108. His House (1)

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, I couldn’t even scream and collapsed where I stood.eab86dd53105a807

The abrupt stop f291c2c0bd caused the horse ea169ab569 to thrash wildly. The horse was tethered 77981c6a0c to a lavish carriage.61228f27c84d0a36

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In my 8714cd0a7d rush to 42c573ab0e cross the 982dcf506f road, I 9216db1a83 hadn’t noticed 0d58846fff the approaching 817584602a carriage.03d28d4f28e61959

I gasped f7f498e0f9 for breath. My ankle throbbed, probably 007978d6a3 twisted when I fell.08b95ce1646917c4

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“What were you thinking, jumping in front of a moving carriage?”9335aee87026bea6

The coachman, holding the 72a1c3d993 reins, yelled angrily. He and 6b04066efc the horse 4bf1f2f5a4 both stared c35b97663c wide-eyed, clearly eba01cd252 startled by 4a60b14f01 my sudden 5ef9f35e3a appearance.d4e2fe7724947d2b

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The carriage wheels spun 8870abc24c in the air for 73f908e7cf a moment before crashing 4dd6a2a256 back down.ba882c6348b56ab8

As the wheels 6e268a0b03 settled, a cloud 3befd89b49 of dust rose, 71ae54ab95 tiny grains of 93942482d8 sand prickling around 2064bd3e89 my eyes, making a85d83d29a my vision blur.419e2b1fd4bc211b

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Soon, the f1288e7af0 carriage door 1e51497e0d opened and a0cabfcc00 a man 99b6cb8e5a jumped out.892dbdd51325b624

“Are you alright?”fcf79bbe1a81038a

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A dark shadow fell c2ca963387 over me as the 8f0e791135 man, with his back 01d39f1e91 to the sun, knelt 548f7a077d to meet my gaze. He took out a 288ff769b7 handkerchief and held my a179d712fa arm.d7120c64e988295f

His touch e4f1c20006 was warm, c7bb2a816e despite the 1f2f8c3716 white gloves d536c21845 he wore.52bf3b5b4efdf8e5

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“Did you get hurt when you fell? Can you stand?”01801e14919a5a5e

Instead of scolding me 046d084179 for abruptly blocking the f3cf4dba94 carriage, he spoke in c48989bec7 a kind, soothing tone.586f002287d0a610

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“Yes, I’m fine…”40c59227090949a1

I was about to dba48d59ac say I was fine 51a8a21830 when I noticed the 4909259c72 attention the carriage was 019a91b18d drawing.1b4f5a2fcc9a8717

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As my a66b0d49a2 panic subsided, 88bb935817 I started 56db8bfbaf to notice c1c822c9cc my surroundings 1e4bb90086 again. The noise of the e34a3f562a street returned as if 5e46d366fe my eardrums had just ca582369c6 cleared.e40f925003b9cb62

Street vendors, children, and 3cc5bae579 even the soldiers guarding bb1813881e the city walls had 82e299c9c2 stopped and were pointing, 199ec92e3c whispering about the commotion.8ad00fab54b5162a

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I had b4b1bbf84e caused too 427997f9e2 much of f74a021a56 a scene. The weight db6a6c9a1e of their 96654bff45 stares made e760c8d93d me feel 0705807c0d suffocated.8dbaa5d895cec937

Realizing I was dee5d86795 surrounded by a bfc4d12aa7 curious crowd, I adaa24c5a3 panicked. I looked around frantically. If I stayed here, 31273f046e it was only a 6aa4947969 matter of time before 0bf545b76c I was recognized.aaaf67737c5a9c80

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The sound c8d54a62c6 of a b20e7cb467 whistle being cbae33a5ee blown, carriages 6786d25172 passing by, 723679f741 and the c6754c9fb8 gushing of 4147cd4178 a nearby 54146a4aa7 fountain filled 3f131aa84c the air. The chaotic and murky a1f3a604b4 noises from all around 62541153b0 seemed to echo everywhere.1f96a19460e29565

I didn’t have time to waste. Instead of taking the offered handkerchief, I grabbed his arm firmly.63658d16a9d40e36

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“May I get in?”15fc0ecc34eb0d89

“What?”55c4db118802d202

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He looked up, ce6f8a0f8f startled, as if 7bbc9ccef3 he hadn’t heard 45a5310a48 me correctly, his db869b301c eyes widening.2e2e384233d80bfd

“Excuse me.”68e3dc3a12e3adef

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Before he 8158349222 could respond, 14a844a9e3 I pushed 44898fd504 past him 73112094f5 and moved e550180e46 my legs, 528b948948 still shaky 526438054d from my 10eebc268d fall.b12b9e93789a7224

