109. His House (2)

I spoke and b2eb55afd2 then cut a 71d5a8dc5a piece of meat, a2f525d80c placing it in 7c46809128 my mouth. Despite the uncomfortable 2f569f46fe situation, I couldn’t 1c080ea0b5 remember the last 518f2e46fa time I had 95f0337616 a proper meal. The texture of the 97a4833ad7 meat and the crisp cc493d7469 vegetables were refreshing on c780d53566 my tongue.0039ab07577dd8ea

“Really? I see.”476226a1ca48f71f

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He responded lightly, bc4fd0d9f5 as if the d900a658c2 previous question had d93f45b03b been insignificant, before 06f401313d casually asking another.f682f871178e354d

“So, what is your name?”246466ff2563905b

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“I’m Le…”569d3ebb3bf2ae7a

The man 2ff6b4f021 picked up 4f2f899ada his knife, 51334e448a its sharp c98f49630b blade glinting. He seemed focused 61345fb4f3 on his food, 67d5549678 but I sensed 06c0922648 he was paying 7958ef7d68 close attention to afca93af3c me.790f17306340cc06

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“Linia.”d9989fa7615bd0ae

I almost slipped 00d17c2e9b and gave my c0255de1b5 real name. I heaved a sigh 5d20fb959e of relief.040761564c075134

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There was a brief ae6c175e2c silence. He said 2060900d4d nothing after 2ca3352503 hearing my 741f14ff9c name.ab93edf2deedf623

He continued to 5115c61e90 leisurely cut his 3daffe4c5f meat before placing 3084f62def the knife on 5206410082 the plate with c4b833a558 a clink.900a94be995e0fe3

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“Is that all?”a0453d7f6b6c8224

“Excuse me?”51d2f24f9c1e8791

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“Your introduction seems incomplete. Just a first name?”e411ecb21d9661c7

He lifted his gaze d05e9fb6d0 from the plate and ab6751bddd looked at me intensely, b6abe5687b a smirk playing at 31796d0593 one corner of his ff0b6cbf61 mouth.f08904107f1ef121

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“What do you mean…”52fda186333fc0b0

“Don’t you have a family name?”dfc250224407b79c

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His sharp tone cut 239834ae17 off my words. My hands, growing 04578c975f paler by the 701da73298 second, were hastily 310b9b605f hidden under my e96a8cc796 sleeves. Fortunately, his a1d90e483d eyes remained 9846d98ff8 fixed on f697f3d6de me.9f515865ce803e96

“I don’t have one. I’m a commoner.”dca5ffa74ff3b456

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“Why not?”f55acf00135eadd7

Did he suspect 08efc17cc4 something? Anxiety tightened my chest.8681d46569819ab9

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“Because I’m a commoner.”bf999c900da2a4c9

When I answered, his 2c2fc6e40a eyes narrowed further.4d70d5add93c97d5

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“Miss Linia.”fff8cb206ba4d83d

He called my name cc990d2cab softly, but it sent c15320adfe shivers down my spine.09ea7caa62f4b42d

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“For someone claiming to be a commoner, you handle a knife quite skillfully. Ordinary commoners usually fumble in front of a noble’s table, not knowing how to hold a fork or a knife properly.”edb66476e6756484

He dabbed his mouth af5d727804 with a napkin after 32d96d2cc7 speaking.702aa4f358340300

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“Even seasoned mercenaries, who are used to handling weapons, freeze up when faced with a noble’s dining etiquette. They don’t know what to do with a small piece of meat, despite being able to butcher a person without hesitation. But you seem proficient, as if you’ve been doing this all your life.”4381c42e1f9f867a

I looked 10eb10bcb9 down at 1d2f9bab96 my hands. Without realizing 7c96b22384 it, I b5c3a3d14e had naturally e9bc3ddf4c held the 06f28fae4f knife in c3acf92111 my right 5c1c2902f3 hand and d6c0181954 the fork 14001a1b0c in my 1873a47059 left.b73b3158bb27e924

