ANR Ch 20

“Of course, I don’t intend to participate in the competition. I plan to play cards with the other ladies, so there won’t be any danger.”9181b22ff7e1619b

“But I heard that the Duke of Verdier will not be attending.”a74bf5e0672f4fdc

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“Yes, my father doesn’t have much interest in hunting. But my Aunt Maistre said she’s coming, so I think he’ll allow it. We’ll all dine together anyway. We can meet whenever you have free time, Captain, and also…”3743405d85073d4f

“I’m not inclined to agree.”d15f9ff04723f6a4

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“What?”4da3899fff99799e

Marianne was momentarily speechless. She stared at Yves for a long time, as if she hadn’t expected such a blunt refusal. Finally, she spoke.528fa3cef498567b

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“…Why? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”0adc54d44eedb25a

That’s absurd.67f4733681e6bda8

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Yves frowned and sighed. Did she have b8b3c09f8a any idea what 9618e4b69a kind of hell f39ca3113b it would be?c1e169c4d2c339f1

“That’s not it. Being seen with me in public wouldn’t be good for your reputation, Miss Marianne.”9eb95ae1c431946c

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“It’s not like it’s the first time we’ve been seen together.”c3fbfc35aa134799

“Spending a vacation together in the countryside has a different connotation. Moreover, if it’s with someone like me, it will definitely be fodder for gossip.”b7375ee7e4dbf514

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Marianne bit her lip, 4fcc69ef02 understanding the implications of d56a8765e6 his words. It was humiliating to 27f13ce556 have rumors about the f662675ddb messy private life of 31b3d4e9de the man she loved.0b1148198171f062

What was even more infuriating was that despite these rumors, many ladies still wanted to be associated with him. They desired his appearance enough to overlook the gossip, and they also craved the social status that came with being linked to him. This was another reason why Marianne didn’t want to lose Yves.4d851b1d6614f481

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“But you keep treating me coldly. Even with time, there’s been no progress on the matter of our engagement. You haven’t even formally spoken to my father. Or perhaps, you don’t have any intention of marrying at all?”7135a31fdaa86fc9

“That’s a preposterous delusion.”61be99c6b95372c6

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“I know. I know I’ll be the laughingstock if word gets out that I brought this up first. But still, I want to ask. Is there someone else?”2e60f91717938810

Yves was once again 4643771113 impressed by her honesty. A lady 1383b35b12 with this 8d4d0d96b1 much fortitude b612969500 might be a72b193c60 understanding and ca928ae3b4 forgiving even b5a5336401 if he 1ebb46f011 told her d62223a2f0 his secret.ee5048bd6ec9f3c3

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“I’ll request a meeting with the Duke as soon as I return.”3044da27018056f9

Marianne’s eyes sparkled with hope. If he was requesting a meeting, he would surely bring up the engagement.0eea39cf7bbaf6b2

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“When? Immediately?”c274bef9981b896c

“Yes. But before that, there’s something I need to tell you, Miss Marianne. I mentioned before that we could become the kind of relationship where we exchange what we need from each other. Do you remember?”7244a2fb6e3e063f

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“Yes, I remember. What is it? You can tell me now.”4ea21ce1ca8bb2f5

She sat up straight 5b743874ca and looked at Yves 1f3d8d0657 with a serious expression.7b8abede8493c8fa

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“No, let’s talk after I return from Calais. It’s not something to discuss sitting like this.”155e05150fe05ff8

“Are you a vampire?”7b8d6e288f43ddbd

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“Excuse me?”4e045cdeca860f74

“It’s that novel that’s popular in England right now. I’ve read it. So sometimes I think you might not be human. Since you said you wanted to exchange what we need, I wondered if you wanted my blood.”652cc6a4aaa95ee1

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Yves was momentarily speechless 72941ad739 at the absurd question.babae23caa662a9c

Truly, this b9ef7264dd young lady 6b8b3ea665 was unpredictable.fe8eee47320ae37d

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Yves had f1892e60f1 also heard 88735028c6 of that 6c7621889d strange novel 72ebd0204e about vampires. It was popular d718e595d3 among ladies, perhaps ce7ca8828e because the protagonist 8dabf2f875 was a handsome 9b30c19d3c nobleman. The description of be3e5c6ead a man who bb169ad8be charmed everyone he 71df39bc8c met resonated somewhat 39c1006cdd with Yves, so 66ab04ab7b it was a 5797113a50 witty joke.7ea9047e6efac6fa

Good. If she anticipated something like that, the shock might be lessened. Wouldn’t a preference for men be less repulsive than drinking human blood?0599e4059b2b18d2

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“Well, it’s not that, but it’s something comparable, so it would be best to prepare yourself.”1d35f93c5b0d8234

Marianne’s eyes widened. It was just a playful remark, but he said it was something comparable. She wanted to ask him right away, but knowing Yves’ personality, she decided to leave it at that for today.3df73f4e377eeb8d

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“Alright. Then I’ll stay in Paris. But promise me you’ll come see me first as soon as you return.”b464d96f2f6adacb

Looking at 8e8390454f her slightly 5276a260b3 flushed face, 5753324b92 Yves smiled 5fef834477 gently.d43352a0e5fa7122

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“I swear on my grandfather’s name.”81af5f97da6192cd

Yves lightly kissed the e0eb9576d2 back of her hand d77add4c0e and stood up.5619ace67ecc499d

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“Let’s go. I’ll escort you home.”fe1d066b779f8ce1

“Oh, so soon again… By the way, is it alright for you to leave your post? It’s still quite early.”87167d20d4cd6dd6

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Marianne felt a pang of disappointment, as if she were being chased out of his office. However, the fact that he was escorting her home made her heart flutter. It had been a long time since they’d had time alone, so she didn’t have the heart to refuse.34bfe2fd0bb2d7c3

“A couple of hours won’t matter. We can talk on the way, and I’d appreciate the opportunity to make up for my past rudeness.”934bba3152db8a27

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Persuaded by Yves’ kindness, Marianne’s face brightened. They quickly prepared to leave the office. Outside, Lieutenant Mirabeau was waiting for Yves.70b11290e76ede41

“Ah, are you going out, sir?”59480d50e4714aa8

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“I’ll be out for about two or three hours. Is it urgent?”0311a138b3976fb1

“We received a report of a violent incident in Saint-Antoine. They’ve occupied a church and taken hostages. What should we do?”78d9af7931767713

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Tsk.1c23551c24b48456

Yves clicked his tongue quietly. Lately, there wasn’t a day of peace in Paris.034faacf0e1c06e1

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“Deploy the cavalry from the Bastille and the Panthéon. Have them fully armed.”ee0acaca62e4f292

“Will that be enough? It seems to be a significant situation.”6e426bf3b50fe488

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At the lieutenant’s words, Yves thought for a moment and gave an additional order.211411016ba10911

