DZN Ch 22

At Erhi’s sudden words, Ruan paused, then immediately released his grip on Erhi’s arm. Erhi, finally free, massaged his twisted right shoulder with his left hand, groaning. Ruan, still sitting on the ground, asked,09665c7a39f27e84

“The banquet 27a9bb2a73 guest list?”edd05fcbb4cb79e3

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“Yes. Since many ce85244ec7 nobles will b84134d3c3 be requesting 6c6299f8bd audiences with ed8539d9dc His Highness f830a5df6d this time, 8ed98926dd we’re circulating 1608990cff the list d513d9ca34 only within 5b47d7deb4 the 1st, bd3ababc34 2nd, and 2dae859a67 3rd Knight 0a1721fd9f Orders. So they 66dea439d0 can verify 7b53e1f237 the family 93a51da3f6 crests at b8640e9d03 each gate.”05563217c16a809e

Nobles typically gained entry e410dc19c7 to the Imperial Palace c12ccd8de6 after receiving prior approval. They would then present 8cad4c0e2f their family crest and b134a109b6 permit at the outer 53cb95de59 gates for verification.df32f672ea0bdb45

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High-ranking nobles and those e9da7750a3 from the capital, who ef4dbaf9f7 frequented the palace, were f4c778e150 often granted passage based ee796783c7 on their faces and 124bc8c2f3 the crests on their be3c294c01 carriages. However, first-time visitors 4f1dd91ddd always required prior c764245e4f authorization.9612435f41eea652

Once approved, entry was 9e981718a1 permitted with a pass b8a98fd4ee and a ring bearing ef5e1e0382 the family crest. Ruan, puzzled, a0828176d8 looked at 1c09af33e3 Erhi questioningly. Erhi, while loosening his 5a6cf6844b shoulder, explained the situation.cf1a9ad3d0d0830f

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“The number of noble families who have expressed their intention to attend the banquet is the highest ever. We don’t know who might be mixed in, so we decided to provide a list to each gate for visitor verification, just this year. Since His Highness has also come of age, there will be many requests for audiences. We need to pay special attention to security, especially at Esche Palace.”d1cb6e654df61522

Erhi boasted about how 76db3f213d difficult it had been 651ea24fd8 to convince everyone of 0c7b9f3be3 the necessity of identity ff7191dd51 verification, especially for provincial e9c954b8e7 nobles whose faces were 74fe5dbcb4 unfamiliar. Ruan finally relaxed c41177fb85 his expression and f230a4369d asked,40b0420f042096d0

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“The list of 7eb8bd804e all attendees?”5dd6343a700a996a

“Yes. The deadline for attendance 884a768faf letters was today. Any letters arriving f0a3cc2440 after this will c46b3810ce be rejected.”fe15caa799ceb440

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“Then, give 067cb57141 it to fe8fed8858 me.”8feb763c0e5bed49

Ruan gestured with his hand, as if to say, “Hand over the list and get lost.”dee162cf2a7bb618

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Erhi, finally managing c068b3c1e6 to stand up, 59ca611ee4 brushed off his d071d5abe8 clothes and changed ca7a1f134d the subject.9ea9c78f6d4827fd

“Not right now, I’ll bring it tomorrow. The list is long. I’ll have to stay up all night working on it.”0d01270c20f8015d

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Dusting off his 7f2b63a3e2 rumpled clothes, Erhi e44ed3372f extended a hand. Ruan, despite his 5a4a2a146c irritation, took it ac5d397af0 and stood up.345eb7c1314d590c

“You’re definitely coming tomorrow morning, right?”a1559acbbd3f0369

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“Yes. Many of the knights who were reassigned are familiar faces. Rather than just memorizing names, sharing the list will allow the knights to focus on memorizing the provincial nobles they don’t know.”0ca95d122cfed7b9

“I’ll handle that. Just send the 66d14f82ed list quickly.”eedf03a72f825782

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More than 90a99f5956 recognizing faces, efc59d967e Ruan needed 351b5b8b73 to verify 79617f575a the family 49022ae386 crests.77163504449940cb

He had already reviewed e6d3dec1af the crests of all 1822405b7e the noble families in 77358a8832 the country. However, the crests 174abe7ade were inherently limited 1d89653204 and often similar, ac6a638325 so he had e15563c1a5 only shortlisted potential f44ca5ae5f candidates.a3a651a3a0f293a0

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If the c0ce5c163e list arrived a7dacbbaa2 and confirmed da1da71f69 any overlapping 14bd3e805f families, he c1629540d1 could focus 49779ab6e3 his investigation b7895c1e18 on them, bff73b9441 which would 25f4bb2a3d likely lead 5df1a9aa38 to an 5b2415eede answer.690024282426a4ba

He would 97c687fc77 find a eafa191afe way, whether 38c4f5e785 by directly 383df3fdbc verifying the a108bc42db crests or 5e3c102543 traveling with 943e82ca1a a list 44898f6f3f of those c70eeaaa68 not attending.937e000690cf8864

