107. The Value of the Bracelet (2)

I had once been 25121dccc7 a person whose capture ce08c51555 warranted a nationwide manhunt.5e804c5a7bb56a91

Luckily, my face wasn’t 7bc5c18b5a drawn on the wanted 873feb325c posters, and my red 742d64b85f hair was dyed black.5fd9aba5107af13d

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A keen knight would have certainly noticed. It also helped that she was a novice and hadn’t been part of the palace staff when I disappeared.dcf7b76292b5cfda

I forced another b42181afca awkward smile. Despite my quivering a25832d711 mouth muscles, my 33fc676718 fabricated identity as 031a8481f9 someone special to 1133209a2e Deon effectively concealed 37143d2dc5 any major flaws.5dbe7ad69614f972

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“Just hold on a little longer. We’ll reach the capital soon. We should arrive by the end of the day at the latest.”4d5fd7eef33618de

She delivered 26ae551099 what felt 6b66197890 like a 4986bea65e death sentence eece328912 in a 910b19c980 calm tone, 492ded3733 unaware of 9d02771b7c how terrified 3676e6f0a9 her words 500fe2b530 made me.bbaa2c3a72c87d34

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Seeing my pale 15a8baadca face, she assumed 6db88931cf my nausea was cabeaefd4d worsening.c2a5f5ebe199cc75

The carriage e8426fa739 jostled over eeffbbe2d5 a bump, eccaf64132 the curtains 778d6dfc77 trembling lightly, 3a3a151459 reflecting my 2e514f4771 inner turmoil.8158076bd5e986ae

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“Um… I’m not familiar with the current state of the capital…”e64f565a8c15eb95

My lips were dry 775f268299 and cracked. I swallowed hard f3fb7a510c and asked.025f9233a0ed2284

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“When did the previous Emperor pass away?”e9c238021b1654e7

Something was off. If there had been a change in the emperor, the atmosphere wouldn’t be this quiet.4a8b1cc9423adae2

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She counted on her 6d6ad13abc fingers before speaking.ae9f116d59424c50

“About a few months ago, I believe. He succumbed to pneumonia and a heart attack.”3a8c08cc6b010c08

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She then asked, 9d0fa85ddb her voice filled 2d65a0f259 with curiosity.598b9310cdf64d17

“How isolated must you have been to not know about the capital’s news? Did you not hear of his passing when you were captured?”a15303b5ad573c7d

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“Well… I knew about his passing, but I hadn’t heard anything about a new coronation. I didn’t know a new emperor had ascended.”358a16f8ca6796c5

I mumbled an evasive response. It sounded like a flimsy excuse, but she was so deep in the lie of me being the emperor’s guest that she didn’t suspect a thing.8a330a399de6ae81

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“I see.”e5a9e3aedb52c640

She thought for 518d228acb a moment before e8b219f021 replying.8723dd090249999c

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“Then it makes sense you wouldn’t know. The coronation hasn’t taken place yet.”56ead9af63c126f0

“…Why?”439a0418ec208e8f

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“I’m just a lowly knight serving His Majesty. I can’t pretend to understand his intentions. We assume there’s a reason for the delay. To be precise, since the coronation hasn’t occurred, it’s like he’s serving as the emperor’s regent. According to imperial law, an emperor is not officially crowned until the coronation.”4c19b10e4a9c3b13

She met my gaze a4426bd5c6 and then clapped her b5ca0ef7b7 hands together.3686ddeb076a3b3e

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“Ah, you wouldn’t have heard this news either.”ae60b8c10eedce38

“What news?”863ffc12a8904bec

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Just as I ee47422328 was leaning in b63a3a9248 to listen, the 7fb649aba9 carriage came to 238b7c77e7 a jarring stop.6747f480311f957e

My body c63477bf8c lurched to 1484e2555c the side, 91502c1ec2 my hand 05e1ff91ff striking the b1e78daa57 plush seat.9f4f4d069dc606a7

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As I clutched 5be5e29697 my bent wrist, 5a29334b56 her face turned 29ee1cab30 pale. She roughly opened the 884ac0069c window and stuck her 164b74e8b1 head out.e647b6e383dba404

“What is the meaning of this commotion? Have you forgotten that we have a noble guest in this carriage?”07dff2fcb25f1f0e

