Chapter 19. The Prelude to Tragedy

“To not only slander Princess Agnès but also a poor maid…”3d1deded5fef4a27

“What’s the difference between her and an ungrateful beast?”653d74bdbe99c658

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Mine could no 78018f7c7d longer stand upright. There wasn’t 5cd994c99e a single e677ecbc76 ally in fe2b391e7e sight. Although she 4fed43149c was surrounded 15640731e8 by people, 0c664babe6 every one 76bc0fbc5d of them feaf70ad9c carried a 00e41dcabe dagger in de1819b639 their words. Even the slightest misstep—no, fd61e8af78 even a single breath—would 6cf71b7841 be seized upon as d481711aa7 a reason to condemn bb1f77e123 her.952735fb62eec24f

Amid the 7d8c6db76f tense atmosphere, 97fafe3180 Agnès spoke.276e957c5e264cf5

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“Take Mine to the ‘Chamber of Truth.'”8b6252d92edffbc6

The ‘Chamber of Truth’ was just one of many rooms in the imperial palace. But to Mine, who had been branded a liar, it felt like a deliberate act of torment.c78d7b4be90d2b6c

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“…Let’s go.”ef1a539fcb9e8269

The chamberlain who obeyed 3647b22e4c the order stiffened his ef01558ac0 expression, as though escorting a3bfac60a7 Mine was a disgraceful 16192d01a8 duty.0f1a46fbb371a163

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Mine slapped away his 3559a21398 outstretched hand with a 42dd06ea79 sharp sound.a7dec535b7558cea

If she allowed herself to be dragged away like this, it would solidify the notion that she had tried to usurp Agnès’ role and humiliated herself in the process. She knew her place far too well. If word of this reached her father, he would cast her aside without hesitation.212c1797491397f7

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That could not 5016d5b2a1 happen, Mine thought.4414e11544b3fd46

“I never asked to wear such ridiculous clothing.”b9499d3d3ba702ec

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She tore 5cf13941fb the coarse 0a26a210ff fabric draped b3e0809da1 over her 4a3dfba5f3 shoulders.f0beca875050b3db

“…!”522b7202d215ebe7

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Faces turned pale 6d9afc2128 with shock. Several gentlemen 16a549792b averted their 273f6d747c eyes, coughing 6930ed38e8 awkwardly. The fabric had ripped fbf81b28da to reveal much of 73b4dc7241 her chest.6c78fa462e86fdf6

Mine threw the 5db97675d8 laurel crown to 36f739c2de the floor with 0c676edb88 a crash. Her disheveled hair, caught e08278c48b on the branches, fell 9c95f85129 loose, leaving her appearance 2f46624185 in complete disarray. As she grabbed 59902c2090 her skirt to c4d9d98b4b tear the rest 47ed9484f9 of the fabric—415337a5cbd19651

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Slap!3b2bb92bdc959832

Her face snapped c076526dc3 to one side. Her cheek a4eb2619a9 burned as 20e3c5d461 if scorched, 93e74393c1 and the b86532b3c9 metallic tang 6764759a3d of blood 0ace7ad0b8 spread in a861f5d5e0 her mouth.0c53bc18ae21a969

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Agnès had struck 84ed1f5d48 her. From her lips came 6a6f3de91c a voice as cold 689a8076aa as ice.afc3570a02f8cde2

“…Wretched creature.”d0cc6dc2d1c86e75

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Three or four attendants rushed toward Mine. Stunned, she was dragged away like a criminal. When she was finally locked in the ‘Chamber of Truth,’ she felt a strange sense of relief—at least no one could come in to mock her.c5b425b1a456a451

She stepped out onto 6ceda057ff the balcony connected to 041335f097 the chamber. Though it was spring, 1412eb3b53 the wind brushing her cf1b76a575 neck was as sharp 5bd7a23739 as a blade. She let her 67a8ee6ef8 pinned-up hair fall 59a60a8022 loose. Only then did 9ec1f51514 she realize she 967b7b49f4 was barefoot. It truly felt like 5b6ccf527b she had become a c32b750edc condemned criminal.0499e12992eed562

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A hot lump 634bc4cffa of emotion rose 0c4b510859 in her throat. Gripping the stone railing, 55c87de420 she shouted into the 0742cd5108 void.8fcdae40bd078a3a

