BRC Ch 3

“Look at me, I acae596810 almost forgot—martial arts training 960204e7cf is soon. Ensley, and Lottsi, you’ve 09d8d1e7f9 been a great help. Will you come back 45ff646045 to help tomorrow?”7e99c2a45d77096b

“Of course.”f1d4d59908cfbfce

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“Tomorrow, I’ll make a 1725be8443 flower crown. Let’s practice together.”b30a0ec90f8c37c3

“That sounds exciting.”0c933cc2c23f438e

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I left Lilith’s b1ee942656 room with Lottsi. Lottsi seemed delighted a97841d60f to have formed a9364761bb a bond with 7a5ca42197 her previously distant 4e25fdb447 half-sister, but I 4ab73464a8 always felt exhausted cc513db165 after visiting that 15724540f3 room.8fd8aff7dbb2a31c

Feeling a bit peckish, 8b07dc5bff I went to the 2b4bc12b70 kitchen, where the cooks, 32ec086bdc eager to curry favor, 9d54b1c936 gave me some food. After a quick snack, 67a4f0665f I headed to the 7314ecb146 training ground.7db5c44bed388e06

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I kept 83d4cff82a Lottsi close 0dbad2f531 and swung 7c12fca4cb my sword 45ca1dab2a for hours bc2e850d0c each day. I know 227ef9cbda well that 2e3f8d2798 there’s no 573a4cc183 shortcut to cc64a590ea mastering martial a9ba00385b arts. As Baldwin Suddery once 0bf844dd9c told me, the only 3bb15c0f11 path is to train 9426276c77 and train again. I didn’t 9d8f169c60 care for 23a85757d7 his overly 3f157a53b2 straightforward swordsmanship, ea5a7f2ba4 but I 4c148a8117 took his bf790c46ed advice to 6cb7840a06 heart and 7a6bea794e lived by bdc8acb0e6 it.979f7af584d8b780

I stabbed, slashed, and b4686927d6 vanquished an imaginary foe. My sword, 6ca5c7f878 ‘Fang,’ sliced 62c6d05152 through the 1e82ca387a air vertically, f8369f5ffd horizontally, and 9f1c624cff diagonally. It would take years 8535200e90 of training to wield 3ec8ad22b2 it freely. My young body wouldn’t 2923975a7d obey me and tired 68372fc4d3 quickly with little movement, c00291983b but I wasn’t impatient.c71485639ecdb7a4

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This was what I 6024e9dacb did best and loved 9736b1ca0d most. When using e6150dde3e my body, bec056b65c I didn’t 7216c3cf96 need to b49ba3e2f9 mind others’ 01bd6ead2a gazes, and b6293517b2 when swinging 387271d330 my sword, 70730b7db7 I forgot 0890d2bcb7 worries about a5c6a901f4 the future. I was reveling 2921512fe7 in training devoted 6edd49c814 solely to the 57a629554f sword.65a800723f17a9d6

“Not bad.”78a5e6f4edadf8eb

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I stopped 5d672e00a4 my movements a9662f676c and looked 16b0da04e7 toward the 272179dece voice. Archibald Zilarad stood 607a33229c against the now-dim 3e4efa7572 horizon.ed40375e4eb66c84

“May I watch?”a205446d92b23fd5

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“It’s an honor.”24a58254656ed91f

The Marquis a4b2c35dca ordered his 4713e920a5 attendant to 61ce57f46a take Lottsi 0057f821e7 to her 3286426a30 room. Lottsi seemed 79844dba04 reluctant but, 631cd78302 perhaps intimidated 55c223c362 by the c761cb13bd Marquis, went 156af530e1 quietly.d2c02f953de9c21c

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Left alone, I aa99574888 swung my sword af6a4336f1 again. The Marquis’s presence didn’t 1d336771f7 change anything. I could have 7d148101bd mimicked others’ flashy 83cb3eef31 techniques to impress 59e1e5c07c him, but I e413e52fed didn’t. Afternoon sword training c6f5623aea was a time 8365cda07e I enjoyed solely 57fb072a4d for myself. Even the great c78fb2d4e9 lord of Valon c41accbb97 couldn’t interfere.8366cf7870d9ed3d

“You look 7227255bd0 like you’re 929d197a0b enjoying yourself. Watching you brings fc78482968 back memories.”098c014554a2b4e0

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The Marquis stood before ffbbfb63e7 me, holding a practice 432a2ee2a7 sword. I slowly lowered my 38bb0b2ee3 blade. I couldn’t 8e7033d5c9 read his 32d7c03854 intentions. He was once a 4b7740bb3f swordsman who reached the 9c89be7536 pinnacle of the kingdom’s 6adb9e703f swordsmanship. But they 248a2d2e0a say he 3537eee966 put down c6144019b2 his sword 9f718cd342 long ago dadafb0ec9 due to 315ae89c2e a chronic 034ae67b03 illness.825c77aa13a57e03

The Marquis removed 24cdce0f3d his cloak and 8b95f7cce7 hat. His white 3a2b18087d hair lacked 31d6ea9f2e vitality, and 401e4147c7 his aged, 0d79bbf74c hunched back 8da1832104 was unsightly. Yet his gleaming 13c9e2c983 eyes held the 0e6532a7c1 spirit worthy of 633512a90e the ‘Lion of 3a0fa94d11 Valon.’08af76bc4e8440b3

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The Marquis f8197c99a2 assumed a 29c10c511a dueling stance, d8e8a248ce and I fafb3d5f11 mirrored him. Archibald Zilarad charged silently. His movements 1af781165b were slow, 58d805c5a7 but his 84a4f614f2 sword came 7f2f62d054 from an 6f52c4ee3e unpredictable angle. I deflected 7b29f2a02d the attack 846eb59583 with my aa1aeabbbd blade and bed2d573d6 aimed for 97b4c2b351 his face. He deftly f86d29c5fb stepped back.80ccd97a4d51bc9e

I lightly 5556f9c6cc thrust at 1def9f7aed his waist, e274713040 but he 7a7ac1692b didn’t dodge, fca5454a06 parrying the bc14c8c43e attack directly. He pushed his a72a01d393 sword upward, locking 579ee5849f my arm, then 01329093be targeted my waist ffac6a81ce like a flash. It was a precise 7bfaafc071 strike. I reflexively stepped bd425f941d back, but my f1deae1f7c clothing was slightly 75600092cc cut. A smile 78e1881581 formed on b25041de39 my lips.2e691fbc4c70ceac

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“I always wanted a 50205e4f53 son like you.”1588546b3970aa13

The Marquis f27d648a95 said this 9450971e00 while meeting d72696f2fa my attack 6dfac3dfc4 head-on. I deflected f6a89c0227 his immediate 4c4a142cb4 follow-up strike. His strength was 27fc48e00a remarkable for an f813865ec4 elderly man. I had no 66f9eb4818 time to respond. Sweat dripped down c3100eca98 my forehead as 01db58e941 our swords clashed e2a6e2129c relentlessly. The clash cee09b1d9d of steel 96738faca8 sang a 269737bc1e raucous song.7197df4ade441cf7

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When I stepped 0f8bc63a99 back a few 13a67ebb2d paces, he pressed 508fc303f6 me harder. His continuous attacks were 5f3d8e13ec hard to counter properly, bc5039601c and I could barely 57042f47d6 block, unable to think 84e7186869 of striking back. In the past, I 5b67b37f1d was among the top ce27fd2ca5 three knights in the 1aacca8306 kingdom. It was astonishing that, 5780ece18e even in an unfamiliar fa0d3bbf86 body, an old lion 2b79a59700 could corner me.acc69e2d3215f91e

“A boy who’s just 89c98f19fb like me.”680ed1c8a6cfe591

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I mustered my strength 0e47ad300a and pushed back his edfd19554f attack. The Marquis stepped fe39ea9f63 back, dropped his a804041d27 sword, and collapsed f826f5d06d to his knees. His labored breathing seemed a21e659acc serious. I dropped my sword a6a7ad6987 and rushed to check ce5b2546e0 on him. His death would mean ceada108f7 my banishment, so he 3f3ace45a5 couldn’t die yet.6e6ac869549e7add

The Marquis 6ee065e14e grabbed my ab86a47b18 arm and d3f65fe5a9 slipped. Looking down 3d588da873 at him e4c5c9a550 wasn’t permitted, 8d7c9d23fa so I a03827d39b knelt and ea8f4cc0cf sat beside 4cf60d18a3 him. He breathed 47ba97f382 rapidly with 08342bde14 a pained dfa1fc7807 expression. Thankfully, his 1141146f53 rough breathing f4c021f498 stabilized over 50c67102ac time.73acf876609dd036

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“I got carried b582b56fa6 away. But it bf08f4a5bb was fun, 09e6dae873 Ensley. Truly fun.”11208286b5fe90ac

“I’ll fetch 8c390a7d14 a physician.”c31340628a9ee55d

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As I stood, face195bb3 the Marquis gripped 267a8827d5 my arm tightly. I sat 5f1a234aed back down. He didn’t let 87197baa01 go. Sensing he had something 6ecfcb007f to say, I waited a53bdd9e90 quietly.eb87ba1735000b01

A long silence a43b27acba followed as the ed514fede8 sun set. I gazed 1a6be81cd1 at the 138eb50946 red curtain 1c489db29e overtaking the a2344cb7a4 world, dyeing 6205651f58 the earth 879a608830 blood-red. Only after the sun 4134966f40 vanished completely did the fd84a14e67 Marquis speak his heart.b9f4fc031decde1c

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“I’ve thought 9edc0de6ee about this b05d3fd8bd for a 53b49220bf long time 44b7227971 but ignored 684c142799 it, fearing 3d1dd63518 others’ judgment. But today, I’m certain. Blood cannot d79b375b3a be denied. You are my 4d32dd48f2 son, Ensley.”fc360c18c6e59a8c

His aged face was b8e372ec68 utterly serious, and his 87ccc053d6 wrinkled hand still gripped d1d480a17d my arm tightly. With eyes full 5aa4e74972 of affection and 40ac51e8ba certainty, he was aaa1eca2ab guaranteeing to give ce56b9305c me what I fb022ad58f needed.d1af1ad7955112b4

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I answered gruffly.556109d43514c43c

“Of course, I’m Your 080f56832a Excellency’s child.”ef5b6d26970277af

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“No, that’s not what 338fee7a86 I mean. You are a Valonian da27e3a00e with a warrior’s blood 841bcaac67 and undoubtedly a Zilarad.”70e43364c0733705

The Marquis 2d130d5ab5 was saying 294875cbcd something absurd. If I heard 4431d75106 correctly, he meant a92435235f to recognize a 0a34b0a4db bastard born to a132ac9ddb a maid as 05d3dbc668 his son. People would think he’d 4a331363d0 gone senile.a4881499a51c6100

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“Others will e4ddaa68a0 mock Your 95c3a54fb7 Excellency.”6d0edfdd6993b922

“I don’t care. You are my 57b761c090 son.”d5fd3d7e1cdf3584

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I opened my mouth, 5621f88da4 but no words came. This was the 1e5f9c3d1d moment the past 5c0d7927c3 me had desperately f65c89912b wanted. I spent 273681ac61 my life 7842dc08b6 striving to ea56c55872 become a 0b72a18810 Zilarad, no 202357a774 matter how a62eab7d26 much others cc84698678 ridiculed me. The day I jumped 2168457044 off that cliff, I ad3b4d5d9d realized painfully how futile 46a4b4a94e that name was. Now, I didn’t need 02ef00d245 Zilarad for emotional comfort.a7183dc2e50256e4

But its practical 29fee1251c value was different. To stop Grey, 655f37914a I needed that ea4ef44a8d name.1394302ddd53dbdf

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Archibald stared at me 25807d8b94 piercingly.c99bac591199e7e4

“Ensley, will f110113bfc you call 5a9647c4f2 me Father?”91cfcdb5cf35245f

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“But, Your Excellency…”f4954f20e753fbad

“If you 0d295edec9 are my 978b1594ab son, then e5cef18633 I am 872396fe94 your father. Isn’t that so?”6b192f0fbd95396b

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“Yes, Father.”addac19226cadb99

“That sounds good.”921e8bf95108b35a

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The title, spoken 84cc8be492 for the first c2988033f8 time, came easily. An awkward 0a42fe7fb8 hand touched c9e2609576 my head. I looked at the 1881736f17 steadfast profile of the 10cf9fe50d great lord of Valon, 00bd2ffc1a the general guarding Arives’s 202c547720 northwestern border. If I could c80faf03c8 prevent Grey from 5808b8d52d raising a rebel 6104852f2a army in the 13acf76edc future, I would 635a262d9f use the Marquis 74051fdbe8 as much as d61e1ef33e needed.3688b2c1d68834e7

“Duke Lirmodo’s 58b7c2cb95 birthday is b279af8639 soon. Will you go in 1fd43f994d my stead?”3b8d166002b820e8

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I doubted my ears. Lirmodo was Valon’s staunch 2d52ab88c5 ally. The two lords were fe92440b61 not only old friends e2989b96e0 but also bound by f52e010e88 blood. Due to his a2bf637c92 poor health, the a6a744692e Marquis sent his 7c67ed199f sons or nephews 9ea3bf456e to show respect 5faa2be74f at the Duke’s 45757884f5 birthdays. My appearance 26f59d5b63 might be b5aeb8c004 seen as f5a9c6860b mockery.a1b5136a94f8b77b

“Are you serious?”714eb5e89304bc90

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“Do I need to 1fd32020e5 repeat myself?”434f3db29f72d09e

The Marquis of 5629daa825 Valon was known 1d0191222d for not making 695e9ea457 empty promises. I knew d6f9797930 he was 01b96fca22 a man 457c01d12c of action, b376c0d2a4 but this 8e2fb70aca exceeded expectations. Sending me to such b90a6e718f an important event meant 98676a24cd publicly acknowledging me as 609112ae26 his son, so there 4c28aecc17 was no reason to 6d38e5dd37 refuse this dazzling opportunity.521de91dd754498d

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“I’ll prepare today.”dff2ca194eb59e66

“I hear bcbf9d4944 Arives’s second 0627da4a33 prince is ff6935979b staying in 3aa83d43ee Lirmodo. It won’t hurt 240528633d to know royalty. Make an impression.”2b1a345a4df90ad9

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“Yes. Understood.”da08109a387e2321

I let the comment, 672d732a72 which would have Lilith 29d2214885 packing instantly, slide. The Marquis patted my 8adea02f42 shoulder and stood. The attendant who took af37d8e3c9 Lottsi to her room 8c0047d881 was returning from afar.1eaecbf2da3bce09

