Leon and Nina stood silently as the carriage rolled away, carrying her father back to his estate. Once it disappeared from view, they turned and walked side by side through the palace gates.
"I still can't believe you managed to convince my father," Nina said, glancing at Leon with a hint of disbelief. "He was so determined to take me back."
Leon chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Well, you were the one who grabbed my hand first. I couldn't just let go halfway through."
Nina's expression softened. "How are you feeling?" she asked gently. "All of this... it must have been overwhelming."
The smile faded slowly from Leon's face. He looked ahead with a distant gaze. "It wasn't easy," he admitted. "But I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be. Maybe because I had already prepared myself. Deep down, I always knew Phillipe and Loretta only kept me around to serve their own interests. They were never truly family."
