Circumstances of a Fallen Lord - Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Luisen teared up. If it weren’t for the audience, he would have rushed to Carlton’s side, stroked his head, and laid his love upon the man. There were too many eyes to do so, though, and this atmosphere would not warrant such public display of love.

Everyone seriously racked their brains, stumbling through long lost memories. Whether it was Count Doubless or the former Duke of Anies… was there anything that would incite such a grudge?

“I thought the deputy chancellor might know something,” Luisen said. 

The deputy chancellor had served the Duke of Anies for generations, so he naturally had been involved with the Anies family since childhood. Because he had started as a servant long ago, he must be well-versed in the former duke.

“Do you remember what the relationship between Count Doubless and my father was like?”

“In the past, there was quite a bit of interaction among the southern lords under the supervision of the duke’s household. Events like hunting expeditions and martial arts competitions were often held. The former duke and Count Doubless, given their similar ages, spent much time together…”

The deputy chancellor paused for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing. “Their relationship wasn’t particularly good or bad. It’s just that Count Doubless seemed to unilaterally kindle a sense of rivalry within himself.”

The young Count Doubless seemed to have pinpointed Luisen’s father as his rival. Though this sort of behavior was normal among boys of his age, the intensity was somewhat extreme. There were incidents where Luisen’s father found himself in trouble due to the count’s unorthodox methods.

“Now that I think about it, the former duke was once hurt because of the count, so the count’s father scolded the count by slapping him in the face in front of an audience.”

“Mmm…”

“As you know, your predecessor had a very easy-going temperament–he was able to look past what the count did. Furthermore, this is merely a childhood story, now.” 

It was said that as Count Doubless grew older, he, like other lords under the Great Lord’s authority, learned to show proper respect and courtesy. He managed to channel his competitive spirit in ways that benefited his own domain.

“When the former duke died, the count came to the funeral. He cried so bitterly… So, I believed the count liked the duke very much. But, if you speak of grudges…” The deputy chancellor seemed confused, caught between his memories and reality.

“Isn’t it because he’s angry that his opponent, whom he had yet to win against even once, died?” Carlton said cynically. 

Carlton’s words seemed to have merit, so Luisen nodded. However, the others didn’t seem to agree.

It wasn’t just the deputy chancellor–other people responded similarly to the count’s resentment. Their expressions conveyed a sense of bewilderment, like someone who was suddenly attacked from behind. The vassals of the Anies duchy were not as interested in Count Doubless or the Doubless County as much as Luisen was. Their attitude was close to indifference–if not outright disregard.

‘Perhaps the count hated this sort of attitude,’ Luisen mused.

It seemed that it would be difficult to comprehend the count’s resentment without him asking the count directly .

While it was regrettable that Luisen wouldn’t know the full story (especially since comprehension may make his job easier), there were tasks at hand that needed attention. “In this situation, the Anies household will actively engage in eliminating the threat of the demon worshippers. The knights should be prepared to fight, and the retainers should support this effort and be ready for conflict at any moment.” 

Luisen’s declaration stirred the vassals.

“Us? But, isn’t heresy the responsibility of the Church? Is there a need for us to step forward?”

“Correct. If this were a normal situation, we wouldn’t need to come to the forefront of this battle.” Luisen had expected this degree of backlash. He had already thought about his responses, so the young lord was able to answer without hesitation, “However, the count’s grudge is great and deep. Judging by how persistently he has pursued me until now, if he gains greater power through the cult’s rituals, he will likely target both me and the House of Anies.”

“Would the heretics follow his orders?”

“Apparently, the count is a bigshot within the demon worshippers. On the surface, it seems that he is merely one of the faithful and works under another leader, but, in reality, he has the same authority–more or less–as one of the leaders. So, his will has sway.”

“……”

“The Anies Duchy taking the lead in eradicating the cult is not optional; it’s inevitable.”

“…My Duke is correct.”

As long as the cult’s agents were targeting the Anies household, this situation had become an issue that extended beyond the Church’s purview. The duchy couldn’t sit idly by, waiting for the Church to handle everything. Eradicating the roots of the cult was the way to protect the House of Anies.

Even those who had opposed initially now showed signs of agreement. However, despite being convinced, there was an overwhelming sense of uncertainty among those gathered. A heretical cult with mysterious powers… The cult was an enigmatic presence. They couldn’t foresee how the situation would unfold. As hopelessness turned into anxiety, the atmosphere in the office grew somber.

The atmosphere was heavy enough that it didn’t seem like further conversation would make much headway and the vassals needed time to think, so Luisen decided to arrange a separate meeting for further discussion.

***

The retainers left, and only Luisen and Carlton were left in the office. Luisen leaned back on the chair, exhaling the long breath he had been withholding throughout the meeting. He felt fatigued–he had been trying to portray confidence during the whole time.

