I Became a Sick Nobleman

As soon as Cron got up from his seat, he couldn’t overcome Aris’ power and fell down again.

Ruel spoke while inhaling Breath.

“Where is the ‘Red House’ owned by Luruan?”

Cron’s eyes widened at the mention of the Red House. 

He tried to appear nonchalant, but sweat quietly trickled down his face. 

‘He knew after all.’ 

Ruel suppressed his laughter.

Luruan was different from other people who thought their home was safe.

The only information the shadows brought was the word ‘Red House,’ and the only information Dion managed to get were compliments about him being an innocent person with lots of integrity.

After hearing the report, Ruel laughed so loudly that his stomach hurt.

Integrity and innocence were the words that were most unfit for Red Ash.

“Like I said a little while ago, I’m a little busy today.”

Ruel flicked the cup with his fingers and looked at Cron.

He seemed busy racking his brain.

Was there an opportunity to exploit?

“You, Luruan’s lackey, must not hold a higher position within the Red Ash. What will Luruan do to you?” 

Ruel didn’t know what punishment was given to traitors in the Red Ashes, but Cron did.

When Ruel poked that point, there was an immediate response.

Little by little, fear appeared on Cron’s face.

Ruel, who was enjoying looking at Cron’s face, soon opened his mouth as if he had thought of something.

“Oh, do you know a guy named Nintra?”

“Why don’t you stop making useless efforts? Do you think you can get information even if you catch me?”

Cron tried to remain calm and laughed at Ruel.

“How did he die again?”

Ruel stopped snapping his fingers and looked at Cron calmly.

“Black water.”

Cron’s complexion darkened at the words Ruel mentioned.

“Someone made him drink black water. He was betrayed,” Ruel stated.

“Ha, don’t make me laugh. Nintra was a Red Ash from the beginning, unlike me!” Cron retorted.

“Even if his whole body turned black and he suffered a fatal blow, he couldn’t die or be torn apart.”

For Cron, who did not believe him, Ruel listed out the characteristics of black blooded-man.

“You will soon become useless to the Red Ash and be used as a means to kill me, won’t you?” Ruel’s smile curled upwards.

Cron could no longer maintain his composure. Knowing what black water was, he couldn’t contain the natural fear that arose within him. Ruel watched silently as Cron succumbed to fear, inhaling Breath.

Ruel pointed to Banios. “Look carefully. With Banios present, doesn’t it seem like I have the authority to negotiate with you?”

Banios stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Cron. “I’ll spare you,” he said, giving Cron the words he most wanted to hear. “That’s the reason I’m here.”

Cron’s lips trembled with relief.

Cron had already stabbed Luruan in the back.

How can he not be afraid of what happens next?

He probably felt anxious every time.

Ruel had instilled fear in him, so he was ready to gently unravel him.

“Think about it carefully. Why are you keeping your mouth shut for a place where the only thing you can return to is death?”

Ruel pointed to the ground.

“What you should do now is not keep your mouth shut, but come to me and beg for your life.”

“Do you have any plans to save me?”

At Cron’s sneer, Ruel glanced at Banios.

“Look carefully. With His Highness Banios present, doesn’t it seem like I have the authority to talk to you?”

Banios immediately crossed his arms and looked down at Cron.

“I will spare you. That’s the reason I’m here.”

Cron’s lips trembled with relief.

With a gaze that questioned the truth, Banios responded without any hesitation. 

“What I’m saying will weigh heavier than anyone present here.” 

Banios emphasized his words with strength in his eyes and voice. 

Who was he? 

He was one of only three princes in the country. 

Ruel swallowed his satisfaction at Banios’ very appropriate remarks and cajoled Cron.

“Think about it. It’s not that complicated. It’s a matter of choosing whether to become a monster or at least maintain conscience as a human being.” 

Cron felt trapped between himself and Luruan. 

Neither side could easily escape. 

Now, the only thing left was Cron’s choice. 

“I’ll ask again. Where is the Red House?” 

In response to Ruel’s question, Cron looked at Banios and then turned his head to glance at Ruel.

Even if it was a small chance, which place would he choose, one with a glimmer of hope or one with no hope at all? Cron struggled to open his mouth.

***

Ruel moved to Setiria with the help of Tyson, just as he did when he arrived at the location where Cron was located.

A dizzying sensation swept over his entire body, and as soon as he returned to the room, Ruel started coughing up blood.

