Treason. There are many ways one can commit treason; however, there is one way that will get you killed and your family exiled:
Working with a Demon.
Demons were said to have originated from Witches—creatures of destruction. If one were to work with a Demon, it was the same as working with a Witch, the very creatures that robbed humanity of twenty-three continents.
This was the treason Leonard's family had committed. As punishment, they were killed and exiled. Even when the culprits were punished, the Servant family still suffered immensely, leading to their current situation.
Leonard himself had committed treason in a way by accepting a Witch's help. Even though he wasn't asked whether he wanted the help or not, the fact that he was still in the body granted to him by the Witch—and the fact that he didn't report the matter—was a sign of his acts of treason. Leonard had no intention of reporting the matter.
***
In a large city filled with mansions and luxurious houses, twelve mansions stood out for their size. There was a tall tower house showcasing the time for all; the roads were made of smooth stone, and the sounds of horses were heard as the carriages moved along the smooth paths.
Men in white trench coats were seen around maintaining order. Sounds could be heard coming from entertainment houses, such as theaters. The people were dressed in neat, clean clothes; most women wore dresses and bonnets, while men wore suits with hats.
There was a large church with the sounds of prayer coming from within. Among all the buildings, one was the most worthy of attention. It was the largest one, and close to it was a statue of a man with a crown raising his sword in the air.
Clop, clop, clop.
The sound of a horse moving was heard. Inside a carriage, a man wearing a black suit with long blonde hair and striking golden eyes was seated. In his hands, which were covered by black gloves, was a newspaper.
'It seems like Aurelia is going to go through some changes in the coming days. The Feathers are about to start their selection this year. My family will have to provide some people to help in the war; however, my family lacks such people. As a political move, they'll try to send me out, hoping to kill me.'
Leonard's golden eyes shone with a golden light.
Tap, tap, tap.
He tapped the edge of his seat, where a cup of tea sat.
'If all goes well, the Pope will soon find out about my affair with Lady Ariana.' He grabbed his white cup, which held reddish-brown tea. Raising the cup to his mouth, he took a modest sip. 'For now, I could avoid providing members for the selection if my plan works.'
He put the cup back and glanced to his left toward the window. He was riding past the tower house; he could faintly hear the sound of the clock ticking. A distance away was a large estate with guards stationed at the gates. Leonard turned his gaze to the man driving the carriage.
"Silas."
"Yes, my Lord," the driver replied.
"Have you ever been to the slums?" Leonard asked, then took another sip of his tea.
"I've only been there two times," Silas said, then added, "Why do you ask, my Lord?"
Putting his cup down, Leonard spoke. "Do you think the comparison of Heaven and Hell is accurate when comparing the two?"
"Well, my Lord, the slums—from my visits—were an unsanitary place, but calling it Hell would be going overboard," Silas replied.
"Silas, what is Hell to you?" Leonard asked, his voice calm and steady.
"Well, my Lord, to me, Hell is a place filled with Demons where one burns until the end of time," Silas replied, his voice shaking slightly.
"What would you call a Demon, then?" Leonard asked, taking another sip of tea.
"A Demon would be a creature that enjoys causing suffering," Silas replied.
"I see. Thank you for the talk, Silas. I'll see you when I'm done with my matters," Leonard said. He stood up and opened the door of the carriage.
The carriage had stopped in front of a tall gate. Two guards stood at the sides, looking at the carriage.
"I'll await your arrival, my Lord," Silas said.
Stepping out of the carriage, Leonard stared at the tall gates. There was a symbol of a hand holding a sword: The Astra Family.The symbol represented the Swordsman Class.
The carriage he was on started moving toward an area where other carriages were parked. Leonard adjusted his glove. At the front of his glove was the symbol of a figure bowing down; this represented the Servant family. He made his way to the gates. The two guards opened the gate wide enough for him to enter without asking questions or bothering him.
Passing through the gates, he noticed the path in front of him leading to a huge mansion. Around the path were flowers of all kinds. There were a few houses around the mansion as well as a garden with plenty of roses, a white table, and seats. Leonard could see maids trimming some of the flowers; upon seeing him, they gave a bow.
"Good evening, Lord Caesar," a man in a suit with black hair said to Leonard as he gave a short bow. Leonard just glanced at the man, then spoke.
"Are you the one to lead me inside?"
"Yes, Lord Caesar," the man replied.
"Shall we start moving?" Leonard said. His tone was calm—commanding, even.
"Yes, it would be my honor to guide the Lord." As he said this, he stood and started to walk at a moderate pace.
As Leonard walked, some maids close to him would give him a bow. None who saw him ignored him. This respect wasn't mostly given to Leonard, but to the King; as Leonard's family Class was one of the Classes that served the King, if they were to show disrespect, they would face severe punishment.
Leonard soon saw a lady in front of him, looking in his direction.
'Lady Morgana.'