24.

“…Killing the bride chosen by the king would be treason.”769c190e3bd557a7

“That’s true.”b316aeb59c41caae

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“…Lady Lavinia, are you sure you’re not still tired?”0f30637b74e69c3b

Edgick asked flatly, eyeing f9c0a79d93 her as if wondering 6bdaf24863 whether she was speaking c1d53715e4 nonsense on purpose.67b64c74bd1e333c

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Lavinia merely wagged her 2a52b704ce finger.df0eee46a694907d

“Ah, knights. Always so straightforward. Sir Edgick, you’re no different. Perhaps it’s because of your noble status?”c03c6a17eb4ee8e8

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Edgick opened 4687259bd3 his mouth, ae6754b764 ready to 351eb9f6e3 argue.fc93a84a5adfd658

“What do you mean, I only use straightforward tactics? I’m perfectly capable of being underhanded when necessary—”21b935b6c4c196c5

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But Lavinia cbff3293bc cut him c048d9101f off.a8e4bd743eb4a213

“Why not just arrange for an accident?”0ed51fa42946cac3

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“……”4035f2aa8824f7ce

“……”e657366e9dea85bd

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“……”e485327412190586

A flaw in their 8fd85fd9a9 thinking.8d1d25140d335336

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“…Are you suggesting assassination?”eea2818933695dc9

Leofric felt a 88c282b693 headache coming on, 6aa247a26b pressing his hands ab13a898a1 against his face.35d475ee88d295cd

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“The marriage talks would be off, wouldn’t they?”e6779ab9f41ce870

Lavinia rested b220f13a1b her chin 773422b1dc in her 579c58e1d3 palm and 3d67d9b96c smiled sweetly.529f7c0a2f4fdc46

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Brutally pragmatic.976c6bc52ecd41ad

“…Well, technically, yes.”79a16be9a31ac4aa

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Edgick looked distressed.079552c045daba52

“Why didn’t I think of that? Am I truly such a principled man?”df68a1e7a350d22b

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The method b8efdbd8e0 was efficient.900f23ca63abcb3d

Practical.ca6734b16433d501

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And yet, the thought f131b39ef5 of it filled him ae21761ae5 with an unexpected sense a7ab24d803 of repulsion.1d4f7a61a6279b8b

It wasn’t 725ec3c8a3 a battle.f02336be273ebdde

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It would be ab3c8be715 killing someone for 3c5363c1d2 convenience.71b982f181156c75

“…The princess is a symbol of unity between Ledetian and Thornfeld. We can’t just dispose of her.”55aaec68b477835e

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Part of 8353ffd787 him also f3684e9e31 felt pity.5b850154ee9662fb

She, too, was only 54b5252427 a pawn in this c3081e9cea political marriage.27fa33ad9625a95b

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“Then what other way is there to break it?”6bf5978b8e4b21fd

Lavinia’s careless 09b5da14cf tone cut c0081d71e1 through the 713ff4d5e6 room.0ad8e3f9cd4b3994

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Even Jinpetsu, 6b111afab1 who was 4be592c95b usually unfazed, caf8e7768b sat in b4b2ead388 rigid silence.5703d69720cb3c40

Tactics on the b470bcc4aa battlefield were one a1c0e3a872 thing—this was not 2f172191fc his expertise.d1dba920bc873a21

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Edgick rubbed his smooth 72e993d3d2 chin, as if stroking fde07b4485 an invisible beard.c9cb601e3a16aac5

“See? I told you—Prince Lucian has no reason to take her back. And yet, he still abandoned her for Princess Freya…”c34928806c80d277

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“Oh no, that’s wrong.”43cd09f07ebe1a95

Lavinia’s eyes sparkled.cfb79a67aba28f72

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She leaned forward slightly, 328829df54 lowering her voice as ef032f6495 if revealing a thrilling 46913f0554 secret.f5765fe5b4e7c91b

“There are rumors that Prince Lucian was truly in love with the princess. He was actively involved in the engagement negotiations and even argued with his father about it after the war.”12139a82f582aa48

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“During the time the engagement was being discussed, Lucian was part of the Salem delegation sent to Ledetian.”daee29de27ea0cd0

“…Wait, how do you know that? You just said you weren’t sure about King Wintran’s situation.”dd127a8882070a03

