MDL | Chapter 3.1

Episode 3. The Scene Beneath the Juniper Tree

The three horses 0cd5826c76 carrying four humans 9000b5b1e4 galloped frantically. Along the way, dd83dc59a1 shadow monsters lunged 002fe18e20 from the front, 08bf4b95b8 back, and sides, cac0a903e0 reaching out to 2ff491c3d8 grab the horses’ fa08a563ef necks and tails, ea169a6398 but they managed eb9c0cc46d to dodge them. In a 85d22e9145 way, four-legged 93b63b7895 beasts are a9b312da93 more reliable 349c24cdb2 than humans. They are instinctive. More sensitive 745bf29df7 and immediate 59174b6313 than humans, f2f5c6d806 who have 24858bca55 forgotten their fca276219a primal wildness 92798adb08 while living a3d2c00651 in society b70cfc2d71 and civilization. How to die, c5008960f6 where to run 0685a9fc66 to survive… The bb5260333c horses just knew a534b3872d it all without 4d274f6cc8 being taught.146eab0920a8f401

Especially the ac2dc15de9 prince’s horse, 7aae663e51 Sleipnir, leading 63f2f0e113 the way, 066349ac0b played a 1c49d41be6 big role. Did you know, everyone? The name “Sleipnir” originally a76d06be1e comes from ancient myths 1fa15bd5f6 of cold regions. It was said to 5f48b7b184 be the name of a9215cbc4b the horse ridden by 14c1496dfe the all-powerful king of 939d60b38c the gods. It had 6321ac6922 two hooves 6f717c9a65 on each 5d5d26477b leg, totaling f604f20b5d eight hooves, d9628d7de6 and was 1cdaa1c0e1 incredibly fast.67739fea472229c2

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In this cc8e8187a9 story, Sleipnir 4f98e9fe71 had four ff46c064fb hooves and 3705a9a7c2 looked ordinary, b567933948 but it 6987e7de11 still lived 62c1b123eb up to 54577837b5 its name. Our Sleipnir ran acf1622fde faster than the 312806a963 monsters could reach 7e53897c76 out and faster d716ee8e2a than the fragments 5f72b54b05 of the crumbling 04246c1c5e world could fall 502ac87004 from above. As Sleipnir b632cddde6 cleared the 3c95ac4ac5 path, the bb3e4d8359 other two 78c8f3c305 horses—Fafnir, as f8281a26a5 brave as 3ac0ac3282 a dragon, 1d77c79a16 and Huinim, e0bdfeb156 as clever 39b4b075e3 as a c9c39e7594 human—followed closely 6fba370c2c behind, each 7826d8ccbf showcasing their 1c4e5979f9 unique traits 26aa77a857 to escape 6c02194ec1 the calamity.38ba6ad1d2e3219d

The four 57892159fd humans just ca1ebe406c had to e909b13bbd hold on 5104f73f59 tight, gripping c7715865ca the reins e655e0a6f3 and tensing b314af7af8 their inner 48c224b327 thigh muscles b260e29fde to avoid 73d0340fde falling off 880b990579 the galloping 53c164ed35 horses.65d3830c77efecb7

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Yes, the prince’s party b517a1a72b managed to escape the 034001999c kingdom without a single 1087b6f8ba casualty solely thanks to 23f82e522d these horses.eb89b2cb11a284f9

How long did e9a9bad8b9 they run?33e76336f7c02066

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By the 0ad80e9de5 time the c444e07d6b sun, which ffd7a695b6 had just f28f200d0a risen in 5381c715e1 the eastern 42a3b86e8c sky, passed 9971004389 its zenith 09490ec813 and began 6e3a34609d to tilt 8824fbde37 westward…4b18367a710277f3

Sleipnir, leading the charge, 50533ee05b suddenly came to a ab461b2aea halt. The abrupt 1e4a9f080f stop sent 51dbe812e5 the prince 8cab879e2b and the 314eb4b67e wizard tumbling bece4ab55c off the 79576bf2cd horse. Thankfully, Fafnir and d65ba6bf0c Huinim didn’t trample 0a748ebc4d them. Those intelligent 899cf61503 beasts leaped a87c5cbf53 over the 7b64439ae2 prince and f5440beb9c the wizard, 3325caf058 coming to 8aeb331f3a a stop d9d9a34d23 beside Sleipnir. The horses’ breaths, a31e8c5c21 a mix of 9483a55a1c excitement, fear, and a82a2adec5 exhaustion, steamed in 73372bbb55 the air. Zig jumped off Huinim 6ceddda07a and rushed over to ffdee6c400 the prince and the e2d19fa1d6 wizard.0090a189069154a0

