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A villager brought a basket loaded with bread and handed its contents to the people milling about in the plaza. Luisen sat around with the villagers and ate the bread–it was a taste he hadn’t experienced in a long while. The insides were not soft, but chewy–the longer one chewed, the sweeter it was.
“How is it, my lord?
“Delicious. You really brought through the innate sweetness of the buried old hag.”
“I’m a bit wistful for the taste of butter.”
“What can we do–we don’t have any.”
The villagers comfortably talked to each other in front of Luisen. The young lord was proud that his citizens seemed to have grown used to his presence.
While eating the bread, Luisen began asking some questions, “Has there been any strange happenings at the estate?”
“Something strange?”
“Perhaps it’s gotten unduly foggy lately–then people may disappear? Or perhaps they’re confused about the dates? Have there been people who’ve been through something strange like that on their way to the duchy?” Luisen asked.
“Hmm…I’m not sure…”
“Missing persons cases happen every now and then, but…
“How about rumors of a magician? Or an evil fae?”
“A lot of creatures live in the forest, but I’m not too sure about fae…” The villagers didn’t seem to particularly recall anything important.
“Ah, I guess the fog’s been heavier lately. The fog’s been rolling in from that direction ever since the new reservoir’s been built this past spring.”
“Because of the reservoir? And not for any other reason?”
“Of course. It’s been exceptionally bad ever since the reservoir was built.”
“I see…” Luisen nodded. So the fog that the Vinard envoy had forded through was a natural phenomenon?
Luisen, who was suspicious of supernatural interference–magic or its ilk–lost some steam. ‘So they were lying? Why would they lie so blatantly like that?’
Last night the general had told him he’d known Vinard’s lord and his son for quite some time; they were loyal to the Anies family. In his opinion, the envoy’s testimony should not be written off as pure lies.
Luisen spent the entire day asking around for information until his head hurt–still, there was nothing to show for his efforts. ‘These people, like me, have been locked up in estate bounds for over a month…they couldn’t possibly know the situation outside.’
Luisen tore huge chunks off the bread he was holding; even in times of crisis, his appetite was voracious.
****
While Luisen was darting here and there in the village, Carlton finished up the surrender negotiations. After leaving them alone for the night, Vinard’s envoys seemed to return to reality. They wanted to finalize terms quickly and return home; Carlton, in turn, drafted compromises that sat well with both of them.
After signing the terms of surrender, the Vinard envoys hurriedly left the duchy. Carlton and his men also were on their way back to the castle–already in a celebratory and self-congratulatory mood.
“Finally, it’s time to leave. The food was delicious, and the servants served us well.”
“Sounds like something you’d never say. You said you were frustrated at the missed opportunities to march into battle.”
“Even so, the food here was delicious. Somehow, even fresh water tasted divine.”
“Then, when are we departing? The day after tomorrow? Tomorrow? We’re not leaving today, are we?” Carlton’s men thought their captain, who always grumbled about being in the south, would immediately order their squad to mobilize. However, Carlton seemed apprehensive.
“Well.” Carlton remembered his conversation with Luisen the night before. “After observing our surroundings for one week, we should prepare to leave.”
It was an answer quite unlike their captain–hesitation trembled in his voice.
“Huh? A whole week?” The men looked at Carlton in surprise.
At that time, Carlton was distracted by golden, glistening hair as he passed through the town square. His attention was captivated by Luisen having his meal, surrounded by his subjects.
‘I told him to be careful, but he’s completely defenseless.’ Carlton frowned disapprovingly.
The vice captain of the squad fell into deep contemplation at the sight of his boss’ wandering eyes. ‘Those two seem to be getting very intimate these days…Some suspicious rumors have been circulating…Don’t tell me, is he delaying departure because of the duke?’
Involuntarily, a question slipped from the vice captain’s mouth. “Captain, do you truly like the duke?”
“What?”
What kind of ridiculous joke is that? Carlton smiled, throwing the question back at him, but his lieutenant’s face was far too serious.
“Why are you spouting that kind of nonsense with such a serious demeanor?”
“It’s because I’m serious. There are already all sorts of rumors floating around–that our captain is chasing after the duke.”
“Ha. Rumors. Do my men believe those servants’ words?” Carlton’s expression twisted.
At their captain’s snarl, his men proceeded carefully. “But aren’t you exceptionally nice to the duke?”
