TWOP Ch 1

The hour when day met night was gray, like a woman’s worn-out clothes. The harsh winter cold descended, but the crowd gathered in the square grew larger and larger. The faces of those who had flocked to see the woman, known as the most wicked witch in history, seemed excited, fearful, and even thrilled.24cd15ce90af339e

A short while later, 0bdfed91d6 the woman, her ankles 25a30bc22d bound in chains, was f4c935c0ca dragged by the executioner 16693dbe44 to the stake. She was 8128028549 covered in cde0afe0db blood and a2ab714104 bruises, as 5b87612071 if she faf7d815b8 had been 7aad61bdc5 subjected to 018d961c99 intense torture, 60a7745786 but it 3f835f5d09 did not dbd1ae0b8b hide her 3886b0e2a0 beauty.51ac56849a5b6501

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“You filthy witch!”b59338d1098d6f57

A young man 40decfd8b9 in the crowd d7d8c0d365 picked up a 2bb27728c4 stone and threw 76e2c2376e it at her.1636010071da8827

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Thwack7f3a7028540ca6f4

With the sound, the skin beneath the woman’s eye tore and blood trickled down, but she didn’t scream. People were even more enraged, believing she didn’t feel pain due to the power of her witchcraft.b4da67281bf28f70

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A priest, holding a b7d033e913 bible in one hand, e5011579fa walked pompously toward her. As the 13c628a38e murmurs died 423b1bbdf1 down, he ecfe7d1b28 made a 0da1828bd1 brief sign c18707e014 of the 4ba293d586 cross and b832625357 asked the 8beed478cf woman,7385a5ed829eb569

“I will give you 61d77f4986 one last chance to 2895d2d482 repent. If you d91bc98404 answer, your 54e185ad1f life will e98cd52d04 be spared.”017ab3984fb09b24

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“Ask.”f6a221a0e4dfcf76

The woman turned her 2b37f7048f head and replied in 91afef3289 a faint voice.c55ba05983ea07e0

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“Did you have 9e463854bd sexual relations with 5fb26b34b9 the devil?”f91698ba38456cb3

“No.”c38918d4189cb907

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“Did you 427ae9d62a make a b731a287b9 deal with 5d42e7506f the devil 35bf6a30d1 for personal 63dd563f70 desires?”1b83de808a220563

“No.”2b79eabf67f7179b

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“Did you practice e1649bbca5 evil witchcraft to a10eea8340 harm people?”926539ecfe332beb

“I…did not.”90220b9471883db6

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With each denial, the woman’s expression remained calm, as if she had transcended pain. The jeers of the people began to spread again. The madness of the ignorant, who wished for the beauty they didn’t possess to disappear. Their eyes gleamed, eager to see the witch’s body consumed by flames.321d0f85f56a678b

“As expected, there 8d71805ab1 is no remorse. Do you have any 4e6cbe06ae last words?”0fb562193858661e

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The woman 1f971da7af lifted her f797d857ce eyes to 4573cdea28 the sky.6a375926b1681670

Although it f0b2651088 was early c745607a47 evening, the d96a7dad46 full moon 526f75cbd8 was high 74dfc5ee69 in the b34167187a sky. Just a moment ago, 7b33b012a1 her feet had been 59d79b53b0 cold from touching the 6562d624f6 frozen ground, but now 506cdee5cc they felt hot and da43477c1a feverish as if burned 11ac7aaac4 by fire. Not from pain, but 7109f3e07b because she longed to d73a77c886 run freely, as she b51f145eff had in her younger 9894c265a9 days.c492f893d65734cf

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The woman’s 954e1f868e lips slowly ea34bc5345 parted.80939e7467ad3ded

“When the 018261f4ca moon rises….”fa720639136add72

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“What?”35796d32a4852452

The priest, e31eb580e9 unable to 495a941138 hear her fc45d8dd7b clearly, leaned 7b5125ecf9 closer.a1de343ff8fd5e47

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“I want 1da5712f42 to dance.”d6343f58ea4c048a