“Cough…”

It was because his body couldn’t withstand the warp magic twice in one day.

His whole body was shaking.

—Ruel!

Leo, who was curled up on the bed, rushed over.

—Are you okay?

Tyson urgently supported Ruel and wiped the blood from his mouth with his hands. 

“I will call Fran.”

“No, there’s no need to call…”

Before Ruel finished speaking, Aris hurried out.

Cassion sighed as he looked at the blood staining Ruel’s clothes and the floor. 

Because his body was not used to warp magic, he was a step behind.

After wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, Cassion picked him up and laid him on the bed.

“Are you okay?”

Cassion looked at Ruel, wondering between painkillers and tranquilizers.

His body was shaking from the effects of the magic, but it wasn’t as serious as it looked.

Breathing is fine too.

He thought he would have to check the details when Fran comes.

“I’m… okay. It’s okay,” Ruel said, trying to calm Leo, who seemed anxious and kept poking his side, and then looked at Tyson. 

It didn’t hurt, and his body wasn’t broken.

Ruel even felt satisfied with the greatly improved strength of his increased resilience and reflexes.

“Are you really okay?”

Tyson was heartbroken and massaged Ruel’s hands and arms as if it was his fault.

“Yes, I’m okay. Haven’t I grown quite a bit by enduring this?”

Cassion snorted while looking at Ruel, who was smiling happily, and then frowned.

It was barely a snort, but his heart ached.

Bang!

The door crashed open.

Fran took a deep breath and checked Ruel’s condition.

His face was pale and his clothes were stained with red blood.

As she approached him, she looked down when she heard a squishing sound.

There was blood on the floor.

She had stepped on Ruel’s spilled blood.

The amount he vomited was twice as much as usual.

“Tierra, prepare medicine for anemia.”

“Understood.”

Tierra sat down at Fran’s words and opened the bag she had brought with her.

Aris closed the door and used magic to erase the blood spilled on the floor.

“Are you okay, Ruel-nim?”

Aris walked up to Ruel and looked at his complexion.

He looked weak, as if his eyes were about to close at any moment.

“I’m fine.”

Ruel was about to tell Aris not to call Fran.

In the end, didn’t Fran come?

‘But there’s one more place I have to go.’

Ruel was startled by the sudden action of the spirits jumping into his face while trying to bite Breath, so he missed it.

At that moment, Ruel felt that the people around him were looking at him strangely.

‘What?’

Cassion raised Breath to his mouth for him.

Fran asked quietly instead of examining him.

“Mr. Ruel, are you feeling very dizzy?”

Because her eyes were serious, Ruel spoke softly.

“It was a mistake to miss the Breath just now, so you don’t have to look at me like that. Look at this.”

Ruel held onto Breath again, but Fran’s eyes did not change.

“Mr. Ruel.”

Fran’s voice was heavy.

Ruel could see a glimpse of the expression on her face before she insisted for absolute stability in his health.

“Tell me.”

“Have you experienced any strong shock from the outside today?”

“There is none.”

Fran pursed her lips tightly at the lie that came out without even blinking an eye.

She barely took a breath and asked the question again. 

“Is there really nothing?”

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want to say.”

“I am not a mage, so I cannot see mana with my eyes. But I have treated patients who have been attacked by magic, so I know the signs. Why do I see those signs on your body?”

Fran thought she was sharp, but Ruel’s expression did not change.

Instead, he just looked at her with an expressionless face.

It was as if he was telling her that a line had been crossed.

Fran strengthened her voice, enduring the strange pressure felt by his indifference.

“This is a necessary question in treatment.”

Ruel smiled slightly as he inhaled Breath.

“I have never been attacked by magic. However, due to my constitution, I am vulnerable to magic.”

“Alright. I will take note. Thank you for telling me.”

Fran took a moment to catch her breath.

Although it was only a little, she felt like she knew what kind of person Ruel was. 

She realized what she was lacking.

Fran received a syringe from Tierra.

“I will administer the anemia treatment.”

“I understand.”

“Do you have any plans to go out today?”

In response to Fran’s question, Ruel touched his lips.

“There is a place I need to go.”

“Today…”

“I must go.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Fran looked at Ruel with concern. 

Just as she respected Ruel by recognizing that he was a patient before being treated as the head of Setiria, she should have recognized that his responsibilities as head of the Setiria sometimes came before being the patient.

This difference had always kept them at a distance.

