The Foundation of Kingdom

Leon sat upon the throne.

Still.

Composed.

Unshaken.

But his eyes—

His eyes moved.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Across every single woman standing before him.

Not as lovers.

Not as companions.

But as pillars.

One by one.

He took them in.

Like carving the second deep into thought.

Heavy quiet filled the room, not silent exactly - more like waiting. A pause that pressed down, much like sky right before thunder rolls in. Nobody moved fast. Not even breathing came easy; each inhale seemed watched. Stillness held them, tight.

Still, Leon watched. Not drifting, never lost in thought. His eyes stayed fixed, though not like most men do when they see women. Hard edges there. Nothing warm. No give.

Only calculation.

Recognition.

And something deeper—something unspoken.

Rias felt it first.

She stood beside him.

Not behind.

Not below.

Beside.

Her fingers curled slightly at her side, nails pressing faintly into her palm. Just enough to remind herself she was here. Just enough to steady the strange, quiet tension building in her chest.

His presence... had changed.

No—he had changed.

And for the first time in a long time, Rias hesitated.

Not in doubt. Never that.

But in... awareness.

A second her glance lingered on him - just long enough to catch the sharp edge of his jaw, how rigid he stood, then the steady pull of his stare moving across the space as if nothing else mattered.

"...You’re really going to become something terrifying, aren’t you..." she murmured under her breath, barely audible.

Up rose Aria, spine aligned, mind racing ahead. Against her arm, fingertips danced - soft beats sketching plans before words could catch up.

Her eyes stayed steady, not fixed on Leon. Instead, they moved across the room, quiet but sharp. People shifted under her notice without knowing it. Little details stuck - glances dropped too fast, hands pausing mid-air. What most ignored, she held onto.

Stillness between Syra, then Kyra. Edges taut. Waiting without sound.

A small pull at the corner of Syra’s mouth suggested laughter held just beneath, yet Kyra remained still, gaze locked without so much as a flicker. Her silence sat heavy, where another might have spoken.

Stillness held Nova like steel in its sheath. Breathing came soft, measured, each rise of her chest deliberate. No motion slipped past intention.

Lira, then Sona - both moved with calm precision. Yet inside, lightness was gone. Elegance once gentle now pressed forward, driven. Purpose shaped every step they took.

Fragile? Not anymore. Mia, then Cassidy - both softer in manner yet sturdier now. Posture shifted; less hunch, more height. Their spines held weight they once dodged.

Tsubaki—disciplined to the bone. Her posture was flawless, but there was a flicker of anticipation behind her eyes.

And behind them—

Fey, Rui, Lena, Mona, Mira, Chloe, Lilyn—

No longer just maids.

Something deeper.

Something closer.

Fey was just a step in front, even if she didn’t mean to be. Hands folded close together. Yet her gaze - fixed on Leon now - carried something new, sharp, still. Not loud, never loud, but deeper than it had ever been.

Her voice slipped out like a secret, almost silent. His way of being now different, she let the words fall quiet.

Lilyn stood close, offering just a small nod. Not this time - he’d never changed

Fey’s brows furrowed slightly. "...Then why does it feel different now?"

She spoke. Silence came back.

Leon exhaled slowly.

Then—

He spoke.

"So..."

His voice was steady.

But this time—

There was weight behind it.

Not playfulness.

Not warmth.

Authority.

"This is final."

The words echoed through the hall.

No hesitation.

No doubt.

Every woman straightened instinctively.

Even Rias’ posture sharpened slightly. Her chin lifted just a fraction, her eyes narrowing—not in resistance, but in recognition.

This isn’t a discussion anymore.

Leon leaned forward slightly.

His gaze landed on Aria first.

"Aria."

She stepped forward.

"Your responsibility begins now."

His tone carried no softness.

"You will rebuild the internal structure of this kingdom."

"Laws."

"Systems."

"Governance."

A pause.

"And I don’t want patches."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I want a foundation that does not collapse when pressure comes."

Aria let out a quiet breath, her fingers stilling. Then a small smile formed—not playful, not mocking. Sharp. Certain.

"You’re asking for something absolute," she said, tilting her head slightly.

Leon didn’t blink. "I don’t ask for less."

That made her smile deepen.

"You’ll have it."

His gaze shifted.

"Cynthia."

She stepped forward silently.

"You will see what others miss."

"Truth."

"Corruption."

"Hidden rot."

Leon’s voice dropped slightly.

"If something moves in the shadows..."

"...I want to know before it breathes."

For a brief moment, Cynthia’s eyes softened—just a fraction. Not emotion. Understanding.

"...Then you’ll know before it even thinks to move," she replied quietly.

Then, with a small tilt of her head—

"Nothing will hide."

A faint hum of approval came from Syra behind her. "Creepy," she muttered.

Kyra didn’t look at her. "Effective."

Leon didn’t react.

"Syra. Kyra."

The twins stepped forward together.

Their energy sharper now.

Focused.

"You two will rebuild defense."

"Not just walls."

"Not just soldiers."

Leon’s voice hardened.

"Instinct."

"Response."

"Readiness."

Syra rolled her shoulder slightly, a grin slipping through. "So... break everything and rebuild it better?"

Leon’s gaze flicked to her. "If needed."

She laughed under her breath. "Now that’s my kind of work."

Kyra, calm as ever, added—

"They won’t get past us."

Leon held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded once.

"Nova."

She stepped forward.

Calm.

Cold.

Focused.

"You stand above them in war."

The weight of that statement settled instantly.

Even the air felt heavier.

Black and Johny did not react.

Not even slightly.

They accepted it.

No pride.

No resistance.

Only acknowledgment.

"You will decide when to strike."

"When to hold."

"When to end."

Nova’s eyes didn’t waver.

Her voice, when it came, was quiet—

"But final."

Leon nodded.

"Yes."

A faint exhale came from behind—Mia, barely audible.

"...That’s terrifying," she whispered.

Cassidy nudged her lightly. "Only if you’re on the wrong side."