The World Is Mine For The Taking

Thanks to this company, Milham was flourishing. Merchants flocked to the kingdom to buy and trade goods, enriching both themselves and the kingdom. As a result, Milham became known as the Kingdom of Progress, the only realm to make significant strides in technology, economics, and engineering since the advent of modern weapons like guns fifty years ago.

However, this company remained shrouded in mystery. It had only been established this year, likely not even reaching half a year, yet it was already making significant strides. It was hard to believe they could achieve so much in such a short span of time. Adding to the intrigue was the unknown identity of the owner. They kept themselves hidden, never stepping into the limelight.

Some even speculated that the owner was a demon.

I had no idea who the owner was, at least not until now. The mastermind behind Leonamon was none other than Leon himself, with his servant Amon managing affairs on his behalf. Learning this left me in shock. It was astonishing to discover that someone from the academy had orchestrated the kingdom\'s economic boom.

It had been three days since my sister and I arrived here. Our mother was under the care of the staff. Seeing the state-of-the-art equipment and advanced facilities, I felt reassured that my mother would receive the best possible care.

When I walked into the room where my mother lay, I found my sister already there. A beautiful woman was attending to my mother, while Leon and my sister engaged in conversation.

After the woman finished examining my mother, she turned to Leon and spoke.

"Everything appears normal with her. Her breathing, heart rate, and all her bodily systems are functioning properly. The only issue seems to be her meridians. They\'re not allowing her mana to flow naturally; they\'re blocked somehow. I\'ve never encountered such a condition before, but I\'ll do my best to find a cure and awaken her. I\'ll also consult with Miss Marie to see if she has any insights."

"Marie is quite old, so she may have some knowledge," Leon remarked. "Regardless, we appreciate your assistance, Trisha."

The woman\'s cheeks flushed with color as she spoke, "No need for gratitude. It\'s my humble way of showing appreciation for saving me, saving us all. Now then, Master, I\'ll take my leave to find Miss Marie."

"Very well," Leon acknowledged.

With a lingering blush on her cheeks, the woman gracefully passed me and exited the room. Leon then directed his attention towards me.

"Ah, you\'re already here," he noted.

"Yes," I affirmed.

"Well, you heard Trisha," he said, his tone calm yet decisive. "Your mother\'s condition is stable for now, but she\'ll remain in a coma until we find a cure. In the meantime, she\'ll be connected to magical apparatus to sustain her life. You\'re more than welcome to stay here and keep vigil by her side. I don\'t mind."

"Really?!" Selene\'s eyes lit up with excitement, reflecting the sparkle of her enthusiasm. She seemed positively thrilled at the prospect of staying longer in this establishment.

"Selene," I interjected, a note of reprimand in my tone. "We can\'t overburden Leon any further."

"But he said he doesn\'t mind!" Selene countered, her eagerness palpable.

"Even so, it would still place undue strain on him if we prolong our stay," I reasoned, attempting to temper her enthusiasm. "We should be appreciative of the assistance he\'s already providing for our mother\'s situation. At this moment, there\'s little more we can do. Please, try to understand."

"Fine..." With a reluctant sigh, Selene relented, muttering under her breath. "How did my sister become such a cockblock..." I silently hoped I had misheard her.

"Well, if you\'re not keen on staying, you can at least visit your mother here from time to time. I\'ll grant you permission to do so," Leon offered, his tone accommodating.

"Th-Thank you for that," I stammered, grateful for his understanding. "Oh, and before I forget, here\'s the ticket you wanted from me." Retrieving the ticket from my pocket, I handed it to him.

"Ah, thank you for that," Leon replied, his relief evident as he accepted the ticket. "Someone has been bombarding me with texts, demanding her ticket. I was starting to worry she might come after me with a knife if I didn\'t hand it over soon."

"I apologize for the delay," I confessed, feeling a pang of guilt for keeping him waiting. "I\'ve been preoccupied with the recent incident."

"That must have been traumatizing. I sympathize," Leon expressed, his tone filled with genuine concern. "But I\'m glad to see you\'re coping now."

"Yes, and I have you to thank for that," I acknowledged gratefully, meeting his understanding gaze.

