I Became a Sick Nobleman

“Alright.”

Ruel stood up and approached Tyson.

“What do you think, uncle? Can we install defense mechanisms in each village starting today?”

Tyson opened his mouth before looking at Cassion.

It seemed like the decision would be made after listening to what he had to say about destroying the device himself.

“This is enough to be useful.”

Cassion answered with a satisfied smile, and Tyson laughed along with him.

“I guess it’s possible.”

Ruel was satisfied with the positive results.

“Then uncle, please stop by each village from now on and set up defense mechanisms. I will convey this to the barons.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you for your hard work, uncle.”

Ruel greeted Tyson and moved on to the next task.

Cassion walked at Ruel’s pace and handed him a handkerchief.

“You’ve overdone it. You should have heard it through reporting.”

Ruel covered his mouth with a handkerchief.

It was annoying to have to be told that it was too much to just see one experiment, but it was true, so he couldn’t refute it.

Ruel doesn’t know if it was the aftermath of Cassion destroying the defense mechanism, or the barriers and shields that Tyson installed as a safety device, but the taste of blood filled his mouth.

—Are you okay?

Leo, who had been following Ruel, raised his head.

Ruel nodded.

The more he hit the limit, the more his strength grew, so it was an advantage in the long run.

Ruel spoke after wiping the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

“Cassion.”

“Yes.”

“Have you by any chance crossed the wall?”

Cassion glanced at Ruel.

Ruel held out his handkerchief with an expression of displeasure, saying, ‘There’s no way I can see that.’

“You’re right. How did you know?”

Ruel was truly surprised by Cassion’s answer.

When Leo told him, he couldn’t believe it.

‘I didn’t believe it, but it’s true.’

Isn’t it a cheat to become stronger here?

“Didn’t I tell you that I would become stronger when we visited the Ice Castle?”

Cassion walked ahead, acting as if nothing had happened.

“It is cold. Please come inside.”

He opened the door and waited for Ruel.

Whether he overcame the wall or became stronger, the fact that Cassion was Ruel’s butler did not change.

***

Ruel drank water first in front of Huan.

Afterwards, Cassion chose only the food that Ruel could eat among the food prepared by Huan, and when all the selection was completed, the conversation between Ruel and Huan began.

“Is it okay to walk around like this now?”

Huan glanced at Ruel’s left arm, which was wrapped in bandages, and asked.

Ruel answered as brightly as he could because it was the first time he had seen Huan outside in a long time since they had been meeting in Setiria.

“Yes, it’s okay to move now, just a little uncomfortable here.”

Ruel pointed to his left arm.

Then he saw Leo swallowing his saliva while looking at the food.

How long has it been since Leo ate the black stuff from him?

Huan smiled with relief.

“That’s a good thing. By the way, Lord Setiria.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you know that you have a peculiar habit?”

“What habits are you talking about?”

“You’re so careful with your food, but don’t you drink water casually?”

“Did I do that?”

Ruel reacted as if he really knew nothing.

“The world is scary, so be careful.”

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll have to be more careful next time.”

Huan cut the steak with a good-natured expression on his face.

“Anyway, I postponed it because Lord Setiria wasn’t feeling well, but now I think it’s okay to listen to my proposal.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I was also thinking that I should respond to your proposal today.”

Ruel put down his fork for a moment and rinsed his mouth with water.

“You’ve waited a long time.”

With a bright smile, Ruel spoke his first words.

At the same time, Huan’s expectations seemed to be rising.

Ruel continued without further hesitation.

“I will support you.”

“Thanks…”

Before Huan could finish speaking, the ring on his finger sparkled.

It seemed like someone had contacted him.

Huan looked at the ring and Ruel alternately, then made an apologetic expression.

“Can you give me a moment?”

“Yes, Your Highness. You must be in a hurry, so I’ll give you a moment.”

Ruel stood up with his cane and went outside.

With his back to the door, he leisurely inhaled Breath.

The call to Huan was obvious.

The stage decorated by Brans and Adoris has been completed.

And the person who tells us this is probably Luruan.

“Cassion.”

“Yes.”

Cassion appeared from Ruel’s shadow.

