KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Leon, dear... Mommy's here. Can we talk?"
The door hadn't opened yet. But her presence had already invaded the room.
Leon remained still, his eyes fixed on the door as if it might explode at any moment. His heart raced — not from fear, but from anticipation. The System's voice echoed in his mind, calm as always:
[Ready, champ? This is your first chance to rise… or get trampled.]
"I'm ready."
[Actually, she's listening. Watching every step, every breath… and probably already scheming something.]
Leon took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the door. Each step felt like a countdown. When his hand touched the doorknob, he paused. His reflection in the nearby mirror caught his eye once again.
Too handsome for this world.
He smirked. Then, he opened the door.
She was there.
Lady Elowen Vellhart.
The woman who had adopted him. The one the System described as dominant, cruel, and known for crushing men who dare to defy her. She stood in the hallway like a queen inspecting her kingdom — or a predator deciding whether to toy with its prey before sinking in its teeth.
Silver hair cascaded in waves down her back. A high-neck black dress hugged her curves with unapologetic arrogance. Her golden eyes met his — sharp and analytical, already dissecting him.
But Leon didn't flinch.
He leaned casually against the doorframe and offered a slow smile.
"Hello… mother."
Her lips curved slightly. Not quite a smile. More like the beginning of one. The kind you give an animal that just performed an interesting trick.
"Well," she said softly. "They said you finally woke up. I must admit, I expected something… weaker."
Leon tilted his head.
"I hear that a lot."
That amused glint in her eyes sharpened — amusement mixed with interest. Like a lioness curious to see if the cub had fangs.
"May I come in?" she asked, though the tone made it clear it wasn't a request.
Leon stepped aside without a word.
She entered.
Every step echoed with authority, her heels clicking on the floor like a war drum. She didn't even glance around — she didn't need to. The house was hers, and everything should be in its place.
She turned to him, arms crossed elegantly behind her back — refined, yet commanding.
"So… do you remember what happened?"
Leon's eyes didn't waver from hers.
"I remember everything."
"Good," she said. "Then you also remember who I am."
"A powerful woman who loves control… and hates disobedience."
The corner of her mouth twitched again — neither denying nor confirming. Just intrigued.
"And yet here you are," she said, stepping forward. "Standing tall. Not bowing. Not begging. I wonder..."
Leon didn't move. His gaze remained steady.
"Wonder what?"
"Whether you're brave… or just foolish."
[Oooh, she's trying to break you. Careful now.]
He smirked slightly, stepping forward — just enough to erase the distance she thought she controlled.
"Let's call it… ambition."
For the first time, she blinked. Just once.
And then… she laughed.
Low, rich, indulgent. Like a queen who found a diamond in the mud.
"You're not the same boy who grew up in this house," she said. "Something's changed."
Leon didn't respond. There was no need.
She began pacing the room, her gloved finger brushing over the bookshelf, casual as a feline on patrol.
"You know why I adopted you?" she asked.
"I assume it wasn't out of maternal instinct."
She let out a soft laugh.
"It was instinct, yes… but not maternal. You were a stray. Weak, ordinary, boring. But there was something in your eyes. A spark. A challenge. I thought that, with the right conditioning, maybe I could… shape you."
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"Into a model son?"
"Into a useful instrument."
Silence fell for a moment. Heavy. Dense. Electric.
Then Leon spoke, his voice calm and clear:
"I'm not a tool. Not anymore."
She slowly turned, her golden eyes sharpening like a blade.
"No. Now you're something else. The question is… can that 'something else' you've become surpass me?"
"Eventually."
[Bold move, champ. I like it.]
Elowen's gaze clung to his with renewed interest — and something more. It wasn't anger. Nor mockery.
It was anticipation.
"Very well..." she said, stepping closer until the air between them crackled with tension. "Let's see how long you can endure my game."
She ran a hand across his cheek in a gesture that was both condescending and oddly intimate.
"Just remember one thing… I eat ambitious men for breakfast."
She turned and left, not sparing him another glance. Her final words lingered in the air like smoke.
Leon stood there, heart pounding, breath steady, eyes glowing faintly.
[Mission Progress: 8% – You impressed the target with confidence and resilience.]
[Reward Preview: Partial awakening of "Masculine Supremacy" approaching…]
[Not bad for your first dance with a predator. Keep it up… or end up on the menu.]
Leon's smirk returned.
"Let's see who devours who."