Bermuda

The two walked up the stairs bathed in the sunset light, passing through the lobby crowded with Council members. Then they strolled down a corridor where they barely brushed past anyone, turned a corner, and faced a ceiling painted with the Council's long history.

Looking up at the familiar mural, Leonardo realized that the place he had just entered was the same one he had passed through right before the expedition. The place where he had clashed emotionally with Agrizendro. If they continued in this direction, they would come to the detention facility similar to the quarters where he had stayed at that time.

However, Hugo turned in a different direction midway and led him up an unfamiliar staircase. Leonardo, who had been following silently, broke the silence first out of frustration.

"Where are we going?"

Hugo glanced at Leonardo briefly, but then looked straight ahead again, walking half a step # Nоvеlight # ahead. Leonardo pressed his lips tightly and followed Hugo's cold profile, trying to guess at his psychological state, which seemed even worse than his own.

'Is he like this because his domain was invaded, or because it's related to me?'

Before he could consider which was more likely, a transparent bridge connecting two buildings appeared before his eyes. It was a dizzying sight that might make even those without acrophobia pause for a moment. Leonardo looked down and only then realized how high they had climbed.

After crossing the bridge and heading west, they stopped in front of a door at the end of a corridor where there was no sign of people at all.

"...Where is this?"

It was an ornate, thick door that exuded authority, as if someone important were surely inside. Hugo, who had been standing still for a moment, then grabbed the handle and infused it with mana to open the door.

"My personal room."

"Personal room?"

Leonardo thought he might have been brought to the Commander's office, but he unconsciously tilted his head. As far as he knew, Hugo's office wasn't in this location. Just as the question crossed his mind, the tightly closed door slowly began to move.

Then, as if to lend credibility to the term "personal room," the intense body scent of the person beside him wafted strongly through the gap in the door.

A spacious yet cozy room came into view. The mahogany leather sofa and high-quality solid wood table first caught his eye, and large windows that let in plenty of light lined one wall at regular intervals.

Not-too-tall bookshelves and side tables, an antique wall clock. At the far right, there was a branched, stand-type coat rack and a bed wide enough that one wouldn't fall off even if they rolled. It certainly wasn't meant to be an office.

"Come in."

Supporting the heavy door with one hand, Hugo leaned against the entrance and gestured with his eyes.

Leonardo stared at him blankly for a moment before obediently stepping into the room that was thoroughly imbued with its owner's color.

The heavy door, covered with leather and velvet on the surface, moved so slowly that it didn't even make a sound as it closed.

Once the space was completely cut off from the outside, Hugo finally released Leonardo's wrist, which he had been holding. Although free from the pulling force, Leonardo stood blankly near the entrance, scanning the interior. If it weren't for the vermilion light coming in through the large windows, it would have felt very much like an interrogation room or a private opera box.

"Sit wherever you're comfortable."

Hugo roughly set down the mana-restraining handcuffs he had brought in his anger on the side table. While gesturing toward the sofa with his chin, he lit the lamp-style light balls scattered throughout the room.

"It's been a while since I've been here, so some dust might have accumulated, but it shouldn't be bad for resting quietly."

With a single gesture, he opened all the windows and raised a breeze to ventilate the stagnant interior. Leonardo's eyes followed Hugo's movements as he gradually walked toward the low wooden table.

As he carefully sat on the plush leather sofa, his upper body sank back as if half-buried. He startled for a moment, but once he adjusted, it was quite comfortable. Although Hugo had mentioned there might be dust, at least none was visible.

"Do you stay here?"

It was pure curiosity. At the casually thrown question, Hugo, who had been staring out the window, turned his head.

"If I have to stay up all night occasionally, I might stay for a day or two."

"Hmm."

Leonardo nodded in acknowledgment. Soon after, Hugo approached the sofa and sat down at a comfortable distance next to Leonardo.

With his weight, the seat tilted to one side, and the presence of the body scent that filled the room became even stronger.

"Leonardo."

Hugo picked up a teacup that had been left on the table and drew a stream of water from his fingertips to thoroughly wash the surface and inside of the cup. After wiping it clean without a speck of dust, he filled it with lukewarm drinking water and set it down in front of Leonardo.

"There will be a lot of work for a while."

Leonardo, who had been quietly meeting his eyes, shifted his gaze to the teacup placed on the table.

"But if you're here, no one will treat you carelessly. It might be frustrating, but I'd like you to stay here for the time being. At least within the Council, this should be the safest place."

His throat parched, he grabbed the handle and took a sip. After moistening his mouth, Leonardo put the teacup back down.

