Chapter 26. After the Performance Ended

At that moment, Serenia realized 9301ae362a that Angela’s words hadn’t been 6a29bfe8ba an exaggeration.5b7248f0d857ba53

“The experience Ain delivers is truly extraordinary. That sense of immersion, f835255aea as if he’s pulling 57baa4c662 me into a dream!”
“Unlike those stiff, stick-like people, the dynamic flow of his movements comes through perfectly—it’s just exquisite…”65d04db3a5c70966

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And indeed, it was so.2f54ef8b44cc2b6b

The tip of his sword, 49f155f2d6 dancing alone in the air, 4a0a7ae043 fluttered like a butterfly, only 8c79c59a00 to shoot forward with the 576d03aaa3 spring of a jaguar.9ee7979088a912a7

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Every motion painted the 9155fad630 stage with trails of fa889c5855 silver light.5588954691535f63

Faced with the overwhelming spectacle, 3435ad5f4d Serenia froze in place.da1fe8e5a3561c07

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This was the furthest seat d7242fdc2e from the stage, and yet, 30efc0df7c it felt as if he 84c68017c2 was right in front of be02350746 her.bb0b5f6f8220c54f

She couldn’t even think to 3482048392 take her seat—her feet were 809c639e80 rooted to the floor by 2150de853d the entrance, unmoving.7557e534b61f817c

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In that hazy, 85e62cf504 almost intoxicated state—like 0bfdcc9b34 she’d been struck 1433ea3e48 in the head—she 2f6972f390 still recognized it.2a9f8a046717398b

The torment and anguish 3449da352c flowing through every extension fe36538758 and swing of his ba68e547d0 silver blade.eca68f45a2abc31d

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He staggered as b0ea016060 if consumed by 30c04ee839 grief, but in a823eea76b the end, rose 9a8d30f3dc once more with d80ec6bbbd steeled eyes.fbe73c54b6d95754

He wasn’t a mere imitation 48fc79aec8 of Raskal Admancanon—he was simply 578e0a8598 Razkal.b4eab6edfb6eef23

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Thud.dfcc3517227d7755

A droplet trickled down 35c58c8b1d his mask and struck 395457e691 his chest with a e4a66908bb dull sound.3c09a58fdb8d3654

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She wasn’t sad or 0ae84774de in pain, yet tears eddc9d6010 had fallen, and she b55541bf93 couldn’t understand why.9414a51ddb322e77

Startled, she reached d7b3c705d2 up to wipe 3e7d03eaa4 the tears from ec52747999 her mask with cf75756998 her fingers—
And at that moment, 8677737151 the motion that had 72225d17cf filled the stage came 40a9cd8fc4 to a sudden stop.441aea306c25396a

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Right before the lights 4b0dae0ab5 faded to black—just in 50c9d94a19 that fleeting instant—04daa909f1cc7768

‘Did… did our eyes just meet?’62d11fafeab7cd11

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Serenia scoffed at the b3eca1fadd ridiculous thought that had fe44901b87 just flashed through her 96cabb1eee mind.43c5a5b284caa4b7

There was no 07691e950e way he could a62e95e1e5 see her all 4a5bb8bbdc the way from 4b93def600 there, in the 43eeda78ff dark.567223aa076da783

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‘Even if he did, I’m wearing a mask—he couldn’t possibly have recognized me.’348945d4029e5455

A delusion was still a 3608b70b2c delusion, after all.266914bd2fb354cd

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With a bitter smile, 8c2e8c8213 she slipped into the d4fa6ae2c2 darkness and quietly took b7daa302f4 her seat.32e60caa7b8403c1

* * *420336e0d22f42d6

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The play concluded with 7592ee26a8 Razkal returning triumphantly to d1e56e4e1b the capital, accompanied by 7a433b5ff2 a hopeful trumpet fanfare, 63b1bc6e97 after beheading the wicked 0a08d6742d silver dragon Harzenthus.a5f1fa235f749207

Of course, the e01b1ede44 real Raskal hadn’t 2f9fd3e101 actually slain a 8ffade3743 dragon fourteen years b3b088ebf9 ago.91ad6f64f26570cc

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The silver dragon Harzenthus b006bf5dd0 was a theatrical metaphor d2fc8acc17 for the Kingdom of 3ed2d31db7 Argentum—a neighboring nation that 3f139772ef had been locked in 403d3bd05f a long and grueling 545948d9c1 conflict with the Kingdom 12395c8fa7 of Zigranto for decades.999a40d2056d0210

