Leopold Geylhard—
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlEMnXj34o
a name etched into the memory of anyone who had ever touched Valtheris Chronicles.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQmbKnZsNQ
He wasn’t a hero. Not even close.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r6e6pbuXO
He was the younger brother of one of the capture targets—timid, weepy, and pathetically devoted to the protagonist, whom he clung to and called “big brother.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUetA1cA2g5
With delicate features that even outshone the main hero, Leopold carried the appearance of a beautiful doll while hiding behind skirts, playing the part of a fragile girl. They said he had talent for combat, but a childhood trauma left him crippled with fear at the mere thought of fighting.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53KiMSXVxI
Had it ended there, he might have been pitiable—but harmless.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav12pcndTo
Instead, the developers twisted him into a sacrificial pawn.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8yIJzYYCc
The story revealed he was entangled in a scandal with his uncle’s wife—none other than the Empress of the Azraeil Empire. She clung to him with an obsession so violent that, in the end, she immolated herself and dragged him into the flames, declaring they would “be together in death.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2EEPclXyp
Later, it was uncovered that she had coerced him into submission—blackmailing, trapping, and possessing him in secret while the world remained blind to their affair.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fsBVZqXIE
The memory of Leopold’s final moments—his broken screams as fire consumed him beside the Empress—sent a shiver crawling up my spine.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0exnExPx2
I drew a sharp breath, forcing my body to steady. My feet carried me toward the mirror standing against the wall.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ06SelowvV
Looking back at me was the face of an eight-year-old boy: hair the color of silvered moonlight, eyes of deep violet that seemed too sharp for his round cheeks and button nose. A beauty too innocent for the curse of his fate.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPbO0BGPZN
“Yes… it’s him. The features are still small, still soft, but unmistakable.”
Panic surged through me.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymiX1MwNj6
If she’s real too… then doesn’t that mean I’m already doomed?
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjPKhXvlyl
“No. Breathe. The tragedy hasn’t happened yet. The Empress’s obsession hasn’t begun. There’s still time.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB0YABrYWT
I crushed down the fear clawing at me, forcing calm back into my chest.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWylUImGZk
[Host, are you done with the melodramatic inner monologue?]
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxFTs0y5Zm
“…Yeah, yeah. What now?”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SiDSXqTD6
[I’ve yet to install this body’s memories into you. Try not to faint when it hits.]
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ07orWS9FH
“Memories? Wait—I don’t have any of them yet?”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfpz2uSbQu
[Oh, look, he figured it out. Yes, genius. You’re currently an empty shell. I’ll handle it. Just lie down. Slight headache. No refunds.]
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiJjE3T0DA
Rolling my eyes at the system’s sass, I threw myself onto the bed.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpCDO9SVxH
“Fine. Do it.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqYGWRfOF1
[Starting procedure in 3…2…1.]
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhHKyklxeW
A dull ache flared in my skull. Images flickered past my mind’s eye like a storm of broken film reels. I clenched my teeth, letting them fuse into me until the pain dulled and the world steadied again.
When I opened my eyes, the maturity in my movements faded. My body responded like a child’s; every gesture, every blink, carried a strange fragility. Yet beneath it, determination burned hot.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjoTBTm6gP
From today onward, I was no longer myself.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lEPJUqjwq
I was—
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHSO0EN7An
Leopold Geylhard.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGpKMNy1yB
The door creaked open.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiUAyQDTDT
A woman stepped in.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVmWelRur8
Blonde hair cascading to her shoulders, green eyes bright as polished emeralds, lips soft yet firm—she carried the warmth of spring wrapped in a noble air.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQoMgvbvIX
Lavinia Geylhard, my mother.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogEgeP6a4X
I had seen her countless times in the inherited memories. But seeing her here, alive, breathing—was a different matter entirely.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI1yh4dg5L
For a fleeting instant, she froze. Her gaze lingered on me with a faint unease, as though the child before her was no longer her own, but a stranger wearing his skin.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaCSKQttca
‘What am I even thinking? Looks like the stress is really getting to me…’
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZF9BGYnLp
Shrugging off my messy thoughts, she walked closer toward me.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojNwGsxu38
Seeing my so-called mom pause for a moment with a faint frown, my heart started pounding faster. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu8uxUwlUT
‘Does she know? No… maybe she just felt something was off? Damn, I really need to get my act together.’
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruj17nidym
Forcing myself to calm down, I plastered a childish smile and began my little act.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPObLjutOn
“Little Leo, are you alright? You scared me when you suddenly fainted…”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJYgokfAyz
Grace Geylhard, my mother, leaned down and pulled me into her embrace. My small body sank into her pillow-like bre*st, while a sweet rosy scent drifted into my nose.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7EBJA3AFq
‘Mmm, smells like roses… Wait—! That’s not important. Did she just say I fainted?’
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUvcpHz3En
Flipping through my newly inherited memories, I realized I had actually collapsed earlier—during breakfast, of all times.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOqtYaurzP
Placing my hand on her bre*st (by pure accident, mind you) just to push myself up, I looked at her and gave the best innocent smile I could muster.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AzqVb4jrV
“It’s nothing, Mom. Just a small headache. I’m fine now.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMg3h6bYqj
Relieved, Grace’s lips curved into a gentle smile that could melt stone.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgtAZysqw3
“Then that’s good. I even had a healer check you, and she said you’re perfectly healthy.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy0l0Niqx8
Before I could breathe easy, a sharp voice cut in.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55IVl6wQ1l
“Humph… of course he’s fine. He’s the one who always survives, after all.”
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Z8MRrgX0
The door burst open, and two girls stepped into the room—one about ten years old, the other barely six.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW9hKzaXpo
And I knew exactly who that proud voice belonged to.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2MuzKDNYF
Mira Geylhard.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2CmMdSaVN
My big sister… and one of the infamous capture targets.
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjC6uWJyh2
and then Add to home screen.