Leon’s POV
It looked like Ella finally had her confrontation with Kayla, and from the way she carried herself afterward, it was clear she came out on top. When she returned from excusing herself to the bathroom, there was a renewed confidence in her stride, like a fire had been lit inside her that couldn’t be ignored.
Without a word, I reached out and ruffled her hair. My fingers tangled through her soft locks, feeling a gentle warmth spread from my hand. Ella’s cheeks flushed a deep red, her eyes widening for a moment before she quickly averted them, biting her lip to suppress a smile.
But while Ella’s challenge was over, mine was just beginning. Too many loose ends still hung around me like chains, weighing me down.
I caught Rose’s eye across the room for a brief moment—a silent exchange—before slipping out of the ball. I navigated through the dimly lit hallways until I found a secluded spot. The air was cold, pressing against my skin as I waited. Rose arrived not long after, her steps light, but her expression was serious.
“What do you want, Leon?” she asked, her voice cutting through the quiet.
“I’ve got a favor to ask you,” I replied, keeping my tone steady.
“Favor?” Her eyebrow arched sharply. “It’s not a dirty favor, is it? If it is, I’m out. I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore.”
“Relax, I’m not asking for that,” I said.
“Then what is it?”
I pulled out my phone and played the recording I’d captured earlier. Sesillian’s voice crackled through the speaker.
“I’m planning on a grand entrance to show the world the greatness of the Darkness, but a little detour like this won’t hurt.”
“Don’t mind the ‘little detour’ part,” I muttered.
“Is that… Sesillian’s voice?” Her eyes narrowed, studying me. “How the hell did you record that?”
“I have my methods,” I answered. “Sesillian’s up to something, but I haven’t nailed down exactly what. I think he’s planning to introduce his cult to the world. I’ve already spread some information about the Eclipse, but it hasn’t hit the world hard enough. People still aren’t grasping how dangerous the Eclipse truly is.”
“Well, that’s no shocker, considering most of the Eclipse’s victims are in rural areas,” Rose replied, crossing her arms. “Wait, you’ve been spreading information about the Eclipse? How? Oh, right—you’re the owner of Leonamon.”
A silence stretched between us.
“So then? What’s your favor?” she asked, breaking the quiet.
“It’s nothing difficult,” I said, locking eyes with her. “In fact, it’s something only you can do.”
“Hm? And what’s that?” she asked, curiosity sparking in her gaze.
“Tell your father you’re going to marry me.”
Her face twisted instantly, disgust flashing across her features.
“Huh?” She recoiled like I’d slapped her, her lips curling in revulsion. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“I want to test Sesillian’s limits,” I explained, holding her stare.
“Limits?” Her eyebrow arched higher. “Wait, explain why you’re even asking me to do this in the first place.”
I laid out everything I knew about Sesillian’s true nature. As I spoke, her expression shifted rapidly—confusion melting into shock, then twisting into something unreadable, finally settling on disgust.
“I never thought Sesillian’s feelings leaned more toward men…” she mumbled, almost to herself. “So that’s why he didn’t keep up his engagement with Irene back then. Now it makes sense.”
“His target tonight is me. I think he’s planning something big, and whatever it is, he’s looking to catch me. I don’t plan on letting that happen, but it seems like letting him catch me might be the only way to find out where his base is.”
“Do you really think this will work?” she asked, her skepticism clear.
“It will. Or if not, it’s worth a shot. The best thing we can do right now is to make Sesillian impatient. Since I’m his target, he’ll do whatever it takes to make me his.”
“That’s a pretty terrifying thought, don’t you think?”
“Are you going to get jealous if he manages to get his hands on me?” I shot back with a smirk.
“Do you want me to kick you in the balls?” she snapped, her voice dangerously low.
I flinched, instinctively covering my crotch as a cold sweat formed on my back. Even though she hadn’t moved, I could feel the threat hanging in the air.
“I don’t know if this will actually help us against Sesillian. Personally, I’d love to bash his skull in, watch him bleed out under my hands. But I also don’t want to get executed for killing a noble bastard like him. That’s not how I plan to waste my life. Sure, I’d rather handle things my way, but…”
“If so, then do you want to take it?” I asked, extending my hand towards her. The space between us seemed to stretch, heavy with unspoken tension. If she grabbed it, she’d agree to do what I asked—swallowing her pride for this partnership. If she refused, well, it’d just confirm that she’d rather burn than help me.
Rose’s gaze dropped to my outstretched hand, her expression flickering between doubt and determination. She studied it like it might bite her, brows furrowing as she weighed her options. The silence between us was thick, the kind that wraps around your throat. Her fingers twitched slightly, then stilled, as if fighting against the decision.
Finally, she reached out, her grip firm as her fingers wrapped around mine, squeezing like she was sealing a pact with the devil himself.
“Alright. I’ll do you this favor. But after this, we’re done. I don’t want anything to do with you ever again. Understand?” Her voice cut through the air, sharp and bitter, each word landing with the weight of a final warning.
“Got it,” I replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips, hiding the relief that threatened to spill out.
Even if she hated my guts, Rose’s drive to bring down the Eclipse meant she’d play along, even if it meant holding hands with someone she despised. There was something almost admirable in that cold, unyielding resolve—willing to endure anything to reach her goal.
“Father,” I addressed him. He was surrounded by aristocrats, nobles, and several court officials from the castle—people with a lot of influence and power. “I need to talk to you for a bit. Is that okay?”
“And what does the ungrateful woman want now?” he shot back, bitterness lacing his voice. It was because of our earlier argument—I’d told them all they were scum. And now, here I was, approaching him again like none of that had happened.
I was honestly pissed that Leon had even suggested I do this, especially after he’d witnessed up close the mess that went down between me and my family earlier.
“I just want to discuss something,” I continued. “Figured you should hear it, since, you know, you’re still my father.”
He let out a harsh snort, turning his back to me again. “I don’t remember my wife giving birth to you, and I definitely don’t recall ever creating you.” He dismissed me like I was nothing, his focus shifting back to the faces around him.
