I Became a Sick Nobleman

“Do you know about the stone barrier surrounding Leponia?” 

“Yes, I have seen it. I heard it’s a stone that blocks everything.” 

‘Why is the talk about the stone barrier suddenly coming up?’

“Fundamentally, the barrier covered by that stone prevents the Great Man from coming to this country.” 

“Pardon?” 

Ruel couldn’t help but feel absurd when the stone and the Great Man appeared.

The purpose of that barrier is to prevent the Great Man from coming to this country.

“For a long time, the only people who knew about this were the king and the head of Setiria.”

Ruel urgently inhaled Breath and then asked with a surprised look on his face.

“Was the seal I knew about a barrier stuck in a large stone?”

“That’s right, that barrier was set up by the head of the Setiria family a long time ago, and it is only passed down through blood, that is, pure direct lineage, so if you die, the barrier will disappear. That’s why the enemy is targeting you.”

Ruel was speechless at Brans’s next words.

It wasn’t just a seal that prevented him from getting something.

It was a seal that blocked the Great Man himself.

Ruel was the medium.

It gave him chills to think that so many lives depended on this body.

“The Royal Family protected Setiria, and Setiria protected this country, that is… It has been a tradition and obligation that has continued since my time.”

“What is the reason? Why is it that only Leponia has a seal like this?”

“It’s because there is an item in the Royal Family’s treasure trove that cannot be taken away by the Great Man, but I don’t even know what it is. It’s probably to prepare for an unexpected situation.”

Now Ruel knows why the Red Ash was so obsessed with the throne and approached the princes.

“Thank you for letting me know, Your Majesty.”

“I thought it was a story you should know. Are you okay? Your complexion has worsened.”

“It’s okay. Do not worry.”

It wasn’t okay.

But Ruel smiled faintly as he listened to his pounding heart.

‘I understand why the former head of the family silenced Billo.’

Although it was a secret known only to the king and the head of Setiria, the Great Man and the Red Ash also knew it.

They knew, but they didn’t use it.

Except for the head of the family, no one knew about Setiria’s collateral or servants, so it could not be used.

How could an individual handle such a tremendous barrier? 

It was obvious, but if he weren’t Ruel Setiria, he wouldn’t have believed it. 

He would have laughed at the person who said it and dismissed it as a lie. 

‘…ha.’

Ruel took a deep breath, holding his trembling hands together. 

His chest felt tight, the pressure was greater than he had anticipated. 

“If it’s too much, it’s okay to take a break.” 

Brans looked at Ruel with concern. 

“I’m fine. If I stay too long, it will only arouse the enemy’s suspicion.” 

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you.” 

“What is it?” 

“Didn’t you inform me earlier that the Tonisk Empire was making a move?” 

“Yes.” 

“They might send an embassy to the Kran Kingdom soon. We don’t know if an alliance between the three countries will be formed, but you should be aware of it for now.” 

“Thank you.” 

Ruel finished speaking and took a deep breath. 

Logically, the three countries had to form an alliance to prepare for the Tonisk Empire. But he felt a little uneasy because he didn’t know much about the Kran Kingdom. 

‘Let’s focus on solving the current problems first.’

Since he had nothing to do with the arrival of the Kran Kingdom delegation, Ruel brought up a story related to the upcoming stage.

        

***      

  

“Lord Setiria.”

After finishing the story briefly, Brans caught Ruel as he was about to leave.

Ruel stood up and looked at Brans.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I know that it is very unpleasant to say something like this now, but will you give me a chance to protect you just once?”

Ruel did not answer right away.

He was shocked to hear that the king was only now protecting himself. After turning a blind eye to him for five years. 

Although there was no reason to refuse.

The more people there were to protect him, the better.

“Yes, please protect me more than you have been able to protect me until now.”

Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.

“But not now. After this incident is over, please protect me then.”

“I understand.”

After hearing the answer, Ruel went outside.

Due to the sudden dizziness, Ruel leaned against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment.

He could feel even the spirits falling off.

“Are you okay?”

—Ruel!

