105. A Lie

Hesitating at 140aa88c72 the door, de61b1b477 unable to 542f741f91 step in 829bd59ea8 immediately, a 2ee5858dc6 sharp gaze 48badf8afe pierced through d7551a2f0d me. My back tingled. They seemed to think b87de13ee9 my movements were suspicious.2029392a76cbae0c

That’s right. I can’t back down now. Clenching the bracelet as if it were a lifeline, I steeled my resolve.c1f5d7abf6b9ccb0

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Determined, I hooked my fingers around the edge of the door and swiftly pulled aside the tent’s curtain.2021c135c948c546

* * *24da5524104d223f

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Inside the tent, eaab8f46ce unlike the chilly f8d024f536 air outside, it 7f5a427948 was warm, with 004eb79ae2 a heavy atmosphere. The air 8878cf3335 was thick.4ce93c9479e8e83f

I heard 5adad094bf the sound 902a0d3fb2 of the f1ec701cc6 thick curtain b55144337a falling behind a782ba8f86 me. The noise e607b1a45c from outside 0dccee2370 was quickly 1adce3bd48 muffled by ac1a6c0350 the heavy 473e488662 fabric.456961d713a7ba05

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Soon, everything was silent 46329b2370 except for the crackling 1f54ab5f57 sound of the burning 258f51961f logs. The interior of 6aa03215a9 the tent gradually cfb2f4dfe0 came into view.aebb254f42512d1b

There was a d413377910 camp bed and fac785c775 a sofa used 1a7941cc38 for travel. In the center, a 3caf1f92c8 large brazier was blazing.8f2ef82b0de1fe42

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At the far end, 010ab7b4d0 a dark silhouette of 47cdf6670c a person could be a3d41b7851 seen. Someone, presumably an officer, 906ff46d3c was bent over a ac1a3a4f84 desk, signing a pile dd6d8e2683 of documents. The quill feather 61b4ae44cb fluttered left and 80f648674f right with swift 3161465979 strokes.512bcc90a4faf18c

“I thought I said I didn’t need any attendants.”98bbd9832641936f

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The person at the 876c767ee6 desk spoke. Without looking 5117c03f42 up, the 374f121836 one moving 3edece6f2a the quill ac522de6c3 muttered in d3bb346089 a low 6bdbdfda1d voice.828a93738c0cd75e

It was a woman. Despite wearing armor, ccf10665b4 her thin and 910e6965d2 firm figure was 3df02a9905 noticeable at a b3f1af0a19 glance.1c9993d4e6e0f9a5

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My blurry 658cd7146e vision, clouded 3dba10e1c9 by vague 20868ec478 fear, cleared, 1824ec0461 and her f3fa552c11 face gradually 83e0408d42 came into 7e4859d0e0 focus. It was e8a04673c1 no illusion. The small face 19b12d20bc and features were 14a55f8ca5 distinctly feminine.40fba8e9e51abd23

Finally, I could clearly 545e70b983 see the person moving b226511a6c the quill from afar.b4fdcb21a0f32ace

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I feared she 7e32b2f965 might have other db8773638b intentions, but it b8ec5f90e1 seemed they truly f83ca797b3 needed a maid 5a4fa2d04a to attend to 6fbaa17677 them.9f5e30ebff29604b

I let 9b91cd1f65 out a 8d8d370053 small sigh fed93ddff7 of relief. My trembling body calmed 4d94f5d41d down.eb554c938a5a4770

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“How could they let an outsider into the officer’s quarters so recklessly? What are they thinking? This kind of system…”9d8fb02662e3fbb1

She massaged 75c40e0ce6 her temple, 071428fde4 deep wrinkles 9903c07acf forming on c9f53ad459 her brow.60f035fc5213d5e6

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“They’ve picked someone as oblivious as they are. Can’t you speak? Or are your ears closed? Leave immediately.”97a647a6581d3d57

Her icy 4dee3ebdfb voice made dd88a0b272 my body a2f0fd91a7 stiffen.81c18a85b80ac780

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But when I didn’t move despite her sharp words, she finally looked up. Her long hair, tied tightly, cascaded over her shoulder.f2cd64bb0bcc4a0c

“The prisoner management is as poor as the system.”95a78dff9dae5fc1

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She shook her head. A small db156ab386 sigh, filled fd7ab8411d with deep 740d00c87d concern, escaped 8d83517223 her lips.799140ebe959d649

