Chapter 186: A man of focus, purpose and sheer f*cking will

(Within the VIP Meet and Greet Lounge – Moments Later)

Serina inhaled slowly, trying to steady her nerves.

’Just go up to him. Smile. Introduce yourself. You’ve practiced this.’ She thought to herself, but before she could take a single step, a loud, high-pitched voice shattered the ambiance.

"OH MY GOD, IT’S SIR LEOOO—!"

Heads turned. Conversations paused. Even the servers stopped mid-pour.

As striding through the crowd like a meteor of chaos was a girl dressed in a sparkling red ensemble, glitter clinging to her every step.

It was the infamous Layna Cola—brash, bubbly, and impossible to ignore.

As looking at her dash towards Leo, Serina narrowed her eyes instantly.

’Oh stars, not her—’

Layna practically bounced in front of Leo, eyes wide and sparkling. "Sir Leo, I’m your BIGGEST fan! Can I please, please, please have your autograph?!"

She handed him a marker with the kind of gleam in her eyes that screamed trouble—and without a hint of hesitation, tugged the top of her dress down slightly, pushing her chest forward.

"Right here, over my heart," she added sweetly. "Make it special~"

A scandalous hush fell across the nearby area.

As watching the scene unfold Serina’s jaw tightened.

’Shameless. Absolutely shameless.’ She thought, but before her frustration could boil over, Leo’s response stunned her.

He didn’t even blink.

Instead, he calmly reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a pocket square, slightly crumpling his otherwise flawless look, and signed it in neat, fluid strokes.

"You’re too young, kid,"

"Don’t let strange men sign your chest or you’ll never find a good husband." Leo said flatly, as he handed the pocket square over smoothly.

Layna blinked in stunned silence, the square trembling in her hands.

But rather than retreat in embarrassment, she leaned in closer, voice dropping to a husky whisper.

"If I find no one else, will you marry me then, Sir Leo? I promise I’ll be a good girl… do everything you ask, satisfy you in every way you can imagine."

Leo’s eyebrow lifted—but only slightly.

"No. I’d rather die single than marry you." He replied before brushing past her, as he removed himself from this awkward conversation.

Layna, heart-struck and swaying, leaned onto a nearby counter for support, sighing dreamily despite the rebuke.

"So handsome… so cold… huhuhu…"

As Serina, who had been watching from just a few feet away, felt her pulse spike.

Her fists clenched at her sides, as the words ’slut’, ’shameless witch’, and ’chest-thrusting trashbag’ all floated through her mind in rapid succession.

But as her gaze turned back to Leo, her fury dulled into something else.

Admiration.

He could’ve played along. Most warriors in this hall today would’ve. But he didn’t even flinch.

There was something about the way he handled the moment—calm, detached, completely in control—that made her heart flutter for reasons she wasn’t ready to admit.

’Maybe… just maybe, he’s not as bad of a man to marry. Maybe sharing a life with him wouldn’t be unbearable…’ She thought, as although the concept startled her, she somehow did not find it disturbing enough to chase it away from her head.

’Alright, you can do this—’

She said to herself, as gathering her courage again, Serina adjusted her dress, lifted her chin, and began walking toward Leo.

Only to freeze again mid-step, hesitating as doubt crept in.

’What if he brushes me off the same way?’

’What if he thinks I’m just another girl throwing herself at him?’

Her breath caught in her throat.

And just like that, her courage flickered.

Leo’s cold nature, while an admirable quality in a husband, was a challenge to overcome as a suitor, which made her current situation difficult.

As she had to come up with an entirely new plan to approach on the fly—

One that would not make her seem like other desperate girls.

—-----------

After the first awkward approach from Layna, Leo quickly found a quiet corner to hide in—away from the cameras, the small talk, and the waves of overzealous admirers.

He stood there alone, half-shadowed by a decorative pillar, holding a vial of refreshment potion in one hand, as his eyes scanned the room in detached boredom.

He wasn’t sipping the drink so much as using it as an excuse to avoid conversation.

And it was here that Serina approached him.

Not loudly. Not boldly. Just… cleverly.

She walked up beside him without fanfare, maintaining just enough distance to not seem intrusive. She faced forward, not at him and said nothing.

Then, she too reached for a vial of refreshment potion, as for a moment, the two simply stood there in silence— quietly sipping their potions under the ambient glow of the chandelier.

Then she finally spoke, her tone casual and soft.

"Social events are not your thing either?"

To which Leo replied with a "Nope."

Without so much as even looking at her.

"Mine neither," she said, taking a small sip.

"I’ve already been asked out by ten different warriors in here.

But frankly…" She glanced sideways, just for a moment. "...I’d kill myself before going out with any of them."

Leo gave a faint exhale—not quite a laugh, but the ghost of one—as his lips curled into the faintest wry smile.

Serina turned toward him more fully this time and extended her hand with practiced elegance.

"I’m Serina, by the way."

Leo looked at her hand for a second, as if debating whether this was another trap—but then shook it.

"Leo."

"Oh, I already know who you are," she replied, flashing him a sly grin as she pulled a sleek pass card from her clutch and showed it discreetly.

The Rodova Team Lounge Super Fan badge gleamed in her hand as she leaned in just slightly and whispered—

"I’m a super fan."

Leo raised a brow at this sudden revelation, seemingly not expecting it. However, he did not recoil back or pull away from this conversation, like he would have if she approached him directly.

Because for once, someone had managed to approach him without making him feel uncomfortable.

And he didn’t hate it.

Glancing sideways, Leo took a proper look at the woman standing beside him now and found her to be truly gorgeous.

Her skin was smooth and fair, her legs effortlessly elegant beneath the navy slit of her dress. Her chest—full and perfectly framed—drew attention whether she intended to or not. And her face… delicate jawline, almond eyes, lips touched with just the right shade of red—was exactly the type Leo would’ve found beautiful in another life.

If he were the dating type, then this would be the kind of woman he’d pay attention to.

Poised. Composed. Stunning.

But dating had no place in his life. Not now.

Not when every breath he took was in service to sharpening his blade, strengthening his body, and chasing a version of himself that was still out of reach.

So, although the woman beside him was undoubtedly beautiful—perhaps even perfect—he didn’t feel his heart flutter in the slightest.

Not a twitch of desire. Not a flicker of temptation.

Only the cold, steady silence of a man who had chosen purpose over pleasure.

And yet… he didn’t walk away.

Which, for Leo, said enough.