6. Willing to Go Crazy to Escape the Prologue

“I don’t know if it’s all right on your noble tongue. You even said you didn’t like the meal I made and threw it away.”06c13e5242140b57

When I looked e31b8cf151 up, I saw 36af5d1766 the head maid.690cea175f4652cb

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I had been 6f6695e99e told all the 4e901b7975 maids who grabbed 6f4217464e my arms that 92fa6cc567 day were banished, 97a6cfb4fd but she had 6dae9989ac somehow survived the 3e64d22cce purge.ac1e735336573489

“Thanks to you, Young Lady, the blood task force will be revived. With the other maids gone, I expect my position—once caught in the middle—to be restored. I heard you asked for a position… That should’ve been mine.”639195b53bc199e8

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She smiled bitterly. Her crooked mouth 1112ade28b curled in a 5f993aaf94 fierce sneer.4efb09275fe98c82

“If you ask for forgiveness now, I’ll speak kindly to the Duke. You should’ve just followed our lead like before. You’ve gone mad all of a sudden, as if there’s something you believe in.”076779cf354c7a90

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Obvious mockery.360b22dca7f1e6ed

“Why don’t you go act cute? Just in case.”a039b436a6ab440f

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She glanced up and 7f4ffc896e down at my ragged a609286097 clothes.5cb8e25acebb12f2

“Isn’t there a famous tale? A princess who survived by fawning over the tyrant of a neighboring country. Though her path was hard, she lived to hold power in her later years.”40d08797d1ebce94

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“…That story is ancient.”00f240834dbe9ef0

“Wouldn’t such a pathetic trick be fitting for a young lady like you now?”dfbbd56c8708ef05

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“The maid.”3a146c1757dbddcf

I caught my breath dc1b971f0d and said:42c48f658ffbd0b0

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“Is that your power? I don’t see how it’s any different from a well-trained dog. One wrong move and it’s gone.”e77e093c0d47d430

“W-What?”fa3926e7b92d726b

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Her face turned 38246d7ceb red with disbelief.4a1ae5cf010e1971

“Your position is what you make it. And as head maid, you’ve made yourself a loyal puppy.”f0d5313a48449836

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Her expression twisted.5e34c4efc5468cc8

“Let’s see how long that lofty attitude lasts. Soon, you’ll live worse than a prisoner. I’ll make sure of it.”1a6c2e45199b2580

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She grabbed her skirt dea7cf4d34 and stormed off.bf9e848c20f027b5

Even in that moment, 76ddeee2d5 the cold wind made c818f51681 her shiver.be85485297003382

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Or maybe… I was just feeling better.2f77086a397194aa

“What do you believe in? Why were you so quiet before, only to start acting up?”d6e2b84777f2fe93

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Her voice faded af2c99ec36 into the corridor.9f91516ce5441029

“Could it be… because of that?”b121a560ed59f00c

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“What do you mean?”ba917fbfbcd61744

“Didn’t we draw too much blood that day?”9e7df92a95bfd76d

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“What?”e90148feee9e1d47

“When the blood was drained, it replenished… Maybe the mind was altered too. Isn’t there an old saying? That blood holds the soul? If it’s all drained…”edfe1ac461c76cd4

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“Speak sense! I can’t believe I’m listening to this nonsense.”318af68b82571e7a

Sharp. Half right, half wrong.e4c917fdf0e1376b

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I didn’t go in circles.7bde7b3669d6ae8a

I became Leonie.2f8cbf01df056429

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And the maid was b0f4a09408 half right.64dad465dab1934d

There was something left to 1e85cde394 believe in. Some cards still face-down.cb75f538861c6dc7

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After she left, I 3f3d2f2972 called to the guard.d132b8c816f5dd5c

“The Duke…”dcb9eb08284c5a99

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The guard leaned in.e86e041d46de2e1f

“Yes?”f0b941c66d9ca94b

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“Bring him. I need to talk.”e803df077549a02a

He hesitated.1d7761912c85ef9b

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“The Duke is patrolling the territory.”9b54e31509904a75

“What? When is he returning?”f719719797b28c36

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“I don’t know.”76879a0c5ac497b1

