BGFV Chapter 160

Chapter 160 

Waking Up in a Strange Place
Long eyelashes trembled as bright red eyes slowly opened.
Even with blurry vision, Leonhard could tell the ceiling above him was unfamiliar.
As his mind cleared, he began to feel dull pain all over his body.

“Where… am I?” he murmured in a hoarse voice.
Leonhard’s whole body was covered in injuries. When he tried to sit up, sharp pain—whether from sore muscles or deep wounds—shot through him, forcing him back down onto the bed.

While he was lying there groaning, someone peeked into the room.
“Oh? He’s awake! Captain, the kid’s awake!”
The man ran off, and soon two men entered the room.

Leonhard’s heart pounded nervously—was he kidnapped?
One of the men spoke gently.
“Are you awake? Do you know who you are?”

Leonhard blinked and studied their faces. They looked a little intimidating, but their eyes were kind.
“Yes… I’m Leonhard. Who are you?”
“We’re from the Blaze Mercenary Group. We found you after you fell off a cliff in the forest.”
“A cliff?”
“Do you remember what happened?”

Leonhard pressed his hand to his forehead. A pounding headache hit him, and the memories came rushing back—the carriage, the locked door, the fall off the cliff.
“A-ah…!”

The memory made his body shake uncontrollably, and his breathing turned ragged.
The two men panicked at the sight of his breathing trouble.

A Familiar Stranger
“Leave us for a moment,” a calm voice said.

Another man entered the room. Leonhard clawed at the bandages on his neck, desperate for air, and scratched himself badly in the process.
“Shh, calm down. No one here will hurt you. Breathe with me.”

The man’s warm presence wrapped around him, and through the blur, Leonhard saw a face that looked so familiar…
“Dad…?”

The man froze briefly, then patted his back to help him calm down. After a few deep breaths together, Leonhard relaxed and looked again.

‘Not Dad…’

The man looked similar, but there were small differences—the eyes had a different shape, a scar was there, and instead of red eyes, his were blue. His hair was hidden under a head covering.

“Feeling better now?”
“Yes… Um, did you save me? Thank you so much! I actually have somewhere I need to go. Could you take me there? I promise I’ll repay you!”

The man said nothing at first. Then he removed his head covering—revealing vivid red hair just like Leonhard’s father’s.

“Leonhard Winston, you said you didn’t lose your memory, right?”
“How do you know my last name…?”
“Because I’m a Winston too. Have you ever heard the name Luciard Winston?”

Of course he had. That was his uncle—his father’s missing younger brother.
“Dad said you disappeared suddenly and went looking for you—”
“…My brother was looking for me?”
“Yes! He searched whenever he had time! Where have you been all this time? Dad and Mom—”

Leonhard’s voice faltered as he remembered.
“They… passed away two years ago…”

Tears welled up and spilled over as all the loneliness and grief broke free. He clung to Luciard’s clothes, sobbing loudly, while his uncle awkwardly patted his back.

Catching Up
“I only recently learned my brother had died,” Luciard said later. “I’ve been overseas, so I knew almost nothing about what was happening in the empire.”
“So… you didn’t even know about the funeral. But why did you come here now?”
“I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t remember, but after you were born, you lived at the duke’s estate for a while. Now you’re the only Winston left besides me. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to handle the dukedom alone.”

Leonhard was touched his uncle had come all this way just for him.
“But… it looks like you haven’t been doing well.”

Leonhard’s face darkened.
“It’s all Count Humphrey’s fault!”
“Count Humphrey?”
“Yes! He said we had to go to the capital, but once I got in the carriage, he locked the door and pushed me off a cliff! If it wasn’t him, it makes no sense!”
“I heard he’s your guardian. Is that true?”
“Yes, but I didn’t choose him! Albert said he was the best option… I didn’t know who to trust back then…”

Thinking of the cold treatment he’d endured for two years made his eyes sting again, but he held back the tears.
“Daisy said she’ll report him to His Majesty. He tried to kill me—he can’t be my guardian!”

Leonhard tried to get up despite the pain, but his legs trembled like those of a newborn fawn.
“Don’t push yourself. Falling like that… it’s a miracle you’re alive. And… you’ve been unconscious for a week.”

“A week?!”
“I don’t think you should go back.”
“Why? He tried to kill me! Everyone needs to know!”
“Yes, but think—would a mere count dare to try killing the only heir of the Winstons on his own? There’s someone else behind this. If you return now, you’ll just be in danger again.”

Leonhard’s young mind couldn’t fully accept it.
“I… I don’t believe it. Why shouldn’t I go back?”

Luciard stood. “Then… want to see for yourself?”

The Harsh Truth
Luciard disguised Leonhard—covering his head with a hat and dressing him in cheap clothes. Since his original clothes were shredded, he had no choice. Unable to walk well, Leonhard let his uncle carry him out.

They traveled to Chest, near the ducal estate. Leonhard’s heart pounded when he saw the estate gates—surely everyone would recognize him and help drive out Count Humphrey.

But the town felt strangely subdued. Then they saw the estate’s outer gate open… and people in black mourning clothes filing out.

The words Leonhard overheard froze his blood.
“Pity… how could both father and child die in carriage accidents?”
“Such a shame for one so young.”
“So… what happens to Winston now?”
“No heirs left—so it all goes to Count Humphrey.”

Leonhard realized they’d already held his funeral. Just as Luciard had said, there was no one here waiting for him.

A New Path
Back in the village, Leonhard sat blankly on the bed, his eyes empty. Luciard knelt to meet his gaze.
“Now you understand. You’re still too young—for revenge, and for leading Winston.”

Leonhard didn’t reply, just trembled slightly. After a pause, Luciard made a decision.
“So… come with me. I’ll help you until you’re old enough to stand on your own. I’m a mercenary captain, you know. But to come with me, you’ll have to leave here.”

“Will I be able to come back?”
“If you get strong enough and truly want revenge, you can.”

Leonhard wiped his eyes. His gaze was no longer naïve—it burned with new determination.

A Strange Dream
Leonhard suddenly woke, tears slipping down his cheeks. His heart pounded and anger he couldn’t explain filled him.
“Mom, Dad… I had a strange dream,” he murmured to their portrait. It felt like a glimpse of a possible future if he made the wrong choices.

“No… Uncle doesn’t have those scars. Hmph, just a weird dream.”

He shook off the feeling and got up, marking a line on the paper chart on his table.
“Day twenty-eight! Just two more days until Hestia arrives!”

He’d been counting down faithfully, believing her promise to return after thirty nights.

A faint sound of horses came from outside.
“Sir, you should get up now—oh my!” Daisy gasped as Leonhard dashed past her without warning.

“Where are you going?!” she called after him, but he ignored her and ran down to the first floor.

Just as he reached the front entrance, a familiar figure was coming in.
“Tia!”
“Leon!”

Hestia caught him in her arms, and Leonhard grinned widely, breathing in her familiar, comforting scent.