"Sacrifice"

Leo stood in silence as the blue transparent screen blinked in front of his eyes:

[System: Legacy of the King Activated]
Do you wish to explore now?
→ Yes / No

He narrowed his eyes.

“Not now.”

He clenched his fist.

“I need to understand this world again before diving into another.”

He turned away from the system prompt — it vanished with a soft chime.

The door creaked open as Leo stepped into the corridor.
A long hallway stretched ahead, lined with red velvet carpets and tall golden-framed windows. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Servants avoided his gaze. Knights didn’t bow.

“So this is the palace I once built… it now feels foreign.”

As he walked ahead, he paused at a large stained-glass window depicting a king and queen holding hands. He frowned.

“Who are they?”

Just then, a voice called out behind him.

“Leo-nii!”
It was Aria.

She ran up with a bright smile, still in her frilly morning gown, carrying her stuffed rabbit.

“You’re walking already! I thought you’d stay in bed another week.”

Leo gave a soft nod, hiding his thoughts.

“Aria,” he said softly, “...can you tell me what’s really going on in this palace?”

She tilted her head.

“Hmm?”

He smiled gently.

“I feel like I missed a lot while I was sick.”

She blinked, then slowly walked beside him.

“Well... okay. I’ll tell you, but don’t tell the maids I said it.”
“Our father — the Emperor — had two wives. Your mother, the First Queen… and my mother, the Second Queen.”

Leo remained quiet.

“But my mother passed away some years ago. After that, father… he broke. He doesn’t even smile anymore.”
“And your brothers... they changed. They started bullying you more and more.”
“They say you’re the reason she died.”

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that true?” he asked, voice calm but sharp.

Aria nodded sadly.

“Your mother had a disease… something that made giving birth dangerous.”
“The healers begged her to stop. But she wanted to give you life more than her own.”
“So... during your birth, she... chose to save you. And died.”

Leo stopped walking. His breath paused.

“She died… to give me this second chance.”

Leo's Thinks:

“I was reborn with memories of power, war, and bloodshed… but had no idea what this life had lost for me.”
“A queen gave her life to bring me back.”
“If I let myself be mocked and humiliated now, I insult her sacrifice.”

Aria tugged his sleeve.

“You okay, Leo-nii?”

Leo looked down at her — a smile slowly returning to his face.

“I’m more than okay.”
“I’m awake now.”

"I have to become stronger… not just for myself.”
“…but for the mother who gave up everything so I could live.”