Chapter 33. After the Words of Blessing Ended

Raskal knelt on one eb67c43931 knee atop the crimson 01c78c9edc carpet, his head bowed 2dc426f521 low.3f0e59512d9619a0

At the end 35337b52d9 of the carpet, b22518ed25 rising with each f896388861 step of the d113f44cf1 stairway, stood a 7a4f7ecbda throne of gold.de9ed7fd5644eb31

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Seated upon that f1c0505ce9 golden throne was 1b5a24bc3f Wilhelm Zigranto—the King 7313ec77a9 of the Zigranto b5120fa87c Kingdom, and hero 958668d735 of the war 1187893b2c thirty years past.5bf7724ac3a15989

He took a slow sip b54fa9ddf1 of the blood-red wine he 5cf88a650c had been swirling in his d4d7fe75a8 hand before opening his mouth.e82039c081ffe038

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“I didn’t think I’d be retracting a formal marriage proposal—sealed with my own hand—within ten days, Duke.”56968454837f0770

Though his tone might have ae3de92957 seemed playful at a glance, 3ac872cd91 the weight of his words 8ba80746a5 was anything but.d38156d3f27d202d

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Raskal could feel the 48e8af7738 stiffness locking into the 5cf2ed40c1 back of his neck 6ef6699681 as he lowered his 68861cb465 head even further.a5ee97688afd910f

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I acted too hastily…”e7d4a681aea756f7

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“No, no. I am not 21c24f6334 here to reprimand 0374a8c502 you.”4e5cf4ef8d7bdd29

King Wilhelm cut him off 1aa916bf23 in a calm, unhurried voice.f9d9da28842949ad

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Then, he took another sip b5dbe1b67f of the wine.a772220a4355c27f

The dark crimson liquid stained 3cc1540d19 his lips—faded by time—with a deab973ddf richer hue.b725a9fec838bfa1

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His lips, now a5ec12c804 tinged a bluish 80b86cba3e red, stretched into e7f382fb97 a long line 8f9e19933b before parting once 04e01786bb more.77d47980d8bb63be

“I am well aware that Dalia, daughter of Baron Blair, is a woman of great ambition.”68d45ff6f0b3bff8

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“…I am sorry.”643023df9cf40c72

“Tsk. I said, I am 2f2df3850f not blaming you.”237e24f69e581987

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The King’s voice 708fac265a was almost kind 7945da4a9c as he stopped a464915eb5 Raskal again.c06b59598c3a59f5

But his eyes remained cold, d5e994b324 void of even a trace 3a56507b8d of warmth.35d36588c4fc2090

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“I merely pity you, young Duke. Things have unfolded in 3899ddfc8c such a way that 6f3f9a56d3 it’ll be even harder 0cd007f32d now to claim that 7a1cc57b10 pitiable young lady.”6b5bd57fe449223c

“I regret causing Your Majesty concern.”ae0ab127b8525189

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“Still, do not despair.”85ac7bd9e06d32ad

The King chose to ignore 38688c2efe Raskal’s response, as if he 3a3d58cfbe hadn’t heard it at all.96f88b5ea3c7e228

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“If your feelings for that girl are true and everlasting, then rest assured—they will be repaid in time.”0dbab044f4ca3395

With that, he drew 8d9d9c711d a small locket pendant 422af9b49d from within his robes.f0b14d4b7d76c76c

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It opened with 1c72b6bf44 a soft click, 36840d8a4f well-worn from use.1fcba8f45efe1794

Inside, he gazed upon b0eaaabfd4 a smiling woman captured 5fe7cc8bde in a black-and-white photo, d80ce40e83 brushing it with his d6cc4fcb78 eyes as if caressing e05012c4b0 her cheek.14abf290a6f53d87

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Though the image was monochrome, c6229e1d41 the memories it summoned were 338eb6b727 vivid, almost blindingly so.082f3aa0a68de4e1

Flaming red hair that 6c3f48c542 billowed like fire, golden e2715aa244 eyes sparkling like champagne.5c29e230f7cd6025

