"Commander!"
Bang — the tightly shut door flew open roughly. At the same time Flynn rushed into the lounge in a hurry.
Hugo and Loren, who had been maintaining a strangely cold atmosphere, turned toward the uninvited savior. Since both naturally carried a chilling presence when expressionless, Flynn, breathing hard, froze for a moment.
Realizing his rashness belatedly, he touched the back of his neck and bowed his head.
"Ah, sorry. I didn’t know you were in conversation and came in without knocking...."
"What is it?"
Hugo picked up the tie draped over the sofa armrest and held it out to Flynn. It meant the conversation was over and he would leave now.
Loren glanced once at the tie hanging before her, lowered her eyes, and took another sip of coffee. Flynn awkwardly approached to take his superior’s tie while stealing glances at Loren beside him. The Second Battalion Commander’s expression was unreadable, but the commander she had been speaking with did not seem in a good mood.
He wondered if something had happened between them, but since he knew what had been discussed at the earlier event, he did not ask. Instead he remembered it was his turn to speak first.
"Ah, I just received contact from Gabe. At the participant registration desk in front of the third preliminary arena of the league...."
The moment the words registration were spoken, Hugo’s eyebrow reacted slightly. Loren’s eyes, leaning on the sofa, also shifted to Flynn.
Flynn unconsciously took a breath and raised his voice.
"‘Leonardo Blaine’ has applied!"
Though he kept formal manners before the battalion commander, Flynn could not completely hide the joy trembling at his lips. The two superiors stared at him silently for a moment. Hugo spoke first.
"And?"
Unexpectedly, his reaction was calm. Beyond calm — cold enough to startle Flynn. Even Loren, who had spoken the name earlier, looked at Hugo with curiosity. His voice was very dry.
But Flynn suddenly recalled that name had always been frequently impersonated. Already about twenty people had submitted Leo, Leonardo, or Leonardo Blaine as league aliases. Each time the commander personally checked the documents, and only Flynn noticed the disappointment hidden in his lowered gaze.
But this time was different.
"Ah, yes! A verification request came asking whether the official signature on the certificate he presented belonged to the Legion Commander. Gabe received the request and confirmed it immediately — this time it’s the ‘real’ Leonardo Blaine!"
The moment he heard his aide’s confident voice, Hugo’s eyelids, which had been suppressing expectation, widened helplessly. He immediately checked the clock. By capital time it was 6:10 p.m. Registration would already be closed.
"When — was the registration properly completed?"
"He registered one minute before the deadline and was listed in the final participant roster."
"Is he still there?"
Hugo asked in a different tone than before. His hand gripping Flynn’s shoulder revealed faint urgency.
"Ah... the verification request came about ten minutes ago, so I’m not sure if he’s still...."
Though the grip was strong, Flynn showed no sign and conveyed uncertainty. Before he finished speaking, Hugo took back the tie from Flynn’s hand. He quickly adjusted it around his neck and headed straight for the lounge door.
Just as he stepped out with long strides, Hugo held the doorframe and looked back at Loren.
"Loren, I understand what you meant earlier. But the person I know has an inner world far too profound for us to judge lightly. Like now."
Loren did not turn toward him. Hugo continued in a composed yet subtly excited tone.
"So as long as it does not violate the Council’s creed or my duty, I intend to support the will he has shown. If there is something he wants, I will help him obtain it, and if he wishes to come out into the world, I will become the bridge between inside and outside. Of course, as a friend I will keep your advice in mind — so he won’t feel uncomfortable."
Hugo was clearly smiling faintly.
"You must be tired, so head home for the day. See you tomorrow."
Finishing the knot of his tie in an instant, he strode down the corridor. Flynn, glancing between them, bowed to Loren and hurried after his superior.
Click—
As the lounge door closed carefully, Loren, left alone, silently drank the cold coffee one sip at a time.
With two people gone, the room was extremely quiet and still.
"......."
Though her expression showed no emotional agitation, bitterness rather than peace lingered. Loren slowly closed and opened her eyes, then looked into the intuition reflected in the coffee cup.
Across the rippling black surface floated an ominous feeling.
The source of the unease began with the cracks forming in their once perfect leader.
