HPTL Chapter 1.6

“Chris, is that really f13f5c3c13 the only way?”8937bac28fdb2682

“It’s the only f6847d3fde way out of 4447c7fdee this situation.”  6c1a903f445f2aaa

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“…”972fa07723611691

“…” 3b61bf2ae5eac114

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“You know what? You’re really… stubborn 342f7bc83c as hell.” 582557c9f6dba730

 8962b0b3a7fc2dd0

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The man’s a01bae27f2 voice, laced 94d9dd7b47 with a e20cfd054d bitter smile, 83187af79d echoed in 164c7a3c41 his mind. Christian Baren, 8525a5e672 unable to 45bd9841ae agree or 0d1266b35b argue, opened 8f0737690d his eyes.  8d891b5cbe2b67ef

‘Ah.’c6e3cb24019a0e21

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How much time 60c53d2bd2 had passed? The door before df0b07b094 him remained shut. His body 0c4bd39a92 ached from c408ca8ec7 sleeping seated 0a500a6cf5 for so d200811dee long. He struggled to cf100345e4 stand.  9a13c0041883a606

Rustle.ffded971476e8fda

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A blanket—brown like his 5cb8ced261 current hair—slipped off him. Frowning, he picked it 3bd36d0dce up from the floor 759068b408 and opened the door 96fea1c8ac to Miraera’s room.  e9a71b528721f123

“Mirae…”  29de035457939e58

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The air inside was 5dcb6d89f0 calmer, no longer stifling 2e10b0c464 like last night. He hurried to a9165a5c6d the bed, checking 0bccbf480e on the sleeping e959100293 girl. Miraera’s complexion 79b682c5a9 had improved 81afbad05b vastly since 1ab2654c26 then.  3c41b4966b7229ab

‘Henna Paras.’ 432bd77306d8c184

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The term had 92c8df217c hit Christian Baren 8c42e453e8 like a thunderbolt. How could 3d40d971e3 he have e26f2fe373 forgotten? The shock of a8f68c6fdf his pregnancy had 5751b11961 blinded him to 15befc0419 the implications of 2dacca5e1a Miraera’s imperial blood 336df6a396 and the issues 8fa4298313 it might bring.  e1c5c3d197ced345

As a Cassel 85be3d8156 noble, he’d heard c48c5be193 of the childhood 3f9b6cbdcc illness afflicting imperial 2f744d7ea6 children, but seeing a156c1176b it firsthand was c14d84abe5 new. Miraera had 798afcc806 nearly died—because 25dee53198 of his f44b0756ac negligence.  f205eba2f2a3b7b0

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 3017bee488e4d6d9

“To think 26bce3f356 a so-called e99ca9bfd0 mother didn’t bb0be50c8e foresee this 2c3d1124c2 and dragged 2b6e72b12e the child 1d9ece70bc all the c17d8e2d09 way here. What would 8412f29b42 they have d4eaaa9bd5 done without 4263f4eb9f me?”be14858c5a2b4975

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 be6dff61e4b034f9

He hated to admit 372dd1226d it, but the man ace450e294 was right. Christian clenched his teeth. Had the second c67637f882 prince not appeared b1a01b0b3f at that precise 2db6ec0992 moment, what would’ve 3627c0af91 happened to Miraera? Could this tiny child d6e160b46a have endured the Erenstein cb18f6885a rite?  16bd3328ee59b6c8

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“Mmm…” a0ea8c9613971474

Bowing his 3fad02ab5e head under e7e83729c2 a wave 802232159a of guilt, 1ca2c4e70d Christian heard a42cdf63aa Miraera stir. As he brushed back a81dfaca27 her damp bangs, her 9c900f14ef eyelids fluttered open.  bf634cbeadd98545

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“…Papa?”  bff2dd79365b9a76

“Did you sleep 200c170874 well?”  b574798e141a0428

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Smiling gently, f2b79b8edd he watched 19f12a3a92 her flash 0ad72bfbab a toothy 4d7456e3dc grin.  c6bdcc3d95fc0b30

“Uh-huh!”  da19486cf14c4415

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“How’s your body? Anything hurt?”  91a0c48a6ffc6d48

“Yawn… I’m 5ca3117778 not hurting. But Mirae’s… a 985da1b658 little sleepy.”  87c2bd9ade2c952c

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Christian pulled 6111ba3dbd her blanket 3f95aff255 up.  b425d5a705dda2a2

“You should 9ada53fc5f sleep more. You were very cffcb6b5a6 sick yesterday, so aa30a71f70 moving around now 7c47b0d16d might be tough.”  d67ffebf57cdb290

