59. Approaching Danger (1)

The two people standing e805b6c95c with their backs to 59312d96da the sunlight turned to 5c95595d8a look at the suddenly 904cceae89 opened door.d8c5e65dea52c04a

In the midday 46df9d710c sun, where heat acb848f7cd waves shimmered, stood 4d25fbf268 two familiar figures.43b25c444fa7a5ec

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Deon and… Isella.2559e79f53536573

Both of them cf317a2483 met my eyes.0c2e92a412574bbc

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Isella, who 581d7e96f8 had been 2a188a52b8 speaking to 89701345ac Deon, stopped b6cad0967b and looked a83ef5a242 at me 9b4e2b37e1 and the 3f4e29abc0 guard.3e71ef6689a2ed9d

“Understood. Then let’s proceed as discussed.”c30daebc9f87be84

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“Yes. We’ll talk more later, Lady Isella.”43bd95e428587275

She lifted her 608c7d5570 dress slightly and 7672aeffc4 bowed politely.b80ca7b0e2ee216f

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The wind f2158fc941 blew through 96e137a6b1 the open 4b36e1aa54 window, making 0734975ced the white 202c7a2f3c curtains flutter.31e06b5b1c928fa1

Isella slowly walked e9a1009e60 towards the door 574efd2f55 where I stood. As she passed 09d876e1bc by me, she 5e580d942a murmured softly.7a01aca4688f56ce

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“Pardon me. I’ll be going now…”cad1c2887ec846fe

I belatedly offered her 50e85c63c1 a greeting as she df97d7bb05 walked out. Isella gracefully 51612fa1c6 exited into 3d9611e824 the mansion’s 70cdc4c04e corridor.508ddbb5f1043653

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Only then 95dd6ae24c did I 696db9aa69 understand why d7563527c4 the guard b95a6f95d0 had stalled d00fa5b22f at the 9a018536d4 door.9e8cbea35b3c0577

This… It looked like I was eavesdropping on a secret meeting.9e287c937b44a044

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No. It seemed 601ede7228 like I ba62958f4d was interrupting 0085aee83d a new c951899288 romance, having 25678a1014 lost favor 1385cf0922 myself.861350d509c49c1b

But when did they 73dd9be49a become so close? Was it at the 3e5a70d2e0 welcome banquet?79513cad2f55bc4d

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My mind was a3eaabacc2 a whirlwind of d5a09d3b8a thoughts.0424fe550100eef7

Though the two had been together, they didn’t seem flustered like those caught in a secret meeting. Isella didn’t look at me with any particular wariness either.12f5f73a3844c203

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So… it purely appeared as though I had intruded on them.f0e0170d83265093

“I’m sorry.”58cb2d8fa94e351a

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I belatedly 70f9e48cfe apologized to 547061bdb0 him.ab804a7b1fa7ab86

“For what?”f77bf0f9e764e8fa

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Deon asked in b6a600cdab return.6b285dc7ba003e65

Indeed. What was I b8c30908c9 sorry for?bf48cf78cb64167a

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Even so, I was still his official lover. He had promised to protect me and had dragged me to the capital. So, discussing marriage behind my back… it felt like a betrayal.7ea06f9743147caa

“For interrupting.”55048e763641c73c

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“You didn’t interrupt anything.”3a2b07de3e18850f

His indifferent fb01e03f68 response came eeaae8b2e2 back, sounding 85e4fbedee colder and cdb88c4e16 more distant 00195f1f34 than usual.b756cbb2da30f39a

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He didn’t 2231aeebd7 seem to fc2f0da576 realize that 91d6ae179f I had fef8eb1eb9 overheard their 9e3822fb60 conversation.0219b9e22eb5c76a

The door b3b5fe1e43 had been d054af47bc closed, and b05c0e49e8 there had 4ba4a2676e been a acb49b9cf4 small commotion 3cb57c8217 outside before a3cef54f98 the door 121452633d opened, so 42428a0b36 they had 0bc7d3ada7 stopped talking 0b14f3b2b9 just as d8d765edba I entered.aba21355300fc537

