ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 641: We Are Not The Same

"I intend to use Sheila as leverage."

The moment those words left Liam’s mouth, a stronger gust of wind swept across the rooftop, brushing against the stone barrier and stirring the loose strands of Percy’s hair. For a few seconds Percy did not move at all. He remained standing exactly where he was, staring out across the distant cityscape while that single word echoed through his mind.

Leverage.

It reverberated louder than the wind.

Unwanted memories began surfacing almost immediately, dragging his thoughts back to the previous night with uncomfortable clarity. He remembered the way Sheila had looked at him when she finally understood the truth behind his actions. The disbelief in her eyes. The anger. The pain that had been buried beneath years of silence suddenly spilling out in a way he had never anticipated.

More than anything else, he remembered her words.

She had said it plainly.

That in his so-called perfect plan... she had become leverage.

A variable.

Something to be moved across the board to achieve a result he believed was necessary.

And standing here now, hearing Liam calmly use that exact same word in reference to her made something inside Percy tighten.

A slow rise of anger stirred in his chest, sharp and uncomfortable.

Yet on the outside he remained composed.

His posture did not change.

His expression stayed calm.

He refused to allow himself to react impulsively—not after everything that had happened the night before. Losing his composure now would only make him look like a hypocrite.

’Just the reaction I was looking for.’

Liam’s eyes remained on the city, but he could clearly see the subtle tension building within Percy despite the calm mask the prince maintained.

’Mabel was right,’ Liam thought quietly. ’He really did open up to Sheila last night.’

The shift in Percy’s emotional response told him everything he needed to know.

The silence stretched for several seconds before Percy finally spoke.

"You said you know how things played out last night between me and Sheila," Percy said slowly.

His voice remained calm, though the firmness beneath it was impossible to miss.

"If that is truly the case... then you should already understand something."

His gaze stayed fixed on the horizon.

"I cannot allow you to use my sister as leverage."

The words were measured and controlled, but the conviction behind them was unmistakable.

Percy paused briefly before continuing.

"I have already caused her to go through more pain than she ever deserved because of my actions," he said evenly. "Hearing you say that you intend to use her as leverage is something I will not permit."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"I will not allow her to experience something like that a second time."

The wind continued moving quietly across the rooftop as his words faded into the open air.

Liam remained silent for several seconds.

Then he slowly turned his head and studied Percy from the side, as though carefully weighing the sincerity behind what he had just said.

Eventually he spoke.

"Well," Liam said calmly, "that’s some improvement."

Percy glanced at him slightly.

"To think you’re already referring to Sheila as your sister again," Liam continued with mild amusement. "It seems you really did pour your heart out last night."

Percy’s brows furrowed faintly at the remark as he looked toward Liam for a moment before turning his gaze away again.

"Look," Liam continued, his voice steady, "I understand that deep down you are a protective brother."

He rested his forearms against the stone barrier as he spoke.

"And despite what you did... all you really want is what’s best for her."

Percy said nothing.

"But before you start lecturing me about putting her through the same thing again," Liam added calmly, "there’s something you need to understand."

Percy finally turned fully toward him.

"Explain," he said simply.

Liam nodded slightly.

"I am fully aware of what you did," he began. "You used Sheila’s emotional attachment to you as leverage."

Percy’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You deliberately distanced yourself from her so that your parents would shift their attention away from you and toward her," Liam continued calmly. "You wanted them to focus on protecting her instead of worrying about your own path."

His voice remained even.

"You believed that if you made them see Sheila as the child who needed protection and lovr... they would prevent her from following the same path you took by enrolling in this academy."

He paused briefly.

"Which," Liam added with a faint shrug, "clearly didn’t work since she’s here anyway."

He glanced toward Percy again.

Their eyes met briefly.

"You stating the obvious isn’t going to make me allow you to use my sister in whatever game you’re planning," Percy replied evenly.

At that, Liam let out a quiet scoff and turned his attention back toward the distant skyline.

"A game?" Liam repeated calmly, his tone carrying a faint trace of disbelief. "It seems you’re misunderstanding something important here."

He shifted slightly against the stone barrier.

"You and I are not the same."

Percy looked at him with mild confusion.

"You’re assuming that what I’m doing and what you did are identical," Liam continued.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms against the stone wall.

