Leon was the son of a concubine, once disregarded by his own family. But when he gained power, they only sought to use him. Now, with the concubine's child in a position of prominence, the family dynamics had been entirely upended. To the other three families, this situation was a golden opportunity. They knew that even the slightest offense could cause Leon to be dismissed from his position as the count's proxy.
"They aren't making any drastic moves," Leon explained, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "They just want to show that I can't control the vassal families, which would be enough for Lady Rey to see me as incompetent."
"And what did Rey say when you explained this?" Sylas asked.
"She said, 'You're quite aware of the situation,'" Leon replied, looking dejected. Rey's words carried an unspoken warning—'That's your issue to handle, but if you can't get it together, I won't tolerate it.'
Sylas couldn't help but laugh.