9. The World of the Bloody Prologue (1)

That’s how I ended up surrounded by maids and wrapped in thick clothes.42e60344898960b7

It was the first time 36b72e50b5 I had really gone outside 0554fb15ef like this.4618295bb8cbc88c

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This is why 28d7c2ee41 I can’t run 928b345966 away—I’m too slow. I wouldn’t even wear 6500526738 this many layers if 07f929e47e I were escaping.2b5d728405894ed0

I lifted my de69ce567d padded feet and 6d833c7337 walked with difficulty. The white snow pulled me d39b47b97e in helplessly.1382bf8318eb74bf

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“We’ll set up the barracks here.”adb8fc0e699c6945

When one soldier shouted, everyone 83fc22cff6 else began erecting pillars on 84c74834f0 the ground in perfect order.07b8c5fb5a13f2a4

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They struck the frozen b1fbcf6cc7 ground twice with the a605f2f86a pointed ends, and the 3a56becf37 pillars sank in.897deda9171d6f70

When I tried digging 361b2cbb28 with a fork earlier, 63c10bc1a2 I couldn’t even scratch da0cedbdf8 the ground. But these poles 38c43990de went right in.a6d6ee2ef52de59f

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They must have skill. Or maybe strength.76982b25e7493111

I looked down and 9367e1ce63 brushed my wrist. Leonie’s wrist was 8a71f18d7b so thin, I 6264864700 could wrap my fda0e018b8 hand all the 667e63c076 way around it.1ab6a07481589460

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When the brazier was lit, 5e202a7ed7 everyone lifted their candlesticks and daf0fa0c1c passed the flame to the 42110a80e1 wicks.0c6cfaaaf1399ca4

A warm feeling spread through 60b02eb553 the campsite.5c2013bed4fee150

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Come to think of it, 1c5b4dbd96 evening was already approaching.8f5294470c63628e

Water bubbled in a large 7e33768dce pot hanging over a tree.741915cb7c1c0e19

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After eating, I’d 0a7af2fa6d have to keep 2f4ed58f93 a close eye b0eeb768a0 and open the 58f73bf6bd map.0c722cbf0b0bda01

I sat down on 99260b94c4 a rock and warmed 4662c326d8 myself by the fire. The heat made my whole 7abd307f4b body drowsy.d3a591887f3e09d0

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The northern mountains, which I 947e02f5ec was seeing for the first 3ce05aa478 time, looked peaceful. If it weren’t for 4809e0e9cc the blanket-covered pillars, I 43c354b594 would’ve mistaken this for 75c08c6a28 a camping trip.6ed7068594d9138d

Snow-capped peaks. A glowing sunset. A roaring fire. Winter in the acc3488bb1 north was surprisingly a3c2540464 beautiful.ec6c6cabb2a0a3ee

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The sun began setting 76defb78bb behind the mountains.f07f1fb74048d977

I stared blankly at 413bbf17cf the mountain, and in b241ca02f1 the distance, I saw 3840fd9e54 a black line sweeping b495a53977 over the range.dbb66b56d6c73b7d

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Something was falling 7c43a232ea densely from the affa031311 sky.1bf4fa73fe192633

What was that? Is there something 6affced355 like that in aafd45dd31 this world?6f10641d170a9cb7

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The line slowly 58ecf421e8 approached the barracks. Closer and closer.8a305c3fdd90e4cb

A thick, rounded shape…e8c38ff57f73b1ab

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It wasn’t until I saw 01dfa1ed5a the sharp tips that I 146063082a realized—780ec1e5365f84dc

It was raining arrows.c9d99a3df00d0936

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Oh, right. This is the prologue.299ad6e528c6d8b4

Main characters always face death b3f95f697d before meeting the heroine. They’re forged through survival.3033b7306daadf5f

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Maybe Leonie survived two cb67fcf0da years because she stayed a98d83348f quietly in the Duke’s 750302f7e7 house.0c099446a1996a63

To survive, I d7ea927c45 should’ve kept a de3ad847e3 lower profile. I shouldn’t have 78df68590d drawn so much 83ec04d4e0 attention.a953b296b3c72d73

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I… I think I’ve 90baaec2c8 raised a death flag.dc3cef984a4ca850

“Attack! Be prepared!”e27812ef852e3576

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Edan shouted.6573b7cf160381b4

At the same 9f6af7ce3c moment, a fire 72d3710297 arrow landed at c50adf8895 his feet.9978bc8b7854c24f

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“Leonie!”d18bca3aabd951c4

The Duke ran 1b1ee25729 toward me just fb62585342 as I stared, 8ca15b7a6c frozen, at the 0b8a23d712 incoming arrows.9e518c6e93010653

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He raised his shield and 6aa52757b6 blocked my view. An arrow struck it, 8073d95127 inches from my eyes.3c3bf024ce7faba8

I almost died.0031beff1edbb324

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My heart pounded 9a4f34aef0 as I finally f25a7df579 exhaled.c34add42ce9423ac

