The inner palace was quieter than the rest of the capital.
Not because it lacked people—
But because everyone here understood power.
Servants moved silently.
Guards stood like statues.
And every noble who walked these halls carried an invisible weight.
Leon followed behind Aether, his eyes constantly moving.
Everything here felt… suffocating.
"…This place hasn't changed."
Aether walked ahead.
"It has."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Aether glanced at him briefly.
"You have."
Leon paused for a moment.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Yeah. I guess I have."
They arrived before a massive set of golden doors.
Engraved into the surface were ancient symbols of the empire.
Dragons.
Blades.
Crowns.
Leon stared at them.
"This is…?"
"The Hall of Assembly."
Leon blinked.
"…Sounds important."
"It is."
Aether pushed the doors open.
The moment Leon stepped inside—
Dozens of eyes turned toward him.
The hall was enormous.
Rows of seats lined the sides.
At the center stood an open space like an arena.
And seated across the hall…
Were members of the royal family.
Princes.
Princesses.
Nobles of the highest rank.
Leon felt it instantly.
Pressure.
Each person here radiated power.
Some stronger than others.
But all of them…
Far beyond what he had been before.
"…So this is my family."
A voice echoed across the hall.
"Well… look who finally decided to return."
Leon turned.
A young man with long silver hair leaned casually in his seat.
His eyes were sharp.
Mocking.
"You're still alive."
Leon frowned.
"…Should I not be?"
The prince smirked.
"I assumed you'd die out there."
Murmurs spread across the hall.
Another voice spoke.
"Enough."
The hall fell silent instantly.
A man seated near the front stood slowly.
His presence was overwhelming.
More than anyone else in the room.
"This is not the place for childish insults."
Leon felt it immediately.
This man was different.
Stronger.
Colder.
Aether spoke quietly beside him.
"The Second Prince."
Leon nodded slightly.
"…I can tell."
The Second Prince looked directly at Leon.
His gaze was sharp.
Evaluating.
"…You've changed."
Leon didn't look away.
"…I have."
The prince's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
A woman's voice echoed from the side.
"Well, well."
A beautiful princess with golden eyes smiled faintly.
"The forgotten one returns."
Leon glanced at her.
"And now you're not so forgotten."
She tilted her head.
"Do you plan to surprise us?"
Leon shrugged.
"Maybe."
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier.
Some princes looked amused.
Others looked annoyed.
A few…
Looked dangerous.
Leon could feel it.
This wasn't a family.
This was a battlefield.
Suddenly—
The massive doors behind the throne opened.
Everyone in the hall stood instantly.
Silence fell.
Leon turned slowly.
And then he felt it.
A presence beyond anything else.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Overwhelming.
A man walked into the hall.
His long silver hair flowed behind him.
His golden eyes glowed faintly.
Every step he took made the air feel heavier.
Leon's heart began pounding.
"…That's him."
At the very top of the hall sat the ruler of the empire.
Caelus Aurelion.
The First Sovereign.
The man who built the empire.
The being who stood above all.
He sat down on the throne.
And the entire hall bowed.
Except one.
Leon.
Silence.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Every eye turned toward Leon.
Some shocked.
Some furious.
Some… amused.
Aether didn't move.
He simply watched.
The pressure in the room increased.
But Leon didn't bow.
He couldn't.
Not because he refused.
But because something deep inside him…
Wouldn't allow it.
The emperor looked at Leon.
For a long moment—
He said nothing.
Then…
He smiled.
"…So."
"The illegitimate prince returns."
His voice was calm.
But it carried across the entire hall effortlessly.
Leon met his gaze.
"…Yes."
The emperor's eyes gleamed with interest.
"And you refuse to bow."
Leon hesitated for only a second.
"…I can't."
Gasps echoed through the hall.
The emperor leaned slightly forward.
His gaze deepened.
"…Not won't."
"…Can't."
Leon nodded.
"Yes."
The emperor's smile widened slightly.
"…Good."
The entire hall froze.
The First Sovereign leaned back on his throne.
His eyes never left Leon.
"It seems…"
"You've inherited something interesting."
Leon didn't fully understand what he meant.
But he could feel it.
Something inside him was reacting.
Resonating.
Calling out.
The emperor raised one hand.
"From this moment…"
"The illegitimate prince will be formally recognized."
The hall erupted.
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
"Why him?!"
The emperor's voice cut through everything.
"Silence."
Instantly—
The hall became quiet again.
The emperor's gaze swept across the royal family.
"Prepare yourselves."
"Because the balance of this palace…"
"…Is about to change."
Leon stood there.
At the center of it all.
And for the first time—
He realized something.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
This was about power.
And he had just stepped directly into the heart of it.