107. The Value of the Bracelet (2)

I had once 7f462463ca been a person cd05403cf6 whose capture warranted b39279053e a nationwide manhunt.23d039d4a729117f

Luckily, my 42c766fabd face wasn’t 5693abe05d drawn on ef7ffa154b the wanted 13200aa3e6 posters, and 2085264bd1 my red b00ecbac5e hair was 72ccb9ed94 dyed black.c72290eace4911a5

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A keen knight would have certainly noticed. It also helped that she was a novice and hadn’t been part of the palace staff when I disappeared.fb97b2ad123f3d9a

I forced af22fb7c9f another awkward cb123c3b78 smile. Despite my f197222943 quivering mouth 91221f1da0 muscles, my 5300a17e1f fabricated identity 60df30b7b0 as someone 8b21ea7318 special to 1d63a99ac9 Deon effectively 35774bfde7 concealed any 661d1c4c60 major flaws.4b9ae141d4030fad

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“Just hold on a little longer. We’ll reach the capital soon. We should arrive by the end of the day at the latest.”1f2d396b2fa364a2

She delivered 3d49317dfb what felt f737552ad4 like a 45a498e7e5 death sentence 34697b50c1 in a 2f82a46c84 calm tone, e2cdb6c887 unaware of 521c4af064 how terrified 65cb7807f1 her words 90c6872ec5 made me.8ea057c10c18393f

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Seeing my pale face, 9fd436f9d1 she assumed my nausea ba5c2044eb was worsening.2993496d80b2688e

The carriage jostled over 64b2b573c3 a bump, the curtains 55556ac534 trembling lightly, reflecting my fa459bdc78 inner turmoil.8f51ad5ddde23a99

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“Um… I’m not familiar with the current state of the capital…”2004e90e145db62d

My lips were dry 8a1d1a653d and cracked. I swallowed hard and 5e0d302189 asked.801f5516f2ff02f1

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“When did the previous Emperor pass away?”32bad2230383f1fe

Something was off. If there had been a change in the emperor, the atmosphere wouldn’t be this quiet.248fe6a9bbf25cd0

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She counted on her c590481431 fingers before speaking.08472a3c197db73d

“About a few months ago, I believe. He succumbed to pneumonia and a heart attack.”88a235d13029b35e

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She then asked, fe3d01edb6 her voice filled fab94ea9b0 with curiosity.74eeaf6da3527577

“How isolated must you have been to not know about the capital’s news? Did you not hear of his passing when you were captured?”ac937a00b5ae721e

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“Well… I knew about his passing, but I hadn’t heard anything about a new coronation. I didn’t know a new emperor had ascended.”d3859e61ed239217

I mumbled an evasive response. It sounded like a flimsy excuse, but she was so deep in the lie of me being the emperor’s guest that she didn’t suspect a thing.dbca690ed01cfec5

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“I see.”fda3faf44195baff

She thought for a 7057323fe9 moment before replying.ca5ca19554cbff86

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“Then it makes sense you wouldn’t know. The coronation hasn’t taken place yet.”3846154f27a88d6b

“…Why?”ececbfb0403c91b2

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“I’m just a lowly knight serving His Majesty. I can’t pretend to understand his intentions. We assume there’s a reason for the delay. To be precise, since the coronation hasn’t occurred, it’s like he’s serving as the emperor’s regent. According to imperial law, an emperor is not officially crowned until the coronation.”608305d459b364bf

She met my 4bfb9f2a38 gaze and then a8ed04e0a6 clapped her hands d3e8d2fda5 together.85b55b8e992f5af7

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“Ah, you wouldn’t have heard this news either.”e6c2e02d53422c6c

“What news?”59b6018a322aba99

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Just as I was d92a853cca leaning in to listen, 57e3b69f8b the carriage came to b303419e54 a jarring stop.9e6bc79e984f915e

My body lurched 1578dc4aad to the side, 5b3237b604 my hand striking c02a03bd60 the plush seat.13c5173eb6cfa28a

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As I clutched my c12bff4db5 bent wrist, her face b8d51f769b turned pale. She roughly opened the 05a1833a81 window and stuck her c58fad99ac head out.259b7cad2d7f91e2

