Truth

(Act 2)

The [Matou yasai] was quite literally a festival about lies, deception, disguises and masquerades.

(Leonardo even said that it quite fit his true nature. However…)

But even with all that, this current situation was definitely beyond expectations.

Having returned to the front of the hall again, while seated inside a carriage, Francesca was currently observing the young boy.

“Leonardo, you okay……..?”

“…….”

Everytime she called his name it felt a bit strange but, there were no doubts about it, this man was indeed Leonardo.

His head was small, as were his hands, and legs. He was even wearing the clothes he used to wear as a child, and the only thing big about him were his golden moonlike eyes.

Having become a child, Leonardo just barely reached Francesca’s waist in height.

She couldn’t tell how old exactly he was but no matter how she looked at it, it didn’t seem like he was even elementary school age. Perhaps a little younger than that.

(In the game, I got turned into a child. But here, that role seems to have fallen to Leonardo instead…….)

In the rear seat of the carriage, sat beside Francesca, a young Leonardo was opening and closing his palm as if trying to get a feel for his new body.

(Even the fact that his clothes automatically changed to kid’s clothes is also the same as what happened to me in game. And it turned back automatically when I became an adult again as well. Yeah, now’s not the time to thinking about such game details though…….)

“…………?’

Noticing Francesca’s gaze, the young Leonardo raised his head and smiled brightly.

“……..What is it? Pretty big sis!”

“fuwaah………!!”

His smile so lovely that for a moment Francesca felt like she saw a halo shine behind his head.

“I-it’s nothing. That aside, Leonardo, is your body feeling okay? Does anywhere hurt?”

“Nope, I’m all good. Big sis, you’re the one’s who’s hurt thought…….”

Leonardo shot a glance at Francesca’s arm.

Back when Leonardo forcibly switched their positions and slammed her at the tree, she ended up getting slight scratch on her hand from hitting the bark of the tree.

“Oh I’ll be fine! It doesn’t even hurt. But thanks for worrying about me, Leonardo.”

“But, big sis, you look really sad……..come here, I’ll pat your head.”

“uuuu………..”

Each and every one of his actions were so adorable that Francesca had to cover her face.

“What do I do………!!? Leonardo became small, and turned into an actual angel…….!!!”

“fufu, how weird. The one who’s cute and like an angel, is you big sis.”

Even the way he laughed with his head slightly tilted, made her heart tighten up.

And seeing Francesca and Leonardo like that, there was yet another man who sigh in displeasure.

“——-Oi.”

“Ah!!”

Francesca jumped, and quickly apologized to the other young man seated in the carriage.

“Sorry, David! Leonardo was just so cute that I……”

“………..”

The carriage they were in was currently stopped in the parking area near the event hall.

And the reason why David was also here was because of something Leonardo said.

[……..that brat, is that perhaps, Aldini?]

A few minutes ago, David had witnessed Leonardo’s transformation into a child with his bare eyes.

While Francesca was panicking, the next person to speak was none other than Leonardo himself.

[…….big brother.]

(Big brother?! I see. Leonardo, really has turned into a child……!)

Talking in a childish tone, Leonardo smiled adorably so, and then stretched out his hand towards David.

[Give me a shoulder ride please?]

[………..]

And thus, a truly reluctant David ended up carrying Leonardo on his shoulders and for the moment, Francesca and the rest decided to take refuge inside the carriage.

[My name is Leonardo. Big sis, you are?]

[M-my name is Francesca. Leonardo’s……….f-friend!]

Still a bit flustered, Francesca tried to explain things to Leonardo.

[umm, you see Leonardo, can you promise me to keep your name a secret from everyone other than me and this big brother here?]

[?? umm okay!]

[Good boy. You’re great Leonardo!]

The fact that Leonardo had been turned into a child was not something they could make public.

(Leonardo has far too many enemies. As the head of the Aldini family, he has been dealing with dangerous people day in and out……….it won’t be strange if people who had been afraid of his power until now would use this chance to attack him as well.)

That’s why, she needed to hide the fact that this adorable child was in fact Leonardo.

(David ended up finding out but…….it’s not like I’d be able to keep this a secret from him forever anyway. After all, his skill was……..)

While she was recalling the events upto now, David continued speaking, still in a sour mood.

“It is indeed as Aldini said. You should get that wound treated soon, even if it’s small, it’s bound to aggravate if left alone.”

“Thanks David, but I’m fine! Besides, we have a healing skill user in our family so I’ll get it treated once I’m home. That aside……..”

Trying her best to not sound artificial, she questioned David.

“Back then, everything went dark when the chandeliers went out right? Was the Augite of Mystreal alright?”

“Huh?”

(…….I can’t reveal Leonardo’s ranged sound hearing skill. I need to pretend like I don’t know that the Augite has been switched with a fake.)

Seated between Leonardo and David, she shifted in her seat to slowly move a little bit away from David without him noticing that.

(I wonder if my lie will work……….after all, the most striking skill amongst David’s arsenal was a skill that could [See through the Truth]………)

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