CHAPTER 304: LEAVING

"What are you saying, Leon? You are not in a position to make this decision!" The Dowager Queen’s voice cracked as she shrieked. Her pale hand shot out to grip the edge of the table like she needed it to stay upright.

Leon didn’t even flinch. He lifted his chin, almost daring her to try to talk him down. "No. I’m exactly in that position," he said calmly. "Only a king can abdicate. If I wasn’t the king, that word wouldn’t even matter."

"Leon!" she barked again, louder this time, like she thought volume would change his mind.

He sighed, loud and dramatic on purpose. If she was going to treat him like a spoiled child, he might as well lean into it. So he did. He crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow. "I’m serious. I don’t want this anymore. And you can’t force me."

"You have no idea what you’re throwing away!" she snapped. "Do you think power just falls into your lap again if you regret this later? Do you think—"

"Mother."

A cool, steady voice cut through the room like a blade. The Dowager Queen’s mouth closed so fast her teeth clicked. Slowly, she turned to the doorway.

Catalina stood there in a crisp travelling coat, the royal crest glinting on her shoulder. She looked taller than the Dowager Queen remembered, more composed, like she’d already been a queen for years in her mind.

"Catalina," the Dowager Queen said, her voice dropping almost to a whisper. She tried to sound soft, but the strain was still there. "You... You came."

Catalina nodded once, polite but distant. "I did. Because I heard Leon had something important to say. And I see he already said it."

The Dowager Queen swallowed. Her gaze darted back and forth between her daughter and her son. "Catalina, you mustn’t take Leon’s words seriously, it’s a misunderstanding-"

"Is it?" Catalina asked evenly. Her golden eyes were as steady as stone. "Is it not about the fact you didn’t want me to become queen?"

The question hung in the air. No one moved.

For a moment, the Dowager Queen looked like she might deny it. But then she glanced down at her clasped hands. They were trembling faintly. She opened her mouth, closed it, then finally spoke, her voice smaller than Leon had ever heard it.

"I... I only thought..." She paused, collecting herself. "I thought it would be a sure-fire method of uplifting the men in the kingdom, placing a man on the throne with no engagement... No woman to back him..." Even though she knew she had been backing him all along.

"And that was how you planned to honour father’s last wishes?" Catalina’s tone didn’t sharpen, but it didn’t soften either.

"No," their mother said at last, her gaze flicking up to meet hers. "No. I don’t think that anymore. I... I am happy to have you as queen. It’s just that-"

Leon doubted that, but at least she was trying to say the right words, all until she started to add the words ’it’s just that’.

"AHEM." He interrupted his mother. He was trying to stop her from saying something she would regret, "Oh, sorry, my throat has been acting up, y’know. Must be flu season."

"You’re a talented young lady," the Dowager Queen continued, voice getting steadier as she spoke. "You always were. You will make a brilliant ruler."

Finally. Leon sighed.

Catalina inclined her head in a slight nod. "Thank you."

They stood there in silence. Leon could feel how thick it was, all those years of distance piled up between them.

One polite exchange couldn’t erase all that. It couldn’t erase the fact that their mother chose Leon for the throne, or that she’d kept Catalina so far away. But at least... It was a start.

Leon sighed and rubbed his temple. "Well," he said, trying to cut the tension. "I guess that’s that. I abdicate. Catalina takes the throne. Everyone gets what they want."

The Dowager Queen didn’t answer. She looked tired. Older than he remembered.

Catalina finally turned her gaze to Leon. Her face was still composed, but he could see the glimmer of relief in her eyes. "Thank you," she said quietly.

He shrugged. "Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen the mess I left behind."

One corner of her mouth quirked up in the tiniest smile. "I’ve cleaned up your messes before. I think I can handle it."

Leon felt a little of the weight slide off his shoulders. Maybe, finally, he’d done the right thing.

Catalina was quiet for a moment after the conversation with their mother. Then she took a slow breath and looked at Leon.

"Walk with me," she said.

Leon blinked, a little surprised by the request. But he nodded and followed her out of the chamber. They stepped into the side corridor that led to the palace gardens. It was bright outside, sunlight hitting all the old stone walls and making the ivy look greener than he remembered.

Finally, Catalina stopped by the old marble fountain. She turned to him, her arms folding over her chest. Her expression was so serious it made him tense.

"What is your plan?" she asked, her tone flat and cold.

Leon blinked again. For a second, he thought she was accusing him of plotting something. He felt a pinch of annoyance. Did she really think he was playing games with her even now?

"If you’re worried this is some ploy," he started, voice sharper than he meant, "you’re wrong."

Catalina frowned slightly. "That’s not what I meant."

Leon opened his mouth to retort, but she went on.

"I’m asking what your plan is," she clarified, her voice softer. "What will you do after abdicating?"

He shut his mouth. Oh.

Right. She wasn’t accusing him—she was just... Asking. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little awkward.

He held her gaze. "I’m leaving," he emphasised. "Leaving the kingdom."

Catalina’s eyebrows drew together. "You’re leaving the kingdom?"

Leon nodded. He looked away, feeling the old, restless ache in his chest. "I want to find myself." He hesitated, then added in a quieter voice so that she wouldn’t hear him, "And someone."