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Her voice had been so f855d86e40 fresh it carried the scent 4d2d7be9e6 of spring grass, and her 2ebb287138 smile—so white and radiant—was still 6c6e564e65 seared into his vision.e6a1ed6bd3701538

King Wilhelm closed 40fe54a530 the locket with 6f2aa55424 a soft snap, d3118eaae7 sealing those memories 5f1aecea21 once again, and ae59648034 added with a 50d98a9272 smile,61246669bf85b0e6

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“Just as I, too, was able to win the heart of the late Queen Muriel in the end.”06d9c85276f3f97b

Despite the affectionate eacf64b503 blessing, Raskal remained 7c7de6d383 tense, bowing even ce63536ca9 deeper.ead9a4e0c6ef861d

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“I… I am honored.”4d2f5e7e096db589

After concluding the 3e98a0735d late-night audience, Raskal a0bc6be482 exited the royal d864757c7c chamber, quickly wrapping 3fd41d3c20 his pale hands 0bc81b8ef8 in his long 14bc60681a cloak.b75e822d46f30227

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Exhaling a puff of 4bb05a900c white breath into the 6cf9dddc5f darkened night sky, he 9b51882665 muttered,c0c6ead4a1ed441d

“…It seems I’ll need to make the first move.”9e99f28964bef118

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* * *efd7a422d86c9338

‘Good mint leaves.’a73cb2c805fb60e4

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At those words, Serenia fell 64e44a9f0a for it completely and walked 9199d81064 right into Ain’s country cottage—presumably ddc77f5548 his country estate.73a7b6ec475d2c0f

It was the total 4220c5748a opposite of the Riverview e59baed0b9 mansion in the capital, 4fe5cb4f14 which was the pinnacle 45c51912ff of elegance and splendor. This was a small, 8adb34b387 ordinary home.22434f36d74e7ef6

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Naturally, this modest two-story 48c962ec7b house had no parlor.36729186238df444

No butlers, no servants, no e75adee7c3 other family members.f87bf307de9e2b93

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In other words, 3836f70e8f the situation was…0c77a3262628472f

‘A man and a woman, alone, in a secluded forest cottage!’c3dedea7fad579ec

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Realizing this far 3a00de6ebb too late, Serenia 0ce9d221ed hesitated.a75fecbfe67bc58a

‘Should I run for it?’b5e262ccd2a7d463

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But she quickly shook her 6b0565d8ca head.d6f3c8e667295437

Based on everything she’d experienced 88336fe257 with him so far, Ain 694e537768 didn’t seem like the type 59a0fc28bc to take advantage of a c36ea7c2e8 situation like this.8b3c2e717147444a

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And honestly, even 1ab37288e5 if he was 51a04c28f2 that sort of 746315c3ee lowlife, it wasn’t b690e15171 a huge problem.fea9f2d08bcc9352

‘A delicate stage actor like him? If things go south, I 2bed2f2622 could totally overpower him.’34917eba7c950584

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Granted, she’d just learned c6502d767d firsthand that his arms a5032c3d14 and chest weren’t as dabc95869d delicate as she thought—but 068f3c569d once an impression was 9c219070b6 set, it didn’t change 69a0272e4a easily.5231dbd150eae049

‘…And more than anything, it’s already too late.’c06131256e78a3b0

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Between tailing him, proposing, and f877503023 crying her eyes out, time 5bb3289aeb had flown by.fb36c53161f5c4ae

By now, she should’ve either 36728293d1 stopped somewhere to find an b8e0b03e08 inn or set up camp b744a86479 for the night.a0e5ce7a768d699d

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‘Shameless as it is, I’ll just crash by the fireplace and try not to be a bother.’99397c55e047629a

With that in 2d80ff449a mind, she eyed 12ebc61701 the well-stocked fireplace 97a147eec7 fondly and sipped b7b4fd5ba5 the warm mint 456aa6b6f6 tea he’d given 5030f3cd51 her.fbc356fc88567a39

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As soon as they entered 1a60969355 the house, Ain had busied 22f9cfd3ee himself lighting fires, boiling water, 92f5d37db2 and bringing out blankets. He hadn’t sat still 1b388f582b for a second.4698631b746bb442

