Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

Chapter 26

‘There’s nothing more I can do here.’ Luisen crossed his arms and observed the fervent conversation brewing between his retainers. Though he had been trying to sincerely follow along, the arguments had begun to give him a headache. ‘I’m sure the general will lead the efforts well.’

Luisen decided to leave matters to someone with far more leadership and administrative abilities than himself. As for the lord, he resolved to use this incident and further events to slowly learn about his territorial duties.

The young duke looked towards the general, who nodded his head when their eyes met. The interaction was small and insignificant, but within the benevolent gaze and polite acknowledgement, a distinct pride for his ward could be felt. He looked like he’d had a revelation where, in the time he hadn’t seen him, Luisen had finally matured into an adult. Not a single word of praise was uttered, but Luisen recognized the implicit compliment.

The general acknowledged Luisen’s efforts and his attempt to become a better lord. For the first time, Luisen felt relief when he looked at his beleaguered closest advisor.

‘That’s good.’ Luisen slipped out of the conference room with a spring in his step. Then, someone rushed after him.

“My lord.” It was the knight commander. The old knight’s wrinkled eyes were moist and red. He resolutely kneeled in front of his young master. Luisen, embarrassed, tried to stop him, but the knight commander didn’t even give him the chance to refuse his fervor.

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

“Huh? For what?” Luisen asked blankly. Why was he on his knees?

     “I should have followed and protected you, my lord. After seeing how you’ve suffered, I now see I was wrong. My stubbornness–my pride–has put my lord in jeopardy…” The old knight bowed his head guiltily. “You’ve been injured like this….Really, you could have met some huge disaster. I have no right nor honor to face my lord nor his predecessor.”

     The knight commander seemed truly guilty. If Luisen’s knights had followed, perhaps he and his servant would not have been abandoned in the village.

     He was well aware that Luisen had poor horseback riding skills and had little to no skill in martial defense. He knew that his lord would not have been able to keep up with those seasoned mercenaries. After realizing all this and still having done nothing, the commander was resentful of his own complacency.

     What if Carlton had not found Luisen? What if his lord had continued to be buffeted by the riotous crowd?

It was dizzying and horrifying to even imagine the possibilities.

“Punish this unworthy servant, my lord. I must not be forgiven for putting my emotions before my duty as a knight.”

“Honestly, what do you mean ‘punishment.’ It’s fine. I’m okay.”

“No, you mustn’t let this transgression slide. I’m a wretch that doesn’t deserve to be my lord’s knight.”

Luisen felt lost while he listened to the knight commander’s passionate self-blame. ‘No, why to this extent….’

He crouched down in front of the man, wondering what he should do. He was embarrassed by this scene. “I would have refused if you insisted on following me.”

“Even still, I should not have accepted it without a fight. Not when it concerns my lord’s safety…”

“What can you do? You dislike me…and for a good reason. I’m ignorant of issues that happen right underneath my nose.”

“It’s not my lord’s fault! The retainers should have more closely observed the situation and assisted you.”

 Luisen shook his head. “No. Since I signed off on the proposition, I’m at fault. I’m sorry.”

“No, my lord. Though the territory was scrambling for a while, these events happen as we go through life. Do you think there has never been such crises during the late duke’s reign?” The knight commander began to comfort Luisen, and the conversation seemed to oscillate between the two as they tried to comfort each other. As tiresome as the situation had been, Luisen knew how present he was in his knight’s mind–a silver lining to this catastrophe. 1

“Those are wise words. Yes, people will make mistakes as they live.”

“But….”

“Do you think I don’t know the depths of your loyalty? You gave me a magic item that you care for as much as your own life.” Luisen revealed the bracelet given to him by the knight commander–the very same accessory that guarded him against some attacks from the crowd aimed at his blind side. He carefully removed the bracelet and placed it back in the commander’s hands.

“Thanks to your care, I was able to get back to the castle safely. Thank you for lending me something so precious,” Luisen said.

“My lord….”

     “I’m sorry I didn’t spare some consideration for your feelings.”

The commander, more than anyone else, had stood by his principles and moral virtues. This upright but stubborn man had protected the territory even after he was abandoned by his masters, one through death and the other through negligence. Such fierce loyalty, which did not retreat in the face of death, deserved respect.

Luisen didn’t think he deserved the man’s apology, as he had died a dog’s death in the previous timeline. 2

‘Who would dare to punish whom?’ Luisen thought. ‘I ran away and he stayed.’

