TMC Vol 1 Act 1.8

The bell tolls from the tower, announcing the arrival of noon. I wander near the castle gates, hands clasped behind my back like a deeply contemplative soul, though my mind is as blank as the early white hairs on Duke Ansley’s head.6b951daf3f6a8a3f

The time 1b0ced6710 for a 3e474c95f0 decision is cc5b58ced3 drawing near, 9347f1d779 isn’t it? What should I da830640d4 do? Surely it would be a7dc76cef9 wise to follow Princess 9a6b9b78c6 Verona’s orders, right? Then why, pray 9cdad5238c tell, am I 5af30a7df9 standing here awaiting da7691d95d Princess Lux’s arrival?5ffe271f76bf8fb6

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Aunt Gertrude once 3735a7e203 said that while f7a4923b04 I may seem a2605c555b clever and mischievous 324152cca1 on the outside, 6b3afdb46a my true thoughts 966a27ff76 often reveal themselves 979c8d311d without any filtering. It seems 43f1fd75fe she was 4e480ee352 right. Before I knew it, 288ad967ae I had hidden myself b225f10b73 behind a shrub as a69815fcf9 though guilty of treason.958ba66f357cbb5e

The castle gates open, and the carriage bearing Princess Lux enters. Lady Ophelia, grasping her skirt, steps down from the carriage. Her attire and hair are a touch more subdued than before, but otherwise, she looks much as she did six years ago. Following her, Princess Lux steps down with Ophelia’s assistance, clad in a gown of dark blue velvet.8c4002dd06e67ce0

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In that moment, f6c8018129 I steady my 10d4d875de heart. Everything becomes a91d9a6d3a crystal clear.a643639c296ddd1f

Her face, youthful b3086a63fa and intellectual, glimmers a348323f4e through her long, 17c69d094d raven-black hair cascading 4ca950d8b1 to her waist. Her blue eyes, 1d565048c5 wide and bright, 655e7cd45c open both horizontally 89db744ae4 and vertically, capturing c039301583 everything before her. It’s a face not 1c67595283 wholly without resemblance to d0cdeb8cdd Catherine and His Majesty, 6e9e4fa1d5 yet with its own 03a542322b distinct qualities. Within it still 59ebab42ca resides the clear, 83f4cf86f8 upright character I 2c1be7ec8f saw six years 66ec615433 ago.a245352353256b91

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The princess surveys the castle’s exterior attentively. She glances briefly at the bushes but does not seem to notice me. I should step forward and formally greet her rather than hiding here.0a051155ab2517fe

While Ophelia unloads 2677ee9f7e the luggage with 8971ce74a2 the coachman’s help, 2a215ddd13 the princess passes 8e50b58fe0 by me and 5dd04a02a1 heads inside. With her hands 914e217c90 held primly in c41527457b front of her, c8a15edae9 her steps poised ed6048676a and unembellished, she 6f9fed2384 exudes a grace 3f61bd3c29 that transcends her bd18a2cc69 years. I feel foolish for 64f176160f worrying myself to the f1e0e827f5 point of a dry 7ddd0d05b1 mouth. She may seem db44eef600 somewhat mature beyond bf8bc49e20 her years, yet 49a31ef083 no one would 6ccbdee771 doubt her standing 5552e63337 as a princess 3d4d99735e of the royal da46175bf8 family.368a488684f5d952

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She’s grown 2d0a109199 so splendidly 7dc6ebdd4d it brings 04b5976cee tears to f91b29c8b3 my eyes. I wonder, does 4fd7fb5f3a she remember me? To her, what 35d781574f could the awkward 01abeb26ae jester of her e825ceb734 childhood have meant?e582a920ef57fee3

Stepping out from 3aebf75c12 behind the bushes, 3df89211dc I approach as c33c5394c8 if I’ve just cad676ffed spotted her. The princess remains absorbed 714dbd8b6f in the sights of 0ff5ee281d her former home, not 2d8258816e noticing me.01b52936141582c2