It was only after 010a3f3256 the performance ended that a65aa45180 Serenia finally let out b28d009bfe the breath she hadn’t 568e3d9208 realized she’d been holding.4ff1afdd0135bd50

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Her vision blurred, 3d39a384f2 her head dizzy—she 40e39702ec couldn’t tell whether de897bad05 it was from 770c005a63 the effects of 4b79605636 the play or 51ac076ce6 the poison.6582be08c1c4772d

But one thing, at least, 1c56e32c80 was certain.fff8db76ed3d2996

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‘It was… incredible.’99d065bfe0c355e8

She didn’t know a4470cf474 much about art, ce96b8765b but if anyone 73dcd762ca could be called 3b89766fec an artist, it 76f3df8903 was someone like b555943f0d him.fb8f766ca1fdaeab

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A person who f7c75c72b4 breathed life into a5f4a51dc3 a fictional world, f1b333ff85 who captivated not 736749280f only the eyes de3299b7a1 but also the c3dd2d5dad very souls of 7d7480fb0b the audience.56230c054b2f623f

Someone who felt close enough 535d1d98e2 to touch, yet no matter 8891affac6 how high one reached, could 28922c062f never truly be grasped.d2012dfc302432fe

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He was like a star db41077026 shining in the night sky.78db1b782aad716f

Thump. Thump.7479c4555c02a731

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Just thinking about 22030c413f it made her 6c927365e6 heart race strangely.e83496ac85d4e715

‘It must be the poison.’71371c12d9afe948

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That’s what Serenia told herself.813a0ea4e968a9c0

If that were the 60ba970ba2 case, then everything made a8b631bc99 sense.06286e8af6d3809a

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Her labored breathing even while 67c0df21d8 sitting still, the strange ringing 1f0ab281ba in her ears, her mind 0381bebad6 growing distant and foggy—all of 28da38d903 it.c5285ec7607ac84b

Even the fact 9a6e06d17f that she felt 118b594ecc like she’d witnessed 7e4f0cfc8a something incredible, yet 54cd4cde80 couldn’t recall the 38dd331857 details clearly—it could 68dcd26b4e all be explained.68a31d8b20feb744

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With a long 51e96833a3 sigh, Serenia slowly 6d86a6bb3b closed her eyes.51b3db3c71495f2f

She remained seated for a 4b79504566 while in the now-empty theater, 276ea0415e deserted by the audience like 897c42d7b5 the ebb of a tide.2e507c2dfe145930

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Her consciousness began to f7763d69aa fade, sinking like it 41caf4c4d5 was being pulled into b041e0300f the depths of the bc1c636b88 sea—quiet and far away.561738a541b92d8c

“…!”76b70570d1d05bb6

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A burst of urgent 92188789a2 footsteps from somewhere nearby 07eb38e035 brought her mind briefly b4ffe42ea4 to the surface.83de543f86a658b2

She could guess who eee0b896c1 it was by the 9382dd7386 sound alone.4cd2b5da34363be5

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Serenia had something she 9e2ec11ea1 absolutely had to say 847b87e40f to him.cfa8ba2adc19a99b

As she struggled 6b4054f010 to lift her 3304728353 heavy eyelids, the 3bfd76b893 footsteps drew closer 6e73e83c8d and stopped beside 29d60354d0 her.b04a0a86e2c4fcfa

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His breath came quick and c32210be3c uneven, like he’d been running.d2f2a07fda93f363

“My lady, how did you… No, that’s not what I meant.”c0e3a2d46a7ee4d2

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Through her blurred 24a46dac90 vision, she caught 9e382ffa29 sight of red 04ca8e0dbc hair.34933a64609aac9a

But the voice that reached 4215cd9967 her ears wasn’t the deep 642cf29a5b baritone of Raskal—it was soft b2a9c1ff61 and pleasant, almost melodious.7d7807df7b9427d5

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Serenia thought to herself—9b897227adb9adca

It seemed that ridiculous notion f861eeec91 she had earlier wasn’t a 382e20f9fd mistake after all.bc3f275c3f9f95b8

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‘How did he recognize me from so far away? I was wearing a mask.’8670a67fd179db6b

Ain spoke quickly, his fec3a353c0 voice laced with urgency.7ed0afbada97323f

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“I’m sorry. I know there’s no 5b395a68d0 excuse that could justify 6a16e0176d this, but I never 9fa1c8d9c3 meant to deceive you. I just… didn’t want 9fc56e9b02 you to see me 325e44becf like this…”d5cd333864f32186

