Leorino cracked a smile. But Lucas only grimaced.
“Don’t you have greater concerns?”
“Concerns?”
“Why are you attending this soiree? Does His Highness know you’re here? And where’s Josef, that cocky escort of yours?”
Leorino was surprised by the barrage of questions. Just like with Gravis, he had a hard time keeping eye contact with Lucas when he was up close.
“…Don’t tell me you haven’t told His Highness you’ll be here.”
Leorino suddenly realized he had forgotten something very important. “I—I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? How can that be?”
“Um… I don’t know if my family informed His Highness.”
Leorino hung his head in remorse.
“You fool… Where are your priorities?” Lucas scolded him in an exasperated tone.
“I’m sorry…but I’ll be leaving soon.”
“That’s not the point. You know the issue at hand, and you seem to throw caution to the wind.”
“…I’m really sorry.”
Lucas sighed. “Are you really going home soon?”
“Yes, I am. After my grandmother meets with her close friends, she will leave in less than half an hour. After I speak with Lord Julian, I will go home with her.”
“And that cheeky guard of yours?”
“He’s waiting in the carriage. I accompanied my uncle and aunt here, and my guard will be there on the way back. I thought it wouldn’t be an issue since I would only be at the venue for half an hour or so… Was I wrong?”
“Yes. Your being alone without your guard is an issue all of its own. It has not been made public yet, but you are to marry His Highness. You must be more cautious than this.”
“…I can’t say anything to that.”
“I thought as much. You mean the world to His Highness…and to us as well. Please, don’t put yourself in danger.”
Leorino realized he had been in the wrong. But it had to be done.
“Josef can’t enter the soiree… I spoke with Kelios about it, but he said he wouldn’t be attending, so…I had no choice.”
He even got in touch with Kelios through Josef, but Kelios was from a lower noble house and had not received an invitation from the Duke of Leben.
“Yes. With his family background, he wouldn’t be able to enter the duke’s soiree, either. Why didn’t you ask His Highness to accompany you?”
“…His Highness is at the royal palace with my father today… I did not want to disturb the deliberations.”
Lucas heaved another deep sigh.
“I see. But why are you here? You don’t strike me as the type to revel in this sort of event. You hardly know anyone. I doubt there’s much for you to enjoy.”
Leorino did not come here to enjoy the soiree, but suddenly he was getting lectured. He deflated with remorse.
In truth, he hadn’t thought it would be particularly dangerous. He had heard that the Marquis of Lagarea would be taking part in the deliberations of the royal court, and he was reassured that he had no chance of running into him.
“…I wanted to properly speak with Lord Julian.”
“With Lord Julian? Speak about what?”
At that moment, a soft voice came from behind them.
“I wanted to speak with you as well, Leorino.”
Leorino turned to see an elegant young man, the next Duke of Leben.
“May I borrow Leorino for a moment, Lieutenant General?”
“…I have been asked to look after him by Her Royal Highness Princess Eleonora.”
Julian forced a smile. “This is my home, is it not? I can assure you on my family’s honor that Leorino is not in any danger.”
“Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant General,” said Leorino. “I will have a short conversation with Lord Julian and then return to my grandmother.”
Leorino wanted to fulfill his main purpose of the night.
He had already addressed his other goal with the valuable information he had received from his grandmother.
Lucas glared at Leorino with a stern expression, but Leorino asked for permission with sincere eyes.
Lucas felt the gazes of surrounding guests and held his tongue. The people around them were nonchalantly stealing glances at the three of them, wondering whatever the matter might be. It was only to be expected. They were all conspicuous in their own way.
Lucas weighed Leorino’s safety against his reputation. Leorino was about to announce his engagement to the king’s brother—he couldn’t afford to stir up trouble at the duke’s house now.
Lucas realized that he had no choice. “As long as it’s within my line of sight… Leorino, you understand, don’t you?”
Leorino nodded. Watching them, Julian smiled bitterly. The young man somehow looked less refined than usual.
“Oh my,” he said. “You have so many formidable guardians. There’s the Lieutenant General, and…His Highness, of course.”
Lucas raised his guard in alarm. The men glared at each other over Leorino’s head.
“In that case, Leorino. Now that we have your guardian’s permission, I will show you the room and then we can go get a drink… Now, if you’ll excuse us, Lord Lucas.”
The situation was strangely reminiscent of their interaction at the horse auction.
When the two gorgeous men walked side by side, they attracted the gazes of the guests without fail. Lucas watched the scene from behind, his eyes firmly fixed on them.
Julian offered Leorino another displeased smile. “How are we supposed to speak like this?”
“Lord Julian…”
“Come. It’s dark, but our garden looks quite lovely by the firelight.”
Julian placed his hand on Leorino’s back and led him out onto the terrace with a view of the garden.
Leorino was nervous, but the view from the terrace made him gasp in wonder before he could help it. Like the interior of the building, the courtyard, lit by braziers and candles, was lavish and breathtaking, clearly meant to flaunt the wealth of the Duke of Leben. Leorino glanced behind him.
Lucas was still in sight. He felt a little relieved to know that Lucas was looking at him, too.
Out on the terrace, the night breeze was pleasant. Realizing that Julian was watching him, Leorino rushed to say something. In the end, he could only come up with a few banal social pleasantries.
“I must say, your garden is very beautiful.”
“Thank you. It makes me very happy as the next head of the family to receive your compliments.”
Leorino’s nervousness melted away when he saw Julian’s smile and heard his kind response. The next moment, however, Leorino’s face stiffened.
“If someone hadn’t interfered, this garden would have been yours.”
“…Lord Julian.”
A mix of emotions flitted through Julian’s hazel eyes.
“I heard. You are to marry His Highness the King’s brother. We received a letter of apology from the Cassieux family addressed to my father, saying our agreement was null and void.”
Julian kept smiling, but his smile did not mean his heart was peaceful. Leorino knew that now.
Nobles did not reveal their thoughts so easily.
Julian heaved a sad sigh. “I suppose that means I’ve been well and truly rejected.”
Leorino realized this was his moment.
“Lord Julian, I am grateful for the favor you have bestowed upon me. Unfortunately, I am unable to return your feelings. I’m truly sorry.”
Leorino bowed deeply.
He did not expect the answer that came from Julian.
When Julian suddenly took his hand, Leorino was startled.
“Why?”
“…? Why what?”
“Why must you marry His Highness?”
…Must?
Leorino was puzzled by Julian’s words.
“The king’s brother is so much older than you, you don’t really want to marry him, do you?”
“No, I do!”
What could have caused Julian to misunderstand him so badly?
There was something frightening about Julian’s kind but strangely feverish gaze.
Leorino sensed danger and immediately pulled away.
“…Lord Julian, please let go of my hand.”
Leorino asked Lucas for help with his gaze. Lucas seemed to notice it without missing a beat. He quickly strode toward them, his anger clear in his gait.
Glancing at the man approaching them through the crowd, for some reason, Julian sneered.
“First His Royal Highness, now Lieutenant General Brandt? …Truly, you’re incorrigible. You betray me, and then you go around showing your affection to every other man. What a bad boy you are.”
Leorino could hardly believe his ears.
The next moment, Leorino’s mouth was covered by a large hand.
“…Mnf?!”
Julian’s hand covered Leorino’s face from the bridge of his nose to his chin. He couldn’t breathe, let alone scream.
With their backs to the room, Leorino’s body was completely hidden behind Julian’s.
Leorino struggled with all his might, but despite his gentle appearance, Julian lifted him with surprising force and carried him from the terrace.
By the time Lucas made it onto the terrace, the two had already disappeared into the darkness of the courtyard.