“You did well.” Carlton rubbed Luisen’s neck with his big hand. Luisen closed his eyes softly, savoring the touch of Carlton’s rough palms.

Most of the vassals gathered at the capital mansion had participated in the civil war under Luisen’s orders and suffered dire hardships; they had even just returned from captivity. It wasn’t easy to ask those people to follow you once again. He was incredibly nervous and uneasy.

They could have ignored the story about the demon worshippers and not believed him, or they could have criticized him for misbehaving and putting the duchy in danger again. All sorts of horrible fantasy scenarios ran through his head. Luisen sighed, “I think I’ve explained as well as I can by this point. Although…the atmosphere got serious at the end.”

“Of course. The fact that the atmosphere became serious means that they have taken my duke’s warnings seriously.”

“Carlton…” Luisen embraced Carlton around the waist. 

Carlton leaned his head on the young lord’s as he smiled and stroked the golden strands. The young lord was incredibly relieved to have the mercenary at his side. Just earlier, thanks to Carlton pointing out that Luisen wasn’t to blame, there was little resistance from the vassals when Luisen said they should prepare for a fight.

“You sided with me earlier–I was delighted to hear those words.”

“I didn’t take your side. I merely told the truth.”

Luisen raised his head and stared at his lover. The passion that he had to withhold welled up within him and his eyes. He wanted to lather love–all the love–upon Carlton! The mercenary was quick-witted and picked the young lord up before sitting him down on the desk. Luisen held Carlton’s face in his hands and pecked the mercenary’s lips several times.

They were alone in the office–nothing was around to disturb them. The playful kiss naturally became deep and passionate. Carlton caressed and kissed Luisen’s thighs and knees. Luisen embraced the other’s neck as he felt the mercenary’s hard, rough palms caressing his body through the thin cloth.

A short gasp echoed throughout the office. Just as Luisen was about to fall back onto the table–

–“My duke! There’s something you must know… Um…?”

The door burst open, and someone barged in–the deputy chancellor. When he stumbled upon Luisen and Carlton, he froze in that dynamic pose of opening the door. His eyes shook, like the rustling leaves of an aspen tree, and he looked alternatingly between Luisen and Carlton. The same was true of Luisen; startled, the young lord couldn’t say anything and stared blankly back at the deputy chancellor.

Carlton was the only one who was leisurely. He raised his upper body that had been leaning over Luisen and asked the deputy chancellor, “What’s wrong with you?”

“What–you knew the deputy chancellor was coming?” Luisen narrowed eyes widened as he scolded the mercenary. Carlton smiled in lieu of answering. It was clear the mercenary feigned  ignorance even if he felt someone else’s presence entering the office.

“Wow–this… you really… Wow…” Luisen felt betrayed.

The deputy chancellor, suddenly awakening from his shock, shouted, “Y-You shameless..! What have you done to our innocent duke… You get off him right now!” He lunged over and separated the two.

Pushing down his embarrassment, Luisen clambered down from his desk and straightened his clothes. The deputy chancellor held Carlton by the collar–although, of course, the deputy chancellor’s threat was no more than a kitten batting at a human. Carlton just continued to smile.

‘Come to think of it, was he purposefully trying to show off to the deputy chancellor…?’

Although he had reasonable doubt, nothing would come of interrogating Carlton. Luisen would push those thoughts aside for later and try to, first, calm down the irate deputy chancellor, “Calm down.”

“No–however–my duke, this punk… This bastard to the duke…”

“I was acting as I pleased–I liked it. And that should be enough. I’m not a child. To be shocked about this….”

How many people has he ‘met’ and how many people has he spent the night with in this mansion? How could the deputy chancellor call him innocent? This was a problem with the old vassals of the duchy.  No matter how old Luisen was–whatever he did–they always had the image of six-year-old Luisen in the back of their minds, so their overprotectiveness would pop out of nowhere.

“That’s… That’s true. My duke isn’t innocent…” The deputy chancellor quickly calmed down, agreeing with Luisen’s words. Carlton had looked so fierce and Luisen presented such a pure image, but the duke wasn’t one to be taken advantage of one-sidedly.

After returning to reason, the deputy chancellor returned to reason and carefully stepped back and stood properly opposite the desk and resumed the proper position of the vassal. As if nothing had happened. Then, the two–master and servant–stared at each other.

“..So, what is happening?”

“Actually, I’ve returned to the room because I actually wanted to say something to my duke.”

“The deputy chancellor has something to say separately to me? How scary?”

Luisen exaggerated his apprehension, but the deputy chancellor remained incredibly serious. What was he trying to say? Luisen hid his impatience and waited for the other to speak.