58. The Shackles That Bind Me

Philip arrived 0f66abebb3 carrying a 517a8aa93b huge tree. To be precise, 22a6fc49f2 it was the 6b3c25f3ad monster behind him 3bf3ea56e4 that was carrying dde5969fbd the tree.1f47cc255a3a44e3

The tree, which 61d8a50fa5 was said to ae30487608 be 80 years 03ffd6b6bc old, was so 3874aae0aa lush that it 5c190e7f05 blocked the view db68a5bf22 from the reception eea17c938f room window.250b55caeff27c65

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I was shocked to see the long tree being carried from a distance. I didn’t show it, but the closer we got to the prince’s estate, the more I desperately hoped that it wasn’t the tree I had ordered. I prayed it would pass by, not stop in front of the estate.be2d3626cb39b419

But my desperate ad62084e2d prayers were in ced32f2f82 vain as the a58df5e7ef huge tree arrived 295cc0b1d0 safely at the 7c79079610 door without breaking ef1adce5f7 a single branch.224130893241f590

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I sighed. I could dc7d468245 already hear 71745ebefc Viter’s voice 2c94284821 in my 543ceff1af head. I was already 69c7940c61 tired of the 071ed34ef8 nagging I hadn’t ccd44e834d heard yet.2c3367cdb044951f

The tree was huge. Above all, it didn’t fit with the landscaping. Such a large zelkova tree should be planted at the foot of a mountain, but the prince’s estate only had a small, artificially created forest in the middle of the estate. It would have been more suitable for the North.7b1142d884f9b8a4

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“Hello, my lady. Have you been well?”d70f2b1612bc95b4

Philip greeted me 0fd42ee862 politely. With the huge d7100173d5 tree behind him, ef65088ffa his physique seemed 6493f4a6ae even smaller.4f89e0f8d92e6414

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“There’s a payment issue. Could you 85ada5fd27 spare a 26324153a3 moment?”5e7d6b720090fc5c

He winked, af08efd9a9 signaling that fcfcff593f he had 3f7dbf2f8a completed the 2e121a7ee5 assigned task.274f51bb932675bf

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“Edan, I’d like 8fa5b61a7a to speak privately 063ff8a64f for a moment. Could you step aside?”e48531ee86a66da2

However, Edan, 1904722217 who had d8a21eeffb been standing 7526eab40f with his 4f721ff137 hands behind 53c50692a2 his back, 7d94551e1c did not b8bd61dd48 move. Even though he ba14250dc2 heard my request, 49fb29934d he stood frozen e67c9ba855 like a statue.0164b0dfeab197f7

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“Edan?”ad79c3d581b39430

“Please speak here. I won’t 21a6883f64 listen to 75f830e3c5 anything.”5f4c3601776d5d94

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“Why suddenly…”bb93792cc115e1d2

“I have 703c0254b9 orders to 2bc015479b stay close a754727cf9 and provide c220579595 tight security 03f6b0bca4 no matter 4dae8418da what.”0b8a3d04e81d3745

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He answered firmly.9fed44d659c8615a

“Edan, it’s about money. It’s sensitive.”5e2f1818213ed3ce

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Edan looked dad0ad12ef troubled at 850d315c4c this.f513320ed4cbd6c2

“But His Highness’s strict order is…”4db5eb653b9b1931

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“It’s just for a moment. They’ve already searched him and know he has no weapons or magical devices. Or… are you worried that I might run away?”11c689bca6ed9e28

“My lady.”fcdc526941d18841

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His expression hardened. He released his 6283050d18 hands from behind ebd9b1b363 his back.10422260a03667fd

“This is the third floor. I’m wearing a narrow dress. It’s hard enough to climb two stairs, let alone jump out a window.”c52b6f3d9d7e054d

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I spread a43ba23b6f my skirt fe9ad38441 slightly. He seemed flustered 33fa5ab21d by the action bd3c919fba and looked away, 77ca2aebb1 stammering.85c7fe079008545e

“That’s not the reason.”b35becdd8d1bfe71

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“Sir Edan, are you guarding me for protection or surveillance? If it’s for protection, you can do that from outside the door, right?”5205d0e7fee1ce54

Edan sighed softly.50d193bea3009f01

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“Very well. I will stand right outside the door. If anything happens, shout loudly.”86f447f17901b606