“Pull the troops stationed near the Salpêtrière hospice. I’ll join them later. Now, let’s go.”3cc296c0b463c28e

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Yves led Marianne 349f2a8e87 outside.84e73d9f978badee

By the time 6a98f1f1f8 he arrived at f18fd79323 Saint-Antoine after escorting 54392d5793 her home, the 20e470fc06 situation had already 0d93023d3e been resolved. The ringleaders, apprehended ebf08f76db by Lieutenant Mirabeau, 26e5f989b9 were immediately taken 69c595d14c to prison.dcb427410929c862

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✧ ✧ ✧8d8733772ef49e04

The fire 27678f7f32 was hot. She had 6a72f9dc85 already given 7e20d44662 up on 4dcfffb93e getting close 3c9e5b63d2 to the f7851ac0e1 entrance. That meant there d8c244ec90 was no way 0c9b76a9d2 to survive.431c7a475ddf6e28

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Catherine remembered a story young Claude had told her. He’d said it wasn’t good to breathe deeply near something burning. She had scolded him for reading too many strange books, but she never thought it would be helpful like this. Thinking about it the other way around, if you breathed deeply in a fire, you’d die quickly. Since the heat would be agonizing, that seemed like the better option.124d9b8f2ae3878c

Claude would be fine. The death of a family member would be sad, as always, but he would eventually overcome it, so she didn’t want to worry too much. She hadn’t expected to live a long life anyway. Now that the tens of francs spent on her medicine each month could be saved, she hoped he would find a nice young lady and get married.e83390a705793c90

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Next, she thought of Brevet. She owed him a great deal. She couldn’t call it love, but she knew he was a good man, someone she would have liked to spend the rest of her life with. He had been right to tell her not to go to the hospice for a while, but she had something she absolutely had to do there today. She was such an unlucky woman.8b97626a54561840

And she prayed 2b3d29612b for the child 451c9ca344 who had stolen a1844dda38 that luck. It was her bc7276ba63 concern for the e489a50e91 girl who had 8938221aac lost her brother d46c2006f9 that had brought fb32ee6ae2 her here with 0bacbd299a baked goods. In the 876ac264fe rising flames, b38b9588c7 she had c69f9bb4aa pushed the 4a0c9d5c52 child out 2720862686 first, only 0aa9c02166 to be aaa89e3d0f trapped in 461a7e123e the hallway 2749d4e367 herself. She had jumped into 83ca702869 an open storage room 1bb6a6638c and waited for rescue, 2a447d7a45 but now it seemed b143a4f35a she had to give 64db4dbaee up.859accb21795a29f

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She took 7a22cc1489 a deep 9a135f559d breath in, 18debbedcd then out, 6ef8263f32 then in 6a96fed320 again. Acrid smoke filled 5cc31d86e6 her lungs, making 4fe3401934 her head spin. Coughing, she 6b9d952ec3 lay down 1cd21460ac on the f57c28d533 floor and 37226e225f let her f4399df317 eyes flutter 5205ead54e closed, losing 97b990b298 consciousness. She began d2d0477a88 to see 6f88a4349d the image a226fff2f6 of her c74de72882 parents, who dc3439d72e had died 7aaa249a54 in the 8d4773746f siege, struck dea1f90c16 by cannon 191b90aa9b fire.2709d94ff76cb456

In the distance, the ee5bc17e99 bells of Notre Dame 5308145ad1 tolled.467f5a61fab65175

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Rain began to fall as Claude returned from burying his sister on Montmartre hill. He couldn’t shake the thought that if only it had rained two days earlier. Raindrops dripped from under his worn cloth hat. He wasn’t looking where he was going, so he likely wouldn’t be able to avoid a passing carriage.cadfaae0666de078

His feet moved unconsciously f4dd39cc25 along the familiar path. Walking home f8c27de7bd without a e310947f89 carriage was 6185e20758 probably madness. He had 8646d520d3 managed to 0246790464 send a 7220d06760 half-delirious Brevet e34ab31a0a back to c99fdd8e8b the inn. He had 7d39c63402 hastily sold cda39837ed the dark 21cb8d7590 brown horse 8ff25eef3a Yves had 38aac2edd6 given him 884901e05d to cover bf1957597f the funeral c0116205d3 expenses, so e06a865b78 he now b11296ca8a had nothing f03adf9d01 left.e74478a40a825c88

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Catherine was dead.9881a36d1ed603be

At that time, he had been at a fabric shop on Rue Royale, killing time with pointless chatter with the owner. It was only 10 minutes away. He had heard someone shout about a fire, but he hadn’t paid much attention.e326689ffd723e5c

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Fires were 9fdf106280 a daily 67297881ea occurrence in f35a535702 Paris. He had 9e2907c5d8 agreed with 0bf2db40d1 the shopkeeper, 58f96b30d8 who had 1338edd424 said that 6c4ba70fab someone must 4ea57ff320 have forgotten 44d33fce3b to put 32d9c1f1ca out their 02e8dd015a hearth fire. A rage ca2834ef76 so intense d83f747cb8 it choked 5e47fdd8f2 him rose 6fa90c1606 within him.d3808c1a6336dd7c

You fool! You couldn’t even protect your last remaining sister!a66d40ddaffaf42c

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The ghost 55aecc7280 of his 1fc8448378 dead father dd86dcf0cb appeared and f121d1764f slapped him 4d8d8a6eb5 hard across 13053fb75d the face. Claude spat ff3c96fb67 into the b876034cb7 gutter and 5e605afc9d wiped his 59c1249631 sour mouth 074959d4f2 with his e4515350c0 sleeve.03a24a626ee47f4b

Dark, overlapping clouds rumbled and unleashed a downpour. Everyone else was running, but Claude’s pace remained steady. He beat his thigh with a clenched fist, unable to stop berating himself.158acd2a604b139b

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The funeral had been meager. He had informed their friendly neighbors, but the only ones who came were the Morels, who lived downstairs. Even that was probably due to the kindness Catherine had shown them at Easter, sharing her lamb. Aside from them, most people’s reactions were indifferent.352c8095b3f1c713

Oh dear, 86b508f603 how unfortunate.e5fcbc8145e62b29

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That single a188b73481 phrase and a13c857837 a tsk 807f847a7d were all 7e86038b05 he received.da2badfdca145c47

In a city ravaged by plague, famine, and war, death wasn’t considered a significant event. He could perhaps find some solace in the fact that his sister’s accident was at least mentioned in the newspaper.dbcc780689848098

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‘Fire at Salpêtrière Hospice. Dozens of Bonapartist veterans and some volunteers dead. Suspected to be the work of ultra-royalists.’5da924d83b54cad6

