The Foundation of Kingdom [Part-2]

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."

Mia swallowed... then nodded slowly.

Leon’s gaze moved again.

It slowed this time.

More deliberate.

"Lira."

The name settled softly in the air—but the weight behind it was anything but light.

Lira stepped forward, each movement smooth, deliberate, as if the room itself adjusted to her presence. The faint shimmer of her silver-white hair caught the light, her icy blue eyes calm... but watching everything.

"You will control the nobles."

A faint pause stretched—not awkward, but intentional.

"They will smile when you want them to smile."

"They will kneel when you want them to kneel."

A subtle shift passed through the room. A few exchanged glances. Control over nobles wasn’t a small thing—it was war without swords.

Lira’s lips curved, slow and knowing.

"They always do... eventually."

There was no arrogance in her voice. Just certainty. The kind that came from experience.

Rias let out a faint breath beside her, arms loosely crossed, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

"Careful," she murmured under her breath, just loud enough for Lira to hear. "You make it sound too easy."

Lira didn’t look at her.

"It is... once you understand what they truly fear."

That quiet answer lingered longer than expected.

"Sona."

Sona stepped forward next, softer in presence, but no less steady. Her silver-white hair fell gently over her shoulders, her blue eyes carrying warmth that felt almost out of place in a room filled with power.

"Guide the people."

"Teach them."

"Shape them."

Leon’s voice softened—just a fraction. But enough.

"If this kingdom is to last..."

"...they must become more than survivors."

Sona’s expression shifted, something deeper settling into her gaze. Not pressure. Responsibility.

"They will," she said gently. "But they’ll need time... and someone to believe in them first."

Leon didn’t interrupt.

For a brief moment, the tension in the room eased—just slightly.

"Mia. Cassidy."

They stepped forward together.

There was hesitation in their first step—a flicker of nerves—but they didn’t stop. By the time they stood before him, their backs were straight.

"You will care for the people."

"The broken."

"The forgotten."

Leon’s gaze softened again, quieter this time.

"No one under my rule suffers unseen."

Mia’s fingers tightened slightly at her side. She swallowed, then spoke—voice small, but steady.

"...We’ll make sure of it."

Cassidy nodded beside her, more firm, more grounded.

"They won’t be alone anymore."

Behind them, Sona’s expression warmed faintly. Even Rias’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second—before it vanished again.

"Tsubaki."

She stepped forward with perfect posture, every movement precise. No hesitation. No doubt.

"You will build the knights."

"Not just strength."

"Discipline."

"Purpose."

Her answer came instantly.

"Yes, my king."

But she didn’t step back right away.

Her eyes lingered for a fraction longer—as if silently asking something.

Leon noticed.

"...You understand what that means," he said quietly.

Tsubaki’s gaze sharpened.

"It means they follow not just orders..."

"...but something worth believing in."

Leon gave a faint nod.

That was enough.

Then—

Leon’s gaze shifted.

To the seven behind.

"Fey. Rui. Lena. Mona. Mira. Chloe. Lilyn."

They all stepped forward together.

No hesitation this time. No nerves.

Just instinct.

Unity.

"You control the inner estate."

The words landed differently.

Heavier.

More dangerous.

"You will run everything behind the curtain."

"Staff."

"Movement."

"Information."

A faint silence followed.

Even the air seemed to tighten.

Leon’s eyes sharpened.

"Nothing enters this palace without your awareness."

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then Fey stepped slightly ahead of the others.

Not forcefully.

Not arrogantly.

Just... naturally.

Her black hair shifted lightly as she moved, her gaze steady but not cold. There was a quiet sharpness in her eyes—the kind that noticed things others missed.

"It won’t," she said.

Simple.

Confident.

But then she added, voice softer—yet somehow more unsettling.

"If something does..."

A small pause.

"...it won’t leave."

Mona let out a quiet breath behind her.

"Guess we’re not sleeping much anymore."

Lena nudged her lightly.

"Like you ever did."

A faint ripple of quiet laughter passed through them—soft, controlled—but real.

Lilyn stepped slightly forward next, her honey-colored eyes gentle, but focused.

"We’ll keep everything in order," she said softly. "No confusion. No gaps."

Chloe, standing among them, glanced briefly at Ronan.

Just for a second.

He caught it.

And nodded.

A quiet, proud smile flickered across his face.

Then—Leon leaned back slightly.

His gaze returned to Rias.

"You..."

A pause.

"...don’t need instructions."

Rias tilted her head slightly, one brow lifting as a faint smirk formed on her lips.

"Good," she said, almost teasing.

Leon’s lips curved in response.

"You already know what to do."

Their eyes met.

And for a moment—

Everything else faded.

There was something unspoken there.

Not tension.

Not conflict.

Understanding.

A shared awareness that didn’t need words.

Rias held his gaze for a second longer than necessary—then looked away first, though the faint curve of her lips didn’t fade.

"...Took you long enough to admit it," she muttered.

Leon exhaled slowly.

Then—

His gaze shifted again.

To Ronan.

"Lord Ronan."

Ronan stepped forward instantly.

"My king."

"You will guide them."

"Transition authority."

"Ensure each ministry stabilizes."

Ronan placed a hand over his chest, bowing his head slightly.

"It will be done."

But when he straightened, there was something else in his expression.

Relief.

Pride.

And something deeper—something that came from seeing all of this finally take shape.

"Commander Black. Johny."

Both stepped forward.

"You will assist military integration."

"Full transparency."

"Full cooperation."

Black’s voice was firm.

"As you command."

Johny added, with a slight grin—

"They’ll have everything. No excuses left."

Leon nodded once.

Then leaned back into the throne.

For a brief moment—

Silence.

Not empty.

Not awkward.

Just... full.

And then—

A small smile appeared on his lips.

Not relaxed.

Not soft.

But satisfied.

It’s moving.

Finally... it’s moving.

He looked at all of them again.

And this time—

There was something different in his gaze.

Not planning.

Not assigning.

But deciding.

"Good."

A pause.

Then—

His voice dropped.

Deeper.

Heavier.

"Now..."

Every single person in the room straightened.

Instinct.

Even those who had relaxed just slightly felt it immediately—the shift in tone, the weight behind that single word.

"First matter of the kingdom..."

Leon’s fingers tapped once against the throne.

"...is over."

A breath.

Then—

His eyes sharpened.

"And now..."

The air tightened again.

"My second command."

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Even the faintest sounds—the shifting of fabric, quiet breaths—seemed to disappear.

Leon leaned forward slightly.

Golden eyes burning.

"I want all of you..."

A pause.

Slow.

Deliberate.

"...to listen carefully."