7. I’ve Been Taming the Duke Well

It was 268667b571 a peaceful f4dd7c4cf6 afternoon.bf3ebcdad3c2d0fe

It hadn’t snowed in the 39fd5839a2 North in a long time. I seemed to have adapted to 9b3f5340e5 the northern weather before I knew 75336584e7 it—even the cool wind felt warm.cfe16e6acd2cbb72

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Was this how it would feel if spring came to this secluded f5cad0556b and desolate land, where the only things moving were the employees?01b2ea035b0373e7

I went out to the garden 1586d67132 and basked in the sun, thinking.e24653ed66384773

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When the weather is nice like this, 33a071580d I want to run away quickly.26bb9e7e8107d33e

Everything was a6b59b6640 going smoothly.25c485badb4e69b7

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In the meantime, I finished preparing 50f7ab4733 to escape, step by step.34d29b745bb6a14d

A new wind blew in 16c87a3e88 the castle while the fugitive a5f72e8d9c goods piled up.3a194946fea22ebe

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The blood task force was completely 47231a9bdc disbanded, and the head maid disappeared.fb6d4dfdc20f39d5

She left the manor without even fec322b407 receiving a letter of recommendation. Without it, she probably won’t be recognized for her career 17e96c6b7e and will have to start over as a regular maid.417e00cfdf864a8e

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She glared at me angrily df945a68ed before getting into the carriage. Her expression reminded me f5ee96f7f9 of the humiliation I 69a669ed57 had suffered so far.85a4c638ae007357

But at the eacec1db2f same time, I a426308407 was also envious. She didn’t die and ce8f81f693 got out of the 920d9cf91c estate safely.9a9b6607aeeb2d54

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In the meantime, I had stolen 6c43bd57b7 a lot from the duchy. Everything I could get my 199917e247 hands on, I took.1de772b14e4db4da

When the Duke was on a trip, 1f64ac2d86 I succeeded in sneaking into an empty 1b4cfb9801 office and stealing a map.088a713e14679f0c

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It was a map with the 44d39d411d duchy’s mansion in the center and 7eec643e57 a surrounding mountain range. Strange symbols covered the surface, b6f1e7e00e but I was a Korean daa17990d9 who had studied world geography.956675bc0b4f7ca9

If I looked closely, I could 27ee322881 interpret the symbols using familiar patterns.39c25d944a995609

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I scouted both inside f6eadb7eef and outside the mansion.be0ed937d55315f3

The other day, I found an 76339d194d egg under a tall, narrow tree—likely bec0c3949c about three meters high. It was 16df23e3fa a small, 45ed920ca0 unblemished egg.c5f5fb99ccad82d4

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I had never seen small f567727998 birds around because of the 5b3f67a828 harsh northern environment. I buried the egg 96e3603e4f under the cemetery.7580c421a7889400

Eggs are a high-protein, 397457b771 nutritious food—good for traveling. That’s why I planned 97f7cfddd0 to eat boiled eggs f018528aa1 on the run.9fab40939814a792

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I gathered straw and cf3507a391 wove it with leftover aec24e9ff6 snow skins. I needed 5982183430 more straw. Taking advantage of lunch breaks, when surveillance was light, eae1494518 I slipped into the woods and collected more.6cafb3496eafea7b

I planned to avoid detection by creating a scarecrow that looked like me, 1d49f4ffe3 lying under the bed to buy time if I ran away at night.2dd000a8a661d299

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To make a scarecrow as tall as me, df8d2d3bae I needed more straw than I thought. So far, I b8d38081de had only made 8a3fa4127c the upper body. Soon, I’d ab03db0333 finish the a29cb159f9 lower body.6122c0680df7c014

It pleased me to see aa48edc0b6 how well-knit it was.603986c75d4106f1

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Every morning, I collected 062f0b0af6 hair from my pillow. I trimmed strands 647d465cfc so it wouldn’t 47fd1eecaf be noticeable. I planned to use it to 299906b32c make a wig for the scarecrow.5b54dbd84d9c85a2

