Bermuda

The two sentries Hugo had posted in front of the tent last night were the eyes and ears he had planted throughout the force, as Duke Agrizendro. Their duty was not only to prevent others from approaching Leonardo but also to relay everything Leonardo saw, heard, and came into contact with to their superior.

Immediately after the meeting that had continued throughout the early morning concluded, Hugo slipped out of the meeting place and urgently called the two sentries first. They reported in detail, without missing a single detail, what had happened during the night after Hugo had left the tent. That someone named Felix Montero from the 3rd Battalion had approached the tent, that Leonardo had suddenly grabbed him, and that he had stared blankly for a while before wearing a somewhat sorrowful expression.

Although he later let the member go, saying he had made a mistake, it took quite a long time to reach that point. The sentries added their subjective opinion that Leonardo seemed to have known him.

As he listened, Hugo immediately guessed who Leonardo had mistaken that member for. Or rather, it was hard to call it a mistake. The guy he had chased out of Fidele had been wearing Felix Montero's face until the moment he left.

However, the perceptive Leonardo would have quickly realized that he wasn't someone he knew. Since he had obediently returned to the cabin afterward and come out with a gloomy face at dawn, the culprit who had stirred his emotions was clearly that thundering idiot.

But hearing the words "sorrowful expression" and "gloomy face" made Hugo feel as if he could picture Leonardo’s face without even seeing it. And that face was a reaction somewhat incomprehensible to Hugo's values, for someone realizing a farewell to a close comrade. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Hugo was also aware of Armsilver’s regulation that contact with an expelled comrade was punishable by death. So turning a blind eye to their contact was an act of sympathy he felt as a fellow human, and flexibility stemming from his wish for Leonardo's safety.

However, the parties involved would be even more aware of such regulations and the seriousness of the situation. So the news that his comrade had safely departed should have been something for Leonardo to feel relieved about... But in the end, his reaction this morning was completely different from Hugo's expectation. And that made Hugo reconsider another possibility he hadn't particularly wanted to think about.

In short, the "guy" who had risked his life to enter the peninsula and infiltrate the heart of the Council might have been so foolish that the title of Armsilver seemed wasted on him, and perhaps an even greater romantic of the century than Leonardo.

Even when he was briefly away preparing for the execution of Plan 5, the guy had constantly circled around Leonardo, matching his movements. Moreover, he had heard it was the guy who had found them trapped inside the barrier and signaled their location with a flash grenade. In other words, just as his instinct could sense Leonardo, a similar sense had developed in the guy.

Hugo couldn't define their relationship as simply colleagues. In the end, the relationship between the two that he had suspected all along narrowed down to one possibility within his common sense.

'So they were lovers after all.'

The sorrowful emotion that must have shown on Leonardo's face last night was probably longing for the lover who had left his side. Hugo guessed that Leonardo's retort of "you're not my lover" to his interference was partly a slip of the thoughts that had been occupying him all along.

Having reached a conclusion, he turned his eyes to Leonardo. Their gazes naturally met, as if the other had been looking this way all along.

The other felt like an afterimage that would have scattered before his eyes if the handkerchief hadn't been tied around his neck. The surreal face atop the white, slender neck added certainty to Hugo's suspicion without a single word.

'Well, it is that time of youth.'

The expression "gold in the mud" was insufficient to describe him. Even Hugo, who had been watching, felt sorry and regretful about Leonardo's life in hiding for the past three years. It's an age that's fresh and youthful just by existing, without doing anything. Add to that the passion and vigor to pour all emotions into, and it might be stranger if he didn't have a lover who understood his heart amidst the hardships.

'With that appearance, others wouldn't leave him alone either.'

Hugo quickly averted his eyes from the golden figure he couldn't help but acknowledge. He knew it was impolite to compare which of the two lovers was more regrettable. But thinking of that guy who seemed ready to broadcast to the whole world that he was Armsilver, Leonardo was far more regrettable.

Of course, even that wasn't something for him, a third party, to be concerned about. Rather, the recklessness of the two look-alikes had contributed to defeating the mother body.

Hugo hoped that the guy who had declared he would kill him if things went wrong really had the skills to match. So that his choice to let him go wouldn't be wrong, so that there would be meaning in showing leniency to a complete stranger. He hoped he would clean up thoroughly so as not to harm Leonardo's brilliant future that was just about to bud.

"What are you thinking about?"

