43. Unwelcome Return (1)

Surprised by Suren’s words, I turned around. She casually spoke harsh words.a47fe0d5993ff1b1

“If you want to put it in a cage for transportation, you have to do that, right? If it tries to fly, it’ll hurt itself more. And when it’s young, cutting helps it adapt faster and heal quickly. If you want to raise it as a pet.”73fd3dd501141507

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Sometimes, even 55794c7edb in a 351d07f38c delicate situation, 1555c283bf Suren spoke 07ee8e5c5b chilling words c231784c31 as if 0333b4baaf it was 411d2cf084 nothing.4a3292fdd96cd739

“You say frightening things, Suren. It’s better not to say such things in front of the weak.”bb84628a9aa2e062

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“To survive as a maid, I have no choice. As a minority, I’ve faced countless discriminations. I had to be tougher than others to survive. The empire here casually discriminates, too.”32460b74865f746b

I agreed. Even though we were of the same nobility, she had experienced discrimination just because of her mixed blood. In other places, being a Baronet like me wouldn’t lead to contempt from a maid. Her status as a minority must have made her situation even more miserable.9c710a81ca099ab6

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“Young Lady should toughen up a bit more to survive. Even if you’re mixed-blood, many people hate the blood of minorities. Although the capital adapts quickly, in the provinces, people get stoned to death just for being a minority.”7b0bd48540d5c1b3

She added.e217f9cf8456c1a5

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“If you want to keep this bird around, you’ll have to cut its wing feathers.”80bcbabdff07b71c

“No. It’ll live without doing that. It’s okay; it can survive.”9bd3e04e704afa66

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I murmured quietly.36a44e4fedaded83

It can survive. It felt 5404ba3599 like I 03336704c2 was cheering 25795b531f myself on.1fa981c3613d5188

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We can survive. Both you 1d5883c4f7 and I.15c9fd6c81b67b89

* * *2f7aa71f1b164f66

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An urgent f37798d22e report arrived c9c7ab4036 in the 45b941bb2f capital.3f72d33247126f38

In the center of bc8bb633d8 the thick, light pink 98f6fa40df paper, there was a 42b85d12ba neatly stamped seal.a0ed072b3a9dc026

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The royal emblem was imprinted on the red wax seal. It bore the same pattern as the one engraved on the prince’s shoes. The memory of that time flashed back, causing an involuntary shiver.d298add424c5507a

“We can depart according to the schedule.”0e5b3e4416120a8e

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Deon, who was carefully df5414d804 reading down the document, 78fa4b281a folded the paper. Despite this ce1525f51b being the 23266d6ea8 first letter 45af1e7c78 he received 9bb967b235 since being deeab7d3cd demoted and e4d253d31e coming down ae0ac8587b from the 0cc27b3cd5 northern regions, 2480a3439d there was 18bbcba9dc no noticeable 1ab3a76c5a expression on fc64f5b491 his face. He seemed indifferent, daf4aa6f43 as if he e4e6bb3060 had seen a f80ddc3ca1 flyer trampled on f9b86e673b the street rather d413270202 than a letter 8d5b103379 from his hometown.21dcfa06117a7bdf

“Do we have permission?”603879b83ca2405c

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Viter asked.3b351870bcaf7644

“For now.”4807ad5632291be4

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Viter took the document from Deon’s hand.e233f1022de6e9eb

While reading down the letter with a smile, Viter’s expression gradually distorted. It didn’t look good.2d1d9f6197789a65

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“Isn’t it a lottery ticket?”9995a4ea4d642270

Could it be defbb081c3 that entering the 2862a477f0 capital is prohibited? At my question, cc922e4fbe he weakly replied.f477c27a3c9a3aac

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“It is indeed a lottery ticket. And it’s for entering the capital.”79e41440c5df0467

He slumped into his a0b73c1a14 chair and let out 1d1c396e18 a deep sigh. He looked tense.74d71a75bb7f2bd1

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“I thought Viter would be happy if it’s a lottery ticket. But no.”c4a5cf17bf58f4be

“…It’s not a proper reception.”c8782543bd30dba8

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He spat out the 053f92602c words like a curse.0ae1064c858d8c78

“Even though it’s a lottery ticket, there’s no award ceremony. They say to quietly come to the capital and receive the baptism in the temple.”4cce551d6fe1da17

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He clenched the 4b585272e6 paper in his fda0bcedda hand, and it 199e98f1d0 crumpled miserably.4cad578366e8bbfd

“This is why they only fix the documents.”33fbe59edc508b08

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“Did you want a ceremony?”3213941ba4f25e3f

