Leo entered the Duke's office.
The moment the Duke lifted his head, his eyes narrowed.
Surprise flickered across his face—brief, restrained, but unmistakable. The boy who had left a month ago was gone. The person standing before him now carried weight, presence, and an aura that could not be ignored.
The Duke's gaze swept over Leo, sharp and calculating. He paused for a moment, taking in the taller posture, the broadened shoulders, and the calm, controlled expression.
His eyes lingered on him, noting how every movement radiated quiet confidence.
"...You've changed," the Duke said slowly, his voice heavy with both acknowledgment and caution.
Leo met his gaze without flinching.
"System, show his status window," he said inwardly.
The window appeared—but it revealed nothing.
Leo's lips curved into a faint grin.
Still not strong enough to see his threat level, he thought.
"Why were you so late in clearing the task?" the Duke asked. "I allowed you to enter the Ancestor Hall because of your boldness, yet you stayed inside for an entire month. Don't tell me you struggled with that trial."
Leo remained calm.
"After finishing the test, I discovered a hidden task left behind by the First King," he replied.
The Duke's eyebrow lifted slightly.
He studied Leo for a moment before speaking again.
"Hidden task..." the Duke murmured under his breath, barely audible.
Leo continued evenly,
"Each hidden trial grew more difficult than the last. I did not know when it would end — it felt like a cycle that would never cease. Only after completing all of them did I notice how much my body had changed."
It was the same explanation he had given David.
The truth that he had met the First King himself remained buried deep inside. The Duke's eyes fixed on Leo for several seconds, silent and unreadable. After that pause, the Duke said,
"Okay."
After a moment, the Duke continued, "Alright. There is something else you should know."
Leo looked up, meeting his gaze steadily.
"Duke Arzen Bellamond is coming today to officially break the engagement," the Duke said.
The room grew quiet.
"Do you have anything to say?" the Duke asked.
Leo's eyes cooled.
"Father," he said firmly, "the engagement is not being broken by them. We are the ones breaking it."
The Duke's gaze sharpened.
"My fiancée was not loyal," Leo continued. "She betrayed the engagement. Make sure that is how it is announced."
Inside, irritation stirred.
I won't let my name spread as someone who was discarded and replaced, he thought.
At the same time, Duke Arzen arrived at the Rosard estate with his knights. The carriage came to a stop at the entrance.
Duke Arzen stepped down, his movements calm and dignified. One by one, the knights dismounted from their horses, forming order behind him. Their knight captain moved to stand at the Duke's side.
"Welcome, Duke Arzen."
David greeted him with a polite smile.
He led them inside, opening the doors with a subtle gesture, and the knight captain followed quietly behind his lord.
Duke Arzen took a seat, moving with calm and measured grace. A maid quietly placed a cup of tea before him.
"I will inform the Duke," David said, bowing slightly, then left.
Back in the office, the Duke watched Leo quietly.
"What is your next plan?" the Duke asked.
"About what?" Leo replied.
"Conquering this world," the Duke said with a faint smirk. "You've proven you're no longer the Leo you used to be. But with this level of power, you won't get far yet."
Before Leo could respond, David entered.
"Duke, Duke Arzen has arrived."
The Duke's expression turned icy.
He looked at Leo. "Do you want to meet him?"
Leo lowered his head slightly.
"Very well," the Duke said. "You may leave."
He stood and walked out.
Leo exited the office and headed toward the entrance, his footsteps steady.
Duke Arzen sat stiffly in the guest room.
The door opened.
Cold pressure flooded the space.
The Duke entered, his aura sharp and unforgiving. Duke Arzen felt it instantly and stood up.
"Duke Drake," he greeted respectfully.
They exchanged formal greetings and sat down.
Duke Arzen exhaled slowly.
"Duke Drake, I sincerely apologize for my daughter breaking the engagement without informing you."
He continued, "Our families agreed to the marriage when the children were young. They cared for each other back then. Becoming part of the Rosard family would have been a great blessing for my daughter... but she chose another path."
The Duke's eyes were cold.
"Didn't you teach your daughter basic manners?" the Duke asked. "Is this how one breaks an engagement?"
Duke Arzen flinched slightly.
"I know what she did was wrong," he said quickly. "She should have told me first.
If I had known, I would have come immediately. I was away on an imperial mission—you know that."
He hesitated. "And once she decides something, she never retreats. She's like her mother."
The Duke's gaze sharpened.
"You misunderstand something, Duke Arzen," the Duke said coldly. "The Bellamond family is not breaking the engagement. We are."
His pressure leaked out.
"Your daughter was unfaithful to my son."
Duke Arzen's eyes widened slightly, but he remained composed.
The Duke continued, his tone final and unwavering:
"And Leo... he told me clearly that he will not accept a fiancée who is unfaithful. He will not tolerate someone who cannot remain true. That is why this engagement ends here."
....
"So we end the engagement here," the Duke continued. "Do not regret this later."
Arzen clenched his jaw slightly. The weight of the moment pressed down on him. There was no mistaking it: Leo would not bend, and no one could sway his decision now.
But a cold, uneasy feeling began to creep over him. Something told him this would not end well—and that he would come to regret this fully.
The Duke's eyes flicked toward him, sharp and commanding. "You may go."
Arzen gave a curt nod and exited the guest room. Outside, his knight captain was waiting.
Duke Arzen stood up and said, "I will take my leave now."
Outside, his knight captain waited.
They walked toward the entrance.
"How did it go, Duke?" the captain asked.
"It went as we predicted," Arzen replied grimly. "He was very angry about this. From now on, he will not cooperate with anything from our side, I think."
Suddenly—a piercing scream tore through the estate, coming from the courtyard near their carriage.
Duke Arzen and his knight captain walked toward it, composed but alert.
On the ground lay a single knight, screaming in pain, his right arm severed, blood pooling around the lifeless limb.
At the center stood Leo, blood dripping from his sword, his expression unnervingly calm—too calm.
Duke Arzen and the captain halted, disbelief rooting them to the spot as the weight of the scene pressed down like a storm ready to break.