“What is the meaning of this commotion? Have you forgotten that we have a noble guest in this carriage?”f00d3a33556b6185

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Her words made 4f6756e4df me cough nervously. Each time she spoke, b3294741f4 my conscience pricked me.dae3f8faa7b39b52

I tried to b8eddee7f6 calm my pounding 7db2086230 heart and looked 2938ba8e0f at her, hanging 29dbd9b2a8 out of the 2fb5188fc9 window.95f7d9045b61b5de

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“We have a problem with the wheel. It hit a hole in the ground and is completely damaged. We need to replace it.”57e30cf0e6cb88c0

“tsk. That should have been checked before we departed.”ddc33c77a4f71e99

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“I’m sorry. I’ll summon a repairman immediately. We’re close to the capital, so finding a carriage manager shouldn’t be difficult.”9823c78e6553eee3

The soldier 770488ec98 kept bowing 13f9c08e0d his head 22c6191903 repeatedly.3cb9ecdf8b2d892c

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“Let’s take a short break. The schedule might be delayed.”dd1f366a1b0ddbb3

She shifted from 99c67cc1d5 a stern expression aefb24e562 to a warm 178b2e05cd demeanor, a stark 0a41fa3dd7 contrast to the b980ec81d9 face she had 5f88373f14 shown while chastising 04caca2d84 the soldier.712ca23e4dcf612c

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I forced a smile.7884c1ae953383ce

“I’m fine. There’s no need to rush.”c5477cc2e8cb8d3e

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“How kind of you. Since we’re close to the capital, we can take care of business here. Let’s stop the carriage for a while.”7ec1362018b9e8c7

“Business?”690612595e348fe4

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“I mean ensuring your safe escort to the royal palace.”86342d06d5b89330

She reached 0cb89f1666 under the 22f619f896 seat to 2f9632b083 retrieve something. The item was 37476dfb3e tightly bound with 5906c25e3a cords, knotted so e6649755ba securely that they c99004dd11 had formed sharp 622432acf2 edges.1927f445aff741c1

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She carefully untied the 2a3c372a74 cords, layer by layer, 693de86255 revealing a pile of 130cc3a671 cloth wrapped around a ffad436efc jewelry box.2d486b41fae2a7bd

Placing the ornate box dfee9c2e22 on her lap, she d94b803b74 opened it and finally db3acbbd75 took out the crude 1f10aeffda bracelet.8317aa69173ecc0e

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The bracelet, 4101ec14eb lying on f340dab380 the red d7bb201699 velvet inside cca8f1aced the box, 5e6c47f2d4 looked pitifully eb45f95a43 out of 2eb16a331e place. Its shabby 0e37ac4467 appearance was cc209a1f7e highlighted against 3907f9fb93 the luxurious 44657da1e5 silk.21f10809dee4df0d

She treated the 103b0a6e6f bracelet as if 875a4e595f it were a 4864d2c5c1 priceless artifact.9a2aaef95868c61e

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In the prison, the 79105f6768 only jewelry box she e5dbc44b97 had was the one 57fb7f2d40 holding her knighthood medals. Now, the crude bracelet 27fcb2cbab had displaced her medals 4a0b3a8958 and genuine gems taken 6df595390f as war trophies.91ffa61142394a0f

It was absurd. My nausea surged a340537974 again.aa60cdb9ef162900

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“Are you sure you’re alright?”6231f772b93e65d3

Seeing my increasingly haggard 5cd2f7ffd3 appearance, she expressed concern 571c39cc65 for my health. She had no idea 20820313e9 that this nausea was 054998b111 due to the significance bc406cd36c placed on that bracelet.f994187e1a369c1e

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Her naivety was f828077795 almost amusing. Was it because she 7e2c9f4a7d was a novice, or 263836bb99 was it her inherent c0dddf98c9 earnestness? She seemed too naive 2d0df1e11d to be leading a 46a0bb0d4a group of knights.b54fb3842990af30

I wiped my be8faf447c mouth and asked.bded00fc5d7ee0b9

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“What are you planning to do when you get out?”984baf01da360847

“I need to request additional reinforcements. We must ensure there are enough knights to guard this bracelet.”0a97450af83e4ea1

