"Haven't seen you for a long time!"
"Huh? Didn't we say goodbye just last night?"
Leo was still confused, but Wriothesley and Sigewinne were no longer puzzled.
Leo~ Such a familiar, intimate way of calling him.
Placing an arm around Leo's shoulder, Wriothesley whispered, "Leo, this truly befits you. As your friend, I couldn't be happier."
Leo stiffened, still unable to comprehend what the Duke meant or why he was speaking that way.
The only thing on his mind was one burning question: Why is Furina here in the Fortress of Meropide?
Furina loved freedom, beauty, and drama. The Fortress certainly brimmed with freedom and theatrical chaos… but beautiful scenery? Hardly.
Under her sharp gaze, Leo had no choice but to walk over and sit carefully beside the Hydro Archon.
"Lady Furina… why are you here in the Fortress of Meropide?"
Pressing a hand to her chest, Furina lifted her chin proudly. "Why? Are you the only one allowed to take a vacation, Leo? Am I, the Hydro Archon, not entitled to one as well? Tell him, Duke."
Wriothesley, seated opposite, was quietly laughing to himself. It felt as though he were watching a scandal unfold online—except this drama involved his friend and the Archon herself. Strange indeed.
Scratching his head, Leo found himself unable to refute her words, though his curiosity burned.
"But… Lady Furina, if you wished for a holiday, why choose the Fortress of Meropide of all places? Its conditions hardly seem fitting for your station."
At Leo's earnest sincerity, both Wriothesley and Sigewinne nearly choked on their food.
Too sincere. Too simple.
When Leo posed the question, Furina almost couldn't keep a straight face.
"Humph. Do I need your permission to travel? Besides, why else would you come to such a forsaken place? A place where not even birds dare settle?"
At that, Wriothesley glanced around. She wasn't wrong—there were no birds here at all.
Leo hesitated, then drew a deep breath. "No, Lady Furina. I came only to meet a friend and attend to certain business."
Furina's eyes flicked toward his right wrist, where the bracelet gleamed openly. Her lips curved in satisfaction.
Obedient, and still wearing it. Good.
"What business, pray tell, requires you to come to the Fortress?"
That single question stunned all three—Wriothesley, Leo, and Sigewinne alike.
After all, very few in Fontaine knew of the matter. By Neuvillette's decision, Furina was not among them.
Not that he deliberately kept her in the dark—the reasons remained his alone.
"Lady Furina," Wriothesley interjected smoothly, "it is nothing serious. There are merely some unruly inmates itching for a fight. Leo is here to discipline them. As warden, it would not be proper for me to intervene directly."
His tone was flawless, as though speaking plain truth. No one lied with a straighter face than Wriothesley.
Glancing around the cafeteria, Furina nodded slowly. "I see. In that case, I'll accompany you to the dueling arena."
"Of course," Wriothesley said at once, rising and bowing with gentlemanly grace. "Lady Furina may go wherever she pleases within the Fortress. I shall personally escort you."
As for Leo, he sat there utterly bewildered.
The arena? Why?
Seeing Leo's blank stare, Wriothesley nearly sighed aloud. If not for Leo's remarkable strength and his impressive circle of allies, the boy would have long ago been sold to Snezhnaya to dig potatoes.
With a wave of Wriothesley's hand, today's special lunch was brought out.
After all, with the Hydro Archon herself present, only the highest-quality dishes would suffice.
As they began their meal, Leo praised the flavors wholeheartedly.
"Wriothesley, the chefs of the Fortress are incredible. This is truly delicious."
Watching Leo devour the food, Sigewinne's eyes brightened. She rummaged in her bag and produced four bottles of milkshake, setting them on the table.
"Try these! My newest recipe. They're very tasty."
Leo and Wriothesley exchanged wary glances, both instinctively swallowing hard.
The milkshakes were… certainly nutritious. But delicious? That was another matter.
Fearing Furina's reaction, Leo subtly prepared to snatch hers away and drink it himself. Better to bear her anger than to let her suffer through Sigewinne's concoction.
But when he turned, he froze.
Furina had already opened her bottle and downed it in a few gulps, her expression unchanged—she even acted as though it were exquisite.
"Thank you, Sigewinne. This milkshake is delightful."
Leo and Wriothesley were dumbfounded. Delightful? Sigewinne's milkshakes were healthy, yes—but never tasty.
"I told you!" Sigewinne beamed. "The new recipe is delicious. Go on, Duke, Leo—try it."
Resigned, Leo lifted his bottle and drained it in one gulp.
At once, bitterness and sourness exploded across his tongue. His whole world felt like it was suffocating.
This tastes awful!
Beside him, Wriothesley forced the liquid down, keeping his face calm. He gave a polite thumbs-up.
"Head nurse, the flavor is… very good. Perhaps just a little more sugar next time?"
Sigewinne waved her hands furiously. "Absolutely not! More sugar would be unhealthy!"
Leo offered Furina an awkward smile. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, "Lady Furina… was it really delicious?"
Furina coughed lightly, her eyes darting away. The meaning was obvious.
Pretending. All pretending!
Leo sighed inwardly. I trusted her too much.
When lunch ended, Wriothesley arranged accommodations for both Leo and Furina.
Once alone, Leo raised his wrist, shaking the bracelet before her eyes. "Lady Furina, look—I'm wearing it just as you asked. Am I not obedient?"
Furina reached out, touching the bracelet lightly. It gleamed beautifully, more striking even than when she had worn it herself.
She remembered the night she had once worn it to a grand ball.
Now, on Leo's wrist, it seemed perfectly at home.
"Good. Very good. Now, aren't you heading to the dueling arena? I'll accompany you."
Leo's face fell. He had no desire to go.
The inmates here were strong, yes, but still far beneath him. Worse, he would have to restrain himself—careful not to kill them.
Thank you so much, Wriothesley. You took my tea leaves, then abandoned me to Furina and fled. Some escort you are. Off you go, wash your hands and sip your tea.
When he hesitated, Furina leaned closer, her finger pointing straight into his eyes.
"What? You don't want to take me along?"
"No, no, no—of course I do, Lady Furina. We'll go now."