CH 25

“I don’t think you’ve hurt your head….” Carlton murmured to himself as he carefully put Luisen down on the sofa.

Then the mercenary retreated, as if he were avoiding him.

‘What’s wrong?’ Luisen frowned for a moment and then looked at himself. His body reeked of sweat and was covered with dirt from the scuffle at the village. His palm was stained dark red–he had skinned himself when he fell during the riot–and blood had clotted in the wrinkles of skin. His rich clothes had turned ragged and were torn here and there.

‘I look terrible enough to avoid,’ Luisen thought.

He was so focused on the village’s situation that he failed to notice his own dirty appearance.

“I’ve forgotten myself–I look more horse than human right now. Shall we continue after I wash up?”

Once again, Carlton was given a glimpse into Luisen’s unfathomable mind through his ridiculous words.

This person. Had the duke–through either innocence or stupidity–really believed this absurd, vulgar joke and prepared to give up his body?

“No.” Carlton became serious.

“You’d like it better if I don’t wash?” Luisen asked with an ambiguous look on his face.

‘Was this noble always this hard of hearing?’ Carlton thought. “Absolutely not!”

“Then what’s the problem?” Luisen asked.

“This is crazy. I said, enough. You can stop now. My words were only meant to mock you, my duke. Nothing was genuine.”

“You were mocking me?”

“Yes. I’m not that kind of trash. I didn’t know that the duke would take my words to heart.”

“If I weren’t truly sincere, why would I go this far?”

“That’s…” Carlton hesitated. “A war of nerves…”

“Didn’t I say I would do anything? What’s the point of fighting with you so stubbornly just for pride?”

“Well, nobles would usually engage in wars of nerves even with a knife placed at their throats.”

‘Is that so?’ Luisen fumbled around in his memory to search for the answer. Indeed, there were those courageous nobles who would pick petty fights with him, a great lord. But would they have done the same with Carlton?

He was a hotheaded, noble-hating man who ran wild until he was abandoned by the first prince… 1

Luisen supposed that could have been possible. For some, pride was more important than anything else. To Luisen, however, it didn’t matter to him whether or not Carlton’s request was genuine or pure mockery.

“Then, have I properly shown my sincerity now?” Luisen asked.

“….Yes. It’s enough,” Carlton replied, a strange bitter taste lingering in his mouth. ‘Is that all you have to say?’

Carlton felt as if he had really avoided certain disaster by a hair’s breadth. Had he not stopped Luisen, the lord really would have pulled off his pants. And then…anyone could imagine what would have happened next. Even though the two were in such a disgraceful situation, his opponent, Luisen, didn’t seem to care.

“Then, you’ll give permission?” Luisen’s eyes glistened hopefully.

The shining blue eyes reminded Carlton of summer rays reflecting off a brook.

‘Is this how it is? A truly magnanimous noble? He has no ulterior motives?’ Carlton suddenly grew anxious as he looked at Luisen’s fair complexion, like a child abandoned at the shore. ‘Most people wouldn’t go this far, would they?’

Luisen was far too reckless. And Carlton concluded that predicting his behavior was pointless. They would have to compromise.

‘I’d rather keep an eye on him now rather than learn about the bizarre things he’s done behind my back later.’ Though he hated to acquiesce since it felt like he was being dragged alongside the lord’s pace, Carlton chose the path that made him less anxious.

“All right. Do as you please, my lord.” Carlton granted his permission after much consideration.

“Really?”

“Yes. But, as you proposed, you must mobilize the manpower and supplies on your own.”

“Of course!” Luisen laughed. At that moment, the room became brighter, as if another candle had been lit–his smile was too angelic.

It was a smile worth seeing, Carlton thought.

“What are you planning to do?” Carlton wanted to know why Luisen smiled so brightly–what the duke believed he could do.

“I’ll have to talk to my advisors about the details. After all, I don’t know anything.”

“You didn’t come here with a plan? What are you planning to do about the food shortage!?”

“For that…there’s something I need to check…I’ll tell you later, so don’t worry. I won’t hide anything from you. Now then, I’ll be taking my leave to visit the general,” Luisen spoke with confidence and left the room.

‘It’s more nerve-wracking when he says not to worry.’ Carlton stared at Luisen’s back as he walked out. He wondered what strange thoughts were rolling around in his round and pretty head.

As soon as Luisen left, Carlton’s waiting men all entered the room, and they seemed to be covertly biding their time until they could deny knowledge of whatever had happened inside. Their faces reflected the many questions they wanted to ask; their gazes cautiously observed both the room and their boss. They were so curious, yet hesitant, to know what had happened after they had left the room.

“The duke looks like he’s going somewhere?” A subordinate spoke up timidly. He shiftily glanced around, not wanting to light this powder keg atmosphere. Carlton’s expression alone had alerted them that something extraordinary had happened.

But Carlton was not interested in sating his men’s curiosity. “I’m delaying the battlefield deportation. Do as the duke wants….and keep an eye on him, as well as the general and the knight commander. Let me know if there’s anything suspicious, especially with the Duke of Anies.”