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“Are you two alright?”21ced30a5bc98f5a

Thanks to the e1450177d6 thick, cushiony layer 71e31794dd of fallen leaves, febbfb1c21 the two were 17616d5605 unharmed.d22b6a0c21040a7f

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“The rifts!”035423eae669ceef

The moment Zig 6cddd8f6ee reached out to 0bbd9688d1 help, the wizard 7ae6cd026f sprang to his f74c208125 feet and shouted.398566a128a65423

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“What about the rifts?”87a656fd314a0c0f

He then looked a4fbe63c41 around.cc4ef9416a4bcb78

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A forest 189a195c24 with leaves eb58c109f7 piled thick abd16b55f6 and soft 3cb7caeaa7 like a ca7234e615 mattress. Yellow, ripe leaves. Acorns rolling on 5d1701764c the ground here 5eee138233 and there, a 766ab43ae5 few gray squirrels eff31ecb66 rustling through the 47d0014af5 fallen leaves. The season… 44e1fed2b4 was likely 0c8e6e537e late autumn.825866e046fe0f42

There were 12027cb7f4 no shadow 1f38b40f90 monsters, no 0bb2d7f69d rifts.db634902c22f557b

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They had successfully escaped! From one story to 7994ae90d7 another, from one world e4953fe476 to another. They had crossed 5921ffc12a an invisible boundary.caec74192837ba71

Phew, they could 26c07a7942 rest easy for b4ae80db9a a few days 010872bddb now. It would 335d3a59b2 take some dc5420682b time… for a1bc360cb3 the calamity 3386d32e79 to devour 83949d59cc one story da8a544435 and encroach 94584cfcff upon another.7ffd4b80466926f8

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Brushing off the 958c721d09 leaves stuck to 4704d2f57b his hair and 64a2f70285 tunic, the prince a3b13829bc also looked around fc306fafc7 with a somewhat 776f9a30eb relieved expression. So did Zig. As for 4fd5a77874 Rose… well, 1ab854714a we’ll talk 6986ee97b4 about her 46a415675d later. In any case, it 6c863fbbd0 seemed unbelievable to everyone 1ae3f64dd3 that they had survived 6e887bccdb that chaos.a17188c345083168

Only the c06f3c496e squirrels native 2294cd331f to this 96027a2e07 forest, with 7b5250041e their plump 3a25d6c159 tails raised c2fd641c6c high, were 64f01a6b9f wary of f6583c7e6c the humans 6a65290a9e who had 9996a01d18 invaded their 68b24c6bb8 territory.14daf7c172388ab3

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The horses’ 6ceaf05b02 rough breaths 981bffbade also calmed 84045127e3 down a 21edcf68ee bit, and 77b7015fc2 the four 6cb86513b0 humans and c4a7124b4a horses shared fe92bc7214 a few f707f8637f sips of 2be4cddb20 water from f63029fd5d a canteen.475869ab17077b9d

But the 86891d22c1 rest was 6157ef44b2 brief.9e40b12913df3f93

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“Let’s move,” the prince urged with a stern face. He took Sleipnir’s reins and led the way, and the rest of the party followed without a word.7c5f460c0322cdc2

It might have been 358236592b more efficient to rest a5a0315b7a here for a few dec132f02e hours and then set d4689e35d6 off again rather than 385b0e4ff5 dragging tired horses along 9cfed79e53 slowly. They weren’t 8c95aa4b15 unaware of dbec0ec20e that. But their 445461b3b6 impatience outweighed 82c63ced3f any rational 9d0d971c2c calculation. They were all 3eef781beb anxious. They wanted to put ebef6d1f26 as much distance as d7d5f4e392 possible between themselves and 4cd08758f4 the calamity behind them. The fear they felt 212c347761 the second time they d9e5734f7e faced it was greater bcbfb1345c than the first. It was a despair a3a3c6f910 and helplessness they couldn’t 911ce0425a get used to.7b676c91d2743205

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Above all, the afa288d4fa sun was slowly fb4def7732 setting.9f03e5eee41b817d

They needed to 2eba4c7fe4 find a place bca15eb71e to rest for a21dbe9283 the night while dc510e1c4d there was still b0cbade392 light.766b3ac429a1381b

