41. come with me

“Me too?”a0a805394640fdeb

It was, as expected, 6045cccae6 an unexpected response.7efd8f4bfbc57083

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“So, even if it’s frustrating, endure a little. Just until the permission letter arrives.”89fc39d662db990f

“If you go up, wouldn’t you be going alone?”4580b3ac33cdfe0c

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“You and I are always together. If I move, you have to go too.”31372f62573ae838

Of course, I vaguely 3b3df1048b anticipated it.674a532599c5ac78

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Blood is 5d638ca291 needed anywhere.40575e016b5d1203

There might be an unclear imagination that if I go to war, I might stay in his barracks, although it’s unlikely. But the capital was a different issue. Exposing blood in front of many people was too dangerous.36afa4ca66758de5

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And frightening. If I go to the capital, wouldn’t death be hastened? Disappearing without a trace, without even a corpse to bury…312d40f4c5b79e2c

The more I twisted the original, the closer death came. The time left until death shortened from 1 year and 6 months to 4 months. I didn’t want to make the situation worse.9704412c47b62932

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I corrected my 99bb55250c thoughts and stuttered 63b7ad4acf out the words.0ba459536a206681

“I… I’ll just stay here.”4b2b2d9a752de32e

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“Leonie.”33f4c054d4770fe1

He cut ea6db19a4b off my e7712bb7c0 words.62b8d85a27dd5e50

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He seemed angry, but 20f7b3519b the words he added 4475218166 were truly warm.53f5f4e9703c7225

“The outskirts are warm, and even if it’s not as much as the capital, there’s a rich cultural life. According to Viter’s words, there are theaters and famous shops, so even the ladies of the capital often come to visit. If you want, I’ll buy a mansion closest to the dessert shop you wanted to go to. So…”52e4a22dce518504

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His deep blue b17934cbe0 eyes fixed on add8a62a52 me. He was choosing 0ee14c504f his words like b33069ae1c talking to a fe92634446 child.f074237c1d770e45

“Let’s go together. You wanted to leave the North. You said you would hold my leash… Why do you keep trying to let me go?”47d73f0aa72694d8

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He stared at 31c8f21d96 me intently. As if waiting fe21739314 for an answer.e98f0379f8cb1a52

“Your hometown has never dropped below freezing even in winter… Maybe that’s why it was hard to adapt. Living in a warm climate will probably be a little better. Your complexion will improve too, better than now.”baed2dd5ebe9cd19

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The words he eb06386ace spat out on 757174752d the snowy mountain 358bd1879c were not a 1205afea26 joke, it seemed. He completely 0c652240fc believed that 4f123da2da I was 6972201f9a lost.48b20059e621010a

As if consumed e8bd7937b4 by the lie 12b62de71a I had created.02c63b9e5a5dfc1d

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“If I go… What about the rumors? What if there are rumors about blood, that’s why I stayed in the North? And if I live in the capital as a son of the wasteland…”f91cce7dade099fc

“The favor I put in the capital this time is a lottery.”ea56d93c089d3e48

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He answered firmly.d6d8902d383a208c

“This is not a simple request to let me live in the capital. I’ve officially sent a letter requesting my status to be recognized as a prince based on my merits in the war so far. Publicly, I can demand noble status even for commoners. They won’t be able to ignore it completely. So, don’t worry about that part.”6059a141bfcc361e

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Since I haven’t made any official appearances since coming here, my merits in the war are what I achieved before. The reason he is being recognized is because my blood has not been mixed in at all.e7edb4eb20d0c00d

I was puzzled. Why go to such lengths? Moreover, his reason for staying in the North so far couldn’t be simply due to the ‘reflection’ or ‘shame’ that the nobles talk about.2fdc890cc17d0bd2

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To give up everything f1bb8e1ea1 that could be prepared 221fbdc644 in the North. What was he thinking?e6cd293ce5e55f5f