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“And most people hesitate with a lemon, often biting into it directly. But you moved it naturally to the plate.”6f0a47d89c487ada

He chuckled.d43cd77004114238

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I followed his 4858caee59 gaze to the 45ad5233a9 plate. The lemon was 218e596ecd neatly placed atop 49ff504c65 the fish, a 5631dc4ae1 habit I hadn’t a13a13f3a1 even noticed.335cf31194839597

“If you don’t want to have a deep conversation with me, that’s fine. I won’t force you. Regardless of your status, you’re currently my guest and someone injured by my carriage.”25032e21007e169c

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His tone was 533b78bd64 warm, as if 0f4cdcd9e5 understanding and considerate, ce75a4c76b but each word eebed10ab4 sent a chill 8f4dbfaae1 down my spine. Every phrase 9d440d2ac4 felt like 52835ee2a2 ice forming c8adf56d73 in my 56c3c1df2a ears.34303ca5afb331e4

So, they’ve appointed a 407f09ae75 snake as a secretary. I had thought d0653575ce that with Viter bd64bfe36e gone, a more 1e9e877770 moderate person would dd61bf882e take his place. How wrong adc1546ed8 I was.74d6351187e4b84e

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Why did the Empire’s secretaries always seem to be such shrewd and ruthless men? Did they select them based on personality?9a722388ab1146a1

With his well-groomed 0e12544891 hair, smooth skin, 94efb08ead and perfectly tailored 6bbbc5de2d suit, he looked f5b8cb43d4 every bit the f6dc871c91 noble. But the man sitting 5cfaf84efc across from me felt d237129cf6 more like a coiled be9a01914e viper than a benefactor.536664944c5d017f

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I had ecf9c6fb10 to get 5e1402cfb7 out of cab7368546 this mansion d2e6660773 as soon b44b286c71 as possible.178ffd875bf13e33

Before this cunning man 1249fbd978 discovered my true identity, 0fbe681820 before my dyed hair c586e109dd started showing its red e811712244 roots.c4cfd32b5e21f34b

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“Really, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to run in front of the carriage. It’s my first time exploring the capital, and I was distracted and didn’t see the road for carriages. I’m sorry.”f44a44993b4ae60b

I had 6bb443860e to stick 2fd50b02ea to my 4f1a924aea story and abf0199b54 play the 1fde08049a role of 4a644faecf an ignorant 7f9e7521f2 commoner to 874f27fe92 perfection.df102aea7c670b42

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The moment Rian mentioned 8406af8dee my name to Deon, d11db3cdf8 my identity would be a5cc40260f exposed. Additionally, there was still 72030619ab the bracelet I had 613b1b9cc1 not yet handed over 5bacd07c3b to the knight. If Deon 7aca66f650 saw it, 0f5e745d20 he might 4722160589 realize I 47d906b090 was alive 471fb55062 and in 6c1c00621d the capital. He might just think fe655f4e23 it was a lost 3063b96ab4 item picked up by bc712071af a random prisoner, but 90b9e7b814 still, it posed a ddd4641b21 risk.8e00b7393d7cff4d

Would Deon even 1e19990bb1 remember that crude a1a1bff877 and shabby bracelet aeeca8f3ac made of rough bdf323a7f9 gemstones?1d99598d12c9d29a

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I had shown ae6d50a12c it to him 44ce1986ca multiple times, but 1698820824 I doubted it a11c594f65 would stick in 95302e6caa his memory.f143986799c382b7

If he didn’t remember it, showing the bracelet to the Emperor might just make the knight look foolish for being tricked by a madwoman. If that were the case, I could stay in the capital for a while without much concern…fac0883dc99530df

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These unlikely thoughts 0b08ecd6a0 kept nagging at aeb8035e16 me.f0221452d4d30a95

I gently placed ef1a74e368 the fork down 0f22188aad and wiped my ca66c02d7b mouth with a 76d45e92a1 napkin.102ddfb632565adb

