/
“Didn’t you issue an official letter from the duchy a while ago? As you know, we’re a smaller estate. Even if we work hard, we cannot afford to fight both a war and the locusts.”
“Of course.”
“So, the Lord sent me, his son, to surrender. We have decided to come–no pretense–and bear ourselves diligently before the duke of this land. The nonstop journey between our estates took around three days.”
Luisen nodded. Carlton had said earlier that the ride would take that long.
“Three days after the official document was issued, we left; now we’re here, three days later.”
“Huh?” Luisen noticed the oddity in his testimony. More than six days had passed since the official document was spread.
“But now that I’m here, they’re telling me that it’s been longer than that and that the swarm of locusts have long passed? What nonsense! It’s only been six days! Can’t you see why we’d be so dumbfounded and upset at the unfairness of the situation?”
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“What?”
“Six days…it’s been way longer than that. Other lords have all visited and surrendered and the plague has passed us by.”
“T-that’s impossible! We came here without rest! Sure, there was a foggy area on the way, but, even if we were slower…we never stopped once! Right?”
Bolton looked to his party for confirmation. Bolton’s party also nodded. “That’s right, we moved nonstop while the sun was still in the sky–exactly three nights!” they said, shouting in disbelief.
“What do you think?” Luisen asked Carlton for his opinion.
Carlton laughed. “Weren’t they just stubborn while the others surrendered? And, when another war was around their corner, they finally sent an envoy. They’re making up nonsense now that they’re embarrassed.”
“We of Vinard have a proud and venerable history as a noble house in the south. We wouldn’t use such dirty tricks. I’m telling you now; it’s been six days since the official letter has been issued!”
“Well, it hasn’t. More than ten days have elapsed.” Luisen scrutinized Bolton. His eyes looked fine, and he didn’t seem to have eaten anything off. But the man still seemed to be confused.
Bolton also looked at Luisen with suspicion. “My duke, if you were forced by these punks in an unsavory way…”
Luisen crumpled his forehead. How like an aristocrat, flattering without pride and then immediately changing his tune when he feels at a disadvantage. “Are you saying that the Duke of Anies, under threat, is lying?” Luisen spoke coldly.
“…Ah, no…I’m not questioning the duke’s integrity. How could I dare? I’m just so frustrated. If what the duke says is true…then what in the world happened to our time…?” Bolton murmured as if in a trance. He was so sure that Carlton’s men were lying, but, at Luisen’s confirmation, his confusion had reached a fever pitch.
Because Bolton and his party seemed to no longer be in the right state of mind for further conversation, Luisen left the tent. “Is he telling the truth?”
“Of course he’s lying. The Vinard’s heir is a good actor.” Carlton did not believe in Bolton, but Luisen thought differently.
“If they were going to lie, why wouldn’t they have come up with something more plausible? Like being stopped by bandits in a highway robbery?”
“…That’s perhaps true, but those people are truly claiming nonsense.”
“Maybe they were captivated by an evil fae. Or a wizard?”
“If a wizard was the cause, there would have been some traces. They looked too normal to have been possessed or bewitched.”
“Is that so…” The stories of the envoys were far too unbelievable to trust, but Luisen felt uncomfortable dismissing these testimonies. He was extra nervous because this issue happened within the borders of his duchy.
“You should just go back to the main castle.”
“What about the negotiations?”
“We can’t negotiate at this rate–we’ll have to continue tomorrow.”
“Are those people going to be alright?”
“They’ll come to their senses if we leave them alone for a day.” Carlton barked a few instructions to his men and lifted Luisen onto his horse.
Even his action of placing Luisen on the saddle felt natural–Carlton’s men stared blankly at their disappearing back. “I guess the rumors from the castle’s servants were true.”
The servants from the castle had muttered to them, ‘Sir Carlton harbors an unrequited love for the duke.” Of course, Carlton’s men couldn’t have imagined that the rumor’s origin started with them.
Their captain was usually quite blunt and kept kind words close to his chest. Their doubts turned into certainties.
*****
""
The two–the only ones who had yet to realize what supposed affection existed between them–leisurely returned to the castle. Carlton guided his horse to trot slowly, and Luisen could comfortably look around at his surroundings.
