By Zephyria Hugo stood leaning against the window, watching the twilight sky before sunrise. Gazing at the dawn from the mansion was one of his few pleasures. The silence of the time when the world had not yet fully awakened brought peace of mind. The chirping of early-rising birds gradually awakened his drowsy mind.
Just then, a canary that had circled the Duke’s residence fluttered its wings and landed on the windowsill.
When Hugo spread his palm, it hopped onto his fingertip. Then, the shape of the bird, which had been preening its feathers with its beak, flickered and suddenly disappeared.
It was the start of a safe day. According to what it had told him, the streets were more organized and cleaner than yesterday, although they hadn’t completely shed the festive atmosphere of the birthday celebration. The people of the territory exchanged cheerful greetings and seemed to be busily preparing for the morning, and most of them seemed to be returning to their places after putting down their excited hearts.
Chewing over the news that the Divine Beast had told him, Hugo rubbed his stubbly chin, still unable to shake off his languid state.
“I should too.”
In his left hand, he held a Magic Tool for communication. It wasn’t the one he usually used for work, but a special device that was uniquely paired with a designated item number.
This Magic Tool, which hadn’t rung even once in the past few months, as if it were broken, rang last night. Before Duke Agrizendro’s sham birthday had even passed, it rang its first signal.
The light that flickered at the quiet hour, five minutes before midnight, instantly captured Hugo’s tired gaze, who was finishing up his day.
The sun, which had suddenly left in the early morning, had suddenly come looking for him around the time the moon was rising. It was the moment when the heart that had been worried all day that his refusal, born out of consideration, had upset him melted away.
Afraid that it would be cut off, he hurriedly pressed the button, and a brief silence accompanied by excitement followed. After that, a low voice tickling his ear delivered a sweet first greeting.
―Aren’t you asleep?
From the world beyond the communication device somewhere in this land, the voice that cautiously asked was tired and hoarse. Hugo stood up reflexively, even though the person in question wasn’t in front of him.
That’s how he had been pacing around this window last night as well. Busily searching for the golden eyes that might be watching him.
‘I was waiting.’
There were no words for a while, but a low breath replaced the answer. He wondered if the other person knew that he wanted to be soaked by the raindrops that were falling in the place where Leonardo was. He was both resentful and glad for the late contact.
―I left suddenly, so I thought I should say I’m sorry.
‘It’s okay. Did the work go well?’
―Uh, well. So-so…. What about you? You said you had work too.
‘Mine was resolved appropriately too. There were unexpected gains as well.’
After Leonardo suddenly left, Hugo, who was left alone in the villa, made a few more calls and returned to the main mansion.
‘I’ll have to check again tomorrow, though.’
The news he heard through the servant was twofold. One of them was about his godmother, who was waiting at the mansion, but he had already asked for her understanding and given instructions to the staff before inviting Leonardo to the villa.
However, for some reason, his godmother seemed to be displeased with the Duke for leaving her alone in the mansion and not returning home. As soon as he entered through the central door of the mansion, the frozen air reached his skin. All sorts of lamps and lights were lit, waiting for their owner.
But there was nothing to worry about. No one knew the location of the villa except for those who were there that day. Not even Flynn, still.
So, in fact, if Leonardo hadn’t brought up the need to go, Hugo had planned to spend the remaining holiday and his birthday with him, holed up in the villa.
But the plan fell apart, and just as he was bitterly tidying up the time he had spent with him, which had scattered like afterimages, a surprise gift arrived to decorate the end. Hugo, without looking back at his undignified self, sat on the windowsill without fastening his silk gown.
Turning his head halfway and gazing at the particularly sparkling stars, the golden eyes that held the light flickered before his eyes.
‘I never thought the day would come when I’d hear your voice with this.’
―I was told to do as I pleased.
Leonardo’s voice, heard through the Magic Tool, sounded much calmer than it actually was. It was clearly a ticklish and innocent remark. Perhaps it was because he couldn’t see the eyebrows moving freely or the corners of his mouth curling up, but the tone was calm, even drooping.
Around that time, Hugo, who had sensed a strange atmosphere, asked.
‘Leo, is something wrong?’
For a few seconds, only the sound of rain falling was endlessly laid down again. Was he avoiding the bad weather under the eaves somewhere? Hugo was about to ask again if he was standing in the rain again, looking pathetic, when it happened.
―No.
The tone, which had quickly brightened, cleared his throat as if not trying to pass on the burden of his heart.
―I have a second-division match at the 3rd Main Stadium on the 16th.
‘The 3rd Main Stadium? The location has changed.’
He was concerned about the intermittent silence, but Hugo didn’t ask further. Instead, another opportunity was presented.
―Do you want to meet after it’s over?
As if they were talking face to face, the conversation continued in a cozy manner until the deep dawn.
Thanks to that, the day, no matter what the process was like, was perfect and special from start to finish.
He secretly hoped that such a start would come again today, several hours later. But the Magic Tool didn’t send a signal until dawn.
The brilliance of the sunrise slowly descended over the man’s elegant face. His blue eyes, reflecting the light, were as dazzling as jewels, to borrow someone’s words. The trajectory of his lowered eyelashes drew neat diagonal lines across his transparent iris, like the hands of a clock.
Knock, knock―
“Master, may I help you prepare?”