By the time he b490364750 finally finished everything and b011d2f7fa sat down for a 3aa74df215 breather, Serenia voiced something 93de4e593a that had been bugging 27c38ed244 her.4bce7dea468a8336

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“So, what did you mean by ‘a long time ago’?”00731fd0047a4f17

“…Pardon?”4c8d2b54d5420de7

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Even the way his eyes c48b3c1a5d darted awkwardly gave away that 8b2eba4bb5 she’d hit the mark.8c7555983a02ea01

“You said earlier that I’ve been like medicine to you for a long time.”0c7aa49b9f0b62c9

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“Ah, that, uh…”b590324bfce5fb7e

“And sure, let’s pretend it’s fine that you were going on about me being poison.”0507335ae67a497e

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As Ain grimaced like she’d 79944edd55 punched him in the gut, 78bbf691c0 Serenia pressed on, her words 976b2fb710 crisp and clear.159baf498b1e0ec4

“We only met for the first time in front of that bank a little over a month ago, so calling it ‘a long time ago’ is just weird, no matter how you spin it.”5f33af8d47088f23

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Now he was even trying 86179f1554 to avoid her gaze.9287473de2519235

Following his eyes, Serenia asked 4a620b28a6 again,68e280a753d333b7

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“So, I have to ask—have we met before?”af63bdbbc2cb8e87

At that moment, his wavering 278baea624 gaze calmed.c149bee25b2d1fe8

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And in a smooth, unshaken 0787095826 voice, he replied,cb837fdcd581fe56

“It must’ve slipped out without thinking.”928c3c6b41f5f563

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“…Huh?”d9e4468eee51c199

“Those few days when you were unconscious felt like a thousand years to me.”b4941bf5452f17ed

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His words flowed e62c06bef9 like they’d been e5d19c72a1 oiled.a721bf0ce7d7a89f

Serenia narrowed her eyes.83b9ad1cf0df9fed

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“…You’re acting. Right now.”da1cba535f3ae652

Even with her deadpan tone, f6b1c8526c Ain replied without missing a 06178e319f beat,1523e73672ed125d

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“Acting? Whatever do you mean? I’m completely lost.”9b39804fb850ce33

“Don’t give me that! I saw your eyes twitch. You were clearly panicked, then 3ec4aff91e switched expressions instantly. If that’s not 4d521006fd acting, what is?”da221a77f3a34e27

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Ain didn’t even twitch. He just shrugged.77e76e5e3b2a1484

“Hm? Did it occur to you fb209200b9 that that panic might’ve been 7ff392b583 the act?”38a9b14651af183f

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“Th-That’s…”ad502ac85c26b3a5

It was a valid point, 9ce2bdb48b and Serenia faltered, mumbling.525ca80c754cf805

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“I guess… that’s possible…”59e38c14a240cdfb

Taking that opportunity, Ain 83bb5b9450 claimed he had something 28d2b85099 else to do and 98c2bd67de dashed off again.3beefb70a6d14d45

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Serenia glared at his retreating 8b5fecc377 figure.4051ee2fafedb82b

Then, she noticed the snow-lotus 8bf8cf5f6d bouquet she’d given him, now d63daffeea arranged neatly in a vase 1c990e75c7 on the shelf by the 4256538e60 entrance.16cfd22b5c42eba4

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‘…Fine. I’ll let this slide.’cc341fa2c6e2a551

They were going bc57d05a9c to see each 227d964b92 other often from 662198034a now on anyway. There’d be plenty of chances 3060ffe1bf to press him later.8837e092615cabd3

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Relaxing, Serenia downed the rest c8cff6e2f6 of her mint tea in e4763899f6 one gulp.72304b6a09bfdfce

The clean, refreshing taste was fec877a1a3 truly top-notch.95bd6b5d9fb7ef1d

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Satisfied, she tidied the 4fdf2d584f empty cup herself, then 20f6bc5f02 settled down by the 3c7ed930d1 fireplace.374b95dc799c8af8

