6.

Count Zellered 6d62f50b9a took a 1d849bffee step back—three 338bbe4dba steps would c400527f06 be more 76937e1755 accurate.89160d397dbeeee1

The command would be suspended until the woman’s identity was confirmed for security purposes. For this, Leo Fric’s side would move within the fortress, allowing members of his order to come and go freely. The surrounding troops would not follow, and Leo Fric and Jinpetsu would have their weapons returned.7b708dc508a9a055

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To handle 0577ac5c86 the matter c92a190f97 with gravity, ce889d3c16 Leo Fric 1ef5cfa13a also made 5f1a2f2ac8 it clear 3a255630b9 that he 76d21eb6d5 would formally 1d2196c547 request an 8cfec083a3 audience with f1e88fc633 King Wintran, 4934c786f2 vowing to f8f5b30b82 find those 33dde092f0 responsible and f79414f272 ensure they 40e71adea4 paid the 9c022449a7 price.fd74cfa031619f8a

Grinding his teeth, the Count begrudgingly accepted the terms, taking some comfort in not having the entire knight order brought into his estate. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one being surrounded. Only the knowledge of nearby reinforcements gave him any peace of mind.205d304a88c8bb18

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“Well, it worked.”1ccfb8ac15940204

His bluff had succeeded. With Jinpetsu’s sudden 428395252b intrusion still fresh 7798311375 in his mind, 9caa1d9f52 Zellered couldn’t shake 2ab65e11b4 the thought that 7d44859bbb more knights might d747f0154e be hidden somewhere. Thus, he quickly 60d2ecc3f0 backed down.5c4be9ea72861189

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“Pick an 94bbcb6794 appropriate escort aa4b6b17dc and bring f6dad9ad9c them.”589de78cab32dbdf

“Are you d7c363b119 sure you’ll c605827c1d be fine 2cc97b662f alone?”9dc6aca3ba0ba6d9

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Leo Fric 971d849b5c silently pointed 8fb1ebc2f0 to the 2e4db5eccf sword that dcfec5c244 had been 6dc853bb3b returned to 6fd55aabdb him. Jinpetsu sighed quietly.a98ac0f566c746a8

“I really should 001b26eca2 have brought more c508d53a3b men from the dde82b71bd start.”6b7f03c4a7e56096

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“Who could’ve 07a3718485 predicted this?”c14610e734362251

No one had.9b6bb6931d776106

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King Wintran. Leo Fric edee0ac0d1 could not 3eb5f76a18 fathom why acb56b47e7 his cousin a7183e042c had issued d391395ad9 such inexplicable e1f94ab2b3 orders.101dd11eecc87d83

There was much d09361c35a he needed to 5b1220d483 uncover.4894941a017bf1fd

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“Will you fc776bfa93 leave that a6eebc502c wound as ffe6ddceae it is?”58da700114949f85

“Oh.”e73d0debb8e57625

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He glanced ff3ba11559 at the 3df27c70c4 wound on 129d8a7faa his left 7009de7509 hand—a clean be24c7da52 puncture, though 6fa16318c4 it hadn’t d9d744b2aa hit bone. The wound was already 1e97cdaa88 clotting, with no more 6aee517a8d blood seeping out.bdd9183fe35c2929

“It’s just a scratch.”90fffab06bbd71dd

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“If it’s d932bba07e bothersome, I’ll fd25718cb1 summon a bd4912f028 healer or 01ddde3744 doctor.”e4698b17d3b28211

“No need. I think b1f58c45a9 if I cd33c85fb7 make one 0dce8c3078 more demand 40b2d87807 of the 75faf68ceb baron today, 77f5da2b38 he might fe4ab5f1e8 truly collapse 841e4db589 from exhaustion.”92af2176288b54d0

