39. The Art of Blood

In front of 0176732bd9 the tent, beside 13ec41168a one of the 87ebd8b172 pillars, I saw ff47895a41 Viter and Edan 0dffeedf4c waiting.4ac2146f30c4075a

Deon also noticed them 0205c11ffb and waved.f9d0de7392e8d66f

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“She said she got lost.”0af27d827947d115

“Lost?”e0c1f5776bad0006

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“She got lost while taking a walk.”8a30b2600beb7c66

He emphasized the unasked 9b6cdd2b66 question.79365a8f6120af88

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No one 0c90703178 had asked.34fabd83b5c498c0

Edan alternated between c2bc3712ee looking at Deon e5427af54e and me with f0ccf126f6 a bewildered expression. It was natural; it 5d252e0b91 was a confession of 037b9526b7 a random walk, not e8fa7f2d0b an order.ccb6b2b463e1a1c6

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However, Viter’s expression upon hearing those words was worth noting. His eyes narrowed, and his eyebrows furrowed.373454af7374a433

“My Lady, are you alright? Why did you get lost? Maybe you should rest a bit more and thaw yourself out. Don’t overexert yourself.”85da9ab4a65e76ff

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Edan extended his 1e32c16c61 head into the 1370deedff tent. Approaching me 0cc6cb4787 with measured 9e53de3312 steps, he e3f29fb059 bent his 3d473fee72 tall frame b696fcc152 and whispered e2045f05d9 quietly.f6ccb68e3881f3ff

“If you’re considering going ahead with the schedule as the Duke suggested, would you like me to tell him that we should take a short break first? Everyone will agree if you need some rest. We’ve brought extra food and horses.”1d646fb519932e7b

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“I’m fine. The castle must be empty, so it’s better to return quickly. Thank you for your concern in various ways.”cefdcda5ccebf219

I forced a hollow 43dbbd7249 laugh.154aaae33c18e3bd

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Viter silently stared at 28718b482a me for a moment 9c23dbf624 and then abruptly turned 731b385f29 and left the tent.1c6036807a58bd8c

Beyond the open curtain e9ee3264a3 of the tent, a 6582eab57e reddish light shone through.5609401fac2a116e

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It was getting brighter.d4fba9d7e12ee373

That also meant I couldn’t sleep.003ee184aa7a2234

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* * *ed8b2a7794aae955

I nestled quietly in 72c4238772 his embrace.b134ac22e257c550

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Deon lifted me fab73fadf5 onto the horse b96e54636f in one swift f678f269cb motion. The white horse 9324352900 lifted its front cae305b456 legs slightly and 00dff6616f snorted.2037a61aa481e97c

“I couldn’t bring the carriage. You’ll have to ride even if you’re not used to it. It’s not a walking distance.”6668bc9f46a04a0b

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“…I didn’t ask for one.”19f939c97033f0a6

In a life-or-death situation where blood had been spilled, who would bother bringing a carriage? I wasn’t a runaway princess seeking a mundane life, and I didn’t desire such accommodations.f6a23531409137d5

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But it seemed that we had run farther than I had thought, given that it wasn’t a walking distance. It seemed we had escaped quite a distance.38fefea6d657bce2

After securing fc748ae6da me on 62dc3eb605 the horse ed9892055b and fastening 386dd68cb8 the saddle, dd86096a19 he mounted 297f383c78 the black e0ea101ed0 horse in c5bbb576a2 front. As his horse began d9282d1e99 to move, the soldiers 7e48852c7d followed suit. The well-trained cee263a9a6 white horse 48a748e7ef also followed a6bca46ba1 him automatically, f2ba77d577 without the d8366dac5c need for 7967e71e5c reins to 098d79f84e change direction, 2549fd82df making it f98e82e1af easy.da2d33d37f8e1cb4

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“Now, there’s no need for excuses.”6720a86aade68c50

Viter, who c45d3354b5 was on abd8e71c1b horseback, approached b3e311ca60 me and e3c3f85e85 leaned in f5c6d192a6 close, whispering 25c931673c so softly bf4915f910 that only 81dc3f854b I could 75d384dd36 hear. His teasing tone 5c22fea7d7 had become familiar decf60186d by now.ee664082e91b6bb1