Hugo emerged from his deep thoughts at the sudden voice. Leonardo, who had been staring up blankly from his chair, blinked at Hugo's expression that had suddenly worsened.

Feeling he might have been lost in thought for too long with someone in front of him, Hugo habitually checked the watch on his wrist. Eventually, he stood up from the table he had been leaning against and answered casually as usual:

"Probably, about you."

Leonardo blinked as if dumbfounded. Sometimes, he would say unexpected things that flustered people even when the situation didn't call for it at all.

However, his stiff expression and cold voice were completely opposite to the atmosphere of the words he had uttered.

Leonardo watched the face of the other, which was particularly hard to grasp today. Was it because he was tired, or because things weren't going well? The person who was usually difficult to understand was acting especially enigmatic today.

Feeling that searching gaze, Hugo looked down at Leonardo and casually opened his mouth.

"Leonardo. In about 40 minutes, there will be a final general meeting to wrap up the situation before the Central Branch returns."

"...Another meeting?"

Leonardo made an expression of disgust even though it wasn't his business, wondering how long it had been since the all-night meeting ended. Hugo nodded as if used to the murderous schedule and continued:

"After all, this Elder Millie Peninsula subjugation will be remembered in many ways in the history of our Council. Even if we share the progress and hold consecutive meetings, there's no end to the matters we need to discuss and decide."

"..."

"So, I'd prefer if you rested inside, but... since you're also a member of this subjugation force, I thought you might want to know how the situation is unfolding."

"Then I want to go too."

Leonardo gave a clean answer, making Hugo's roundabout way of speaking seem unnecessary. Hugo responded with a gesture as if he had expected it. But in his heart, he wanted to advise that it would be better to stay in the cabin.

In fact, he could have not mentioned the general meeting at all, but the reason he deliberately brought it up was that he wanted Leonardo to be proudly acknowledged in front of the commanders, and he was also very worried about leaving him alone.

He didn't particularly want to imagine him looking lonely, missing his lover. He didn't want to see his face, which should be shining the brightest, steeped in gloom. That was all.

Hugo felt that his action of appropriately cutting off the strange atmosphere from earlier was the most mature thing he had done since meeting Leonardo. Soon, tidying up his idle thoughts, he extended his hand to Leonardo. Leonardo, who had been quietly staring, lightly stood up from the chair, relying on his hand.

"We have some time left, so let's have a meal together. I asked Lady Hareth to pay more attention this time."

At the mention of "Lady," Leonardo's expression suddenly hardened. His face seemed to be asking if Hugo had really told Lady Hareth directly that he had said the food was tasteless.

Hugo unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth at this sight. He soon added, as if to reassure him:

"I didn't mention your words, so don't worry."

Yet Hugo gently let go of the hand he had been holding to help Leonardo up. Instead, he picked up the cigarette case from the table and put it into the pocket connected to his belt.

Since it was always himself who let go first, Leonardo looked down at his suddenly empty hand. Soon, he watched with his eyes as Hugo's interference completely vanished into the pocket. In the meantime, Hugo, who had appropriately pushed the chair aside, walked out toward the entrance first.

Leonardo couldn't shake off the strange sense of dissonance from Hugo's actions, which were still kind but clearly different. Instead of immediately following the Commander, he opened his mouth after a moment of hesitation.

"Hey."

Hugo, who was about to step outside leaning on the metal pole, stopped at his voice. Sunlight fell as if shattering over Hugo's head as he turned around.

Leonardo stared quietly at his face, then decided to probe the point that had been strangely bothering him.

"Earlier, you said it. That you have a duty to interfere so that I can regain my health, and to take responsibility for my safe return."

Hugo slightly raised one eyebrow as he watched Leonardo recite his words verbatim. Soon, [N O V E L I G H T] he nodded his head and answered nonchalantly:

"I did."

Leonardo asked him:

"Is it really because of duty?"

At that moment, the air in the tent tightened as if woven with invisible threads. A heavy silence flowed from that point on.

Hugo's eyelids moved subtly. However, his inner thoughts, standing in the light, did not easily show on his face.

Leonardo quietly held his breath and stared into the blue eyes. At that moment, the firm lips that he thought would remain closed for quite a long time opened relatively lightly.

"Well."

The deep voice that pierced through the silence sounded cooler than ever to Leonardo's ears.

Hugo slowly turned his body as if avoiding Leonardo's gaze, yet not quite. His footsteps heading outside the tent quickly swept away unnecessary thoughts.

"Probably so."