I Became a Sick Nobleman

***

“It was quite disgusting.” Ruel spoke as soon as the carriage started moving. 

He calmed himself by petting Leo’s fur. 

“I agree.” 

Huan’s approach had been to criticize Adoris’s actions, justifying that he had no choice but to become a Red Ash. 

At any rate, it was now certain. Huan didn’t know he knew the truth about the past. 

“Cough, cough!” 

Ruel furrowed his brow. 

The coughing had decreased, but the pain hadn’t subsided. 

“Is the enemy watching us?” 

“Yes, they are.” 

“Fine, let them watch as much as they want,” Ruel smiled slyly. 

To pretend to trust Huan, there was one thing he needed to do. 

For that, Ruel directed the carriage towards the palace, not Setiria. 

Knock. Knock.

Aris knocked on the window.

Cassion opened the window and spoke immediately.

“Ignore it.”

“Alright.”

“Aris’s sixth sense has improved?”

Ruel opened his mouth as soon as the window closed.

“Yes, it’s the result of training to build sense by enlisting Noah.”

“Surely you’re not asking him to dodge arrows blindfolded, are you?” 

“That makes some sense. To develop your senses, practical experience is important.”

 “Sounds like advice you got from someone?” 

“Aris asked for advice on a method, and I just gave an answer.” 

With a calm tone, Ruel looked at Cassion with a chilling gaze and inhaled Breath. 

—This body helped Aris avoid getting hit.

“Unlike others, you are kind.”

As Ruel’s hand touched him, Leo smiled and wagged his tail. 

Cassion remained still, then frowned as if he had been slapped, and took out a handkerchief. 

Cough! 

Without any warning signs, Ruel coughed up blood. 

He looked at the red blood on the handkerchief with a bewildered expression.

He didn’t feel any pain, just a hint of blood in his mouth. 

“I wasn’t sure, but you did cough up blood.” 

Cassion’s face stiffened as he spoke. 

Fresh blood. 

Soon, Ruel’s heart pounded and he gasped for breath. 

—C-Cassion, something’s wrong with Ruel.

Gasp. 

Ruel grabbed his chest and staggered. 

It was different from the usual difficulty in breathing. 

Didn’t he just inhale Breath? 

Deep wrinkles appeared in Ruel’s clothes as he fought against his forcefully blocked airway, causing him to feel suffocated. 

Cassion calmly administered Breath to Ruel’s mouth. 

“Slowly, use Breath. You need to breathe.” 

After inhaling Breath several times, Ruel barely managed to exhale. 

“Crazy.” 

There was no way the words would come out nicely.

Just when he felt relieved that he could breathe, a piercing pain engulfed his entire body.

It felt like the symptoms were coming all at once, like a dam breaking.

Ruel lay down on the bed and curled up.

“Fuck. Damn it!”

Ruel could feel both hands holding his arms shaking.

Brrr.

His teeth clenched.

—Ruel, are you okay! The amount of dirty things remains the same!

Ruel felt like cursing at the mention of the filth remaining unchanged. 

It was only now that he realized what the Great Man had touched. 

He had disturbed the timing of his symptoms, synchronizing them and making the disease more painful for him. 

He was forced to endure the onslaught without a break, the pain coming at him relentlessly.

‘You son of a b****! You f*ing son of a b**!’

“I will administer the painkiller. Hina.” 

“I’ll hold him down.” Hina emerged from the shadows and grabbed Ruel tightly. 

Ruel’s face and neck were visibly strained, with veins bulging out, indicating how much pain he was in. 

Cassion took Ruel’s arm and used the syringe. 

“Ugh…” 

Ruel’s entire body trembled. 

“Ugh!” 

Another wave of excruciating pain swept over Ruel. 

Wiing! 

The power of recovery briefly screamed in response to the sudden onset of multiple symptoms of the disease. 

“I’ll give you another dose.” 

Cassion said anxiously as he administered a stronger painkiller to Ruel. 

—What should I do? Ruel looks very sick.

Leo walked back and forth around Ruel and stroked his forehead.

