a couple days."
Leon nodded.
"Alright. Just remember—you're not alone in this. Me and Amira... we're sticking with you."
Asuma looked at him for a moment.
Then smiled, faint but genuine.
"...Guess I got lucky."
Meanwhile — The Princess's Chamber
Urillia sat at her desk, pen gliding across parchment with quiet precision.
"There is a traitor within the empire," she said calmly.
Denias stood beside her, arms crossed.
"Someone within the Royal Council," she continued, "is leaking information to the Black Guild."
Denias frowned.
"Princess... I hesitate to suggest this, but—could this be your brother?"
Urillia didn't even pause her writing.
"My brother has no reason to destroy Talagra. It is too valuable."
She placed the pen down.
"The Guild's objective was the Noctyrix. Which means..." her golden eyes narrowed slightly, "...they exchanged information with the traitor. In return, they were given a method to weaken or break the seal."
Denias nodded slowly.
"Now that they've failed... do you think the Guild will eliminate the traitor?"
"I doubt it," Urillia replied. "A resource like that is far too valuable."
She stood.
"Whoever this is... they possess knowledge beyond even mine."
Denias' expression darkened.
"Which means..."
"...they could be someone within the Royal Council," Urillia finished.
A brief pause.
"Or worse."
Denias exhaled quietly.
"The World Council."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Urillia turned toward the window.
"For now, our priority is clear. We have the Noctyrix."
Her gaze sharpened.
"And the Guild will come for her again."
Denias nodded.
"Preparations to return to the capital are already underway."
"Good," she said. "We leave soon."
Outside — Serria's Garden
The same garden that gave Asuma a moment of peace...
Now felt different.
Controlled.
Measured.
Serria walked slowly along the stone path, gloved fingers brushing lightly against blooming flowers. Her expression was calm—almost serene.
Morgan followed a step behind.
"Morgan," she said, not turning, "what do you think of that boy?"
Morgan didn't hesitate.
"His desire to defeat a Primordial is foolish. Reckless. He will die chasing it."
Serria stopped.
"...Will he?"
Morgan frowned slightly.
She turned her head just enough for her golden eyes to catch the light.
"He didn't tell us everything."
Morgan's gaze sharpened.
"The other power?"
"Yes," Serria said quietly. "He's hiding it."
Morgan folded his arms.
"Then why didn't you press him?"
A pause.
The wind stirred softly through the garden.
Serria's expression didn't change.
But her voice lowered.
"Because whatever is inside him..."
She looked ahead again.
"...was staring back at me."
Morgan stiffened slightly.
"And for a moment..."
The Lioness of Azel—one of the empire's strongest warriors—
"...it terrified me."