The Villain Is Destined to Die: But as the Creator, I know All Endings

Chapter 299: The Beginning of Retribution

As the conversation between Leon and Veronica went on, they asked each other several related questions.

Veronica had asked how he had found out about Evana, to which Leon simply dragged Ethan’s name into it, thinking,

’Just ask the guy. He was the one who dragged me here.’

During his turn, Leon asked what exactly he and the Prince had seen inside the King’s personal chamber that had made him cast [Lie of Destiny].

And just as Leon had expected, Veronica had no idea regarding it.

The two went back and forth for a while.

Eventually, it was the last question.

Veronica sighed, folded her arms, and looked directly at Leon before asking,

"Last question. Who is Irene Adler to you?"

Leon raised an eyebrow.

"What’s this? Weren’t you the one who said earlier that whatever she and I do is none of your concern?"

Veronica leaned back against her desk and folded her arms tighter.

"That was when you were in front of her, where she could hear me. Now you are alone with me, so I can ask."

"...."

Leon’s eye twitched.

The audacity of his sister.

But he has to answer her.

"As you have realized, I am at that age where these things just naturally find their way to me."

Veronica’s golden eyes narrowed slightly at his casual admission.

"Why?"

"Hah?"

"Why her specifically?"

"...Why do you even want to know? I never interfered in your love life."

He saw her eyes twitch.

’Well, not like she had anyone to interfere with anyway.’

Leon almost regretted thinking that.

But not enough to stop himself from saying the next line.

"See, sister. That is what you get when you always hole up inside this room. You do not have anyone to gossip about, so you have to dig into my life."

"Leon."

"Hm?"

"For the first time, you are pissing me off."

A vein popped up at the corner of her forehead.

Leon’s smirk slowly faded.

He gulped.

But then his mouth opened again, because the person inside Leon Valentine apparently had a strange side of pride.

"Apologies, but I am right, and you know that. You are literally at the age where most women would have already—OW! OW!"

Veronica’s hand had already shot out across the desk and gripped both his cheeks.

"How bold of you to lecture me."

She pinched.

"Lee woo. It hurs!"

Leon mumbled through her grip.

"Twy let goo!"

"Say that again."

Veronica deliberately made her voice sweet.

"Say one more word about my age, dear brother. I dare you, you will see a new version of me."

"I am wowwy!"

"Louder."

"I AM WOWWY!"

She held on for another full second, then finally let go.

Leon staggered back, rubbing his red cheeks with both hands.

"...That hurt."

"Good to hear that."

As Veronica walked behind her desk and sat down, removing her coat, she gestured to Leon.

"Take a seat, there is a matter we need to discuss."

’More matters?’

Looking at her, it certainly looked like one.

But even then, Leon had to ask.

"Is it something that Silvermoon asked you to do? If so, then I will not be doing it."

He had no reason to work as a puppet for the goddess.

He had been played by her hand many times now without even knowing.

But now that he had realized she wanted him alive, that meant he held leverage here.

But Veronica shook her head.

"All the Calamities are busy at this moment after what had happened at Evana. So none of us would be receiving any orders."

Which meant that they would also not be getting watched over.

"Leon, I want you to do me a favour."

She was asking him a favor, because during Evana, Leon had asked her a favor first.

She was returning the debt.

Leon folded his arms.

"I am listening."

Veronica leaned forward slightly.

"Due to certain circumstances I will not be able cause harm upon the King, or anyone within Liora’s royal bloodline."

Leon’s expression did not change.

"So I ask you, Leon.... What do you plan to do with the king?"

Leon half-closed his eyes.

He understood exactly what she was hinting at.

"...I do not know what you are talking about sister."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

He nodded confidently.

Veronica looked at him for a moment longer, then she shrugged.

"Alright then, we are done here. You may go now. I have already called Myra for you outside."

She waved one of her hands at his.

"...."

She returned her attention to her desk, flipping open a file she just grabbed.

Leon looked at her one last time before he turned and walked toward the door.

He paused once before reaching the handle, then said it, glancing slightly over his shoulder.

"You should go out more, you know."

Veronica again waved him off with one hand.

. . .

Leon sighed as he strolled out of the office.

Both hands tucked inside his coat pockets, he looked down as he walked past the guards and maids on the way.

His mind was already running.

The last exchange which Veronica had said was deliberate.

’I will not be able to subtly cause harm upon the King, or anyone within Liora’s royal bloodline.’

That was chilling to his ears, and it sent a quiet bolt down Leon’s spine.

Veronica was saying she could not do anything against him, not even if she wanted to.

What made her, the strongest human of this era, the head of the Blood Tower, say something like that?

There was only one explanation.

’The Oath of Balance.’

Leon came to a conclusion.

The Oath was a restraint that bound the Calamities and directly or indirectly harmed each other’s protected assets.

That meant only one thing.

The royals, or at the very least the King himself, was associated with one of the Tower Lords or even a Calamity directly, which meant he was bound by the Oath as well.

Leon’s eyes slowly narrowed as he walked down the hallway.

’That changed things...’

That explained why Veronica had stayed her hand for decades. Why did she let Charlotte die? Why she had watched her own brother be humiliated while doing nothing...

It was the Oath itself.

She physically could not move against the King.

And now her request...

’What do you plan to do with him?’

She was not asking him this casually.

Even speaking too directly about harming the King could be considered indirect intent.

So, she had to dance around it.

She could not say what she wanted Leon to do.

But she could ask him what he planned.

That was the loophole here.

The Oath could not punish a sister for asking a question, and Leon, who was not bound by any oath, could do whatever he wanted with the answer.

So without ever using the word, without ever giving the order and without ever placing herself in violation of the balance.

Veronica had told him exactly what she wanted.

Leon’s fingers slowly curled inside his coat pocket, and a faint grin appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Kill the King." He muttered.

That was what his sister wanted.

’So her desire for revenge has not faded.’

It pleased him greatly, because forgiveness was not an option here.

They were not that weak.

Both he and his sister.

And on top of that, Eula wanted the same thing.

Leon had even made a promise to her that he would help her take her revenge.

That made it the revenge of two people.

No.... Three people, if Haru counted the original Leon Valentine.

’Looks like everyones wants you dead...’

It was time for him to make his next move.

But before that....

’I need to return to Eclipse first.’