Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 514: The Silence After Power

The Silence After Power

When everyone finally left, when the last echo of boots and fabric vanished down the stone corridor, Leon stood alone in the court.

The heavy doors slid shut behind his people with a low, dragging thud — a sound that felt like the walls sealing him inside his own thoughts.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

He simply stared at those closed doors, watching the final sliver of light die between them.

The torchlight flickered across the hall, crawling over the polished stone and the tall pillars that framed his throne like silent sentinels.

He inhaled, a slow and a deep.

The air tasted of scorched earth.

The remnants of the land a burned under the night — the marks of his past clashes still living in the soil. Even inside the court, he could feel it. That faint heat. That memory of lightning cutting through sky and land.

He closed his eyes.

Being king...

People think it’s a crown and a seat.

But the weight — gods, the weight of the sits right on your chest.

Back when he was Duke of Silver City, responsibility felt heavy, yes, but familiar, like a sharp blade he’d carried too long to question.

But now?

Now it was different.

The kingdom wasn’t just a duty.

It wasn’t just a title.

It was people, faces, voices — Nova, Rias, Aria, Cynthia, Syra, Kyra, Tsubaki, Lira, Sona, Natsha, the maids, Alina, Ronan.

All of them tangled in his life, relying on him in their own ways.

He exhaled shakily.

"King..." he muttered to himself. "Feels heavier than I imagined."

His hand rose to his face, dragging down slowly.

He had divided roles today — Commander Black, Vice-Commander Johny, Ronan as Diplomatic Minister, Alina as Prime Minister — and each choice sat in his heart like a stone.

Not regret.

Just responsibility.

The kind that humbles you.

He let himself feel it, really feel it, as the empty hall breathed around him.

His heartbeat steadied.

Then—

A flicker of memory stung the back of his mind.

The system.

It had "dinged" earlier — before the council meeting — a faint notification at the edge of his awareness.

He had ignored it because he needed to focus on the people standing before him.

On the kingdom forming around him.

But now, with silence wrapped around him...

"...I should check it."

He straightened, brow furrowing.

"System," he called quietly. "Open."

A soft hum answered.

A translucent, faintly glowing screen unfolded in front of him like an ancient scroll of light.

Lines of text shimmered into existence, crystal clear.

> [Congratulations, Host.]

[You have completed your first High Mission: Establish the Foundation of Your Kingdom.]

[As the reward is of higher grade, the system will now enter Hibernation Mode for an uncertain duration.]

[Upon awakening, the system will deliver the full High-Grade Reward.]

[Notes Attached:]

– Host may still access System Shop.

– Host may view Blank Points.

– Host may view Personal Status.

– No missions will be assigned.

– System voice will be unavailable during hibernation.

Leon blinked.

Then blinked again.

"...What?"

He stared at the screen as if it had just insulted him.

"What the hell do you mean, High Mission completed?"

He paced slowly, eyes locked on the glowing text.

"High mission? I’ve only ever received normal missions... and you’re telling me—"

He jabbed a finger at the floating panel.

"—that you gave me a high-level mission without telling me... and I completed it... without knowing?"

The light didn’t answer.

Leon rubbed his forehead, exasperation dripping from every breath.

"How am I supposed to make sense of that? And what does ’uncertain duration’ even mean? A day? A year? A century?"

Silence.

He paused, thinking, irritation mixing with confusion.

"This is ridiculous. What kind of system goes into hibernation right when things are getting serious?"

He swiped the screen again, searching for more information, another message, anything — but the panel remained stubbornly still.

He exhaled through his nose, sharp.

"Of all times..."

His thoughts spiraled.

High mission... foundation of the kingdom... reward on hold...

He didn’t even understand what counted as "foundation."

Was it the court?

The appointments?

The land scorched from his battles?

The people gathering under him?

He remembered the clashes with Aden — the violent storms that split their camps, the scars left on the land like giant claw marks. The kingdom was rebuilding on top of those ruins.

Maybe that was the reason.

Or maybe something else entirely.

He shook his head.

"This is just..."

He dragged his hand down his face.

"...confusing."

He took another slow breath, forcing himself to calm.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let’s test this."

He looked at the screen again.

"System," he said firmly. "Respond."

Nothing.

The screen stayed silent.

Leon frowned deeper.

"System," he called again, a bit louder this time. "Are you listening?"

No answer.

The glow of the panel flickered once — as if acknowledging, or warning — then dimmed slightly.

He shook his head.

"This is just..."

He dragged his hand down his face.

"...confusing."

He took another slow breath, forcing himself to calm.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let’s test this."

He looked at the screen again.

"System," he said firmly. "Respond."

Nothing.

The screen stayed silent.

Leon frowned deeper.

"System," he called again, a bit louder this time. "Are you listening?"

No answer.

The glow of the panel flickered once — as if acknowledging, or warning — then dimmed slightly.

Leon’s jaw tightened.

"System," he repeated, voice dropping into a steady, low tone.

Still nothing.

The silence of the hall pressed around him, thick and heavy, the torches casting restless shadows across the floor.

His eyes narrowed.

His breath slowed.

Leon’s jaw tightened.

"System," he repeated, voice dropping into a steady, low tone.

Still nothing.

The silence of the hall pressed around him, thick and heavy, the torches casting restless shadows across the floor.

His eyes narrowed.

His breath slowed

"System."

The word rolled out one last time, quiet but edged.

No response.

Only silence.

And the Chapter ends on that breath held between hope and uncertainty.