"Don\'t thank me. Thank Amon instead. She\'s the one who\'s been helping you through your trauma," Leon redirected the credit, his words carrying a sense of respect for his trusted servant.

As we conversed, Selene interjected with curiosity, "Uh, Mr. Leon. Can I ask who you\'re giving the ticket to? It\'s not for your lover, is it?"

When Selene made that comment, Leon\'s expression twisted into one of disgust. "Lover? Shredica? No way," he retorted, his tone firm and dismissive.

Despite their apparent animosity towards each other, Leon and Shredica seemed to share a peculiar closeness. It was difficult to gauge the nature of their relationship; they appeared to harbor mutual disdain yet remained connected in some way. For some reason, I couldn\'t shake the feeling of jealousy towards Shredica...

But why was I feeling jealous?

"Anyway, we\'re leaving now. And once again, thank you for your help with our mother," I expressed my gratitude to Leon.

"Thank you, Mr. Leon," Selene added, echoing my sentiments.

With our thanks conveyed, we bid Leon farewell and exited the establishment, heading back home. During our journey, I couldn\'t shake off a nagging thought.

"Selene... Do you, perhaps, find yourself drawn to Leon?" I inquired tentatively, unable to suppress my curiosity.

"That\'s a ridiculous question, sister," she scoffed, her tone carrying a hint of incredulity. "Who wouldn\'t fall for a handsome, hunk, and wealthy man, who is kind, gentle, and aiding us in our time of need with our mother? I\'m honestly surprised you turned him down when he confessed to you. If it were me, I\'d have leaped at the chance to date him."

"How did you find out about his confession to me?"

"I could sense your awkwardness around him, so I decided to ask Mr. Leon directly," she explained, her words dripping with smugness. "He admitted that he once harbored feelings for you and made his feelings known, but you didn\'t reciprocate. It\'s a shame, really. You missed out on the opportunity to be with a great man. That\'s why, since my big sister has failed, I\'m going to try to win his affection.

I even considered staying in the establishment and sneaking into his bed at night."

"Please don\'t even think about doing that..." I pleaded.

"Well, since you stopped me, then that ship has sunk," Selene sighed, her voice carrying a tinge of disappointment.

As we strolled along, my mind wandered, conjuring scenarios of what might have transpired if I hadn\'t rejected Leon\'s confession. The thought gnawed at me, teasing with possibilities that would forever remain unknown. Yet, dwelling on it was akin to chasing shadows in the night—a futile endeavor. There was no use lamenting over spilled milk, for time marched on, heedless of our regrets.

What had occurred was etched in stone, irreversible and unchangeable.

***

Leon\'s POV

After Zeruel departed, I traversed the corridors until I reached Amon\'s office. The room lay vacant, Amon engrossed in her duties elsewhere. Settling onto the plush sofa, I tilted my head back, my gaze drifting upward to the ornate ceiling.

Recollections flooded my mind—reports from Gabrielle, unofficial news veiled by royal decree, detailing the events of the past three days following the Milham\'s Sanatorium arson incident.

The news implicated that the Prince of Milham, Julius Hovan Milham II, was responsible for the arson at the sanatorium three days prior. Naturally, this information remained concealed from the public eye, shielded by the veil of royalty.

Yet, I couldn\'t shake the nagging thought of what could have driven Julius, who just a month ago suffered heartbreak from his failed pursuit of Charlotte\'s affection, to commit such heinous acts. It seemed unfathomable that unrequited love could spiral into murder. I suspected that someone was manipulating him, but the question lingered: who?

And then there was the woman with the black hair, bearing the surname Eclair. Was she somehow connected to me? The thought raced through my mind, especially considering Elise\'s cryptic requirement for me to find the "third." Could it be referring to a third of us? It seemed plausible.

"Well, I suppose I can delve into that matter later. Tomorrow promises a rewarding ceremony for us."

After saving numerous individuals, we were slated to receive commendations for our efforts. Yes, even I was to be recognized, having assisted Isiliraiellyn in evacuating those trapped within the sanatorium.

While I could have declined the reward, there was a specific reason driving me to attend. One of the administrators would be presenting the awards.