After changing into the attire, the maids had prepared for him, Leon stepped out of his room.

Leon got to know that Rowan had already arrived before everyone else.

'What an asshole, he probably blabbered about that incident with Alice to mother!'

Though he knew their mother was the type who wouldn't believe it that easily, but she would not miss this chance to create a mental pull with the others.

'Everyone is so damn weird here.' He sighed, taking a turn. 'Well, I am one to talk.'

He strolled around the manor, looking at everything around him. For one of the most prestigious houses, Valentine Dukedom was indeed comparable to a royal castle.

The wealth of the Valentine household was plenty enough to run the capital for a decade without any funding.

Due to its location near Liora's border, its estate was a prime hub for tourists. So they would get plenty of foreign and transport funds.

And above that, House Valentine was a leading figure in the field of minerals. Due to mountains and lots of dungeons in its domain, it served as the kingdom's major mineral powerhouse, making them the 3rd richest family in the entire kingdom, right below the Nightson Dukedom.

Leon pinched his temples recalling it.

House Nightson had been the leading figure in weapon and artifact engineering. They had created most of the deadliest weapons used in the royal force, making them famous worldwide.

'How the hell does that old man manage all of this.' Leon thought about Raizen.

Despite his age, that guy was able to manage Nightson House and Eclipse Academy without breaking a sweat.

They had many hires, such as Alice's father and uncles. But Raizen was against letting them leave the house, solely because he knew those guys would divide the Nightson house into several factions.

Leon stopped in front of a huge painting. It covered an entire wall.

Leon had to step back several steps to see the figure drawn on it.

'Ah, why am I not surprised.'

The painting obviously had Veronica's face. Her unyielding sharp gaze, those sparkly black hair with her usual red and white tailored gown.

In one hand she was holding a red lily, while in the other, she held a staff with the Blood Tower's sigil on it.

It was a picture of her when she was assigned the seat of Calamity Tower's head. She had a ridiculous smile on her face.

"Her face looks funny." He muttered.

"Right? I think so too."

"...?!"

Leon jolted and gazed at the source.

It was none other than the person who was in the picture.

But before he could say anything, Veronica got close to him, extended her hands, and squeezed his cheeks.

"Sister? You arrived early."

Veronica let him go, turned around, and with her eyes fixed on her own frame, said, "I got a few things to discuss with father."

She glanced at him and asked, "You look surprised seeing me here."

"Yeah. I mean, it's rare to see you outside. I thought you were a shut-in."

"..."

She narrowed her gaze at him, as if saying, 'That's offensive.'

Leon looked at her. "What? Am I wrong?"

"Yeah."

"Oh? Then tell me the last time you went outside," he asked.

"Almost every day," she replied. "Tower Heads have duties to fulfill."

"Except for duties," he added.

"..."

She shut her mouth.

Even today, she had only visited the estate because she had something to discuss with the duke.

This made Leon question.

"The situation is rather tense in the capital. Did something happen?"

Surely, the duke rarely had time to visit the Blood Tower. That meant he was stuck fulfilling his duty here in the estate. And Veronica's arrival proved the urgency of the matter.

"For now it's under control," she replied honestly.

"Hm? Will you tell me if I ask what the fuss is all about?"

"Nope."

"Figures."

They turned their heads to the painting and admired it for a few minutes.

"My face really looks funny," Veronica commented. She turned to Leon and said, "You know the reason for it?"

Leon shook his head.

Veronica smiled and added, "I never smiled the entire duration when this painting was being made."

"..."

He let her finish.

"I lost someone dear to me that day."

Her voice turned into a whisper mixed with a strange blend of regret and sadness.

Leon didn't ask the name.

Veronica crossed her arms, sighed, and glared at Leon. "I heard you bullied Myra."

Leon was taken aback.

"Huh?! I did no such thing." He lied.

Her golden eyes fell on him. "You even offered her your blood."

"...Oh, that… I was only trying to help her."

"By locking the door when she entered?"

"..."

Now, Leon could easily counter it, but he didn't want to mess with her.

"I was just teasing her." He lied again.

But before he could look the other way, his eyes fell on her bare neck. There were two tiny holes on it, with several faint marks surrounding them.

Leon almost choked.

'Did she offer her blood to her? And with her neck, no less.'

That was something new.

"If you are so interested, I will let you fully have her."

"Huh? What, really?"

"No."

"..."

Of course she was joking. There was just no way a species freak like her would simply hand over a rare sanguine that easily.

As they were chatting, they heard the guards' loud salute.

"Looks like they have arrived."

Along with Veronica, they went outside the manor door.

The duke, duchess, and Rowan were already present at the doorstep.

When Leon and Veronica arrived, Rowan squinted his face and clicked his tongue.

'What was that for…'

Both of them walked and stood right beside their mother.

A white carriage with golden patterns and the Valentine sigil entered the main gate, followed by several hundred horsemen ridden by knights and soldiers.

The knights present in the estate bowed in respect, while the maids hurried into formation and stood in rows.

.

.

[[A/N: Drop power Stones. Will give me motivation to do mass release.]]

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