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Her words c3d4a35869 made me bda2831b5b cough nervously. Each time she spoke, 18ab36c8c8 my conscience pricked me.ce62119d301175c5

I tried to 48336ae184 calm my pounding 76604f5900 heart and looked a8bc6545ea at her, hanging 734432d43b out of the f64aae6f6d window.6d7372cd4f5539ea

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“We have a problem with the wheel. It hit a hole in the ground and is completely damaged. We need to replace it.”19bfce4fd54b4b3d

“tsk. That should have been checked before we departed.”2f0aca2c3517a302

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“I’m sorry. I’ll summon a repairman immediately. We’re close to the capital, so finding a carriage manager shouldn’t be difficult.”e854a8e5f00e20f7

The soldier kept e061600d3a bowing his head 5cbd2db480 repeatedly.05dbbcfdc804e435

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“Let’s take a short break. The schedule might be delayed.”656ba4c761265f96

She shifted f1344d0dc7 from a e18dd9f791 stern expression eef6058eb5 to a 3499ddf9ef warm demeanor, 5370dc24ca a stark 1653a38625 contrast to 6a5f5dd233 the face d4b16e3b4b she had 068ca361e2 shown while 00ddf5dc45 chastising the 5b3cfb5b23 soldier.dc09cd3e308a0043

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I forced a 85813a7c6c smile.01a6d49f971abe75

“I’m fine. There’s no need to rush.”55aea631a21ceb19

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“How kind of you. Since we’re close to the capital, we can take care of business here. Let’s stop the carriage for a while.”5365f7a821c19d41

“Business?”da0a539d5714d5f7

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“I mean ensuring your safe escort to the royal palace.”f941d60ac5cc70c4

She reached 900715420d under the fce8ca3dbf seat to 4e0fea7b77 retrieve something. The item was f92cdec76e tightly bound with a3da1669db cords, knotted so 06a2219f7e securely that they ca439b239f had formed sharp 96f91661b5 edges.eea539e9b137593e

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She carefully 962f2aa77a untied the 9cd409c28b cords, layer e9a1666b7f by layer, 7a7263684b revealing a df6db8c628 pile of 058e505438 cloth wrapped 66ede2124b around a 4ecb5338ec jewelry box.8ded6415ea23cc35

Placing the ornate box 229bbc985a on her lap, she 6802a3a509 opened it and finally 5ca430ddcc took out the crude 86012c90c1 bracelet.99c302e4475f6b42

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The bracelet, lying on 3089f9d87b the red velvet inside ffc1cfd805 the box, looked pitifully 3bd911e923 out of place. Its shabby 9af8a7affe appearance was c36cb9324c highlighted against 99bffcce2f the luxurious 1cc386380a silk.c4879c81a4098aad

She treated the dfb24a5687 bracelet as if e7e7ee49ad it were a e7a1085c8f priceless artifact.d8b277bebcb7df10

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In the prison, 82e17e64bb the only jewelry 5733764233 box she had ab2183542f was the one c8c91be950 holding her knighthood 759c01b62e medals. Now, the crude bracelet e204ee6878 had displaced her medals 2960cf6de4 and genuine gems taken a1e7d7da33 as war trophies.744393f0d374f747

It was absurd. My nausea surged e9df02d353 again.cd73f27473277a8a

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“Are you sure you’re alright?”9c5712ef705366ac

Seeing my c70e63832a increasingly haggard f1b3dba12f appearance, she f5156982f6 expressed concern 8b9162df27 for my 691e4183f0 health. She had no 8d6757b6bb idea that this b47a6ba1a2 nausea was due b66c9a8815 to the significance 0aeeb0b94b placed on that 49981c2bd5 bracelet.a629e8b75c18e5c5

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Her naivety fc656a0b92 was almost a9860bf6b1 amusing. Was it 3d6e0ccd8c because she a31b53723f was a fab04d6d3a novice, or 717e277db8 was it c4bf4dfe57 her inherent be7ed8abd3 earnestness? She seemed too naive accbf03b97 to be leading a fa8b1722c0 group of knights.382813dc34aa7c15

