Chapter 68 – The Weight of a NameThe Empire's Reaction – The Fall of a Legend
The streets of Veridion were filled with an eerie silence.
Normally, the imperial capital buzzed with life—merchants shouting, nobles gossiping, knights marching—but today, the air was heavy with whispers.
Everyone had heard the imperial decree.
The name Leonhardt Valerian Everhart—once spoken with admiration, awe, and reverence—was now stained with a single word:
Treason.
A traitor.
The empire's greatest prodigy, the strongest heir in history, the one destined to stand beside the emperor—had abandoned them.
The reactions varied.
Some refused to believe it.
—"This must be a mistake! The Grand Duke's son would never betray the empire!"
Some felt betrayed.
—"He was supposed to be our future! How could he throw it all away for some woman?"
Some were furious.
—"He abandoned us. He left us to fend for ourselves! How could someone so powerful be so selfish?"
And yet, there were also those who… feared.
Because Leonhardt Valerian Everhart was not dead.
He had simply left.
And a man like that—a legend unmatched in strength—was not someone you simply forgot.
Because if he ever returned…
Would he come back as an enemy?
Would he seek vengeance?
Would he stand against the empire that had cast him aside?
The uncertainty sent a ripple of unease through the hearts of the people.
The Nobles' Discussions – A Divided Court
In the noble estates and grand halls, the reactions were even more complex.
The powerful noble families, the ones who had once vied for Leonhardt's favor, now whispered among themselves, their expressions grim.
"This is a disaster. The empire's strongest heir has turned his back on us."
"We have lost more than a genius—we have lost a symbol. The people believed in him."
Some saw it as an opportunity.
"With Leonhardt gone, the Grand Dukedom is weaker. The emperor will have to choose a new heir from their house. Perhaps this is our chance to gain favor."
Others, however, were terrified.
"Do not be foolish! That boy is a monster. A demon wrapped in human skin. If he ever returns, the empire will regret what it has done."
But one thing was clear.
Leonhardt's absence had shaken the empire's foundation.
The Knights & Soldiers – The Sorrow of Warriors
If the nobles whispered in fear and politics, the soldiers and knights mourned in silence.
For them, Leonhardt was not just a noble.
He was their commander. Their sword. Their shield.
The one who had led them to victory after victory.
The man who had stood at the frontlines, never asking them to do what he would not do himself.
And now—he was gone.
A knight clenched his fists as he stood outside the barracks, his comrades gathered around.
"…Do you think he really betrayed us?" one asked hesitantly.
The knight shook his head.
"No." His voice was firm. "I don't know why he left. But Leonhardt Valerian Everhart is no traitor."
His fellow knights fell into a heavy silence.
Because, traitor or not…
They had lost their greatest warrior.
And the battlefield would never be the same.
The Other Kingdoms – The Shock of the World
Across the seas and mountains, the news spread.
The Kingdom of Drakos, the Northern Tribes, the Western Duchies, and even the farthest eastern empires all heard of what had happened.
A man who was meant to shape the world had turned his back on his empire.
And the rulers of these nations sat in silence, contemplating what this could mean.
The King of Drakos, a battle-hardened ruler, leaned back in his throne, his expression unreadable.
"Leonhardt Valerian Everhart…" he murmured. "Gone from Veridion."
One of his ministers hesitated.
"This could be… an opportunity, Your Majesty. If we could find him—"
The king laughed.
"Find him?" His deep voice rumbled with amusement. "Do you think a man like him will allow himself to be found?"
The minister fell silent.
The king's expression darkened.
"…No. We will not chase him. But we will watch. Because if a man like that walks the world without a nation… then the world must be prepared."
The Kingdom of Aurion – The Night Queen's Shadow
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Aurion, the nobles of the court gathered once again in the grand hall.
The Night Queen, Aetheria Nyx Lunaris Solis, sat upon her throne, her violet eyes cold.
The nobles knelt before her, murmuring in hushed tones.
One noble spoke hesitantly.
"Your Majesty… the empire has declared Leonhardt Valerian Everhart a traitor."
Aetheria's expression did not change.
Another noble continued, his voice cautious.
"…The emperor has told the world he abandoned the empire for a woman."
At this, Aetheria's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of her throne.
A woman?
That part… was true.
But the emperor was mistaken if he thought it was any woman.
She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair glinting under the moonlight.
"…And what do you wish to ask?"
The nobles hesitated before one finally spoke.
"…Will you protect him?"
Aetheria's violet gaze froze them in place.
Then, softly, she spoke:
"He is mine."
A shiver ran through the court.
Aetheria's gaze swept across the gathered nobles.
"You may think him abandoned. You may think him without a home."
Her voice turned icy.
"But make no mistake—Leonhardt Valerian Everhart is not a man to be discarded."
The nobles bowed their heads.
Because if the Night Queen had claimed him—
Then he would never be alone.
And if the empire sought to move against him?
Then they would answer to her.