BMD 545

Leonardo gazed into those eyes as if peering into his own inner self. At the same time, he bit his lip in frustration. He couldn’t fathom the reason why his chest felt so tight and suffocated.

Perhaps it was because he knew of the Empire’s existence, founded through the harmony of the two men, yet could not rashly convey that fact. Or perhaps it was because of Theodore’s stubbornness, spouting words he didn’t mean in an attempt to brainwash even himself. He didn’t particularly wish to pinpoint the cause of his frustration.

One thing was clear: he and Theodore were strikingly similar, like reflections in a mirror, even in the aspects they considered their own flaws.

It was difficult to face that head-on, yet at the same time, he felt an indescribable sense of kinship.

Slowly releasing his lip, Leonardo murmured softly.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, I wish to ask a few things.”

To this, Theodore replied coldly.

“I believe I asked first. What is it that you wish to say?”

“I intend to answer that now. However, in order to complete my answer, I require an answer from Your Highness as well.”

‘Because we are the same.’

Normally, he would have been treated as a lunatic, but Theodore unauthorized copymerely narrowed his eyes without dismissing him. Instead, he moved away from the unauthorized copunauthorized copyyshore and turned his body to stare directly at him. Of course, this did not mean he had granted permission to speak.

Before the King’s thunderous command could fall, Leonardo confessed one of the doubts he had been harboring.

“Why did Your Highness come to this place?”

One of Theodore’s eyebrows arched. The question was in a completely different direction than he had expected.

“What?”

“I am asking for what reason the King of a great nation led the knights who guarded the kingdom to this remote frontier land.”

It sounded like a question with an obvious answer. Demon beasts were rampant like a plague, slaughtering humans. However, Leonardo wanted a more fundamental intention. To uncover it, he continued without hesitation.

“Do you remember the man who was the leader of the conscripts? The one to whom Your Highness gave the title of escort captain before the battle in the Canyon of Odil. Currently, the wounds torn by the demon beasts have festered, and he is on the verge of becoming a cripple. To be honest, I did not like him. His way of speaking and his temperament are quite foul. Ah, I am mentioning this in case you think I am defending him simply because we are on the same side.”

As the subject drifted, Theodore watched him with an expressionless gaze, wondering what this man was trying to say now.

“However, the fact remains that he opposed those creatures with the same goal as we did. But one day, a question arose within me. Watching him gradually lose the power and influence he once had after his injury, I wondered if perhaps that situation was also something Your Highness bestowed upon him.”

Though phrased indirectly, it sounded more direct than any other words. Did you push him into a death trap by inciting him with a mere title? Did you know it would turn out like this?

Sure enough, Theodore swept his tongue across his lips.

“How presumptuous.”

Since even their habits were similar, there was no way Leonardo wouldn’t know what that meant. A desolate energy swirled in eyes that seemed to say, Look at this guy. His heart pounded uncharacteristically, fearing he might exceed the limit of the King’s tolerance. Leonardo immediately added his next words.

“Yet, I know that you occasionally send knights to check on the man’s well-being. I also know that you continue to carry him with you, even though you could have easily cast him aside as a commander who is no longer fit for combat. Your Highness sought to embrace him until the end. May I ask the reason for that? Is it for display, or is it compassion?”

These were remarks utterly blasphemous for a lowly soldier to utter. Though it seemed too late, Leonardo knelt before him as a sign of respect for the King’s authority. However, since Theodore was sitting in the spring, it inevitably created a composition where he was looking down.

Nevertheless, as if height and position could not determine his authority, Theodore spoke in a voice that tightened the air.

“If you had not shielded me during the battle today, I would have ended your breath with my own hand just now.”

The low voice was calm, but to Leonardo, it dripped with murderous intent. Theodore spoke again.

“As the King of a great nation, do I have any obligation to answer your question?”

“You do not.”

“Then you must realize how insolent you have been.”

“I failed to observe proper etiquette in conveying my thoughts. I apologize, [Read on Read BL Novels]Your Highness. visit our siteHowever, I truly wish to hear your answer.”

“…….”

