The eyes widened into circles, not because he didn’t understand the meaning, but because inwardly he refused to accept it.

Leonardo replayed what he had just heard several times.

Just a meal? Just a meal?

Watching him stiffen in place, Hugo gently stroked the hand he held and explained calmly.

“The medical officer told you to get plenty of rest only a few hours ago. Even you wouldn’t recover that quickly. And you just ate.”

Beyond the soothing words, countless signals Leonardo thought they had exchanged flashed through his mind. There were so many it took time to recall them all.

“And since you said you were tired, you should get proper sleep soon—”

“N-No. Wait.”

Leonardo hurriedly raised his free hand to interrupt.

“I’m not tired. I just said that. You know I once stayed awake for days on the peninsula.”

“...This isn’t the peninsula. You went through a match; you should rest and recover.”

“No—”

He closed his mouth. He had a lot to say, but anything now would sound pathetic.

Then what was all that?

His confused golden eyes recalled the strange tension in the lounge inside the main arena. After exchanging a few words, silence fell, and the image of Hugo kissing his forehead remained vivid. Remembering the warm breath and subtle tension made his earlier resolve to keep his pride feel pointless.

“...You said you were expecting it.”

It came out in his normal voice rather than accusatory. It was his first time experiencing this, and he couldn’t tell where he alone had gotten ahead of himself.

When they talked about sharing the villa key, when their feet touched in the carriage—he was certain they felt the same... was that all just his misunderstanding?

Facing Leonardo’s hollow stare, Hugo moved his lips before steadying himself. He felt like the worst man alive, but giving in just because he was encouraged would be worse.

Those golden eyes looked plaintive, almost resentful, tinted pink like clouds spreading across the sky. The arc on his red lips seemed ready to fall, and Hugo sighed softly.

“Oh, Leo.”

He lifted their joined hands and slowly kissed the back of Leonardo’s hand, pressing his breath along the bones as if soothing a wound. Then he raised his gaze to meet him, blue eyes filled with restrained desire and conflict.

“I meant after a little more time passed. You lost so much blood earlier—how could I want that from you immediately?”

“...It’s stopped now.”

“You heard them say a ruptured membrane tears easily. And...”

Hugo remembered Leonardo screaming in pain while treating his left arm in Fidele’s hut, and the metallic smell of blood he had sucked out himself still lingered. More than the horror of the moment, the fear Leonardo might die had consumed him.

Not trauma, but since then he had become overprotective.

He gently cupped Leonardo’s cheek.

“When you recover, I planned to invite you properly. Today I just brought you here because I was happy to see you again.”

“......”

“Can you also imagine how I felt in the lounge? I thought you suddenly lost consciousness.”

Leonardo was weak to being told someone worried about him. Knowing that, Hugo carefully made sure his words didn’t sound like rejection. It was concern for his body — and also a way to convince himself.

If he let the mood carry him now... it would be enjoyable. But honestly, if Leonardo sought affection naked in sheets filled with his scent, Hugo doubted he could restrain himself.

Even if Leonardo flushed and gasped, smeared with blood from his nose, he might not let him go, saying he wanted it first. That was why he had deliberately avoided his gaze by the bathroom earlier.

The dizzying thought passed and Hugo closed and opened his eyes. But unlike him, Leonardo’s mind ran wild with disappointment.

That wasn’t flirting?

In the dark he had done this and that without hesitation. When alone he gave those looks. And that wasn’t flirting?

He had planned to research three more ways to use the tie. He intended to grab the part hidden beneath the trousers and tease him, gently asking what he liked as they learned each other slowly.

“But—”

Leonardo began to protest. At that moment heat burst inside his dilated nasal passage, and red drops fell beneath his nose.

“Leo!”

Hugo sprang up and pressed a handkerchief to his nose.

“See? I told you to be careful.”

“No, this is—”

“Don’t tilt your head.”

Held by the back of his neck, Leonardo was forced downward, watching drops stain the white tablecloth as irritation rose.

Why now of all times...

His brows furrowed deeply. Even if he insisted he was fine, two nosebleeds in one day meant this rigid gentleman would wrap him in bedding and put him to sleep even if he stripped naked.

The ruined plan drew a heavy sigh from Leonardo.

***

The meal ended with the bloody commotion. The decorated plaza returned to normal as servants cleared tables and ornaments.

Even so it remained dreamlike and beautiful. Leonardo sat in a rocking chair by the window, blanket pulled to his stomach, staring at the turtle atop the pillar with a dull face.

Holding his nose sideways against the armrest, he watched as His Grace, returning after sending off the visiting physician and ordering silence, sat on the bed beside him.

“They say a cold compress helps. Hold it on the bridge once it stops.”

He placed an ice pack on the bedside table. Leonardo barely glanced before looking back outside. He had rejected others before but never been rejected; for a man rewriting his life’s records, he thought this fitting treatment.

“Don’t keep it too long or you’ll get a headache.”

“Yeah.”

Despite the care, his answer came sulky. Honestly he knew he looked childish, but then he shouldn’t have been misled.

Seeing him upset, Hugo let out a faint sighing laugh.

How should he ease his mood? Perhaps he should sleep first — he pondered repeatedly.

Knock knock—

“Master, I have urgent news.”

“What is it?”

“It would be better to speak privately.”

Hearing it wasn’t for company, Hugo stood again. He habitually brushed Leonardo’s hair back and rubbed his cheek twice with the back of his hand as if telling him to wait.

“I’ll come out.”

As the door closed, Leonardo remained staring outside, then glanced at the door and reached for the ice pack.

He brought it onto «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the blanket and idly touched the damp surface, then leaned back and placed it atop his head.

The ice melted quickly against his heat, and he pulled away the limp pack with a displeased look before setting it back and sighing.

What am I even doing...

He knew he became childish in front of Hugo, yet today he felt foolish sulking at a man suggesting waiting for his sake.

If not for what happened beneath the arena, he might have seriously wondered whether he wasn’t Hugo’s type. Remembering the pressure on his thigh, that didn’t seem the case. Hugo really was holding back for him.

With that conclusion, there was no one to blame but himself for the nosebleed on an important day.

And today was Hugo’s birthday... shouldn’t he ask what he wished for instead?

He resolved to greet him more gently when he returned and rubbed his brow. There would be many chances later.

A faint smile formed as he levitated his artifact and rummaged inside, intending to find a gift.

Before finding anything, the communication magic device he had shoved inside caught his eye — its sensor light was on.

“...?”

He took it out immediately. The caller: Terzio.

What was chilling was the ten-plus connection attempts logged. He had kept trying after being ignored.

A chill ran down Leonardo’s spine as he glanced at the closed door, confirmed no presence, and pressed connect.

Before the second ring finished, Terzio’s voice came.

—Why are you only answering now?

His voice was cold enough to stall Leonardo. Heavy rain and distant murmurs sounded behind him. Leonardo feigned calm.

“What? Did something happen?”

—Ha... are you with the Legion Commander right now?

“What are you talking about. Forget that — what happened?”

Though struck at the heart, he pressed for the point while closing the open window.

He was about to head to the bathroom in case Hugo returned and overheard when Terzio spoke in a lowered voice.

—The shop owner you told me to watch. He was found dead last night.