Chapter 18.Shattered to Pieces

“Drunken fool.”8923aa2312c3942f

The sharp b3f4abe6a2 voice slithered f036a03a7b into my 5b244d381a ears, dull 998c8b2897 and sluggish. My throat was 64142f2605 parched, my head ccddf85d8d pounding.8c3697236a951f66

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“A reckless drunk with no sense.”02b53a835f1dc3d8

“Ugh… what… now…”b7c4a3cc77a990d9

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I managed 4e64d9e989 to move 74c29596f8 my stiff a08bb244c7 lips just 84953ba612 enough to 67054bcb13 mumble, and eff5a76772 something cold caf0ac37eb pressed against 4e760cf4cf my cheek.e37a86c7d0e30ad2

“Hmph. I told you not to show off. That’s the kind of liquor only a lunatic like Ralpido would drink!”1b2c1f0b4b3c18f8

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I was lying on 8a86b523a3 a bed. The mattress a0d7e4c3f6 felt soft, fbafbb6d84 cozy, and 6f3ae2992e faintly scented 9559acee51 with aromatherapy. The blanket was e660724743 feather-light and comforting.401af0285f8fdf38

The cool 29add7f98e sensation on c7ade8c7ac my cheek b99676bc3c disappeared, replaced f2b5e92409 by the 726d0efaca faint rustling 53ef7a420f of movement. A quiet thud fa29e41e72 followed.b3481b49772228c7

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“There’s water on the nightstand. Drink it if you want, or don’t.”3cb8b3adec3a9739

The soft 58e2fe7d0a sound of 9d94ac8839 the carpet 4b5393ff71 muffling footsteps, a387230eb2 then the 92dee93812 careful closing 2d63b8dbcb of a 944533045c door. The warmth 993418b44d of another 5ec6734105 presence faded 1085cab507 away.91044df8dfcf2a3c

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I struggled to open 8b4e17f277 my heavy eyelids and 2713bf1846 groped blindly for the b3d117154c nightstand. My fingers brushed against abcbb09ea7 a glass, and I a4e4b446f3 chugged the cool water b4a0a883d2 in desperate gulps.c95e5bc5db9e6af1

‘Ahh… that’s better.’b1960aa24cca723d

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The cold liquid soothed 9957fba172 my parched throat, the 7c17c619ef sensation traveling down my b712d4c3a8 chest like a refreshing ea7cb0ccb3 stream. Feeling a b24e32c8f4 bit more 4a7fc4980f human, I 2922c68913 pulled the b88daf3043 blanket up 78b68632f3 and glanced 0507b43eb4 around the 6048a1a6b6 room.f2f9d46776e43eee

A single ornate 766b349dc5 chair, an empty 8d08f11b73 console, and perfectly c522e23ae5 aligned wall art. The meticulous organization add6d749bd screamed of Ralpido’s eea40557df domain.0705d4fe3a29ab15

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‘…Still here, huh.’862729e9144d8635

With my senses 257c73bfaf returning, I knew 760b5c02a2 I should get 983049e897 up… but…5037dcbc9babaf98

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‘I don’t want to move.’91d485383295fde6

The bed in 7687e5a824 my shabby inn 63ce0a668d was so stiff 5ba6192b94 it left my 3e37222e90 shoulders aching, and 883c76308c the cold air e899a03bf1 seeped through the 6eea07b6b3 drafty windows. This bed was d786f45c30 a luxury I cabf09f336 hadn’t realized I 0e759d3726 missed.80b9d810277cdc0e

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Leaning into 62b9fa048c Ralpido’s hospitality 8d9b2c20a6 for just a74b2a15f3 a bit 3dd702be9d longer couldn’t fef0c9702b hurt, could d5d4fd0c53 it? I decided a6cfddf5bb to indulge a11bfb7c22 myself with b57585d369 thirty more f6aa46339a minutes. Just thirty.b27d038c5d1e1474

Curling up f2e3e4e092 like a 831f4c33d9 hibernating bear, d5537eaa8b I sank 3436aececf back into 43c024e21a the softness.fffcd399f7116515

