"Leon." She said after a pause. "Don't you have lectures? What are you doing here?"

Lady Ezra Valentine stood at the end of the corridor, right before Leon, her luminous ocean-blue eyes fixed on her son as her long bluish-white hair swayed lightly with the wind.

Leon and Alice stopped in their tracks. Water dripped from their clothes, leaving faint trails on the floor.

Ezra's eyes narrowed the moment she took in their soaked appearance.

"I asked," Ezra said, her voice cool and clear, "what are you doing here?"

Leon tilted his head slightly. "Walking."

"That, I can see."

Her eyes swept over him from head to toe. Then they moved to Alice. She raised one brow, the way nobles did when they didn't need to say anything out loud to judge someone.

"You're both drenched," she said. "Do I want to know why you're walking around inside the tower like stray dogs?"

Leon felt a faint twitch at his jaw. "We were having a funeral."

For the first time, her expression shifted slightly. "Funeral?"

Ezra's gaze flicked to Alice again. Alice stood there with her umbrella folded down, water still dripping from her boots.

"And who's this girl?" she asked.

Alice straightened without hesitation. "Alice Nightson."

Leon didn't need to look at her to know what was coming next.

'Please don't curse,' he thought.

Ezra let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"Ah... The infamous Nightson girl. The mouth everyone talks about at all the noble gatherings."

Alice blinked once and said sarcastically, "Wow. You say that like it's a compliment."

Ezra smiled faintly. "It's not, dear."

Leon stood silently, hands in his coat, shivering lightly from the cold.

He didn't remember old Leon's exact history with her, but from the way she spoke, how she looked at Alice, how she stared down at him… it was easy to tell.

She was the kind of woman who measured worth based on how well you shone in front of others.

Another set of footsteps echoed behind them.

"Mother," the voice called lazily. "Do you have to make everything sound like a court interrogation?"

Leon turned to see Veronica stepping out in a new outfit. Myra was with her too, already changed into a fresh maid uniform.

'That was fast,' Leon thought.

Ezra ignored her and stepped closer to Leon. Her eyes narrowed at his face. "What happened to your eye?"

"I degraded my eyesight," he admitted.

"Huh. Does your father know about this?"

"I don't see the point in telling him," he replied flatly.

Both his mother and father hadn't cared at first. They didn't even visit him when he was in a coma. But now, they acted like they did.

'That's very convenient,' Leon thought.

Ezra didn't like the way he spoke now. Her gaze hardened on him. "Your father did tell me about your achievements. However…" she glanced at Alice, smiling faintly before turning back to Leon, "…I didn't expect you to bring a girl with you."

Leon's expression didn't change. He was watching her reaction more than her words.

Alice crossed her arms. "Lady Ezra, with all due respect, I can walk next to whoever I want."

Ezra's smile didn't falter. "With my son, however, it becomes… worth questioning."

"What the hell did you just say?" Alice blurted out.

Ezra, turning away, said suddenly, "Come to the dining hall. We'll talk there."

Her voice was smooth and detached, as if the entire conversation were just another item on her to-do list.

She walked away without waiting for a response.

Alice stared after her, mouth slightly open. "...Is she always like that?"

"Yes," Veronica answered instead of Leon.

Leon adjusted his glasses and added, "Worse, sometimes."

Alice let out a low whistle. "I now see why you're so… you."

"Shut up and get changed before you catch a cold," Leon said, following Myra to another room.

Alice glanced at his back as he took a turn.

"Don't order me around, asshole," she muttered. "I can take care of myself."

Before Alice could fully turn away, Veronica interrupted her.

"You must prepare yourself, Alice."

Alice frowned. "Huh? What does that mean?"

Veronica didn't stop walking toward the stairs. "You must know, our mother likes political status more than anything."

Alice blinked once. "...Okay?"

Veronica passed by her side and lightly patted her shoulder. Her voice dropped to a quieter tone, just loud enough for Alice to hear.

"Just so you know… you're the first girl he's ever brought with him."

Alice froze.

"...The fuck does that have to do with me?" she muttered.

Veronica didn't bother replying. She just smirked and kept walking.

Alice stood there for a second, dazed, as her brain tried to sum it all up.

Then she clicked her tongue. "Shit."

— — —

Leon entered the room.

The sound of rain outside still reached faintly through the half-closed window.

Leon unbuttoned his soaked coat as water dripped onto the marble floor.

Myra was already there, setting out a fresh set of clothes for him. She folded everything neatly on the bed, like she always did.

Leon ran a hand through his wet hair.

"Why is Mother here?"

Myra, still undoing the buttons of the shirt she had taken out, replied calmly, "According to what I heard, she was expecting a guest very soon. She came to inform Lady Veronica."

Leon paused mid-movement and turned slightly. "Wait. She came all the way here to say that?"

She could have sent a messenger.

Of all people, Ezra Valentine didn't strike him as the kind who visited for something this trivial.

'Something didn't add up.'

"Who exactly are these guests?" he asked.

Myra shook her head.

"I don't know… Duchess Ezra didn't mention their name. She just told Lady Veronica to be present at the Valentine estate."

Leon narrowed his eyes.

"She said that, huh… now I really want to meet them."

Myra handed him a towel as he started unbuttoning his shirt.

He rubbed his hair dry, lost in thought.

"…Was Alice behaving well?" Leon asked suddenly.

Myra's lips curved into a small smile.

"My lady didn't complain. And also…" she added softly, "I think she enjoyed her stay with her."

Leon turned his head slightly. "Hm? Well, that's new?"

"Hehe. It's rare for young master to bring any of his friends. Lady Veronica seemed happy that you introduced her."

Leon narrowed his eyes and said casually. "She's not my friend."

Myra blinked. "Oh… I apologize. I forgot you have an interest in her."

Leon froze.

"Wait, what?" He turned fully. "Why did you assume that? I don't have a single thing for that psychotic bitc—I mean… we don't have that kind of relationship. We just share the same research field."

Myra lowered her arms slowly.

"Wait, young master… then why did you tell me to send her red roses that day?"

"…What do you mean? That was because she was in the infirmary," Leon said flatly.

In his head, he added, 'And she despises red roses.'

That was exactly why he sent them. He just wanted to annoy her the moment she woke up from the coma.

Myra's expression went blank. "Young master… do you even know what sending red roses to a noble lady means?"

Leon's silence answered everything.

'Uhh… no. I don't…. It's just flowers. And she hates them.'

Myra sighed softly, lowering her gaze.

Leon's eye twitched. He didn't like that look on her face.

"Haah… young master. Then, you must prepare yourself. Because you sending those roses has already reached all the ears."

"What… do you mean?" Leon's eye twitched at her words. He doesn't like the way her expression shifted to pity at last.

"I'll wait outside."

After giving him one last pitying look, Myra bowed politely and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Leon stood there, towel still in his hand, staring at nothing.

He slowly racked his brain, going over what she said.

Leon's head dropped a little. He finally understood what kind of mess he had walked into.

"…Shit."

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