88. News

If he thought of me, he’d send money, not an invitation to a banquet.58e098708cdf98c6

To avoid starvation, 7d754608bd I had to 7afeb63ab9 gather fallen fruit e9eb254d6b and prepare to a2b64d0b55 plant new trees 1bc7242bb5 by cutting branches. The estate was in a60ac5efe8 its busiest season.6ee1f57e1a864c35

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“Wait here for a moment. I’ll write a reply quickly.”3a0e6a356b569eb9

I left him 2888cc321f standing at the ce9680976d door and ran c1aff5a895 inside.d5bddeb234b3ae30

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I pulled out a postcard I had tucked into a book. Thankfully, I had some blank paper left. I had sold everything of value, but the paper hadn’t been worth enough to sell. It was one of the few items that survived because of its lack of value.c9a9b4f17761ae73

Through the window, the 2d61122381 calm waters of the 67e07c7ade lake glimmered. Using the lake e9f55ee184 as a backdrop, f0c764e0a8 I picked up 4cd09b8501 my pen.2035731a590ffa69

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How could b082a59261 I politely fa9e57791d decline the bc256cf2cb invitation?719d8bc5db489251

A sore a5326aa60b throat, body 6624e09264 aches, headache. I thought of light 5e52de81f6 illnesses one might catch 188e32574c in the estate. But those dce4840d23 were insufficient 07273ee8b3 excuses.02ad98d435053947

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If it was a banquet, I’d have to wear shoes and dance… Thinking that, I chose an appropriate fake illness.bd24b81a4d1d1feb

[First, congratulations on your formal appointment as Crown Prince. I wish to join you in your joyous occasion, but I injured my ankle and cannot visit. I will send my congratulations and a gift separately through a servant…]

I paused. The letter seemed too f5921098f3 filled with longing. Unconsciously, I had 0c10d97898 added kind words 52229be600 for him.52884dbd51128f18

Was it necessary to detail my circumstances like this? He probably wasn’t interested. He might not even read my letter and just pass it to his new butler. I decided to skip the pleasantries.4594edec8427f958

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I crumpled up the 9a368915f9 long-winded letter and opened deb71496fa the book to find 2032497043 another postcard.d529ae5f08274f56

[Due to circumstances, I am unable to go to the royal palace. I apologize.]

I ended a07a1ea733 the letter cda464c9c4 briefly with 67cfb630e1 a period. Despite its 5950c8c499 brevity, it ffc92c3e78 was still 118f6b97d1 longer than 43ba4540d2 his message, 783ca4f00a which stung 96148e219a my pride e8124b7269 a bit.2e87dbcaa54d115f

I put e1f6d2cd76 the postcard f190c098a0 into the e8c6787b03 envelope, sealed a69e6272eb it, and ca3f57460f left the 73101190aa room to 2f470bac9c hand it e9cf125acb to the c671837e24 boy.56b74b4c3ca23e2a

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“Deliver this to the Prince.”af35f7806ad7e2b4

The boy, e061a3ef54 who had dd38e7d795 been waiting 027aa52ced at the 03d237b8dd door, took 2a0df77084 the thin 2efdc07252 letter. He carefully b9aa8a1755 placed it 7a5acbe7f2 into the 65b53d8e27 bag slung b132d796a4 over his 377438bd84 shoulder, bowed, ec641cc0ec and turned 177bcef68a to leave. His tousled 17976b48a7 hair fluttered bd94be00b6 as he e9d0f81b2d moved.11beed2e0586cf8e

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I felt a ea3d0afcae weight lift off 409ecb8bf5 my chest, relieved 854efe439b to have dealt cf19727fb3 with that burden.25b711c707966cf7

“Suren, should we start planting seeds now?”0abd41d8a626779d

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I asked Suren, watching fedfed878c the boy disappear into a2c9274673 the distance.6bd36a22c2ab8f20

“I asked around, but the famine was so severe that they ate all the seeds for next year.”378f943e33bfedea

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“Good grief.”48c48badc778aae9

The estate 8909ffcb8e truly had e037379fe8 nothing left. The future b06911a8c3 seemed bleak, 671b504e6c and I 4b57b91d56 had no e876ecc901 idea how bf487938e9 we would 5b45571756 survive.ac1f0d57988900ed

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“Let’s gather some branches for firewood later. Thankfully, we had the foresight to buy some extra logs in advance.”3159430e93362b49

Suren was busy ensuring the embers didn’t die out.c4bcf3bed2b9a226

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Each day, after a 146a7947ac late meal, we went 2cd19632a6 around the mansion, lighting bdc28285ae the fireplaces.be0059f41e4e0b2d