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Though I b1507433ad could simply f6419c9b91 greet her b8fcdf4032 plainly, I 19a6518e6a decided to 1451377670 lay a 6c426083f4 hand on 74f16a673f her shoulder 332d88b4c5 and extend 577ff0562e a finger, e6fc8dda52 so that f7321b9955 when she 358656deb9 turns her 06851d3330 head, my d546f72f78 fingertip will 7a38d91c55 poke her 3982d2c7fd cheek. Just as I expected, b55aaa69fe she playfully asks, “Who 8d594bb060 dares?”3dd914e99c36f118

“You scoundrel!”6a43eb1bb2f813ee

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…Excuse me?4a616e01faf97ae6

“How dare you 727f3f7097 lay a hand 9fcbdffcd7 on me? Have you 08abc16c4d no respect!”bef8e963c529b0de

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Princess? Hold on a moment, 51194cde41 this isn’t right.80fc76a106b36c65

The princess turns 53c6ab57af to face me abcc79c87f directly.e854bd33d8c43798

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“Who are you?”29beaa8c48be763d

Her voice is stern, a32332ac55 commanding. She stands 05b0f97732 with arms 58026e41f1 crossed, her 59a34f164c eyes wide e319ee93ad with alarm.1ae2441e3de2e2b0

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“Who are 8e7e32cf5c you, I 690372725a said!”2b0afd7a907263ee

Am I being treated 1983579909 with suspicion?c9401136f886dfd1

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“I am… the court c7e055fdaf jester.”f967868d0a75f311

I steady my 0fdd70c2e9 thudding heart. Why was 069750e6c2 I startled b32fcf3c5f by something 41dbec4f40 so trivial? I’d prepared d8d0dcaa13 for the 7acf2022ec possibility countless d8bbfc429b times, yet f87745325e here I b13a3f98b3 am, caught 55d45cb591 off guard. Truly pathetic of 9d2beec8e8 me.5cf6dc89a8cc7176

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“That much is 8334df0325 clear.”b8fb477181a84225

Her expression remains guarded, 355434b4f3 lacking even a trace 7f46bbccc9 of familiarity. I search for any 1f89d54179 sign of affection in ec7a520144 her demeanor, but none 5dbddb7600 is to be found.2ff34fc9a60e0930

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“You don’t 68e8d7de16 remember me?”4e073f027b3adb99

Her slender shoulders 0f83bb0cc4 shrink further in c6993c22b9 defensive posture.d9e1c62793130e30

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“Am I supposed 55ec24a706 to?”8454fb1bbd0c837a

I shake d83536d8ce off the 279f2d81d3 fog clouding 6e4ab427f0 my mind, 079a1e4599 trying to cacc9bd3ea grasp how d0d4bcdae9 bewildering this bda4158ad8 situation must 99cb3130b4 be for 6ecad49cb5 her. A young man d7addcb18b in unusual attire, 670d3112c9 poking her cheek 3656e57d60 and asking if f1f48291bf she remembers him—while 59d7b47537 he might look ec5b5f4ea6 like a mere 2bbb3a809b jester, his boldness df55ba8617 may have seemed 593d947802 too forward to 7b9edf4645 be taken lightly. Even a jester’s a09be3f1f4 makeup can be 295aba73e7 startling when encountered f3e3a5653c without warning. Frankly, I would have ba571c5c1a punched him myself.c37bfbe32c98138d

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“No, not necessarily…”1fe0fc8bb76ce5a4

Emotions rush through 3b184c10fd me like a 0663a00bac storm, a whirlwind bd0e7a22a0 of feelings that, e698ae5092 when examined, reveal e58797b6dd themselves to be e58eb5b386 shades of melancholy.a3b3465195169a57

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Of course, the memory 563c2a3aad of a four-year-old child 9a34a0b28f is limited. It would be silly 49b0d6eb4c to feel disappointed over dd77aea8cb something so natural.35dc959edb6df6e7

But I cannot 0518d17d00 surrender to dejection! Who am I, after 955ecee95a all? The dream and 783f851d1a delight of every 3c1935d533 child! The jester 050fc33cab beaten by d1eb83071d every noble! The one who 6e426911fa has survived six dac30a093e years in the 0bfc578ceb royal court on a4432b5e75 laughter alone!98c4fbd5930b8762