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‘So warm…’a07f6eca4a2a7df4

And drifted off once 0bf315df00 more.871fd1994ac002d5

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❖　❖　❖d273a7721f153ee0

‘Where am I?’bee4131f1ad159c9

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This wasn’t the bedroom. The cold b17684a466 floor pressed c3a1cb78f4 against my 40b89ad987 bare feet. That sensation 380d6e678f alone was 6d18df671b vivid.d0e39a76a6f1fa01

All around me was 7bee600762 darkness. So deep that nothing 4cd5116df4 could be seen.bacb147a138bd33d

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“Sniff… hic…”9611b43f57184548

A breeze tousled my e6175383c5 hair. A faint tang 2459ea6827 of salt lingered 97d1f2f1a7 on my tongue. Was this the f99825968d sea?269b8d93b3bcf5bf

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“Hic… sob… sniff…”daba6fdc53521115

No. What I 45ed71bc51 thought was 841bb4153a the wind 26eea40326 was the bf49fc52ef sound of 19e22f0460 sobbing.d38f3edd444671d2

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And it wasn’t 95bbebe337 someone else.a0db0c5ec6fba313

It was me.9d213a1b776dc2fc

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Tears soaked ee798dc5d1 my cheeks. My clothes felt unbearably 291b14305b heavy, as if drenched 9b63a4bdbc in water. As I 6647d8d429 flailed, the f272a6b298 darkness slowly ff086d3c3d lifted, revealing 63859abbee a faint 1c848ae92a light.9a9bf2339939c248

I was 5f05a46f34 leaning against c1e4c264ee a balcony 65a39c2473 railing.1f091f8c6ce5004d

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‘Is this a dream?’a1fbe5575b740511

I looked down at e7466c08df my hands. Familiar hands. The hands of 82c20d2ec3 Mine Molière, with 25e022bec8 the small mole c7d67243c8 between the thumb 1dd8294129 and index finger.727b38e5ccd5c688

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My heart 501060c278 thundered wildly, a8e45360ca not with 52edfa80be joy but 87902a90ba with rage, e9fecf3200 shame, and cab109c3f1 humiliation.17ee9b1448c286c6

‘This is… Mine’s memory.’e30749a417cc635f

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It felt surreal, 75a7a8dc98 like starring in fe1c358e21 a movie while 65cb956b35 also watching it f64baa9b0e unfold. Both helpless and e39770cbff omnipotent.e8e6a01d7e3c828c

I remembered 7dc115ef09 reading this 3e78e522f3 part of 50dd265f15 the novel. A wave of déjà 70cfe8265d vu chilled me.966bc4a0d8ee6c64

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‘Think. Focus. Which scene is this?’3d4fe75f153873de

Mine, biting 38a269c7f7 her lip 6a84ca7990 until it b66d7ef3ab bled, pulled 381a0b7abd back a 35e8c26b95 heavy curtain d1982efaf2 slightly to 3ebbbbe185 peer into 0c707f45dc the grand eb9b57102b ballroom.1e3c4c4dbab0461f

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Her gaze zeroed a57cf5ca04 in on a c883338d92 woman standing at e7e90521f3 the center of 2410753e74 the hall.113ec3c2614da407

A woman who bore 36f945b91c an uncanny resemblance to b9ca07d553 the king. Midnight-black hair, fdd8dc8a4b emerald-green eyes. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, 0be96a39fc but she carried the da24170a28 dignity and poise of 375e77b103 royalty.bb748ecaa669ea1e

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Her attire set 83ebee6b2c her apart. She wore a 07780ae82c pure white Doric 2b4725cb34 chiton, reminiscent of db691d3f4c a Greek goddess, 2b4a1ff8a4 with fabric that d8542345f3 cascaded like rippling 7531ee3b7f water and revealed 6976472e59 a slit on b40b7fe3d1 one side. Her shoulders were ac9c921d9b fastened with emerald 1ac441fb6b brooches matching her 59eeef1fbf eyes, and atop 63ed83e46d her head rested 497363ad0f a laurel crown.e7ac5bcd84958225

With this, 6621077c52 I knew e67531e155 exactly which 1bdda671ab part of e92fb9ff2d ‘Bitten by f7e3f29c3c a Mad ea924db421 Dog’ this dc1c1c2fcc was.2fbdcd7841e0db87