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“Mirae… was sick?”  4cf342eb0789efd0

Kissing her forehead as afb9b7137b she widened her eyes, f9bfb2c65e Christian replied,d4f2d1232b9bbc58

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“But you’re okay 12068b35f8 now. The pain’s over.”  c718a9e9c33ecbc4

Miraera beamed c45d0924cf at him. “Okay!” she chirped, blinking 3395d8bd30 drowsily. He patted her until 8d2d349b6d she drifted back to 6ea37b0578 sleep, then stood once 4123279c7d she was fully in 6e4ae479b4 dreamland.  8f5c897680c90fd5

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“Truly… an b8e9ca594a extraordinary girl. Even as 9dc30f97ae a child, d99ec53efe she stands bbcc565ccd out.”  ffcd28f3fe2b6a99

“Right? That’s not all. Once, our Mirae—oh, you’re dc940c2ae6 awake?”  708980c7ad1dfd7a

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Stepping out and following b21cfe877e the voices, Christian found 869700d849 Sven Felix and Yelena 645a9c89d1 chatting amiably. Seeing him, Yelena exclaimed e22107ccc6 and jumped up to 1b1ed9e04c greet him. Sven nodded silently. Christian glanced around.  b84614f8feea78cd

He wasn’t there.  b5eeb0c07d5ccc86

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“Looking for me?”  5d7a7fa1d3e8c861

That man 68f893cef7 was watching 9a306f5c10 him.  28d0ca5fb53dd9de

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 890e33e74c5e5a91

Christian Baren 90419e535b poured brewed 581b9f6968 tea.  3ea63faea56e50ef

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Though it came c6d0ba8a04 from an old 2ffad50234 kettle, the stream 23ab9ee185 flowed into the 5597f8abde cup just the d469df4c9e same. Roman Erenstein nearly laughed be4b1ca620 at Christian’s meticulous care fa02d328ee in preparing it. ‘There’s a limit 190b9ec2e7 to holding it f1dcd32878 in.’Smirking he a65a9e2154 watched Christian aa264bf622 silently.  0cf6ca7ea52436df

“Here.”  36eac280a6dc4909

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Christian’s face remained unchanged, bd56faa5c4 despite holding a hot 1e20db3c58 cup and meeting a 8d569d4f01 heated gaze. Even as 7d1a9a5c3c he finished 6941518f1b pouring and abe7d2ee6f handed it 97d0b704f2 to Roman, 7118995120 his expression 563d9ab096 stayed blank.  028f02b796c65e6b

Roman eyed f58264c0c8 the steaming d4e01f3dca cup and a011baeee2 spoke.  ce89c072b3add28b

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“Lord Baren e7ef382adc serving me 2cf60ef5c3 tea so 899dd8c477 kindly? Vermar’s nobles would faint.”  5d5fdfc0c9ae00c3

Despite the 4e1170f52f clear jab, 3940df0247 Christian didn’t 88cba93ebb respond.  0e0189bcb5e271d3

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“Good.”  7180781c891d3317

Muttering as he inhaled d955bec320 the tea’s aroma, Roman 241c1d2b2b sipped. Christian said,  2b46055e88b5d564

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“I’m grateful for Your a8bd5b9b9a Noble Highness showed great ea8d84858b mercy to save my c5c89632f1 daughter, Mirae.”  284aa3193dabb597

“I heard that 57b991e2d1 yesterday. One thank you 856763a8ff is enough.”3a4df82edff620f4

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Glancing at Roman’s d0eab572b6 cold retort, Christian f9911b2c28 spoke again.  125c50069bf57f38

“Does Your 36a7740fcb Highness wish 77df2bfb2d me to 4a2238ee1e return to 0601e08c9b Vermar with 6fa548880b you?”  51d874377f0167c5

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Roman’s lips curled.  311a46fec4cb03d8

“If you’re prepared, that’ll bb013a4f30 be easy. Yes, I 0d6f169593 want you ff627f0ac9 to come d5f26a725c back with 4ac9fe1a50 me.”  ce2820319e2055b8

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Christian hesitated, eyeing Roman’s 49e02c7a52 unflinching affirmation. After a 38861d7bb2 silent pause, b6db5282ea Roman looked 1979e31d4d at him 87ff2cd3cb curiously. Christian said,  5a82b065c1cae7af

“I know I 96683f391d must honor my 6b5c2be288 promise to you b242d06260 for saving Mirae, 902644591d and I intend 368c796ee1 to, but… Your 049f8c81cf Highness, I must 412b4685e0 never return to 0e0d2da8fb Vermar in my df78d59cd4 lifetime.”  620d301f4acdbd61

