Athena gracefully stepped out of her carriage, her movents deliberate as she surveyed her surroundings with an indifferent gaze.
"This palace hasn't changed at all since the old days, has it?" She murmured softly.
As a dragon who had lived for hundreds of years and existed during the reigns of several Demon Emperors before Liliana, she had visited this palace many tis, which now evoked a sense of nostalgia.
"I didn't expect you to actually co, Athena."
At this mont, a cold and indifferent voice suddenly echoed from in front of her, causing Athena to involuntarily raise her eyebrows.
Maintaining a nonchalant expression, Athena turned her gaze towards the source and saw Liliana, dressed in an exquisite black gown, walking alongside Leon, who wore an elegant black mantle robe.
Noticing the harmony of their attire and their unmistakable closeness, Athena's indifferent expression instantly vanished, replaced by a surge of jealousy and anger.
However, she quickly masked her emotions and responded with a sarcastic smile directed at Liliana.
"Of course I'm here, Liliana. No one can stop from going wherever I please," Athena scoffed, folding her arms across her huge chest.
Liliana gritted her teeth at the arrogant response, her annoyance evident, but she quickly masked it with a cold smile.
"Well, for soone as shaless and rule-less as you, it makes sense that you'd show up anywhere, doesn't it?" Liliana sneered, folding her arms across her own huge chest, which was just as impressive as Athena's.
Athena's arrogance and obnoxious behavior infuriated her. If it weren't for the precarious situation with the ongoing war in the Desert of Chaos, she would have already forced this woman out of her palace.
The mont the words "shaless and ruleless" left Liliana's lips, Athena's arrogant expression crumbled, replaced by intense anger.
"You..." Athena fixed her intense gaze on Liliana, her fists tightly clenched.
Liliana's words were a direct insult, and she could not tolerate it. Moreover, with Leon present, she didn't want the man she loved to think of her as possessing such a trait.
Seeing Athena's anger and the sharp gaze directed at her, Liliana remained unfazed, returning the glare with equal intensity, causing the tension between them to escalate imdiately.
On the other hand, Leon, who had been silently observing the argunt, felt the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.
In just a few minutes since Athena's arrival, she and Liliana had already begun clashing, leaving him feeling sowhat helpless.
"Really, these two can't get along at all..." Leon muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He feared that if their argunts persisted, they might escalate into a full-blown fight—sothing he could not allow.
The resulting chaos could be disastrous and potentially endanger his daughters, who were currently in their room.
Taking a deep breath, Leon stepped between the won, his expression stern as he regarded them with a calm gaze.
"Ahem! I understand that you both might hold grudges, but I ask that you refrain from quarreling like this," Leon said in a calm tone. "Given your high status, it's inappropriate for you to act so childishly."
Both Liliana and Athena were montarily taken aback by Leon's words before their hostile expressions softened.
"You're right, Leon. I was too impulsive, and I apologize," Liliana said, calming herself with a deep breath.
Despite her usually stable deanor, she found it difficult to remain composed whenever she encountered Athena.
Athena also took a deep breath, her gaze softening as she looked at Leon. "I apologize as well for my childish behavior, Leon."
Liliana's eyes widened at Athena's casual use of Leon's first na, and she regarded her with a wary look.
"Leon? Why are you addressing my husband so familiarly?" Liliana asked, her eyes narrowing.
At the ntion of "husband," Athena's red eyes montarily flashed with cold light, but she quickly masked it.
"Am I not allowed to use his first na? After all, his full na is Leon Orion, and it would be rather awkward to address him that way, wouldn't it?" Athena responded with an indifferent and calm deanor.
She then shifted her gaze to Leon, her expression shifting to a faint smile as she continued, "Isn't that right, Leon?"
Seeing her smile, Leon was imdiately reminded of the embarrassing incident in the Dragon Empire, causing him to shiver with unease.
Nevertheless, he managed to maintain a calm smile.
"You're right, Empress Athena. You can call whatever you like," Leon replied casually.
Although Athena used his first na, Leon didn't mind, as he was currently known as Leon Orion, not Leon Kruger.
Athena smiled at his agreent but soon pouted at his formal way of addressing her.
"Since I'm using your first na, why do you still address so formally? Just call Athena—there's no need for titles," Athena said, her tone tinged with annoyance, surprising Leon.
"This..." Leon was left speechless, at a loss for how to respond.
To be honest, he wasn't ready for a close relationship with Athena at the mont, as he was still unsettled by the past incident.
Moreover, he was unsure of the purpose behind Athena's visit, which made him feel uneasy.
In addition, he had previously declined her invitation to et her ancestor, and he was uncertain about how her ancestor might react to his refusal.
Seeing Leon's hesitant and indecisive expression, Athena's possessiveness flared, intensifying her urge to tie him and take him to her palace.
Yet she managed to suppress her emotions and take a deep breath to calm herself.
"Why the silence, Leon? Did you not agree to my request?" Athena asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Leon took a deep breath and, with a heavy expression, nodded. "Alright, I'll call you Athena from now on."
Given Athena's stubborn and arrogant nature, he knew that refusing her could lead to anger and offense—sothing he wanted to avoid. Offending her could be troubleso, especially considering her connection to the dragon ancestor.
Athena nodded in satisfaction, a charming smile on her lips, and was about to speak when Liliana suddenly interrupted.
"Alright, enough small talk, Athena," Liliana said coldly as she walked over and stopped directly in front of Leon.
She crossed her arms over her huge chest and fixed Athena with a steady gaze.
"Now, tell why you're really here. Is your sole purpose to discuss cooperation between the empires, or is there sothing else behind your visit?"
Seeing Leon and Athena engaged in conversation earlier had stirred her jealousy and anger.
Although Athena did not recognize Leon due to his drastically changed appearance, she was still unsettled by the woman's engrossed interaction with the man she loved.
In response to Liliana's question, Athena's expression remained unchanged as she replied casually, "Didn't I make it clear in my letters that my visit is about establishing cooperation between our empires? Do you think I was joking about that?"
Liliana narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Athena for any signs of deception. However, Athena's expression betrayed no hint of lying, which both relieved and embarrassed Liliana.
"Very well. Let's head into the palace," Liliana said nonchalantly, masking her embarrassnt. "I truly welco you."
She then took Leon's arm and led him into the palace, with Athena following closely behind.
Athena's gaze remained fixed on Leon's broad back, and she couldn't help but smile to herself, her red eyes gleaming with desire.
"Today will be the day you beco mine, Leon," she thought.
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A/N: This arc is not very long, as there are only a few chapters. However, this arc is very important because it will be the start of Leon and Athena's official relationship, as well as making Athena the second heroine after Liliana.
Of course, Athena's yandere nature is the biggest problem for Leon, and he needs to be able to control her.
Well, that's it. By the way, there will be a lemon scene between the two, which will be very interesting.
Thank you!
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