Theodore, who sat like a transcendent amidst the steam, raised his palm instead of answering. The stream of water flowing down his wet skin evaporated before it could even touch the surface. Beyond the smoke scattering with a sizzling sound, a crimson sphere shimmered in his grasp.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Leonardo groaned inwardly. It was the Red ray he had frequently used. An Attack Magic whose casting speed and power exceeded the average, capable of piercing through a human head in a single blow.

There wasn’t a shred of agony on Theodore’s face as he aimed it. It was as if he were saying, ‘This is my answer.’ It was the face of an absolute being devoid of morality or guilt, like a child nonchalantly crushing an ant.

Before him, Leonardo slowly closed his eyes as if he were a sacrifice awaiting his end. It was a gamble, but his mindset was: If you’re going to do it, then do it. He could not tell how Theodore’s expression changed after that.

However, the subsequent clicking sound of a tongue clearly revealed his dissatisfaction.

“If I had intended to break that man, there would have been no need for such tedious efforts.”

A low voice flowed through his teeth. The rising heat wind slowly dissipated.

“I would have used a simpler method. The same goes for you.”

At that moment, Leonardo slowly opened his eyes and looked forward again. Unlike the composed demeanor stolen contentfrom [Read on Read BL Novels]moments ago, Theodore now wore a look of clear displeasure. Of course, he wasn’t clenching his teeth or showing signs of rage like Leonardo had been in his excited state.

Splash. Lowering his arm, he lightly struck the surface of the water. Simultaneously, the suffocating pressure vanished, and Leonardo’s breathing opened up. The discomfort that had been lingering in his heart was instantly resolved.

In short, Theodore seemed to be saying that if he had intended to eliminate the man, he would have killed him cleanly without any tedious behind-the-scenes maneuvering or tricks. Yes, that was far more consistent with his personality. Which is why it sounded more sincere.

In the end, the reason he had kept the man with him, even slowing the pace of the procession, was human compassion.

Casting his gaze far away, Theodore brushed back his hair with a wet hand.

“If the demon beasts are not stopped in this land, the interior is next. But the small federated states near the peninsula lack the power to protect themselves. They would be lucky not to be fallen quickly and become mere meat to fatten the enemy. Thus, I came here to protect my own land. To stop the sparks of calamity from spreading.”

Leonardo touched his stiff lips, managing his expression. However, if he were to ask why he hadn’t killed the King of the demon beasts, the current Theodore would be unable to answer.

“In the end, did you not come to protect the people of those small nations as well?”

“You have a habit of interpreting things romantically on your own.”

“I merely judged based on the objective situation.”

“War devastates the land and covers the sky with the scent of blood and screams. It is said that where an army passes, food runs dry, making them no different from a swarm of locusts in vulgar terms. I simply judged that if a war must be fought, it is better to fight it in a foreign land than in Laina.”

“…….”

“What is it? Did you think I was some Saint who came to save your land?”

Theodore smiled sardonically. It was the expression he made when choosing harsh words to intentionally create psychological distance. Even though he knew such behavior benefited neither of them.

Leonardo bit his lower lip tightly once more.

“Your Highness—”

At that moment, a voice flowed out, contrary to his will.

“You told me not to worry….”

Because the voice sounded choked, both Leonardo and Theodore paused for a moment. Leonardo suddenly intuited that these were not words he had spoken. Theodore’s eyes narrowed once more.

“Say that again.”

“You appeared before me when I was on the verge of death and took those things out in an instant. Did you not say it would be alright now that we had arrived?”

His eyes grew hot of their own accord. Subsequently, his vision began to blur.

“After that, you let me ride a horse, and told me to try holding the reins…. You even said unauthorized copyEND: unauthorized [stolen content]copy -->I could be appointed as a knight…! Your Highness is already the savior of my life. I, who ate the food you provided even while reducing the share of the Laina army, how could I say I have not been saved?”

Leonardo knew this way of speaking, which sounded as if emotions were overflowing, very well. It belonged to Nomon, with whom he had shared days and nights in a past where he didn’t know how much time had passed.

However, Leonardo was extremely confused. He was afraid that Nomon had taken control of this body again.

‘No, I still have so many things to ask Theodore.’

Meanwhile, he wondered how this fellow, who had appeared out of nowhere, was speaking so fittingly for the situation.

Then, a suspicion suddenly occurred to him: perhaps Nomon had also been holding his breath within, watching everything he did.