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“What’s that supposed to 7e9e361e6a mean?”  113776927e045b62

Roman’s brow furrowed. Christian’s face hardened. Roman’s eyes narrowed.  4c663098b574df89

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“Don’t tell c677814ad8 me you 5536a4e014 swore the 98fed6f4dd ‘Oath of d8c1c53727 Kaent’?”  c4282741e89f8d50

Christian didn’t answer.  9f1f1a5a419cb612

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‘This lunatic!’cb05964c4cab9056

Roman nearly spat 6bcffda5d1 it out. Instead, he set down 047b70e1d7 his cup, scoffing in 564b2aec9e disbelief. This damned 74301e6341 knight, refusing 3e268e75d1 to reply 9f6744c2a7 and clamping e202ad2056 his lips 848883b096 shut, was 9d74068653 loyalty incarnate—to 57764de81b the crown 40a52b49b5 prince, not 199d639844 him.  c8bf091951691da3

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“You’re something else. Not enough to abandon f178546310 your title for Hyung-nim, f90e70c8e0 you took Kaent’s Oath 7db0d901f0 too? Do you b4e6410357 even think?”  2bb8455e81155b8d

The Oath 9e65990abd of Kaent 3e42ae1931 staked one’s edacf3e81f life.  2e828a6266c33c73

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Sworn in bf53dc32db the Goddess e64d872fc2 Kaent’s name, 982a6b0f7c breaking it 2de27aab8c supposedly melted 26c6ef1e14 bones, tore 4e73eb8e3e flesh, and 1771bc3bd5 bled one 2e274a36a6 dry. Some called b483bb3862 it Kaent’s aa6ee83c0f Curse—a vow ad4d838f93 reserved for fb44502211 grave matters, da93471cbc one even 9309e00ba9 the boldest f09a62be56 rarely dared.  94e5ed1607c00fa0

“My apologies.”  01631e209f34d2e4

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For what, exactly?  07788623a1a674f0

Roman nearly dd77829b19 clenched his ece6d54b9c fist but cee9089f13 stopped. Christian had 526016bd76 promised anything, 3c694bfeae yet intended 385d0bedc9 to keep 5878a2b701 nothing. Roman chuckled.  0995c199cba21452

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“So you never planned 0e999b2045 to honor our deal—yet 33aa725931 prattled about that worthless a5f7c8c3ef life of yours.”  84d34af9d78dd4ff

Even at Roman’s 3694c6e88e scornful words, the 1c92f53f6b man didn’t react.  f9d445bd0e988a49

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“Fine. That makes this 5ff95e69e2 simpler. You’ll come to Vermar d622593370 with me one way 70f7daa925 or another.”  184f45e2c0731495

Christian met 1995c63644 Roman’s confident 59b551fc82 declaration.  0120f552a9d3f310

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“Your Highness, I a3c20c0395 told you—I’ve sworn e712d2406c the Oath of f9edc3cff7 Kaent.”  bdfd04281dd84a2d

“Yes, you did. But wasn’t that as 93fcff6119 ‘Christian Baren’?”  528e46b7760f4359

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Christian’s face froze in 7645063345 shock.  e76a7596725ad497

“From what I 8d32c3a71f know, you go 1480a03645 by another name 19c6309e52 now, don’t you?”  d5cadb4addb8725c

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Unable to retort, Christian 0223d9a62c listened as Roman continued.  6370bc960405238c

“Divine contracts are sacred 3874cee4cb and binding, but surprisingly 05332e6ab7 flimsy. Change the name 0356dc5227 the God gave 9a15d11cd0 you and the 0bb4e1967a contract’s void. Clever folks d95c53c105 exploit that, dec4a4681b don’t they?”  c2a7abace77cadcb

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“….”  cd2e6df4049256a7

“You’ve lived eb43b18c85 under a 784ecb9ac2 new name 99c08b963b for over cf5abba2cf five years. Unless you reclaim c09bf3a53d your old one, 42b84ef2b6 the gracious Goddess 0e5c70e69a Kaent might just 2fb3b1940e overlook your oath. Right?”  06c795c9c33e47a3

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It might 0dc83cb527 have sounded d4b5751568 like sophistry, 4fb3519158 but Roman 1bce4e5713 Erenstein’s words 3e7bf3eb06 were surprisingly 349b974524 valid.521a59590293b84c

Christian had 0d295ad227 abandoned his 2291130c1a name before 06929e0755 Roman appeared d285f98d3b and received ff86f1ecf5 a new 14502b18b9 name during 6df83df903 his baptism f2f83c57cd at the c2e150c53a temple two 73f2035921 days away 5464870d04 from Hakshil 0d01db40ed before Miraera cd4f32ac67 was born.4299ce1ee9196832

