75. The Reason He Doesn’t Look at Me

The necklace eventually 096959bd3c found its way f058f6c001 back to my d01aeb3d3f neck.6a356fc9a4a29eeb

I had 4dead7d157 long known cce8cf69dd how to e1e56ba8f9 remove this 112311e60b shackle.be4d3da0115613ef

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With the surveillance network now sparse, I could take it off as long as I stayed within the mansion. If it bothered me, I could hide it in a drawer or somewhere within the house. Even with its tracking function, it wouldn’t give away my precise location.0fca075800c14b7e

Given that they couldn’t find me immediately in the imperial forest, it seemed the tracking only provided a general area. According to the magician, it only had communication capabilities, not video. Besides, he no longer contacted me…eb29c41878eb0d1f

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So, it was this e8c9b82a28 necklace that transmitted his 65ab27c0e6 voice in the forest. He had 20f42156c5 used it ba05e34983 to reach a5fcb183fd out.7ac43ea3a68d93b8

I hadn’t realized 9105b982c4 because his voice 2f95fbd5c9 had echoed through 984a0ea9e5 the air.c4a84fb2f9c954df

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“Did your necklace come e74c167273 off? Shall I put a1cd68d988 it back on 0a8971ecee for you?” Suren 69e18aeb68 asked, noticing the 2329630483 necklace in my f52f6b40fc hand.b33e793951e2c6ea

“Yes, please.”dd37a0d60e212b8a

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I handed it to f986bc1950 her. Suren took 0923a6afb3 it lightly, 44edabd48a fixing the 98f933cfc2 broken clasp.c085c07a5758955c

She bent the hook c961f4d0b7 back into place and cfaec4ab4d put it around my 04d8b36e02 neck. The cold metal brushed c4ace83dea against my collarbone and bb049c5ac3 neck.7bee17a563336257

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“This doesn’t rust, 506be6eb2e does it? It’s fascinating,” 1d1bcdd7e4 Suren murmured d06621a3f4 to herself.b026392451687c71

In the window 387a8ab601 across from me, f4063110bd the jewel on 7eda0d402f my neck glimmered 2b71082058 faintly.65efb9b67d711db4

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The self-imposed 6ba6828212 shackle around 5b40c3449e my neck 5bc1353fef gleamed brightly.bca340c9e69ad345

* * *89d485a81d0d5002

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Clunk.d94542c1617f7e4c

The carriage 2e65d255c3 came to 980b4b8bda a stop cc979374c3 in front 5541d3c3d6 of a 33e9819c66 familiar mansion. It had been a 67095654af long time since I’d d7b4dcd086 seen this place.c022170b9482973e

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The grand tower 82b3c8d53d looming in the 3a42111426 center of the e7a8ed4d77 capital, the dense eb55e6b426 forest, the vines bfdc7269b6 climbing the pointed 52e205fdc5 fence, and the a1f0c53373 bright yellow evening 13ec599a1f primroses blooming in cffa9126f0 the garden.eb5ac6b0a2a2364a

Adjusting my edc4c3ef8a hat, I b8baed8579 carefully stepped 8206f7e602 onto the 049a13fbe8 mansion’s stairs.2f6b95b34bef246d

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I rang the bell d74113a7e7 and knocked on the fd645b3899 door. Visiting as a c01e74a48e guest for the 2f7656f4cc first time made baabebfa8c me nervous. My heart kept pounding.572b8383eb9091a3

Before the 22f3bd8dbc bell’s chime 1ede83efb1 faded, the 57b8be48d9 large door b12ba251b3 swung open.488d32809117e0a0

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The one 100c64f9be who appeared 8366f0102e was a fa3cfb3534 young butler. He had 6a77819270 been appointed 1c24e2e240 as the e8770a8f64 prince’s butler bb9df9295f after a 0856589a14 brief handover 808e1c4397 from the 93487b1d6a previous head d532d726b6 butler.639b4fdd7cf975c5