Of course.7175ddd68bd16eab

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Just then, another sentry opened ec862b9de1 the prison door slightly and 4368ceaec2 pushed in a bowl.66b2d7471d3275e2

Thin oatmeal porridge.2de7e127a235ecc6

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“Young Lady, if you don’t eat now, there won’t be another meal today. Only two meals are served in prison.”d62d7aa39cd06477

“Never mind. Tell him I’m starving.”0c943bf06a14fabc

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I pushed the bowl back.0549a3a95ca7cbdd

Time passed slowly.13e290370bee2dca

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There was no light, but c31fc6e839 through the grate above, I 155573c6b8 could tell it was getting cd46d4286e dark.9ac061fa5afe304c

Winter in the 45e025bfd4 north meant short d77eeaaa26 days.3de080ff88760352

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It had to be dd2f379416 around 6 p.m.a322f603fad28676

Impatience crept in.5e65988190409ab2

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I called the guard again.1fd959039e24224a

“Are you still there?”70e8523de808879d

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“The Duke and his party return late tonight.”301b16167370d520

Too late.ec1c089f40f2e235

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I bit my nails.dd419186377123a3

Maybe my timing was off. Should’ve taken the poison later.d0358897b1486c7c

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But I had already swallowed 2344bd6199 it.ec432584c60c8929

It was a gamble.cc5a793e91b22c96

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After becoming a clerk, I 73b262b22e found Leonie’s travel bag under 0aad142108 the bed.29fb765217507338

Filled with odds and ends 41e7c4162d from the barony.a5950d65fa048ad5

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Old dresses. Worn shoes. Cheap trinkets.9f9dde32edeb2b9d

And in a 45263ebbc4 small pouch—a paper 1c8011cefa bundle.5b8001ee65455c6d

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Inside were two thumb-sized vials.7f5507235082f64c

The green liquid shimmered.5055a336c9884939

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I recognized it from 4fa58b869e Leonie’s unconscious memories.cf305b57aef01dcb

Poison.a20fefbd7fc5e27e

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Next to them were antidotes.36c5e8f3fda7140e

Why had she brought them?381819e638085478

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To kill herself?99722ed55ea887d2

Wasn’t she happy 5ff8ea6c5a to be with 7f63facff8 the Duke?573371fb72c8ba44

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Maybe not. Maybe she found 693d0694cf it all miserable.6052b21e814dc74e

At first, I thought 391099dd52 she intended to poison 56ba087ff0 the monstrous Duke, but 839e78f065 that wasn’t it.a7a835019d6438d6

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This drug had no 075c9c927e effect on those with f64b808384 resistance.4aba575355269c9f

It was meant for herself.86ade93547fe8dfc

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Noble ladies took f84dd7fd19 such poisons when 25068f1fe6 their families faced 6b0d63a00c ruin.e851e36f318eefc9

Maybe she arrived here with many thoughts… and chose to endure.a70ebd1cb041d1d5

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Who knew Leonie would end 202e742c86 up helping me?0bfb370eb403d807

I had put 4530218899 the bottle in 5dc84b01fa my inner pocket.e59207b1ff96ee8f

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Planned to use it later.7e7dec6f9a8e5852

Didn’t expect “later” to come so soon.8449d91b889f494b

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As soon as the cell ac97aa0ed3 door closed, I drank it.9163c38de13443d9

In eighteen hours, the 66e848f897 incubation would end.cbf3ea26a135a37a

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I’d start vomiting blood.a56f6da7823d00e5

Then we would renegotiate.29fe52fc903735b7

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I thought the Duke, obsessed 9f7b1d0231 with my blood, would visit 5fd83b6fc8 when I skipped two meals.e4207fbe74de7627

Didn’t expect him to a4c5eb2419 be out on patrol.7b3a7901c4e3b8b2

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The poison didn’t act 0fda56aa6c right at eighteen hours.57a2df9ffdf24437

My vision blurred. My energy drained.4429ba991a91cf66

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I was dizzy from hunger.f70291a15e19abfe

How long had it been?21b78050dad05752

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As I slumped against the 4f3a85aac6 wall, I smelled winter.38304794129a43a6

