“Why are you with this man?”
I stayed quiet, locking eyes with him, refusing to give in to his demand. The tension was thick in the air, but when I saw he wasn’t about to let it slide without an answer, I finally gave in.
“Someone I know,” I said, my voice sharp and indifferent.
My father’s gaze raked over Leon, slow and condescending, before he let out a disgusted scoff. “Look at you now, mingling with commoners. It seems all the effort I put into your education was a waste after all.”
“Knowing someone who doesn’t fit your shallow preferences isn’t a failure of my education,” I shot back. “It’s the result of you trying to mold me into something I never wanted to be.”
“Rose has really hit rock bottom if she’s willing to defend a commoner,” my older sister spat, standing right beside him.
“I can’t for the life of me understand Rose’s reasoning for being acquainted with someone like that,” my mother added, her voice dripping with disdain as she looked Leon up and down like he was filth.
Leon, ever calm, gave a slight bow. “Ah, greetings, madams and sir. Christopher Faust, at your service. I may be a commoner, but I am also a businessman,” he said, his voice smooth and composed, the smile never leaving his face.
“A businessman?” my father sneered, his lips curling with contempt. “How appropriate for a man like you. The only way you people survive is by groveling in the dirt for whatever scraps you can get. Businessmen are nothing more than pathetic bootlickers, kissing the feet of those above them. I remember a merchant who tried that once, licking my boots just to get a few coins for his miserable little trade. He wasted it all, of course, and I had him hanged for fraud. I smell the same stink on you.”
Leon’s smile didn’t falter.
“Well, it looks like Rose has a thing for those types,” my sister chimed in with a mocking smirk. “She does seem like the type to grovel herself.”
“You…” I growled, my teeth grinding together as I glared at her, fury boiling inside me. No, she wasn’t my sister anymore. That connection had been severed long ago. The only person I considered family now was Grace, who was resting safely in the Leonamon.
My father’s cold eyes swept over me before settling on Leon. His lip curled in disgust. “You’re wearing something expensive, but I doubt you could ever afford it. You probably stole it from the rightful owner and came here to scam even more people, didn’t you?”
“Scam? No way. I’m an honest-to-goodness businessperson.” Leon’s smile didn’t waver for a second. “And this? I may not look like it, but I own the company that makes this line, you know?”
“The clothing line? There’s no chance,” my mother scoffed, her nose wrinkling in disgust. “How could a commoner like you afford fine clothing, let alone establish a brand?”
“Well, let’s just say… determination goes a long way.”
Leon’s tone was light, almost playful, but it was clear he wasn’t being serious. Of course, they took it as a joke, and all of them burst into mocking laughter.
“A businessman isn’t going to survive on just determination,” my father sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’m sure you heard about this noble gathering and came here with the sole purpose of scamming people. But too bad for you, I’m here, and I’ll make sure the knights drag you out in chains.”
“What?”
“And you, Rose,” he turned his icy gaze on me, his tone hard, “you’re nothing but an accomplice to this… this filth. I had expectations for you, but you threw them away the moment you showed up here, dressed like a fool, with him. Knights, arrest them both!”
The knights, loyal to my former family, rushed toward us. But in an instant, the atmosphere changed. It was as if the temperature dropped, the very air around us turning icy and oppressive.
“Guh!”
“Hng?!”
The knights froze in place, their movements stilled by the sudden presence of shadowy figures. Women, dressed in sleek black, appeared as if from nowhere, their blades glinting in the dim light, resting dangerously against the knights’ necks.
“W-What… Who are these people?!” My mother’s voice trembled, her confident demeanor shattered as she took in the scene before her. The knights, powerless and outmatched, stood frozen, their eyes wide in terror.
“Hostility toward the Master is unforgivable,” one of the women in black stated coldly, her blade pressing lightly against a knight’s throat. “Anyone who dares to lay a finger on him, or even direct a hostile gaze, will be punished.”
“What are these people doing?! Where the hell did they even come from?! You… you’re behind this, aren’t you?!” My father’s voice was thick with both rage and panic, the veins in his neck bulging as he spat his accusation at Leon, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Relax, girls. I’m not in any danger.” Leon’s voice was steady, almost soothing. As if on command, the women in black melted away into the shadows, their sharp blades leaving the knights gasping for air. The men, stripped of their pride, collapsed to their knees, struggling to catch their breath, some coughing like they’d just been punched in the gut.
“You… barbarian!” My father bellowed, his voice cracking. “You brought assassins in here?!”
“They’re not assassins, they’re my bodyguards,” Leon corrected, his lips still curved in that unsettlingly calm smile. “They’re trained for moments like these.” He gave a casual shrug, like the whole ordeal was just a minor inconvenience.
“I can’t believe this—” My father tried to regain control of the situation, but Leon cut him off smoothly.
“You’re the one who threatened violence first,” Leon said, his eyes narrowing slightly, though the smile remained. “And if you give me any more trouble, next time, it won’t just be their necks that are in danger. Yours will be right there with them, flying through the air.”
The words came out playful, but the weight behind them was undeniable. A dark promise lurked just beneath the surface, cold as ice. Every syllable dripped with menace. It wasn’t just a warning—it was a guarantee.
My father… trembled. I had never seen him like this before. His legs quivered, the color drained from his face, and for the first time in my life, this domineering man who had always stood tall, always in control, was shaking like a leaf.
“You fool!” he choked out, barely able to steady his voice. “I will have you executed for this!”
“Stop your babbling, you foolish old man.” The voice cut through the air like a whip, silencing the room. The tension snapped as all eyes turned toward the man who had just walked in. It was Duke Merca—the host of this grand party. He strolled in with an air of authority that demanded attention. He was no ordinary noble; Duke Merca was one of the most powerful and influential figures in the entire kingdom, the highest official in the castle.
“D-Duke…?” My father stuttered. His trembling only worsened. “W-Who… who is this man?”
Duke Merca’s gaze fell on Leon, then back to my father. “He’s the owner of the Leonamon,” the Duke stated.
The moment the words left his mouth, my father’s face went ghostly white. The trembling became uncontrollable now, like a man staring death in the face. My mother’s mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. And my sister… she looked like she’d been slapped in the face, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.
The realization hit them all at once. My father had just fucked up—big time.
