Chapter 21
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“The lord is trying to kill his own people!”
“The lord wants to kill us!”
“I’m not, though!” Luisen cried.
“Give us bread!”
“Open the gates!”
“My lord, let’s leave. You don’t have to deal with every single violent mob or riot,” Ruger said.
“We’re not a violent mob!”
Absolutely insane. Why could these villagers hear Ruger so well, anyway? Luisen felt like he was about to go crazy.
Why did it turn out like this? Until just a moment ago, Luisen had been enjoying a quiet walk.
“Please, mount your horse. We have to get out of here first,” Ruger said.
Luisen tried to mount the horse as Ruger requested. However, the horse kept stepping away; Luisen’s feet could not reach the stirrups.
“The lord is trying to run away!” Those who saw Luisen trying to mount the horse crowded closer in a last ditch effort to get his attention. When Luisen tried to force his way through the crowd on top of the horse’s back, the people rushed at him, frightening the horse.
Neigh!!
The horse shook its body and raised its front hooves. Luisen, who was about to sit in the saddle, was thrown to the ground.
‘Nngh!’ The impact made Luisen’s body curl up. At that moment, something sharp flew towards him.
Luisen reflexively swung his right hand.
Clank!
Something bounced off the small but hard shield that the bracelet had created. The metallic clang sounded like a dagger.
‘What? Where did this come from? Who did this?’ Luisen looked up in surprise, but he was already surrounded on all sides by agitated villagers.
‘Ah….’
The people looked down upon him. The sunlight poured in from behind, creating dark shadows on their faces. Dozens of eyes, all with burst capillaries, were fixed upon Luisen, penetrating the young lord with their glares.
Hungry and angry people.
In his past life, these types of people had been everywhere. Luisen, powerless after wandering around as a beggar, was easy prey for them. No matter if he was begging, working, or just standing and existing, he was often beaten half to death, surrounded, just like this situation, by a volatile crowd.
‘I-I have to run.’ Once again, old memories began to arise. A deep-seated sense of fear seized Luisen. Fear consumed reason and paralyzed his senses. He was once again nothing more than a poor and powerless duke–with no nobility and no hometown, he had returned to a life of endless wandering.
His heart was pounding, but his two legs would not move. In such a state of extreme confusion, his body would not listen.
Someone grabbed Luisen by the collar.
“We’ve got the lord!”
While Luisen reeled from the impact, someone else grabbed his arm. With an audible rip, the sleeve of his shirt tore off. Luisen swayed between eager hands like a paper doll, bruising everywhere.
Luisen’s spiritless body was thrown here and there.
Then, a familiar, unforgettable voice rang out, “Duke! Lord Anies! Where are you?!”
It was a black knight riding on a black horse.
Carlton had come looking for him.
“Sir Carlton! Over here!” Luisen shouted. However, it did not seem that Luisen’s voice could be heard over the deafening din of the crowd. ‘What can I do?’ Carlton’s gaze was scanning the opposite direction. Like this…Luisen’s savior may ride away.
‘I can’t let that happen!’ Luisen had quickly thought of a solution in that moment. Even if humans couldn’t hear him, a horse surely could.
Luisen freed his arms with all his might and brought his left hand near his mouth. Forming a circle with his fingers, he blew into his hand. A long, clear whistling sound, often used in riding training, cut through the air. The sound was not as piercing as it could have been, competing with the roaring crowd.
The black horse, with its sensitive ears, turned towards Luisen, and Carlton didn’t miss the small shift in his steed. His eyes followed the horse’s gaze and locked onto Luisen.
Carlton reacted immediately. He pulled on his horse’s reins, urging his steed to leap a considerable distance. Luisen had no idea how the knight managed to move so nimbly in such a crowd. The gigantic black horse, after vaulting over the people’s heads, landed in front of Luisen.
“Get away from him!”
Carlton’s fearsome movements terrified the crowd. They were ordinary folk, and though they were incensed with anger, they knew they were no match for Carlton, who had fought on the front lines numerous times. The villagers finally released their hold on the lord.
