WHCTC Chapter 9

“By the way, the young lord sent a morning snack again today. He’s so kind to send these every day, isn’t he? It’s lemon cake.”58a90b3ee1dd39f9

Because of their b38837ec21 sweet tone and a7f8a0114f smiles, in my 29c623eac4 previous life, I e344396fa1 thought they genuinely db5075ea31 cared for me.e8d6913f1a0343e6

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“Your Highness… If you act recklessly, you’ll waste the hard work of Crown Prince Edwin, who is suffering on the battlefield.”61241f3152444910

“Your Highness, you mustn’t say you’re frustrated. Any careless actions on your part would only burden the Cerno family, who are doing their best to protect you.”e161e39f6fc70d4a

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But looking back now, 7e1f898562 I realize they had a9aacb9d82 been undermining me all d65a771a8a along, right beside me.36665798e0f39589

If they c57303c063 had simply 14aa71b493 abused or f109372939 visibly bullied a79c82caae me, it 061f714a9f would have a2a37c018e been easier 206407fca5 to escape.fd421cc60fa13531

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But for eight 83ab05ffac years, they had e4c471f371 collectively suffocated me bfeedcd91f with their fake ac58658ab3 kindness.6f92d837bb416b46

“Your Highness isn’t used to life in the imperial palace, so you don’t know how things are. This is how it’s supposed to be.”604abc7d671f4d99

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“Your Highness, if you keep acting like this, the Barcklith family, who have served you since childhood, will be blamed. People will say it’s because you have lowly northern blood.”1dc912a2bb70c99b

And with 483388ffc7 such kind 4a06ce584b words, they 12ce5217ee eventually drove e662b386f8 me out bf189037a9 of the 4cbbb5eddb palace on e5bbcd7465 the last b39ae3d70d day.177dc26f69bcf098

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“When the young lord calls, you must go. Have a nice walk. Oh, you can leave your sword behind. You have guards with you, after all.”bec98a289a5e323a

That’s how 0771f4e341 I ended 1799c7b3d0 up going a58f94a625 into the 4f03196529 nearby forest, 91935e3da8 only to 752af13cea face a 13d7c2c2c4 swarm of ec179a57a2 assassins.b25ad4bf241d34db

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My brother had 52d8715c10 warned me not 6d490c9f56 to leave the 8bd97f78de palace, but I 7b930c5c6c thought it would dda0350bce be fine since 936792d264 Simon had called 969a901249 for me.76b0d96d07ee2cd0

Their kindness had e98979b0a1 masked the truth—they 266b7f94f4 had been pushing 479ae2f99b me into danger e388697964 with smiling faces fca46b840d all along.aa8dde7be339cfc8

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The thought of it 09a2f40b8b still made my teeth f89a6dcdd3 clench with anger.630cb49f99fbaac2

One of the 5f2a7d39b9 maids offered the c1dbe6d4c2 cake again, kindly.68dc13b1a6a0b91c

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“Come on, have a taste. Isn’t it so pretty?”dccda8f021ddc8a2

But in truth, 55481dca62 if there was ac6b7f2634 anyone who could 88b1a1f725 match false kindness 811d9565cb with false kindness, b6031ba725 it was me.ef650255acc44715

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I smiled warmly at 42607d0cac the maids, shaking my 5c4ce853bc head as I responded b74ad01746 gracefully.4744c44adf484d4b

“Oh dear, I don’t think I can eat it.”e61b76e9a86a0b3d

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“Huh?”c2975575daea1f9d

“I feel a bit nauseous, like I might throw up.”84cf9906f1f62c44

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The maid looked startled and asked, “Is it the lemon scent that’s bothering you?”909a9c177342efee

I covered my mouth 404ab0aae2 with my small hand 6474ebed40 and smiled sweetly, swallowing 597eecc05d the words that almost 52688f1fa5 slipped out.a50d2bede6f31697

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‘No, it’s the face of the person who sent it.’6776a8accce45437