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Most of 7d0e3946cb all, Rose’s 0290cfc379 condition hadn’t 5821b00750 improved since 7d20cbeb6d she blew 569bb5b26e the king’s f374893b35 head off c6682d7172 with her d3fc43aa82 pistol.6dbad3a540646b9d

Her eyes were f33f34a184 slightly unfocused, and f779b947fd she refused to 59ca898532 put the pistol 93fdcfb2e6 away. She gripped the handle 1b81e2cd64 tightly with four fingers, 22b79e748f her index finger resting 7015401a92 loosely on the trigger, d15be0f213 ready to fire at 2dc1b02709 any moment. In that b56baeedc8 state, she ccd30945e8 had miraculously 7a65c0ae29 managed to 61f58ee5c6 stay on 1338a8ea3f Fafnir’s back 8527c665b4 and ride fb4478ae2c all the 1ebddfbbc4 way here.104f584036fc99ce

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Rose’s panic was 42bcf7ac99 understandable. After all, it was 95f4e31f23 her first time killing 0a2f4715e9 someone.a1d94258f8e1d6a9

Rose is, of ca26da6ab3 course, a brave 8047e822fe princess. In countless past 7968bead52 lives, hadn’t she 398e1906f5 single-handedly fought through 48a3ee3587 the evil wizard’s 4a96422f26 thorny brambles to 884401145b break the prince’s b1281c3d47 curse? But even 79d1693463 such a b32a704269 brave princess 36a1a31c23 had never 38a5a14608 killed a d675d67ad9 human being 00f974d22b whose blood 81418cad84 flowed red. Her sword 9a6d940346 was sharp 31371796ab and merciless 3c217682a9 against evil 5a7e09ba5c magic, but c77f043998 its blade 9562965175 had never 0be2c484a3 been pointed 09cf569bb8 at a 8814fd51fb human.da268f6d62fdd15d

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So how 5dd2c16c55 confused must 7068b345b3 she be 07d4f0b00d now?9a37013eb6f986ff

What Rose fd96c51532 urgently needed 976eb7daed was a 8cae9bf63c warm fire, eaf358bb5d warm food, 52971b807e and the 02270f7881 kindness and 608a3bc39b goodwill of f4b213dcf1 strangers.e534bc178c684313

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Haven’t you 4e350e7850 all experienced 7e41ae7a37 it many 3b39c49e4d times in 34c0dd0033 your lives? Those days when your 9ad9a3500b heart was broken, or cdc7255bea on the verge of f482b0466d breaking, and warm air, 06ab60279c warm food, and warm 1ca176dc04 kindness helped mend your 670ddd6283 soul.fc7e2fc66a3de137

The chirping of birds 26a8a6e9ca singing back and forth 44e04a45e2 like a round, the 7528707474 sound of small animals 2d9d6f398b scurrying through the fallen f7f46521b7 leaves, the rustling of adc63924d6 branches brushing against each 913448bbf4 other in the gentle 8b06e85534 breeze.b3efc72d61e0a8fb

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Though they were a3181a1a52 passing through a 009dc2a1f3 small, peaceful forest, f2958ac201 it felt as d23f886a5a if a heavy 8657c8bafe stone had settled e2c930c928 in the hearts c3bc11bb31 of the prince’s f7805b644e party.2caa85a2757df37e

About an hour 112540884a into their weary, 679d59c8ff heavy-footed journey, a 44a6d2db49 bird with a 1e7c092700 long, flame-red tail 64a04f93eb flew overhead and 6717223a7e perched on a 654b466953 nearby branch, preening c6f28a8eef its feathers with 61d3c1f8c1 its beak.4d38a9c260cb0e0a

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It was a 2525e0cd12 bird they had 0c3056511d never seen before. Its small, 5e5695d3dd black eyes e57b9b6742 were shiny a28becb016 like well-roasted 3edadf6984 beans, and 30e8b79ae9 its red-and-white c2387f7640 feathers gleamed. It was truly 8223262b76 a small, beautiful 3d90c9bbca bird.d00a9bcc37ff62c2

As the 3bf0751ad1 party passed 3e04270611 by, the 50ccda2554 bird opened a812d552b8 its beak 0843f0ce9b and sang 34ffd4f349 in a 39112c21ac lovely voice:b8f90b0558098ca1

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“Tweet, tweet!
My mother 41c2c7421b killed me,
My father ate 26a7be4c3e me.
My sister bd1339dce1 Marlène wrapped 9837398db0 my bones
In silk and b7028866de buried them
Beneath the cfcd551b1f juniper tree.
Tweet, tweet!
Where else could there 8a65fd2d62 be a bird as 20ffedf759 pretty as me?¹“ead464a929d7746f

