'Part 2 matches will be held on the 16th at 3 PM.'
He thoroughly dried the pants that had become damp from being rinsed with water and put his legs through them one by one. The t-shirt seemed unusable as it had been torn at the edges during the match and was thoroughly soaked with bodily fluids around the abdomen area, making it smell. Leonardo threw all of them into the trash can and roughly burned just the contents.
After putting on the suede jacket he had worn over the patient gown, he carefully covered his face with a hat and mask obtained with the official's help. Though he still had to block his nose with tissue pieces, he had passed the stage of using gauze to stop bleeding, so wearing a mask posed no problem.
'Originally, test matches are commonly held all in one location, but concerns were raised today that participants' personal information might be exposed to the outside due to the incident. Therefore, on the 16th, the assembly location for some participants including you two has been changed to the 3rd Arena.'
'So I have to run with this guy again?'
'Just because the arena is the same doesn't guarantee you'll be matched in the same group.'
'Big brother, why are you being so disappointing—. It's good to run together! Having more allies is advantageous until the main tournament!'
"I wonder if that guy will have allies too..."
Leonardo, adjusting his appearance in the mirror, muttered blankly.
Appendix. On the battlefield, eating mainly combat rations meant lack of dietary fiber and frequent dehydration. So every unit inevitably had one or two soldiers suffering from appendicitis.
The military doctor recommended that when such an insignificant organ caused problems, it was better to remove it.
Leonardo reflected on the scene that flashed through his mind briefly, then checked the clock on the wall. Thinking it was about time to leave, he tidied up the now-empty rest room and went out.
Click—
'It's quiet.'
As soon as he opened the door, he made eye contact with a guard who had been waiting. When he nodded, the guard stepped aside from the door he had been guarding as if telling him to go.
The late-night corridor was quite deserted. There were hardly any people passing by except those in Council uniforms. Though it was inside a restricted area, it seemed most of the audience had left after the opening ceremony ended.
Focusing on the energy beyond the walls, he could feel the seething heat had become much calmer.
Leonardo read and reread the memo Hugo had left, heading to the meeting place as quietly as possible, alone.
The place indicated by the map was a pathway mainly used by VIPs within the arena, but perhaps they had all left early as not even an ant was visible. Walking through the wind-filled tunnel on blue carpet, he could see a large white carriage parked in front of the sub-gate where slanted moonlight streamed in.
The carriage blocked the passage leading outside, so he couldn't see beyond it. He had no time to be conscious of it. He only belatedly realized that the eerily quiet pathway had been His Grace's consideration.
"You came."
At the quietly approaching footsteps, Hugo, who had been leaning against the carriage door, unfolded his arms and stood straight. He extended his hand toward Leonardo with a smile.
Dark charcoal pants with a black shirt, no tie or jacket. He seemed to have changed clothes. Though uniforms were the sexiest, anyway... it probably didn't matter.
Contrary to his resolve from minutes ago to act relaxed, Leonardo hurried his steps, worried His Grace's arm might fall.
He ran up to him making pattering sounds and firmly grasped the extended hand.
"Were you waiting?"
"No, I just arrived."
"Liar. Your hand is cold."
"It's naturally cold."
As soon as the words ended, the cool fingertips became lukewarm. As the carriage door opened, a pleasant warm breeze blew out.
It seemed the interior temperature had been deliberately kept warm. Dawn in Agrizendro territory could sometimes become chilly enough to see one's breath.
Hugo, taking the hand as if escorting, gestured toward the interior and murmured gently.
"Shall we go."
Perhaps because it was an unfamiliar way of speaking, the toneless question was quite playful. But to Leonardo, it sounded like the most sincere date invitation ever. Embarrassed, he rubbed his nape, then deliberately grinned and immersed himself in the clumsy role-play.
"Gladly."
Leonardo stepped on the footrest first and entered the cozy carriage. Hugo, who had held his hand and supported him until the end, gently let go at the last moment and followed him up.
The coachman, who had been tactfully hiding, came out silently and closed the door. Soon he leaped up to the driver's seat and gently guided the two under the brilliantly draped moonlight.
* * *
From the 5th Arena in Agrizendro territory to the duke's villa grounds didn't take as long as expected. However, they had to pass through several portals. Though he only learned this fact when they were nearly arriving, distracted by other things. While you were waiting in the rest room, five sections of temporary portals were urgently activated, Hugo said without changing his expression at all.