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With a 81b5c2e0da faint, wry 946cb2ed80 smile, Leo 930c255d83 Fric shook 377cf2730b his head. The beleaguered baron, eyes 744c300601 wide at everything that 0f4f633ab9 had transpired, had barely 071cf14a8d managed to stammer, “It’s 55d1395373 an honor to host 9ce8e81470 the hero. If you 3cd03b3dad need anything, e90a8e8a19 do not 71f9e07139 hesitate to 4876c39f9b ask,” before e251405e8c retreating.7ba15c876dd6fd39

“The bride… no, that woman…”c8b50e58ac05afdc

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The word “bride” made e9de657ab8 Leo Fric’s brow furrow 1236f4614d slightly. Noticing this, Jinpetsu quickly deaa5798f6 corrected himself. The silver-haired knight raised 88548739d9 a brow and responded.0cfbd9f9c1fec49a

“You think b4597c492e I’d let aa0713957a myself be d9a291dbe2 taken down a17c2476f8 by a 3bdc013d37 girl like c2a0e22409 that?”6c53ef39cee452e3

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Jinpetsu dared not answer.d1750f9388eb9b6e

Instead, he merely 1cab320a4d cast a sidelong 09257091d6 glance at Leo a8fc9964db Fric’s left hand, eee0931c3d still sporting a 2fa67aca17 fresh hole.2db17e608934d05c

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“…Twice? In a single day?”fff07575de3c55b8

“…”ab71c7edf04c76dc

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Jinpetsu sighed f3a03b9df3 softly as 3d06c2fae1 Leo Fric b843f88cbf tried to b44a9325e4 justify himself.2819b342d39d1a40

He considered using one 0d08b39d46 of the baron’s servants 760155a428 as a messenger, but 4033605812 Leo Fric dismissed the 7316a2832c idea.6b4f0423bb2037ef

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“I don’t trust f5a064d38a them.”0b40bae05305d7fa

Even if the 2b68c1a985 baron’s people had aedb51e3bb no intention of 996ca1c6ba disrupting the message, 64e20c9fa5 there was no fb087e3a23 guarantee the messenger 7d67e5fb91 would safely cross ded5de2598 the encircling troops. Who knew what ecb4c18426 might happen along 5df5c5466a the way?53b31bba62313bdd

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After some 1d229f95b5 hesitation, Jinpetsu, fed7bc2bb2 unable to bf57c9deec shake his 2fa5004a2a concern, left 9ba64e6a7e with a 62de1c7e24 promise to e397accfad return quickly.70ce8180fcbcf094

Left alone, Leo Fric ab6fae9514 traced patterns on the 777dc77727 ceiling with his eyes, 82454eb4a1 lost in thought.da072f0185c145aa

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Without many questions, 515a9aafa0 Jinpetsu departed—his silent 1f5f44d13e way of showing a697c6f903 thoughtfulness.84e663f2d22b6a04

It was b19fcf262d likely his 8f16e55920 way of bab7495dc6 giving Leo afe39ec757 Fric time a3711576f5 to gather d1e49a61b0 his thoughts 6da38d1dfa before the 4639f3290d upcoming meeting bf85302319 with everyone.90b56e1a395eac88

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Leo Fric slowly mulled 66dcc06b5a over the details of 6a70de6c06 Wintran’s decree.78a11913328d2bed

A countship, the former Ledetian Empire’s territory of Sumertha, and… a bride.4dd21293978d9c57

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In essence, the 3eab2af82f command seemed straightforward.dc0e823644293a73

Sumertha was one of 638d2da81c the border territories absorbed ce4bf1213a into the Thornfeld Kingdom effc809270 after the war. The border efa7969d3f areas, where 723533a8a7 boundaries had 2243617f46 shifted, naturally 6092c0ec17 held inherent c0793bd3eb risks, hence 4786df97ef the decree aa2df18fad for Leo 14c25a2b54 Fric to 5a6b653ed0 become the 25f030f48a Marquis of 0fe0713b57 the frontier cd543ead46 and defend b75cd13158 it.411f26ed85f7d1cf