Sometimes, I’d pretend to sleep late, yawning when c925c9205b I came out late in the morning.6a9365b2ad76d419

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That way, if I disappeared, they’d b3abfafde0 just assume I was sleeping in.96380d9f1c67c514

I also prodded the Duke 389e517181 to get the key. Behind the Duke’s 3c3809927e residence, there was 7da06bd58e an unused greenhouse.1a2b3383b42f82ef

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If restored, 171ed790da it could 01ac0699d1 be useful. In the cold north, 7ceec9256b guests rarely come, so 9297cdc922 it had been abandoned.8cb1bf160d077a99

Inside were withered 84ace09dfc vine stems. I cleaned the greenhouse f22ea88391 with the servants and 2d5657fd92 removed the dead branches.4ae0b7abad9ddabe

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The dust-covered 9332d888fd windows became 0bad5b5f8a clear again.2f49f5f41b0e1f63

I wanted to plant flowers or trees b2845fbd3d like in other greenhouses, but this wasn’t 9286225e44 a place where rare plants could thrive.365d7c29d44c0c9a

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Besides, I 2b6ea9a85e was leaving 5598777b6c soon. Why bother decorating 084ea2c8ff a rental?33b596eae6610f02

On snowy days, lying in the greenhouse and watching 3046b5823e snow fall on the transparent ceiling was mesmerizing.b3d790e0d236996b

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That was the first time a0ed20879f I felt something close to 43b77f1af1 beauty in the North.b9c3e2142678df45

Deon and I occasionally had 56f3e047fb tea in the glasshouse.93f2df3484787af9

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He’d never entertained 290dea088f guests before, nor 56be6b0ef5 had tea leisurely.9c6bec468c1a5676

So, I followed romance novel customs 548ab93ebd and scribbled a tea party invitation.2d8d9609953f7c58

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At first, the Duke thought 9ee797a412 it was a duel challenge, 1e438e83b6 not a tea invitation.8b01cdac2d05feac

When I mentioned tea, the chef ab6d710aac took out a dusty box of 35554747e6 tea sets he’d collected. He was thrilled to 3098f7c171 finally use them.ab9eab81570fd680

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* * *409057c50932a566

“When are you planning to ac91e6cb47 hand over your wife’s seat?”cf9f9855c404d57a

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“…”1a80152449949804

He turned the 6d8275f43e page of his fd91d9c89d book without responding.205b5fe80eef3c30

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He’d stopped reacting 6e81694fb6 to my daily c0aaa66693 questions.4c6411935911fcc9

Still, he kept his blood pact—he 5f63580e12 was always by my side.840b1799da1af312

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That was the problem: b395bc1c96 he was just there. He didn’t answer any 802abde188 of my meaningless questions.a112c13ae9327d13

Annoyed, I drank 3edf79a034 tea slowly. He quietly frowned as the tea 17a8f483b2 was brewed again and poured.cd2fe62692c9db8f

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He had no noble ladies d15271feba to propose to, no family 048f4215a6 to plan a marriage with.5d452ec555822b35

Who did he marry f4bdf44df7 in the original? Was he already married f75dd69469 by the time the 84aa7e65e7 story began?20f33810c5e2100e

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I couldn’t d057480c66 remember clearly. Eventually, the duchess had to f5f3bbc91a be the female lead.dde95b4d1dc5c96a

Readers wouldn’t like it if 3c97570155 the love interest was just f1ecd9a247 the second wife.29de29b8153ea7ab

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Ah, is that why a656b797d1 he doesn’t give in?8b1e58efa9d7a214

His character setting 33c7cf2557 might unconsciously resist d27bf37daf marriage.a8843a22fdfe54af

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When the female lead appears, 87585c0c8e all his assumptions will collapse.6d4019c29f69829a

