Chapter 781: The Plan with No Flaws [Part-2]
The Plan with No Flaws [Part-2]
“…Here?” Mia repeated, her voice softer than the others, but carrying a quiet disbelief as her eyes moved around the room.
Leon gave a small nod, his gaze steady.
“This room.”
A brief silence followed.
Glances were exchanged—quick, wordless, but full of understanding.
It made sense.
Too much sense.
If he was “inside”…
Then there was no safer place than this.
No better place to disappear without ever truly leaving.
Nova crossed her arms, exhaling slowly.
“…So you’re just going to vanish in front of us,” she muttered, though there was less resistance in her voice now.
Syra tilted her head slightly, studying him.
“…And we’re supposed to just wait?”
Leon’s eyes flickered toward her, calm and unreadable.
“You’ve always been good at that.”
Syra scoffed lightly, but didn’t push further.
Mia lowered her gaze, fingers tightening slightly against her sleeve.
“…How long?” she asked quietly.
Leon didn’t answer that either.
Which, somehow… was answer enough.
Then—
A step forward broke the moment.
Ronan.
“…My king.”
Leon’s gaze shifted toward him.
There was no hesitation in Ronan now.
Only focus.
“The project you assigned…”
His voice steadied, firm and precise, like a man already carrying the weight of what needed to be done.
“…it will take a few more days.”
He paused briefly, meeting Leon’s eyes without wavering.
“But once you return—”
There was something unspoken in that pause. Not doubt. Not hesitation.
Certainty.
“…everything will be ready.”
Ronan didn’t rush the rest of it. He let those words settle, like a promise already carved into stone. His eyes held Leon’s—not asking for approval, not seeking reassurance. Just stating a fact.
Leon studied him for a moment.
Not just his words—but the man behind them. The calm. The quiet confidence. The kind that didn’t e from hope… but preparation.
Then nodded.
“…Good.”
A small word. But it carried weight.
Rias frowned slightly, her gaze shifting between the two of them. She crossed her arms, clearly not liking being left in the dark.
“…What project?”
Her tone wasn’t sharp—but there was an edge under it. Curiosity… mixed with something closer to concern.
Ronan smiled faintly. Not evasive. Just… patient.
“…You’ll see soon, my queen.”
Rias narrowed her eyes a fraction.
“That sounds exactly like something I’m not supposed to like.”
A quiet breath of amusement slipped through Ronan’s nose, but he didn’t answer.
Leon added calmly—
“…When it’s ready.”
That only made them more curious.
Nova let out a soft scoff from the side.
“Great. So it’s a secret and it’s important. That never goes wrong.”
Sona glanced toward Leon, her expression measured.
“If it concerns the kingdom… we should at least—”
Leon didn’t even raise his voice.
“Go.”
Simple.
Final.
The air shifted.
That was it.
No more room for questions.
No more room for resistance.
The unspoken authority in that single word pressed down heavier than any mand shouted in anger ever could.
One by one—
They understood.
Rias looked at him for a long moment. Longer than the others. Like she was trying to read something deeper—something he wasn’t saying.
Then—
“…Take care.”
It came out quieter than she intended.
He didn’t answer.
But his smile softened.
Just slightly.
Not for everyone.
Just for them.
Sona inclined her head.
“…Don’t take too long.”
There was restraint in her voice—but also expectation.
Lira stepped a little closer, her presence gentler, quieter—yet somehow just as firm.
“…We’ll be waiting.”
Nova turned away with a click of her tongue, clearly unfortable with how heavy the moment had gotten.
“…Don’t die.”
A pause. Then she added, more quietly—
“…That would be annoying.”
Cynthia simply nodded.
No words.
She didn’t need them.
Mia and Cassidy exchanged a glance—something unspoken passing between them. Worry. Trust. Maybe both.
“e on,” Cassidy murmured softly.
Mia hesitated for half a heartbeat—then followed the others.
Ronan stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Safe journey, my king.”
His voice didn’t waver—not even a breath out of place. Steady. Grounded. Like a man forcing the world to stay in order, even as it quietly shifted beneath his feet.
Behind him, Black and Johny moved in unison, the kind of silent coordination that only came from years of standing on the same battlefield. Their expressions were firm, but not empty. There was something held back there—something unspoken.
“…We will handle everything here.”
A pause followed. Not long. Just enough to feel it.
Leon’s gaze lingered on them—Ronan first, then the others. Measuring. Memorizing.
“…I know,” he said quietly.
Not loud. Not manding. Just certain.
Black’s jaw tightened slightly. Johny exhaled through his nose, almost like he wanted to say something—but didn’t.
Ronan straightened slowly.
“You don’t have to worry about the kingdom,” he added, more softly this time. “Not while we’re still standing.”
Leon’s lips curved faintly—not quite a smile, but close enough to feel real.
“…That’s exactly why I can leave.”
Silence settled again, heavier now.
Then—
Leon gave a small nod.
Then—
They turned.
Footsteps echoed.
Soft at first.
Then fading.
The sound stretched across the vast hall, brushing against stone pillars and high ceilings, until it felt like even the walls were listening.
No one rushed. No one looked back.
One by one—
They left the throne hall.
Until—
Only silence remained.
The massive doors closed behind them.
With a deep—
Final—
Thud.
The sound lingered longer than it should have.
Leon sat there.
Alone.
For a moment—
He didn’t move.
Didn’t think.
Didn’t speak.
The stillness wasn’t empty. It was heavy—like everything he’d been holding up until now had finally been set down, even if only for a heartbeat.
Then—
A long breath left him.
“…Finally.”
The word slipped out, quieter than intended. Almost tired.
The mask dropped.
Just a little.
His shoulders eased. The sharp edge in his posture softened as he leaned back into the throne—not like a ruler claiming power, but like a man borrowing rest.
His fingers tapped once against the armrest, slow and absent-minded.
“…You all make it sound so easy,” he muttered under his breath, a faint trace of humor flickering and dying just as quickly.
He tilted his head back slightly, staring up at the distant ceiling.
“…Before I move…”
He murmured to himself.
“…let me take a little nap.”
There was no one left to hear it. No one left to question it.
His eyes closed.
The golden glow faded.
And in that vast, silent throne hall—
The king rested.
Just before disappearing from the world.
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