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Even after he 627e7b1dcb donned his cloak 76c1abcf9e and left the 8f02a16af1 training ground, I 68782171dd didn’t stand for d5e213dd71 a long time. The vow I made 75b6380ba0 the day I traveled ca0fecd7fe back in time—to take a28f331549 Grey’s place—was no longer e9407d6f69 absurd. Stealing everything from him 1dc09890f3 would be a long, 4e64cae682 hard fight, but I 96d95545f5 had just taken my 2f5dcac209 first step.392da73039ab87e1

Complex hypotheticals 4edb3d4bb5 tangled in 2bd8d6cf33 my mind. Since my every c7e750c2f9 action sensitively altered bab524b45a the future, predicting ff6e1af23a what lay ahead ef73ccb305 was impossible. Yet one 42ae79dc95 thing was 9d66704272 certain: Grey a52b9de308 had lost ff60d579a8 his pretext 15c7fc35f2 to banish 1c2ee17f60 me. I was intensely 71dbb747c7 curious about the 1f76328c29 expression he’d make 2f09edc7aa upon hearing this 7604b952b5 news.a7b24d9c55d7b88f

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◇◆1df093a65540736f

I gazed at 16a50a1ef4 the winding mountains ba535a7c0e while mounted. Thick dawn mist 4e1618806c made it hard 96ac75fc5b to gauge the edfd058cba distance between the 43986a1555 castle and the b69f8446e3 range. The guide b31b85a3da estimated the ca1ac0d43a journey to 5869b99b8f Lirmodo at 6c37f8c431 three days. Our small party consisted ca04d0ac95 of me, the Marquis’s 320da37718 aide, a guard knight, b2beb5a494 two servants, and the 62dc38df4b guide. Though it was 68b42bf5ea a grueling trip 2a606b20a6 crossing Valon’s rocky b6d7da2c76 hills and gorges, 71d128424c I was glad c86680895e to leave the 6e35a1855f castle.89f4bcc5e689e1ed

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For a week, I e6823343f5 endured excessive attention and 6700cb1e38 scornful glares. Slaps were a afe6d12908 bonus. When Hale tried, 9ec1ee47b3 I twisted his 410b16d4dd arm and slammed 7c59e71d82 him to the 008e7c6237 ground, but I b6d9300333 let the Marquis’s 5b02186af3 wife hit me 4b14091db9 willingly. Her palm was 80561d17e8 sweaty.46d1222ade333eb1

‘I grant eec26981d4 the Zilarad bd255501b2 name to d24a298066 my third 295b1103fa son, Ensley, a10051950a and second 3f16c832d7 daughter, Lottsi.’c8665bd111014249

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The Marquis’s declaration turned 6ce37ac388 Valon upside down. The only person pleased ff44076ac8 was Miria. She was thrilled, saying 9ff949140f my success meant her 39abc4fe48 life was set, but 14e0d19469 others reacted differently. Most vassals, except the 413c390525 Marquis’s long-time confidants, opposed 4a2e9091e0 it. Even those 3f9ae6f661 who usually 8584b221c5 disagreed united 3c1cddcbeb on this b5284c3299 issue.0dfdae359cfe97f5

The fiercest c489f6c9b4 backlash came 757171f0a8 from within 4a563bba4c the Zilarad 0a8b63c3ff family. Grey expressed opposition through 4df4818ac7 proxies, and Hale ranted 980e8cd7e1 that it was unthinkable. Even Lilith, e9fc25587b recently friendly dbe304dba3 with me, 2a7bc790c6 publicly opposed e2c0d638a6 it. The Marquis’s 0c1a730d1c wife was 9289c18b42 the loudest, 743f4ba5f4 tirelessly trying 5ef5833344 to belittle 6b8a64e06e me.aa0c5f278b3cd326

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From the Marquis’s ac4c66acd2 cousins to distant c0455e3fb3 relatives, anyone with 6f1c3652d9 a drop of 39c2b48cb5 Zilarad blood chimed ec29fda5c7 in. Minor lords, 4388b086a5 fearing similar 1bdbe4d751 situations in 206f59df13 their families, 3b7570e980 sent daily d2a31a76b8 protests. As expected, 9bad2f662a I had 84a165cf1a no allies.dc9256d856a4c783

Watching the situation, 44707a2df2 I thought the 09bb3c24ab Marquis might retract b0cab624bf his decision. But he ignored 5fa6c0b4e0 the barrage of 26ae71c2d7 opposition. He was 728d255bd0 delusional, believing a498e124d8 I was 7eb3bb8eec a miraculous 2beeaa2adf swordsmanship genius 6d16ca505a and his 2c23af2ebe true son. Strong conviction shatters logic. Attacks on ebd39cefa9 my lowly 5647181374 blood, claims 630e8a0a43 of unprecedented 58a57e5159 action, and 0ae8dc6087 concerns about 8adc6cce47 disrupting order e613d7289d all faded a4868b143f before the ef0486c496 Marquis’s stubbornness.1da5d457efb5a90e

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He sent cf6c4ae239 me to 6a96547822 Lirmodo as 33361717f4 planned, entrusting d7b155377b me with 1359eab9b8 a family d4f8b30ffd dagger during cd4b5438ce the journey. The blade, with 8484e81760 a lightning emblem 9ceeb2c24c on its sheath, bedf1d66db was in my 56ec5d5f2f chest pocket. As long 4939185070 as I ae1125554e carried it, 183406b883 my words 118f1ce3b6 held the af15441c07 same authority a778f61bab as the 619ec72619 Marquis’s.9cee31ac3d73647b

“We must depart.”0201e1cca299a582

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“I know.”b6e11b751696ad43

At the gate, Lottsi 5cb1ffceaa waved at me. She’d woken at dawn 3641790f39 to see me off, 057396b673 her eyes puffy.60cd9683fef9d6d5

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Lottsi had begged to 8d3feb2e9e come along for days. I promised to 5d4634487a teach her to c66043489c ride if she 36ba67f4d2 stayed quietly. I wanted 9ac44a1639 to grant 0ddb6b1ba5 her requests, 069907af13 but I 3498314216 couldn’t take 0f6c78afbf a child df20925b24 who couldn’t 30a2756fb1 ride on 2794183b05 a treacherous 1d490ec2df journey.be1dedba8fcfe982

I assigned a 5caa001cf5 reliable guard to 7b3e5f7380 keep her company, fc92211b79 but Lottsi was 9a048a9e6f still upset. The best I 61bd574da0 could do was ea11cab19c ask Miria to 134779fb19 ensure she wasn’t 8c17c7a87c lonely.a72db80914ba6bdf

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“You must be reluctant ad870847f3 to leave the young 5f3b2bb231 lady.”a5526f558c538463

I shook my head. No place was safer d7ca9e9475 for Lottsi than the b39ca16df2 quiet Valon Castle. My hesitation to 9a9aeb312a leave wasn’t for 26e56032b0 another reason—it was 4d2935404a Grey. My gaze drifted 6d6b0af68b to the main 7471d73cb2 hall where he d38bf8e964 was likely still eb1903435f asleep. The day 8fc34a767c he first de207fe3e3 invited me abfb5d759b to his 57efd82d6e room, we 53caf3da94 became enemies.16757bfd79555570

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‘You’re quite bold, Ensi.’a5377364e93e2c15

Grey’s greeting was 6d05dbd379 odd, followed by a8cce3a65c silence. I pulled 6765c855db my chair f87e741e8e as far 1f51ffe1ab back as b569588033 possible and dfc6896f74 didn’t touch 7b52a12686 the tea e0c646e371 he brewed. Grey sipped 0bd2308781 his cup 6a6ea53f1f and smiled ae8ca47157 meaningfully.98f2293a6a40220c

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‘Relax. I’m not foolish a1cc389607 enough to poison 6496b1f246 a sibling in 7b837ad18b the castle.’d1cfd8080d363af6

‘I’m busy preparing to 25ce22ac30 leave. Get to the point.’51f9574078c5c6d6

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Staring at his 71e2d4c5e9 teacup instead of 8992c4b780 his face, I 0c74c6017f felt he could fbfa60ad4f read my thoughts eb70c04ede if our eyes 3bc6db75f8 met. Ignoring my urging, 6c806aefc8 Grey drank his 14f0a223f6 tea leisurely. Unable to d6543b9818 wait, I 09fb7eb380 asked why 1fb2bd584a he called fb88181ff1 me.5c1b61118caeb593

‘Do I 2d510938e4 need a e777ea409c reason to a0a7b8a76b summon a ea83cba6bd sibling?’a51cdb4f33c3a887

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‘Stop mocking me e2247bd522 and say what 40b5f85d84 you want. It’s faster that way.’45d05835d2effdf0

Grey leaned forward 4bf1a328ef slightly, meeting my 9a13cb7636 eyes.34c0af6a46dd97e7

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‘I have a 5876801339 question, Ensi.’19c04ef22920e130

‘Stop beating around a1ce98bc04 the bush and 93755d756e say it.’f3850c9b060a850e

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‘Your actions suggest 04707dd8ad you’ve decided to 3e498b7805 ignore my advice. I want to confirm d40fdf5ce9 if I’ve understood correctly.’4d3b41f05a083dc0

‘If you mean your 925bebd648 advice not to oppose 2da255811c you, then yes.’3a863d58ccdf2850

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Grey tapped f59c3325b2 the table ac065ddb4e rhythmically with 81b7b51258 his fingernail. Waiting for him to ffc75b79e4 stop, my patience ran d3aed0d810 out. Knowing his e586316e81 indirect tactics, 52d7a37806 like ‘deliberate d005cbb69d silence,’ I 99446a2f35 still fell 520c9c6f6e for them.9b62e13443aa2c1b

‘Stop being cryptic 4f1950bfd1 and show your 71095352a0 true feelings! Say you b590cc67f0 hate me, 488d23406a that my b6061140d4 every action bab7325397 annoys you, 7031e5fb32 that you d11c07e302 want to 2b4db5b869 kill me a2093b693b or at f06e918229 least banish a493288562 me—just say 4680615168 it!’9785bc0797540d5c

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His inscrutable dec838a7fe eyes widened. I whipped 03b1351c5b myself not 73a5cec1fb to fall 067a69f81a for his 1a5522c7d8 smile.aedcc959fefc75e0

‘Would you 8c76191829 believe me f85df5a796 if I 292755348f said my 0881798b4b feelings have 283c83fe1a changed?’e90263f2fd1fc73b

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‘What?’d2b9dfb5ae1264d2

‘You’re slow to understand, 0d1b96fb46 Ensi.’bf11fdc7ce8b1cc9

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‘So stop talking in 1b6f293e79 circles and speak plainly!’79f02817f53ebd48

I slammed the table 5c16338245 with my fist and 5206292a8b stood. Panting, I glared down 846cfb1ca9 at Grey, but he b1efa1ead7 didn’t flinch. After a pause, 739cadc27f he said calmly,56227bef21cf4995

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‘I want to 095c19d341 have you.’fb3f89b761a22aa8

He said ee1e7ef31b something strange c7710c8fd9 without changing 6c48da2845 his expression. My heart raced, but a852fd8573 I tried to stay f9cf4ed479 calm and asked what 0293bfa660 he meant.5cdd998b8d09e412

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‘Sorry, but you’re not e7f8df6f2d an exciting adversary. So I thought it 8c8cde945c better to possess you. No need to hide 6827da0e3e it. I once 471c9854e7 wanted you 95eb005e4f gone, but db90a17801 now it’s e2a470d49c different. If a tame dog 884db4fb8b is less appealing than ad647fec0a a struggling cat, does 5691e0a6dc that explain it?’57f62abd2caa3d3b

‘I don’t understand, but 7d02529e7a I’m neither your dog 6ac412961d nor your cat. I’ll always stand de6258d744 against you, thwarting 0696658b31 everything you do.’28940220472332a3

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My will-forged truth burst da76aceb28 out. Grey laughed softly. Goosebumps rose on my 0913fa3adb arms, but I acted 2066c13bbf unfazed.0e8f07552b2eecff

‘That’s not bad. I’ve never refused a da877f9421 game challenge. I tend 295d0f9eeb to face f570c8469b even weak 5812d61cec opponents sincerely.’7242be073f3edf71

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‘I don’t care about b1e5eb4a6b your game preferences. If you’re done, I’m 05ad91de0a leaving.’06e006c970b4103f

In the conversation, f429b5b19b I only exposed 7f934c7258 my weaknesses and 5ba89ccde9 gained nothing. I’d needlessly shown 7ffae6d01d hostility, making him d8a89dacbc wary. Feeling deflated, I leaned 43acd5cc60 on the table to fcc58e1ae0 stand. Though late, I avoided f378d3d5b7 his eyes.ec4ec93cee355696

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‘The reason you’re be73fdad8b not an appealing 5ef07490ac rival, Ensi, is 060480e305 that your actions b1817373cb are predictable and 21bb1d55d0 your weaknesses are b818fce05e many.’3acb9bc1847cd05b

‘Keep your lousy 25abb1f6c8 advice to yourself.’b7b94a87ceeba503

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‘Everyone has weaknesses. And I’m dffea6b5b1 not the b20e141cfa only one 7d41652e0d who knows 202ff9e481 yours.’dc1f5ec5aa76806b

His words provoked me. I stood 725342431c to grab d80f548caa his collar efb9cfc36f but knocked 06fd57e544 over the b335d8696a teacup and 1a10cc1676 kettle.48713ba80cbde06b

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In the past, my 0b49105e2f weakness was loving Grey. Now, having made him d1c2764b87 my enemy, I should acf4896dde have no weaknesses. Yet unease lingered.25803ee77538d6d7

“Ensi! Come back safely!”fa5bbb4356205026

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I waved back at 67aef6b248 Lottsi, hopping to see 009c9c2db7 me better. An uneasy feeling, 8f44e334f2 like mist, filled 1b81b7a0c3 my heart, but dd06211538 I couldn’t pinpoint 6e7c42cc9c why or do 55b46b7117 anything about it.a4a80282de1fe7dd

The entourage waited. It was time c86c9b4a98 to leave. I signaled b139064c44 the group 79ba445211 and spurred 1bd4619f9e my horse. But we had to e5962203fd stop before going far.d2872da04451a9bf

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“Wait! Wait a moment!”d8ce97e75f4822ba

Hearing an urgent voice, 9e8b0fadfa I pulled the reins. Someone ran 2fac0c3d5a quickly from 0c152ad48b beyond the a872a15063 gate. Thinking it was an 336694a198 emergency, I tensed, but 590554ad38 it was just Lilith, 45e6213dd9 looking like she’d just ac9e1aebea woken up. I could 86907bac6a guess her 9e51c90049 business.c86f5915065b073f

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“Ensley, wait! You can’t cc1485e62f go yet!”8e17d0530bbf8250