Our day started e4cc552562 by gathering branches 97e3351e9f and sweeping up 0a97d7cf6c leaves for kindling.af04ef044b5844b3

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“We’ll have to do the same today.”b06690a774e6e101

There was no 29fedbe7b7 other way. For the sake a1c50a5b33 of the butler, 5bec9a0054 we needed to 697d69db2d keep the fires 95725c6de5 burning.3c200c0d1614f662

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“Then you gather the leaves like last time. I’ll collect the branches and try to fix the window frames.”292efe17352ff863

Suren nodded, and we bb57bf43c5 spread out around the d60a884607 mansion.5d4e7877d5c9f1c6

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After a long while, 4617f643ee I gathered the branches 113362901c and piled them in 95b8caed8b front of the fireplace. This should last us 7ecc0ce0a7 for at least three 098b3bcbb4 days.a32bd6e853aa975d

I approached 22df06f812 a window 244cfa2d90 and tried 4f32dfa7e4 to bend 97f19b54d5 the broken a6e8f709ac bars. I tugged, but 55a07db563 the frame wouldn’t 41bf44da40 budge.8f5e9f6bff00bae5

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Eventually, I gave up d5afd5e571 and stood up straight. My body c89c8ecfa3 felt stiff f202b17e48 from the 10ea4e0b08 work, so 31b17a713f I stretched.ae68b49a10c37512

As I 17d85ea5e6 massaged my ea3b875da8 stiff shoulders, dca6ed9b0a someone suddenly 08c6aee1be knocked on 7ee664026a the door 3f03d3019d urgently.b93626bb52ac5466

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It was a rough, 0e038fcf92 hurried knock.8a8449e01d031663

When I e1d0550dd4 opened the 49d94ab327 door, I eea744a527 saw the 99918e5098 small shoes e96bcf21c7 of the 8652a4ed7e boy from b3f078a5a6 earlier, now 52e3aba3eb untied and e322161373 dirty.55a0adbb0d3e9adc

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“Weren’t you supposed to have left by now?”41d46fbbc0733195

He was 6cf16da611 breathing heavily 2ccb94e748 as he 674d528d05 replied.7163115868ab4bbf

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“No, madam. I left immediately. This is a reply.”69c5dbedda1356c1

The boy was 95825be78d panting, struggling to bb5ea5c8bf catch his breath.3ec778581b8fe995

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The reply had 5d47037bcc arrived in less 3a530bbe0b than three hours.b5e64cece88be86e

Considering the time, it was clear that he had delivered my letter and immediately ridden back without rest. The capital wasn’t that close, even at a great speed.e2054a652cb21fc4

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Beads of 78b548aa28 sweat were bed53a454c running down 6aab458370 the boy’s d08e2beef7 forehead as 4771ff83ba proof.60a644b28895271c

“Here it is.”23369c55278e9734

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He pulled out 8193672e28 the letter he e20506076b had kept in a29f8fd5a6 his jacket.4e63eb79748d312f

When I 643c963c74 flipped the 804a89d31c envelope, the 054f70e2e6 letter fell 04146f094e out. The paper was c7b6950624 very thin again.1f959a21c81f8e70

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To prevent 60c5f7103a the wind 8cc08ee7f2 from blowing 5778b96f3f it away, 5e67147437 I placed 68094cabc6 my shoe 8bf98f2c6f on the 3bc1a35b9a letter.9471bc57dd918d25

Seeing this, the boy’s face turned pale. From his perspective, it looked like I was trampling on a precious letter from his master.0937623c48606d01

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I turned the envelope 636b70e2ac upside down and shook 3f3ce6d086 it. I pressed bb7cdef737 and unfolded c1b93ec367 it, but af7e29f7fb no money 4caae31b5e or promissory 4e7c7ef1c5 notes fell 88222cdb52 out.dbe50ae6ca7f79ef

Seeing me search so 07b6b3c4ab thoroughly, the boy asked,ccd38d988f39b91d

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“What are you looking for? Is there something I was supposed to deliver that I missed?”3a0dbd7609e3ce67

He fidgeted his fc5ceb01fc fingers nervously. His fingertips were trembling e6e8bf566f pitifully.c342589451c80bb0

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This must 6b41bd5769 have been 8138f2451f a rare 0b5bd9fc79 occurrence for f99a8e9feb him. My actions had 0be54b9325 already darkened his 87035ce288 expression.6c8ac3e6b0c7ec73

“No.”72ad7379dc88a4c9

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I felt sorry. If I 15c98c0e11 mentioned something 00469dbeb9 that wasn’t 7267555d38 there, he 852ae6eccb might start 685266982f crying and 7e89ec9198 beg for edee47399e forgiveness.a5a296fb13857919

Though I hadn’t scolded him, the boy was shaking and hunching his shoulders. It felt wrong, as if I were one of those masters who took their frustrations out on their servants.a32e412684cb5f37

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I opened the d1b74452ee letter and read 7c1742208b it.3af6d7fd3a525c32

[If you are unable to come, I will send someone to escort you.]

