By Zephyria The sound of a thudding echoed in Leonardo Blaine’s ears. The sound grew faster and soon turned into a throbbing that shook his entire body.
Leonardo Blaine unconsciously opened and closed his lips. His gaze shifted past the general’s shoulder and returned to its original position. The general, who was watching his eyes, brought his upper body closer as if trying to shake his heart and continued.
“I know my words must be confusing. But I don’t know when we’ll meet again, so this was the only chance I had to tell you.”
“……”
“I heard that you disappeared after retiring from the Imperial Army. It must have been hard for you. In Laina Rogia’s sentiment, once you’re branded… you have to live quietly without any room to breathe or a place to lean on. But if you come to us, the King of Paren will welcome you with open arms. He will help you secretly and confidentially so that you can come over.”
The general whispered like a temptation in a gentle but clear voice. However, Leonardo Blaine, who was listening, flinched and took a step back.
“I….”
He was confused and barely managed to open his mouth, but he soon became speechless. The word ‘defection,’ which he heard at an unexpected moment, exponentially increased his heart rate.
Moreover, the Council’s army was waiting beyond this point. Gold Eyes scanned the eyes and ears around him with an uneasy look. The general stroked his hand and added with a pitiful expression.
“Leonardo, don’t worry. I don’t mean to move right now. I just want you to think about it, you’re still young. Don’t you want to live a new life? In Paren, Leonardo Blaine is almost called a priest of the goddess. You are Paren’s national hero and light. Everyone will sincerely welcome you.”
“……That’s not the problem. Do you even know what you’re talking about?”
“…Of course I do. I just want to tell you that sometimes you can see a way out if you look around a little. The wall that you thought was blocked may actually be a door that has been closed for a long time, or perhaps it is an escape route that is already open but hidden by prejudice.”
The general continued to persuade Leonardo Blaine. He rubbed his thumb along the lines of his palm, caressing him as if trying to relieve his tension.
“It may seem impossible to leave the Empire you were in, but it’s not that difficult. Laina Rogia may be the first place you set foot in, but Paren may exist at the end of your life. And….”
The general paused and said a word with a low sigh.
“Aren’t you originally from Bermuda?”
The Gold Eyes, which had been filled with anxiety, shot up for a moment. His eyes were cold, but the general did not care.
“It means you don’t have to be tied to one country. Especially if it’s a country that has abandoned you.”
Unless they were from Bermuda, it was quite rude for others to talk about their origins. However, Leonardo Blaine knew that the general was sincerely worried about him, not for any other reason, so he softened his eyes instead of glaring at him. The general delivered the final blow to him.
“Don’t leave your future in the hands of others. Life is something you create yourself.”
At that moment, Leonardo Blaine’s eyelashes trembled slightly. His gaze also wavered as his mind became complicated. It was not so much that his heart was moved by the other party’s words, but rather that the voice he had heard just a while ago overlapped.
His gaze naturally shifted to Hugo, who was waiting for him in the distance. Hugo was standing there with his arms crossed, looking this way, but his head was turned halfway as if he was talking to Cordelia next to him.
His voice, which could not be heard, buzzed and lingered in his ears. Leonardo Blaine recalled that scene once again.
‘Glory to your future.’
His eyes, which were smiling refreshingly, were drawn in front of him again. Just in time, Hugo turned his head and looked this way.
^
“Your Excellency. If Blaine wants to leave the Empire, what are you going to do?”
About three minutes ago, Cordelia’s sudden question immediately took away Hugo’s gaze, which had been alternating between Leonardo Blaine and his watch. Cordelia’s expression was very calm for someone who had brought up such a shocking topic.
Hugo narrowed his brows and looked down at her, carefully checking his surroundings to see if there was anyone who could eavesdrop on the conversation. After judging that it was safe, he asked Cordelia back with a face that he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s as I said. Paren received a lot of help from Blaine during the War of Independence, so I don’t think it’s strange if they take advantage of the fact that Blaine has been exiled now.”
Hugo narrowed his eyes and coldly retorted.
“Are you defending their actions of chasing Leonardo Blaine as justified?”
“Ah, no. I’m not defending it, but… I simply meant that from the perspective of national interest, there is enough room for them to do so.”
“……”
“Also, if Blaine is asked to naturalize in another country, even if it’s not Paren, by offering benefits, wouldn’t he naturally be shaken in his position? So… if, just if. If he wants to defect to another country, I’m asking what you will do to him.”
Cordelia emphasized the word ‘if’ and asked as carefully as possible. However, Hugo, who was listening, wondered for a moment if she had injured her head during the battle. It seemed that she had been seeing him as an overly generous person from the beginning. Hugo, who had unfolded his arms, replied in a cold voice as if there was no value in thinking about it.
“The defection of an S-Class Mage from the Empire is impossible. It’s something that can’t happen.”
