Leon waited outside near the carriage. It was a clean, polished thing made of black wood with silver frames, the Valentine sigil carved on both sides like a reminder of the house's pride. The inside was big enough to fit four people easily, or maybe more.

He leaned his back against it and checked his pocket watch once.

'Was a carriage really necessary.'

There were only a few around, and the afternoon air was just warm enough.

'All of them must be busy preparing for tomorrow's ceremony.'

Leon closed his eyes for a moment and thought back to what happened earlier.

"…would you be willing to take me to the town today?"

Layla had asked him that with a strange small smile.

Leon was going to refuse it at first, but being in his room sounded worse in comparison. His mother, Ezra had been calling him every now and then, and dealing with her was exhausting in a different way.

Going out seemed an easier option.

He opened his eyes again.

'Still. She is late.'

He had already waited for almost twenty minutes. He checked the watch again and clicked it shut.

Just as he did, he heard someone running in his direction. He didn't move at first, but when the steps got close, he looked up.

Layla came from the corridor, holding her skirt slightly so she wouldn't trip while running.

She reached him and stopped, catching her breath for a moment.

"Sorry… for the wait," she said.

She wore a white blouse with a teal green skirt, her hair down and a matching small hat tilted slightly on her head. One hand held a small purse.

She straightened herself and smiled. "Ah… did you wait for me for this long?"

"Yes," Leon replied, with no hesitation. "You were indeed late."

Layla blinked, then laughed weakly under her breath, not expecting Leon to truly agree.

"I… see. Then I apologize."

Leon didn't reply. He simply reached for the carriage door and pulled it open.

"Let's go. We have to return before the sun sets," he said.

Layla nodded and stepped closer, standing beside him. For a brief moment, she waited.

She was expecting him to offer his hand, maybe to help her get inside like how most noble boys were taught to do.

But Leon just stepped in first and took his seat without looking back.

Layla blinked at him. "Ah…"

Leon shifted slightly, resting back into the seat, he glanced at her.

"Are you not coming?"

Layla pressed her lips together for a second.

"…Right."

She lifted her skirt lightly with one hand and climbed in, sitting across from him. She took a moment to smooth her skirt properly, then placed her purse beside her.

The carriage began to move.

Along with Layla and Leon, there was only one carriage driver with them. There was no need for a guard, as they were only visiting a town nearby.

Layla slid the loose strands of her hair behind her ears before she looked at Leon's face.

He was looking outside the window while maintaining a straight posture. Wearing a white shirt topped with black coat matched pants, he also carried a white color sword with him.

Layla found the sword a bit strange.

"Where did you get this from?" Layla couldn't help but ask.

"Hm?" Leon finally turned to her, he followed her gaze, and looked down at Moonblade.

"This sword?" he tapped the hilt lightly.

Layla nodded, "yes, it looks sturdy despite being this thin…. Where do you get this from?"

Leon thought for a second, then answered, "it was a gift."

"Gift?" She tilted her head, "from who? Sister Veronica? Aunt? Or Duke?"

Leon looked at her for a brief second.

'She sure asks a lot…'

"None of them really, it was from someone else." He glanced at the moonblade resting at his waist.

"Someone else you say… huh." She muttered under her breath, and turned her head to look outside.

Layla kept watching the scenery for a moment, then slowly turned back to him.

"By the way, Leon… did you make any friends at Eclipse?"

Leon's fingers paused on the hilt of his sword. His eyes narrowed just slightly at the question.

Friends?

He barely went to class. He spent most of his time training, studying, meditating, or just minding his own business. Friendship was not something he had ever actively sought.

But then, something came to mind.

"…Yes," Leon said.

Layla blinked. "Eh? Really?"

Leon nodded once. "I made a friend. He sits next to me. And… he ranked above me."

"Ranked above you?" Layla leaned in a little. "But that means—"

"Yes. He's first," Leon finished quietly.

Layla's eyes widened. Her smile grew instantly. "Wow. That's really amazing."

Her reaction was surprisingly genuine. Proud, even. Like she was happy simply because he was happy.