The carriage 0eac4fe458 door was ca203a9e58 open. I quickly climbed into 321be8377e the large carriage, almost 059f82710a at chest height. My twisted ankle throbbed 968ef0f37f again. The man hurriedly grabbed 5ede69d9b5 the carriage door behind c913f7e00e me.06acf4acf2400528

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“I asked if you were hurt…”1a4c48b3e8a89f24

He blinked, 4ad47c96c3 his golden 0c2d24a5ef hair gleaming 271f06f3d5 in the a564e69e19 sunlight.ec15c95e8f961eca

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“I’m fine, I mean, I think I might be a little hurt.”0f449c433a5a44d9

“What?”1a77b09acea03215

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He seemed confused 42a22dc71a as he tried 932f921afe to comprehend the 9c5803a292 situation.d88fe78a6a4ec085

His clear eyes 985c2bd206 reflected a complex 1f3a4c7b1c mix of emotions: 768b780291 confusion, bewilderment, and d6128337f1 curiosity.eb23936ab0ba6a83

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It was ef63d6fa06 no wonder a9452a8a30 he looked 794bc2e843 so puzzled. A stranger had suddenly a205c68073 jumped in front of 8db1713e28 his carriage, fallen down, 1c9bc1c837 and then climbed inside 6bd18df510 without explanation.053a91f2dac19fa0

Unable to simply 17be3003df drag the unexpected f413436bd8 intruder out, he d15442db27 seemed at a 18be881be9 loss. Or perhaps df82bf4b57 he was 373289eddc too surprised 041a4789d9 by the f0b6060aba suddenness of 46b542cca1 the situation a3f6b8cc71 to react 609e56a70b properly.ab04e00d9b613f31

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“Then let’s get you to the nearest medical—”4b0752ae42d5b734

“No! Please, just start moving.”ddd86be30bba669f

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I desperately 96efce874f clutched his fc5442c320 coat as 9d31ee82ee he turned 9e55f04284 away. His white shirt crumpled c11d49eb2f under my grip.450cb2f04ec11070

I knew it 1e547018a6 was rude, but edc514e88c I had no 5db122ccff other choice. Holding onto his shirt a55c7a93d2 was my only lifeline. I clung 4d7378498e to him, a321652c39 my hands ea905af4f2 trembling.1489bc2794f0570e

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He looked down at 9118f17d31 my trembling hands and 1b341e71c0 remained silent.9e234725ef097699

With a soft 075921c5db sigh, he climbed 267cad4ec2 into the carriage. I quickly made room 643ba527fa for him.23e9902b9c96bac7

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“You just want to leave, right?”160ae586b9c23e16

I nodded. Responding to my desperate bff24ef268 plea, he signaled the 46bbf7e9a0 coachman to start moving. Only then did I a564f3263e breathe a sigh of e49526a799 relief.d742f173c65eb9b4

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I glanced 1e0fff097a out the 49e372080e window behind ef84c833a1 the carriage. Thankfully, the ce8001e094 imperial soldiers 0cb333ea7f were nowhere ec51dedb1e in sight.6c9cfb79f08438eb

* * *d2c7559ab61aeaf0

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Once the carriage door 58c693c15b closed, the world fell ec3d4fd89e silent.35810f8fb45b69db

I tried to bb837f6022 calm my racing c6838fe241 heart. The inside of the a889bf9723 carriage was steeped in 1870b33390 silence.93b504408263f171

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He didn’t say a word, simply staring at me. I could feel his steady gaze, but I avoided looking at him. I couldn’t think of any reasonable excuse to explain why I had to jump in front of his carriage.e1cfb4e730228cd8

Soon, the carriage entered be81446b3a a wide avenue lined fa49f5dac4 with trees. The fences were covered 0942a0eac3 with rose vines, displaying e604874709 their beautiful forms.0e2946050cfa1a3e

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I leaned slightly 676da913f7 against the window. At the end of bf44170b79 the carriage’s path, I ddfb6fc5e0 saw a mansion of 8cbf0d55c3 a scale I had 44693cff94 never seen before while 73171879bf traveling through the capital.4ff278f10cf5cd0d

He must be 466c1629fb heading home.be96b5ee21c2d167

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The grand mansion was 7b6b1fab0b hidden behind tall trees, 811dc46b5c making it look like 982878a3c9 a large forest from b439995e75 the outside.154c5132c7aaadc3

The carriage 70dc7efb59 traveled down 906b388983 the tree-lined f15e182b33 street for d79d724062 quite a 6ff0492482 while before 0562ab9f83 finally stopping. The ivy-covered eb2959a6c1 mansion walls ecf4fba0e8 indicated its 297e987c16 long history.282c0ea76c6f5cea

