Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 679: Interrogating the King

Interrogating the King

"One of the estate maids."

Silence.

Then -

A hush fell as each woman pivoted, eyes locking on him one by one. The air tightened without warning.

Together. Just like that. No sudden moves. Without fanfare.

A flicker crossed Rias’s face, one eyebrow climbing high. Her red mouth twitched upward at the edge.

"Ah."

Cynthia looked again at the painting, a quiet smile playing on her face. Not quite serious, not quite laughing. "A servant girl," she said

Floor polish hushed under Syra’s boots as she drew near the canvas. Close up, the paint revealed itself - strokes here, dimples of shade there, fine threads of pigment tracing Leon’s gaze. The way light fell made the edges breathe.

"She must have studied you carefully," Syra murmured, tilting her head. "This isn’t admiration from a distance. This is... attention."

He folded his arms, a gesture he knew seemed guarded. "They observe closely, those who create."

Hmm. Syra stayed silent, eyes narrow.

A shadow shifted near his shoulder - Rias stood there, strands of red spilling past her waist as if poured from a bottle. Her gaze slid away from the canvas, fixing on him with quiet curiosity.

"One helpless girl caught in your gilded trap already?" she said, voice soft like silk but sharp beneath.".

A gasp caught in Leon’s throat. "Excuse me?"

Some of the maisters by the wall went rigid, feigning indifference. Yet their stillness gave them away.

Just then, Nova spoke - her words soft, steady, coming from somewhere at his back.

"No. Not one."

One by one their eyes turned toward her.

Quiet as ever, Nova kept her hands resting one atop the other. Slowly, her green gaze swept the room - over glossy stone floors, up into vast ceiling heights, past delicate glass lights hanging high above. Servants lingered at edges, still as breath in a frozen moment.

"He doesn’t trap one," she said quietly. "He traps every soul here."

Leon blinked.

"That sounds far worse."

Suddenly, Sona gave a light laugh - melodic, almost humming. "Well," she said, "you’re not exactly wrong either."

With her arms tucked under her chest, Rias smiled - this moment was one she didn’t mind stretching out. Blame wasn’t something he needed to carry

Aria nodded once, regal and composed. "He’s too handsome for his own safety."

Cynthia added dryly, "Or for the safety of others."

His hand moved slow across his neck, eyes jumping between their expressions. That’s too much, he said under his breath.

Was that really true? Syra faced away from the painting at last. A step brought her beside him, her shoulder grazing his arm - on purpose, almost tender. The words slipped out softer now, meant for ears right next to hers.

"Tell me, husband," she murmured teasingly, "how many new sisters have you added for us?"

Coughing shook Leon again, stronger now - his feet stumbled under him.

"What are you saying?"

Close on his left, Rias closed the space so he had nowhere to go. "Now that you wear a crown, is wild living your first move?"

Leon straightened sharply, scandalized. "Hey. What do you think of me?"

Mia tipped her head sideways, innocence playing across her face. Dark eyes - wide open - locked forward. "Could a king ever be trusted to do what matters?"

"Yes." His finger moved toward her. "That is right."

From behind, Cassidy chimed in quietly - her voice low yet sharp - "The one always busy at their desk?"

Leon opened his mouth -

Closed it.

Fractionally, his shoulders dropped.

Close that one came.

Sona smiled faintly. "You disappear into meetings. Strategy rooms. Training halls. We barely see you."

"And yet," Rias added smoothly, "there’s a portrait."

"And a devoted artist," Syra finished.

That painting caught Leon’s eye again. A pause, then real focus settled in. Details stood out - sharp, undeniable. His stance on canvas showed power, yet something else lingered underneath: weariness, quiet but clear.

He exhaled.

"I have not touched a single girl since becoming king."

A silence followed, heavy and slow. Then voices rippled outward, breaking the quiet in jagged lines. One phrase had landed - cold, solid - and everything shifted after that.

Silence.

Her eyes shut then opened again, a beat too long, like she was searching his face for something missing.

"Really?"

Aria’s gaze tightened, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. Her violet hair slid sideways when she cocked her head slightly. Not a single one?

Frozen mid-step, Leon fixed his gaze on them, sunlight catching the flare of his golden stare. Busy wasn’t quite right - holding a kingdom together had taken every breath

Cynthia folded her arms, her expression calm but unconvinced. "You used to say you were busy when you were Duke too."

"That was different."

"How?" Syra said, her voice soft but her gaze sharp. Green eyes locked on his face. Not teasing anymore. Just wanting to know.

Fingers tugged at strands of black hair, like pulling answers from roots. His lips parted, then snapped shut without sound. Caught in the middle, Leon blinked slowly, caught in their gaze.

"I am a responsible king," he said firmly. "And I have responsibilities."

A sudden move brought Rias near, her red hair flowing back as if answering a dare. One finger pressed into his chest - light, but firm enough to sense the heat through fabric. The touch lingered just long enough to register.

"And we are not responsibilities?"

A hush slipped into the banter. Not merely poking fun anymore. Something tender hid beneath the surface.

Flinch by flinch, Leon softened. Tension drained from his frame like sand slipping through fingers. A breath later, his arms hung looser than before.

"You are," he said quietly. "The kind I don’t neglect."

It took a little sharpness from their playful jab.

A breath passed while Rias kept her finger there. Then she pulled away. Cynthia let her hold slip a little looser now. The corner of Syra’s mouth lifted - small, real.

Aria broke eye contact early, her lips barely curving upward. Softly, she said, "Watch yourself." A hint of warmth slipped into her voice. Almost, you seemed real

Leon answered right away. He did not pause.

A hush rolled through the trees. Heat pressed closer. Everything felt thinner now.

A breath slipped out of Leon, long and steady. One sharp clap cracked through the air.

"Enough interrogation."

A shift in his stance faced the twin stairways climbing away from each other, their smooth treads catching the gentle shimmer of overhead lamps.

"Each of you has a prepared chamber," he said. "I gave orders days ago."

Cynthia raised a brow. "You prepared rooms before we arrived?"

"Yes."

"So you assumed we would come?" Aria asked.

He walked away without turning around. "Figured you’d come," he said.

"Confident," Rias murmured.

Mmhmm, that was Leon’s reply once more.

Syra let out a small laugh. "You planned everything... except how to handle us standing this close to you."

Focusing elsewhere, Leon brushed it aside. For the most part.

From where he stood, his gaze shifted to the women in uniform who stayed close to the wall, quiet and still. Then they saw him move their way.

"Lead them to their respective rooms."

One knee bent at the same time, voices low. So it will be done, sire they said together

Fingers tucked tight across her chest, Rias held the pose - yet the edge she wore before now slipped into something quieter.

"So you’re not coming with us?"

Not a single nod came from Leon. His head moved sideways instead.

"You all endured a long journey. You need rest. Bath. Food."

Aria tilted her head, then spoke - soft this time - "What about you?".

"There’s work that requires my attention."

Cynthia held her gaze on him, quiet for what felt like ages. One evening won’t change the outcome

He just shook his head. "No," came out quiet.

A heavy breath escaped Rias, less frustration, more quiet recognition. That moment had arrived