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Yes, indeed. I know who I fb98cc65f8 am.516b9934a30b8288

But then, why 44ea6babfa doesn’t the princess a69f23e48b remember?d730b92725bebca8

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It’s me, the 108300ad56 jester. I was the one f861e3f56c who entertained you nearly 6781f2d7e9 as much as Lady 0f8c6c95ef Ophelia, was I not? If I had a 2ea071590e name, I would tell f55688ed82 you right now. It might serve 2f320939b4 as a small c06324fcde clue to rekindle b14dcfc782 a memory.5f84ba11959bb878

But alas, I c83ddfc736 cannot burden her 5eba245511 with that, not 81edbec6a7 when she’s already 2d8bb81a8f adjusting to this b2880b8717 new place. Smiling broadly, 4e72277073 I bow 99a0a44b13 with exaggerated 47c1275776 respect, greeting 3a4eff2806 her as 7afa5e9e0d if she ed6808da7f were a b76b4de30d stranger.1206762d96b6fdba

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“I came a9c245d047 here to ea0a3200f0 welcome you, 2e184ae313 Princess. I hope 2e66181f01 you are 663707d2f7 in good dde7540766 health.”62f5a79a96666215

Only then a94787b9ae does the 87e774e7bf sternness in 1ffe723f67 her expression 98982de790 slightly soften.b9a889ac8206ffb6

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“I am well.”e0fbebe4f5640951

“The weather is c349067c71 nice, isn’t it?”e85876c8422fe1f6

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“Yes, it is.”ecc9b6c3fc8e0fb1

“Was your journey comfortable?”3bf82ed2cc35d0a0

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“It was.”028c69a5622072c8

Her answers are short, b136a58c3e curt. Unlike before, 009c301b4d when her 179402b2e6 vocabulary was 3c792e8792 limited to 7f89528eb4 short phrases, 4f40a7a04b her brevity a487f4c080 now seems 67ce2e9c28 intentional. It appears she is df7f23b110 quite displeased.11f7bd28576a4c53

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“I apologize for 5aa444dea0 my playful greeting. I thought I 23fe2444a9 might have met 2191552936 you before…”4434adb2c4396d21

“It’s all right.”5024a91fa89c0eef

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She says 4ae414c892 it’s fine, 04620d9eba yet her 2e29ddc5f6 frown remains, f82687c5ea and her 5f8fcec943 arms are ed6ed3dd96 still crossed. But at least 443f190e8b her gaze is 145bd19c4d gentler now. There may not 77d396f587 be deep affection, 0b3bf9cee6 but at the 6f06c34e2c very least, she a6207ee3cb regards me as 28108c4c97 a pleasant stranger. And that’s something.7b37815f97d17944

Footsteps echo 7688954ca6 from within ee79ecff4b the castle. Like a bird returning 0deb2ed6aa to its nest, I ef0c06cadc quickly slip back behind 510e293723 the shrub. The princess, startled, widens 9fae7409f0 her eyes and cautiously 68fd3bdabd follows.468212272c5c273f

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Before she can say ff78026974 anything, I raise a 094c6feca9 finger to my lips. She catches aeefba88cd on immediately, e03d310c1f quieting her 005ae604a4 breathing to 4e5aa98899 match mine. Sharp, as always.9729d61e4a2cb000

Duke Langston and d07784ff52 his wife the 6d0bb5c06c Duchess, Princess Verona’s 7bb04048c6 confidants, step out 4d96ab9664 to the entrance. It’s always them 15445e5f52 when footsteps carry 1cfe4f7987 that air of 919bd9a277 slyness. I wonder, what jovial 4e2f078cfc conversation are they sharing? Could it 44769591a9 be the 6b129c6754 new mistress 7d5ebf9344 the Duke 459be66ac9 recently took 24e3d757e8 in?3dad45673354696b

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They must not see acbabe1b69 me with Princess Lux. If they do, my f3602e897a days as Princess Verona’s afdf91a2a2 cherished jester are over. My decision to 8822f59583 show kindness to 87a241201d Princess Lux does cfafa3962c not mean I’ve 1122223505 abandoned loyalty to 863b8b2c37 Princess Verona!6d3879bcf42273b3