“That’s right. You’ve been following him around, taking care of situations that pop up around him, and even escorting him safely. You even gave him a ride yesterday. After escorting a perfectly fine and healthy duke, wouldn’t it be natural for some people to start wondering and talking?”
Carlton was bewildered. ‘Me? Liking the duke?’
Impossible. Carlton’s taste tended towards men who were smart and mature–those who could rely on themselves. Luisen, though quite clever, was a far cry from mature. Rather, he still seemed like a lost, abandoned child.
He felt sorry for Luisen’s hidden circumstances, so he paid extra attention to the lord. However, he didn’t expect to hear these outlandish tales. It was unbearably humiliating to hear that he would chase after such a pathetic fellow.
What Carlton loved most was victory. His only goal was to tear down those who had underestimated him and stand tall on their ruins; he couldn’t afford to divide his attention and concentrate leisurely on his love life. Nor did he want to.
In addition, Luisen was a noble.
‘Me? Have a crush on a nobleman? Who would say such a horrible and disgusting thing?’ Carlton shivered with a low groan.
Of course, he had to admit that Luisen was a rare beauty–made more divine by the halo of his attitude and status as a great lord. But that was merely an objective assessment…not that he looked special or pretty in his eyes.
‘No. Absolutely not.’ Carlton adamantly denied it all.
“If not, I’m glad to hear that…We’re busy enough trying to take care of ourselves.” The deputy handed Carlton a small note. It had arrived from the capital while the surrender negotiations were underway. “This letter is from Ennis, from the capitol.”
Ennis was the prince’s maid, a woman who had already joined Carlton’s cause before he headed down to the south. Her letter meant there was a situation brewing against the mercenary in the capital.
Carlton read the letter with a grim expression before setting it down. The letter was written in a predetermined cipher such that no one else could uncover its meaning. However, he felt dizzy from the muddled scrawl.
The contents were quite short. Ennis informed him that the nobles had recently brought news of various conflicts and advised him to return to the prince’s side as soon as possible. She added that he should be careful as the circumstances of the southern lords seemed suspicious.
‘Be careful of what?’
The Anies duchy was so peaceful, and it seemed as if the aftermath of the chaotic struggle of the kingdom’s throne had not reached this area. Was there something happening out of sight?
‘I have to let the duke know….Ah, no. No.’ Carlton couldn’t afford to be caught up in any more southern struggles. If he were to be involved in this power struggle, he may not be able to find even a silver lining in the aftermath. As Ennis said, it was right to quickly leave the south now.
In the aftermath of the civil war, Carlton had the most substantive troops. In the case of conflict, Carlton was the most likely candidate to send to the area of dispute.
In this situation, the peaceful nature of the south made it seem as if they were laying the groundwork to send Carlton to various places that didn’t truly need his force. If he couldn’t step foot in the capital, he would be unable to undermine the nobles’ efforts.
Carlton gritted his teeth; he was sick and tired of these nobles’ tricks and schemes. He wanted to strangle them all, though that was an impossible dream.
‘I need to go back to the prince’s side, one day sooner than normally possible.’
Now the only one who could protect Carlton was Prince Ellion. The prince owed Carlton a great debt–the only way he could settle down in the capital would be to provoke the prince’s conscience.
If the body moves away, the mind travels far–gratitude would soon be forgotten. The prince wasn’t a pushover, but he was still a human being.
Carlton had to return soon; there wasn’t time to lay around and relax at the duchy. The vague anxiety and nervousness he felt when he first came down to the south came back.
‘Yes. It’s hard enough to fend for myself,’ he thought.
Whether or not Luisen was bullied by his retainers or embroiled in a power struggle with the southern aristocrats mattered not to Carlton. Now, he couldn’t afford to worry about others
“If we prepare to leave all day and night, how long until we are ready to leave?” the mercenary asked.
“Around three days.”
“Two days. Be finished with the preparations in two days. Divide those that are fleet footed and those that are slow. After the division, we’ll ride to the capital without rest.”
“Are you going to split the troops?”
“Yes.”
“Then, we’ll just proceed like we did when we first arrived in the south. Understood.”
Unaware of everything that had happened, Luisen was still enjoying his bread. He then suddenly raised his head, looked around, and found Carlton on the horizon. The young lord raised his hand and waved at the mercenary. Under the clear blue sky, his smile shone brilliantly.
At first, Luisen had trembled and struggled to make eye contact with him. But when Carlton saw Luisen’s changed attitude, even he had realized the two had gotten too intimate.
TL: You get back there mister and say your proper greetings to Luisen!!