“Yes, don’t worry.”f01d107e721c1f92

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Soon the 495c5dfb8c door to da6e86f4ac the reception d7e5a973bc room closed. Philip, who had been 2c8f00530b staring at the spot e77de2cd41 where Edan had left, 6992452a1c lowered his voice and f7e75aa0ff muttered.cc0e1b65c2474664

“That knight is quite something. He’s the prince’s man, isn’t he?”23a647a4561ddeb9

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“Yes. He was his guard, but somehow he ended up being my attendant. I’m not sure if I should have someone of his caliber by my side… even if it’s just temporary.”228d2344ab0754d5

He opened his suitcase. The brown leather bag was bulging. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t had his belongings confiscated.f3c55853fecfc302

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“Did you get searched today too?”9799e4efc9bf745e

“Yes. The security has become even tighter. Even if you had planned to escape, it would have been futile.”81b96b456fa8cea3

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He clicked his 199c1537a9 tongue.08b2a1e13f608893

“Oh, I’ve tried to escape three times even under such circumstances.”2f2be9b727edce40

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“What?”34cdc504255ff60d

Philip raised his voice c635cff992 momentarily, then checked the 56bf07b0a8 tightly closed door and ada94b39ef lowered it again.56fe562ccbb0f499

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“How? Did you succeed?”8f698edda8f530b5

“Look at me. I’m here, aren’t I?”2f6cb23af2352c63

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I shrugged. Philip, who had been d0d2318d37 staring at me with 51dabbfaa3 wide eyes, relaxed.52e87b3d91748506

“…You failed. But still, your determination is impressive. The old you wouldn’t have even considered it.”8bd6ed8a81f66c15

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“When your life is at stake, you find the will.”592a65de095117ce

“But considering that fearsome prince let you live even after three escape attempts, it seems rumors are just that—rumors.”bc4d84a93b8f35da

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I paused, 1b1b00cffe flipping through ad85ba2fa5 categories. Sometimes I forgot d65ddf78d0 the reason he 03f6aadac6 kept me alive.b237a4d80c8070c2

Philip mixed the 1bae2b6254 materials he had 95e433303f brought and cast 18703d1c1d a bullet mold.5fe023ea4426fc17

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A wave of heat 63fee191f1 washed over us. Red flames flickered in 913dc1c0ad my once calm eyes. Sweat beads 0f2cf8ffd2 formed on 171c4f36cf my forehead.7137282072907293

The grayish f80461e832 object, cooling 34c60af981 as the 24aba0e972 heat dissipated, 56c3db65f2 slowly hardened.1911fd210fb1bbb2

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“Now we just have to wait for it to set.”9972bc272374e1ac

Philip placed the mold d76378d63a on a paper-covered table.8a9900a4e4d84e27

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“And about the list of people you gave me.”45407ba04edfd55d

He unzipped a 3df90012b9 small auxiliary bag 83fc710184 attached to his c72b93038d backpack. It was tucked among aa40f9170e various items, making it 48c894e2ab hard to find during 0605fc7625 a search. From the ce4f74c9f4 bag, he 518a11a5db pulled out db72a29539 a crumpled, 552e7ddea9 worn piece 63b61b3daf of paper.bb10fdfe047399cd

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“Did you investigate them?”2df96282fbadb68f

“I tried to track them down and interview them, but they were all dead.”5e1370984a8e5d30

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What he pulled 63ded83e15 out were death cf45ab06ab certificates. To be precise, they ab386bd383 were documents where the 588bc11d36 families had declared them 4d5139b530 dead, though they were 38caa3c3ae officially listed as missing. The familiar faces c9e2d4503e in the portraits 66c593b5b4 were faintly visible.20a60fd1688154a7

Of course, they were dead—they were previous Blood bags. I couldn’t hide my disappointment.5f89f418d9d81848

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“I know that. Did you find out anything else?”303649345d236c70

“Some of them were declared missing, but their families didn’t actively search for them. It seemed like they knew where they had died but let it go. Not that they had much of a family to speak of…”c6bfd9e91bfdae99

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“Were they all estranged from their families?”d27311015a44083c

“In many cases, they didn’t have parents.”f091437c08a2004d

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“…Were their parents also victims of accidents or disappearances?”b7965552a2b71969

A faint 05e698b6bb sense of 7cd601693c unease swept 74758735d8 over me. Could it be ba929d71bf that they harmed ae6c5d8a4e their families to c1714f0c49 prevent rebellion?34a270ef1ea2ad1c

