Elian had been rushing to catch up, his face showing signs of concern. But when he saw Leon’s carefree, almost “school’s out” demeanor, his tension seemed to evaporate like mist.Unable to help himself, he called out, “Leon!”Leon looked up and, seeing that it was Elian, he stopped and asked, “Elian, are you looking for me?”“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about last night,” Elian replied, calm but laced with an undertone of something more serious.“Last night?” Leon blinked in surprise, and then certain images flashed in his mind, causing his face to flush red. He instinctively took a step back. “It’s not... something too personal, is it?”Seeing his reaction, Elian couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Don’t worry, it’s definitely not personal.”“Then... you already know, don’t you?” Leon’s voice dropped to a barely audible whisper, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. He almost wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.“Given the messiness of the room… it’s hard t
A warmth spread through Leon’s chest, and he quietly followed Elian down the path. Yet, despite the comfort of Elian’s presence, Selena’s sharp, dangerous gaze and her parting words, “I suppose we’ll meet again if fate allows,” lingered in his mind like an unshakable shadow.“What does she really want?” The question gnawed at him, sharp and insistent, like a needle piercing his thoughts, leaving him with a sense of unease he couldn’t quite shake off.As Leon pushed open the door, he found Aric already waiting inside. The soft glow of the evening sun streamed through the windows, wrapping Aric in a halo of warm light. Yet his eyes betrayed a hint of unease, layered with emotions too complex to decipher.Leon hadn’t intended to say much, but the sight of Aric’s face immediately brought back the mortifying memories from that morning. His brows furrowed instinctively, and an awkward tension settled between them like an invisible wall.Elian, ever practical, gave Aric a brief set of instru
He lowered his head for a moment, taking a deep breath to compose himself. When he looked up again, his tone softened a hint of determination in his voice. “Come on, just wear it. It’s not like it’ll cost you anything. And... it’s a gift from me.”Leon’s voice dropped slightly, but the way he said it—soft and almost coaxing—struck Aric like a direct hit to the senses, making his heart stir ever so slightly.Aric studied him with an unreadable expression before a slow, amused smile tugged at his lips. “Hmm… then put it on for me.”Leon was caught off guard. His mind blanked for a second before heat rushed to his ears, turning them a deep shade of red. He bit his lip, reminding himself: “It’s fine. Rose said this is part of the plan. Nothing to panic about!”Taking a small step closer, he carefully picked up the bracelet. His fingers trembled slightly from nerves, and when they accidentally brushed against Aric’s wrist, he instinctively flinched as though he had been shocked. But the ne
Leon’s brow furrowed deeper, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. Without wasting another moment, he stepped forward, turning Aric to face him. They stood face-to-face, and without hesitation, Leon grabbed Aric's cheeks, squeezing firmly, forcing their gazes to lock.“Think carefully!” Leon’s voice was almost a command, carrying a stubborn insistence that left little room for refusal.Aric paused for a moment, then smiled, a knowing grin curling at the corners of his lips. “You’re rather fierce.”Leon didn’t respond. He simply stared at him, his clear eyes filled with urgency and determination, making it impossible for anyone to look away.Aric raised an eyebrow, then suddenly bent down, his hands gripping Leon effortlessly as he lifted him and placed him on the nearby table."Give me a kiss, and I’ll think seriously," Aric said, straightening up, his hands casually resting on the edge of the table, his tone light and teasing.Leon froze for a moment, then instinctively flushed. “You
“What about you?” He spoke softly, with a hint of restrained emotion in his voice. “You... you could’ve just ignored it.”“I could have, but that’s Caelum... my good friend,” Aric replied, his words simple but unwavering, his gaze carrying no hesitation."Aren't you afraid of being demoted?" Leon's voice was urgent, confused. "Didn't they say that even the ruling class could be cast down to the third tier? And in severe cases, even to the very bottom?"Aric glanced at him, his expression indifferent, as if such dangers were of no concern to him. He shrugged, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "Well, I gave up something important in exchange."Leon froze for a moment, his brows knitting together. "What did you give up?""The throne," Aric said matter-of-factly like it was nothing more than a trivial detail.For a brief moment, the air seemed to solidify. Leon stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. "The throne?!""That's right." Aric turned to gaze out the window,
Leon was momentarily stunned. He thought about it and realized there was some truth to it. He nodded but couldn't help adding, "You're right. This place is a bit different from what I expected… full of surprises." He deliberately paused at that point, glanced at Aric, and added with a smirk, "Of course, some of them are more like shocks."Aric looked at him, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Your arrival was a surprise to me as well. And also…"Leon instinctively sensed something hidden in those words. He narrowed his eyes. "Also what?"Aric's voice dropped slightly, laced with an amused undertone. "Astonishing.""A-Astonishing?" Leon was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Aric to describe him that way. "What do you mean?"Aric’s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "That kind of astonishing—your flushed body, the way you moaned so beautifully. I still remember it vividly.""You—!" Leon’s face instantly turned scarlet. He jumped up, pointing at Aric wi