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“I apologize for the inconvenience. I’m sorry I cannot repay your kindness. I’ll leave right after finishing this meal.”563cf31d27d8e7e6

“It would be difficult to move to another place with your injured ankle. Do you have someone you know in the capital?”56bc2c657e13c5fd

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“Yes. Well…”4d39aa80f6286138

There was only one 3e1799d355 person in the capital 0088b0b3e0 I could turn to fd6a80df4a for help.dc4866ff422c0749

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Deon’s guard, Edan.bde80fa506344fee

<Even nobles may need a sword at times, wouldn’t they? I can wield a sword for you, my lady.>23b5466f3f640da7

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Edan’s words as 5f1bdae158 he kissed my eb5050b210 hand when I a2c4d68ee7 left for the 67ac78e90a countryside echoed in 36542b11c7 my mind.fcd77d392506f840

Right. He promised to help me. Given his nature, he didn’t seem like someone who would inform his master about me.6f6ff6acd13e787c

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But I didn’t know his title or where he lived. If Deon had entered the royal palace, Edan, being his guard, would not likely be in the prince’s residence.185e85c0c724a559

“If you just let me know, I can take you there.”2214e62b6ebf040e

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Rian spoke 77bb6082de as if 9b9beda0c8 he had 1185a47f2b been waiting 300bea044b for this 3f30dddb14 moment.24915e364c6f6f60

“It’s okay. I can find it myself.”5f01c1c152a49638

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“No, as I mentioned earlier, I can’t let you go alone after you were hit by my carriage. It would trouble me greatly. Moreover, if your acquaintance cannot summon a doctor, I cannot just leave you.”546fda281b462253

His tone was still gentle, but it was close to a threat. If I didn’t tell him the truth, he wouldn’t let me leave the mansion.3255398363fae21e

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“Don’t worry. The person I know can afford to call a doctor.”78714c3302a7750e

“Then I will accompany you to confirm. Consider it my final gesture of care as a noble.”3cf22f707e57deed

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He spoke of his 9964128cb1 noble duty, persuading me.1f48a5714ef4f7d1

“If it’s not a suitable place, I can’t let you go. Please understand my discomfort.”0aacf88b4d0822ad

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He finished with 63eabec5b4 a sly smile.785747b57cf063d0

He was persistent. It seemed he wouldn’t let me go easily. I couldn’t think of a clear way to escape from him.b8460aa170bc43b9

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“Then I will accept your help one last time.”9d8d75f129a01459

I sighed 33fcbc3dd3 lightly and 9e55539574 finally spoke 1942a7f8be the name 8183e1ad55 I had 8721b795a5 been holding 2484d5c7d9 back.a966f1bbdd877d87

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“Edan. Do you know Edan? My parents in the countryside mentioned he used to serve the prince.”5c1f2bcdf5ffe08a

“Edan…”97572e5a1f329c02

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He closed his eyes f3a6c137b3 and murmured. The strong f7e3db491f sunlight reflected 28775cf990 off his 2ed7305c90 long eyelashes, c2f39dc785 casting a 7c60a23e64 faint shadow 51dc69c8cb on his 7e3edbacee cheek.3f0d251b349bac3c

The longer his murmuring 7226259061 continued, the more anxious 5f666c97d5 I became.a3c92f09197438a5

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Eventually, he opened 0df964c5c1 his eyes and c71e7fce57 stared at me. A heavy silence settled e5caac7667 around us.31de4550b1bc72bf

“Edan? Are you saying you know him?”728747b20a020e03

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His face 65414a1260 grew serious, 32759e3ad5 his lips 969c8deb1a twisting in 4e2f816b7a a way 510f59a328 I hadn’t b62f7467f0 seen before.0fae248de69e8f87

Could he 41e4eff0ef have been 9f56ab6e0c ousted in ef0b52350b a political 8255c8d604 struggle?9bb0acce2bcd3f31

