Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 517: The Weight of Secrets

The Weight of Secrets

Leon’s smile deepened—quiet, unreadable, carrying the promise of something the man wouldn’t enjoy.

"I do," Leon murmured, voice silky and edged with an unsettling calm, "if you agree to one thing."

The finance minister froze.

For a moment he simply stared, his lips trembling, breath shivering out of him in short, panicked puffs. His knees dug into the stone floor, and his fingers clawed at his own robes as if fabric could shield him from what he felt radiating from the young king.

Leon let the silence stretch.

He wanted the man to feel it—not fear of death, but fear of expectation. Fear of what Leon might demand. Fear of what he might reveal.

Finally, the minister swallowed hard.

"W-What... what is it, Your Majesty?"

His voice cracked like someone had stepped on it.

Leon didn’t rush.

He leaned one shoulder against the iron bars, letting the dim torchlight fall across his features. His expression softened into something dangerously pleasant.

"Tell me," he said slowly, "where your old king, Garay, kept his most precious things. His personal treasures. The ones not listed in official ledgers."

The minister blinked.

His mouth opened, closed, opened again.

Leon continued, voice low, steady.

"And more than that... you will tell me who in this kingdom holds bad keys to the treasury. Every house with ’missing payments,’ every noble who dipped their hands into what wasn’t theirs."

His gaze sharpened.

"I want everything. The last five decades. Every record. Every secret. Every shadow that touches the crown’s gold."

The man’s breath hitched. "F-Five... decades?"

"Yes," Leon said with a small smile. "If you’re the Finance Minister, you should be capable of something so simple. Don’t tell me the role was ceremonial."

The minister stared, stunned. His heart hammered so loudly that Leon could almost hear it despite the bars between them.

His voice wavered.

"Y-Your Majesty... I... I have only records for two decades. Maybe twenty-two years if I gather scattered papers. Anything older than that is in fragments or... burned by previous administrations. I would need at least—at least two weeks just to prepare the basics..."

Leon let out a quiet hum, watching him with an unreadable gaze.

Inside, his thoughts were colder.

Two weeks?

I could force the entire treasury to kneel in one night if I wanted. Breaking into their vaults isn’t the issue. Crushing their defense formations isn’t the issue. I just don’t want to waste time doing grunt work.

If this rat can fetch the data for me... then why not let him?

Let him sweat. Let him run. Let him believe I could kill him at any moment. A terrified servant is more loyal than a proud one.

The minister watched Leon’s expression closely, something shifting in his eyes. A desperate hope battled with dread.

"I... I can do it," he whispered. "If—if you allow me time. And a small staff. I swear I’ll collect everything."

Leon tilted his head. "Everything?"

"E-Everything, sire."

Leon straightened, hands slipping into his pockets, movements lazy and elegant.

He looked down at the minister like he was studying a curious insect.

"You look like someone who lies often," Leon said softly.

"But unlike the others, at least you’re smart enough to know what happens to men who lie to me."

The minister flinched so hard he almost toppled sideways.

His thoughts raced in panic, stumbling over each other.

He knows.

He sees everything.

If I lie—if I hide even a single page—he’ll gut me. No, worse... he’ll smile at me while doing it.

Gods... why did I ever steal those coins? Why did I even stay in this kingdom?

If I survive this, I swear I’ll never touch gold again.

Leon watched those emotions writhe across the man’s face like worms in the dirt.

Amusing. Predictable. Useful.

"You have twenty years of records," Leon repeated, pretending to think. "That’s a problem."

The minister panicked again, hands rising in the air.

"I—I will find the rest! Truly! I can search the old vault, contact retired clerks, summon former accountants—anything! Please, Your Majesty, I can gather more data, but not instantly!"

Leon exhaled softly.

He stepped closer again, lowering his voice to something intimate enough to make the man’s skin prickle.

"If you’re willing to give me everything..."

He paused, letting his smile widen just a fraction.

"...then I’m willing to give you something too."

The minister stared, terrified. "W-What... what will you give me?"

Leon’s eyes glimmered with amusement.

"I’ll let you live."

The minister’s throat bobbed so painfully he almost choked.

"I-I... live...?"

"That’s generally what happens when you don’t get executed," Leon replied, tone light, almost playful.

The minister let out a shaky breath of relief—way too loud, way too obvious.

His shoulders sagged. Sweat dripped down his forehead. His entire body trembled with pathetic, pitiful gratitude.

Leon didn’t hide the slight curl of disgust tugging at his lip.

"Don’t relax yet," Leon said suddenly.

The man froze again.

Leon bent down slightly, meeting him eye to eye through the bars.

His voice dropped to a soft, cold whisper.

"Because if you fail me—if you hide anything—if you delay on purpose..."

His fingertip tapped the bar once.

A soft metallic tic echoed down the hall.

"I’ll make you regret being born."

The minister nearly collapsed.

"Y-Yes... Your Majesty... I... I understand..."

Leon didn’t blink. "Do you?"

"Y-Yes! Yes, I understand completely!"

Leon watched him for a long moment—almost too long. The man’s breath came in short, panicked bursts. His mind was spiraling.

Inside, the minister’s thoughts slammed against each other like stones in a muddy river.

I must survive.

I must give him everything.

No mistakes. No lies. No delays.

He’s not like the old king... he’s worse. He sees too much. Reads too much.

Gods... two decades... why do I only have two decades?

Please... let this monster spare me if I obey.

Leon finally straightened, stretching his neck as if bored.

"How long will it take?" he asked casually.

The minister swallowed.

"T-Two weeks... minimum..."

Leon lifted a brow.

"Minimum," he repeated quietly.