Brandt and Ginter had no untoward intentions for the boy. They were simply admiring the boy’s exceptional beauty. At the same time, they were left stunned by Leorino’s violet eyes.
“Marzel, did you see that boy’s eyes?”
“…Oh yes, I can hardly believe it myself.”
They would recognize that unmistakable color anywhere: the moment when day and night met, a ray of twilight shining through the indigo skies.
The boy’s eyes looked just like those of a friend they had lost at Zweilink on that very day twelve years ago.
Ginter and Brandt were shown into the parlor. Like most rooms in the historic castle, it had stone walls covered with tapestries, causing it to appear sturdy and solidly built.
After instructing the servants to prepare tea, August dismissed them and his family, then turned to the men. “Lieutenant General Brandt, Chancellor Ginter. Allow me to once again welcome you to the frontier.”
“Why so formal, August? I thought we were closer than this. Please call us ‘Marzel’ and ‘Lucas’ as you always have.”
August brightened at that. Brandt and Ginter had always respected August as a great nobleman who led the Autonomous Army to protect this land, a major strategic point on the continent. This feeling remained unchanged even after the men had achieved their current social status.
“By the way,” August prefaced his speech. “Marzel, Lucas… It has not escaped my attention that you have taken an unusual interest in Leorino…”
Brandt and Ginter forced a smile. It was true; they had been struck by his ephemeral beauty—and especially by those violet eyes.
“He really is very young and naive. Please forget about him.”
It was Chancellor Ginter who correctly guessed August’s concern.
“You have nothing to fear. Your son may one day gain a reputation for his unparalleled beauty throughout Fanoren, perhaps throughout even the whole continent…but we would never harbor any untoward feelings for a child who has not yet come of age.” Ginter smiled sheepishly.
August apologized earnestly. “I beg your pardon. The truth is, I’m worried about the future of that child… He’s so helpless and fickle, and though he’s been improving of late, I’m not certain I should let him out of the castle even after he reaches adulthood.”
Ginter would have considered this an undue concern for a son, but after seeing him in real life, he wasn’t as certain anymore.
“I can understand the sentiment. I can’t imagine letting him out into the world.”
If Leorino were a member of Ginter’s family, there would be no end to Ginter’s worries. The boy was still very young, but when he grew up, there was no question that his beauty would be without peer, transcending both gender and comprehension.
“…Not to mention, that dreamy air of his is very reminiscent of Her Highness Princess Eleonora.”
Eleonora was Leorino’s grandmother and the younger sister of the previous king.
August nodded. “Indeed, he took after his grandmother. She, too, seems detached from the real world. I can’t take my eyes off him. This year we decided to allow him to participate in the memorial service, but as his father, I can’t help fretting about exposing him to the world. Once again, I apologize.”
“He’s becoming half-fledged this year, is he not? He is a beautiful boy, a true angel.”
“Indeed. In fact, our province has taken to calling him our angel.”
The two men smiled. The father couldn’t help but dote on his son.
But August shook his head.
“His appearance is not the only reason he’s known as our angel.”
Brandt urged him to continue with his gaze.
“…He was born the morning of that fateful day twelve years ago, at the same time as the news of the victory at Zweilink arrived.”
All in attendance were shocked to hear that.
“My god… That truly is a miracle.”
Brandt’s obvious interest in the boy was clear in his eyes. Leorino’s unique violet eyes and the date of his birth. It seemed like fate, too perfect to be mere coincidence, to Brandt of all men.
Ginter glanced at Brandt next to him.
There came a knock at the door, and the conversation between the three men came to an abrupt halt. August spoke again only when the butler finished serving tea and left the room.
“Now…I suspect there’s a reason why men as busy as yourselves arrived so early.”
The two men’s faces turned grim as they remembered the other purpose of their visit to Brungwurt.
“Yes, I have a message from His Excellency the general. There is something that I would like to bring to your attention, August.”
“Would that mean there is some…suspicious activity going on over there?”
Ginter’s eyes narrowed. “I see nothing escapes you, August. I would love to know where that information came from.”
“Why, it’s no secret. Anyone who crosses the border through the gates of Zweilink and enters our territory is strictly screened. After the cease-fire, commercial exchanges have resumed, but you never know what might happen. So Lev has been learning all he can from passing merchants.”
Lev was the commander of the Brungwurt Autonomous Army.
Ginter nodded. “That certainly speeds things up. May I first ask what kind of information you have obtained from Lev so that we may compare it with our own?”
“Yes, he claims he heard from the merchants at the local tavern. They’ve been saying for some six months now that iron from Zwelf is no longer available on the market.”
Ginter frowned. “I haven’t heard anything about the iron veins in Zwelf running out. If the iron has been off the market for six months now…that would mean that for some reason Zwelf is restricting its iron exports.”
August nodded. “Ginter, you always did have a keen eye for detail. They also said that Zwelf nobles are buying up jewels and gold. There was also talk that some of the nobles were fleeing the country.”
“Do we have reason to doubt the merchants? Do you suspect they might be agents of the other side?” Brandt questioned August.
“According to Lev, they are all familiar, well-established merchants who have been in and out of the country since before the war. We can never be certain, but if we suspect everyone, we’ll never get anywhere… So far, it doesn’t seem like they’re distributing information with any sort of agenda in mind. Lev seemed to learn of it by chance, in any case.”
“I see.” Ginter formed a triangle with his hands and brought it to his mouth, as if in prayer. He did it often while thinking.
“Considering the issue of iron and the nobles liquidating their assets and fleeing the country…”
“Perhaps the situation is dire within Zwelf. Or perhaps they intend to go to war with our country again.”