Vol.2 Epilogue (part 2)
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The members of the Aldini family were stumped over not being able to find Leonardo anywhere. Realizing that he was probably just relaxing somewhere away from the eyes of the public, she came all the way to this lake looking for him.
And sure enough, she found Leonardo lying down on a patch of grass with white flowers blooming around him.
His coat was off, and his sleeves rolled back as he lay face up under the shade of a nearby tree. Even though he was relaxing like this, to her, Leonardo still didn’t seem to have any openings even if he may look defenceless.
As Francesca peeked over him to take a look, he squinted as if faced with something too bright.
“You, where’s your hat?”
“I gave it Graziano.”
“Hmm……….”
He reached out his hand and pulled her towards him, making her sit down beside him under the shade of the tree as well.
And in turn, Francesca put her hand on his forehead and checked his temperature.
“Leonardo, are you still feeling unwell after all?”
“Haha. You’re still worried about that?”
Seeing Francesca make a dejected face, Leonardo chuckled.
But from her point of view, being worried was only natural after seeing him use so many skills one after another during the night party and the incidents that followed.
(I never even asked in detail about how much the recoil he has to deal with when overusing his skills. Because there is always a chance that even I may get brainwashed and get turned into his enemy after all.)
From what she could feel, it didn’t seem like he had a fever though, and his complexion looked fine as well. Which means, it wasn’t that he was feeling sick, he simply just wanted to relax here, that’s all.
“Could it be, that you don’t want to go back just yet……..just kidding.”
“………”
She said that only as a jest, but contrary to her expectations, Leonardo simply stared at her.
“Eh? What, really??”
“I mean, after we return to the capital, I’ll have to go and live in a different house than you again after all.”
Leonardo laughed intentionally frivolously.
“And while the summer break is still going, I won’t see you at the academy either.”
“…………..”
It was hard for her to figure out how serious he was being with what he just said.
After all, they had been living together under the same roof in the villa provided by the Ranieris over the past 2 weeks.
And, Francesca was well aware that Leonardo was surprisingly the type to get lonely quite easily.
“I’ll be lonely too you know. Leonardo, you’d get busy with all the work waiting for you once you return back anyway.”
When she replied that, Leonardo laughed sounding somewhat satisfied.
“Well the Savini family is really going to be selling off all of their businesses it seems. The Ranieris could just take it over all wholesale and be done with it but, I doubt she’s the type to get into businesses that go against their creed I suppose.”
“……….Isabella-san, she was really crying her eyes out after getting hugged by Sofia-san as well right?”
“Apparently, many years ago, she was taken in by Sofia while she was in terrible state. I assume it was when she ran away after being used as a trained killer for many years since childhood, and tried to wash her past away.”
Recalling Isabella, Francesca hung her head.
Even if they were on opposite sides at one point, she just couldn’t bring herself to hate her for getting brainwashed and being made to fire a gun.
“Even Sofia-san apologised a whole lot to us as well………..”
Francesca muttered, and then lay down beside Leonardo as well.
The scent of flower entered her nostrils, and the wind blowing from the lake felt really soothing. Leonardo stretched out his hand and gently caressed Francesca’s head.
After the party, and after Sofia was done apologizing for everything to Francesca and the others, she instantly left to go to the capital.
She needed to both explain in detail the events that occurred in this forest as well as apologize to Francesca’s father as well. Until the last moment, she simply continued to repeat [I’m really sorry for everything.] in a sincere manner.
“However.”
Francesca’s eyes squinted, and murmured as she continued.
“There was nothing Sofia-san could have done to avoid this anyway. Not just the fact that Isabella-san was brainwashed, Marquis Savini himself was in cahoots with the mastermind after all.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“The Marquis himself introduced those people as his guests, and the Marquis himself didn’t refuse to meet anyone even if he knew they might be his killers……..I doubt Sofia-san could ever even imagine how things would really turn out in the end.”
In the first place, the people that attacked Francesca did so with Leonardo as their true target on the behest of the mastermind. There was no doubt about that.
(I always knew that I’d end up becoming a weakness for Leonardo.)
But no matter how much she could fret and worry over it, nothing would change at this point.
(I need to be stronger, and make moves more smartly than before. As long as I am the protagonist, I can’t run away from the game’s story……..and now, I don’t want to run away either. Because I want to achieve my peaceful life, no matter what.)
Thinking that, she looked towards her best friend that was currently petting her head.
(I want to laugh with my beloved friends, and achieve a future where they all can live happily.——-I will grasp that [normal] life, that I have admired, and cherished for so long.)
With her resolve renewed, she got back up.
“Now then, it’s time to go Leonardo. Everyone’s waiting.”
“………No. I don’t wanna go back.”
“fufu. You’re acting like a spoiled little child now……”
She ended up chuckling upon seeing his reaction. The head of the Aldini family that is feared by everyone was currently throwing a selfish tantrum because he didn’t want to go back home.
“Now, now, it’s time go, Leonardo-kun~ Wakey wakey~”
“Then, I’ll go back to your mansion as well. I am your fiancé so it should be fine right?”
“No it’s not! I’m sure Papa is already at his limit. Even during his own business trips, he would come back within 2 weeks no matter what.”
She grabbed him by his both hands and tried to pull him back up, urging Leonardo to move. But he showed no signs of moving so Francesca groaned as she tried to think.
“Speaking of, I haven’t yet praised you for being a [good boy] like I promised last time right? If I give you headpats, will you come back with me?”
“………..”
He gazed directly at Francesca, as if he was looking at something dazzling. And then, in a very gentle voice, Leonardo uttered the next words.
“———-Kiss me.”
“Eh?”
Hearing a completely unexpected ask, she simply stood there blankly.
(Did he just, ask me to kiss him?)
It almost seemed like a joke, but it didn’t sound like one. Still sprawled on the grass, Leonardo looked up towards her, but he didn’t have his usual smile on his face.
“Is that a no?”
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