Fran considered the position of the patient and the head of the family before speaking.

“In my personal opinion, you must take a rest today, but I think I’ll be very occupied making medicine with Tierra today as well.”

Ruel chuckled at Fran’s words.

She played along with the obvious situation, as she had taken a step back herself.

“That’s a big deal. Go on, then.”

“Rest is absolutely necessary for the time being. I may not be able to check on you because I’ll be busy, but please make sure to take care of yourself.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ruel nodded his head lightly.

“Sister?”

As Fran got up, Tierra called out to her in surprise. 

Tierra seemed to be taken aback as well.

“Then, get some rest.”

Fran went out, dragging Tierra.

When the door closed, Ruel looked at the door and smiled.

It seemed that she finally understood her position.

“Let’s get ready, Cassion.”

Ruel said, while petting Leo.

“Alright.”

After Cassion left, Tyson spoke up.

“Are you really okay?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan on leaving right away.”

“Okay, don’t overdo it.”

Tyson stood up.

Staying here didn’t mean Ruel would get better.

He had a lot of work to do.

That came first.

“Yes, I won’t push myself.”

Tyson turned around with difficulty as he looked at Ruel’s smile and the blood stains on his clothes.

“Aris.”

Ruel called Aris.

“Yes.”

“Take a break and rest in your room for a while before we leave.”

“I will stay here. That is my role.”

“Okay.”

Ruel stroked Leo and inhaled Breath.

***

Knock. Knock.

Serti knocked on Diagos’ door.

“This is Serti.”

Diagos opened the door in response to the chirping sound of Serti, like a mother bird.

“Oh, Serti. Do you have any concerns? Or are you not feeling well?”

“The business is on my side. Lord Diagos Shio.”

Diagos opened the door wider at the familiar voice.

A man covered in a cloak stood behind Serti.

As he removed his cloak, a pale-faced Ruel Setiria appeared.

“Ruel, Ruel Setiria.”

Diagos froze as he mentioned Ruel’s name.

Didn’t they say he just woke up from a carriage accident?

Unlike his still sickly face, he showed no signs of trauma.

“May we come in?”

Diagos looked at Serti and Ruel in confusion at Ruel’s confident statement.

“Are you going to keep guests waiting here?”

It was only then that Diagos came to his senses after hearing the words that sounded like a scolding.

“Please… come in.”

First, he let Serti and Ruel come inside.

When the three people sat down, Diagos opened his mouth and expressed his displeasure.

“Lord Setiria, I need to hear an explanation as to what is going on.”

“We are both busy people, so I will be brief. Don’t we have a story to share?”

Diagos looked at Serti, as if he had immediately guessed the topic of conversation from Ruel’s words.

“Serti. You should go out for a while.”

“Father. I deserve to be here too.”

“Later, this father will explain everything later. So please stay out.”

In response to Diagos’ earnestness, Serti reluctantly stood up.

After she left, Diagos looked at Ruel harshly.

“What did you do to Serti?”

“That’s something you should ask Prince Huan, not me. Isn’t that right, Lord Diagos?”

“You… knew?” Fear flickered in Diagos’s eyes. How? He couldn’t figure out how the information had leaked.

“You should be grateful to me. I helped cover up Serti’s foolish mistake,” Ruel said, without moving from Leo’s side. Since meeting Cron, Leo had been silent and unresponsive.

“Foolish mistake?” Diagos asked.

In response to Diagos’ question, Ruel spread his fingers around the side of his neck before dragging them across his throat in a slicing motion.

“Treason.”

A heavy sound came out.

Diagos swallowed dryly at the words that followed.

“Treason?” 

“Attempting to open the door of Setiria, the gatekeeper of Leponia, and collaborating with those who did it. They are Carbena and Mineta. You know them, don’t you?”

“S-Serti? No way! There’s no way!” Diagos exclaimed.

“Whether you believe it or not is not important. The deed has been done, and I turned a blind eye to Serti’s crime. There should be atonement.” 

Diagos glared at Ruel with gritted teeth.

A man who had yet to grow all his hair was touching his daughter.

Ruel chuckled at his gaze.

“For your information, I have never touched your daughter. In fact, I promised to make your daughter the head of the family.”

“You must have mistakenly said your dog, not the head of the house.”

“But you’re the dog, right? Prince Huan’s dog.”

When Ruel imitated his words, Diagos’ face instantly turned red.

Author's Thoughts

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