He said as he disappeared upstairs.
Caesars continued eating his food, the clatter of utensils filling the room as he contemplated the events unfolding around him.
"Aren't you going to stop him?" Florda asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"He is older than me," Caesar replied dismissively, running a hand through his hair.
"But you are the king!" Florda shot back, frustration seeping into her voice.
"It's what you people were asking for when you were peppering him with questions up and down," he retorted, his patience wearing thin.
As they were discussing the matter, Leo came down and was about to leave the house, a determined look on his face.
"Take this," Caesar tossed a finely crafted storage ring to him.
"I don't need it," Leo said, catching it expertly and holding it up for inspection. "It was never mine."
"Who then has it?" Caesar asked, his interest piqued.
"It belongs to Dad; he wanted you to have it after your awakening," Leo replied quietly, his gaze drifting to the floor.
"Oh... What's inside?" Caesar's curiosity was evident, though he felt a pang of regret for not having paid more attention to the past.
"I never checked and never cared, but it's likely cultivation resources," Leo admitted, a hint of longing in his voice.
"Wow, thanks," he added, surprised at the potential of what the ring held.
"No need; it was always yours, just the safe keeper. See, there's no need for you to look for another house; you can stay at the cottage down the mountainside," Caesar offered, gesturing with his hand as if to dismiss any argument.
"Thanks... But is the place good?" Leo inquired, uncertainty creeping into his tone.
Caesar nodded his head and sat back down at the table, returning to his meal as if the conversation had exhausted him. Leo then started moving toward the door, but suddenly turned back and said, "Goodbye, Fams."
"Why are you saying goodbye? We will still be seeing each other in school," Tiffany chimed in, her voice light with laughter.
"Well, that's right, but I just want to look cool," Leo replied, a mischievous grin on his face.
"That doesn't make sense at all," Tiffany frowned, crossing her arms.
"Just leave it for me; goodbye once again," Leo declared with faux seriousness before bolting out the door, leaving Tiffany and the others amused.
As Tiffany and the group turned to leave the dining room, an authoritative voice echoed from the table.
"You all should sit down."
They all returned to their seats, the atmosphere suddenly heavy with tension.
"I am so disappointed in all of you for what just happened. Let's start with you, Florda. Why are you suddenly interested in Leo's affairs? What concerns you with his practicing manual?" the voice demanded, cutting through the air like a knife.
"I am just protecting my son and defending his rights," Florda replied defensively, her tone rising with indignation.
"What rights are you stupidly defending?" the voice shot back.
"His claim to the throne—his birthright," Florda snapped, her eyes blazing with conviction.
"You people should know that the strongest prince takes it all," the figure replied, their gaze shifting to crimson. "I didn't face any opposition during my ascension because Leo was still in his egg at that time. And you," he pointed an accusing finger at Crimson, "the fact that you hatched before him doesn't give you the right to slap him!"
"But he disregards Mom!" Crimson protested, his voice laced with teenage angst.
"Shut up, boy! You believe that you are meant to inherit the throne after me, but get this into your thin skull: if Leo decides to compete for the throne, many will support him over you. Now all of you should get out."
As they stood up and left the room, only Caesar remained behind, staring down at the remnants of his meal.
Meanwhile, as Leo stepped out of the palace, a sleek car awaited him at the gate, more extravagant than he'd anticipated. He climbed inside, letting the door shut behind him. The car zoomed off, speeding through the main city gate, giving him a sense of freedom he hadn't felt in a long time. It soon stopped in front of a modest house by the mountainside, its rustic charm inviting.
Leo exited the car and took a deep breath, feeling the crisp mountain air refresh his spirit. "At least it's clean. Finally, freedom. Let's settle in first before checking this ring," he muttered to himself as he walked inside.
He wandered through the house, and upon entering the largest room, he fell onto the bed, allowing the soft embrace of the mattress to soothe his lingering frustrations. He retrieved the ring that Caeser had given him, staring at it with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
As he opened the ring, his eyes widened in amazement. Inside lay an array of cultivation resources and forging materials, glittering with promise. Among the treasures were pieces of ardentite ore and other rare gems—each one with the potential to elevate his skills exponentially.
"Wow, it's like Father really is a dragon by nature too," Leo mused, his heart racing at the thought of the power he could harness. "With all these treasures, I will be able to reach SS+ before entering the Academy."
But his thoughts drifted back to the events in the palace. Who was there to blame for the animosity? Nobody had taken him seriously before his awakening, but that was about to change. The pressure was now on Crimson; he now saw Leo as a rival, and Leo felt invigorated by the challenge.
"Well, I don't care. All I want to do is save the kingdom," he declared aloud, feeling a newfound resolve strengthen within him. "Speaking of that, I haven't chosen a class yet." He considered his options carefully. "I could go with a swordsman; that's cool, but being a magic swordsman is more powerful. With all the hand-style casting, a magic swordsman is definitely cooler."
He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining himself wielding a sword imbued with magic, a formidable protector of their realm. As thoughts of strategy and ambition filled his mind, Leo felt a fire igniting within him. It was time to not only claim his destiny but also to protect those he cared about. The challenge ahead would not be easy, but he was ready to embrace it.