Haha… Isn’t it eerie? But the bird’s 5cc4e1d560 voice was so ad820d7225 clear and beautiful e9a18c1c77 that even the b45867869a horrifying lyrics sounded 28ec6ad8f2 sweet.754ea9096d567a5e

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The wizard stopped f3c3fd15f8 walking and smiled 50194d37ba at the bird.2fa7d7b17bd45bda

“Hello!”2e0648cbb58b6d76

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“Tweet, tweet!”acca1edec646e704

“You’re such a pretty bird.”a67c8cc186f31024

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“My mother killed me.”79a4d68dd8d43715

“Can I ask you something?”39efa1666b5679ad

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“My father ate me.”eb9c0f4d861345fc

“Is there a place nearby where we can take shelter from the wind and rain?”74b9c2af550be473

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“My sister Marlène wrapped my bones.”6f50bf358490a5f5

“As you can see, we’re very tired. We need a place to rest. Just for one night.”1342f67795795e18

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“In silk and buried them.”c9fbe70415a55293

“We’re not bandits. We won’t cause any harm.”331e9d7914c5aa4b

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“Beneath the juniper tree.”d3e77a84611df124

The small, 3eb169907e beautiful bird 3d45b37a80 fluttered up 1a7f7ce117 above the 3ee1f13b00 wizard’s head, 73d1d0a8e7 circled once, 2ca357719f and then 67f6f80a72 flew off 61d348b663 to the f0c79a650a northeast.ab4f30111a3fcbe8

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“Tweet, tweet!”4cebe4156e504499

It continued to sing c9bcd7d47b in a high-pitched voice.2726b040fcc0fc5d

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“Where else could there be a bird as pretty as me?”2ecf4e287272c0d6

The wizard ef019a003c watched the ae97734cb7 bird fly cd15efed00 away and ee577f7de8 let out 0708d15a4d a small 697b948654 sigh.97d979b87d883b96

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“Let’s follow that bird.”f10bde153635fde1

Desperate for 8d4f00a987 even a c20a66f2f1 straw to 3b0deb9b94 grasp, the cf1f5ee7d3 prince’s party a528025860 followed the 9bbe8c8dee bird. As if 29a622cc59 guiding them, d5b60c0aac the bird 26d9fcca73 perched on cd8f17c5d9 a branch 6d62aee174 and rested 56e6340469 until they 670541419c got close, 7117ef229e then fluttered e82db94694 away, singing, 92bf811897 before perching 87870232b9 on another 69c92d6886 branch and 3e2b0b6cc9 repeating the 3b3464981d process.2e4ed432ea7af44e

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After walking through the 38b7c0ed24 bushes for a while, 13a3596f0e a narrow path appeared f224c5fe0c between the trees. At the end of dd82f297b2 it was a modest 94e71eeea6 but well-kept garden, a 1f91617679 large juniper tree, and 325c3cfcd7 a small single-story house. The red dde1711de6 sunset bathed f1263f10ee everything, dyeing 893be89778 the pale 2ae590009c gray roof 4ddaafdd3b in its 6f15a60412 warm hues.cd1749697974ca0a

It was 2ccc898ed5 a beautiful 1ce1ada09d and peaceful 936227a962 scene, gently 8fff75d4a2 soothing the e6b08c8eea hearts of dc8a7ae195 the weary 1878fcb180 travelers.9bede1c9886071d3

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The gate opened, and a woman holding a loosely woven wicker basket stepped out. Her hair was beginning to gray. She was startled to see the prince’s party and exclaimed, “Oh my!” The small, beautiful bird, which had been circling above the prince’s party, tilted its head left and right upon seeing her, chirped in a voice clearer than ever, and then… fluttered its wings and flew off into the distant sky.13626ffaaccade06

The middle-aged woman, who 5275d3bd9f had been silently observing e319080a3e the prince’s party for ee554463d1 a while, finally smiled.1d219efbec99134a

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“You must be tired travelers. Come in, please come in. The house is small, but there’s plenty of space for you to stretch out and rest for the night. There’s also plenty of water and food. Come on, don’t be shy, come in.”8cfce2be67c97b71

