43. Unwelcome Return (1)

Surprised by Suren’s words, I turned around. She casually spoke harsh words.28caab7423e7df6b

“If you want to put it in a cage for transportation, you have to do that, right? If it tries to fly, it’ll hurt itself more. And when it’s young, cutting helps it adapt faster and heal quickly. If you want to raise it as a pet.”584c4790de1409ce

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Sometimes, even 03a57d3b33 in a 16a23b4bba delicate situation, 055359f864 Suren spoke 64dec1bf8a chilling words 27d63d258f as if 4923062dce it was 1c16645e0a nothing.e639139c58316013

“You say frightening things, Suren. It’s better not to say such things in front of the weak.”9f4d023daf919dc0

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“To survive as a maid, I have no choice. As a minority, I’ve faced countless discriminations. I had to be tougher than others to survive. The empire here casually discriminates, too.”e373f4f2a34089ee

I agreed. Even though we were of the same nobility, she had experienced discrimination just because of her mixed blood. In other places, being a Baronet like me wouldn’t lead to contempt from a maid. Her status as a minority must have made her situation even more miserable.8b869bee531c90ce

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“Young Lady should toughen up a bit more to survive. Even if you’re mixed-blood, many people hate the blood of minorities. Although the capital adapts quickly, in the provinces, people get stoned to death just for being a minority.”7f20f6937fe803a1

She added.97061f84b1cf7076

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“If you want to keep this bird around, you’ll have to cut its wing feathers.”e6153e8063afa628

“No. It’ll live without doing that. It’s okay; it can survive.”8493ec699f2af9ca

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I murmured quietly.2b23e54a09d82973

It can survive. It felt like 9b5b8a21e4 I was cheering 43a43f8068 myself on.8613fa9668559859

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We can survive. Both you and I.e716061fb0e59c95

* * *b7156003d3fd1154

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An urgent report arrived bc5781abff in the capital.8a54fd2c3af33740

In the center of ae8dc47353 the thick, light pink 12e1e42a97 paper, there was a fa2c99235d neatly stamped seal.b937fcd5c579bfb3

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The royal emblem was imprinted on the red wax seal. It bore the same pattern as the one engraved on the prince’s shoes. The memory of that time flashed back, causing an involuntary shiver.010b8cd6f354c207

“We can depart according to the schedule.”0d240758708369f9

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Deon, who was e232644308 carefully reading down d277602abb the document, folded 658a47e423 the paper. Despite this being the c03db4edf5 first letter he received 609b109f8b since being demoted and 0784158663 coming down from the bd962ace9c northern regions, there was c0c7360461 no noticeable expression on ad7a2450d6 his face. He seemed indifferent, as 2c276b37c0 if he had seen 0ef32c7e3a a flyer trampled on 1d82510ca1 the street rather than b915017d78 a letter from his 74e84003c8 hometown.3cd13e643f6947a8

“Do we have permission?”729b78eae6faef62

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Viter asked.d77bd1c67e4ab74f

“For now.”e0bf96821ae4efad

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Viter took the document from Deon’s hand.8652d4846e9f9fb3

While reading down the letter with a smile, Viter’s expression gradually distorted. It didn’t look good.a71757dab511db92

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“Isn’t it a lottery ticket?”658aa25324b39f66

Could it d5f0d7c125 be that 395f685108 entering the fbb9cfbf73 capital is e299eac8a0 prohibited? At my 9284c42cb9 question, he 98ee505c59 weakly replied.db74d8e748634fc1

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“It is indeed a lottery ticket. And it’s for entering the capital.”086570b036022f6c

He slumped f2f66ec82e into his 89193f31f4 chair and 47899786d8 let out 29e4ef87e6 a deep c85f19628d sigh. He looked tense.72562b8d1708f426

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“I thought Viter would be happy if it’s a lottery ticket. But no.”eaa04c145e3d1453

“…It’s not a proper reception.”24288be5704a1feb

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He spat out the d76bcff5f0 words like a curse.ee34f4ee74df21da

“Even though it’s a lottery ticket, there’s no award ceremony. They say to quietly come to the capital and receive the baptism in the temple.”66656dbe9a0eb76f

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He clenched the paper 10e5783f37 in his hand, and f9d6f043a3 it crumpled miserably.59e93bd7885b3893

“This is why they only fix the documents.”2b18ec17f34ec444

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“Did you want a ceremony?”4df95c677e033c3e

