By Zephyria Inside the dark restaurant, lights were on only at the entrance, the kitchen, and one table. The two people sitting by the window, where a drizzle had started again, gazed at the scenery beyond the glass, hidden by a natural curtain made of rainwater.
It was quite strange to feel like they were the only customers in the store. Whether it was originally a day off or not, there wasn’t even a trace of people coming and going during the day.
It wasn’t bad to feel like I was enjoying a privilege since it was a time prepared only for the two of us, but the atmosphere wasn’t very good. It’s because of the other person who only drinks strong alcohol with the scenery outside the window as a snack.
‘No, why did you tell me to come if you were going to be like this.’
Wasn’t he the one who called me to have dinner together? I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the way the gnocchi in front of him was getting cold. Leonardo pushed the omelet he was eating to the side, reached out, and noisily pulled the food bowl over.
Only then did Hugo turn his gaze and realize that the silence had been long, and opened his mouth, pushing the bowl in front of Leonardo.
“I heard it takes about two days to print the photos and issue the registration certificate. Of course, I’ll confiscate all the photos of you left in the photo studio when the work is done, so don’t worry.”
Whether it was a problem with the choice of words or not, Leonardo looked at Hugo at the treatment that sounded a little excessive. For some reason, I could picture the photographer looking sad in my head, but it’s definitely something I don’t want in many ways to have my face left in the hands of others.
“Um….”
Leonardo nodded appropriately, meaning to do so. The gnocchi, which had already absorbed the pesto sauce and had a soggy surface, was begging to be eaten soon. To repay it, I took a big bite using a soup spoon. I’ve felt it before, but the chef here seems to be very good at cooking.
Contrary to what it looked like, there was still some crispness left on the surface, and inside, I could feel the taste and texture of mashed potatoes that were so soft that I could believe it was puree.
Overall, it’s carefully made food that’s easy to digest. It’s too good to eat alone.
“Aren’t you eating?”
Leonardo, who was chewing on the food, wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked. Hugo replied with a gentle smile at the sight of the corners of his mouth rising on their own because it was delicious.
“Eat a lot.”
“Originally, things like this taste better when you eat them together.”
“…Is that so?”
Hugo, who seemed to have agreed, slowly lifted his spoon and scooped three round gnocchi and put them on his front plate. Leonardo pushed the plate to the middle of the table as if to say eat more, but Hugo seemed to have had enough with one or two bites and quickly put down the spoon.
Instinctively, my eyes were drawn to the sight of his tongue, which was barely visible, licking his lips.
“It’s delicious.”
Whether it’s really delicious or he’s acting. He leaned back with an unknowable smile.
Leonardo, who had pushed the inside of his cheek with the tip of his tongue, put down his cutlery and stared at the other person for a while. Soon, he put down his cutlery as well, leaned back on the backrest, and asked.
“Do you have any worries?”
Hugo’s gaze, which was about to turn back to the window, paused.
“You seemed to have a lot on your mind. You’ve been drinking alcohol since earlier.”
Hugo looked down at the glass he was holding and put it down on the table.
Worries, it would be a lie to say I don’t have any. Lately, I’ve been spending days with my head not just complicated, but throbbing.
“Isn’t the trial date set?”
Leonardo asked directly. There was a limit to considering the Legion Commander’s hard work and the sadness of losing his subordinates, and deliberately keeping his mouth shut for his pride. I didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere for no reason, so I was going to let it go, thinking he had something in mind. It didn’t suit my temperament to leave my important matters to others.
Just as I was about to urge him to tell me without hiding anything, Hugo brought up an unexpected answer.
“No. It’s already set.”
Leonardo’s eyes widened. He moved his lips and leaned forward, asking back in an excited tone.
“What? It’s set? When?”
“Today. To be exact, two hours ago.”
I was about to ask why he didn’t tell me in advance, but I understood after hearing that it was two hours ago. So that’s why he was so late. I felt embarrassed for the time I had been grumbling to myself that he wasn’t keeping his promise. He must have struggled even on a day like today to keep the most important promise.
While thinking that it was a relief that I didn’t get angry at the other person who came back late, Leonardo quickly asked, pointing at the table with his hand.
“Then, when is the trial date?”
“Three days from today, at 1 p.m.”
“Three days from now….”
Leonardo repeatedly recited the date. It was a little disappointing that it was postponed a little later than expected, but it wasn’t that late.
Thinking that way, the corners of his lips trembled finely. This was none other than the trembling of joy.
‘Am I finally getting released?’
A tingling pleasure spread throughout my body from my fingertips to my scalp. How much had I been looking forward to this moment? It was hard to believe that it was just three days away.
I can’t be sure that I’ll be completely released yet, but it meant that my achievements in Bando were recognized and brought up as a topic of discussion by these damn Council members.
In front of Fidele’s cabin, the members had gathered, saying they would give me a toss, and the former commanders of the subjugation force saluted in front of me, even though it was the Legion Commander’s order. I once hated them, but at least now I believe that they are my allies and will be witnesses for the verdict. Above all, isn’t Agrizendro on my side? I saw hope that I could safely escape this prison-like place and arrive before D-Day.
Leonardo couldn’t hide his joyful expression and covered his convulsing mouth with his hand. He also let out a sigh that contained many meanings. Hugo asked him, knowing it was obvious.