Carlton snatched Luisen away without even having to swing his sword. As if he were holding a mere child, he hefted Luisen’s light body up and held him effortlessly against his side.
“Don’t struggle,” Carlton whispered.
Luisen closed his eyes and nodded. Thinking of the last time he’d been on this horse, there was certainly nothing good about opening his eyes.
And Luisen was proven right. Carlton took off, horse leaping into the air similarly to how he had approached Luisen in the crowd. Luisen tightly clenched his jaw and swallowed a scream; he felt as if he were flying through the sky.
Carlton easily jumped through the angry crowd and quickly escaped the riotous situation. No one dared to block his way.
***
When the two arrived at the entrance to the village, Carlton finally released Luisen.
“U-urk.” As soon as his feet touched the ground, Luisen gagged. Carlton looked at his prone figure calmly, with neither sympathy nor contempt.
‘That could have been a disaster.’ After a while–when his dizziness had faded–Luisen looked up. Carlton handed him a water canteen to rinse his mouth.
“Where are we?” Luisen felt stable enough to pay attention to his surroundings.
“We’re at the village outskirts.”
“You’ve saved me twice now.”
“Yes, well…” Carlton was also very surprised. He had thought Luisen was following behind closely, but as he waited for the territory’s gates to open, he realized he could no longer see Luisen nor the lord’s servant.
‘I was too excited. After only signing paperwork all day long in the castle, I was too excited to ride through the open fields of the south.’ Carlton’s blood boiled at the brief freedom. He and his men had gradually increased their speed, vying for the lead and competing against each other. In the midst of their fun, Carlton had completely forgotten about Luisen.
After realizing Luisen was no longer in sight, Carlton had thought the lord would soon follow. After all, all nobles learned to ride horses as soon as they could walk. Horses were expensive creatures; riding skillfully was seen as a symbol and privilege of the nobility.
He hadn’t known that Luisen was such a terrible rider.
Later Carlton had hurried back and retraced his path to find Luisen. By the time the knight arrived, the villagers had already started a riot, and Luisen was already buried in the crowd.
Carlton’s soldiers stationed at the castle had also mobilized when they’d heard the news of the riot in the village. If Carlton had been one step behind, Luisen might have gotten seriously injured.
“That could have been dangerous.”
“I’m sorry.” Luisen bit his lips and recalled, one by one, the various grievances the villagers had yelled at him. ‘They said their food and water supplies were taken. Rations had stopped being distributed.’
Slowly, he pieced together the clues in his mind.
During war time, all granaries and excess supplies were seized from the territory–quite standard for wars involving territorial disputes. The ruling household would then ration necessities for a living.
However, when Luisen had suddenly surrendered, a glitch in the well-oiled system appeared. As Carlton’s soldiers seized the castle, the administrative system completely collapsed. The day to day operations were dismantled, and distribution was suspended.
All the soldiers were detained and the castle’s servants were too busy waiting upon Carlton’s men. On top of that, all the officials went on strike, refusing to work underneath Luisen and Carlton’s rule. Only Luisen had retained freedom to work, but he was completely unaware of the situation.
‘Is it all my fault, after all?’ Luisen grasped his head.
Finally, he understood the treasurer’s despair at his abrupt actions, the hostility from the servants, and Carlton’s ridicule. Carlton’s question came to mind, when he’d asked about Luisen’s interest in the village’s situation. He must have known something was wrong there.
“You….did you know about the state of the villagers and the village?” Luisen asked.
Carlton nodded, as if this knowledge was obvious. “Yes, of course I knew. The duke truly had no idea?”
“…If I knew, then I wouldn’t have ignored their plight,” Luisen murmured, flagellating himself. He couldn’t raise his head, shoulders heavy with pity for the villagers and shame for himself. Carlton looked down at the rounded crown of the young lord’s head.
Finally, the time had come to laugh at the lord. Carlton had secretly looked forward to this opportunity ever since he had seen Luisen’s noble poise. How could a lord not know when the people in his territory were starving?