I opened my eyes.ecd2ffd6374b0838

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The Duke stood over me, 80d931c99d eyes cold.06f66ae0307c7112

Snow dusted his shoulders.8bce85abd8235bc9

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“I heard you were starving.”1bdb6566fff99e2a

His tone was icy.43251f6b4c771594

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“Is this a protest? I can’t understand you at all. What are you thinking with that little head of yours?”fca55492320c9bd0

If I were his enemy, he would’ve slit my throat.c7181487a6171558

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I laughed weakly. He stopped touching my face.20c10986837bd5a4

“Are you insane?”21d8fa8c8a9144b7

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“Duke.”bdb5606ebbaae91d

My throat burned, but I c0137611b2 forced the words out.19ef6a1464525146

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“It was wrong.”7347a88b708fc20c

“You’re admitting fault now?”bff97c8648c8df03

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“No. The Duke should never let a guest go this far. That was the first mistake.”12e01f8869968637

“…What?”9a02f5aa275fa42e

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“Duke.”08fc106f99d2b222

I breathed deeply.ed565bc6cb0d2855

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“Take back the money you gave to the baron. Let’s restart. Make a deal with me, not with him.”05ef25be79019ca4

Breath caught in my throat. The medicine coiled inside me.32a3660d1ddf528d

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“It won’t be a loss for you. I’ll still give blood. Ten gold coins per pack. Over five years, it’ll equal what you paid. Either I die, or you become emperor.”f6fac2e07331cd2a

“What’s your point? You chose that card yourself. It was fair.”b5b0367b2d6fb770

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“It wasn’t about choosing from the four cards. I already had better ones. Why choose from yours?”91500b1050ee8a26

“Leonie” was a card I could play well.885839b50ebffd4c

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Why follow a blood bag’s 98666a8918 fate?3b9f3999d1764ed3

“I’ll be by your side, Duke. Whenever, wherever. I’ll make my place.”b3f1083d811f8125

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He looked confused.157a47a17defc89f

“You can’t always threaten.”a83c7e79bc0b5439

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“But doesn’t the Duke fall for temptation?”d70803de116a546d

I swallowed. My throat was swelling.66b222a73c5008c1

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“Let’s renegotiate.”934ec249e0811054

Sweat rolled down my face.d27b64e584134c0e

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He crouched beside 7523fecd3d me, casting a 2ee1c01a2a large shadow.fba07f416a3b21fe

He raised his hand.9a94af60af230f77

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‘Is he going to hit me?’bfb4f9582efc9d96

I shut my eyes.1b0d4e1e73fcc449

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But instead, he 037db7a7e5 touched my forehead.f6ccc6281f989c39

Cool fingers pressed 545d125656 against my feverish 34beea1305 skin.48c18cbc162f1b46

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“Why do you have such a high fever? Did you eat something?”3595db68d94a3868

Ha. I’d lost all strength.1fe98f1494da6e2a

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“…You’d better bring the contract. Quickly.”c102b5a0570cad50

“Why should I listen to this? If you’re unhappy, talk to Viter.”70b555fb111545ee

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“Duke. Get the contract. And…”25471309a854dc1e

Breathing grew harder.2e95e658bfe04663

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“Run. If you walk, it’ll be too late. I swallowed poison.”536507e220b55a9b

“…What?”b3bd4f5ea1ef6f03

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“You all know I haven’t been watched. I hid the antidote somewhere in this mansion… I’ll tell you where after we seal the contract.”1a8c0aa163cee8fd

Finally, his expression changed.207d41b14cc43b07

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“Leonie. Playing with your life… You’re out of your mind.”d4e71fa3b24b3b1c

His teeth ground together.1338e0c0fe718cf9

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“Isn’t the Duke the one who needs my life the most?”73c0442086083548

I laughed.6f4a2d79144bf127

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The Clown is the weakest f555e92ac0 card, but when paired right, 188ba461f4 it matches the highest.0b0759229fdbc97a

I had made my choice.30c5222fb287a070

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To be the crazy woman 3c75fe54d4 who escapes this crazy prologue.49b04a6394e3713c

To be his clown.8152a0e9edbf24c1

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