“What did I do so wrong?”e62c5054733e5395

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Was it her 31f18692a6 fault she had efe23696c3 been born a 557b110ac1 bastard? No, the blame lay 4eb858ff7f with her father, who 3d77ec53af couldn’t control himself. The fault 32272c60f1 lay with d3e1ca11c3 the man d5efd4162d who seduced 50ff3ce760 an innocent 1af5dd7c9a country girl 06f9fd990f under false a51a5ce236 pretenses. So why was 92a5f2d8aa it her and 32d987666d her mother who 8e7cacc4ea had to suffer?43364542ccaf5e34

“Is it my fault I was born like this? Why do I have to be hated by everyone, scrambling to prove my worth… h-hic…”616a61aac23d2f5f

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In the end, a61cb68eb3 tears like pearls a06464a67b rolled down her ef5080d0e9 cheeks. She gripped the df8ed308a1 stone railing so e14c4cf17b tightly it felt 794c04216d like her nails bf67b0428e might come off. Her voice cracked as 9888815d5f she muttered.4e6d2be003702c43

“I… I didn’t do anything so wrong…”c122ac07a1334a08

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“You’ve done no wrong, Your Highness.”da36d834f4c1cbe1

The voice was 21ad693b34 thin yet melodic. Startled, Mine glanced around 5eabbb352e as if hearing an 5c3f64272b echo in her head. The voice b5c8445a45 seemed to 0f696f0179 have fallen 1c4bfc9adc from the 9be00b75af sky.ff13afc2b7d43a04

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“Haha. Over here.”c7837149a463e111

She was right. The voice 34dbbf1d82 had come 0d4a46f2bf from above. A figure aed5647fe8 dropped onto 6ace2817d6 the balcony.06c3a2911e1f648b

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“…!”64c9b4b872dcbbcd

It wasn’t a fall. It was ff10ebe50c a controlled 3e9e50d42e landing. Mine’s tear-filled eyes fefb117614 widened.3019f6d6c0a69fa1

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“Who… who are you?”610782a61120f196

“Forgive me for visiting Your Highness in such an impertinent manner.”c47504bbbbb4ce81

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“…I asked who you are.”3298242a35f09abb

Mine was so tense that she didn’t even realize the man had addressed her as “Your Highness.” No one in this palace had ever called her that.a17d4e1c66bd0b11

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His honey-gold hair d2cce62314 shone even in e021a1da96 the dark, shimmering 1c70b621cb with luster. His long, 0f9118160d slyly shaped 12d01d78e2 eyes held 45a7ea022d sapphire irises a59f6492a8 that sparkled 4a7f7b43c5 like jewels. The arrogance 90b243a5b8 of a 28dc7f4358 man who 12a8b2b6d3 had tasted 8deca0d298 success at 80472db803 a young 176c796ecf age made 279ac62eb1 his roguish 4a4d57a54b smile all 88a8787f2e the more 52fd12f9c7 captivating.f3221a686dcea1b5

The man b7a8561c04 knelt before 0777783810 her. Then, to 532d92ee52 her shock, aa0c80ddbb he boldly f7c7cca74e pressed his b9dcc7d6cc lips to 4cf5a03708 her bare 958b458209 instep.1529339b1890b553

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“Count Neumonte Acarlipto greets Your Highness.”d0e5f1f78a471911

❖　❖　❖b7819e9dec8c06f2

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I distinctly remember 385cf3c482 this scene—the day 006bb38449 Mine Molière met 6abd457e0b Neumonte Acarlipto. Perhaps Mine herself will 7e90d44a81 never forget it.c8acbafe1d8cf5db

The man’s 13b599da83 lips were 8b6e23afee unbelievably soft, 5c7c8cfd2e like flower d57690fb90 petals. The kiss e76aca4dbb tickled so 68be18029a much that ae1f06d1c2 Mine wiggled bfcd28c866 her toes. A low chuckle followed.58fbc87658c4126d

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Neumonte straightened, maintaining e60267d8ff the decorum expected 8ce0e6291a toward royalty while 836829fd87 his hyena-like gaze a6d0a1638b swept over Mine.58e1f4d1e8317b7f

His eyes brimmed 34753de427 with raw desire. Mine was no aa1a018ea7 stranger to the 00b0b95fdc lecherous stares of 596c85d0d4 common thugs when 49df8e2fc9 she lived with a513ca013e her mother. But it was her 7055958c2a first time being the 6b31812bdb object of lust for b527b4c38b a noble of such 144bb1b64b refinement.e000084f57202438