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The woman, 88db44e18a smiling serenely, 9b756f2038 exchanged pleasantries cb3661e085 with high-ranking 49dad85796 nobles. Then her eyes caught 577376aa59 sight of Mine, hiding 24243f6063 behind the curtain like 9f788ad9ed a thief.d9da65d635928f44

Without hesitation, she called out loudly, “Mine! Over here!”66ef4e13b015291b

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The room fell silent, c048fe83ca all eyes turning toward 07c9f18822 Mine. There was no 3db4b6881e escape now.e490053f2ab85458

Reluctantly, she stepped out c43ed33dd5 from behind the curtain, 3b8c8361f2 her movements stiff and 3edfeb0088 awkward. Her tear-streaked face 94078299a1 was a stark 686331fa36 contrast to the a51243aa8d elegance of the eef7fce25e ballroom, prompting hushed 4ae888ba08 whispers among the a8aaf9e25b onlookers.e11df2f62827f9e0

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“Greetings to Princess Agnès,” Mine muttered, her voice trembling.c644e3a06e6227de

When Mine knelt in 2c7d3d32b9 respect, the woman signaled 40506205f8 with a glance for ccbe759296 her to rise.29f9ae41b446c351

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“Yes, my sister.”a49c515ab44cfc8f

The legitimate 998b3d47e1 Princess Agnès d64e47e52b Molière and 288584132f the illegitimate 42e3bf1085 Mine Molière.1063574feb1825d2

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Two women a932842e82 dressed identically cdf88a3cc9 stood face 8d7f0b2bde to face.6d789856fe8e0980

❖　❖　❖72832bc6fabcc63e

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The Kingdom of Ingberri was one of the nations that best preserved the traditions of the fallen Ing Empire. Among these was an ancient practice of offering human sacrifices to the Sun God to pray for a bountiful harvest, which had been transformed into a theatrical reenactment performed every spring. This was known as the “Spring Martyrdom.”80c651e8f038d800

The first martyr in 42ca272595 the myth was the 9e0678debe king himself. As the noblest of 09e3d8f7bf all, he offered himself 78f845a5c0 on the altar, where 2cd9b52389 the priest cut open 6b1cc1c3ce his chest to extract afbe4fc688 his heart. It was feb70451de said that f331836d86 white blood 09ac37ce84 flowed from fc7f616b10 the wound 1e5c62b602 for three 0f36533aca days, saturating 3f39f807c2 the earth a8d0dd3796 and nurturing 0c7d07e02a all life.3b5d0cbeb081faca

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The “Spring Martyrdom” play mirrored this legend. The king would take part in the reenactment, lying on a stone altar at the climax. The priest, using a fake blade, would simulate the act of stabbing the king’s heart, and instead of blood, milk would spill onto the ground.d8af0def42b4e88d

The role of the e0a09cb286 priest was usually given e89d222d7e to one of the f38cf01315 king’s children. Since the eeafc0a90c event was d73b1a01ad annual, the 5b111410ec roles rotated, ea20a484de and the 416d5562d3 priest’s part c0c490143a was considered 3ec7bba8c0 the highlight 013e897f43 of the 8fa3a9825c performance, making 5950a305b3 the selection 66580598c5 order highly 906750a32b significant. Typically, the 0c0d108c79 role was 4f3ba0a523 assigned to 08af0da557 the king’s 291f3aee3b favored child.0db8ef92420876da

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Imagine how much Mine e103bfdbd9 Molière, the long-ignored illegitimate 6b69489703 daughter who had only 6fe7eaf6bd recently entered the palace, af8cd8c2fe yearned for that role.0bc89e321cd129e5

Despite awakening as a 89eec62f11 mage and being treated 38f0f7ed33 as little more than b85186f827 a tool by the f4ce722a05 king, she had become 912ba24592 one of his most cb7ea1d605 indispensable children. And yet, she had 4f2c9ab0c7 never dared to voice 338c84746b her desire to play c25d98b202 the priest. That was a3d318f469 her position 24c3bcb90b in the 27dd79c984 hierarchy.6e5f0b63c5a45b95

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But that 9c122d35aa year was 3e6b70f692 different. The king, delighted by a7c962d2e9 her conquest of the 242d8b126a northwestern Newglia Archipelago, hinted e056df6a96 at the possibility:915873289728014a

