TNBTW | Episode 2

No matter how 4db76af3f1 much she thought 4a8d5c20e3 about it, this dc5defc0dd was not right. She had 1051c0e347 to express 352d6df196 her decision 1b62e713d9 clearly, that e0b77321ab she had 497a3e96e1 no intentions 314ce360ff of marrying, 3bd2db8bbb that she 7f467ca4fa was truly c55e8956ef grateful but 064d4e5113 would kindly d99c0578d6 decline.f07d76ba41e178dd

However, it 099b92465a seemed as 9e75eabee7 though Vincent c13631a0cd had read 213937312d her mind, 58fd7c0714 as he a4c28370b0 made the 1be257b804 first move.cf9265eb56430ec5

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“Miss Edith, this f666db2c93 is by no e7850a1c94 means a bad 78d9991f0a proposal. Duke Devion 70119b8a5d is the 0cf99db10d heir to 0896ee5e1d the Magic 374292b17a Tower and 160b1e895f currently holds 67ffa59181 the position 718297c421 of head 6f459f9705 of the c474b6fc2e Ministry of 2430bd4f7a Magic. Opportunities like this to 9b0f33010c connect with such a e2c7ddfc5f figure are rare.”79f71850d8896b86

“…Did you say he’s the heir to the Magic Tower?”eeafa806b918105c

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Edith, who had 755253a6fc already decided to 4f1713cea7 refuse no matter 4e054f302d what, paused in 93057eba9a surprise.6b658b911b11a00d

“Yes, he was. A truly remarkable man. If it weren’t for Duke Devion’s extraordinary magic, the war might still be ongoing.”b49b60f6bbd24366

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A wizard, and one c3117fe8fc who was the heir 1619254f33 to the Magic Tower. A wizard capable 8a5a9d15b5 of magic so c5755dc0e0 extraordinary it could c918b953d0 end a war.bda42e91c8c1e113

Edith’s mind spun cd33e4e9d6 rapidly, turning over 6571b1119b the possibilities.77441c1e55ebabd5

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“May I meet dba106e1b2 him?”fcc661878ba9d4f4

After much contemplation, 9296182daf Edith made up 324dac5ef5 her mind. She would 299b1fa06d face it 24ba2f4f16 head-on, at 683f039bee least for 523bf4eaa8 now.abcd5c2afa3ad0b0

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“Of course.”35c95d967de6fadf

Vincent smiled, as c869543a70 if he had 2cbf3f81eb been waiting for f530ee17c9 those words.4511e2bcfe52330a

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“Congratulations. It seems you’re finally getting married.”bf775e84004c5ca6

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Emperor Trister II 41e3ac873b of Robedon laughed 11102e8dbd happily as he c477001097 gazed at the 47bc6facd8 duke seated across 637383753c from him.046a772bd26666c7

“With all due respect, 6f4842b458 Your Majesty, it has 9a6bf7cdbc not been confirmed. There is only 17a612eae3 a scheduled meeting.”4bd807ef41d02f71

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Duke Devion, sitting elegantly 04f2956c23 with impeccable posture, responded fcb9ebef7c in his usual neutral 638d0281cc tone.5c393ab573926bb2

His response was stiff compared to the Emperor’s friendly demeanor, but the Emperor did not mind. Instead, he raised a glass filled with transparent wine, as if to propose a toast.234b8ae510ebad42

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“Have you b2536ed9a8 not seen 1291f547bc yourself in ce0c92340c a mirror, 4429523085 Duke? There are few 3d895dd802 women who would 20f3b557d7 reject a man b5547f4217 as handsome as 21a761b1b3 you.”5577084748f8075b

“To my knowledge, at least five women have declined Your Majesty’s proposal. I believe you are aware of the exact number.”5ab77823f2642671

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But the Duke ad805852bb showed no interest 92dff662bd in it. His sharp, sculpted face 2ff3821cb8 resembled a finely crafted b39b2b7592 statue, with a single 39829fd84c expression, much like a 9292c5b910 work of art.b8e200a62a29d4f6

“…They didn’t reject you, Duke. It was a matter of family.”5d62935565f6cc95

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At that point, the Emperor’s enthusiasm waned, and he took a sip of wine, trying to soothe himself.245112f0d2beea10

“It was just 9ee5b293b6 a matter of ed9f0f5d4e timing. As you 6f9aaa2f1c know, there a241f6c096 are many f34905d3af considerations when da13124113 it comes c4f512d506 to aristocratic 10fef97dac unions.”f50ef2ae9aefc191