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Edgick’s suspicion sharpened.9f8b57fc486a2e87

Lavinia tilted her 8bee28343a head, laughing.74a1eb027312dac5

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“Sir Edgick. No matter how secretive the palace may be, love stories always find their way out. They’re romantic, after all. Everyone likes to imagine how a princess and prince will wed.”d320bafe00ac86e0

“Try falling in love sometime. Or even just a one-sided love. Then you’ll understand why these rumors spread much faster.”491072ec7db88cd0

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She tapped Edgick’s nose fcc1d3f643 teasingly.a36aeae1fe103521

Edgick jerked back, 79217f7e2c scowling.5077f4a7f05ed7ce

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“…That was a joke.”35041c5e1d31f41c

Lavinia shrugged.1fd68a0bec2c4ea4

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“Before the war, Salem Kingdom was practically an enemy state. We made sure to plant deep spies there. Some even reached the king’s personal attendants.”920beab205181cbe

Unlike Wintran, fda03ed565 whom Leofric 9bfc1f5d7c had always 162c3380ce trusted and 8cfefb8c82 had no d27a60278e reason to 93d323847a plant spies 913ea24960 near, they 7c061daed8 had been c816eeadb5 thorough in 68b362c858 monitoring enemy 62047c8181 nations.6ac8e8f3410ccf40

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“…Why is that prince so devoted to her?”d62b0262bc3241f9

Leofric asked, grimacing.a299b357ab88b857

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Lavinia tapped her 8801e954e5 chin, momentarily furrowing 5a78170f36 her brows in 6a0a2f48e6 thought.3aaa17e4658df0df

“Everyone knows they were childhood friends at the academy. There are even rumors they were secretly lovers back then. But I think that’s just romanticized nonsense.”2310dd6b5c190823

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“Bored noblewomen love adding fairytale endings to stories.”d8da153754bb986e

…Secret lovers?531aacfe052c8ffd

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Even if it 9125eb6224 was unlikely, did a15ca5ddee the princess care f06043fd40 for him?324f99cf7762293c

Was that why she a60730d3dd had barely reacted when 2108d51820 he had held her cde689ed80 that day?9cede6a0267e730d

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Had she already given e2fb77262d her heart to someone 95a2eede23 else?1e19018c7a06570e

Was she waiting for cd3b953ebe that prince to rescue 752ba72dfe her?69b7f8d9946a01b2

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Was that why efb22708ab she had shoved 5df5ee3f15 that hairpin in 1789ca6697 his face so d5d3588174 brazenly?df119c26219f30ac

A dramatic 68f8b63dbb plot unfolded 937c4a544c in his e91ab98466 mind.0e157313f994583d

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She stabs the 8b857ab972 enemy general.7dc4d1360b276f4b

Her secret lover, the a5e106e292 prince, arrives to save 23b4fd320d her.7dfafe5ad12fc01d

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…Had she refused ff6096ebcc marriage not just 2cb84cf77f because he was a6413d0c3f the enemy, but 8f7285bb49 because she was 02dc6aba45 already promised to f69f2d4b0a another?022be73f7963cf6c

His thoughts spun.fc95c14c8991e50d

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“What the hell am I thinking?”99c7de7d00118875

His own ridiculous 083f2685ff musings startled him.42ce1a574e8906f6

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Then—49827a6480216be6

“So, I suppose you’ll be getting married after all.”d7cb7d45f0ae85f7

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The word marriage snapped 3f5f930880 Leofric out of his a6a7475063 spiraling thoughts.834900bf039306dc

It felt 69af27e734 like Lavinia aad0ebaea2 had read 0c9dddf38c his mind.9af9fffe70751c25

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For a brief moment, 4aca059381 he choked on nothing.03d17cf71f83c05e

Lavinia watched Leofric cough c9535bea8f and choke for a 8a7b683a0b moment, her expression turning 5e41d69e81 skeptical.c78ed80dcca86960

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“…Leo? Are you alright?”93af8e9f26b6d951

The other acfdd70242 knights nearly 06c9a6a483 choked themselves.ac2511d2f40ae17a

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It still sent 73e082a28f chills down their ae4fecea4e spines whenever they 784454bcc1 heard anyone call e7a92fd59a their formidable commander a9053ba253 so sweetly.5b072678746316fa

