Chapter 500

Hugo, who had been standing awkwardly, slowly lifted his eyelids. Bracing himself against the wall on reflex, he stared blankly at the wavering gold before him.

Is there anyone else who would treat my tie this roughly while I’m still alive?

They said a certain degree of humiliation could give rise to a strange excitement—his stunned blue pupils subtly dilated. And in contrast to the bold, unruly hand gripping him, those tightly shut golden lashes came into sharp focus.

Separate from the precarious situation that had nearly spiraled into an argument, Hugo’s lips—once firmly sealed over his subtly shifting throat—parted without thought. The ticklish sensation of being tapped lightly like a small bird’s beak was pleasant enough, but more than that, he wanted to swallow that youthful, impetuous freshness whole.

As if entranced, he tilted his head, about to capture those red lips.

“Do you really not remember?”

Just as his face was about to close the distance, Leonardo pulled back and lifted his chin, asking.

His hand still gripped the tie tightly—like someone clinging to their only lifeline.

Hugo, who had been about to step closer, paused. In those golden eyes stretched a vast sea. The surface was calm, but neither of them was unaware of the storm churning beneath.

“......”

Silence lingered, so deep it seemed even breath had stopped.

While agonizing over what answer to give, Hugo quietly closed the lips that had been overtaken by shameless desire. If he told the truth, it felt like it would shatter this moment—so he replaced a guilty affirmation with silence.

The desperate gold in Leonardo’s eyes quickly caught on, gradually dimming. Watching him, Hugo felt like a sinner standing before Leonardo.

Faced with that expression filled with just as much disappointment, his chest ached as if he had done something unforgivable—regardless of the memories that still refused to surface. At the same time, he genuinely wanted to ask:

If the fact that I don’t know makes you this sad,

Then you could just tell me yourself.

If those mischievous lips would move just slightly and whisper it to him, he would never forget it for as long as he lived.

But this clash of emotions had begun precisely because he couldn’t recall their past. Whatever the reason, he alone should be able to control his own memories. And for Hugo—who had never once doubted his memory—this situation was both profound confusion and a burden that prevented him from carelessly demanding or pressing Leonardo.

Even if he didn’t know everything, he could feel it in his bones—Leonardo’s waiting carried a particular weight.

Moreover, during the time he had fought alongside Leonardo, Hugo had come to realize one more thing: if he wanted to learn anything about him, he had to approach with extreme care.

It couldn’t be sudden. It couldn’t be obvious in intent. Like being soaked by a drizzle without noticing, he had to quietly take a place at his side—and remain there until the day Leonardo chose to speak of it himself.

Otherwise, this fickle beauty would simply fly off alone again.

Difficult.

The process was complicated, and he was nearly impossible to handle... but precisely because of that, Hugo alone could find him—and only he could bear it.

Having steadied his resolve, Hugo finally chose to speak the truth.

“I still... don’t really know.”

As expected. At the answer, the corners of those golden eyes stiffened before drooping helplessly. The hand tangled in his tie slipped away as well. Hugo quickly caught his falling wrist.

Though Leonardo immediately tried to shake him off, Hugo didn’t let go.

“Leo.”

“......”

Amid the tangled atmosphere, the probing continued. Even as he felt Hugo’s gaze pressing from above, Leonardo deliberately lowered his eyes and refused to look back.

Watching him quietly, Hugo brushed his thumb beneath the corner of Leonardo’s eye. Though they had started with a kiss the moment they met, his persistent touch was unexpectedly gentle. After choosing and discarding the words on the tip of his tongue several times, he finally offered the best comfort he could in this moment.

“But I will remember. If you stay by my side.”

It was a sweet whisper, one that made it impossible not to lean toward it.

“Will you do that?”

His steady voice carried a kind of magic that made one want to believe him. Even now, he still didn’t remember—Leonardo wanted to question how he could say such a thing—but after hesitating, those golden eyes slowly returned to meet his.

His gaze clearly resisted giving in. Yet in a noticeably softened tone, he continued,

“...I meant it when I said you should remember it on your own. Even if you ask now, I won’t tell you.”

His lips and eyes tilted slightly, stubborn and uneven. Still, at least he was willing to keep talking.

Hugo, whose expression had been tense with caution, let out a quiet breath and answered calmly.

“Alright. I’ll try.”

“Don’t just try. Remember.”

“...Alright. I will.”

“Easy to say.”

Leonardo muttered bluntly, shifting his upper body and pushing Hugo away. Though he stepped back as asked, Hugo still didn’t release the wrist he held.

Leonardo glanced at the grip as stubborn as his own and, with no better option, allowed it—adding one more remark.

“And just so you don’t get the wrong idea again.”

His golden eyes drifted to the silver insignia symbolizing The Council.

“If I’d come all this way just to see you, I wouldn’t have joined something as annoying as this league. I would’ve just gone straight to your estate.”

“...What do you mean?”

“I joined because I have something I want too.”

Hugo tilted his head slightly, raising a brow at this unexpected statement.

“And what is that?”

“Winning. Everything I want is there.”

The sharp intensity in his gaze made it clear he meant every word. Hugo had known it, but hearing it like this made that resolve feel entirely different. Still—why bring it up now?

Sensing the questioning look directed at him, Leonardo shrugged and went on.

“So until I win and get what I want, I’ll keep coming here. Every time, I’ll see you. I’ll say hello.”

Those golden eyes lifted again, cool and composed. Despite the lightly teasing words, his actions were stiff—almost as if he were trying to reassure Hugo without losing his pride. Watching him in silence, Hugo blinked slowly before letting out a faint, quiet laugh.

“Alright.”

The tension in his gaze softened as well, and he gently cupped Leonardo’s cheek.

“It’s a promise.”

“Promise or not, you already thought I’d win, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then we’ll see each other at every match. Why make such a misunderstanding out of it?”

It was a scolding filled with affection. Hugo had many things he could have said in response, but chose not to. He simply answered with a quiet smile and silence.

Facing him, Leonardo awkwardly straightened himself, as if trying to appear composed. Slipping out from between the wall and Hugo’s chest, he stepped away—and then, to the man still watching him, offered something like a warning.

“Then you know you need to be more careful from now on, right? You’ve seen how people swarm just to get a glimpse of ‘Lion.’ If it gets out that you’re with the Legion Commander, you know how troublesome that’ll be for us.”

His tone wasn’t cold, but it clearly set a boundary. Hugo’s expression, which had only just softened, immediately regained distance in response.

“...I’ll keep that in mind.”

“For a while, even if we meet, we won’t be able to stay together long. I’m pretty busy. I’ll still come see your face before I go, but don’t just show up in front of my team like you did today. Your subordinates or servants might be loyal—but you can’t expect that from my teammates. There are always eyes watching. Ears listening.”

Half of Leonardo’s words, though they sounded cold, were entirely sincere.

“We might be on the same side now, but who knows what’ll happen later.”

Even if they were partners in the same cause, trust couldn’t be absolute. Especially if their goal was the eradication of nobles aligned with the imperial faction—depending on his ties to vampires, Imperial Duke Hugo could easily become the primary target for elimination.

Of course, that wouldn’t happen. And even if it did, Leonardo would stop it somehow.

Still—for the sake of those who shared his goal, and to protect this man from them—he had to prevent any sudden contact between his allies and the Legion Commander at all costs.

Having sorted his thoughts, Leonardo picked up the mask that had fallen to the floor and dusted it off lightly.

Covering his face again, he turned his body and added casually,

“Anyway... try to remember. Before I win.”