Alex couldn’t help but shout in surprise before closing his mouth with both of his hands.
‘disappear?? what the hell Young master Leon was thinking???’
But Duke Carl just ignores Alex's shocking expression and continues his story.
Eighteen years ago, before Luis was born, everything was normal. Leon was a boy that was full of spirit, imagination, and clever. He is also a very well manner kid. Everyone in the mansion and outside really adores him. Until the day Luis was born.
3 years after Luis was born, Leon become 5 years old, as a child with many curiosities, he find something odd about himself and the rest of the family. As soon as he thought that… Everything change.
“he started to question why he was difference… why he had blue hair and blue eyes…why he was not the same as the rest of the family??”
Since those questions pop up quite often, everyone begins to avoid him. Everyone in the mansion including the outside start to avoid him, to ensure they won’t slip out the truth.
The fact that he was adopted.
“but we as a family never directly avoid him, but whenever he asked that type of question… we decide to shift to another topic, avoiding his question”
Maybe that was our first mistake as parents started. Because instead of confronting the problem, we choose to ignore it. Thinking that he won’t remember, he won’t always be questioning. And yes, after a few months of avoiding, the child finally stop questioning. But… he not only stopped questioning that question… he also STOPPED QUESTIONING EVERYTHING.
“since that one mistake… that child that always full of curiosity and trying to find an answer for everything… he stopped asking a question or looking for an answer for overall”
The child became quiet. He stops asking anything and just follows without objection. No more questions about why we do this, why we do that. When the people in the mansion and outside were curious why he became like that… Just like how we avoid him, he avoided us.
He ignored our questions with a smile and sometimes he just finds an excuse to avoid us, though the excuse he has given was unbelievable, he didn’t care and just used it. Just like us, his parent who were doing the same as him before.
“he did the thing that all of you did to him??”
“yes…he did exactly the same… as we realized why he change like that… after a few months… we decide to confront him, in the hope, he will return to his usual self but…”
We are too late… as we start questioning him and hoping he returns to the usual him, he finally decided… to avoid us completely. Whenever we try to talk to him, he avoided it or he will listen but, that’s all. He's not accepting our excuse or our explanation at all. He chooses to live in the world of silence on his own.
“then because it’s happened for a few years. When he was 7 years old, we finally decide to ask help from a doctor from time to time for his counselling but… that was our second mistake…”
We hope that he will open up to a doctor and at least tell him the reason why he was acting like that, but… instead of receiving an answer from the doctor, we received a direct hit from the child himself. For three years, the child didn’t give any explanation regarding the way he behave to us nor did he says anything to his counsellor. But, by the time he was 8 years old… he finally confronts us…
“I still remember what he says to us when he meets us after dinner at my office… while I was with my wife talking…”
**************
Ten years ago, at Duke Carl's office.
Knock!! Knock!!
“father, mother… may I come in??”
Flinched*
Both his parents flinched as they don’t expect Leon to come and meet them.
“Leo??”
“yes, mother… so may I come in??”
Both of them look at each other and his father nodded his head.
“come in Leo”
Duke Carl say as he smiled slightly at his wife. His wife Duchess Julia smiles back at her husband.
Click
The door opens and both of Leon's parents watch him going inside and smile at him.
“Leo… come here darling… come to your mom”
“yes mother”
Leo smiles and walks to his mother. Duchess Julia then patted Leon’s back as she bites her lips a little to hold in her emotion. She felt a little emotional starting from hearing Leon's voice from behind the door. As it’s been a year since she last heard Leon trying to talk to them and when she sees his smile, she felt the urge of crying, but she held on.
“Leo is there something you want to tell us??”
“yes Leo... mother wants to hear too”
“Father...mother… I… for the past 8 years… I always did my best in everything… I did everything you ask me for… study, sword art, ethics… everything… isn’t that right father???“
Leon paused as he looked at both his mother and father, waiting for their answer. His father replied…
“yes… you did… Leo…”
“and as an older brother for Luis… I give my all for him to grow up… “
“yes… you did a good job as his older brother… mother know that too”
Duchess Julia patted slightly Leon’s head. Leon smiled bitterly. Both Leon's parents couldn’t help but agree with Leon's statement as even though Leon ignores others, he was always there for his younger brother, and out of everyone in the family, Luis was the only one Leon treated nicely like how he was before everything that happen. He could be the way himself before only in front of Luis.
“emm… and I plan to do that till his age reach 8”
Stiffened*
Both his parents looked at Leon with an odd expression. Leon ignores those gazes. And trying to continue but,
“what do you mean by that Leo??”
“yes, Leo… mother don’t understand… why only till 8??”
Smirk*
Leon smiled slightly watching his parent reaction.
“because 8 is the age he will learn to be an heir… I can’t spoil him like right now when that time comes for him, right??”
