The main estate of House True was alive with celebration.
The grand hall was filled with the warm glow of crystal chandeliers and the soft murmur of hundreds of voices. Long tables groaned under the weight of fine wines, roasted meats, fresh fruits, and delicate pastries. Music played from a live orchestra in the corner — soft strings and piano that floated through the air like smoke. Council members, their families, and high-ranking officials moved through the space in elegant suits and flowing gowns, laughing, toasting, and sharing stories. The atmosphere was one of relief and triumph. For the first time in decades, the fear of rebellion from the LOST Realm felt distant.
Leonard stood alone near a tall marble pillar, dressed in a simple brown suit that somehow made him look even more imposing. His long black hair was still damp from the ritual, falling loosely over his shoulders. He held a glass of wine but barely touched it. His sharp eyes scanned the room quietly as he listened to a small group of council members chatting nearby.
A enthusiastic man with a round face and bright eyes spoke first, his English simple and full of boyish excitement.
"The history books I really loved back in school were about Lord Leonard…"
A sophisticated woman beside him, wearing a deep red gown and pearls, smiled elegantly and replied in refined, flowing language.
"Well, do share your favorite part, darling. We're all ears."
The man's eyes lit up. "Yes! Page 204… how Lord Leonard hunted down the Bloodlines who killed his mother just because she later forgave his father and fell in love with him. Those bastards… Lord Leonard was only 18 years old and he killed 44 Bloodline assassins all by himself. And the most legendary part? The Bloodline lords who ordered the death of his mother killed themselves when they heard Leonard was coming for them. The news of the gruesome way he killed the murderers reached them first."
The small group broke into applause and raised their glasses, sipping their wine with satisfied smiles.
Another woman, slightly tipsy and bold, leaned in with a mischievous grin. Her English was casual and playful.
"The only part of Lord Leonard's history I like is how handsome he was back then. He always got the ladies throwing themselves at him. And rumor has it… he wasn't just handsome — he was *great* at what he did with the women."
She bit her lip, clearly imagining things. The rest of the group coughed nervously and looked away, trying to hide their discomfort.
A third woman, more serious and composed, added in a low, dramatic tone.
"But the most fearful thing in his history was when he killed the High Lord's wife. She wanted to sleep with him, but he saw it as betrayal. The High Lord elevated him after that and made him his personal bodyguard."
The group nodded deeply, murmuring in agreement.
"He is a man," one of them said with respect.
Leonard stopped listening.
His mind grew heavy. The praise felt distant, almost hollow. He remembered the ritual — the young man who had willingly given up his body, the mother who had cried as she hugged her son for the last time. The sacrifices. The endless cycle of pain and death.
He quietly slipped away from the group and walked upstairs to the private room that had been prepared for him. The moment he stepped inside, the noise of the party faded. He stood at the large window, staring out at the dark grounds of the estate, the lights of the city twinkling in the distance.
In his mind, the thoughts came heavy and relentless.
("This can't continue… The sacrifices… the death… this can't continue. I must do something. I don't want to see this world again. I want to end this… with this life I have been given again. No more rituals. But what can I do…")
The door behind him opened softly.
He didn't turn around. He already knew who it was.
Liora stepped in quietly. She was strikingly beautiful — dark yellow hair that fell in soft waves down her back, large expressive eyes, and a presence that filled the room. She wore a sleek black suit with a skirt that reached her knees, but one side was tastefully torn high up her thigh, revealing smooth, fair skin.
She walked up behind him without a word and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her body gently against his back.
"You've started again," she whispered, her voice soft and knowing. "Thinking all alone… solving all your problems on your own… carrying unnecessary stress instead of just following orders…"
Leonard remained silent, still staring out the window.
Liora smiled faintly and turned him around to face her. Her large eyes searched his.
"To the thoughts of my Leonard… I am going to briefly steal him away from you."
She leaned in and kissed him deeply.
Their clothes came off slowly at first, then with growing urgency. They fell onto the large bed together. The room filled with the sound of her soft moans and their shared breathing as they lost themselves in each other — two ancient souls finding a moment of comfort in a world built on sacrifice.