Chapter 41: Exilled

Leon listened to his father say that. He knew that it would be brought up.

"You refused to listen to me, refused to heed my warning and said you would handle it, and if she ever turned out to be an enemy, you would take responsibility, so now, what do you have to say for yourself?" His father asked.

Leon was silent for a few seconds. He clenched his fist and took a deep breath, calming himself as much as he could, and then he spoke.

"Yes, I said that. I said I’d take responsibility if she ever went evil and turned against me," Leon replied.

"Hmm, and now that she has, what do you have to say about that?" His father asked. "Do you regret your action, and do you admit that your actions killed your mother?"

"Yeah, my actions killed my mother, but you cannot say it that way. My mother did not get killed, she saved me. She stood between me and danger like mothers do.

She laid down her life for me even when she did not have to.

Would I do it again? Do I have regrets for keeping Snow?" He looked at his father, his eyes turning red. He took a deep breath and then dropped his head.

"No, I do not regret it."

As his words left his mouth, the look on his face changed. Rage started forming.

Leon turned and looked at both of his sisters standing there.

"Elanor, Mira."

They both looked at him, wondering what he had to say. Leon suddenly went on his knees. He bowed and his forehead touched the floor, his hands stretched out in front of him.

Everyone was shocked and stunned by the scene. They did not know how to take it.

"Leon, what are you doing?" Mira asked.

"I am sorry," he said, his voice shaky and tears streaming down his face and dropping to the floor.

"I am sorry, I caused Mum’s death, I killed our mother."

"You did not."

"I did!" He thundered, stopping Elanor from speaking. "I did, that’s the fact. I am sorry." He finished what he had to say and then got on his feet. He looked at his father, who was now staring daggers at him.

"Do I suppose you have an apology for me? Do you believe an apology will fix things?" He asked.

"No, I am not apologizing to you, Father."

The air became heavy. Everyone looked at Leon like he had gone mad.

"What did you say?" His father thundered.

"You are a sword master, the best of the best, and when the undead came our way, no one saw, you sat down on your chair and watched.

When Snow went crazy, I know you sensed it. I know you could tell something was wrong, but I’m very sure you simply wanted to prove that stupid fact.

I have held it in all my life. You are a terrible father and a worse man. You think being aloof is some sort of good thing. Screw you," Leon said, seething as he spoke.

"Snow was my friend, and that pillar, that pillar that you did absolutely nothing about, was what caused her to go crazy and kill my mum. I lost two of the closest people in my life in one day, and all you care about is being on your chair."

No one expected Leon to speak this way. They thought he would beg and try to stop his father from administering a heavy punishment.

His father sat there with veins popping from his head. His rage grew rapidly. He slammed his fist into the armrest.

BAM!

"How dare you?" He roared and got to his feet. "You killed my wife and now have the gall to speak to me? You ungrateful brat.

I thought you were going to grow into a child that I could be proud of, but you became nothing more than an evil child.

I wanted to have mercy and lessen your punishment because you are my son, but it seems none of that will be needed."

He was breathing out hot steam as he spoke. This was the most heated Leon had ever seen his father, but unlike before, he did not feel it. He kept his head high.

"Leon Belmont, from today, you are hereby stripped of your noble status. You are no longer nobility, nor are you a member of the Belmont family.

You are stripped of that name and every benefit that comes with it. You will never be known as a member of the family, and the record of you will be stricken out.

No one will be allowed to aid you from this family, as whoever does that will be exiled, same as you."

’Exiled? That’s what he went for? I guess this is it,’ Leon thought, his face held no emotions at all.

His sisters were all shocked beyond measure when they heard the verdict. They all panicked and tried to speak.

"Father, please, do not do this," Mira begged.

"Father, this is too much," Scarlet said.

"My decision is final. You are to leave this house today and take nothing that belongs to this house," his father said.

"Tch, that’s the best you can do, exile, push away the only person that tells you the truth to your face," Leon said.

"Leon, that’s enough. Apologize now," Elanor said.

"No, sis, do not try to change the outcome, and please listen to Father and stay here. This is my punishment.

I might not be able to be a family member anymore, but you all are my family forever."

He looked at his father.

"I’d rather be exiled than be the son of someone like you ever."

He looked at his stepmother, and she was smiling ear to ear.

"Thank you, all of you, for ten years of my life. I hope you all succeed," he said and turned to leave. All three of his sisters turned to give chase.