Gasp*
“ah”
Duke Carl and Duchess Julia both nodded to Leon's answer. Leon then continues with a stoic voice…
“and because after that time I… I will also stay isolated myself just like I did the past three years…”
Flinched*
Baam!!*
***********************************To be continued...Both Leon's parents gazed straight at Leon with a shocked expression.“Leon Fronti!!!!!! what… what do you mean by that!!!!???”As Duke Carl realized what he just heard, he couldn’t help but shout to Leon in an angry voice. Duchess Julia watches the angry Duke with worry expression and turns back to Leon with concern.“Leon… why… why you say that….”Duchess Julia asks Leon with worry gazed. Her eyes were begging for Leon to explain.“Are you insane Leo--”“calm down darling… there must be an explanation for this… just listen first!!”Shout Duchess Julia as she faces Duke Carl, trying to calm her husband. Duke Carl shot Leon with a flaming glare while Duchess Julia turn back towards Leon who was silent while watching her husband with determined eyes.Sigh*“It's just as I said before... I plan on living isolated after this… I won’t take part in the heir study anymore… I’m just gonna live in silence now… then… when I reach the age of 20 and Luis reaches his age of illegible for him to b
Leon paused as his father interrupted him. Duchess Julia becomes anxious as she begins to realize this talk direction.“why for now???? why do you say we could live as a family only for now?? what do you mean… isn’t it enough if you live iso—”“darling you…”Gasp*Duke Carl quickly closes his mouth as he suddenly realized that he almost agrees with his son's suggestion.‘shit… this talk is following Leo's direction...’Duke Carl cursed inside of him. Duchess Julia becomes restless, she knows if she didn’t stop her husband just now… this talk will surely agree with her son. Then, she will lose her son.“for now, because… though we won’t fight… the one who already lose from the start… won’t have a place in this mansion…”Bam*But, without hesitating, Leon shoved both of his parents with the truth that they don’t want to admit. Yes… in a noble’s family, if ones lose position as an heir or do not become the lord, they don’t have any qualification to stay in the mansion, they will be sent
As Duke Carl heard Leon shout toward his wife, he immediately went to her left side.“honey why do you bite your lips like that…”Duke Carl is also on his knees, and his hand quickly touches his wife's face and onto her lips.“it must be hurt… let me see it”Says him as he used his right hand to take a peek at his wife’s bleeding lips. She opens her tightened lips to allow her husband to wipe her bleeding lips. She could see how concerned her husband and son are as she gaze helplessly back and forth between the two. Her tears stop.“you’re concerned when I’m bleeding like this… so what about my heart that you cut just now”Stiffened*Both her husband and son stiffened as she says that. They both look at her before looking at each other.‘this duo is… really piss me off!!!’she thought.“mother I … I’m sorry but I will still do this even if you trying to stop me”Leon says with determined eyes. Duke Carl sigh after looking at his son's face and finally gazed back at his wife.“honey… i
Leon was the last one that arrived at the dining hall, that's why he hastily went inside. He already wearing different clothes now as his body was sweating from training his sword just a while ago. He was wearing simple blue clothes and pants while his back hair was tied up with blue ribbon.As he arrives inside, he could see from the place he was standing, his father, Duke Carl was at the end of the table, at the center, while his mother was at the right side of his father and his younger brother was at the left side of his father. It seems both his parents and younger brother still didn’t start eating yet, as they are waiting for him.“I’m sorry I’m a bit late father… mother and Luis”“It's fine Leo… take a sit… Let’s start eating now that Leo is here.”Leon takes a sit in the center across his father's sit as he hears his father's casual reply. There are six chairs that separate him from his father sit. He put his hand on the cutlery set on his table and nonchalantly ate the steak
Leon stops speaking. He looks at his mother who suddenly burst into conversation. The Duchess looks frantic and startled by his words.'is she still can't accept my leaving??'he looks at her with a casual expression and calm."ah"she gasps as she realized how frantic she was just now. She looks at Leon calmly."you... didn't you realize that you're still... not telling Luis about this right??"Gasp*'oh... right... I suppose not telling him yet but...'Leon glance at Luis who's wearing a calm face and still eating his meat elegantly.'he already knows...'smirk*he put on a smiling expression as he turn his head towards his mother's back, though his mother was wearing a calm face, clearly her eyes give away that...'she looks worried.'he stares at his mother's face with a warm expression."well... I will tell here then"Leon looks at all his family's faces, before adding on mo
Silence*Everyone's mouths remain shut as they listen to Leon answer. They understand precisely Leon's attention.'he didn't want unwanted variables in the future.''my son is too smart for his own good.''ah this scary brother is too meticulous'Those words ended up occurring in the mind of each of his family members. Leon knows too well that his family will be ended up thinking like that. And it was true. Though each of his family trying to put on a façade of calm face, Leon is still able to read their minds.'it was actually written all over their face'Leon sigh as he looks at each of his family members. But he didn't really care because he didn't have any intention to let go of the oath. He was prepared for everything as he walks to this dining hall. Even without his family's agreement, he will force his way thru."so... Father please ask Mir to bring your crest here only then I can proceed""huuu...alright I know I can't stop you..."Duke Carl put down his cutlery that he hold ti
