After finishing the exhausting training with Rigo, Leon walked alone through the long corridors of the imperial palace.
His steps were slow, his small body still aching from the brutal session earlier. Every muscle felt sore, every movement heavy. Although his mind and reflexes still carried the experience of a seasoned assassin, his young body simply could not keep up.
That limitation frustrated him more than anything.
Still, Leon refused to give up. He had to find a way to overcome the weakness of his current body.
But another thought weighed even heavier on his mind.
The future.
Leon knew what awaited the Empire.
A future filled with blood, betrayal, and endless war.
As Rigo, he had witnessed the Empire collapsing under its own corruption. Noble houses tearing each other apart. Political conspiracies erupting into open conflict. Innocent civilians suffering under the chaos.
The memory of that destruction still felt painfully real.
“I have to stop that war,” Leon whispered to himself, his eyes narrowing with determination.
“But how?”
“Who can I trust… and when should I act?”
Leon stopped walking when he reached a large window along the corridor.
From there, the imperial capital stretched out beneath him.
The city was alive with movement, bustling with merchants, soldiers, and citizens going about their daily lives. Yet beneath that lively surface, Leon could sense the same uneasy tension he remembered from his past life.
In the distance, the towering spires of the imperial palace gleamed under the golden morning sunlight.
The sight stirred a painful memory.
Leon remembered standing atop one of those towers as Rigo, watching the battlefield below as chaos consumed the Empire.
“Everything could happen again,” Leon thought grimly.
“And I only have a little time to stop it.”
He resumed walking, his thoughts racing with possibilities.
Alliances.
Strategies.
Enemies.
Although his body was weak, Leon possessed one crucial advantage.
Knowledge of the future.
He knew which nobles would eventually betray the Empire.
He knew which factions would ignite the coming war.
But knowledge alone was not enough.
He had to act carefully.
Because the biggest problem was painfully obvious.
He was only seven years old.
Who would ever listen to a child?
Lost in thought, Leon failed to notice where he was going.
Suddenly—
Bump!
His small body collided with someone turning around the corner.
The impact knocked Leon backward, sending him crashing onto the marble floor.
“Ow…” he groaned softly as pain spread across his back.
When he looked up—
His entire body froze.
Standing before him was a tall man wearing luxurious noble robes that reflected immense status within the Empire.
His dark brown hair was neatly combed back, and his sharp calculating eyes were staring down at Leon.
Leon’s breath caught.
He recognized that face instantly.
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Eldric Valerian.
Memories flooded Leon’s mind.
In his previous life as Rigo, Eldric had been one of the most dangerous figures within the imperial court.
Not merely a noble.
A mastermind.
A manipulator.
The hidden architect behind countless political schemes.
Eldric had played a crucial role in the political chaos that ultimately destroyed the Baron von Dreiss family.
During the future coup, he became one of the most hated figures among the noble houses.
Especially by Leon’s family.
Leon swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm.
Eldric didn’t seem bothered by the collision. Instead, he simply studied Leon with a thin, curious smile.
“Are you alright, child?” Eldric asked calmly.
“You seem a little startled.”
Leon quickly stood up, though his legs trembled slightly.
“I apologize, sir,” Leon said respectfully, lowering his head.
“I didn’t mean to run into you.”
Eldric examined him carefully, as if measuring something unseen.
“It’s quite alright,” he replied smoothly.
“This palace is large. It’s easy to lose your way… especially for a small child.”
Leon forced himself to remain composed.
“Thank you for your understanding, sir.”
But inside, his mind was racing.
Of course he already knows about me.
Eldric was exactly the type of man who always knew more than he should.
And sure enough—
“You are Leon, aren’t you?” Eldric suddenly said.
“The boy who recently joined the Gelar Clan.”
“I heard you displayed impressive skill while fighting Rigo.”
Leon held his breath for a moment.
“Y-yes, sir,” he replied carefully.
“I simply tried my best during training.”
Eldric crouched down so that his eyes met Leon’s.
“Good,” he said quietly.
“But skill alone will not help you survive here.”
His voice carried a subtle but unmistakable meaning.
“You must learn when to form alliances… and when to strike.”
Leon felt a chill run down his spine.
This man wasn’t talking about combat.
He was talking about politics.
The same ruthless political games that would eventually plunge the Empire into war.
“I will remember that, sir,” Leon answered calmly.