"You removed yourself from Sheila’s life," Liam said calmly. "You isolated her emotionally. You made sure she believed she had lost the one person she trusted the most."

His voice carried no accusation, only cold observation.

"You made that decision for her."

The wind moved quietly across the rooftop.

"And then you convinced yourself that the pain you caused was acceptable because it produced the outcome you wanted."

Percy’s fingers slowly curled inside his pockets as those words settled in.

Liam glanced toward him briefly.

"You treated her emotions as collateral."

Percy’s gaze shifted toward him now.

"And you believe you’re different?" Percy asked.

Liam shrugged faintly.

"Of course."

The answer came so casually that Percy almost laughed.

"Please," Percy said dryly. "Enlighten me."

Liam straightened slightly and leaned back against the stone barrier, crossing his arms loosely as he faced Percy.

"What I intend to do has nothing to do with controlling Sheila," he said calmly.

Percy watched him carefully.

"I have no intention of isolating her," Liam continued. "No intention of manipulating her emotions. And no intention of forcing her into any situation she doesn’t willingly choose."

He paused briefly.

"In fact, the entire reason I forced you to speak with her in the first place was to achieve the exact opposite of what you did."

Percy frowned slightly.

"I pushed you toward reconciliation," Liam said. "Not distance."

Those words lingered in the quiet space between them.

Slowly, a faint realization began forming in Percy’s mind. A picture of Liam’s intentions began taking shape piece by piece.

"You’re trying to stabilize her," Percy said slowly.

"Yes."

"And once she’s stable..." Percy continued carefully, "...you intend to use that stability for your own benefit."

"In a sense," Liam replied calmly.

Percy waited.

"Your sister has the potential to lead her peers," Liam continued, his voice steady as the wind drifted lazily across the rooftop. "Whether she realizes it or not."

He shifted slightly, turning his back to the stone barrier so that he could lean against it while still facing Percy. His arms rested loosely at his sides, his posture relaxed in a way that contrasted with the weight of what he was saying.

"And I need someone like that."

Percy’s gaze sharpened slightly as he watched him, studying Liam’s expression with careful attention.

"I have no interest in becoming that person myself," Liam added calmly. "Leadership attracts attention, expectations, and responsibilities that inevitably come with it. People begin watching your every move, measuring your decisions, expecting you to stand at the front of every conflict."

He paused briefly, glancing out toward the distant skyline of Grandeur City.

"That position comes with influence," he continued evenly, "but it also comes with visibility. And visibility is something I have no intention of inviting into my life."

Percy remained silent, but his eyes followed Liam closely.

"What I require," Liam went on, "is someone who can naturally occupy that role without it appearing forced. Someone who can stand among their peers and guide them without people questioning why they listen."

His eyes drifted briefly toward Percy.

"Your sister fits that description far better than most people realize."

Percy’s expression did not change, though the faint tension in his posture suggested he was listening far more carefully now.

"She has presence," Liam continued. "People notice her even when she isn’t trying to stand out. She has conviction, and more importantly, she has the ability to make others follow that conviction once she finds the confidence to act on it."

He folded his arms loosely as he spoke.

"But for that to happen, her mind needs clarity."

Percy remained quiet.

"Right now her emotions are tangled because of everything that happened between the two of you," Liam said. "Confusion, anger, lingering attachment, unresolved questions... all of it is pulling her in different directions."

He tilted his head slightly.

"If she remains in that state, she’ll hesitate. And someone who hesitates cannot stand at the front of others."

The wind stirred again, brushing across the rooftop.

"So yes," Liam said calmly, "her emotions need to stabilize. Her mind needs to settle so that she can move forward without constantly looking back."

Percy’s gaze remained fixed on him.

"And once that happens," Liam continued, "she’ll naturally grow into the position she’s capable of holding."

He pushed himself lightly off the stone barrier and turned slightly so he could face the city again.

"And that is where she becomes useful to me."

Percy’s eyes narrowed faintly.

"And beyond that," Liam finished calmly, "I need Sheila to serve as my gateway."

Percy’s attention sharpened immediately.

"A gateway?" he repeated.

Liam’s gaze returned toward the distant city.

"Yes. A gateway to ensure that I never have to deal directly with your homeland."

He paused briefly before finishing.

"The Crescent Kingdom."