The cracks toppled the tower he had built, drove himself into difficulty, and stirred great turmoil throughout the organization. Loren watched the faint afterimage, then set the cold cup down with a clack.
Her sigh-mixed voice spread softly in the silence.
"Hugo. I’m worried about you."
***
January 12, Year 1000 of the Raina Logia calendar.
Today was the opening ceremony of the league hosted by the Council. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) The ceremony would be held simultaneously at the Stadium Arena in the Central Branch and at the fifth preliminary main stadium northeast of the capital. Interest was intense since the league had not been held for a long time, and ticket demand exceeded expectations, so an additional venue was arranged.
The latter location lay within the territory of the Agrizendro family, where a major station was soon to be built, a transportation hub where a distant coastline connected inland to developed river routes.
A standard stadium required land large enough for massive crowds and had to be accessible or connected by developed transport. Thus Hugo had permitted construction in his territory in exchange for land fees and building subsidies from the Council, hoping to establish commerce around the future station site early.
Thanks to that, even before the station opened the area near the fifth preliminary arena was packed with merchants and spectators. Lodging and restaurants alike enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. And it was not solely because of the league.
"My lord, it is finished."
Three attendants who had assisted the grooming stepped back respectfully with hands folded. Hugo, who had been blankly staring at the speech manuscript, raised his tired eyelids. In the mirror opposite sat a man polished by others like a trophy.
For a duke on the eve of his birthday, his expression was not bright.
"Good work."
His hair was not merely slicked back with gel but styled to reveal the forehead with careful volume strand by strand. His eyelids and nose bridge, tickled constantly by brush strokes, were shaded more deeply. His naturally pale skin carried faint color, which at least improved matters.
But Hugo raised one eyebrow at his appearance, more elaborate than even audiences with the emperor.
As he touched his groomed brows and hairline, he said,
"Isn’t this... a bit excessive?"
The attendants stiffened, afraid their master disliked it. But the household’s dedicated artist who supervised the grooming stepped beside him and responded firmly.
"My lord, the protagonist of today, the day before your birthday, is none other than you. On such a day should you not shine brighter than anyone? Not merely shine — you must dazzle so brightly that even from afar the radiance blinds the eyes. That elevates not only the dignity of the ducal house but also the pride and admiration of your people."
"......."
"You were already born with outstanding looks and bearing, but to my eyes now you are more radiant and perfect than ever. So please do not worry."
Though male, the artist’s nasal and soft voice stood out as he sprayed perfume and praised his master with satisfaction. Those in professions pursuing beauty inevitably smiled seeing their finest work. Feeling peak job satisfaction, he repeatedly raised both thumbs.
Though noble men commonly dressed up for official occasions, for Hugo, who preferred naturalness, his current appearance felt merely like decoration to present a proper face to the public. Still, the artist’s words had reason, and knowing the effort had lasted hours, he accepted it.
Internally, however, he sighed at the situation. The more he stood out, the harder it would be to meet him.
Of all days, his first test had to be today....
Coincidentally the league opening fell a day before Duke Agrizendro’s birthday, forcing Hugo to appear publicly today. It was a major event within his territory and a symbolic tour to stimulate local commerce. He had expected this, but the problem was that Leonardo’s first test was scheduled for today.
He had even arranged the test location to be the fifth preliminary arena, but dates were randomly chosen by operators from available selections, leaving him no influence. And with exceptional attention on this league, participants were far more numerous than usual. Thus pre-preliminary tests would begin from opening day.
In other words, though they would finally be in the same space, it was uncertain whether they would actually meet. He feared they might miss each other again.
I must remain until the opening performance ends... I wonder if he’ll wait.
Even the day he heard Leonardo had registered, he rushed there immediately — but Leonardo had already vanished.
For some reason he always left only traces of having been there, scattering like wind beyond reach.
But this time Hugo decided it would not go his way. Having walked into the trap himself, he would at least see his face once. Whether he was well, whether he had gained weight.
"My lord, the carriage is ready."
Rising, he put on the Council’s white gloves and the legion commander’s cloak. The man in the mirror now looked solemn for another reason.
What to say as the first greeting if they met again — he pondered it far more deeply than the opening speech he must deliver in a few hours.