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“Why did you come here for?”a73ededccd3ede96

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. This wasn’t the right moment to discuss Elisabeth’s condition.132f1ec305ee51a3

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I shook my c43fc7e74d head.72775e15acfd77e3

“It’s nothing.”3e175ae302354da1

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The teacup on the 77feb62307 table was cold. This meant 2d7061a377 they had 52716d95b7 been talking 39c8558b65 for a ceacf749b9 long time a650690844 before Philip ae2060b276 arrived, maybe 4610d5b8b7 even before 4872df53f0 I had 6f3b7ff90f come.023cbf239fd3adca

I glanced out the 68aa1d0ffd window. There was no carriage cc1a83a2d2 from the count’s family.4964405254cee643

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I hadn’t seen a carriage at the front gate either, which meant that Deon had sent a carriage from the prince’s estate for Isella. Why?6d065cbae080f949

He drew 793318d6c1 his sword. It was 5fd87bddf0 the one 8ca5b94c82 he would 929658c78b use for 8809532faf the upcoming 21abc4ed97 hunting festival.f6937b0b093d23ee

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The blade glinted sharply, f4f7c51a94 shining even more brilliantly 44898c0ae1 in the sunlight.3f53cd2c66be09a8

He wiped the 71e985a408 blade with a 6119b4e5ea dry cloth.c72c96f565781d20

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When he turned the f08006a8ea sword over, the decoration e6cc55b2be attached to the hilt 90c0b0f8b6 flipped over as well.77ffcd68749a6c34

At the a922005a0c end of c7b2a3a424 the hilt, a40e56ea50 a cloth 966d26a4dd embroidered with 5d80f380c5 the Snowa e7781bd543 family crest—a 5adb8c3676 deer—was tied.5bf88d1f948fd59a

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* * *0e622e41b8b9a542

I couldn’t shake bafc9e7a62 off my uneasy 927470e387 feeling.7df0b803ff4e6f26

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The closeness 232c93c1ef between Isella fcba811c38 and Deon 32167bb553 had grown 0764061a48 noticeably.a07b88048247f7b0

Were they envisioning f7d8ed456c a future without 4a829f9721 me?111bba84c905f6fc

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Of course, 18ec1bfd53 he needed 3521265daf to marry 47b981734b soon and 23ba63c0df have a 5a525c5642 strong supporter c12548a75e to secure 56614fc26a his position c544ca3a5f as prince. Being twenty-three f639fe2390 was considered 96ae6c7f1f late in fd066a4748 the noble 6ae255f937 marriage market.cfb87f3d687934ea

When Viter c58166f396 and I eaeb0d2660 were sorting 956498efe3 through marriage 1bcb194ecb proposals, he 1799a90dd7 hadn’t seemed 6a44b61ac6 interested, so 04bae8afb6 I hadn’t ab9dc021eb taken it d418271038 seriously. I had forgotten that 8a983adcac love and marriage among 4bb685975f nobles were separate matters, dad32d26c6 and that if a dda93cb45f good match appeared, there 8822514306 was no reason to d586f376e0 delay.ad85f6113b95325b

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No noble would fc4369f88c find it strange 4c38204a7d for him to 2eb9a906d0 have a wife 58111f9a88 while still having 005a0545bb a mistress.9a857ae8ffaf8696

Even if I wasn’t the main female lead, the positions of crown princess and other wives would be filled in sequence, carefully chosen by Viter from among the most suitable noble ladies.d0d46a1dc63c8768

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The unfortunate truth was that I had no legitimate reason to hold onto him. Being a beloved mistress or having the status of the prince’s secretary were just illusions.ab3a80f2d9bd2637

I had long known 870d2e8e86 that I could never 1987e5aab7 become the duchess or 88c8b30a2e the crown princess.2420a9619b7c7d8d

