CHAPTER 47: THE TOWER HEAD [2]

"...You truly have grown bold, youngest."

The words left Veronica’s lips after she heard Leon’s confession.

Leon kept his mouth closed, letting his sister finish her sentence.

Veronica leaned back into her sofa and said with a straight face.

"Bold enough to manipulate the Twilight Order." She conjured a smile, then added with a soft tone. "I know what cards you played, and also, did you forget that I had Myra, who told me every mess you created these past days?"

Leon stayed calm. He glanced at the black-haired girl in front and said.

"Oh, is that so? I was indeed wondering why my ’shut-in’ sister suddenly sent one of her Elite members as my maid... so, you wanted to spy on me?"

It was a clear conclusion that Leon had come up with the moment he had found out that Myra worked for Veronica.

But still, he didn’t know why his sister did that.

’Who knows what goes on in her mind?’

Asking her directly would be weird, so Leon would have to search for the answers himself.

"Shut-in?" Veronica’s eyes twitched. "Sorry, what did you say?"

Leon caught the faint curl at the edge of her lips.

’Ah... nailed it.’

Collecting his thoughts, he replied, without shifting his gaze away.

"Exactly what you heard. Tell me, when was the last time you left this tower?"

"..."

Her silence was enough.

It had been more than seven months since she was last seen outside. Leon wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she took her breakfast right here in the office, using her attendants to fetch whatever she desired and to keep her informed about the world beyond these walls.

A certified ’shut-in’ behaviour.

"I... was simply busy."

She said, mustering the most innocent look Leon had ever seen, which made Leon feel guilty calling her a ’shut-in’.

’Wow?! She’s good at this.’

But Leon was not done yet.

"Fair enough... but what exactly were you doing shut away for seven months? Don’t tell me you’ve picked up some secret hobby you’re too embarrassed to share with the family."

Her golden eyes narrowed.

"Heh. Indeed, I developed a hobby... one that kept the empire intact. Something you clearly wouldn’t understand."

Of course, Leon would understand. As the Calamity Tower Head, she had some duties that she needed to fulfil.

Her gaze sharpened, cutting down the banter.

"Don’t change the subject. Answer me... have you, or have you not, awakened Light Affinity?"

’As expected. She won’t let herself get cornered by idle talk.’

Leon clicked his tongue inwardly, then replied without hesitation.

"I do."

Her questions came fast, one after another: When did you awaken? Who was present? Which affinities?

For fifteen minutes, Leon parried each one with ease. He explained he’d awakened weeks before joining Eclipse, and only recently discovered his Light Affinity. Veronica listened, then finally leaned back.

Her lips curved faintly, pride flickering in her golden eyes as her fingers drummed lightly on the armrest.

"Hmm... did our father know about this?"

"Not yet," Leon admitted. "But I’m sure the Twilight Order noticed... and one of my classmates might have seen as well."

"Twilight Order, huh..."

Veronica fell into thought.

"Yes, sister."

"From what I know, their blades are reserved for corrupt nobles and demons. At most, they’ll watch from the shadows. But to harm a human who could slay a Primordial?"

Her eyes burned with certainty. "Even they wouldn’t dare."

That was true. In the eyes of the Twilight Order, Ethan and Leon were the only weapons capable of standing against a Primordial. To them, they were basically miracles, fragments of a fairy tale come alive before their very eyes.

They wouldn’t dare to harm, nor could they afford to ignore such a thing.

Leon played along.

"Exactly. That’s why I made sure Ethan took the spotlight. So, I made every eye shift to him instead of me."

Veronica’s lips curved in a smile.

"Yes, I noticed. Brilliantly done, youngest... but utterly foolish at the same time. Still, it worked, though."

No matter how much Leon tried to hide his involvement, a faint trace would always remain enough to make people wonder.

How did he defeat a Primordial alone?

Even with Light, at his current level, it should have been impossible.

Was someone... helping him?

Leon already knew. It was a crack in his strategy, one he had gambled on.

And the king had most likely questioned Ethan about it directly.

But knowing Ethan, Leon was certain he had already spun a believable story.

’I just have to ask him tomorrow.’

"Anyway," Veronica suddenly sighed, "you have truly grown, youngest. More than Rowan. I originally called you here just to give you a warning, but it seems you did not need it."

"I am honoured."

"But... you must not ignore our father. He would be furious if he discovered your abilities later. Tell him the next time you meet him."

’Hm? What?’

Leon didn’t understand what she meant.

Their father? That man was not the type to care about a failed son.

"What do you mean? Why would father be furious?"

"Hm?" Veronica raised her brows. "You don’t know?"

"Know what?"

"..."

She blinked at him, then said flatly,

"Nothing. Forget I mentioned it."

Her gaze softened for just a heartbeat before turning cold again. But Leon caught it.

She was hiding something.

’What the hell does she mean by furious? That man has never spared a glance at me in his life.’

There was no way. That man was made of stone, and he saw his children as nothing more than tools.

Before Leon could question, his stomach betrayed him.

Grrrrrr— Grrr—

His loud grumble echoed through the room.

Veronica’s gaze fell on Leon’s stomach, then to his face.

"..."

"..."

They both stared at each other.

Veronica’s brows arched. "You hungry?"

Leon rubbed the back of his neck, pretending not to care.

"I guess... that’s what this sound means."

"Sigh," she shook her head, standing up with a faint smile. "Alright, I’ll stop the questions. Let’s have dinner."

— — —

Soon, they changed location.

On the floor just below Veronica’s office, a long dining table was filled with a spread.

Roasted chicken, honey-glazed beef roast steak with sweet aroma, warm cheese bread, and a bowl of fragrant lemon rice. Alongside them sat golden-brown pudding, spiced vegetable stew, and a platter of river trout garnished with mint and garlic butter.

The maid had done her part, setting it all neatly, but Veronica herself adjusted the placements as if it were something special.

Leon sat down, his eyes widening at the sight.

"Wow, you really put your maids to work today, huh?" he said jokingly.

With a casual grace, Veronica tied a small eating robe around her neck and lifted her chin.

"What do you mean? I cooked all of them."

Leon froze mid-reach for the bread, blinking at her.

"You... cooked? All of this? Even the pudding?"

Her eyes softened, and for the first time all evening, a gentle smile touched her lips.

"Who else would? And pudding is your favourite, isn’t it?"

Something twisted in Leon’s chest, sharp yet warm. He muttered under his breath, "...fate is truly weird sometimes."

Veronica’s gaze sharpened at once.

"Eat before it gets cold."

"Yes, sister," Leon said dryly, stabbing into the roast. The first bite made his eyes widen.

"Delicious," he said with his mouth still half full.

Veronica watched him, her lips curving into a quiet smile that bloomed so naturally it stunned even the maids standing by.

"How is it?" she asked, tilting her head, chin resting on her hand.

"I feew avive awain," (I feel alive again.)

Leon replied through a mouthful of food.

Veronica’s heart softened at the sight; the last tension in her shoulders eased out.

’How cute,’ she thought, staring at her little brother.

.

.

[A/N]: Sorry something urgent came up today! I will publish the extra ch tomorrow.