We finally arrived at the castle.
The very air around the entrance felt heavier and tighter than usual. It was as though suspicion itself lingered in the wind.
Rows of armored royal knights stood more alert than ever, their eyes sharp, their hands close to their weapons. The silence was tense, as if everyone had agreed not to breathe too loudly.
It was obvious why.
The recent attack on the Holy City had rattled the entire kingdom, and the castle, as the heart of its power, had responded with unwavering paranoia. The guards were no longer just ceremonial. They were ready for war.
But I didn't falter.
My footsteps echoed against the polished stone floor as I kept walking with my heels clicking against each step.
I didn't even glance at the knights as they studied and the man who walked at my side.
That man... was Christopher Faust.
Not Leon.
At least, not the Leon everyone knew.
But deep down, they were one and the sa.
Just cloaked in a new shell.
Leon's usual jet-black hair was gone and was replaced by silken strands of pure white that shimred beneath the sunlight pouring through the castle's high windows.
His appearance radiated prestige and mystery.
His clothes—an elaborate ensemble of deep royal blue and silver, embroidered with gold thread—looked like sothing only kings or emperors could afford.
The knights clearly noticed the contrast. But because he was walking with , they said nothing. Perhaps they assud he had my approval. Or maybe they just didn't want trouble.
Whatever the case, no one moved to stop us.
We moved deeper into the castle. The towering corridors felt colder today and less welcoming than usual. A lingering shadow seed to hang over everything.
Eventually, we reached the massive double doors of the throne room.
They groaned open slowly, as though even the castle itself hesitated.
Angelica stayed behind, close to the marble pillars at the far end.
Leon and I advanced forward together, step by step, until we stood in the very heart of the royal court.
My father was already on his throne.
He looked exactly as I rembered.
He was bloated in pride, draped in velvet, and surrounded by won whose eyes sparkled with empty devotion.
One of his concubines was down on her knees, licking his toe with a sickening sort of delight, her naked form shivering in arousal or fear. I couldn't tell which.
Another had her bare breasts pressed to his face, giggling as if nothing in the world existed but his touch.
It was repulsive.
And yet, for a man supposedly crippled by erectile dysfunction, he looked absurdly content. More alive than he had any right to be.
I could never understand it. His obsession with won, even though his mber barely worked anymore. Maybe it wasn't about sex at all. Maybe it was about power. About control.
Or maybe he just needed sothing— or anything for that matter—to distract himself from how pathetic he truly was.
"Hmph?"
He finally noticed .
His bleary eyes lifted lazily from between that woman's breasts and locked onto mine.
The man who was my father.
His gaze dropped from the height of his throne like a guillotine.
"Why are you here?"
His voice was coarse and irritated, like I had just ruined his afternoon.
"I've co to talk to you about so matters, Father," I replied coolly, curtsying with practiced elegance. My fingers lifted the edges of my dress just enough to reveal a glimpse of stocking, and I placed one foot behind the other with perfect posture.
"I don't have the ti. Can't you see that I'm busy?"
He waved a hand dismissively, as if I were just another servant interrupting his pleasure.
"I can see that," I said with a calm, practiced smile. "But this is a matter of importance."
The corners of my lips lifted, but the cold in my eyes made it clear that I wasn't smiling for him.
He stared at longer this ti.
Sothing flickered in his expression.
It was suspicion.
His gaze traced slowly, from the tip of my polished shoes to the curve of my jaw.
What was he thinking? Could he sense it?
That I wasn't the sa girl from before?
That sothing inside had shifted?
Then his attention moved.
He looked to the man beside .
"You..."
His voice dropped, laced with venom and alarm.
It was clear now.
He knew.
Leon had been right.
All it took was a glance.
And he understood.
He could tell I had changed. That I'd grown.
That I'd had sex.
And standing next to who was exuding that aura of cool control and confidence, it wasn't hard for him to guess who it had been with.
My smile never faded.
Leon didn't flinch either. He simply stood there, smiling beside with a relaxed poise.
The King let out a tired sigh. "Fine… State your business."
"I think it would be rather inappropriate to discuss what I'm about to say in front of so many people," I said with a playful calmness. "Especially when those people are naked… one licking your toes and another suffocating your face with her tits."
He grunted in annoyance.
"…You can all go."
His concubines scrambled like startled cats. So clutching their clothes hastily against their bodies, others still giggling shalessly as they hurried out through the side door, bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.
The room fell silent once they were gone.
"Now then, state your business here."
"I love that you're getting straight to the point, Father," I said, gently brushing the edge of my dress as I stepped forward. "But before I do, I believe it would be wise to introduce this man to you."
He looked at Leon again, this ti more intently.
Leon said nothing at first, but his presence filled the room like smoke.
Then he stepped forward.
With elegance befitting royalty, he bowed with his torso bending at a precise 45 degrees, one hand placed firmly over his chest.
"Nice to officially et you, Your Majesty," he said. "My na is Christopher Faust. I am the current owner of the company Leonamon."
The King's eyes shot wide open.
For a mont, I saw sothing rare in his face. It was genuine shock.
And then, like a crack running down his mask, his lips split apart into a grin.
"Fufufu... Fufufu... Hehahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He erupted into wild laughter.
The sound was thunderous. It was bouncing off every wall, rattling the chandeliers, and drowning the stillness in manic echoes.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Is this it, Myrcella?! Is this how you're planning to defy ?! I've got to admit, I'm impressed! You really do impress , Myrcella!"
I stood silently, watching him with calm detachnt. His joy didn't affect .
It was bizarre to see him so amused. I had expected fury with him screaming, or acting with rage, even a threat or two.
But this...
This was sothing else entirely.
Leon remained composed beside , still smiling faintly, like he was watching a predictable play.
"You really do take after your mother. I can't believe it… HAHAHAHA!" He clutched his forehead, his laughter nearly doubling him over. "That bitch's genes are stronger than mine, it seems… Makes wonder if you're even my daughter."
"I'm pretty sure I am," I replied with a small smirk. "Given how calculated I am, I'd say I got that part from you."
"That wench is more calculated than you think," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'll tell you that much. Which is exactly why I can't bring myself to fuck that woman. Just the idea of lying in the sa bed with her makes sick to my stomach. Feels like I'd get stabbed in the back the mont I close my eyes. Thankfully, my mber doesn't even work anymore, so I've got no reason to stick it in her. Still pisses off that I had to marry that bitch in the first place. But… all for the sake of peace, I guess? What a bunch of fucking hypocrites."
His eyes drifted between the two of us, settling into a strange mix of amusent and curiosity.
"Now then... the First Princess of Milham... and the owner of the Leonamon company..." he said, lips curling into a smile. "I think I've got a pretty good idea why the two of you ca here."
Then his attention locked onto Leon.
"But let ask this first. You… the owner... how do you like the taste of my daughter?"
"It is very delightful, Your Majesty," Leon answered smoothly, not missing a beat.
"This was the first ti?"
"We did it just earlier today," he replied plainly.
"Oh? So you didn't want her to beco the woman of the empire, and decided to make your move early. Smart. That's a lucky move on your part. You're fast."
"Father," I cut in, my voice sharp enough to stop him from veering the conversation further into his little ga. "You already know why we ca here, don't you?"
"Yes. Yes, of course I do, Myrcella." He nodded, leaning back in his throne with a lazy grin. "But let ask you sothing first… What would you do to convince to change my decision?"
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