Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

Chapter 43

Luisen did not order any of it. He did not refute Ruger’s suggestion to escape but instead accepted at face value that he should leave immediately. That’s why he was just dragged alongside Ruger. It was stupid, it was passive, and it was definitely something Luisen would have done before regression.

Who was the first to whisper to him that he should run away from Carlton? It was Ruger. It was Ruger who terrorized Luisen by delivering such terrible rumors to his ears.

At the time, Luisen was terrified, so overwhelmed by the first serious crisis of his life that he couldn’t make proper judgments. Besides, Luisen was originally quite passive and wouldn’t do anything on his own anyway.

Would he have thought of running away from the estate without Ruger?

For the first time, Luisen questioned the events of that night. He chose to run away under the cover of darkness, but could he really say that was purely his will?

After sifting quickly through his tumultuous thoughts, Luisen could only utter one thing, “Why?”

Why would he do that? Luisen trusted Ruger as his chief attendant. The other could kill or kidnap Luisen at any time he wished. Why would he entice Luisen to leave the duchy on his own? Why would he go through all that trouble?

Suddenly, he thought back to when he first hired Ruger.

It was about five years ago. At that time, Luisen had a senior servant carefully handpicked by the general after a strict screening. Then one day, a carriage accident suddenly injured the chief attendant; the new hire was temporarily conscripted through nearby networks.

It was a temporary job in the first place–and Luisen stayed alone in the capital–so he just haphazardly chose anyone he liked. That was Ruger.

Ruger acted as Luisen’s tongue and taught him many fun games. As time went on, the return of the original chief attendant was postponed and Ruger stayed by his side.

There were many employees around the young lord, and they showed up and left for a variety of reasons. Luisen was used to the constant ephemerance of his retinue, so he didn’t care much that the original chief servant never appeared again, nor that Ruger took his position as if that were the natural order of the world.

Luisen had only thought, ‘At least I have a funny servant this time.’ Luisen might have forgotten Ruger if he had not died on his behalf before regression.

‘Wait a minute. Ruger died for me before regression. Did he truly die?’ What kind of spy would die for his prey?

‘Then what? Was his death a lie too?’

The back of his head ached. Ruger, who he believed had died on his behalf, was actually a spy and intentionally pushed his master face-first into the mire.

The feeling of betrayal shook through him; his attendant’s meticulousness was frightening.

“Who’s behind you? For what reason did you do this to me?” In the previous timeline, Luisen fell into Ruger’s trap and walked the road of ruin and collapse.

“Does the man behind this with not for my death but my downfall?”

At Luisen’s words, Ruger gave a disappointed look. “I’ve betrayed you and that’s all you’re curious about?”

“Then what else do you want?”

“Something like ‘why I betrayed the duke.'”

“Why should I care about that?”

“You’re really…how fitting of a duke. I like my duke’s arrogance. A great lord should be like that.” Strangely enough, Ruger sounded admiring to Luisen’s ears. Ruger had often said it,  but it felt dirty to hear the same things in this situation. “Now, enough talk.” Ruger took out a tough strap of leather and tied Luisen’s hands and feet.

Luisen thought about rebelling but desisted. The back of his head tingled; he could make neither head nor tail of the situation and its progression, but his long-standing wandering mentality allowed him to postpone the shock and judge the chances of survival coolly.

Something behind the scenes seemed to be trying to craft a story or embellish something by sparing Luisen’s life. He had no strength to run away on his own; if he got hurt for no reason while rebelling, it would only be a disadvantage to him.

If he disappeared, everyone in the duchy would mobilize themselves to find him. It would be more beneficial to calmly pretend to follow while leaving some clues behind.

While Luisen was wracking his brains, Ruger pulled out a medicinal vial and placed it underneath Luisen’s nose: a sleeping scent. 1 “Sleep–you’ll arrive at your destination soon.”

The scent smelled simultaneously floral yet disgusting. As the smell continued to assault his nose, the young lord began to feel dizzy and sleepy.

‘Ah, wait. This..isn’t…good……’ Luisen shook his head; his eyelids became heavy, and his body began to droop.

It was then, in the distance, horse hooves could be heard rushing closer, and a short spear flew towards Ruger

     “Nngh!” Ruger cut at the spear but couldn’t resist the power the shortspear held; he stumbled back. Carlton followed shortly behind.

“Duke!”  He instantly beheaded three direwolves that rushed at him. A normal person couldn’t handle the sudden movements of several wild dogs, let alone monsters, but the direwolves’ giant body split in two; the sight of both halves falling away was bizarre enough to make the lord want to faint.

Between the monsters’ attacks, Ruger swung his sword at the mercenary, which was blocked without much difficulty. Carlton looked at Ruger and said, without facing Luisen behind him, “This punk is the duke’s servant, right? What’s going on with these monsters?”

Luisen couldn’t answer his question. Luisen’s spirit, which barely endured the sleeping scent, was exhausted from the blatant bloody cruelty.

Carlton observed Ruger, Luisen–who had fainted–and the direwolves around them.