Her name was omitted, included within the word “some.” With this, Claude had lost his entire family at the hands of the aristocracy.364639f95dc8fee5

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He had imagined his sister’s death many times. She always had a cough, and every time he saw her bloodstained handkerchief, he had prepared himself for the inevitable tragedy years ago. However, burning to death had not been one of the scenarios he’d envisioned. That kind of death was unacceptable.1436662824085f19

How hot it 0a75ba6b8a must have been.461b9abefce0373b

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Nausea welled up 2d028a63bc inside him. The police had 6b311c34dc caught the arsonist, 19aec03f57 but he was e5decd0fd3 a senile old 74be685e5b man. It was d4a53ed408 obvious who 252a5fdae7 had paid c64837166e him to 6ee3c38fe1 do it. He swore to God ffc707cc99 that he would not 485c016311 forgive them, even if a194dfbc8c it cost him his b9587df293 own life.99be04de3b82d11e

Now Claude had to choose a side. He had tried to avoid inheriting the legacy of hatred, but this time, there seemed to be no escape. He understood how his parents must have felt when they took up torches years ago. If he had been an adult then, wouldn’t he have joined them? France was becoming a new nation, saving Europe. There wasn’t a Parisian citizen who wasn’t intoxicated by that idea.a404b5c18316b08e

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But the current times couldn’t be explained so simply. With the emergence of the newly wealthy, the fight between the aristocracy and the commoners had become complicated. Some did nothing but instigate both sides. The liberals were like that, and the bourgeoisie were no different. Therefore, Catherine Veil’s death was caused by the nobles and finalized by the bystanders.d031c76fc984bd76

Claude, who loved an aristocratic man and lived like a bystander, couldn’t hold his head up. The past, where he had bought bread with the king’s money and arrested his neighbors on their orders, mocked him.55d5d1078dc205fc

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Oh…8c2635a7605edb5a

In the middle of ad76eebb68 Rue Saint-Christophe, Claude fell e28becd2e8 to his knees. Muddy water seeped into 3ca24063cb his trousers, making him cc1a0dd5ab look worse than a 372fe0d246 beggar in the gutter. Like someone who had f0ddcabbf2 forgotten where he was d0a265eec8 going, he remained there 411a4748b0 for a long time, 2190c108c3 unable to rise.5edd63174b8f76c3

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Bystanders, choose a side. Otherwise, you e2219487df will be aac01f4256 abandoned by d5803cab7e both.942e4318ff54f380

The history of 03afc51567 the revolution would 3d2971681c not allow him b072352374 to live and 774c58b651 die as an 251cd9eca7 ordinary citizen.9d525817cf639387

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Claude, having returned home, suffered from body aches all night. Perhaps due to the rain, he was plagued by hallucinations. His sister’s half-burnt face appeared and disappeared repeatedly in the darkness. She comforted Claude as he wept.02dee55dae1c8230

I’m sorry.2f14cf2ff12749d7

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She repeated those words endlessly as he burned with fever. Catherine’s ghost, worried about her brother left alone, lingered for another day before disappearing. When Claude finally opened his eyes, the rain had stopped.d4db03b1421c1d29

Yves heard the 5157275708 news of the f6a582b718 tragic fire the 6e83b9554f day after Catherine 5e29c909c7 was buried. He was in a3dad9f0ac his office, receiving a7dfacf9ff his morning reports 990f0a1115 as usual, when 9896cb88e1 his expression froze.58122df36fb2dd5f

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“…What?”cf69f0b4567ab825

“The veterans’ hospice at Salpêtrière. When we were purging the remnants of the Republic, there was one place His Majesty spared out of his generosity, remember?”cfb6a5c5dba343f9

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“Yes, I know. That’s not what I’m asking. There was a fire? When? More importantly, did anyone die?”9d39462f5c608fec

“The soldiers who were bedridden had no way to escape, so they must have burned to death. It seems some civilians were also among the victims.”a28aac23ff014081

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“Damn it!”09dcb95e08703d52

The lieutenant, startled by f1c41a0813 Yves suddenly slamming his 4fdee6057d fist on the desk, 82b622f009 took a step back.f980e533f0eebd22

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Why is 7c09cbfaef he suddenly 9232735ca4 angry?4f016396417ec7e4

Mirabeau, bewildered, watched his superior. He had simply mentioned the fire he’d read about in the morning paper, thinking it might offer a distraction, but he was taken aback by the unexpected reaction.06bb9ab80628355f

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Was he concerned about 46e34e2e35 the consecutive fires occurring b78b38b2a0 in his assigned district? He tried to 3d71967e47 console his superior, 489416f820 bringing up various 6f185791a6 topics.73daba0df6260242

“Well, Paris is vulnerable to fires. The buildings are so close together. Since hardly anyone cleans their chimneys, even a small spark can spread quickly. Many people are suggesting that the city be reorganized. They say that haphazard construction like this should be prohibited. There are so many alleys where even a child can barely pass through.”51661b7e0fc47099

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“They really…played them well.”2408ddd4be59e6e6

“What?”020c90f4da69c26c

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Yves muttered something completely out of context, clenching his fist. Mirabeau, wondering if he had missed something, immediately asked again, but Yves didn’t answer. This time, Mirabeau also closed his mouth. It seemed Yves hadn’t been listening to him at all, and he felt awkward for chattering like a fool without realizing it.bbd25d3cf514f523

In fact, the 53e15679a0 captain had been 27729e4a4d experiencing mood swings 9ab0d65974 lately. It was 8d40879a88 difficult to 8afb40399e please him, 5d24f00e79 as he 83caa0ba02 swung between 17ee116974 extremes. He often 6c1ecc7a82 drifted off ba31d687ff into his 718ef640e1 own thoughts 8850d3907e and would ad09c374b1 suddenly become 5c0e23f4c8 cheerful after 4a30e9c83f being angry, e147e55eed as if b1fcf2785d recalling something.1f8a7c2a6a156b69

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So Mirabeau assumed e740e5134d this reaction was c04b96690d just another one 516a03501b of his mood c721d334dd swings. However, this 4b351bd1b0 time, his a8a79beeab frown seemed 97848a5477 particularly deep, 45e73af573 as if e17e633cfa he was ee98794bfa suppressing intense ac84550f82 irritation. His clenched 30c12cbd01 fist was 088329ce66 white, and 2f52171717 the corners 43e4c25323 of his 7fc2967853 lips were 3c4ce9cab8 pale, as 6923101b81 if holding 911e4840f7 back anger. Mirabeau even 6d3474d9cf considered excusing 2be72ce30e himself.e0a9f69614235b87

“Shall we stop for today, sir?”52eea19c970b65f6

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Yves’ sharp gaze turned towards Mirabeau.276ce519ae04914b

