Morning didn't come gently.
It never did here.
Even when the sunlight slipped through the tall windows, even when the air felt still and quiet—there was always something beneath it. Something waiting.
Leah felt it before she even fully woke.
Not in the room.
But in the mansion.
A shift.
Subtle.
But wrong.
Her eyes opened slowly.
The space beside her was empty.
The sheets still slightly warm.
"Izana…" she murmured softly.
No answer.
She pushed herself up carefully, brushing her hair back as her gaze moved toward the window.
The light was brighter now.
Later than she expected.
He had already left.
Leah exhaled quietly.
"…Of course."
She sat there for a moment.
Listening.
The mansion was never loud—but today, even the quiet felt tense.
Distant footsteps.
Low voices somewhere far down the hall.
More movement than usual.
Something was happening.
And she didn't need anyone to tell her that it had something to do with him.
—
Downstairs—
The atmosphere was different.
Colder.
Controlled.
Izana stood in his office, his posture straight, his expression unreadable.
Dante stood across from him.
Silent.
Waiting.
"…Report," Izana said.
Dante didn't hesitate.
"I looked into it further."
A pause.
"Caesar didn't give the information directly."
Izana's gaze sharpened slightly.
"But someone acted for him," Dante continued.
That—
That was expected.
"…Who?" Izana asked.
Dante's expression darkened.
"One of the internal guards."
A brief silence followed.
Long enough for the weight of that to settle.
"…Bring him," Izana said.
—
It didn't take long.
The door opened again.
Two guards entered, dragging a man between them.
He wasn't struggling.
Not yet.
But his breathing was uneven.
His eyes darted once—just once—before settling on Izana.
Fear.
Immediate.
Uncontrolled.
"Sir—I didn't—. "
"Quiet."
Izana didn't raise his voice.
Didn't need to.
The word alone was enough.
The man froze instantly.
The room fell into silence.
Heavy.
Pressing.
Izana stepped forward slowly.
Measured.
Every step deliberate.
He stopped a few feet away.
Close enough to see everything.
Far enough to remain untouchable.
"You've been speaking to someone you shouldn't," Izana said.
His voice was calm.
Even.
The man shook his head quickly.
"No—I swear, I don't know what you're talking about—."
"Don't lie to me."
Still calm.
Still quiet.
But sharper now.
The man's voice faltered.
"I—."
He couldn't finish.
Because he knew.
There was no point.
Izana watched him.
Unblinking.
Waiting.
The silence stretched.
Longer.
Tighter.
Until—
The man broke.
"…He contacted me," he said quickly.
The words rushed out.
Desperate.
"I didn't go to him—he found me first—I didn't have a choice—."
Izana didn't interrupt.
"Caesar," the man added, his voice shaking.
"He told me what to do—he said it wouldn't matter—he said it was already over—."
A pause.
His breathing became uneven.
"He said you wouldn't even notice…"
That—
That was where he went wrong.
Izana's gaze darkened just slightly.
"…And you believed him," he said.
The man hesitated.
Then—
"…I thought—" he swallowed hard, "—I thought he was dying."
Silence.
The kind that pressed against your chest.
Made it hard to breathe.
"I thought it didn't matter anymore," the man continued, his voice weaker now. "I thought… it wouldn't change anything…"
Izana studied him.
Carefully.
There was no anger in his expression.
No visible rage.
Just—
Understanding.
Cold.
Precise.
"…You thought wrong."
The man's knees buckled slightly.
"Please—." he started, panic creeping into his voice now. "I can fix it—I won't do it again—I swear—."
Izana didn't react.
Didn't move.
Didn't even blink.
Behind him, Dante spoke.
"Caesar's condition has worsened."
Izana's attention shifted slightly—but not away.
"He's declining faster than expected," Dante continued. "Barely holding on."
A quiet pause.
"But still conscious."
Izana's gaze returned fully to the man in front of him.
"…Even like this," he murmured, almost to himself, "he doesn't stop."
The man shook his head desperately.
"I didn't mean—."
"You chose."
The words cut him off instantly.
Simple.
Final.
"You chose the wrong person to listen to."
The man's breath hitched.
"Please—."
Izana turned slightly.
Not toward him.
Toward the guards.
"Remove him."
That was it.
No shouting.
No hesitation.
Just a command.
The guards moved immediately.
Grabbing the man firmly.
This time, he struggled.
Panicked.
"Wait—please—!"
His voice broke.
Desperate.
Fractured.
But it didn't matter.
No one responded.
No one looked at him.
He was dragged toward the door.
His voice fading as he was taken away.
Until—
Silence returned.
Complete.
Unbroken.
—
For a moment, neither Izana nor Dante spoke.
The room felt different now.
Heavier.
But clearer.
Dante exhaled slowly.
"If there's one," he said, "there could be more."
Izana didn't respond right away.
His gaze remained fixed on the door.
Then—
"…Then we find them," he said.
Quiet.
Certain.
Dante nodded once.
"I'll continue the investigation."
Izana gave a small nod.
That was enough.
Dante turned and left.
The door closed behind him.
And just like that—
Izana was alone again.
—
Upstairs—
Leah stood by the window.
Waiting.
She didn't know exactly what was happening.
But she knew enough.
The tension hadn't faded.
If anything—
It had gotten worse.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her sleeve.
"…Iz…"
—
The door opened quietly.
She turned immediately.
And there he was.
Standing in the doorway.
Unchanged on the surface.
But she saw it.
Of course she did.
"…You're back," she said softly.
"Yes."
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then Leah took a small step toward him.
"…It's worse, isn't it?"
Not a question.
A quiet certainty.
Izana looked at her.
And for a second—
He didn't answer.
Then—
"Yes."
Just that.
Nothing more.
But it was enough.
Leah's expression softened slightly.
Not afraid.
Not panicked.
Just… understanding.
She moved closer.
Her hand lifting gently to his arm.
Careful.
Grounding.
"…You handled it," she said.
Again—
Not a question.
Izana's gaze softened just slightly.
"Yes."
Silence settled between them.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It was steady.
Leah stepped closer.
Closing the distance completely.
And without hesitation—
Izana reached for her.
Pulling her into him.
Careful.
Firm.
Certain.
Leah rested against him easily, her arms wrapping around him in return.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just trust.
Izana exhaled slowly.
The tension in him easing—just slightly.
Because she was here.
And for now—
That was enough.