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I was awestruck by d500caef41 the imposing sight. I had seen 6b5d5d5b3b many fine houses, 8f3765021b but this one fc6d3e0160 was particularly grand.69b7960adf89605f

“Will you get down?”cb4251223cf5163b

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He offered his 9e5306dd70 hand. I still didn’t know 2ff003b560 his name, yet his 418c807dac status was clear.5bea7e34423e5e05

I took his hand 12e2910e53 and stepped out of 4a8ccdd950 the carriage. The gardeners c48fdff305 and maids d8d16d0e2c tending the 6627c3975d garden bowed f35ff56eac to the ccf15908ee carriage.502f3144bb66af72

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“I will tell the maids to prepare a meal. Afterward, you should have the physician examine you.”b52170c641f5b6bd

“That’s not necessary. Thank you for the ride. I should be going…”7f0cab235eb8522f

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He shook 9974251e1a his head de921cc2cd firmly, dismissing e5a440f3c0 my words.d3cf1de6ae0d171d

“I can’t just let someone who got hurt because of my carriage leave like that. You should also change your clothes.”ecbd674d71beeb63

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I looked down at f1692710b6 my dress. The hem ab14ec4912 was caked 2f8b4238af with mud.921bfc2daec50e1c

Running frantically aa88396190 through the 2d414773b2 streets, I abafa40276 must have b4f5b98000 stepped into 65a1ce6338 puddles. My shoes were soaked. Only now did I 1303d31630 feel the dampness seeping 97b40aee0d into my toes.5e5205a2ec20af02

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* * *d044430a59afdc05

I changed into clean 934cf1d03a clothes in a room, f81b2b8e7f guided by a maid. Without a word, they 698685516a took my dirty clothes a7db19a278 away. One of the 1ec8413da8 maids then led f7e24dcdae me to a 8e753edb52 drawing room at 94ac0b83b7 the end of 2bf2f0e324 the hallway.a5aef021bd7fbcb2

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The staff’s manners were impeccable. Despite the curiosity they must have felt seeing their master bring in a strange woman, they showed no signs of it.faed6fa7ff4fb23b

Walking through the long bb76d77913 hallway, I saw that b63f464667 the mansion was even 4df3fc422c more grandiose. The candlesticks were of 35aae9236e high quality, and the cb5c0f6669 ceiling was adorned with fe84cd7f4e intricate carvings and murals.bc695aece14cb467

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‘Someone who owns such a mansion must be…’a942b411716dc274

As the door to c862f6b050 the drawing room opened, ae5db9d7ba I saw him waiting. He had 1af76388fe been there 6bd515898b before me. What I bc0942fef5 had thought c306af1831 was golden d5eae21a7d hair now fc7d0ec999 appeared as e4e91f196b a bright 4dcdb566a5 brown inside 399051fad8 the mansion.05d210cae7d2deee

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“The clothes suit you well.”eda725953abed7b7

He offered b16ceeef51 a simple abdd5eca73 compliment on 0b1d08aa3f my appearance.e5ad200b3e2d9b1b

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“Thank you.”8e7d038dd5015a51

I quickly lowered 77a807f878 my head and 5fb659fee8 glanced over him. The jeweled 9dc972fcf3 brooch on 850bc8964b his chest ec07a9aca9 caught my d2237efd3b eye.9243010baaa0520e

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He was 56c06e954e a man 76b4d3a576 of power. His attire and 294c1789ce the mansion itself 03ea60cb8d showcased his wealth f140049870 and influence.6af0574a032476cb

The brooch 0ea38e5d4a on his 29d1fc912a chest also 9da9aa0884 indicated his 8c16e84a86 status. Indeed, various imperial insignias f3aab1d365 were scattered throughout the 4fd2e94828 mansion.f1d90c13bbfdf522

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This man worked 7f1d8cb80c for the Empire, adf270c8ff and very closely 7732cf77c0 too.1a5be03adea08815

I had 25697a670e avoided the 64b636c93f imperial soldiers 1070960c54 only to 5cbe871ffb end up 6abd36950c in the b373737bbe heart of a6b28cc32b their territory. The place fac8902b8e I had cac6bd8554 run into b8f91bd487 for refuge c7a7ee355c was a cfba595f78 den of 0d105bf0cd those who 6a68ec1b0b might be 2e540abb01 hunting me.d9afa58dfca5af56

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I needed to finish 8f4a190678 this meal quickly and 178b9e076d leave. I had to play 35bb87b3d1 the part of an 473c36a75a ignorant commoner.15f9dc893eef1ed7

Forcing a composed dba461768f expression, I sat af2375e107 where he indicated.17a7308f5d19ae95