Just then, the voice of the attendant from outside the door penetrated Hugo’s thoughts. He turned his eyes to the clock set on one side, which had been gazing into the distance.
Has it already become this late? It was almost time to finish preparing and go downstairs.
Hugo straightened his body, which had been leaning, and answered.
“I’ll be out soon.”
Today, there was something that couldn’t be late more than ever. He closed the window, covering up the sweetness of the night, and turned around.
Before going out, his eyes, approaching the side table, were quite determined. Hugo, who had put the Magic Tool he was holding in the drawer and sealed it, took a small breath and stepped out the door.
“Good morning, Commander.”
“Good morning.”
The members of the Council, who were busily walking through the hallway, discovered the Legion Commander, who seemed to have just come to work, and greeted him. He was already a difficult person to approach easily, so anyone who stood before him was bound to be nervous, but today, the expressions of the members were particularly stiff.
In an atmosphere no less than that of the Duke’s residence yesterday, Flynn, who was following Hugo, also glanced up at his superior.
Hugo didn’t show any particular emotion. He simply answered with a nod and headed to the Legion Commander’s office.
Opening the tightly closed door and entering, Gabe, who had been pacing in front of the reception sofa, happened to turn this way. Even he, who always had a relaxed impression and tone that was contrary to his speed of handling work, had a stiff face at this moment. Gabe bowed politely.
“Have you arrived, Commander?”
“What’s the interrogation schedule?”
Hugo, who had approached the desk in the office, asked, gesturing to open the curtains. Then, he took off his jacket and handed it to Flynn. Today, his attire was particularly white-toned. He usually preferred dark-colored shirts that contrasted with his white uniform, but Flynn had suggested that a bright color would be better so as not to put excessive pressure on the suspect in the interrogation to be conducted today.
Thanks to that, Hugo in his vest looked like a white-clad gentleman who wouldn’t allow a single speck of dust, except for his shoes and tie. But Gabe, seeing that, thought, The Commander has made up his mind.* Excessive whiteness rather gave off a sense of pressure that shouldn’t be offended.
Especially if the other party was Kajard of the Council, who was known to be merciless to criminals.
“The Vice Commander said that the adjutant would contact us as soon as he came out of the interrogation room. I heard that the schedule was slightly delayed because the suspect requested a meal break in the middle, but it started in the early morning, so it will be over soon.”
“I’ll check the statement first before going in. Have you secured a copy?”
“Yes, I typed it myself. There were some ambiguous contents, but I didn’t translate them separately.”
“This way.”
When Hugo held out his hand, Gabe handed him a neatly organized stack of papers. The first page was a summary of the familiar incident. Turning over a few more pages, a handwritten statement, written in a trembling hand, was densely filled with crooked letters.
Hugo, who had quickly read three or four lines, focused on the words “order from a superior” that were repeatedly used in the statement.
How many months had he wasted until he saw and confirmed this statement with his own eyes? He didn’t know what change of heart had led the insider to reveal the truth now. However, what was certain was that it was worth dragging out this incident, which could have ended as a mishap resulting from a mistake, for a long time.
Just as Hugo’s eyes were mechanically scanning the document, a short signal sounded from the adjutant’s office next to him. Flynn, who had gone to receive it instead of Gabe, quickly returned after answering a few words and told Hugo.
“The Vice Commander has finished the interrogation.”
“Let’s go right away. Prepare.”
As soon as the order was given, Flynn gathered and took the documents that Gabe had handed him. Then, he immediately moved to a secret location in the east annex.
Usually, when investigating suspects arrested from outside, the interrogation is conducted in the interrogation room at the innermost part of the investigation room, like the one Leonardo had entered before. But today’s interrogation location was not there. Opening the heavily guarded double doors, the personnel monitoring inside the surveillance room stood up abruptly.
“Commander, have you arrived?”
Hugo answered with a gesture as if to sit down and approached Shorendo, who had been talking to the adjutant.
Instead of asking a question, he placed his hand on the Vice Commander’s shoulder, and Shorendo simply nodded with a somber expression. Hugo barely swallowed a sigh.
Then, after receiving the file that Flynn had brought, he moved to the interrogation room where the suspect would be.
The metal doorknob felt particularly cold today. When he heard the click, a man sitting with a gloomy complexion raised his head. He was wearing the Council’s uniform, but the scenery that unfolded inside looked like a small conference room or a fairly large meeting room.
It was a place mainly used for conducting interrogations related to incidents that occurred within the Council. It was a fairly respectful atmosphere for a space prepared to pressure suspects and investigate the truth. However, the white light shining down on the table and the silence that made even small sounds echo were just as bleak.
“Commander―.”
“Sit down.”
As the man tried to rise from his seat, Hugo stopped him and sat down across from him, with the large table between them.
He placed the interrogation materials he had brought on the table and leaned back in his chair for a moment, staring intently at the other man.
The owner of the statement was at a loss, unable to meet his eyes. He merely sat back down awkwardly, bowing his head deeply.
Hugo, who had been scrutinizing his gestures, expressions, and breathing with a cold gaze, rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. He then let out a deep sigh.
“Shall we begin?”
He composed his heavy heart and lowered his eyes. After flipping through a couple of pages of the file he had brought, he opened the case summary and pushed it forward.
He clasped his hands together and asked in a ruthless voice.
“Since when have you been inserting old-fashioned handcuffs between the S-Class Mage handcuffs?”