Signe became notably perplexed about where to direct her gaze. Though she tried to act nonchalant by brushing her cheek and jawline with her palm, her heated skin clearly revealed her confused heart.
She needlessly turned her head at an angle and kept glancing at the knot of her military boots. Soon, she muttered in a voice that had retreated inward.
"You already bought me a lot on the train... is it okay to give me this too?"
"How much could those snacks cost? Once you're in, you'll probably have more expenses than you think? Supplies are insufficient, but as a trainee, you can't even go outside. At those times, merchant carts occasionally come to the front of the Port, and it's much better quality if you ask the sentries or seniors to buy things with your own money."
"...How do you know such things? You're not even a soldier, but you know a lot of different things."
It was meant to be a comment to hide her embarrassment, but Leonardo was momentarily stung. Fortunately, his face was covered, so it didn't show outwardly. After taking his time, he put his wallet back and passed it off with suitable diplomacy.
"...Actually, I have family in the military."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I have an older brother and an older sister. ...And a younger brother too."
By the time he finished the last words, he thought of Nero who called him 'brother.' Well, it wasn't wrong.
"Wow, it seems like most of your family is from the military? No wonder you organize military gear well too. Do you have many siblings?"
"...Quite a lot. There are so many that we bump into each other, and I've learned about the military here and there."
"Wow, so you were a senior all along."
Signe joked and lightly punched Leonardo's chest with her fist. Then she brought her fist to her own chest. It was a clumsily imitated Imperial Army salute.
"What senior."
Leonardo answered with a snort. It was a response indicating embarrassment, but to Signe's eyes, he seemed quite pleased. No, more than pleased, he seemed delighted. His sharp eyes had relaxed the most since they met.
Thinking he might like being called a senior, she wanted to see his uncovered face again as she faced his curved eyes. Signe lowered her fist from her chest and opened her mouth with difficulty.
"Um, Teo—"
"Signe, I have a favor to ask."
Leonardo, who unintentionally spoke first, completely erased the smile from just before. Signe reflexively questioned.
"Huh?"
Unconsciously scanning the surroundings, Leonardo placed his hand beside the head of the person standing with her back against the wall. Then, with his eyes shining calmly, he thrust his face forward and murmured softly.
"The fact that you met me yesterday and today, and that we went to the station of beginning and end together. Can you keep it a secret from other people? Whether they're close to you, or your sister."
Signe, uncharacteristically with rabbit eyes, blinked her eyelids. The sudden approach of a handsome man creating an atmosphere couldn't help but make a woman in the prime of youth tense. But more than that, she was overwhelmed by the weight conveyed through the other's eyes and voice.
"Um... even from my sister? Why?"
As expected. Perhaps because she was such a sister complex, she seemed to have nothing hidden from her sister. Leonardo pondered for a moment how to answer. In the midst of this, Signe narrowed her eyes and asked back in a tone full of suspicion.
"Could it be, you left secretly without permission from your troupe?"
"...."
"I thought it was strange, your time seemed oddly free when the end of the year should be the busiest time for troupe events. Usually, there are a lot of performances around this time."
Signe, who had once again drawn her own conclusion, nodded as if she finally understood. Leonardo, silently assessing the situation, was happy to accommodate her expectation.
"You're really perceptive. I deliberately didn't say it, but how did you figure it out right away?"
"Huh, it was really that? See, I told you I'm perceptive. One knows one's own kind. Anyway, then you're asking me to keep it a secret in case it gets out that you left secretly?"
"Yeah. I was actually... almost confined for a while. I was just working, and feeling suffocated, so I left secretly, but if the owner finds out, I'm a dead man."
"Owner? Confined?"
"My owner has a wide information network, so if even a little story leaks out, I might be found out. Then the person I was supposed to meet or my siblings could also be troubled. The owner has a bad personality, and if I don't move according to their will, they even harass the people around me. So keep it a secret. Not just for me, but for your sake too, I ask you."
Leonardo lowered the ends of his eyebrows sadly and prompted with an "Okay?" Signe, who had heard his story, at first thought, 'The owner is that obsessive?' and tilted her head. But soon, seeing the other's eyes, her doubts became understandable. Even if it were her, she would watch and obsess over such an actor in case he ran away. Of course, confining him was an action that went against common sense.
Signe unconsciously nodded blankly. As someone experiencing the beauty strategy for the first time, she was defenseless. Rather, she even felt a desire to protect this pitiful man from that person called the owner.
"Trust me. I'll definitely keep it a secret."
Leonardo, who had received a definite answer, curved his eyes into half-moons again.
"You'll keep it a secret from your sister too, right?"
"Hmm... since you're asking, of course I should keep it a secret. And originally, my sister and I aren't the kind of relationship where we talk about such private matters. By the way, that troupe... is it okay? Someone like you could go to a better place, how about meeting a different owner?"
"...I'm planning to do that soon. Thank you, Signe."
Signe touched the nape of her neck as if embarrassed. Leonardo, who had been smiling calmly, put his hand in his inner pocket and took something out. What he held in his hand was an amulet in the form of a necklace part made of Siculus. It was what remained after giving one to the shop owner in Riverside.
"It's a gift. Take it."
"...What is this?"
The amulet, which was polished to a glossy finish even though the color wasn't clear, looked like a crafted product made of jewels. With its appearance like a precious ornament, Signe was immediately captivated.
"Since there are many dangerous things in the military, think of it as a kind of talisman. It will protect you from external shock three times in total. Always keep it close. You can also attach it to your dog tag."