After the oath is complete at the dining hall, he goes back to his room and immediately changes his clothes to the sleeping attired ones. He then sat on his single coach near the window and read a storybook. His face was frowning as he keep reading through it. 'This.. ' The content of the book on his hand really messed up his already complicated mind. Even so, that event that happens during the dinner still wins above all. 'to think that I would rush my vow there' Frankly speaking, he didn't really intend to make a vow there. Instead, he intended to make it a secret with only his family in his presence. But, when he was there with all of those people around, he can't help but change his mind and proceed to make the vow there. The vow he make at the time, in summary, had 3 points to be highlighted. 1. He will leave the mansion when he is 202. He won't ever be the heir nor the lord in this territory3. He will only be Leon Forti as long as he is inside the territory. Well, th
And more importantly, he also found out about a few people that he didn't know about through the Novel. As example, Richard Paul. This guy was actually, Luis Fronti's aide or main butler. But to the surprise, he was also an old main servant of Leon Fronti. He works as Leon's butler for ten years until suddenly switch to become Luis's aide, 8 years ago. While Kelt was originally working as Leon's food maid for two years until he secure a place as his butler 8 years ago. which makes Kelt had worked under Leon for ten years now. But back to the topic of a character named Richard, in the diary, Richard's name was mentioned on almost every page, from Leon 5 years old till recently, 18 years old. Though the writing was a bit clumsy thru the first page which was written by a 5 years old boy, it's still readable. So, the current Leon can still recognize and confirm that Richard was indeed there in the diary. And, amazingly, on every page that mentions his name, it was shown that Richard
The pair fell into a brief silence upon hearing Leon's words.Indeed, their visit here wasn't solely for this investigation.As narrated in the novel, at this point, the duo should have been progressing on their journey somewhere in the eastern lands. Upon discovering clues regarding the dragon's presence there, they set out to investigate.Yet, somehow, they find themselves here instead.This unforeseen circumstance likely stems from the butterfly effect of Leon's attendance at the banquet, causing the issue to escalate to a point where they couldn't ignore it.It's not that Leon failed to grasp their perspective; rather,'They ought not to divert their attention this way. They should continue their journey. Otherwise, the narrative would veer off course.'That's why Leon gently reminds them, despite the risk of raising suspicion."...It's true that we had other matters to attend to, but... how did you become aware of that, Your Majesty? I don't recall mentioning it, do you, Josh?""
Joshua and Luis exchanged glances. Having heard the recounted story, they now identified the culprit responsible for everything that had occurred. However, this revelation didn't automatically translate into complete trust in the witch's narrative, even considering her close association with the duchess and duke. They were well aware of the witches' notorious reputation. Furthermore, recognizing that only one side of the story didn't guarantee authenticity, Joshua stated, "We need to delve deeper into our investigation if we want to find the truth."Luis agreed, saying, "I agree. For now, let's return to your majesty and hear his side of the story before drawing any more conclusions." Subsequently, they expressed their gratitude and took their leave.Julia and the witches were once again left alone in the cabin. The place then lapsed into silence for a moment. Contemplating something, Julia finally made up her mind and spoke, "Ellen... could you assist me with something?""Me?"******
Meanwhile, in another cabin."I apologize, Juli. I couldn't arrange a better place for you in advance.""Hey, what are you saying? Don't act like I'm a stranger. We're friends.""Hahaha, right, we're friends. But still, you must be shocked to see me like this.""...I'm more surprised to see you suddenly change like that. Did the curse break?"Julia inquired, a bit curious after witnessing Ellen, the witch, transform her appearance into her past beautiful self right before her eyes."Ah, that... it's thanks to Daniel.""Hmm? Why thanks to him?""Well, I don't know yet, but you know about my weaknesses, right?""Your core, yes, I know. So?""I don't know why, but whenever that guy touches me or my core, my appearance reverts back to the old me. It's quite a miracle, though I still don't know why.""..."Julia fell into contemplation, absorbing her friend's words as her mind worked to pinpoint the truth. She spoke cautiously,"Ellen, who cursed you? My husband won't tell me much. Did you