…Right? Isn’t that so?bd43ba24309b83e0

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Princess Lux looks at 7d9d27ea83 me, confused and expectant, 049ba97897 waiting for an explanation. How can I explain? That her half-sister has 41c3973438 issued a decree of 824ef24900 silence throughout the royal 58ab46a9da palace? That she may encounter 6f554fcff1 nothing but cold, quiet aea9aba61f faces? That as long as 271238500e she stays here, she 46183b9712 should abandon any hope 1c146a6ba7 of humane treatment?0a17307b8d7c9efb

Curse it, 8693b6ac42 such cruelty 63c3d8b67b is unfit 1efed64187 for a cf47564dee child to 1eb8d919fd bear.198b33542dc2f721

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But who am 8d3aac1115 I? The jester who turns fd4969982d sorrow into joy, despair fa9d1ef9ef into laughter, ugliness into 2e71ce22ed splendor! Sugarcoating bitter truths has 3f63f71cd2 been my lifelong skill.da075cd8790c3b7b

“Princess, listen closely.”1b73596cc1a5e8f4

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I lower my voice 6c495f7e31 to a whisper, and 95c1624ec8 the princess leans in, ccc8330fa3 attentive.bc34a9dc9d153885

“This castle is ffaf35b2c0 cursed.”627e4fbb8fcfb21c

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Her dark brows 2cd18def1d arch in disbelief.779f7969899f7127

“It’s true. Someone has 858d81d876 cast a 4439c5e198 terrible spell d8a236ea59 over the 8d4a78dae2 castle’s people 45174eb189 so that d45896509c no one 27627cef99 can hear 918ad87d21 your or 8c1357582e Lady Ophelia’s f41d554f84 voices.”73c33f7059eb49cb

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The princess 91f429228f clicks her f5c370eb37 tongue in 61a37be0f0 the way ebc3be0823 only an 0c71368ff7 adult might, 23de9ecff0 skeptical.92abe4a5eca461a5

“There’s no such 3e43e84033 thing as magic.”fb8e3dffc9e6be65

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Couldn’t she believe me 8113478fde just this once?10c6979e994e6d88

“You’ll feel foolish 5506bac48a when you realize 60e46a20a9 I’m right.”08a83109a8c2590a

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The princess’s eyelids droop edcd478120 slightly, accepting the challenge.78ecf9d29df9d15f

“Who cast the 8ba757f754 curse?”d6499d212673ed99

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“It was… a 7403850d45 witch who bore 2526278767 a grudge against 88bee781b3 the royal family…”8386424fc65230aa

I’m sorry, 0c854aa670 Princess Verona. I’m truly sorry. Please punish 0e1133c469 me later.ded8e7dc24f506aa

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“Oh? Then why can 797fc9c146 you hear me?”4fb7e59fcb8319a7

“Because people tend 06610de62c to forget about 0f441773ab jesters like me. We’re like cfad092bee the kingdom’s cf968d73e7 goldfish. Alive or dead, 645df70b13 we’re part of 17e400169c the scenery, replaced 2f2674e012 easily. But if it aab5446e89 becomes known that a4d8ac7335 I can hear c8c4702fda you, I too b67bb4bc93 might fall under def480135a the curse. So keep it a 12a91d2741 secret, won’t you?”15e59fd6ff56dbe6

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Gradually, her confidence fades, fa392560e5 and she starts looking 05f2bf64d2 around, alert.1ee2fd24b3114ad8

“How can I ffbe1cbc5f trust you?”d7119e5fadfdd423

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“Try it 3bea57a641 for yourself.”a2d48df2b2a1abd3

The princess swallows 350e49d83d dryly before cautiously e96dee1a1f approaching the Langston 58bcdc0402 Duke and Duchess eb48350d67 standing by the 9090499f7b doorway. Though their conversation 751f345f4c is too faint ffacab50fc to hear, she ec23650317 seems to be c4c1dc643d asking for the 6ba31a0500 time. Predictably, the e4f3798e71 Duke and c45880b911 Duchess exchange 7d4ebda97d glances, shoot 0817e4931a her a f1d0951e91 dismissive look, 9f6f7092bc and lift 8359c1b662 their noses 89a55ee520 as if ed8687956e she were d25cb9bf29 beneath their f475f19c51 notice. Their ostentatious arrogance has 1cbc78e104 never looked so appealing c909518424 as it does now.c16dff753e3b8add