But, his laughter did not come.
Luisen had a pale face, as if he were about to faint. His shock and regret were plainly evident in his expression. The elegance that had been crafted since birth, the noble arrogance, had left him. Only the image of a young, ignorant, and vulnerable man remained.
Luisen stood on the precipice of despair; a single push could send him hurtling into an endless pit of depression.
‘Let’s just leave it alone.’
This and that, everything was just too annoying. Carlton decided to wait on ridiculing the lord until the situation was sorted out.
“If you’ve sobered up, then let’s return to the castle. I’ll escort you there,” Carlton said.
“Wait a moment. I have a favor to request from you.” Luisen grabbed Carlton by the wrist. “I want to see the situation in the village for myself. With my own eyes.”
“No. That’s too dangerous.”
“That’s why I’m asking you. I’ll be safe with you.”
“Why would I….” Carlton attempted to shake off Luisen’s hand. However, at that moment, their gazes connected. Luisen’s blue eyes were filled with fervent hope, as if Carlton were his only savior.
‘Honestly, it would be better to just take him to the castle.’
Luisen’s shock shouldn’t have mattered to Carlton. Rather, the young duke’s actions had distorted his original plans–anger would have been an apt response. If Carlton escorted Luisen back to the castle, he and his men could leave for the Vinard estate without getting dragged into the territory’s issues.
But, going against his own thoughts, Carlton nodded. He had been ready to refuse, but was struck speechless by Luisen’s gradually brightening and sunny expression.
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“The lord is trying to kill his own people!”
“The lord wants to kill us!”
“I’m not, though!” Luisen cried.
“Give us bread!”
“Open the gates!”
“My lord, let’s leave. You don’t have to deal with every single violent mob or riot,” Ruger said.
“We’re not a violent mob!”
Absolutely insane. Why could these villagers hear Ruger so well, anyway? Luisen felt like he was about to go crazy.
Why did it turn out like this? Until just a moment ago, Luisen had been enjoying a quiet walk.
“Please, mount your horse. We have to get out of here first,” Ruger said.
Luisen tried to mount the horse as Ruger requested. However, the horse kept stepping away; Luisen’s feet could not reach the stirrups.
“The lord is trying to run away!” Those who saw Luisen trying to mount the horse crowded closer in a last ditch effort to get his attention. When Luisen tried to force his way through the crowd on top of the horse’s back, the people rushed at him, frightening the horse.
Neigh!!
The horse shook its body and raised its front hooves. Luisen, who was about to sit in the saddle, was thrown to the ground.
‘Nngh!’ The impact made Luisen’s body curl up. At that moment, something sharp flew towards him.
Luisen reflexively swung his right hand.
Clank!
Something bounced off the small but hard shield that the bracelet had created. The metallic clang sounded like a dagger.
‘What? Where did this come from? Who did this?’ Luisen looked up in surprise, but he was already surrounded on all sides by agitated villagers.
‘Ah….’
The people looked down upon him. The sunlight poured in from behind, creating dark shadows on their faces. Dozens of eyes, all with burst capillaries, were fixed upon Luisen, penetrating the young lord with their glares.
Hungry and angry people.
In his past life, these types of people had been everywhere. Luisen, powerless after wandering around as a beggar, was easy prey for them. No matter if he was begging, working, or just standing and existing, he was often beaten half to death, surrounded, just like this situation, by a volatile crowd.
‘I-I have to run.’ Once again, old memories began to arise. A deep-seated sense of fear seized Luisen. Fear consumed reason and paralyzed his senses. He was once again nothing more than a poor and powerless duke–with no nobility and no hometown, he had returned to a life of endless wandering.
His heart was pounding, but his two legs would not move. In such a state of extreme confusion, his body would not listen.
Someone grabbed Luisen by the collar.
“We’ve got the lord!”
While Luisen reeled from the impact, someone else grabbed his arm. With an audible rip, the sleeve of his shirt tore off. Luisen swayed between eager hands like a paper doll, bruising everywhere.
