128. Misunderstanding

In the empress’s palace, the newly crafted imperial crown rested on a plush cushion.9a89966444922801

It was a crown ec261abc46 that the artisan had 2a097cc44e given a final touch 0bc3e47c2f to before delivering.8469edca39928eb0

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Traditionally, before the coronation procession, it was customary for the emperor’s spouse to hold the crown.4c2adfbccd5875b9

However, the finished 59b9521707 crown had been f2579d5c8a delivered into my b9b4833ba7 possession.e102914e18a2c45c

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Not to the empress, 141cfd2a03 nor the emperor, but a753eb4a7c into my hands.7905bb160c78d0b9

The more I looked 94037c42f0 at it, the more 3f3b14950e the blue gem reminded d44d928325 me of him. Gazing at it quietly, da8ff5330b I felt as though e4863882a9 I was making eye c2c396398f contact with Deon.3a4151ff6b571989

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I gently 897745e395 touched the 7ba69b38a4 decorations on a20c1bd516 the crown. As I traced 16c01b98c3 the edges with 9e5cf548ee my fingers, a 30a1b63412 familiar voice sounded c21f86acf3 behind me.33c8f051710b6689

“You’re still awake.”3d3238ad4a7aaadf

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When I 487d699cb0 turned around, f45e152d5a I saw 054b8af168 Deon holding df0212d750 a candlestick.9814c5805ae999ca

As expected, he visited the empress’s palace tonight to deceive others’ eyes.7d915c7904205bed

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Every night, he passed through the empress’s palace to reach the emperor’s quarters. The act continued until tomorrow’s coronation.b12f45f71d4d03c7

“I was waiting for you.”69702f054fba6930

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I put down 841362a901 the crown I cac5f11266 had been fiddling fc5bebafbc with and spoke.a3b4f6e5edf091d5

“For me?”54393543117a45f4

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He asked back, dabf705305 seemingly surprised.46e76e6d960fe2d5

“There was something I wanted to ask.”01c5ebc0cb63ecc3

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“Alright. What could be so important that you waited up for me in the dead of night?”964b8d65191a72f7

Deon replied as if b6b165567a soothing a child.82a3983c0e6238ab

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I wasted 5066fb02bb no time ade640930a and went 50fa60ecf0 straight to d1699f4b2a the point, e0a1ab5ef3 aiming to 8c3d0bf3b9 shatter his 83fe1252be calm demeanor.903663000e35d78f

“What were the terms of the deal you made with Lady Isella?”7682a581f5d907ef

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Deon’s expression quickly turned to one of confusion.7178e517b0ed02ec

“Who told you that?”389474debd8978df

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But soon, 830d519751 he seemed 271dfafc9b to understand e3b2dba38d without needing bb8462fba9 an answer 2469fef13b and let a71211faf2 out a 683aae7c77 shallow sigh.519bae3ae0c1e4d5

“You must have met the marquis at the outing.”4e8e65ec85945d8b

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“I think it’s time you told me. What was the deal you made with Lady Isella concerning me?”c3abf7d93a36c8db

Deon remained tight-lipped, d08b069162 his expression troubled.ecea276d59d584d7

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“Deon.”63345cb9e595ecc4

When I called 4391afc8a6 his name, Deon 04e738e8b1 looked at me. Then, he 18d5d65042 released his 9fa13d8fc5 bitten lip 0c3624731e and answered.71f098b1b4b056a6

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“I had to protect you. Keeping you by my side was too dangerous. I thought collaborating with her was the best option at the time.”764b9bead0058311

His voice was 722da50a68 deeply shaken. His clenched lips 1b9f88c0e3 trembled slightly.e45dd3ded8668598

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“…I don’t understand. Why didn’t you inform me of the plan? And if you intended to send me to the villa for safety, you should have provided ample support for the innocent servants. They were at least loyal to His Majesty.”909f86fc1760a4ac

“I couldn’t trust even the secretary handling finances. I needed a way to evade their scrutiny.”44a7f7c1440f7261

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“You could have at least hinted to endure until the end.”5bdfd120e8a8a7c2