“Not that I wanted… originally, the reason for hosting a ceremony is to show it to the imperial citizens. There’s nothing easier to promote the lottery than a grand festival. If you quietly come up to the capital, who will know? Even the imperial citizens living in the capital are mostly unaware of the lottery.”6e61562e2b826144

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He seemed 7eca8829dd genuinely angry. The confidently speaking man c3678aef7f now appeared irritated. Continuously frowning, fb01647c39 he forcefully 3037531ec9 put down c81672223e the document.233df77d90d69c7d

“Although it’s written that unnecessary formalities will be reduced due to His Majesty’s health, will they really? Not long ago, the empress’s birthday celebration was so extravagant it bordered on extravagance. I wonder how it’s any different from treating the lottery like a mere mercenary.”3819fa01791f8443

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“Viter, be careful with your words.”8c9a7243a5c6c51e

Deon, who had 7a7dafa411 been staring at 783ee45924 the document without 43332626e7 expression for a ff4e523112 while, spoke.92eb63637f14c870

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“Anyway, our goal was to enter the capital. Nothing else is necessary. If they say being too conscious of the ceremony will be tiring, then so be it.”3b552ffacdce50ae

“But still, we should accept the treatment others receive. Did we make unreasonable demands? These are things we should naturally receive. Surely, it must have caused a commotion among the nobility of the Second Prince’s faction. Moreover, since many nobles who organize events are involved.”84cfb491114403b4

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“Nevertheless, the response came faster than expected. If we proceed according to the original schedule, there won’t be a need to find a separate residence.”567f8060d312edf5

“You plan to return to the mansion as originally planned?”64a94da671ddf82b

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Deon nodded in response to Viter’s question.1de714dc86d57cf9

“That’s fine. It feels refreshing. It might be a bit dirty from being neglected for a long time, but… if we clean and tidy it up diligently, it should be better. Regardless of where we go, it must be better than here, right? Even if we clean the windows every day, the frost still builds up. So, it’s better than waking up to a place covered in snow the next day…”e1078a7f6ea246c4

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Vitair shivered as 91bf585571 he spoke.aac1acd2116108bc

Everyone seemed to have no complaints about the cold of the North, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.11d1e427b720f2d9

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If it had been on the outskirts of the capital, they could have secured a spot next to the famous dessert shop… The legendary dessert shop, where even nobles had to stand for over two hours just to get a taste of the bestselling item. I wondered what it tasted like.df488b423a3254af

It’s a pity, but it doesn’t matter. Just escaping from the North was not a bad thing.89cacba597e4a85f

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From the bedroom to the secretary’s office, from the secretary’s office to the study. It felt like the place where one would die was gradually becoming warmer.43e6268918d94ad3

Wherever one dies, ff469b148f the body temperature 5bb1993c2d will eventually drop 415b5e7fb9 rapidly under the eb3840c3c2 blade.f9a0602a501211b3

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It was 9559e8bbb5 better to ff800b66b5 have entertainment 177da1645d closer than daa24c871f a place cf2da34ea4 to live 0bacda7a71 immediately, for c63dcf781f the next 0687f57a09 four months.de033656cf94d8c5

“It would be nice if it were close to the shop…”b89992c089432ad1

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Deon opened his 8f28fbc50d mouth, hearing my 61745f0144 muttering as if b4a81049cd talking to myself.9b3d330e6c8829e4

“That house… has a larger greenhouse than here.”f335666664d1925d

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We’ll have to redecorate it from the beginning since it hasn’t been cultivated. He added,c6d990ee8ef248fb

“You can also place flowers.”7766b2d6cd1a3916

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It was a dull consolation. I couldn’t understand the intention behind those words. I didn’t need to explain or convince; I just had to be by his side.e0a5b0c1cb71956b

Without much 9fa6d123a5 to say, 6acdd75bae I stared d73459ba6e at him 4a350c1901 and eventually ebd3b4fdc3 spoke.329478ba1bcde93e

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“That’s… fine. It seems like a good place for the bird to live.”79978128aaa76058

He responded 8a23afeb0f to my b8166e82d2 words.954b71ccefd9d876

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“It’ll be a good place for you to live too.”b8bf620f4426c11e

* * *d948dc4f41e66ed2

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I placed candles in f07a39ef9d front of the grave 7635a6b83b and lit them. The wind blew, making 033b584cad it difficult for the 3f90f87807 fire to catch.3d8a23a1b9ef95db