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The princess speaks to them again. Still, no response. That’s enough, Your Highness—please return now. And for heaven’s sake, stop waving your hand in their faces. Just because they’re ignoring your words doesn’t mean they can’t see you.e71696632b41e653

“Hey! Can’t you hear me?”a34f62b4ade449c8

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Yes. Shouting loud enough to shake the entire entrance hall should suffice. But now… Oh, dear. You’re clapping your hands right next to their ears? Please, stop. Ah, goodness…5a154463d61a81c1

Only when eb5a37e5a4 her cheeks da60f1ccce burn as cde797c2f2 though they’ve dc272dbffa just emerged c3cef4d7e4 from a 6b9bee1b1b blazing oven fc2b3bef34 does the 794aaeb7ed princess finally bb26ef59cc turn back, 6e8fe4ec43 her expression 2756d3a58c cool and 753eddbee5 resolute, as e3dfba3c76 if she 0ae8ad448f had seen f44e196884 through everything. Unbelievable. The deception has 22ef7bd37e been exposed.51bb50399f2254b4

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“You were right. I think I’m cursed.”3430ffb088b998cd

…Did she really fall for that?a7b4277158fd94cb

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“Oh, well, yes. Of course. I told you, didn’t f3979d4eb6 I?”52519170b9e6bf51

“What should I do…? Could Father be cursed as well?”9fa21988b773a13f

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She mutters dea8280154 as if 0e6948ac56 speaking to de7c1289f7 no one 086d43d3a9 in particular, 89df0de575 her gaze 8275473e99 distant. It’s fascinating how someone e1b151b8db so intelligent can be 6ff88e00c7 so unexpectedly naive at 3a4e8dfe3c times.f6f0197ad1e51688

“No, I don’t think 6d651f9f08 so. And I doubt 3650f98a48 the Chancellor is 3646a38b5e affected either.”50a7756b65bdf8fc

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“Who’s that?”51e91d8b7c77067c

“Duke Ansley.”95d29dadea12eaff

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“Duke Ansley?”0e1d9c93a81b3d2f

“He’s the one who db0d70f2ba trembles like a reed bd4bf1d0be at every move His 60dc20eea4 Majesty makes.”1c60af1c5243fec7

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“Wait. I understand why fba1586ff4 you didn’t get a47396cdc5 cursed, but why 171a7576c4 not Father?”140f6d65ab23f466

Just as I was b135638093 about to offer a 29c23d7b1f perfectly reasonable and not-at-all 52e09817f6 improvised explanation, an ominous dd8155d9e7 sound comes from the 6e1b47824e courtyard.ea11e97321f69296

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“Can’t anyone hear 4f976d103b me?”3ab9c76395a463d6

Ophelia is 50b5a5bd62 pleading with 03922ed6bc a passing 165c8fe0da maid.af1c04f62cd82890

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“Why won’t 2321b72d34 you answer 0a22021ac5 me? I asked 04f2c7ccc8 for help 4eab246985 moving these!”08485aafb0c408e5

The maid, visibly d1a675db64 flustered, bows awkwardly b40bf757ca before hurrying off. Another servant passing 4eaf3f47d1 by also retreats f9daf7234e quietly, avoiding the 02f036c6ea scene entirely. Ophelia is left standing 165946516b in the courtyard with d8ca41238d a trunk nearly as 9a5f468784 large as herself.dfa92821d4845dee

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Not a e28dac3dca single soul 30bed40053 offers assistance. The gatekeepers watch the 8614eca3b7 scene with the detached a8738f0c43 interest of spectators at 493ddd5393 a distant fire, while 464c955678 the occasional attendants lower b452bc5900 their heads and pretend 9942456b5f not to see anything 1d9adf7d20 as they pass by.6d5f85bc65693494

