The Visitor (8)

"Wait, what? Did you eat something weird?"

"I should be asking you that! Did you feed something weird to the commander? There's no way this makes sense unless he's brainwashed!"

Raul muttered, holding his chest like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. In the moment, he added with a nervous laugh:

"And you two—ugh! Do I really have to worry about your personal lives?"

Raul pounded his chest dramatically, as if trying to clear something lodged there. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the distraction, Vittorio slowly slipped away from Raul's reach and whispered to me.

"That guy seems a little off…"

I silently agreed, exchanging a glance with Vittorio. Raul, quick to notice our silent exchange, grabbed his hair in frustration. Did he grow his hair out just to be this disheveled?

"Ugh, never mind. We all have to deal with this anyway."

As Raul's antics began to subside, I called up the scenario window to take a brief moment to catch my breath. It was , assigned just a few hours earlier, when Godric had entered the Ertinez Castle.

Take 1. Ertinez Castle Banquet Hall (Night/Inside) The banquet hall is filled as a feast is held to welcome King Godric's procession. King Godric expresses his regret over the Count's absence.

King Godric: "Have you heard of the leap-year great hunt?"

King Godric asks about the Ertinez family's intention to participate, but Young Lord Ferdinand hesitates. 

King Godric: "(Thoughtfully) This might be a heavy topic for the young heir."

Leonardo: "(Internal monologue) Godric is not the type to make an offer without a chance of success. He'll surely push for his will to be carried out."

Take 2. Ertinez Castle Corridor (Night/Inside) Servants move about carrying food dishes, whispering quietly. 

Servant 1: "Did you hear? They're talking about the hunt, the great hunt of the leap year! It's been how many years since the last one? 

Servant 2: "I wonder what the Count will say when he returns. Surely he'll agree, right?"

Servant 1: "But the Count hasn't been away from the castle for long since… since our lady left. This is unusual, him going on a hunt this time." 

Servant 2: "Then, do you think they'll send Young Lord Ferdinand?" 

Servant 1: "But you know, there's been talk recently that the second son is more talented."

As Ferdinand steps out into the corridor to check on the progress of the banquet with the chamberlain, he overhears the conversation, his expression darkening. 

Main Characters: Leonardo, Young Count Ferdinand, King Godric 

Scenario Clear Condition: [Leonardo overhears King Godric attempting to revive the leap-year great hunt.] 

The scenario notes seemed overly blatant in their intentions upon reviewing them again. However, they also contained numerous hidden clues.

First of all, it's unlikely that the main author or the assistant writer created this note. The main author, at least in the , considered the Ertinez family as one of the closest allies to Leovald. Had there been no external interference disrupting the original story, they would have been the protagonist's family and supporters.

Even though the has been distorted, trying to sow seeds of discord between the brothers by provoking Ferdinand's guilt and anxiety felt odd. So, it's safe to assume that the main author or assistant writers didn't write this note.

'…This must be the work of Sub-writer 1.'

If that's the case, then it's clear that Sub-writer 1 has been exerting even more control than when they were intervening with the already-written scenario notes in Sinistra. They're not just making subtle adjustments—they're shaping the flow of the world itself to fit their desires.

However, since the note doesn't resort to something as contrived as "Leonardo dies" or other overtly manipulative developments, it's best to assume that there are still some limits to what's allowed in the writing.

From what I've already inferred from the chaos and the distorted , the world within this story isn't a domain that can be ruled omnipotently, even by a writer. Stories may be fictional, but they still need to adhere to certain frameworks. That is one of the fundamental laws of storytelling.

More than anything, it could also be because there are four writers involved, each of whose influence is fragmented.

Sigh.

'So that's why I was told to hide.'

In the current situation, with Sub-writer 1 holding control over the writing of this scenario note, they might have noticed that my resistance to their was becoming a problem. They could be planning to remove me from the story altogether.

Even a supporting character, once they've played their part in the story, must step aside when their time is up.

For example… Isaac could be used as a tool to fuel Leonardo's thirst for revenge, a plot device to strengthen his motivations. It wouldn't be hard to make me the one who dies in this act, serving as a catalyst for Leonardo's character development and his eventual exit from the story.

The protagonist doesn't always win. At times, they make mistakes, falter, and even fail. The hero isn't chosen because they're flawless from beginning to end, but because they rise from failure, learn, and complete their narrative.

But the idea that I could be the one to cause Leonardo's failure somehow twisted things in my mind.

'It's scary.'

I don't know why, but there was a peculiar fear in the thought. Is it just the natural fear of death, or is it because the very notion of my existence being erased feels wrong?

I don't know. I was just… oddly afraid of that possibility.

"Hey, why's the commander getting up all of a sudden?"

Raul's words pulled me from my thoughts. I peeked out from behind the pillar, and sure enough, as he'd said, Leonardo was standing up, seemingly to refill an empty teapot.

