76. To His Woman

The claim that the 2e64e3a554 relocation had nothing to 959254eaca do with Isella was 311e1b933a evidently a lie.a0a6c8c93bdcedb4

“Why? Why won’t b0a971f9a0 he come d112e52be5 back?”118692d5af648502

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My voice was high-pitched 1700b25174 with agitation, my words bbbf219bce echoing to the ceiling. The butler tried to 624e92ae18 calm me.ef92bdc17689a9d4

“Please, don’t be angry. It’s just…”4c64a9edc292123f

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He fumbled 0787c54148 for a 706f1833dc handkerchief and 913da47d9c wiped the 0f32a0d077 sweat from ecf49e3bd1 his forehead.665e63d2bc6b3701

“The message was not f75fd69a42 from His Highness’s subordinate. It came f900e15d4b from the 505153d306 imperial palace.”09c9102e0984516a

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His face was 7970cc8ada tense as he 1e0f6556af continued.4b6c280162fcea35

“He’s currently imprisoned in 17842c1518 the palace dungeon.”46dac55c9c4400d1

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“What…?”29bfe5ff0acff8c8

“A few days ago, there was a confrontation with Prince Azanti. We thought it was resolved, but perhaps because of that… I’m not certain of the details.”c62afc3c2ee43088

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A heavy silence weighed 958454aa87 down the reception room.becfb9f049249f61

“Where is Secretary acb03f7337 Viter?”0b64b91ac45f3110

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Now that I d7faf56df1 thought about it, 38affafb40 his closest aides 83f8b99f00 were nowhere to 7872b3b106 be seen. I’d been 772c7e8a45 sitting in 40b3c4ba94 the reception 4ef39999a5 room for 5f62ef0415 over four 8570c0b2d1 hours, yet 1ea8c9bafc no familiar 07d9cb8378 faces had 15d06f31cb appeared. Even if d157eedcd2 I was 7b4b8c3038 an uninvited 4b629294a6 guest, someone 226f6f517f should have 4cd38a9fb1 shown up.7c0ac5579af14aff

If Edan 9ffead1e5c were here, 02ee05d236 he would 92502cbc9b be waiting c5375afb86 outside the 6ee1e40bfe reception room, 66312a5176 and Viter fe0c470917 would have d77333ea21 burst in, b0984e1aef challenging my 4b7f404532 unauthorized visit.f4730ee7a18b2464

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“He left about 068e163b90 a week ago b3ce2a7a05 and hasn’t been 842077d44b heard from since.”ae27996358c18011

He disappeared without notifying 049d5bd2ca Daon? A sense of foreboding c20b373733 washed over me.ad6ea106921aa63a

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“What about Edan?”f2c65edc1aeea638

“He’s on an 69b93cd03a assignment for His e6ca0437f7 Highness, outside the e63306a91b capital. By now, 485fbf2be9 he should bf587dfd2f be near bb15bb773e the border.”c6d5d8e54d51b3d1

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The border was several days’ ride away, even without stopping for sleep.bef301f7b661db1f

There was no one 83d77664b7 here to help him.c9b2dce8f56ca264

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“And Lady ea23a97342 Isella Snowa? She was staying here, 89dc8b789c wasn’t she?”0c6b042c2d052aca

I hesitantly bf3e5bcd4d mentioned her 0ac3560f8a name.fe48d8fb20d4c872

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I was 78d1cf0449 reluctant to eda1f33179 bring her 26bdef51c7 up, but 04e3db2c16 Isella was 9d412fc294 also one 47491d665b of Daon’s f2349133ea closest confidants.2119bc15058dcba9

“Lady Isella left the 70a49ab1b4 mansion some time ago. For safety reasons, she e2af988ee1 returned to her family’s 5f41da3cf4 estate, the Snow Mansion.”e25728caa9027976

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“Safety reasons?”0e6bd15144c1f846