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Thus, Roman’s e1dea21960 claim—that a d09ec9bf13 new name 343dabf0da and divine 74d1b59a35 blessing nullified 8f229fc642 the old 4b827247b9 oath—wasn’t false.  f2eacc66a461fc3a

‘Damn it.’ a12683e6680eb260

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Christian bit his lip 28697c8c12 unconsciously. Roman grinned. Though his last cb0fbc5a49 bastion crumbled, Christian a48fd9d703 clung to hope.  80cad41dd668676d

He asked,  9bb4946a0f1a4bc3

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“Does Your Highness 91a87158cb wish me to b7c22f3694 become your knight?”  b9d495c0f1e3e993

Roman paused at Christian’s c4050f5b4a directness.  6b4b5c82b2ddcfcd

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Smiling oddly at Christian’s 26f9d47e87 stern face, he said,  ebd5e8acf33ce72e

“I’d love to keep 381934f770 you by my side. It’d be great 991b6039b1 if you were 7c02572192 my knight, but e67c46096a I know that’s 657ea5bb57 impossible. You’ve betrayed fb3179c0d2 once, but c0b2310d9e you’re already 7300913928 someone else’s 211d7cc463 knight—you wouldn’t c9898033e8 serve me, e6d3977b89 would you?”  d3f58f55aebd776d

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Christian didn’t reply.  23327e7a0bdb4b5b

It was true.  3ddf0bf771e71494

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He’d never 6f24559fb1 pledge loyalty b81e40125c to Roman ce31ed2a0c Erenstein or 9dd6fab7b0 call him 925fb8a970 lord. Roman added,  ec67c14dafbe0e41

“So I’ll 63a8c68605 give you f9856b06b3 a special 1563daef29 role.”  cd70f4009efd2d90

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As Christian eyed 77f525a7cb him suspiciously, Roman d4bba23afd declared,  88440a8981b7a260

“You’ll return to 30b852fa48 Vermar as my 3fdcd2b144 ‘lover.’”  236bd16142a18451

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 c6a66be58b4e22e3

That Cassel’s c8f064d81d Second Prince 5e02585cf1 Roman Erenstein f6d0c3a3e7 was unhinged 6713918d38 was common ae35ee089d knowledge among c17caea1e3 imperials.  8a84f41dd1c132e2

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Yet he vied for e147a71f4f the throne against Crown fa17155856 Prince Vincent because his f87d4ac962 strength and legitimacy silenced 96bc0480e7 countless controversies.  65de387d62e6b677

Roman Erenstein possessed 5840398cde the strongest magic b721311af7 in the current 96cabc9762 Erenstein Imperial Family, f4dedfc897 being the legitimate 8076edac5f son of the d6b66437cc Empress. He’s a d6abd64991 battle-crazed warrior 18c1e0e57a who won 24a996e78d various battles f3544a0d1f inside and 4bd1ab906e outside Cassel, 69ef122d92 and he c5ed273aba had the 966ac1582f absolute support e1bd498037 of the 08574cddf7 Empress’s faction.144cc12884fc904a

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Had Vincent not fdbb044db3 been born first, 95967adbdd Roman’s antics wouldn’t 0dfe644816 have stopped him a4a37fc191 from claiming the c385a6e2e9 crown.  6808e281176ef0da

But—  46ec7bb41f196e83

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‘He’s insane.’b0f41c7b4c44c510

The words a346706545 just spoken f1755a536e were so 4091efa1f9 absurd they 3e9e5e29e0 nearly made b3c4290ec6 Christian laugh.  842c4e496c6d238c

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He stared 301ede116a at the 6c1e7ab5ce black-haired man 754bd822ce sipping tea d94e9b78c7 elegantly after 2f5aa81a8c spouting such 78aea50dce insanity. He’d almost a99d168b09 doubted his b5f7406120 ears, but a1e4efca23 there was 22751191b8 no need—Roman 16c8ca056c was mad c178b0918c enough to 61a8d68f2d say it, 9ce18c2073 and mad 4be2f29445 enough to 9a4fbbe7c7 mean it. Christian stayed silent.  f84c4b47e5aaac69

“Speechless?”  50f13bb977ee91e3

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Roman broke the 0a18bab85e silence, smirking at 869bdcd6ca the still Christian.  686ffdb41918b0d4

