By Zephyria The long history of the Council was painted on the high ceiling of the Council’s corridor. It was so magnificent and huge that it seemed to play an excellent role in inspiring awe and boosting the pride of the members.
Leonardo, who was looking at the painting and following Hugo to the courtyard building of the Council, suddenly heard people’s voices from outside the window, so he leaned out slightly and looked at it. At least several hundred members were standing in rows in the wide courtyard.
As Leonardo felt a new emotion at the large crowd and silently looked at the scenery, Hugo also stopped walking and turned his gaze to where his gaze was reaching.
Leonardo, who was scanning each and every one of the members’ faces among the crowded troops, opened his mouth in an admiring tone.
“Good morale. There’s no fear at all.”
At his words, who knew how to read the morale of the members, Hugo glanced sideways and answered casually.
“Since it’s an expedition to stand up for the Empire and its people, they will honor their duty and never be afraid.”
Leonardo, who was silently staring straight ahead, frowned slightly and looked at Hugo once with a somewhat bitter look. Hugo noticed what words had touched his nerves at his appearance of turning his gaze forward again, and continued to speak as if trying to stimulate him once more.
“Leonardo, you also said that saving the people of the Empire is your job.”
However, the other party did not answer as if trying to ignore him. It was when Hugo opened his mouth again.
“Then, with this expedition as an opportunity―.”
“Don’t force me.”
Before Hugo could even finish his story, Leonardo frowned, covered his forehead, and abruptly cut him off, as if he had realized his inner thoughts.
He only rolled his eyes without turning his head much. His increasingly sharp gaze fiercely reached Hugo again.
“Don’t force me. Whether I save someone or not, that’s my decision, and it’s no longer my duty.”
Hugo looked down at him silently at the low voice and prickly words. He seemed to not want to hear any more, but Hugo carefully opened his mouth, wanting to talk about what he had been thinking deeply about him.
“Leonardo, where are you thinking of going after this is over?”
“…It’s none of your business.”
“I’m not asking to recruit you into the Council. I’m just worried about you.”
Leonardo’s brow furrowed miserably. However, when he didn’t get particularly angry, Hugo felt that he had room to talk to him and continued to speak.
“Inside you, there is still a belief and pride in wanting to protect someone.”
“…….”
“Even if it’s not the military, I think you can fully display your abilities in other organizations for the Empire.”
“…….”
“So, if you show that you are loyal to the Empire again as a way to atone for your past mistakes, the perception of you will also―.”
“…Ha.”
Leonardo let out a laugh. The laugh felt as cold as a deep-seated grudge, and Hugo stopped talking.
Although he didn’t say a word, the many things contained within heavily pressed down on the air between them.
Leonardo Blaine stared coldly at Hugo Agrizendro, who was looking at him with genuine pity. Then, he blinked slowly a few times and asked him.
“You. Have you ever killed someone with your own hands?”
Hugo frowned at the sudden question. He didn’t answer, thinking that Leonardo was talking about something completely unrelated to what he had been saying.
When he didn’t answer, Leonardo continued with a sneer.
“Of course not. How could a precious Duke, the Supreme Commander of the Council, which is steeped in peace, have ever killed someone with his own hands?”
Hugo remained silent. However, Hugo could see that the emotion in Leonardo’s gaze was about to explode, so instead of rebuking his insolent words, he simply listened. Leonardo opened his mouth again.
“Then, I wonder how many people I have killed on the battlefield.”
“……”
“…Hundreds? Thousands?”
He raised his hand, looking at it as if it were a terrible killing weapon, yet spoke calmly.
“No, I have killed so many humans with this very hand that I can no longer count them. And the restless spirits and curses of those people lurk around me, felt suddenly while living, and waking me up even in my sleep. They are eating away at my entire body and mind.”
Leonardo’s eyes gradually became bloodshot. His red-tinged eyes asked Hugo.
“And yet, why did I kill so many humans? Am I really a bloodthirsty demon who enjoys slaughter and drinks the blood of the dead?”
His voice was calm, but Hugo could clearly feel the resentment mixed within it.
Leonardo’s breathing gradually trembled. His expression gradually distorted, and he gritted his teeth, repeating each word to Hugo as if chewing on them.
“…The reason I killed so many humans and embraced all the sins in this body is because I, more than anyone else in this land, loved the Emperor of this country, loved the people of the Empire, and devoted myself to them with unwavering loyalty.”
Hugo received Leonardo’s overflowing emotions and felt as if he couldn’t properly face him.
“But, what is left for me now?”
His trembling breath and suppressed anger touched his skin.
“My honor has fallen to the lowest depths, so low that it is now a dirty and unsightly thing that is kicked around on the street. And all that remains by my side are the grudges that are eager to kill me and the curses they poured out before they died.”
A fierce murderous aura lurked around Leonardo, but he himself looked as fragile as if he would break at any moment. A deep sigh followed. He glared at Hugo with his golden eyes and brought up the main point he wanted to make.
“You have no right to force loyalty on me. Not only you, but no one in this Empire can force that on me.”
Leonardo looked at Hugo and intermittently exhaled his trembling breath for a while, then gave a self-deprecating smile and said to him.
“And what do you expect from a dishonorably discharged soldier?”
Hugo could no longer answer.
It was a story that everyone knew but no one could easily bring up in front of him, and it was the most humiliating and worst ending a soldier could experience.
Hugo closed his mouth, thinking that no matter what he added, the already broken atmosphere would not be restored. The deep anger and hatred he possessed were much heavier, more profound, and more painful than he had dared to fathom.
Hugo never thought he would want to ask him, ‘Why did you disobey the order?’ Why would someone who loved the Empire so much disobey the order?
People said that he had ruined the honorable deaths of the casualties in the battle with his personal feelings. And Hugo, until now, had not been lenient enough to listen to the personal reasons why he had ruined the Empire’s victory.
However, because the golden eyes of the man in front of him were staring at him as if begging to be saved from the mire he had spat out himself.
Hugo opened his mouth as if possessed by something, even though he knew that what was rising in his heart was a paltry pity and hypocrisy.
“I will give you a chance.”
“……”
Leonardo didn’t react much to Hugo’s words, but he raised his head a little more to look at Hugo clearly. At that cold, arrogant, and desperate contradictory gaze, Hugo wanted to give him a chance as if he were really something.
“I’m not forcing you. Whether you take this as an opportunity or ignore it, it’s entirely up to you.”
Hugo took a step towards him, looked straight at Leonardo, and said clearly, filled with the countless emotions that lay between him and himself.
“Leonardo. You have enough ability to pull up your fallen, brilliant honor.”
Leonardo’s eyes trembled slightly. Seeing that, Hugo said clearly, hoping that Leonardo would seize the opportunity he was giving, filled with the countless emotions that lay between him and himself.
“Make up for it. In this expedition.”