Leona says that one of the things he likes about chess is being able to get an idea of what is going on inside an opponent’s head, and this might connect to his dislike of Malleus: there are comments from several characters throughout the game saying that they cannot tell what Malleus is thinking.
Leona’s dislike of Malleus is established early in his ceremonial robes vignette when he tries to refuse a conversation with Silver by saying he has nothing to say “to Malleus’ cronies.” Silver says that he seems them speaking together frequently, to the point that he thought they were friends (Ruggie: “Uh, not sure I would call that ‘speaking.’ Try ‘clawing at each other’s throats’.”)
Leona ends up with Malleus’ ceremonial robes on accident and, after bringing them to Diasomnia, Silver interprets the visit as Leona wishing to “have a heart-to-heart” with Malleus, and they must be friends after all. (Leona: “I’d much rather deal with Malleus. At least his ears ain’t just for show!”)
Upon being presented to Malleus Leona comments on Diasomnia being “stuffy” and “irritable,” but when Sebek orders him to “silence that foul mouth” Malleus scolds him, saying, “Royalty is owed respect.”
Upon receiving his own robes (that Malleus had tried on) Leona says they “smell like lizard,” once again earning him a reprimand from Sebek who is once again told to stand down by Malleus who says that it is his duty as royalty to thank Leona for his effort.
Leona responds, “Is that what you think you are? Just a high-and-mighty royal? More like an outcast who’s been chased from his pack. I feel sorry for you,” and possibly realizing that not being invited to the opening ceremonies is a delicate subject for Malleus he continues with, “sorry to break it to you, but no one’s ever gonna invite you,” successfully goading Malleus into insulting him back.
Observing their back-and-forth from the side Ruggie comments, “Maybe Malleus is more normal than I thought,” while Lilia is delighted by Malleus having the opportunity to enjoy “a bit of ribbing” with a schoolmate (as the only other royalty at the school whom we know of, outside of Silver, Leona is possibly the closest thing Malleus has to an equal).
The drama of Book 2 begins with Crowley emphasizing how Savanaclaw’s students have been having their future careers compromised ever since Leona became housewarden due to Malleus’ participation in spelldrive games.
Leona is not amused, and we are given more information in the novel adaptation:
Leona’s words resonate with their hearts, with their minds. That unbearable humiliation resurfaces within the chests of all who hear him.
Twst the second novel (fan translation)
When Malleus had beat them all, he had faced the television cameras with a tilt of his head but no particular joy, as though to say, ‘Is that all?’ Riddle and the others had watched with bitterness, and a slight sense of fear. No amount of talent could prevail before him, and he had not allowed even one person the slightest opportunity to show what they could do.
How they had been on the ground, helpless before the storm of Malleus’ magical power had been etched into the memories of people worldwide.
It is impossible to count how many times they grit their teeth in response to hearing, yet again, how even students from the prestigious Night Raven College cannot compete against natural-born talent.
This cannot go on.
Leona initially refuses to participate in the interdorm tournament (though Savanaclaw possibly would have been disqualified for the stampede and the decision was not his to make) as they will not be able to win if Malleus joins, and he is proven correct.
At the end Leona asks, “Remorse? Who says I gotta have remorse?,” and prior to the battle of Book 7 Ruggie asks, “Do we finally get to see what we never saw at the spelldrive tournament? Do we get to see a beaten-up Malleus Draconia kneeling before Leona?” (Jack: “You guys still haven’t given up on that…?”)
When Lilia suggests that Leona invite Malleus to the tournament in his hometown Leona adamantly refuses, telling Lilia, “be sure to brag about it to Malleus later. Make him nice and jealous.”
Lilia struggles to pick out an animal-motif coaster souvenir for Malleus during the event and it is Leona who recommends what he ultimately purchases: a lizard (Vil: “Incredible. Malleus will receive a souvenir hand-picked by Leona”).
When Idia says that he might be able to get by in Diasomnia were he to transfer dorms Leona asks, “You’d become another adherent of Malleus Draconia?,” but Idia says it would be tedious and he doesn’t need to deal with peer pressure just because someone is famous and powerful.
Leona agrees, saying, “It’s a pain when the majority forces their opinion on you.”
Leona will insult Malleus equally to his face and behind his back: during Housewarden meetings leona will refer to Malleus as a “self-important, stuck-up jerk” and “pretentious punk,” and when Malleus’ reports that his magic gets cut off in the hinterlands of the NBC event Leona responds, “Here I was hoping (Malleus would) finally be useful for a change.”
Leona tries to excuse himself early from Lilia’s farewell party because “the lizard hasn’t shown up yet, and (he’d) just as soon split before looking at that gloomy face of his,” but Ruggie refuses to leave the free food.
Upon realizing that Malleus is responsible for the dream-world drama of Book 7 Leona says that Malleus is going to pay for what he’s done: I always knew he was shady, and figured he’d pull some ridiculous stunt sooner or later. This deserves some proper payback.”
In Book 7 Ruggie summarizes:
Getting mixed up with Malleus always ends poorly for (Leona)…he gave you a beating in spelldrive the year you became housewarden, then another after your ploy at the spelldrive tournament…Then in our dreams, you had to run around a bunch to wake up the Heartslabyul guys, only to get beaten up AGAIN.
Leona approaches the presumably possessed Malleus during Spectral Soiree as “the perfect opportunity to beat (Malleus) senseless, fair and square,” but the group struggles in the fight against him. Leona decides to “go full throttle with (his) magic,” but Rook cautions against it.
Leona tells Silver that he and Lilia are “way overprotective” of Malleus, and when Crowley announces that they should conduct a group search to get Malleus to attend a meeting Leona says, “He’s not some lost child. Quit treating him like one.”