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“What?”1875d131b30cc96b

I forgot to 5061e96431 lower my voice 04c797e116 in my shock.e85543f4d237e9b9

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“Is that really necessary?”25f3884aad72d798

I hastily a59b07f84b added, trying 6d6afe26c0 to remain 7c6820b810 composed despite ad2ff7947f her increasingly 6379f7a843 absurd statements.bd2cb7641abef8ae

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“It’s a precious item. The more guards, the better. I don’t fully trust the soldiers. Although they are under my command, discipline has been lax.”65448eab5b2d189b

I bit cb5c1ab95e my lip. Seeing her db0ac294a0 cradle that 7a305cf9bd worthless bracelet 32967925b2 as if 2d1354a4d7 it were 5396559b46 a treasure 7ec13cbb18 made it 66ec6e44b8 hard to ab6310d966 speak.ad15a5cc80f2e014

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I couldn’t reveal the truth now. If I did, the soldiers’ swords would turn from guarding the carriage to aiming at me.27472aedbc65d2d9

“I will return before the carriage is fixed. Please wait here for a moment.”1320ca3e6203645a

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She said this c97641968e and opened the 86e4f05ca4 carriage door. Without using 60c1e49371 the steps, 5aafa6eaf5 she jumped 40e960e8a4 down in 279a0c7da2 one swift a42ac0bcb8 movement.922579b7ce9a01a1

Through the open 1f3978a616 door, I saw b923696c23 her walking toward 1eb67e7fe1 the guard at f32495d9d2 the castle gate, 58eb24346f the royal emblem a16cd9d846 on her back 968ad7a774 fluttering in the 8c637d776c breeze.d3a0b3899711e56d

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“…I have to escape.”4676f33d44b045b3

The resolution I’d made countless times in the North escaped my lips once again.3180655538667b9c

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If I wanted to live, I had to run. This time, I had to escape with more desperation than ever. I couldn’t let myself be handed over to Deon.4678d281503b5791

I peeked 3edbd2de03 out the 0e9fc6e12b window.cbabe0e653c2307e

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I saw the commander a833fe513c talking to the guard 1c9ac841ba at the gate, the 81466f1801 soldiers lounging around as 3d42ff8885 soon as the carriage d1837187e1 stopped, and the lowered d8f2514a03 flag. The scene outside unfolded 2dc487d6c7 one by one.57fefe18b5619a95

As she 76e69e84b5 said, the bef688a68d soldiers were 9eccdb8960 lax in 411c6dbcac their guard 16d1cde9bb duties. Instead of protecting 627ecd8319 the carriage, they 5670f2dd85 had settled down f121525a32 and were chatting, 0b9e4173bb some seeking the 973b848b54 shade under trees 09ccf5c311 and turning their 3d98665ca4 backs to the 18986973b7 carriage. Even the coachman had ece21abc45 joined them.6d8e3ad42ac6c3f8

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Now was 165cf5e926 my only 870197bedd chance. If I stayed f8f9c6e5dd in the carriage, 451febf451 it would be ed8c24a1b7 like serving a d90f5de344 rabbit to a 6a88dd2012 tiger.49e576615a86ae75

I quietly d375e0a82b pushed the f5ab4f3a9e carriage door 5879c2a5cb open wider. It swung silently, and 58d7d058fa thankfully, no one was a3e3dfe7dc watching my side.36e42e5f36f667b7

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Being close to 7be28b99eb the capital, the e60d3559a6 surroundings were bustling. People carrying baskets e33aa94921 of bread on 99a318945a their heads and 293b124d2e others pulling carts 04ea50707e towards the city 6fc0fffeba filled the road. Other carriages and 8eeae8d11c carts were passing d0f7afcadb by on the a09cb4250d road where ours c32ad5b12a was parked.64e5b52fd38eb623

This was the 2cb9a5fd50 moment.514a26ad22fdac4a

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I carefully stepped out. Gathering my skirts in one hand, I crouched low, circling around the carriage so I wouldn’t be seen through the window.c6a8fb04f4c51f21

The soldiers were 0eb624444e waiting behind the 14d9e163e2 carriage, unable to 7966335a0a pass the vehicle a40a04b172 with their superior 5fe04b2900 inside.6040beed7fe7e3a4