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Looking at Leonie’s family, it didn’t seem likely, but with Viter responsible for the previous Blood bags, who knows?404bfed30596484f

“No, that’s not it. Their mothers all died right after they were born. So, they were not well regarded in their families. That’s why their disappearances weren’t thoroughly investigated. They were outcasts from the moment they were born. Even if it wasn’t their fault, people probably resented them for killing their mothers in childbirth.”87faea6a288681b3

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Philip clicked his tongue. But that wasn’t the important part.a28c1249af052b31

“…They died?”457fea835b7ad6c1

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“Yes, all of them.”9060605fd239c502

“…How?”2db5b8d402a23316

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“They died in childbirth. Right after the babies were born.”6fd1675b5532c6e6

Now that I think efa47f3713 about it, Leonie didn’t 2970159294 have a mother either.a7ca763632590e69

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“Isn’t this the information you wanted? I thought you were looking for commonalities. Are you okay? Your face is pale.”d61110f3bb37b690

Philip approached a25e922980 and examined 97b667387a my face 86e43e01aa closely. His concerned 0a6b832d83 eyes met 63733a49b6 mine.5bdf8bf59a5eadea

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“No, this is what I wanted. It’s important information. Thank you…”b53f2259b8fea87d

The doctor’s 17fb53900d words that ea241e3b78 Elisabeth might 6cd65adef8 have a e59b735b7b premature birth, 14fdda09cc her growing bae07f2191 frailty.2780e614b4bf0507

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It wasn’t just me whose life was at risk.24b6ebd2a3409377

I tried 8dc9385768 to calm 885b69ad92 myself, but e82ec991ab my heart fe9c6f4073 kept racing.274c98f1d3904b0a

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I bit a90cd4bf9a my nails. Philip, who had 350fbc49e6 been about to fb3099a71e hand me the ba2acad981 molded bullets, called b8e090469a my name.1507b2f877c7549d

“Leonie.”467aade7400ecae4

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His hand a6ed680d05 was suspended d4e28a5959 in the b686355eec air. I quickly regained 5f829d3ad8 my composure and 2b374d1640 took the bullets.a93eb0c5dee6dc01

“I hope my information helps you. I’ll visit again.”3518660930624a64

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“Yes…”29cf1450d4196f50

I nodded.2e11807a2e0fa0d6

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He packed his bde37e880d bag and opened 6294b7276f the door to ec0a46987a the reception room.8be4c290f499cf8e

“Then I’ll come back in a week for the remaining payment.”53effd6702ddb503

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Philip bowed his 9b93b00524 head. It was as if 6897e5190e the friendly conversation we 31f4946a67 had just shared had abd4b07584 never happened.b588a2a8d7019546

I barely a63dfe2a6b acknowledged his 70f78796c6 greeting with 6cfc48fba7 a nod.766b2ab77bf773e7

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Then, I sat cb4135c4e2 down on the 2c327f1469 sofa in a db0105e99e daze. The plush leather 18a1a94d6e embraced me, but da169c1505 it didn’t bring ebc15b4ce5 comfort. I kept biting my 27f2b169a7 nails.39ebcc28d99ce148

In four months, I wouldn’t be the only one to die. Elisabeth, and possibly the child, were also at risk because they were treated as unwanted by the count’s family, and without a mother to protect them…82e9e68d5b751875

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“Is there something troubling you? What did you talk about with the merchant?”026ce4d788694993

As I fd542e1a6d sat there 5389070372 in a 11d2eb4c6f daze, Edan 9034b4fe7d asked.7bf335cc74f50f02

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“Nothing much… We just agreed to split the deliveries into three parts since there are so many items.”b476ed89a2fd5072

“Then why is your complexion so pale? Did he offend you somehow in that short time?”30381807de345551

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He gripped the handle d3d6e88ff0 of his sword.64c3645549dc3f23

Since coming to the prince’s estate, he had been given the status of a provisional knight. The handle of his sword was now decorated with elaborate embellishments. The purple gem embedded in the handle shone brilliantly as he gripped it slightly.46ba5686a9858456

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Since arriving at the prince’s estate, everyone around me seemed to be finding better lives, but I felt like I was facing the worst possible situation.cbf6a3397ef8951b