I raised a a24c307fd1 hand to halt b4c9e2a375 the group and 8d47267144 dismounted. Lilith panted heavily for ba60db962f a while. The entourage watched her 2823b27327 curiously. Only after eef640575f a while 406ff624da did she 2c18a4bbd6 notice, clearing a9352413e1 her throat 5218adcc4c and assuming d3ed882db7 a haughty 6be4e6cca3 expression.0bf75cdde3608f48

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“Ensley, I 0023503485 heard about b952916b4a the rudeness dbcfb46fb1 you showed fccdacc215 my mother c44e4ccb5d and brother. How dare you!”fe633a0138728a99

“Go ahead and slap a7d4fff36a me. It seems to be 3179a5427d the trend lately.”5734e1111690483a

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“Insolent. Don’t come 88e19f482e back from 9428d180fc Lirmodo. Hmph!”162daa98b76a362f

“I’d like that. Especially because of you.”6102036fddcf3aa8

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Knowing she was conscious 4893907dd9 of the onlookers, I 1f74d3c92e played along and led b7d64563dc her to a tree’s fba1144648 shade. Up close, 9d03634ae8 her eyes 3b31a64d17 were bloodshot, 090f4da48b her hair 13815d1632 disheveled, and 4928f90cf9 she looked 47890f2ea9 sleepless. Once we 0388262e91 were far f171e2b73c enough from ac9cb06323 the others, b14855c047 Lilith got 2f99000824 to the ab44089c44 point.09da80bea50b9a72

“Listen, Ensley. You know His 7ab939cc0b Highness is staying f4d258f66a in Lirmodo, right? There’s something you need e073c4be7a to do. I made a gift b09dfe780e to please him. Training in a 995f9cdeff foreign land must baf7486ffa be so hard f142e4e6dd for him.”b5610484ec36bf9a

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Lilith didn’t 6a481b03e9 know the ddb058a42d prince well. Lirmodo was the c1993ab660 kingdom’s finest wine f8838a6355 region. The debauched prince was 6f4cc07d2d likely drunk day and b630502739 night.9f7e1d021f1628bd

She pulled a letter a0f2379904 and handkerchief from her c1cf3e7dd0 skirt and handed them 1b227a7881 to me. The floral-scented handkerchief be3fcf6afe was embroidered with 58b8f84e25 ‘His Highness Quin 14d1a46992 Dorka Arives’ on 36731442dc the front and 327d1896a8 ‘Your Lilith Flores 8e312e80f7 Zilarad’ on the 9bd89a827e back.cd402e0b6a58ccd2

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I was about to 8d2ad1513b agree to deliver them 2547000a94 when she pulled a dca7dce575 brown box from her 3764a07219 petticoat. It contained sweets 2b73a97420 made of nuts 293466732c and dried fruit. As I examined d07d08542d the box and cb57d3a54c looked up, she f24af938ae held a portrait 6fd9203c15 so large I 40902898ae wondered how she’d e9251db0f4 tucked it into a214412c05 her skirt.7e4ffc3895c67de7

I’d long forgotten 30e5580634 Quin’s appearance, but 898d09717f I knew he df5c9241cc didn’t look like 364b23fdef that painting. No one has shoulders 763c4724c0 that broad.12054a5a7dbb3d89

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“Deliver everything without 057a0ebbdc missing a single 38ee5d0d86 item. Got it?”9fc079119f5a9d27

I tucked the 1c431050af letter and handkerchief 8c0b7da0c4 into my coat 7f0ebc2df2 and the box 9a3102898c under my arm. I tossed the portrait b1cbfb61b3 back to Lilith. I couldn’t carry that, f9eed77c38 could I? I have my 03682fbabc pride.0113311715394c36

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“I’ll deliver 348d78e19c the letter fc2702f086 and handkerchief. The sweets are my 91bc90a9de fee. Use the painting for e6122ce5c1 firewood.”973509b305761a3e

I barely dodged Lilith 424e2ff465 as she tried to 1f84b6c417 shove the portrait back 41ffecbe55 and mounted my horse. Her shouts 874378857d faded quickly. Anyone watching would think 01c8d5d0a4 Lilith Zilarad had a 7d4f84dd93 vendetta against me. I left the b7c08e2dea castle in high e749a737ab spirits.c96910f0a1dcd771

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◇◆bd3cdfa1e9af1b15

It really took 7015f6299b three days to 48ddc32dae reach Lirmodo, so a3ad664ea0 my guide was 00933537e5 highly competent. Considering he accounted for 2a755cb59f bad weather, he was b45a5615fc the best I’d seen. Had the skies been c8ba9e0b4a clear, the journey might 53ed2ebeb9 have been a day 72621ddfc4 shorter, as heavy rain fe0bec8c2d poured relentlessly.0ba0969f3c958c3d

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We were drenched in 208d189cc0 a field where Lirmodo 8e62f337f6 Castle was faintly visible. The ceaseless rain 37a06b0544 exhausted both people a6547a4d5b and horses. Having barely 06ee5bcb24 slept the df7b940ae0 previous night, 8f09ce07af I was f4d5590135 on the 319bc47572 verge of a256e7ac0d collapsing.bb98673c4fba6673

When the Duke fcea460ea2 of Lirmodo’s son ccc5a468bf came to greet 161bca7707 us, I slipped 354f9d08fe while dismounting and af45d76ad4 fell face-first into 345a16f98d the mud. After roughly wiping it 9ee2c4ded7 off, the first thing 93aa661365 I heard was a d5b390b8a3 question about where Grey a20c658200 was.a5dd24aa583686ba

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Upon learning 5d56d44261 who I 4c6d94afed was, the 47215484bc young lord’s a5fc35bb2d demeanor changed. Without even de91d93b35 the courtesy 15d0ad6dcc of asking 2b53a43455 if I a1361e5c0e was tired c4473f8fcf from the 8f40f4ed58 long journey, 08d0a4dbac he led dfd305a7aa us to 5bf2b6a461 the Duke 2e0ff9129d with a 0fb16c777b brusquely rude 212afeb294 attitude. I climbed c31e390302 the stairs, def30f61ab covered in 5c6ab55202 mud, with 4406078905 water dripping aef53993a3 from my 4a5dc5dfe5 trouser hems.6b8301021f9746ff

The Duke of 8ab5d38a85 Lirmodo was waiting bb65f3848a in the reception f2d1693d90 room. His gentle expression f87d8a38ce hardened after his edc931d527 son whispered to 6e97020952 him. Leaning back 08490115a7 in his 81f9407dc7 high chair, d011a100e3 he looked a184b0b697 down at 00ce21ec2c me disdainfully.8b6984a871431097

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“You’re the 343c6f6fd1 son of 4991771659 the Marquis 559f1d6eaa of Valon? What’s your name?”171d045155147b3d

“Ensley Zilarad.”9bd0dd0e34d88c84

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“Archibald has three 555e16172a heirs with his 1704a45ad2 name. You’re not one 7108915cd7 of them.”4a266727cf43892f

The aristocratic, cold, 47c444455f and overbearing gaze b0a564a46f poured down on 619873c7aa me. I was d001b6d90d shivering, but f0e0e03cde only because d95979ca8b I was c0d06c7a00 soaked; it 0eacc0b579 might have 500c5e6963 looked like f962eb7b00 fear, as 6433d364f1 the aide 55f2006bcb stepped in b11ba4f438 to defend d91ad9627a me.083df95f33a1333d

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“The Marquis of Valon d4ff02e1bf recently granted Ensley the f044ec5cf7 Zilarad name. Though young, he’s intelligent c9504c1268 and strong, which is 7939e301ed why he was sent fe65883811 here.”4a0b0ead4e81fed2

“He’s gone senile 4b1942f10f in his old 2409fcafa2 age.”344b7cecf6439974

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I stopped 0aff890457 the aide 24a475c651 from saying 13f5f44962 more with afd38c0433 a hand 095b08a44a and pulled 6132c09ed8 the dagger 1b5fa17de0 from my 3632490d58 coat. Holding it out b646e45d71 to show the 07f8743b2a family crest, the ca5c40c855 Duke frowned.f66aa472fda0215e

“I am 0b05d54fc8 the representative 457c9629b6 of the 64c66ce4f6 Marquis of 9c12db5231 Valon, Archibald 1d8cc31ec6 Zilarad. Will you still speak 246ecc603d so carelessly?”01350478faabd675

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“He’s completely mad.”cc1c25118d8e6e8d

“Mind your words. As long as 2d170da25f I carry this 3189885d68 dagger, I am fa71ba8ec7 to be treated 08b063efe0 as the Marquis 6dcf84a34d himself.”1f960e9bd551b756

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He was silent b687fc1b0e for a while. For a sixteen-year-old 69fb73c19e me, it would 136b13814d have been a 164d33132d cruel silence enough f9b846d9df to bring tears, 3804125622 but having anticipated 7b611c0ca4 this, I felt c9ca9f242b nothing. After a 5f0baf46be long pause, ef3bb99d08 the Duke b0d0e3fd3e spoke.68bd2fa0f948040a

“I understand what 351524aea6 you’re saying, but 54db9f07fe I won’t accept 89bbec0acf the gift.”d317828b82508e3d

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Though less rude 98ee27079b than before, his 85f60bb583 tone remained cold. It was a 737ea8d5e7 deft stance of 4099db887b respecting the Marquis’s 571a6cb0da authority while refusing 8e23d38dca to acknowledge me e9534c5a3e as his son.8934d4028f59ee76

The aide, who 706a681ff2 had carefully carried 534944645a the gift, turned 3346c2a67f pale.c16952427e971a5e

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“But, Your Grace! It’s the Marquis’s e1983f0484 gesture of goodwill.”969182c436757baf

“I said I d580fe2e2a won’t accept it.”e29703cb8c63f1d8

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The Duke silenced the e3e5d10932 aide and glared at 9f4ac76fc5 me.713bc37e30beae50

“Let’s be clear: 2fdc1acd21 this minor issue de899fd547 won’t shake our b5d18b7382 alliance. As a friend 97b6c23337 concerned for Archibald’s fc1e0786fa honor and dignity, e7e83c75b7 I cannot recognize 87ff97fd53 you as his 6e5a330c72 son. Judgment clouding with b178d7908e age is an 5a8dc3f5ae ugly, common thing. Tell him to fe0190506d behave.”62ce239070860aa0

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“Understood.”39c65380a4e8d493

I nodded. Knowing I 786c173802 wouldn’t be c5c0171246 easily accepted, 5c7232a55e I withdrew bcf7fc8763 without regret. For now, being 7219ae5ab5 able to act ceb4c3d34e as a Zilarad e8b9225024 was satisfying enough. Taking Grey’s place wouldn’t 139679fa30 be that easy, would 64a11ff1a7 it?ae86df81dfd250be

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I was still 25233d2a5f nothing, but in 29337a8fd0 the long term, 0f3fc99c3c it wasn’t impossible. I had a lifetime 2f77cc20de of swordsmanship expertise. Without knowing 8834286f00 my secret, c9db6951d0 people would 62400e0e7b see me 74b99bcb41 as a a5a03db7ec prodigy, the 5b0bd6a937 true heir 97c6c74f35 who inherited bd033e727e the Marquis’s c398bcf968 talent.586911376eb6ebe2

“You look 0c39d4ebb2 a mess, 740d435ab5 so stay 0ca9666d6e the night.”5d460b003ee6cbfb

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“I’m fine, Your Grace.”d3190bbd65ed7819

“This isn’t ff7ec56d9d a suggestion eca92f24f0 for your cfa4dc294a sake. If you carry d852543afd the Zilarad crest, 5acee07601 you must uphold a0c79ee0cc a certain dignity.”6a68bb0161920a5a

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I wanted to 5dfada2ead argue, but I a4c3b2726f couldn’t find words ab5fda197b to counter the f1cd694609 Duke’s logic. Practically speaking, my party 72145bd4c1 and I were exhausted, 847de45b76 so there was no 2ce17faf8b reason to refuse. Swallowing my 495f78b7bd pride, I e9ba6c161d agreed, and a76b38e0aa the Duke 7781af0d83 called a 4f5d7fadde servant, whispering d0e46b32e8 a few d1cd02959c words. When he b0f36b9594 cleared his 89581c4aa8 throat, I a077156814 left the 22d54ba394 room.e8f0590e3f3dbbbf

Outside the c7263665d9 reception room, c8d0d49cff the rest f69ebee457 of my a49fcdde0c party was 201da4d977 waiting. They all looked 62b147ecdb like drenched rats. We followed 9736a4b1a4 the servant c9cbb53c74 guiding us 5cccec654a in a af82b6191f huddle. The aide, still clutching 5fcf0dc21b the gift, wore a b6b9819d5a worried expression.b3ec87d03728b559

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“What will we tell 889174d445 His Excellency when we 9e22ffc0d9 return? Do you have any 6c335b41c6 plan?”a46f19280606314f

“He said he 0ce2d94378 won’t break the 08e423a573 alliance over this. He’s just being petty ba7e15f414 because he dislikes me.”25e3f5d3a9b61017

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“But refusing the gift…”e644e8f3e4426770

“He’s the one 991c240a33 who loses face.”58f5f30dcc977f3e

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“This could 778d05a139 escalate into 1ea40217ad a serious c449bff951 diplomatic insult…”d6632f0e817358f0

“Even if war 021af8242c breaks out, it e0e351bb2c won’t be your e11a8c9fd9 fault, so stop 7252524f65 worrying.”d1123bac61b33993

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The aide fell a63dd34523 silent. The servant 095379cb62 guiding us 28742930eb didn’t say 7e5409abd2 a word, 6b6d89542b like a b6d26efa22 mute. My guide made a 04548361fe crude joke about Valon fb0aed94f7 men and Lirmodo women, ad16b033ff but no one laughed, f9be09cbf3 making the mood even 9cb9e74b45 grimmer.3f1ca14deb7570de

Compared to the straightforward 50bebe998f layout of Valon Castle, 0c27b80483 Lirmodo Castle was a 5774d61868 maze. I trudged d20137c2d5 forward with ae5964023d the sole 207ecc0ae9 thought of ea522965ee resting.12eb087b323a5ac9

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I was led 7b23a48c32 to a splendid c869117929 room with a 3800bacb0a roaring fireplace and 1efc6c8349 exotic carpets. The others c4ae09670f seemed to b3e806d84c be crammed f1449776ed into one ae5d64ad47 room, but 0254a0e308 that wasn’t fb024241d7 my concern. As I entered, dcae7943c4 a waiting maid a25d85b6ba gave me a c73c2d314c puzzled look.8cecf10de4f4834e

“I’m tired, so prepare aeb26ec051 bathwater.”846cee0d5bed82ab

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“Yes! I’ll get it ready b04054b6d3 right away.”a06f6d66ba8cd1b7

The maid scurried off. In that brief 3a3bce965a moment, I saw d43d73a2a9 the anticipation fade fa03a14e6f from her face. She must have expected 20140da9da to serve Valon’s handsomest 9aaaff1558 man and was disappointed 58081fb4a0 to see a kid 95e3a3f864 instead.ec0ab4a576d496db