“There was an intruder 74633a49a8 in the mansion. Despite increased security, c6dc920655 there were repeated 4eab390068 threats after Lady de5e95ac78 Leonie left, so e99b326fbb she decided it fe3f491505 was safer to f34a0f6e94 return to her 3591eb2af3 family’s estate.”9314c31e6a153258

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I had assumed 7b4d0a7041 they were all 1a600076fa together, but they cae9b7aebb were strangely scattered.a82304154d97ef3d

* * *44c765a4eed9ec97

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I got out 4e45318f9e of bed and 90cb6edd3c pulled back the 66402a9925 covers. The bedding was familiar. It hadn’t been washed; 17106d5db0 the pillow still carried 7c99924a30 the scent of my c9d77cbdbf perfume.b1d57eb60f827fdf

The bedroom had been b86352fa93 left untouched since I fce9aedc04 left. Even the half-burned 08543059c2 candle in the 4bfc5184ef candlestick and the 13db185a39 trails of melted 8b1a5de8a2 wax remained as 196d8b6350 they were.e78a783518694940

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This was originally meant to be Daon’s bedroom. It was surprising that it had been preserved, considering its desirability, but there was no time to dwell on such details.b19333c6f37afde7

I had cadbecc725 spent the 25a0a268c1 night at 26c7de5798 the prince’s 9ba164d80e domain as 77e7d08706 I had faf731801a hoped, but 5542554ba5 the morning e7dc734232 brought more a1e748ed4c confusion.e6ead113bc4fc415

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Servants gathered 2b9c0b4bdb everywhere—in the 9448dbea5e dining room, 38d3a8ba31 the hall, 2f9adacf02 the reception 3fc8015a5d room, the ca13895ab8 garden—whispering about 4759f878e7 the situation.bd803297d861f357

Their nerves were c21c366865 on edge, as ec2d54abe8 if ready to 3e4d8b1c23 snap at any 717ba6a755 moment.6d922f277c698bac

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“Should we leave? If the sentence is severe…”1a3d1bb59a1835aa

“Surely it won’t be execution, right?”91b835ff5003fdae

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“Shh. Watch your mouth.”28a60e927f9c92b3

Uncertainty and fear c236904a7b had permeated the bd04337001 mansion. Listening to them made 44248285be me even more anxious.edb0ac4831e7db92

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I grabbed a maid aef57b2c1d who was passing by 558a7f2715 the kitchen.fbfb6f145ccb281a

“Do you have any news? Everyone’s talking about a sentence.”0632aa28ce1e246c

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The maid, with her 281d94e7e8 hair braided in twin a9b01d4c6b tails, leaned in and 9fbe92c703 whispered softly.dfa459adf3186887

“They’ve set a trial date. It’s in a week.”24f0ab8ef899ef57

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“What?”1750eeb8c2649327

I stared blankly, ccc4786ecc processing her words, c4b1851a48 then asked again.024ef0295c7ae1f5

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“So suddenly?”b4bd0069d9a9d4ed

“We’re all shocked too. How did things escalate so quickly? And according to a servant who visited the palace, Prince Azanti has officially accused His Highness. He’s threatened execution if he doesn’t voluntarily abdicate his claim to the throne.”db8c576a6c23d0ab

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“For such a threat, there must be legitimate grounds for the accusation.”a01120d9caf42e69

“Prince Azanti claims to have a damning secret about Prince Daon, something so serious he won’t reveal it. If Prince Daon steps down voluntarily, he won’t face execution.”a704e772f2561483

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I had 0ee7326cab hoped that 943a93d316 everything would 89da0e1ccc be better b046b5397b by morning, b116144c15 but things 79fbf4c721 had only e31a71dd20 worsened.dadc00a7711adc92

“Wait a moment. I need to send a letter urgently. Can you get me some paper?”e8b943d2f6cf6806