Luisen’s spiritless body was thrown here and there.
Then, a familiar, unforgettable voice rang out, “Duke! Lord Anies! Where are you?!”
It was a black knight riding on a black horse.
Carlton had come looking for him.
“Sir Carlton! Over here!” Luisen shouted. However, it did not seem that Luisen’s voice could be heard over the deafening din of the crowd. ‘What can I do?’ Carlton’s gaze was scanning the opposite direction. Like this…Luisen’s savior may ride away.
‘I can’t let that happen!’ Luisen had quickly thought of a solution in that moment. Even if humans couldn’t hear him, a horse surely could.
Luisen freed his arms with all his might and brought his left hand near his mouth. Forming a circle with his fingers, he blew into his hand. A long, clear whistling sound, often used in riding training, cut through the air. The sound was not as piercing as it could have been, competing with the roaring crowd.
The black horse, with its sensitive ears, turned towards Luisen, and Carlton didn’t miss the small shift in his steed. His eyes followed the horse’s gaze and locked onto Luisen.
Carlton reacted immediately. He pulled on his horse’s reins, urging his steed to leap a considerable distance. Luisen had no idea how the knight managed to move so nimbly in such a crowd. The gigantic black horse, after vaulting over the people’s heads, landed in front of Luisen.
“Get away from him!”
Carlton’s fearsome movements terrified the crowd. They were ordinary folk, and though they were incensed with anger, they knew they were no match for Carlton, who had fought on the front lines numerous times. The villagers finally released their hold on the lord.
Carlton snatched Luisen away without even having to swing his sword. As if he were holding a mere child, he hefted Luisen’s light body up and held him effortlessly against his side.
“Don’t struggle,” Carlton whispered.
Luisen closed his eyes and nodded. Thinking of the last time he’d been on this horse, there was certainly nothing good about opening his eyes.
And Luisen was proven right. Carlton took off, horse leaping into the air similarly to how he had approached Luisen in the crowd. Luisen tightly clenched his jaw and swallowed a scream; he felt as if he were flying through the sky.
Carlton easily jumped through the angry crowd and quickly escaped the riotous situation. No one dared to block his way.
***
When the two arrived at the entrance to the village, Carlton finally released Luisen.
“U-urk.” As soon as his feet touched the ground, Luisen gagged. Carlton looked at his prone figure calmly, with neither sympathy nor contempt.
‘That could have been a disaster.’ After a while–when his dizziness had faded–Luisen looked up. Carlton handed him a water canteen to rinse his mouth.
“Where are we?” Luisen felt stable enough to pay attention to his surroundings.
“We’re at the village outskirts.”
“You’ve saved me twice now.”
“Yes, well…” Carlton was also very surprised. He had thought Luisen was following behind closely, but as he waited for the territory’s gates to open, he realized he could no longer see Luisen nor the lord’s servant.
‘I was too excited. After only signing paperwork all day long in the castle, I was too excited to ride through the open fields of the south.’ Carlton’s blood boiled at the brief freedom. He and his men had gradually increased their speed, vying for the lead and competing against each other. In the midst of their fun, Carlton had completely forgotten about Luisen.
After realizing Luisen was no longer in sight, Carlton had thought the lord would soon follow. After all, all nobles learned to ride horses as soon as they could walk. Horses were expensive creatures; riding skillfully was seen as a symbol and privilege of the nobility.
He hadn’t known that Luisen was such a terrible rider.
Later Carlton had hurried back and retraced his path to find Luisen. By the time the knight arrived, the villagers had already started a riot, and Luisen was already buried in the crowd.
Carlton’s soldiers stationed at the castle had also mobilized when they’d heard the news of the riot in the village. If Carlton had been one step behind, Luisen might have gotten seriously injured.
“That could have been dangerous.”
“I’m sorry.” Luisen bit his lips and recalled, one by one, the various grievances the villagers had yelled at him. ‘They said their food and water supplies were taken. Rations had stopped being distributed.’