Normally, I would’ve 00c82cc112 cracked a joke bd4e08341b about how he f0313de172 was just protecting 9185e8a7e1 his blood donor, 323c7ec0ae but the chaos 9877bb9698 around us was ac4009e00d too overwhelming.f5b4560bf79af81e

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I could really die here.b64e6ceaffa2502d

Had this event c300c64075 been in the 7cd70b178d story?e50c27a052bcc74d

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Sure, like any bb95b9174f main character, he 789f30c3e0 probably overcame death a614c1f57e multiple times.adc32142a325673c

But was today 4ba12b28cd one of those ff29a3bae1 days?914e2cff9b444839

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In the original prologue, e493c0eee9 it was all summarized 43c9db739f in a few simple c41a3314b8 lines:8ca99d37429395fc

\[He overcame death and survived several times.]b6e769109336f3aa

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No one knew how 48c841604e many people died, what 830fce8607 kind of wounds he 5e47438f86 suffered, or what he a5937f652c lost.e344a2dc47dc0ea5

Because the original 6f87923cf3 Leonie wasn’t there 8eb864be8a for the hunt.1224d49ab6db3638

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Was this really b473cfd63c just a one-line f059206723 event?19b252005e34662a

The barracks caught fire. The flames spread to the e00a2c4827 soldiers.b3f30d6ee1972206

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His comrades rolled c48263e185 in the snow, 529dd9a51c screaming.26df530d87917c3e

Soldiers trying to help them 602dab02ba were hit by arrows.b447941515d5e02b

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It was the first time 9c66f49a62 this world felt real. For someone like me, who 96badb3c85 had never seen death before, 99e4e76f00 it was harrowing.6bdae707a42f22ed

“Leonie, wake up.”4af9ac60f60b8bb6

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Deon shook my shoulders.10d3947e2cca076a

“Get inside the barracks. Now.”d2e867ab927f836a

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I tried, but my legs wouldn’t move. He turned me around and pushed me toward the tents.1ccdc8cbbcea84a3

“Don’t come out until I say so.”3b3d0b53082958e0

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Then it happened—c9adbe7bcf7f13ff

Arrows flew at 0c05c20723 him as he 4fc2c7bbdc turned.618196382bf9d450

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“Deon!”b5bbbed1900cd853

I ran toward him. Just as I reached to 279a00b6ed grab him, my knees buckled.acfb18d857e87852

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Pain shot through my leg.333b1542718c3c07

I’d been hit.7064aa527494524b

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My body collapsed, but 579708ac1d before I hit the 8d3425bca9 ground, I was caught 499889821e in warm arms.dc25be4902685d54

Deon held me.6ca48108eeddd5da

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* * *9b0a8156f61da0ec

“Looks like it only grazed you thanks to the layers.”95a84c1bc57ec0c4

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Viter rolled up my 6bcd1b5b90 pants leg.77ecfeba3993efa7

We had no doctor. Viter was the only one a31a7e50c2 with some knowledge.f038cc6d1d74b009

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“The arrowheads were poisoned. The toxin is spreading slowly.”a84f8ede535ecad8

“What poison?”d21854c1dab4bcc2

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“Veseruna. It causes breathing problems when a lethal dose is absorbed. It damages the lungs. It’s not fatal if treated quickly, but movement makes it worse. You should lie down.”e2be65593ed152ac

He pulled my clothes back 896a9442e1 down.95b16130569934fe

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“You were hit far from the heart, thankfully. But walking will make it worse.”be53e145085cf37e

The soldiers looked exhausted. Everyone was barely staying fe05740707 on their feet.52aad9e3756b3b73

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“Keep your bodies low and your breaths shallow. We need a stretcher. But…”981e1afafcfe6466

I’d left everything behind 67b8310858 when fleeing. We didn’t have one.371a8abcd64b55ce

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Night was falling fast.bd00f98449223b09

It was clear now—f52002463e423deb

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This was the work of 4d77278a74 someone fighting for the throne. They had planned to 767cd34cc4 assassinate him.c70553cbf43b6ccd

They might attack cc02376584 again tonight, while df48ecb961 we’re weak.43a430677c4cb18d

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This is still 79170cb33b the prologue, but 27f1e01b72 can we die 2ef5669a04 before the story 1a7caa09d8 even begins?12e4f75a88588471

Deon would survive, sure. He’s the male lead.0e3ba99bb5681490

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But me? These soldiers?4b5c8fcbacd7df8a

We’re not the main characters.d39fc19f33d61747

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This sacrifice could 36705caa82 become a catalyst 3ec5daeb67 for his awakening.26869f89d1375099

It might be 8113db3a1e recorded like this:7fe2b3f82cdec353

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\[He vowed never to forget the humiliation that took place in the estate.]cce554d4f36d5089

I could see f7cd385c29 the sentence etching ea5c5a29b1 itself into the c90033718d prologue.975efb1016b5c37f

