Chapter 16: An Unfortunate Event (2)

“I am so ashamed.” Evan, lying in bed, could not possibly face his lord, who was sitting in a plush chair opposite him and drinking three glasses of water in quick succession. There was a good reason for his thirst.

Alexandro had descended the mountain with Evan on his back. Although Evan was smaller than the Archduke, holding a strapping young man while leading two horses down the hill was not an easy task.

While Evan was healthy and fit, the trouble began when his horse suddenly fell on the way down. This threw Evan from the horse, injuring him greatly.

“I have sent your horse directly to the stables. They will probably put him down tomorrow.”

Evan’s horse, outstanding and pedigreed, had sired the Archduke’s stallion. Nevertheless, most horses that had thrown their owners had to be put to death.

Evan regretted having to lose the horse that had been with him for ten years, but it couldn’t be helped. He could not continue riding him after this.

“But I’m not sure what happened. Howl suddenly began spinning and jumping, which made me lose control of the reins.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Alexandro could not possibly spare the horse that injured his man, regardless of the Archduke’s long history with the animal.

However, he was truly sorry to part from the horse. His horse.

***

There was chaos in the infirmary when Archduke Alexandro walked in with Evan Cupiheat, the Deputy Grand Master.

The imperial order of knighthood had enjoyed a tremendous victory in every battle. They were the mightiest in the entire continent, and the empire’s conquest of the continent had opened a new era of peace and stability. Evan’s grave injury during this time of tranquility sent Jorge into a shock. Seeing the seriousness of Evan’s condition made Jorge dart to his bedside and closely inspect the damage.

“His Grace the Archduke is also here,” Evan spoke in a low voice. Startled, Jorge turned to the Archduke and greeted him – bewildered by the situation, he had not noticed the Archduke in the chair.

“Please pardon my impertinence, Your Grace.”

The Archduke dismissed the apology and motioned him towards Evan. How could I have not noticed such a presence? Jorge realized how overly anxious he was.

“He simply fell off the horse,” informed the Archduke. Jorge could not believe this.

“What do you mean, the Deputy Grand Master was thrown from his horse?”

“I also find this absurd, but that’s the fact of the matter,” sighed Evan. A knight falling from his horse—it was almost shameful. It was only proper for a horse that has thrown its owner to be executed if only to save the owner’s face.

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“I really cannot believe this. Couldn’t this have been due to some evil plot?” Evan was one of the best knights in the order. He was not the kind of soldier who would lose control of his horse, even if he had not ridden in a long time.

Jorge had been with the order in every battle, assisting the Archduke and Evan diligently. The three men trusted one another.

“Possible. But the horse suddenly spun around in his place, jumped, and banged his head against a tree. It’s too bad—he really is a good boy.”

“You said, he smashed his head against a tree?”

“That’s correct. We’ve been together for ten years, but this is the first time he has done such a thing. He’s been quite brave, even in battle.” Evan was puzzled. In fact, his horse was healthy and intelligent. But on the way down the mountain, he seemed to be in agony. The horse had kept banging his head even after Evan had fallen, almost kicking Evan in the process.

“We should stay away from Nalusuwan Mountain for some time,” Evan suggested to the Archduke. Evan knew that Alexandro climbed it often.

“You were on Nalusuwan? That area has poisonous plants and even animals don’t go near it. To visit a place that commoners are not even allowed in…”

“That’s why we go there. There aren’t many places where one can ride so freely.”

Jorge asked just in case, “Did your horse graze there, by any chance?”

“No, he only drank the water from a creek. I knew about the poisonous herbs.”

“Hm. Will you have the horse killed?”

“I imagine I should,” Evan responded with regret. Sensing this, Jorge asked Evan, his eyes sparkling, “May I please have a look at him?”

***

The infirmary was still in a state of anxiety, thanks to the high-profile patient admitted the previous day. Jorge had been diligently treating Evan, working around the clock due to the unexpected turn of events. After Evan’s surgery was successfully completed, he checked to make sure that the patient was asleep and resting.

My head is throbbing. Jorge decided to take a break and visit the medicine storage.

“Did you really write all of this?” Jorge’s jaw dropped at the draft of Chloe’s book. Glancing at Chloe’s face, he noticed the bags under her eyes and burst out laughing.

“Ha!”

He was proud of Chloe for working so hard not to disappoint him. Having confirmed her sense of responsibility—even if it had not been his intention to test her—he suggested to Chloe.

“I think we both need rest. Would you like to take a stroll in the gardens with me?”

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