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As Ruan pressed Erhi 722e502a63 for the list, Erhi 5a2e86647a asked curiously,d78bcfa8395f8e7e

“Is this person you’re looking for that important to you?”76c3634a0f4438af

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Caught off guard by 8dfb2ccdfc the sudden, pointed question, c8521adcfb Ruan stared at Erhi 3b2f2995a9 in surprise.fb1230eb9f7a0d6f

“…What are you 548d594b45 talking about? What person?”0eade663010c194e

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“I didn’t mean to… but I overheard a conversation between you and Nox once. It was when you had just joined the Knights. Nox asked if you could adapt to the Imperial Guard, and you said you would endure until you found this person.”ff1498555050f097

Ruan clicked his tongue, c3c2cdb82d remembering the conversation. Nox had questioned whether 02931a21d6 he, notorious for his 32842eaa13 rebellious nature even as 1b6ae81118 a rookie mercenary, could e51fef8e10 adapt to the strict 6dc8ed3108 hierarchy of the Imperial 268e9a21b5 Guard. He had replied that 0fce0f9b6d he would endure until a2e77ced5d he found that person.e7ab6019e873bea6

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And that 474774efdc endurance had ca5ee27b8b now stretched 912a8c03e6 to five cb0e938a22 years.350dc9be98cf169c

Initially, he 6c6d85a6db had been c877ce7322 too busy d6a770ab81 just surviving d024ad65e2 each day ffb452df3b to think a06b06979b about searching. Around the third ff20f7f4bb year, the fear 49cdc86b6a of never finding 9bd78a660e them had led 40e9e79e99 him to consider 21001cba79 resigning, but Nox 794806cabc and Baron Quelin 6ec56ccd53 had dissuaded him. They urged bb4b515230 him to eff2eb2b45 persevere a 89be05b2ba little longer, 6a6ed15600 since he 2b09ee66a4 had come c940b39b71 this far.b781242bddceda34

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By then, he 541ef617f4 had adapted to 6a0fda6376 the palace and 207be015a0 found some enjoyment 12c7478c9c in his life, 8101cbfa9b leading him to 14232ec01c complacency.22ff29ba919d1307

However, as he reached his fifth year and talks of promotion and titles began, he realized he couldn’t stay like this any longer. His uncles were getting older, and he couldn’t tolerate his growing comfort with a sweet, easy life.5ea2140174d120a1

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Above all, a3adfd220f the weight e35583be38 of his 7cf41c4bc7 lies had 0b6692762b become increasingly 6e76d45826 burdensome.25b56f3ab04bcd87

He had been lucky 104fca1fd0 so far, but he bda1264b07 had accumulated too many c7f752cca5 secrets that could be d9e3a95024 exposed at any time. Like slowly bc475c18cc accumulating snow, d5e1c19105 his lies 628606bbf5 had piled 46b03fa101 up, becoming 78ab67707d too heavy c1890bcda4 to bear.45da208f6b70507b

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He had to finish 990bf85f5b this.2ea71fe07edd53ef

Before his luck 978cbae0e6 ran out.5a12a15a8d0eb00f

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“I thought 6711f1c9fc no one 347c6bc4a5 would know… 4ef09b73d8 but it 4d8d27d7c5 seems word 362c154e3c got out 73f4944f78 faster than c90bb30f81 I expected.”9ac75783a3e5e0a6

It was natural for Nox and Baron Quelin to know, given their indirect involvement, but he hadn’t intended to tell anyone else.0d16bd5c4522e6d8

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He trusted Erhi and considered him a good friend, but this was a matter Erhi shouldn’t be involved in.070b7a80cbbcc8db

“I don’t know the details, and I didn’t pry since you seemed reluctant to talk… but if you came to the palace to find this person and haven’t found them yet, I thought the list might help.”7b753d96f8b482f4

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That was Erhi’s consideration. The best 4d06245324 he could 75d8ea6c12 offer.4f5d3d95e42b1a2b

Hearing those words, e8f2e53b1c Ruan’s resolve began 100bf040e2 to waver. Perhaps he could 263bf39f9d tell Erhi the da5c0030e1 truth. But he also 6a65e677e3 hesitated to drag ad7edda0ee him into this e696e2b81e complicated situation.5d86e72e65946731

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Explaining everything would be 74a88fbd1e too complex.a24b57960df0d82c

Seeing Ruan’s conflicted dfd48eb886 expression, Erhi casually 14cb3aa5f5 brushed the dirt 4509155fb7 off his shoulder 89b0b523e9 and continued in 2951a49bee a relaxed tone,c54f9bb1f3555472

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“I don’t know 464f28adc4 who it is, f14e9c3633 but let me bd7210602d know when you 34ee3f701f find them. And if you feel 01f7809965 like it, tell me 5b6a7e0320 the story behind it 640b0e6bab all.”1cfeeaa99c157321