Slowly, he pieced together the clues in his mind.
During war time, all granaries and excess supplies were seized from the territory–quite standard for wars involving territorial disputes. The ruling household would then ration necessities for a living.
However, when Luisen had suddenly surrendered, a glitch in the well-oiled system appeared. As Carlton’s soldiers seized the castle, the administrative system completely collapsed. The day to day operations were dismantled, and distribution was suspended.
All the soldiers were detained and the castle’s servants were too busy waiting upon Carlton’s men. On top of that, all the officials went on strike, refusing to work underneath Luisen and Carlton’s rule. Only Luisen had retained freedom to work, but he was completely unaware of the situation.
‘Is it all my fault, after all?’ Luisen grasped his head.
Finally, he understood the treasurer’s despair at his abrupt actions, the hostility from the servants, and Carlton’s ridicule. Carlton’s question came to mind, when he’d asked about Luisen’s interest in the village’s situation. He must have known something was wrong there.
“You….did you know about the state of the villagers and the village?” Luisen asked.
Carlton nodded, as if this knowledge was obvious. “Yes, of course I knew. The duke truly had no idea?”
“…If I knew, then I wouldn’t have ignored their plight,” Luisen murmured, flagellating himself. He couldn’t raise his head, shoulders heavy with pity for the villagers and shame for himself. Carlton looked down at the rounded crown of the young lord’s head.
Finally, the time had come to laugh at the lord. Carlton had secretly looked forward to this opportunity ever since he had seen Luisen’s noble poise. How could a lord not know when the people in his territory were starving?
But, his laughter did not come.
Luisen had a pale face, as if he were about to faint. His shock and regret were plainly evident in his expression. The elegance that had been crafted since birth, the noble arrogance, had left him. Only the image of a young, ignorant, and vulnerable man remained.
Luisen stood on the precipice of despair; a single push could send him hurtling into an endless pit of depression.
‘Let’s just leave it alone.’
This and that, everything was just too annoying. Carlton decided to wait on ridiculing the lord until the situation was sorted out.
“If you’ve sobered up, then let’s return to the castle. I’ll escort you there,” Carlton said.
“Wait a moment. I have a favor to request from you.” Luisen grabbed Carlton by the wrist. “I want to see the situation in the village for myself. With my own eyes.”
“No. That’s too dangerous.”
“That’s why I’m asking you. I’ll be safe with you.”
“Why would I….” Carlton attempted to shake off Luisen’s hand. However, at that moment, their gazes connected. Luisen’s blue eyes were filled with fervent hope, as if Carlton were his only savior.
‘Honestly, it would be better to just take him to the castle.’
Luisen’s shock shouldn’t have mattered to Carlton. Rather, the young duke’s actions had distorted his original plans–anger would have been an apt response. If Carlton escorted Luisen back to the castle, he and his men could leave for the Vinard estate without getting dragged into the territory’s issues.
But, going against his own thoughts, Carlton nodded. He had been ready to refuse, but was struck speechless by Luisen’s gradually brightening and sunny expression.