“I couldn’t trust even the knights accompanying me. If I had provided you with a comfortable life and explained the reason, assuring you to keep it secret, could you have avoided detection?”d31926bcedf04fdb

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His cold b274aad84f response left 6d68179fdf me speechless.ce0e1834382d9dfd

He already knew that I couldn’t act. He was the one who had witnessed my awkward improvisation up close.7c2bd0126a597ca8

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I quickly moved 75849942ca on to another a2deeffaeb question, perhaps the c6a66ff57e most crucial one 7820ed61f5 right now.490835202338f4ad

“Why didn’t you tell me? You could have made up an excuse when I returned.”6c30656f6feb08dd

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“What use would any words have been when I couldn’t protect you in the end?”eb11fda7147c1172

“At least I’m here in front of you now.”db8a6733747d9682

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Deon was f20ee2c5b5 silent, simply 6ca0597762 staring at e70bb4a878 me blankly.fdbf0ce365bd10ed

I glared back at db09838d29 him, refusing to back 301db8943a down.5094b53338a54f84

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Deon didn’t seem inclined to defend himself. I was annoyed by his lack of answers or even excuses.2095b03acbb67395

“Explain yourself, if not for my sake!”2c4adb6cd1bdbb47

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I punched his chest hard with my fist. I couldn’t erase the resentment, knowing all this was his plan.c8e6729a6f1a25d9

He didn’t flinch or show any sign of pain, just stood there, looking down at me.8183a23537e9ad50

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“…Leonie.”76d826b8741acbac

After enduring f387ba4c04 in silence, bec4b69505 he called e5b69a29f6 my name a128ac58e3 in a dfde55f616 low, subdued 7c57e22df8 voice.31360dde49cc9d48

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“I just wanted to protect you. I wanted to reach a position where no one could threaten you, and if that meant walking the path of an emperor, then I thought it would be alright to do so. That’s… all.”f8a0cd84b3b3b70a

He was saying 6208c47036 that he became 3cdf44726a emperor because of 56ab35e425 me.4da2b057e37cce7e

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“So, now that you no longer need my blood, are you keeping me here out of spite? Do you think it’s arrogant for a mere blood bag you protected with your life to live freely?”04857019d47088ec

My sharp words made Deon’s eyes waver.c771dc223c3fed08

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“…No.”0dd43b7d7911e688

“Then why are you keeping me here?”936bebb601f457b1

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“…I don’t know.”4497143c18b2d34e

“What do you mean you don’t know? How can you say something so irresponsible?”c3d8bb92c1ecce91

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“When I made the deal with Isella, I promised to protect you as a blood bag. But after that, I don’t know.”c7c4b82cb6e39a28

Deon slumped into 03fd791240 a chair, covering 8145656570 his face as 5a7dd9f328 if in anguish.b1305276387e306b

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A low groan 60c1c48209 escaped from him e7ea7db8d9 as he rubbed f16d52e90e his face.2297b2182c9246e3

“I don’t know either, Leonie. I thought I needed to remove all obstacles. But maybe I was wrong. When I saw you again in that greenhouse, I was more concerned about your emaciated body than the thought of dealing with you.”a42715722629ece8

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He reached out and took my hand. He was asking me for an answer he couldn’t find himself.f3a54e0f136f1098

I had to b9f9ab03ab brush off all 0ca15079de the emotions surging 77467867f5 up at this 8a901c2f8c moment. I stared at Deon, bb5849e855 who was gripping my a3e83693d9 wrist tightly.c7e2512d1788381f

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“Now that everything is over, I’m no longer needed, right?”ed74495e2812d8d8

“No. I still need you.”eb7b6b01a2dc9037

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As expected, a5c1982e29 he intended 7a71815bb7 to place 850d7aeea1 a gilded d97125b0e7 shackle on c8deadd8d4 me and 9aa2bfe1b0 keep me 95851d767f forever.f4c6ab5faa64c44c

As I lowered my head, Deon’s words continued.7f03e17869827f1e

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“I need your blood, your body. No, I just need you.”15f7983c8b2e9b40