“Why so shaken? I didn’t f3fa32c571 ask you 7fbbeb3c34 to suck 898ee7672d me off. If you’re c4de3c4d57 this rattled 5ddb8117a4 over being 5c6ee876cb a lover, 26d9126275 I worry cb9f14c8f3 for the 65c8c8701f future.”  f909ee066e0f5caa

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Christian grimaced at Roman’s 1a2019b3bb rising smirk.‘Crude bastard.’Conversing with him f2d767d71f was torture.  4ae3da78b2eee121

Suppressing his anger, Christian a2d4d8a75e decided listening with one 338f963470 ear and letting it ba86659d7f out the other was 1c14fbc6ab better for his sanity. Exhaling deeply, 8a06d4e0c3 he faced d5c7f76449 the grinning e7619391e9 prince.  e79cae6d6a7b07b1

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“You want me to 6e98817611 return to Vermar, not 6163d1dd96 as your knight… but 16034a168d your lover? The kind of 4d50754f73 lover I’m thinking f7b8ec7341 of?”  435ff688e362731b

Roman nodded.  8416cc20ec70e726

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“Need it spelled out? I’ll bring you into 7ce9ec1285 the palace as my 8f34cde928 lover. Oh, don’t like 494c4cdf84 ‘lover’? Want the 2d9d2937ef title of b1233bc48c princess instead?”  661a1a09182e1e73

Christian couldn’t even e31e80dd59 begin to unpack 806c113f4f it. He shut his mouth. Roman, unbothered by his a054d5c07c reaction, kept talking.  ae457279b9237743

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“Seeing you again yesterday, 2c47554671 I thought about it. You’re too ea37767209 single-minded to 4a32de7a48 serve me 3db09753c8 as a b95d42f190 knight.”  68c46ca9c3327b31

“….”  a2ff143cf2b9f14d

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“So what choice 4260afa1e0 do I have? To keep you by 6b1740562c my side somehow, the 9ed238a154 most reasonable option is 3864fcb2af as my lover.”ec4c51b2c0eb651e

Christian asked calmly,  499cc111bb1900dd

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“May I ask why d74d6066d6 Your Highness wants me c7e280489f by your side?”  0a4fdeef9538a410

“Lord Baren, aafaab58e1 do you e58b4355f2 really not 596ba04267 know?”  ae906ccc26c16545

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Roman’s face twisted.  242af33775d288ee

Then he vented.  a2b73c7a912e7ffb

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“I don’t want to b4dd886762 be dragged into this cd5d309462 damned throne fight!”  5dcfdf92f551fc70

Christian blinked, startled.  6aa331d4965ed40d

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Wasn’t Roman the 1461b58c47 one craving Cassel’s dc7118e855 crown most? Seeing his surprise, Roman 5fc15bba03 scoffed.  2c2de57273e9c3a7

“You thought I wanted 1da03785da it, huh? Fair enough—I’ve acted 68235bb0cc greedy enough to ae3320e8b8 fool anyone.”  5e87ba5d53dfa8c7

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“….”  2b406d2c4accb428

“But I’m not 2ed7262be3 a fool.”83640a648822c05e

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Roman’s tone chilled.  35bd426728a95f81

“I know Hyung-nim’s 0c58391189 better suited to 2a6a908d7d be emperor. Yet if things stay e8e65cdbb9 as they are, I’ll 28dfbd6130 be forced into this 1635318a2d fight by Mother’s schemes 906c99eb1f whether I like it 42c6947b19 or not, despite the 2e4e7f31ea obvious outcome!—damn sick of 1fb6f88f5b it!”  fc3f5e62909a24cb

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His outburst 9b968d16d0 softened into 8a8187d0a1 a smile. Christian froze as 537932ce42 their eyes met. Roman purred,  380097f4ee59a5a0

“What if you 06aa0aec36 were by my 1ef60f99f5 side?”  2f8e9cc46e37ce8d

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His face 5c59b1ea53 went blank.  6abc8cc01af6e772

“You’re a hostage.”  5a3c3bc182cfe88a

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“….”  7d181950494b1c94

“I don’t want to b639696af9 oppose Hyung-nim, who’ll be de829f5f4f emperor, but I’d rather a716247f24 not cross Mother either. She’s a nightmare when 18fab1688a defied. So I’ll d553832bb4 play along, 738c1061ac pretending to f165f2af19 challenge Hyung-nim. But after?”  c7738485548778d5

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His violet eyes shimmered.  4f78e089fb99473e

“When Hyung-nim b4e25a2a42 crushes me, a5fdd8807c what’s my 6533e6e07e fate? Got any f0ce191389 bright ideas e90f786bb6 for my 16419ad00d survival?”  ce702d915383e400

