98 Chapter 22: A Feeling Beyond Rationality [3]

"Oh." Ardyn rubbed the side of his neck, seeming embarrassed. "Yeah... I guess it's that obvious."

A smile threatened to curve the corners of Leon's lips, but he decided to focus on something else. "How's your back?" he asked, his eyes catching Ardyn's blood-stained shirt. The sight of it unnerved him — he had always hated to see people hurt — but he had no extra shirt for Ardyn to change into, nor did he have any cloth or gauze to wrap the wounds in.

"It feels better than before, that's for sure." Ardyn gave a small smile. "Thanks for your help, by the way."

Leon averted his gaze, his hand clasping the other in a gesture of shyness. "It's no problem." He opened the door at the center, revealing what seemed to be a driver's seat and a panel with glowing crystals and golden levers. "I'll start the carriage for a while so we can get moving," he said. "Maybe in one of the nearby safehouses—"