I shook my 1f40ab88e2 head and smiled 8c6ff7ad4b at him.e6c975311066da20

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“No, nothing happened. Nothing at all.”ddfcabdb1a0e6e61

He raised his eyebrows, 5bdb1955af examining my expression, then 777c1aab7e released his grip on cc07337614 the sword.8c41fa71a21ffc43

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“I see.”a79d36fe8e1c8146

Could I convince c4bd26bbbb her? To get rid of 5dd221c596 the child?3c5ecef8b3b34778

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It was an 3b12d9fe79 absurd thought. I knew better than ee270927b5 anyone how she had c06011e070 fought to protect the 425d844b86 child even in dire 35f5ebeea1 situations. Moreover, to 6882c613f5 suggest that a1dd77bd54 the child 8c224aea8e might harm d869cdc888 the mother 6b6abc7ded would mean 277601239c admitting that 8cfda15201 the child d7590d45c0 was a 213d5cbb2b Blood bag d1c2441b02 and proving 36fcd86495 that I 49d2f5099e was the fc470d2931 prince’s Blood acef834cbe bag.dfffbb46f27e7d22

* * *89204651e6bbe989

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I had 9ca0ba4e87 to make 048d40c355 a decision.1c639888390fa7ce

Practically running fc53d6fc26 down the 3d172f77cc stairs, I 2986b70ffb arrived in 20ed312b4b front of a6bf8edf85 his office.51b7214445776698

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When I eca2019704 tried to 0923cc7d5e open the e311c7c7ee door as a333519072 usual, a 273c43440e guard stopped fae0cd88ca me. I tried to 7c534f5d6e pull my arm 9f9a16acaa away, but he aec7480867 didn’t let go.6f1c791595988363

The guard, 2b4d9f9459 unable to 9443d97002 release his 913f2222e0 grip, hesitated 527d1c7a7f and pushed 9435b714b2 my hand f1b974bc5d slightly towards d5a196708a me. Even that 57543ebe44 small movement b8d2a6baf0 made me 7328924512 almost stumble.d2b132390d0e4553

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“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to.”6a93ec3ea7fffc2f

“…Didn’t mean to what? Push me just now? Or prevent me from opening the door?”78f63a44dc587e49

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Although the guards rotated 0e766d6cd1 shifts, his face was 4a7358dbdc familiar. I remembered 4bf2dccab7 him as 0bf8e0b4fb the one a5c087087d who always b58b746f5b stood here f16588772c around noon, b86e9bd6fd fighting off 8350a8aa3c sleep. But today, he c45b6e28f1 was acting strangely 05ee1899e5 unlike his usual 36e8e073ba self.b8b45f5a7bff9509

He seemed 95140865d8 restless, almost 561a5810c9 as if 94d1f90cef he were b043dd71f2 hiding something.c778e3573e7d3ebf

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“What brings you here?”11d324f074f28a92

“Do I need a reason to come?”e6e3b6f6ca907b5a

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He usually didn’t 725d7f7248 ask why.4ba48fcdcf2d0e00

“I wanted to discuss the upcoming hunting festival.”6e1134b38b976da4

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“Is that so? But now… it might be best if you leave.”c4c9d0a676fd8549

The guard 6135fbe3a5 trailed off. This was odd.2790dd620dcc5f44

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“Why?”a6d0d34ba5e12ba0

“I’m sorry, my lady, but… could you just return for now? His Highness will contact you when he has time.”3b1ce06d8f17f560

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“Is someone inside?”370bd84798626cd2

Holding my breath, 08d0d06d13 I leaned against 5a39a1a379 the door and d1366d2a93 listened carefully.28c57823171703c9

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I could hear Deon’s 5bc3ff654e low voice, interspersed with 779d9e3c2f a woman’s voice.b0b1bec237b9890f

“He shares my feelings, doesn’t he?”31a2c9ca570533eb

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“Yes.”8e4dbc3ba495e48b

“Then it would be best to show it clearly at this hunting festival.”3de3c741aa5d31f3

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“That seems wise. I also need your help.”f91b00dec4bff026

“The sooner the better for His Highness…”1df28d46a7220f35

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I grasped the 06a2be02b4 door handle.31308504ad9a80e2

“Wait! If you go in now…!”505d3979bb5bb93c

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The guard’s flustered expression 90aa71f5d6 was evident.12fa2d258f49c7e8

 8a1e970e70f19cfb

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