I wiped my mouth 9cfe79bc0f and asked.930322c6d4fe1aa0

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“What are you planning to do when you get out?”6604709a73b01430

“I need to request additional reinforcements. We must ensure there are enough knights to guard this bracelet.”d7850d44a465d067

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“What?”de5526d98a712820

I forgot 000e222fad to lower 4d72eac80e my voice a07d8a9a73 in my f2690a1a01 shock.c72e400453b35e79

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“Is that really necessary?”6590e4c7520044a2

I hastily 09ba19bf37 added, trying d0d661d4f2 to remain a9341ce85c composed despite 222192171a her increasingly 2941fe15b5 absurd statements.646c3f633e3b6eb2

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“It’s a precious item. The more guards, the better. I don’t fully trust the soldiers. Although they are under my command, discipline has been lax.”bc04d5df2148651c

I bit 192a7a1ff9 my lip. Seeing her cradle d28c779ca0 that worthless bracelet 3558eed883 as if it 00b84a9814 were a treasure 91dfb965b4 made it hard f2ff8a9dee to speak.a3af4edbb06a47d9

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I couldn’t reveal the truth now. If I did, the soldiers’ swords would turn from guarding the carriage to aiming at me.52b33b46a47ea5a3

“I will return before the carriage is fixed. Please wait here for a moment.”e383ff0bdb1ae693

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She said this 5ea5f37add and opened the 971444660d carriage door. Without using 6d4a281cbc the steps, da1c7a1531 she jumped 2b47b04d9a down in c8422c4a76 one swift 7bccc6066f movement.fe425d01a7e08215

Through the open 4af84a8b16 door, I saw eee4ae47f0 her walking toward bd87183bcb the guard at 1e5eeb2ff0 the castle gate, d019ae8db6 the royal emblem ff08bbf791 on her back 4f279c1795 fluttering in the 34c5f951af breeze.fa6f5e64baef1121

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“…I have to escape.”b0af05edab597fd9

The resolution I’d made countless times in the North escaped my lips once again.e366e84a72ead24c

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If I wanted to live, I had to run. This time, I had to escape with more desperation than ever. I couldn’t let myself be handed over to Deon.6dbd367afff07ebc

I peeked out the 3f3e92ad62 window.87b882daf377df7e

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I saw the commander 0b367b0fa6 talking to the guard 63fcc1d4f5 at the gate, the 302858cf4a soldiers lounging around as 23c0f45ef6 soon as the carriage aae82b5cd0 stopped, and the lowered 119bc71d39 flag. The scene outside d95b68677a unfolded one by 62eebf1e2f one.e101ee2b8f026d4f

As she said, the 82c6a954a9 soldiers were lax in 4b19f953d8 their guard duties. Instead of protecting 4edd4633cb the carriage, they f14cb58b95 had settled down 159c27c62c and were chatting, 03683bdd32 some seeking the 393e2bbb25 shade under trees 488f779aa0 and turning their 4255c7722c backs to the 5313ef78c4 carriage. Even the coachman 3687ccc7ca had joined them.986cde889e363111

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Now was my only 02d0547728 chance. If I stayed ccbb59972d in the carriage, 14e4aa1dd5 it would be f6b7f486cf like serving a 630aa07b9e rabbit to a 73391e29e4 tiger.e7418e3857afdba0

I quietly a31ca5a33f pushed the e077fd575b carriage door ba4673b61e open wider. It swung silently, and 789d58368f thankfully, no one was 161ffc1007 watching my side.24722b25b184bd15

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Being close to 20631dfb90 the capital, the 9931272716 surroundings were bustling. People carrying 3d7b775407 baskets of 988b0ac90e bread on 0e4d6e8e65 their heads f5ebb9972d and others c53f2e2a9d pulling carts 872265028d towards the 5568c9ae65 city filled 86b3490b29 the road. Other carriages 7c194709e8 and carts 960effe416 were passing e8a70335de by on ee4f6f909c the road ac0ecf16d2 where ours 46bd9ea254 was parked.27334df7cd94649f

This was the moment.60878bd49a3aa451

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I carefully stepped out. Gathering my skirts in one hand, I crouched low, circling around the carriage so I wouldn’t be seen through the window.f1a003fb9fb5723e