He licked his lips and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then answered casually.

"This room might be the best of all the places I've stayed in?"

It was a much more pleasant space than any prison, detention facility, or large tent he had been in. After all, wasn't it a room where the Commander of the Council occasionally stayed? The furniture was all high-quality, the atmosphere was calm, and not even the slightest outside noise could be heard.

He meant to convey that it wasn't stifling and that it was fine. However, for some reason, Hugo's expression suddenly hardened.

For a moment, he touched his lips, then lowered his eyes and stared at the dark wooden table. Slowly taking in Leonardo's reflection in the glass, he retraced past memories and muttered:

"I see."

For a moment, Leonardo felt that his meaning had been slightly distorted, but instead of correcting it, he changed the subject.

"But... so what now?"

He was asking about the future schedule. Hugo understood roughly and raised his head.

"We plan to start with a thorough examination this afternoon. The examination done in Fidele was temporary, so its reliability is lower—to see if there are really no problems with your body, if there will be any aftereffects. The medical officers will regularly monitor and fully assist in your recovery."

Hugo deliberately didn't mention that the examination included a blood-drawing process. Leonardo also just listened quietly without commenting. After a brief silence, Hugo, judging that it was an adequate answer, suddenly stood up. He moved toward the door.

Leonardo, who thought he had gotten up to arrange something again, twisted his waist and asked while gripping the sofa headrest:

"Where are you going?"

"Since we've just returned, there are many things to sort out. I'll explain the other details when I come back. I'll be back before it's late, so wait here."

No, how long had it been since they arrived? At the sudden implication that he was about to leave, Leonardo also jumped to his feet. Lightly leaping over the sofa and grabbing the doorknob, he grasped Hugo's forearm with both hands. Just as Hugo turned around with slightly surprised eyes, Leonardo furrowed his brow and asked accusingly:

"You're leaving me alone again?"

"...I'll call Flynn for you, so tell him if you need anything. I'll be back soon, so rest."

As the pitiful gaze stung him, Hugo deliberately turned his eyes away. Hugo's seemingly hurried demeanor made Leonardo's heart race anxiously in turn.

There were many things he had wanted to ask since earlier. Whether he had really been asleep without waking even once from leaving the peninsula to arriving in the imperial capital, and whether Hugo truly knew nothing about the incomprehensible, chilling scene outside the car window.

However, more than that, he now wanted someone to be by his side. Even though it wasn't night, he felt as if eerie hands were crawling up his legs and touching his whole body. He knew that among Agrizendro's frequent lies, saying he would return before it was late was undoubtedly at the top. Not knowing how long he would have to wait for him, Leonardo's plea not to go rose to his throat.

But contrary to his will, his hands slowly released Hugo's forearm. Although his heart didn't, his head understood Hugo's position.

Somehow, the responsibilities he had to bear seemed to press even harder now that they had returned to the Central Branch than they had on the peninsula. He already missed the cabin where they had been alone in Fidele. There, he could be a little selfish with this person.

Leonardo lowered his head, following his fallen hands, then looked up at the blue eyes again.

The noticeably deepened eyes caught his attention. Although he felt sorry for Hugo, it seemed he could only let him go after hearing this answer, to feel at ease.

"You won't send me somewhere else, will you?"

Hugo's eyelids moved slightly for a moment. Before he could ask back, Leonardo questioned again.

"You will definitely set me free, right?"

"..."

Hugo, momentarily at a loss for words, grasped the intention behind Leonardo's questions. It was ironic that the questions of whether he wouldn't send him away and whether he would set him free could coexist.

But he could vaguely guess what kind of anxiety Leonardo was suffering from. Leonardo must have noticed the invisible gazes and pressuring atmosphere lurking outside.

Although the situation seemed to be turning somewhat ominous, he only hoped that the young one before him wouldn't know the reality of it. Hugo organized and reorganized his thoughts to find an appropriate answer. Meanwhile, the ticking of the second hand in the quiet room urged him on frighteningly.

Was it because he knew that another battlefield awaited beyond the door? Normally, he would have devised the most reassuring answer without dragging it out, but for some reason, he couldn't readily open his mouth now.

Hugo blinked slowly and raised his hand to cup Leonardo's cheek. His fingers traced Leonardo's eyelashes, the corners of his eyes, and his lips in order, then lingered on his chin before withdrawing.

Then he affirmed in a solemn voice:

"I'll stake everything I have to set you free."

Leaving those words, Hugo opened the door and went outside.