LUW 61

Chapter 61

Their gazes collided sharply in the air before glancing off one another. Pierre let out a short sigh and looked at Cecilia again.

“Cecilia. There’s something you need to know before we depart.”

“What is it?”

“This time, Grigoen Zilgerk will be coming with us. He may be a criminal, but he’s a native noble from the west and is familiar with the border terrain.”

On top of that, he had spent decades fending off the Hakan tribe as the Marquess of the Border, so he might provide useful information in times of war.

Pierre, mindful of Leo’s presence, withheld further explanation.

Cecilia instinctively twisted her face in disgust—as if she’d just seen a worm floating on water.

Her expression made it very clear just how much she despised Zilgerk.

It wasn’t exactly a noble expression, but her honesty was one of her greatest strengths.

Pierre suppressed the laughter that almost escaped and smiled faintly.

“I’ll make sure you don’t run into him, but you should be prepared just in case. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can stay behind. This trip to the border might be dangerous, and honestly, I’d feel more at ease if you stayed.”

Cecilia pouted, then casually shrugged her shoulders.

“What could that man possibly do now that he’s been caught? I don’t care at all.”

At her bold reply, Pierre shook his head, seemingly at a loss for words.

“Fine. Then get ready to leave. If you need anything, tell Cain. The sandstorms at the border are intense, so make sure to pack something to cover your face.”

He gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

Cecilia’s cheeks flushed pink at the sudden touch.

Then, as if she had become conscious of Leo’s gaze, she subtly turned her head away from Pierre’s hand.

“Alright then, I’ll tell Cain. When are we leaving?”

Pierre reluctantly withdrew his hand, clearly disappointed.

Though he didn’t like that she had avoided his touch, he just let out a light laugh without further comment.

“As soon as we’re ready.”

Preparations were completed swiftly.

Pierre, Cecilia, and Leo boarded the same carriage, followed by a small wagon carrying luggage in silence.

There was no need to ask who was inside—it was obvious.

It was a long journey to the border.

Traveling by carriage rather than horseback made the trip slow and tedious. Most of all, the silence was suffocating.

Inside the carriage, it was utterly still.

Outside the windows, cracked earth and a gloomy cloud of dust stretched endlessly, a barren landscape that seemed to reject all signs of life.

Pierre and Leo didn’t exchange a single word, as if they were strangers.

Only Cecilia, sitting between them, quietly glanced back and forth at their faces.

Because of the heavy purpose of their journey, no one felt like talking, and the oppressive air grew heavier by the minute.

Eventually, Cecilia couldn’t hold it in any longer and broke the silence.

“It’s a long ride… Should we do something to pass the time?”

The two men, who had been looking in opposite directions, turned to face her simultaneously.

Both silently stared at Cecilia.

The quietness felt strangely intimidating.

Cecilia laughed awkwardly to cover her embarrassment, then lowered her head slightly.

“Just joking. Sorry for ruining the mood.”

Pierre, who had been flipping through papers, let out a short laugh and folded them away.

“It’s fine. Better than staying tense the whole time. And it’s not bad, seeing you smile.”

A bright smile formed on Cecilia’s lips at his words. Meanwhile, Leo frowned.

“Then shall we really try something? There’s a game Leo and I used to play: ‘Name the Minerals.’ We take turns naming minerals we know—whoever repeats a name loses.”

Pierre raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.

“Doesn’t sound like something kids would play.”

“Well, my grandfather had a big influence. Our house used to be full of minerals, and he insisted on teaching us about them.”

Cecilia grinned playfully and nudged Leo’s foot across from her.

“Remember, Leo?”

Leo looked uncomfortable for a moment but didn’t ignore her hopeful gaze.

“Yes, I remember. You used to lose often.”

“That’s strange. I only remember you losing.”

Cecilia smirked provocatively.

“I’ll go first, then. Iron ore.”

“Are you really doing this? In a situation like this?”

Leo looked at her incredulously. Then a quiet, low voice joined in.

“Tin.”

It was Pierre.

Cecilia blinked in surprise and turned toward him.

Leo let out a sigh and followed quietly.

“…Bronze.”

Cecilia rubbed her temples in thought, then spoke.

“Hmm. Gold ore?”

“Impressive. Nickel silver.”

Pierre praised her, and Cecilia proudly shrugged with a smug laugh.

“Aluminum.”

Leo added softly.

At that moment, Pierre’s gaze narrowed slightly.

Cecilia racked her brain for the next turn and then shouted confidently.

“Copper!”

Pierre immediately followed.

“Lead.”

A brief silence. Leo lowered his eyes.

Most of the common metals had now been named, and the game was nearing its limit.

Pierre looked at Leo.

“Out of ideas?”

At Pierre’s question, Leo’s red eyes dimmed. There was a subtle intensity to his expression.

“Molybdenum.”

At the unexpected response, Pierre’s fingers froze momentarily.

Aluminum. Molybdenum.

Both were known for their high heat resistance and durability.

They were also often used in combined forms.

And they weren’t the kind of names that would normally come up in a simple game like this.

Cecilia, surprised and impressed, lightly tapped Leo’s shoulder.

“Wow, you actually remembered something that tricky? That’s amazing.”

“It just stuck with me because it was unusual. And more than that, you recited them in the same order you did when we were kids.”

Cecilia immediately protested in frustration.

The game naturally came to an end, and the two of them dove into memories of the past.

Pierre quietly turned his gaze out the window.

He sank into deep thought.

Leo had mainly named compound-use metals rather than pure ores.

Two of them, in particular, were essential components in firearm design.

‘Is he really just recalling childhood knowledge?’

It felt too precise to be chalked up to coincidence.

Just as Pierre was about to chase that thought further, Cecilia suddenly spoke.

“Hey, Pierre.”

He turned to look at her.

“You said we’re heading to the border to meet the Hakan tribe, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So… is it for a peace treaty?”

“Something like that.”

Pierre gave a vague answer.

As an imperial citizen, Cecilia already knew part of the situation.

She glanced sideways at Leo sitting beside her. It wasn’t intentional, but the moment she said “Hakan tribe,” her gaze naturally shifted toward him.

Noticing her stare, Leo spoke calmly.

“Don’t mind me. I may be Hakan by blood, but I was raised in the Empire. I have no intention of siding with them.”

Cecilia flinched, then quickly shook her head.

“No, I know. I just feel bad—this can’t be easy for you. I must’ve put pressure on you.”

“You’re going. So if there’s any ‘danger,’ it’s my duty to protect you. That’s what the Lord told me to do.”

The word “danger” carried a strange weight.

Leo briefly glared at Pierre before turning away.

Cecilia cautiously asked Pierre,

“What kind of people are the Hakan tribe?”

Pierre paused, as if considering his words, then answered quietly.

“They’re a tribe that’s been in conflict with the Empire for a long time. Things have been quiet since the ceasefire a few decades ago, but recently, their movements have become suspicious again.”

Cecilia’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“…Are they planning to start a war?”

He swallowed and continued slowly.

“I’m not sure. But there have been reports of unusual activity—some of them even outside the treaty zones, especially near the western border.”