Leon’s POV

I was currently in the presence of the Queen.

She was resting on her bed, her posture relaxed but still carrying that quiet authority that never really left her, even in private. A soft smile sat on her lips as she looked at me, calm and composed. This was the real Queen, not the automaton. The automaton had already been destroyed during the battle.

"I have to thank you for everything you’ve done, Leon," she said. "Without you, I believe everything would have spiraled out of proportion, and the throne would have fallen into the hands of the wrong people."

Wrong people, huh?

"I’m guessing you’re talking about Prince Julius?" I asked, watching her reaction closely.

She let out a small breath and gave a wry smile.

"Julius was never a particularly bright child, but he tried very hard," she said. "He always did, in his own way. However, somewhere along the line, he strayed too far. I still don’t understand why he turned out the way he did."

There was something in her voice when she said that. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t even disappointment in the usual sense. It felt more like confusion mixed with regret, like she had been trying to find an answer for a long time and kept coming up empty.

"Are you... going to execute him?" I asked.

Given the way she spoke, calm and almost accepting, that was the only conclusion that came to mind. It felt like she had already reached some sort of decision. Still, when I said it out loud, she simply looked at me.

A faint, sad smile formed on her face.

"He’s my son," she said quietly. "Even if he wasn’t born out of love, and even if his creation wasn’t... natural, he is still someone I brought into this world."

Her gaze didn’t waver, but there was something fragile behind it.

"I don’t believe any mother truly has the bravery to kill her own child."

For a brief moment, the Queen wasn’t sitting in front of me.

It was just a mother.

She looked at me, and in that look, there was something unspoken. It wasn’t authority asking for agreement. It felt closer to a quiet plea, like she wanted someone to understand what she couldn’t say outright.

"However," she continued after a pause, steadying herself, "there must be consequences for his actions. I brought him into this world, so it is my responsibility to take him out of it."

"You don’t have to do that," I said. "I get what you mean about responsibility, but that’s not something you should have to carry alone. Let me and Myrcella handle it."

Her reasoning made sense in a technical way. Responsibility, cause and effect, all that. Still, this wasn’t something that could be measured like that. This wasn’t a burden she needed to bear personally.

At least, that was how I saw it.

"You really are kind," she said, her voice softening again. "I’m grateful that it was you my daughter chose. If not for you, this country might not have survived."

"I didn’t really do much," I replied.

It never sat right with me when people gave me that much credit. Things just happened, and I dealt with them. That was it.

She smiled again, and this time, there was a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

That... was new.

Or maybe not entirely new. Lately, she had been looking at me like that more often. It wasn’t obvious enough to call out directly, but it was noticeable if you paid attention.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Probably better not to think too hard about it.

***

I stepped out of her room after my conversation with the Queen, letting the door close behind me with a quiet click.

Right outside, Veronica was already there, standing as if she had been waiting the entire time. Given her personality, that wouldn’t be surprising.

"It seems you’re planning to get into the Queen’s mind as well," she said, her tone sharp but not entirely serious. "I expected a lot from you, but even I didn’t think you’d aim for the Princess’s mother."

"You jealous?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not," she replied immediately. "Though I do find your tendency to involve yourself with so many women rather... unusual."

"Well, I just like variety," I said with a small shrug. "Different personalities, different vibes. Keeps things interesting."

"That much is already obvious," she said. "You rarely appear without someone new nearby."

Fair point.

"So?" she continued, shifting the topic. "Do you think Lilith is inside you right now? Is she capable of placing her consciousness within you? Could she possess you?"

There was a slight edge to her voice this time. Like concern.

Which, honestly, made sense.

I had taken on the form of the Great Black.

Strangely enough, though, I hadn’t felt anything unusual.

"No issues so far," I said. "If anything, it feels like she’s not even trying. At least not right now."

That was the truth. My thoughts were my own. There were interruptions nor any strange impulses that didn’t belong to me.

It felt... normal.

Too normal, maybe.

Still, I wasn’t about to drop my guard just because things were quiet.

"Well, that’s reassuring," Veronica said. "Which means..."

She trailed off, her gaze lingering on me for a moment.

Then she stepped closer.

Before I could say anything, she leaned in slightly, her breath brushing against my ear. It was warm.

She didn’t say a word.

Instead, she pulled back just enough to look at me. Then she raised her hand, forming a circle with her fingers before sliding her index finger in and out of it in a slow, clear motion.

Subtle wasn’t exactly her style.

Yeah, I got it.

Message received.

She wanted us to continue having sex.

At first, I wasn’t really inclined to it. Still...

Something inside me reacted anyway.

An instinct that didn’t care about timing or context.

The urge to fuck her crept in. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was there, persistent enough to make itself known.

That felt... off.

Not entirely unnatural, but not entirely normal either.

Which probably meant I was stepping into territory that wasn’t exactly safe.

Still, the feeling itself wasn’t unpleasant.

If anything, it was the opposite.

So I exhaled quietly, glancing at her for a moment.

Guess I’d just have to go along with it.

Carefully.