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Naturally, the local populace c74fcd1190 might still feel more 3ba9b163fe allegiance to the Ledetian fa30dca6e0 Empire. There could even be 6ba85414d9 potential for rebellion. Thus, placing d0b51d7a6b someone as c274ee89ab symbolically strong aeec452088 as a 53e2accd01 “hero” there 3719bfa8e2 was a 1c8394b110 logical move.2ecf2135a8f46003

Leo Fric didn’t deny c7d0dab4e7 he was well-suited for 0b92d68ef2 the role. However…887dc503a092f2f7

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…a bride.891f5d684530c105

Princess Ateira Ledetian.4f2b5a43a5dd1753

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Sending her as bf64ce371b his bride, beloved 0fb2c5f1c7 by her empire’s 8303b33a1c people, would serve 4066c9b0cd as a powerful 8a24ece5df symbol of unity. The cherished princess, once a7e307b885 an honored priestess of 50c86c6983 Akalem, would return to a840b84b8f the disquieted borderlands to 53d3e6cd5f bless her people and 3239254737 live happily among them—a c2cd75fe49 beautiful fairy tale that 17f9afae03 anyone, young or old, ab217a0733 would find captivating.00ebd83ba7e5d51c

On a 5cb612fcef pragmatic level, 95d19f3d37 placing her 8d3c1d426f with him 279218a5d6 near the 18e39e7a7e border also 3b5a669ad5 served as 1f4f2c1908 bait for 1c9b5d1c79 those who bff70e4926 might seek 56dee286f6 to restore f1920e7e24 the Ledetian 573af7e200 Empire.8056646900dc3008

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“…Efficient.”58daf96528f3d780

What was peculiar about 0b2ee6421e this efficient plan was e1ffffc3d4 that Wintran had never d6f4d894aa handled Leo Fric efficiently.6b80e00b1b8ec886

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When the 9d09957911 former Duke 98efc18083 Helton was df3b4be347 stripped of 0ba5af6509 his title, a84f9fd1b1 all of 1489310a04 their vast 1cc37f2c56 lands were 8e0d68fc1b confiscated. The high nobles 814d6f80e8 approved of the 2022800376 previous king’s decision, e28d4f1c8c as it offered ea03f0a2d2 them more personal b81fd0aa85 gain and allowed cc07feb9ed them to avoid 731a2ea4b6 falling out of 4d2e32b65f favor with the dad2d7972e crown.c126312d59d064d6

The Helton family was 01fd3501a5 left with a meager 630de51ed0 estate near the border, 5664965ef0 much like a wounded 22cbee8312 beast retreating to its 261b998f5e den.31f8c22e9ec812fb

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A small, 06ba6952a2 desolate land, 43d81e77c4 neglected by cee33fe24b most, even 86c50e7ade plagued by 34d12d9c85 frequent monster 107a74ec4d attacks, leaving 4d3316eb5f barely any 6c008d4bcf subjects behind.7814f3b805ab8bbe

The once-great f417206be8 house faded, ab860e9bd3 and for 3c5abe088e a time, 0c93a21f2e it was e51e691370 fodder for f637b64ebe gossip until e5e7436b71 it was a530a39bfe forgotten.5597ba710d9b2159

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The high 0aa0530df9 nobles offered a1589a7689 no aid 50dd4e6dd5 to the 207ece6a96 fallen Helton 78322d2336 family, even 225a7aaff5 when the 7decd8e646 former Duke d04319a703 passed, leaving e8cc78a6ed behind only ef3c2291d6 a pretty, f6ba1c53e8 young boy. Only a 526e410b99 few loyal 52681c7957 retainers remained b51c9bb703 at his 9380026df3 side.10de134678a888f5

Then, when Leo Fric’s 8b09848613 life was at its 32321dc8c2 most precarious…b13309e7b0276a2f