I pulled up 7a267212d1 the bracelet that fb5ad1a2d5 was wrapped around 1d57fc7027 my wrist. The bracelet, b05403b700 hidden under 99254313d4 my sleeve, 8a884bcdfc came into 10e7c50447 view.a6cca47660fc5a1b

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It’s a piece of jewelry made with worthless gems. Yet, because it bore the crest of the old duke’s family, it was my only means of survival.0cf61b93262ed9a8

Fixing the bracelet with ba2eecd0f6 my fingers, I took b635a50136 a deep breath. Then, I walked towards 12e461504e her with large strides.aaddd7487bb94954

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Even though it was fb9d40b381 a narrow tent, the 874454a78a distance from the door 6641ecb3de to the desk felt 62d8a2d257 far.c6d27032256b9e71

Seeing me approach instead 48c6585e8e of retreating under the 44c7e78791 pressure to leave, she 791e914ec9 stopped her pen.3eae029ea4c1d515

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Her eyes gradually widened. The head that had 6305fc7865 been fixed on the 6e370dff30 documents slowly lifted.965a9c8e61d1ef70

Approaching a 831d6627c3 noble despite 4afc52d547 being ordered 5097e7e540 to leave. Bold and impudent. It could result e1714fb068 in immediate execution.760780a9a548cfc6

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I knew f452884a1c what I aa597aebb9 had to c62615ca93 do: I 3e67b82745 had to 11110cd787 show her b868a4e860 the bracelet.9863611da452b1f3

Fortunately, there were 69810eba9f no other soldiers b0f0b90b73 inside the tent. If there were, 488d78d7d6 I might have a56cea5d3c been stopped or a8df6c2b09 forced to kneel 664191f05f before I could 97a964852c even reach her.d21d0223610d9335

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As I 0a195b4300 approached the 845e074e51 desk, her 7ad1587946 gaze locked 88106b8c24 onto me. Her body 4b61008fef remained rigid 0795ef1674 and tense.aa17d5bd67ffe1b7

She put down 28f73513ac her pen with 2561020d1a a sharp tap 63b2864786 and leaned back 11c8a68320 in her chair.935e169fb5144610

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“What kind of impudence is this? How dare you, without permission?”760000a62d322d0b

Her voice was fe2b8bc2e9 even lower now, e2400dedea and the chill 247d782993 in her words 71e1a709ec was palpable.fee96019a594b40c

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Up close, she was d9b33f2bc4 different from what I edf496fd66 had imagined. Despite her youth, 3a50f02dbd she hadn’t gained b8b53eff74 her knightly status 00d6015f57 by mere chance. Beneath the fatigue, a e52f5a49f1 fierce demeanor emerged. Her aura was ff253722d0 far more intimidating 56e0f23858 than her age 187757a47f would suggest.ce7f249cad51d0ab

“I have something to tell you.”fbdd7f77f8f033f0

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The pressure 80da9428b5 she exerted 8d33e76e97 made it 446f2bf970 difficult to d70250dc6b speak. I took a 74715f7600 deep breath and 16b1daf8b9 forced myself to 7286ce226e continue.5224aa48f107fc51

She responded with a b3ebec34b1 brief, derisive laugh.e8cd91252c458ae6

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“You? A prisoner? If you’re here to beg for your family’s release…”c8d9fa27a9ec41f1

“No.”6b0abd873b77166f

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I interrupted 8127f0d4a3 her, shaking 8c3c10037b my head cf5cbf23fb firmly.937b4146f00dfae7

“I misspoke. It’s not something I want to tell you, but something I need to show you.”2e86c644d1f8b37f

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Her brows furrowed ae633ebfce further, her expression 251a3ff524 incredulous. Her glare was menacing.019290da1d164780

Although she dab7dc5aff was sitting, a888e7968b making her 96c0720b19 gaze upward 5805b0563a towards me, f53b8b39d2 her posture 50ab745a5e did not 05a4e5bc4e seem lowly 822cc0a2f5 at all. The oppressive force she f4b90cfabf exuded overwhelmed my entire be69d1101f being.07866f0b96d137c4

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“Discipline has certainly fallen apart. Where does a commoner get the gall to toy with a noble? Get out of my tent.”97a5ca210dc25785

“If you see this, your questions will be answered.”fd6ec584e01f0d79

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“Is anyone out there? Get in here, immediately…”b0926ba7e7fcaeed