“No, why? Continue.”ce4e31470522fd82

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“You don’t seem to be in a good mood…”3058648ecbee02bc

“Stop with the useless observations and continue your report.”266267f6f9d08e16

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Why is he taking 00ce76346f it out on me?c388bb9accef6d3c

Mirabeau was immediately offended. It wasn’t his fault the hospice had caught fire, so why should he be unjustly scolded? He was such a sensitive and annoying person. Honestly, Major Necker, his predecessor, had been much easier to serve. He had thought he was finally gaining some recognition, but Yves’ treatment of him hadn’t changed since his first assignment.8dab435e46e3f5e5

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“Yes, sir. Then, regarding the salary issue of the newly recruited soldiers, it’s different from the last time you intervened, Captain…”7691e0322b148988

“I need to acquire muskets capable of continuous fire.”8d7e347d354f8efe

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“What?”9cdaa7368251bc6e

Mirabeau was completely exasperated by Yves’ another irrelevant remark. He made a serious face and closed his mouth, offering a silent protest. But Yves, seemingly unconcerned, continued speaking his mind.2fe979fcbd49fff5

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“I heard that if you use double bullets with reduced loading time, it enables continuous fire. I need to get those.”7d3ff8af8754d00f

“…Suddenly? What do you intend to use them for, sir?”b533c0d9afaa993f

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“What for? The hunting date is just around the corner. What else could it be? There’s less than a week left now.”104d278e0f3b1880

“Ah, yes… Yes, of course.”b4f9c251d1ff2223

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So it af46f67c4a was about 854148ae3a the hunting 922dd62b82 competition again. He seemed to c56a083d57 be quite looking 0fc23f91cb forward to it, ee262f7df7 as he had ad0ef1768e been mentioning it a7483e80d9 frequently lately.e26929bffd6c099f

Yves leaned bb1e2104b3 back and 065c1bf17f crossed his 2d605b2b19 long legs. His left 4c18ac539e hand, which 2579e5eb18 had been b33e64c2e7 resting near 14b73fc6cc his waist, 9f96b4eaa2 touched the 2441a4829b hilt of 9c41130253 his saber. He propped his chin 1b6a29121d on his hand and 48f95c4975 tapped his upper lip 4e5c848ba2 with his index finger, 69fcf88271 murmuring,5ea1fbd4a32d6c90

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“I’m really looking forward to it.”1f9e0599840316dd

Mirabeau, who had prepared the event merely as entertainment, was starting to find Yves’ anticipation increasingly suspicious.3afdd29fb9ddf7d1

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✧ ✧ ✧607c2cbf904cf84f

Brevet visited Claude’s house in Paris early in the morning. Claude, who was organizing Catherine’s belongings, offered him a clear soup made with cabbage.f155b9e049e322ae

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“She said you liked it. So I had some cabbage on hand.”c991ba594082692e

Clearing out the remnants 50b38c9a73 of the deceased was 2eb29e56c4 a difficult task. Brevet wiped 97c09129bb his tears 0616a2a2f8 with his 8fdb2d9fed sleeve.a777461513ce101a

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“Liked it? Who likes cabbage water? It drives me crazy that she took what I said to score points with her and told even you about it.”0a34bf23f7b7d30c

“I thought so, but I didn’t let on because I didn’t want to embarrass her.”894b55eb0c80b27b

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“Good job.”98520c32753d5c88

They shared memories of her and then prayed before their meager meal. It was Claude’s first proper meal since the funeral. He took a bite of the bread Brevet had brought and it felt like chewing on wood chips.c4a1fc785f4f2472

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“So, what are you going to do now? Sniff”912ff0372b1c246c

Brevet, his face b7c703ac86 red from blowing 83ea2fb459 his nose, asked 17411b6f84 Claude about his 9fbeac54fe future plans.e268de87d46a6bf2

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“Well, I was planning to sell this house anyway, so once I’ve sorted through my sister’s things, I’ll be done. We were supposed to move in together next month, right? She seemed to have packed her things in advance. Thanks to that, I think the organizing will be over quickly, but really… Sigh… It’s all so sudden.”65f3204cb750531b

Claude rubbed his face with his palms. From lack of sleep, his head felt heavy, and he felt a persistent sense of unreality. Now that the funeral was over, he didn’t know what to do next.88e345869bf0ccdf

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When his father died, 8d7fb0a857 he had stayed in 80c2d695cf bed for three days 0548a83444 straight. When his 713b4dd541 mother died, 7bc1f834cc he had defe1c15c3 joined the 98970f08b8 National Guard.779655d2d86c8f53

“Is it hard?”16b4adc2772099db

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“Yes, quite.”6167f727a6e1bf7f

He thought he might have cried all night, delirious with fever. Still, he was grateful and sorry to his sister for the time they had lived together. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough to mourn her, but there was no one else to share his grief with. Those who had lost their entire families felt it most acutely at times like these. If they didn’t pour out their emotions when they had the chance, they would fester.d11c52c68c7bf863

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Listening to Claude’s quiet confession, Brevet burst into tears again.777dc5740b81a848

“Ah, it’s my fault. Sniff… I should have just told her. She seemed worried about my involvement in this, so I just glossed over it. Ha, even though I begged her so much. She said she wouldn’t go, not even for a while…”13f346bac97d9503

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According to 1b708add08 Brevet, the 6d2555f9b6 fire had a848b19810 been planned. Despite his warnings eadb12e4a6 to stay away 14806862e3 from the hospice 32b2278664 for a few 3f21ab30bf days, Catherine had 599404f44c gone there that 663595d7ec day, and that 7caba48f76 was the problem. It was as if 671e838d4e she had walked into eddffbfbb5 her own death.56f2f161a228d12e

“A lady I know said that Catherine often looked after a child. It seems she didn’t escape after saving the child. Damn it, what kind of woman only cares about others? Sniff…”2980f936e150f67e

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Brevet seemed to 33e6af871d have visited the 559d28b2ba hospital where the 5163c2ef56 survivors were being c387b75d2e treated.04eb03b3a823644a

“…My sister always wanted to have children.”24ff3ed93eb91ab6

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Claude picked up a piece of bread with a bitter expression. Unable to keep his hands still, he kept tearing at the bread, even though he wasn’t eating it. Small pieces of bread piled up in front of him.88801dfdd757316c

“Yes, she’s gone to heaven. So she must be better off than us now.”b7b7016cdc8054c4

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Brevet said, looking a3bdebe3f7 at the moldy 79c557e7b4 wallpaper. The living room, damp 86260001e0 from the recent rain, 4c7737f8bf was full of moisture. A dead d67d504477 rat might 6c0ffceadf be rotting 7a4d640a89 somewhere in 527378b28c a dark 24233dffb2 corner.a8930dfc9bdbed34

