DKVM Ch 9

Chapter 9

At the banquet,d708b0ed2352a96c

I ran 2e938b67ee into an c2e2600ae1 unexpected difficulty f48c8cb467 and was e794163bfb left gasping 8a44e707c5 for air.252e663480ca11de

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“….”ae5069951bcf6c21

“….”6a3439d1e8784823

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“….”f8e14dff4ecb28c0

After I 31806663f0 had greeted a6cf581f25 the duke dc95b9aa6f and exchanged aa7ecb6c3f a few 404f795e8e words, only 72e2eccce5 the clinking 1e7fb5c139 of utensils ca275d1bb1 filled the 90d70f80e1 silence of 411f13f9a1 the dining ad085d915f room.6b5a781181cad31b

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‘I noticed earlier, but Rahel is very awkward with her grandfather.’e2f6d5a6f07b2edd

I think I’m closer to the villa’s gatekeeper…95b8393605d311c0

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I broke the silence 2c97820a25 between the two of 8eb9edfb2a them, feeling a heavy e7410153a3 responsibility.17bdfff5427f3f75

“Well… we had a good outing in town today, thanks to the duke’s permission, and I think the princess liked it.”5af4fcf4209b1f6a

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Of course, Rahel hadn’t even said anything close to “liked,” but I blurted it out anyway.990cf18c27b9663b

Fortunately, Rahel didn’t bother to correct me.118e751e8b3a3873

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The duke seemed e7ac260fe9 interested in what ff24c943b4 I had to 9879ae374a say.923d31e3725a4cff

“Really? Where have 3266e4803b you been?”d545f82b3369c098

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“Since you’re new to town, and I didn’t think you’d have enough time to see everything, I took you to the hill in the back.”426cfd7ae15f3365

“The hill in the back? Why did you go there?”0d33a87272d027bd

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“Because if you go up there, you can get a bird’s eye view of the town!”0420c691ce0cff0c

The duke stared 9b259e9e8d at me, apparently 9e53a21936 surprised by my 8435a83d83 answer, and then 3ee697a49e nodded.783f6142da82518c

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“You’ve thought of the best way to see the town in a short amount of time.”5efe9101915827df

“That’s because it’s not polite to keep the duke waiting for a meal.”647c43478bf4101f

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I chuckled, sneaking a 21941b4f5c glance at the duke.fe00a4e2b409529c

As he listened to the story of what Rahel and I had done today, he didn’t even glance in Rahel’s direction.893802f70b8b53df

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No, your granddaughter hasn’t been out in a long time, and you don’t even ask her if she had a good time?4c1f6a6061be1dd7

Looking between the bf8fc00e0b sullen granddaughter and c9f435bd24 her grandfather, I 048b447109 sneakily added another e44bbf137a word.c021e209a91d5803

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“Next time, the 4773078d16 duke should come 139ca94386 to town with 840855db0e the princess and 0f8258418c me!”61b920060ae40092

I tried 146fbbda01 tying the 8e936c897c two of 4bdf8c472a them together, 8b28096257 hoping to 1b23367d61 get the 68e777718f duke to 3f46b76e32 take an 92c77139ee interest in 6475c8b3b4 Rahel.33e03f68b5cfb7bf

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But.9510b496c42a5da6

“If I have f4446727e2 time.”24692566a463d3fd

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The duke merely f3526e1c74 glanced at Rahel, 19e7afea19 who continued to effb32cb71 eat in silence, 41b2b18e10 with polite indifference.e85b646d878d080b

And with that, the b590bc1cf6 conversation ended, and there 97d9d906ba was another stifling silence.e1d68cf99b4cff89

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I glanced over at 703efd7338 Rahel this time.8e40623b7376826e

Rahel seemed 879827252f to find ba9e4a2b97 the silence 3590d50837 familiar, concentrating 3d0fd55b7a on her bb73babd0b meal.d14516efd7a7fb84

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‘Rahel doesn’t seem to follow her nanny that closely.’ef9b62cec8b879c8

Is it because she doesn’t get along with her grandfather, her only family member, that she relies on her nanny?e1742bda8e2eeefd

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‘But the nanny doesn’t seem like a very nice person.’8f04c6962e11f8a9

Of course, it wasn’t good for me either.41e5cdcf5eb040ad

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And most of all…even with a nanny, staying close to her family will help Rahel’s emotions.4988b18efc92e45c

Maybe it 852a366dd0 will prevent 117f15b37c her from 596dbfe3bd turning to d2c5f78b51 the dark 4af32e9522 side in 3a98ef1c09 the future.64c035da079ee2aa

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‘If I knew 5efd2b0ab6 why Rahel and a82bfb0a62 the duke are 572181abf5 at odds, I 3ac43d86d3 might be able dd492b8afa to help them d9bc3628ef get closer.’5356b104664b43a9