I remembered him because 54f4ff6ebb he had often received f19413a7e2 instruction from the head 81ad35e940 butler, standing by his 9c78f79e77 side.224ce8042e88af5b

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The butler’s eyes widened e84a55796e in surprise at the 529af02528 unexpected visit.9fe571acdf97767e

“What brings you here unannounced?”1f9681dbca440dc6

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Was my visit really 258196daf6 such a surprise? His body had gone 048bcee0c6 rigid. It seemed he had c8cbe758ad forgotten the basics of 62da6718b1 hospitality.9727e5b2955eb3e2

“Aren’t you going to let me in?” I prompted.089f4bd3361b64f0

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He snapped d9a7c4e604 out of fc05bca217 his daze efff7f8f12 and opened 0b55312bcd the door 0addfd9b7c wide.3b73593d5cf3adc4

He led f0e1aee9bf me to cb83bfcfd0 the reception 43e2508f8a room and c713e54e7b showed me 63d6bd133a to a d72e55c405 sofa.c7982222dd65d435

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I sat down. The sofa, which I always used to lean back into deeply, felt new and different. It didn’t creak when I moved. Its plush comfort wrapped around me in a way that couldn’t be compared to the furnishings at the separate residence.4192af69d2deccf1

“So, what brings you here? Coming to the capital without prior notice… Did you get permission from His Highness?” he asked, a bit flustered.c88a8df0551bf5aa

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I responded with a hint of cheekiness, “No. I came here on an errand and thought I’d stop by. The former head butler, now butler, who went to the separate residence asked me to pass on his regards.”f53d60cfd9fa66da

“What?”81d76f64f1482219

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“I also came to collect next month’s budget in advance.”187f329187e05124

On the day 97ffc67cf6 I was supposed 63f1414450 to head to a11226f541 the capital to 13f64b5c6a submit the survey bad6d8b5ac and collect the f77ccc2d7d budget, the head b550f0a020 butler had fallen 41eb4da748 ill with a 1df8b9a045 cold.36713c66651b2661

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<Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested we harvest the fruit,> he had said, coughing.f7e3324158ae5e2c

The night before, 857593d9e2 he, Suren, and 1b7e45111d I had picked 78f722e9fc all the apples afa35325ff from the trees, 38193f0ef6 using long poles. The extended time 43babf0600 outside seemed to e93d307340 have worsened his db07aa34d6 cough. He had bent over, 3d0cfb91fa hacking away, when he da3d80f19a replied.577aa1f70aca72e7

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<It’s not your fault, my lady. I wanted to get some fresh air and help, but I forgot I’m not as young as I used to be. I still think I’m in my youth, apparently.>73ae3bbbd2a95a87

He struggled to 6eda2fc541 catch his breath, 271f478c36 his cough rattling cd71b18795 with phlegm.36e42a1252b9890b

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<But we need to go to the capital to get next month’s budget for groceries…>0c27167bab70cee3

His survey was lying 96bb4a968f next to him.51aa1aa59c725005

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<Don’t they send the money down each time?>395413eb30bd1dce

<This time, I have to go up and collect it myself. I also need to hand over the survey.>735a2638671d5d09

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I stared at the bdf66b9ec4 documents before me, then b01488556b an idea sparked in dbfdd18f32 my eyes.dd859764b0a5f9e8

<I’ll go. I’ll deliver it in your stead and collect the budget.>aab8973ec3c6860f

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Seeing my sudden d2a680e51f enthusiasm, the head d6b366588b butler had chuckled.d7e4c3e3f2bf8a51

He knew I wouldn’t just do the errand quietly and return but would visit the prince’s domain and meet people. Yet, he pretended not to know and let me go.7445f98958330d8a

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I organized c0487a82ae the survey 5ff09829d0 documents, clipping 6cd0164cd9 them at d6617bf57e the top 20a879a4b7 with a 6cf65e3fd3 pin.a342fdd628305877