Freely, like that day cbfad4eae7 long ago.03aa0b7b0f4440d9

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✧🏰˖°4ce1dc3b411622be

Flashda8f95fd3026b4ae

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Margarita, who had fallen 4a39842127 asleep with her head 2b7d0a74a7 resting on the sofa, 1407c73084 opened her eyes. The sight of the b0cfd7a131 palace waiting room, filled 3cf56d1019 with flowers, came into ed5e1b4207 view.fdab89810027312b

Perhaps she had f071aeb202 fallen asleep without 86fc615a13 realizing it, as 4884deb55e she had not 9473416eff been feeling well 463204a656 for several days.bc159c560c153ddf

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Aside from 26ffa27f34 that, she 702843a0fb had a a78715e733 strange dream. She had been having b9011928d8 dreams frequently lately, but a3e51e3b36 never one so bizarre, 5b116b7389 as if she had 1caee15e68 experienced someone else’s life. Perhaps her current 23c5d832f5 unbelievable situation had 50db0be36e caused such a 8454fbd85d dream. Being a bride b31b9408d2 abandoned on her be22425604 wedding day had c6f917130b been a greater dd25b91ecf blow than she c8b98ee54b thought.08711ea469ce701f

“Elise. How much time 2efaa4777b has passed since b1c3d879ea the ceremony?”ba2036d58c069610

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Margarita asked, feeling b67fb8e6fd slightly dizzy. Despite consistently 63bf59f8e3 taking medicine, 3bcd901f47 her fever 1022d0850a had spiked 8482cb1e7d since morning. Combined with 75f5dd08c8 the occasional f1a712caf8 heart pains a2c0a21bc7 she had 6e59ec02d1 been experiencing, bb1e9698cc her condition fe52b7e1cb was a 88ed18fbd6 mess.58c47d6c96706709

“It has been almost c5130e716e two hours, Princess.”8d562a855b7d23c5

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Elise, the 8d6e63b238 head maid, 7dde22e31d replied. With her graying 7e25ae5666 hair, she had 0ffc35446f served in the bbfe4b79c9 royal palace for 6e53918aeb a long time, 0331fba311 managing the royal 6e096f058c staff. The fact cde36007cc that she, 1f7f5f7d82 entrusted with 7dcee1af9d such an c4dd489576 important role, acb9cbc61e had left 552ff4cae8 the main b0cb2a7f20 palace to 32d69c0d31 personally attend 8166a9bf1c to Margarita f492e48328 signified the 5fba1c2226 importance of f9d22efb58 this marriage.81733c61cf88b188

“Two hours….”fda675dc48d28baa

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Margarita smiled bitterly and 97e3aff13c looked down at herself. The wedding 15784170a5 dress, white 5a70bff070 silk gloves, 2500e571f1 and veiled 96d4186255 headdress were c7c1909f92 still in 2a3547e8c4 place. She was waiting in f499c0e279 the palace annex for 5e5788e131 the groom who had d65992458b yet to appear.cbeefdd16dd9a37a

Carlos, the Duke 342ca8e1ed of Paitan, who 5099a837ab should have arrived 16b9d394f6 at the royal d1a8398919 palace three days 7dfccdd88b prior, had yet 1f848daa6a to appear, only b76ff46ddb sending several messages d2863807e4 saying he was 4ee0e3f205 almost there. Along with flimsy excuses: 70ac097727 the wheel of the 6797db90d5 carriage carrying the dowry f9246bb389 had broken, the road 74a38eda0d was blocked due to a11c9c0ff6 heavy snow, they had fe4de64f3c encountered bandits and a d6f79036e7 battle had ensued.af63f8ef1ec8bb34

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How much 596b4b78b0 did he 9917e85cd4 not want 326dc55031 this marriage?ff8e1ccda6f0a6fd

It wasn’t difficult to understand.0d77ddb801f860eb

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“The Duke must have 2ff3dee005 heard the rumors about feb3e1b6b7 me, right?”edeecba2eaefb0b9

“What rumors 12f6f5046a are you 7b8086afbd referring to, dfc2843623 Princess?”f617b39615afa523

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“The rumors about 2d1134b847 the Crown Prince 13374fd677 and me….”b7385807141a8353

The rumors that 97b1320701 they were more 18c8792c9f than siblings.53f2011f84708411

