The day arrived.
Leon stood outside his house, the cool morning air brushing against his skin. His small backpack—stuffed with all his clothes—rested on his shoulders, its weight barely noticeable.
He had expected an old man to come pick him up. Maybe someone frail, leaning on a cane, moving with slow, deliberate steps.
Instead…
A sleek black van rolled up in front of the house, its tinted windows reflecting the sky like a dark mirror.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop, and after a moment, the driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked completely out of place in the quiet suburban neighborhood. His posture was straight, his movements crisp, and his face betrayed nothing—not irritation, not amusement, just calm professionalism.
Leon didn't move.
The man walked around the front of the van and, with a practiced motion, opened the side door.
He was clearly expecting Leon to get in.
Leon did not get in.
Instead, he shifted his bag slightly on his back and took a step to the side, moving away from the vehicle altogether.
Then, he continued waiting.
The suited man paused, his neutral expression barely changing.
From inside the house, there was no sound.
His parents had already given him his bag, opened the door, and shut it behind him.
That was it.
No goodbyes. No parting words.
Nothing.
Leon sighed. "The pricks."
For the next few minutes, Leon stood still, staring at the street as if the van didn't exist.
He wasn't going to acknowledge it.
If this suited man was really sent by his grandfather, then he should at least be able to understand that Leon wasn't about to hop into a suspicious black van just because someone in a suit told him to.
Eventually, the driver seemed to catch on.
With silent, measured steps, he walked up to Leon.
"Master Leon." His voice was smooth and composed. "Your grandfather is expecting you."
Leon glanced up at him, unimpressed.
His eyebrows scrunched slightly.
Something about this whole thing felt off.
His parents weren't rich.
Sure, they were above middle class, but they weren't the kind of people who had sleek black vans with personal drivers in suits.
So why was he getting picked up like some kind of VIP?
Leon thought about it for a second.
If this were an attempted kidnapping, it didn't make sense.
There was nothing to gain from taking him—his parents wouldn't care. If anything, they'd probably thank the kidnappers and move on with their lives.
Actually…
There was a chance his parents set this up to get rid of him.
The thought crossed his mind for a brief moment.
But if that were true, they had seriously underestimated him.
Because if anyone tried to take him against his will, they'd have to drag him kicking and screaming.
Still, the probability was low.
The more likely scenario?
This man was telling the truth.
With a silent sigh, Leon turned back to the driver and finally moved toward the van.
The suited man, without a word, took his backpack and placed it in the trunk before gesturing toward the open door.
Leon climbed in.
The interior was surprisingly nice.
The seats were smooth black leather, cool to the touch. Soft blue lighting lined the sides of the van, giving it a futuristic look.
But what caught his attention the most was the small snack station.
A sleek, built-in compartment held a bowl of candies and chocolate bars, along with neatly arranged juice cartons.
Leon stared at it for a second.
"…Fancy."
Without hesitation, he grabbed a chocolate bar, peeled the wrapper, and took a bite.
It was good.
Rich. Sweet.
His gaze flickered to the juice cartons.
After a moment of thought, he grabbed one, poked the straw in, and took a sip.
Then, just for good measure, he subtly shoved a few more chocolates into his pocket.
'Whatever happens, might as well enjoy it.'
He leaned back in his seat.
The van was so smooth that he barely noticed when they started moving.
It was eerily silent—no loud engine noises, no bumps, nothing.
Leon sat in thoughtful silence, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee.
His mind drifted to the grandfather he had never met.
The man who had—for some reason—refused to attend the party but had gone out of his way to call for Leon specifically.
Why?
What kind of person was he?
Was this going to be a good thing?
Or was this just another chapter of the same messed-up story that was his family?
Leon wasn't sure.
But if there was one thing he knew, it was this:
Usually, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
And if his parents were anything to go by…
Then there was a very real chance that the tree was rotten.
Leon let out a slow breath, his face unreadable.
He just hoped nothing bothersome happened.
Because if it did…
He might just end up doing something completely unexpected for a five-year-old.
The ride took about half an hour.
Leon sat quietly, watching the passing scenery through the tinted windows.
At first, he was just noting the route out of habit. Left turn here. Right at that intersection. Passed by a gas station.
But as time went on…
He started to notice something.
The van was heading toward the outskirts of the city.
That realization sent a flicker of unease through him.
His grip on his juice carton tightened slightly as an intrusive thought surfaced.
Were they actually planning to get rid of him?
The idea made his chest tighten with a mix of anger and wariness.
But then—just as quickly as the worry appeared—it was gone.
Because the van wasn't heading into some abandoned industrial lot or a secluded forest road.
Instead, they turned onto a pristine private driveway that stretched out before them like something straight out of a movie.
A long row of immaculately trimmed trees lined the sides, casting dappled shadows across the smooth pavement.
The tension in Leon's shoulders eased—but only slightly.
With a quiet hum, the van rolled to a stop.
Leon blinked, realizing they had arrived.
The driver stepped out with practiced efficiency, walking around to open the door for him.
As soon as Leon stepped out…
His brain short-circuited.
"A… palace?"
That was the only word that came to mind.
Before him stood an enormous estate.
The mansion—no, the manor—loomed over the vast landscape, its towering structure crafted from elegant stone and glass. The exterior gleamed under the sunlight, with intricate designs decorating the massive pillars supporting the entrance.
A grand fountain stood proudly at the center of the driveway, water cascading down multiple levels in a rhythmic dance. The surrounding gardens were pristine, every hedge and flowerbed carefully arranged with a precision that screamed wealth.
It was ridiculous.
It was impossible.
It was nothing like the life he had known.
Leon stood frozen, mouth hanging open.
For the first time in a long time, his usual poker face cracked.
He didn't even realize he had stepped away from the van.
Did his parents know about this?
No way. If they did, they would've never let him come here.
Was his grandfather some kind of king?
A billionaire?
What the hell was going on?
A faint sound caught Leon's attention.
He turned his head slightly and noticed something odd.
The driver—Mr. Serious Suit Guy—was standing by the van, his lips quivering.
His shoulders shook slightly, his face turned away as if struggling to keep himself composed.
It didn't take long for Leon to realize what was happening.
The guy was trying not to laugh.
Leon's mouth snapped shut immediately.
"…Ehm. Ehm."
He quickly cleared his throat, straightening his posture to regain his dignity.
The driver took a deep breath, schooling his expression back into its usual calm professionalism.
"Welcome, Master Leon," a new voice called.
Leon turned his attention forward.
Standing just beyond the massive iron gate was another suited man.
This one had silver-streaked black hair, neatly combed back. His posture was straight, his uniform crisp and flawless. Unlike the driver, this man carried an air of refinement.
With a small bow, the man greeted him.
"Your grandfather has been expecting you."
He gestured toward the gate.
At the same time, the driver handed over Leon's bag to him before stepping back.
Without further words, the suited man turned and began walking through the now-open gate.
Leon hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then, taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
As he passed through the gate, a single thought lingered in his mind:
What the hell kind of family did I just walk into?