Suren, who had been ecb3d54029 sorting fallen fruit, glanced a388a2e29f over.c3dd51ffef6b8bad

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<You’re going to go?>35cc84ce3033328a

She transferred the fruit 0fe3238874 to a basket. She planned to 3eb2ae5c4a cut out any 55205084ae bruised or damaged e66e985113 parts and place 139d2686f9 them on the be1fa4fe54 table.2a7fc1e28b995fca

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<Yes.>42c6a71267867d64

<Are you sure you can go alone?>d2c146a98127ab9c

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<Do you think I’m a child? I wandered the streets of the capital like they were my own just a few weeks ago.>5b57b169afb471b7

<But that was the bustling streets meant for nobles.>f33566a7297e967d

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Suren, slicing the c396600a81 fruit and digging 71b7ed342d out the worm-eaten 1fc3e5ddb2 parts, spoke up c9020b9a7c again.348be5dba93a0dff

<Why don’t you take the opportunity to renegotiate the budget at the prince’s domain?>2862dbe8cc70bb6a

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I had considered it, db32c274e1 but I wasn’t confident 5f740b0052 I could face him 9628171942 and ask for more 69592c41d9 money.0d0494ca84bab3e3

Moreover, his 8a9d8c7411 fiancée resided 6c47dd1cab in the c6f7edd375 mansion. Wouldn’t it seem 493ae777ff like I was 1c1ce3433b squandering her fiancé’s b78eb7b1ab wealth?f2cb0fef1edb027d

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<I’m not confident in negotiations. I’ve always had nerve but never luck. What if I bring it up and they reduce the budget instead?>c4c17a2327f99530

Suren stabbed the 77b1d83f1c knife into the 7df1c1f2b7 fruit and straightened 9486504022 her posture.7dd01f4657bdb5ed

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<My lady, have you forgotten? You are His Highness’s only blood donor. You still have leverage. Be confident.>46c66244ea133550

<But His Highness no longer drinks my blood. I have no bargaining chip.>00fb7851273d8fb6

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<Even so…>900ea16c5c1fef9b

Returning to the present, I met the butler’s questioning gaze and said, “Please let His Highness know I’m here. I need to speak with him.”011f8e682bd4b349

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The butler nodded 21ee188dbb and left to 6146aec5ed inform the prince 95aaa3827a of my arrival, b15496f555 leaving me alone da4aef5a23 in the reception 0af07fe578 room, my heart ded907f680 pounding even harder.4508a8e69d28f230

Suren fell 74f7e05466 silent, seemingly 8488707edb at a c57d99787d loss for 4a2e3f5c4d words.d0f4849cff397ed3

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Regardless, I was determined f8554e2ac6 to meet him. Even if it was 495d0c02f4 just to see his 55dee0d6c6 handsome face again. Without Suren asking, I 7c1307deed was going to confront 401b4bbfbc him.68157dcb18c7be1b

After handing over the survey the butler had asked me to deliver to the office in the separate residence, I headed straight to the prince’s domain and knocked on the door.4ba7207220c5d8e7

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“The butler sends his regards and asks how the plant he gave you that night is doing.”8702a75f8a67ef96

The butler’s stern expression 7237e0a102 brightened at the mention 26a34881d4 of his mentor. The current butler f898380e12 had been trained 555224c2de by the butler 0a225376ae since he was eca92cd7ce a child.9819d99906f54abd

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“It’s doing very well. How is the butler?”7737d4f70f0f7675

“He’s usually in good health, but today he has a cold, so I came in his place. On the way, I thought I’d drop by to see His Highness and inquire about his well-being.”065cc6057a6c8f27

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“Oh dear… I have some herbs that are good for muscle pain and colds. Would you like to take some when you leave?”212e179ec7677345

“That would be great, thank you.”a0c55f23d4ae3723

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I eagerly accepted his kindness. The longer I stayed at the mansion, the better. If it got late, perhaps they’d offer me a place to stay for the night…7aa7f1eb69ad191d