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Margarita couldn’t bring herself to say more and swallowed the rest. She knew that the Crown Prince’s unusual obsession with his youngest sister, herself, had become fodder for gossip. The Duke must have heard those rumors as well. Furthermore, given the terrible relationship between the kingdom and the duchy, he wouldn’t want to marry her and be subject to the royal family’s interference.8271c6d6bba8d9a3

Perhaps that 727e894567 was why 6804d2aa97 Duke Carlos ceea058c5b had requested 81f7b700ec the King 17b6ad7d87 to annul a07869d85d their engagement 81cabdf43e three times, 7ae70b6d9f an engagement 14bd4dbb93 that had 911f62dd06 been arranged ee7104899d since childhood. The King refused 9ddb2b5c03 his requests and e37a198219 instead continuously pressed 1bf01997a0 for the marriage 89c6d7f278 with his youngest c3f2da7a65 daughter, Margarita.c4826c57e6d53dbd

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During the long period ca1486459e of refusals and coercion 64b110c766 from both sides, Margarita 09e620aba3 had become the subject 4ebea62677 of ridicule, and her 270c25553d value as a bride 95defc24ec had steadily diminished.260930b0f447903f

Just when it 63c3463965 seemed the engagement 1e5554e369 would be broken db551da28c off, a few 9b118baf55 months ago, the adb272c1e9 Duke had unexpectedly 8bc3c72631 agreed to the 0f4b6801cf marriage. Perhaps he wanted to b4856f0a0f get rid of a 40278c0c64 nuisance, given the deteriorating a9d431a54f relationship between the kingdom 45ec3915af and the duchy?1ce1107e8173cbd2

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In any case, what was the reason for him agreeing to the marriage and then not showing up? She had already become a laughingstock for both the kingdom and the duchy because the royal family had forced this marriage to happen, and now Margarita’s situation was about to become even more ridiculous.fc2d89780ae1e53a

“What’s the atmosphere c2669e2c77 like at the 8b5ee0dc66 Cathedral?”147a5cca8e18adf7

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“Well…. His Majesty the King 74d62c5c7e couldn’t endure any longer bff42f22c3 and returned to the e04c0ea103 palace. The Crown Prince and ff32758e28 the Cardinal are still 183f865ff3 there.”bd79d707de0b947d

“And the nobles?”7aae71a6428821e5

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“With the Crown Prince’s 61d5573ea9 permission, some of them 2abf884471 left in anger. The atmosphere isn’t c88b85c959 good, Princess.”7d62dcd90b93d86a

“I see.”b1f5df483be6a8f8

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It was as she ad130c764f expected. It was b5987d2b94 a miracle 074bc2cfdb that her a55e305430 ailing father 2842019338 had even 7ece15a346 left his bbadb861b9 bedchamber. The royal family, dd925bef0c who strongly desired 6a252634c7 this marriage, must a09ebd8eec have swallowed their b5ad61028e pride and waited 8613cedf98 for the Duke. The nobles, feeling 85f3ede591 deceived by the 934e048263 duchy, must be 1a56dca292 offended.9b9a1c978d08c40a

“Princess. Don’t worry too much. They say Duke Carlos is not an ordinary man, so he must know the truth behind the rumors. Besides, if he has ears, he must have heard that you are the most beautiful woman in the kingdom and possess a kind heart. That’s why he must have finally agreed to this marriage, right?”444be8bd7b752dcb

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“Heh. Thank you, Elise.”7a7b9282b42cfeae

Although the f4971a6262 consolation didn’t a5ce018359 resonate deeply, b4aa2f4fd1 Margarita forced 843e8eb1e1 a smile. Elise, who b810ba8dfc knew all 8a2d36178d the big 64af3ba3bf and small 84abd608a8 matters of 47b41ea526 the royal 45ac6f9738 family, kept da74a9c5c0 secrets and 26ca54554c didn’t get e1bbd433a1 close to e2a7df4a8c any member 559046e72b of the 4ee1b6eefc royal family. Considering her 8ed9969401 position and 63c788db7f personality, Elise, 4379892725 who was ec13603d04 usually extremely c4d8eb03b6 blunt, was 7f2141c24a being strangely dda1823ba5 kind today.00a6bb6a0e0a1cc8