“Will you be away?”

“Training grounds.” Carlton had said all that he wanted to say and abruptly marched out. His subordinates were driven even more crazy with curiosity–Carlton’s grim expression had stimulated their imaginations. Suspicions of illicit acts rose within their minds.

“So, do you think the captain and the duke did it? Or not?”

“He told us to let the duke do as he pleased. If they didn’t, the boss wouldn’t say that.”

""

“Ohhh….the two of them…..”

The servants who had arrived to clean the room also overheard Carlton’s men’s frantic whispers. From what the subordinates were saying, the servants began to believe that Carlton had indeed made such a request and that Luisen had complied. Their suspicion was reasonable, as Carlton seemed to bend for Luisen’s favor after spending time alone together.

Thus, a strange rumor began to spread, and neither Luisen nor Carlton had any idea.

*****

Luisen headed straight for the conference room. The other advisors had all already convened, thanks to the general’s efforts and Luisen’s orders.

When Luisen walked in, all the advisors were greatly shocked. His sturdy leather coat was torn and covered in dirt, and his fine hair was a bird’s nest. Blood had dried on his palms, and his noble knees could be seen through the rips in his trousers.

“My duke!”

“Are you okay? What kind of suffering have you endured in the lower villages, for goodness’ sake?”

They had heard about the riots from the general, but they had no knowledge of their lord’s injuries and were stunned.

For fear of hurting their lord, the advisors could not rush up to him and check on his injuries themselves. No matter how they disdained his abilities as a ruler, Luisen was like their child. Seeing him hurt pained their hearts.

“My lord! Your hands are bleeding. Call the doctor first…Doctor! 2 Is he not here?! Huh?!”

“For now, let’s apply some medicinal herbs. Oh lord…are you feeling nauseous? Where else are you hurt? Ah! First, please sit down.”

For Luisen, this was a familiar routine of overprotectiveness. The duchy’s retainers tended to inadvertently shelter their lord from all harm. It had been so long since Luisen had others fuss over him like this–he was at a loss.

“Everyone, please, calm down. Our lord can’t speak over your din.” The frenetic atmosphere calmed with just one order from the general. After silencing the chamber, the general looked meaningfully at Luisen. All eyes followed, and they waited for the young duke’s orders.

“You all know the situation, correct?”

“Yes.”

Luisen scrutinized his retainers. “I’m sorry. This was something I should have taken care of on my own. But, this is also on you all as well. It’s common knowledge that I’m an incompetent lord…No matter how much you resent me, you can’t abandon your work.”

The crowns of the retainers’ heads could be seen as they slumped down with the heavy weight of regret. How shameful it was to blatantly ignore the plight of the people in the lower villages and instead complain, ‘I wish the lord would mature.’ However, Luisen had apologized first, so the weight on the retainers’ shoulders felt many times heavier.

“Don’t reprimand the villagers for what happened today. The fault lies with you all and with me. Let’s do our best to put the past behind us and get through this crisis.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“We’ll do that.”

“Sir Carlton has bestowed upon us permission to counter this dilemma. So, from now on, you’ll prepare to distribute supplies to the lower village,” Luisen said.

“Really? That man gave his permission?”

“Yes.”

Luisen nodded proudly. “You must not touch the food I have set aside for Sir Carlton and his men. We have to scrounge up something else on our own.”

“But to feed all the people, they will have to starve for a few more days until we can find some solution.”

“Many are trapped within the confines of the castle. If the gates are opened and food is bought in from nearby areas, the problem will be easily resolved.”

“Sir Carlton will not open the gates. I’ll solve the matter of the food source–calculate how many days we can last with what’s in the castle. And also count our human resources.”

The ever-childish and untrustworthy lord seemed to have brokered a deal with that dreadful Carlton for his people. Everyone present was surprised and greatly impressed by the glimpse of leadership that shone in his poise.

“I’ll wrack my brain for this. There shall be no waste.”

“Yes. Then… as for the manpower…?”

“With all the servants and knights within the castle, we may be able to run some sort of operation, even though resources may be tight,” Luisen responded.

“I’ll reassemble the guards that secure the outskirts of the castle grounds. We can also utilize the soldiers who stayed behind after the army was disbanded.”

The advisors skillfully continued the conversation after Luisen threw out a few suggestions. The long-time experience of those who had been running the estate could not be discounted. Pity for the villagers, as well as Luisen’s dashing figure, were what spurred their drive.

TL: Thanks for being patient this week! I’m still in the throes of essay period…but At least I’ve only one final essay left! Please enjoy these three chapters!

Footnotes

Originally, the novel said his head was full of temper (idiom). I felt that hotheaded was a good enough equivalent. 주치의 = Personal doctor. They said 의사 first, which is normal doctor. And then the word for personal doctor afterwards. To call for a personal doc is a bit awkward here, so I left personal out…but just so y’all know!