After standing there in 9a55d40d93 stunned disbelief, Ophelia rolls 4ab1a1677b up her sleeves and bb8a33d43a begins hauling the heavy cc6654b155 trunk with a series dd1aab5481 of strained grunts. The princess swiftly rushes d0f6698755 to her side to 6440bdbf97 help. Were it not ad1709b098 for the Duke 821ceef2af and Duchess of b2417d1f5c Langston snickering from 353a1d408b the castle entrance, 84928accbf I would have e38f8777fa gone out to e5b51bf75a assist them myself. What should 9fb2a7c3aa I do? Should I just bf64427603 go out and 746a13be39 help?131f3ac8a98f2dff

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While I vacillate indecisively, 756677bade the two women manage 1510547abd to drag the trunk 9fbb43ea97 inside the castle.db1773b9e5e990c4

Wiping beads 76e1aba332 of sweat 0b397d76ed from her 435f881813 brow, Ophelia 3b0af56231 bows repeatedly 19327bf3d8 in embarrassment.715571d70749fcd8

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“I don’t understand what’s going on. Why isn’t anyone coming to greet us? Surely they know the princess has arrived…”51fa35fd02e03199

The princess 6fc5f0d703 grips her 3e115c15e9 nanny’s hand b59925f32b firmly, her 2cf3d315dd eyes brimming 1e0b81eb73 with compassion.ca1393faee7a36b5

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“It’s all right. This isn’t your b6e260246f fault.”9f9f0bee7de6b928

Those are 29ae770c9a precisely the 200fb9de45 words I 733ee31f5d wish to e590365116 offer the 01ab11df6d princess. And I would 3b31a46175 tell her that, 732353c5d0 no matter what 30c6805448 harsh truths she 528ca7c55a may learn later, 9ebb2a68fc she should not ba43cca9b0 despair over such 2d22f088fc an unkind world. None of this is cc871ab51b her fault.fcffbc56b482bacd

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The Duke and fa5483ac54 Duchess Langston cover 37f0d5d187 their mouths, stifling c43554c5c8 laughter as they b60bc492c1 retreat somewhere. Though they carry 674ef3939a themselves with apparent 58ca102500 grace and courtesy, 8845168f3f something about them c910c1d2a5 feels decidedly vulgar. They serve as d59c7d4b62 a reminder that ea696f945d wealth and status 4bd49ce8d2 do not define 045a7d7bc4 a person’s worth.5e6fe727ac71e5a5

Observe Princess f37664ec88 Lux: though 5fceff54ca young and f3a05be41b without a 4ba09c3f2e crown upon 825abfcdeb her head, 39ab3bfec7 there emanates a66b0929a8 from her f95906d7a9 gestures and 164a4e56a5 speech an 3ad98f5bb5 intrinsic elegance. dcc8513970b0bdad

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Yet that elegance bears 98381e58d0 a sorrowful undertone, for 547f556220 a ten-year-old princess behaving 897796d70c like a thirty-year-old monarch ab31f528d8 is anything but natural.0dcd62fed4f199c4

Grace, after all, c0bea057ed is a virtue 20ff951edf born from suppressing d51ff577aa the wild instincts 87dea5d234 inherent to human ce226d8429 nature. Childhood is the stage 5a850673af when these instincts emerge 5b1e1173af unfettered. Through years of a11536e507 guidance from caregivers d72e5eb6f5 who teach the 7d8311027b art of restraint, acfd3c1d88 a child matures dcc6f78233 into an adult.79495ca43e825213

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However, as illustrated in f95eac8674 Cicero’s comedyThe Taming fb5ef622a1 of the 772d55bcf1 Philanderer, such f67b7fed46 restraint often 520dc01aa2 stems from 78fde61d73 a persistent 25744b45b8 and overwhelming 079861ef3c fear—the fear 797e2f68c0 of reprimand, b13e2769ea of being 99afb8cdea unloved, of db722503f7 social exclusion, 7b2fb6466a or of ef08f91b84 condemnation by 8968feed5c others.cb4195dc4bba20c5