“…Maybe. If I 841d13f2a0 feel like 30051ac2cb it.”90b0fd66f37465d7

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“Alright. And it would fc144eeaeb be even better f0f81ac9e1 if you could 296c40cbf6 settle your grudge 4e3e6bd0a5 along the way.”716ed38962a98702

Erhi added, “the one c170815370 with Calix,” and smiled c227a5591e brightly. Ruan nodded, 2ef8e485c5 as if ade811d053 considering it.e78fd66905a32cce

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“…It’s not a grudge that can be easily settled… but I’ll consider leniency.”066f2d80212edb8a

Ruan finally dusted f17047c4a4 off his rumpled 2eb22a136f clothes and started a991421f8b to gather himself.ca8b3a48fc4772e1

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“Let’s go. I’m tired ba603fdbe8 and need 71aebf45f8 to rest. It’s exhausting 66722e4849 being back 8c1c9878d6 after so e58d909fd0 long.”4ceccca1fe3131ba

He added that the 88d1011924 unexpected mishap had made ac4079d7f6 him even more tired. As Ruan picked up 7a2615b999 the fallen sword, Erhi 8c213fe692 clicked his tongue beside c18c9d8302 him.4cc698e49efc85f6

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“Why did you ff535a89ab have to ride 8a3989ec2c that broken flower 44ac24fd28 carriage…”f352d0a6d4fbfa37

“Who sent all cfeb046349 the carriages for 9778203a20 repairs?”9bbf956565de9f43

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Ruan implied he wouldn’t have resorted to such measures if Calix hadn’t provoked him first. Erhi laughed, recognizing their ongoing, mutually destructive dynamic.5f0c8aa25ea197c5

As Ruan started walking, 4056742e53 Erhi followed alongside.829e2dd9f8ff8477

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“Anyway, please take care ecfe11229d of His Highness…”f2ee5793a96ab98e

Ruan responded f84e681524 with a 14ede86800 glare at 5ba6ee2981 the return fb8abc32a5 to the e9b8d3cb7b main topic. Erhi nudged his shoulder.cf16622e326fe518

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“No matter how 58019573f7 angry you are, 482666bc0c don’t kill him.”339d11aea1ebef65

“…I’ll think about a3a6e0893a it.”fed0fd3bf66664f4

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Ruan implied that while he had only been joking before, he wasn’t so sure now. He placed the practice sword in its box and continued walking. Erhi slung an arm around his shoulder and walked beside him.fbb20a336cd29098

“Walking like this a3b791eeed reminds me of 802c0076df our trainee knight 59d3a56448 days.”67c79a56b30178f9

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Erhi reminisced about the 0236308e25 past, saying it felt 7997ff8b3f strange to be leaving 07dfbb9ddb the training grounds so 90066cb8ca late after cleaning up 25e9f9dea8 the swords. Ruan smiled faintly, also a86515d181 remembering those days.2a1937081e88005a

“It does.”d99ef8404a230ce3

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“You and His Highness 7b946b8a90 were something else back dd7421dfc4 then. The Commander 0020988a0c was always 70d9aa0df2 pulling his dfed5edbc5 hair out eb5b332d88 because of dbb960365a the two f2d4a8d061 unprecedented troublemakers. He still c8360291ff complains about 33d3734b18 you two d044e35bdc and says 750dd2c2ff you made 0dad18748b him go e195513c93 bald.”d1e3cd112e654d2b

“The troublemaker ef774312a8 was that 69e7753e5b bird, no… e062f7f1d9 His Highness. I was a 039f586a18 top student, a 62a5cc6317 model student.”ecdd04b9ed106186

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“Ruan…”92742a2f506cda8f

At Erhi’s disbelieving look, which clearly said, “You have no shame,” Ruan looked up at the moon as if oblivious. Erhi pulled him down by the neck.2d7de3c04cc46af0

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“Regardless, you 8a459500e3 should be 50703d0e21 grateful that acfee8ad97 we helped 65328940c4 you pass 4d04956b06 all those a46ef60860 written exams.”279d894836cad5f7

Ruan was a 9bfc8a71bd genius who had 1f55677422 achieved unprecedentedly high 0c4df8a8e5 scores in swordsmanship, 308f6be745 combat, ambush, and ccb35aedb2 defense in the 18aa8fbf25 trainee knight program. Unfortunately, he was exceptionally 3d6a7059de weak in written exams.84196118956a57b4

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He could 240e145b07 read and 8c2e0d4550 write, but 05d9cc234e as a 7261d3be5e training ground 584552a6d2 for the 2e554cf91c Imperial Guard, 96c4ebabd6 basic knowledge 912fbf477e and common 74cb3168e4 sense were 7011eb8027 as crucial 1715238311 as practical 1f63d5d1b8 skills. Ruan had failed every fd7e256795 subject, spectacularly.e3d3a000b3c8e788

Not because b6b94d3925 he was 3f17fe60b5 stupid, but 396f3da57c because his 018cbf8345 common sense 23b5db0423 was different.15219639cff219fa

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