When Leona confronts Malleus in Book 7 he says, “If only l’d known sooner how ridiculously childish you were, I could’ve approached this any number of ways. I don’t know or care what you’re wishing for. I just can’t stand seeing you get your way.”
Malleus and Leona are often bickering (often instigated by Leona), with Idia asking during Fairy Gala IF, “Don’t you guys ever get tired of sniping at each other?”
Rook tells a story from the Beanfest event of the previous year where Malleus and Leona took him down, but possibly not due to any actual cooperation: he says that they “were engaged in some manner of quarrel” at the time and “hardly in sync enough for coordinated strikes.”
While they are spotted sitting across from another at a table during the Halloween party at NRC, when they are asked for a photo they immediately begin insulting one another, with Vil saying, “I don’t think they’re going to stop bickering anytime soon.”
Leona and Malleus begin bickering immediately at the start of NBC, with Vil again interrupting and telling them not to start fighting as they are scaring other visitors.
When Malleus is put into a group with Vil and Trey, Vil comments, “With no Leona around to immediately start squabbling with Malleus, we should have a smooth day ahead of us,” but Malleus responds, “I’m not certain you have any room to judge others, Schoenheit, considering your own irascible temperament.”
Malleus and Leona end up together with Trey after Skully has kidnappd Jack Skellington, with Leona deciding to go off alone (“I’m under no obligation to team up with you just ‘cuz you happened to be nearby”).
The two bicker until deciding to work independently but then start walking in the same direction, which annoys them both (Trey:” Just me and the two guys who get along as well as cats and dogs? I’d rather not… l’d REALLY rather not…”).
Malleus and Leona turn to Trey to decide which of them is correct, but Trey responds, “If you’re both going the same direction anyway, I don’t see why you even need to argue about it!”
They both complain about one another directly in front of each other and Trey, asking him for his opinion.
Leona confronts Malleus when he threatens to strike Shock with lightning. When Malleus argues that Jack Skellington would understand the necessity for punishment as it was the other side who started the dispute, Leona asks, “If it was someone from your kingdom and they got injured, you’d instantly agree it was their own fault, no argument at all?,” and Malleus concedes to Leona’s point.
After Leona separates from the group Trey tells Malleus that his stance is “completely reasonable,” but when Trey is alone with Leona he says that he agrees with Leona.
Malleus says, “I was wondering why Kingscholar was shooting me pointed looks, and lo and behold…I never took you for a fraud, Clover. Who would have expected that you’d try to curry favor with both of us?,” Leona having called Malleus over to reveal Trey’s act.
Leona tells Malleus to be cautious of such people and Malleus responds, “So I have learned.”
Trey says He had just thought it would be nice if they could get along a little better and Leona and Malleus both agree: the biggest unifier is a common enemy.
Malleus excuses himself to speak with Trey (“I believe he and I have…much to discuss”), telling Leona, “I trust you’ll be able to handle yourself alone?,” and Leona responds, “Who do you think you’re talkin’ to? Just tell Trey that once we get back, I wanna have a word with him too.” Malleus says, “Heh. So I shall.”
Malleus and Leona find common ground during Leona’s second birthday vignette when Malleus gifts Leona with an old, specialist book on ancient incantations (Leona’s favorite subject), written in a dead language.
Malleus says, “We have the same book in our castle library. I can vouch for what a fascinating read it is,” and Leona responds, “This is a pretty thoughtful gift coming from you. Thanks–seriously.”
On the subject of shopping in town Leona follows with, “Please don’t tell me you brought your whole posse with you,” and Malleus assures him he did not, as “There’s no need to trouble guards over a mere student’s shopping trip,” and Leona agrees that it is more relaxing to run errands or walk around alone.
Malleus observes that Leona is enjoying experiences at NRC that he cannot have at home, much the same as himself.
Leona says that if he were to transfer dorms he would still aim for the housewarden seat. Malleus disagrees with Leona’s opinion that a vice housewarden is unnecessary, but says, “in general, I can relate to your thinking.”
When Malleus cautions Grim against opening a book he finds at a book fair in Foothill Town Leona responds, “If (Malleus) of all people are describin’ it that way, we shouldn’t do anything risky with it,” and they agree on the point of subduing Skully by force, if necessary.
Leona checks with Malleus if he has heard of a “ruler of Halloween,” and he is suspicious when Skully does not recognize Malleus.
When Malleus comments, “Graves is indeed foolish for even trying to slow me down with such pitiful ghosts,” Leona agrees, to Trey’s surprise: “Leona, are you actually agreeing about Malleus’s power?!” Malleus asks if he has hit his head.
Trey says that he is also surprised that Leona is so willing to acknowledge that Malleus is well known and Leona explains, “My acknowledgement’s got nothing to do with it. The lizard’s practically a household name. That’s just plain and simple fact. And I didn’t say he was famous. I said INfamous.”
When Vil asks how Riddle and Leona could have possibly condoned Malleus missing Housewarden meetings the previous year Leona responds, “You have NO IDEA how much I suffered last year” (Riddle: “You just gave the orders. I was the one doing the actual suffering”) and that they shouldn’t have to put in “a ridiculous amount of work when Malleus won’t” (Riddle: “Again, it was I who put in the ridiculous amount of work…”)
Leona says Malleus has got to be the worst housewarden at the school, and Idia agrees.
When Kalim volunteers to fetch Malleus for another meeting he has missed Leona says, “It defeats the whole purpose if he doesn’t take the initiative,” but Leona also does not approve of Malleus’ choice of initiative: teleporting the housewardens and Crowley to Diasomnia without warning.
While accidental in Malleus’ case because there is so much he does not know and strategic in Leona’s case because he knows so much, it is possible that both Housewardens doing what it is they are supposed to do, just not in the way that others want them to, is another thing that they have in common.
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 