Chapter Thirty-Four: A Change in Focus

Leon dusted the dirt from his fingers, his sharp eyes still locked onto Elena.

She could feel the weight of what he had just revealed pressing against her chest—murder, betrayal, an empire lost to time.

But instead of pushing further, Leon's gaze flickered to something in her grasp.

The book.

The old, weathered book that the old man had given her. The one she barely understood but knew was important.

Leon took a slow step forward, his expression unreadable.

"You risked everything for this," he murmured. "Why?"

Elena hesitated. "I don't know yet."

Leon's lips curved slightly—not a smile, but something colder.

"Lies don't suit you."

He reached out, his fingers ghosting over the leather cover.

"This isn't just an old book, Elena. It's a record of things that should have been forgotten."

Her heart pounded. "Then why was it given to me?"

Leon's jaw tightened for a fraction of a second before he exhaled.

"Because someone—**or something—**wants you to remember."

The Lock Without a Key

Elena's grip on the book tightened.

The pages were filled with symbols, faded ink, and names she didn't recognize—except one.

Her own.

She had seen it. Scrawled in the margins.

"Elena," Leon's voice was low, almost reluctant. "There are things inside this book that could get you killed."

She met his gaze, unwavering. "Then you better start explaining."

Leon didn't move.

Didn't speak.

Then, with a quiet sigh, he murmured, "Not here."

He turned on his heel, stepping away from the grave.

"Elena, come with me."

She hesitated, but something in his tone made her follow.

Because for the first time since all of this started…

Leon wasn't just hiding things from her.

He was about to show her something.