The lord is trying to kill his own people!The lord wants to kill us!I'm not, though! Luisen cried.Give us bread!Open the gates!My lord, let's leave. You don't have to deal with every single violent mob or riot, Ruger said.We're not a violent mob!Absolutely insane. Why could these villagers hear Ruger so well, anyway? Luisen felt like he was about to go crazy.Why did it turn out like this? Until just a moment ago, Luisen had been enjoying a quiet walk.Please, mount your horse. We have to get out of here first, Ruger said.Luisen tried to mount the horse as Ruger requested. However, the horse kept stepping away; Luisen's feet could not reach the stirrups.The lord is trying to run away! Those who saw Luisen trying to mount the horse crowded closer in a last ditch effort to get his attention. When Luisen tried to force his way through the crowd on top of the horse's back, the people rushed at him, frightening the horse.Neigh!!The horse shook its body and raised its front hooves. Luisen, who was about to sit in the saddle, was thrown to the ground.Nngh!' The impact made Luisen's body curl up. At that moment, something sharp flew towards him.Luisen reflexively swung his right hand.Clank!Something bounced off the small but hard shield that the bracelet had created. The metallic clang sounded like a dagger.What? Where did this come from? Who did this?' Luisen looked up in surprise, but he was already surrounded on all sides by agitated villagers.Ah.'The people looked down upon him. The sunlight poured in from behind, creating dark shadows on their faces. Dozens of eyes, all with burst capillaries, were fixed upon Luisen, penetrating the young lord with their glares.Hungry and angry people.In his past life, these types of people had been everywhere. Luisen, powerless after wandering around as a beggar, was easy prey for them. No matter if he was begging, working, or just standing and existing, he was often beaten half to death, surrounded, just like this situation, by a volatile crowd.I-I have to run.' Once again, old memories began to arise. A deep-seated sense of fear seized Luisen. Fear consumed reason and paralyzed his senses. He was once again nothing more than a poor and powerless dukewith no nobility and no hometown, he had returned to a life of endless wandering.His heart was pounding, but his two legs would not move. In such a state of extreme confusion, his body would not listen.Someone grabbed Luisen by the collar.We've got the lord!While Luisen reeled from the impact, someone else grabbed his arm. With an audible rip, the sleeve of his shirt tore off. Luisen swayed between eager hands like a paper doll, bruising everywhere.Luisen's spiritless body was thrown here and there.Then, a familiar, unforgettable voice rang out, Duke! Lord Anies! Where are you?!It was a black knight riding on a black horse.Carlton had come looking for him.Sir Carlton! Over here! Luisen shouted. However, it did not seem that Luisen's voice could be heard over the deafening din of the crowd. What can I do?' Carlton's gaze was scanning the opposite direction. Like thisLuisen's savior may ride away.I can't let that happen!' Luisen had quickly thought of a solution in that moment. Even if humans couldn't hear him, a horse surely could.Luisen freed his arms with all his might and brought his left hand near his mouth. Forming a circle with his fingers, he blew into his hand. A long, clear whistling sound, often used in riding training, cut through the air. The sound was not as piercing as it could have been, competing with the roaring crowd.The black horse, with its sensitive ears, turned towards Luisen, and Carlton didn't miss the small shift in his steed. His eyes followed the horse's gaze and locked onto Luisen.Carlton reacted immediately. He pulled on his horse's reins, urging his steed to leap a considerable distance. Luisen had no idea how the knight managed to move so nimbly in such a crowd. The gigantic black horse, after vaulting over the people's heads, landed in front of Luisen.Get away from him!Carlton's fearsome movements terrified the crowd. They were ordinary folk, and though they were incensed with anger, they knew they were no match for Carlton, who had fought on the front lines numerous times. The villagers finally released their hold on the lord.Carlton snatched Luisen away without even having to swing his sword. As if he were holding a mere child, he hefted Luisen's light body up and held him effortlessly against his side.Don't struggle, Carlton whispered.Luisen closed his eyes and nodded. Thinking of the last time he'd been on this horse, there was certainly nothing good about opening his eyes.And Luisen was proven right. Carlton took off, horse leaping into the air similarly to how he had approached Luisen in the crowd. Luisen tightly clenched his jaw and swallowed a scream; he felt as if he were flying through the sky.Carlton easily jumped through the angry crowd and quickly escaped the riotous situation. No one dared to block his way.***When the two arrived at the entrance to the village, Carlton finally released Luisen.U-urk. