If one had to ask whether Leon had ever danced or held someone close before, the answer would be yes.

In his past life as Haru, a CEO and a well known personality, he was invited to countless weddings and high profile events. Celebrities often approached him first, asking for a dance before anyone else could.

He learned more styles than he cared to admit.

From old Victorian ballroom forms like the Viennese Waltz, the Imperial Quadrille, and the Mazurka, to refined modern etiquette dances like the Foxtrot, Slow Waltz, and the classic formal Tango.

He got it all engraved in him.

At one point, people even mistook him for a professional.

"Let's dance then." Leon said, placing the Elven core carefully into his pocket before glancing at Layla with a soft smile.

Layla smiled back, clearly pleased. She extended her right hand toward him.

Leon took it gracefully, with the same refined motion he had mastered in his past life.

Etiquette in fancy gatherings was something engraved into him. He was born to move like this and he knew it.

Holding Layla's hand, he guided her toward the center of the ballroom where everyone else danced and laughed beneath the warm lights.

The moment they stepped forward, Leon noticed several gazes shifting toward them.

Curious eyes followed their movements. But his gaze, however, did not leave Layla.

Layla caught that look and sneered lightly.

"I will go slow, so do not worry about matching my pace."

Leon sneered back.

"Nah. Do not hold back."

"What?"

Right as she spoke, Leon pulled her closer.

"...?!"

One hand hovered firmly at her waist, while the other remained intertwined with her right hand. He placed his foot aligned with her, and said. "Try matching mine."

"Oh? I see you have learned the basics. Alright, I accept. Let us see who makes who tired."

Layla was being bold tonight. Leon could easily see the redness beneath her eyes.

'Did she drink something weird?'

He leaned slightly closer and caught a light scent from her breath.

Alcohol.

'Wait…'

"Hey, did you drink?" Leon asked.

Layla tilted her head. "Yeah, why?"

"..."

Right. This was not his old world. Drinking among nobles was common here. Fifteen was considered an adult.

Now that Leon thought about it…

'That is kinda messed up.'

The music shifted smoothly. Leon guided their steps with ease. Even if Layla challenged him, he made sure she would not trip.

"My~"

"Kya, look look they look so cute."

"The young master sure loves all his siblings."

Whispers spread as they moved.

'Loves all my siblings?' Leon inwardly sneered.

'Yeah, heck no.'

Aside from Veronica and Layla, Leon did not think any of his siblings would care if he lived or died.

"When did you learn to dance?" Layla asked, genuinely impressed by his moves. "The last time we did it, I remember you tripping at every step."

Leon replied casually, "I learned several other things too. Compared to that, this is nothing."

Layla's eyes twitched. "You sure are acting a bit cocky these days."

She giggled while closing her eyes for a second. She was enjoying herself.

As they danced, they chatted and exchanged short jokes. Leon wanted her to feel it.

That the Leon she once knew had changed. That he was confident now.

After a small pause, he asked softly, "So, what is on your mind? You can say it."

Layla's eyes widened for a brief moment, then dimmed slightly.

"I heard the king tried to frame you."

"Yeah, that bastard sure did."

Layla coughed. "Ahem. Do not say it loudly. What if someone hears it?"

Leon giggled. "Hahaha, do not worry. Even the king did nothing when I called him a child in his audience hall."

"Huh...Did you really?"

Leon nodded.

Layla sighed. "Haah… you have gone mad."

She adjusted her steps to match his again, then looked up at him with a more serious gaze.

"Hey Leon… about Princess Eula."

"Hmm?"

Layla continued. "Why did she take a stance for you? And why did you accept?"

Leon paused.

It was a simple question. Yet he hesitated to answer.

He could always say it was all Veronica's plan. Or, he could say he only followed her orders.

But he did not want to say that.

Eula had made that decision herself. If Leon claimed it was all Veronica's doing, Layla would not feel reassured.

For some reason, Leon already knew what she wanted to hear.

"That is because I trust her." He said it with a genuine look.

It was the truth.

Both he and Eula were coded as villains destined to die in the story arc.

Both were meant to be erased. And more importantly… both wanted to survive. Both had goals they refused to give up on.

Layla's eyes widened a little. Her steps slowed, and her fingers curled a bit tighter around his hand.

"Are you certain of your choice?" she whispered.

Leon nodded. "Yes."

"I see…"

She looked worried and proud at the same time.

Seeing that expression pulled something strange inside him.

A small gust of warmth, almost unfamiliar, brushed through his chest.

Haru never had siblings. He never felt this kind of affection.

"I will work hard and join Eclipse as an S rank." She declared it out of the blue. And by the looks of it, she meant it.

She wanted to stand by him and watch over him. That was her hidden thought.

"Yeah. I will be waiting then. And if you are serious, aim for rank one." Leon winked.

"Yes!" She said a bit loudly.

Leon laughed at her determined reaction. Her dedication was something else.

But that laugh faded the moment a quiet thought passed through him.

How would she react if she one day learned the truth?

That the person she admired and wanted to protect was someone else entirely.

That the Leon Valentine she once cared about was dead.

It was not him now.

Yet... would she still show him this affection?

Leon swallowed.

His throat felt bitter.

— — —

"Do you have to leave this early?"

Duchess Ezra asked Leon, seeing him settled inside his carriage along with Myra.

"I can't miss my classes, otherwise my class rank will fall."

Leon made plans that he would leave for Eclipse right after the ceremony.

Leon looked around and saw his mother and Layla standing nearby.

He had thought at least Veronica would come to see him off, or maybe even his father.

He did not know if he would return to the Valentine dukedom anytime soon.

'Well, considering the dungeon incident, his absence makes sense.'

That situation was huge.

And despite Veronica being with him these past days, she still had to deal with the financial loss and political pressure on her own.

Leon exhaled quietly, then smiled at Layla and waved.

"See you soon at Eclipse, Layla. Be a good girl and knock your brother's head if he does something stupid again."

Layla giggled with a forced smile and waved lightly.

"Hmm. Bye bye."

Their exchange ended as the carriage began to move.

It was night and the air felt chilly.

The only sources of light were the castle's steel lanterns and the moon above.

Leon sat straight and did not look back at the palace gate.

These past days were one of a kind, completely unexpected even for him.

'It changed too much again…'

The story had shifted once more.

He still did not receive Fate Point rewards for these changes.

Though fate points were rare, he noticed the system sometimes rewarded him instantly, and other times it took a while.

It rewarded indirect involvement as well, not just direct action.

'I wonder what could be the reason…?'

This system was still far too complex for even his S rank intelligence to fully grasp.

The carriage rolled past the palace domain and entered the marketplace road.

It was late, so all the shops were closed.

There was no one on the streets now.

Leon had several knights with him, surrounding the carriage as they ran alongside.

It was tight security, but he knew it was futile to think nothing would happen.

He leaned slightly forward and spoke calmly.

"Myra, can you take care of them?"

Myra's crimson eyes glimmered in the dim light.

She placed a hand over her chest and nodded with quiet confidence.

"Leave them to me. Young Master."

Tonight, in just a few more minutes, Leon would face his very first assassination attempt.

"..."

Leon had never killed anyone yet.

As a human, he still carried the morals from his past life.

Killing was a sin.

Sure, he had killed the Demon God's vessel, but that thing was not even a living human to begin with. With that skin crawling body of that child, Leon never hesitated to swing his blade.

He had no trouble killing demons.

But he knew he would not survive this world without taking that step.

He was hesitant, yes, but he could overcome it with his skills.

He looked out the window, letting the moonlight fall over him. Somehow, it made him feel confident.

Maybe this would help him take the first step of his life today.

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