"My *wife*," he said simply.
Leon's eyes widened.
Boom.
The sound echoed only inside his skull.
Suzine… married?
No—**Dian's** wife?
He couldn't stop the emotion that flared in his chest.
Dian smirked inwardly.
...
[ Eye of Perception – Subject's Mental Defense: Cracked ]
[ Leon is entering unstable emotional state… ]
[ Leon's luck plunders... 200 luck stats deducted! ]
Leon felt as if his life force reduced a little.
...
For a moment, no one moved.
Leon stood frozen, the word *"wife"* echoing in his mind like a war drum.
Suzine… married?
To him?
That man who sat like he ruled the world—with a smile so smug, yet elegant… as if he were *entitled* to her.
His fingers clenched at his side, hidden beneath his cloak. His breathing became shallow. A tight coil wound itself around his chest, squeezing with every second that passed.
He had imagined this moment a hundred times. No—**a thousand**.
When he'd finally meet the girl in the old photograph. The girl he fell for during hiss early age in that orphanage. When she'd look at him with tears and joy, maybe whisper his name in a voice trembling with emotion.
But now?
Now she stood at another man's side.
And not just stood—*leaned.* Smiled. Touched. Claimed.
Her eyes didn't even flinch when Dian called her *"my wife."*
Leon could barely hear the clink of porcelain as Jones poured another cup of tea. His surroundings blurred, heat creeping up his spine.
*This can't be real…*
He had sworn his loyalty to the king. Trained the moment he left the orphanage, honed his skills, became capable. Endured pain, war, betrayal, hardship.
After all these, he was supposed to find her one day.
And *she* was supposed to be his reward—his comfort, his destiny.
But here she was—glowing with another man's love. Laughing like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And that man—just *look* at him!
Smiling freely, no cars about the world, sipping tea like the world bowed beneath his feet.
Dian rested his cheek on one hand, lazily swirling his teacup.
...
[ Eye of Perception – Subject: Leon ]
[ Rage building – 67% ]
[ Mental State: Shaken – Internal Conflict Triggered ]
[ Hidden Variable Detected… Unstable Potential ]
...
Hoh? Dian blinked. Now this is interesting.
Suzine, still unaware of the rising pressure in Leon's chest, looked between the two. Something… was off.
She stepped forward slightly, concern on her face.
"Sir Leon, it's been a while," she said gently. "You came from the Capital, didn't you? I hope the roads treated you kindly?"
Her tone was polite. Her smile was kind.
But that only made it worse.
To Leon, it sounded like mockery.
Did she forget everything? Did she forget 'me'?
He gave a stiff nod. "Yes. The roads were fine."
His eyes darted briefly to her hands. No ring… but her fingers had the subtle gleam of mana bonding—a Skyster method of soul-binding a spouse. (Only possible when both parties are genuine to each other with no doubts in mind)
He forced himself to sit, though his heart pounded like a war drum.
Dian smiled as he leaned back in his chair.
"Now then, about that message from the Capital…"
Leon blinked, his muscles tightening. Right. The reason I came here.
He pulled out the letter once again and placed it on the desk, his hand slightly trembling. "From His Majesty."
Dian took the scroll. A sword inbetween two shields, The Royal family. He thought as he broke the seal, and unrolled it. His eyes scanned the neat, gold-inked script.
As he read, Suzine moved to Dian's side, gently massaging his shoulder.
Leon's vision pulsed red for a second.
No… He clenched his jaw until it ached. She was supposed to be mine…
"Your king requests a meeting," Dian muttered after a long pause. "Interesting. I thinking he knows that I just recovered, even then..."
He tapped the scroll thoughtfully, then glanced up. "Butler."
Jones made his way forward as he heard his young lord.
Dian murmured something in his ears, surprising him a little. "Okay ?" He spoke.
"As you wish young lord." Jones spoke ans stood by the couch again.
"Now." Dian spoke, facing Leon again. " What to do with you, Sir Leon."
Leon opened his mouth to respond, but something cracked in his expression.
It wasn't just annoyance now.
It was jealousy.
Hatred.
And grief.
But Dian saw it all—and more.
[ Eye of Perception – Trait Triggered: 'Pierce the Veil' ]
[ Hidden Emotion Detected: Possessiveness – Subject believes Suzine is 'owed' to him ]
[ Calculating emotional backlash if provoked... ]
*Hm.* Dian smiled thinly.
"Tell me, Sir Leon," he asked suddenly, his tone feather-light but his gaze sharp as a dagger, "do you believe in fate?"
Leon looked up, startled. "What?"
"Fate. Destiny. Divine paths meant to intertwine. You know… that old romantic nonsense people cling to when they can't let go of the past."
"I—"
"Because I don't," Dian said coldly, leaning forward. "I believe in *choice*. And Suzine? She made hers."
Suzine's hand gripped Dian's arm a little tighter, startled but not resisting. Leon stiffened.
"And if fate brought you here hoping to rewrite a story that's already been finished," Dian continued, his voice dropping lower, "then perhaps fate needs to be reminded—"
He smiled.
"—that this is Skyster land. And here, *I* write the stories."
Leon stood suddenly, rage flaring. But just as quickly—
**Clink.**
Jones gently placed a biscuit on the tray. His expression hadn't changed, but his aura flared for a millisecond.
Too fast!
And from somewhere outside, the faint *crack* of space warping could be heard.
The secret guards were still watching.
Dian raised a hand again—just a flick of his fingers.
Everything returned to silence.
Leon realized the absurdity of his own actions—and of the overwhelming power Dian held here.
This wasn't a noble brat drunk on privilege.
This was a predator in his own den.
Leon lowered his head.
"...Forgive my rudeness. It was not my intent."
Dian stood now, stepping around the table.
"You may rest here before returning. Jones will show you your room. And if you stare at my wife again like that—"
His eyes gleamed gold.
"—you won't get another warning."
Leon didn't answer. He simply bowed again, lips pressed thin.
Suzine looked uneasy now—she could tell something wasn't right. Her smile faded slightly.
But she stayed beside Dian. She always did.
As Leon turned to leave, his gaze drifted once more toward her.
Toward what should have been his.
But the doors closed behind him, and her smile was no longer his to see.
.
.
----
Author's Note - Thanks you so much for supporting me till now, your reads, your, comments, reviews, all of it. I leaned a lot, made mistakes, you corrected and improved.
It means a lot to me.
If you are still with Dian, then please consider giving a review to my book.
(Special thanks – @IduNNook
– ayush_samal)