Leon didn't say anything more, but a faint warmth touched his chest. Ethan was the first one to speak to him like a normal person. The one who called Leon a friend first. The memory of Ethan's ridiculous grin popped in his mind.

"So you have only one friend?" Layla asked as she rested her chin over her hand.

Leon leaned back against the seat, folding his arms. "Yes. Why?"

Layla stared at him like he said something absurd. "What do you mean why? You ranked second. Obviously people must have tried to talk to you. You know… For friendship proposals and all…"

Leon looked at her blandly.

'Friendship proposals? What kind of medieval nonsense…'

He did remember Rinna though. She did say to be in a normal friendship, but Leon would not be mentioning her here. As for Alice…

'Yeah, not a chance in hell.'

"No. I only have one," Leon said again.

Layla let out a small sigh. "Eh… I was expecting at least three. But okay."

She straightened up and smiled, a bit brighter this time.

"Anyway, I will join Eclipse next season. So you can hang out with me if that one friend of yours runs away."

Leon gave her a slow look.

'Ethan is not the type to leave people.'

Still, he didn't say it out loud.

"Sure. Good luck then. But remember, I don't like spending time with someone who ranks lower than me."

Layla raised her thumb smugly. "Don't worry, I aim for the top."

Leon snorted lightly. "Sure. Then you'd have to beat your brother first."

Layla crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks just a little.

"Please. That idiot loses to me with normal rock-paper-scissors. I am the superior one and that's just natural law."

"Heh, sure, sure, I will be watching."

'Next season huh…?' Leon thought, 'I wonder how much I would have changed by then.'

His current ties with Twilight Order, and his current status, Leon wondered just how much he would have made progress by then.

'Ah well,' He crossed his arms and looked outside again. 'I do know one thing that my position in Twilight Order would change by several folds.'

If everything goes well, Leon will achieve what he had planned in an upcoming week or so.

— — —

Inside the Liora Palace.

A carriage stopped at the main gate guided by several guards and knights.

Two girls stepped out with similar features. Seeing them step out, all the guards stationed bowed at once.

"Welcome back, Princess Eula. Princess Rinna."

Rinna exhaled heavily, leaning onto Eula's shoulder as if she could melt into the ground.

"I feel so tired. Why did father call us so suddenly? I was sleeping so well."

Eula straightened her by the arm.

"Fix your posture first."

Rinna straightened reluctantly.

The two then walked down the long polished halls. Due to a sudden call by their father early in the morning, they both had to reschedule their classes and had to take a day off.

Rinna only noticed it faintly. But, Eula knew about it all the time.

The timing was really odd. The king and the Authority must be onto something.

Then again, why did they call them?

Rinna whispered to her, "Hey, do you think something happened?"

Eula did not answer immediately. She just replied with.

"…We will hear it directly from our father."

Rinna nodded and followed her quietly.

Due to the Twilight Order, the kingdom is on high alert right now.

Eula thought back on Leon's warning.

'According to Leon, Headmaster Raizen has been pretty active lately.'

He was involved, then he must have got his hands on some solid leads.

Though, Eula didn't recall leaving behind any evidence. She trusted her seven heads. All of them are professionals at their job, there was no way anyone would be exposed.

Either way, Eula can't help but wonder.

'I wonder what Headmaster Raizen has been up to… I bet he was still investigating.'

There's just no way in hell, he would ever guess.

They reached the king's office. The guards instantly recognized them and opened the door.

Eula stepped inside. She stopped immediately.

Their father, the King, sat behind his desk. His expression was calm, but the air around him was controlled and heavy, as if he just got out of a heated debate.

Across from him sat a man in refined in black attire. Grey hair with faint purple strands, red eyes. His posture was straight, and his presence was the kind that could make a room feel smaller without saying a word.

Rinna blinked.

"…Headmaster?" she whispered.

Raizen Nightson turned his eyes toward them.

"Ah, princess Rinna, and princess Eula, we've been waiting for you."

.

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[A/N: Support with Power Stones, and Golden Tickets.]

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