By Zephyria The two shared a newly bought cup of Gelato and then strolled through the Council grounds, chatting about trivial things. His mind had become quite unsettled after the unwelcome guest had come and gone, but Leonardo didn’t show any signs of discomfort.
He wanted to fully enjoy the remaining time. There was also a slight obsession with filling it with good memories. He made the excuse that he was curious about the internal structure of the Council, keeping Hugo, who might have had other plans, by his side.
During their walk, they also encountered the soldiers who had fought together in the Peninsula subjugation. Squad Leader 8, who was coming out of the training grounds, was dressed in comfortable workout clothes, unlike usual. Surprised by the unexpected encounter, she saluted Hugo first, then hesitated and turned to Leonardo.
“I heard your trial is coming up soon.”
“…Yeah.”
“Thank you for everything. In many ways.”
She delivered the short and concise words with pauses. At the same time, she subtly avoided eye contact and offered a handshake.
Leonardo felt a bit awkward at her awkwardness, unlike her outstretched hand, but he didn’t show it, fearing she would be embarrassed. Instead, he took her hand and replied in a playful tone.
“I guess you’re glad you don’t have to chase me anymore.”
Squad Leader 8 finally made eye contact and scoffed as if she was dumbfounded.
“I don’t know. I feel a bit bittersweet.”
Leonardo’s eyebrows lifted slightly at the unexpected answer. She left, saying she hoped to see him again, and hurried away.
Leaving the short encounter with Squad Leader 8 behind, the two headed to the garden of the south annex, where they had previously enjoyed a picnic with a tea table. On the way, they encountered the Commander of the 6th Battalion, Dellua, pushing Marlene’s wheelchair in front of a huge and ornate fountain.
“Oh! Commander, Blaine!”
Her high-pitched voice, which was always memorable, sounded even more welcoming today. Dellua quickly changed direction and brought Marlene, who was in a full-body cast, before Hugo and Leonardo.
Marlene carefully raised her stiff arm and pretended to salute Hugo. She had been unconscious when he last saw her, but it seemed she had undergone surgery successfully and was in recovery.
“Is your body feeling better?”
“Yes, Commander. I think I’ll be able to return to duty sooner than expected.”
“What are you saying? Just stay still—”
Marlene answered Hugo’s question with a determined face, but Dellua slapped her shoulder, saying, ‘What are you talking about, already talking about returning?’ Hugo, who had been watching her, urged her as she groaned and frowned.
“You can take a long sick leave, so return to the front lines when you’re completely healed.”
“Really? Thank you, Commander.”
Dellua, instead of the person in question, smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for those words. Then, Dellua took a step towards Leonardo, who was next to Hugo, and grabbed his hand.
“Blaine—, I’m glad I got to see you before the trial… The Commander always hides you in his room, so I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you until the day of the trial? Our 6th Battalion is all on your side, so don’t worry, and go in with your shoulders straight. You won’t pretend you don’t know us even if your release is decided, right? Huh?”
She fidgeted with his hand, which was bigger than hers, and then pouted her lips and muttered regretfully.
“…But, can’t you just come into the Council and work with us? If you come to the 6th Battalion, I’ll treat you really well. I’ll put you in charge of a squad right away—”
“Battalion Commander, you’re being inappropriate.”
Marlene stopped her just in time, Dellua was about to cling to Leonardo’s pants. Leonardo gave an awkward smile, but her stickiness went beyond his hand and clung to his arm.
Hugo, who would have usually stopped her, was strangely quiet today. It was only when Marlene struggled to roll her wheelchair between them that the situation was mediated.
“Oh, stop it! You’re embarrassing him. Sorry, Blaine. You know our company commander is immature, right?”
“What? What are you saying—.”
Dellua protested as if a siren was going off, asking what she meant, but Marlene ignored her and whispered to Leonardo not to mind her. Then, as if she had something to say, she hesitated before continuing with an awkward smile.
“There were moments when I was losing consciousness, but even in that situation, I could feel your Magic Power. I heard we won thanks to you. Thank you, Blaine. You’re my savior.”
Leonardo was deeply moved to hear those words from someone who had come back from the brink of death with a bloodless face. He had heard similar words on the way back from victory a few years ago, and he never thought he would hear them again.
Leonardo, who had unknowingly recalled a buried memory, paused for a moment before answering with a smile.