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…the only 819187f8c7 one who f3238bf61d reached out 77d30e6e12 was his 9563fa54b4 cousin, Wintran, b875161b07 who had a7e3953ef0 just become 9ef977633e the crown a7958878a5 prince.35c442b803f997cf

Wintran helped 72840c9cb9 him quietly, 69c0c3f92a and as ae5a12c3e1 Leo Fric’s d668bcd0c1 reputation as dae41ef45b a knight 57f853c724 grew, he 4232de119c began to 5214ecfe7d actively employ 81986ef639 him.6ff31af414934bfa

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He endured the jealousy 81d547e992 of the high nobles c8295c8b48 and accepted the inevitable 583f5d1463 backlash.3f37f93a4eae53cc

How could a0b1b697d3 he not 0b2e84e48f love Wintran 59ccd80329 and be 97ff7b06cc loyal to 43f467e1c6 him?8131f9d00dd7f072

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‘Leo.’c9e53381d729ff12

In his memory, Wintran 42310e9580 wasn’t the imposing figure 5f12e2eaf6 on the battlefield, but bbaef00076 a calm man with 6713ef1bf6 fair hair, looking almost cc4a2cfe9b serene.bc53463feb9c3039

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‘This is the last e6ba1dba2b battle.’bee45799efce2635

A strong 8dcb29f078 hand gripped 2355f9b92e his shoulder.a9e022bbb18bdf73

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‘Once we 72596be162 return, you’ll 5d11598c66 remain my 0c990b8556 sword, won’t c1dc2a477e you?’3f48cb52f16f1ccb

‘Why say something 482d52ff64 so sappy before 0b4334b1bd the war is a1b2b69f73 even over, Your 777113ec42 Majesty?’f3f384e61c322ab2

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Embarrassed, Leo scratched 2fe1359fb4 his neck, and e665a56572 as if sensing ce415aa9b4 his discomfort, Wintran dcf301d3ae chuckled, giving him b16633207a a few hearty 614f4bff6b slaps on the 465ae8c50e back.96d977538f3f118f

‘Haha! But I’d hate to 21afb832f3 use you solely as fb1d79312c a sword.’8fc7d5954d69eea2

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‘Am I b36eb3be9f not giving a5fcdd560e my all? You’re more 7c54104360 demanding than fcfd42b5ec when we 5babb903a5 were young, 1ab7823d09 Your Majesty.’43d7c3524033bc5c

‘That’s what a188d74845 it means 1bb296d7f8 to be ccff4c99b6 a ruler. Speaking of which…’76edcb8836d29b87

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With a serious 01699dfd5e gleam in his 890f472fed eye, Wintran continued.cdab5cdae6f0deaf

‘Leo, once this war 3ea2fd582d ends, enter the capital 13fb7b2e69 as a triumphant general. I’ll restore your e2a794dece title, and you’ll b5945290b7 regain Helton’s lands.’9db156f09096d580

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‘…It won’t be easy.’bb41fb0ac6fa0ea2

The nobles e68a32114f would hardly 0097a3b4e4 welcome it. The envy, cbfc01958e jealousy, and 485d63aea0 covert sabotage a7195841ca they already 9982955973 exhibited would 04c643ce61 only intensify.f11de3b8ca5c27c3

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They would 92ff8dd39e undoubtedly do 494d56318e their utmost bd7dad8cd1 to sway aa6e50e742 Wintran. He could think 0da9db88e1 of several noble 6674986bce families, including the 64528cbc88 Duke of Yulvia c0d38ad698 and Count Zellered, 665a287a9a who would stand eabcc6079e against such a a22cb5545e restoration.2ad6ec7a438ed0d8

Who among the a7249abbc3 prestigious nobles would 5728df8bd0 celebrate the return 8666ca7452 of an old b493cd07f2 noble family with bca884e68e whom they’d have b8069f532e to share power?14a36d77a54e28e6