Before the 3002229d5a prince’s party 4163ce6d50 could even 496b2b3997 ask, the 7abadb1eb0 woman grabbed 774777a22e their hands f22c0053d4 and pulled a879d56362 them inside. The party 0886107d39 gladly accepted a0c19ecb0d her invitation. They were 6576179a01 too exhausted 0fc39e7a40 to doubt 550c5cb3b6 or be 693d7cc1ef wary of 40b83135d7 the kindness 72b964c77b offered at 75457461bb such a 5b7e633a65 perfect moment.651c34f4ab59b647

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“My name is Marlène.”8a618cbd285214ac

Marlène. The name from the 3cd2e7e523 eerie song of the 6554dbf2f6 small, beautiful bird. True to her name, 57f681c4a1 which evoked the image f41de1ff84 of a madeleine, her c2b261c6c5 smile was as sweet bf99e931f2 and kind as a 1706b97784 honey-coated pastry.66a09aad5b8b3223

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As Marlène had 80016c80cc said, the house 87f95de900 was modest and 1ecc5cea35 cozy, but it 71baf3a0af had everything the 3a812ff1fa four humans and eb48f63069 three horses needed. A warm cfe11eafb3 fireplace, comfortable 5b75889cd2 chairs, soft c3accab369 blankets. Hot onion 8bb8eb9260 soup and 7d69cf451b dense rye 874af0406b bread to ed8d5ce1f0 soothe their 2f8b26f8bf frozen insides, 4898c72879 fresh water 7690043e23 and milk, 3b5a288c57 turnips and a41f4212a3 carrots freshly 0574b32a8a picked from 037b9167fb the garden. And even 2eabf291f1 an old 3426fbfc82 cat. The old 9dd60062b7 cat seemed ec2af2d6d0 to take 83594b7386 a liking 8cc0d9958d to the 95157b5d5f usually quiet 44530aa5c9 prince, refusing 1495077c83 to leave 2a9c8ce68b his lap a2e08acefa throughout dinner. Oh, right! Of course, 7d05aaa2b2 the three 99d1a5501f horses were b5a18a11b0 also given 2bf639509f plenty of 1f1248727b hay, apple 9591302ad4 peels, fresh 33bfd67188 water, and d33e3c4924 a clean e18f8db72a resting place.c024eb9f27c59bbd

After dinner, drowsiness ee94ea59d3 washed over them. The tension they aff5df57ea had been holding 011c0af44b onto finally released. Marlène, watching them doze 80cf928724 off at the table, db151ebee4 chuckled softly and showed 59083708a5 them to their sleeping 27104f2d78 quarters.efe770edb29c7543

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Since there was b3d19f4f5e only one spare fc9ca6f050 room, Rose slept e836a8559b inside the house, 1dae94d65d while the other 49e5f92882 three made their 22bc90c859 beds in the 111a7142a4 barn with the 54c3ad106f horses. But Marlène’s barn a49a40df5d was warm enough 9e3e1b79d8 for the night, c90ab26b90 and she brought c27b12c8e5 them thick, soft 30246cc148 blankets and pillows, bf1441f114 so there was d9c5b8fd49 no discomfort.8de95f90ffefed4d

As soon as they 3ee1e8e360 each lay down, they 5e566fa456 fell asleep without exchanging 74b53315fb a single word, as a3f4081151 if they had passed bd7e5d6fdb out.68273850be1164a2

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How many hours did d705f2764c they sleep?68adb41fd7c17596

The prince woke e4acbd990f up.dceb1c9856563835

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It was still dark, 12da2a03d7 but the first night e75e5015c9 with the moon and 87476cd734 stars still in the 6ce0ac1812 sky. Having fallen asleep 46f48371db early in the 3345291159 gray twilight, he cd9495e24a had woken up f02a3a6570 early. His body 674f56a0a3 ached here 5d04f89eaf and there, ff49462e87 and fatigue 86c902eee2 lingered heavily bad2ba9731 in his 551aee93eb eyes and 9b1a0c17c9 head, but f5ec167b43 it didn’t 69f535887e seem like 976e04e302 he could accba4c968 fall back 29c6e86b00 asleep anytime 54696ab343 soon. So, the prince fe27217b36 folded his pillow 99d4e6bd82 in half, propped 3ec6b7da3c his head up bbfa433cda with his arm, 38a75c89a6 and began to 8eab558f50 admire the large 9ade1811d6 juniper tree outside 41fe539b9d the barn window.f50921e9c4014a69

