Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

Chapter 52

In any casewhat should we do? We must enter the castle to find your men, but I dont think thatll be a brief checkpoint.

The atmosphere outside the castle gates seemed too grave to be a singular, unexpected event.

Thats true. Perhaps I should wait for night to fall and then climb the walls.

Climb the walls? The castle walls? Surprised, Luisen looked between the walls and Carlton. His companion declared he would climb the wallwhich looked to be as tall as a three-story buildingwithout a ladder?

Itll be difficult and take a long time, but theres no choice. Ill carry my lord on my back.

What? Are you even a human being? Answer me truthfully. Your ancestry isnt mixed with trolls or the like, right?

Im joking, Carlton said nonchalantly. However, Luisen thought it truly might have been possible for Carltonafter all, this man had jumped off a waterfall with the young lord.

Luisen felt dizzy. He couldnt do this; Luisen needed to step forward. Lets enter normally. Properly, with our two feet.

Do you have a plan?

Wella haphazard oneFollow me. Luisen took the lead; Carlton followed obediently behind, holding the donkeys reins. For the past few days, Luisen had walked while staring at Carltons back; now their positions had been reversed. It felt strange. The two stopped and circled around the castle gates.

Luisen wasnt aiming for the front nor the back of the castle but instead the ambiguous sides. Places that bordered the nearby forests and were particularly overgrown. Luisen concentrated in his search for those spots.

 Beside the thick walls was an unusually gnarled and well-grown tree. After brushing a branch to the side, the two could see a window behind them. It was just large enough for an adult man to squeeze through to enter the castle. However, the issue was the iron plates that blocked the window.

Who knew that this would be here. However, this way is properly blocked. Carlton tapped at the iron plates. I think itll make a loud noise if I were to pull it off forcefully.

Thats not what you dotheres a trick to everything. Luisen picked up a fallen branch and, following the young lords know-how, wedged the branch in the bricks around the iron plates. The bricks that were firmly welded to the iron plates began to shake. Carlton noted what Luisen wanted to do and pulled at the iron plates to add more force. Then, the plate, with the bricks attached, fell off.

For something like this, dont focus on the iron plate. Its easy to pull out if you extract the surrounding bricks, Luisen said.

Have you ever been to Confosse?

No. Its my first time here, but castles usually have secret entrances 1 like these.

No matter how open the castle gates may have usually been, there would always be people who had no desire to enter through legal means.

Luisen shrugged his shoulders.

Did you learn all this from the pilgrim as well? Carlton asked.

No, I learned this from someone else.

The one-armed pilgrim carried a pilgrims pass and could confidently come and go from the main gates. Luisen learned this know-how from a generous beggar the young lord had met during his travels. In other words, this was a secret method available to those who couldnt enter the gates on their own merits.

Luisen and Carlton entered the castle through the window. Luisen wanted to bring the donkey with him, but the poor beast wouldnt be able to fit through the window. Therefore, they were forced to let it roam free outside. Since the donkey had survived well in the woods on its own, it should be alright.

"

"

The window was connected to a deserted dead-end.

Where should we go from here?

Lets first go to the central plaza.

The plaza has things like bulletin boards, right? Luisen had thought he had seen something similar to the boards in these plazas before. He had wondered who would ever use such things, but it seemed like peoplefor example, Carltonactually utilized them.

Luisen neatly groomed his clothes and made sure his face was well hidden; Carlton gave him the go-ahead. Afterwards, the two walked naturally out to the main road and mixed in with the crowds. Carltons physique was somewhat conspicuous, but he suffered nothing more than a few glancesthis castle housed a mercenarys guild, after all.

The castles inner structure was quite ordinary, so it was easy for the two to locate the plaza. The place was so crowdeda minor pandemonium. There were two bulletin boards here. One board contained the presiding lords commands and decrees or other news relevant to those in the fief; the other could be used freely by anyone.

It was hard for the two to approach the bulletin boards because too many people were crowding them, but Luisen had Carlton. Whenever Cartlon frowned and strode forth, the nearby people automatically moved aside.

Its here. The note was easy to find; similar to the one found in the inn, the note was addressed to my beloved Ennis. However, the notes content was vastly different; the note didnt pretend to be a shy love letter nor were there secret passwords hidden within. The writer had left behind an incredibly concise comment.

[XX is doomed]

?

Did Luisen see wrong? Am I reading things incorrectly? Theres something strange written there. Are you sure this is correct?

I believe its the right one. Carlton also looked perplexed.