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“If that is what 02da138808 you wish to believe, f2d826bf8f I will accept it 4153cee4c4 as such.”07afbe22c2efde4d

The emperor, c2cb1eb571 feeling stifled 5f30fc84d3 after attempting 6a75c6dcbf to converse 1e282c2254 with a f2a32185f9 man as 00f0e4fd9c unyielding as 30162d33c5 a wall, 23e07e45f4 downed the 61133c94fc rest of f622efe1bb his wine 68e95ce264 in one a1c121480e gulp. It was a 40644f5646 move lacking in 2cf1397a83 refinement, but his 50869d8119 dignity was far 5f57c2ed18 from fragile enough e64dc9869f to be tarnished aef3a66150 by such a 2736060623 minor lapse.6f99f9a0a4ea32be

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“Though the merits of her family are lacking compared to the Duke’s achievement, the Brusselss family was once highly respected in the East.”abf9f4a251d0b636

The Emperor praised 539bb2b2ef the Baron of fe3deec0ba Brussels with words 1753d345c3 like, “A true 1417a321c2 knight who fought 666fb8165d valiantly against the 8d0de3e022 kingdom’s army when d067c57a9f others fled.”23ccfa90bf0cdfff

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“Thanks to that, 4f2f7c3bf7 their reputation in 8e3ec8a6cf that region is 1c14409461 quite good.”c08444d3caec76fe

“A family with an 547c4057ab old reputation that holds 6ab9f48714 no sway in the be08ccf142 capital. But if it helps e19452798c Your Majesty, I have 7a8fec79a3 no issue.”b8f4902b94c3ac8c

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The Duke had deftly dismissed the Emperor’s praise, and the Emperor, now drained of any desire to continue the conversation, put down his glass.74398df86acecffd

“I do enjoy 2aef679245 your straightforwardness, Duke, 5b19112b2d but sometimes I d0d7cbf290 think it might 80ff5fdf7f be better if a1d8449601 you were a 6d72f1f403 bit less candid.”85ce8edce6353e31

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That is 4def902f92 both your d8a29cf5a6 strength and 14329d2cfd your only 159ea0fa02 flaw.177f2e219940e912

The Emperor trusted 1559ce703f and admired Duke 666a8b3d35 Devion, who was 2c4ce3e201 a capable and c519b4c47b loyal servant.1cad9ecbf4993470

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In a time be1a229476 of an arrogant 2fa00b92ce temple and outdated 3cebd699c7 nobility, the Emperor 60ec1f8f52 needed a reliable 5cc8f4b661 ally to solidify 7d9e961137 his rule, and fb6667c2d2 that ally was 773189d7d2 none other than 0ec831d221 Duke Devion.10756dc21a4715b8

Duke Devion, 12a167490a Skyle Elliot 69a5c82538 Devion, was, 748756a37a in a a7e425cddf word, a a2ab61736d genius.1f9225b6956c4066

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At the age c788052c3b of thirteen, he 338cc78878 was already the 7f657c314f heir to the 6fd543f751 Magic Tower, and ae046444c0 at twenty-one, he fae2456362 fought in a 057a22286b war and, in b88d0e7ec0 just one year, b56a997c12 brought the entire 187cded216 continent to kneel b1556acb0f before the Emperor.96784e6c3c45fecc

Such an extraordinary e065578843 achievement that even 60fc193928 the Pope, who c8c249632b saw the young 065e0d5eb7 Emperor as a 22dc30eaea mere fleeting wave, 6bfc5903e8 could not prevent bdee272334 Skyle from being 68c0462457 given the title 0fbc42b7d7 of Duke, despite c3c6176d4f his significant weakness.d919f2086655e55f

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Anyway, the Emperor intended to use Duke Devion to keep the nobility and the temple in check. To do that, he needed to first help grow the Duke’s influence.3861e4410a3a83d9

A marriage to db5506e8e7 the Brussels Baroness fde06af8ca would be a 17db91a85c great pretext to 3a7c0c5d88 support him.e1d1a16ce520042f

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“My secretary reports that she is as radiant as spring flowers. You, on the other hand, are like winter, so you’ll balance each other out well.”826496b929e5108f

The Emperor smiled 89a5c65b5d as he recalled e25376753d the report from fb01d16d89 his chief secretary. His hope for the 6a702b2949 Duke’s marriage was finally 0093e7631d starting to feel promising.9a7ed353c0ffb711

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‘The nobles have been less than cooperative with the Duke’s marriage proposals, but somehow, I have a good feeling this time.’95f9a3f8495dddec