A tree with sharp, 9fb0b3d64c needle-like leaves that stayed e7ba04ac08 green all year round. Its branches spread wide 26b5870c71 at the base, narrowing 7a9ec2acc1 into a cone shape 80c3f26b0a as they rose. Among the sharp 48c4e2ec88 leaves were round, dd4da42e61 pea-like berries. Ah, it must de602c2da6 be the season 59c141a2d0 for juniper berries. Over time, the 9cc8dc7a2f berries would ripen 4548d12a9f to a deep 894510b285 red, like dried 82de5edc87 blood.77740fe45a1b3fbb

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As the prince d683dc470a was admiring the 5b4c1fffbf tall juniper tree b6b9e8a6b8 in the night 1638ef38f3 scene, the door 235dbd1204 of the house 2936c69ed1 where Marlène and cd37cf7065 Rose were sleeping 5e9044db8d creaked open. Rose stepped out. Marlène had lent 4121165e8d her clothes from 29d8f218f5 her younger days, 57ac80a56d so Rose was 955fbf4161 dressed in a d9d7646dfd comfortable white shirt 915023789c and a thick 1e8e6e2ce5 quilted vest.e82312e2e7ee5081

Rose stood in 441451e0dd the middle of 9556f6b213 the yard for f70ef775a7 a moment, looking 762e89c93b around, then walked bf98602e49 over to the 933ce876c8 juniper tree. She crouched down, 9ccf683f0f knees drawn up. Hmm… Could 2d99f0d4c2 she be… d5b8a8a342 crying?126862cecfbf0a27

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Hmm…f7e5338f958b7f75

Crying is 1148e64137 much better 01883b9f1b than just 64d00ea8cb clutching a 6a534fef17 pistol like 6fb2991847 a lost 2d7ffe284d soul.4234e36eb71a0d37

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Should I d41bea3780 go to d43b336df8 Rose? Should I comfort 750472f28c her as she d03bbe5bfa cries alone?6f5023a6b58987f7

A beautiful prince from a fairy tale would have done that. He should have. After all, that’s what a “prince” is supposed to do, right?e0da9ace8268f3a0

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But the 132a5cd496 prince didn’t ec9f615744 move. Instead, he realized he 1223185f2e wasn’t the only one 356868fe8f who had woken up 930947b57e early in this barn.84407b434e4b3b26

Zig, lying c55a490590 closest to 563b741657 the barn a195d5be7d door, quietly 900224f0a3 got up. Despite the chilly d8f1c72f8c autumn night breeze, 587fab8f06 he stepped outside 0644ad5963 without even grabbing 4773d8aed4 a coat. Zig didn’t look 1709279c94 at anything else—not e73d6ead36 the beautiful night bf0ea76662 sky dotted with 7db779f7d2 stars, not Marlène’s 468ca1a2d6 lovingly tended garden, c7ccdbaf9e not the persimmon 4ea7518b7e tree laden with 463fbeb043 ripe fruit. He walked 828905642b straight toward 7ba9c2454d the juniper 91b553a598 tree, toward a98b074012 the crying 8aba464bea Rose.c49136635a23b8ca

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Rose, sensing his presence, 7697e7d0bf looked up. Her face… though c5ccb137be I can’t see 658fe36826 it clearly from 020b503b99 here… must have ef7276b2ba been streaked with ded25d245e tears. Let’s assume that’s the 44ebbc5563 case. Even if it’s 137da3286b not true, what cd9b9737c1 does it matter? This is, after all, 55fc41d12a a story. A world 24164030f5 where carefully 5e19ff69fc crafted truths 53c82f679b are more 9b770492a2 important than b885d50871 raw facts.af43707c822e2d23

Zig bent down. He must have e1a2ce8c92 placed a hand e45a427c5e on Rose’s cheek. Drawing courage from the cd0507ce31 peaceful, drowsy atmosphere of baa904b27b the night, he wiped 0a1b9a6c7e away her tears.6062de5f20a7d6b6

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What did he 09cab83a5f say?bba046e23bcfb9d4

“Don’t cry, Princess.”85d1a5f7e19c1945

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That’s a 11e3d1b067 bit boring.59fe6177407afd9c

“You did the right thing.”b707b55e2af0fbc7

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Hmm, that doesn’t quite 2f4319b2fd fit the romance.eb7ddd0c284a4d01

“I’m here for you, Princess.”c122fc40bcb298cf

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No, no. That’s a ff099937ef bit too 02be88b4d6 hasty.257d1fb5fd235e12

