Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

     A lot had changed since Carlton had departed for the South. The nobles who had originally followed and took the lead in supporting the first prince were from northern aristocratic households. Their allegiance was influenced by the fact that the first prince’s mother hailed from a noble family in the North.

     However one day, suddenly, the first prince began to keep Count Doubless close by his side. The first prince always broughtCount Doubless along wherever he went, and made important decisions with him. As a result, power in court naturally began to shift toward Count Doubless and the nobles who followed him, leading to a power struggle between this emerging force and the established authority of the northern nobles.

     “They may not openly clash, but the atmosphere is quite hostile. You’re someone that both sides don’t favor, so you should take greater caution.”

     Carlton only shrugged at Ennis’s warning. In the past, he would have felt a great crisis and struggled hard, but now he had others to believe in and trust. The church had promised to lend help until the demon worshippers were caught, and the Eastern Great Lord promised to be supportive. There was also his beloved Luisen.

     Carlton said, “By the way, that’s surprising of the prince.”

     He had heard that Count Doubless had gained power. However, it was hard to imagine that the upstart noble’s power would be threatening enough to challenge the northern noble families who had backed the first prince since the days when he had been the most miserable. The first prince wasn’t stupid enough to neglect his most loyal supporters for no reason. It meant that Count Doubless possessed something of great importance.

     “Do you know how the prince suddenly became close with Count Doubless?”

     “I don’t know.” After a bit, Ennis added that no one knew why. It just happened one day–suddenly.

     “I find Count Doubless disturbing,” Ennis shivered lightly, as if she were terrified. “The first prince has become a different person ever since the two have become close. Strangers now come and go, in and out of the royal palace. Strange rumors are circulating.”

     “Rumors?”

     “The rumors themselves are… I suppose you can call them ghost stories. Stuff like, hearing a woman crying in the hallways or a sighting of a specter in the forest.” Ennis clasped her hands together uneasily. Ghosts or murder. She didn’t believe in such creepy stories normally, however she felt reluctant to just dismiss them. The atmosphere here was so unsettling; the fact that such rumors spread openly seemed to hint that something was happening.

     Carlton agreed. The general atmosphere of the castle seemed worse than he had expected. ‘Count Doubless is indeed suspicious, not that that’s news, but…’

     The question, then, was about the first prince’s intentions–why did the prince keep that man by his side? Optimistically, the first prince could know nothing–it was just a coincidence that he kept the count close by. On the other hand, to think pessimistically, the prince could have been a part of the demon worshippers’ faction.

     ‘Mm, with such power though, he couldn’t have been threatened as soon as the king collapsed.’

     Early in the civil war, before Carlton and his mercenaries joined the prince’s side, there wasn’t much to the first prince. He was insignificant. Since the first prince’s power base had long been pushed back by the second prince, the civil war was considered a fight where the first prince had staked his life rather than a political opportunity.

     He wouldn’t have been so miserable if he had the powers the demon worshippers seemed to possess. Moreover, during Carlton’s service under the crown prince, the mercenary had never encountered anything resembling the demon worshipers.

     The first prince whom Carlton was familiar with was an ambitious man who hid a cold blade behind a gentle smile. But, the prince was sincere in his love for the kingdom. He had a dream of becoming an exceptional king–more exceptional than any other in history–and leading the kingdom.

     ‘I’ll need to investigate more.’

     Fortunately, the opportunity to do so came quickly. Just as Ennis finished talking, the prince’s servant came to find Carlton. “The first prince is summoning you.”

     ‘Great. It’s time to leave Luisen and fulfill his duties now that he has entered the palace.’ Carlton followed his guide with determination. Ennis sincerely prayed for the mercenary’s safety.

***

     The crown prince was in the audience chamber. As Carlton followed the messenger and arrived in front of the chamber, a man emerged from within. The attendants gathered in front of the door greeted the man with great respect.

     “The crown prince gives permission for entry,” he said.

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     “Understood, Count Doubless.”

     So, that was the count.

     Though they may be on the ‘same side,’ this was the first time Carlton had met the nobleman. Carlton was in the vanguard on the battlefield, and Count Doubless was always in the rear. That was why Carlton failed to recognize him at first glance.

     He looked at the count, trying to hide his wariness.

     He was a nobleman with a perfect blend of black and white hair and exuded an elegant impression. He didn’t look particularly malicious, but he didn’t seem virtuous either. He had a rather ordinary first impression–neither good nor bad. To put it nicely, he was unassuming; on the other hand, one could say he was unremarkable. Carlton wasn’t sure how he felt now, but in the count’s younger days, the nobleman must have encountered many incidents that could hurt his self-confidence.

     Count Doubless finished speaking to the servant and looked at Carlton; in turn, the mercenary also returned his opponent’s gaze forcefully. Despite the vague first impression, Count Doubless exuded a very experienced aura when faced directly.