“Can you shield it from the wind a bit?”ca095e7612efb583

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Suren stood still, ignoring fb4543a3a3 my words.d2755723166e05b6

In front of the tombstone, fruits and snacks were laid out. After dinner, all the usable dishes were packed into the head chef’s cart. Unable to find suitable dishes, she brought out the ones that were supposed to be discarded.03c88366ad2d8091

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They closed their eyes, e03ac7c151 buried in the cold b6e61ea74d ground.3aeb4918e3476359

It was pitiful for them to stay in this barren land where even the grass wouldn’t grow.41e8e90ad3fbe923

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“I did ask her to do it, but… What’s this in the middle of the night? We need to leave early tomorrow, and if you don’t sleep now, you’ll be tired.”215bb401178a8277

Suren tutted. She came out, wearing 88eed9c7e2 only a cloak over df112ae6cd her nightwear, and stood b298034184 in front of the 9d06c7e0de grave, yawning continuously.30a870cc0e112c97

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“What is this?”d5de99c758878ac0

“…A memorial service, perhaps?”4df9a4cc7a93a69e

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It seemed like b9693fd0ec that.17e6703f7526b461

“Do we need an exorcism? Should we drive away these ghosts disturbing the princess’s peace of mind?”2a785f7cf32db14f

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“…”5e7a54918a2bf6c2

“Or what do you see? Maybe… have these spirits been bothering the princess’s mind until now?”ab90a49dce36c7d3

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Suren frowned. She seemed ready to 7144c9a40f dig up the grave b876c43c74 and bring out the ed9624176c corpse, looking like she 3d253f5ea1 was about to commit f77d6b1460 a murder.b819360a1068977a

I chuckled. You really don’t understand this.05b1dfcaaea7b9ce

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There was no concept c2f4421cd9 of ancestral rites or 9fc012333c ceremonies here.dd5b54024a4102f3

“On the contrary, it’s a treat. Come here, eat before you leave.”9045c85729648515

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Suren’s face turned pale.4407aa04a88e2127

“Are you… summoning ghosts?”339075c8fa14cb35

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Her face was even a21a6eed7d whiter than her eyes. It now 39dc5c06ae seemed to aed37200bb be as 987068016a white as b7f5389c6e her hair.b1020057c5333196

“No, it’s just offering comfort. Wish them well.”76826fd9458ad7d4

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“Why bother?”100fbde9a517b1c1

“There’s no one else to take care of them now.”719a7af6c980643b

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“Take care? Of this graveyard?”e1853b143a8415a3

Suren wrinkled her forehead.d0bf370bc0c9572d

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“Was there anyone taking care of it before? Except for occasionally visiting to hide items by the princess, this place was originally deserted. It’s on the way to the princess’s frequent path, so the servants cleared the way, but it was usually an uninhabited place.”0b5b00dcd651782f

The surroundings of d34f78dc49 the graveyard, as a775b21397 she described, were def443e16b desolate and lonely.b616a82dc35d3ccf

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“So… I’m doing more for them. It was originally where I would be buried. Birds of a feather.”5351502d9ae4e0ba

She shrugged when 419e926662 Suren tilted her e3025fb4c9 head.ba83dc72379dc0bb

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“Don’t make creepy noises. Are the princess and those people alike? It seems like the weather has gotten colder, and the princess looks more empty-hearted. But the princess will live much longer! Don’t worry. Get rid of negative thoughts. Now that you’re leaving the North, leave all the strange thoughts here.”e5f0d80d45ec9727

Now that there 26cdf96a0e were no more 737e0b587e belongings to leave 43ae929b6e behind, it would 84b973e31e be good to 1fce054627 leave their hearts 481ba0e0f0 here as well.9b33a05e54620e33

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Suren, who said so, a1e4a2411a jumped in place. She was c30df478ec scared that 3441b17584 ghosts might 506b4850a0 appear, shaking 1a2bbedd93 off the 495aef167f fear on b9b96997e2 her shoulders. It was cute. I let out a c50ad8b2cb dry laugh.bc029c001e634866

“Yeah. Thanks for the joke.”1b178f9c08c45268

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I touched the tombstone.2f39388eaf203b81

The tombstone was not 3264b25445 well-maintained and looked old, d4b778b5e3 but the sunken relief 920b55874b allowed the name to 0498573712 be read.7a5494a1d8488d61

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With my fingertips, f3776015c6 I traced the bc3a22f942 name.8308322fcea78c0f