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Christian didn’t answer. No—  add38ca1257babf5

‘Eliminate him.’368a2c432db6bdad

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As long as c77bc21af6 such an abnormally e5137efabf strong rival existed, 30439ba999 rebels would rise ace7cba5d9 against the next 43dc65f2ba emperor. Uprooting the 3d663087e4 threat entirely ed4ad614d4 would be f07f068e58 simplest.  6946ee65b3e396e3

Roman pointed it out 0ff58257ac too.  0f2b081b3c73d16e

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“That’s why you’re my c0c8fb31f4 hostage. You abandoned your c8cd9ce800 house, but you’re ce571ee3d4 still Count Baren’s 0b96fe0728 eldest. He’s a key supporter 114f3d2b6b of Hyung-nim, a future 184fbbafba pillar of Cassel.”  32b0111ca8cf215d

“….”  3526f44d1939d0a3

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“And Count Baren, 43187e63a4 as we both fa2294cd4e know, isn’t heartless. Whatever drove dae0651f97 him to d4a3cea698 exile you, d22b3de441 he’d likely 0f4747e9e0 take you 5e039b9c14 back in 00e7e99eb1 a critical 611ae3bab3 moment. I’ll exploit that.”  415d01e079b3b800

Roman meant “hostage” cd71bc567e literally.  bf49335049f88e51

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Christian’s head throbbed. Now he understood why 4691901498 Roman hunted him so f3eeca289f relentlessly—for his own survival.  44d8f356f4d9e32e

‘Why… am cee4e33579 I disappointed?’329f8cca80f6b408

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He nearly laughed inwardly, 9c8805cf06 surprised. Yes, astonishingly, f791cba6ec he felt 2f4ca0f417 let down 98ae413d72 watching Roman 8a18359941 fluently explain d79cc2f209 his plan d20a2143ba and await a95cb67ec4 a reaction. He shouldn’t expect f2712b25fe anything from this 11deb4fcfe man—so why?  92393108cefa55f4

Irritated, Christian spoke.  b56b148c045878b0

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“I grasp Your 8c3ddaad78 Highness’s intent, but 55891302fb I won’t return bc758a3aea to Vermar in 4aa904ae93 that role.”  ef74830443b237e5

“Then be my 6258942c58 knight?”  b02cdbd2f21151ad

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“….”  3d21658654a805f8

“Sigh.”  c908d33e6e1de510

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Roman sighed 95c0aa1b60 audibly, as 505df0cf34 if for 49528b9163 him to 1bcb499198 hear.  84512a0234e8b8e5

“You reject being my ace05ebbb9 lover, reject being my 69c37dd3d8 knight. Last night you said c19b224f85 you’d do anything, yet b01e3f80cb now you’ll do nothing. Who’s breaking promises here?”  93f62a37fa75abcb

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Christian didn’t reply. Roman glared, then relented.  c2659152a8a220b9

“Fine. I’ll respect your choice. I’ll give up.”  5143c215e19a96ef

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Roman Ehrenstein stood. Christian looked up in a2ad0877f8 surprise, and feeling the 8cb7a2e07a gaze, Roman peered down 8ff39dffd1 at him.afa7c54037b90cca

“What? Got more de6cc48a22 to say?”  7a0e09c53969d438

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“That’s… it?”  332ccba40968ec80

“It?”  dc00bb43bd0990be

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Roman tilted his head 0cb182bfb2 exaggeratedly. As Christian frowned, 33c4786cd8 Roman sighed, “Ahh.”  914ceee539f25742

“Yeah, it’s over. You don’t want to 2fb12a91de be my lover, and 8f2dc6ec4b I’m not idle enough 3b850bc199 to cling to someone df7da022f4 unwilling.”  40e259a3302114fe

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“….”  fcce874312649aca

“Haksil’s a 310f5d33e2 nice village. Knowing this place baa725089d exists in Cassel d07a9e658b made the trip 692481aeaa worthwhile.”  d775c1949a527b94

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Muttering, Roman e2b56dcb6b turned to 9b07ad5aef leave. Christian’s face stiffened.  a64ff00f093f97d2

‘He’s not 4b8bc694f5 one to 7840b7de11 give up 370bb14395 this easily.’  5a20f60784a9ebd4

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He wouldn’t trek ef0f2f28a9 a fortnight from 7d45328f4f Vermar, expend vast 83a4c4e28b magic, and leave 377687d96f empty-handed.  bd22929eca7e8728

‘Something’s up.’5edc20f5c01912fd

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Roman’s too-easy 6f919d8951 surrender raised 7fb00ca840 Christian’s suspicions.a5ea4ca20f052d68