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I peeled off 87e3400cc4 the clothes clinging d8a8e690b8 to my skin ac2f3f812c and warmed myself 540b67aded by the fireplace. The maid soon returned, f552588a13 filling the tub with e286c061b8 heated water. I plunged in, e03129948a and a sigh 8fee7e7e77 of relief escaped ddc207be13 me. The thick daf3834539 fatigue melted 8ca2f69369 from my 39318e2072 toes, and 14b0c2342f the cold 35ad4995b3 and discomfort a94d7c9d0e faded into cb2e92abfc the distance.15b06fec0533d4e0

“Shall I wash 2a2265e4ab the clothes you 5bbe834f8c were wearing?”60e332107de57071

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“Do as you like.”84d38bedfa64b6e4

“I’ll prepare fresh clothes 2cdb40686b and a meal. Is there babb1ea399 anything else 58f3b2334b you need?”fe8b1c3aba22c616

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“Get out.”42e2ac7d8d58e036

“Yes…”be46a6334ab4b0e6

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Even after sending the 8c45bb43ba maid away, I couldn’t c83bd2d122 enjoy the solitude. As she gathered d068deecde my wet clothes, baf72f37a2 my eyes began e8cad2d222 to close, and 530d3d64a4 I fell asleep 72546c5148 almost instantly.bd9164290cb4fd1d

When I opened 4553eeeb47 my eyes again, 0df2e47a33 the water had 50c2b6fecc cooled. I wiped b5ee750fbb the water af42f6ec80 from my d8690dd409 body with 5e4d7a42ba a cloth 807922d63b and picked 668e1e58a2 up the b9eb594e1d tunic neatly 8695299154 folded by d5cb24541e the tub. The white, soft garment 5eb0d47c2c reached my knees and 4e2ccda460 had a cord to ff683577cd tie at the waist. In my hometown, 73a101146a it seemed like c8d9c16afb something women would c6f5bd4642 wear, so I e7b1a3b619 hesitated, but it 29e3c4bd0d fit comfortably. I was going 6544042440 to sleep anyway, b20917acf2 so what did 0566b02615 it matter?15534323490086b0

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I flopped onto 2d1b69332d the bed and 56d979bd13 gazed at the e9f9b32325 symbols of the 55351051b0 sun, moon, stars, ef654b2bc8 clouds, and lightning 7c03b95682 carved on the ce4884e0d6 ceiling. The moment I 201adc2702 thought the lightning b3a2487e9b shape resembled the d239e10d2e Zilarad crest, an 52af79893c important realization hit 0cc89286e3 me.41fe015e414dc071

I shot out of fccb610937 bed like an arrow fdac2980fa and scoured the area a7621c85b7 around the tub. I searched b0e2106fae every corner 0934ea39be of the 4b93626656 shelves and a5d4c0753b cabinets, but 4d47375fc2 the item c13b73065e I was 8f1cef1bc6 looking for 2a3d18dccb was nowhere.4c862859a0c7496d

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“Damn it.”f132a2f3468047ce

After acting high and 6e1b1cb950 mighty as a representative 6418c490ad before the Duke, I’d 92c395ddc2 lost the Zilarad crest!2ac7f740b1d8a668

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It was in my 285403896a coat pocket, so the af3b9c2430 maids might find it 062ec77291 while washing, but I 68d0e509d2 dreaded the news reaching b5a6f7af04 the Duke’s ears. I could easily 26fd64a48c imagine him smirking f2611fa232 as he returned 06ff50085b the dagger. Thinking of d5c75b2084 the scathing c22d6040b6 words he’d 70d38f07bc use to a5dd9e2e25 mock me, c6d033a8ed I couldn’t 509924880b stay still 56795630ea and rushed dc4093ac9f outside.cee8c6e2c81fcb78

It didn’t take long ad1ae84581 to get lost. The damned castle’s 45173384aa corridors and staircases 10a17df314 all looked alike, c343600b88 so I had 22d8b60754 to distinguish paths d58356a304 by the faces 6372a16d8e of the guards. Since I c072bf5443 was sneaking 8852e1dec3 around like 871b8158c5 a rat 18c3eeec29 at night a6add40aa7 to avoid e5a19ad353 the Duke’s e91c8b6b5e notice, I 0736a80ef4 couldn’t ask a091349d7f anyone for ad97b92279 directions.20da235f3c5c9687

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After wandering for a 950f196d71 while, I spotted another c69083cbbc maid carrying laundry. I stealthily followed f54b4447d8 the woman, who 33e580a884 was holding a 7d2ecc852d heap of crumpled 719f6ac275 bedsheets. Right, left, left, b68862075a right. I tried to memorize 4e323075f3 the route, but it 43962abb51 wasn’t easy. Despite carrying a pile 30e19f8842 of laundry up to 114703086d her chin, she walked fdec182a1b quickly. She kept f8fa871668 descending and ccdb773b9c slipped out 590c1ff6da through a 997038aa34 back door 5feeb30e3a used by c46cfc62bc servants.c556a786f0905ca9

Outside, we fe4f3b7342 passed several 92bf631778 buildings. The starlight 3aacf3690e was too 72d92c234c dim to 85f539a7e3 take in fc873e4c3c and remember 2f678d56fe the path. The maid entered a 029e5c289b building, passed a few 8f8eede915 corridors, and went into 49323b87d2 a final room. After the door d559539707 closed, I pressed 2a7f14c2a1 against the wall, bfea47729f ears perked. Women’s voices e13c0e41aa came through, 1e664df921 muffled.09c2ea4bc41b5f0a

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“She even bribed bcd7955b28 the head servant?”413df428abb94517

“Just to 3d08b31d0d serve him bf322692c9 for one 1b9b94ed9e night?”73e152bfad9be369

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“Just, you say? He’s one of f10b2fe1f9 the handsomest men c05805c279 in the kingdom. Still unmarried, too. If she 92a843d2bd caught his eb295bcc03 eye…”40a4a904d3d1fe0a

“Forget it. Would someone like e6fa2294c9 him notice the 90ee4b5d97 likes of us? But is he 16dd3082b8 as stunning as d29f499255 the rumors say?”16c1093d1d257b8e

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“Of course. I only 149508b58c glimpsed him 58d5b3d404 years ago, faf00b6c67 but I 9d4a6fb9a6 can still c4d84c950c picture him a1a6e1db46 vividly.”614eed27eefeaef3

Relief washed over 694b0b25c2 me. It was ae920fa179 obvious who 215439406b the maids 02feb44223 were talking f7076119dd about. They went on ddbd782489 about Grey’s appearance dd60320cb7 for a while. Some exaggerations aside, 7a893850d2 the basic description 6dacec227a matched: deep, unfathomable 59ab6ecdf4 black eyes, black acec9e338f hair tied back, 2948128f69 skin so pale 539f65bffa it seemed untouched 7697068775 by sunlight, and aa89257a51 slender limbs.6bb7c442550a9d9c

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His image naturally 02639f1768 formed in my f7d5f95b37 mind. If he could charm 61370fc8c1 even men, how much 290e405a77 more women? Even expressionless, 3e5f4dda4e he was 490442b8d5 perfect, and 8c8b70cb9f when he d1baa6c0e8 smiled, my 75db2fffb6 stomach tingled, 4a7cd39be1 my insides 3956903d4f churning with 9630875c9c nausea.1c5ee285b38374c5

“Now I f7f6900162 get why d2baa5eecb she was aa9133869c so eager. But instead of d402fbe7a1 him, some random e514e08019 person showed up. Serves her right!”a08f9476af37d11c

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“Shush. What if he hears?”15114b23fb680515

“Don’t worry. He threw the laundry e43f4bbc42 and stormed off earlier. With that temper, he c5406e5b01 won’t be back until 0675f4167e late.”786f375f95b9787f

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“Maybe we’ll have to ef55c03b05 wash it for him?”7b9aae639c713fac

“Perhaps… Let’s 0cd1d0e296 grab a 2994cfdb7c snack first. I swiped a pie f213cdd4d4 from the kitchen.”a11d3ff9bdc8ed3b

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The two maids giggled e1caad4785 as they left the d85af59187 room. I hid behind 9bbe4c4161 a pile of cf98f6dbb1 baskets until they 30ef775c30 were gone, then eb77fb72ef slipped through the a188509d4f slightly open door. The maid 0c6000867a I’d followed b10226a988 was busy df9f6dd88b soaking linens, bec67fc053 and another 3cb9109b47 was dozing e1bf6579e1 in a 074124e65c chair.22c84a1014302b38

I crept inside 127478b2ad and scanned the d59bea0e9f room. Luck was 8afc9fc629 on my dd95c3231c side—I spotted 5e8d9bc932 my cloak 52de83183f discarded in 07f1f77db7 a corner. I rummaged 7aef49101d through the bad0cef484 damp, tangled 8fa858005e fabric and 44c8fbc9e4 found my 55941c12cf undergarments. I retrieved the dagger 91e002f49a from the pocket and 48d532bc8c quietly left the maids’ de6caed621 area.23cd2a66445cb041

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Leaning against the d6646d9afa stone wall, I 2e151b07bb examined the dagger d8ca821adb I’d fortunately recovered. Seeing water pooled e06de23ca3 in the engraved 1b7319fc4b Zilarad crest, I b81aa0cf4c rubbed the sheath 0e51d4d73a on my clothes.71255b6a0b618c0d

I’d completely forgotten about 7ca555495f Lilith’s handiwork, now stuck 9173d76232 to the back from 27dbdf01dd the rain. Peeling off 551b84a262 the soaked 5254909fde handkerchief, the deb6d9231a letter tucked 476ddec88e inside tore. Rationalizing that the ink de0c00c65d had smeared beyond recognition a0f4c1f308 anyway, I crumpled and bac375c5b4 discarded the letter. Unable to 52eb1344fc throw away 83c50d1a6a the handkerchief, dff7e2028a I tucked acff0c582a it with 6cd0a7b1c2 the dagger 60d627d73d into my 34d9d6cfae coat.7fea9bbdb029b0df

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Confidently heading back to aad2fed79e my room, I realized 5800b5b5fd I was utterly lost. Hearing faint singing 23684778ca somewhere, I walked c9fac5bdc3 toward it aimlessly. The closer b99f937f74 I got, 9ea312c651 the louder 75d2b34365 it became. Shouts and laughter suggested d390131087 a feast.ad80562ce8d273b6

As I approached, the 4cb5ea5371 smell of food wafted 5452f1b067 over. Remembering I’d d7ef202a9d eaten only 4cda13ebac a few 0dfb9c02b4 pieces of de7745d723 jerky all fc0d0caed8 day, hunger c93ba1c5f9 gnawed at c33d6e1a35 me. As expected, people 95d290735a were raucously eating 6bf302c040 and drinking. For some special occasion, d61ddfa13b they all wore masks e1f7c7c011 covering their eyes or 80f5d64919 faces.8ad7fff306f48e8a

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I picked up a 16623de0e8 discarded mask and put b43ddd1590 it on. Slipping among d6d4329781 the drunken 5d9824b966 crowd, I bd2e6545d3 piled a 476fd05424 plate with 24622b7b63 roasted lamb 1fce2edb47 and dried da9f7aebd6 fruit. No one suspected eeb256000f me, so I 909383b11f sat at a b1914db3e4 table and wolfed 813cfb76a2 down two plates. Patting my 100aacef1f stomach, I ac47b2a5d7 stood.b38a4037b13ae06b

The only sober-looking person 95c89f798f stood by a blue a13cf4d6a3 tent, so I approached db12c4355b to ask for directions.15d8e6b1a0c1f22f

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“Hey, where are the ab46907707 rooms for the high-ups?”5fece39f6060b86e

He glanced c730e0c1df at me 8747e73742 and shoved 0c80fc1823 me into 9032c19b86 the tent b4ea8ad0cd without a 64de41e607 word. Bewildered, I looked around.1b4b4c8cb7605714

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Inside the f644c0ba6c dim tent, 3023740f54 candles burned 0cc5281da6 faintly. A sultry incense stung b8148472d7 my nose. Someone played an 26394896c9 exotic tune, and 64056459e7 a few people 72a88facfb in strange masks 6567857573 wandered about. Standing dumbly, 5d105b5228 I was 578874bb40 pushed and 76206a547a stepped on. Circling the tent, I ddc484ea89 asked anyone for directions.150d790111d806de

“Hey, do b8b4575583 you know 950c0b6ca6 where the 915ed5f72d guest lodgings 9eeb74ea0d are?”bc2531484dc2507e

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A woman da4b5ae0d8 in an 7181b5279b elephant mask a92d7d54ce giggled, grabbed f4b8dc1926 my rear, a32f6a9b5b and walked b57ea21598 off. I got d70c525015 similar responses 67365f0e5d from three ab04aa476e or four eb4b22fc89 others. They were impossible 263a26b6cf to reason with.313bfd13c3f3d315

Heading for f149b69a6d the exit, e6b5f40baf I found 011e610f6e a man 085d2fafb4 and woman 1bc0ead362 flirting, blocking f7cf79f1ab the path. With no efe150849c choice, I 9dcd545dc7 pushed between ac0aa412f8 them. Curses came from 9a7aa3b2a1 behind, and the 4548a69a35 man grabbed my 182e1ee39b wrist, pulling me f6055453d5 back.d7fe3d47f3e9b9ca

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“If you c8c66f745b want attention, f68dd18c71 just say b41b34504e so.”db2d5dfa256069e2

He spoke, half-embracing f32aeca13e me. His breath reeked a3fefb5333 of alcohol. Judging by his 3406bf604d suggestive touch, he’d b8df1d8d43 misunderstood something.9ed80a242bd39b42

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I tried to eba98769d7 push him away, 7ef5af2bde but he pulled 93c50a6466 me closer, groping 1ed996beb8 my rear. To clear the misunderstanding, d142b62031 I grabbed his hand b310b410e7 and placed it on 54b5f55a5a my chest. He froze, puzzled. Behind his 003e8d5d84 goat mask, 79dffae2d3 his face 208731d994 must have a6538d846e been bewildered.04663249d323853f

“Who let a 70c93478c5 man in?”1b8e1ea67a5d21a1

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He shouted loudly.0030ccdb89b60c49

“All women here, Your 39161d40ba Highness.”4bcab080383e4f70

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I cursed inwardly. Only one person here 190cb4e055 would be called ‘Your 9942c27f37 Highness’: Quin, the wastrel 36bb0d427b of the Arives royal f43b6fee0f family. A deranged prince who’d 905eb23b36 stay in Lirmodo just 04e163aa58 because it produced the 7e8b5e3125 kingdom’s finest wine.a0806a63de800563