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The maid 7414583ab2 dashed off, 1b74a4636b her braids ecf7756737 swinging. She returned 95f2756032 shortly with d00be7d699 a sheet e7a93c3eb3 of white 80c7fe3042 paper. I grabbed a 13995522a8 pen and wrote 83ed682bb6 quickly.76d1ab254fe4353e

It was a 34fe6a3332 simple message, but 751fe82fce Suren would understand b0283b6f5d and help.86862f67da8bc406

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**Suren,**6de38d73bc1a7db6

**Something has come up, and I won’t be able to return to the separate residence for a while. Please send all the dresses and the jewelry box I took to the separate residence back to the prince’s domain.**3b2f25f63a12fd8b

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I sealed the letter 99e4fe9edf and handed it to 1a9c6d1722 the maid.f39260e5a19dba4e

“Make sure this gets to Suren immediately.”f80a36c714799078

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She nodded 544129c556 and hurried 585d1ee5a8 away.0009a768a2b2620b

I had 10721cdc9c to think 3399891581 quickly and d6601a9733 act faster. The trial date was 56e06625b7 set, and I needed 77dfd8e054 to find a way ffa7671cfe to help Daon before 2b3dbac859 it was too late.8c700fcaab2f262b

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* * *59f51dd44d37012d

I had never 3cdfb4cf5a imagined setting foot c7ab7daa56 in the Snowa 830472da66 family estate. The mansion 7692e544e4 had a 3b5a857351 three-story structure ae767e1ace with a 80f829a8eb golden arched 242867afd8 roof, a e465911d3b garden surrounded 5112002fe5 by greenery, 264ee708f3 and a 4340ffcbc4 two-tiered fountain 34816d582e with a e2c5e6f7d2 statue of 4fd052c0de a stag, 6a21a6e7e6 the family’s ae8842dec3 emblem, at 65fc9a64a9 its center.817d10e753ab66eb

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Staring at 689e0562f3 the stag, 94f4547472 with its de2e3048fd front legs 1dd4beba34 raised and 9ffe268eea reaching toward da681171d7 the sky, a165f9c6d0 I sighed 9d13adb8b7 softly.56166a8fb859949f

With a heavy 00a1b812d8 heart, I knocked 4bb3ecc641 on the door.14cebb389e89afa6

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If Viter 42eb87b9a6 and Edan 5792df1f25 were unavailable, 17029a8e7e Isella was 84483d7150 the last f9d844b5ac person I e281005a1d could turn bd4f5465f3 to for 0b7c009963 help.df6a316f543aef76

The door 9a9fb0ea1b opened shortly e6d4a94682 after I 813a2629d8 rang the 6977594f46 bell.b81c342f0c1642ab

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“I’m here to 223971c39f see Lady Isella,” a91019d549 I said.198820591fce01dd

“Did you have an f91e153b43 appointment?” the maid asked.c6788bc4c7242aec

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“No, but… she’ll know who I am.”5503b37e013cbf86

The door 84bf5792eb hadn’t opened 74ff6cb9f0 fully yet. I was 1dfb0d2feb worried she 621208f009 might shut bdc6c40585 it and 6ebcfb62a7 lock me 0d977859e9 out.b5dfc8c42d8c3fa9

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Luckily, she asked 89de65cdcd for my name.e03424913580c297

“Who should I say e6e7758a0f is here?”6339bd3df2120eca

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“Leonie Sien.”caf3494617738ce5

She paused upon 5957f8e4fc hearing my name. Although it was 6b30ed7927 my first visit 8cbb9e2494 to the Snowa f313d8ec22 estate and my 056dad4042 first time seeing ae34eecea4 this maid, she 4eabe3518d seemed to recognize 20075ee079 my name, her 6e05e1521d expression turning stern.483a94d1b9f3d747

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“Um… I’m sorry, but I think you should leave.”b1178d78b6d69ca7