Leon frowned. “So mistakes can’t even be called out? The rules where you come from are ridiculous.” Good thing he never considered joining Jasper’s side—who knew how long he’d last before being tormented to death?Jasper didn’t argue. Instead, he added calmly, “Actually… Selena was involved as well.”Selena? Leon immediately thought of that elusive, enigmatic witch. She and Morgana were sisters, but her abilities were far more unfathomable.Jasper’s tone remained even, but there was an undercurrent of helplessness beneath it. “Morgana may be one of my mother’s most trusted witches, but the one she truly values is Selena. Because of Selena, my mother has always shielded the Thorn sisters unconditionally. And as for me… of course, I can’t go against them.”Leon studied Jasper’s expression, searching for something beneath his carefully measured words.Jasper let out a soft, bitter laugh. “Ironic, isn’t it? I’m a prince, and yet I’m this powerless.”Leon lowered his gaze in thought, but s
Leon had quickly made a name for himself in the Medical Division, becoming a living legend within weeks.Whenever he walked through the long corridors of the department, demons would pause to bow their heads respectfully as he passed.“Master Leon!”“Good morning, Lord Leon!”He never cared much for formalities, but his unmatched medical skills and unwavering dedication earned him the respect and admiration of everyone in the division.The event that solidified his near-mythical status, however, was his miraculous treatment of a noble demon’s bedridden daughter. This young lady had spent nearly two decades confined to her bed. Even her influential father had sought out Iris and Elian, hoping they could help. Yet despite their considerable expertise, both had regretfully admitted that the girl’s condition was beyond their capabilities.Then came Leon. He patiently adjusted her medicine, fine-tuning every ingredient with meticulous precision. Together with Elian, he crafted a new potion
"Recordings?"Leon frowned and tapped five times in quick succession. Five audio files lined up neatly in the message thread, sitting there like silent keys to a secret, waiting to be unearthed.Aric glanced sideways at the screen. “What’s that brat saying now?”Leon shot him a look, then tapped on the first one.The recording began with a few seconds of silence—then a voice came through the earbuds, so familiar it made the hairs on Leon’s neck stand on end.“Did you find the person I’m looking for?”Leon’s pupils contracted, his voice barely audible. “That voice… why does it sound so familiar…”Aric’s brows arched slightly. “It’s Jasper.”Leon froze, stunned. He played the recording again, this time paying closer attention—sure enough, it was him. The realization hit like cold lead sinking straight to the bottom of his chest, heavy and suffocating.The recording continued.A woman’s voice followed, soft and honeyed, laced with a servile sweetness: “We’ve narrowed it down. Just a few
Leon nearly threw the phone across the room in frustration. He forced out a cold laugh, fighting back his anger. “You need money? Go ask your mother.”“No need to ask her. You—might be able to give me more.”The tone on the other end was casual, even entitled, making Leon’s hands tremble. He took a deep breath, preparing to hang up, but Randy’s voice stopped him.“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t hang up yet! Don’t you want to know why you were sold at an auction?”The words struck Leon like a sharp knife, driving straight into the most vulnerable part of his heart.Lisa and Morgana mentioned it, and now—his brother was bringing up the truth of his "auction." That night, that horrendous experience lingered in his mind like a wound that never healed. It was a knot he couldn't untangle, lodged deep in his chest.Leon fell silent for a few seconds, his eyes sharpening into icy resolve. “How much do you want?”Once the call ended, he yanked Aric from where he was, still fast asleep beside him, shakin
He averted his gaze, gritting his teeth. “I’ll help you… but don’t make it seem like some kind of romantic gesture.”Aric followed the direction of his glance, his eyes sweeping slowly around the room with a flicker of amusement.The hotel, in all its over-the-top service, had indeed gone a bit too far—scarlet roses adorned nearly every surface, bathing the room in a heady, suggestive atmosphere.“A setting like this does invite something a little different.”Aric murmured, his tone laced with a half-smile. “I just wanted a change of scenery—something out of the ordinary.”Leon frowned, staring him down. “Out of the ordinary, how?”Aric’s eyes narrowed slightly as though dredging up a memory. His voice carried a faint trace of resignation. “The first time was in a basement. The second, a cave. The third—granted, it was just a kiss—but it still happened inside a prison cell. You tell me, how is it that Aric Blackwood can never seem to catch a single whiff of romance?”Leon rolled his e