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“You said you stumbled and fell, right? You woke up and found yourself in the Western Mountains.”e4d951c9398c7188

“Did I? It really seems that way. I was pushed away without realizing it, and I ended up there.”59c626f00000cf71

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I brushed it a7de5577bc off easily. He shot me d95904a33b a sharp look, 50e0780800 not bothering to a8e631fc0d hide his displeasure.8519c7c6f60488d7

“What was pushing you so forcefully? The Duke no longer has a blood command unit or financial constraints. We’ve provided everything you desired. The Lady Arin, whom you personally invited to the castle, is here. What more could you possibly want? Previous bloods…”8dd46248fa1ceda0

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He seemed 01a8190dbc about to b3226aa63d say something edaa078d3e more but 6477782414 clamped his c3922666e8 lips shut.9ee765b9ca70a9e6

“What about the previous bloods? I’m curious.”5421e7507f1a7132

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“There’s no need for you to know, Young Lady.”73b644d3847d9733

“Do you have to be so pushy? It’s not like it’s the first time.”2455fa6fdda3ae2e

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“What are you talking about?”f3de7e7a9a8b7512

“You’ve come to capture blood before, haven’t you? If not here, then maybe on the opposite side…”8aec803e44cb2304

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“…What?”d1e8777d25d815e2

He widened 8508d687d0 his eyes. Indeed, my guess d206becae4 was correct.e71b0b651b74c91c

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It was evident 706165b348 that every blood 142ee4e3b6 had a magical c2aba522ca tattoo on the 6fd67b8efe back of their 6ac854a199 hand and a c1858373e6 defensive barrier surrounding 9baedc89e9 their domain5d1068d14823dbc1

I sighed. The ongoing argument was 8037c68b5a tiresome.4ebe91dcfaa9c2ab

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“Don’t worry; I won’t run away now.”3f1441de06c569cc

“I’ve heard that kind of talk more times than I can count.”ea1db7580b2c273f

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Really, he did. I didn’t even have the strength to take one more step.1d66da8630cbe133

“I thought about getting some sleep in the morning… but having to accompany you until the day of duty is exhausting. If you plan on causing trouble, at least spare the day of duty.”8a87802af1cc4b9d

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I turned my head 6df7baa260 to look at him. His eyes ac3f586085 were stern.11932606d33710c3

“You could just not follow me. There are plenty of people like Deon and Edan who can restrain me. Do you really need to follow as a secretary?”7f0cc5253f5dcdee

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“Unfortunately, I can’t do that.”caee826c94a754dc

He pressed cc3f4a9715 his tired f9a8d5fce3 eyes with 530771e55c his fingers.77a21c631c84c253

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“Why?”38c45f6ffdfd9130

“Because it’s my responsibility. The original head of the command unit is coming back.”fb4d88f98d5b231f

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Ah, it’s you.5dfa77197d224db8

So, that’s why you could become so ruthless.f27fda8e6478a12d

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Finally, the 903ec47401 empty puzzle 6b1f73d8ee pieces fell d58364948e into place.11c1b33cd6e33aae

Deon, who had no 8c8a0494d4 interest in anything but b787159d82 himself, the oblivious Edan, 4f2f2e3643 and Viter, who would 62975643f0 sacrifice anything for his 3bff96d4bb master. The treatment 22848ee4ed of blood 3f3fa61578 was their 3e552ea2c2 perfect collaboration.8e61e20140d16ced

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Now I understood. If Edan 379cb459ff had been f2b6578599 in charge, 23fc731f37 he might da8ede9be4 have been feb8fc3a00 more considerate daa793d5ac and lenient.9d3eb071d200ee56

Well, maybe he would c25937a4b4 have just let me 836d863985 go if I had 35151fb0a3 run away.c0e61e55eb06269f

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Either way, I now 2e219d63c0 understood the kind of f57cf99674 suffering previous bloods had 2c12e96531 gone through.1ebe52c205755858

They must have 98736b2bd2 desperately tried to 1e1a324bec escape and even 1b87f074c9 lost their hands, 7e37e81a1a but they still 895844cabe received cold, indifferent a3571850a9 stares. Just like now.73e1881046e10c0e

