In the drawing room, Leon sat across from his parents, Duke and Duchess Mondell. The air was heavy with the unspoken. His father, a sturdy man with graying hair and a powerful presence, seemed to be struggling to find the right words. His mother, graceful and calm, reached out to hold Leon's hand.
"There's something you need to know, Leon," she began softly. "Something we've kept from you for a long time, for your own safety."
Leon's heart quickened. "Is this about the heightened security around the estate? Or perhaps Atlas?" he asked, his mind immediately jumping to the person who'd been occupying his thoughts more than he cared to admit.
His father's brows furrowed slightly at the mention of Atlas. "In part, yes," he admitted. "But there's more to it than that. You see, when you were younger, we noticed traces of Guide energy in you, but you were too sickly for us to take the risk of awakening those abilities. The strain could have... hurt you."
Leon's eyes widened. "So you knew? You knew I was a Guide and kept it hidden from me?"
"It wasn't an easy decision," his mother said, her voice tender. "We did it to protect you, Leon. And now, with things becoming more dangerous in the world, we can no longer keep you in the dark."
His father continued, "Atlas is not just any young Duke. There are forces at play far greater than we anticipated. If his secret were to be discovered... it could place you, and all of us, in great danger."
Leon processed this information, a mixture of betrayal and understanding settling in his chest. "I want to know everything," he said resolutely. "If I'm going to be involved in this, I need to know what I'm up against."