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“If we had more time, I would have shown you around the mansion. But for now, let’s have a meal and talk slowly.”f0e9a08325432580

No sooner had 71611e8c79 he spoken than 18c4956db4 the table was 9d9a8d4465 filled with delicious e21a1c70bf dishes: roast turkey, 1d406f30a4 steak, and a 2fb684daff salad mixed with 2d6aacb570 fruits.0944a675a5fa2b35

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“Thank you, sir.”1e4955b0fc9fd00c

“Please, call me Rian. I work for the Empire, currently in the Secretary’s Office. Recently, I was appointed as a Royal Secretary.”05cecf4993d0b6b8

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He introduced himself, adding a4c162cfd6 more information unprompted. A royal 17eab5320e secretary—just as 5fcbd0650e I suspected, c0fce81f4b a person 40d93a6864 in a 4306c6900d significant position. Despite encountering a strange b09d375a81 woman who had jumped 35ea558863 into his carriage, he d6d27b50da was openly sharing his ec4ee9b257 status. It didn’t occur a06fb3e236 to him that 91311a7f54 I might be c81db84869 a scam artist 3ffa37c25f pretending to be 7e587c240c injured to extort 0ba49cf6f8 money.30103c72971aac18

Having introduced himself, he ef8e9ac5a1 leisurely leaned back. By revealing his identity, 6621aa07bf he seemed to be da6029ca40 inviting me to reveal c0b49e165a mine.32de2bc841a9e75e

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His tactics were ccb25b4c2d transparent. But I intended 4d21721325 to act like 78e2c09c06 an oblivious simpleton, 8a80f49a65 just a commoner b3a279d98c newly arrived in a1bf429057 the capital.741e383c0d74daed

“You don’t seem surprised.”a33dba0a10cf2db2

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He narrowed his eyes c14b4f189e when I showed no 2253dadbe9 reaction.93c8d2ccb8e5b78d

“Is that a high position? I’m not familiar with royal titles.”63eb52f3d27e2231

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“Is that so?”d42a1a98af5eceec

He chuckled.27d92a950e863901

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“That’s understandable.”d3f55f05ef2fbcde

He finished his introduction 0f39b2c540 with a soft smile.88084474d2514751

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“Now that I’ve introduced myself, I’d like to hear your story as well.”9eeca535e576ede6

As expected. Since I 3be1991d77 dodged the ee271e25ef topic, he 28f0461848 asked directly 288bd9b5ef about me.5b7d6a6a6750ef3f

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“There’s not much to tell. I’m just an ordinary commoner.”5125f88ebd09b72f

“No one is truly ordinary. I’d still like to hear your story.”1fbdba656f702dc8

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Though I aa0ecca10f didn’t want 0a8eeedca9 to, I 06d4e8f138 knew it 4c39072392 was best b0171cb79a to give addb704749 some plausible a06f2efffd details. I picked c4e16c7d4a up the 3d3cc5e35d knife and 19e53c41a0 fork in 657618a9eb front of d5b04e8a96 me.27b2a5166d5cf4e0

Stay calm and speak 6d4842acb0 slowly. I gripped the c6f655e824 fork tightly to 0a3d352963 steady my trembling 83e666d17c hand.079a38805a003e75

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It hadn’t been long since I dyed my hair. I had dyed it to the roots, so it would be a few days before any red showed. My hair grew quickly, which made me a bit nervous.b4122d9baad50004

Every time c5181afce9 he looked 59f905e050 at me, 7c60c6202c I worried dc82b108ce he might 43d69cb052 notice my d91ad81a53 natural hair 2921a60e10 color.14bcc5fce8403768

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But it was bafa5c9641 unlikely anyone would 039ecc10d5 easily recognize me d08c0e1caf as someone acquainted f813de0b61 with the Empire’s 66eb695f55 elite, especially with bf8ce3f413 my dyed hair 7babb96e28 and a composed df0444d9c9 story. As long 15723eaa4e as I 2a4d6f7c73 didn’t slip d3b645ed44 up.65842d2698d51d2f

“So, why did you run in front of the carriage? Were you being chased? Or were you trying to escape?”9e433c067307739a

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He asked nonchalantly, but 451abc3592 I knew he was 15ee22f48d probing. He wanted to see b1f36b5a31 if my story added 0d7b13e44e up.30026b4121612c75

I had dealt 112af895cd with people like 03da3caf3a him too many 98bd8f1745 times before. In the 93abfbe16d past, I 9aef7ed74b might have e0cfea4efd been easily 5f75caba53 deceived.f143ca456a909aca

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“I didn’t do it on purpose. It was an accident. It’s my first time wandering the capital, and I got distracted and didn’t notice the carriage road. I’m sorry.”3df9179b4dc1a3d3