Chapter 1 (2/2)

“I am Centurion Luke. Retiring after five years on the field.”

Hal stiffened up immediately as he saluted Luke. Centurions were officers who commanded a hundred soldiers.

“Ap- Apologies! I did not recognize you, Officer!”

“I am not wearing my uniform. It is understandable. How long have you been in service?”

“A- A year and six months, sir.”

Hal became a dog with his tail tucked between his legs the second he found out Luke was a veteran officer of five years. Although Luke  had a fair and young face, he was not someone Hal could treat lightly at all.

‘d.a.m.n, of course, he doesn’t have any scars on his face. He’s wearing a full helmet every time he’s on the battlefield.”

An awkward silence reigned the carriage.

Thankfully, the coachman and four guards arrived soon after the confrontation.

“Sorry for the wait.”

A guard looked over Hal and Luke’s paperwork, then sent the carriage off.

Kererereung.

The castle door opened, and the carriage began to speed off into the dark. The carriage was pulled by four horses and was able to proceed at a decent speed.

Dududududu.

The guards and coachman sat outside of the carriage, leaving Luke and Hal in awkward silence inside the carriage. Hal picked his nose absentmindedly and asked.

“Are you returning to your House?”

“Yes.”

“My apologies, but could I ask of which House you hail from?

Luke had nothing to hide and so responded honestly.

“I am of Count Esteban’s House, from the center of the Kingdom.”

“Wahh, even a country hick like myself has heard of the famous House. No wonder your words and posture are so elegant… I suppose people from a prestigious House are definitely different.”

Luke frowned slightly at Hal’s continuous compliments.

From the sly look Hal had on his face, Luke suspected Hal was after something.

“I have heard Esteban Earldom is a wonderful place to live! I have always wanted to visit it.”

Luke gave a cold snort after realizing what Hal was after.

“Seems like you are reluctant to return home because of your crimes? Sorry to say but people of the Esteban Earldom do not like outsiders. It’s a characteristic of Earldoms with long histories.”

Hal couldn’t help but sweat at Luke’s sharp words.

“What crime did you commit anyway, to be drafted into the Wolf Fang squadron?”

Hal hesitated for a while, before replying.

“I-I beat a person in a drunken stupor”

“You wouldn’t get drafted for something like that?”

“The person died while I was beating him…”

“A murderer. Sorry, but the people of Esteban Earldom would not welcome a murderer. Even one whose crimes have been pardoned by military service.”

Hal’s face stiffened up at Luke’s clear rejection.

A cold mood took over the carriage once again.

Luke had met many different types of people on the frontlines and did not look kindly upon people like Hal.

‘People like him are the type to always nag for favors. To take him back to the Earldom would do no good at all.’

This was the reason Luke had been so cold to Hal.

Dagadak. Dagak.

Luke and Hal remained silent, listening to the rythmic sounds of the carriage.

Luke was thinking of his fiancée, whom he had not met for five years.

‘Wait for me, Isabelle. I could only talk to you through letters for the past five years, but I am finally on my way to see you.’

It was common for n.o.ble Houses to set up arranged marriages between couples who had never seen each other’s faces before.

But Luke was different. He had met Isabelle at the n.o.ble Academy and had given her his love. He had successfully proposed to her. He went through many difficulties and obstacles before receiving approval from Isabelle’s House and holding an engagement ceremony.

After returning to his House, they would have a marriage ceremony and become husband and wife.

However, his sweet dreams were broken by a shout from the coachman above.

“The road is blocked!”

Luke’s complexion changed immediately. Blocking roads by felling logs and other obstacles to stop carriages or patrols and then ambus.h.i.+ng them, was one of the most common tactics used by the Orcs.

“It’s the Orcs! An ambus.h.!.+ Keuk-!”

A pained scream came from the coachman, and both Luke and Hal scowled. An ambush on the day they retired.

“I should have worn my armor…”

Luke grit his teeth and unsheathed his sword by his pack. Hal also armed himself hastily.

Hal seemed too nervous and jumpy for a soldier who had been in the army for a year and a half. Luke kicked opened the carriage door and ran outside, carefully scanning his surroundings.

‘How many?’

As he counted the shadows he could make out in the dark, his complexion darkened even further. At least twenty Orcs.

Luke gripped his sword tightly, despair on his face.

‘I’m sorry my love. I don’t think I will be keeping my promise.’

Luke pictured Isabelle’s face one last time before howling out a battle cry and launching himself towards the Orcs.

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