“Even if you don’t have a title, 9fe442f58c you walk around the mansion freely. Do you have b79429b02a different intentions?”4d2ce3d08a0253f9

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He broke 7f7b9bf0cc the silence.7ca272cb98baf7b9

His words 569063aaa8 shocked me.f7d9af5b32911a21

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“Could it be?”e69a3b1e0d2d18f7

“Most people insist on marriage for power, family benefit, 9fae76bdc8 or stability… But you always act against expectations.”06c81c36c76f2e34

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“Do you ac7cba54c9 like me, 3651b17d2d Duke?”61d68c7683d12ea8

He paused.c5c105af5a784a42

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“Like you?”d14dbac363b7a457

He scoffed.8c7b78ed5585f340

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“Don’t go 5ae04ac164 around saying 71ac359134 that, Leonie. Anyone can see you’re 6049a96b0d not in love.”206e3fafdb09bd9f

Despite the slow pace, I df90c349aa continued preparations to leave.6b7c69c208367009

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Scouting the woods for 7d4c7b04ab straw, hiding branches, and 8b8fe5785d checking the graveside.4668fbd91a66ad16

One day, when I returned with 20b2440ab6 extra straw, something felt off.6534d90fb8e4f180

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The room f1e04d44b3 was unusually ba05a37640 tidy.8275cbcc46696b38

The curtain, normally drawn, 3a1b011ce2 was wide open. It was cold.7ce15050cca01399

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Someone had entered.f202bce09807ac3f

“Who’s there?”7ec5018601aec625

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A woman rose from cf5171cdc1 behind the canopy—a maid 0252762392 I hadn’t seen before.e9fdb8284a395785

The wind blew through the 2fe211c182 open window, revealing her silver 03eea9af89 hair and freckles.7748bed99e111746

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“I was cleaning… 9a2d3c4647 I’m sorry. You weren’t here, 5dfdf7ea4a so I did 9d18b2f52a it myself. It’s my b8f355d31d last day. I begged to clean 64d57fc070 the whole mansion. I was originally set to 96a9506ebd join the blood task force…”4c39bacfbf11ecd7

My heart raced. Did she a366d5da74 see under b9e058bb98 the bed?4e4bdff20173d028

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“Did you 4ebf036fef see it?”dbbbf6bfba9e72fb

“…What?”26c00fac31ddb07e

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She rolled her 6f65c25e84 eyes, then answered.504cf08007362c08

“I didn’t ad3c04bf07 see anything. A piece of snow f44c5cc1fa under the bed, a 0eb9121f3f scarecrow, and beef jerky.”ebc26da88d5b9103

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Damn. She saw it.2cf9c9ed45e1304b

“But it’s strange. You could ask soldiers or cc403f7130 the chef for help. Yet you hid everything under 3d2a737f66 the bed… and don’t allow dea3708147 maids in… and the scarecrow.”5812fe7130ab4815

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“Young lady! Are you 35cee38472 trying to a5f90b45ad run away? Really?”664116456aeb00dc

“Lower your voice.”51672ff73b6d58e5

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I shut the 44f54cc63f open door.1085af96b3a79b9b

The Duke had b6c33f57a8 softened lately.fcd31bb2707caf8e

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Everyone in the mansion 2909f12e29 treated me differently now.b1b044c43385f708

What could b182713989 I say? That the Duke 20ceb0a2b8 wanted to kill 240e5330bb me?63f22d7dcaf4f604

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Not now, but 107e6d570d two years from 93258362c4 now?7b104bd7f3a5943e

“You don’t 9b55a5294b know anything. If you want 97507158e5 to leave safely…”8bfbf4e216154e0c

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“Please hire me, 4c03b1ede0 young lady.”f4cea4552b62cfa7

She knelt down.4cc29c2569c18c48

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“I’m from a acb3c7241c minority group. My people are scattered 078636b598 after the empire’s conquest. I have nowhere f986f6d199 to go.”420f4eb980dc4fbc