The dragon known to Leon as Tania had a past when she was called Tania Ermir. This was the name she bore before marrying her late husband, Daniel Arwin. As an egg, she was discovered by the royalty of the Cloud's Kingdom, who took care of her since her mother passed away shortly after laying the egg. Despite their care, Tania had to fend for herself during the crucial moments of her egg's survival. After centuries in her egg form, Tania emerged as a beautiful snake dragon. The Cloud's Kingdom royalty treated her as their own, giving her the name Tania and adopting their family name, Ermir. However, driven by adult dragon instincts, Tania eventually left the kingdom to journey on her own, only to return and find her hometown no longer existing. 'She had a challenging journey,' Leon thought before continuing, "in any case, now you comprehend the ties I have to that forest and the clouds, and you've discovered my identity. Thus, that concludes the first question, doesn't it?" Luis no
Leon's eyes briefly swept across the three figures, offering them a slight bow before returning his attention to Ellen. He felt no compulsion to extend excessive greetings to them. His focus shifted, driven by a more pressing matter."Anyway, how did this happen?" His question aimed to unravel the current situation before him. Ellen had been in this condition for an extended period, making her sudden ability to contact her friends a dubious development.The notion of her meeting his mother seemed implausible, given the duchess's infrequent outings. As for forming acquaintanceship with the boys, especially Joshua, it appeared highly unlikely. Joshua, with his temperament, would unquestionably eliminate her, just as he had done to Tania. After all, the witch was notorious for her atrocities.And what about the duke, Carl? Carl possessed the ability to travel great distances, using methods unknown to Leon. If he intended to return home without utilizing his unique abilities, Leon was con
"Anyway, Gray... I'll be departing from this place tomorrow."CrackThe glass in Gray's hand cracked the moment Leon finished his sentence. Gray swiftly shifted his attention to Leon, his other hand still gripping a jug of water, as he inquired, "I will follow you, right? Your Majesty?""Hmm?" Leon took a bite of the bread he had soaked in mushroom soup."I will be leaving alone, though," he casually stated."What!? Then... then, what about me?""You'll stay here.""But why? Your Majesty... is there something you don't like about me? I'll fix it—""Fix your way of calling me first," Leon muttered sternly, though his demeanor remained casual."Alright... Milord. I will call you that... is that okay?""Hmm, much better. Even so, you won't follow me.""What? Why?"Gray's question made him look like an abandoned puppy, but Leon wasn't moved in the slightest."You still have things to do here for me. So, stay. I will go home alone."In the end, Gray had to give up."...Haa, I will do as yo
Anyway, that's what transpired. However, when it came to the conversation between Daniel and the cloud people, Gray remained unaware. He was preoccupied being given a tour by the Cloud's inhabitants.Upon leaving the location, Daniel handed him a piece of canvas and explained that he had used it to secure their entry to the palace.Confusion clouded Gray's mind about how it happened. Nevertheless, witnessing Daniel's familiarity with the cloud people and hearing them address him as "Milord," Gray had no doubt about the truth of his current master's words.Furthermore,'Even though he said he would just pretend to be the royalty of the Cloud's Kingdom... I'm pretty sure that this man— he was indeed the king of these people!'There was a misunderstanding in Gray's mind that Daniel was, in fact, a royal figure.From that moment onward, the way Gray treated Leon changed. Instead of addressing him as sir or milord, he now referred to him as his majesty, fitting of his lord's status. Althou
Despite Gray's incredulity at what he was witnessing, both he and Leon found themselves on the cloud. People who appeared engrossed in their own activities halted their work and approached the duo, forming a crowd. Leading them was an elderly man who greeted Daniel as if they were familiar. "Milord, we have come as you called. Is there something the matter?" "Hey Anan, sorry to call you suddenly, but... I just wanted to ask you something. Can we talk for a moment?" "Sure. But that man..." "Ah, he's my servant. I'll leave him in the care of others for a moment. Can you guys show him around, perhaps?" "Sure, it's my joy to do so!" "We will do it for you, milord!" "Yeah, young man, please follow us!" While Gray was being led around by the cloud's inhabitants, Leon ventured to a secluded spot with Anan. "By the way, Anan... I don't recall you ever calling me 'milord' before. Why now?" "...That's right. At first, we didn't think we could use that title, as it's reserved for our ma
"Arghhh* RAN!!! Please help us!! De-demon!! A child watches as his village burns down. All around him, the air is filled with screams from the villagers. His hands clench tightly onto the body of his mother, who carries him while running. His father was left behind to protect them both. Although at first, his mother hesitated, for him, she ran. How long has it been? He didn't know. However, the only time his mother stops is when they no longer see the village in their sight. His mother leans down behind a tree, still tightly hugging him and patting him, telling him everything will be fine, that she will protect him. "Mother..." The small child utters those words unconsciously, trying to look up to see his mother's face. Thud* Suddenly, at that moment, his ears hear the sound of something falling near him. His eyes stop turning at his mother; instead, his head instinctively turns to look at what had fallen. 'What is that?' His head questions, looking at an unknown object l