77. There’s Only One Thing I Want

“So, what is it b91fe64181 that you must say?”bb933be821fb07b4

Her violet 1797ee105e eyes gazed 03f9394adf steadily at 76ae812652 me.91add74743999846

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I swallowed hard b654d5ebb4 and began to ff833f3460 speak slowly.5bab7b67b4650fd4

“I understand that my 798cc24d6c presence here is an 343bea1e10 imposition, Lady Isella. It must b6ad62dd50 be awkward 4d91ebe005 for you. This could 740e33c26e easily become e802e83faa the subject 7d6173daf6 of gossip.”6587ca29ec3cbfb4

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I began to share abe154c5d6 the words I had 5feb3aa835 carefully prepared. I glanced at her 80ba036320 to gauge her reaction, f682ab77b5 but her face remained dcd2a334ac expressionless.5d0b10f8944b3b60

“Strictly speaking, this 4adfcea036 isn’t my concern… 67100806fb but it’s been 757e21d73f bothering me too 16fb515183 much to ignore.”650a1ef0ec72c906

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In truth, 1c91f9579f it wasn’t d8f721427c just a d3b4c01b86 little. My mind c083b04887 was completely 6d277ddc28 consumed with e9654bc2f0 thoughts of 928b449e2d him.3f67428927fcdede

I cautiously broached 0acbc9aa77 the subject.8b8e16adb773bad2

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“His Highness d29ff03d30 is imprisoned e87cedd044 in the df8fb8d2a7 imperial palace.”4479adcbca07bda9

“I know.”5a0af9c344a637b9

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Her response 51c5c61935 was excessively 6ab87b44af calm, almost 560cbbb597 dismissive.b04c168f379890a1

“Why aren’t 9f06598fbd you helping 348726e0e1 him?”d09f38e60598142d

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It had been 3407e6203f two days since a389ecc0b7 he was imprisoned. For all their cf3ceca645 vigilance and power, fd617d0c40 the Snowa family 8bc3eba6a9 had made no b72854ed2a move. Despite possessing b2f9bafd60 the most d1516315a2 formidable forces 4d44b7467a in the 601e5c8159 capital, they a25b54fb5e had done 5fb770b533 nothing.1fc3e54c9cf78005

People in the prince’s bc9ec9fb09 domain were anxious. Rumors circulated that she 36df7d0dee had abandoned Deon.9a02509c01ff2dd8

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She set her e1cf3c45d7 teacup down and 0d6c0bff59 looked at me 375265569f steadily before speaking.986eae19b6880e1b

“You’re a noble e59e02b39c as well, Lady 0e2da65041 Sien. You should understand my db5a4cae8a position. Even if the charges 4a38bd3f11 are false, associating with d862e08908 a traitor can lead 4d860c2e1e to a family’s destruction. The Sien barony may bb75e591c2 be in a small 83c84796e9 provincial town, but if 00a801c254 you’re deemed a hindrance, 58c4ec4868 you could be swept 9fbe863da5 away too. It’s too ffa6146ce7 dangerous to 2dec182fcf get involved 9c61fe6ca8 with him 20842386c2 right now.”4b1e30b4deb9eb2c

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Her words 8d3a8057c8 only made 80b5e7e842 me more d0be4763a9 desperate. I needed to change 01ae7ee7c9 her mind. If her 8db8963359 family, with 57447fa568 its considerable 890caeab2e forces, took af6410a373 action, there 0173a6e34e might be 86921d1dd5 hope.96b7fb505823d56f

“Perhaps that’s true. But you’re not just a0213cad11 his friend, Lady Isella. You’re his fiancée. Isn’t it the role 6232274ae9 of a noble marriage 73a2be2aa9 to support each other bf07f79534 and use the family’s ab5986e257 power in times of 14d33d7b7b danger?”fcf6d3a6d93f875b

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She tilted her head d6125e4fa4 slightly.dcbf14642a996ad3

“That’s true, but this 285f953bfd is a personal issue e804b421dd for me. I don’t understand 93dc82e425 why you’re so cd48dd75f7 invested in this 85871541e0 matter, Lady Sien.”f3c50bb8ac6e288c

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“I… I owe His Highness a great debt. When I was in the duchy, he employed me as a secretary. He invited me to the capital and to attend court events… and…”8363924e61b132d7

I tried to explain 89b6bc6072 without offending her. Mentioning the 7b5a976ffd gifts or a36195ba93 implying a ca7c997fd5 romantic relationship 6f2418a13b could upset 5d1010db25 her. She listened to my 9043e434d6 rambling explanation with a fa927728fd slight smile.3293ace86d2eed70

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“Did he tell e386eca95d you to say 921d5fdfc8 that? Well, that’s 9a800cadbb the story 6167dd1054 widely known, dc4f9d3c31 isn’t it?”7475c8bc464f39a4

Widely known? I quickly replayed b310ea9173 her words in 15da17d2d7 my mind, struggling 6921cb82c0 to grasp her 7659cddd58 meaning.26ecc085bbce50a0

