Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

go through hard times.
Furthermore, this was brought about by Ruger’s actions.”

     “……? I’m fine though.”

     Because the young lord kept on saying he was fine with that kind of face, Carlton, feeling frustrated, spoke even faster.
“What do you mean you’re fine, especially with that face that looks like you’ve been abandoned by the world? There’s no one watching, so you can be honest: you’ve been thinking negatively this entire time, haven’t you?”

      “Y…..yeah.
How did you know?”

     “It all shows on your face.
It seems like you’re thinking of Ruger, but… something like, ‘if you knew of his nature, would you have been stabbed in the back?'”

     Luisen furrowed his eyebrows.
His expression looked as if the young lord was trying to hold back tears; Carlton’s heart dropped.
He quickly continued, lest his words be misunderstood, “It’s natural that you had no idea–he tried his hardest to hide all that.
Though I thought he’d try something in the future…”

    Carlton thought he was eloquent in his own way, but right now his tongue was so stiff.
“In addition, he had some strange tricks up his sleeves…”

     “You’re talking about how he summoned those monsters?”

     “Yes.
How could one not be fooled by someone so determined–with those kinds of skills? It’s just a relief that the bastard had no intention of killing the duke.
If that was his scheme, then in one go the bastard could have…” Carlton wanted to plunge his fist into his mouth.
Why was he chattering like this? Was he trying to console the young lord or pick a fight?

     “You have to stay alive in order to shatter that bastard Ruger’s skull.
It wasn’t my duke’s fault that you were fooled… In any case, what I’m trying to say is… it’s fortunate that you’re safe and sound.”

     In one way or another, Carlton said all he wanted to say.
But…

      Afraid to look at Luisen’s expression, Carlton turned away and coughed in vain.
After the mercenary stopped speaking, silence stretched through the forest clearing.
It was so awkward.

     It would be easier to jump into an enemy camp armed with only a knife.

    Carlton realized, for the first time in his life, that consoling someone was really difficult.
After all, when had he ever had the chance to comfort someone? Instead, he offered Luisen something he thought the young lord would like.
“I saw it on my way here, so I’ve brought it.
Eat it.”

     Carlton offered two Buried Old Hags.
It was clear the man took care to hold the roots in his embrace so they wouldn’t be exposed to sunlight.

     “!” Luisen opened his eyes wide.

     It was a Buried Old Hag!

     Something to eat!

     Food!

     At that moment, Luisen thought there was a halo shining from behind Carlton’s back.

     “Something precious like this…Is it okay for me to eat this?” Luisen was so moved that his voice trembled.

     Carlton felt rather awkward though–it wasn’t all that precious.
There was no need for the young lord to be so moved.

     ‘Maybe I should have just given him this thing instead of speaking.’ Somehow, it seemed that giving him something to eat was more effective than Carlton’s words.
However, the mercenary was glad at least something worked…

     “Then, do you think I brought this for myself to eat? It’s too difficult to set fire right now, so you’ll have to eat it raw.”

     ‘So, you brought this for me?’ Feeling overwhelmed, Luisen responded with a big nod.
“Okay!”

     Luisen ate the Buried Old Hag in one bite.
He shuddered as the sweet juices moistened his tongue, accompanied by a crunching sound.
Some people found it uncomfortable to eat a Buried Old Hag raw, but Luisen also liked this sort of taste.
The unique firm texture, subtle sweetness, and unique aroma that only spread when eaten raw–the root was still delicious.

     Luisen quickly consumed the Buried Old Hag in an instant.
Afterwards, he let out a long sigh.
It felt as if his depression had escaped his body with that one breath.
As his stomach became full, the young lord began to feel optimistic…as if he had never been melancholic.

     ‘People should never be hungry.’ Luisen then vowed to carry a Buried Old Hag at all times.

     He could now afford to leisurely consider Carlton’s words.
While wandering around the kingdom alone, he had almost died several times and tasted the bitterness of reality.
Furthermore, he had actually died.
For Luisen, Carlton’s clumsy attempts at comfort uniquely touched his heart.

     “Your words are right.”

     “What?”

     “If Ruger had actually tried to kill me, I’d have departed this world already.
I’m lucky that wasn’t the case.” If he died, then that was it–it would be over.
Didn’t he uncover hidden truths in his struggle to return to the past and live a good life? It would all work out.
He would go to the capital and see what his next actions should be! Besides, didn’t he do well in saving his dukedom and get to this point in life?

     And, above all, he had someone who would retrieve food and medicine for him! While lost in the mire of negative thoughts, Luisen had forgotten this fact, but the young lord now had Carlton!

     Wasn’t Carlton the person that changed the most after his regression? Luisen wasn’t currently being chased by Carlton and was, instead, escaping with the mercenary.
That fact alone quenched his anxiety; Luisen was convinced that everything would be different from the original timeline.

     As he thought, it felt like his body became lighter.
The sal-sal herb’s effects couldn’t be ignored either.
His mind was healthy when he wasn’t feeling sick and his stomach was full.

     “Yes?” Carlton doubted his ears.
Was the lord being sarcastic? He felt automatically dubious.
However, Luisen was smiling at him with such a refreshing expression.

Footnotes

살살풀, honestly sal-sal = gently or easily in Korean…but it’s hard to make a full name out of it so I just put it in phonetically.
If someone wants to give me a good name, I welcome it haha.