The woman Leon was thinking of was not someone unknown within noble circles, even with the recent fall of her family. Her name still circulated, no longer with the same prestige as before, but with a different kind of attention, quieter, tied to the kind of environment where nobles handled matters they did not wish to expose publicly. She had once been a promising young woman, someone with beauty, education, and status enough to compete for influence within the court, but the fall of her house completely changed her path.
Without political support and without enough resources to sustain herself, she was forced to accept conditions that would previously have been unthinkable for someone of her position. Even so, contrary to what many would expect, she did not show real resistance to her new situation. For her, it was not a definitive defeat, just a stage. As long as she was alive and capable of acting, there was still a possibility of rising again.
Her ambition was not tied to common feelings such as wounded pride or a direct desire for revenge. Her focus had always been power, and not just any kind of power, but the kind that placed someone at the center of decisions. In the original story, this led her to develop a specific obsession, directed toward the romantic partner of the reincarnated protagonist, one of the five elementals, someone with enough influence and relevance to guarantee a stable position at the top.
However, the way she sought to achieve this was not conventional. Over time, she ended up developing an atypical magical ability, something that arose not only from training but from a forced self-imposition, almost like a curse willingly accepted. This ability allowed her to influence other people emotionally, creating a gradual effect of attraction and dependency, not immediate, but persistent. It was not absolute, especially at the current moment when it was still weak, but still dangerous enough to alter decisions and relationships over time.
At the current moment, this ability had not yet reached its full potential. Her control was limited and required proximity, and it did not work completely on individuals with strong mental resistance. Even so, within the environment she was in, it was already enough to start creating small advantages. The place where she was was not a common noble setting, but an environment controlled by a minor noble, where fallen figures were used as bargaining pieces in informal political interactions.
She did not see that as an end, but as a starting point. Her plan was already in motion, even if still in its early stages. Within a week, she intended to begin gradually altering her position, using her ability to influence those around her and rise again, step by step, until she regained something close to the power she had lost, or even more.
Leon knew this type of profile well. Not through direct interaction, but through the information he had read in the story and the fragmented memories that existed in that body. She was not someone who would hesitate in the face of a greater opportunity, especially if it meant reaching a higher position more quickly. And at that moment, he represented exactly that.
'She won't refuse, especially if I offer what she wants most right now'
Currently, his position within the kingdom had risen even further after recent events. Among the five elementals, his relevance was no longer discussed only in terms of power, but also strategic importance. His recent achievements placed him, at minimum, among the two most influential within that group, which, within the logic of the nobility, made him an extremely desirable figure in terms of alliance.
[I don't like this, why do the two characters I hate the most have to join forces?]
'It's not my fault I urgently need something to have more control over myself'
He was not going to her for any kind of emotional connection. The objective was simple, to use her own ambition as a tool. By offering power, position, and a title that few could reach, he would create a direct exchange, something she would accept without hesitation. That title was considered by many to be security for life. The wife of an elemental, something that made her feel envy toward the reincarnated protagonist.
[I can't believe she's going to get what she wants]
'If you complain more, it will be worse for your small mind'
[Don't insult me, my mind is big]
Leon stopped for a moment in the corridor, slightly adjusting his posture as he felt his body responding better than the previous day. The pain was still there, but controlled, the bandages well done and the rest had been enough to bring him back to a functional state. Jirena's constant intervention had greatly accelerated his recovery, and even Filgiri had appeared a few times to help despite being just a knight, which showed the level of importance they placed on his condition.
[At least your physical state is better now, they are good at healing others, it's a shame that they—]
'Are on Leon's side. Your words are so obvious I can already tell what comes next'
His body was better, but the real problem remained his mind. The emotional interference was still there, more controlled than before, but far from completely gone.
'I need to avoid meeting Elara, at least until I find Rebecca'
Rebecca Gillibet was the name of the fallen noblewoman he was going after. He resumed walking, this time faster. The place he was heading to was not part of the noble areas of the castle, nor the most respected zones of the city. It was a more discreet environment, where certain interactions took place away from the public eye, but still frequented by people influential enough to keep everything functioning.
'According to my memories, she should be there'
Leon moved forward, leaving the castle behind as he advanced toward the lower areas of the city. He had already taken his leave from the king and the prince, informing them that he had to go out. Upon arriving at the location, the contrast was evident, even within a well-structured kingdom. The buildings were less refined, the movement more irregular, and the kind of presence in the streets already indicated that this was not a place where high nobility would normally step without reason.
He stopped in front of a discreet building, but with guards positioned outside. They were not official soldiers of the kingdom, but still showed enough training not to be ignored. The two looked at him carefully, beginning to recognize him immediately.
"You are…"
"Leon"
Even without a formal announcement, the posture of the guards changed subtly, making way without drawing attention. They bowed slightly. Both those guards and all guards in the kingdom had the obligation to make way for any of the elementals to enter anywhere. The only place that required permission was the castle, but Leon was considered a completely loyal follower of the prince, so among the five elementals, he was the only one who could enter anywhere he wished.
'I'm not going to lie, being Leon is easier than being Enrico'