Both Eula and Leon went quiet for the time being.

The lantern on the walls flickered warm lightly and cast a dim shadow of the two of them. Leon rested both of his arms on his knees, staring at the moon getting covered by the cloud for a long moment before speaking.

He gathered all of her words like a puzzle and piece them all together to identify the pieces he was missing.

"Eula," he said, looking at her.

Eula was playing with the ribbon but her body felt relaxed and she looked out the balcony to the moon. She turned her head when Leon called her name.

"How did he make everyone forget something like that? I mean…. How did he even alter an entire kingdom's memory?"

Sure, a memory alteration spell exists, but Leon for sure doesn't remember giving the king this kind of skill.

Eula did not lift her head away from him.

"He has a skill," she said clearly as if she was certain of what she was saying. "A skill that tampers with thoughts and memories of other living creatures. I do not know where he obtained it. I only know that after that night, every witness… every servant… every noble… Rinna, and even mother… they forgot the truth about my elder sister. They woke up the next day with a fabricated explanation already planted in their minds."

Leon looked at her. "The palace massacred one right?"

"Mhmm," Eula said quietly, nodding her head. "He made everyone believe Charlotte's mana core was corrupted because she pushed herself, heh, and then it suddenly exploded that night. That she caused the destruction that night."

She paused and then added, "Many nobles hated her already, so the lie fit perfectly in their mouths. No one questioned anything after that. My mother tried, but… he silenced her with another lie."

And after five years, they stopped asking.

Leon absorbed her words silently. He kept his mind as clear as possible, piecing together information.

"And what happened to you? You did not forget about her."

That was indeed true, Eula still recalled her memories clearly.

'Did Aster let her go?' Leon thought for a second then shook away his thoughts, 'Nah, not possible. He's not an idiot.'

Eula closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"No. He tried to erase mine too. I remember the feeling of something cold pressed against my brain. My thoughts started fading one by one as well. But… for some cause I remained unaffected."

She didn't get affected, and she didn't know the reason of what caused this either.

Leon stared at her hands. "So you pretended all this time?"

"I had to," she replied in a cold tone, with fury in her eyes. "If he knew I remembered the truth and it couldn't get erased, then he would have killed me next. I played along all this time. I cried with everyone at the fake funeral. I said the same lies they said. And every night till now… I could not sleep in peace."

Leon leaned back slightly slumming her back on the soft cushion, the warmth of the room doing nothing to calm the anger inside his chest.

"And the Twilight Order? That was because of this?" He said.

Eula nodded once. "I gathered nobles who despised the current monarchy. People who were cast aside, people who were mistreated, people who saw the corruption clearly, people who were strong. Some of them are far stronger than me. Some have influence in places that even the king does not know of. They chose me as their leader because I was the only one with a clear goal."

Leon looked at her. "But they still do not know the truth about the Liora Palace incident."

"It is not because I hid it," Eula said. Explaining it all to him. "They cannot comprehend what I said to them. Whenever I tried to explain what happened that night, their minds refused the information. I think his skill left a permanent blockage in their brains. They do hear me, but they do not understand what I am saying. And if they do, they forget what I say a few minutes later."

Leon frowned. "Hmm, the entire kingdom who witnessed that event that night had their memories blocked by his ability."

"Yes," she whispered. "Everyone except me."

That's indeed terrifying.

Leon was quiet again. His thoughts drifted toward his sister.

"Does Veronica know anything about this?"

Eula let out a faint breath.

"She might. We are not foolish enough to think she is unaware. She helped the Twilight Order many times from the shadows without saying a word to us. We faintly knew about it, but kept ourselves quiet. Maybe she is angry too… that her dear friend tried to fight and she could not be there to save her."

Veronica indeed told Leon at the tower that she lost someone close to her.

Leon leaned back fully on the sofa, the cushion sinking beneath his back. His mind circled many thoughts at once.

Veronica could dethrone the king easily, yet she did nothing.