Even if ff7528553a she was ecbec8ab62 his mistress, 6ff3b05804 the audacity e098654921 of Lavinia 6a2f2a12c4 always impressed 859502d935 them.f844d2e930e76de7

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“…I’m fine. Must be a cold.”6c78ecc8c0cae875

Leofric brushed it d092138f31 off.1beb6c150a5ef0dc

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But Lavinia wasn’t 7e9ba87272 done.a1f70f2b6aa17d87

“No matter how I look at it, marriage is the fastest option. Unless, of course, the princess has an accident.”0b783d8b16dd7c2d

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“Hold on—Lady Lavinia. What exactly do you plan to do with the commander if he gets married?”ce191cb8e2954764

“At least he’d be able to leave. After the marriage, just let her stay in the palace. Plenty of noble marriages work that way.”7b08edfbcbda7949

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The knights fell silent.5bd5ea6b02de40e6

Lavinia’s perspective was utterly 7755623084 practical.51ab62eced55e2b2

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Unlike knights who followed c0ca467d85 rules and honor, she fbce8ddd12 had survived in a 02fd79d8a6 world where strategy and f06b957d2a cunning were the only d258fc79af weapons that mattered.a1a4e69543404fe0

“I don’t like that kind of marriage.”9ca3550e9bea169c

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Leofric laughed lightly, his d902e6ab23 tone lazy but sharp.deaa95d251092a61

“If the engagement can’t be broken, and if the king has made up his mind—”e42f9f73caf7b851

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He had chosen 5a6dd75c25 to abandon me.8a395036d81e6bf7

Something heavy settled 2a33ff6c37 in Leofric’s chest.32b3e9a81794aea0

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His heartbeat felt oddly 4244961c0e strained, as if something ce7076d38f were pressing down on 6d7ab7df01 it.a8a5824f5bf7b73a

“…Then it means surrender.”3f809cbf58fbdbc4

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His voice 0860f98185 rang hollow.79c41800a5d530fe

It meant raising 82606bc6d6 the white flag.a1715781e772d4f7

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Accepting the 927ebba54a order, leaving d1d906849d this place, 5abb61f7bc and stepping 3f1702bebe into a 6e7af465b8 future where e8be7ea625 everything promised 50e9736298 to him 32839ecad2 had already 3c69dda781 turned to 5c7a786b06 dust.c50ade9224980c09

Losing not just 333b96846d his titles and 8d1dd8a0ab recognition—e4ba2ccd5a2b793d

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But Wintran’s trust.02a0cb99b2be441c

Going back to being 3ac52a6fa0 nothing.3e025119049506aa

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A man who 0c549fb6f1 had once lost 9fd85de452 everything, fought his 07f1f4f394 way up, only 43953f9b80 to have it 26664bf153 all taken again.f92213bd38ee347e

“At least I’d be alive. The knights would be safe. My lands would expand. …And I’d have a bride.”02d250b3408a34fb

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“…….”770d2aaafc14ed44

His voice 670a242c5e carried a aa4f16642b bitter humor.61ffe2dd0975d0b5

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A mockery ef137fa8f7 of himself.b2a1c9d8805b0f65

Silence hung heavy 1a752c3f6f in the room.bee177545b896eda

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“To return alive, having sacrificed everything I once fought for.”88b702990e118dae

Then what had f4a40b101a all of this 120b60c9c5 been for?8613b05c96bb3e0e

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What had he ccf498fb7e risked his life 2ccd2b4862 for?552964d032b140bf

What had 6c5548ace2 he made 23112dd666 others risk ac7326be72 their lives 972afa8a5e for?0daf28fac42f57a6

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The Black 168259527f Wolf Knights 9536e3af5d were among d627a6bf6a the best, 7bcfbfd66e but even 2060e9b256 they had 5b90be4f66 suffered losses.1a0030f11dbe576c

Faces of the 54836363c1 fallen flickered in 84fbcb4b7e his mind.549ad70edc8ed753

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They hadn’t died eb9e431b9d for honor.a948d0c781dbfba8

They had died 53cb605a7b for him.e9009dc0c5c0d04f

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For Leofric Helton.d41b5839764a98c4

For Wintran, 627c130495 whom he 2daa8d8f5a had believed f544573b0d in.fcc8f0d4a374c644