“Cough…!” 

The pain gradually subsided after vomiting out black blood.

Ruel slumped weakly, gazing silently at the carriage ceiling. 

‘I feel like I’m going to die.’

His entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

It still hurts.

—Are you okay?

Leo looked at Ruel with teary eyes.

Ruel stroked Leo with difficulty.

He could feel Ruel’ hands trembling wildly.

In the end, Leo burst into tears.

“Are you okay?”

Cassion asked, taking out another syringe.

“Damn it.”

He seemed to have the presence of mind to curse, which was somewhat reassuring. 

Finally, Cassion let out a sigh of relief and said, “I will prepare a bath.” 

“But this is a carriage?” Ruel blinked dully, trying to calm Leo down. 

Finally, the pain subsided as the painkillers took effect. 

“Tyson didn’t just make a kitchen.” 

‘It’s not even a fortress. I want to keep this forever.’

It seemed like Tyson had built a mobile home, not a carriage.

Ruel felt a bit awkward. He needed to destroy the carriage for his future plans. 

‘…Will my uncle scold me if I do that?’ 

“Ruel-nim, what are you thinking about?” Cassion, who had risen from his seat, noticed Ruel’s subtle expression and asked cautiously.

“We’ll have to blow up the carriage. But, do I really have to blow it up?”

‘Are you asking that?’

Cassion pursed his lips tightly.

“…then get me a decoy. The same decorations on the outside.”

When Ruel gave the order in a weak voice, Cassion spoke to Ruel politely.

“Ruel-nim, it’s not easy to get a carriage.”

“I know. Oh, ask Aris if he knows a spell to change the appearance of a carriage quickly. It won’t take long.” 

“Please tell me why we had to blow up the carriage in the first place. I don’t remember there was any mention of blowing up the carriage in the plan we shared with Adoris.”

“It’s a plot I added.”

Cassion took a deep breath.

“It makes it look more real. It gives us a reason for Huan to visit Setiria, and a reason for me to believe in Huan.” 

Ruel finished speaking and waved his hand as if to say, “That’s enough questions.” 

His face looked pale. 

Cassion, trying to calm his rising emotions, asked, “Are you not in pain?” 

“Not at the moment.” 

“I’ll prepare the bath right away.” 

Before Cassion entered the door behind him, he tapped the wall. 

It was a signal to slow down.

Knock. Knock. 

When Ruel glanced at the window, Aris appeared. 

Since Ruel didn’t have the strength to open the window, he waved his hand.

“…Are you done crying now?” Ruel asked when he didn’t hear Leo’s crying. 

—I’m sorry.

“For what?” 

—This body thought he ate the dirty food well, but it seems this body didn’t eat it properly. That’s why you’re in pain.

“No, it’s not like that.” 

Ruel looked at Leo, still feeling apologetic, and decided to keep his thoughts to himself. 

His head felt heavy, along with his body. 

He looked at the spirits on his head and said, “I didn’t faint, so it’s okay.” 

—Right…!

Leo’s ears perked up. 

—Ruel didn’t collapse!

His tear-filled eyes sparkled. 

‘Thank goodness Leo is simple-minded.’ 

Ruel looked at the brightened Leo and closed his eyes. 

—Are you going to sleep again?

“No, I’m just closing my eyes.”

—Are you really not sleeping?

“Yes.”

Leo immediately went to the place where Ruel’s hand was and flipped over on his stomach.

Then he tapped Ruel’s hand with his front paw as if asking to be touched.

‘What a mess.’

        

*** 

   

“Contrary to the news that you are healthy, your complexion does not look that good.”

Banios welcomed Ruel and hesitated at his pale complexion.

“Even though my complexion looks like this, my physical condition is really good.”

“Um, okay, it’s cold outside, so come inside.”

Ruel inhaled Breath and followed behind Banios.

As soon as they entered the castle, Ruel touched his cold hands in the rush of warm air.

‘On days like this, I should just get under the blanket and eat some tangerines.’