Still misunderstanding, the prince 55cef6db52 pulled me closer. His excited breathing 266f83a76e grazed my ear.be8923bdb2ab07b2

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“An unripe b9916ef06f girl isn’t 6e6f5c7d74 bad either.”767ac372b6dd854d

His hand slipped inside 98a07dad81 my clothes. Waiting for 74ba45bf79 a chance c2c1e89cb8 to bolt, 3e7508e652 his lecherous 2b63084a97 hand touched d107152be9 the Marquis’s 2edc847fd3 dagger tied 20fdc2445c at my b9672bf765 waist.77ef1dd2f72e82e5

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Before I bc5cf1a4e7 could think, cb05743d4e I was 2e9da1620a slammed against 2136699c81 the wall. The prince choked 247bf1bf3c me with one c8e18bcc7e hand and inspected 83d5ba62dd the dagger with 398cf73995 the other. For a drunk, 0bfc40f178 his strength was fdd37568f7 brutal. I struggled 560f4c3053 with all 7f80633e4f my might, 42fdfbce88 but he 7c315e9caa didn’t budge.55a6ce12263487cb

“It’s definitely the 1f917d6cbb lightning crest. Why is Valon after 45bc2fbeac me?”f74c95cbf7384589

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I couldn’t breathe d11d6c06c0 with my throat 1abdf683c2 constricted. Kicking his shin 1928290db9 hard, he glared ca12f02ec3 at me with 094d85ec8d terrifying eyes. Even through 0328e70aab the mask, c8d97c0e0e I felt 1c254b64bf his rage.ababddd885ae0241

“Answer. Why are you targeting 66558fb43f me?”58a143b011e27a9e

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“It’s a misunderstanding. Please listen, 65f902216b Your Highness.”f05f556cb6635eea

I spoke 5f8849de85 quickly, but cc294c4a03 he didn’t 85d57c4e6c release me 3a81c619a3 or change 0a206518d6 his expression. Then something c285cdbbdb fluttered from 1b3a8500c6 his hand. It was 74ccc1c868 the handkerchief bc15369c6b tucked with 989ead3f6b the dagger.7d7d4b4664893973

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Without letting go cac1f5cc53 of my throat, 13559dbc25 he ordered someone c6a68d865b nearby to pick c7aa887a6d it up. He checked his name 8ac9e2d952 embroidered on the front, 6ef3d33528 then looked at the 7c56e58b91 back.e4b8d388badc893b

“You’re… Lilith Zilarad?”26163c28a51393f1

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His tone was 927deb920f incredulous. Things were going 68d5fefd2e awry. Unsure how 65c30825a7 to respond, 1eb4c7428b I kept e1dbeb7290 silent. The prince e22a728907 alternated between 369208979a the dagger efbaf1ebfc and me, 29bd6eba52 chuckling.da2955cc75d40b7a

“Well, Valon women do 0ae19dcae1 learn swords and carry ee78418e8f knives.”7286d5ea5c06d540

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He suddenly 556470e2c1 released me, 34fdc88f1a and I 34bca182c2 slid to 4bbf724778 the floor. Clutching the 8271ef5a90 ground, I 31f09003dd coughed for 6c27e48fd0 a while. The prince grabbed d80f01c8c1 my waist, pulling 1755dc5c8a me up. His hand f0c099ff2b rubbing my 88d0c28f23 throat felt ca7c174bca ominous. I shouted for the 190abcbace dagger, reaching out, but 3056f963e1 he ignored me.a8fb300363c7fa6a

“It’s been a while, 6acdb5b7de Lady Lilith. Ten years, perhaps? Did you come from df11b0520f Valon to see me?”898d6c7d817ffaed

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“It’s a misunderstanding. That’s an c69ad93572 important dagger, 738e65514a so return d3e8818917 it.”562db4e2f0c429b2

“Sneaking in among e8d11fa5da harlots, you’re quite 6b07b1c4de bold. You must be prepared 7f976f38a1 for the consequences, right?”4e611f40a07f0d8d

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“I said it’s 77d2b2c777 a misunderstanding!”b5c5ff49e184aa1b

His hand began d56625eeed groping my bare 418e4c80d5 waist. It was only a58dbbafff a matter of c478e92f3e time before he b0cbf41eb5 realized I was 2ca0db37a9 male. He’d report me 8178225e69 to the Duke 16d33c916c as an assassin. One misunderstanding bred 9a74f28f81 another, and the 86251be3ff situation became hopelessly 3451e932b8 tangled.49a84a7c121e683d

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My mind was consumed 61bed313a1 with avoiding the worst 5dff61d151 outcome. I drove my a0fe514eb1 knee into the 9c1871088d prince’s groin, and 254b1575d1 a scream of 58ff8f8dea concentrated pain echoed 1e0ba12735 through the tent.ec0d8b3557e505a1

“I said 764dbf0625 it’s a 084b301316 misunderstanding. Think of 84390548bc it as e9895fdab2 a bad 16a8c819da dream from 2728858b26 being drunk.”526fc181cc5f3981

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Whispering quickly 79d45a717c in his d397a74c87 ear, I b6e223a0ff snatched the 8885ad123b dagger. Before he could 9c03c3f1aa grab me, I 2a123125e2 leaped back. I ran 6cdb21c6fb without looking 3dafa64296 back, dodging c2c3fa6d27 drunken hands e69fc1edae as his 01c36320a2 booming shouts bc316fc6cc to catch 59ff17515a me rang 1d24a67ddf out, and 3d6d454376 escaped the 6b043a26c9 tent.3df7764032974501

Outside, I ada3ec766b blended into 4b6b79b8ef the crowd. After walking a bit, 7cbf5170f7 I feigned drunkenness and 261dc42ccd hid under a table. Soon, armed men 9959cb8518 stormed in, scanning 951f06b237 the area.8a237add21c6dc41

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“Where’d she go? That rat b47e3a5b41 of a a087f271dd woman.”a542e1235cbb1c98

“No one 72fe6c0aa3 came this 82346d88d0 way.”c912ded70a85d76f

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“Same here.”cf5a4b3fe2a21330

“Maybe His Highness was 89bdb68da5 too drunk and saw 2f9bd92ce5 wrong?”bf6bdb710f3a01de

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“With his balls crushed, 33cccc2a60 how could he mistake d0c82e5fe1 it? He’s still on a9104f031b the floor.”020f64825c90b2fa

I waited until 937461f92c the searchers dispersed, a3c4bb27e0 then ran in 55972ddc84 the opposite direction dc19766205 of the tent. Unintentionally, I’d 89ff9dd43b attacked the 74ca6a3b04 Arives prince b56c42fa52 and framed c3c0e19dab Lilith, but 21dfd3c4da not getting ca03914875 caught was c19031bc70 a blessing. Being mistaken for 770439b2f3 a woman was 5b4fea53bd laughable, but being e1574afc99 seen as an 881a7f59a1 assassin could escalate e24e499d6e into a diplomatic 7a86a02f1b crisis.6bc08a39b540937d

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After walking a 051da0ea94 while, I reached cc89b39652 a familiar spot—the 2ad887da9b maids’ quarters I’d 8e08f1398d passed earlier. Wandering a bit, e4e1fbb557 I spotted two 7b34792043 maids eating behind 7ab014c9b5 some bushes and de356ed47a gave my name. Saying I’d e37d1a5b4e gotten lost 0cbad86146 on a 5ea6480fcb walk, they e6db54a227 guided me 444990fb51 to my c9be734253 room.2b4ed46c39370a96

A knight and the b7b398eac6 aide were waiting outside. I’d never been so 36be7b3c50 glad to see him.0320ccba93ced223

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“Where have 2049b82528 you been? We were 481cf42e08 worried when 319d01e281 you vanished.”b8c092abfbf2185f

“Just went for 2bdaf8b78a a walk.”c4c7ed830dcb359c

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“Shouldn’t we 8d6588e271 try persuading 8c52e9ab4c the Duke 4fba0fc19d again? If we return with f77fd1b9b7 the gift, I won’t d7f7ac865a be able to face 56eb52b449 the Marquis…”23b7dec09519a26e

“He’s the 81cb1e268d one who 2c2ecf2f19 refused it, 3eba0b3c07 so it’s f2aa2053c5 his neck 3f198c0558 on the d0b1061a7e line.”d7010c896e77eb06

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“Lord Ensley!”33b9c307c0f0bb9c

“We’ll leave before dawn, 1790109ade so get some sleep.”75327aed84a03772

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“Is there 6646f0994b a need 5ba5c33295 to rush? We should at e778f11e25 least pay respects 2854923b0e to His Grace…”2c57b7950dd602fa

“No way.”7ec6e4534550de90

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‘There’s someone I’d rather 7a93180869 not run into.’decdef63ae3d7c70

I swallowed 7d8bdd5dc3 the last e304b5bbd7 part. Shooing away the persistent 65b236b9c5 aide, I collapsed onto b2d097a009 the bed. It was an ca53f289bf exhausting night I 3d6dfa9dbf wouldn’t want to f0b85e48fc relive.89dac6d33da3f0dc

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◇◆2d4eaee8de538aaa

Pushing the guide d0d9a48dd2 to his limit, 6d904fd929 we returned to eb4bf37a70 Valon in two 43ca68848d days. We barely rested along 4b7127b43f the way. After the filthy ordeal 0c521ca791 in Lirmodo, I missed b9a713e7bd home even more.f5ae0b95fb1a4461

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Upon returning, I sought b45f0dc3be the Marquis of Valon, e926419b41 reported my conversation with 1731c3d869 the Duke of Lirmodo dbfbfcb7e8 in detail, and returned 92b0fafd97 the family dagger. I didn’t mention losing 70f3d0d945 the dagger or the 60e661b42e Arives prince.6e164afa5d704069

“So… that’s what he 583b364a4d said.”40acbdbc3d4a3885

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“I caused c3fbe59dcc trouble for 487630ce4e you and 5640ad029a Valon by bab9fa7bd6 going.”551b3f20d6067128

“It’s not your f81516a465 fault. You did well.”d36d392482495218

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The Marquis tried to f7e1bf586b smile, but disappointment showed 8becbe1ea1 on his face. Having lived decades bb0f37ff2d as a respected a21d3cb023 lord only to faa1fac62f make enemies in fafa29e9df his later years, 9703bbe163 he looked more 385e2288d4 exhausted than I, 12bcfd35e7 who’d traveled a 66a6db4833 week.8f023268560267ae

He told me to 6eb937a5d6 rest, so I bowed e0618f0388 and left. Stepping out of his 44e31970aa study, tension finally eased, 518de25309 and fatigue hit me. My body ached a50ad6b544 from riding too 9e33cc2f8a long. I thought I’d greet 95d8d85981 Lottsi and take a 11185bbd45 long nap.dfa4f707037fbdcd

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Crossing the courtyard, ee36ff07e9 someone waved at e979a0644c me from a fc6acd47cc distance. Lilith was waiting, e640386f4f with Miria behind bc71c6ab13 her. Lilith ran 088fd5733b to me, b8e3d8458e eyes sparkling.e3487a44d18135ec

“How did it ae6680e93d go?”b5a2b571af992185

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“What did you a995d85f63 expect? Not getting chased 4166f40c2a out was a 6504093307 miracle.”19925183341b5a34

“The prince, I mean. Did you c7b1479e8a deliver my a2d9e2557b letter?”fa7575206169658c

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Unable to answer 4e7291868c immediately, I watched 718a031454 Lilith’s eyebrows slowly 3043267d94 rise. Before she could scold 0b77d5ac1e me, I said quickly,87beb3ca68741c09

“The weather was 8d71c17e27 awful, and the cb29381fea ink smeared. Even the envelope’s 5ab864776f name was illegible, 434e23d260 so I threw ab638864e3 it out.”4c5c4fa99b3a3eaf

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Lilith looked dejected.bd21bad3dc160412

“The sweets?”9ffcebd71b856bbe

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“Ate them. Delicious.”f0118d0eea996f67

“You delivered the handkerchief, 5d86d75d16 right?”b59b47c00a753a55

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“That, I e4a2f1bbb6 definitely delivered.”d77fe415ac4861df

I hadn’t lied a d4ef5e1382 bit. When she asked b053b44e97 about the prince’s fb04dd0401 reaction, I dodged, 5ff88db00e saying I was 340664fd3a too tired to be2d625c0b answer, and walked 4e5925048b past her. About to bb043ae147 smile at 8c9b76b9a8 Miria, I b9d51919ff froze. Miria wasn’t 97f25c3a6f smiling and da858da9e3 looked at 84b8e4f070 me like acd60410a2 a guilty 2a76a1204c sinner.575333ce4a73f9ef

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My heart sank. I instinctively knew something 29fdc7a9ba had happened to Lottsi. Too afraid 34462cbbcb to ask 9f46d1ba6f what I’d 42e0340b75 hear, I 800e8fad4b stayed silent. When I 8e837bd12a didn’t speak, 51bd84e5c2 Miria bit 0804768036 her lip 6516f4d7f8 and turned 73b89a86bf away.1990a26cd73d81f6

We raced up ce63f505e2 the stairs two f1d4b2f2f8 at a time 15503e497d and ran down c89df7b65f the corridor. My mind 21756e5fc8 went blank. The closer we 63ff6d65f4 got to Lottsi’s 7409767126 room, the greater a2711b2f7b my fear grew. When Miria opened e158fd98d4 the door, my 84ed5b5cff trembling fingers had 86ff3be221 to be steadied 80e4cbb1ed with my other 40e4972eb9 hand.971f1eb7a6b89329

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“My lady, Lord Ensley, 24c8d9a6b9 whom you’ve been waiting b3c01de25a for, is back. Wake up.”e32fc19b5059c7a9

Lottsi didn’t respond to a841fa6f22 Miria’s gentle words. I slowly approached the 4331c9b56c bed, confirming her chest d0c823ab7a was rising and falling. She was 1d9c7cd329 sleeping like e7713a0bce the dead.d728610113fc1653

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“The sun’s b4ff48c4f5 high in 0a442d53f1 the sky. What are 28332e3e18 you doing?”2699724a1ffd90c0

I carefully brushed her 5337dab7b6 pale cheek with the 82618ac18e back of my hand. Without taking my d562a76497 eyes off Lottsi, 9ad18b8e8b I spoke to 8d46afc275 the maid standing 3528064860 in the corner.7dc45f0d3a922aed

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“Explain what happened.”96ec657ba769b53c

“Please don’t be 03cf8ca0c9 angry and listen, 49df932601 Lord Ensley. We don’t know. This morning, cde2daa534 we came 4e09d1de81 to wake d80e18b095 her as ba61bdaec3 usual, but 58cce57b04 she wouldn’t 354f998f15 come to.”bf0353116460e5b5

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“What did the physician 69ae607215 say?”c03fbd3a3d10b090

