CH 97

Chapter 97

Feeling a bit regretful, Luisen wandered around more but still couldn’t find Carlton. The young lord then trudged down the corridor, despondent.

‘Honestly, how was it so difficult to find him? I deliberately searched for Carlton in places he was likely to be–places where there were no people–but I still couldn’t find him.’

‘Is he avoiding me?’

Luisen suddenly paused in the middle of walking.

Despite the fact that there were many people within this traveling group, it was strange that he still couldn’t find the mercenary. And, considering that Carlton never came to find him, the suspicion that the mercenary was avoiding him became more certain.

‘Hmm… What to do…’

Carlton seemed angrier at him than Luisen thought. The young lord sighed deeply. ‘Where did it all go wrong?’ he thought. With all his might, Luisen tried to think, but his concentration was interrupted by a thudding noise.

‘What? Is there a mouse scurrying around somewhere?’

Luisen looked around, annoyed. There was no one else in the hallway. Only a red carpet and a tapestry embroidered with Boton’s symbol stuck to the wall. Maybe the incoming dusk added to the atmosphere, the empty hallway looked especially creepy.

He suddenly recalled how he had been attacked by Ruger’s gang in the abandoned village a few days ago.

‘Why am I suddenly thinking about that? And, has it gotten a bit cold?’ Luisen futilely rubbed his arms.

“My Duke!” At the far end of the corridor, some maids rushed to him.

They had been anxiously searching for the young lord, worried that he had snuck out to search for Carlton. Surrounding the young lord, they said tearfully, “Where did you go without telling us?”

“If my Duke goes around alone like this, we shall be scolded by our Lord. Please, feel free to command us if you need anything.”

As the maids appealed to him with tears in their eyes, Luisen felt quite sorry.

“You’ve found the Duke then?” The Eastern Great Lord’s knights, who were tasked with escorting Luisen, and Viscount Boton appeared, one after another. The maids must have asked for help from various locations to find the young lord. Luisen simply walked around the mansion by himself–what’s with all this mess?

However, things had worked out; Luisen had business with Viscount Boton. “Give me a brief moment of your attention. I have something to say to you.”

“Me?” Luisen’s words must have surprised the Viscount Boton–his eyes opened wide. “What is the matter…? Was there something strange in the mansion?”

“Hm? Ah, no. I just wanted to hand this over to you.” Luisen handed the Viscount a small pouch–exactly what Morrison had given him earlier.

The Viscount took the pouch with an anxious expression and loosened the strings. The identity plaques of the three dead knights were inside.

“What…Is this?” Viscount Boton asked, puzzled.

“It’s your knights’ identity cards. Don’t you recognize them?”

A knight’s identity card looked different from that of an ordinary citizen. The Arms of the Boton family were stamped atop the surface, and spears, symbolizing one’s knighthood, were drawn in bronze. There was no way the other wouldn’t recognize this.

When Luisen narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him, the Viscount hurried to explain, “O-Of course. I recognize them. I gave this to them personally, after all. Rather, I meant ‘Why does the Duke have this?’ Do you have any connection with my knights?”

“A few days ago, I met your knights by chance. They had taken over the sole bridge along a path and were demanding a toll from passersby.”

At Luisen’s words, the faces of the knights around him contorted. To think that they would commit robbery after becoming a knight. They were naturally offended by the errant knights’ actions as it undermined the honor of knighthood.

Luisen continued, “At that time, we crossed the bridge safely, but we somehow found them dead in an abandoned village. It was hard to just pass them by, so we cremated them and kept their keepsakes.”

“I see.” Viscount Boton calmly pocketed the pouch. His reaction was completely different than what Luisen had expected. The knights who bore the name of his family committed disgraceful acts; these actions were bound to return disgrace upon the Boton family and the Viscount himself. If someone were to take this maliciously, they could state that the Viscount himself committed robbery against the citizens.

Even if Viscount Boton was not related to this matter, it was clear that he would be harshly ridiculed for being ignorant of his knights’ behaviors and for his inability to control a few knights.

The young lord had expected him to be restless, worried that the story would spread; Luisen had expected him to walk on eggshells around the young lord. Of course Viscount Boton was sneaking glances at him quite a lot, but there was something different in that gaze.

“Is that all you have to say?” the viscount asked.

“That’s right.”

Viscount Boton sighed–a sigh of relief?

That sound got on Luisen’s nerves. “Your knights are dead, and yet you are indifferent?”

“Ah, yes, well. Those men weren’t originally all that loyal. They caused many accidents, and, the last time I saw them, they said they wouldn’t follow my rule and basically threw me away. It’s quite unpleasant to hear they committed robbery under my family’s name, but I can’t punish those men since they’re already dead. I merely was relieved that they weren’t the cause of a larger disaster.”