Unfortunately, there were oranges, but no tangerines.

“How have you been so far? I was curious because I hadn’t heard anything since the banquet.”

Banios naturally began to ask how he was doing, as if it had been a long time since they last met.

Ruel also responded as if he was a little uncomfortable with the act that started as he entered the castle.

“I had a good time. I took care of my estate, which I had not been able to take care of before, and also took care of my own body. How have you been?”

“Aren’t I the most popular person recently? Let’s see, you and Shio are the only ones who don’t support any of the families.”

Banios smiled cheerfully while applying subtle pressure.

‘Is acting a prerequisite to becoming a prince? They all act well.’

The setting was planned in advance to fool the eyes of the Red Ash hiding within the royal family.

Banios spoke in a roundabout way, fitting the situation in which he was trying to appease him and he was rejecting it.

“Is that so? Since it is a matter of deciding who will lead this country in the future, I will carefully decide on my support.”

“Oh, don’t feel too pressured. I didn’t bring it up to pressure you.” 

Thomp. Thomp.

The sound of Adoris’ footsteps echoed in the corridor. 

Banios bit his lip for a moment and then lowered his head towards Adoris.

“Greetings to brother.” 

“It’s an honor to meet you.” 

As Ruel bowed his head, Adoris approached them with a satisfied face.

“What happened to Lord Setiria?”

“I came in response to Your Majesty’s summons.”

“Are you feeling okay? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Adoris seemed slightly annoyed by Ruel’s curt response, but soon regained his smile. 

“When will we schedule our next meeting? I’m looking forward to seeing you again.” 

“I made Your Highness wait while recovering from my illness. I apologize.”

“Brother, don’t be too harsh on Lord Setiria.”

Banios stepped in to replace Ruel, who looked troubled.

“What are you talking about? Your words sound unpleasant, Banios.”

“Adoris.”

‘Here he comes.’

Ruel pressed down the corners of his mouth as he heard Huan’s voice.

“It sounds like that to my ears, so it seems like you’re being too sharp.”

Huan looked at Adoris with a triumphant expression.

It was so different from what he saw at the banquet.

“Lord Setiria, I apologize on behalf of my brother. He’s feeling uneasy because something tiring happened today.”

Huan did exactly what Adoris did to him during the banquet.

There was only one reason why Huan could come out like that.

“Well, the last meeting was very enjoyable.”

Huan looked at Ruel and smiled very brightly.

It was because he thought that his relationship with Ruel Setiria was several steps ahead of Adoris.

Ruel looked at Adoris and Banios and then smiled at Huan.

“I had fun too.”

Ruel did not deny that he had met Huan in front of the two princes.

The corner of Huan’s mouth twitched.

And soon he smiled proudly at Adoris.

‘It’s good.’

Ruel almost clicked his tongue.

As soon as Huan made eye contact, Ruel smiled brightly.

Huan asked softly.

“Have you come to see His Majesty?”

“Yes, I came to see His Majesty.”

“That’s such a shame. Since you and I are both busy, let’s meet up next time. Be careful on your way back to Setiria.”

Huan lightly tapped Ruel on the shoulder and hurried on his way.

After confirming that he had gone, Ruel glanced at his shoulder.

He felt like he wanted to shake off the feeling as if a bug was crawling on him. 

However, he calmed his expression and bowed his head to Adoris.

“Your Highness Adoris, I am also busy, so I will leave now.”

“I’m waiting for your contact.”

“Yes, I will arrange a date soon. I hope we can finish our conversation then.” 

“Indeed.”

 Adoris responded and then looked at Banios. As he avoided eye contact, Adoris clenched his fist and turned away.

Thomp. Thomp.

The sound of footsteps, now further away, echoed heavily compared to when he had first arrived. contemporary romance

“Let’s go,” Banios urged, stopping in his tracks. 

Ruel took a deep breath and glanced at the corridor where Adoris had left. 

He didn’t have anything to do with it, but he was concerned because he was involved in Adoris’ affairs. 

‘Not now, later.’

Author's Thoughts

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