The counselor kept pace beside Leon as he guided him through the castle's inner corridors, adjusting his speed so as not to push him beyond what was necessary. The movement was greater than usual, servants passing with trays, guards positioned at strategic points, and voices coming from the main hall indicating that the event was already underway.
"His Majesty requested your presence as soon as possible, so we didn't want to wait until tomorrow"
"I understand"
Leon replied simply, keeping his gaze forward as he followed the path. The presence of so many nobles gathered at that moment made it clear that this was not just an informal reception. As they approached the hall doors, the internal noise became more evident, conversations in different tones, restrained laughter, and the constant sound of utensils being moved.
"The news of the battle has already arrived, so this is also a form of response from the kingdom"
[This was normal in the past]
The doors were opened, revealing the interior of the main hall prepared for a banquet. Tables arranged in rows, nobles gathered in small groups, and some military officers positioned closer to the central area. The moment Leon entered, part of the attention turned to him, not abruptly, but enough for his presence to be quickly noticed, and he immediately heard some nobles whispering.
'So that's him'
'He's so handsome'
'I expected nothing less from one of the strongest'
Trevon entered right behind, keeping a proper distance while observing the environment carefully, analyzing faces and positions out of habit. The Solfyr knights remained farther back, near the entrance, without directly interfering with the event.
"Lord Leon"
Another counselor approached, unlike the previous one, maintaining a more formal posture while slightly bowing his head.
"The king is waiting"
Leon nodded and followed in the indicated direction, passing between the groups without engaging in conversations. Some gazes followed him along the way, but there were no direct interruptions. As he got closer to the central area, the presence of King Selibirt became clear, seated in an elevated position, accompanied by some important members of the court. Leon slightly bowed his head as he stopped before him.
"Your Majesty"
"Rise"
Selibirt gestured with his hand for him to rise, a small smile seeming to form on his face as he saw him. Upon noticing Leon's injuries, he observed him for a few seconds, evaluating his current state before continuing.
"We have received the preliminary reports, but I want to hear directly from you"
Leon quickly organized the information and began reporting directly, without exaggeration or unnecessary omissions, describing the sequence of attacks, the change in enemy patterns, the presence of the rank ten mage, and the general behavior of the opposing forces. There were no interruptions during the report, only full attention from those close enough to hear.
"It seems they are trying to break through our defenses by finding a weak point through repetition and attrition"
"And do you believe they will continue in this pattern?"
"No, the presence of a rank ten indicates they may change their approach at any moment"
The king nodded slightly, showing no surprise at the answer. He had high expectations for his son's most loyal subordinate, and as expected, he was better than anticipated. Leon had always shown superiority over the rest of his generation, considering only his mind, of course, since he was still behind some in raw power.
"The reinforcements are already being distributed, and we will maintain constant vigilance at the borders. Your withdrawal was necessary considering your current condition"
Among all the knights and mages in the kingdom, the one he least wanted to lose was the one who would stand beside his son in the future. It was better to protect him a bit, of course, when he needed Leon, he would use him, because he was not foolish, as he said, he would only protect him a little when things were calmer in certain moments of war.
"You will have time to recover, but not for long"
"Understood"
The conversation did not extend beyond what was necessary. The king made a small gesture indicating that he could step away from that position, allowing him to return to the hall without the direct formality of the audience. Leon stepped back a few paces, reducing the direct attention on himself, while Trevon approached again.
"So, how was it, Lord Leon?"
"No surprises, it was as expected"
This meeting was something he had already expected to happen since he was summoned. He was only surprised by the banquet. That was the kind of surprise that made Leon's body feel embarrassed for being surprised, since in that body's memories, Leon had already been through that kind of banquet. Even so, Enrico didn't care much about banquet memories, so he ignored it completely. Trevon observed the environment around them before speaking again.
"The nobles seem calmer than they should be"
"They are like that, anyway enjoy the day today"
Trevon's ear twitched slightly upon hearing that he could enjoy the day. Bowing, he went to one of the tables with a satisfied smile. Leon also began to approach one of the tables to try the food, but shortly after, Jirena appeared again, approaching with the same focus as before, ignoring the surroundings.
"I need to check the bandages again"
"…alright"
Leon looked at her for a moment before letting out a small sigh, not arguing. She began adjusting them right there, without worrying about the place, checking the tension of the wraps and the body's response. Trevon, who was at the table nearby, looked away, avoiding interference, while some of those present simply observed discreetly.
"Lord, again you are pushing yourself more than you should"
"I've already heard that today"
Jirena didn't respond, only made a serious face that made Leon look away. While she took care of his injuries, he suddenly felt something uncomfortable, his heart began to beat a little faster and his pupils seemed to dilate slightly before returning to normal.
'What was that?'
[I also don't kno—]
"Finally found you, Leon"
Leon immediately froze upon hearing that voice behind him. When Jirena beside him finished checking the wounds, she bowed to the person behind him.
"Miss Everhart, how have you been?"
"I've been well, Jirena, I've just been worried about Leon these past months"
Turning his head back, Leon saw for the first time the protagonist of that world. Elara Everhart was behind him with a beautiful smile of relief and concern for his condition.