Eldric stood again and lightly patted Leon’s shoulder.
But the gesture felt cold.
Calculated.
“You are a clever child,” Eldric said with a faint smile.
“I’m sure we will meet often in the future.”
Leon lowered his head politely.
But inside him—
Anger burned.
Eldric Valerian was one of the greatest threats to the Empire.
This man would one day push the Empire toward destruction.
But this time—
Leon had a chance to stop him.
As Eldric walked away, Leon stood frozen for a moment.
His body trembled slightly.
But his determination only grew stronger.
“Eldric Valerian…” Leon thought, his eyes burning with hidden hatred.
“This time… I won’t let you destroy everything.”
Leon continued walking down the long corridor, his thoughts in turmoil.
His body was exhausted.
But the greater burden was the weight of his plans.
“Who can I trust?” Leon wondered bitterly.
“Who would even listen to a child like me?”
Even with knowledge of the future, Leon’s young body limited everything he could do.
No one would take the warning of a seven-year-old seriously.
Especially not in this palace.
A place where everyone chased power and ambition.
The Gelar Clan, where Leon now belonged, was nothing more than a group of perfectly trained assassins.
They followed orders.
Nothing else.
Political enemies.
Noble families.
Even innocent civilians.
If the Emperor commanded it, they killed without hesitation.
“They only care about their missions,” Leon muttered bitterly.
“They are not allies I can rely on.”
In his previous life as Rigo, he had been part of that system.
A loyal weapon.
An assassin who never questioned orders.
But now things were different.
Leon wanted to protect the Baron von Dreiss family.
He wanted to change the course of history.
But he couldn’t do it alone.
The only person he might trust was Elina.
Rigo’s mother.
The woman who now cared for him like her own child.
But even Elina had little power within the political games of the Empire.
Leon sighed deeply.
The imperial court was even worse than he remembered.
Every noble pursued their own agenda.
Alliances shifted constantly.
No one cared about the Empire itself.
Only power.
“Even in my previous life, I never truly understood the politics,” Leon admitted to himself.
“As Rigo… I simply followed orders.”
He knew how the war would end.
But he didn’t know how it truly began.
Leon leaned against a stone pillar, trying to steady his thoughts.
“I need to understand the political game first.”
“Otherwise, I cannot change the future.”
At that moment—
Footsteps approached.
Leon straightened immediately.
Turning the corner was a woman wearing a simple dress.
Her face was filled with concern.
Elina.
“Leon?” she called softly.
“What are you doing here?”
“You should be resting in your room.”
Leon looked at her quietly.
For a moment, a strange warmth filled his chest.
In his previous life, Elina had been his mother.
Even now, that emotional bond hadn’t disappeared.
“I was just… thinking, Madam,” Leon said honestly.
“There are too many things on my mind.”
Elina walked closer, her expression gentle.
“You are too young to carry such heavy thoughts,” she said softly.
“The palace is a difficult place… but you must take care of yourself.”
Leon gave a small smile.
“Thank you for your concern, Madam.”
“But I have to think about the future.”
“There are many things that must change.”
Elina studied him carefully.
“The future is difficult to predict,” she said calmly.
“But trying to improve it is never wrong.”
“Even if it means going against the current.”
Leon looked at her.
“Do you think the Empire’s fate can be changed?”
“Is there a way to avoid the war that will come?”
Elina fell silent for a moment.
Then she answered quietly.
“Change is always possible.”
“But great change never comes from one person alone.”
“You need allies.”
“Someone who believes in you.”
Leon nodded slowly.
But deep inside, uncertainty remained.
Who could he trust in a palace filled with betrayal?
Before Elina could speak further—
Leon suddenly felt something.
A strange sensation.
The same instinct he had developed as Rigo.
Someone was watching.
Immediately, Leon changed the subject.
“Yes, Madam,” he said with a cheerful tone.
“You’re right. I will take better care of myself.”
Elina smiled gently and patted his head.
“Good, Leon.”
“Now come. You need to rest.”
Leon obediently followed her.
But inside his mind—
The battle had only just begun.
“No matter how difficult it is,” Leon thought.
“I will find a way to change fate.”
But time was running out.
Every passing moment brought the Empire closer to the war he feared.
And if Leon failed to find the right allies—
Everything he tried to protect might be destroyed.
Once again.