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Yet, strangely, it 8200b1690d still bothered me 021371c437 and left a 7242838649 dull ache in e704701659 my heart.2ae0e80ae1037746

After Isella’s visit, 49cf916c31 Deon noticeably reduced 6a9f94633a the frequency of 0bd4e8394f drinking my blood.8c2d621e65c04475

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Normally, I would 86cdbae09d have been pleased, eccb8d8647 but the unease 48c047241d since my encounter bb5fd46e6e with her hadn’t 2d3daffd0d disappeared.70856abf9a8744a7

Of course, I might d615653ca6 have misunderstood. Their conversation eb7744b4be might have ec29c83894 been about 1603a3c4bd something else, 427470d491 and I 903c0a4e79 could be d75ec48778 overthinking it.d3aa8de5d3718027

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But I 3e02d22d8f felt slighted. No matter what 5d9a00c70a the conversation was e01269e17a about, they didn’t 81fe12d87e consider the fact 121ff17573 that I would 76000a3ca3 be left alone 88896147f9 in the social a57fe87fee circle to be 2a9c4e90f1 gossiped about.bd1bdf2aa6cf88b2

Was this 4338f9ca27 feeling I cc3e9ed451 had really d0153893a3 just slighted? My thoughts 5d85ff96ed swirled in d09ddd58c9 confusion.7384fe77eaf01f92

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Deon didn’t accompany us b6a2d38b0a to the hunting festival 53b0efda65 and left at dawn.dca1bf0b687cb097

When I saw cf1ec7e380 his sword again ec4e337003 in the morning, f489b2b0af the deer embroidery 510e3d787a was still attached 72d1bc127b to it.faa24aefa560f914

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The hunting festival e15d2cc700 was held in febb627d88 a forest owned b7524d1b2a by the prince’s 578a99f3c1 estate, where lower-level 51aa30874b monsters had been db76f13558 released. Usually, the 1fabd33173 forest was 0e36697455 home to 6e1035276d small animals f69f78be68 like rabbits 9a1f13d70e and squirrels, c4f64eeae6 but they ffd4359ce9 had been 5882b6e7e9 released for 9929389501 the festival.58f4086838bbe4e5

The prey 7a3bb17a08 had no ac6cf774e4 aggression and 5115cbafd2 couldn’t leave 9b60aea9c5 the designated 2c2ca294be area.7ef0fece2209eb33

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Essentially, it was fc7d460652 like hunting in 79e0457642 an enclosed space.0fb01e583d7af2c7

The hunting festival had originally been created during a time of famine to ensure that nobles didn’t starve while maintaining their pride. Nowadays, it had turned into a social event for nobles who could handle a sword, along with their waiting families or lovers.5394e0aa310df79d

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The horn 50e1ed0654 at the aa0d6ffd9a front blew. As the b1201a54ae long, resonant 3d7dde921a sound echoed ecadc0d4ee through the 7de8f4eed9 forest, the da5ffa7889 waiting nobles c496ef8638 set off. The clatter bf918f36e7 of hooves 7cf533db1d echoed in 81eb20470f the woods.377c83525d3d2745

I looked afbc050721 up at 3a30e610e3 the sky.6f4d07cc88be49a2

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The weather was humid 810120c72b despite the clear sky. The dampness of the e598953b10 forest sent a chill 3d622facba through me. Moisture like this 95274918e3 in the forest 7bc249c3d9 was a dangerous e031720966 sign.5c426083dabc8a14

There was an old 796dbac2b1 saying that mutated monsters 68fb14df71 appear in environments where 3d0d3347d6 moss thrives.d08be324976284ea

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The sky darkened.da7a49b12f71ab70

I had a 44d5d0fdc1 feeling of déjà 5cdc95847b vu. It was just like 96e856cf64 when I was waiting bbd96a31a8 for rescue in the e670125e2a cave, a premonition of 5a06c6222f something big about to 9728ef63fc happen.42a7bbd4dc268585