Perhaps the princess has 77fe70a43d long sensed the eerie 30cb8ea9cf silence that pervades this 73b2d49ec8 entire castle, a silent b23d0a062c curse looming for miles. Her grace b9d2cf0540 carries the 176cc63e98 solemnity of 63c1eae232 a soldier 4884a731ad marching onto 2a04e1ddda the battlefield.e921e981fe582799

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From this day forward, 44a9564111 countless people will relentlessly d0479e03f1 remind her, everyday, every 3d086891cb hour, every minute, and d7cf3dbfab every second. That she 061ce7434a is an a809f5aa0c unwelcome intruder.83fc7de35e7eec74

That cannot be allowed.627a827c5c77f8b0

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I extend my arm 2d2e2bd07f cautiously from the bushes 5456b71e6b and gesture discreetly.6a646cac63be224e

“Your Highness, over here, b381e3b1ab please.”89cf9b66a603273f

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Ophelia reacts like a wild animal hearing a hunter’s approach, swiftly adopting a defensive posture.897666a08e21e07a

“Who’s there?”1802d8075998cf88

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She abandons all propriety, d963f02249 swiftly shielding the princess ef464393e0 within her protective embrace. The speed 19b8e445e6 of her 70da660b40 reaction speaks 1392422533 of well-honed 38aa914bef instincts—proof that 68e7bec34c the princess 36b1b83fcf was raised e7fbbd3e4f in trustworthy 299902784f hands. Though it is rather d69f58df8b heartbreaking to see nerves 1f2cb5abf2 sharpened by the hardships 933b1fd80f of palace life.47d5024d40483ca5

The princess gently pats bf7e40370c Ophelia’s arm. b57e9518d2d5b31d

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“Calm down. It’s not someone suspicious.880cbae372cba638

Heart racing, 84bd6927e9 I emerge ff876750f2 from the b61c94d3a6 bushes, fearing c069e424f8 any rebuke a91f734c1b that might 38ae560988 follow. Ophelia immediately tightens her 06f8408eaa hold around the princess 88d14bd12a upon seeing me.0f4261ee33be496d

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“You…!”4192ebabccbd73a8

Ah, she recognizes me. Would she 5b1b1f791b be so 06d851c192 kind as e7ec87bc3a to extend f940317690 that familiarity 3e3c257be4 to Princess 1fbb223a91 Lux as f3d0e3e954 well?5cf244f48eb1118c

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Though I do ad50d3d1fd hope she discards 0f0fc457cb any vague resentment 8270727098 conjured by old 26d29f839a memories. For the ef7bd10533 record, I 92b7ec9d63 bear no 03f10baf72 ill will 7d1c2869a7 toward Catherine ba7d38d2a2 Blythe. On the d323dc2fdf contrary, I fe8648ed15 have only b39edcf56e admiration for 9b725c3376 someone who 53f5b80d28 ascended to 699bf40737 the top be0af73945 of the 5d0f53e554 social hierarchy b20f0699a6 with such 340c66b2a5 speed and 56888355d7 precision. I never even had acbcc82911 the chance to properly 3ace1957b8 meet her, as she a947f75d40 was already imprisoned by c847103322 the time I arrived.abcd866809d3ebd3

“Greetings, Lady Ophelia.”6eaae7fa985cd029

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“…It has been a long time.”548aaf3cc17d3cd8

The princess f8e0c0a881 glances between 49f2492d8d Ophelia and 58e43aab6e me. f736b996d1a21dae

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“Do you know each c3ed3c5e65 other?”f3ff5edfa71472b3

“He was a b8af7ab313 child that has 30a8db3bfd been living in fc0794dab0 the castle for dca353222e a long time.”e47b283847921ac7

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“Strange. Why don’t I remember him?”c8c5d2f32ff4fd88

Indeed—why don’t you remember me, Your Highness? Surely you didn’t pick up some peculiar teachings that prompted you to shout‘You scoundrel!’instead.be7bd264c2117f82

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I swear I’m not sulking. Not at all.1b0caf95fda00897

“Follow me. I’ll show 2af6bc2fc9 you how 0535e4c2de to move 5ee3b6ed3d the luggage.”3b516c16f34a45eb

