Looking at the original Leonardo with a calm demeanour, I quickly gathered my thoughts.
In the end, this is the point.
Contrary to the Count's lament that he didn't know what would happen to his family if Leonardo found out that he had killed Veronica, the original Leonardo already knew the whole truth.
This made the following things clear:
First, the Countess was consumed by it. In that state, she was caught trying to harm Celestina, and Count Ertinez personally killed it.
Second, the original Leonardo, who happened to witness this murder, became hostile toward the Count after the Countess' funeral. The fake bottles and rogue reputation were likely disguises to deceive the Count and uncover the truth.
Third, the Count, unaware of this, concealed the exact cause of the Countess' death and the related circumstances to protect his children. This probably caused Leonardo to go further astray.
Fourth, however, Leonardo eventually discovered the whole truth—probably arriving at a conclusion similar to mine by getting a hint from Celestina's sleepwalking. Eventually, in an effort to be of "help," he made a deal to lend his body to Leovald.
Fifth, both Count Ertinez' grand scheme and Leonardo's deal to lend his body to Leovald were aimed at Godric. This clarifies the reason why Leonardo gave up his body. Leovald's goal was also revenge on Godric. Their purposes aligned in this way.
Both the Count and Leonardo had the same target. However, while the Count planned a grand scheme to exact revenge on Godric, Leonardo chose to find his own way, entrusting his body to a dead hero and cheering for surrogate revenge.
[If they find out how all this happened… I don't know what will occur.]
The Count's concerns may have been exactly right.
The original Leonardo, having learned the whole truth, ended up causing a huge incident by lending his "body" to someone else. It's a bold and reckless act that not only worried his father but even set everything on fire.
Moreover, since it's now known that Leonardo was not actually a drunkard, the information on Leonardo Ertinez stating 'acute alcohol poisoning' as the cause of death is probably…
…not an accident but a likely intentional suicide.
To give his body to Leovald at the right moment, Leonardo ran away to Sinistra, and just in time, he drank strong liquor to the point of near death.
He went to Sinistra knowing his fate. And now, the truth behind the story that Leonardo, who didn't even enjoy alcohol, died of alcohol poisoning is finally explained.
At that moment—snap!
Leonardo snaps his fingers in front of my eyes. It had an oddly rhythmic feel, as if proving the claim that he had musical talent. When I fixed my gaze on him, he smiled mischievously with a bizarre expression I could never have imagined on the Leonardo I knew.
"I can hear you thinking from here."
"…It's because you won't explain."
"It's not that I won't, it's that I can't. So instead of talking, I'm helping with action. Come on, now's the perfect time. Let's go."
"To see that fun or whatever? Hey, you're currently under confinement. You can't just walk around outside the fortress."
He snorted, as if amused by what he heard.
"How do you think I managed to run away from my father's watch? This castle was built ages ago, and there are secret passages everywhere. Let me show you a shortcut. A tunnel, really? That's so undignified, tsk."
The original Leonardo grinned roguishly, with a delinquent's expression that seemed expert at teasing people.
…Correction, it seems his reputation as a rogue isn't entirely a facade. I thought he was a resolute person, willing to give up his body for the sake of his family and revenge. But his attitude is pure third-rate punk.
I dodged Leonardo's forceful attempts to drag me along and asked,
"Is it even possible to use the body for such a long time instead of Leo?"
From what I saw last time, when the original Leonardo took over, Leo seemed to lose consciousness completely. I was worried that it might have some adverse effects. Leonardo shrugged nonchalantly.
"No, not for long. So you should be grateful. I'm out here for you, you know. Helping to solve your curiosity. You're so curious, aren't you? Even a kitten would be more restrained than you."
"What's with that slick old man's tone and the weird nickname?"
"It's funny watching you and the hero who borrows my body, so I'm mocking you, why."
"What are you talking about?"
"…Never mind. Just live like that forever."
His words were infuriating.
While I was pouting, Leonardo suddenly said, "Oh. I'm strong now, right?" and started pulling me along. This guy!