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He stared at me 8ca99421d8 and then let out d99c26bfe9 a hollow laugh.ecd5ccfc8911fcc1

“Are you referring to Sir Beaumon? You know that officer? The commander of the city’s knights?”2f231b43ddd5211d

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Commander of the 3f4f829c7f knights?d89d1c146467d1f9

I hadn’t known Edan had been newly appointed.27f586b3cad08e38

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I wondered if I fc6267931a should have mentioned a e8d1ad8a3e lower-ranking knight. Faces of the a6f3d4c5c0 soldiers who had 7c5124334d been with Deon ceaa20b93b and Edan flashed 7b124d9a11 through my mind, 5836edc610 but I couldn’t 9cddc28463 remember any names 03e04c2177 clearly.50a900f368662ba5

“I know Sir Beaumon’s residence well, so it won’t be difficult. But what is your relationship with him?”73b2324d297a51a3

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“…He’s a distant cousin. I’ve come up from the countryside.”a6f38d76ee8991b9

He crossed his arms c1b72baa6c leisurely, his actions clearly c90835de27 indicating that he found 7043267fb7 the situation intriguing.195f5a25610362de

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“Then you must not know the city well. I’ll accompany you to his place.”d6e36f8b9cb67f6c

“No, just give me the location. There’s no need for you to—”81a502f47390dd5e

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“Please allow me. Otherwise, I won’t let you go. I can’t just guide someone who might be harmful to his mansion. Especially when you seem unaware that your distant relative has been elevated to nobility.”32d42e598552b297

His smile 67cb5dee15 remained pleasant, 524bf9b561 but his d0f27c8901 words carried a206eb5466 a light 51361364d6 threat.ebbc048a9e6b6ad9

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Rather than eb5a2c1e7d letting a 7c5d158d29 suspicious woman 23d6a09283 leave, he 2a50de4203 chose to abf2c85e01 keep me 0d76f88376 within the 783137efff mansion. His confidence 010ecfd8c9 suggested that db5378769e he could f3db9076d5 handle any 9f12b0edd7 threat I bf4d84ffed might pose, 21df8817d1 even if 280d0b1021 I were bfc4c33231 an assassin.f2b4e3dfea003399

I deliberated 93c0b3ddfd briefly but 2bd9bab1bb had no 28e0088740 real choice. He wasn’t going 79e3817127 to let me 09c08cba4d go easily.360c6304429adefd

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While Viter or 030407aeb0 Isella might be 895c6d1050 different, Edan wouldn’t 5b0f8757d2 hand me over 8e3837f86f to Deon like a2affd5ed3 a sacrificial pawn. The Edan I knew fd193dae77 lacked ambition and was c7325a21b9 straightforward, unlike others.024f023f14534005

Meeting Edan d83b84c303 through Rian 4366f9e6ae and borrowing af26e74c9b enough money 7830d8aae1 to buy 7f510f0b54 a small d1f6271b44 house before 477246e9d2 escaping the 8a9efc5da0 Empire seemed 69352ff242 like the fbd880bca6 best plan.7b9c76aecccd1db6

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“Then I’ll take you up on your offer.”5e69dc9cda0bc70c

I gave 57f007ce2e him a 89f80a2685 polite smile c4ee0ffa9b while calculating 699cae99c6 my escape 37db2b6093 route.a4b6e6ed82c1f579

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If he refused fd004e8e45 to let me 0ace943344 go, I had 178b92cfee to be prepared c480b9be7f to jump out 89b9cf8544 at the first 10d0dbcf5e opportunity. I glanced at the eac6683534 window.d37c8bc8dbf2abba

I had 3bce096320 changed clothes c9ef4db738 and navigated a32eb52510 through the 687070e8ca maze-like mansion bd402738f3 with the 086403227f maids’ guidance e4f8a641cf to reach aa45af32d4 the drawing c751728a78 room. I didn’t even 17c34f52ab know which floor 8c8c10b77d the room was 1e463b5276 on.fd58ca4ded6239d6