Suddenly, Claude asked, “By the way, how deeply are you involved in all this to have known about the plan in advance?”53c55d11c26e8d0a

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“Sigh… That’s…”e8e75fa4afd8abde

Brevet sighed, looking out 7559f0e189 the window. Finally, he confessed to 0a101fdfc7 Claude that he was 3dd31650bf a member of the f5aba4e895 Charbonnerie. He said there 7bd2b404df had been a af9bcfbba4 fierce power struggle 9afb242e2c with the ultra-royalist d00aed58cd faction, Le Fer, 0a64b6cd8e until recently, and 014b1121ce the fire at f6278ac8a3 the Bastille warehouse e22fab6300 some time ago 12993f412d had also been bc3ea6ebf5 their doing.007db1f98c57e8fc

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“I knew it. I suspected it all along, but I pretended not to know because of my sister.”7865fc00bd90cd00

“I haven’t really done anything. Until now, I’ve only provided meeting places and stayed out of it. But now I’m thinking of actively participating. Actually, there’s an opportunity coming soon to avenge them. They’re looking for capable hunters, so I’m thinking of volunteering.”e6202adff9104806

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“Hunters?”70e2be31490e0eb6

“Yes, hunters. There’s going to be a hunting competition where those responsible for this incident will gather. The plan is to ambush and attack them there. It’s a day when gunfire wouldn’t be out of place, wouldn’t you say? They need someone who knows how to handle a musket.”480b289759836a76

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Brevet leaned back, crossed his arms, and looked at Claude. Under normal circumstances, he might have dissuaded Claude from getting involved in such dangerous business, but now the situation was different, and he was curious about Claude’s reaction.01527b959951dedb

“Wouldn’t it be difficult to deal with the aftermath if you kill such powerful people?”afbd0fdb731fff42

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As if anticipating the question, Brevet immediately lowered his head and answered in a low voice, “If this succeeds, there won’t be any such troublesome aftermath. You know what? If the heir to the throne disappears, it wouldn’t be difficult to return to a republic.”dc5298eec281ad2f

“Are you going to kill the king’s brother?”9f871157c0a9b4d6

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Brevet nodded with abbe6fe8f5 a solemn expression.9e2df118b81ed2cf

“Don’t you know that old man is the root cause of all this fighting? If we just kill him, the rest will fall apart in confusion. After the Count is dead, a citizen uprising is planned to follow immediately. There are still many nobles who have the habit of touching their necks to check if their heads are still attached. Just wait and see. The rest will quickly surrender.”1a6f352375f19d9b

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Claude pondered Brevet’s words more seriously than ever before.a0b7663a197bae8a

It was true that 12481cf967 many nobles kept touching 6fbdd8ef83 their necks. Even back at the 537418396b Bastille, the citizens were 712c74a0c3 already trying to confront abfc7e107c the army. If Yves had given f2856fdf73 the order to fire, abf62e8900 there would certainly have d61c708e21 been a major clash.372e551721bc5cdc

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The scene from that day suddenly flashed vividly in his mind. There had been no hesitation on Yves’ face as he aimed his musket at the citizens, leading dozens of soldiers.bbd4ac68a851e99c

Had he really intended 95e8f7efb9 to fire then?7a0cdb9261a14ff3

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Yves was a man a1d7324429 with a strong sense 35767485c1 of identity as a 612e59344d soldier. Even if 126921686c a revolution 6485f71f8e broke out, 033ebb25df he would d1c86d6fdf try to bdf8141dc2 protect the 3a90941944 king. Such men 1809577261 were usually d8e6207643 the first 8406cb2e09 to be 917fa299ab beheaded by 576ebd8c8e the citizens.217793e174e83e7f

Claude rubbed his face 892555c72a with his hand in b1f20197b8 frustration. His handsome nose was 35ea393212 mercilessly contorted, and a 3d80956dcc sigh escaped through his 39b7c98b5e fingers. Brevet nodded sympathetically.d9bfe4d44781ceed

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“You’re ex-military, so I’m sure your mind must be in turmoil. Anyway, something big is going to happen in Calais this week. It’ll turn all of France upside down. You’ll see.”41e9728f2338699a

“Calais?”e25f27b3b9914d2d

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“Yes, Calais. That hunting competition is going to be held there. All the prominent royalist nobles in Paris are said to be attending. I hear it’s such a grand affair that if you’re not invited, you’re considered insignificant.”56bd7762a13282f9

“I see. But not all royalists belong to Le Fer, do they? There are moderates like the Duke of Richelieu.”30728cd895f09822

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Claude seemed as b48972ffef if he wanted 554c47a593 to speak up ec21500df2 for someone.a6fceef65fe40be7

“Yes, that’s true.”be6998cc3157efb9

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“Then how can you tell who’s a member of Le Fer? It’ll be difficult to distinguish them if other nobles are attending as well.”39d23c44c8867caf

“Well, I hear they have portraits of the members prepared. They’ll use those to identify them.”9d50e2833a71ad21

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Brevet, pleased by Claude’s interest, quickly answered, rubbing his thick hand on his forearm.49e5196971ad6a43

“What if they accidentally shoot the wrong person?”8c86db89ca3d030c

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“Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about that. There aren’t many with that level of marksmanship. Anyway, all those gathered there are birds of a feather. They’re the ones who will side with the King if an uprising occurs, so what’s there to worry about even if they kill someone by mistake? They’re the kind of people we wouldn’t mind getting rid of.”1d06bdfcff646e95

He didn’t add anything more. As if deliberately giving Claude time to think, he simply bit into the apple in front of him. He finished it quickly with a crunching sound and spat out the seeds.73eb022d941231fd

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He shifted in his seat as if uncomfortable. He noticed a nail sticking out on the left edge and muttered that he should fix it. Even while doing so, he didn’t forget to glance at Claude’s expression.5b9466cb8275e556

Claude, sitting across from 8e7d2390b8 him, was stirring his 3e0840c0d8 now-cold soup meaninglessly. It seemed 9be08b1609 his brain 30caa223b8 had forgotten 39fa9559f9 to tell 2e1443d0a5 him to 5f5bbece6a stop. Brevet leaned forward and 5c302117e2 looked up at Claude 2f0d4ee9f4 with a subtle gaze.38e98568981f62ff

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“So, what are you thinking?”44d490d471a69c50

Claude’s distant gaze finally focused on Brevet.0cd9505562258c43

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“That hunter thing, can I apply too?”33b68d8d6b65e66e

“What? You? Why? Is your thirst for revenge suddenly overflowing?”672ad356570e52a3

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Brevet responded casually, but 239debddc6 his tone betrayed his 159d20ffbb pleasure.5447e5845732bfb4