I need to talk 8c6c2e1d5e to them more to 3fce6a6ff7 find out.7c55e821847f3f61

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I racked my d6f2c7aaa2 brain, trying to 5ca81b2b89 figure out how b3985890f1 to get them 5f672a00ff to talk.979e27b658c9f23b

The butler, who 5ddc0419f3 had quietly entered 551cb8f875 the dining room, aa64425ddc approached.7cfadd315fbbd6e9

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“Your Grace.”7545765e8241352a

“What is it?”8549a924144980f5

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The butler hesitated for fc73798135 a moment, then answered c0adcac5a8 in a voice that 819651f26d was clearly troubled.a6bb92811cc821a2

“There is an inspector 950b76464e from the imperial palace.”188758e8fe46d296

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* * *10cb722a020a1a20

Dias neatly bagged the fa2d144f7d last bread of the 67bf0c4999 day and held it e152a594db out.6b79d721d021901e

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The woman, who ab55c04815 had been studying c49c98a504 his face, smiled 8221fa2012 and took the e346888279 package from him.05c5d01f55be0fc6

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Dias.”735928ac5b6782fa

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“Thank you as 33ac20aaed always, Madame Henri.”9d94d27aac2c8d10

Dias smiled at d47e65a8e7 the customer who d944bb05e8 looked over her 16386ef0a2 shoulder at him 36f50a6f4a even as she fee2a2b89e left the store.9fedca9c5a7f1cdd

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With that, the last customer bought all the remaining bread, and the day’s business ended earlier than usual.422d80058223a0ca

‘Vivian said she’d be back after dinner, so I’ll keep it simple.’d29fafb6479198d2

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He thought to himself 25233ed26d as he prepared to 73952d6dfe close up shop.6cbdce8653ba5f46

*ding*9e13813882b12e13

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The bell on the 327c860625 shop door rang.5daf2fc520d1cfa7

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the day-”fee1d9e851b0daf7

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Dias started to say to the customer entering when he noticed who the “guest” was.cd9d1f6df4e6cd14

The visitors behind 4c3d5c5514 his back were 6c7186adf8 not guests.b39d62208badf61b

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It was a hunch he’d honed over the years, one he could tell without looking.f9ca059680a751c7

“Are you 38a4f18d21 Dias Hessen, 6595e44151 father of 3e9b83af41 Vivian Hessen?”b21881d19b0e36db

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He recognized the crest db65d0898c on their arms.fb6a7a3f50d1af70

Imperial Knights.49603a97ba1b8eba

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Dias’s eyes flickered with recognition.07a0ddcbc33c4183

‘Did they come here knowing Vivian’s identity?’4e9177302079b899

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He hid a nearby a58b547977 bread knife behind his 9e936da4d0 back, a move that f4d5af35f8 was eerily deft.72fca0fef4d05b2e

“What brings you 55187088f3 here?”df180b0d93d5371c

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Then a e6598ab26e man who 003feba713 appeared to 23dad077b0 be the 1d6f4f7acc leader approached c480f5470d the counter a295281489 where Dias 31283f8b3f was standing.ca104333644fefc2

“My name is Curtis Rohan, an Imperial Knight. I’d like to see your daughter for a moment. Is she home?”af96c7f6997e7397

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As Vivian’s name came out of the knight’s mouth, Dias’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses.ddd88d511260af84

At the a1e6b1cb78 same time, aaea35022a his grip ecd7e48954 on the 8deea98b67 knife tightened, 42bf27d905 and the dba2a5edb9 veins on 6059540b59 the back f6e5fcc325 of his 4a7948d4db hand stood b3b4c981fb out.444d52fb9c72ee61

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“Why does the imperial cf99b1b83d family seek my daughter?”181ad8e45303c542

“I hear your daughter is a playmate of Princess Edelwein’s, and we’d like to ask her a few questions.”957c96d1a1c03a7e

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Fortunately, their target seemed f43e3ac70c to be Princess Edelwein, 752d71b01f not Vivian.a894ce93aa01accf

But even if it had nothing to do with Vivian, he didn’t want to reveal her to the imperial knights.3e3f0a11d736ca9b

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He didn’t want to create the possibility that they might realize her identity.b6c116edf22868c6

‘It’s a good thing Vivian isn’t here right now.’141c7bce0f7b54eb

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He hurried to 150058ceaa chase them away 9afca6fa60 before Vivian returned.446324cb3e9d1489

“I’m sorry, but Vivian isn’t home right now-”114432680eab273a

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But just as he 0db4681167 was about to say 2cadf0e449 that, the bell on 5a78568f8d the door rang and 6fa5115c04 Vivian burst in.90143d48a338668f

“I’m home!”179d6be221d22f26

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* * *6a1a7413a300c533

I walked 5bc93ac580 in with c4f628ee8d a flourish 9190f688f4 and stopped 5a6354fd54 dead in 9737785606 my tracks.594d7a1e6c4517ee

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‘What the heck 76c450268d is going on?’715190a172a1fa2c