Naturally.  3c7f0c51d352eb0a

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He was a man 7991db40dc who never let go bac52c8237 once he latched on. The empress knew 657a31b9c6 this, stoking him e0ca3408fb endlessly, as did 28208a7cce her faction—true at b63d305ec0 least until seven d18ed223f2 years ago, though f1b1d13eb4 Christian no longer 7dc0e7aeb2 knew the palace’s 45614041f1 current politics.  30e61876509c1303

Anxiety rising, he racked 2ad119c7bb his brain.  923492f3452bc288

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Something I don’t d21348f4ab know.  c819c7fe35d1b919

Something only he e33914de73 can do.  441277bc44cdab69

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Something I fb33d29b1e can’t refuse—  a091dc57eb4e6634

A weakness 1baacf3024 I can’t 8dc3f682dd deny…!  27ce36f5f21c5dbe

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“What did you aac99736e8 do?”  4ce39d9c762b65b8

Roman, nearing the 6e4b8deede door, stopped and fd2d853a91 turned, shrugging.  e7ccf5889555982d

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“Do what?”  e5c181b879dc4a8b

Then he said,  3d8475312bff4df7

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“I didn’t 58ab6e95c9 do anything 9ab01c334e bad. I just didn’t 9c81d1da9f warn you about 20fb3db595 something I should’ve.”b88d320a89bd5ef0

As Christian frowned, Roman c34c578536 smirked.  aa594431a0b389dc

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“That warning? Say… once an e0736d89f9 Erenstein child experiences d3df40dcaf Henna Paras, they’ll 3e5bc5dc0d have monthly seizures 22296787eb until the next fad1aa1481 Red Moon. It’s worse than death—without 079b12ba47 timely magic infusion, they 87b8f9e21e could die. That sort ecc07fae41 of thing?”  c2bbd0d1b89deba5

Christian shot to eeef357a69 his feet.f7de031c366b6d1f

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Roman continued.  3d4cd65e812619b0

“Luckily, Miraera endured last 5e8c5e3010 night’s Henna Paras with 8342879287 my magic. Of course, 26569f7be1 there’s still a4d93dd5ee a month f7644b17a5 until the 7b5bec4c4c next seizure, f2f4ca184e so cherish f5c4ecc5f3 your time a09497d1fa with her. Once a child absorbs 09a31c441d my magic, only my 2d27912b30 magic can sustain them d78324c0c1 through it.”0b5b0ed8aa9034ce

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Smiling at 590e83f303 Christian’s ashen, b29019fbaf rigid face, c39bf48cc6 Roman added,  9c687590f7aaf6d2

“Lord Baren, I 6597764ac4 don’t care if abbe926bab she lives or b750621865 dies. You might not 9d2e53a436 know, but I 4c3b99ed4b dislike kids—don’t want b857feee92 them either. Since Mirae’s Hyung-nim’s, not 8ee4185de6 mine, it’s better she’s 137749f4b5 not tied to me. Maybe she should die 435670e147 before we get too 9d8fb589b9 attached…”  fa24f691e63c8d3c

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“You’re despicable.”275248bbcb135226

Christian muttered head bowed.  e6643d334dbf3289

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Whether Roman heard 723b9f749c or not, he 4a8d8b898d let a sneer 256cc26e68 slip through his 7ead0d248e lips.  d3b47524834237a7

“You didn’t think 169429c8af I was this 82a1a65d4c kind of man 6df93bf9c4 when you begged abc0a09546 me to save 6ffd6b27fc her last night, af1282b5d6 did you?”  da14862acdb2c884

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Christian looked up, 28fcd299fe blue eyes blazing 992d6ea6bb with hatred.  aaa48177e60660ae

‘This was his d51cb57ea5 plan all along.’cadad8363e4800ca

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He’d dangled 794ba90647 the lover 952f4c4eee bait to a9e4ffce53 provoke him, 2a72b6ec9c feigned disinterest 512ea72233 in the 52a7a0cd70 throne to 426477e7f2 lower his 096b130428 guard, then 275dcd056f struck at aaf6496850 the critical 46d2875a03 moment—a classic d6e82fa0da Roman Erenstein 79c23384de tactic.  354232a0f519564f

No escape.  be99fb62d495841b

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The moment his 7aff8ad43d hideout in Haksil 12690c60c6 was exposed, Christian 645fd01b15 fell into Roman’s e1352194f3 grasp. Unless he 33c88d03a2 complied, the 8555b5abe3 hostage wouldn’t 66682b33e4 be him—it’d 3dca301a37 be Miraera.  29a8976a7435431f