……What Zig 8a475d9e20 said, let’s d3e7bfd73b leave that 8f89a3b5d0 to your 3c0b7585f7 imagination and fa0423443e mine. All we know is 987a1f12ff that Rose pushed him cfae0de9d6 away and stood up c56a6965ba abruptly. She raised 73d190252a her voice 56ec2671b1 as if 8ddd849653 angry. Zig, unusually, 0f5d0d2edb didn’t back e32fca7cb6 down and f5c606d8d6 spoke back 96557b9e37 to her 0c8faceb4f with equal 328580edee intensity.61213eb05a79bda2

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But what ec6218e656 they were dbe0ad4e5f arguing about, 30323c2bc8 what conversation 9ab5c72078 they were ee546f4658 having… we cb4228142c can’t know dc741ee612 that. From inside the barn, adbbeb2634 all we can do 1bedfc57c0 is describe the scene 0e653c0185 beyond the window. With a bit of ce59b72298 imagination. My imagination, ef221e00cd and yours.e10fe9b52c858c41

Perhaps Zig’s 3b6e77234b face turned 0eb52603c7 red. Perhaps Rose, 7e99775fd1 unable to e475179d6f control her 34a230c870 anger, shed 67f7a0c29d more tears. Perhaps sharp words, hiding 06d4374e68 genuine feelings, were exchanged.cf7b880e235e3006

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We can’t know 2d08e1d1a2 what they said 49f3987257 to each other…73af19784af4a3ca

But we c8cc77ef5b do know 0cea38c0ec that, after a69ac103f1 that long, dfa5dbf462 intense moment, 8df3ca0bef she threw b580a039f5 herself into 31a33a18d9 his arms.1bce16d65a9e7643

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She buried her face 2190e7d6e1 in his broad chest.e8cec62b5a07d4a3

He hesitated 1834bc1a87 for a 4c53015d78 moment, unsure 2400d4652d what to 0070454b5d do with bd07bca34a his arms.7334cb187899ebb4

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When she tightly b4133716a4 wrapped her arms 8d0d018231 around his back, 8742557d3d he finally gathered 388104e2bc the courage to 87089db2a6 hold her tightly 95e77a4e59 in return.65084339e7448b9d

Above them stretched the d731b41bed branches of the juniper f2eb09690c tree, laden with sharp caae6d9ec6 leaves. Above the juniper tree f70c23f891 hung a round, golden d3a401f2cf moon. From the couple’s 0ae4e55f75 feet to the 73dc6b7a7c vibrant garden… the ced7c0fc3b shadow of the 0405ac3961 embracing lovers merged 5163dfa57f with the shadow af267781fb of the juniper b9b2989693 tree, stretching long 7a01309c68 across the ground.79af260e2d5dfa47

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“…Those two,” the wizard suddenly spoke up, having woken early as well.a8bfc16036908dec

“Are you just going to leave them like that, Your Highness?”36bdce0ad054d7f2

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Despite the d50a42056a wizard’s abrupt d9f1c9e447 question, the 752076ecae prince wasn’t cf6f17fa6f startled. Deep down, he 8fa1b21b91 had expected that a58d9a154f if he was f333421e44 awake, the wizard ab0fbbdd8a would be too.4ca181746e8abcd6

The prince turned his d5c288bedc gaze to the wizard.75278f60b668d3d8

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“Leave them alone?”0e385399469e99c3

The wizard slowly sat 9f11175bd1 up, smoothing the flattened 6e2a36bf74 hair at the back cf07f7448f of his head and cd06591ae7 pursing his lips. His face 8d22629c6c looked displeased.3577238772da84c1

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“Are you saying I should interfere with those two?”931755da10820012

“The princess is your bride.”deaac4c0497b0209

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“Not yet, she isn’t.”ae73a3a7cab0aba3

“The princess and you, the two of you, are married.”efe5e737cb03bbbe

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“That hasn’t happened in this life.”29f8d3d2b8775efa

“Aren’t you jealous?”d8594fbe5867aeaa

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The prince fell ebe0427d21 silent. For a 85a5df6913 brief moment, 3e23d4bac0 he looked a956a4d16f inward. But the c1d75366f7 answer came 2497de009d quickly, without ee798413c3 hesitation.9e86710c901c8f67

“No.”b9a2a5628418a4f1

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A short, 0baa9b1c42 simple reply. The wizard’s lips 7497e41a58 pursed even more. Though it 1c83ffedcf wasn’t a 4e5fa2b1e8 moment for 20b7562a8f laughter, the a95e9eddd4 prince let 1aa3d71f9e out a cd3773ed65 small chuckle. He thought f9976420d3 that if b6f389baea the wizard 1679a637f6 kept pursing 7098d51ddf his lips ebeac9d0d6 like that, b21d6925e1 they might c52fd41bb0 end up 302ce1999d looking like 68f5c51dad juniper leaves.43578852f73562be