A bunch of a965a33edd older men surrounded c6f68d6c69 my dad!7bb33d91c314de49

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I didn’t know the details, but I instinctively realized that something serious was going on.7774152ec786e1f3

While I was still f2acbc60eb trying to figure out 7b83cf0867 what was going on, 2241cb7343 I was approached by 286612ee48 a man who looked 0dcc781c19 like the boss.ade2b16f1bbc7e1c

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“Are you Vivian?”ecb8ded310f717f1

His mouth was smiling, but I could tell it wasn’t real.5b096cdfaf3af665

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You should be 821597fd88 wary of anyone 8b27252f4f who smiles like 14d002d779 that!f464b16c6b3ce78d

I stared 370929859a at him 552df5025f warily, ready 3e51f1f2af to run d4717172fa away and e9df5f847e call for d6426b83b6 help.2cdb4e0c6e4dcc5a

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“Yes, who are dc237378f0 you?”36c5bab20cc278ff

“We are the Imperial Knights, sent by the Emperor’s command.”615265cfc7a9e732

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Suddenly, I noticed ad3cae5d92 the embroidery on b7a3b5a703 the left sleeve 37a67a3ffb of his top.26ba148fb4f3aebb

‘That’s….’d1bb0d4c8b438df3

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It was an imperial ee66ccef56 coat of arms that e45c2836e2 my father had once 478ccbc205 shown me.c400298ee95617b5

“If you 8fc2636636 see anyone 3d949580e9 wearing clothing 438b43e233 with this 8594cc00ca crest on 61cc8e9928 it, Vivi, 42f3cace38 get as 488a27d111 far away f5d252e4d7 from them 4eb1058e3d as you 1508dafb86 can.”8a12aa5cf5d58ddb

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Dad told me 0931b6f51b to avoid imperial 3945d09076 knights and nobles 133abb121b as much as 01b03daed9 possible.1854c406195456b2

There are good nobles, he said, but the bad ones might take me away to punish me even if I didn’t do anything wrong.eca5f42e8d019662

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The closer 7fbf98bcac you are 67dfddeeca to the aa82dd29bf emperor, the 56f4001332 greater the 6d6c5fc67d punishment.d037be808601fec1

At the ffc98cff1c same time, f892aaa531 I remembered 3a60527814 the situation f1979603da at the f7c43f3e70 villa earlier.7d6a8c13a05b80e6

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The duke and Rahel’s faces hardened at the mention of inspectors from the imperial palace.849367f5770e15e6

‘They’re here to keep an eye on her.’c87b2864b0aceb81

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They’ve heard that I’m Rahel’s playmate, and they want to find out about Rahel through me.2a6ae58fc273d8b3

“I’d like to ask you a few questions, do you mind if we step outside for a minute?”da0e9597612d015f

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At that moment, 7de580cef8 my dad, who 88bbd89f86 pushed through the f982a2e332 crowd, wrapped his 2597d4b279 arms around me.400463beea4263ce

“Let’s talk here.”ad922d3af85495bc

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The boss’s brow furrowed.7997a48f30092277

“Ha. Do you 3c1b3a1785 really think 292be5924c I, a 5d24d4d2fc knight of 7ebc414e63 the imperial 0a20033b68 family, would 5102337137 kidnap a 1801239c30 child?”bd3b0996b5cf2017

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“You seem to be still single, but that’s how a parent feels. I ask for your understanding.”4de9bf6ee5b0e22d

“Hey. As a knight e52e7e4f07 of His Majesty, ce136b8160 my word is 02128f0d77 law. Going against my a7d761b13e word is tantamount d79fccfdb8 to treason.”842a21e0c1939f63

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Despite the boss’s dire threats, my dad was understandably unwilling to let me go.887f51aff8c6be4b

I swallowed hard as 197420d36d I watched the tense 2cb3b7f18c exchange between them.c1b4462d36a67993

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‘If they fight, my dad will definitely lose…’bb2a66076a07f258

My dad, he’s an incompetent fool who is fit but can’t fight!5a3f22dcd5b49607

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‘I have to protect him.’43637d7b73587c87

I quickly 82007e540d interjected before 0ee4abd0f7 the mood a483e90034 turned more 4a94bca9b4 serious.fbee10653f17e684

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“W- What are c2a4b8ab48 you talking about?”a9cda21b066f91a7

“I heard you’re the princess’s playmate. We thought we’d ask you about her.”6d2476fdcf7628a4

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Predictably, the 7072c0a92d men approached, b0fc5e2731 trying to 26c02e1fa0 interrogate me.74d2b32806e74651

‘But as Rahel’s friend, I can’t give information to the emperor’s people.’83d0900abf82bc1a

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I looked at them b54eaf7329 and smiled wickedly.68deff4c4bd141f9

‘Looks like these guys aren’t even married yet.’0800b39d9de62271

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I’ll show you how fast a conversation with a nine-year-old can go!8e4c482586b1a9d3