Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 528: The Evening That Followed the Sword

The Evening That Followed the Sword

Start with scene...

The treasury doors groaned shut behind him, their heavy metal echo rolling through the corridor like a tired exhale. Leon stepped out, shoulders rising and falling with a slow breath, as if he’d left half a war inside that underground vault.

The two guards stationed at the entrance stiffened the moment they spotted him. They were the same men who had stood there when he first entered—broad-shouldered, disciplined, and loyal to their bones.

Both bowed, fists pressed over their hearts.

"Sire."

Leon nodded back with a simple, "Mm."

They kept their heads lowered, but he didn’t miss the way their eyes flicked upward for the quickest second—catching his disheveled hair, the dirt smeared faintly along his jaw, and the sweat darkening the collar of his shirt. His clothes weren’t torn, but he looked like someone who had just wrestled with a goddamned mountain.

They didn’t comment. Smart men.

Leon rolled his neck once and spoke, voice low but firm.

"Lock the treasury. Triple-check it. Your duty is done—I’m leaving."

"Yes, sire," one guard replied immediately.

The other added, "We will secure everything at once."

Leon didn’t wait for anything else. His mind was already drifting somewhere far away—back toward the sword buried in the boulder, the weight of it, the stubborn refusal, the way it had almost shifted for him.

Almost.

He stepped out of the treasury building and the world greeted him with a gentle breath of wind. A cool breeze brushed across his face, cooling the thin sheen of sweat clinging to his skin. The air carried the faint scent of earth and old stone, a strange contrast to the metallic tang he’d breathed for so long inside the treasury.

He lifted his gaze.

The sun had already dipped more than halfway under the horizon.

The sky was bleeding into violet—soft, deep, and fading at the edges.

"Already evening, huh..." Leon muttered.

He stood there for a heartbeat, simply watching the streaks of rose-gold dissolve into indigo. The world felt quieter than usual, softer, as if the chaos that normally wrapped around him had stepped back for a moment.

His fingers twitched slightly, remembering the resistance of the ancient blade.

Practice, he thought. I should go try again... pull that damned broad sword out properly this time...

The idea flickered alive inside him, only to fade just as quickly. His legs ached, his arms felt heavy, and sweat still clung stubbornly to his skin. Even breathing felt warmer than it should.

Leon exhaled.

"No... forget it. I’ll train tomorrow. If I push now, I’ll only annoy myself more."

He glanced down at his shirt again—damp, clinging, faintly dusty.

"First, I need a bath," he muttered with a crooked, tired smile.

And so he began the slow walk toward his new manor.

---

The Path Toward the Manor

The palace grounds were a maze of courtyards, corridors, gardens, and stone paths—some narrow, some wide, some lined with old statues, others with hanging lanterns that would soon flicker alive with firelight.

Leon walked through them all.

Right.

Left.

Another left.

A wide archway.

A small courtyard with a lone cherry blossom tree.

A path of pale stone bricks, still warm from the fading sun.

His footsteps echoed across each surface in a steady, rhythmic beat. His body was tired, but his mind wandered forward and backward at the same time—thinking of the sword, the treasury, his new duties, and the people waiting for him in the manor.

Eventually, the scenery opened up.

He stepped into one of the grand courtyards—so large it almost felt like a private world.

A soft floral breeze drifted past him.

Roses bloomed in clusters—red, white, gold.

Lilies swayed quietly along the eastern edge.

Jasmine vines curled delicately across stone pillars.

Hibiscus flowers flared in full color near the fountains.

Daffodils nodded like little stars caught in daylight.

Every corner was alive with fragrance.

A pair of sakura trees stood along the far side, petals trembling lightly as the wind moved through them. A few petals broke free, drifting lazily across the courtyard like pale pink snowflakes.

Beside them were fruit trees—mango, apple, pomegranate—branches heavy with ripening flesh.

The fountains were scattered throughout the courtyard, each carved with swirling patterns and mythical beasts. Water arched upward, falling in gentle sheets that sparkled under the dying sun.

And in the center—two artificial lakes.

The crystal-clear water mirrored the violet sky above. Fish—silver, orange, gold—glided beneath the surface in lazy patterns, sending soft ripples toward the stone edges.

It was peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

Leon paused for a moment, taking in the beauty of this place. A place that, not long ago, had belonged to Gary and generations of kings before him.

Now, it belonged to him.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Good. This place needed new life anyway.

He resumed walking, his steps guiding him toward the massive structure rising at the far end of the courtyard.

---

Leon’s New Manor

The manor wasn’t just large—it was grand enough to feel like a palace within a palace.

Its exterior was crafted from smooth white stone veined with lines of gold. When sunlight hit it during the day, it glowed faintly, almost ethereal. Even now, with the sun sinking low, the building held a quiet, majestic warmth.

Tall pillars lined the front entrance, each carved with depictions of ancient battles and the naga insignia twisting elegantly around the stone. Wide windows shimmered faintly, enchanted to keep the inside cool during summer and warm during winter.

Vines, trimmed carefully by the gardeners, curled up along railings and pillars—adding greens and soft purples to the architecture. Lanterns hung from the eaves, unlit for now but waiting for the night to rise.

The manor stretched far back, branching into several wings—guest quarters, training halls, private living spaces, and rooms that once served Gary and his ancestors.

The old king had used the rooms behind the throne chamber as his personal palace.

Leon had changed that.

He chose this manor instead.

More space.

More privacy.

More... freedom.