He stared up, his eyes wide with disbelief. His mind couldn’t quite grasp how he had ended up on the ground, but the searing pain in his knees—where they had struck the cold stone floor—was all too real. The sensation was like fire, shooting through his body; all he could do was sit there, stunned.Leon glanced down at Randy, lying on the ground, but his expression remained indifferent. He didn’t even bother with a sneer—Randy wasn’t worth the effort. Without breaking his stride, he simply tightened his grip on Aric’s hand and continued walking as leisurely as if they were strolling through a park.Randy, humiliated and furious, clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His face was flushed with rage, but he didn’t dare step forward again.He wasn’t a fool—he knew this man wasn’t someone he could afford to provoke.So, instead, he bit down hard on his lip, scrambled to his feet, and rushed into the house—no doubt running to tattle.Aric watched the retreating figure wit
They made their way through the forest, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Time seemed to stretch on as they walked, but finally, the path ahead cleared, and a smooth asphalt road appeared before them. Leon practically ran forward, eager to get moving, and waved down a passing taxi.The driver poked his head out, eyeing the two young men suspiciously. “Where to?”Leon casually named a destination in the city center, then quickly pulled Aric into the cab, letting out a sigh of relief.As the taxi sped away, the forest receded behind them, replaced by the towering skyscrapers of the city, neon lights flashing, and the buzz of voices filling the air. For a moment, Leon had been preoccupied with surviving in this world—after all, he didn’t have a penny to his name. But just as he was beginning to worry about his next move, Aric casually pulled out a black gold card, flipping it expertly between his fingers.Leon’s eyes widened. “Where
Just as he finished speaking, his bed suddenly dipped. The next second, a powerful force yanked him right out of the covers.“Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!” Leon screamed in surprise, but before he could react, Aric had already hoisted him onto his shoulder, as if he were a sack of potatoes, effortlessly carrying him away.“Put me down! Now!” Leon struggled desperately, but Aric’s strength was far greater, and he didn’t budge an inch.“If you refuse to get up on your own, I’ll have to do it for you,” Aric said, his tone light and even laced with a hint of amusement.Leon rolled his eyes, resigned to his fate. He buried his head in Aric’s back and muttered lazily, “Fine, do whatever you want. I’ll just switch to a different position and go back to sleep…”However, after a moment, something didn’t sit right.It wasn’t just him Aric was carrying.Leon slowly lifted his head, casting a glance toward Aric’s other side. There, he saw a large, bulging backpack, heavy and seemingly filled wi
As he stepped out of the prison, the cool night air brushed against his skin. The magic lanterns outside cast long, stretching shadows across the stone pavement. And there, bathed in that soft glow, Aric stood leaning against a stone pillar, arms crossed, his usual playful smirk dancing at the corners of his lips as he watched Leon."Has my great physician fiancé finished with his work?" Aric raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at the corner of his lips. Yet, there was something serious in his eyes, as if he were trying to read something from Leon's expression.Leon snapped out of his thoughts, nodding. "Yes."He fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, "Aric, I don’t understand. Why is Selena targeting the Blackwood family? Does that include Lisa and Jasper as well?"Aric dropped his playful demeanor, his gaze darkening slightly as he spoke slowly. "I don’t fully understand either... But from Morgana’s reaction, it seems the relationship between them and Lisa isn’
Morgana’s voice grew weaker, but the magic refused to let her stop. She was forced to continue, every word dragged out like a confession to the abyss.“The stone… shields her research… hides it from the Enforcement Division… She’s been working on it all this time… and once the spell is complete… she plans to destroy the Blackwood family… completely.”“What?!”Leon’s eyes widened, his breath hitching.Selena’s ambition wasn’t just to control someone—she wanted to erase the Blackwood family from existence.How dare she?The sheer scale of her plan was madness.But why? Why them?The cell fell into a suffocating silence.Leon’s fingers curled into fists, his knuckles turning white. His mind raced through the implications and hidden motives that led to this revelation.Aric, for once, was quiet. Then—he exhaled a slow, almost amused chuckle.“So that’s how it is…”He gazed down at Morgana, his expression unreadable, his voice as cold as steel.“You’ve given me quite the gift.”Morgana's l
Aric let out a quiet scoff, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. “Hard to say. But this outcome was inevitable.”“Inevitable?”Leon’s gaze sharpened. Aric rarely used such a phrase—unless he had already woven an invisible net around his prey.Aric turned his head slightly, a ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his lips.“Among all the witches and warlocks, only their magic is truly… unnatural. Even by simple elimination, they were always the prime suspects.”He paused deliberately, his voice stretching out in a teasing drawl.“Besides… I had Elian spread a few rumors and exaggerate the results of the research. And you know how it is—when people have something to hide, they start acting strange. Keeping their heads down. Becoming just a little too quiet.”Leon fixed his gaze on him as if he had already pieced together where this was going. “And then?”Aric shrugged, his tone laced with a casual, almost playful cunning. “A few times, I made a point of boasting in front of the