Let Them Gather
Leon's eyes hardened.
"And if William raised his banner tomorrow?"
Ronan swallowed.
"More."
Leon nodded.
"And if I ordered you to execute every noble who has not publicly sworn to me?"
Ronan's fingers twitched.
"…The capital would drown."
A tight line formed across Leon's mouth. His jaw held still, like it was waiting.
"And if I do nothing?"
His eyes locked onto Ronan. Then held there.
"Then they will keep plotting."
Leon exhaled slowly.
"No clean path."
A ghost of a grin tugged at Ronan's lips, sharp with quiet regret.
"Kings rarely have clean paths."
A silence settled between them as Leon looked on. His gaze held nothing she could name.
Between them, silence grew thick, pressing down like stillness just before steel cuts air.
Then Leon spoke.
"We're still standing in a dangerous situation."
Ronan's brow twitched slightly.
A quiet moment passed before Leon spoke up, his voice cutting through the stillness -
"Why are you still here?"