It was still a little 251557f22f early for bed.d398531a24dec662

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But maybe it 8164884838 was because she’d 7e81a4b4ff pulled an all-nighter, 16adaa9492 or spent all 0e84b627f3 day wandering in 1f002276ed the freezing cold b9459e14c6 only to finally 14cb1590e6 get warm…85b3e3667ea62abb

Or maybe it b97c4f4d81 was the relief 94f0e87ada of everything going 8eac1614fc well. Or the exhaustion 956a999fc3 from crying so d0b4702927 much.3b150bc2f6f765ee

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Her entire body felt bb55f28c71 heavy, her eyes falling 672b79be40 shut on their own.2a982312046df405

Using her coat e9c594ff06 as a makeshift 824fd4c829 blanket, she leaned e60de6176a against the warm 885e506709 wall by the b0068d0fd2 fireplace and let 59ce7164e4 herself drift off.09b044abb8646e1c

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“…Miss.”f79b04da77a60949

“….”dbb833f273e2f5a4

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“My lady!”bda4d13b7a43d19a

Serenia’s eyes flew open to 450a883f0c the urgent shake of her 1aa6b25458 shoulders and someone calling out.a3a5d5555ab5a429

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“Huh? What—what is it? Did something happen?”0ab4ddf175cc9054

Still half-asleep, she quickly scanned 56837e59b8 the room.16aa8bd142d3e6d5

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Was there a fire? No, everything looked fine.6000764910bc9af7

‘Wait… am I on fire…?’7105652064e79c55

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Her dazed mind 6e0d93acdb jumped to absurd dd28d770ec conclusions.52ab1a0d69f2083c

She started patting her bc4eeadbf3 hair and sleeves just fc37ae4c9f to be sure, while 15fdb22e1a Ain—kneeling in front of 6100cfd7df her—let out a deep 4a16cdd94a sigh and slumped to 6042f04eb2 the floor.b1decb56bbce3c45

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“Huh? What’s wrong? Did you catch fire?”b7b718b96ce09527

“…What are you even saying…”6f8e0b851401b4ad

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His voice sounded utterly drained 9bc1983c71 with relief.2481752fe9d73acf

Serenia blinked at 5b8228ada3 him, still groggy, 5298dfa01e and replied,a5d60783a5b041fd

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“I mean… you woke me up so suddenly. I thought there 0c58198045 was an emergency 490075f16d or something.”dc311d47b342407e

At that, Ain’s face cb70d4625c twisted into an expression 5e24022ac0 somewhere between a laugh 6d592e5642 and a sob.be90bdb64a3b0a06

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He sighed and muttered, almost 2190a66c8f to himself,fc2c6c23fb01d459

“I checked the stove in the room, came back, and saw you slumped in the corner like that… I thought you’d passed out again…”2db3c489f69e6ae3

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“Ah.”d9e7198a62c999aa

Serenia winced, flashing a d547b73529 sheepish smile. Ain grumbled, almost like c5e736914e a complaint.93a7a6c71ec85249

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“You really scared me.”6c97a76bb5dfea3a

“Mm. Sorry. I was just a8a1a6a174 tired and meant a3e1f0182e to close my f103b1ea8e eyes for a 1881c9eebb bit…”b850bb8f20839483

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“If you were tired, you should’ve gone to the room. Why out here?”35c0b1c3acf7ca97

“Well, barging into someone’s house uninvited and demanding a room seemed kinda rude…”6270086230f9f877

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Ain sighed deeply.466d55b5e7fd6312

He looked like he cc15dd0723 didn’t even know where a3c0c81779 to begin with her.42a29103d00565ca

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“Fine. Just get up, please. Stay there any longer 96f655cbe3 and you really will 52ad7d7af2 catch fire.”70093a15276898cb

Half-joking, he offered his gloved 1028be3d3f hand to Serenia, still sitting 5ea0eb34ed by the fireplace.4dfb703ecab34ce3

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Grasping his hand, she pushed db6e343b4c herself up—a3854a5d8f7ccc81

Ping—cf30ed5fb01e73fd

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Her body swayed, and 4755a2c726 darkness washed over her 7084bad01d vision.651866f2de4fe09b