Gabe, who had turned pale, inhaled sharply. His expression clearly revealed how shocking the situation before his eyes was.
Hugo's hair, which he had just neatly brushed back, fell over his straight forehead. Simultaneously, red droplets of blood flowed down his pale cheek and gathered at the tip of his chin.
"Is this how I taught you to be a duke?"
The woman's voice, filled with anger, pulled the tension even tighter. Hugo, who had been motionless, raised the back of his hand to wipe away the fresh blood gathered on his chin.
As he coldly stared at the provocative sight smeared on his white glove, he slowly rubbed the inside of his cheek with the tip of his tongue.
Eventually, he slowly rolled his eyes to look at Gabe, who was frozen in the doorway.
'Go.'
His blue eyes, with contracted pupils, jerked his chin as if to say close the door and leave.
Click-
As Gabe's footsteps, who had closed the door as if controlled, faded away, Hugo finally took out a handkerchief from his inner pocket and answered coldly:
"I don't understand what you're saying."
He calmly wiped away the bloodstains on his heated skin. After taking off his glove, he erased the scratch on his cheek completely with just one gesture.
As the only flaw on his perfect face disappeared in the blink of an eye, the woman stared at him as if looking at a monster. Her eyes, hidden behind dignity, flashed viciously for this moment alone. However, Hugo reached out and carefully wiped her blood-stained palm with his handkerchief.
"Let's settle down for now, this isn't the mansion. There are many ears listening."
"For someone who cares so much about appearances, you certainly barged into the courtroom and made a mess of things."
Hugo firmly pressed the protruding relief under the ring on her middle finger.
"A mess? I merely set things right."
The sharply protruding relief became blunt.
Gladias strongly pushed away Hugo's hand at his retort. His hand circled in the air before dropping down. Hugo smiled, coldly yet gently.
"Isn't this the method you taught me, Council member?"
For a moment, the woman's thin body trembled slightly, hidden by her cape. Hugo moved his gaze to her feet, as if worried she might collapse.
"The Duke has shaken the foundations of the Council. Now anyone can change the content of a solemn verdict document if they just use money and force."
"..."
"You even abused the family fortune recklessly. Do you think that belongs to you?"
Stepping back one step, she recited his crimes one by one in a heavy yet sarcastic voice. Hugo didn't answer. He knew it wasn't a good thing to do. But in an unfair situation, the possibility of winning by playing fair was slim.
Gladias, sneering at his silence, asked the expressionless man again:
"I sent you to solve the peninsula problem, but it seems you've grown fond of someone in the meantime."
Hugo's brow, which had been impassive all along, furrowed.
"That doesn't seem like an appropriate thing to say in this situation."
"You asked to postpone the marriage pressure, but I didn't know you had set your eyes on a page boy. The time for wandering is–"
"Do not insult him."
Hugo immediately realized who she was referring to as a page boy. It seems he had gotten too close to Leonardo. First Andreas, and now to think that such idle rumors had reached even his Grand Madam's ears.
At this moment, Leonardo should remain a dazzling hero, not someone to be mentioned as merely entangled in rumors with himself.
"He is a righteous person. A jewel too precious to be buried in the dirt, a young flower that hasn't yet fully bloomed in the world. Why are you doing this to such a pitiful person?"
"..."
"And this wasn't done out of personal feelings. You told me never to do anything that could tarnish my reputation. Following that intention, I merely ended the trial properly as the Commander, which could have become a lasting shame in the Council's history."
Just as Hugo cut off firmly, his Grand Madam turned her eyes to the medal hanging on the wall. The golden emblem, respectfully enshrined in a dark wood-toned frame, was a product representing the honor and unity of the pro-imperial faction. However, perhaps due to the lighting in the curtained room, the medal shone closer to brass or copper than gold.
Gladias raised her eyelashes, which had turned white, upwards. It's the color she hates most in the world. Those cheap things from branch families that poorly imitate brilliant gold.
"The Emperor?"
Hugo furrowed his brow at the continued questioning and sighed.
"Grand Madam–"
"Did that bastard order you to do this?"
Hugo, who had taken a step forward, grabbed both her forearms. The slender line of her shoulders was revealed over the cape. Hugo bent his waist to meet Gladias's eye level.
"I told you it was solely my intention."
"..."
"Going against you, Grand Madam, was my decision."
At the unkindness of the kind man who deliberately confirmed it twice, Gladias twisted the corner of her mouth, which was without a single wrinkle. She mercilessly raised her right hand once more. However, before she could swing her arm, this time her wrist was firmly caught by the man's hand.