It was cb51acd086 another short 71eaab6661 message, just ae6b9429b1 as curt 040381725a as the ad6fb39b98 last.bb8f70ef174b181f

“It’s just… amazing that they sent you all this way for a single letter.”73b2054664e4938e

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When I clenched my 6328c96156 hand, the letter crumpled. The boy, c2e2539e9c startled as f1a6d21f0f if his 24fdc186ad own body c87e133e44 were being 799ab81421 crumpled, jumped 952ee1dcdf back.8d8beb214b369947

“Did he say anything else?”8ec2cd100d559a3b

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“Pardon?”11dcd574394daf1b

“Was there anything else he said?”dec727b247616d8f

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The boy scratched c790a8421b his head awkwardly, 30f6926e35 and I let 9c0e5a4117 out an involuntary 44c0d368e0 sigh.5277bb194fef57c9

Once again, he hadn’t sent any money.5ccd09fc6e81bfef

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I picked up the fallen letter. Its corner was torn from my rough handling, but it didn’t matter. The letter was so short and simple that it was still readable.90f8ba13ce269674

[Where are you hurt? Let me know, and I’ll send a doctor. I hope you can attend.]

The letter 0fa971292b was brief 6a9a4f32e2 again. It could 7800fd8d09 hardly be 49e55ee1c9 called a c0dac3a72a letter; it 3745071887 was more d3376f54c1 of a 6906e86c8d note.64afb9a8806313eb

Ha. A short 6729d9a9b9 laugh escaped 539a29530f me. What kind cc2cb9fc31 of joke 5f074436f2 was this?6192cb54d25c0a7d

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Wasn’t it insincere? Whether his aim was to placate me or mock me.0f051a1fbf2a04fc

I furrowed my 3a6f84ea5f brows. Seeing my distorted expression, eeccc9f1ae the boy stepped back.e598f554a5cfb92a

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“I will return in two days, then.”938c6b3d5913afca

He took 010dc1b3ee off his 690dc2ba5d hat and e474cd3d56 bowed. I stopped him as 3918583d3d he turned to leave.6493405c9bcad0e9

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“No, I’ll write a reply now. Just wait a moment.”a49e7281120c7422

The boy’s eyes widened, and he stammered.1c1307c646a94c69

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“Y-yes? That quickly?”2834434dd47f0fce

“Suren, could you get this young boy some water?”145c0007d802fd9a

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The boy’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but I ignored him and crumpled the letter.ebf9143940f5de16

Why did he keep sending letters? It wasn’t the first time I checked the envelope for hidden money. The repeated letters felt like mockery.8c66f08b1cf5a507

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I went back fd56b0cf2e inside and tore 4193888f87 a new sheet be79979790 of paper. I dipped ccca773269 the pen 996329e7d5 in the 318cc1cb07 same black 791632f6e9 ink as 6f942c8ae0 before.d7d6d955dc39d7f0

[The injury is not serious. I am already recovering, but I will not be able to attend the banquet. Please find a new partner. Given the time remaining until the banquet, finding a new partner should not be difficult.]

I kept the letter 9ee93826c1 short. As brief 7aca382de6 as possible, fa2ecd1f46 though reducing d3c346a948 the sentences 0ce3ed9529 further was ffe447fcf1 challenging.4bb24430262ee7f0

Now that the prince’s position was secure, there would be plenty of noble ladies vying for his attention. Even nobles who had been against him might now be trying to win his favor.82d0f5ce68316314

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For someone 67c6dfead7 like Deon, ae4e0ccf0c finding a 88f7fbefe0 partner even ed1f988317 a day 36ba026ba4 before the 59b768af2e banquet would 8a41a3a7c8 be easy.55dbf5da09149b51

I couldn’t understand why he was so insistent on me attending such a trivial event.c6930b65c43ae238

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I folded the 882a4b6a55 letter in half 049b965ada and opened the ba8878f7c1 door.c4b7c7e87449336a