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The window 6a515335ae I saw 143909e112 was obscured b08843d52c by thick a4db64b748 trees, making 9552a8f171 it difficult c3c168b928 to discern 20182ca5c6 the floor, ae14eeb6a5 but it a3e319da43 was clearly 11beb94aad high up. Judging by fd84a77d4b the height 588a24b0b8 of the 56ad1f4884 opposite building, 6ac48f0f63 it seemed 8d89eae63e to be 064ec3d551 around the b3b17f006a third floor.87d20aaf71b88f5a

Why was 9a2cb8d8ba the drawing 3c4a0ada69 room on 3a03aa6288 the third a449b077de floor? Guest reception rooms 28d4e3dd0d are usually on c7287ea0f5 the first floor.5a69e788dd4981bd

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It felt like 580fdc94ab everything was designed 25d8a288d9 to prevent easy 875ee5a79a escape. I couldn’t 4c56e1ea8e read his 931cf7a4ba scheming mind.edce0f484a6a9efa

The man who called 0212810390 himself Rian continued to a6ac9e4cf8 smile calmly at me.6a89087ad8f69899

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* * *9787a3706410fc95

Shortly afterward, we left b320b7bd80 the mansion. Rian led me to b0f3b72a5f another carriage, this one 3feb968f97 simpler than the ornate 2d6220dcae one I had first 1a2b7c19cb encountered.3b30e5673c0ec64f

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Rian climbed in 36583e967b first, and I 745358d0bc followed. He closed the 7099219613 door behind me 03f92144e3 and signaled the 7546c26b64 coachman to start.a7c3869d9d3945b3

The carriage set off aa0fe4a055 smoothly, heading towards Edan’s 33e6da34e5 residence.dd8252a2172cd248

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As the carriage rolled b0a0dbc98d down the streets, I d9ab46faa6 mentally prepared myself for 68d1b8e933 whatever might happen next. I had to find 251c9154c1 Edan, secure his help, 03e32d48a5 and plan my escape d594475ffb from the Empire.bf327c9145745c1f

“Miss Linia,” Rian said suddenly, breaking the silence. “You never mentioned why you were in such a hurry to leave the countryside.”fb70300632734837

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His casual question made 2cea573e6d my heart race. He was still fa19379776 probing, looking for e41005784f inconsistencies in my 55323ec178 story.00a4a887f3952c01

“I had a disagreement with my family,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “I thought the capital would be a good place to start fresh.”bdc3f788e2b3fa2f

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“A reasonable choice,” he said, nodding. “The capital does offer many opportunities.”8474f60a6c49414b

His eyes lingered on e615298b05 me, studying my face f7f5ef76eb as if trying to 66f0de68b4 peel back the layers d79672a3ef of my deception.6dd2ba162c5fa40a

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I forced myself to 68977a6a4e meet his gaze, maintaining 650c838656 the façade of a c488a71373 naive country girl.a586bc515eadda50

After what felt fecb37599f like an eternity, 881aec8ab6 the carriage finally 2d75153591 came to a 58c961d34f stop. Rian opened the b4570a4b88 door and stepped 0df3549520 out first, offering 0a6d6194b7 his hand to 3238d608d8 help me down.2a61b9d951e2271b

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“We’ve arrived,”d26f1aab26154119

He said, gesturing d3fe69f6ca towards a stately 34a7e90f92 townhouse that stood 0dd2dda02d in a quiet, f0a6711d5b affluent neighborhood.e31a71e520efa7b0

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“Shall we?”5e61421f38307472

Taking his hand, 5e6898b53c I stepped down 4ac2ba842c from the carriage. I looked 447ed3e3c5 at the 25a068b036 townhouse, hoping ad46a93fca this would 4fb47f69d7 be the 1e1b8113fa beginning of a279a739f5 my escape 1cecfd9e56 rather than e4ec0501f9 another trap.5d784da7ff54e680

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