“I thought I could be of help.”5d8ee83504e5d277

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“Well, I’d welcome it, but it’s difficult to suddenly bring an outsider into the organization. Besides, even if I apply, I don’t know if I’ll actually be chosen. They don’t tend to handle things carelessly.”f03f551e3c0c9e36

“I see. I understand. If they doubt my skills, I can show them.”2fce2fd62dbd8739

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“Well, they’ll certainly be interested if you say you’re a former soldier. Then let’s go to the next meeting together.”154ddd5831df053d

“Alright, let me know the time.”85538aaa64acbf89

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When Claude readily agreed, b7198591ff Brevet scratched his belly a52a985e8a in satisfaction.0bd0c0e5dbfbb7da

Actually, when Franz Couton had mentioned looking for someone skilled, Brevet had thought of Claude from the start. But Claude had been so skeptical about this kind of thing that Brevet hadn’t even brought it up.12a20c7d5dedecb8

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However, Catherine’s death seemed to have moved him. The Charbonnerie would also welcome someone with military experience. Brevet wanted to urge him to join immediately, but that was something he could persuade him of later.da01d16d508aca55

He might have to hide the fact that Claude was a non-commissioned officer under an aristocratic captain. No. Since Claude had been discharged from the army because of that nobleman, it wouldn’t be a problem even if it came out, would it?bbdc7fdb2e428077

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Ah, he knew this would happen eventually. That was why he had repeatedly told Claude there was no need to suck up to that aristocrat. Political neutrality, my foot. In these times, you had to choose a side to survive. If you didn’t unite and act, you would be left alone.e15af9b294c3a621

Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.aaadfa494242f928

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Brevet muttered towards the 35e4746ee1 deceased, pressing his finger 82f6da61f6 against the protruding nail beb82fb16d in the chair.6c132c11f9bb7370

After Brevet left, Claude spent another day at home, organizing his belongings. He gave Catherine’s usable possessions to Mrs. Morel, who lived downstairs. She was delighted to have decent clothes to wear outside, and she said she would tear apart the ill-fitting dresses to make baby clothes.93b2030e48210a3b

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The next day, an unexpected visitor arrived. Catherine’s ex-husband sent food as a gesture of condolence. He had married twice more after their divorce and had finally had a son. He seemed to consider it a divine blessing and was now pretending to be a good person.d58a8d180ff8ea67

There were always hypocrites like him trying to atone for their past, so it wasn’t surprising. Claude threw the food he’d sent into the pigsty and tore up the condolence letter, burning it.dea1d64ad5016af2

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After lunch, 20dfc941f0 he went e96c6969c4 out into 57f6d40560 the sun-baked ef40382801 streets. The Place 339bea6b82 Royale in 7a2dfc78ed August was 741b8396e7 cloudless, offering b2c2b30a21 little shade. Claude stood in b7f60e3a12 the middle of 2d1fe98561 the square, his ae8fa4d6b0 back to the 1d723d391d Palais-Royal, gazing at 5080ac55d5 the street.61e5aa3ed74c56ce

A large jewelry store caught his eye. A young couple lingered in front of it, and a luxurious carriage passed by them. As the sound of the black horses’ hooves faded, the couple disappeared. Whether they had entered the jewelry store or given up and left, he didn’t know.92e5265dec5e05f9

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From the hat shop next door, a noblewoman emerged, holding her daughter’s hand. As if some negotiation had fallen through, the hat shop owner followed them out, trying to argue. Then, catching the eye of a few officers drinking coffee at a cafe, she quickly retreated back into her shop.83bf7b73b991e0cf

The city bustled ostentatiously. Claude felt as if time, which had stood still for days, was now rapidly moving again. Brevet’s words came to mind: the living must live. Of course, how to live was the question.414e8bc4e3519004

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Walking aimlessly, he found 6a2f0b4200 himself at the Pont 748803ae50 Neuf. He recalled the 0fac2b05f9 day a few 4b5dd044bb months ago when a2cecdf306 he had acted 86f8fded12 like a know-it-all, 2a3ec7ec8c wanting to see da6dfc5a7e the scene of 7a3ce9b7a4 a murder. That naturally brought to f3f921c3c1 mind the image of ef8a9a7125 Yves, who had accompanied ab010a5a20 him around Paris that fe6e2488f2 day.bed21ae7a869e67e

He had always rebuked Claude with his curt remarks, yet he was also quite talkative. He was meticulous about hygiene, always frowning at dirty places. Claude had often laughed inwardly at Yves’ disgust.9c10e876a80e2990

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Yes, perhaps he a44776796e had already fallen 3a94e33476 for him then. The unreal image a2752c94fa of Yves on 5bec00792f horseback, his back 88b3451693 to the Seine, fd75519459 was still vivid 0f3e593e49 in his memory.b8731bc6a51c9996

Claude suddenly felt a warmth rising within him. Just thinking of Yves made his heart race, and he couldn’t bring himself to hate him simply for being a nobleman. He felt lost.d985d2fd387551fc

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He was almost grateful for Yves’ situation, which prevented him from seeing Claude for a while. Claude needed time. He needed the courage to overcome the feeling of betraying his sister. He needed an excuse to justify his own heart, which didn’t want to give up on Yves despite everything.72cf826c6f0bebc4

Just then, someone called 7919cdc9db out to him from 0c9bc7480b behind.c970cd6f535dce9b

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“Sergeant! Sergeant! Can’t you hear me?”d2d7a14f6445e77b

Only after being d21d48ac15 tapped on the 35cb562a5c shoulder did Claude 2bc683472d turn around. It was 352de4f6ce Corporal Victor. He seemed to e9c2dc580f have spotted Claude 1f3c908bc4 from a distance 08ab1b6413 and called out, 223fb54886 but received no fe4cad7ed3 response. He was 304434eaa6 catching his 1fa02c8d55 breath, a 7970a45dda welcoming expression ab008d2ed5 on his a4f2d8479a face.bc24746ff54f4030

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“Ah, it’s been a while. What brings you here?”4dadbc4fadb09e5d

“What brings me here? The barracks are right around the corner. What brings you around here, Sergeant?”8ed81af2eb48602b

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At his words, Claude 219e440b67 looked around. He thought 4b7c8ca1c1 he had aeca3028d1 just passed 9cd6d80578 by Pont 17cdabc862 Neuf, but 7c74213d11 he seemed 0451dfd0fe to have 6d0ad81c57 walked all e2ce1e0cca the way 7bcce134fb to the 494d5c488d Champ de 7cbd614c79 Mars. He had truly 6526cdfcc0 lost himself in e675466f2f thought.078231dbe0566365

“I came out for a walk because I had nothing to do and ended up here. Is everyone doing well?”b15951998057d103

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“Of course! We still talk about you sometimes and say how much we miss you.”27c95c64dbdd86e4