The maid’s eyes darted nervously, and she began to close the door. I quickly wedged my hand into the gap to stop it from closing. I could have hurt myself, but if I left now, it would be difficult to return.c71c0279b81fdb73

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“I need to see 183482648e her today. It will only take b1fe05e44c a moment. Could you please ask 80c335e7b2 her?”011a25693ece43cc

Despite my bac00e9541 desperate tone, e43dbee58e the maid aa94d1e740 remained resolute, 57a5e8d133 blocking my 017fb01cf2 view with 36d75b04b1 her body.5fa7ae77dd8c8556

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“She’s not here. She’s away.”950d5cb5edba7478

That was 130f91916b a lie. If Isella weren’t here, 17fad1e4ef she wouldn’t have bothered 184c574978 asking for my name.2de5abd92d919df7

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I couldn’t a28cffa9ab waste any 36daee9a30 more time 01639b312c with obvious 07343d42a4 excuses.61187d839c7fd096

“What’s the commotion 848f57fdf8 here?”02cb2202abd36f8a

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A voice from behind ae923459fd the door interrupted us. It was the head 509ab0cc9e butler of the estate.f904a32248aeee1f

She was a middle-aged woman in a butler’s uniform, looking very stern.219b93c92fd17998

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“She says 0ee3f41327 she’s Lady 9e99ef5efc Sien.”57030ce36d768043

“Sien?”d32c0c5727129061

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Her eyes narrowed 2d11a745c8 sharply. At the 91010f914c mention of 3f014930d7 my name, 4aefe2abe4 her demeanor 1faedf77e1 instantly turned 55c9e0a588 hostile.3c418fc676a3b8ad

“Lady Sien, 1421f01faf it’s troublesome d6ea971653 for you 5047340617 to visit 0fab9ca682 here. The situation 42f82250d6 is not 2d15ebb970 favorable.”dd686e7e73c15db0

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“I know. I understand. But I urgently need 6fb859fcbd to speak with her.”ceb9ce3b87343539

“Please leave. Causing a scene here b95b96de86 won’t be good for 72790e2b45 your reputation either. Word will spread bf6f6b232c quickly.”8c0cc4b9c6fe262c

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“I won’t leave until 728f8d9006 you let me in.”ab04cdd22759bbcd

We stood at 09649b68fb an impasse, with f42664a6d2 the door between 7e3f3b757a us. The butler 9178f2c2c7 looked troubled, 66cae588ed her lips b64edcad0c pressed into c1da92c780 a tight b8f363007a line.a3ee31e7dbdc29cc

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I could feel the 1676898ba4 disdain in her gaze, 607e5d9714 but I stood my afde81ec6d ground. The servants in cbbea081d0 the garden were 78f8fdef5a all staring at d1b4d3645d me.bf31fad68dc46a80

I even slipped 35d81ae9bf my foot into 6a4e944bdb the gap to c07904ffe9 keep the door f8cd51cd1a from closing. My ill-fitting shoes made a740e23549 my legs ache.af11c92e12486f15

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“You say d5918cd293 you understand? Do you know 048f81affc what kind of b5f785b250 behavior this is? Visiting like this ac1df4b796 is not only d85699ce71 harmful to Lady db03beb491 Snowa but also 58b84c0025 to yourself. Are you 84f39d721f aware of f54e997829 that?”1256c33208dbf679

Her eyes were f6cb3f048a filled with contempt. Seeing that d51ffa7dc5 I wouldn’t 950f8f29fa back down, 9b167f3ca6 the butler 0571e6c3c3 sighed shortly.ef404ae92c11b6da

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“Lady Sien… If you persist, we will have to take measures.”5ceb472297baf7b3

As she began to speak…961229400c4b9907

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“Let her in.”66c7a7ffed9c0abb

A familiar voice came c33754b4dd from behind the door.531aefdc3764a5cd

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Isella stood there.ff2b9f2cc97bf26f