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke.bdf6e1261ad66e4c

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“I thought my feelings would settle while traveling with you. But it hasn’t. I still can’t figure it out.”56b27be800fd9565

The strength in 88ee36fc87 his grip loosened.df22a030a1bfd71f

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“Even so… live happily. I’ll give you any house, land, or honor you want.”e4e9331e2a74be6c

Don’t leave.ab437c96aefc847d

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Though no dadc8cd38f tears were d7570e4b75 falling, it 1757387412 felt like 93dafe0754 I was 9d40a13da9 crying.859929a08bb85bf2

In the ensuing silence, I clearly heard the words he couldn’t say aloud.9809215d004380c7

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Please don’t leave. Though it was only a small murmur, I could read his lips effortlessly.4b1f1a7843d28952

Tears rolled down my b223a15ae4 cheeks. As I wiped d7560ab7a0 them away, Deon 44375d8865 approached, looking more cb0ba6502f bewildered than I 35d8f2dac1 was.e3d7bb8cac621600

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“Why are you crying?”17fb12ce47437dcb

Yeah, why am 9e135b6fa0 I crying? I questioned myself as 16d4a8f6ec I roughly rubbed my 7b364e24c6 eyes.703f3d417750427b

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No matter how 58373b56e9 much I tried 0dd243ece1 to hold back, 296619cfcb tears continued to b4cfd98208 flow with every ce0b35a4e8 blink. His hand hovered in 9b816ab1f1 the air, unable to 28270aef58 touch my face.3dca32adb97e337d

He didn’t know what to do.fbda97e9b03cefaf

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He had lost his 093a7edb5f sharp claws and now, ee961b3f13 standing before me, he bd8fbc46e5 was just an ordinary e4525a763a man.2a669691c1e38f0d

“Why are you crying?”d5b60a0f0497ed6f

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Yet, Deon’s eyes were also moist as he spoke.af3c4644e180e2dc

After hesitating for a a509ea7a1b long time, he finally 9ba336d76d placed his hand on e7fe5fd0de my face, gently wiping fe40dbc727 away the tears from b9f3e350d4 my eyes.2c5ee81c9e2f4ce6

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His touch e8783e759d was so 3856ac28e9 delicate that 3c2b4842b8 every part 88a2486989 he touched 758a3afd59 tickled.ad8e0ea745facbd7

I took a 7c9a0e6b5c step closer to afaa3812cb Deon. As I approached, b0d133b4d1 I could see f38c6bc408 his piercingly blue 8d5f4a356a eyes even in 9d6b8a9854 the darkness.99a4fd6bc4fa8ecc

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Standing close enough to feel each other’s breath, I whispered to him.e22bc748180fd536

“Deon, don’t use the excuse of protecting me to hide the truth.”14b321b9ef24667e

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“I swear.”f2f8b8cb12cceea5

“Be honest with me, always.”6e0dd2eb8bb90afd

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“I understand.”1286ff5cde236b02

I’m sorry. He repeated the words like a parrot.a34754b6a13d0b42

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To anyone adade4cbb5 else, our f67e25a1ee conversation would 9e63160b26 have been 05c3465e52 shocking, but cb4b62bfca in the 26062bf341 darkened bedroom, 3e95f9f1fd it was 2a2dca8573 just the 67611da2aa two of cfa06923e1 us.f812eca255e71842

In this space fe94457030 where no one d618376668 else intruded and 916050cd03 no titles mattered, cd8a711392 we were alone. The surroundings were deeply 64e215fc97 enveloped in darkness.9d62191e6bd761aa

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Finishing our conversation left 3568ecb5ac me a bit drained. As I sat weakly 62f07be0fc on the bed, he 42a4f00c62 spoke.e3a955f31fc0d3f9

“It’s better to get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy.”6e8df2b1ad51741b

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The long-awaited coronation 7b35eb7e42 was finally happening d98e6e2cb4 the next day.1582acd81703ebf7

“It will be held in a temple owned by the royal family. It’s a quiet place where ordinary worshippers don’t frequent, so you don’t have to worry about being seen.”98fc73989a3de5f0