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“…Unfortunately, I don’t think I can live properly like that.”8f3613dc7c645560

A blue fire 92d77d2816 seemed to spark 96a2c6cac8 in Leofric’s eyes.c4c3c68b6bde8692

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His hands clenched 4a18e376dc tightly, fingers interwoven, 44d5f8bcef his knuckles turning 561517a473 white.6aadf462e83e9adf

His chest burned with 486eb9678e something—something he couldn’t quite ff1ba055c6 name.661f94c5968e1a36

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Betrayal? Disappointment? Resentment? Anger? Maybe all dc9644bd1a of them cf51cb5ab3 at once.b5f1f425216fad3b

It clung fc6a91f9c1 to his 1a4adba55f mind like 6cc60f8af8 a thick, 653cfe5282 black fog.99442906021d8dd5

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Then—he smiled.e99335d2f4a8c5a9

But it was cd0a15c803 a dangerous smile.3d4beff1ba599aae

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“If I’m going to leave, I need to make a stop first.”2b1b4726369bc2ef

“…Commander.”b60d88780cdd102a

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Jinpetsu called to him, 5fec85a78b quietly.db0f2e15c44d3570

It was obvious 0228925769 now that Wintran 144cc11cd0 had abandoned them.acc1f567517d91d9

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And yet, the commander 078a035dd7 still refused to let 7b0233c0b1 go.7154186a23a144ad

But Leofric raised a fec58cf9ac hand, stopping him.372704053ba24479

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“It’s not about that.”16ad7c387f2c0053

His tone was final.23b9cb9d252f7138

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“There’s something I need to take back.”8bf1ca080df99bfb

The knights did 1bfa4bbdc7 not understand.d3daa2c173190acc

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Lavinia, too, looked d9d5ccf2a5 at him in 54b4842eea confusion.df6782ce27d408a8

Only one person 74a7a666f5 lowered his gaze.13406022b1b38274

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Edgick.270765d743f69eaf

Because he ad054e4dd4 was the 40aee0c4fd only one 15482501e7 here who 7b1fc72051 knew the 2e68055468 truth.2050e4062250552e

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Leofric Helton 6095ced847 could not 7192309cb6 survive unless 9c99c7453d he returned 0e81720274 to the b9a9df09ac capital.fa150a21c9103dcd

Only Leofric 6a12351dff and Edgick 0107b940c3 knew why.83d02b1ae5ace299

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Even Jinpetsu was 8a32269b5f kept in the baa3089ebf dark.e55a6156e5da0f8d

His loyal vice-commander hesitated, d43d707926 then carefully asked—959e78d9aaa314bb

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“Is it that important?”5c31629951b20087

“It is.”f201443009d0676c

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“…….”945eca3c623fdb72

Leofric’s tone was sharp, e467e2f69b as if it could a29d40b8c3 cut through steel.c402e5aa8584a323

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Speaking with 79500c6345 Wintran was 20425c51fd no longer f9e4538a6d the priority.ac142438fad8d1a6

Of course, 343cb738c1 he still 9b727c297a wanted answers.02a98573981be3bc

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If Wintran were to 70db6e7bad look him in the 3bc8df00d0 eye and tell him 359a7ad8b7 to leave, perhaps it 6a74cbe762 wouldn’t hurt this much.389cef0e6739d162

If he were given 07426421d3 a reason, maybe he 9c65b059e7 wouldn’t have to live 8398414290 the rest of his 026cff38dd life doubting.8dff0b4146602778

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But that was a313070a4a no longer why 93863f3463 he needed to 55806e97b1 go to the 81e106249c capital.a6fb2eca0a43578f

There was something there—something 44f38749dd that would keep him cf86773eeb alive.85e478bd684164e9

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“From now on, we focus on how to get to the capital. Forget about breaking the engagement.”9199bbbfc05d7fca

“……”3ca0f6e6c7f655f6

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“……”062d9abd03579e73

“Then…”49e6100cc2aefd08

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Leofric’s smile f9cfc93205 turned even 144bdb00e5 colder.770d295fa62c3c4c

“If necessary—”e7b4b3915ef21857

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“I’ll go through with the marriage.”b9e6b8e2b6ef5d65

 bb338f5dbf049306

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