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Luisen gagged. Carlton looked at his prone figure calmly, with neither sympathy nor contempt.That could have been a disaster.' After a whilewhen his dizziness had fadedLuisen looked up. Carlton handed him a water canteen to rinse his mouth.Where are we? Luisen felt stable enough to pay attention to his surroundings.We're at the village outskirts.You've saved me twice now.Yes, well Carlton was also very surprised. He had thought Luisen was following behind closely, but as he waited for the territory's gates to open, he realized he could no longer see Luisen nor the lord's servant.I was too excited. After only signing paperwork all day long in the castle, I was too excited to ride through the open fields of the south.' Carlton's blood boiled at the brief freedom. He and his men had gradually increased their speed, vying for the lead and competing against each other. In the midst of their fun, Carlton had completely forgotten about Luisen.After realizing Luisen was no longer in sight, Carlton had thought the lord would soon follow. After all, all nobles learned to ride horses as soon as they could walk. Horses were expensive creatures; riding skillfully was seen as a symbol and privilege of the nobility.He hadn't known that Luisen was such a terrible rider.Later Carlton had hurried back and retraced his path to find Luisen. By the time the knight arrived, the villagers had already started a riot, and Luisen was already buried in the crowd.Carlton's soldiers stationed at the castle had also mobilized when they'd heard the news of the riot in the village. If Carlton had been one step behind, Luisen might have gotten seriously injured.That could have been dangerous.I'm sorry. Luisen bit his lips and recalled, one by one, the various grievances the villagers had yelled at him. They said their food and water supplies were taken. Rations had stopped being distributed.'Slowly, he pieced together the clues in his mind.During war time, all granaries and excess supplies were seized from the territoryquite standard for wars involving territorial disputes. The ruling household would then ration necessities for a living.However, when Luisen had suddenly surrendered, a glitch in the well-oiled system appeared. As Carlton's soldiers seized the castle, the administrative system completely collapsed. The day to day operations were dismantled, and distribution was suspended.All the soldiers were detained and the castle's servants were too busy waiting upon Carlton's men. On top of that, all the officials went on strike, refusing to work underneath Luisen and Carlton's rule. Only Luisen had retained freedom to work, but he was completely unaware of the situation.Is it all my fault, after all?' Luisen grasped his head.Finally, he understood the treasurer's despair at his abrupt actions, the hostility from the servants, and Carlton's ridicule. Carlton's question came to mind, when he'd asked about Luisen's interest in the village's situation. He must have known something was wrong there.You.did you know about the state of the villagers and the village? Luisen asked.Carlton nodded, as if this knowledge was obvious. Yes, of course I knew. The duke truly had no idea?If I knew, then I wouldn't have ignored their plight, Luisen murmured, flagellating himself. He couldn't raise his head, shoulders heavy with pity for the villagers and shame for himself. Carlton looked down at the rounded crown of the young lord's head.Finally, the time had come to laugh at the lord. Carlton had secretly looked forward to this opportunity ever since he had seen Luisen's noble poise. How could a lord not know when the people in his territory were starving?But, his laughter did not come.Luisen had a pale face, as if he were about to faint. His shock and regret were plainly evident in his expression. The elegance that had been crafted since birth, the noble arrogance, had left him. Only the image of a young, ignorant, and vulnerable man remained.Luisen stood on the precipice of despair; a single push could send him hurtling into an endless pit of depression.Let's just leave it alone.'This and that, everything was just too annoying. Carlton decided to wait on ridiculing the lord until the situation was sorted out.If you've sobered up, then let's return to the castle. I'll escort you there, Carlton said.Wait a moment. I have a favor to request from you. Luisen grabbed Carlton by the wrist. I want to see the situation in the village for myself. With my own eyes.No. That's too dangerous.That's why I'm asking you. I'll be safe with you.Why would I. Carlton attempted to shake off Luisen's hand. However, at that moment, their gazes connected. Luisen's blue eyes were filled with fervent hope, as if Carlton were his only savior.Honestly, it would be better to just take him to the castle.'Luisen's shock shouldn't have mattered to Carlton. Rather, the young duke's actions had distorted his original plansanger would have been an apt response. If Carlton escorted Luisen back to the castle, he and his men could leave for the Vinard estate without getting dragged into the territory's issues.But, going against his own thoughts, Carlton nodded. He had been ready to refuse, but was struck speechless by Luisen's gradually brightening and sunny expression.