“Not that I wanted… originally, the reason for hosting a ceremony is to show it to the imperial citizens. There’s nothing easier to promote the lottery than a grand festival. If you quietly come up to the capital, who will know? Even the imperial citizens living in the capital are mostly unaware of the lottery.”6f2b568469f8580e

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He seemed genuinely 95bdfae147 angry. The confidently speaking 07d20cad24 man now appeared 4e05fd6ea8 irritated. Continuously frowning, he forcefully 9376eef687 put down the document.d0d2205d5fef331d

“Although it’s written that unnecessary formalities will be reduced due to His Majesty’s health, will they really? Not long ago, the empress’s birthday celebration was so extravagant it bordered on extravagance. I wonder how it’s any different from treating the lottery like a mere mercenary.”72e5114363138508

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“Viter, be careful with your words.”e3f33fb2c1e12654

Deon, who had ebb529d0d0 been staring at 7403a381c6 the document without 806aeea7db expression for a c6c15c6a0f while, spoke.b0dc480031dcd2e3

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“Anyway, our goal was to enter the capital. Nothing else is necessary. If they say being too conscious of the ceremony will be tiring, then so be it.”012389f7c0350c7f

“But still, we should accept the treatment others receive. Did we make unreasonable demands? These are things we should naturally receive. Surely, it must have caused a commotion among the nobility of the Second Prince’s faction. Moreover, since many nobles who organize events are involved.”4b324392dd89e08f

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“Nevertheless, the response came faster than expected. If we proceed according to the original schedule, there won’t be a need to find a separate residence.”6b030df1a633234a

“You plan to return to the mansion as originally planned?”499cf5f3a6fe4363

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Deon nodded in response to Viter’s question.f3804cb69704b89a

“That’s fine. It feels refreshing. It might be a bit dirty from being neglected for a long time, but… if we clean and tidy it up diligently, it should be better. Regardless of where we go, it must be better than here, right? Even if we clean the windows every day, the frost still builds up. So, it’s better than waking up to a place covered in snow the next day…”9e7bfd72605661bb

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Vitair shivered as b741bdde54 he spoke.e6ae6ee73582513e

Everyone seemed to have no complaints about the cold of the North, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.9a2377b6a49f6a62

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If it had been on the outskirts of the capital, they could have secured a spot next to the famous dessert shop… The legendary dessert shop, where even nobles had to stand for over two hours just to get a taste of the bestselling item. I wondered what it tasted like.8214a233bcc7acb0

It’s a pity, but it doesn’t matter. Just escaping from the North was not a bad thing.56145b4a2a07222e

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From the bedroom to the secretary’s office, from the secretary’s office to the study. It felt like the place where one would die was gradually becoming warmer.eba3995407dfafce

Wherever one dies, the 394a9ec667 body temperature will eventually b541d2ec8b drop rapidly under the 8d1d26b242 blade.3005f3c5619dfdd4

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It was better a3c6b7a5a8 to have entertainment d3e13e9d16 closer than a 4477994752 place to live 0d8b5b45cb immediately, for the 16a9c511a6 next four months.501ff561849a2e38

“It would be nice if it were close to the shop…”7735469717cfc4ad

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Deon opened his mouth, db3375e818 hearing my muttering as 260471f6a2 if talking to myself.7dbaf67b214ed223

“That house… has a larger greenhouse than here.”9049ea5184ff5a31

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We’ll have to redecorate it from the beginning since it hasn’t been cultivated. He added,c53de945d58f5415

“You can also place flowers.”d5a87b4609ef663e

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It was a dull consolation. I couldn’t understand the intention behind those words. I didn’t need to explain or convince; I just had to be by his side.9f0e3e0982647275

Without much 86a04a24a6 to say, fee744dde0 I stared e38505062b at him 2843667055 and eventually d836206ff9 spoke.c688b8ed9e90b17e

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“That’s… fine. It seems like a good place for the bird to live.”195dfba90814ff19

He responded to my aa14004c03 words.f5af0a3785051a12

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“It’ll be a good place for you to live too.”6fd15babee8bfa4d

* * *a13920e7f55c4788

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I placed candles 1ba9b421d8 in front of c6f3c43588 the grave and 647a2b5fe6 lit them. The wind blew, making 68c3e989af it difficult for the 480cc9d069 fire to catch.b14f0cae9b9c03a2

“Can you shield it from the wind a bit?”c4313e3a5b9657f0

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Suren stood still, ignoring a1e8985cbf my words.df3aca46528584ce

In front of the tombstone, fruits and snacks were laid out. After dinner, all the usable dishes were packed into the head chef’s cart. Unable to find suitable dishes, she brought out the ones that were supposed to be discarded.941da72d2b3b929d