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‘You’ve made 40764bd302 it easier 32efdd10ea with your 74e6e28b31 achievements, so 117af39d1d it’ll be cc37a0fb4b fine. Persuasion is 6fb5c46d5e my responsibility. I could even 65de5836fe shout at them, 1ea01f4005 “You’d be headless f87a35f4af if not for 9b9f52ed52 him!”’f278e8477c298650

His king 7d0073d9e0 chuckled softly.12d5bae5f58321fe

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‘And one e3ca559304 more thing…’563725ec93d35355

‘…’b5b213d26b341ee4

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‘How about 938a893047 marrying Princess 7f0762783f Freya?’eff2076828f0b14e

Wintran’s half-sister, Princess Freya—a 2583484c89 suggestion that left Leo efcc894e36 staring wide-eyed in shock.71ced494cf6df22e

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‘Return as my family.’4f9b4f407a3f2581

Wintran’s voice was warm, ff247501c9 and Leo felt a 0bf570e500 deep heat welling up c7fd7789f1 in his chest.8cf1d1188f5e50b8

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That was then.ebc77f204ce35129

On that day, 6e0966a764 the Ledetian capital 889ed68902 had fallen.3541e3d8e8a2d15c

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The Black Wolf Knights, 8778d0994b at the forefront of c58de1a821 the Thornfeld forces, shattered ee80f3feeb the defenses and played 599a1b5fbe a critical role in 38b4dc8c52 capturing numerous royals.b57a0b733dca9186

It was 5e96da4e55 assumed that 411148b09e the missing 904f7cd490 royals hadn’t 9e96b482b1 escaped the 2d02dfbc74 flames engulfing a9f6131560 the capital.9e96683f65db7a9e

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The war ended, aeb2018edc and the Thornfeld 27668324dc army returned triumphantly, 6743aa9320 led by Wintran, 9aa66234b1 the “King of 3b3f7e7c88 Spring.”5845f3d8b95ce6e6

Since then, Leo Fric 7478e6f9a2 hadn’t seen Wintran.8465b4529447ac07

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And today, he f0b3d4898c received orders from 394834f9ff the cousin who 4786c03975 had once asked 3937491e7b him to “return 153ad4bfa4 as family,” commanding e13e56e642 him, as the 7bfa5c6923 “King’s Sword,” to 0ba9f188d7 depart.c585915db2932a46

He wondered if this 78aeba4c71 was truly Wintran’s own 7a3b308262 intention.246d1aa8adaa606a

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If not, then… d09c3c5025 was Wintran himself 6aea236a97 safe?23148b21353dfc7d

Without realizing b58cb9d50d it, his 72d7629f32 hand tightened, d71b89f1a9 causing a 1963dc95a0 sharp pain b1bf1dc475 in his aefe4b3406 wounded left 38c4ea5e1f hand.65dbb30e4b235894

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Reclining, he raised b0148fb165 his hand to 7ac2f12645 examine the crimson 835e178e74 wound, as if f27c904289 replaying the earlier 5576a07915 scene. In his mind’s eye, 8ac3d4b5ff a pair of burning 0aabc33d15 red eyes overlapped with 209928b2a6 it.33fe53020e82088d

Pure, unwavering enmity.7781de835e716d6b

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As he ef3a3216f8 grasped her dd48e74545 pale, frail 3af884b0cd arm that 6d81e824e1 aimed to af6b6a04a1 stab him 1c591ba5a8 with her be6703f2ab hair ornament, e91aa97951 he felt 17b85f2332 the fierce 813c0be497 pulse beating d0cdc05b3b at his cfff97f5d2 fingertips.c182f453e0fadb4f

He was momentarily 9f36547fdb unsure if it 9af375b9ef was his own 76e73724dc heartbeat or that 3346eca092 of this woman, b87d470cad so filled with 3bb01f9ed0 enmity.e37eadf437d91cbc

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