What part moved him 295fb7f5b9 so much?43945baeeea38b3a

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Could it c23eef2ab7 be because 6be6fd81e3 of Lady 80ad46230f Arin? Different from c8a6ec79ed the original?9447bb918dc4c3af

Lady Arin and I occasionally had meals and conversations when I didn’t come out of the room.15f9d0d952db9635

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Later, I heard that the usual conversations between the heads of the households and the masters were all there was. I didn’t know if there were discussions about entering the capital.35e03d06de8af697

“I’ll send the blood through the butler. It’s troublesome, but sending someone back and forth should work. I will stay here…”e4b6a332cb1be6d3

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“I promise that nothing will harm you. You just need to enjoy, eat, spend money, and stay healthy. Send the lady back home too. If you get bored, take the subordinates and go to the territory of the Duke in the capital. That should be acceptable conditions, right?”05f7e24aa4b13250

It wasn’t just acceptable; it was genuinely considerate conditions.6d0177cff1dffdef

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There was no bb8e83ac1d room to refuse 92e70d022f anymore. It was hard to 4d1a584829 meet his gaze. If I met 3ab775f299 his eyes, it 3728821f19 felt like I 1ce53e0b88 could only nod c817df8833 helplessly.ea658fe8dd695f7b

“In return, I have one request.”4647d2ad239e41af

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What followed was 247508369c even more unexpected.f8c6f14069f1de8b

“I hope you loved me.”8b087699e571119d

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More than c3a1869089 the statement 2069f733aa that he 2e53ed5e7e would go 93e3a1c5e2 to the cfe833134d capital and 9fbf4c845b request recognition.de286ccc851208b3

I was surprised and asked, “What?”163106eb0afdc736

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I couldn’t see, but he surely had a surprised expression. But his serious face didn’t seem like a joke.333c980d7b770857

“I’m not saying it seriously. I wish you acted. Convincingly.”5c0c61d3e3ed4653

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He continued, “Position. You mentioned it back then. You need a proper position when you are somewhere.”be500dd2f9a18104

Did I say 06b535345e that? Many things e194326c49 had happened 48d0c254ed since then, 49266145d6 and it a172c861a9 felt like 96ab2d6d3b it had 7662e38e5f been erased.e4345f854b5a8500

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“I’ll give you a position. If you go to the capital, then act like my lover when needed. Even if someone asks, it’s okay to imply that it will happen soon.”334b196630a98832

“…Will they really believe it?”95e290106fbc36cb

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Whether they believed it or not didn’t matter. I didn’t want to bother with mockery and investigations when death was imminent. If not being able to go to the capital together was the reason, I was more than willing to use it as an excuse.3308f4f8097ed173

“They will believe. It will be easier to understand than working as a secretary. Show those who don’t believe what you’ve received so far. That way, it will be easier for them to understand why you are staying by my side.”d12b95406a009bec

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If I had known 1ba95c053c it would turn out b568f97d61 like this, I would b006431c5a have acted boldly at c4767e09fb the banquet. He added quietly.204e65c3e2d3308c

“Do I have something I’ve received?”f9d5f8018a8c0728

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Only after 7753bd2fd8 saying it aa4275becd did it 84d403564b come to 1f37c66227 mind.dba303645382febd

It’s not Leonie, but the bride price received by Leonie’s family. Perhaps, if the rumor spreads that the Duke has bought an estate and a mine for Leonie’s family, it would be rare for someone not to believe it.dc35819b107c4493

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The Duke, who wants to give anything to his lover’s family, and the benefactor who established the family with his help. Their relationship was entangled, and it seemed quite plausible that they were lovers who loved each other.1fa5d8afc3a56257

“Let’s have anything lacking sent from the capital. No matter how much you summon the upper class to the North, it will be less effective than seeing it in person.”10dc887b4705ed6a

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“Do you think it’s okay? According to Viter, it seems like the engagement of the Baron doesn’t suit the Duke’s status.”e314e9db6b0f1ef4