“It was thanks to ‘us’.”
Marlene, who looked dazed as if she hadn’t expected that, soon replied with moist eyes, “Yeah.” The four exchanged simple encouragements and greetings before passing each other on their way.
As they walked away, Leonardo stroked the back of his neck, feeling a strange sense of regret.
They were among the few people who treated him without prejudice. If the situation had been different, they could have remained on better terms.
Thinking that this might be the last time, he turned his head slightly to catch a glimpse of their backs. At that moment, Hugo wrapped his arm around Leonardo’s shoulder, blocking half of his view.
Leonardo looked up at Hugo with a ‘why?’ expression at the sudden contact. However, Hugo only glanced at him and didn’t explain his intentions.
He just patted his shoulder and arm, leading him forward as if to say, ‘Let’s go.’ Leonardo, who was faithfully following, looked back again with a puzzled expression.
Beyond Hugo’s solid arm, he could see the two women shimmering in the fountain. He had noticed it before leaving Fidele, but the sight of the two being closer than just colleagues still felt strange.
Leonardo, momentarily embarrassed, looked forward again and scratched his cheek, feeling awkward. Then, suddenly remembering Hugo’s natural way of blocking his view, he asked cautiously, just in case.
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“About those two’s relationship.”
Hugo rolled his eyes and replied nonchalantly.
“They’re my subordinates, how could I not know?”
“…….”
“And the workplace is smaller than you think. People love to spread gossip.”
It seemed he meant that rumors spread quickly. Indeed, in the military, rumors of who was dating would spread to other units overnight.
Hugo didn’t add anything after that, but Leonardo nodded silently, feeling that he was telling him to be considerate and careful.
But the thought that came to mind next was Meterion Kleinder’s earlier remark.
‘I heard you even spend the night together—’
It wasn’t wrong, but those words were perfect for creating strange rumors. Leonardo forcibly pulled down his hand, which was about to reach for Hugo’s waist, afraid that it might tarnish the honor of the Archduke.
At the same time, he wondered if this man had ever heard any of those rumors. And he was also curious about this man’s reaction when he heard them.
The two, who had enjoyed a hearty dinner and dessert in the garden, returned to their own residence only after the sun had set. Hugo’s words that he would have to spend the last day before the trial alone due to circumstances were like a bolt from the blue to Leonardo, who was regretting that time was passing so quickly.
In other words, tonight was the last time they would be together until the promised day.
Realizing the reality, Leonardo was the only one with wide eyes in the darkened room.
Tick-tock. In the quiet silence where only the sound of the second hand could be heard, Leonardo sighed quietly so that the person lying next to him wouldn’t hear. He glanced over and saw the moonlight seeping through the curtains caressing the man’s face like a sculpture.
The eyelashes drooping under his closed eyelids were as neat and orderly as his own.
‘…Is he asleep?’
Unlike himself, who couldn’t sleep because his mind was complicated, the other man’s face looked very peaceful.
He felt a strange sense of resentment and wanted to poke him, but his actions were cautious, afraid that he might wake him up. Perhaps because there were so many things he wanted to see for the last time today, Leonardo stared blankly at the handsome man next to him.
But then, the words of the uninvited guest kept echoing in his ears.
‘Do you know why the Legion Commander gave him a medal?’
Meterion Kleinder said that Agrizendro had made a deal for him. If the price was turning a blind eye to the corruption of the 3rd Company Commander, then it meant that this man had gone to such lengths to protect the relationship between himself and Nero.
He had guessed it from the moment he received Nero’s Artifact, but it meant that the Legion Commander of the Council had knowingly ignored a serious crime that could even result in the death penalty in the Empire. This man, who was so full of principles and righteousness, was making exceptions one by one in front of him. That specialness made him expect things and kept him looking back.
“…….”
His path was already set, but he couldn’t take his eyes off him. His eyes imprinted the scene in his mind, as if taking a photograph.
Handsome eyebrows, deep eye sockets. A high nose and neat lips.
Leonardo’s thoughts and gaze stopped at the last part, and he forgot to breathe for a moment.
Unconsciously, his hand in the blanket slowly reached out towards the other man. It swam through the bedding, where a strong scent and warm body temperature were mixed, relying solely on his senses.
Soon after, the back of his hand, which had become quite sensitive, touched the back of another’s hand, and Leonardo felt a slight movement in the blanket.