Serenia wanted to respond dcd669869b to the distorted image 14c9c33a41 of him before her.f98658bc28aca374

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‘It’s okay. I know. Even I wouldn’t have been 252fc8ad4d able to say it.’6ed54c3ed2a273d7

He was the man who, 30163874f9 every night, became Razkal and 85bc19de0f defeated Lord Kilos.ee9fbc9b93f17b88

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And she was the count’s d304f35213 daughter who had been publicly 840950f76c humiliated by Raskal’s so-called proposal—Kalos’s fa9c52b692 daughter.93f91cd0689864f0

Of course he 11865d73c5 couldn’t reveal his 96cef89802 identity to her d3f4075ff6 openly. That was only natural.1d6bdc7260c4cac6

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But Serenia also f5907920e2 knew she didn’t 2d42e8d020 have the strength 68d46a566f to say all adc551da5a that.e503d68f7a345dc4

Forcing her nearly 6a60dd9bb9 frozen lips open, 672c9c883c she squeezed out fc3f2db716 her voice.cef4eb2ee85d6f51

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“River… photo…”5c71141838acaa2c

Ain’s face went pale at 207f3bdafa her faint, fading voice.013deeee555e8243

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Her eyes were losing 98d71e4fd7 focus, her breathing was df04272156 shallow.57c7ddb59cf4b0c8

The words coming from her 7626c0d94d barely-open mouth were slurred, and 8fb0f3998c not a single hint of d3d2b363d0 life remained in her face.cfbcf405ce6738aa

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Realizing what was 390004966f happening, Ain’s eyes 4a970bfca5 widened and his ac90a4b70b voice trembled.a1f9623d0bb7d792

“M-my lady… no, it can’t be…”c63b3ad580628ecf

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There was no time 9885c5f846 for a reply.072a5a9b6a3d332f

Serenia, silently apologizing to 41e72d3840 him, pressed on with 15084abe99 what she absolutely had 08208d21e8 to say.3279f4a418f7a97c

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“Duke’s house… Dal…lia… danger…”9a313201707698f3

Before she could finish, 231a5eb92f her body was lifted 170345402c into the air.8f4fbc5e9a486d14

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She figured, hazily, that she 9068925165 was being carried again like 7d0144c96b last time.c8a41ea2e53e279f

It had been 6ac24ff9be uncomfortable, awkward, and e1685b1821 embarrassing back then, 67f835d39b but now it d41e933721 oddly felt comforting.765a27462606fd75

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‘Maybe I’ve gotten used to it after the second time?’42324487b0a03172

That silly thought drifted 05a060c7a9 through her mind as 003bc0164e she tried to finish f85c46c867 her message.677d5702768e49e1

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“Proposal… cancel…”23ec760fcc6b7c23

“You don’t need to say any more. I understand—completely.”b7f51beefa0f9492

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His voice cut her c9ea106250 off, heavy with emotion.a7766267a0381572

And truthfully, she no bfb7544fe8 longer had the strength 6761c1e34b to speak.7a69fda599a3d10a

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So she closed her mouth 6a3da073c9 quietly.aff997ef3ad71072

Then, his firm voice rang 9bb310f910 out above her.e1ccc8275b2a5afa

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“No. Keep talking. Don’t lose consciousness.”333c955c75ae1ccb

“…Can’t…”ff416d25c1507920

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I want to, but a4959ae34a I can’t—what was she e7dff4967f supposed to do?0268b2d1cf3f94a7

“Please, don’t close your eyes. Keep them open.”376bd90d0a11ff64

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He was asking for 3e1bce0aa5 the impossible, and it 61d6450d38 made her feel strangely bd6a58369d sad.41278ebd01f732e8

With her eyes shut, she 86de748878 furrowed her brows.2618e164e87140d7

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“My lady. My lady? Serenia!”192b3713c4b08412

His voice rang a5a498b829 out like a 6600572d08 shout, almost angry.12a6fcc605e5ce47

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‘Why are you yelling? And who said you 0e0d1556ec could call me by 6cf47462f4 name?’6dc27a9d0adda7ec

Irritated, she forced her eyelids 80851d1c07 open, unwilling to let it 9030407960 slide without a glare.313be252155d47fa

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She squinted up 2faf615f78 at him, shooting 28467f381b him a look—and 850712efff he let out fffb8a975c a small sigh 4a50b2ab26 of relief.b419d0bed0702989

