Leo woke with a sharp breath, his body jolting upright against the soft mattress.
For a moment, he didn't move.
The room was quiet… too quiet.
His eyes slowly scanned the familiar walls, the curtains drawn shut, the faint glow of moonlight slipping through the edges.
"What the hell…?"
His voice came out hoarse, like he hadn't spoken in hours.
"Why am I here…?"
He pressed a hand against his forehead, trying to recall what had happened—but his thoughts were fragmented, like shattered glass scattered in his mind.
A dull ache lingered in his head, but nothing else.
No pain.
No wounds.
Nothing.
Leo swung his legs off the bed and stood up slowly, his balance slightly unsteady. He walked toward the window, each step cautious, as if reality itself might break beneath him.
He reached out and pulled the curtains apart.
Darkness.
The city below was blanketed in night, lanterns flickering like distant stars.
Leo froze.
"…Night already?"
His brows furrowed.
"I'm not dreaming… am I?"
He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to think.
Then—
A memory struck.
"Shinzu…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"Damn it… I remember now. I was about to get beaten."
Instinctively, he checked his arms, his chest, his sides—anywhere he expected pain.
Nothing.
Not even a bruise.
"What…?"
Confusion twisted deeper inside him. He rushed to the mirror and stared at his reflection.
Same face.
Same body.
No signs of a fight.
"…What the hell even happened?"
A pause.
"…Did I lose?"
Silence answered him.
Leo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"I'll just ask Father and Mother…"
*****
The castle corridors felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
His footsteps echoed louder than usual, bouncing off the stone walls like unwelcome noise.
"Mother?" he called.
No answer.
"Father?"
Still nothing.
Even the servants—normally lively, whispering or bustling—stood stiff and silent.
Leo approached a pair of knights.
"What's going on? Where are my parents?"
The knights avoided his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Young Lord," one said stiffly. "His Majesty ordered us to mind our own business."
Leo frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
No answer.
Frustration crept into his chest.
He turned to the maids.
"You. Tell me—what's happening?"
They lowered their heads.
"I… I'm sorry, Young Lord…"
One by one, they refused.
Leo clenched his fists, anger slowly building—
Until—
"Young Lord…!"
A soft voice called out.
He turned.
One of the maids stood nervously behind a pillar, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.
"Come here," she whispered.
Leo walked over quickly.
"I know where the Queen is… but you have to promise you won't tell anyone I said anything."
"I promise," Leo said immediately. "Where is she? And Father?"
"The Queen is on the balcony," the maid said quietly. "The King… he left the castle. He went to the tavern."
Leo blinked.
"…The tavern?"
She nodded.
"Thank you," Leo said, softer now.
Without thinking, he pulled her into a quick hug before letting go.
The maid froze in surprise.
Leo didn't wait.
He ran.
*****
The balcony doors creaked open.
Moonlight poured in, bathing everything in silver.
And there—
Queen Ella sat alone.
Her body leaned against the railing, shoulders trembling slightly. Her head was lowered, and faint, broken sounds escaped her lips.
She was crying.
"…Mother?"
His voice softened.
She slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red, swollen. Her face pale.
"Leo…"
He stepped closer, concern replacing his earlier frustration.
"What happened?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her lips trembled, as if the words refused to come out.
"Mother," Leo pressed gently, "I'm confused. Please… tell me what's going on."
She inhaled shakily.
"Your father and I… we talked after the tournament."
Leo stood still, his gaze locked onto hers.
"…And?"
A long pause.
Then—
"Leo…" her voice cracked, "you have to promise me something first."
He frowned.
"…What?"
"You won't hate us," she whispered. "You won't think about leaving us… or abandoning us."
Leo's confusion deepened.
"Why would I ever do that?"
His voice sharpened slightly.
"Just tell me!"
Silence fell between them.
The night air felt heavier.
Then—
"Leo…" she said, tears slipping down her cheeks, "you're not… our biological son."
Everything stopped.
The world seemed to tilt.
Leo stared at her, unblinking.
"…What?"
His voice came out broken.
"What do you mean…?"
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, over and over. "We love you. We've always loved you like our own—"
Leo lowered his head, his hands trembling.
Tears fell before he even realized it.
"Then why…?" his voice cracked. "Why hide it from me?"
She reached for him, holding his shaking hands.
"We thought… it wouldn't matter…"
"But it does!" Leo snapped, pulling slightly away.
His chest tightened.
"Who are they?" he demanded. "My real parents—who are they?"
Her expression faltered.
"…You don't have any," she said quietly.
Leo froze.
"…What?"
"Your father told me…" she continued, voice trembling, "you were… given to him."
"I didn't know either… not until today."
Leo's thoughts spiraled.
Nothing made sense.
"What do you mean I don't have parents?" he asked, his voice rising.
Another pause.
Then the truth fell like a blade.
"Leo…" she whispered, "you're not human."
*****
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Leo's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Is… my whole life a lie?"
His voice trembled—not with weakness, but with something deeper.
Anger.
Pain.
Betrayal.
"This is bullshit…"
Tears streamed down his face.
"You all lied to me!"
"We were protecting you!" she cried.
"Protecting me?" Leo laughed bitterly. "By hiding the truth?"
"You wouldn't understand—"
"Then make me understand!" he shouted.
His voice echoed into the night.
"I need to talk to him."
He turned sharply.
But before he could leave—
Arms wrapped around him.
Tightly.
His mother clung to him, shaking.
"I'm sorry…" she sobbed. "I'm so sorry…"
Leo stood still.
He didn't push her away.
But he didn't return the hug either.
After a moment, his voice came out cold.
"I'm going to find Father."
Her grip slowly loosened.
"…I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too… my son," she replied.
*****
Leo walked through the castle like a storm given form.
Servants stepped aside.
No one dared stop him.
His expression—cold, distant, burning—was enough.
At the gates, the knights moved to block him.
"Young Lord, where are you going? It's dangerous—"
"I'm going to find my father."
His tone left no room for argument.
"Let us escort you—"
"No."
He pushed past them.
"Stay here."
"But—"
"Do your duty," he said, calmer now—but firm. "And don't follow me."
The knights hesitated.
Then nodded.
Leo opened the gates himself.
Cold night air rushed in.
"I'm not a child," he said quietly.
Then he stepped out.
*****
Moments later—
He was gone.
Vanished into the darkness.
As if the night itself had swallowed him whole.
And somewhere in the distance…
"And tonight… something inside him finally broke."