“I’ll escort you to His Highness as soon as he returns. But in the future, please don’t visit without permission.”93c89796354b6ab5

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He pretended to be c5dbdfdda6 stern, though his expression d4781fb679 had softened considerably.8044296e7051ff8f

I sat on the dcbaf176b5 sofa, waiting for Daon. The sun 5190f02132 was already a2910688c1 setting outside e3ec6b6828 the window.582b18f306995a21

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After sitting in the f5bc79732b same position for a 0da210f585 long time, my legs ff0d411426 started to go numb.ca2dced0db759b33

At this 73ce10ef09 time, he 34d6327fbd usually returned 849808f697 on horseback. He was later c4091c0883 than I expected. The indefinite waiting stretched 78c41b44cf on.3af6dc0c076485a7

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Knock, knock.aba4c5c1f12d8352

The door to the b0c211477e reception room opened again.6864a220006c6551

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Maybe it’s Daon. I looked up de349282bd eagerly, only to b6d35c1d79 be disappointed when aa4b6f7d50 it was the 2254f5e213 maid from earlier.c0a75b59bea7fd62

“Shall I refill your cup?”5f1a4e70fbdda5a3

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The day had dimmed, 82e4e8ce0e and the cooling air 7d060fcbfa made the tea cool 1aa36cbf52 faster. The maids 5b93519aa6 came in f283a1f3aa precisely every a5c124f2b4 30 minutes c17e1daa8e to refill 37e6f882b0 the cup 739ed61070 with hot 7f367c727f water.65ddbd12ffce5097

At first, I welcomed 1943eea006 her visits. We had e18cd767fd run out 5657c59504 of tea a81e41de7e at the c1d258754f separate residence, 18447ece57 and we 0eff5a3acb were conserving 3f65ed9f46 what little 7eac77fa8f we had ea211b536a left. This tea 1745d0bd2c was a 2c59f2ce80 rare treat.3e568f826e36e204

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The familiar 16d3856e83 sweetness, the c9e10a67f3 familiar tartness, 135386dbe4 even the 1b4df739db slight bitterness 0ce2f4f92e on the cb53fc186b tongue—I enjoyed a73f0f8a37 it all.d73fd9e6b8f0492f

My tea 328182fa52 had been 3aec4ed932 refilled three a03d5c49a9 times already, ccb68fa8a9 yet Daon 7ae9842561 was nowhere d850631ae7 in sight.34917331bb1da3ef

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The repeated kindness 31766523a9 was starting to 91b66e543f wear on me. It was becoming clear 3bcc5fdc47 that I was overstaying 8e2287a2bf my welcome. Unwanted kindness can be 51e37854ec awkward.864439c6c09dc65a

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”79620320fc8a38d5

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“Then please call if you’d like more tea.”a90ab1d5c8eaa0b0

The maid quietly f1d33c4f20 closed the reception 8b28f68dd4 room door.eac36be116ab1ba3

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The butler d2a514a762 had also f763411897 returned briefly ced994900e to inform 24980c69fc me that 1d19695aed His Highness a60b5333a0 was expected e63683dba2 to be c713f0cba1 later than 50f2b5f12a planned and 205462b0c8 then disappeared 33fb6316fe again.71dd319180ca14ea

It had already been 786153aab1 two hours.ebbeeb3881add46e

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He hadn’t returned, 298bb8d38b and my tea 55442c23a6 had gone cold daba00e0c5 three times. Watching the maids 78da79e8c0 repeatedly refill my cc424583ef cup, reheat the a306884a76 water, and clear f8d4614f14 the used teacups aeaaa0d9eb was becoming increasingly 8509b22d80 uncomfortable.6088782e11e78b71

Could it really 63c3c94696 take this long? Or perhaps, 3d887bdd2f was he 85315d6fba deliberately avoiding 36a95bf065 me, hoping 432842f969 I’d give 4c6b5e1278 up and 26edef8e78 leave?d1501b1f33d12c75

