But he still had to accept responsibility.

He visited Lucius's memorial alone.

Leo followed him.

The Emperor looked surprised.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see my father."

Augustus nodded.

They stood together.

After a long silence, Leo asked,

"Do you miss him?"

"Every day."

Leo looked at the statue.

"He sounds nice."

"He was."

"Better than you?"

Augustus laughed.

"Much better."

Leo smiled.

Then he reached for his uncle's hand.

Augustus froze.

It was a simple gesture.

But it meant more than any speech.

"You can still be my uncle," Leo said.

Augustus looked at him.

"Even after everything?"

Leo nodded.

"People can make mistakes."

The Emperor's eyes filled.

"Your mother taught you that?"

"No."

Leo smiled.

"I learned it from Aurelius."

Augustus laughed.

The lion was sitting nearby.

Watching.

The symbol of Lucius had become the symbol of reconciliation.

But peace didn't come immediately.

The kingdom still had problems.

The Circle had supporters.

Some refused to accept Leo.

Others wanted Augustus removed.

Some demanded Leo become Emperor immediately.

Leo didn't want any of it.

He wanted school.

He wanted his mother.

He wanted to explore the city.

He wanted to understand the world outside survival.

So Augustus made a decision.

He would not force Leo onto the throne.

Instead, he would prepare him.

Not as a weapon.

As a leader.

Elena agreed.

Cassian agreed.

And Leo began studying.

History.

Law.

Language.

Leadership.

But his favorite lesson was still reading.

Every evening, he sat beneath a tree with Aurelius beside him.

The lion would rest while Leo read aloud.

Sometimes Leo imagined his father listening.

Maybe he was.

In some way.

Perhaps that was enough.

Then, one evening, Leo received a letter.

It contained only one sentence.

The Circle is not finished.

Leo looked at Augustus.

The Emperor's expression darkened.

The enemy had been defeated.

But not completely.

Someone had escaped.

And they were waiting.

The escaped member of the Circle was named Adrian.

He had served Marcellus for years.

Unlike the others, he did not want the throne.

He wanted revenge.

He believed Augustus had destroyed everything.

Adrian gathered supporters in the northern provinces.

He spread rumors that Leo was illegitimate.

He claimed Elena had fabricated the story.

He promised rebellion.

The kingdom began dividing.

Augustus wanted to send soldiers.

Leo disagreed.

"Why?"

"Because if we attack them, more people will die."

"They are threatening the kingdom."

"Then we should talk."

Augustus looked at him.

"You're nine."

"I'm still right."

Cassian laughed.

The Emperor sighed.

"Your father was exactly like this."

Leo smiled.

They traveled north.

Not with an army.

With a small delegation.

Adrian expected soldiers.

Instead, he saw Leo.

The boy stepped forward.

"You wanted to see me."

Adrian stared.

"You should be afraid."

Leo shook his head.

"I was."

"What changed?"

"I learned that fear doesn't mean you have to run."

Adrian looked toward Aurelius.

The lion stood quietly.

"You think that animal makes you powerful?"

"No."

Leo looked at him.

"I think people do."

The local villagers watched.

Many had been forced to support Adrian.

Others had joined because they believed the rumors.

Leo spoke to them.

He told the truth.

Not as a prince.

As a child who had lived through the consequences of the kingdom's lies.

He spoke about his father.

His mother.

The years they had spent hiding.

The pain caused by the conspiracy.

And the future he wanted.

He didn't promise revenge.

He promised reform.

The crowd began listening.

Adrian realized he was losing.

He tried to escape.

But his own supporters stopped him.

They had heard Leo.

They no longer believed Adrian.