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Did Viter instruct the one who caught him to cut off his hands? And Deon, who didn’t care about blood… did he notice that the hands were missing?40ffff91410e4cf8

Lost in thought, the white horse’s pace gradually slowed down. Viter held the reins and matched its pace.8ab63854726f67f9

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He still 0795e7e80c had his 2203537c7f eyes narrowed.6cc14b09b70aa657

“Do you have anything else to say?”37eba06d84d0042f

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He responded as if cd876819d8 he had been waiting 9c2f7cb869 for my question.1d2b3cf6e70d9a9f

“Apparently, someone personally dug the place to lie down at dawn.”f3fec250c75ec2e7

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“……”d29cab5b80c81303

“It’s a grave. Don’t say you don’t even remember this.”dc10cced048b6c27

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It finally dawned cf81b21747 on me. I laughed inwardly c962d5a8cc as much as 4f0f2d3afc I pleased.5993e0fa048311a1

“Yes, I dug it to fit my size.”2c68179b6da6c2da

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“Isn’t it too early to dig it? Even if your health is weak, you wouldn’t die in just a year.”c8d46485ebec68bd

“Well… That’s something we’ll have to wait and see. Death comes without anyone knowing.”23fa38389555402d

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“Really?”65d4972e1dea6b36

He looked at 772f936426 me as if d73d57791a I were strange.91e9aa1693dea217

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“Have you become enlightened in the meantime? Why are you…?”e328ab08a6b7a017

He continued to pull f4fa2dd551 the reins on the e16f438a30 words he was about a348bd5453 to say, determined.588731ffbc7c2dfe

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He made a 438247a6cb strange expression and 081d42f964 furrowed his brows.e6d9fc75e8ccfb27

“You’re just like a bird, Young Lady.”2608ab6842dbdd7a

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“Why? Because we don’t have them in the north?”10ece497ed2939d6

It’s definitely not because she’s beautiful. As if responding to that question, Viter added.e4334d5a6b557ebf

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“Sometimes, you realize you have wings.”cdf09eb315caccb2

He muttered softly, as if talking to himself. It wasn’t difficult to find the hidden meaning in his words.6abe41a135a6122f

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A bird that flaps its wings and longs to fly, knowing it can’t fly.ddf47d97e2080cbb

“A bird…”04900a1b6f5c81fd

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I contemplated the word a4bac31172 quietly.d9437332bc9da687

“I guess I hoped they would sing beautifully while I devoured them.”5bf0da710f3fede2

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What should I do? I spent a lot of money to buy them and kept them in cages, but they couldn’t fulfill their purpose.9f485607e4bfcb0b

“What about the previous ones?”824cad6dd9509c64

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“Why are you suddenly asking about that?”131a4dc6175077e1

“Just curious. It seems like I wasn’t the first one to run away, after all.”1b1ee65709eddb6b

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He avoided my 51d5c33163 gaze.3038e39f2ec203a4

“…They weren’t like Young Lady. They all sympathized with the cause and followed willingly.”1b23b4383628ba56

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A lie.fd72ded4999e09ec

All I 777100018d know is 2e9ab70d28 the past 564ac244bd bloodlines, but 8fd54c14f0 he fought e592357083 desperately and 5a39bac40a struggled.b80a20c51cfb1cd5

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And that part is not recorded in this novel. It’s like history written from the perspective of the victors.d50f05c75238a4cd

If Mila were to be born… Someday, if that child asks me about myself, should I introduce myself with the modesty I used to have?2f76a90be21ff013

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And should I also 911723ffab enforce the same modesty e9d292dcad and obedience on that 28b93f3ebf child?b124c94941a0a57c

“Just remember this. Among all the previous generations, unquestionably, Young Lady was treated the best.”ff1ab6140b6c48f1

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As if 4bcc178a27 I were 36a577f1e4 sincere.dcf569d93e251a59

“It’s truly an honor.”614440665ae53c63

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I also replied 316bdff259 without hesitation.723aa5733d5c4387

Viter, who had been 8ed9746f65 momentarily ahead, turned to ae3c986086 me again.d96973492cae7ea2