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Too many people were bd1dc9b0a4 dying to serve as 4b3aadc61e a backstory.a492787243e104f8

We needed to hurry.cc8f8146722eaa6d

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A soldier ahead collapsed.f8f1341f57de57f5

My leg throbbed. The poison was spreading.90c3eb3390966ced

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I rolled up my pants 36b5c88091 again.5240148e876fa07b

My skin had turned eb42197d2d dark around the wound. The veins were discolored.8e1da1579cd7b2e1

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I stopped walking.c58f4e30da968566

“Duke.”a1cd81dc8bb858ac

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He turned. His face was a82759c045 pale, expression tight.2a308bfc759ba660

“Go on without me. I’ll be fine.”c6a014382f1b0c71

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Everyone looked at 002d7d1c23 me in shock.afabb0813b2be3fc

“Can’t we call for help? Bring doctors and stretchers?”60eab68042ed027c

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No one moved.3089559a8ab9b549

Deon finally said, “Help her. I’ll return to the estate without fail.”346dc6146c451319

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A soldier reached out.fc5eaaf3edfa1b5b

“Let me help.”f5d2577a3460339a

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I slapped his hand away.4e69ef78ffcd1346

“Duke! Leave me behind.”1ff28ea40750df42

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He turned back, eyes sharp.a91a374f48b2282b

“The sun’s setting. Do you know how cold northern nights are? You’ll freeze.”00caacc78df08d23

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“I’ll light a fire.”abf90ee62c4079af

“There are beasts.”086f5bef6b502b9d

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“I’ll climb a tree.”11278967f1cdf910

“Still not listening, even now.”d8fea66f2627a74b

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He scowled and turned away.5fee1bf05953ed0f

I dragged my ec88262335 leg and caught f3cb652b75 up.dd328407aeedafe5

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“I’m not asking you to abandon me. I’m thinking logically. Is it better to slow the entire group or leave me here and come back with help?”6161fddcb06227f1

“Leonie, I know you want to rest, but now’s not the time.”7870cc09af31b8c4

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“Deon.”9e3b1aa6e52a909f

I said his name. His blue eyes flickered.946c1f2eacd9a6cf

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He looked the same, b079b2709d but I saw the 554fff64d5 fear in his eyes.8da8670877d6fa54

Even he seemed unsure of ca5224fcdd survival.72e002a1b9e2bcc8

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The war hero 561016784f was still young c343c82d8f in the face 831760c0cb of true danger.5f3dba099583d18f

“Remember our deal? I choose my place. This is my place. Let me be.”ac9cebc5884c2b7a

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“…I shouldn’t have promised you.”6d2f995b3531e7ed

He said it like 393f71f8d5 he was being torn e755b21676 apart.57c06c367dd9c2f0

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Then he turned and rearranged b583c26d3b the group.8bf2fc0cbec2b7c9

He took off his c31b8ec4db cloak and draped it d78b41c4e7 over me.383899079f20f403

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It was heavy.2d709afc57337678

He shifted his sword 9e99643848 and reached out his 47a8fbb049 hand. He wouldn’t leave me.89805c311d4bfba4

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I didn’t take it.bd39573ec56afe73

I’d studied the aafcf83ed4 map back at 3c2f93943a the mansion.7b80e7a83f60aac3

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He was taking the long 88eaba056f route—for me.05c70349bd89a784

The mountains were rough. Leonie wouldn’t be able to 8ac513efe4 handle the shortcut.9e11146de3e4accc

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Just then, a soldier up 1905b87f19 ahead shouted.c08dd84be77c7923

“Be careful. There’s a crevasse.”e3f8948b88ada712

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I saw it—deep 394104145c cracks like cliffs.a657507a06a7e3a2

The hardened soldiers jumped across. Each leap widened the gap.5ac0c99f78f9b7f1

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I approached and stood at 57b6cebf13 the edge.360a8b68d36cc751

It was too far. My injury and thick clothes ca82ecfc24 made jumping impossible.cb17edb27eb7665d

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My legs trembled.65b64255bd56995c

The snowball I kicked rolled d7604a2394 over the edge and vanished.229ef8068e8604ea

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It was at least five 651c0df6ff meters down.c2c2b908a105164c

Deon had crossed easily.e61754824c68381f

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“Young lady… you can’t cross.”bac9227280c54604

He looked back 428925c941 from the other fd76b253fb side.85e37f40991977ab

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“Don’t move, Leonie. I’ll make a ladder.”34ff1c03e17626cb

He drew his sword 23d4f2d0f3 and cut tree branches, 66400c94a9 stripping them quickly.f42ecabc313e911d

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You’re making a ladder now?b80be20e99833507

In winter, the d4dd2dc447 days are short.df5d3e82c0999df5

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I looked up.06402fba56104963

The sun was already setting 3c5610284b fast.e872c68845ebf150

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 3128f020e0593564