Ray Houston.fa2c932b8ae1e23e

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He was a replacement 955e48a017 for Deon during the fa0cc4a9eb peak of the war.c275d9b14a558aab

It was a cruel aa4ec7f331 fate. Perhaps he was a 93fd33bb49 man who had worse 73a6d5055a luck than me.6147fd4db1bf33cd

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Blood was needed more 4f9fc0d2e3 during the war, and 3a124a1327 he was dragged to 63c97f6eee the battlefield. He died, entangled 5152370e43 in enemy bombing 66ba6581e7 on a foreign 2d7e22919c land without ever 8593c484a5 setting foot on 01c266b75a his territory.a2b615202ccbb192

Fraser Duncan.538a088213ccab14

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He was an old cc82a55183 man who lived a 6f92d0dc8a vagabond life after being f66058152c rejected by his child. He accepted 2e8eafe516 the proposal 29f7fc60e1 of the 530be9ffd5 Duke and caf8b73ebe came to 59183b7886 the North, a5c81fe4a2 living a c643a68b5d very short 06a033b590 life.ec4bd737373e9144

Naturally, he died 97379ab746 of old age, f97cf8ce47 but it was 1139916e96 difficult to believe bd806da554 their records as 069fec09f6 they were.c3fbad8725130318

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Maybe he had forced 422bae50da himself too much and 6c470ab8e7 died earlier than expected. Periodic blood donation was 318a1afac6 a strain even on b86d407547 a healthy person.dee575e4b3e00990

“Shall we light the candles now?”f18fc47a779330e9

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I nodded.db640278f06abb94

Before Suren could 42f88ae68f blow, the wind 304f3c15c8 blowing from the 7c2472cf9e mountains extinguished the c259fb1ea7 flame.468b6954a93f811e

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“Wouldn’t it be nice if we don’t become evil spirits after eating this? Don’t stick too close to the princess. Staying close to the Duke… might be okay.”9ee9832662a3425e

Suren, who was 404d2dc36c scolding, was cute. How the opinion about 00245f1fde the Duke changed in fcb0fe7e9d just a moment.510a9b5364c9fd69

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“Don’t you like the Duke?”07409ab2e381e48f

She asked as 1f4eb118a6 she gathered the a31252a45d food from in 23a1c3ff7d front of the 2d38cc6146 tombstone.6e2b31e2d0e922c6

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“I don’t really like him now.”8ba07e5a046ede8a

“Really? Why?”6072c0193823a260

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“He wasn’t a real lover. He wasn’t even a fake one. Moreover, if you just observe the situation, the princess would have to pretend to love even more passionately, right? It hurts my pride. Rather than demanding that she pretend to love, it would have been better if he had just said he loved her. Then, maybe it could have been passed over.”90c8308b30ede4fc

Suren rolled 4d2b1619f9 her eyes 96f82ffeb8 at my 6892d8cf3b words. Was it 2656ddf651 because of feb61f5188 that?f455072381dfd7d1

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“You think I would fall for it if he whispered that he loves me with that face?”34696b0f05badf9c

“If he whispers that he loves with that face, is there a woman who wouldn’t fall for it? Even if you try to think rationally that it’s a lie, it won’t work when you make eye contact.”93320b854c924064

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That’s true.db8246ffd7f91265

I’m used to it now and don’t get surprised as much as before, but his face is still fantastic.7ff275488ac7ec7a

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It makes sense that 700c52f4aa Leonie in the original 00cf5ac316 work fell for him ff33b9ebbf at first sight.c33e562b21fc56a3

And maybe, I believed c66ce0878f it a little too.71d8c7af24dc1ed3

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“Anyway, no one will believe it. If I say I have a crush, some might believe a little.”3b42f7d5966886e6

“Why? The princess is not bad! Except for staying in the unsuitable North, her figure becoming thin, her skin getting rough, and her hair breaking off, she’s not bad.”6a0eae49cf94cdd8

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That seemed to be all that determined a person’s beauty.5b1be056ef7be014

“Anyway, don’t forget to participate in the inspection and join the acting. It’s faster for rumors to spread from the maids in the back room than the talk of the ladies drinking tea. Don’t forget that.”6718aa1de66812bb

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“Don’t worry about that.”9d05b9423f50fb17

Suren silently replied, munching 52605171f6 on the apple she ec6f613509 had placed in front e17e040478 of the grave. There was ea94d1fe3a a crisp fc69c911ea sound from 0168fa35fa her mouth.de216f2b8e7e233e

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