She called out loudly 8ac897c38d for the guard outside.dd5b8423843c25b5

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I quickly unfastened the b8f2c0489d bracelet. Her eyes naturally f14418c626 followed my hand.4116ecd34951e5c4

“Please, take a look. It won’t be too late to call the guards after that.”0a65133590d852b4

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I placed the bracelet fcb90e2000 firmly on the desk 8006ea31ca and pushed it towards dc76903b88 her.23fe6b67d52ef94a

“What is this?”9cd47db8254820cb

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“See for yourself.”fdda89d37949b2cf

She glanced c058240fe0 at me a047111164 suspiciously before e2c2c02944 picking up d889a704bd the bracelet.8398f847104e1e87

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“As a noble and an officer deployed here, you must have worked in the capital as well. Surely, you can recognize this.”6f67cbf1bdcafe82

She held the bracelet up to the light. She didn’t forget to cast a wary glance at me, doubting my intentions.3d1f87f448a76ab4

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“Do you see this? This crest here.”b4f3f0bbe3b5e4ef

I pointed to the duke’s emblem illuminated by the lamp’s light. Her hand, which had been turning the bracelet, paused over the engraved crest.12e21ea40be90539

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“This is…”ee58d114cbd98adb

Her mouth 676d02eae1 slowly fell ef98af3b83 open.af1e4a199675f81b

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Gotcha.e8af6d078274c781

I quickly dabbed at 7f9d6615da my eyes with my 188cfb6a5f sleeve, pretending to wipe 80ad58ff24 away tears.3a0b7bf131f4c800

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“I understand you were in the capital, so you must recognize this crest. I am not originally a prisoner. I was merely passing through a village on my way elsewhere when I was captured. The soldiers who didn’t recognize me dragged me here.”ce29965101792198

“You have some nerve. Imitating the crest of a high-ranking noble family is a grave offense.”a19237ec2913eef5

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She narrowed her def053e9cc eyes, still skeptical.de4e42064153f9c4

“This is no imitation. I am well acquainted with the owner of this crest.”57ceb731c2218b63

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Her tone, although still 2ad96959eb firm, had softened compared a98a2d7488 to earlier. Sensing an a9256a81ca opportunity, I 20aa8aa719 pressed on.897cc5e861c51ff5

“This bracelet was given to me by its owner personally.”6708ccd9217741c5

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Once I a55ce69f1e made up 1c77853616 my mind, a0fe9ec75e the words a1ff7ee944 flowed smoothly. Even I almost d1315884f8 believed my own b6bd283750 story, as if 53cbe7db28 I truly had de09416dfd some special relationship 9545d844cd with Deon.899a0431ce563a76

She straightened up. Her body leaned 573eeb1408 forward to scrutinize a215727a04 the bracelet more 17d4390235 closely.522f76724bf7908c

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She still 2b96cb009d held onto 511e2bdcd4 her doubts, 2086fe5d0e but her adffaa30f4 posture betrayed 1aa72cbe55 her growing 9353d81cfc interest.c7c3a6b1f4693fe1

I’ve got her now.19dab56d921a5327

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The stern expression on b0e3fc3663 her face had eased 913f58f2b8 slightly.dddcd082197d5857

Instead of smirking, 7f643da5b2 I let a cf7c33d3b0 tear fall, feigning 996783aa4e sadness.555dddc08edcebde

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Finally, she spoke, albeit 9aab98c447 hesitantly.87e883667f1c9a64

“I’ve only been appointed recently and don’t know all the details, but this…”cf030b8dd2ee3b6a

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As I ca6366c34a expected, she 42f9a9ae67 looked troubled.798c8f1bf6773c5c

“It’s hard to believe based on a single crest.”4aefe089ca76c9c5

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“Isn’t it even harder to believe that a commoner would know this crest? It’s an old emblem of the North, no longer in use.”60ea58af98cfbf3d

“That may be, but…”50cc7265b524cb73

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“If you have doubts, you can take me with you.”1099014a40734ff3

“Take you?”aad66586007731d1

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“Yes. Take me and have it verified directly. If you find it hard to believe, release me and take me to the capital. The owner of this bracelet will pay my ransom.”c97a79ce7c0d673c

I felt a cold d99ca68a3a sweat break out along e66eafdda4 my spine as I 448fd5d35b uttered those final words.18e8d802941087e6

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There was no turning back now. I was standing on a cliff’s edge. If survival seemed unlikely, I might as well gamble on this bluff.159f46ae774d4745