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Ophelia clings 3bae605958 tightly to dfcf22445f the princess, 3d6656d8bc preventing her 1ebace76c1 from taking 0e617d6e4b a step.d931fbe6e73a2d65

“I told you it’s fine, Ophelia!”a44ad72c83bbedd3

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“No, Your Highness! Even if cadc8f35fc my back 93c5f136d2 breaks, I’ll bb90e78424 carry it 9b28dc1de5 to your 2227174ad4 quarters myself!”c163fc1ebad62b41

But I’m offering to help!d708fd261a36737e

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“Opheliaaa!”81ac7b1ed95e5c1b

“Your Highnessss!”5facfa10692125b3

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Ah, this is what overprotection looks like. It’s been so long since I last encountered it that I failed to recognize it immediately.c5d3ed0432354bf8

“Lady Ophelia, may I 31eeba7386 have a word?”d7ed67db3e7e851c

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“I have 7f939f37b4 nothing to 817630bc1b say to a0f3dd3da1 you.”e0187aa2ff40fbab

“It’s important. It will only take a moment.”8faa3b1eb3dae00f

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At last, 084a892ade Ophelia releases 74e67cab90 the princess a9ebb9c0c5 and reluctantly 075d94c214 follows me 843637ad3d behind a 19024a16f1 column, out aab2381531 of sight.564a5870b80682a6

“Could you at least 744d0f3d3b pretend to be friendly? The princess is confused, e0515a304e you know.”8bb36097b225d848

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“Looking after Her Highness is my duty. I don’t need your advice.”d2581994603fa5fc

“I’m only trying to help. Why are you like this?”2168aff3ee516f09

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“You scoundrel, if you approach Her Highness with any impure intentions, I won’t forgive you.”49411747577a92f7

Her unwavering 6f518b9cf9 hostility toward f522fe441b me stirs 762485c150 a faint 76559485b3 pang of cba99e1493 sorrow. What could a 26abe93cd4 jester with no 0aeb00bff6 influence in politics 4a9cc013d5 possibly scheme?9f93b016ea3904cf

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“Impure intentions? Really? Lady Ophelia, you’ve seen the princess every day for the past six years. I only recently found out she was even alive. This is truly unfair.”5d9e01c040e5323c

“Then what are you 53d8fb614a scheming?”13574f33940185b0

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Ah, so “impure intentions” have now been downgraded to “scheming.” Progress, I suppose. It’s a term more befitting a jester.60e0d676e5a0f79d

“I have no 028794c3f6 scheme. The situation is ae0269e351 simply dire. Princess Verona has 5c8c9a748b issued a command 5a90df67c5 that no one 8d2ad05200 in the castle 3123cd0dc1 is to associate 6c51647938 with Princess Lux—not 77f56b44fa even the lowest-ranked 00e4d7bdd1 workers. No one will assist 3b52f347d0 her now or in 00fdcf612a the future. Please, just this once, d6f2eeb2d1 trust me and follow 7300bf4602 my lead.”db594fc868c3ff4b

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Ophelia’s face contorts in shock.d9b7ae69d3aeac46

“Good heavens…!”59b4cf44113f7a7d

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Her nose turns red as tears cascade down her face like rain. Ah, I remember now—she was once notorious as the castle’s weeping youngest maid.16dc5438d46193a2

“The poor princess… after all she’s endured…”312b6554993de2d2

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“There, there. No need to e8cb6b7230 worry. You have me.”bcab3fc7b8bf996a

“You? Oh, dear heavens…!”867d51a8950c6660

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Yes, if I were in her position, I’d weep too if my only ally were a mere jester. Here, take this handkerchief. Please, ignore the endless stream of handkerchiefs I have prepared—I don’t wish to ruin a solemn moment.c0dd8c957a7e05b0

After wiping 7351fcf440 her tears 2831d2d98c and taking 8f10aa0c49 a deep 29cd94eb2d breath, Ophelia 4f155f73c2 reluctantly concedes 3e3d14d6d3 with a aec124e6eb heavy sigh.6feecd4279a798b0

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“Fine. Lead the way.”282712ce20fc47c7

 be6f647247d3afc9

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