Leon observed the 'zombies' and then turned his attention to himself, feeling a slight discomfort at the thought of allowing those creatures' claws to touch him."Should I just h*rm myself?" he pondered, considering it a viable option to avoid the 'zombies' altogether."In that case, before that," Leon glanced at the chamberlain. After a considerable struggle, the chamberlain appeared to faint."I should try to keep him safe for now," Leon decided. With a leap into the sky, he bit the sword he held and, using that hand, opened the chamberlain's mouth to search for any means the chamberlain might use to commit suicide."It doesn't seem like he had one. Perhaps he was a more trusted servant to them than I thought."But why would they send such a person his way without adequate security?"Did you guys underestimate me?" Leon wondered, considering it a possibility.Leon snorted as he withdrew his hand from the guy's mouth. Using the same hand, he seized the man's face, removed the sword f

Alex sprinted with unwavering determination toward the distant explosion that had caught his attention. Upon reaching the source, his eyes fixated on the figure of the young King, Leon, who staggered with blood-soaked sleepwear. Leon's pallid face and blood-stained lips revealed the severity of his condition."Daniel!"Despite Alex's urgent call, Leon remained oblivious, not sparing a glance in his direction. The gruesome aftermath of the battle unfolded behind Leon, but Alex remained indifferent to the destruction. The fate of the palace building held no significance; all that mattered was reaching the king as swiftly as possible.Beside his father, Zedd observed Leon with deep concern. Recalling his friend Luis' words after the banquet,-"Zedd, I entrust you with the king."-"What?"-"You heard the king, right? He's my brother, even if only for today. Take care of him for me. No, take care of him for my family. I trust you, okay?"-"Sigh, you really handed me a tough responsibility.

'Here I am, witnessing a family moment,' Zedd mused to himself, a faint smile attempting to mask the twinge of exclusion he experienced.Not wanting to dwell on it, Zedd decided to interject, "Well, it seems like I'm just part of the furniture in here."Leon, noticing Zedd's attempt to rejoin the discussion, grinned."Your royal highness, it seems like we've turned you into an invisible wall. I feel somewhat sorry," remarked Leon, making an effort to include him.However, for Zedd, who heard his words, a question lingered in his mind, 'Why do I feel insulted?'Leon's words appeared to mock him, yet Zedd had no way of confirming whether they held truth. So, all he could do was accept it as a jest."You really know how to joke around, sir.""Well, I try to make everyone comfortable. Isn't that right, Duke?""Yes, your majesty. Certainly, your joke is suitable for this moment."Taking those words as a signal, everyone then chuckled together. Leon's eyes glanced slightly at the duke, and

In the following days, Leon was given time to recuperate. The King, Queen, and even their other child paid him visits. The investigation came to a standstill, with no conclusive results despite the involvement of many people. Both the Duke and Zedd came forward to provide explanations, addressing the rumors surrounding Leon.It appeared that a majority of people believed in Leon's innocence. While the rumors persisted, there was little action that could be taken without concrete proof. Hence, after spending a few days resting in the palace room, Leon was permitted to leave if he wished. Unsurprisingly, he chose to do so, having grown weary of being confined."Your Majesty, are you truly departing?" inquired Prince Raon, the youngest member of the royalty, at just five years old. With violet eyes resembling his mother's and orange hair like his father's, he initially seemed hesitant to approach Leon but gradually warmed up."I still have a kingdom to lead, my prince," Leon responded, o

The witch, still bewildered by the sudden turn of events, stared at the hooded figure with a mix of confusion and apprehension. The mention of a scent from twenty years ago stirred a sense of unease within her."Twenty years ago?" she questioned cautiously. "What do you mean?"The hooded figure turned to face her, their eyes piercing through the shadows of their hood. After a moment of contemplation, they spoke with measured and deliberate tones, "I encountered a group similar to these pursuers two decades ago. They emitted a distinctive odor—a dark and malevolent stench. It's a scent etched in my memory, especially because they took something precious from me."As the hooded figure spoke, the witch couldn't help but feel a strange connection between their words and the ominous group that had been chasing her. The mysterious past that Daniel had promised to unveil now seemed to be unraveling before her, carried by the winds of fate."Something precious?" the witch probed, narrowing he