After telling Vittorio and Raul to return, I hurriedly walked in the direction Leonardo was heading. 

If I wasn't mistaken, Leonardo was heading toward one of the secluded paths in the castle that the original Leonardo had once pointed out. Did something happen? Was he finding it difficult to stay in the same place with the enemy so close by?

Leaving the bustling banquet hall, I turned into a quieter, more isolated area. As I rounded a corner, a large figure suddenly blocked my path. Just before colliding head-on, a rough hand gripped mine and gently pulled me to a stop.

I called out in surprise. 

"Leo, what are you doing?"

Leonardo stood there, staring at me with eyes that seemed to shimmer like silver in the dim light. He hesitated for a moment before stepping closer.

"You…"

His hand hovered awkwardly in the air before settling on my back. It traced a round shape before slowly moving downward along my waist. The motion felt familiar—like how he would pull me into an embrace at night when I was scared.

Despite the thin, rough fabric of his clothes, I could clearly feel the warmth of his body through it. His hand, though calloused and cold to the touch, still sent a jolt of warmth through me.

He held me there for a moment, as if to comfort me, before he spoke again.

"Because you said you were scared."

The once again spilled their emotions without restraint.

'Ha… This disguised lover persona and now you're making me want to have a proper conversation,' I thought, as I buried my face in his shoulder, feeling embarrassed. Without saying a word, Leonardo seemed to sense my discomfort, adjusting his body to fit mine and quietly holding my hand.

Through his thin palm, I could feel the rhythmic pulse of his heartbeat blending with mine. It was a strange, discordant sensation at first, but gradually, our heartbeats began to sync, the uneasy rhythm melting into a comforting warmth. It felt almost sweet, like an unexpected kind of solace.

At that moment, I realized that I had lost track of myself in the face of this unforeseen situation. I had been overwhelmed by the vast, chanting army of hundreds, as if trapped in a strange and unfamiliar world.

After all, facing the sub-writer was inevitable, and wasn't it the same with Godric?

"You shouldn't be away for too long."

I gently squeezed his hand before loosening my grip. Leonardo's face softened with a slight sense of relief and colour. Instead of immediately letting go of my hand, he responded by squeezing it a little more firmly.

Just as I was about to urge him to go back, Leonardo unexpectedly pulled me into an embrace, holding me tightly against his chest. As I was caught off guard by the sudden closeness, a presence appeared from behind Leonardo's shoulder.

'Could it be…?'

At that moment, my usual sharp perception as the was momentarily dulled, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe.

A chill ran down my spine.

Then, a trembling voice softly settled in.

"Y-Young Master…"

Wait, isn't that one of the king's attendants? Hearing the honorific used for Leonardo, I realized the person was a member of the castle. I tried to raise my head slightly, but the force of Leonardo's embrace was firmer than I expected, trapping me in place as I squirmed helplessly.

From behind, someone muttered in shock, their voice laced with disbelief.

"After acting like you can't live without each other…"

What? What is this? I barely managed to pull my head out and glance down the corridor, just in time to see a servant, clearly distressed by what they had witnessed, quickly cover their eyes with their hand and hurriedly disappear.

Leonardo and I exchanged a blank stare.

"That's strange."

Leonardo didn't seem overly concerned, though.

It was only when the moment passed, and I became aware of my own attire, that I realized… I had been wearing the servant's uniform to blend in and sneak into the banquet hall unnoticed.

'Wait, could they have mistaken Leonardo for being with another employee?'

Leonardo seemed to be ready to move on, turning his body as though signaling that it was time to leave. Even if he knew about the misunderstanding, it didn't seem like something that would bother him too much.

After all, it's just rumours circulating among those who don't know who's really inside 'Leonardo.' They'd only be misinterpreting the situation between him and me.

'But what about the original Leonardo's reputation?'

Although he was often drunk and known for his reckless behaviour, I hadn't heard any rumours about him being a womanizer. Rubbing my cheek with a sheepish feeling, I decided it was something I couldn't address immediately. There were far more pressing matters at hand.

After sending Leonardo off, I could hear Ferdinand, passing through the corridor, overhearing the gossip from the servants.

[Scenario clear conditions achieved!]

Just as I thought 'Scenario Note #19' would end with nothing but lingering discomfort…

Thud!

A man dressed as a gatekeeper hurriedly opened the door to the banquet hall. He quickly crossed the hall, lowering his body, and the sound of a horn from the direction of the castle gates reached my ears.

Ah.

It was the horn signaling a return. Shortly after, the gatekeeper, breathing heavily, spoke.

"The Count has returned with distinguished guests!"

"Guests?"

"His Excellency Archbishop Butier from the Sinistra Church, and Sir Orlie."

A sudden realization passed through me.

It was the sensation of all the necessary players for the scene—the actors, the writers, the background, and all the elements of the plot—finally coming together in one place.

It was the moment when the last guest made their appearance.