     For some reason, a chill ran down Carlton’s spine, and he felt a sense of tension. If this were the battlefield, he would have drawn his sword. However, this was the royal palace. It was better to conceal the fact that he was on guard against him.

After those mental calculations, Carlton bowed first. Now that their brief standoff ended, the attendants were relieved.

     “Is that you? The one who brought the Duke to the capital?” Count Doubless asked.

     “That is correct.”

     “You must have had a hard time serving someone like Duke Anies.”

     “No, no. It was a pleasant journey. The Duke is a good man.”

     “I suppose he seemed that way to you.”

     As they partook in this ordinary small-talk, Carlton was convinced–this man wanted to kill him.

     ‘It’s not that he particularly hates me, but he hates that I helped the Duke.’

     Especially in that last response–a fleeting glimpse of hatred passed through the noble’s two pupils. It seemed to be directed at someone other than Carlton. What kind of disruptive plan was he scheming? Carlton was nervous, but Count Doubless acted against his expectations, “Then, please go in. The prince must be waiting for you.”

     Count Doubless slightly turned his body to the side, allowing Carlton to enter the audience chamber. The fact that this person was making way for him made Carlton feel uneasy.

     ‘Should I run away now at the very least?’

     The moment he thought that, Carlton’s mind meandered towards Luisen. The mercenary was the only person that could inform Luisen about the situation in the capital. He knew the weight of that responsibility; Carlton hadn’t come to the capital solely for his own sake but for Luisen’s as well.

     By now, Luisen must be contending with those useless servants of his and being harassed by the Royal Knights. Carlton couldn’t bear the worry of whether Luisen was feeling scared or struggling to handle everything on his own. Ever since the mercenary turned his back on the young lord, he had been plagued by unease.

     The desire to return to Luisen as soon as possible spurred Carlton forth. He opened the door to the audience room and went inside.

     The chamber was rectangular. Blue carpets were laid out in a straight line; a flag embroidered with blue lions, the symbol of the royal family, was hung around the walls. Tapestries depicting the founding myth of the kingdom decorated the hall. It was a splendid space, showcasing the authority of the royal family, but the chamber itself was dimly lit as the lights were not on.

     The prince was at the end of the blue carpet train. As Carlton approached closer, he could see the man’s figure clearly. The first prince stood beside the throne, quietly gazing at it. The sunset cast a reddish glow that seeped into the hall, creating distinct contrasting patterns, as if the space were painted with watercolors. The first prince’s body was also divided in two: light and shadow. Though it was one body, each half seemed like two different entities.

     Carlton knelt before the throne, “I have fulfilled your orders and returned, my prince.”

     “Ah, Carlton.” The first prince replied, half a beat slow. His words were measured and plodding. “Well done, coming all the way here. I heard you encountered some difficulties.”

     “I have merely done what my prince has commanded of me.”

     “Yes. Still, you didn’t need to go to that extent.”

     “What?” Carlton raised his head instinctively. The two men’s eyes met as the prince was looking down at the mercenary. Carlton tried to read into the prince’s true feelings, but he couldn’t grasp the slightest idea of what the man was thinking. The prince’s eyes were cloudy, as if the man had no thoughts at all.

     Carlton spoke again, “I couldn’t hear what you were saying properly. If you could repeat that again…”

Squeaak–

     The sound of the door opening devoured the tail end of Carlton’s sentence. Count Doubless entered the audience chamber. Regardless, the crown prince continued speaking as he pleased, “Carlton, Count Doubless has done much for me. However, the Duke Anies couldn’t do the same. How much can you do for me?”

     “…Why are you asking something like that…? I’m curious. It’s not like you to inquire about such matters.”

     “I’ve been thinking a lot lately.” The first prince took half a step closer. “Duke Anies. Can you kill him?”

     “!”

     The prince looked down indifferently at Carlton’s flustered face. It was as if he didn’t even expect an answer. Behind Count Doubless, knights clad in red armor–similar to the armor Ruger wore–entered.

     The intent of their presence was clear–Count Doubless would not bring these knights merely to boast.

     ‘Damn. He must have planned this from the very beginning.”

     No wonder the count had willingly let him into the audience chamber. Calling Carlton to the palace was a trap.

     Then, he heard the sound of horse hooves from somewhere.

Clip-Clop, Clip-Clop, Clip-Clop–

     It was a fierce sound, as if a horse was galloping at full speed through the wilderness. However, the sound was quite close–as if the hooves were clopping right near his ear. Simultaneously, Carlton felt a strong wave of dizziness and reeled.

     The Death Knight emerged from the shadows that were stretching long behind the prince’s back. Ruger’s eyes, mixed with contempt and hatred, overlapped from behind that pitch black helmet. The eyes that Carlton recalled from his memories resembled Count Doubless’s eyes.

     Did Ruger mention that he was the bastard child of a demon worshiper? To be sure, Count Doubless and Ruger had similar enough gazes to say that they were father and son.