Circumstances of a Fallen Lord - Chapter 132

Chapter 132

In Carlton’s narrative, the one-armed pilgrim had become an unparalleled villain. Listening to him, Luisen became increasingly offended. Though Carlton was providing unconditional support for the young lord, hearing insults about the pilgrim made Luisen feel a strange, rising cognitive dissonance. He wanted to push back, saying ‘it wasn’t to that extent!’

Carlton continued his tirade, “If he persistently hid his identity, he could have been a felon. Wicked bastard. He didn’t do anything…terrible to you, right?”

“No… Nothing like that. Rather, he treated me very well…”

“That’s how scammers are. They’re nice to people. They play with people…and, when they’ve milked all they could, they’ll throw you away.”

“……” Luisen rose from Carlton’s embrace with a rigid expression. 

Carlton thought the young lord felt discouraged, so he tried to appease him. But, he had misjudged the situation, “It’s alright, my Duke. The person who deceived you is the bad one–that son of a bitch. That person must have lived his entire life perfecting his deception.”

“He wasn’t a coward like that,” Luisen countered, timidly. “At the very least, he treated me very well.”

Traveling with the one-armed pilgrim often meant facing homelessness. Whenever they had to rough it out, he would always make sure Luisen had a place to sleep. Luisen never had to experience excessive hardships. When food was scarce, the pilgrim always fed Luisen first. Even in dire situations, when Luisen fell ill, the pilgrim would summon a doctor.

“He would do anything to cheat,” Carlton replied.

Luisen could understand that Carlton was trying to comfort him, but he had met a lot of people as he wandered around for three years. Many of those people were scammers, and the young lord did experience deceit over and over again. So, he understood how scammers operated–how they could hide their true faces.

“He was different from those scammers.” Luisen recalled the year he had spent with the pilgrim. Gradually, logic returned, allowing him to look at his life before regression clearly.

“…Words can be fabricated endlessly, but actions speak louder than words.”

From the moment they met until the moment Luisen died, the Pilgrim’s actions remained consistent. At some point, even the Pilgrim must have realized that there was nothing more he could gain from Luisen. Nevertheless, he did not abandon the young lord. This had deepened Luisen’s admiration. It wasn’t just hollow kindness; he wasn’t acting like a saint for show.

Luisen suddenly realized, ‘That’s right. Whatever his initial intent may be, what I received from him was real.’

That man had given Luisen a lot–he gave hope and rest. Initial intent–even if it may not have been entirely in good faith–did not change the fact that he had saved the young lord.

‘He even gave me a second chance.’

The one-armed pilgrim could have asked God for anything. He could have wished for wealth, honor, status, or even a chance to start over for himself. However, he sent Luisen back to the past–he bequeathed that chance for a new life to Luisen.

‘Even as an old man, he never forgot about me.’

Even if there were lies embedded in the time they spent together, it didn’t matter. The one-armed pilgrim sincerely cherished Luisen to an unforgettable extent.

“No matter who that person was, it doesn’t change the fact that he is my benefactor.” He had once said something similar to Carlton on the boat. At that time, he spoke nonchalantly–heart light and clear; it turns out, that was the correct answer. He began to wonder why he was even agonizing over this. As his mind cleared, he realized the truth wasn’t so distant for him.

“Whatever his identity may be, he was still a saint to me.”

And that saint was by Luisen’s side the whole time. Carlton was his saint.

“Release me. I won’t run away anymore.”

“……”

Carlton released him from the blankets. When his limbs were free, Luisen jumped at Carlton. Though the man was a little too wide for his arms to get across comfortably, he held Carlton in his embrace as much as he could. Luisen looked straight at Carlton as he whispered, “Did you know? You and I are fated.”

The one-armed Pilgrim saved Luisen. As a result, Luisen erased the future where Carlton became the Pilgrim. They had rescued each other from their respective downfalls.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Luisen kissed the mercenary.

Carlton, though, was incredibly puzzled. ‘…What is he talking about?’

To be honest, Carlton couldn’t keep up with Luisen’s thought process at all. The young lord seemed coherent and logical in his own way, but Carlton couldn’t understand at all.

‘I must be missing something.’

Carlton was confident he could dig whatever that was up if he wanted to but, the moment he probed, this atmosphere would shatter. He was incredibly curious, but Carlton didn’t want to miss this opportune moment. “We’re meant to be?”

“Mhmm!”

“But, why am I so nervous?”

“Huh?”

“My duke is such an esteemed person–someone I couldn’t hope to measure up to. If you try to avoid me–like you just did earlier–I can only observe without any recourse.”

“I’m truly sorry about that. That will never happen again.” Luisen felt heartbroken with guilt at Carlton’s weak words.