“……”
“He’ll have to live a life of being chased forever the moment he goes to another country, but I don’t think he’ll make such a decision now that he has freedom in front of him. He’s quick-witted and good at calculating gains and losses. The ‘if’ you’re talking about won’t happen.”
Hugo cut off the possibility firmly. In fact, his words were somewhat different from the values he usually held.
‘There is always 0 and 100 in probability.’ Those were the words Hugo repeatedly added to his subordinates, telling them not to let their guard down. So, even though he knew that there was something wrong with his words, Hugo cleanly dismissed Cordelia’s question as impossible.
He didn’t even wonder what kind of answer she wanted to hear, and he had no intention of giving her any room. She, too, should know the end of an S-Class Mage who defected from the Empire.
The Empire, in other words, the Imperial Family. They were extremely reluctant to let national power leak to other countries. It was no exaggeration to say that they had the creed of killing rather than not having it, so the moment Leonardo Blaine chose to defect, he, who served the Emperor, had to stop him with all his might.
“……”
Knowing that reality better than anyone else, Hugo became quite afraid that a situation he could not control would arise.
If he didn’t know what kind of person Leonardo Blaine was and what kind of beliefs he had, he wouldn’t have hesitated at all. But now that he knew the poor man named Leonardo Blaine, Hugo was not sure if he could dare to stop him if he longed for freedom in another country.
That’s why such a thing should never happen. Even if his appearance seemed selfish, he wanted Leonardo Blaine to return to his side willingly. He didn’t want to face a situation where his beliefs were broken any further.
Hugo, who had rubbed his hardened lips, coldly turned his gaze away from Cordelia. Her gaze followed his profile, but he tried to ignore it and looked straight ahead. At that moment, Hugo’s eyes widened. Leonardo Blaine, half-hidden in silver armor, was staring at this way.
But the atmosphere was somehow strange. The distance between the two was closer than necessary. Besides, Leonardo Blaine had a pitiful look as if he was asking for help. A blood vessel slowly popped out on Hugo’s chin.
“That bastard….”
Hugo, who misunderstood that Leonardo Blaine was in trouble, gritted his teeth and took a big step to separate the two immediately. But just in time, Leonardo Blaine hurriedly reached out his hand and shook his head violently as if telling him not to come. The general of Paren, who had been facing away, also glanced back.
Hugo, who had stopped walking on his own due to the sudden sign, watched the two people’s actions while understanding the situation. Leonardo Blaine, who shook his head clearly once again, gestured to Hugo as if telling him not to come.
Because of that, Hugo had no choice but to stand there blankly. His military boots did not fall off the floor as if they were stuck. His uneasy gaze was also fixed on Leonardo Blaine. Leonardo Blaine, who avoided that gaze, lowered his head.
^
As if he was about to make a decision, Gold Eyes, who had lowered his head for a moment, scanned the innocent floor. The general felt that Leonardo Blaine’s actions of stopping the Legion Commander were like a positive signal. So, he relaxed his expression, put on a gentle smile, and waited silently for his decision.
In that moment, various faces and countless responsibilities that weighed on his shoulders flashed through Leonardo Blaine’s mind. Perhaps if he had heard the same words in the past, he might have questioned the other party who was encouraging him to defect, even if he was a close friend.
But the situation was different now. Whether he pretended not to know his situation on purpose, or persuaded him to abandon the country he had once defended with his life, those things were not important.
There was no reason to react sensitively to the warm person who welcomed his fallen honor. He was not so rash as to misinterpret the warmth of his friend who was trying to understand his ragged self.
Leonardo Blaine took a deep breath and tried to calm his throbbing heart. Then, he slowly raised his head and met the general’s eyes. The other party’s proposal was very sweet and tempting, but coincidentally, it had never shaken him.
Leonardo Blaine smiled faintly and said.
“Thank you. For saying you’ll help me.”
The general, who was trying to understand his intentions, smiled brightly at the low and cautious voice. The general thought that he had accepted his desire to help because Leonardo Blaine gave strength to the hands he was holding.
But soon after, Leonardo Blaine, who smiled bitterly, added without hesitation.
“But―.”
The general, who was about to welcome him rashly, paused. At the same time, Leonardo Blaine turned his head to a man who was waiting for him.
Agrizendro was standing blankly on the wide dirt floor, looking only at himself. Behind him were Major Hares, her knights, the Council’s commanders, and countless members who looked like dots, lined up looking this way.
Leonardo Blaine shielded his eyes from the sunlight pouring down under the clear sky and slowly scanned their figures with his eyes. Now and then, there were people he wanted to protect here. So there was no way he could easily abandon this place.
There may come a day when he will regret this moment. Nevertheless, Leonardo Blaine turned his head and met the general’s eyes. He then smiled brightly and recited.
“This country still needs me.”