Leonius (JARS)

*"Imbeciles!!!"*
―Leonius' catchphrase.[src]**Leonius** is the current emperor of the Parpaldia Empire and referred to as the most feared man in the entire Third Civilization Area.

## Background

Leonius was mentioned to have ascended the throne after he murdered his own father, a man whom he scornfully derided as an "imbecile who was obsessed with immortality."

## Appearance

Leonius is an average-sized man with blue eyes and a slicked back short light blond-colored hair. His eyebrows are thick and flicker upwards at the outer edges, and he styles his facial hair in a small goatee. He has prominent cheekbones, sunken cheeks, an aquiline nose, and a creased brow, where his heavy eyelids made his unimpressed facial expression particularly obvious. Leonius typically wears a red coat without much embellishments for someone of his position while holding meetings in his office.

## Personality

Leonius is a ruler driven by a potent mix of ambition, pragmatism, and a deep-seated disdain for perceived incompetence. His leadership style is marked by a fierce determination to reform and strengthen his empire, viewing the mistakes of his predecessor as impediments to be eradicated. Leonius exhibits an air of authority and dominance, emphasized by his preference for secluded decision-making in the confines of his office, where his subordinates face the full force of his presence. Leonius is not one to indulge in the grandeur of the throne room for trivial matters; instead, he reserves such displays for high-stakes meetings. Nevertheless, irritable and violent as he may be, Leonius can still be reasoned with, will listen to good advice, cherishes his family, and he greatly values his friend and personal advisor Ruperther’s counsel.

Leonius believes in the doctrine of the “survival of the fittest” where the weak only serves to be the prey of the strong. However, he ironically believes he and by extension, the Parpaldia Empire, are the weaklings who need to fight and destroy its enemies in order to survive the chaotic continent of Philades. Leonius’ temperament swings between moments of furious outbursts and calculated composure. He tends to use strong language, such as labeling his predecessor and various aspects of the empire as “imbecile.” Yet, beneath the ill temper lies a shrewd leader who showcases moments of strategic thinking and foresight. He navigates the intricate web of political intrigue with calculated moves, recognizing the broader geopolitical landscape and the motivations in neighboring powers. His decision to cautiously engage in negotiations with Altaras, despite the fact that said country is unbelievably weak in the face of Parpaldia and suspicions of manipulation by the Holy Milishial Empire, demonstrates a capacity for nuanced decision-making.

Even though Leonius resented the Holy Milishial Empire due to not living up to his ideal image of the “powerful,” he nevertheless acknowledges that Milishial VIII did not had his empire handed on him on a silver platter, and thus viewed him as a worthy ruler with begrudging respect. In order to best such a hypothetical adversary, Leonius did efforts to understand them in every aspect, including history, philosophy, and art, ensuring that even though he would seem to lose outwardly, Parpaldia will benefit from what happens in the long run when it comes to dealing with the Holy Milishial Empire.

In matters of military leadership, Leonius displays a mix of pragmatism and ruthlessness. The emperor, though disappointed by the northern campaign’s outcomes, ended up evaluating the situation with a level-headed approach. While demanding accountability and a thorough cleansing of incompetence within the military, Leonius also recognizes the potential utility of individuals like Chevalier Gerard de Ruyter, showing a strategic willingness to exploit their skills for the greater good. While he is suspicious of Chevalier, it unfolds as a calculated response to a complex situation.

## Notes

* In the Supplementary Materials, his name is rendered in Japanese as **レオニアス** (*Reoniasu*)