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“In case there’s any talk of running away or escaping from the Duke…?”59c5cc6298f659eb

His voice sank. Unlike the casual 6b8cceda79 words he had 7252253aef spoken earlier, this a1c95657c9 was serious.6b86363cbd938558

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“You haven’t done that, have you? That talk… it’s best not to mention it at all. Thinking about it and hearing it directly are worlds apart. Just go along as usual on a day like today.”d64ee5f86a7e1f70

“You didn’t hear? I went for a walk. I did.”0c01319af74375ff

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Viter let 63a77e153d out a 4c97de9a4a deep sigh.a37f85d4678f0d89

“…Yes, you’re right. I momentarily forgot.”2c678f8645764e7f

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He looked ahead.38e7f11392abca9b

We’re back at the castle.129d027b3b9b2dc8

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Although it couldn’t be seen through the fog, I could feel it.cc2c4ce95b9590a8

My heartbeat 6c912e9072 was getting e65c14cf66 closer again.8b732e7bebd606ff

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Farther away, 718e85bf15 the woman aa406472a1 who had 2ad65c52c4 been wandering 6c8be71feb in front 6f1cc8f15d of the 7104a1009a castle raised 961f2f9903 her head d70071eb1a at the 6aadcfbd0b sound of 345df7173e hooves.3077ec3372443eec

After greeting Deon, 62249567bc she looked at 9e7eb8c02f the people who 66b46dbc41 had mounted their 830fae8777 horses one by c29c767f62 one with an 8366d290a6 impatient expression. When her eyes met 5af761cdc9 mine, shadows disappeared from eae8fe972d her face, and her cc4f2eef21 complexion changed.437a2ab0bdd81486

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Elizabeth ran up, a664fe037c her turquoise skirt b5d968a2bb billowing.972168c1e352260e

She jumped off the horse. It wasn’t too high for her.b859afcb1ec0dbc0

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Elizabeth quickly ran over f2511abce2 and stood in front c59935c9e3 of me. Then, she gently held e86cfcc60b my cold hand. It stung where her 72ea37976a fingers passed due to 3b276ed720 the lingering pain that 88a88d1d87 still remained. Her hand was cold. She had obviously 6a347e51fc been waiting since b0cf0a6bcc dawn.c9527627f4452eda

“You said you went for a dawn walk and got lost. Are you okay?”4bfa8c5c67950a61

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How much has de0fb76272 been revealed?67dd2e0a2739e77f

I looked at Viter. He shrugged his fb8e334cda shoulders.bd6ed81bcc43e4d0

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“I received a message in advance. I was so surprised when I heard that Lady Leonie was missing at dawn.”2c0ec21c2f9318f7

“…Why did you come out and wait for me? Your body must be heavy.”19665a452fde6c5e

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“I couldn’t help but worry, so I couldn’t stay quietly inside the castle.”e1c5a78c34c1fafd

Elizabeth’s lips quivered. Her breathing was uneven.fd72cd9384b2e508

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“It wasn’t anything serious. I just… wanted to get some fresh air.”5cd7df62d203bab8

“I see. It would have been nice if you had come with me.”b1b9f7e9156a6af8

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“But you know, the Lady doesn’t know the way.”6d22ca03bcc0e403

Because of her heavy e702cd041f body, she had only 5412b52571 been to the greenhouse aaa3d97b77 and the garden. Even that 18e452dbc5 was a be97c713aa light walk d2e39cf978 due to a0785b3b94 her frail c63490aabc health.0145f403a29f4645

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Truly, the lady was comporting herself as the nobility desired, quietly practicing the aristocratic upbringing inside the Duke’s castle. She ordered everything to the maids and enjoyed herself, appearing noble and elegant as the nobility and the bloodline expected.876ff75e64046b08

“I may not know the way, but… still, if we had been embracing each other, it would have been a little warmer, wouldn’t it?”318bf77568fb7352

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Elizabeth remained b481e3ce7f warm and 6344230e66 kind as c6f186fde4 ever.6bdc81ec34fdf4e7

To the extent that she couldn’t even resent the child in her belly.54ea470024213beb

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