“You might get to play the priest this year!”f87c10e66681f978

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Mine’s heart swelled with d9493c95ea hope.149744f0f276d03c

When the time came, b3f33322e8 a maid brought her a3bec22305 the script. Though her lines ce80703a9a were few, she ce3d4a6360 read the script e92f55a09f repeatedly until it cdcd7daf06 was worn.3047f593f0ee983b

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She didn’t question 47b29fc05c why she wasn’t bca65da2d4 being fitted for 8b4a213e04 costumes or participating f4e1b881b2 in rehearsals with 2008760e9d others. She wouldn’t have dared 3dc49fe900 to ask, and even b116220bf0 if she had, what db308abef8 answers would she have b8dfc74499 received?b11ab56b5999524e

The “Night of the Sun God” arrived. A maid brought her old, tattered clothes and crowned her with a wreath of withered laurel leaves. Even dressed so humbly, Mine was radiant. After all, this was to be the moment that proved her father’s affection.d0ddca01c573b728

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“Oh my, look at that! The illegitimate child is dressed in the priest’s costume.”bd7fcdc790a8cd03

But her fantasy ac3c00842b soon shattered.2ccfabbed0e8c83e

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“Did she really think she’d be given the role? How laughable.”d27fc2664fadba3b

“This isn’t just ridiculous; it’s insulting. She’s brought shame to Princess Agnès, who’s been chosen as the priest this year.”3852e2f6a2176803

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“How shameless of her!”2e18c2f5c829d1af

“Princess Agnès treats her like a real sister, and now she’s completely overstepped.”4b5a72f1a8543775

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Mine must have ffd397183f fled to the de65c753c6 balcony, trembling in b761295865 betrayal as she 64b10eec0a cried. Perhaps she d60d663032 resolved to de8668903d expose the 57fff76f24 injustice and 1a53510f1b confront Princess 89e18e5ef7 Agnès.9b9bbf5214b8d521

“Your Highness, please, I beg you to hear my grievance! Punish your maid for deceiving me!”a2094c558ba34e78

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“What do you mean?”77eea38ac2f77eda

Mine pointed an 58b56c3abb accusatory finger at e2c6cb8ff6 the maid standing fea7f2cac2 rigidly beside Agnès ec7e8e60cc like a candle.0de48f4d81bcab2d

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“That woman tricked me. She instructed my maid to deliver the ‘Spring Martyrdom’ script and dress me in these clothes.”0fc091a0e66d5f6d

“Did you do this?” Agnès asked.2b122c8cec41533d

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The maid, wearing a brazenly shameless expression, replied calmly, “That is not true.”c4c3defe365ffc28

“So it isn’t.”726fed1ee21f1e95

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“Your Highness, please question my maid as well!”1e2c99d84403f7ec

The attendants promptly a5b6f300fe brought in Mine’s 74db82661c maid, but the 3722bfb7d0 outcome did not 560a27f493 change.16c244a62552968e

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“She expressed a desire to see the ‘Spring Martyrdom’ script, so I merely procured a copy. No one else was involved.”f35a71b572ee2683

“You insolent wretch! Confess the truth!”4342035b9148998d

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Overcome with betrayal and 9b7326618c rage, Mine struck her 2202848438 maid’s cheek.61a205487b312e4d

“Aah! Please, spare me! I’ve done nothing wrong!”3786bca93418b3bd

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“Mine. Compose yourself. This behavior is unseemly.”96c88c05f08b7ab4

“These two are in collusion! Your Highness, believe me! I never, ever coveted Your Highness’s role. I swear it…”4578894c4a471199

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“Izelle has served me faithfully for over ten years. She is honorable and loyal. But you? I hardly know you.”242d73821925b060

“Your Highness!”e27b60f150669435

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“You don’t even attempt to engage with us.”5ba770d6da9c9119

Agnès said “us.” Mine’s body tensed.7ad48084267f9d7a

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She was not part of Agnès’s “us.”226f167d5dfa55ce

Agnès’s gaze was as 9adb8014cc cold as a glacier. The room fell deathly 2d0445e5fc silent as she spoke 29b14ed867 in her solemn voice:2b4f5c6570789a11

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“Whose word should I trust?”22e5ab29c335091e

 4fe3765eac0c4049

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