LUW 65

Chapter 65

“Haha!”

The king burst into loud laughter—so loud that the entire tent shook.

Bierne, who had been waiting outside, peeked into the tent in surprise, then quietly withdrew his hand after sensing the atmosphere inside.

In truth, Pierre had already known.

Even during the earlier shouting, Bierne had likely peeked inside the tent.

But he chose not to point it out, understanding that the action had come from loyalty.

“So you say! Refusing the throne for a woman—what a foolish choice!”

A foolish choice—those words weren’t exactly wrong.

He and Cecilia had just started to understand each other’s feelings. There were no promises for the future, and nothing was guaranteed.

Even if everything ended well, the empire would change, and the Cardinand family’s position within it might not remain the same.

Only after laughing for a while did the king catch his breath.

He let out a long sigh and continued.

“But men are foolish by nature. I don’t dislike those kinds of people.”

“It’s an honor.”

The king rested his arm on the armrest and studied him once more.

“If things don’t work out, come over to the Hakan tribe. You’re too valuable a man to rot under that ignorant emperor.”

“If the emperor heard you say that, he’d be furious.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe I should say it louder so he hears me.”

A brief, soft laugh passed between them.

Just then, the king’s gaze suddenly shifted to something beyond Pierre’s shoulder.

“I know you’re eavesdropping. Young Hakan boy, come in.”

Pierre turned his head slightly.

From outside the tent came a soft clicking of the tongue, and then Leo entered with a blank expression.

“You’re skilled at hiding your presence. You must not belong to this grand duke. Even when he was being threatened earlier, you didn’t move a muscle.”

Leo didn’t respond to the king’s sharp observation.

He clearly understood the meaning behind the words, but didn’t bother to explain himself.

There was only a hint of sulkiness in his expression—perhaps from being treated like a child.

The king, seeming generous toward one who shared his Hakan blood, didn’t press the matter.

“Child of Hakan, I imagine the Empire has been harsh to you in many ways. Don’t you wish to return to your family?”

The king extended a hand to him.

Though Leo had grown up in the Empire since childhood, his blood undeniably belonged to the Hakan.

The king seemed to be offering him a heartfelt choice, hoping to give something to one raised amid prejudice.

But Leo didn’t even look at the hand for long.

He furrowed his brows, let out a short sigh, and bowed his head slightly.

It was a gesture containing respect in his own way.

“I already have a family. People I must protect. So I will not stay here.”

“I see. That, too, is the Hakan way. Still, if you ever wish to return, you are always welcome. Our people are always welcome here.”

Leo silently bowed his head again.

Watching nearby, Pierre chuckled softly.

“If you ever get homesick, just tell me. I’ll talk to Cecilia.”

“…That won’t be necessary.”

Leo rolled his shoulder once and said nothing more.

Then, Pierre slowly stood and bowed deeply to the king.

“It was a meaningful conversation, Your Majesty of Hakan.”

“Indeed. I look forward to seeing you again once all of this is over.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

When they stepped outside the tent, Cecilia, who had been pacing by the carriage, spotted the two and ran over urgently.

“Pierre! Leo!”

She breathed shakily as she looked between their faces. Then she anxiously patted Pierre’s arms and body.

“I heard loud voices—are you hurt anywhere?”

“As you can see, I’m fine. But didn’t I tell you to wait inside? You came out anyway.”

Pierre smiled and lightly pinched her nose.

Cecilia swatted his hand away and frowned slightly.

“How could I stay put when I was so worried? I saw armed people outside the window!”

Her gaze instinctively swept over the nearby warriors.

There was still a visible wariness in her eyes—an unease that came from being on foreign land.

“Did everything go well?”

“For now, yes.”

Cecilia let out a sigh of relief and placed a hand over her chest.

“Phew, thank goodness. I was worried something went wrong since you were in there for so long.”

“Let’s go back now.”

“Okay.”

Pierre took the first step, and Cecilia quickly fell in beside him.

The two walked side by side toward the carriage.

Behind them, Leo walked a few steps behind and then suddenly stopped.

In the quiet, where even the sound of footsteps was muffled, he stared at their backs for a long moment.

Pierre turned and said something to Cecilia.

She smiled softly at his words and shrugged her shoulders. The atmosphere between them was peaceful and firm.

Leo’s red eyes grew cold and still.

He had told the Hakan king that he had people to protect, that he had no reason to stay here.

But the one he wanted to protect was already beside someone else.

As Leo swallowed his thoughts silently, a familiar voice reached his ears.

“Leo, what are you doing back there? Aren’t you coming?”

It was Cecilia. She had stopped and was looking back at him.

Just like always.

Whenever she stopped, she’d come over and offer her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Leo stared at her for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze to the side.

At the end of that gaze stood Pierre.

As always, with a calm and composed face, Pierre gently pulled Cecilia into his arms.

And when she leaned into his chest, he muttered with a faintly sympathetic tone:

“Must be a nostalgic moment, seeing someone of your own blood.”

Leo’s expression immediately twisted.

That slippery bastard.

He’d spoken of politics and alliances with such elegance, but his true intentions were different.

Right now, in this very moment, he was trying to leave behind the thorn in his side.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Cecilia stepped slightly closer to Leo.

Her eyes shimmered with guilt, and her lips trembled faintly.

“…Is that true?”

A careful question.

But the weight behind it pressed heavily on Leo’s chest.

He couldn’t answer right away.

He closed his mouth and looked at her.

She showed nothing but sincerity—pure and unguarded.

Pierre quietly lowered his hand from her shoulder.

Then took a step back.

As if to say he would no longer step between them.

Cecilia slowly walked toward Leo.

Her shadow stretched to his feet.

“Leo.”

She called his name gently. Her violet eyes trembled with sadness.

But there was no hesitation in them.

“Let’s go back. Our family is waiting.”

Before her words finished, her hand slowly took his.

Her fingertips were slightly cold, but warmth remained in her grasp.

Her tone was so calm and natural, it made all of Leo’s doubts feel pointless.

In the face of her gentle stubbornness, Leo was helpless.

He looked down at the hand she held and let out a soft laugh.

A bitter, almost tearful laugh.

“…Am I family too?”

“Of course you are. You’re like a younger brother to me.”

Leo sighed lightly and tapped her head with a soft ‘bonk’ from his fist.

“Doesn’t look like that to anyone. Have you forgotten who always cleaned up after your messes?”

Cecilia smiled brightly.

Leo quietly walked forward and stood beside her.

Pierre, watching the two, slowly turned his gaze away.

The shadows of the three stretched long across the sand.

* * *

From a small hill a bit farther away, someone watched them.

It was Zilgurk, who had slipped away from the carriage claiming he had business to attend to.

He stared at Pierre, Cecilia, and the young Hakan man beside them.

But his gaze was particularly fixed on the man standing next to Cecilia.

“I’ve seen that face somewhere before…”

A strange familiarity passed through his mind.

A chilling fragment of memory.

And then, vividly, a shadow from the past surfaced in his head—one that had once followed Richmond around.

That silent Hakan boy who had moved with emotionless eyes.

A quiet assassin who trailed behind without a word.

That shadow now stood beside Cecilia.

“Hey, you done?”

Pierre’s knight approached and asked casually.

Zilgurk snapped out of his thoughts and fumbled his response.

“Ah, yeah. Almost done.”

He pretended to pull up his pants and took one last glance at Leo.

Then, slowly, a sly grin crept across his lips.

“…Hah.”

It felt like a rope had descended from heaven.

It seemed fate wasn’t done with him yet.