Blood on Silk

The chamber was dimly lit, the flickering glow of the torches casting elongated shadows on the stone walls. Leo stood before his father, King Cassius Von Lionheart, the weight of his revelation heavy in the air. He took a

 deep breath before speaking.

"Father, there is something I must tell you," Leo said, his voice steady despite the nervous anticipation churning within him.

King Cassius raised an eyebrow, setting down the quill he had been using to write royal decrees. He observed his son carefully, as if searching for something. "Go on, Leo. What is it?"

Leo clenched his fists. "During my training with Ronan, I discovered something about myself. Something I never knew before." He locked eyes with his father. "I have a second core."

The king's expression shifted from mild curiosity to shock. He sat upright, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "A second core? Are you certain?"

Leo nodded. "Yes. I didn't understand it at first, but while training, I felt something different inside me. When I focused on it, I realized that I possess both an aura core and a mana core."

King Cassius exhaled sharply and leaned back into his chair, rubbing his temple. "A dual core... such a rarity. If you had this from birth, why was it never discovered?"

Leo frowned. "I don't know. But if even you didn't know, Father, then maybe someone deliberately kept it hidden."

The king's jaw tightened. His thoughts immediately went to Sylvia, the queen, who had recently expressed concerns about a hidden threat targeting their family. Could this be connected? He had dismissed her worries as mere

 speculation, but now...

"This raises more questions than answers," Cassius muttered. He then turned his sharp gaze toward Leo. "What do you plan to do with this knowledge?"

Leo straightened his posture. "I want to learn magic."

A heavy silence filled the room. Then, Cassius let out a low chuckle. "Magic, huh? I never expected one of my sons to take an interest in the arcane arts. You do realize that magic and swordsmanship are rarely balanced together?"

Leo smirked. "Then I'll be the first to master both."

Cassius studied his son for a long moment before sighing. "Ronan is gone, and now you've discovered your second core. If you truly wish to pursue magic, then I won't stop you. But you must prove yourself. Reach the first circle

 on your own. Only then will I assign you a proper instructor."

Leo nodded firmly. "I understand. I'll do it."

As Leo turned to leave, Cassius spoke again, his voice lower, tinged with unease. "Leo... something about this doesn't sit right with me. Be careful."

Leo paused, sensing his father's concern. "I will."

Later that night, as Leo returned to his chambers, he immediately noticed something was wrong. His personal maid was missing. On his bedside table, a folded note rested, illuminated by the soft candlelight. He quickly picked

 it up and unfolded it.

The queen's life is in danger.

Leo's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. His heart pounded in his chest. Without wasting another moment, he rushed out of the room.

The queen's chamber was silent, the moonlight filtering through the grand windows. The large bed at the center of the room was covered in layers of plush fabric, but something was off. The usual warmth of the chamber felt

 hollow, eerie.

Then, the attack came.

A blade stabbed downward, piercing through the soft cushions beneath the blankets. The assassin hesitated for a brief second, realizing there was no body beneath the sheets.

A voice cut through the silence.

"You should've aimed for the head."

Leo stepped forward from the shadows, his expression sharp and unwavering. Behind him stood the queen, Sylvia, her eyes filled with disappointment and sadness as she gazed at the woman who had just tried to kill her—her own personal

 maid.

"Why...?" Sylvia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Why would you do this? After all these years... was it all a lie?"

The maid did not answer. Instead, she moved swiftly, aiming a second attack at Sylvia, but Leo intercepted her blade, parrying the strike effortlessly.

At that moment, two more figures emerged from the darkness, lunging toward the queen with silent precision.

But they were stopped.

Caius and Galen, Leo's elder and younger brothers, had been waiting. They stepped in front of their mother, clashing against the traitorous maids with furious determination.

The battle was short, but intense.

A flashback unfolded in Leo's mind.

Earlier that evening, he had approached his brothers with a grim expression.

"I need you both to listen to me," he had said firmly. "The maids are going to assassinate Mother tonight."

Galen had scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Why would they—"

"I have proof," Leo cut in. "And I know it's hard to believe, but ask yourselves this: is your trust in your maids greater than your love for our mother?"

That single sentence struck them both hard. Silence stretched between them before Caius finally sighed. "What do you need us to do?"

Back in the present, King Cassius stormed into the queen's chamber, his sword drawn. His eyes widened at the chaotic scene before him. "What is happening here?!"

Leo didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, he unleashed the Kinglion Tempest Sword Art, EverLion burst. the air around him crackling with energy as he cut down the queen's maid in a single decisive strike.

Both Caius and Galen froze, staring at the scene with shock. They had never taken a life before. Leo, however, stood over the corpse without hesitation, his eyes cold, his posture unwavering.

Caius clenched his jaw and turned to his opponent. Though hesitation plagued his movements, he attacked, yet failed to deliver a fatal blow. His enemy remained standing.

Galen, on the other hand, was losing ground. His emotions clouded his strikes, allowing his former maid to overpower him. But just as she was about to land a killing blow, Leo intervened, slicing through her with precision.

A tense silence followed as the last assassin fell.

Sylvia clutched her chest, breathing heavily as she looked at her sons. "You saved me... but at what cost?"

Leo met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "It was necessary."

Cassius sheathed his sword and walked toward Sylvia. "This attack proves one thing—someone has been planning our downfall for a long time."

The queen lowered her gaze. "Yes... and we are only beginning to uncover the truth."

Leo exhaled slowly, his mind already racing with the possibilities.

This is far from over.

As the night settled over the palace, the unspoken tension remained. Though they had survived this night, the battle for the truth was just beginning.

And in the shadows, unseen eyes watched, waiting for their next move.