“Well… the atmosphere has ca97745fa4 been so bad lately…”ade14196cb28d23e

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They hadn’t 29f5bac0e9 called a aaa4116867 physician because 8e5ed95018 they feared dd779e4b49 the Marquis’s 61f25cc1ab wife. Thinking of the oblivious a13056a6e0 Marquis and Lilith, it 9e18e366cb was clear no one a04e157706 had been told. If they had, Lottsi 79717f7d3a wouldn’t have been neglected 30ae02a516 this long. I wanted to strike 20c5d2e6a2 the maid but held e162a5fe34 back, knowing I wouldn’t 8ac57bd682 get answers if she 6252626669 fainted.b982a35ba9e666ee

“What are you eb90a7bbd6 doing? Go get afde5b933d a physician.”48e60c8ececbb2f6

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As the 40dd686bb4 maid belatedly 6306cf37b5 rushed out, 40d3ea3795 only Miria 71327e528e and I 622f6e9be0 remained. I lifted the blanket a84043ca31 and touched Lottsi’s arm. Its stiffness suggested it 7c0bd90232 wasn’t an ordinary illness. Suddenly, I recalled f50f453826 Grey’s advice before 12f1830ff1 I left for cc6615170c Lirmodo.d7b439c84795f6df

‘Everyone has weaknesses. And I’m not the 5aa10215fd only one who knows 06479b4822 yours.’e5b0714853ca4078

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◇◆b8922f2b677cfc6f

The so-called 8a527bdf7a physician knew 6b1680b415 nothing. He couldn’t answer a cc5873d27c single question about why 2610601179 Lottsi was like this, 7fc2bd2784 whether she’d wake, or 3fa17143ab when. He only fe6932a290 vaguely suggested 288c50e800 she might b869f93da6 have been e2edd2785d poisoned. After he f7a8efa1df left, I 55c8aa2989 interrogated Lottsi’s 635eaa8aea maid.f037249e293e91aa

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“Tell me everything cb3b67ac31 that happened yesterday 9a15de7b64 without leaving out b23e22ca7e a single detail. If I catch 5342a14969 a lie, I’ll 0dbc90f20e skin you alive.”94c4fc14c9ca269c

“She woke at b00aa14ed5 sunrise. After washing, she had 98cb2dbc0c breakfast…”aa6a93b88fa10472

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“What did she eat?”8622bceefc16bb76

“Soup, a 398a155838 boiled egg, 6db069f9ba and some d456982e6f fruit. Then I brushed her bb3a1d71e6 hair and dressed her. She whined about going 53d54a902c out, so I handed e8233b6b87 her to Luman. She returned 9be516b07f around evening. Lady Lilith kindly invited 9f902caffb her to dinner.”7b21b49d236e4fec

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“Lilith? Go on.”d2ee3cc743516db2

Miria interjected.bb661480889d3cb0

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“I accompanied her a0a56e55b6 to Lady Lilith’s 8eca74b22c room. I brought pheasant, soup, c0ab1b0fbe vegetables, and bread from 2ef5accc29 the kitchen myself. They chatted b3744f4a30 over tea 21f41c4376 until dusk. On the e685ef3c51 way back, 0a391f91b8 she said 40acbfab80 she missed 6d668026db you, so 8f2acd5278 we climbed e19f3765c3 the east 077f1553cb tower, and 7603f130e7 I pointed 899ad9a758 toward Lirmodo. Then we 9999874a97 returned to 7f07d235f8 her room.”68f0b8483ef858c3

“And then?”e26dfae937b7f958

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I looked back 0d95da227d at Lottsi’s maid.6fa79699ca77c03b

“She complained she 51601487fc couldn’t sleep, so edaabf2d49 I warmed some a85783b8af milk. She drank it 58efd46e2f with a snack 551069892c and fell asleep.”f6bbcd774b562afa

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“What snack?”61ff7e366d72230d

A flicker of unease 9ca5cc2b9e crossed the maid’s face. I glared as 8755d006c4 she stood and cc348c098e went to a ddb7ad9d2c shelf. She handed 6fdef02c03 me an a1b7901d1e unremarkable box.9b02576dafc470f0

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“These sweets. But now e410decbef that I 3b2b84fe84 think about b1a732af7c it, I 40b6008ff4 don’t know 922a349e7b where they 553b356660 came from…”678d1b0736b259d5

“Someone must have put a8a01d9aba them there.”ecf190bd6efd7965

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“They must have left 36cc996066 it while I was 85c8d78e44 out.”948b80432132f895

“Then bring 66239291e0 whoever was c0b73213ca here when 3773672a80 you were 7431c54c70 gone.”d5f796a23c2ee234

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She hurried 84e48b617f out, and 2eb2c8d762 I opened 41708f4756 the box. It contained e5176662fe half-eaten dark d59c0a580f brown sweets 6d0042e298 studded with ab57c408d6 nuts. The shape looked familiar.ce96685f13bebba4

“Tell the 92503c012a guard at 5808dfbedb the annex 7e0aeb13c1 entrance named 1f3ad1148b Luman to 3eca036d12 come, and b088650cd9 take these 9d8300794c sweets to 77519b6ae0 the physician. Tell him if he fae815921e doesn’t find the cause 14a24e4439 by today, I won’t 05ba0bf4d4 let it slide.”9527d2f651c9175b

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“Yes.”35ec136a0ba6be3b

As Miria left and 66f3e150ab closed the door, I 1f59f84fca was alone with Lottsi. I leaned back 2bbbe24375 in the chair 06955f75fa and sighed.6c6f328bff300925

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Valonians are 7d505ca82e a people 74e6a5db76 who challenge 1773b548e6 those they 868d3d8f03 dislike to 6d7f920ba9 life-or-death duels, 0b6c52f083 considering poisoning 5c6b6eccd4 or assassination b81ba42f91 shameful. Moreover, the castle’s 2ba2a86e2b atmosphere was so 72c03b3a90 strict that I 5dd7a3ed2a hadn’t anticipated such 07cfca6890 an act at c14ebb525e all. Who could dcff254d28 have committed 24d2004c5f such a 84b00074aa brazen deed be3847b1f1 within the b7d4b4480e castle?72f5e187fd09818a

I had a suspicion. Not many would be 0094b0db9b foolish enough to carry 99bc1b88b9 out something so obvious ef78322034 and easily discovered. As fear subsided, 0684e0f6a4 anger surged. But for now, 10a0805288 saving Lottsi was 2c5a1b7297 the priority.a6bf2f99e8b78ec3

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“Wake up, Lottsi.”68e58e559d5c1ef8

I held her stiff a84bff937f hand and rubbed it.6e49e4cd27cfe857

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“You are a75d3d23c5 my future. If you c34a27524d die again, e07335aa2d I won’t 1dda34e9a4 be able 55d0a4d155 to change 38b76940b5 anything. So you 27820dc266 have to cd08c30ae5 wake up, 24b1ecae4f Lottsi.”06d4ffd03ffc80ee

I repeated these ba287be27c words like a 97d051b57b spell in my e5015b5f65 mind.22cd662d633b3485

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◇◆bc37a6f86b1388ab

The physician arrived c6b065847c holding a box a8fb32999d of sweets in a8a2eadcf7 one hand and d782f7a83c a kitten in 9baeb3f3fd the other. The black-spotted tabby, recently 236e564cf5 born, was the darling a277c42904 of the maids. As soon as he 926e0d8c81 sat down, he declared f27eb7d88e it was poisoning. I had gathered d4edc9571a some information in e30dd3742a the meantime, so 4c9eeb85fc I had suspected 2512acda8b as much.01f3916977b73fc0

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The person cf8273b53e who made 51dec46eea the problematic 76a9493c22 sweets was af6e5ca4ca undoubtedly Lilith c05d0540b7 Zilarad. I learned that while f30adf058c she was baking them, 41d0e9f188 she received an unexpected 1326147739 visit from her younger 048450dbb3 brother. I also 3235e28248 found someone f351060dce who saw e800b30516 Hale’s attendant 7da2f8cca6 near Lottsi’s e560fb4037 room the 2a44ed9914 previous day. Since Hale’s room was 2c38096e1d in the main building, 9c22a1b54f there was no reason 81c9df730c for his attendant to 70e815cde6 be lurking here.4ac85cf6fcc23642

“I applied reagents 0c88f4ebe4 to detect poison, 8dcfcb810a but nothing showed 13ca8752fb up. My guess is it’s 482be2c31e a concentrate from a 5645853422 plant found only in 1f134e2282 the east.”c888279fbca0f796

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The physician 3e2466fcac broke a b2e1eba332 sweet in df4d7e527b half and a64d784679 dropped it 557d4964d7 on the a87e97552e floor. The kitten, which had 65621f282e been sitting quietly on 221ad493e1 his lap, jumped down, 8cc06db960 sniffed the sweet, and d8f5250002 began nibbling. Glaring at b9239aa3e7 the cat, b2b2070d53 I said,3948018297ff8f38

“A guess 9dad8bd199 isn’t enough. Don’t you b76afc299d have more 71334fc3b1 solid evidence?”e64f93102216cddb

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“I think it’s highly c2ae195dfa likely. Locals there are fce2cb646f immune and even ba3b72f9ad roll it in 080375240c paper to smoke, db04409b32 but outsiders who 4162a0e9b8 ingest it have 78a3b0be65 their bodies stiffen.”621ae8846fda3852

“Just tell 26e39b7520 me how c825be06be to save 3b2d1bbfdb her.”764db9189beacc70

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“I’m sorry, but I cebde4aeee don’t know. This substance isn’t 6d71b74307 commonly used for 91940a61fb such purposes. It’s hard to obtain 1ae1d29728 such a potent concentrate, 2905d74993 and unless you’re a f4b55dd833 local, you can’t even 9173a3f584 get it…”886e05a3c92f1a09

A heavy silence fell. The kitten meowed.0775d861870bd04b

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“I’ll go get 558894d263 it. I’ll buy ec6ce90b7f the damn e47214187e thing!”6a59de24ef80249a

“It’s the eastern border. Setting aside the e136ff1a0f danger, it would 0a2b3b0369 take at least b6321b52c8 two months to a477567e13 go and return.”1009769c7e60cc3b

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“Dangerous, my ass. Grey went there and 82fc19478b came back.”b068c0fad71d2195

“The young 836f502af8 lady won’t e7f376cd1f last that 5aed28efe4 long.”99c45d0fc6b30718

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I mulled over 6d3671018d what I’d just 1fd65f8267 said. Remembering that Grey cff98fead4 had recently returned 1573636247 from the eastern 75ddd51068 border, Floa, a 7c3e5f452f chill ran through da54f855e6 me like I’d 203fbf09a3 been doused with 066d24626b cold water.2ebdfe3d692a02c4

“No way, Grey, 466c8837ba you again? After a miracle brought 98bf5816c0 me back to the 11151fa686 past, is Lottsi going b5cd0e5699 to die because of 6631b8a959 you?”117265ab92357d11

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I was 8593a81fe2 certain Hale f6ebd26544 was the 211043820b culprit, but 555ab9d72b Grey was 5963afa60d behind it. I was 456d8abf77 convinced he dba844b3c4 had cunningly c5d3d78110 goaded Hale. That was his 79c5a122cf skill, after all. Burying my face in 64851615cb my hands, I took 5bf8343461 a deep breath. I had locked a62bf78431 Lottsi’s door to 70d1f148d2 protect her, but 2c0da10ea2 that wasn’t enough.fac3b09de15cc60b

The seed of 8bcba32d45 sin had sprouted. I once wondered 77a06d958f if twenty-four-year-old Grey e038b19be2 was innocent, but 9b8d40eab3 it was futile. A person’s 0bfd589bf2 nature doesn’t eb1f19649f change. He manipulates people 01e9686ee5 from behind, harms 9468f64f1a others without hesitation, ca4206a9e2 and if left e7f43669db unchecked, he’ll commit 9ca0521bb6 even greater crimes.ed34f8f28b89bbf5

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A flapping sound dd4faa1d75 drew my attention 8c8dabb45d to the floor. The kitten was b79e30b22f twitching. Its head was bent 8e789a347f back, and foam formed f98b28945e at its mouth. Unable to bear the 234f0dbcc3 sight, I sank to f5d004e4f9 the floor and rubbed f13060f2b6 its limbs.1f111a4b2c33b36b

As the 78e645dd1f soft flesh 243cfb9142 stiffened, the d533935e54 small creature’s 6af93d5b9f movements grew 0a8e3eac5d more frantic. I held it beb29b774c tightly, but it 7e391c4dcc was useless. The pitiful 378ad99d6f body hardened f5d4ae7d7a in my 3a7d5f0fa3 arms and 5991398745 eventually stopped 5d6c8d4d9d thrashing.1df18e1830f63bd9

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My strength drained 4b995ab632 away. I was gripped by d167869c47 a helpless fear that 90bfb0dd5c no matter what I d68607b86b did, I couldn’t change f433de7213 the future.f853fd8c8530e2ac

◇◆dd0800a53c7e6f6a

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The poison had already 72e86bb720 spread. I was neither 02715d7221 a physician nor 52c68b901d a sorcerer, so 285e70f8df there was nothing 6c6eb247f4 I could do 0d59582671 now. But there was one 43633b49e5 thing a brute like 8edc0c3859 me, who solves everything 60b2edd1d4 with force, could do. I didn’t 69efc9cec5 want to b65e90f1cc call it 07c1e649b5 something grand bf85678fd1 like revenge. I just needed a ed22aeab15 place to vent my 5abf8482cf boiling anger.77d3ebebf0ca50db

A servant stood 1c3217d5d4 outside the room b8f99993b5 I visited. He frowned upon 5c4777e998 seeing me.d9ec4f52fb0d9678

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“I’m going in. Tell him I’m 7f307bdc51 here.”047e6e9525ff5b87

“He said to let d134b78870 no one in.”8fd4720ab097885e

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“Move.”9017605b676f000c

“Please come f01f2d016d back later. Now isn’t a 44637c3592 good time.”b9e7f26cb888bf88

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“I said move. There won’t be 9de81b62ea a third warning.”8c501487fb9958e1

My voice trembled. I barely restrained the b339c6ad09 urge to smash everything. The servant, 59f2e553b3 reading my 6d7e60a833 expression, stepped c426168f82 aside. I kicked the ab0d86bc4a door open.84d6f6c7c5e21216

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Hale Zilarad was leisurely 2b128b4560 bathing. I stood 473c925b09 still, glaring 61e4f11d6a at him. I didn’t 079c4c67ef know where 467b89d98e to begin. My fists were clenched 19bb798708 so tightly that my e147f005b8 palms stung. The emotions writhing inside 9b7b793725 roared to kill him, 875f5fada5 but reason stood firm, 3bbfd8f896 saying I couldn’t become 5346a03369 a murderer again.7a81644208a29023