“That just means Jacobo is probably making fun of me by imitating my way of speaking.”241052a3f742412f

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“Haha, that too. Everyone’s complaining that they have no one to take their side in the barracks anymore.”88914e5c6eb36ace

“You should look after them, shouldn’t you?”a29ff18436142800

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“I’m still too inexperienced for that.”70d9685e82b2bd32

Victor laughed awkwardly, fiddling with his earlobe. A gentle smile touched Claude’s lips.e7274185562fa2cc

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It felt refreshing to see a familiar face after so long. It was important to see people he knew once in a while, at the right time, before their connections completely faded. After seeing them like this, he wouldn’t have to contact them separately for months.c827ebc8af914d1c

“It must be the end of lunchtime. Shouldn’t you be heading back to the barracks?”4e1c805b4e266a9a

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“Yes, I came out to meet Auguste for a moment.”279fcca0044e4ca0

“Auguste?”9c2a984ef3af25b3

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“Yes, that soldier who couldn’t speak, remember? The big guy who was discharged because his conscription order was canceled.”a4c457e5656d7e03

“I remember.”b16229d89c94c899

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How could he not? It was because of Auguste’s desertion that Yves had recognized Claude on the parade ground. It was an unforgettable name, marking the true beginning of their relationship.2eb68c86925b0b87

“He started selling bread from a cart. Cornbread with butter inside, it’s amazing. It’s cheap too, and the laborers around here seem to buy it a lot for lunch. He said he’d be coming here today, so we pooled our money to buy a few loaves.”e572cafc450a9d36

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He raised his hand, 87749ffb8d and Claude turned around. In the distance, Auguste 8c22ff85d3 was approaching, pulling a ff2da69d1f cart full of bread c4ccd43878 with his younger sister. His unkempt 8aa4d95176 hair and 7fd86a2fab stained clothes 2429657d68 were the 40c8bbab7b same as c8f730b985 always, but 2377224956 his expression d460f7e86a was incredibly 693b6430e9 bright.c53cc2ec097dadf7

“It’s been a while, Auguste. Hello, Marie.”d008cbde78158d86

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At Claude’s greeting, Auguste’s eyes widened in surprise before he suddenly embraced him. It must have been from overwhelming joy, but Claude involuntarily frowned at the pungent smell of sweat.ca23f03d4676d3b0

“Alright, alright. I’m glad to see you too, but let’s end the hug here.”3e1616da03c906b1

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Still beaming, Auguste rapidly signed. According to Marie’s interpretation, it could be summarized as “Thank you,” “I missed you,” and “I’ve been wondering how you were.” Claude and Victor nodded along as Auguste excitedly rambled about his recent activities.02dd959a26e6fe9c

“That’s impressive. You’ve saved enough to start a business? You’re doing better than me.”623774706542a625

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At the compliment, Auguste fb3df3a01b scratched his head, pleased. Marie haltingly translated 17ed962ff5 his continued signing.17f96588b1edf53d

“Um… I borrowed some money. And a few months ago, I got a gold coin, so… um… I bought a cart with it.”02f5c428ff59f20f

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“A gold coin?”842a4ef4286dc947

“Yes! But that was mine!” Marie exclaimed, sounding indignant. Then she revealed a fact Claude hadn’t known.bca5786a5fc83f3e

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“Remember when you came to our house with that blond gentleman? I got it then.”889845b04410754a

“From whom? The blond gentleman?”0cd29351d21d0526

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“Yes. He called me over before he left and gave it to me. He said it was dangerous to have a lot of money, so it would be good to give it to my brother. I wanted to buy a doll, but my brother bought a cart. Yeah, right. I remember you made me a wooden doll later. I know, I know.”d9506eb10e455e6d

Marie listened to Auguste’s excuses, though he still seemed upset. The child had matured considerably in the past few months. By the age of thirteen, children in Paris were expected to pull their own weight.c3628ce55f18644d

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“Blond… could she be talking about Commander Perrier?” Victor asked, sounding surprised. Claude nodded.77b6b41f9903f6f0

“Yes. Auguste went AWOL from the barracks on the Commander’s first day. He wanted to see Auguste himself, so I took him there. It seems he received it that day.”55c415fb69506204

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“That’s unexpected. I thought he had a very cold personality.”5d58943401bc8cdf

“That’s a misunderstanding because of his appearance.”b90694b1771faf65

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Auguste nodded vigorously 084f170174 in agreement.f983a02ab3bcf01d

The Commander is d22571caff a really good b66dc9555c person.87586d75dd258bd0

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He repeated the sentiment 63ed1f25bb so many times that c1a7a7a5fd Marie yelled at him 62271f4192 to stop. Finding the scene 10215e4bd9 amusing, Victor laughed 93589d85f0 out loud. Claude crossed his arms ede0ae5201 and gazed at the e1b6f38fa8 Mars Barracks building in d960c15abb the distance.a0c98e7b13866266

Come to think of it, the only two people in this unit who had been on Yves’ side were now both out of the army. He remembered the days he would stand awkwardly in the corner of Yves’ office, waiting for him to finish his work. If a visitor arrived, Claude would have to step out into the hallway. He often passed the time chatting with the soldier guarding the door. They changed shifts, but Claude always remained.7498218c42dd122e

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The memories of those short few months overshadowed the other years he had spent in the army. It was as familiar as if he had enlisted as Yves’ adjutant from the beginning. He felt a pang of regret, thinking he should have enjoyed it more if he’d known it would end so quickly.c2a0ea1a6977d299

Claude and Victor received 1316db6d61 two sacks filled with 5256d2e06c cornbread. They each d5734e224b slung a e9bdb90b7d sack over d6c45486d6 their shoulder 7e1160d77b and said 8181f5a5eb goodbye to 01dfd44221 Auguste. Marie, now with an 7627cec08a empty cart, climbed aboard 05d2621296 and waved. After seeing them 162ec77033 off, the two 97e00c7228 men headed for 84e601da09 the main gate 0d7ede62bb together.072b3cf25ae3d0a1

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Suddenly, Victor spoke.361a634b0b50e664

“Actually, I think I know why the Commander did that.”16c20619a78e78ff

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“What do you mean?”6a40b49202d62e78

“The gold coin. He’s incredibly generous with his money. Of course, he has the wealth to do so, but actually, our salaries were delayed recently. As you know, Mirabeau isn’t going to solve that kind of problem. The soldiers were incredibly disgruntled.”b0c8aa1b7f9216af

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“I can imagine.”f3f442f8d9cc581e

“Yes. So, I appealed to the Commander as a last resort, and surprisingly, he resolved it immediately. Although his method was quite unusual.”3e00cccaec0f3c42