“Check whether Huan added poison and report it.”

—Po, poison!

Leo was surprised.

—Is Ruel eating it? Big, big deal! If you eat poison, you will die!

Leo clung to the hem of Ruel’s pants and scratched him with his front paws.

“Alright.”

Cassion tried to say something, but answered by quietly disappearing into the shadows again.

“Don’t worry.”

Ruel comforted Leo.

It was obvious what Huan would do while he was away for a moment.

He will prepare poison.

He would slowly administer the poison, repeating their encounters as Carbena and Mineta had done to him. 

Cassion had already checked the food once due to his allergies.

It was a moment when Ruel’s guard was down more than ever, and this was an opportunity for Huan, who had encountered Ruel several times and gained his trust, to strike.

But one variable had exploded. 

‘The stage will unfold tomorrow.’

Time was running out as the task of selecting a successor was urgently announced.

The time was shortened in part to prevent Huan from preparing too much and to make him impatient and use more dire means.

‘When something explodes, it should explode all at once.’

Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.

“Like Ruel-nim said, it is poisoned.”

Ruel asked Cassion in response to his voice. 

“Can you detoxify it?” 

“I know the poison, so it’s possible.” 

“I see.” 

But there was another variable.

He had the power of resistance, and Cassion knew most poisons.

In order to bring down a man with the status of a prince, shouldn’t there be one more incident other than treason?

Ruel was slightly startled by the sound of the door opening as he tried to hug Leo, who was hanging on his leg.

Through the door, Ruel saw Huan with an apologetic expression on his face.

“You can come in now. Have you waited long?”

“No. But what’s going on? You don’t seem to be in a good mood.”

Huan bit his lip in response to Ruel’s question.

Things suddenly went wrong, so it’s natural to be angry.

Ruel gleefully looked at Huan’s face.

Huan looked at Ruel’s expression with a slightly suspicious look.

“Have you not heard yet, Your Highness?” 

“What do you mean?”

Huan held the glass tightly because he didn’t really know what was on his face.

“I heard His Majesty will decide on a successor tomorrow.”

“You mean tomorrow? Isn’t it too sudden?”

“That’s what I want to say.”

Huan wet his dry mouth with a nervous look on his face.

He looked like he wanted to leave right now.

“I have a good idea.”

Ruel opened his mouth.

“What do you mean, a good idea?”

“Your Highness, have you forgotten who I am?”

Huan watched with interest as the words tickled his ears strangely.

Ruel drank the poisoned water that Huan had prepared and looked at him with an indifferent expression. 

“I’m Setiria.”

What’s special about Setiria?

No one could ignore its location.

Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.

“If I let everyone know tomorrow that I will support you, it might shake things up.”

Despite his confident voice, Huan was unable to answer right away.

Ruel’s plan was definitely a good one.

Even someone like himself who had once given up the throne might regain the qualifications to be involved in that game by carrying Setiria on his back. 

But the problem was the fact that Ruel had drunk the poisoned water.

Originally, he had planned to slowly kill him, but with the news of determining the successor tomorrow, he had hastily carried out his plan. 

It was uncertain whether Ruel would be able to hold on until tomorrow. 

Brans did something unexpected and his plan was already in vain.

While Huan was thinking about whether he should give Ruel the antidote and keep him alive, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

Huan paused to think for a moment and asked.

“I am the butler of the Ruel Setiria family.”

“I will go out and see.”

Ruel got up and went outside.

Soon Ruel spoke to Huan with an urgent look on his face.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but something urgent has come up in my territory, so I have to go now.”

Ruel seemed in such a hurry that it was difficult to ask what was going on.

“No problem. Go quickly.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Ruel bowed his head and hurried out.

As soon as they got on the carriage, Cassion handed over the antidote to Ruel.

Ruel clenched his hand in the air instead of taking the antidote. 

“Damn…”

Ruel frowned when there was nothing in his hand.

It was because the poison had blurred his vision.

Wi-ing.

Even the feeling in his hands was disappearing due to the power of resistance ringing in his ears a little while ago.

“I will feed you.” Cassion opened the vial and administered the antidote directly. 

