Read Novel Full Chapter 79
Chapter 79
A Request for Orders
(Act 2)
“The target of the assassination, he’s the father of your watchdog, right?”
“……..”
Hearing Leonardo’s words, Francesca could only stare at him and blink for a while.
From today, the Royal academy’s long awaited month-long summer vacation finally begins. Having not shown up at the closing ceremony, Leonardo was relaxing under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, waiting for Francesca to come find him apparently.
Francesca, who was walking through the corridor, sensed his presence and peered out from the window, at which he smiled happily, and then spoke those words.
Francesca, who leaned on the window frame, looked down on Leonardo who was sitting with his back to the corridor wall from outside, and then questioned.
“Did you hear that from Luka-sama?”
“Not really? Judging from the reactions of everyone else in the room, I more or less figured it out that’s all.”
There was a chance, Francesca’s behaviour there was a bit too easy to read. Looking up towards her, Leonardo smiled and spoke.
“in the first place, your little watchdog resembles the target, Savini, quite a lot. Same colour of hair and eyes, and even the shape of his face is very similar. So much so that a person that hasn’t met them often, might mistake him for his father from afar.”
“………I see. I guess, it really is that easy to figure out that they’re father and son then……..”
That must be why Marquis Savini had instantly come to that conclusion even when Graziano was just a small child. He must have instantly recognized that small child to be his own in that moment.
“They certainly look similar but more than that, I know our King Luka-sama is a bit of a cheater when it comes to things like these. Of course, it would seem that your watchdog doesn’t actually care much about said father of his though.”
“hmmm……”
Francesca found it hard to openly agree because she knew how the events in the game actually unfolded.
(In the game, while Graziano remained calm and composed upfront, he was quite deeply hurt by the incident with his father. But what about Graziano in this world…….?”
“………”
While Francesca struggled for words, Leonardo stood up. Facing Francesca across the window frame, he grinned.
“Francesca, how do you want me to move?”
“Eh?”
Hearing the sudden question, she stared blankly.
“What do you mean ‘how’??……..”
“It’s as Luka-sama said. In this incident, the person holding the key is you Francesca.”
His moon coloured eyes seemed to have a bottomless light shining in them. They were bewitching yet dark, as if the devil himself was looking at her.
“During the drugs incident, you made requests to both your father and Ricardo……. because it was all necessary for the sake of cornering the Serranova head as the true culprit.”
Leonardo narrowed his eyes, and caressed her cheek. His fingers as gentle as always.
“It seems you possess some info that the rest of us don’t.”
“Leonardo, th-that’s, you see…”
“Careful now. Didn’t I say it? To protect you as well, you must not reveal your secrets to anyone else.”
Leonardo put his index finger on Francesca’s lips to stop her.
“That watchdog of yours as well, he will act according to whatever you say as well I’m sure……..That’s why, I too want to try being used by Francesca as well.”
His tone seemed joking, but she could tell that there was a seriousness hidden behind it.
“What orders will you give to me? Francesca.”
His smile was friendly, filled with clear affection. And yet, his words seemed like they were testing Francesca, trying to shake her into action.
“As for how will I move, what actions will I take? All will be as per your wishes and needs.”
“———……”
The head of the Aldini family, the strongest in pure military strength among the 5 great families, said that to Francesca who was just a simple girl.
(After becoming his best friend, and learning all the things that happened in his past as well as his true feelings……..I really thought I had begun to really understand Leonardo but……….)
The beautiful man standing in front of her seemed like a completely unrecognisable person to her right now.
(There’s still a lot of sides to Leonardo that I don’t know about huh—–……)
Rather than her brain, it was her instincts firing warning signals towards Leonardo once again. But Francesca was not going to falter anymore, as she stretched her arm towards him.
“……….You’re not treasuring yourself, again! Your bad habit is back!”
“!”
She stared directly at Leonardo to make sure he doesn’t run away, and looked into his eyes at close proximity. She seemed to have really caught him out by surprise as Leonardo’s eyes opened with surprise.
“It’s not good for you talk like you are just some pawn to be used, Leonardo. Didn’t Luka-sama say it as well? This is a [Cooperative effort], he said!”
“…….Francesca……”
“You are my friend, aren’t you?…….ooh, friend.. AFriend……..!!”
“Hey Francesca? Oi.”
After relishing and admiring the simple word she spoke herself for a moment, she pulled herself together and continued her words.
“That’s why, I won’t order you to do anything. All I will do is make a request, asking you to lend me your strength. Understand?”
“…….”
Leonardo seemed genuinely surprised, as he looked at her with a pure child-like gaze. On top of that, Francesca chuckled and then suggested something further to him.
“And so, I do have something I wanted to request from you, Leonardo.”
“………speak. I will make it a reality, no matter what it may be.”
“It’s nothing that grand geez! You see, during the investigation for stopping this assassination plot, there was something I wanted to do but………”
With a super serious face, Francesca spoke these next words to Leonardo.
“—–I want to try it. During a summer vacation, I want to try doing BBQ in the forest!!”
“……………………Hm?”
Still smiling, Leonardo could only blink blankly.
“Francesca? During the investigation to stop an assassination attempt, you want to……..”
“Grill meat, and eat with everyone!!”
“……..oh….…”