Cassion, Aris, and Leo approached Ruel.

Ruel said nothing.

‘Suppress your emotions.’

He was confident in enduring. He already knew that his life wasn’t just his own. 

His life had just become a little, a lot more entwined.

After clearing his mind and taking a breath, Ruel opened his eyes.

In the end, he just had to not die. 

It was simpler than he thought.

“It’s okay, I just felt a bit dizzy. Lead the way, Cassion.”

Cassion looked at Ruel’s expression.

He immediately bowed down and walked ahead.

‘It looks like he heard some very bad news.’

As he was the closest to Ruel, Cassion could somewhat gauge Ruel’s expression. 

It wasn’t the right time to touch the topic.

He quietly led the way to Banios’ room without saying a word.

Banios’ butler, Hoswell, bowed his head to Ruel.

“I’m sorry, but His Highness Banios is away for a moment. He asked you to wait inside.”

“I understand.”

After giving a brief answer, Ruel went inside with Cassion.

“Would you like to have something to eat?”

Cassion first handed a meat pie from his magic pocket to Ruel. Normally, Ruel would have eaten it right away, but this time he just stared at it.

“Stop acting out of character and just ask.” 

Contrary to his harsh words, Ruel ended up receiving a meat pie.

He wasn’t completely annoyed.

Cassion caught Leo wandering around the room and brought him to Ruel.

Leo looked at Cassion with a dissatisfied expression.

“Just ask.”

Contrary to his displeased voice, Ruel petted Leo.

Leo’s ears perked up and his tail automatically moved left and right.

‘Now we can have a conversation.’

Only then did Cassion see that Ruel’s mood had calmed down a bit and asked.

“What did you hear?”

Ruel continued to stroke Leo’s fur and pressed his ears. 

It was to prepare for the sensitive fox’s light-mouthed fox.

“I heard what my existence is meant to protect.”

“Are you talking about the seal?”

“It was a stone covered by a barrier surrounding Leponia.”

Cassion’s eyebrows twitched. “What exactly does that stone hold?”

“It serves as a barrier to prevent the emergence of the Great Man in Leponia.”

Cassion fell silent. 

He understood why Ruel was so shaken. 

It wasn’t just about breaking a simple seal. 

Ruel opened his mouth without looking at Cassion.

“The real purpose of the Red Ash is the Royal Family’s treasury. I am just a shield that blocks it.”

“It’s a very fragile shield.”

Ruel chuckled.

“It’s a shame, it’s my ancestor who did that, so I can’t blame anyone.”

“You didn’t hear why?”

“Yeah, they just said it’s something they’ve been doing for a long time.”

“Are you okay?”

Cassion hesitated and asked.

It wasn’t a typical question that was usually asked.

Worry was deeply buried.

“No, it’s not okay, it’s really not okay.”

Ruel’s lips trembled slightly.

“You don’t have to endure it.”

“I can’t argue with anyone. What are you going to do if I don’t stand it? It’s because I’m a Setiria… damn it!”

Ruel immediately took a deep breath and inhaled Breath.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just sudden, that’s all.”

“Yes, I may not be good at giving comforting words, but I’m good at listening. When you want to talk, feel free to tell me.”

Cassion sat down and took out his sword. Ruel laughed as if relieved by his action, finding it better than useless comfort. 

Sak Sak.

The sound of a sword being polished was heard.

—Is it over now?

Leo looked up and saw Ruel.

Ruel let go of the hand that was holding Leo’s ears and let him down to the ground to roam. 

But Leo climbed back onto Ruel’s lap and looked at his face.

—Give this body some too.

Ruel had unknowingly given Leo a piece of the meat pie that was on the table. 

Leo made a crunching sound as he ate, and Ruel also ate the meat pie with the same sound.

Crunch.

Enduring was familiar to him, even when he was Setiria.

Even when he was Kim Han.

“Han, don’t try to follow me, just live. Live and do what you want to do.”

Ruel closed his eyes for a moment, recalling his father’s voice that had been buried deep in his heart.

Author's Thoughts

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