It would lower your 77ca842625 value, he said. There might ff300d0e5c be obstacles dcb2bd5157 in the a2eaaadf93 future. The words that came c464429d73 to mind afterward were cde761439b not spoken.f585cc7081d3669b

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“I heard some unnecessary talk.”1d3eb14bdd05b3a2

“Aren’t you afraid of rumors? The engagement between the nameless Baron and the position of the Crown Prince. It’s more shameful than an engagement that doesn’t match.”43d6a26b58a89e60

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“Are you worrying about me?”197101aab0c42243

He chuckled lightly.76791a2a3f5adf85

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“If someone mocks, just ignore them. You can get angry too. Stab them with the sword I taught you if necessary.”0210f6f0fcf4540a

The words he spat 7228977628 out with a calm 10e31570d5 expression were unexpectedly ruthless.00f8bca2557d66cf

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“What if you keep stabbing everyone? If you’re imprisoned, you won’t be able to taste blood until you’re released.”b20f8775a3e54151

He stopped laughing.aea85067964c6e02

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“It’s not a useless joke. If someone threatens you, just cut their throat. Even if it’s another prince. Retaliate against those who touch you. Just think about yourself and act selfishly. I’ll take care of the rest.”6940b387787492d5

After speaking in 2c9a817d57 a low voice, b189554659 he chuckled again.6e43ad2ac0e0156c

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“As always… Just do what you used to do.”332dc05f087a857d

“When did I cut the Duke’s throat?”1a462b9be116e701

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I had to speak up. I’ve never touched you with my fingertips. Sometimes, I’ve imagined hitting that chest hard when you do annoying things. But it was just an imagination.7327c9ba96912010

I wouldn’t feel unjust if I had hit you earlier.842395751452f59e

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He responded to 4bae28f937 my words.e7ce02080be4c863

“A lot. You always ran away unpredictably in all directions. My back of the head still tingles.”85dce0cea50ab377

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For a 35e4537962 moment, he b2bba2acc5 smiled, then 74ba29bdb0 spoke seriously b90440b06f again.689194496c5f17e6

“I’ll never put you in a situation dangerous enough for you to wield a sword. But I don’t know what will happen in the future, like back then.”406e109813327eb4

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Only 4 months. What could happen in 9be2ef0405 those 4 months?5a69dae299ed3679

Although my mouth was dry, I couldn’t come up with any suitable excuses. There was no more plausible justification.b07283977c57d896

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Perhaps sensing the b673c94550 silence as a fe53e92729 signal, he added.165ad24ed06a3028

“I’ll handle my situation. You just handle yours.”f5930009bfdf1c5f

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* * *c812338b912e3284

If his 7ff1263807 words about 5cee70af3f leaving the 1315c208aa capital were f19d822ca8 not lies, 1726826d8f he immediately 6f31c3d26b summoned a 782de02994 magician.6bc7866eb40d6937

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The magician summoned early abdc23b755 in the morning was ec98bb2882 visibly tense.5640f6bef304d29d

When I ordered b37a535bde him to erase 353501cf4e the tattoo, he 620bb4eaaf cautiously took my 2c72d05829 hand.d6c6b4f4c2659c45

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As soon as I 783545d579 memorized the spell, the 0b3e68b3ce magic seeped into my f9681fdb8a hands. It felt cd6a7ecacd like a 1288f10009 cold sensation e5692e2c17 running through c7b6bc13a0 my veins. A blue a97e6c1a06 light shot 61daa6f646 up, just d8b19e30af like when 554a52cd38 I touched 21cbba43e4 the barrier.1624fff3f3b9dedc

“All done.”d23da603f246bf6d

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The magician released 1363af1d8c my hand.6ff69de8850f0679

It was instantaneous. The spell didn’t fade or cause any delayed pain; it simply disappeared as if it had never been there.ee5d92c93abec490

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Could breaking the shackle be this simple? Wasn’t it an illusion?8da5c6ec2054c0db