Its saying something went wrong?

Carlton looked at the note with a grave expression. Then, he suddenly rushed at the official, lordly bulletin board. He pushed everyone away and stood at the front; there, he could clearly see a prominent official decree.

 Luisen stuttered as he read, The Duke of Anies has been kidnappedThe culprit isCarlton?

Me? Ive been kidnapped?

No matter how many times Luisen read the official decree, the content didnt change. The decree was authorized by the duchythe Duke of Anies had been abducted by Carlton; if anyone knows relevant information, they should send a report. The general, authorized as an official agent of the territory, had signed the decree at the bottom, so the paper had not been forged.

So, this is saying Alarmed, Luisen looked at Carlton before looking once more at the crumpled note in the mercenarys hand.

[XX is doomed]

The succinct letters seared themselves into the young lords eyes.

Doomed.

Yeah. It seemed so.

Just whats happening here, General?! Luisen shouted inwardly at his retainers back at the duchy. Even though he was puzzled, he could hear the noisy sounds from those gathered around the bulletin board.

Apparently a bunch of mercenaries and soldiers gave pursuit to the duke during their battle; in the bedlam, the duke was captured and taken away. Apparently, those people were Carltons men.

Are you certain? I heard that mans army went north and brought back some enormous trophy.

Carltons men must have managed to only leave behind this one note before being taken away by some soldiers. Luisen looked over at Carlton, whose face had turned pale. Carlton couldnt have missed what Luisen had just heard.

Isnt the noble butcher the princes right-hand man? So, why did he kidnap one of the great lords?

I suppose he went insane.

Hes a peasant whos elevated his status to well beyond his meansdo you think hed be sane?

Carltons felt like his insides were boiling. Sure, hed killed a few aristocratssure hed bullied thembut that was acceptable in civil war time. He had no motive to kidnap anyone, nor was there evidence that he had ever kidnapped Luisen.

However, Carlton was treated as a criminal just because he and Luisen had disappeared together; his men were unfairly captured. He felt so unfairly wronged and furious.

Ruger, the real asshole who tried to kidnap Luisen, was an aristocrat; it was obvious that the person behind Ruger would be of noble blood as well. However, my men and I are treated like this just because were of low birth? Carlton rolled his eyes.

Anger sprouted from within his heart. He wanted to wring the necks of those laughing. When the mercenary reached outabout to follow his anger and swing at those around himLuisen quickly grabbed Carltons arm. Calm down, hm? Just hold it in for now.

Luisen revealed his blue eyes from underneath his hood. Carlton paused, anger momentarily abated, when he saw the young lords distorted expressionas if he had been personally insulted.

Ill listen to whatever you saywhatever curses you want to shout. Okay? Luisens soothing voice was slightly unstable.

Carlton finally remembered his surroundings. Thats right, Im not alone. Nows not the time to go wild; its time to be patient. I still have to protect Luisen.

 With that thought, his anger quickly subsided. I apologize. I just felt so furious, I

Come to think of it, Luisen had warned the mercenary to watch his temper before. Carlton eyed the young lord.

Luisen was just relieved that Carlton had calmed down. His temper would eventually be his downfall. Still, what a reliefthe mercenary  had endured the comments well.

Lets first go someplace quiet, Luisen said.

Yes.

The two slipped out of the plaza, climbed through the same castle window, and exited the castle entirely. The donkey was grazing on grass. When the donkey saw the two, it approached Luisen and placed its head on the young lord.

What a happy-go-lucky fellow. The donkeys fur was short and rough, but Luisen felt his trembling heart calm down as he gently stroked the steed. Perhaps this was why people raised pets. Luisen grabbed Carltons hand and placed it on the donkeys head so that the mercenary might also receive some comfort.

To think they would think you kidnapped me. How could all news of the real kidnapper and the monster attack just vanish into thin air? What do you think? Luisen asked.

Its probably all Rugers doing, Carlton said with conviction. Nobody knows hes a spy, correct? The only ones in the know are my lord and Iand weve disappeared together. Its understandable they would think Ive kidnapped my lord.

How is it understandable? No matter how one looks at it, youre not the kind of person to kidnap anyone. Luisen refuted his companions words, but Carlton had a point.

TL: As for whats going in XX is doomed, the original had only one X. I wonder what they were trying to say.

And RIP Carlton.

1. = Dog-hole. Basically small entrances that animals (or people) can come and go through. Slang for secret/hidden/illegal entrances.