A single carriage rolled at the outskirts of Valentine Dukedom.

"Do you want to be left at the Eclipse Institute, or do you want to tag along with him?"

Sitting right in front of Leon and Cyan, Veronica delivered the question to Cyan.

Cyan didn’t need to think for long, as the answer came out instantly.

"Eclipse.. Please."

He hesitated and didn’t meet the eyes of Leon, who sat next to him.

Knowing very well that Leon will probably get interrogated by his sister, he decided to stay far, far away from this duo.

’I am sorry, Leon, but you are on your own.’

He prayed inside his head for Leon’s well-being and safety, and wished the gods above to return Leon in no more than two pieces in the worst case.

Veronica nodded in response, but also added.

"You know, as one of Leon’s friends, I don’t mind you entering the Blood Tower."

Cyan rapidly waved his hand.

"No, no, no, L-Lady Veronica, I want to go to Eclipse as soon as I can. Or else my attendance would make me lower my rank."

Leon noticed that beside him, Cyan was quietly shaking and dripping with sweat.

"If you say so..."

After informing the carriage driver, she told him to first drop her and Leon off at Blood Tower, then take Cyan to Shinra City, where the Eclipse Institute is located.

As the carriage rolled, the inside became quiet.

Neither Leon, Cyan, nor Veronica were raising any topic to talk about.

Cyan turned his head outside the window and saw the morning light hit his face.

They have been travelling since midnight, and it was 8 AM in the morning, and they just crossed into the Valentine Dukedom.

After returning from Evana, the other kingdom felt too far behind in terms of technology.

He remembered that if it were to be that strange flying vehicle of Miss Irene, then they would have reached here in a matter of thirty minutes.

"A whole new kingdom..."

He muttered without even thinking.

Veronica turned to him and said.

"Things are going to change a lot."

"Hm?" Cyan blinked.

Veronica continued, looking at him.

"You too have gotten the Queen of Evana Kingdom’s stance, the most advanced and powerful city. What do you think would happen if words were to get out?"

Cyan didn’t understand what she meant by this.

Isn’t it good?

Three people from Liora got the stance of Queen Anise, surely the other kingdom would not dare to harm them, and the king of Evana would even praise them for this!

It was basically enough to set his whole life!

He wanted to reply to Lady Veronica, but seeing how cold and serious her experience was, he decided to wait.

Veronica continued in her usual tone.

"It would be for your own goodness if you can’t tell anyone about the stance, not even the person closest to you."

"Why is that?"

Veronica replied.

"Because I said so. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes. Lady Veronica."

He briefly glanced at Leon, who was looking at the thin air in front of him and doing nothing else to contribute to the conversation.

’Say something, dammit!’

Sigh...

Cyan understood that she might have a reason behind it.

Surely if the Tower Head had warned him, then he would have had to take it seriously.

"As per your absence, I have already arranged and sent a letter to Headmaster Raizen, stating that you three were at Blood Tower for the past week."

"...?!"

’Is it that serious?’

Looking at the way she was pulling everything for them, such that every trace of them being at Evana got erased, Cyan started to feel a bit of fear.

Why would she be going that far?

Surely the first reason which came to his mind was Leon. It was because of her brother that she was just trying to protect them as well.

But, even so...

’What exactly did I do during the entire Evana journey?’

He felt like everything was Leon’s doing; all he and Ethan did was just tag along.

’...I don’t want to even ask this guy.’

Seeing how he was casually mocking Dreamweaver, he understood that this guy was on whole another level, nor even him and Ethan combined would do any harm to him.

’How is he even Rank-2? He must have faked his results.’

The carriage halted.

Veronica stepped out first, then Leon.

Cyan was just sitting inside the carriage.

"Cyan, this is for you."

As Leon stepped outside, he turned to Cyan and handed him a black rectangular-shaped box tied with red ribbon.

"What’s in it?"

He shook the box.

Rattle-! Rattle-!

Something metallic clinged from inside.

"As promised, this is the portion of treasure you are getting?"

"Huh? Treasure...."

Before he could ask more about it, Leon slammed the door, and the carriage left.

"W-wait–!"

It fastly rolled past the Blood Tower.

"....what the hell..."

He was left all alone again.

’Seriously, those siblings are weird.’

Thinking that, he casually opened the red thread on the black box.

As the lid slid open, Cyan’s jaw dropped.

"..w-wow!! What the–!!"

Inside the box were shiny stones which looked like jewels and rare rubies, along with some gold bars.

If he had to estimate the overall price which he was holding in his hand...

"I can buy two whole mansions with this! And even then, I would have half of these left!!"

He closed the lid and looked around.

’Was I loud....’

He safely put the box inside his bag and tightly hugged it close to his chest.

The earlier fury regarding Leon instantly vanished as it was never there to begin with.

’I am glad I tagged along.’

. . .

As Leon waved back at the carriage, he felt a hand suddenly press on his shoulder.

Looking back over his shoulder, he saw that Veronica was strangely and forcefully smiling at him.

Leon’s eye twitched.

"I am not going to run, sister."

He said it without flinching.

"Great decision, or else..."

She did not finish her sentence.

’Or else what...?’

Leon thought to himself.

’You cannot possibly beat up your own little brother, would you?’

"Come inside, you relaxed a lot in the carriage. Now it’s time for you to answer some of my questions."

Leon glanced at her.

"Sure, but in return, you have to answer mine."

Veronica first narrowed her eyes at him, she was about to disagree first, but later changed her mind.

What could he possibly ask...?

It was only natural that Veronica would have him corner before he would get the chance to ask.

So eventually, she agreed.

Both of them walked into the Blood Tower and made their way up to the top.

Inside her office, Veronica leaned against her desk and gestured for Leon to either sit or keep standing.

Leon chose to stand.

Veronica folded her arms.

"Now then, question one. Leon, tell me honestly, you knew about my skill, [Twin Echo], did you not?"

Leon saw this question coming.

And honestly, it made sense.

If Leon had not known about her skill, then he could never have given Veronica the task in the previous timeline to make her memories travel twenty five years back to the past, containing all of Leon’s plans for Evana, so that she would sign the treaty ahead of everyone else.

Leon nodded.

"I did."

"And how did you know?"

Well, the truth was that he had personally created the skill for her character.

But he could not say that.

"I had a skill which let me take a peek at other people’s skills."

"Hm?"

Veronica tilted her head, she was clearly not buying it.

So Leon gave her proof.

He opened Veronica’s status window and started reading out everything aloud.

Her mana core rank, her affinity types, every skill she possessed, and including her hidden special skills which she had never told anyone about.

Veronica’s mouth hung open for a brief second.

She quickly recovered and cleared her throat.

"That’s enough. Next question... How did you—"

"No."

Leon cut her off.

"What?"

"You asked one. Then I ask one. That’s what we are doing."

"That was not the deal—"

"Then so be it, I am leaving."

He turned around as if to walk out.

"Huh? You are leaving? Do you think I would let you?"

Veronica’s voice carried a slight edge.

"Where would you even go to begin with?"

Leon smirked quietly under his breath before replying.

"To Irene, who else? Clearly she owns a house, she has a decent income, I can live with her for the rest of my life, and I will even have Queen Anise’s stance and the Oath protecting me."

He clearly saw a change on Veronica’s face.

And from the looks of it, it did not look like she liked his reply.

"Tch. Fine then, ask away."

Leon turned back around to face her.

He stepped closer to her desk as his golden eyes met hers directly.

"Tell me, sister, what are you hiding from me?"

Veronica’s expression stilled.

"What do you mean?"

Leon continued without breaking eye contact.

"What did you and the first princess Charlotte did to me?"