Good grief, jealousy?fb3df9b853226ea3

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The smile slowly faded b046afc1ed from the prince’s face.bebc3aa71026bf2a

“Do you think I should be jealous of Zig?”73b6c84f5d1f3a07

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This time, it was aece2dede6 the prince who asked.aa4655ad37fd6920

“Do you think I should rage like a husband whose wife has been stolen and point my sword at him?”dc1760e77f04874e

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The wizard 2fc7cc598d didn’t answer, 9fd6e5b49f but… it 5e2f5fceab was obvious. From the way b2c4c5b4e2 he avoided the 962d61b776 prince’s gaze, furrowed 17d7ca9311 his brow, pursed b1cea1e171 his lips even 042a833c65 more like juniper 911b0c7c4e leaves, and clenched 2245cb353b the innocent blanket 6259718065 in his hands… e38574a655 sometimes we can cbdd98f17a understand more than 122cc4c61d words can convey, 15aaa27395 can’t we?4fa9d93442ba7e67

The prince felt 517cc6f6a5 as though he e90bf199d4 understood Zig’s feelings. That is… how Zig c28cc59ded must have felt when 56fce12542 he saw Rose and 4e82c97bbb immediately walked out into 1994a0a986 the moonlight without hesitation.bcd9073c68dacd5b

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It was a 3f22858840 strange night. A peaceful ba2a304789 and quiet 4ef221dd57 night. A night without shadow 2d821efd80 monsters to cut down, 4bae1b8f34 without the screams of f2054d12e0 people, without the sight c75fd0926b of a world crumbling 825ba6871e in despair. An utterly 206f574639 ordinary, and 89ea74a69c therefore strange, 16683e4162 night.bcd35ff4e78e73d4

On a 8191a9ac2f night like 15bbdd5fa4 this, anyone 4eeef1528b would have 211b651a24 felt the 81a62f5f42 same. They would have 5a17562eda felt the same f15ce9335c as Zig, who 095eea32ab had placed his 9fca513471 hand on Rose’s c8b4114c1c cheek.d50276ce86e8bce2

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With that b2ffae1b9e same feeling… 723f0040e6 the prince 8134c1421a asked something 5f5d523a99 he would 9ad6a7e2e4 never have 05eb301dc4 asked under 118879fa8e normal circumstances.0b84cac4171a2c68

“Is that your true intention, wizard?”b83c2e4111f0b1ef

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The wizard be98466a73 glared at 220ede199c the prince a4d8d589cb as if caee5050d2 he had 5cfc1235bd been struck.a155605fd2950ef8

“I don’t understand the intent behind your question, Your Highness.”3bc855b946cf4fd5

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The wizard 2c053c6034 ruffled his c394785ba3 messy hair 78be09c583 again.f8e3ea7a1cac5608

“My true intention? Is that important to you? Is it important to this world? Whatever my true intention is, whatever yours is, whatever theirs is… none of that matters. What matters is the law of this world. Your destiny. You’ve fallen in love with the princess time and time again, married her, had children, and lived happily ever after. Don’t you feel any destiny with her?”351ed161ec67be40

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“That’s not what I asked.”3fed9e2252f25520

What the prince had 69d296b6c1 asked? Ah, right…e45c06d807988942

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……57d9556175028a1c

……695732d4bb0db63e

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The prince hadn’t 12ecfdcfae asked about the 7c3640b5ba laws or destiny a7554378da of this world. He had 514d80b2a1 asked about 5031ad42cd the wizard’s 7f04ec5129 true intentions.053fee9d2959c3a0

……66167ed402ade5bf

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……Alright. If that’s fd83c6a8c7 what you’re 71926ae154 curious about, 32bd49d499 Your Highness, 04b6840a67 I have f6dd8b2d33 no reason a767e0a1dc not to 05f1511ced answer.5e52b434b5287ca7

“Yes, alright. My true intention?”6be42bd5a998d1ac

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The wizard’s gaze at 3061aa19a7 the prince was filled 3d14110e4b with resentment and reproach.4a21868d61852304

“It’s true.”9581018737b8a226

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As short, simple, ce1bb1218c and firm as 251d7aa3aa the prince’s answer.b0f0d8177ffcaf5a

“I wish you were jealous of Zig. I wish you loved Rose.”1abd999177c3bf8e

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