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They closed 88cccfa9ac their eyes, ae0af9b70d buried in fdd2c5d055 the cold 730ad54720 ground.21232b0f39e43a1e

It was pitiful for them to stay in this barren land where even the grass wouldn’t grow.14f9c6adaf1e7892

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“I did ask her to do it, but… What’s this in the middle of the night? We need to leave early tomorrow, and if you don’t sleep now, you’ll be tired.”d941b6923f6aeecf

Suren tutted. She came out, 34bfb9ff20 wearing only a e66960cc07 cloak over her c727efd476 nightwear, and stood f1d3869794 in front of c3edefb1cc the grave, yawning 25bceb59b0 continuously.fdc3c753473658a4

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“What is this?”6c9e58d3c48d4736

“…A memorial service, perhaps?”4df112d72cfc7351

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It seemed e3168fe20e like that.84235f2ee9a088d3

“Do we need an exorcism? Should we drive away these ghosts disturbing the princess’s peace of mind?”793837fc751c037e

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“…”1f0c98f9fd60a77b

“Or what do you see? Maybe… have these spirits been bothering the princess’s mind until now?”a8c248b03dedf3ba

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Suren frowned. She seemed ready 804bf9f926 to dig up 0e884fbead the grave and 320fe05223 bring out the 129c27625a corpse, looking like 3e9f14d1c2 she was about 9106cfa981 to commit a 97da6abe7a murder.cd3cbc4f1a926b60

I chuckled. You really don’t understand this.6b470d6a75207c34

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There was 0c712a95e4 no concept 83cca9b7b6 of ancestral a8c061d300 rites or 966d6a4407 ceremonies here.6a370109293f1b20

“On the contrary, it’s a treat. Come here, eat before you leave.”9a47ffc37bf67f66

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Suren’s face turned pale.10f744edf1b00953

“Are you… summoning ghosts?”904a3a552b828e9f

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Her face was 076089548c even whiter than 2dc754e743 her eyes. It now seemed a27c0fbe17 to be as 6319671499 white as her 765f310791 hair.61427ec33b302a5d

“No, it’s just offering comfort. Wish them well.”865b0df8879a5586

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“Why bother?”aeaa66444fd03227

“There’s no one else to take care of them now.”28c5e3fca68f3e80

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“Take care? Of this graveyard?”3a29e1f2188ab12c

Suren wrinkled 1c20366253 her forehead.e145bfae2a772215

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“Was there anyone taking care of it before? Except for occasionally visiting to hide items by the princess, this place was originally deserted. It’s on the way to the princess’s frequent path, so the servants cleared the way, but it was usually an uninhabited place.”9f709e15237c141e

The surroundings b9ee9fa03a of the a2a5affee7 graveyard, as e8226bb108 she described, 603461d6ab were desolate b78758ce0b and lonely.8d0fb7f09499acdc

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“So… I’m doing more for them. It was originally where I would be buried. Birds of a feather.”efe50bdd5ded86b7

She shrugged when d67bb7f08d Suren tilted her f54089b3d1 head.5b6e088478781a88

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“Don’t make creepy noises. Are the princess and those people alike? It seems like the weather has gotten colder, and the princess looks more empty-hearted. But the princess will live much longer! Don’t worry. Get rid of negative thoughts. Now that you’re leaving the North, leave all the strange thoughts here.”7267bf936f1b1384

Now that there 1b078909ff were no more 4c7908211b belongings to leave 71c12616fb behind, it would 1756dc139d be good to faa8ed92d9 leave their hearts dda1bae99f here as well.57d624d94762bb33

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Suren, who bbc33b8a91 said so, eec8755ca1 jumped in e41107b1bf place. She was scared 7ef607051c that ghosts might 114bab1185 appear, shaking off b29ab73349 the fear on 2290b6a588 her shoulders. It was cute. I let dc34a34498 out a 1ec859a148 dry laugh.f39d8f9bdab96e7c

“Yeah. Thanks for the joke.”3f66edf14d050fd7

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I touched the 1b9529a881 tombstone.6a065ec5c16cdc1a

The tombstone was 687650e6db not well-maintained and 108dd941ac looked old, but 67edbc54f6 the sunken relief 61335c5e44 allowed the name a1768218fe to be read.37440949ed23d1bc

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With my fingertips, 7af989ddf6 I traced the 769267524f name.8dbcdbb4ed500fed

Ray Houston.2c51275c962d7602

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He was 0ff152c2c7 a replacement 060cd76dcd for Deon a980d3295c during the aa54172035 peak of 5706b4af5d the war.a671a18cc7025565