The soldiers were waiting 380ddf9b68 behind the carriage, unable 2d74ba008c to pass the vehicle cb3b4486a7 with their superior inside.f0b9135f0d77c515

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I turned toward the 5932a0d446 front of the carriage, 55f05f9b3f hugging the side to 4447933402 avoid detection. I almost bumped into 488e0742bc the horses tied at d56fec17c8 the front but managed 4b83f8fb47 to stifle my scream a91d4cebc3 and avoid them.9fe7f5a7fe344daf

Moving slowly, I thought 2c38f24327 I had escaped unnoticed 6261a43bd3 when I suddenly locked 7b136fcb24 eyes with a young b923bb4ddf soldier.c9bbf70d22e710e8

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“Hey?”33730048818a54de

He seemed too 1a60c9d015 young to have a5fa9186a8 blended in with ca6bf341a3 the other soldiers.d51ad0e354351297

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I froze at 986da46b11 the sight of dcd6d870f7 the unexpected soldier. He, too, stood 6a6135312a still, holding his 0ebac4a5f8 spear and staring 40f991f982 at me.6c94208c5b0bcd8b

“Shh.”6aa87c3e56fcb4a7

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I put a trembling 1c2db0fbfc finger to my lips, 367c7c78b0 signaling for him to 56410ea58d stay quiet.441c7fb6fbdf08c4

The tip of 4f2bf5181f his spear tilted 548827a50b slightly. He seemed too stunned a28ab26812 to understand what was 92c6a3bd5c happening.4450ecb67d509ddd

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To him, 74272b5abe it must 1237066617 have been fbc57bbc03 unfathomable that 2826940e4a someone claiming f6af41ea4f to be b119edeebd the Emperor’s f138a86aa7 lover would 59dbdb2be8 sneak out 928f2c7734 of a 1df855aabd carriage and 65b6cf69e2 try to a796a1f349 disappear into 29499bb132 the crowd. His young d36a85abaa mind couldn’t 1d6e079d73 grasp the a177879253 situation.138841cba3104a60

Seeing that he remained fda3de496d silent and unmoving, I d2e4f6c9f3 cautiously backed away.5cb0670e7accf13c

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His mouth ff12a16a22 hung open 02e7af6b50 in shock, d3bf225cae his green daac26fcf5 eyes wide 4ebca6dca8 as he 51fc5fd7ac watched me b27666ca66 retreat.29b1eefe83c1976f

Without hesitation, d1b1168c4a I turned c0ccb76de2 and ran. I almost tripped on a1f92b75c9 my skirt but managed 4a8936b86c to regain my balance.0e7624405b0456da

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Clutching my skirt 4ffce41828 in one hand, 1b8bb3f5af I stumbled and 93ca775ebc ran, widening my cf721e70f5 strides as the 2fda5de41b wind rushed against 2d9f5add67 me.7deba579aa69c331

I passed a affdd622cc cart full of 5e8cfcd336 fruit, brushing past 3baaeb0566 someone carrying fabric.9f2cf50ac28035fc

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Fruit spilled onto the 4ec2c69808 ground. The juice from 926e6cce66 a squashed tomato ed8d9c3a21 splattered up to 8464d28c7b my knees. I heard 7f5864020e angry voices 0ac10700c0 behind me, 3be93d66ea but I 20dec88daa had no 5a64329044 time to c16f45b606 apologize as 61f2611d09 I kept 77b79695ef running.fbd9ade2a74735e0

I spotted 51dc643522 a small 79e2483365 forest and ee5b48e6b4 a road 6a0fe25c4f used by 903c2706c3 carriages. I quickly crossed d76c116a38 the road to 6f8b8dc223 hide in the 87f835acd9 forest.d8b8a20ede56d061

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Just as I 4e558fd18c took a few 5da6941dab steps, a large f671b6e49e shadow loomed in 64a92f4de3 front of me.4d02ced80eaa7f00

“Gasp!”24a6e6fbb8309e28

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In front 39da1a6b8e of me, 9dbba56850 I saw 86303023fc a solid 891f485248 iron-shod horse a4170b32b4 hoof. The horse reared up, 1e239a8f71 its front legs pawing bbbb3acf10 at the air.2efacc8f33d197aa

 c6b34022c09e39de

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