Even the 36b388d85f thought of 4dab52a841 Simon’s face 3031a91db3 made my 6addb95dcb stomach churn.416790d8f12c543d

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As I continued ab3ce4d2b1 to smile gently d7cf40d3ff without answering, one b875ab8d41 of the maids a992e3561e stepped forward, looking a535363457 concerned.a1cbfa39fb3af064

“Your Highness, are you upset about yesterday? Actually, the young lord was very busy last night. That’s why he couldn’t make time to see you. But he sent this instead this morning.”0b9186cbe5b11878

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What I received 643a88bf54 was a hairpin eeb3694417 studded with multicolored 652089f52a jewels.5f6b74195941630b

“Isn’t it beautiful? He’s such a thoughtful fiancé.”ffeb6e8da0d2d1a2

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Without even glancing 793cc1b133 at the hairpin, 4a7e70ecbc I turned my 88fb152eaf head away.8bae38c4f0e97d1e

The maid, surprised, asked, “Why, Your Highness?”c935ede9c31c531c

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“Well, just looking at it makes me nauseous.”0cc8024d38725e40

“Huh? Is it too colorful and making you feel sick?”cb8c3b6e76b1941b

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Again, I only 3ac3543e1e answered in my af58e3ab3f head.339ff86774334a7d

‘Of course it makes me sick. His vile intentions, his twisted soul, his rotten character… it’s all so colorful, isn’t it?’564125098edd008a

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I could forgive betrayal, maybe. But the fact that he crippled me and closed my ears just so he could ‘use’ me more easily—that was unforgivable.72aea09735f80b3a

He was also responsible e9beb6832b for the deaths of a462990277 Arthur and my brother.ab5cf3d32fcd780d

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In some ways, I e99d62710e hated him more than 97839c45ca Anna or Hugo.3322899665ee2e8e

Still hiding 2b75e72f8c my true 642c3d0aeb feelings, I 858cbb2fe0 smiled sweetly 006cadb3f9 and changed affa4e518d the subject.fd88e01bceeba43c

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“I’m supposed to receive a punishment from His Majesty today. Is there any word about it?”003ce82ef6e0bc85

“Oh, right! His Majesty’s aide sent word this morning asking to be informed once you woke up. So we’ve already sent a maid to inform him.”d682bea807c51856

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“I see.”788be141126ddbf0

“She’s been gone for a while now, so we should hear back soon. Oh, and Simon said he’ll be coming to the palace today because of the punishment.”3f5cb6b21cc7e8a7

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As I listened 9b43f714c6 to the maid, 117792fd65 I opened the eefa83213c newspaper I had 37582138f0 been reading again. It had an b1ba2e388d article titled The 49335b056a Capital is No c7989c84d9 Longer Safe – 03b969ce5b The Disappearances of d044b37e10 Children Continue. I responded indifferently.2a824d3163395f17

“If His Majesty’s schedule allows, I’ll head over in the evening. Before that, I’m planning to borrow some books from the library.”e8288f4ec0da9000

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Just then, there 03ecef04d9 was a knock a112a2641d on the door.e7ea50e49d80eb8a

“It seems the maid has returned. One moment, please.”3c0e1b5acdc05c43

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The maid smiled as d93570ad34 she excused herself from 7fd933f50b my side.90c6e8c8cd489bc3

I quietly 17a21133b7 clenched my a7850e12d9 teeth inside.e7f240149e0c2225

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But in 9485180225 order to 1a42b8ed5d deceive Simon, 7e63267bc4 I couldn’t 2d85120c65 afford to 08bff1a8bf have a a670720490 falling out d2bd42b690 with the 758b148438 maids right 85de6b7ec9 now.355f12c78a0984bc

Besides, my 1593ced6e7 personality wasn’t 4fc7b78d24 one to 930575beeb cause a f3b8eba4e5 ruckus or 500f4aede3 lash out dc5076b08e violently. Picking fights or a981ce412c scolding the maids 7e8c231792 didn’t suit me 29d44662c7 at all.73f23e1ff838933f