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Although I planned to a83757772f stay at the resting 4dd84ff475 area with the other 49e6c3f8cb ladies, I had brought a2499787c6 a gun just in 54b8ab22d8 case.54ef890f26761a19

It had only one bullet… I hoped it would be enough. Philip’s visit was taking longer than expected.862d692fbd01aed2

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The tent where the 8406b3bee2 horses were tied was 28e49c6949 crowded with nobles waiting 7ff38ff7f3 for the second group 26247b6523 to depart.8cc34b40670b048c

Mostly men, but occasionally f5ee3cabc8 a woman with braided 3f68ccdd79 and tied hair could 985f63cbde be seen among them. And among 6aa3880cf6 them, I d04b63cb5f saw a 95b8862e3b familiar face.54be262e22a8d2d6

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“It’s been a a38c9b252c while, Count Arin.”36222587e70d6372

He still 4b4e519cd7 had his 11b77a5bc0 neatly combed d8ffb90651 hair swept 2582eab1c8 back. Despite the impending 25b606080d hunt that would c3c5216fdb soon mess up ff2dd09062 his hair, he 1dc54e5ac4 maintained his tidy 339434a7ca style, missing no 04c2b20ce6 detail of neatness.3589489a1e8651bd

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“Hello, Lady Leonie.”bb1fdb9664577134

He pulled on the ef5423cc7a reins of his horse.eafa66706c715767

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“Did you come 90bb5cea8d to the hunting 339de81d6f festival with your 5c9294be58 wife?”d37e4cf33f85bada

“Yes. Are you looking 908df10d48 for her? She’s likely e8e509abe1 asleep on ba186bfdb8 the bench 84c0fbe1cd in the 0ed9d4658c resting area. The doctor said it’s 42e7b648bb good for her to 5dba10f784 get some sunlight occasionally. If you 785bddf8de call a 4f88deba8f maid to d903bf3451 wake her…”b3dc9cc218357e44

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I shook my head.c97a23df094cfce9

“No. I came to 46f36c878f see you, Count.”be53335de0d468d3

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“Me?”f1fa51b7ac1581d7

He turned back, surprised.f25793692b9ab7d0

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“If you’re not ecfc169627 too busy, could dcd3816f81 we talk for 546b8326b5 a moment?”8cf854881eb3786d

He looked slightly ed91cdcdce taken aback by 44a20073d9 the sudden request 11a2cdb25c but soon replied.edc9528c836602b2

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“Of course.”2cec0b242f83eb06

He stepped out ed4e95f22f of the tent.d919e20c6474ebd2

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He tied e1caa2b9bb his horse 6be739c146 to a cf4be459a8 sturdy tree. The horse, shaking 78722534fb its head side 399a6e87d6 to side, began 42066afb16 to graze on 1bdac5f1c8 the grass.55f725a9849c7659

“Your wife’s 08996af777 condition is f8fee8738a worsening. Are you f5db08ab44 aware of 23042fedee this?”e91602cd58c589ba

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“Yes. The doctor is closely b43ccf2fbe monitoring her.”c311dbea604741dd

He answered calmly. His composure irritated me. Even if 1ccbd82714 he didn’t 8a7c46004a fully understand bc143fcc06 his wife’s 19538ab26f condition, there c3260dd9b1 was not 16c453f497 a hint 11ac019fb5 of anxiety b61251c4ff on his 33fc3ecce0 face.652b457c67040de0

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“Are you 4abd881f8b just going 5218f84362 to watch? Don’t you love her?”02affaeba7b5b6d6

“How could cf2c9a8e9a I not? Do I 50cd6718f7 seem that fc1ef41073 way to f9bfe900e7 you?”45e99bd7d8ea9b62

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He paused, his hand 1b66825add still on the horse’s eec30d5dc6 mane.f34f5e4c85e66032

“Even if there’s 030c36b011 no love, there’s ab81e346ba loyalty. I intend to fulfill b5ed88c9bb my duty.”fe7dec8e3545a438