After taking the antidote, the sound of the resistance’s roar gradually disappeared, and the feeling in his hand returned. 

“Are you okay?” Cassion asked, fiddling with his handkerchief. 

Ruel nodded his head. 

The poison wasn’t as strong as he had thought. 

—Did you eat poison?

Leo was surprised and glanced at Ruel.

“I took the antidote, so I’m fine now.” 

Ruel stroked Leo and inhaled Breath.

The preparations were complete, from the king to the princes, and the five families. 

Ruel didn’t forget to cause confusion for Prince Huan as a final touch. 

Tomorrow, finally, the stage would be set. 

It would be a sea of blood so immense that it couldn’t be compared to the cleansing in Setiria. 

Ruel closed his eyes and opened them.

***

“Cheynol, uncle.”

Ruel saw the two people before getting into the carriage.

“Yes, patriarch.”

“Yes, Ruel.”

The two answered at the same time.

The enemy was not a fool.

If something big happens in the royal family, they won’t sit still.

Defense mechanisms were installed in each village to prepare for any possible danger, and walls were also rebuilt.

It bothered him that the warp device wasn’t finished yet, but for now this was the best.

Ruel spoke more forcefully than ever.

“Please do me a favor while I’m away, Billo.”

“Yes, Ruel-nim.”

“I trust you.”

When the head of the house was away, Billo’s role was also important as the butler took charge of the mansion’s work.

“Yes. This old man, I will protect the mansion no matter what happens.”

Ruel then looked at the two vice-captains, Horen and Drianna, who were eager to chase after him immediately. 

He smiled wryly at their frantic expressions

“Please take care of it.” 

“Yes! Leave it to me!” 

“I’ll do better!” 

The two of them shouted fiercely. 

Ruel looked at the knights firmly and then got into the carriage.

“Let’s go.”

Cassion tapped the carriage wall at Ruel’s command. 

“You seem quite composed for someone causing such a big commotion,” Cassion remarked with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. 

“It’s unusual for you to be composed when I’m around.” 

—This body too!

Leo nuzzled his face into Ruel’s lap.

“Okay.”

Ruel quietly inhaled Breath while stroking Leo.

Although the Red Ash would try to destroy him, they also had to keep in mind that it would shake up Setiria, its foundation.

***

The castle courtyard was filled with more carriages than ever before. 

A carriage with a shield emblem symbolizing Setiria came to a stop. 

Soon, the door opened, and Ruel, dressed in a white suit that didn’t befit his title as the ‘Noble of Darkness,’ stepped out. 

Because he was one of the six heads of the family, the eyes of ministers and barons turned to him.

Ruel entered the castle without being conscious of the people around him.

“Lord Setiria.”

Banios, who was heading alone, found Ruel and called him.

It was truly a coincidence.

Ruel greeted neatly.

“I greet the little sun.”

“Why is your attire… like that?”

It was evident that Banios was not accustomed to Ruel’s usually dark attire turning so stark white. 

“It’s boring to always be in black, isn’t it?” Ruel forced a smile. 

It would be difficult to explain why he had chosen to wear a new white suit this time, considering his noble title of the ‘Noble of Darkness.’

“Aren’t you going to enter with the other princes?”

Ruel changed the subject.

“Entering simultaneously in the place where the successor is chosen. Isn’t that amusing?” 

“Well, that’s true. Then, are you nervous?” Banios chuckled leisurely at Ruel’s question. 

“I’m incredibly nervous. How about you?” 

“Me? I’m the same.” 

Crossing the line as always, there was nothing to be nervous about. 

He had to overcome this hurdle to live on for the next time. 

They stopped for a moment in front of the door. 

Ruel glanced back at Aris, who stood behind him. 

His face was still tense. 

Knowing he would do well once inside, Ruel smiled lightly and looked ahead again. 

With a gesture from Banios, the servant opened the door and shouted loudly, “Sir Aris, the knight of Setiria, and the noble of darkness, Lord Ruel Setiria!” 

The servant paused for a moment and then shouted again, “And His Highness, Banios Leponia, the little sun of Leponia, is entering!” 

Ttak. 

The sound of Ruel’s cane echoed through the hall.

Author's Thoughts

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