The two were alone on the wide road. Since it was deep into the night, everything was quiet. Every time Luisen was taken slightly off balance by the horse’s undulations, his body fell into contact with Carlton’s front. At each touch, he could feel the warmth of the other’s body and the thudding of his heart.
It struck Luisen once again that he was truly peacefully riding together with Carlton through the lower village–life truly couldn’t be predicted more than a few steps ahead. The years spent mired in the delusion of being chased by the black knight felt so distant.
“When the surrender negotiation with Vinard is over, is your mission over as well?” Luisen asked.
“Yes. After all, the Vinard family is the last.”
“Then you won’t have any more reasons to linger here. Will you return to the capital?”
“…I suppose I have to go back.” Carlton had waited impatiently to return, but, in the end, something tugged at his heart. “What are you going to do, my duke?”
“Me? I’ll just be here. I’ll have to catch up on my work and study. I’m considering taking up the mantle of a proper lord that I had previously thrown away.”
“That’s a good idea. In my view, this is a good opportunity to push out your retainers and restore your authority.”
“Well, no need to go to the extent of pushing them out…”
“When you’re doing something like this, you need to be firm about it.”
“Alright.” Luisen thought that something was odd but was convinced that such a ruthless and extreme answer was quite like Carlton.
‘Once Carlton leaves…’
Before his regression, Carlton’s appearance had completely overturned his life.
Now, after one death, he returned to the middle of the war. His surrender was like a new beginning–the opening of a door–for both of them. Perhaps that was why Carlton’s departure felt like curtains falling upon the stage after the end of a performance.
In the dark, a cold wind brushed over them. It felt as if the wind blew from within their hearts.
“I’m still bothered by what the Vinard envoys say they have been through. Watch your surroundings for the following days and prepare thoroughly before leaving,” Luisen advised seriously.
Carlton looked down at the top of Luisen’s round head. If he were to leave the duchy, there would be no more reason for him to take the duke horseback riding like this. Before his brain could properly filter himself, words escaped his mouth. “…Then, we’ll never see each other again?”
‘What am I even saying? I sound pathetic.’
Luisen’s advice and his words were completely out of context.
Uncharacteristically chatty, Carlton continued, “It doesn’t seem like my duke has plans to visit the capital anytime soon. And there’s no reason for me to visit the south…”
“Well, it’s the duty of one of the great lords to prepare for the coronations, so I’ll be going to the capital then. Perhaps I’ll see you at that time.”
“The coronation…It’s a long way off.”
Perhaps the mercenary had been separated far too long from the prince’s side–perhaps this night was just too still and timeless–the coronation felt so distant.
“Many things will be different then compared to now,” Carlton murmured.
“I guess so. Why? Are you having second thoughts now that you’re leaving?” Luisen said, mischief laced through his words.
“Of course not. Never. I want to go back to the capital as soon as possible. My feet are already marching up and down.” Carlton exaggeratedly stomped to a beat–however, he didn’t sound as excited as he acted. He himself did not know why he felt like this. At this moment, he was more concerned with how Luisen’s trembling laugh spread through the touch of their bodies.
***
As soon as Luisen returned to the castle, he told the general what Carlton and he had heard from Vinard’s delegation. However, neither the general nor the other retainers could easily guess the cause of what had happened to the envoys. As far as they knew, there was no immediate danger in the duchy or the surrounding areas.
The next day, Luisen headed for the town square of the lower village.
“My lord, aren’t you tired of eating the same thing all the time?”
“It’s always delicious.”
“I’ve been thinking–you always look like you’re enjoying what you eat.”
The citizens comfortably approached their lord, perhaps because of Carlton’s conspicuous absence. Two knights were still on guard, flanking both of Luisen’s sides, but their presence was weak compared to the mercenary.
Carlton did not follow Luisen this time because he had yet to conclude the negotiations with Vinard’s envoys. Fortunately, however, there was no great danger since public opinion viewed Luisen so favorably.
“I baked bread using the buried old hags. I thought it was pretty well done, so I brought some for you to taste.” One of the citizens stepped forward.
‘How did they know that bread made from this root is considered a delicacy? I didn’t even teach them how to make this bread!’ Luisen was glad the new crop seemed to have been accepted by the people of his territory.
TL: This was super romantic in an emotionally constipated way <3