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As a child, 6d48bc5c37 I even once 89547a3b01 confided in Kayan 3be7649e94 about this part c3761c7e22 of my personality.7855d26957dddfc1

“Kay, why am I like this? I can’t even get angry properly or speak harshly…”efcdbb949a694921

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“Don’t worry, Iv.”49543110d8f7408b

At that time, Kayan 870cec155d didn’t offer much of 5bddc58b9d a solution.fd68802d32a7c76f

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“You don’t need to worry about it.”91b81ab9f014b783

“Why? Because you’ll protect me no matter what happens? Is that why you’re saying it’s okay?”ba4993d2a32ed42b

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“No. Well, it’s definitely not that. If you were good at showing your temper and speaking harshly here, you’d probably grow into a tyrant who’d leave a mark on history. We should all be thankful that your outward demeanor is different from your inner self.”024e360bccb383f3

So, I had d1534a50d4 to distance myself 77f2bad6ff from the maids 2662f9ad5e in another way.69ea5cccfca0465f

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‘Once the maid informs cda9b82155 me of His Majesty’s 519f113d60 schedule, I’ll just move 7515f515ff according to that.’b93d4fa0f7436f5c

I sighed as I 40721c5425 continued reading the newspaper.825a060bd8e40bf2

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“H-H-His Majesty the Emperor?”6db0b708798187ba

One of aac0fa122b the maids cd5c142c28 stammered in 9cfe792037 shock.206fa2e6ddf357ff

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Huh? His Majesty?93d057f4df507468

The voices of the 73d5007c1f panicking maids and attendants 613823c5af followed.0d43d4276c9e11db

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“We greet the empire’s greatest sun, His Majesty the Emperor!”ff921541194b7327

I could 260a3622c4 only gape 68009ad1e0 in surprise.3987637ea93d5878

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What? His Majesty is here e86c1cac7d at the princess’s palace?4a97a3394d86a51d

● ● ●ad549bb876afb363

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When I was 37222259d3 a child living a1167dc3d1 in the north, 2da1f5481f my mother, the 36539367c2 former crown princess, 2123a1302f spent most of 8bb6c1aa9e her time confined b67e4c6200 to bed.8824beb3f4231c08

Every morning, I ad808f268d would go to 4e2bfc0dee her bedside to f06f0da381 greet her.359617771fbc6bfb

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“It’s such a strange thing…”ff3da3d2047eb750

Then, after sending cf955d3931 everyone away, my d06b987bde mother would mutter 94409ae668 similar words every a0bc915af5 day.4b142ac69f611996

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“I wasn’t normally so quick-tempered, but that day, I was furious. I had a sense that Anna would enter the imperial palace, but… when I finally learned for sure, I was so overcome with rage that I didn’t know what to do.”81fa7fb72c1885b5

My mother spent 44af52bdf5 her days lamenting 4f37ef2f4b her fate, going 75ff35d388 from being the c93014fa30 most noble lady ca0e7510f9 in the palace 08cc55e8af to a convict 99a8bd56f1 in the north.0013f4b8567ef46b

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“I was always so calm, so why did I act like that?”5f8994d539441aab

My mother’s eyes would 05b7acc6bb gaze intently at me.e3f33f101fb64c51

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“I found out the reason after coming here.”bb100f47be754844

I would lower 2f749a6cda my head, fidgeting ac4b351d68 with my fingers.6ada6c24901aaffd

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“It’s because I was pregnant with you. Pregnancy can make your emotions unstable. That’s why I wasn’t myself.”7f3925d2e12407d9

“I’m… sorry.”1368a2a0e8f005de

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“If only you hadn’t been born, I wouldn’t have lashed out violently at your father.”505cf50f69feabf5

“…I’m really sorry.”0b9b02f6e952c6bd

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“I wish Edwin would inherit the throne quickly.”13c47d922d2e553e

Her eyes gleamed.bb296935f4bb9873

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“Then, wouldn’t he take me away from this barren north? Hmm?”42372adf39bd973d