“Are you happy?”
“Of course. Aren’t you happy too?”
Leonardo turned to Hugo with an excited face. But the other person’s expression, who I thought would be happy, was somehow strange.
“What’s wrong?”
He was definitely smiling, but it didn’t seem like he was smiling. Hugo raised his eyebrows at Leonardo’s question.
“Why?”
“If the trial date is set, isn’t that a good thing?”
But you don’t seem very happy. I deliberately swallowed the rest of the words.
Hugo blinked and stroked his lower jaw with his hand. He quickly put on a mask as if he was worried, but it seemed that this guy had already been caught.
“I’m happy too. Your freedom is not far away.”
“……”
“But… there’s something I want to ask you.”
Personally, I don’t really like the deductive method, but Hugo somehow found himself hesitating when it came to asking Leonardo something. If I don’t bring up the main point first, the other person will have no choice but to be nervous. That nervousness was reflected in Leonardo’s eyes, but Hugo decided to think a little more carefully.
“Leonardo, what are you planning to do when this is over?”
Leonardo’s brow furrowed reflexively, perhaps because he remembered hearing it once before. I probably heard the same words from this person in the Council hallway right before I left for Bando.
At that time, I immediately responded coldly, saying it was none of your business. I know that the temperature of the question and the relationship between us have changed a lot now.
Even so, Leonardo maintained his composure and asked back to confirm.
“Why? Are you feeling sorry for me again like you did then?”
Hugo recalled that the question that immediately followed was what he had said to him in the past.
“No, more than that… I’m worried about you.”
“…What are you worried about?”
“Whether you’ll eat well, whether you’ll take care of your sick body properly. Whether you’ll be swayed by those who approach you with bad intentions.”
Leonardo scoffed and replied.
“What, I’m not a child. I can take care of that much on my own.”
“That’s not how it looks to me.”
Leonardo was momentarily speechless at the blunt rebuttal. Of course, I had shown unstable appearances in front of him, so it was understandable that he would think that way. But what’s with answering so firmly?
“…Even if that’s not how it looks to you, I’ve always taken care of myself well. I haven’t been caught by anyone before.”
The last part was mumbled as if muttering, so it was heard vaguely. It wasn’t intentional, but it sounded like it had changed since I was caught by you, so Hugo felt somewhat bitter in his mouth.
But thanks to that, I was finally able to finish my decision. The shadowed eyelids blinked slowly.
Since I dragged him out into the world, I wanted to take full responsibility for it.
“If you don’t mind, wouldn’t you like to come with me?”
Leonardo, who had been answering well, paused. Then, his pupils widened slightly.
“…What?”
“I’ll help you as much as I can so you can live a new life.”
As if he had heard something he had never expected, Leonardo had a flustered look. Perhaps he was even more surprised than when he heard that the trial schedule had been set, so Hugo added calmly while wondering about his reaction.
“Of course, it’s entirely up to you what kind of life you want to build. If you want to get a new opportunity to use your abilities, I’ll let you do that. Even if it’s not the Council.”
Hugo’s tone was very calm, but a strong wave raged in his bluish eyes. That meant that his inner self was also in a state of considerable tension.
“On the other hand, even if you want to step down from the front lines and just live quietly, I will help you with that as well. I can protect you in my mansion so that no one can chase you.”
The moment Leonardo is freed from the Council, the price of his sins and accusations will officially disappear under the name of acquittal. Then, institutions and other forces that were only watching will try to recruit him more actively.
Hugo hoped that he would take the hand he offered in the name of protection, and earnestly suggested it once again.
“Come with me, won’t you come to my mansion with me?”
Leonardo could only stare blankly at the person sitting across the table, unable to answer rashly. His chest suddenly felt numb and his stomach churned. He was very embarrassed because it was his first time feeling this way.
It felt like they were the only two left in a distant world. The only light that came in illuminated their island, this table.
Drip, drip―
Suddenly, the sound of rain became much stronger, decorating the continuing silence quite poetically. Leonardo’s gaze, which had been directed at Hugo, slowly lowered. Gold Eyes stared at the tableware the man in front of him had used.
There was no meaning. It was just that his head was getting a little confused.
How nice would it have been if I had heard this in the past, when I had lost everything and was wandering around?
When I desperately needed someone, back then when I just wanted to hide. I had always consistently wished for a haven.
However, when faced with the person reaching out a helping hand, the reality that he could not readily answer came to mind, and his eyes became surprisingly hot with embarrassment.
Leonardo struggled to calm his fluctuating heart. For the sake of what he was carrying, and for the sake of that person, he needed to suppress his emotions.
His lowered eyelashes trembled finely and rose up.
“Just a little.”
The past days, when he longed for such comfort, flashed by like a panorama.
“You should have told me just a little sooner.”
His light-filled golden eyes curved like crescents to hide his emotional turmoil. Hugo felt that the Gold Eyes he saw through the gaps were particularly sparkling today.
Perhaps it was because the emotion reflected in those eyes was the same as his premonition. He didn’t know why, but he had a strangely sad feeling.
Hesitating red lips moved prettily.
“I’m sorry.”
In a choked voice, he announces their scheduled farewell.