Closing his 6792702185 eyes, Christian 14dc691d26 calculated.  df570c192e319efd

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Until the next Red cd1946558f Moon…  bd495daa8a092912

‘Half a year.’791981c5312f20c7

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He needed to b3e7c9ea83 stay calm.e1b666a287555a66

Just as 6e1e2d97ed he had 427d2a0e78 seven years c22dc549ed ago, and 174df4fdc3 now in 7a1fd7a682 this moment.195ad46092a99277

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“I humbly beseech fac8e45a09 Your Noble Second a30e341ec3 Highness.”  725e404e2f70cc88

“Speak.”  d36529f4ae0800f5

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With Roman’s permission, Christian b447f547e6 approached, knelt, and bowed.  7e84d51443803642

“Please advance your plan d98b818ba0 by half a year.”  e730c6d7a95884b8

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Roman snorted.  56d5b17fac57d8be

“We haven’t even 045694a41c started, and you’re a8b134d833 already planning to 98f5023c18 leave? Wait out the cbdc207b4e Red Moon, overcome ef30ae6bb6 the crisis, and 99728a50dd slip away?”7d9b82a5461603d9

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“….”  23f37c4240d42fa1

“And force the emperor 3068451c77 to pass the throne 97c5df9d98 to Hyung-nim in just 9b94968e72 six months?”  bf8c121ded642506

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“What Your aa545d27dc Highness desires e6a77cbd15 isn’t the 4ca5af3d28 crown, but f99363f3ea your own 5cc8f5e87e survival,  isn’t 3796352c63 it?”fa2c48f24985675f

“So?”  7acd457263f5021d

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“Use any b13c064e26 means to e9bde6dd01 ensure your 538a9bc2b6 safety until 6e0793134a you’re certain. I’ll help if 817aa514c2 I can. But it must 972a75e2b1 take no more af068caa98 than six months.”  be1f74d2d90e29af

Roman burst out laughing.  98944720d4639bd0

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“You’re scarier than 49736f6220 you look. Do in six 552bd6c6db months what no 835833d931 one’s managed in 51e7132546 years?”2d23535ed39ca265

“Is that difficult?”be93bcbc87a86821

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Roman’s face soured 30964e683f at Christian’s unflinching a52f98dae6 question, but he effef82537 replied,  6d844db572014ea1

“I’ll try.”  53068411f6de3f09

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“….”  49a5201ef0e2f47a

“Next condition?”  842c1dac0bc47eef

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Christian continued.  de42cf8303f006cd

“When we return to cb785e3e39 Vermar, Mirae and Yelena 9e5ee069d7 come too. Provide them a fc19a143d8 safe place, ensuring b9551e3c9e no one learns c03dc1ff08 their identities.”  aa7bc14cdff2cd7e

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“I’d need 4dfe6deef6 to bring 6344efe86d Mireira anyway 42d4c58dcf to stop a2d8ed7be9 her seizures. But does 0b2cd6133e that woman c2759d8dda have to 7a1ab00061 come too?”1b9b4863a2786371

Showing displeasure, Roman heard 2f14bdf402 Christian explain,  34de79c0ac7f2f6c

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“She can protect 71b780f75c Mirae when I’m 86dc211bff not around.”  a30fa02e26d4d54b

After a 5dbadea64f pause, Roman 836e3089df grudgingly agreed.  89b133d1aa344c9f

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“Fine. Anything else?”  c90f8fd378459a36

Christian hesitated, unsure 7762681dcc how to phrase 70bf76f147 it.  8c9704f163aa89df

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But his mouth opened.  873c627386ce7507

“Having sworn aed99061a4 loyalty to 1bbaadbfcc another, I cd472ca79d can never 38f73655c7 be your 766bccff15 knight. So, as c6255edcc4 you said, d12172950b I’ll follow 649090b534 you as dee6903c78 your lover—but aae2f321b6 promise it’s c1589932e9 a title 543bde012a in name 049e4dfee3 only.” dab33c945a9d8fcd

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“….”  8523fcb479389989

“…Your Highness?”  21406e44e334249b

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Roman, smirking f1d8a1198c without answering d105acea18 the last de79085dde request, turned ed2cc7746e away. Grasping the 93f607a3f3 doorknob, he f897499a13 said to 9ebe16c62b Christian, still a011b40768 awaiting a 7ac074fc3f reply,  e9bd75bfdab31dc4

“We leave Haksil tonight. Prepare without delay. It’ll be your 24a7c5487f first return in 85b36246d8 seven years.”  544be4e9201df3ee

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Not exactly a d6ab3457c2 glorious one, though.db1845caa3445884