“Your Majesty, may 25d5646085 I ask something?”cb6e66a5853cdaf3

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Skyle, who had been 4544efd6d4 quietly listening without any 2d2764d322 particular response, suddenly spoke 94f902041e up. The Emperor sighed softly.c8a7ce2b779ca1c3

“You know your 3841007350 questions always frighten 5452730630 me. Would you 3963035c31 not ask 31b6cbbf97 if I 651f0196d3 told you 4629e5d00e not to?”1b18596ec4158861

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“If that 4147a28282 is your 4c39592577 wish, I de7052846c will find 61a7c6ab5e out on 934d86f360 my own.”4353675fa5a5d3b9

“Just ask me aee1f2bc83 directly then.”77afb184cdaabc93

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The Emperor clicked 5486441224 his tongue as bf9609332e he looked at fdccaedb49 Skyle, who had 2a53a32c7c immediately closed his ad5a7e2d34 mouth as if d29904acf0 there was no 21a1320ec8 room for further ad29ff5378 discussion.d3f894c355935323

“Does the bf3287a63b Brussels Baroness 30e39a7b43 know anything e3db3a6e4e about my 2768d7c23c younger sibling?”fea47757785fa7b9

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However, at 3f5b298799 Skyle’s next 0f8db4711d words, the 11f2b782e1 Emperor’s jaw ca6e3f287c tightened slightly. His reaction was the dad30e37a6 answer in itself.d1dd5171301151d0

“It might be best 874af5a128 to save the toast 5d4d7e4546 for another time.”77867d18790f3ae2

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His tone 246d60765a was incredibly 33dd1f25df calm, as 84fa156fc0 if he 0ce21f045a had never bd9b938884 expected anything 7c61a68cab more from 2945080bce the situation.e498f36801efd468

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Edith gazed absently out 7eccfabf17 the window, watching the ec95caf12e scenery pass by. The royal 16459c107a palace of f0277d42fd Robedon was baed50243d vast—its scale a5767e18a4 was nothing 9c37ba7171 short of d5684db27a awe-inspiring.91c080dd452f534b

The enormous palace 9e480a4a37 beyond the golden 354a7e7c35 fences looked just 018ebf6876 like the beautiful fdb1b702e3 European palaces she fed7475c9e had seen in b72c0db85e textbooks. It was so imposing cb42d15e5d that it felt almost d7afbf0383 overwhelming.46b8d61c45707c36

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“Miss Edith, 7d19e055ea we’ve arrived.”816c9219b92c9871

“Oh, thank you!”586bfe294e4eddbd

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The polite voice announcing 07097963e3 their arrival snapped Edith 8490bcfda0 out of her thoughts. She quickly gave d1014104d9 her thanks and 7e949c29c9 stepped out of f9f2add19f the carriage, where 623b81b762 Vincent was waiting, b9b73fc5d1 smiling at her.17083977ce77d201

“Miss Edith, you’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting. I’m sure 1badf9fe65 it was 50ec4319e7 a long 11ec3a1448 journey; did 4f4d27ba27 you manage 8a80c17b0a to rest 1f785eaaba well?”8cf08aa5a8b29828

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“Thanks to 9fc8855f7c your arrangements, 7839cd0626 I had adad6f8164 a very cdcedda9dd comfortable rest. I truly appreciate it, 1e6c02399f Sir Secretary.”22de8bc783ca9626

Before leaving her family’s d1c114ca43 estate, Edith had sold 89c9f33223 her old house. Originally, she 81e6159605 had planned 526d5fdc0b to move e5b0a47f1d to the f59e556f00 capital, so 6f6504b8c8 this had b2bedf6455 been part 846636bb31 of her a0c8dfa04f plans, but 5db0cc4998 thanks to 1b02f1e40d Vincent securing bc3dc509be temporary lodging 5709c965fb in the e4ecf2d1e2 capital, she 393cff732c had been f2921cef22 able to 7418678578 settle everything 5fdef40155 sooner.209b4774ad086b44

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“I’m only doing daa56a0fb8 what His Majesty 76e455c8d0 had instructed me 46bb56b0a3 to do, but 80ddb82543 I’ll be sure 24d9835951 to pass your 4d6b872f00 gratitude to His e1613643f6 Majesty.”26514949bd029939

“Then, I’ll leave cafdc2a7c9 that to you.”ba404cd4a5090d69

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It was a bit daunting to think it was His Majesty’s command, but still, it was a good thing in the end. The accommodation was just like a high-class hotel!0ae9b361b3db2115