Hugo stared at her wrist, which had grown thin over the years, with downcast eyes that looked sad. Eventually, he slowly moved his eyelids to emit the same chilly light as her.
"Grand Madam, I am the Duke of Agrizendro."
Gladias didn't move an inch. Hugo reaffirmed to her:
"However I use the family fortune, I am also the final approver of that. Not you."
The woman's captured arm trembled. Feeling this, Hugo released her arm and embraced her aged body hidden by the cape. Despite his chilly gaze, it was an extremely careful and affectionate gesture.
He whispered softly over his Grand Madam's shoulder:
"There won't be a second time. Don't cross the line."
* * *
'He said he'd wait?'
'It seems we should depart first. But by the time we reach the gate, the Commander should catch up with us.'
'...I'll be able to say goodbye, right?'
'Of course. Do you think the Commander would just let you go?'
'...'
'Not just the 1st Battalion, but the other battalion commanders are also planning to escort you, and I'm going too, so don't worry too much. We'll wait there until the Commander arrives.'
At Flynn's assurance, Leonardo couldn't linger any longer. He had heard that there were still groups of citizens in the courtroom refusing to accept the verdict. Moreover, it was the opinion of Flynn and the battalion commanders that they should quickly leave the Council, as the news of "Leonardo Blaine's" release could spread by word of mouth and paralyze nearby routes.
Leonardo agreed on that point as well. No matter what release verdict he had received, perception doesn't change in such a short time.
But more than that, Flynn's expression, which had darkened considerably after the adjutant named Gabe had visited, contributed to amplifying his anxiety.
It seemed there was some difficulty that only he didn't know about, but perhaps because he was about to leave, they weren't sharing any internal circumstances with him.
'What if he really can't come?'
That question rose to his throat, but Leonardo couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. It was an assumption he didn't want to even think about.
He didn't want to remember the scene in the courtroom as his last memory. In the end, Leonardo had no choice but to board the carriage, almost pushed, after hearing Flynn's assurance.
'Trust the Commander, Leo.'
Even though he had caused trouble during the trial, he had arrived on time anyway. He could only hope that this time too, he would come without delay.
Clop, clop–
The scenery passing by the window was peaceful, contrary to his complicated feelings. Leonardo, seated in the carriage, rested his arm on the window frame and slowly became dyed by the setting sun shining on his eyelids.
The regular sound of hooves, the metasequoia forest path stretching out refreshingly on both sides, the air full of phytoncides, and the cool breeze filled with forest scents unfolded.
This scenery, which one entered after passing through the eastern gate of the imperial capital, was the only well-maintained road leading to the western gate of the Agrizendro territory. This place was an armed zone advocating as a demilitarized zone, a massive tomb where the bodies of ancient ancestors rested, or a place of reconciliation.
One could often hear stories that long ago, more than a thousand years in the past, Raina and Logia fought like mortal enemies, and this entire area was a battlefield. So, along with the alliance and agreement between the two countries, they had densely laid mana-restraining stones underneath, and like the imperial capital, this place was also practically a mana-restricted area except for some portal installation sections.
That was why they were physically moving by carriage. As it also served as a military demarcation line, no traces of people or activity could be found on the quiet road except for the escort team.
Listening to Flynn's enviable story about commuting with the Commander every day, Leonardo unconsciously picked at a small hangnail that had formed beside his thumb. Of course, despite this, his appearance in the window as seen from the outside looked very calm. His golden eyelashes, drawn like slashes, and red lips were seductive, soaked in thoughts and twilight.
Even though his face was slightly squashed with his chin resting carelessly, his melancholic gaze and swaying hair created an even more charming atmosphere.
Some of the escort team members who were maintaining speed on horseback surrounding the carriage, while trying not to obstruct his view, couldn't take their eyes off what looked like a painting.
Even when viewed through colored glasses, his appearance was breathtaking to the point of honestly feeling sinful. Now, his figure heading towards the final gate, having shed his charges, was undoubtedly a creation that God had taken great pains to mold.
Andreas, who was thinking the same thing, quietly clicked his tongue in regret. Honestly, if it weren't for the Commander's warning, his face was so tantalizing that he wanted to approach him just like this.
But hadn't an opportunity to strike up a conversation arisen because of what happened in the courtroom? There wasn't much time left to see him either.
Andreas, who finally wanted to see those golden eyes turn towards him, smiled and drove his horse close to the carriage.
As the regular clopping of hooves drew closer, Leonardo, who had been staring blankly into space, shifted his gaze slightly.
Andreas, who had matched eye level, thrust his face into the window.
"Hey, Blaine."
He asked with expectant eyes:
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"