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“What do ea1c9f022f you mean?”4dec49d87cff512d

“It’s surprising. Wouldn’t it be better for you if he dies? There would be no man threatening your life anymore. So I was taken aback when you came to the mansion. I thought you wanted to escape from him. I guess I was mistaken.”4d5057a2334c0c15

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“What… do you mean?”b6cbc66faf0b8eb1

“You are the source of His Highness’s power, aren’t you? What do they call it again? The secretary referred to you as… a blood bag.”1e5f6aafa43236f2

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Her words hit 3fb457dc81 me like a a8d45ddc89 ton of bricks.c82fb0b8827703fc

“…He revealed the blood secret?”60a150bf392ccbd1

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I couldn’t believe it.37000c6a970e9907

“To what extent? How much does he know…?”4251061a4955669b

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I stammered, 0f5611f2f3 my heart d67baf442f pounding uncontrollably.4be49124459eeaed

I couldn’t control it. My temples, wrists, and chest throbbed wildly.fd4409c1e347c9a7

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“From start to finish, everything. I know that you are staying at the mansion to provide him with blood and that you were brought here at great expense from the north. So… I know you’re kept by his side for that reason.”93e5592ba09c7954

Now, I couldn’t even make an excuse that I was trying to save him out of gratitude or because I was his cherished lover.9adb3d0ebc0d5585

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My neck 89d0f49768 burned with 0d00d4cd05 humiliation.5121f8bf63f0f37a

Was it such an easy secret to divulge? Or, did they think it was okay to tell her because she’s already Deon’s person…bbb3a9e2f15278ac

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I couldn’t say anything. I had a vague idea, but having it confirmed felt different.22b7a43364199969

I understood. It was much e758d2e18b easier to reveal f5d8dd08f7 the blood information 53e26c6723 to a fiancée 98a5d97bd4 than to cause df8552be05 a misunderstanding with 982aab80ca a mere lover.c93187b14715fff9

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Having received f91ae891fb my information a8395f2269 from Deon, 2d3d18a7d0 she must 07f30b9e1d have easily ad29104841 accepted it. Who would 0acad9ae9e stop her 858e6b89e2 if she ddcf3229ee believed I fc24fd4af4 was a e988a20361 prisoner rather b0cde06e58 than a 45bbbb7931 beloved companion? A woman 2656f66fcd kept by a6cbf0f1d3 his side cd13b10d16 as an d9f9720a1f object, not 51cba2f7cb as a 01c0ee9945 loved one.5615170b3c0249f2

My hand, holding the 4b2a315b99 teacup, shook embarrassingly.aeb84c327a0e34ca

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I carefully steadied 487c86cb27 my mind. If I d70a50ff78 let these 035f58b2ce emotions control a52562eb65 me, I 475a1423a0 would ruin d284a7eb3f everything. I had bb631cc750 come to 968572e9df the lady 39e5b64b9d Snowa for 554a63c3cb a specific 3db2b84a55 purpose. To save him. That was all.bb60710ea5d5fa07

“Since you know everything, there’s no need to beat around the bush. When I visited His Highness’s mansion, neither the secretary nor the guards were by his side. You are the only one who can help him.”2e1e63f69b3f0158

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“His Highness’s affairs will be resolved well. You don’t need to worry.”e36e85d94a040e57

She spoke a04209c3b8 in an 932bb230e3 incomprehensible manner. She seemed 2d9885a17c like a 5fa78883f9 naive idealist.3c223105bf28edd6

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“How can you be so sure? Do you know that Deon’s trial date has been set?”e5ea491b43bccfd4

“Yes. I know. It will be resolved.”067103a9473a2b26

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“And if we waste time until the date approaches?”83ae149bf84e5a23

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”1ea8b1bbd455dad5

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“What if the trial goes against him and Prince Azanti has him executed?”dae6d7b6140a35b4

“That would be a pitiful fate.”af79403218bfa8fa

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Isella answered indifferently, remaining consistently irresponsible. I couldn’t fathom where her nonchalance stemmed from.acb65bec8057567a

Life and 96eb420eb2 death were beb3bd31cd at stake, 3decbb5c65 yet she d149dc4f40 seemed as 8f2953db53 uninterested as 00d4062e80 if she 67214bf039 were asking 7a4e6673fe whether this 85239740b0 tea was bb2a71e58f grown in 97b8daadc3 the west 9dc3630d64 or the 6b3ec3a086 south. To her, our conversation 983dd756b4 was nothing more than 2190a95919 a trivial courtesy.137413b4890e24fe

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Even if the origin of the tea changed, she had no intention of spitting out what she’d just swallowed. She would simply pretend not to know. To her, Deon was just such an existence.5083ad64a2c9ba45

“How can you be so… indifferent? He was once your fiancé. And Snowa was a vassal family, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t you be doing everything you can for him? Even if your love has faded, for the honor of your family… Are you saying that when the political situation changes, you’ll just break off the engagement and find another man?”f602ed0ed207a13e

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Isella’s eyes narrowed.3b17ce8fd5f4223e