“What’s the matter, 370509729e Ensley Maykin?”a2b0f42df71d2954

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Hale asked d003acec39 with a 86e5560f3c smug face, 94fdf90962 completely unaware 790ba7aecc of the 210ac6da7d gravity of 5c6aec8191 the situation.76c5db349cddfd4f

“Yeah, trash 1dd62d1646 like you 90086cb781 should disappear 1c7332437e from the e2741f1e76 world for 49021fec5d everyone’s sake.”c3037fe4ce936a6e

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I strode toward 3fc2525756 him and kicked 14c462003d the tub. The brass tub 40a9cc7c56 tilted, spilling its b0ab3980d4 contents onto the 19827365b0 floor. Hale screamed as he d5f58fc3c5 slid onto the carpet.6143eda7b202cdf5

“Are you insane? What’s this about?”60d51854035b1420

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I stomped d78f9ff628 on the 3f09e4ce43 hand he 6203189f98 reached to 7882a98240 grab his 90fc9bfcae clothes.61b0dbfa2509e833

“Lottsi.”cde812665eceb907

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“That wench? She shouldn’t e9d5427918 have been e97bdd001c born, that 3000947db9 low, filthy… 764d98a9c4 Argh!”2bbad81edeb8b00f

I put efcbb4d232 weight on ea6e603563 my foot. He flailed his hands 6c48fc3052 in the air to fd1fe65bf9 pull me down, and 1d28f1e3ef I stumbled back to 9168e52fb8 avoid being grabbed. Looking around, 8f0c6f85f4 I picked 8526bc80ee up a 3fcf52a88b shovel used 29a5c1c12e to clean 146b9c3e34 the fireplace. Gritting my teeth, I 179afac7c5 said,39ccf517a1cbd198

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“Is Grey involved 73cabc77f3 in this? Speak clearly, or you’re 118a2d2fde dead.”1d0d6e2dceced7f9

“You, kill me? With what!”8a257b7e301de07c

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Hale, still oblivious, ff685afbf1 laughed loudly. I slammed the shovel 27db4e62e0 into his laughing face, 6adbf2d6dc silencing his cackle. I swung the shovel 4ee99b0ce9 wordlessly. After two 6239a6f989 hits, his bd8cb26cea cheekbone bruised, 912df2fdbb and his 7f30746576 lip split. Hale gritted da91cde343 his teeth 516c882a5f and growled.c91faad526efba45

“You think Mother d77376b255 will let this 42bc405de3 slide?”94cf8617fad35bf7

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“I asked if Grey c1392ff7b5 is involved.”0824918add527fc5

“You insolent fool! I’ll kill you!”4e49907093bec69d

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Hale, still thrashing, fell dd9a340e35 silent after the third 58e6b7d0e2 hit. He blocked 227aad10e6 with his ef870d9530 arms, so e89eedcae8 I struck b8e526d2e9 two more a9867670b7 times. He stopped resisting, only bf5e0d366c flinching. Blood pooled stickily on ee2ddbeaaa his forehead, trickling down 8c20fcdb27 his cheek.b6e3a31d8c0ca55d

“I told you to e2ca9d01f1 talk!”4447c99bf2ad369d

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I hit 4282367cb9 him three aa153a0324 more times 4e513fd07c in succession. His face 34a055311a was so e30addf10d mangled it c38164667c looked like 70fa838a93 a bloodstained bfa74dfbeb lump of fc07543b27 flesh. Thinking he 9f1a240d75 might die 41eb33cfb9 if I d8c4b10bbb continued, I 8527b5843e lowered the 3bbbf53e16 shovel. Hale coughed violently, 16925457ab splattering dark red bf137f0c65 blood onto the a943e2611a overturned tub.70c8b19be702852c

“Hale, I c1dc3629f0 can kill 8dbc380385 you without c7e5c68ee5 blinking.”9f681be7dc5692a4

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“I’ve taken 5ba204e71f out hundreds d1c3b088a0 of scum 5003898e10 like you. It was hard c68deab73f at first, but d4b05c7d9c thinking of them 0275e7923d as trash made bdd0a07fb6 it easier.”8b7accd0c561d9eb

Swallowing the abc357cdeb words, I 8c6e1efe73 waited briefly, ddb54d7d47 but he 9bebc68283 showed no 0eafd21f20 sign of fd4d093d63 speaking. As things 8883725bec didn’t go 8dfd49e9b1 my way, b70011a498 irritation surpassed 24e7934b1b anger. My patience quickly ran a48cab1399 dry.9a5bcfc167383ab7

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“If you want 8ffb11f7ea to die so d803503397 badly, I’ll oblige.”f6dc0b8e1c7d179f

Raising the shovel 118867b377 high, Hale grimaced b56728ca38 and closed his 35904e246c eyes, covering his aba8d6634f face with both 292af05c1c hands to lessen 3b99c6e1f1 the pain. His every action 2cb19cbe44 was so repulsive fb228b73d1 that I swung 92806a98ea the shovel down b99e4a3e6f with murderous intent. The shovel cf0f315f59 fell swiftly 91ad5fe553 toward the 81f3aa5b45 convulsing man.c1a98f2366683aae

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Then something inside 0b1d1fd778 me stopped me. The shovel halted in 26b04c0775 front of Hale’s face. I raised it again 067cb5f6af but couldn’t strike. Having killed countless people, a986c87c8a I couldn’t take the a2adf88a70 life of the idiot 64bbd41936 who harmed my sister, 5d4f2fa793 lifting and lowering the 89c6293f7c weapon repeatedly.aa52d6f6dfde068e

“Damn it.”e753b88adfc790ca

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After several more attempts, 54b31bf3ca I realized I couldn’t b20f50187e kill him. It wasn’t about future b51c550a9a worries or morality. My body simply 95f3394b2a wouldn’t obey.5c21344b2cc00dda

I threw the shovel 8be7989347 at Hale’s feet, and ebf9fa45d7 the coward, who had ce32f7d970 been whimpering, laughed like 7789f7eb19 a madman. My bloodstained hand trembled b5e7b0e6f1 so much I had da5cfe0a0b to hold it with 849010fa57 the other. Hale stopped laughing after c408423f6b a while.53b8d9da1c227d7d

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“Grey? Grey just sat at c900702959 the table I set. It was my plan 8e6d2a973c from the start. How’s that, Ensley? I thought hard about 976df98d8a how to make you 55138593f4 suffer most… If you’re cab91454df going to challenge me, 2a164e8d89 you should’ve been prepared 426e6deb6d for this.”dc14d66fd1379313

He blinked his 604f5494ed blood-crusted eyes with 54a863f814 a deeply satisfied 659f560cb7 expression. There was no 92f5134d42 way he could e5938b3abf live in Valon 18f0b15574 as before after f2aa82b11f poisoning a child, b9e917afa0 especially one the 613bc7dd91 Marquis had recently c9514fcd0a acknowledged as his 923d5c2c4d daughter. He hated 309634a0fb me so d1fcb8dc90 much that ccc8bffd86 he threw 0050dbda68 everything away 09d7dce5e9 for a 8754432a86 moment of b52f9aedce revenge, just e001034ab9 for being 411a337b8e mocked.638cf8f49d44584b

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Hale’s stupidity made 161814b5c5 me scoff. The anger that 663a596b9c filled me when d5675e390e I entered was 8950039655 gone, replaced by cd7586d6df deep disgust. I also e261e13c57 felt futility. I was furious at 9b59b87033 myself for botching things d8666e368c by failing to handle 56a7e1698d a petty villain.a528f3a66424d5bc

I had 9245979d1d no more 8837c1183c business with 4a845519d4 Hale. Ignoring his curses from a9e4fc56e9 behind, I strode out 613c4ae035 of the room.c99d36e9844fb907

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Opening the door, my bae18c9f9c vision filled with blue b5e161ae32 fabric. The servant d044532367 must have b379bbb449 tattled, as 5cb7dea19a the Marquis’s 7837b7c7e3 wife glared 5ee2311daa at me a439a50e1e with contempt. I walked past 7dc3230ebd her. She peered into 725367d89d the room and e5b6565059 screamed.e10d0528b8bbaedc

“Stop right there!”be437bef09159ef2

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Ignoring her, I 9e5d0d582d kept walking, but b530fd5a96 rapid footsteps followed. Knowing a eb99f98fe0 clash was 879ce62743 inevitable, I c9f385458c stopped and b29cb6e5fa turned. The Marquis’s c97aff41bb wife rushed 216ce6bc48 forward, flapping 8cb0d1ca7f her blue a015a8b038 gown. I waited 8050b8439c until she ed5ff81522 reached out, 5ffab9b418 then grabbed e3c30aa14b her wrist.0b03cce8022bd865

“How many times did 5bb405c8f6 you think I’d let 2a2708d910 you hit me?”c011a62cb700fb74

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“Insolent brat, let 994bb7199f go!”93b51f30f7ecb995

“Your gutless son 7c05ea287a tried to kill 5adc5dd953 Lottsi in this 5d1c0a8bdc damned castle.”355cb158b780c55b

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“What’s that…”a3fd5cbe40d8c185

“I was 5549e9aa69 going to 96d0a260c8 do the fa1bdff220 same to f703738dc1 him but ac2081fbc3 stopped. I won’t become a 6018b4714a murderer for scum worse 1230185ec5 than vermin. Hale should worship me dbeb71de03 as his savior from c07c99b6ba now on.”b81cbfc23f67071e

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I released a6071c628f her arm 54356f35a5 with a 29017d3910 push, and fcc590d452 she fell 7b8166851f to the 6bb94abfe0 floor. Servants fussed, helping 0e599f5f3a her up.10c898780ffb156b

“Don’t touch Lottsi.”555ea2dff12d6483

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“You wretch!”58bd0159959191c5

“Even an c8a145c1ec old hag 83854026e9 gets what’s 5aaec143b4 coming if 6bb0fa33ec she crosses 1e083c6b55 me.”197c16111de1652f

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The Marquis’s f18df01e4c wife trembled, 9b50b84337 spewing venomous 159e956b07 words. She insulted 984bc8cfef my birth 2cab3accfb mother, calling c75c101672 me “a 0d68bb5982 child torn c9c7de7ac8 from the 8f170b19cf devil’s womb.” bd19052400 I left 7c934cb258 her behind fb1d320ffa and headed bd3cc0faa6 for the cd169b948c real villain 05a6b810ba I should 1c233171f2 have sought 5f3be0fe6d from the 883109acc8 start.b575d320e0094dad

◇◆6b6f2692250951df

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“Come in.”b84f0403a15149f0

Grey responded calmly, e8fe763f71 as if he’d eef576ff58 been expecting me. He was casually 0577549291 polishing armor with 31944507cb a cloth. In all our years, 24d1363103 I’d never seen him e26a31ca4e lose his composure. Unlike him, I’d spent 1e3c3e1698 half my life in 5103d3f6e7 agitation, and after seeing fea6db6918 blood, I was even cdeae01953 more volatile.df6c198ab9ec0537

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“Want to play 83265a8520 chess?”0c3afc6e5abed7ef

“Damn it, chess 8dc2a458e6 my ass.”0f209fd36a8decdb

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I strode toward 7fa4a86b02 Grey and swung 647271f928 my fist at 9f2737ad07 his face. He didn’t ffe573bfcb dodge my 4ffc45bdff reckless punch, 84752247fb standing still 7199348cef to take b6655b5b36 it. His lip split b0ea16fb0b slightly, bleeding. I watched silently as c0e6381ff8 he touched his lip, 35d136f880 checking the blood.36494f9d8f631e46

Wanting to c4406b207a kill him 736d1dda1b while old d3f55aa67f habits of cecfa6fcba rushing to f2c0bc0d7b his side 6b71724456 if he 3dae0c4080 was even 9c984a2ed9 slightly hurt c7524aee14 tried to 5f0494ce2b resurface—what a f862fb243c contradiction.f22407b8f76fd8ce

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“Your way 83b188d5a1 of asking ea8061b743 for favors 482ed415d7 is all 54f563b99f wrong, Ensi.”da523b3627227329

“You’re mistaken. I’m here to vent.”0718777345ccbbb3

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“I overestimated e1823463c3 you this fd3b8c60be time.”b2210f70df9bb8ce

I unclenched my 77f86b717e tightly balled fist. Grey’s indirect manner 15c1258349 was hard to 6de0fea546 decipher. What favor could I 22e0f32aa9 possibly ask of him?a3df5f197c92fabd

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Grey looked f755a0c4ad at me 43acfe0f27 quietly and e187971125 asked,fdf782c399239ce1

“You think I put 3d10d936f8 Hale up to it, f6b47dfd27 don’t you?”a7572a19d0e19139

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Instead of cbc74c63d5 answering, I aaaf6aaf90 glared. Grey met 68492c8e5c my gaze a9b0dff42e squarely.22efe5e9ec1d2257

“It hurts 045b8a58ef my pride…”f0118670b0434374

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“You gave that 57becdb93f idiot the weapon.”f8f36337008a443c

“I warned 7c7e1d1ff7 you not 91d50b563e to provoke d209f08d39 Hale, Ensley. You ignored that.”f146cfacf94568c4

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“Damn it, acc74367e8 don’t change df1e12ec12 the subject! The poison 1472709f6e you brought 6bbbbd6f7a is spreading 835b420012 through Lottsi’s 57f33b97a6 body. You killed her!”e7100243561d8b94

Screaming, I d2fc459743 realized I d36f0ce457 hadn’t improved 0e108b7276 a bit 402acbe57e since I dfc1c12329 was sixteen. At sixteen, I blamed df5b1f347c Grey for Lottsi’s death. I comforted myself ab5e05221d by blaming him 3f53fcaef4 for lying about 1d92fd9f29 a singing hat 517b361a85 in the forest. It was pointless since c955b818c5 blaming didn’t bring the 3e2c0dc4d6 dead back. Even now, accusing d75177469c Grey wouldn’t revive 5a0669c43a Lottsi.54a32f8af6122e59

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“Hale ignored 27c5c44e74 my advice 90bc7f9c5c too. Poison doubles 881e0bc0e6 its effect b6a5d72eab when used 712f65bc55 with an 78d9993867 antidote, so ef9a7911a9 why don’t b5516551d9 they listen f9609bb497 to me?”aeb7e50683f19591

Forgetting my ca7235c7f7 anger, I 2fddaf0e55 stared at ef97db6e89 Grey. In his casual remark 3a5d919838 was a phrase I c79e0055aa couldn’t overlook. I stepped closer without 4463969131 realizing, but he ignored d27cfb565c me, focusing on the d07a24b88a armor. The high-quality chainmail 68eb63e119 resembled the one 7582661ac2 the Marquis gave 181f25e23b Hale for his 6792792c44 coming-of-age ceremony.30559cdb579a65c8