“Is it really gone?”61036ba9a0339f94

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I touched my hand. The surface was clean, 08c53da779 with no noticeable difference 723fad3212 from when the magician 00cf1f8329 touched it.e277e2d1151a672d

I had 0fd394ce8e to doubt f33ffeab5b and doubt e2399aa00e again. They were the 21cdeda0f5 ones who deceived 36afc6be9b me and maintained 9deea18e26 the spell.5ec255295509a17a

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“If you want, you can go back to the mountain range and test it. Should I take you there when I leave the mansion soon? Test if they’re trying to deceive you again.”dec7107282dff2a1

Don’t walk alone at midnight again. Deon, who silently watched from behind as I clenched my fists and erased the spell, opened his mouth.fc02fa154ba23e8a

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“Wait a moment. Take this with you.”95e97bdb0c6c0ebd

He handed 9212c8da85 me a 5ebf11d445 small box. It was c86a1346ea a jewel bd0f7903c1 case covered fbe6e0618d with red 239b7e8aca silk.2a8b9f1a7c4e8db8

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“This is…”5db55324ead1c32d

When I opened 4d2e17db2b the lid, a e5fc8b9014 necklace hanging along a141c19904 a curve came f9659bf684 out. It looked 77d8b33305 almost like 62424f9f7a a 5-carat 79d7baa60d item.c8fdb99bae48c138

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The jewel was wrapped in gold thread like a spider’s web, in the shape of a droplet.41c2b10726769218

It looked expensive at d3bc84d236 a glance.5889c725626d808c

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“Is it a bribe? Or a gift?”e99f2acb30d9ec07

A deposit da65b7fdc5 to ensure 85283fb337 that I d60b672f7f act well 70eface6c1 as a 0aaacf3904 fake lover 3e57174898 in the 2c89189286 future?e6b523e3747a0afc

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“It’s a gift.”c8bbc5f0718951f2

He said.564155b0dc8ff360

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It was dazzling. Afraid of 62926a778d any scratches, 8ce22c42a2 I hesitated d7e5f0bc5b to touch 5ef5423713 it, so eb0855a404 he picked a064669082 up the 45c1d73351 necklace from bafd73c507 the box.299bbefcc70c3f65

Although the pearl was e9dd5e9881 large, it looked small d5028ba271 in his big hand.1adf6dfbed880dc3

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“Try it on.”0be5126b40d5f6cc

I took the necklace. I tried to put it around my neck like a hawk, but I struggled several times and stuttered. The string was short, so the hawk couldn’t fit well.8f73a87d6560be18

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He grabbed my hair 10968bbd57 with one hand and 5df37dbb15 swept it back. Then, he carefully 284bcbb2e5 put the necklace 41b49aa88e around my neck e4c1800c99 with one hand.5ef1f5a04599ad2e

A cold finger 69392025b8 brushed against my 087541ad82 collarbone. I unconsciously held 25d019961a my breath.096f962db1d8cfcf

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Except for when a47d135b13 he drank my 2df4532870 blood, it was b529a75e56 the first time 4f91156ea4 he touched my 186c612f29 neck. Deon, who was standing a5fa4027a1 behind me in a 75a4170c5d hugging position in the ba9b3e322c mirror on the opposite 13679f4b21 side, and I looking cc10650543 at each other directly, cf3a25dc80 were reflected.b4aed13a9f325903

The gem 3c8f6ff579 hanging around 40dc1cf9c1 my neck e2f0bfa470 was as 15a387be62 blue as 3ed6e77520 ice. The string 29c86568a4 was short 00cd64bcba and thin, 6fd9d56c82 so it 7b93629a8a seemed to d0d9b9f777 float just 40d9947b00 above the 0b4dd29b21 collarbone.d20355c587b0fd52

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“I told the butler to adjust it to a suitable size in case the jewel is too big for comfort. I’m not sure if it’s okay.”855a124b4aed904e

He stepped 98fffff3db back gently 351beae298 as he 4009bf1f37 held me.433cefcd7d17d357

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