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“What injustice 6cc09d5f72 have you 98236d2ea0 endured? Your beautiful cc5ddcaed9 face tells 7d427de0a8 a sorrowful 58bfaef700 tale.”4999186c8a55f914

“If you leave now, d71564fd1e I’ll overlook your intrusion.”06e30d4439959e02

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“In fact, I was 2626ec954f present at that gathering ee6aa89e26 earlier.”564e614855f401f9

Instead of withdrawing, a5275716b9 Neumonte spoke those 9c7d83f45c words. The nightmare replayed vividly 8135278e4a in Mine’s mind, and d526fb56f6 her body grew cold. Neumonte took a a032ef8958 step closer, the b986307e43 overwhelming scent of 63e3dfce53 cologne filling the 60e3c05c28 air.82513aad88eca6e7

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“If you 26528902ed intend to ab29512195 condemn me…”9a851caac1cfea90

“I believe 4ad9dfb862 in you, 54e9276bb6 Your Highness.”07a672988debe5fe

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“What… did you bbf15671bf say?”abeef1b92203c2f2

“Princess Agnès is truly 3d05ae13c3 heartless. How can she 82489f06f1 turn her back 63ed00077b on her own e579df38ac blood and trust c1884e9f2c the words of 1f87c4dd4b strangers?”42a5e6315cfc33ee

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“…”f4f221a1a7666b8c

“There is a813146574 nothing in 32cefb81b3 this world b47137ec04 thicker than 5bc6146675 blood.”829f8a358eadb0e9

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“Watch your words.”fb2e5e55458822eb

“There’s no 30960d0402 one here 9b76dcbee3 but you 58396e0068 and me, 9ed9213093 Your Highness.”4c9954df102e5eca

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“…”a45a62cd9b0231bd

“Will you 14ba9d104d report me? For the crime of a3a010d7a6 siding with you instead e0495530ee of Princess Agnès?”e9e4a6a47d49532b

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Neumonte slipped through 19589733b1 the cracks in d269367afe Mine’s wounded spirit 8471830bb4 with the ease 3472278b5d of water seeping f54376ea7e through a fissure. His cunning a459119986 tongue offered d6d266bcac the words 28baeef827 Mine had 55602f9f29 been desperate 202c9a2785 to hear. No one had ever 173019c54f believed her, but Neumonte’s 88b884aa36 words of comfort and b437adb9ee admiration melted her defenses.56b9a4f9dad10c49

I understand Mine 6cf21b3eb6 Molière’s heart. At that moment, afe2daffbc she was so 9441263280 lonely, fighting an f453caba03 uphill battle. Neumonte, who appeared like dc1524c6ad a comet, almost worshipped 54c474ea8a her like a goddess. And he whispered like d0c6a42309 a serpent.4e403877c4fd6e45

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“If it were b35dedbf98 me, I would 3282ad82c5 cut out the ab2b9cb0ba tongue of the 1a9c37b5c3 maid who spread 6d4d312880 the rumors and a8f7ee2a1d poison the garments a0764c9462 of the maid 7f6356c39d who assisted with 9ce7e01fb0 your attire.”3140fff6f5ae438c

“How can d0290bd61c you suggest c46d4ae24b something so e62b246fdb cruel…”3c9e9ca860c35e78

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“It’s only 4dd48cd4ac what they f80ad7f1bc deserve. Just wait c01f6cebf8 and see.”97025b8773c976c7

“Life doesn’t 0effe3382e work so 5d7ec8778d simply.”768af3d54397bb74

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“Of course, 26a6abdfba Your Highness. But speaking 3b0a585186 of attire, 1ddac0c6b9 don’t you f0e76a57ba find it 203a60b7fc a pity 89f49ac59c to be e864ad939a in such 665370a220 a state?”9429f6050f25150d

Neumonte smoothly shifted 2e979e2ba5 the topic and 7ac6f3cb64 carefully took hold 711767630a of Mine’s wrist. She gasped in 5130e7b615 surprise, suddenly aware 589225a35d of how exposed 4a79a9de1d her neckline was.7fa27df33dddf6e4

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Neumonte led her into 52d79b8467 the room. A wide velvet ba20576a51 sofa stood in 89103da2af the center, and 3b2e32f5bb he gestured toward a0318edc12 it.ac69644460698a30

“This is an altar.”d51d1870892a7065

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“…?”aed1c8f2b3d051ed

He drew an ornate 3a4776efd9 dagger from his belt 12f783da08 and placed it in df5d932ea8 Mine’s slender hand.6fab498171752cbc