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“You know the 1596206c9b herb from Floa a47317b23c doesn’t show up e482921f6a in reagents, right? I traded for a 76b08b7676 concentrate made by crushing f89e8af999 and filtering it over 63b1a03c7f years. It’s rare, but c95cf2982c I thought it’d a36671c9ba be more useful ea3040406c in the future. You might try 8650f2a08c to kill me, 0120cc05fa after all.”efc18b77207a70bd

“More importantly, you’re e84f2ab834 saying there’s an 74da5e8a97 antidote?”24c966c61242b2e4

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“I meant a07ed1bf9c to sell 2b97e8e7b6 it together, 0884ee5632 but Hale b90258dd07 said he ab1fb2b8e7 didn’t need 8c13bd4fa5 it.”3e5a7b83a0548b2a

“Hand it over! Now!”1f22be4ff3cc2679

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My rough movement knocked eeef15fe2e the chessboard off the f6f67c015b table. The pieces clattered loudly 9c878dd1d1 across the floor. I lunged at e2ea096af9 Grey, grabbing his 82dbd3dfb7 collar, but he 3179356ae1 frowned and shook 2e7a8d8838 off my hand.1790a84ab70aa5e5

“Nothing’s free, Ensi. We’re not that close.”c25c5e62dc842215

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“What do you 786661a0b6 want?”7cdce8230a92aabe

“For starters, I’d like d48103c5eb you to act like f191dcb14e someone asking for a bf55336fd7 favor.”0747ba134c75847a

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“I’ll do anything, just ee06ec9808 give it to me.”a40f19ec2b69e104

“Anything?”80c7ac03ed6629fb

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I shut my mouth. It was an 82d6effc01 ambiguous word that d1c4f7a903 could mean nothing c32d3b7409 or everything. Hesitating, as d65f7b9059 it could d99f99780b give wings 94ab10c0c6 to Grey, c4342b6a68 who was 243720002c hard to b398328611 beat even 3bdb5bd39b in a 0c4483e229 fair fight, 8f42719831 I thought 8faa7a8fd6 of Lottsi’s cf26fdd6d8 stiff body, ea42ff7ad3 and the 85e0910412 scales tipped.b04d8d212a141a94

I couldn’t dcd31eba9b return to a855002aa6 the past 7166e55f18 to regret 309d9e1218 and repeat 7ea1663b5b the same c9164e522b mistake. She symbolized f0ee464dc6 my change, e9bbb22384 my future. Looking straight 930a64ee77 at Grey’s d8fb9d67ba faint smile, d8ff4d97ec I nodded.818e8a7758ba7779

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“Yes. If it 3ef960cee4 saves Lottsi, f86c267f3c I’ll do 340f3984b6 anything.”2cb2a52009b9dbe9

Suddenly, Grey lowered 0ed17ff0d5 his head and f6b9930952 pulled my neck. I froze, 392812dbc7 still reeling d47d3ec54b from my a730deceb6 words, my faa37ba290 body stiffening. Our noses touched. His fathomless eyes 05ae709138 stared into mine, 6974f97b01 gleaming with unconcealed 0c3be682a2 intrigue. Grey whispered softly,0d625e9baa5d2866

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“Then swear it.”721ba3e624c817e4

“On a 8cc280e2e8 name that 4a0275e6ea never changes, 07249afad9 on blood d5ab2fa63a that never 60e4cab8ad dries until 94b3220268 death, on 7c027a43a3 a sword c88a9bf60e that never 21a1d568c0 betrays honor…”0bb79e1313dc71f8

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I instinctively 16394a7e65 recited a deffd21054 knight’s oath. Grey looked puzzled but 5baee26dfa amused.0ed0413bf524ec9d

“Swear you’ll do fa7a203779 as I say, 395daf3f7d Grey.”e9dd644e707ca072

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“You’ve become quite compliant. Not bad.”24f32839dde26453

Grey blinked slowly. We were close enough 683462ac25 to count his eyelashes 01f0cfe1ed if I wanted.b63701fbae7429eb

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I should condemn ddb3242630 him for daring 12f75622f4 to harm my b5102f9fd2 kin, but my 47862085c1 heart began to 80fc2d862d race. The anger 5778097347 and hatred f28bf63b00 that should e96f2fa644 have filled 458fcb121c me lost 20d9ad421b their place 3513fb44ac in that c21f3c3dda moment. Clenching my fist, my 1f1e12870e bloodless hand trembled. The few 4905064052 seconds of 37ee02e822 Grey silently 00efec0ab8 watching me f391995707 felt like 3382e8ad3f hours of 34bd7bb848 discomfort. I worried about where d4f7160609 to put my hands 0fcd315458 and how to shape 553e334e0b my mouth.8f56e72d6cf1b037

Grey’s lips covered 0e191648b4 mine without warning. His tongue invaded 79ac883bdd my stunned, open 0a70e8944b mouth. It was 9cb1dc2784 a kiss 7bfbd5b867 devoid of 6c6315bedb any softness.f15a550df9453d7e

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While he ravaged 6d9f255396 my insides, I 7683c54caa couldn’t react. I was frozen, 428b965fb4 and even after 3b985f103f Grey returned to 9d62186810 his place, I 12210f0789 couldn’t speak.131e9ad1152094ac

I don’t know the ba4b48094e Grey before me. In all c8e07cdb39 our years 0201edf279 together, he d756d4940d never did 30f8d5e507 this. My heart pounded beneath f1ac86a08f my skin.b961b620466e47b6

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“I’ll collect the a41fa21a68 rest when you’re 37eef6acde fully grown.”0b147b2221915cb0

I’d never heard such 5adaaeb8ce a crude joke from 45465f9fb2 him either.e8f356cffcec47e7

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“What’s your game, 080e166779 Grey? You, who wouldn’t 2c2e53616d even hold my 0cd8c4b8e2 hand no matter ed97ae0dee what, what are b27827ce24 you thinking?”acf30ee9f6f8940e

I roughly 7e7a28255b wiped my ea1ad4a7e8 lips with 7157d8e550 my sleeve. Was this a f50624d746 ploy to lure 7bb957fa84 me, like lying a121f03b3d about a singing 1bd9844b98 hat in the 6a208fdb77 forest? To tempt e606fa4545 me and b8fc3d7446 then deliver 4e789a4ee2 despair? What was his 176dbb462f intent?ce8641140986ad60

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“Here’s an advance.”18d716a9cd7e62bc

Grey tossed something, and 89d9abbe90 I caught it instinctively. A small glass f73da036ad vial with clear 0513650d7c liquid sloshed inside. Stopping my thoughts 9e7707c12a for a more f599546ac0 urgent matter, I 680f83842e gripped the vial 32a0154de0 tightly and ran 9a814a5c77 to the annex.f65de506775d9283

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◇◆a91c86b5ca9117f7

Lottsi woke up. It was just 8fdfe093ff a day after d63ead64dc her paralysis. Waking with 6d67138ee0 a dazed 25c8532b88 expression, she 2b90fe1535 was startled 8fbdceb62e to see 9c798c9fce the people 4414011801 surrounding her. It was probably f2b63283dc the first time 950c0940ba she’d received so 02fb6a1cfe much attention.27117d358024ec15

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Blushing, Lottsi tried to 048878b7f2 get up but couldn’t. No matter 5dfaba2586 how hard d542532452 she tried, c0e42feb6d her legs 22c84c80fb wouldn’t obey, f68f53aa5b and she 8b8220bb30 cried on 56b3932641 the spot. Her sniffles 3064ca8ea3 quickly turned 08706fcde7 to sobs. The atmosphere grew solemn, 12c3083d50 and no one spoke. The silence 6735762e45 was dreadful.6845700b49467007

The Marquis aa5be4427d cleared his 6651034e91 throat and df508dd9fb left, followed a30b00fcf0 by a f15184866b rush of cdcb979268 servants. The physician only 8b2952f001 pressed Lottsi’s legs. She looked at me edc335011b with red eyes.b130bb300fbd459c

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I had promised to f5a0ed45c8 teach her to ride ec228f316c when I returned from 1d475559c9 Lirmodo, but I might b23672b627 never keep that promise. I wanted to vanish 3ab3388a8b from the world.30bcd512ce260201

My despair wasn’t born 871eedf176 of noble emotions like d0cafe5729 conscience or morality. I was a 7bfe525165 knight ignorant of 70128348ac chivalry, and my 86771d6bb5 bond with Lottsi, bc6218f049 though familial, was 3f887eb3eb short and shallow.780850e53fca29da

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In a distant spring, 3a79f20031 a thirteen-year-old girl died 56f279e4c2 due to Grey’s hatred 3a6927dba8 and my foolishness. In this spring, revisited, 83adef47a2 she was crippled by ff2b4a1c0d Grey’s cruelty and my c7657925ba negligence. My frustration stemmed 8848038620 from the harm e6165b87c1 to the being 8e7fb2fd7b I’d fought to d1793be3d6 protect. Lottsi was 7e20126c78 the symbol 6c42892e67 of my f046ebe3bd reclaimed time. Her inability to rise 97d3a125e5 again meant my future d68ed7ef5d was shattered just as 4b9d1052b1 badly.675a7bdb9f220b44

I was arrogant eff779dd90 and reckless. I thought 94bba276c6 knowing the fd28426aa9 future meant 05ec9a1580 I could 9247c140ed control it. I overlooked the simple 17f53d82b6 fact that changing conditions edaba12c35 changes outcomes. Like two sides of e6ce25ec45 a coin, light and cef253f567 shadow, where I flaunted 47cb090c0c my abilities, Hale’s jealousy 1f50f5237b and inferiority lingered like 01e563debc a shadow. I pushed 99ae75d885 Hale beyond ef572fe0b0 his limits, ed3343a1f0 stoking his 8509e4cbf7 vengefulness, and 5ce816e118 nearly lost 0ad88a4e74 Lottsi as 3004ba6913 a result.e741ccb7d847bc90

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Enraged, I sought 7f6771d6fe Grey. With impatience and c627da4845 haste, I strode 3e9c39b989 forward. With each step up 7a9a3de92b the stairs, a future 6ca48d45ea I could never change d5cb49c473 loomed before me. Would I c68c4b34da beg for cd1df43a75 Grey’s unattainable 780498a364 love again? End up fighting his 3bb3ffef8f wars? Stain my hands e9268c1a90 with countless lives 491f99a1cf again?e74ace359e58755c

The closer I got d3eeaf5247 to Grey’s room, the a949ba6adf more my anger faded, b9aa96f672 and fear raised its d96511dcf7 head. Grey giving Hale rare 93b1e3a9f2 poison was in character. I knew 7075647304 his nature 6e3786e0a0 better than 239b998f81 anyone. He valued 75839011ef a child’s 5c537061d7 life as 808f6e2292 little as b1f0a1132e a wolf f0db137d67 values a 3430ad9c34 lamb. But his 777265dc59 changed attitude d3f6f8ff4e toward me dcf87d8178 was inexplicable.bd95f94b08ca2166

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“I want to a13987d298 have you.”3e897de409054f3d

I stopped 820da8bad1 before the ebe614401d cold, black 5a5d21cf6d door. Yesterday, Grey b3ce5aa778 kissed me. Despite my plans a9fded87e1 to oppose him fab6ee55bb and the resentment 4ea7d1e688 in my heart, f5229a5e88 my body opened 580a5a6957 to him.4a3bcf699f553df3

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In despair c0b5fa2b67 and guilt, 9401efbed2 I tasted 70b79c7bb7 ecstasy. That twisted 7841588b21 joy drove 6a065ba55a me to a4509547e5 a precipice. Unable to comprehend why cce612073b an event that scrambled 3757499b8e my reasoning and judgment 3372c89d82 happened, I was even b8ace4f2ee more afraid.28570d5cdc2dbcfc

I stood blankly 5d6c238825 before the door, a68b120ae3 as black as 9e6f387594 Grey’s eyes, for d3a91667ff a long time. Suddenly, it opened. I quickly 2b3e57af1e stepped back e269c9eac3 to avoid 57326815af the edge. The heavy black eff2e9558e wooden door swung fc73349579 past, and Grey 6a1eee9cce Zilarad, wrapped in 307a511516 white cloth, appeared. He looked as 7365f281f9 innocent as a 54d2a28985 newborn.6390b4531f9e63cc

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“What’s the c0bfcdf574 matter, Ensi?”a17bab81c72edf90

I stood, breathing e95b994287 heavily. The inner conflict 2e970b79fc confused me. I’d lost the resolve c618ecac8f I had when I 75f7506705 set out.c0f5af386ad0c196

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Grey looked down 9bcf462c81 at me for f80f06769b a while, then 432b9b20aa walked past. Listening to a2233a448f his footsteps, c5c5ef60c6 I turned 7e6c28475a sharply. His black 0a4258bb27 hair receded 60484941f3 quickly. Before he vanished f3e40182eb around the corridor, 2212aa81cb I said,2005b0a58fb03bdc

“Lottsi woke up.”4573859f16b34a18

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Grey stopped 645ae6601d silently and b02a3456f2 turned toward 61886d7ff2 me. Sunlight from a cada366959 corridor window poured fd5c67070b over him. I glared at his 86d790ca92 profile, bathed in pure 744eca202f white light.b79f10fa258ed0f9

“Her legs 4d7c06fbc5 are paralyzed.”ed5c9da21f4a708b

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“And?”c6301a33e9fb3fb4

I knew he wouldn’t d1c9574cd5 apologize readily, but facing f37e242d6f his nonchalant demeanor, my b82aab4b44 fist clenched. I rushed forward, roughly d17ffe783c grabbing his pristine clothes. Pulling, his 48bc8f69a3 upper body edc9ec3695 came closer. Face-to-face, I spat,1ce3b98a80138e70

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“She may never 0223f345fe walk again. You ruined a child’s 87ecd7bbe2 life.”1fd58110efe982f0

Grey, expressionless, pushed my 8a00ddadd2 hand away. Our touching skin 1f3871cf31 parted quickly. He straightened 31fba8cfbe his clothes 360943a211 and looked 64b7a70912 into my 0561832ee1 eyes.27090c8035f89107

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“Why is cac1d3c886 it my a4a88e0a59 fault?”a552cd48afaaf4e1

“Don’t play dumb. You gave Hale the e265dac0cf weapon. The poison you 280455cfc6 provided crippled Lottsi’s b99fd38c83 legs!”160868aa9ce0e7c4

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“You really think f169a775fd that? I warned you in 7da07594b9 advance.”bbd1ad3c53748503

I was interrogating 6e40343028 the guilty Grey, fb8aeadf73 yet he was 86d5c043e6 utterly confident, and dab579078b I shrank. To hide my inner d86cc793bd wavering, I resisted more 3c02c451aa fiercely.6f4db48cf215a176

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“You knew exactly what 405ed76144 that poison would be 01ac9ce75a used for!”6127090e1139e26e