Just then, Vittorio and Celestina, who had just finished their tour of the fortress, spotted us. Vittorio, who had never seen Leonardo acting so freely with me, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Uh, what are you two…?"
He was clearly bewildered, visibly confused. On the other hand, Celestina, more familiar with her brother's antics, lightly lowered her gaze and made the sign of the cross.
"Sorry, Isaac. Please bear with Brother."
The original Leonardo confidently declared,
"I remembered that I didn't give him a proper tour of my room last time. We'll be back soon. You two have fun."
I saw Vittorio staring at us in a daze as we walked away. If Leonardo comes back after this, the kid might be a bit distant with him for a while.
'Hmm, I'll have to make sure to comfort him when we return.'
Whether it's Vittorio or Leonardo who needs comforting. Given how anxious Vittorio already was, if he ends up feeling shunned by Leonardo, it would be a decisive blow. I better prepare myself for that.
The place the original Leonardo led me to was the Rondine Tower. Despite saying that using tunnels was undignified, the shortcut he showed me was just as dark and secluded. When we finally arrived at the Rondine Tower, I raised an eyebrow in surprise at the seemingly mundane destination. Leonardo waved his hand dismissively.
"Stop staring like that. You'll bore a hole in my face."
"Why here?"
"You didn't get a proper look last time. So, we're going to check it out again."
"Your room?"
"No."
He confidently walked down the corridor. He pointed to the room next to his own. The next room over belonged to Ferdinand, as indicated by the nameplate with its rather curly script.
Noticing my gaze on the nameplate, Leonardo explained,
"When you learn to write, you make your own nameplate. It's a family tradition."
He then pointed to a room between his and Ferdinand's, which didn't have a nameplate. This room wasn't marked on any maps, so I had never given it much thought. I had assumed it was a storage room, an empty room, or perhaps a communal bathroom.
"Go in."
Leonardo took a step back, almost like a spectator. Half skeptical and half curious, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it. It felt stiff, as if it had rusted over. Then, a stream of heat and light engulfed my vision.
[Disposal ■ Scenario ■■: This area is closed due to an unknown error.]
[Access authorization: ■■. Entry is permitted.]
The door, which had clearly been empty, now bore a nameplate. It felt as if a thin veil deceiving my perception had been lifted.
The nameplate was simple for a noble family, but the mention of family tradition added a sentimental touch. Just like Ferdinand's room and Leonardo's room, Celestina's room probably also had a nameplate.
Yet, this nameplate was here too.
I stared at it blankly.
The sharp lines, as if carved with a chisel, clearly formed the word. It was Leovald's room, which had no business being in the Ertinez Castle.
"What is this?"
I turned quickly to find Leonardo nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. It was clear he had no intention of answering.
Feeling a bit strange, I stepped into the room. Oddly enough, it had a similar layout to Leonardo's room. It had a bathroom, a study, and a bedroom. While it felt somewhat empty, there were various pieces of furniture and decor scattered about.
There were oil-soaked cloths for managing swords, small collections that appeared to be made from monster bones and horns, a slightly worn blanket, and clothes that had been stitched up where they were torn… They seemed to be the size of a boy.
I gently ran my hand over the gold marks on the wall that appeared to record height.
I asked Leonardo why Godric had attacked the Countess—the "Ertinez" family. What reason could there be to disturb this remote place? If the person backing Godric was indeed a real antagonist, it would be even more puzzling. I was left wondering why the fate of the Ertinez family had to be twisted in such a way.
And Leonardo brought me here.
To Leovald's room.
To the 'abandoned' scenario area.
"You're thinking again, aren't you?"
Leonardo said it somewhat jokingly, but his words were accurate, so I didn't respond.
This was Ertinez Castle, specifically Leovald's room inside the Rondine Tower, which was reserved solely for family members. There was no way it was a guest room.
The existence of this room, which shared space with the Ertinez siblings and bore a nameplate indicating family tradition, was far too clear in its implications.
I turned to him and asked,
"Leovald was supposed to become a member of the Ertinez family, wasn't he?"
I had finally found the answer.
It was a subplot, the backstory that the main writers had originally conceived for the