'There was something larger going on behind everything, something even I had not seen yet.'

"I will have to ask her," Leon murmured.

He turned his eyes to Eula again. She sat just like him slumping on the cushion. Leon turned his head to her direction.

"Even if no one believes it," she whispered, turning her head to him. "I remember everything. And I cannot forgive him."

Her eyes were furious, Leon could feel it in her voice and that blue gaze of hers.

Leon nodded slowly.

"I will help you," he said.

Eula just looked at him for a moment… then a small smirk curved on her lips.

"Of course," she said. "And in return, I will take a stance for you in every case."

Leon let out a short laugh. "Haha, that declaration was cool."

He still could not believe she said all that in front of a full audience with her chin held high.

A stance like that from a princess would shake the entire kingdom. Maybe she did not do it without thinking. Maybe she wanted to get involved with him.

After today, her influence would shoot through the roof. Even far away kingdoms would hear about her declaration before sunrise.

Eula leaned her head back on the sofa, still smirking.

"Only cool? Haha, I practically saved your reputation in one breath. At least say it was legendary."

Leon nodded. "Fine. It was legendary."

"Better," Eula replied.

For real, that declaration will go down in history.

For a moment, the chaos of Tiara Town, the council, the argument with the king, all of it felt distant in some of the rooms they were now seating side by side.

Leon glanced at her again. "So, when are you returning to Eclipse?"

Eula let out a thoughtful hum.

"From the way things are going… I think it will be the day after tomorrow. Rinna would not like to stay at the palace either."

"True," Leon said. "It will be relaxing for all of us as well. After the Tiara incident and Veronica diverting the blame, Twilight Order gets time to breathe a little. Headmaster Raizen's case is temporarily closed too. He will return to Eclipse, but he will probably work from his office or his house."

Leon stretched his legs slightly on the sofa.

"Eula, the Twilight Order needs to strengthen its defense."

"We know," Eula answered. "Ajasai suggested it as well. It will take us weeks, but we can strengthen our defenses."

"That's great to hear," Leon said.

The balcony window rattled a little at the wind outside. Both of them stayed quiet for a moment, watching the night sky that peeked through the glass.

Out of nowhere, Eula asked, "Why are you not proposing to Rinna these days."

Leon blinked. He turned his head and stared at her with clear confusion.

"Um… what kind of sudden question is that?"

"I am curious," Eula shrugged.

Leon sighed. "I mean… It's a given. I tried all those years, but I got rejected." He paused and added, "Sometimes you let go of what you chased, because you eventually learn it was not meant for you."

He cringed the moment the words left his mouth.

'Fuck that Leon bastard,' he cursed inwardly.

If someone asked him now whether he liked Rinna, the answer would be no.

Even though he was Leon Valentine, his mind belonged to Haru, a twenty-one year old programmer and gamer. His attachments were different.

His reasons were different. He could not look at Rinna that way even if he wanted to.

"Is that so," Eula muttered.

She stretched both her arms and stood up. "I should go now. You take some rest."

She walked toward the balcony door and opened it. Leon stood up as well, following her steps lightly.

Eula paused at the doorway as a soft wind swept across, lifting white her hair gently. She tucked a few strands behind her ear.

Leon froze for a moment. Her posture, her expression, the moonlight brushing over her silver hair… it made her look unreal.

She looked beautiful.

Eula lifted her gaze to the night sky, then turned halfway back to look at him. With a soft smile, she said, "The moon indeed looks beautiful."

Leon's eyes widened a little. Something warm settled in his chest, and his heart thumped quietly, louder than before.

He said nothing. He only lifted his hand in a small wave as she stepped out and disappeared.

The room was quiet again. Only Leon remained, staring at the empty balcony.

He let out a long sigh.

"Damn teenage body."

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[A/N: the bonus chapters will be up in 24 hours, thank you guys are great. So once again, 600 PS for the 3 chapter mass release for this week as well.]

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