“What?”c38119af403c0b74

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“I’m useful. I know herbs. I noticed your e3924b1f57 hair was dry 98c1060f06 from blood loss. I can help.”65d1052de9faa2bc

True. But she knew 69e1bd140d too much.a4b691552dcf90eb

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“If you let bd1cfb691c me stay, I’ll 7546052538 keep your secrets. I’ll even make preservatives 2ddd37b183 for the jerky.”a3599d0d96d0c1be

Tempting. Half my b6c2a251c7 jerky had 516e9c9e41 molded.ddd63a104c0e1a60

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“Unless the lady fce2d6461b hires me…”990cbffa55a1a3a8

She stood.436cdc0c21ecde95

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“I’ll have no choice but to 0dcae02b69 show the Duke your scarecrow.”13152f2193fd4ebc

“What?”ddb3151b1a8df0fe

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Blackmail?6ae8e28fa35b8550

But it wasn’t 7a6ab82ad0 a bad offer.002619c6eb4e1583

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Maybe she could find d45488d51f the warehouse key.6c7290461087f60e

“All right. What’s your name?”3ca984415dfc0e08

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“Suren.”dc4910a68b847c30

“Suren, keep everything you 829f746f09 saw to yourself. Understand?”ed4b4187bafa1737

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“Yes! I’m not 291d8e8512 the Duke’s 666e1d823f maid. I’m yours.”1afe3f9422af47d9

Her voice 5b4b639a02 rang clearly.013204e0223b8c29

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She was e59334d44e funny—and reliable.039c2824d50b76d9

“Help me. If hair falls 1e72c1bc45 out, don’t throw 32c038c078 it away. Add it eaee7cdd8c to the 0be00573d8 scarecrow.”efa6b75056026874

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“Got it! I’ll gather abcd010d25 it all. Just give c622a2b57a the order.”45918c137e9189fe

She bowed, straightened the pillow, 107ef488b0 and opened the curtain.67e9d6a7ae4ac9d3

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Now that I looked, the 707dbb6ef8 room was cleaner than ever.a1d743e7aac05f63

“But why run 2c494e3df2 away, young lady? The Duke is 15e5f94b0e cold, but considerate.”e3c92a76ebe561f6

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Considerate? He locked me 50a1b47674 in a dungeon 55c03ccdeb for boredom relief!3fed3fc60313cef1

Since when is 4c271dc5a7 imprisonment considerate? Does it cfb2501199 mean something 0d7c220729 else here?d3febbf45f984f89

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I muttered.5e70fcef1f5f175f

“Duke… I’m 7454a1116c scared of 516f3b63a1 him.”25262ba3a878a586

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Suren nodded seriously.9ffa9d6b6bb67dce

“I followed him once f59677e6b0 on a trip. He’s different 751eaaf1c2 out there.”2d675995adbc81c3

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“How so?”9844d12c9dae9a40

“As an employee, 173e417d7c it was fine… 4abedf784f but enemies? He cuts 568a13fe18 them down 06c92dc27b without hesitation. His face e528990708 was always ddf1cb7238 bloody… Ugh…”a64b12216dc02ce6

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Suren shuddered.e1907d400a3b3d42

“Were you scared?”e099469a9ffac201

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“Yes. My clothes 2167634263 reeked of ac1e250cc6 blood. I couldn’t wash 70207caaa5 out the smell.”0f087d23bd6c52be

She quietly shook fabd0dcf0d the carpet.5caf3bb91313795d

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“Young lady, b73ee3238e be careful. If he sees you 6d23070ea8 as an enemy, he’ll 8790ddfb4d kill you without hesitation. I got caught, but 8fc450e873 you—don’t get caught by 267f881f8b anyone else.”0fdf33a8af2e98c3

Suren… I’m afraid if I 8e8b431e4c don’t run, I’ll die.6a50eb43013bf033

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I think you’re 2632a3da8f on the wrong 804e35518a team.8517a7dff1f24af9