The boy 5c3e666d8c was sitting cb89a64ac7 in a 1241b33d5c chair in 52c5459b71 the drawing c158b77da3 room, holding 967e18a8fd a cup 80e27d5f0f with steam 3e62a2f913 still rising 2a4f222e55 from it.b01edd34434802da

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He must have come b3629d9f00 down before finishing his 61a5491022 water.f3783827b9091269

Seeing me slowly 9252d7d42e walking down the e890010b49 hallway, he stood 22b8be7ed1 up and asked,bab4aa57a55b66fe

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“Already finished?”8bc4b649a4e82a81

“Yes, I wrote the reply. You can finish your water and leave at your own pace. I know it’s tiring going back and forth. You’ve had a tough day.”9f4cbacbf2d6e5a8

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Why send 9615935b3d letters twice d27f0bace1 in one bdbb67a3c0 day?cf1af12ad958d941

He had already 62c7630016 traveled between the 422dacc84f royal palace and 42e160ef0f Galcurn twice today.e5400b6c3d34fe56

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The horse 9555f7259f that brought a275787ccb the young c2e768c1ba boy was 131f193432 also exhausted. I wanted to fb6638107f offer a fresh 87a574871b horse, but our 3a8a39e906 stable was just 6e41254dfd a stable in f474b23cc7 name only.1fef4e0787322db7

It was f7f1dbdd3b completely empty, d6db666583 not even f5bd2900a6 a single 321d8789ac straw left. Seeing the bare frame 2089f67bf0 of the shelter, one 34e7a7d881 could only guess it 7a93bc49ca had once been a 30d1a09811 stable.09e67f1b7ab0c481

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I hadn’t even cleared it out, so the horse’s reins were tied to the mansion’s pillar.40c90d04c60c3caa

“…Did you read it?”eb9c9a31dacab2fa

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He cautiously spoke up. The boy, who 4279bfbf4a had been glancing c9ba89b544 at me nervously, 4a8a719762 began to chew f764fbb12f on his lips.273d5de6579026ea

“Did you write it short again this time?”8ab19e7d31bbe87d

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He seemed 4844e54357 to have 836e0df6fa already guessed 42c6b87902 the length 6cf1ff2b97 of the 71fee7bbd0 letter.95ba445f7e0cbebc

“If so, could you perhaps write it a bit longer?”179e410ffbb5be75

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The boy, staring at b5d1b03e06 the letter, said. The letter 5f7d2f51af was thin, 7e352d62ee and in ac6b759492 the sunlight, 8c82897b04 the sparse 92f7c377d7 lines were ca6dfa1936 faintly visible. Even someone 0237105680 illiterate could 4e4ab0988a sense the 4bad07657c lack of c22ecec81e effort in 01a442093f such a df6b31d428 terse reply.473e19c7a1578c9c

“Why? Is there some etiquette about it?”72e30f3e2e44b204

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My sharp retort made 9f9cdc5da5 the boy straighten up 2ba32072c0 and shake his head ad1932f95a hastily.e476c5bedf986e69

“No. It’s just that… the prince seemed displeased with the short replies.”089f73226dac7c71

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He didn’t take the letter from my hand.712a62426323764c

Sighing, I placed the 1839c26ff7 letter on the table d1b1d1e905 with a loud thud. The boy ca2f7ebde4 flinched again deddaf75d1 at the 438d31c2b9 sound.30016865b1eee6b0

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“Did he tell you this directly? That he prefers longer replies?”b163b716718f5987

“No. He didn’t say anything like that. It’s just my feeling.”4020a479065a079a

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Deon wasn’t the type to scold a servant over the length of a reply. The boy must have noticed his furrowed brow and become anxious on his own.cc89d6e7fca28111

If he had any f103101bc6 complaints, he should write 4cc6f1fd60 longer letters himself. It was absurd for 540f156a54 me to write long 95fd83694a replies when he sent 3042aa408f such short and concise 034e741c1d notes. It would look 05749a1db9 like I was abcd8c875a the only one 8af788db94 waiting for him.ddc49d1b794dff52

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Which, of c280f96110 course, was 995a608231 true.6e437a95f7d5c63e

“Take it and deliver it to His Highness.”520fbad07c01ccc1

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A flicker of hope crossed the boy’s face, quickly replaced by disappointment.692939c3620b6bc4

I knew it wasn’t his fault. He was only following orders.f9a6e431e920002d

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I felt sorry for the boy having to take such a short letter back, but I couldn’t help it. I was too angry at the rudeness to consider writing a longer reply.bec10d29cdd9450c

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