"Wow... thank you. I've only ever received weird-looking things from the old man, so this is the first time I've received something so pretty."
Signe's eyes shone as if genuinely moved. At this sight, Leonardo smiled gently, but on the other hand, felt a bit guilty. Though it had the function of a talisman, it also had the function of detecting when she uttered certain words.
'Still, it's not like I engraved a spell on her tongue. Forgive me, Signe.'
Signe, who kept saying thank you and rubbing the tip of her nose which had become emotional, carefully put the amulet in her uniform pocket. Then, after looking at her military watch once, she looked back. It seemed like the time had really come to go. There were more people at the stop than before, and traffic guides could be seen controlling the surrounding roads. It seemed that the tram would arrive soon.
"I'll cherish this. Thank you so much. But I think I should go now."
"Alright. Take care. Oh, wait. Stand at attention for me."
"...Suddenly?"
"Unit, attention!"
When he ordered in the voice of a training instructor that she had said was chilling, Signe's body moved reflexively. Her excessively arched back, chin, and awkward angle of her arms remained the same. Leonardo, who shook his head, circled around her once and pointed out the incorrect parts in order.
"Relax your shoulders, straighten your back, pull your chin back. The center of gravity is here."
"Oh, uh..."
Signe, who was creaking like a machine, corrected her posture one by one according to the orders. Her body wobbled for a moment as she tried to attend to unfamiliar details. But she immediately regained her center and faithfully complied.
The posture thus created was still awkward, but it was much better than at first. It felt like a long-standing indigestion had been resolved. Leonardo, who wore a refreshed expression, turned to face Signe in that state.
He was a perfect example of the attention posture he had just ordered for her.
"It's better to know in advance than to learn while being scolded."
"Well, but..."
Signe, though dazed, carefully examined the angle of the other's shoulders, abdomen, and arms. Just then, Leonardo commanded one more thing.
"Salute to the fatherland."
"G-Glory to Raina Logia!"
Along with the instinctively blurted slogan, Signe's fist was placed in front of her left chest, showing the back of her hand. Unexpectedly, only her salute posture was flawless. Leonardo, staring at her resolute fist, brought his right arm up to the end of his eyebrow.
Similar yet different from the Council's salute. Though the posture was different from Signe's salute, it was also a posture where the back of the hand was more visible than the edge of the hand from the front.
It was a salute method mainly used by Imperial Army officers, and Signe saw in the person before her the overlapping image of her sister who occasionally trained her in saluting.
"Glory to Raina Logia."
Leonardo, who had simply responded, lowered the hand he had placed at his eyebrow. Just then, the tram could be seen entering from the opposite side. Leonardo took a step closer to Signe, who still had her fist clenched in front of her chest. Then, grabbing her shoulders and turning her body in the opposite direction, he whispered in her ear.
"Remember. Always dedicate yourself to the Empire and do your best in your mission. But, more important than that, don't forget that it's your own life."
"...."
"Well, now that the crash course is over, you should go."
As the tram stopped at the station, many enlistees ran across the path. Leonardo, who had confirmed that the carriages were slowing down, slightly pushed her shoulder forward. Signe, who had been made to take a step or two due to the external force, paused for a moment and looked back at Leonardo.
The man showed a fresh smile and lightly waved his hand from the shade of a tree. It was a refreshing and dazzling sight that would remain in her mind for a long time, even though most of his face was covered.
Signe, who had pressed down her beret firmly, hesitated to proceed with regret. Eventually, she bit her lower lip firmly and answered as if shouting.
"Teo, my name is Signe Penret. When I finish training, I'll treat you to something delicious then!"
"Sure."
If the opportunity arises.
Signe, who didn't hear his last words, was about to head to the station, but stopped midway on the road and turned back again to shout.
"My sister's name is Margo Penret! Since she might know your siblings, ask them later!"
Signe, who had vigorously waved her arms, ran straight to the crossing. Her running speed was quite impressive even with her heavy military gear. She waved her hand toward Leonardo until the last moment when she was engulfed by the crowd. Because of this, Leonardo couldn't leave his place until she boarded the tram.
'Margo Penret?'
Signe, entangled in the black mass, watched two trams arrive in line, and barely managed to board the last tram that arrived. The tram, carrying numerous enlistment candidates, slid across the main road in the direction of the Port. Leonardo lowered his half-raised palm and checked the nearby clock tower.
Though the time was cutting it close, it seemed she wouldn't be late.
"Hah... finally she's gone."
Though he felt relieved that package 3 had detached, he was concerned that he hadn't been able to share various tips due to lack of time. But it would be fine. She would adapt well to military life.
'By the way, Margo Penret... where have I heard that?'
It was a name both unfamiliar and familiar. On the other hand, he was also curious about the slight discrepancy between the names of the two sisters, Signe and Margo. While Signe was a name often seen in the Westforce region, Margo, in contrast, was a name more... how to put it. Like the word 'Romance,' it was a name more commonly used in the east.
Leonardo walked alone along the path he had walked with Signe, with his hands in his pockets. Heading toward the station square, those who had arrived late at the station were flowing out like an ebb tide. Leonardo occasionally looked back at the juniors who were passing by, hurriedly carrying their military gear. They looked so dazed that he worried whether these youngsters could protect the country.
Though he clicked his tongue, he stuck to the edge of the sidewalk to make way, as if telling them to hurry. At the same time, as he was vaguely recalling his memory, the conversation exchanged by the knights from the east came to mind.