After he’d left the duchy, he’d galloped like a mad man, trying to forget the lingering attachment he had for the duke. Frustratingly, he could not move as quickly as he wished, for the group carried a lot of luggage. Suddenly, though, the first prince’s messenger had followed behind and relayed to him the order to escort Luisen to the capital.

Looking at the sky and the field, he was consumed with the thoughts of Luisen’s visage, so the sudden change in plans was a windfall. He quickly turned around and went back the way he came on the road. He didn’t even take notice of whether or not his men followed. He traveled fast and thought he would soon come upon the duke’s party, but instead he arrived to see Luisen being dragged away by the direwolves.

He never imagined such a reunion; why was Luisen in danger every time he saw him?

Carlton rushed after the young lord–that was the current situation. He’d roughly grasped what had happened.

‘He was a spy all this time, and he’s controlling these monsters.’ He had no idea how the other was controlling the monsters, but Ruger’s betrayal came as no surprise to Carlton.

“You son of a bitch, I’ve been suspicious of you for a long while.”

“A subject knows nothing of the heavens. It’s not your business to interfere.”

“What do you mean ‘not my business?’ It’s my duke’s business.” Carlton fixed his grip on his sword and blocked the way in front of Luisen. Ruger glared at the mercenary with piercing eyes; he glimpsed bloodthirst and deep grudge within. The way Ruger held the sword and his aura were all unusual.

“You seem sharp for an attendant –you must have been hiding your skills.” If Carlton was ignorant until now, that meant Ruger’s swordsmanship was excellent. The desire to win boiled within the mercenary; Carlton was always thrilled to win against strong opponents. Even more so when his opponent was one who had always condescended him.

However Luisen was behind Carlton. It may have been fine if he were alone, but it was dangerous to fight while protecting another. Furthermore, he had a hunch that these monsters would run away with the young lord if he started combating Ruger.

Then, there was only one thing Carlton could do.

‘Let’s run.’

Quick judgement made, Carlton immediately acted. He flung his sword at Ruger. In an effort to stop the mercenary movements on his horse, Ruger sidestepped the sword and attacked Carlton’s horse. Simultaneously, the direwolves attacked Luisen.

It was all as Carlton expected. Carlton quickly dismounted his horse so that it could more easily avoid Ruger’s attack. Then, he quickly ran to Luisen and slashed at the approaching direwolf’s neck.

A gap formed in the wolves’ formation; Carlton held Luisen in his arms and threw himself through that crack. Cleverly, Carlton’s horse followed its owner, briefly slowing down and allowing the mercenary to mount.

First, he slung Luisen onto the horse, and then Carlton mounted.

“Do you really think I’ll let you run away!?” After realizing he had been tricked, Ruger roared. Carlton didn’t think the other could catch up; after all, he had no horse. But, something unexpected happened. Ruger climbed on top of a direwolf and began to chase them.

‘Monsters allow people to ride upon their backs?’

He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen such a scene with his own eyes. The more he saw, the more unbelievable it was.

The hunt took place on the hillside; the terrain presented an overwhelming disadvantage for Carlton. The horse could hardly speed up because of the many obstacles and underbrush. On the other hand, the direwolf ran around the hillside as if it were in its own territory. Over and over again, the wolf’s teeth nipped at the horse.

Ruger swung a long spear; Carlton ducked by flattening his body. The timing was right for a counterattack, but he couldn’t afford to attack–not while holding the reins with one hand and Luisen with the other.

‘We’re all going to die if this continues.’ Carlton desperately wracked his brain. With his sharp senses, he detected the fishy smell of water and the sound of a waterfall.

‘Direwolves are weak in water.’ Carlton made his decision. He stroked the horse’s neck. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can take care of you too. Survive on your own.”

Carlton galloped faster. Then, analyzing the perfect moment, he took out a dagger and threw it at the direwolf. Carlton’s aim was accurate; the blade dug precisely into its eye socket.

Carlton’s body, however, tilted from throwing that dagger. Because of that, Carlton’s horse staggered as well. The direwolves, excellent hunters in their own rights, did not miss that opportunity.

Carton hugged Luisen tightly and threw himself in the direction he had scoped earlier.

     Below was a distant waterfall.

The direwolves, who leapt to attack the mercenary, floundered in the air in bewilderment; however, it was too late for them to return to safe ground. Following Carlton and Luisen, several direwolves fell down and were trapped in the waterfall.

Splash!

Ruger, who had followed belatedly, looked down the cliff. Carlton and Luisen had already disappeared beneath the white bubbles.

“How dare that peasant bastard……” Ruger’s anger erupted like a volcano; he beat the direwolf he was riding to death. Even though one of their kin was brutally murdered, the remaining wolves simply watched, trembling.

Soon after, Ruger finished venting and left to search the base of the waterfall. The fog lifted and the hills returned to its tranquil state, as if nothing had happened. Even the cries of the injured horse, calling after its lost owner, were quietly buried under the roar of the waterfall.

TL: Nooo!!! The horse!!!

1. like chloroform etc