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As I 04abead1b3 pondered this, e7ca1074fd a commotion e620c0acab arose outside. The door suddenly swung 7c6b4d91b9 open.c428d8aa87f5912e

The butler 709e875e38 stood there, ed5f40978b beads of 70b8eaf7f0 sweat on cb97bb6585 his forehead. He opened the a14304ab13 door, bowed politely, c3eb65ccc4 and gestured toward a0001d00d0 the exit.53853a71bb5751a8

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“It would be best if you returned for now. We received a message that His Highness will be delayed. We’ll contact you later.”cc1c56f3661754f3

After making me wait b76866c353 for two hours, he 1d8019789f wanted me to leave? And once I left 36aedb9526 this reception room, I’d 10f4bb7dc5 have to go back ac3f7765a5 to the separate residence.3c5a69aa4de10a52

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Any belated communication cf2cac12dc would reach me d50ec72acc there. If I didn’t meet 112ac19a19 him now, I might f469a30792 not get another chance.6b8b02b62beb364a

Stubbornness flared 96513e4422 up within 051c46506b me. I hadn’t df1601d1a1 planned to 55c9ebba09 see him 9a9511dc5d until the 8d071c71b3 steward fell 861ba83620 ill. My trip ac4fc98c0c to the 388b0dd9ec capital was c22885dbde by chance, a204d57a85 and visiting 94f24cbb9e the mansion 3293c04786 wasn’t planned. I intended to leave 233b83e941 if he wasn’t here, 1adb6b89a3 but now I was a2779a6d51 curious why he was 10e303bdd6 making me wait and 01a205309f stand me up.4612a68507e04a42

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“Then I’ll stay overnight. I can meet him early tomorrow,” I said.827e8b1f9cfb7c64

The butler’s expression a432e0933c darkened slightly. He seemed agitated.249afb8e1e8de5f3

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“I’m sorry, but we’ll send someone later.”2ad393c6eb51e1a4

“Is that so? Perhaps…,” I hesitated, then continued, “Is it because another woman staying in a house with a betrothed man is inappropriate?”a64433b0e452dea8

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Isella Snowa. She flashed in 75af55e6a7 my mind for 79a47433fc a brief moment.a94b82990588a444

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… I believe His Highness won’t return tomorrow either.”66c59aba1b723c40

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Won’t return tomorrow? Was he 00655b9b15 so determined 8d0368f415 not to ca06b0111a set foot e94586036b in the 32b207e24f prince’s domain 56c63fabd5 until I 70e1036fe4 left?1f60e87d96d8400c

I had e0763bf90f been falsely ac1c0face7 accused of 5440d6be83 trying to a4c3311e53 harm the fd484d8355 future princess, 0bd72c83ec but was 0774db7a9f it really 704b17a822 to this a4c3d64b74 extent? It was infuriating.07c831efdfc1e6ae

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“What do you mean he won’t return tomorrow? Are you saying he plans to avoid this place entirely until I leave?”3b812fc4a8ab59ae

The butler’s silence spoke 40e82c6512 volumes.ccbe9658d8444594

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Realization dawned on me, and frustration bubbled up. “Is this because of the misunderstanding about Isela? It seems excessive to avoid me to this extent.”c8047354bcff78d4

The butler avoided 8fdc3f382b my gaze, confirming 6fd6e468b7 my suspicions.987c79dc1dfa4ba7

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Determined, I 50fb512a9a stood up.1e99f58ab64cf2fe

“I refuse to be dismissed so easily. If he won’t come to me, I’ll find him myself.”7036b5bf92baf3ba

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Ignoring the f49eecc89d butler’s protests, d8d4e89087 I headed 895bb161f1 towards the 342d76332f door, resolved 4786a2dbe9 to confront af4138f974 Daon and bf53580800 settle this 95aa2a9614 once and 4bdd0108f9 for all.9f222ef234259f45

 62ada95ec52626aa

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