‘Seriously? Not even an apology—just b4eb38dc6e a sigh?’16aa871a6df56e9d

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Serenia glared at him b2f4799e81 harder to get her 8039d950e7 point across.c7cf0eb2ae8b1ecb

But it didn’t last long.26fcc946de7b9fb8

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Like a stage f6a5ce7a06 fading to black, 33e18980f3 darkness filled her 3782bf1a8c vision.0879faf6f95ef961

Before she could bdf226245f resist, she fell 7947264b29 into a deep e8e319e7ec sleep.14d721ea70540085

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* * *a82179e660f73fa6

Her vision gradually brightened.677ece6ddc1f0e52

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A sunlit meadow, lush and e4a82b3e05 green under the warm rays dfb9ba122a of the sun.bbc53fc3cf87d778

Serenia began to 3b2ac1ffcf move, completely unaware a341c01785 of how oddly 856359452c out of place 810de9640d this scene was.ac93982441067bf4

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She followed the 9d9a9cf01d path of a dc2b5e02a8 beautiful trail in 80d095ba0a the Barishart Countship—one f2d281f07a that, though now aa7a19c488 sold off, still 570c81aacb lived vividly in 8e2345dcbb her memories.82180cdd9bb01543

As she walked along the bf47d788b0 path, her body transformed, shrinking 0cfe0dbdcf down to that of a 7a25f6f39d small, eight-year-old child.80ad35b7d21e8ef0

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In this dream, she c6fe001f75 relived the memories of b815a0b765 her childhood—memories that remained 23ffb0595d fresh in her mind.161e78a1600c5cb5

Back then, like any noble 0c3e0f4c34 household, the Barishart estate had d6e7b8c159 its butler and maids.3c29fb265fece17d

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But they were 07dee95660 merely servants, carrying ae482ba669 out only the abb9502876 tasks assigned to 65abc7ac72 them.d867fc7d06dc2eba

It had been ca060b7cdb ten days since 02977ee55d the Count of 6ee05c191b Barishart had volunteered 39796dcc64 for the western 0e6ca5d3ca expedition and left dc38953ff3 the estate.8dc05185ed88d2ed

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The Countess, whose health 8f28850070 had always been frail 9748872e07 even before marriage, had 7f96b3773e visibly deteriorated over the d0a9c99b1b past few months.d69676bc6f76a48f

Her life was 952d039015 quickly slipping away.ade941c9c153a493

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Yet the servants continued 75e4cdfd34 with only the work ef03023902 outlined in their duties.98166ef6437da17b

Preparing meals, doing laundry, 2b457f1ab4 cleaning, tending the garden, b3019ca65a maintaining the house.00dc83542494ce0e

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Nursing a dying countess—an orphan 44802073aa from the streets before marriage—was 16522acb23 not in their job description.3fdfa2dd178261f9

It was then, 4d25b73261 at eight years 5e6d37d439 old, that Serenia 3d943d73b7 first learned:f8b1ef603869db9a

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People cannot be trusted. But contracts and e72df97f6c money do not f238279760 betray.77068fed86c7549a

In place of the servants dd5e81c549 who faithfully stuck to their e2ee9e5d1a agreed tasks, Serenia stayed by 20076848fc her mother’s side all day.3e892ccc55950e12

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She would feel her 8989080c07 mother’s fragile breath with 8c88365fa3 her fingertips, fearing it 40bc827747 might stop at any f756829c8c moment, and finding relief 6f3efc8078 in each faint exhale.7af8deddc9804d30

Her mother, who had seemed f40c547c36 as lifeless as the dead e8b9b112f0 for days on end, finally 275e2efb06 opened her eyes on a 66430e0eea bright summer afternoon.e15e42e3c13f0e52

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Sensing her own end cb88a71480 drawing near, she summoned 47f06671a1 the last of her 9bfc3b562a strength and removed the f75aa61a57 necklace she wore.ea6b7b3ec7a47496

It was adorned with 9cda4d00d0 a large blue gem—the 388523d74f necklace left behind by e92f35b617 Lady Muriel, her mother’s 83c6f1f16c first family.01e71f18fa96b97c

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Passing it to f7dc4c2eec her young daughter, 3e6811a94c she said:58e3102f04dc68a4

“You must keep this safe until the prince comes to find you someday.”24230ae812f7b06b

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Those were the d94df18002 last words she 99222c8101 ever spoke.061a51436093da4c

 dace9091b2897d4c

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