“That’s my personal business. It’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”185a608aa8d4a7cb

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Coward. My body trembled with anger. I couldn’t sit still and listen to her anymore.27732834f71f5de3

I sprang 404de5decf to my ddbc2773a0 feet.cdc15b1ebf830da2

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I wanted to throw ed62083ebb cold water on her f11d24ab73 perpetually indifferent face or 0280c934e9 grab her by the 777b6deeaf collar. I wanted 7e03aec5bf to see 1d915b7e4d her eyes 137074b5f0 tremble beneath b519c1f549 my grip, 848551709e questioning if e2195cef0e this was 5e5dd532fb the best 6d8ec51d48 outcome after 90e5b72fdb pushing me ffe482f6fe aside and 7d06ce6de1 claiming him.1d6c6e8f45237785

But instead of picking a384d19006 up the teacup, I a6580a1440 moved to the sofa 17525699cd where she sat and 9b0380285f knelt before the table.4cf7fdde78b20596

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“Lady! Please get up.”136fbcf38ebb6bb1

She was startled and 0b878840bb dropped her teacup. The cup rolled 696e98bbe4 away with a e9163cce8c clear sound. For the first 898cb07ea0 time, a hint 1bf5b6891e of surprise appeared edc480072c on her indifferent 76deb9292e face.400f887a4e3c5910

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“Why are you kneeling?”98844c5fd4f7a285

Before I knelt, I 1a82b856f2 might have chosen to 2f6bb328e4 end my life out 5373902fd6 of noble pride, but de83206e8c I could cast aside dfa44e8572 my pride a thousand 588c7df63c times if it meant 6db64e8586 saving him.950bee7fa563a65b

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The cool 4875a3bd6f marble felt 75a2b17557 sharp against aada64831b my knees, 41f2fed177 clearing my d4d6326bf6 mind.0a940bb84537a2bf

“Please save him. There’s no one else… I can rely on but you. I understand you’re in a difficult position. You want to draw a line. But just this once, please reconsider.”02b47d7b41fc1711

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I clung to her d9f3e19c17 skirt, something I never 903fe08cae imagined I would do.1fd8493357a026da

But I didn’t feel miserable or ashamed. As long as I could help him.33231cb1f9561bd1

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She bit her lip, 2f41033b8c clearly troubled.9f12326ab2847c2f

My breath came in gasps, driven by desperation. I took a deep breath and forced out the words I’d been holding back.311a34dc46f84633

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“Everyone has turned their backs on him. There’s no powerful family to support him. If the Count’s family lends its strength, he can be cleared of the false charges.”34438659319a0f4b

“…Unfortunately, I can only repeat what I’ve already said.”e34b3c6a00263b71

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Her words, 411428153b spoken so 2cc19afdea coldly, filled f033143ac6 me with 26ec4e7440 despair. My strength drained away.694408c95d0b7e36

I hung my head. Exhaustion so deep I couldn’t even hold up my neck washed over me.325c9cad15b26c9c

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“Why did you get engaged to him? Was it because you thought he would become emperor? And now that the line is broken, you plan to call off the engagement?”efd078433f120300

“Excuse me?”a38a77ba65980fde

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Startled by my e1b09284d5 unexpected question, she 4ae35972d2 responded.50cfe5d375207d20

“Or was it simply because you came from a vassal family? I thought… you loved him.”d87425e335e5bfb4

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“Love?”7301f37c5e0be988

She laughed at my 0b4dea40fa words.04329a28c7c6221b

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“Well, one thing is certain. It seems you love him more than I do.”7972ff983218b07c

She stood up, 136cc66c3f the hem of 5a76b9f96c her blue dress ef9f1712e7 swirling before me.7afedd80de4448ef

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She opened the fa94f5e701 window and spoke 2c6030fc84 her final words 295a27c6f8 in an emotionless 925bdaa212 tone.845198aa38decc15

“Save your knees, my lady. He wouldn’t like it.”436d0b336ec9e8f6

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I recalled Viter’s words. He had wanted to marry someone who could help him ascend the throne.c0ae25c95ce284e0

Powerless. As Viter had f6d2c3be79 said, my status 9f4c48c9c4 was of no ae03321840 help to him.fb61df46770f61ed

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But even his chosen fiancée was of no use to him. His criteria didn’t include justice or loyalty.120d55e07bb776b8

If it were me, things would be different. I wouldn’t make such a choice. I would find a way to save him.5facb77f79d6d6b7

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He probably never 234ea708a7 imagined that a e4ed43ab57 mere mistress, a 06694b1975 blood bag, would d3c95fe77a go to such e64c14c4a9 lengths for Deon.5112fcb442501b00

Convincing Isella 0815da5f82 had failed.2d37df3ada1c23a5

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There was only 1c03601172 one person left cf647192b2 I could turn 3fbf1dd3f8 to for help.4b131677ed780c57

I whispered his 7c97c2552b name softly.aa70f6fb576a3b85

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“Philip.”b8f4f0252a4dd462

 ac93b927bfa442ac

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