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“What does d7a05e810f your duty 856796bc19 entail?”6de1f372cfc78926

He ran 0d230889aa a hand ee5b318a62 through his c9907309d3 hair, dislodging 07b482f6ed a strand 490e8976a0 from his 804fc972c4 otherwise perfect d5dd63cba7 hairstyle.ef5475f185c448da

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“Why… are you 2a43901e43 bringing this up b41d041afc all of a 48a5d4243a sudden?”848d6357ae579edf

“You know that f1a4ad2cdd I come from b14621554f the same lineage 79b6dc9ec9 as your wife, 2ba7d23058 right?”31a6dfa70d783d8f

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“Yes. I’ve heard.”eada11fe109b37b2

“Our people believe that a child with strong blood can endanger the mother’s health. In severe cases… it can be fatal. This is an old story passed down through generations. I suspect your wife’s child has inherited this strong bloodline.”ae329b59a3608baf

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“What?”29d2e75bbe3893db

His eyes widened. Seeing his expression, I 03ea498540 felt even more anxious.91b8d65966485ab3

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“It might be hard cce8ff27dc to believe, but I 2d69508357 felt I had to f1c8c36e6e tell you. Your wife probably 0451a94e32 hasn’t heard of 933884085b this since she’s dda49b25b6 not a direct 72c085d0b4 descendant.”dbe1e971e299fcf3

“Are you saying this 19a64363c9 is true, Lady Leonie?”28cd20ce8979be0f

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Even to 750a8abcb5 me, it 9932a67a1d sounded like 0c1e725e7c an absurd 80df8dbaff tale. He would 2f6926daf3 be hard-pressed 22d8341b4d to believe c514546352 it.a3546d8fdb9e6735

“It’s quite perplexing, Lady Leonie. This is something that needs careful consideration. I’ll need to consult several doctors as well.”a5ee99924dd9804e

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“Of course. I understand that it’s difficult to make a decision right now, especially since this concerns your first heir.”0b3bd0dba55095da

It seemed unlikely that I could persuade him to prioritize his wife’s safety. In the noble world, the heir in the womb was more important than the mother’s well-being.437d42635340287a

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“Count, please don’t keep this to yourself. It’s best to discuss it with your wife.”d16f46087a80550d

I felt a 4e127bab9a lump in my 77f6d8b71b throat as I 1519ee60c8 spoke. The loathsome nobility 24dfa9f56c game. Even the countess was 184b8a8346 a sacrificial lamb in e3886a0b9a this narrative.27de6d7ec81e401d

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Thud, thud.f213b9e30b723e7d

As soon as 3e6d35a251 our conversation ended, 629f94cbcf a few drops 99832c7853 of rain began 648bb487f8 to fall.62a1320bfba93d7e

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What started as a 8fb8647bb1 light drizzle quickly grew f4cb6cc5d4 heavier. My bangs 6bcea5b33e were damp 74db4e3c6a within moments.b031863339f2291c

“It’s raining. Let’s get inside the tent.”20f50fc17218c134

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He lifted the tent’s 7a18a7ac39 flap.94efdc960733a47f

The rain 6b6e0a7a4f was sticky 77182b59af and clammy.9a21e2e49cf8e18e

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I extended my hand 289bdc14f9 to catch the falling 5aa37f4bbc drops. Rubbing the c8488f0cce collected rainwater f830eea5ed between my ae5affaa8a fingers, I 5c0286ec12 felt its 34d3403a32 sticky, viscous f99b6428e6 texture.ac59f94f12443810

Tl/N: Guys, is it just me or is there something wrong with our ml. Like he is not….. Being the ml. I feel there is something missing in these chapters. Something about Deon not having a POV is unsettling like didn’t you guys read the last banquet episode? There Leonie was drunk, and he came to rescue her, then the scene was cut off?? Like what happened?. I think im the only one.0744b9259c86b735

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