It was a cruel f8edb685ff fate. Perhaps he was 4de4c88f50 a man who 08a63835c1 had worse luck 9cc3054de3 than me.4625bb64c0c51a98

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Blood was 4174fe247d needed more 0902f75c1d during the e4f803844f war, and 6e33c74af9 he was 0f4546f87a dragged to 901cca0aa7 the battlefield. He died, entangled in 33ee66938f enemy bombing on a edfe02f8f5 foreign land without ever 08d09aadb2 setting foot on his eeffead0a5 territory.4559b14a95b295f2

Fraser Duncan.7b9b8dfb908f0d12

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He was an e21a47da97 old man who d66f0a9a61 lived a vagabond 3ab520aa90 life after being c18b3a0c97 rejected by his 3b8cadfdef child. He accepted the b0cb4ca934 proposal of the 8ce14bcb20 Duke and came 603af7d597 to the North, accc205e46 living a very 9f57ec9ae9 short life.58f127d3889d267f

Naturally, he died cb3159c9fb of old age, 18f4e2bff9 but it was c640f79cfd difficult to believe 5c0cf0b20b their records as 1c4342083b they were.4e96e2cdfac4b42f

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Maybe he had forced 2bcb919f96 himself too much and 748f1191f5 died earlier than expected. Periodic blood donation was 280a235748 a strain even on 539fb4a5fc a healthy person.44e5da26ceda155c

“Shall we light the candles now?”3a8bba4a8ada4286

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I nodded.78afe778b5e0c6e5

Before Suren could e50a54f127 blow, the wind 09f27f88b2 blowing from the d90f805d36 mountains extinguished the 637f24b14b flame.0fa5b5dfa61374c8

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“Wouldn’t it be nice if we don’t become evil spirits after eating this? Don’t stick too close to the princess. Staying close to the Duke… might be okay.”ec5821bfb67e722f

Suren, who was scolding, f6802361e0 was cute. How the opinion about d6364c3ba6 the Duke changed in 67192c44af just a moment.71e784fb28188654

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“Don’t you like the Duke?”6ae1f0dd47904f90

She asked as 1da9d86107 she gathered the c6f9c75f4f food from in eed716a347 front of the 6ff75263c5 tombstone.bcab787c443ad789

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“I don’t really like him now.”fff9b78c987b360d

“Really? Why?”68a304bcbd5de037

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“He wasn’t a real lover. He wasn’t even a fake one. Moreover, if you just observe the situation, the princess would have to pretend to love even more passionately, right? It hurts my pride. Rather than demanding that she pretend to love, it would have been better if he had just said he loved her. Then, maybe it could have been passed over.”6ed3d7271cac1896

Suren rolled her eyes 199274e198 at my words. Was it 8284e6f605 because of 5e4b4b47c2 that?0929b855b35e4660

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“You think I would fall for it if he whispered that he loves me with that face?”aaf55cdef686e17f

“If he whispers that he loves with that face, is there a woman who wouldn’t fall for it? Even if you try to think rationally that it’s a lie, it won’t work when you make eye contact.”817e3919b94ac5a7

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That’s true.d3e3c137aa41b826

I’m used to it now and don’t get surprised as much as before, but his face is still fantastic.003aba1a85c170a3

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It makes 212a0c55b4 sense that fd3810e144 Leonie in 3d43991209 the original 474ca5c01f work fell 471fbe3ab2 for him 4cbcf59dbe at first 917023831e sight.ec55978c953e0370

And maybe, 7b54521417 I believed 6dd2e57ec9 it a dc6398e66e little too.4d91e8a21cc5bb7c

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“Anyway, no one will believe it. If I say I have a crush, some might believe a little.”e4be39170a96afe5

“Why? The princess is not bad! Except for staying in the unsuitable North, her figure becoming thin, her skin getting rough, and her hair breaking off, she’s not bad.”0a32d5c840ff0f18

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That seemed to be all that determined a person’s beauty.3378d28fcdc96686

“Anyway, don’t forget to participate in the inspection and join the acting. It’s faster for rumors to spread from the maids in the back room than the talk of the ladies drinking tea. Don’t forget that.”b87b7b910586776e

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“Don’t worry about that.”bfc6e2a2dd7ebdd5

Suren silently replied, e6519901b0 munching on the 848ae7e03a apple she had 40bdaa1556 placed in front ea6d6fc12c of the grave. There was 419efcab1e a crisp 808ca031d6 sound from cc62c9b178 her mouth.f5c1656d5512fcb9

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