The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 143. Alliance with Therex

Chapter 143: 143. Alliance with Therex

Picture of the Reo Carter and Chloe is in the comments.

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Leo arrived at the guest room and paused at the door. He inhaled deeply, pushing it open as the cool air soothed his jangled nerves. The warm, comfortable space inside was a gentle diverting from his headache.

Duke Alric sat on a velvet couch. Duchess Hilda Threx and Duke Selen Threx, who were opposite him, appeared relieved but exhausted. Lysa sat between them, her eyes brightened with joy at the sight of Leo.

"Leonhardt!" Lysa jumped from the couch and ran to him, her frilly dress bouncing as her squeal broke the silence. Her warmth eased the pain in his head as she embraced his legs firmly, her face glimmering with pure adoration.

Leo knelt to meet her gaze and chuckled softly. "Good sleep, child?" His voice was kind as he asked.

She nodded eagerly, and her curls bounced. "Uh-huh!" Like a princess!

"Are you happy to see your mom and dad again?"

"So, so happy!" she chirped, her voice shaking with happiness. Her small hands held onto his tunic like she didn’t want to let go.

"I must speak with your parents, go play with Vivien until I’ve finished."

Lysa nodded but her eyes gleamed with mischief. Her smile was infectious, and she beckoned him with a little finger to come near. Leo leaned in since he was curious, and she pecked him with a light kiss on the cheek that caught him off guard.

"Thanks for bringing my mama and papa back!" she exclaimed as she ran off. Her laughter reverberated down the corridor.

Leo got to his feet, still grinning in surprise, and a sense of warmth filled his chest. It was a fleeting moment that reminded him why he continued to struggle.

A steady voice brought him back to the room. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Heir Caulem." Duke Selen and Duchess Hilda came up to him, with Alric next to them. His face showed a mix of fatherly pride and quiet worry.

Alric’s deep voice showed that he was worried like a father. "I heard about the trouble, son." Are you okay?

"Just a headache. Nausea. Nothing I can’t handle." He gave a tight smile. "Liquor and I are no longer on speaking terms."

Despite the pain, his crimson eyes remained steady as he turned to face the Threxes. "Thank you for coming so far for the banquet, Duke Selen and Duchess Hilda." He spoke with the gravity of his new position as heir in a courteous but sincere manner.

Selen’s eyes gleamed with appreciation as he shook his head. "No, young Hier, I owe you. My Lysa was saved by you. I looked for months, afraid the worst. I heard from your father that you put everything on the line to get her back." For a moment, his hands clenched, expressing the agony of those days gone by.

With a slight but genuine smirk, Leo shrugged, showing that he was a man who didn’t act for recognition. "I was after Vivien. Found Lysa along the way. No need for thanks."

Hilda’s voice was warm but weighed down by the anguish of missing her daughter, and as she moved closer, her eyes grew softer and more tearful. "Nevertheless, you have treated her as though she were your own. Lysa is cautious and slow to trust. But She’s different with you. She talks like a hero about you." The weight of those lost months was in her words.

Her words caused Leo’s smirk to fade. He gritted his teeth and pressed his hand harder against his temple as the headache struck again, this time with a sharp stab.

Alric’s voice was rough with worry, and his brow furrowed. "Son, are you sure you’re okay?"

Leo’s voice was tight but determined as he forced a nod and exhaled sharply. "Let’s have a conversation while sitting."

As They settled on the couches, Selen’s eyes shone with genuine warmth as he spoke. "Young Heir Caulem, congrats on your appointment as the next Duke. It’s a great honor."

Hilda’s voice carried a mother’s quiet belief, and her eyes softened. "Young heir, you’ll lead with heart and strength. We are certain.

Leo nodded, his red eyes unwavering in spite of the constant pain in his brain. In a polite but reserved tone, he said, "Thank you for your appreciation."

Duke Alric, seated in a tall chair, cleared his throat. "Duke Threx, I asked you to come in person even though I could have sent Lysa back to you discreetly. We require your help."

Selen leaned forward, his face serious. "Name it, Duke Caulem. Anything within my power, I owe you for my daughter’s life."

With a gentle clink, Leo put down his coffee cup and leaned forward, speaking in a cautious, low voice. "It about the abduction of Lysa."

The room fell silent as the crackling of the hearth became loud in the oppressive silence. When a father’s pain surfaced, Selen’s face darkened and his hands clenched on his knees. His voice was tight and raw with barely contained anger as he asked, "Have you found the ones responsible?"

Hilda steadied him with her hand, but the same question burned in her eyes.

Leo shook his head. "I found the group behind it, but not the exact person who took her." Without flinching, his eyes met Selen’s. "They belong to a larger network."

With a voice full of hurt and rage, Selen’s anger erupted. "Where are they? I saw the marks on my daughter’s body. What kind of hell did they keep her in for months?" The polished duke was replaced by a father who was frantic for justice, and his fists trembled.

Hilda’s breath caught as she tightened her hold on Selen’s hand and spoke in a whisper. "Tell us, please."

Leo’s calm eyes mirrored the duke’s silent fury as he met Selen’s stormy gaze. With an icy tone and a promise in every word, he declared, "I hunted most of them down."

"I even cremated the people who held Lysa and Vivien; they are no longer alive. However, a major person escaped, and their network is more extensive than I thought. Currently, my only goal is to eradicate them all."

"And Duke Selen, I need your assistance. Let’s find the rats that are hiding in your lands too."

For a breathless moment, Selen’s fury hovered at the edge of action—but then he looked at Leo, really looked, and saw not just a boy, but a man who had already walked through fire for his daughter. "What can I do for you?"

Leo grinned more. "Information and investigation."

Alric’s hand rested on his chair’s arm, his face serious but proud as he watched Leo take charge. This is why I named you heir, Leonhardt, he thought. Not just for strength, but for your way of thinking.You just used their daughter to form an alliance with the house of another country.

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