“You’ve always done your duty. I’m the one who should apologize.” Luisen knew that no matter how many times he would say sorry, the deep guilt could not be conveyed.

Though no one else could access that long lost memory, Luisen couldn’t forgive himself, to stop mourning the staunchly loyal commander’s death.

Luisen silently took the commander’s hands in his own. “Thank you. Always.”

“My lord….”

On the other hand, the knight commander was surprised at Luisen’s touch. Those hands used to be small and soft, like sprouting leaves blooming in early spring. Now, however, these hands had grown larger and were firmly supporting themselves.

A knight who seeks punishment; the master who feels the need to apologize instead–when did he become so reliable?

Tears spilled from the corners of the knight’s eyes, soaking the deep set wrinkles on his face. Each large droplet was as heavy as the years he had lived.

“I will never take my lord lightly again. I will trust and follow your orders faithfully,” the knight commander vowed.

‘That’s..not it though. Why would he trust me? What is there to trust?’ Luisen questioned his wisdom, but he wasn’t so uncouth as to throw the older man’s goodwill back in his face. 3 Instead, in a dignified and elegant manner, Luisen finished comforting the old knight and sent him back to the conference room to fulfill his duties.

‘I’m thankful…but they shouldn’t trust me too much….I’ll only lead them into trouble….’

Thanks to his knowledge of the future, Luisen had seemed intelligent for a while, but Luisen ws originally someone who didn’t like to use his brain and was inattentive. He knew his unreliable self the best.

He’d have to fix their misconceptions sometime. Luisen grumbled and quickened his pace.

*****

There were several prisons in the duke’s estate. Luisen had asked Carlton’s men in advance where the villagers were being confined–the basement dungeons. It was a prison for the criminals with clear charges, a place to isolate them from the others before trial.

Generally, those caught in riots would be exiled from the territory. In some cases, fines or communal labor may replace a harsher sentence, depending on the lord’s discretion.

But, harming the lord or the Anies family would often result in the death penalty. For those who lived underneath the protection and mercy of their noble ruler, any physical retribution was a serious act of treason that threatened the stability of the system. No noble family would ever let such crime slide.

The people captured during the day were hardly the ones who directly injured Luisen.

But, their fates depended on the lord’s perspective; whether or not he viewed them as those caught in the flow of anger or those who had participated in intentional harm against the ruling family. The Duke of Anies had the right to judge crimes committed on his territory.

Carlton currently held the right to hold trial, but their fates still depended on Luisen’s whim–Carlton had given permission for Luisen to do as he pleased.

Though stepping inside the duke’s castle would usually be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the villagers, their visit was tainted by being confined in the basement dungeon. A distinct anxious atmosphere filled the prison. When Luisen climbed down the stairs, many entreaties were lobbed at the duke, who held the key to their life or death in his hands.

 “I’m sorry, my lord!”

 “I’d never attack you, my lord, I swear!”

 Each cry reverberated off the stone walls, creating a dizzying cacophony. Within the panicked cries, a familiar voice could be heard.

 “My lord! My lord! It’s me! I’m over here!”

 “…Ruger?”

 Ruger was locked up in a cell which he shared with five or six other villagers.

“Why are you there?” Luisen said, surprised. He walked straight to the cell.

Ruger molded his body to the iron bars and desperately called out to his master. “My lord. Oh, my lord. You’ve finally come to save me, haven’t you?”

“I didn’t even know you were here? Why are you here anyway?”

“I was captured earlier in the day, after Carlton had taken my lord away. I tried to follow behind, but I got caught up in these peasants’ riot.”

 No wonder Luisen couldn’t find his servant. Honestly, Ruger had reaped what he sowed, but the experience must have been quite traumatizing. His eyes were moist with tears, and Ruger’s physical condition seemed quite poor.

“Come on out for now.” Luisen motioned for the guard to open the door. Ruger flopped out of the cell with sloppy movements. He could not straighten his back properly, and his joints creaked like a rusty hinge.

TL: Thank you guys for reading <3

1. The original novel states that Luisen was quick to grab onto the horse’s tail–aka to seize something (in this case, to seize the good aspects of the catastrophe.) Idiom~
2. A dog’s death = a grim/horrid death, not befitting a human. A death that defies human rights.
3. the original idiom is to throw ashes in the face–aka to be ungrateful or rude in a heartwarming situation.