The time and financial cost of arbitrarily activating one portal was never a light matter. But as many as five? Leonardo was momentarily speechless but soon erased his surprised expression, remembering His Grace's wealth.
Rather, as they said the villa was approaching, his mouth went dry and he began to feel inexplicably nervous. Since he couldn't draw the curtains to block external gazes, there was nowhere else to look. He just placed his clasped hands on his thighs and pressed his knuckles hard into the back of his hand with his nails. It was a reaction that came out when he had many concerns or was anxious.
Hugo, who had been watching him, silently reached out and covered the back of his hand where bone joints protruded. Leonardo, who hesitated and looked up, quickly unclenched his hands as if nothing happened.
"Won't you get dizzy sitting there?"
Instead, he asked Hugo, who sat across from him, or more precisely, facing backward.
While Leonardo had naturally taken a comfortable seat when boarding the carriage, Hugo sat in the backward-facing direction he had rarely sat in during his life. Due to the natural seat selection that flowed like water, Leonardo didn't feel anything strange for a while. When he realized it later, the carriage had already departed, so Hugo had stopped him from changing seats, saying it was dangerous.
"I'm used to riding carriages."
"But you usually sit on this side."
"When Flynn gets motion sickness, I sometimes switch seats with him."
"Ah."
Flynn.
Leonardo suddenly thought of the face of someone not present. While doing so, he stared blankly at the seat his partner occupied.
'Come to think of it, I haven't seen him today.'
Though he had experienced riding in luxury carriages every time he returned from victory, this was the first time in his life riding a duke's carriage together. But a lord who would even personally change seats for his adjutant and attendant. He could indirectly feel Flynn's heart when looking at his master from this seat.
How could one not respect such a wise ruler of this era who personally bends down to examine even the lowly ground untouched by others' gazes? It was the reason why, though he had once resented him, he couldn't leave only resentment in the end.
Leonardo unconsciously looked at Hugo's wrist. When his golden eyes seemed to be staring at his watch, Hugo, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, asked casually.
"Why?"
"Where is Flynn?"
It was more a question that flowed from his stream of consciousness than genuine curiosity. Hugo, who had been quietly watching his gaze, answered nonchalantly.
"He has some business, so I sent him elsewhere on my orders."
"Hmm."
"Come to think of it, Flynn would be happy to see you too. He was delighted to know you visited the mansion."
Leonardo let out a small laugh at his genteel expression of 'intrusion' as a 'visit'. At the same time, he suddenly felt overwhelmed about how to explain his relationship with his lord to Flynn and appropriately changed the subject.
"Did you replace the guys in the watchtower? They were slacking off right before shift change."
"I repaired the walls and barriers instead."
"That's not enough."
"Since it was quite a big commotion at the time, the guards would have gained awareness too. But I'd like you to visit officially next time. When Lion sets his mind to it and charges, my subordinates are helpless."
Leonardo crossed his legs and rested his elbow on them. Propping his chin while tilting his head slightly, he curved his eyes like a crescent moon.
"I'll think about it. If today's hospitality is decent."
Though his inner feelings were complicated for various reasons, he didn't want to show it and deliberately acted nonchalant.
Whether he knew this or not, Hugo calmly admired the alluring model seated in his carriage with a composed gaze.
The jacket over the patient gown and the mask covering under his eyes created an unexpected harmony. No, actually, anything he wore would suit him well.
It seemed he had made the right choice sitting across from him. The seat beside would be nice too, but today he wanted to see him a lot.
"I'll do my utmost."
Hugo settled back into a relaxed posture with a faint smile. His troublesome long legs extended a bit forward, the tips of his shoes intruding into Leonardo's space.
Soon they lightly touched the inside of his foot.
His golden eyes glanced down to stare at that area. He wondered if it was an accident, but the touching feet didn't separate.
Due to the body heat transmitted through the thin leather, strength subtly entered his leg.
Leonardo slyly lifted his eyelids. The man with crossed arms was looking at him expressionlessly.
The minor contact created much deeper tension than their entangled gazes. The subtle pressure concentrated all his nerves on his toes.
Eventually, the carriage carrying the two slid forward.