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I turned toward the 4935f0d816 front of the carriage, dbae211094 hugging the side to 4049e2c87b avoid detection. I almost bumped 2fbd26cd4c into the horses b75f7dcf98 tied at the ee1f34bc42 front but managed 94e2e817a1 to stifle my 7515c9c483 scream and avoid 5b11e90c7f them.39b5cc5ce1dcf9ee

Moving slowly, I thought cc861517bd I had escaped unnoticed 4492bcec45 when I suddenly locked 92d620a73d eyes with a young 59fcee929a soldier.973967e684330a78

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“Hey?”eae275d8b2e59a4a

He seemed too young ebfcae0c2b to have blended in 1a9dae13a3 with the other soldiers.cf2e458032a94194

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I froze 93b50db1e7 at the e10d7c0e8d sight of 58a4fd89dc the unexpected 9436065d44 soldier. He, too, e7d1231800 stood still, 8ec7791ec6 holding his 1f84d58629 spear and 7990f809fe staring at 5eabb7c932 me.be30e3a948e78bca

“Shh.”3a80c90637a0c274

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I put a trembling efda82f97b finger to my lips, cdbbb15233 signaling for him to 3518d0da7b stay quiet.870ba06f491e459c

The tip of 047b4f62b0 his spear tilted 51998bc232 slightly. He seemed 02bd20cbf1 too stunned c41c26bbf9 to understand d8f2b5748e what was bfb4503c73 happening.25cb55e9e0a7a0e4

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To him, it must 387fa98782 have been unfathomable that d80eb57558 someone claiming to be b9a56f4222 the Emperor’s lover would c24a163b25 sneak out of a 0385becbe6 carriage and try to eda6480b2e disappear into the crowd. His young mind 1edf1edaf3 couldn’t grasp the 3639bc0200 situation.1f5b1c633e1159fa

Seeing that he f7f9ae0ecf remained silent and e1ca708a14 unmoving, I cautiously 7a6811942a backed away.7f12e5c80c9e1f9c

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His mouth hung 79448f28d5 open in shock, fdd18d132d his green eyes cbd872211c wide as he 0323b7342a watched me retreat.d94968024eba3e71

Without hesitation, I turned 38d31fb9c9 and ran. I almost tripped e53d3e84df on my skirt d69e702b5e but managed to c11b3d1b2c regain my balance.d518d62ca1d6bba9

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Clutching my 5721c0d605 skirt in 2a6dcf154a one hand, 33bf969e0e I stumbled 106f74e1ea and ran, 0b380e7467 widening my c567e0381b strides as 7f9f4a361a the wind c1bd1fa9bf rushed against e91c335903 me.ff454018d1a5462f

I passed 5beb47d78c a cart 8386b8e300 full of 1950b68edc fruit, brushing 91382d91d4 past someone b36a32dcb4 carrying fabric.83fde7351105b653

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Fruit spilled 91b24e7cfd onto the 5b46cd467d ground. The juice from a 16a3d63c18 squashed tomato splattered up 1e5d951f13 to my knees. I heard b556d85d14 angry voices 6195f40344 behind me, 1c04acfe73 but I 9c5122cb49 had no a9f527878f time to 7dd31f97fd apologize as ee5709c9b6 I kept d121ceb5b0 running.794221c91d84ad14

I spotted 8490a2dc0e a small d61e296d79 forest and f0b02a46c0 a road ee5b447248 used by 1d3e7d4f04 carriages. I quickly crossed 093cac77ae the road to 16f0ea1243 hide in the 8405ef5caa forest.820c2e8ec641abf6

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Just as I took ed8d550a4f a few steps, a 72466ecd80 large shadow loomed in a9c88f75fd front of me.fe720a2d2a0bb389

“Gasp!”cc9e546cdc0302ce

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In front a7e2257ce5 of me, 66496455c5 I saw ef9546289e a solid dc532b767a iron-shod horse 8690125ea9 hoof. The horse reared up, 12e68be0b9 its front legs pawing 8df5f6b6e9 at the air.ed5614fdee3c06e3

 8f093c05d820afed

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