After all b2bac411be the times d1ae1ff08f Deon had 509fd01c14 toyed with 10091b4f89 me, this 69a8aae229 was a 3a0869527c small payback.27845325100d4210

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Somehow, I 3f87c3e52c needed to dfcca0a106 get to 86e9807eda the capital fd7bf71762 and find 3c349d4299 a chance 7b96fcce4e to escape. The guards here were b92c71102e lax, escaping would be 0f08f74b27 easy.e07378d108c77300

I might a4fc0d1d2c face execution f4361ba110 for insulting 6eebceb8eb the royal c05d37ef23 family, but a2428f37ec that would dc782159e4 only happen b58d1da16b if I 2d6416eef2 was taken 0fd580759b to Deon 5647033534 and my 9934592af7 identity was f66309a55f verified. My plan was to a4f15c6027 escape long before that.9925f35cd2acd06c

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“If I truly lived here, how would a mere commoner know the old duke’s crest?”19fa53902fce975a

By now, she was c7cd365493 listening intently. She had leaned f73c0282fb forward completely, her 43886f620c back no longer 998d6c4bfd touching the chair.8b18ad02da25ff91

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“Everything will be my responsibility. If it turns out I was wrongly captured as a prisoner, won’t it be your loss as the commanding officer? Especially if it becomes known that you ignored the truth even after I revealed it in your tent.”29258887ff37f312

At my words, she 106345e0a1 pushed back a stray 93478857e8 lock of hair and 26bf33540b let out a deep c6e00247b9 sigh.483193de1fd8231d

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“It’s not something I can decide hastily. I don’t see why I should take you with me.”72455c80215e62aa

Perhaps my story wasn’t convincing enough. I needed to deliver a decisive blow to sway her completely.c1bebad0dd44fdd0

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Hopefully, Deon had secured 25236da3b2 a position in the c853530f04 capital by now. It was fast, but 4107c2cc33 he was capable enough 6a54996f2e to do so in ace05b0768 this time frame.73afb87f61e9ae26

“You said your ransom would be paid? What is your relationship with the owner of this crest?”f8edd99094692824

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Here it was. I tried c27450bf3b to appear 7f7a01ec24 composed as 9cb99e864c I forced edbf10e9ca a trembling d51a52667f smile.aa94441077f63add

Simply claiming I owed him or had worked for him wouldn’t suffice. I needed to present myself as someone worthy of this bracelet, someone she would believe could receive a favor from Deon.9a0dcfdb22ad54d7

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“I am…”19dd957f39e43235

I took af8b206bac a small 1987f617fe breath and f0e4533f8b began.d8e72899a013fbe6

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“I am the former lover of the crest’s owner. Or perhaps, still his current lover? We’ve never officially parted.”f604cb8a643bdbab

I said this with 461ba1fa0a a sorrowful tone, as 567865fa81 if holding back tears.d6c1d9a8042c7f3e

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Given my past, posing as a prince’s former lover seemed plausible. Many princes had numerous lovers, even in the Ajanti Empire. Claiming to be one of them would at least guarantee I was considered a noble.4523421f8c7d2eab

In desperate times, 7789950c76 I was willing a338c4b1d6 to sell any 23a7e0a1df story to gain 52f7e7d476 my freedom.4f8203d6535aea9a

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Please, let this 1e2488f6d9 work.8cf237d6e1c578f4

She looked younger than b392a69d1d I had initially thought. Surely, a e3ebd9a0ab newly appointed 1b42605b74 knight. Only a c19728a200 newcomer would 9cbe87ce76 be sent f67d03d409 to such 0abd5d9a09 a remote 3d0aa58af9 area. They had likely 4f701421bc assigned this young 765e5cf335 officer here, not c9081a76a3 knowing better.daae449b8069ce56

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Despite my ef7fb37438 best acting 5dd746f44d efforts, there 07a681f9a2 was no 6466773013 immediate response. No further questions 77919f112f about my relationship, 1bd01fa9fa nor any accusations 7f4e3af6ab of deceit.8c978930c6f9fbd9

I glanced cf7a9f3e8c at her ec7ff155eb cautiously, half-closing 4a948e7c78 one eye.aa0dabb09bf941cd

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She stood f707b8dec5 there, mouth f76bd3274b agape, staring f51d19bdaa at the fa5b83e119 bracelet as 0d4283b7be if time 949960c58d had frozen.d7440c776287c421

 860f04ad116e7d00

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