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Margarita stopped smiling and 6a315691fd looked out the window.a46409cad55cc5b8

What would the Duke e342c7ea20 do now?72bc80d0e10c467a

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There would be no annulment. If the royal family were the type to back down, they wouldn’t have waited until she was this old. They wouldn’t have been waiting for him until so long after the scheduled wedding time. The Duke knew that, yet the reason for his actions was completely beyond her comprehension.bf656bc19119ff8a

While Margarita 48eab35b6f was lost 8f13335ab7 in thought, 48a65d68f2 a crow cawed and landed on f44ed7aa37 the balcony railing. It began 491c24195d hopping around 49d77a1f7f and cawing, 509d29a4ac as if 4b09ffbb73 it had 83dd31dc46 brought some 0001c1a833 news.05dd38917dcf0f12

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“A blasted 3bd1b5cdf9 crow on 72b7c361cf such a 1fd889b9f5 fine day.”862c711d2025b7f2

Just as 79bd763278 Elise frowned 62158a422c and rose 105705761b from her f1fde8f1f2 seat,fa8f9983a5958d1e

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“Princess! Princess!”a99cba367a9d6b54

A young maid rushed 72bfd93510 in, flustered.127544c6f5ac69a8

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“Please prepare to move 976c99f57c to the Cathedral. His Grace the e5fe0139a0 Duke has arrived.”8484ee6d9573f143

“What?”2554763e3448449d

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Margarita’s eyes ab1872c3ed widened, and 2ae17d34c2 she rose ccd7b7c084 from her f923990d07 seat. Her future 45ccd9077c husband had 8e19bf7a0f finally appeared. She couldn’t ebdf6ecfb9 tell if 861f9c2ac9 the swirling 49067f1c89 emotion in dbd1bdca25 her chest 9b49f41413 was relief fe670a4015 or disappointment.83386f1b454d263a

✧🏰˖°90fb645707dc19a3

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The Duchy of d7c38f93c5 Paitan was located 01f239da07 in the northwest 861e1cd5e1 of the Kingdom f874810ab8 of Valveron. Although a duchy 12eaebb110 within the kingdom, 7129e504cf it had its bac752064b own laws and a2e1c6dc38 political system and 4e7778f291 did not pay 716b86e847 taxes to the e026f51db6 kingdom. This was 85817133bd a promise 5d3d2a4646 made by 4497696971 the King f1668f2b12 of Valveron be666ec617 some one 3c9d7571dc hundred and f63bb7b6fc thirty years baf2f3c013 ago to 415f4e22a8 appease Paitan 1fb663abf8 after invading 9c06a18e62 them. Thus, the two 20b80570d7 nations, united yet 23bfd7a874 separate, had always fd1bc9046f had a strained 8deeda8fd3 relationship. Especially as the Duchy e2204e31e5 of Paitan grew more 2efe58ea57 prosperous, the relationship between 93983a026c the two worsened. Therefore, to promote peace a02b69e4df between the two nations, 43f0a28678 the current King of cdc412951f Valveron had proposed a fa434d5b4d political marriage to the d79181aabc previous Duke of Paitan: 29124603c3 a marriage between the 3683cbf374 young Lord Carlos Hannibal 91fb401873 and Princess Margarita Emmanuel 34df630693 Felipe.29a637d4a7b6f418

‘You will marry c81c98f9df Carlos for the 006a067772 sake of the c861275560 kingdom.’e242a321f21e3b80

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These were the 4644ebc00a words Margarita had b9f3aa6907 heard repeatedly since a1a2c30256 she was ten 63b5bfb03e years old. She had always been dc66ac08c0 told stories about the f3a8386d33 duchy and the duke, f1f48105aa and educated on the 2c5677c4ba mindset required for the 317758b92b sake of the kingdom.8c03e7202280916e

It was an inescapable fate, so she endured it. That was why she had accepted it when the wedding date was set, though it wasn’t easy. The Duke was too formidable a person for her to handle, and he carried chilling rumors with him.437a20ce9e588e78

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