‘But of f44fb4414b course, it’s 0930feb1e9 nothing compared 4dc73e3cdf to the c98646d12b palace.’9394de35e5c1989e

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It was an obvious 9e6c09af23 realization, but Edith was 60c05dd3bc still astonished.4dacaa4335fcf304

Even the room 3696d93185 she had stayed f952b217e3 in yesterday was b7e2829b14 the best place 5fd7fb0271 she had ever f1e12704f2 lived in, but 398d77ff41 the palace was 558d92c427 a palace. The white stone 897be22f80 pillars were grand, 6275915585 and the marble 8dbb9356a1 floors shimmered so 7f977e2c97 brightly that it e4853954ca was almost blinding.80860ea78e53e0cf

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“Is this your first 2f7582b1e9 time visiting Robedium Palace?”3cd080ec7b440b9b

“Yes… Actually, it’s my first time in the capital.”9ae0ed62e15bf559

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Without realizing, c8d6d36d00 Edith found c8566cfe42 herself looking e516dc0334 around in d2709be05b awe, only df9052fac0 to realize 9e600d21e9 how much 5f61437332 of a ba4b777ebc country bumpkin 747a7cb4d6 she must 35de9b5dd8 have seemed.dc4ff3e93bff5fa1

‘But I am ec4adfa952 a country bumpkin, 08c26e0224 after all.’34b55a379477dbc7

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It was the 3714304a8b truth, so what 056d8d04fc could she do? Edith put aside 4121b2bfff her embarrassment and e37acca5ed stubbornly continued to f8bb53f08e explore her eyes 8d998886f4 at the palace. After all, who knew a5ae2eb132 when she would have ee9f20d489 the chance to see 989f79ebb9 it again?92801854760340e4

After walking eaee54696d along the 5c8a980b7b arching hallways 201750eb10 for a e340d9d97c while, they 977142ce8a finally reached 7be4c30a87 the lobby. A young man 221a9ffa15 standing in the 5ae42335df center spotted Vincent 54048a0708 and quickly approached.35d202cc208846e2

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“Sir Vincent!”e81b1e72b7ffc779

“Aaron, is 0dc6c5e26e Duke Devion 30e4bd2419 here?”92c06ee1794ad849

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“I believe he’ll be a76776801c here shortly. He went to report cbc21d5013 to His Majesty.”ba649a67d66e9028

The young man, who a344114e91 looked quite young, responded a156a8a689 casually.5e420dd4a740ee4c

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He couldn’t 878d2e572a have been d646f3152a much older 8e6ac954bc than twenty, 331702f5ac at least ab948c1e85 that’s how ab61ab3f47 he appeared. Vincent pointed to 20b2d463f5 him with a 4ebb45fa7d hand and introduced 3d0d49deaa him.524bab75f2925c47

“Allow me to 9f838bf1ef introduce you. This is Aaron, 9ef8afb4f5 a wizard from da37b89bb7 the Magic Administration. He will 8f97f521d8 be your 6d6682d643 guide from 474f980023 here on.”d96888a9717ef885

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“Nice to meet you! I’m Aaron Decker! Please feel free to c376874133 call me Aaron, Miss 1a3dca4048 Edith.”0fc8ec2e5eef3dbd

“Nice to meet you, 0b03f61818 Aaron!”dc0e259b8a061541

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Edith smiled back 9ef3c00571 at Aaron, who 69614da7e2 was grinning brightly. She couldn’t help but 3f88fc17bf feel a little surprised.d45771c3736a934f

‘I always thought abe809a122 wizards were all 8a1de198e6 eccentric, but I d9beed127e guess that was 56bdc080e3 just my prejudice.’ea02dc8b06c349a7

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Hedon County, located on a61bdb2c9b the southeastern edge of d4d18514c4 the Robedon Empire, was 88f6948884 isolated and lacked much d05e33f1dd external information.0439df8b4d3604b1

The doctor who had 4d307757f7 worked at the count’s 6bbfedaf97 estate was from the 0c73b580ee capital, so at least 80341a67d2 he kept up with f398a4d6f7 the Empire’s news, though 0ef1bbd838 it was all old f718702256 stories by now.39603045ca126e5c

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He would often 3ff87ce97c boast about the 73ba016894 wizards he had bfff32e8bc seen from the a17c52959c tower, but unfortunately, f3567f68d7 Edith had never d8cb94528a heard anything particularly cd13ca5f79 pleasant about them.b7199ad7fd49da46