“Is that so?” Luisen was still suspicious, but the others seemed to be convinced by that explanation.

“We must slowly go and get you ready to attend the banquet, my Duke,” the maids said.

Luisen nodded at their words. “If the bereaved families of the knights want to find their remains, tell them to come find me.”

“I don’t believe such a thing will happen. You can let go of any concerns.”

“Really?”

“Then, I’ll be seeing you later.” Viscount Barton bowed politely and retreated, promising to meet later at the banquet hall. Luisen followed the maids and, after a while, suddenly looked back. Viscount Boton was walking into the distance in this somewhat empty, somewhat lonely corridor. The viscount’s back appeared especially creepy, and the young lord felt chilly, as if a cold wind passed through him.

***

In the evening, the nobles in the Eastern Great Lord’s entourage gathered in the banquet hall–a feast to welcome and celebrate the visit of two Great Lords from the East and South. The nobles didn’t expect much from Viscount Boton’s banquet; after all, the party was prepared on short notice nor was there much staff to maintain his mansion.

However, contrary to expectations, the banquet was actually impressive. The hall was decorated so beautifully–one could even say that the Viscount must have poured his soul into the designs. A sweet and savory scent wafted through the halls. The food was excellent, and the party contained luxurious alcohol that could rarely be seen in these rural territories.

As their expectations were low, the eastern aristocrats were even more satisfied; similarly, the eastern great lord was also pleased that he could boast the power and forward thinking of a fellow noble in his territory in front of Luisen. Everyone greatly enjoyed the celebrations, and an exciting, delightful atmosphere was quickly created.

Meanwhile, the sky completely darkened outside. Carlton sat on a branch, staring silently into the banquet hall through a window. The way the aristocrats were dressed up so prettily and moved back and forth in disciplined, graceful movements made the mercenary feel as if he were watching a theatre play made with dolls.

Other men and women were dressed up to the nines, but only Luisen caught Carlton’s eye. Although the young lord did not adorn himself with any jewelry and his clothes were borrowed, Luisen shined more than those who draped themselves in finery and shining gems. This wasn’t merely Carlton’s blind love speaking 1, the other nobles took sneaky glances at Luisen.

Luisen stood with a bored look on his face; the other’s glances slid off his countenance. Such indifference made Luisen look nobler, but Carlton knew…

‘That expression means he has nothing in his brain.’

‘Why was he being so absent-minded?’ Carlton coughed before suddenly frowning. Another noble–perhaps the same age as Luisen–flirted with the young lord while offering him food. Luisen did not refuse the offer and instead stood there, listening to the person.

‘I told him not to eat food that’s been given by an unknown person! Luisen even smiled during their conversation.’ Flames surged forth in Carlton’s eyes.

‘I can’t even step into the banquet hall, and you’re flirting with someone else because I’m not there?’ He felt as if he were burning up from jealousy. The aristocrat’s hand touched Luisen’s shoulder. Carlton stared viciously, as if he were watching an unfaithful spouse.

The mercenary was about to break into the banquet hall, swearing, but when he saw Luisen push the other away, Carlton frantically reined himself in. The patience he had cultivated during this trip had helped in times like these.

“I’m going crazy.” Carlton threw away branches that he had unwittingly broken and sighed. Luisen hadn’t done anything wrong, but the mercenary felt quite pathetic just observing the young lord having fun alone. How pitiful–to grow angry and be swayed by another like this.

Luisen did not take his future with Carlton seriously–that meant his feelings weren’t so deep. Therefore, Carlton chose reality over love; certainty over uncertainty. He had decided to keep his distance from the young lord and settle his mind before the eventual breakup. His intentions remained unchanged–this was the most reasonable judgment he could make.

Then, why was he acting differently from his plan? There’s nothing stupider than a man who can’t give up after being dumped, and he’s acting just like that kind of fool.

Buried in his own shame, Carlton was about to stop being a peeping tom, when suddenly Luisen sneaked out onto the terrace. The area wasn’t far from the tree that held Carlton. The garden was dark, so Luisen couldn’t find Carlton…but they were close enough to have a conversation.

However, Luisen never behaved according to Carlton’s expectations.

Luisen looked grim as he crossed over the terrace’s railing. Each window of the hall had its own separate terrace. Luisen crossed the railing to climb over to the next terrace.

However, problematically, the young lord was seriously not athletic. He had no idea how he should place his feet, but eventually, he grabbed the railing and began to tremble. The banquet hall was on the second floor; the distance to the next terrace would be wide enough for an adult male to cross with one stride, but that was too much for Luisen.

‘Honestly, if you wanted to go there, you should go back through the banquet hall.’ Bewildered at the young lord’s actions, Carlton was dumbfounded that he forgot his resolution and approached Luisen.