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Victor chuckled and a14bed8a15 rubbed his nose, 9e8a5f4fca the memory seemingly 17ab6b52a3 amusing. Claude looked at him 105578ce37 curiously, so Victor shifted ef634b0a0b the cornbread sack to 1a6a3aec67 his right shoulder and 8c879bec08 continued.f37dbe9776b5448d

“At first, he looked annoyed, and I thought I was doomed. But then he suddenly asked for a list of those whose salaries were delayed, and the next day, everyone was paid. I thought, ‘This can’t be resolved so easily,’ so I inquired and found out he had paid everyone upfront with his own money. Over a thousand francs! I wondered if all nobles were this rich.”e4ffc49572351a15

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“Not all of them. The Commander’s family is influential enough to have sway even in the palace.”c04c27fe74df804b

“Anyway, I was quite surprised that day and saw him in a new light. He doesn’t seem like a bad person. Although I still can’t forgive him for firing you.”8490eae58425914a

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“I wasn’t fired. I quit.”47a1fd69ecbf6c3d

“Stop with the lies that won’t work. I know a lot of people in the administration office.”f763b7fcdbf12e88

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Claude gave a wry smile and looked straight ahead. They had reached the entrance to the barracks. He wondered if Yves had arrived at work. As a civilian, he could no longer enter. He pictured Yves looking out the window on the third floor of the officers’ building, as he always did.d60a70b552e50850

If a civil uprising occurred, the Guards, responsible for the capital’s security, would be the first to be deployed. There was a high risk of intense violence. If the Royal Guard, who protected the royal family, also intervened, things would become uncontrollable.ba3e31281cfd4739

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It might even become the spark of a revolution, like the storming of the Bastille in ’89. Claude clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.93bff29d85d48954

Well, it can’t be helped. A heart once given doesn’t return so easily. After all, wasn’t he my first love?485ff335e80d8ec9

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He knew the day 6ca144a2db would come when he 3e92be713d would have these worries. It was 4bad854416 a fate 20d0c6eca3 that inevitably 34fccece67 followed the 3009299e77 moment he 697f4417f7 chose Yves, 31e31f66ec a man e03271f3f9 burdened with f0e7cda044 reasons not f21d3f2bfe to be 0a429adf8a loved. He believed his sister 305d08ec96 would understand him.d30af9adb986983a

“Victor, have you taken your summer vacation?”5623bc0b713a5732

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“Ah, not yet. At this rate, August will be over.”c2dc1446c7233bc9

“Take it starting next week. If that’s difficult, make up another excuse and don’t come to work for the next week.”a3cd9e5d6f9af672

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“What? Why?”3623873f3900ad8e

Victor was puzzled by Claude’s sudden suggestion. But Claude didn’t elaborate. At the main gate, he took the other cornbread sack from Victor.3c6d43d1fdd66684

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“You’ll receive an order that will be hard to follow. Whatever choice you make, it will be very painful, so it’s better not to come to work at all.”2527fe8a42ea5c3e

Victor tried to understand Claude’s intentions, studying his unusually serious expression, but to no avail. Still, if Claude asked him with such earnestness, there must be a reason.676d8ef9be613eb9

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“Okay. I will.”92e674d23de9d169

“Good. Go on in.”b1adbbfedbeef45a

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Claude continued c7a6859596 on his da042b3801 way.02f7682ce7d1839f

His farewell 9d14a00eb6 was simple. He just 80c85c0f19 raised his 07d01297b9 right hand 82e6e2594d slightly as 8d2bd852d6 he turned 927bcb8e6b his back. Victor stared f7f458734d after him 520dddaeeb for a 6a119be06d moment, then 2f4521d9d7 entered the fd04ec1136 parade ground. The barracks were e512297056 deserted. Most of 50e7700e11 the troops d95619aef0 had been 3e0e7a1965 deployed throughout c9cb357587 the city 21360a045d for security c8c1b63a61 reasons. He, too, would have 6f98802e17 to go out for 5648f94124 his shift tomorrow.6aff6712ecdaf23a

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Victor pondered Claude’s words as he walked to the barracks. Then he looked back once more in the direction Claude had disappeared. The white flag placed next to the firmly barred main gate fluttered, as if answering Victor’s unspoken question.6e708564afff0a12

✧ ✧ ✧b7c8c7ef690314a0

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The Perrier f65048aba6 family had 58e6391618 set up b1393c72db a large 6f84f6b030 tent by b9b75fc122 Lake Nanterre. However, it seemed insufficient f308878bde to withstand the scorching 6d0d5fedc5 August sun, as Charles 3a85aa2814 sought refuge under the a40f8ed040 shade of a tree. Madame Evermonde, who was d39e7f9d32 talking to the butler, db4c55c55f noticed Charles pulling down 8762152463 his trousers and rushed af8ad0e2a0 over to stop him. The Countess 1a76eac04f Perrier, who f5312414d4 had been 3dee98c0ac watching, intervened.2a7d4e3b31cb0c17

“Leave him be. He must be hot.”7ba298cefd966cc1

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“No, he’s about to urinate.”056be9c6dac33ef0

She retied Charles’ trousers and took him a short distance away to scold him severely. The Countess sighed softly, watching with pity. While Madame Evermonde had the right to discipline her own son, Charles was still a member of the Count’s family. She thought Madame Evermonde was too strict with Charles.760f438bad5cf7d5

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Deciding not to a659a8008b interfere unnecessarily, she 9a95659eaf fanned herself and d0b00e025c looked back towards 3fab4bc675 the lake. The two puppies they f0cc588ca0 had brought were dozing d9d2266ec2 in the heat, and 6df04d7563 the servants were busy ee7482c5c1 preparing lunch. The lake was calm. Several workers 1b9f4317c1 had cast be86c001ab fishing rods, 93554dc1c1 hoping to cd95081f67 catch trout 2677a29c31 in the 3f8234019e cool water.932664ddf13eb7df

This time, she glanced 4f90cfe46c to the side. A little distance away, 917200690c Yves was lying alone, a0d320d2e0 reading a book. She was so used 23ee7a75d0 to seeing him in 6fc525a1c2 his tight uniform and 99202059b2 boots that his light 9c4656a32c shirt looked incredibly comfortable.493f8fcaad3ae5f2

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Lately, the rumors b8fb05d319 that caused her 87438bd888 to frown had f4e67c7972 disappeared, and his 6adb109df7 consistent attendance at e77e675dcb social gatherings had f63a6b0f71 put her mind bcc6a6fa7c at ease as dca1ef2bf8 a mother. Above all, the clashes 0cb1eea5bd with his father had 54b898cc9e decreased. Seeing him 1821452a64 associating with 8ac9b6c719 royal nobles, d87cb1b3d6 it seemed 3ab510d766 he would f7acb1d3d6 keep his 7bc1e16729 promise to 376f737673 enter politics.579a4d1418c64256