Chapter 46. Duel proposal
Everyone in the room raised their hands to oppose Leonhardt to hold the position except Princess Thalia.
Despite the opposition, Leo remained calm. His smirk stayed, steady and unshaken, as if the council’s objections were nothing to him.
Volkahardt made a faint smile as he scanned the room. "Alright," he said, his voice smooth and clear. "You may voice your objections." His tone carried a curiosity, as he was eager to see.
As the hands lowered, Faelar from Zarethune, spoke first. "Leonhardt may have defeated Garrik," he began, his tone thoughtful, "but one fight doesn’t prove he has what it takes to lead."
Huldrich, the Iron Leader, nodded and followed without hesitation. "Leadership demands more than a single victory," he said bluntly. "You need skill, resilience, and strategy. You’ve got a lot to prove before anyone can call you worthy."
Darius Rathur, the Gold Leader, leaned forward. "Let’s not pretend, President," he said, his eyes narrowing at Leo. "Leonhardt cheated in that duel. Everyone knows who he used to be—a weak failure. There’s no way someone like him defeated Garrik fair and square."
"And let’s not forget how he manipulated the betting racket tied to the duel. "
Leo let out a soft chuckle. "manipulated?" he asked.
"I didn’t manipulate anything, Darius. They fooled themselves."
The casual remark was delivered with such confidence that Darius hesitated, momentarily speechless. But before he could respond, Prince Cassian chimed in. "What about your behavior, Leonhardt?" he demanded, his frown deepening. "There are still complaints about your stalking and abuse. That doesn’t just vanish."
"The past is the past, Your Highness," Leo said coolly. "If there was proof of those claims, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now, would I?"