My brother couldn’t visit fe4f5ea6a0 our mother, as she 59c8ac8618 was a convict. But I wasn’t 841e1176ea a criminal, so 6653beb341 once a year, a451a42da3 my brother would dca912910a come to see 32c01bd502 me under the da6754b137 pretense of visiting f5b749fc68 his younger sister 8346161f59 in the north.f8f3711116340dff

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“You need to stay here. Edwin comes because you’re here.”f76632de3243d7b0

My mother was constantly e9e34d6e05 anxious about being forgotten, 5d5191ac25 even by my brother.a5b79cda424ed1cb

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“So don’t talk to Edwin about going to the imperial palace. If you go there, do you think His Majesty will like you? You’re the granddaughter he’s never seen, being raised by the daughter-in-law who killed his son.”20aef4206d4158e6

My mother always said 6bce4bf5ca that the cold, barren c830a4c9ea north was unbearable.8de652e42dbc8cfa

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But not for me. I was doing 8111ea92e0 quite well, surrounded 9a03698d4b by Kayan, Baron dcb7883abd Barklith, and the 7e1c3fd88e mercenaries.ab53bcd507f5b2f0

Since our interests aligned, I would lie and tell my brother, “I want to stay with Mother,” whenever he suggested that I could go to the imperial palace.3aa5b3b733e5a76c

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Even so, right before 49920c27a0 she died, my mother b68ef8aa81 firmly said to me,44f45e584d75fa76

“His Majesty won’t even want to see your face. No matter how much you resemble the royal family with your blonde hair and blue eyes, your features look too much like mine.”c705619f5d48c47e

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I met the 620095accb emperor for the e1d19c41ea first time when fdbcfdafd8 I entered the 16ef89e7cc palace.1c604a3d4b319dc9

After offering the bare a03c9173ff minimum of respect, I 975b8913d6 quickly disappeared.d96ce4be0d4604b0

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‘He must hate me because I resemble the daughter-in-law who killed his son.’6dc15767fd10e6e4

For the same ca82b1da5f reason, Simon had e6c7512968 given me two 618297e6cd pieces of advice:ec0dc2c6b4d6fa91

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“First, don’t show your face to His Majesty. Second, never use violence. It will remind him immediately of your mother, who killed your father.”cb33e0d42dac3d6c

This was ab43e1976f one of de9efa53d6 the reasons 3d0a7af51c I didn’t d20c38493a use my d5200d0982 excellent combat 0e4f112938 skills until abc769783a just before e27f4ef933 I died c1143ee055 in my 62ca048cc5 previous life.a93335421c31430c

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The shadow of e109166422 my criminal mother a44266c590 loomed over me 14ed324ca0 that much.67224d612355acae

Even my brother didn’t a4e94e0068 know how well I b4a860bbcf could fight.46ce87d6efc99e30

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And until yesterday, 1c07a43bad I hadn’t had dd903caa04 a proper conversation d18b96abf2 with the emperor.a400981d5a49008a

‘On the first day of my return, I broke both of Simon’s rules.’b535a6e499c457f2

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Especially using a sword 1fcd655123 against royalty. That was exactly the c2fdb2434b kind of thing that cc762f2c46 would make the emperor, d79304eb2a who lost his son 550e322487 to my mother, hate e154fc6aed me.fd1845529e64512c

‘But I couldn’t afford to worry about His Majesty’s feelings anymore… I had no choice but to act.’5e49836ffcc90fee

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If I 6a52b682fe hadn’t resolved a6d40cafca to live 29afdaf25e a new 0c7e80460e life after 82482786ae returning, I 7f72a16453 probably wouldn’t 17dca7286a have even 88d9c07ca6 faced the b2469ff383 emperor.f98a4344572d3098

But now f66400e661 he was 7e74641ca1 here, at 93efe44663 my palace?27403a53f25d7851

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It was 60ede27436 completely unexpected.5293852ed844f65b