“Then… You must give me assurance.”

“Assurance?”

Carlton pushed Luisen backward, and Luisen’s back landed on the soft bed. Carlton’s shadow loomed over Luisen’s body. The mercenary looked down the young lord’s body, from top to bottom; his eyes revealed intense passion. He gently traced Luisen’s collar with his fingertips, fiddling with the lapel of Luisen’s clothes. The touch, lightly grazing over the skin, sent a shiver down Luisen’s spine. A hand slid over Luisen’s body, grabbing his hips.

“Nngh, wait a minute!” Luisen instinctively realized what Carlton wanted. It was so easy to imagine what would happen if he nodded here; his lower abdomen unwittingly tensed.

What should he do? He didn’t exactly hate this turn of events, and he wasn’t one to be cautious about sexual matters. However, he was a little hesitant to succumb to the other’s desires as he was pinned under someone so much larger than he was.

Carlton kissed Luisen’s lips. Unlike their sexual tension, the kiss was very light–a brief touch before pulling away. Carlton whispered above the young lord’s lips, “I love you.”

His confession, carried through his breaths, weighed heavily on Luisen’s heart. It was the first time someone’s confession had penetrated his heart like this. He had heard so many love confessions in his life. Every time, he had also answered casually: ‘thank you’ or ‘regretfully, I don’t feel the same.’ It had never been difficult; he had felt like he received an awkward, troublesome gift. 

However, his head went blank now. How should he answer? All the eloquent words he had didn’t seem to be correct.

Carlton was precious to him. He wished for Carlton’s happiness, whatever form it took. Yet, the thought of a future without Carlton was unimaginable. Even if it meant shattering the other’s dreams, he found himself wanting greedily to keep Carlton by his side.

Had he ever wanted someone so intensely? These feelings couldn’t be anything but love.

‘Then, my answer is…’

Luisen stroked Carlton’s cheek with the back of his hand. His fingertips trembled, and Carlton’s expression darkened slightly. Most likely, overwhelmed emotions were at fault. 

Luisen quickly added, in case Carlton misunderstood, “Me too.”

Suddenly, Luisen choked up. His first confession was even more emotional than he had imagined. How could others live like this? Luisen came to respect all those who confessed to him–he should have been more sincere. “I love you too.”

Carlton smiled brightly. The corners of his eyes crinkled with his happy smile, and he kissed Luisen–a far deeper kiss than before.

Luisen soon found himself breathless. Where did that cautious confession go? Carlton’s hand lost all hesitation as he touched Luisen’s body. When he came to his senses, Luisen found himself undressed in front of his lover.

‘Ara?’

He had confessed his love–he hadn’t yet promised his buttocks. Luisen realized he had fallen for Carlton’s trick. The mercenary also undressed at that moment. Looking up at the mercenary from below, Luisen found that body undeniably enticing.

The young lord almost involuntarily placed his hand on Carlton’s abs. Carlton grinned–he was too aroused for the other to regain his reason right now.

“…Slowly, please. It’s my first time doing it this way.”

It was a bit embarrassing to say such an innocent thing after being known for playing around…but Luisen couldn’t help it. He felt a little instinctive repulsion regarding his backside, so he hadn’t let anyone touch it.

Startled, Carlton opened his eyes wide; when he understood what Luisen meant, he rushed at the young lord even more wildly. 

‘Ah, who the fuck knows.’ Luisen surrendered to desire.

***

Daybreak:

Silence fell in Luisen’s bedroom, which had been noisy all throughout dawn.  Carlton woke up; he saw the young lord still sound asleep in his arms.

He embraced Luisen’s waist, and kissed the protruding bones on the young lord’s spine and on the lips.

“Mmmn.” Luisen also stirred. Carlton smiled and slipped out of the bed to get dressed. Luisen–half-drunk with sleep–watched his lover. What a glorious body. Though, it was a bit embarrassing to see the marks he left on that firm skin. The young lord was sure the other felt the same.

“Leaving already? You should stay longer,” Luisen whispered.

“My deputy is leaving for the South today. I have something to tell him before he leaves.”

“Ah.”

Well then, there was nothing Luisen could do about it. Instead, he opened his arms wide. Lured in, Carlton embraced and kissed Luisen–there was some lingering regret in their touch.

“My Duke, you should sleep more.”

“We should have breakfast together, later.”

“Yes. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Mmhm.”

Carlton left through the window, just as he had entered the night before. Alone in the room, Luisen wrapped himself up in the blanket and closed his eyes. Though his waist felt a bit sore, the past night was the best he had ever had. Carlton was truly good at everything.

‘I love him so much I could die.’ Luisen quietly murmured to himself. Somehow he felt invincible…as if anything he tried would work out.