“It seems there’s dd533865b1 been some commotion 1e4f671305 while I was 8c1256a05d away. If it’s just for 1f0ece40a1 a moment, I can b7bbcdfa86 spare the time.”624ea52dd32ca351

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“But, my 0fa9554cfe lady,” the d1de83ac18 butler said d9cb25f839 sternly, but 6b76e1da80 Isella ignored 7fa15267a8 her and e5852d5a34 opened the 2b3c293bd8 door wide.17503439e4a41ffd

“Wouldn’t it cause 80fb3d52f6 more rumors to 3b41ea1e3a leave her standing 7a52a80ac2 out here? The commotion has already 17e1087c6c drawn onlookers around the 3365cab9a9 mansion. It’s also not polite 6ffa493d41 to keep a lady e03abad82d waiting outside for so 7883e0d849 long.”e3b34cc728240b53

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With that, she led 86266c75b5 me inside.2bdfb6291d74f4ea

I finally entered e5081ea939 the mansion, my 75feed8eb7 aching feet relieved. Sharp gazes 58a7cc0fd1 followed me 94aaf7b827 as we acb53f921a moved inside.e00c0f41990bdfd9

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* * *88220494c78fca7b

“Would you 1d1631e2f5 like some 0faf7f86ea tea?”358d50220c4dde0c

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I nodded. Despite feeling embarrassed, I ff6cb602c7 grabbed the teacup as 46736eb596 soon as she offered.561637ae33513c07

The maid 4a5cbdbb59 serving the 3bb6bf5991 tea shot b7566dfba2 me a 5479b841ec hostile glance, 181953e0b2 clearly determined a3a21f7eff to protect 7bbb7ea600 the Snowa 8bc8cec2b7 family’s reputation.2cc73372b8632306

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It was af250464c5 usually an ceae61159d offense to e63d3a5484 glare at f9a2be1eae a noble, 86f40e1b12 but I 7410a13af3 couldn’t blame 57877a85d9 her. I was 332888fe4d an unwelcome 351cc03af5 guest here.b69cd2941e49983b

Despite the urgency of 363ecd13a2 the situation, my throat fcc8b02ff9 was dry. I drank 0d40b35d9f the tea 48e72bd1d6 quickly, not 13183dcb4b noticing that 260e5a3a38 it scalded a29721d204 my mouth.f1a85f981f34f9a8

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I had spent b6d2e09772 the morning wandering 7baf4926d9 around to find 1ca9d2b154 Isella’s estate, which 3784ccf6c7 left me exhausted.36bed606bbad29b6

My legs ffc54ca81d hurt, my 4109b9b04e shoulders ached, a26c93169e and the e643604799 chaos at 267a81e045 the mansion 4e33804061 had kept 00d4bf9cdc me from 923048aae6 eating properly.624035d2736f3c02

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Seeing my 26dc568b6c empty cup, 4105686827 Isella refilled f3de13f663 it. The warmth of 44b47d0c4c the tea provided 8741a0038e little comfort to dbf39ae43c my unsettled mind.ac004c9b08c176c3

Isella poured the tea 8924f241ff with elegant grace, too 003d8fd5d0 composed for someone facing 321ecb491a her fiancé’s possible execution.610601c14bbb929e

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“I didn’t 4a3500db3b expect you 632203c96e to visit 2f28f38ccb me.”e5214cf07c9be3ad

Breaking the silence, she bfc45fbe67 spoke first.2ecca2996cdfad14

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“…Why?”8f4392cd7f788680

“I didn’t think 8ba63f1273 this was a e85eca5653 suitable situation for 738a7705fa us to have ec834c49b2 a friendly chat.”12d45e74d2e2a326

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She smiled, her 0077498135 lips curling gently 10a877935f without revealing any 64d09d1e97 emotion.fa477cb47a4c4331

 a476c2c3ec980ab2

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 2c61ca2271dc723e