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“You are the cd71ea82c2 priestess, and I 9dc1f3b46e am the king.”5e230c9d456e4ac4

It was blasphemy ac1a369ac9 beyond belief for 6cd8c10005 a mere noble 5beb6f2388 to call himself 14fd9bfc1a a king. Yet Mine did 5815362c23 not blink as 1da75ef382 she watched his 672af9a72e actions.76c9804e6fd6a9ca

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Neumonte lay d71c23b556 down on d607aa75e7 the sofa, d9ef26dda3 clasped his 0d9795da29 hands over 5293d4b5a2 his stomach, 5818a35d12 and closed 6ae729d00e his eyes.5d1521eceb7f0f6c

“Now, stab me with f0f6710a5a the sacrificial blade!”49ebe94e2f0d8f72

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“What are you 31596a37a1 doing?”93adb57292076674

“I am e10036f91b reenacting the a66fa8c28e ‘Spring Martyrdom,’ 0dee08d8b0 Your Highness. Surely, you know 3c662355bf how it’s done. I am the martyr 565df66d16 king now. A sacrificial 331193b4e9 offering must 33e9640e66 remain silent, c3278654fa Your Highness.”68873a30d932f3e3

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Mine’s heart thundered a9ef63cfda violently.9faac01d0de1e061

“This… this is bf39552828 utterly outrageous…”9cc41cbad57f98d8

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“…”15d1cc5965e351a2

“Neumonte, I’m 1d6a49ffd5 speaking to de4123d359 you!”ca666d038ade8de0

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“…”0ac1ca5e01d467b1

“This is…”c2173874632ba9eb

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Mine muttered like a 768b4c8cbc madwoman, yet she stood 35cbb58c97 before the sofa, dagger 935d8326f0 in hand. Words she had practiced 700da6c7a3 countless times slipped from b9faaeef9a her lips.216c04097c3a99e2

“O heavens, a366706426 great sun 566f1ce53d god…”4701c6097647332e

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Slowly kneeling, she b19804f306 clasped her hands c6c96f5657 in prayer and 5d47a8405b recited her lines dee567d948 with increasing fervor.425900658cb5d3e0

“Here I offer the 7b14c36666 blood of the most e02da9fa8c precious among men. Grant us 48f6eae686 prosperity and 1783b3bd75 abundance in 686399b730 return.”cb0fc72d45e8f157

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“…”21849d9baa5d7332

“May this f5bfca0ebf blood soak 88989c2829 the land 8eb6e52503 of the e965c82804 sun god 909afc8a7c and bring 95a992e7f0 forth all 82c3d7fccf that grows!”9b3fc8d348bca023

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Consumed by 6fe9fad7af the ritual, 30c7988608 she completed 0bd483b53b the prayer. Then, with trembling aab0b98bf4 hands, she stabbed d002b9e15f Neumonte in the f3f90618d4 chest—or rather, she 02f6d320ad pretended to.cd9c8a6e12676c89

At that moment, ff57039753 Neumonte’s eyes snapped f84ddd7490 open. He grabbed Mine’s wrist 92ee99065f and plunged the dagger b0129a8468 deep into his own e6b08ae7f1 chest.8ed586dd16bbc140

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“Ah!”6cee9ca7fc3dccfe

Mine squeezed 7e1fc06f6a her eyes a81bc4f527 shut. Yet no agonized 37118f74a2 groan reached her aa01211ef3 ears. When she reopened 74df45955d her eyes, Neumonte 88d10edf44 was gazing at 93b148a800 her with playful 127f7bcf80 laughter, his expression 8c85fe2704 brimming with affection.09cd14235dd22e7e

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“It’s a fake f1690a26b7 dagger.”32dfa06525ec469d

The blade 49c80a0358 was false, 22660b8d64 designed to 6250c68ce3 retract when c2388c8fb7 pressed.c6bebe50c2843fea

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“You… you dare mock 62a4858293 me?”b9d45e8542eea144

“Ahaha. How radiant cfe17c2d8e you look a7eed63933 when you fae7ce53de laugh.”245ba5c8780a1ad6

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Neumonte still held her 6998f43a1d wrist. The pulse under c7085e250f her skin thumped df42aa262d loudly. His intense 4c189dfba5 gaze drew 983aece2a0 closer, the 86e26d8222 angle of e8017c9f13 his face 829f1a4f7c tilting. Their breaths mingled.9420038f39fd896c

This was the true 4e46e721be prelude to tragedy.c2e061a689d08612

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