When Leon entered with his maids and knights, he realized the ruckus he caused earlier had attracted attention from the nearby patrol knights and stationed guards.

Armored footsteps echoed sharply from both corridors. Royal knights appeared one after another, forming a tight half-circle around Leon's group. They pointed their weapons at them.

Leon's eyes fell on one particular individual among them. He was wearing a red cape with the royal sigil.

'He must be the captain,' Leon thought.

The captain walked in slowly as the guards fully surrounded them. He looked at Leon's crest on his coat. His wavy long red hair matched perfectly with his eye color.

"House Valentine," he barked. "Explain yourselves at once."

Leon raised an eyebrow. 'Why does it feel like I know this guy?'

Leon brushed off the thought.

The captain jabbed the end of his sword closer, pointing it at Leon's direction.

"You will not move until we receive an answer."

Leon stared at the pointed sword. He considered using his title again, but they were indoors with no moonlight, so he doubted it would activate the same way.

Myra saw the captain approach as well. She recalled Veronica's words. Veronica had sent her with Leon to protect him, and to make sure he followed everything she instructed.

"Young master," she whispered, stepping forward before Leon could speak. "Allow me."

Leon understood and gave her a brief nod.

Myra reached into her coat and pulled out a coin-sized silver badge.

A Seal of Favor. The seal given only to the most trusted elite members of the Calamity Tower. From the style of the sigil, it clearly belonged to the Blood Tower.

Every knight who saw it stiffened instantly.

It was the hardest seal to earn. Those who held it had either reached white core or were extremely close to reaching it.

The girl in the maid uniform, wearing the Valentine crest, held the badge in front of them. It pointed to one simple truth:

You cannot touch him. Someone untouchable is supporting him.

The captain withdrew his blade.

A Tower Head's authority was greater than that of a king. They did not hold national power, they held international influence. That was how powerful and feared a Calamity Tower Head was. Their Calamity skill alone was something even the five kingdoms refused to provoke.

Myra lifted the badge higher. Her tone remained steady and sharp.

"By order of Lady Veronica Valentine, any obstruction toward the young master of House Valentine will be treated as interference with the Tower Head herself."

One knight choked on his breath.

"...Why does a maid possess that…"

Anyone with even a shred of sanity recognized what it meant.

The captain's expression shifted. He looked at Myra with a curious but calm gaze. It was clear he was weighing his next move. Leon was prepared to act if things went out of control, and his knights were ready as well.

But the captain did something unexpected.

He placed a fist over his chest and bowed first to her.

"My apologies. There was no offense intended toward the Tower Head's authority."

Then he turned to Leon and bowed again, deeper this time.

"Young master Leon Valentine. Forgive the disturbance caused by us. The king awaits you in the audience hall."

Leon looked at him coldly.

'Damn, he folded instantly.' he chuckled inside his mind.

The captain carried neither fear nor arrogance. He lifted his head and addressed his men firmly.

"Clear the path and inform the others not to oppose anyone from House Valentine at any point."

The knights and guards moved aside in perfect formation, returning to their allotted position.

The captain stepped to Leon's side with the courtesy reserved for the highest-ranking nobles.

"Please follow me," he said. "We will escort you directly."

"..."

Leon looked at him, then at Myra, who was giving him a small victory pose with a straight face.

"Heh," Leon sneered lightly at her, then followed behind the captain.

On the way, Leon was told he could not bring any escort knights inside the audience hall, since the other Royal Council members did not either.

Leon agreed to the terms and said he would only bring Myra with him.

"..."

The captain's eye twitched at that.

Myra lowered her head politely, but the captain still looked doubtful. His eyes shifted between her badge and her maid uniform, as if trying to understand how both could exist at the same time.

"…Master Leon," he said carefully. "You do understand she is not a normal maid."

Leon simply stated. "I assure you. She is a maid."

The captain stared at him blankly. "A maid does not carry a Seal of Favor."

Leon added calmly. "She is a very dedicated maid. Appointed to me directly by my sister."

There was a long, heavy silence.

The captain finally sighed and gestured to one of his attendants. "Check her for any concealed weapons."

Leon noticed Myra's shoulder stiffen slightly.

He sighed inwardly. 'Of course.'

The attendant stepped forward. Myra stood still with perfect posture while the woman checked her lower uniform. A moment later, she pulled out a slim thin dagger from Myra's sock.

"…"

"…"

Myra and the attendant blinked at each other.

The captain slowly turned toward Leon. His stare said clearly:

This is not a maid.

Leon sighed and ordered Myra.

"Myra," he added, giving her a firm look, "hand over the weapons."

Myra nodded. "Understood Master."

She reached into her uniform, and pulled a dagger from another pair of socks, the attendant watched her calmly at first. Then Myra placed another blade in her hand from god knows where.

"Huh?"

Then a shorter one.

Then a longer one.

Then two tiny throwing needles from her chocker..

Then something that looked suspiciously like a miniature crossbow hidden under her collar.

Then a thin wire coil from her sleeves.

Then a palm-sized dart injector from her ring.

Little by little, the attendant's hands were full within seconds.

Leon closed his eyes and rubbed his temple slowly. 'Why does she have that many…'

The captain stared at the growing pile, then at Myra, then at Leon, completely expressionless.

"Ah..a,"

Myra finally finished and bowed politely to Leon. "Master, I am unarmed now."

"Very good." He said.

The captain inhaled slowly, as if steadying himself. "…Very well," he muttered. "I understand."

Leon nodded with a resigned expression.

"See? A normal maid."

The captain did not respond this time.

He simply turned around and said in a controlled tone, "Escort them to the audience hall."

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