A King Who Shares the Crown [Part-2]

"You didn’t doubt us," she murmured.

Leon said nothing.

A small tilt of Rias’s head. Her eyes lit up, just a little, with something close to quiet delight.

"You were afraid we’d refuse."

A hush settled, just for a moment. The air held still between their words.

He didn’t answer.

That was unnecessary for him.

She smiled knowingly.

"We won’t."

A quiet laugh slipped out as Syra tucked a bright green lock behind her ear.

"Refuse?" she said. "After everything we’ve been through?"

Kyra crossed her arms, fingers resting just so. Her green gaze held Leon without blinking. Stillness clung to her like a second skin.

"If you expected us to sit quietly while you tried to run an entire kingdom alone," she said calmly, "then you clearly misjudged us."

Up went Aria’s cup, grace tucked into every motion, those violet eyes alight with something steady, unspoken.

"Besides," she added with a faint smile, "power shared with capable hands isn’t weakness. It’s strategy."

Mia paused, then began to talk - her words quiet yet steady.

"We’re not here just to stand behind you, Leon... we’re here to help you hold the line."

Each person agreed, slowly. A head tilted here, then there. Nods came like quiet waves. One after another, they gave their sign.

Not impulsively.

It wasn’t a rush of feelings that pulled them under.

Deliberately.

One by one, they saw it clear. What had to happen next settled in without words. Quiet knowing spread between them. Not a single doubt remained. The weight of it sat heavy but familiar.

Responsibility.

Authority.

Then came the storm, right after.

A breath slipped into Leon, deep and quiet. Air moved through him like a hush across still water.

A quiet calm found its way into his chest, just once since sunrise.

"For now, finish breakfast," he said. "Then we go to the court."

Right away, everything changed. It happened without warning, like a door clicking shut behind us.

Focused, the air near the table grew still - no tension, just quiet attention.

No more teasing.

Fresh start each day now wakes up early instead.

A sharp breath lifted Rias upright in her seat.

With her eyes down, Kyra went back to chewing slowly.

Fingers curled then uncurled, slow. Only after that did she move toward the plate a second time.

Frozen still, Mia carried herself differently - no trace of jittery energy, just a steady resolve settling in. Quiet strength had taken root where unease once lived.

After eating, they sat without much talk - just soft words, minds drifting. Quiet settled between them like dust on still air.

Now and then a pair looked Leon’s way, yet nobody broke the quiet hanging above the table.

Planning.

Preparing.

Leon closed his eyes briefly.

Deep within him, mana stirred.

It gathered slowly at his core, steady and controlled, like a calm current building beneath still water.

Without moving his lips, his voice traveled outward through controlled transmission.

To three men who now stood within the palace walls.

To Lord Ronan, Minister of Foreign Diplomacy.

To commander Black

To Vice Commander Johny.

Come to the court chamber. I require counsel.

The message carried no warmth.

Only command.

He opened his eyes again.

Rias had been watching him the entire time, her crimson gaze sharp and thoughtful as she noticed the subtle shift in his expression. Something had changed in the air around him—the quiet calculation behind his eyes.

"You’re already moving pieces," she said softly.

"Yes."

Leon pushed back from the table and stood. The movement was calm, controlled, but decisive. The kind of movement that told everyone in the room the moment of quiet discussion was over.

Rias rose with him without hesitation.

The other women followed a heartbeat later.

For a brief moment the room filled with the soft rustle of fabric and the faint clink of metal and jewelry as they prepared themselves. Robes settled neatly over shoulders. Rings were adjusted. Expressions hardened into something sharper, more composed.

This was no longer a private conversation.

This was preparation.

Leon stepped outside the estate doors.

Cool air brushed across his face as the massive doors opened behind him.

Around the estate, the layered barrier shimmered faintly across the perimeter — seven subtle layers of elemental warding woven together with careful precision. Fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, shadow, and light. A defensive net that most people wouldn’t even notice unless they knew where to look.

Leon lifted his hand slowly.

For a moment the energy hummed.

Then the barrier dissolved like mist in sunlight.

And there—

At the outer edge of the dissolved boundary—

Commander Black stood in guard position.

Back straight.

Sword resting at his side.

He had clearly been standing there for a long time.

The moment the barrier vanished, his head snapped up. His instincts were sharp enough to notice even the smallest disturbance.

His eyes immediately found Leon.

For the briefest moment, surprise flickered across his face.

Then discipline took over.

In one clean motion, he stepped forward and dropped to one knee.

"Greeting your Majesty," he said in a heavy, unwavering tone.

Leon regarded him calmly.

"Rise, Commander Black."

Black stood immediately, but his gaze remained lowered out of respect.

There was a pause.

Then his eyes shifted slightly, noticing the figures standing behind the king.

The wives stepped forward behind Leon — not as ornaments now.

As something else.

Their posture had changed. Their presence carried weight now. Authority.

Black noticed the difference instantly.

The air around them had changed.

He straightened subtly, his instincts recognizing that something significant had shifted within the royal circle.

Leon’s eyes sharpened.

"Prepare the court chamber," he said.

Black placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head slightly.

"Yes, my king." Black nodded once.

Leon stepped forward toward the palace path, the women moving beside and behind him in quiet formation.

Commander Black fell into step a short distance behind, already issuing quiet instructions to nearby guards.

The king had returned.

And this time—

He was not walking alone.