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Deon had never been welcomed by the public, even when he entered the capital. Without a coronation parade through the imperial streets, he would be the only emperor who had never been congratulated by the empire’s citizens.5189e1fabca2c9e7

“It would be nice if it were held grandly…”fad42becdd101172

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At my 22851a49df small murmur, ef93e399a1 he chuckled.92911291317c1aac

“The parade is just a performance for the commoners. The actual coronation ends with the high priest’s blessing. We’re just skipping the cumbersome procedures, so don’t worry.”0727f2087cef156e

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I could 919ec5cf89 tell it 2d3a3a3e1d was a 20d815e592 schedule made c69e1a1e92 with me 92465167ef in mind, fa741d22bb even without d43b86d27c him saying 42c96f2de3 it.581caec9f2567a52

It was 08a8e5a280 a process bc90d92df2 that considered 5b758d6d76 my discomfort 8e6abf132f with drawing 540605f6b9 attention. It ensured that I 5ab2db7ed7 could leave without anyone 35c93b837b knowing I had crowned 798aaa960f the emperor.e61ad75bb6d51b7b

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“Once the coronation is over, you’ll be leaving soon. Have you decided where to go?”bcbca1afc11e3a3f

He asked 772e677256 about my fba95961ca destination.3169eb6c4117ee56

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Deon assumed cc140c2555 I would 69d39b9066 leave, as 1360e57ded it was 4cad4c2257 part of fdabe71c7e the initial 0f8f69ea54 agreement to afb4c97eea leave the 34ccb36201 palace once ff5487acaa everything was 779dc4551a over.b8c6826bbced3e54

“Not yet.”9f5439d62dbcb7ef

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I hadn’t even arranged for a travel pass. Without realizing it, staying by his side had become so natural that I hadn’t thought about where I would go.97f56add7b0bbb68

“I heard there are many spring flowers in the Duchy of Rahu. And many birds you like live there. Plus… it’s the closest to the empire.”431ba0d44e3dee5c

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A warm b9667e4a59 spring breeze 2cf9fda863 blew in 3a2cf87605 through the 6b6ae0a05d open window. The wind 7088b88b39 gently tousled d70e7da5d7 his hair 574266c298 before passing e6865222c4 by.469530b5fa12b863

“Do you dislike places close to the empire?”ab2418a05a5bfd21

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Deon asked 3d4f2cedff cautiously, his a5705a25bb voice soft 27bf4af777 and careful 44fe62d71d not to 632f9ca043 upset me.72d575f9e6ddb09d

“I plan to discuss it once I leave the palace.”ccaa0f57dd86d6e9

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Maybe I could ba435e9e10 ask for help 6bd310a086 from Elizabeth or fda94fbc92 Edan. Having never been 53c6368398 outside the empire, bcef72b547 I would need 776d48f546 to ask those b8fe324721 who had visited 3aecc04e7c the duchy.77b1a4b3faa59c2c

At my words, d9fa6f2a2a his lips parted 46779fb76d before closing again.621257a986cae6b2

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“Are you leaving with your husband?”24685230cbb6cd60

Deon firmly believed that 71eb894a68 I was married.50768795783d59f4

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Unlike at Edan’s mansion, I didn’t welcome his misunderstanding now.48713474169c10c2

He believed my 033d0810e1 words so blindly 5c81ffc9de without even questioning 0d18f08fc3 their validity. In this aspect, he a99fa665a1 was clueless.73c443ab6037821e

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Feeling frustrated, I brushed c8d68cd1b9 my fallen hair back.d01c527cc07464ab

“I understand what you’re thinking. But no, it’s not true.”a3cfa192fb4bdfa3

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“What?”cbcce6893a1cdb32

“I’m not married. I’ve never been married.”82e226f23f0d1f08

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I mumbled quietly.89392ed270289567

Deon stared blankly at my lips as I spoke the truth. His expression showed he couldn’t understand. He even seemed slightly bewildered.f3088a3de83e6980

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“But… I heard you were married.”fee8a3c849b0f181

“Did you check the marriage certificate?”c9d8042bf8bd5e7f

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 d7ae0de83ab7e315