Leon lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. That ceiling had always felt suffocating, but today, it seemed to press down on her, making it hard to breathe.0

"My lady, perhaps you should eat a little something," a maid said cautiously outside the door.0

Leon exhaled softly, her voice quiet as she replied, "...I'm fine."0

"Master Dales is very worried about you. If you continue to skip meals—" the maid began, but was cut off.0

"If he was truly worried about me, he wouldn't have done such a thing. I'm fine, really. You can go. I'd like to be alone… Just leave me be," Leon interrupted.0

"Understood, my lady. If you need anything, please call me at any time," the maid said. Her footsteps soon faded into the distance, leaving the room in silence once more.0

Leon let out a sigh as her father's words from the previous night replayed in her mind.0

"This is a great opportunity for you. With our influence, we'll place the Sixth Prince on the throne, and you will become the Empress. So, do as I say without any complaints."0

Her father was always like that—seeing his children not as children, but as tools. His cold, calculating gaze never wavered.0

Dales was a man who had lived his entire life striving to become the head of the house. Leon couldn't say she didn't understand his ambitions. As the eldest son of the Duke of Leston, such aspirations had been inevitable.0

But this matter was different....0