Leon stared at the cigarette butt in the ashtray as it gradually went out beneath gentle pressure. He had not taken another puff, yet his nose and eyes began to sting again.
Before death came, Woforen had been most concerned with preparing his grandson psychologically.
He had not wanted his grandson to feel guilty or shoulder too much. Leon had understood his grandfather's wishes, too, and had taken the initiative to keep facing the world with a smile.
But compared with his smile back when he was a privileged young man, his smile now was like a painting drained of all its color. You could see him smiling; yes, he really was only smiling.
So, after Alfred told him the "truth," he could still smile along when facing Elanga.
Now, much like Tu Shu, he often felt that he lived like an actor. He stayed alive, stood on the stage, and performed for his family in heaven.
But all that strength crumbled in an instant with this cigarette and his minister's words: "Put it out."
Leon opened his mouth, then drew a deep breath and forcefully wiped his face twice with his palm.
"Minister, I'm sorry. I'm finding this a little hard to accept. No, not hard to accept-I just didn't expect you to say these things after calling me over. I..."
"A little sudden?"
"Ah, yes. Yes, far too sudden. So sudden I wasn't prepared at all."
"I felt the same way."
Kallen reached for a second mango.
Seeing this, Leon picked it up for him, quickly peeled it, and placed it on the plate in front of Kallen.
Kallen glanced at Leon's hands and left the mango untouched.
"Actually, I originally wanted to put this off. I thought I'd wait until the higher-ups made up their minds and