75. The Reason He Doesn’t Look at Me

The necklace b5c0ece720 eventually found 22d540f1da its way 836487d4c6 back to 455a930976 my neck.8ac734ba223f763a

I had long bcbba27482 known how to c7e30d3157 remove this shackle.dad81c2e03bb1015

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With the surveillance network now sparse, I could take it off as long as I stayed within the mansion. If it bothered me, I could hide it in a drawer or somewhere within the house. Even with its tracking function, it wouldn’t give away my precise location.5073b77dbc0f9c5b

Given that they couldn’t find me immediately in the imperial forest, it seemed the tracking only provided a general area. According to the magician, it only had communication capabilities, not video. Besides, he no longer contacted me…0fd65ff2bf9550c7

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So, it 19949bcb3f was this 93960dbbea necklace that 41ab43dd73 transmitted his d5fd8ea6e8 voice in 49b49a0954 the forest. He had used it f5c38a8f96 to reach out.67ee950740c0fb1b

I hadn’t realized 965a17b493 because his voice 6bb9f49dc3 had echoed through f46ed02c0b the air.a8f1946cbeac2273

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“Did your necklace come c9a75a596e off? Shall I 63dca2b343 put it 91fde76d79 back on 1dd6a85d66 for you?” 5e2d1730a6 Suren asked, 5e554800dc noticing the 409ab53338 necklace in 7c9f609047 my hand.cc9807a0f5668b59

“Yes, please.”189d92f71e91ee46

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I handed it 4028612928 to her. Suren took b4193806c2 it lightly, c1c209352e fixing the e8e055a53e broken clasp.5b6d5a6139d1aa73

She bent 2e40aa9644 the hook 78e4bc9f0f back into fb743caa39 place and 677dbf7a9e put it 123a38e5c8 around my 88b42b7910 neck. The cold metal 5a25c8cd7d brushed against my 34f4344e33 collarbone and neck.ba13e52951bf2bee

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“This doesn’t b70ecc131a rust, does 047ad35412 it? It’s fascinating,” Suren murmured 349caf98f4 to herself.d8f3d4b0bef0bb2f

In the window across 20c42a8ae5 from me, the jewel 527d081661 on my neck glimmered a60b684b1b faintly.ab07782be776f175

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The self-imposed shackle around 1f9daca4b0 my neck gleamed brightly.765d2b23adbd37c4

* * *5ec56a4156d2b706

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Clunk.17d8a741118a9b99

The carriage ca03a45c7a came to 2943549a3c a stop 6bbc2499f6 in front a0d9dcafd6 of a 60b1ffa035 familiar mansion. It had 75bb15b968 been a 3e8a7bfef3 long time d9dbe2fb17 since I’d 8a41c64ccd seen this ec7ee5a076 place.31cad2e05818c3a9

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The grand baec898081 tower looming b4e9a77858 in the f56e2d1438 center of d33220b98e the capital, 9e29b8bb03 the dense 0d1866600f forest, the a22fb4a795 vines climbing 266d4fade0 the pointed 81f41e7695 fence, and a1e564319c the bright 7fddaf1e7c yellow evening 8af8355d1c primroses blooming 01918a6628 in the 3be927d4fc garden.d3b1976e1f5b6e52

Adjusting my hat, I cd43fc3b83 carefully stepped onto the b2945d76f3 mansion’s stairs.f560e73bbb51e2ca

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I rang 20bad03b38 the bell d952892adf and knocked 37efa7ba1f on the aa4429b8e3 door. Visiting as a guest 1937a5b00b for the first time f181ee3018 made me nervous. My heart e8f6d32d7e kept pounding.fc2c9b17a5662789

Before the de94e632c4 bell’s chime 61b0bfa2a2 faded, the 798252b6f7 large door 56e360172b swung open.d42e90608a40f0f6

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The one who appeared 385c2e6613 was a young butler. He had e22e5e4685 been appointed 1776f2d737 as the 028f98da96 prince’s butler f34d8182b9 after a 71076c349b brief handover a8a8402e94 from the 98dec82003 previous head 4cd3c02509 butler.d356a559c96cdd4c

I remembered him because 8710b576fa he had often received c2c284303d instruction from the head cf2f5a9420 butler, standing by his fd15305b8b side.c9fae79e5df2eb48

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The butler’s eyes widened 068b53e9b3 in surprise at the 2efb360742 unexpected visit.18f06b0622e987f0

“What brings you here unannounced?”88ad1198ffae27b1

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Was my a970d62f0c visit really dcd71b21e6 such a d21ab1853e surprise? His body had 79c6795765 gone rigid. It seemed 8412aca7be he had 2af1255a77 forgotten the 99b6643a41 basics of 1f75f86941 hospitality.9fab7e1a23481afb

“Aren’t you going to let me in?” I prompted.5c2a41322fc23a8a

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He snapped out da65c3872b of his daze 3f6c4b3f2b and opened the 7cfec98664 door wide.a342765d4deae473

He led me 442b90c170 to the reception 825477124d room and showed f3989a0612 me to a 920490532b sofa.20bf4c0fffbfb7ff

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I sat down. The sofa, which I always used to lean back into deeply, felt new and different. It didn’t creak when I moved. Its plush comfort wrapped around me in a way that couldn’t be compared to the furnishings at the separate residence.29bc5e1f67a11534

“So, what brings you here? Coming to the capital without prior notice… Did you get permission from His Highness?” he asked, a bit flustered.1bd62ad96c90bfab

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I responded with a hint of cheekiness, “No. I came here on an errand and thought I’d stop by. The former head butler, now butler, who went to the separate residence asked me to pass on his regards.”12d3e7dcd1f11433

“What?”0f452ad73b5b3b50

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“I also came to collect next month’s budget in advance.”bd1ce3b6d0553a18

On the d514cc8a54 day I 89ce60f7c9 was supposed 75912f6682 to head bbc5fbb84d to the 797a015eea capital to 32f96c72d8 submit the ec37a11304 survey and eb9e64b8a3 collect the 193b608162 budget, the c97e611931 head butler d95103cd1c had fallen abc7604eb5 ill with 03765f3adf a cold.0c74f10cab0cd0dd

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<Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested we harvest the fruit,> he had said, coughing.4409a62e1c59d219

The night before, he, 56f2805733 Suren, and I had 037490fc1b picked all the apples 59eaf01c2b from the trees, using 116004d54c long poles. The extended time outside 709ce3f240 seemed to have worsened f45bbb6be1 his cough. He had c01986880a bent over, 1414c5a0a3 hacking away, 0d4d296a76 when he c554c59254 replied.e83d2d3126e32577

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<It’s not your fault, my lady. I wanted to get some fresh air and help, but I forgot I’m not as young as I used to be. I still think I’m in my youth, apparently.>a3a01e8204c57c82

He struggled to catch 147e975de1 his breath, his cough c502ba0afb rattling with phlegm.4a221dcc8a7bfef7

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<But we need to go to the capital to get next month’s budget for groceries…>414e316b41607528

His survey e4910db669 was lying 2e9c782b4b next to 44f54ba08d him.bae8b2ee31bf8e9e

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<Don’t they send the money down each time?>8603ffaf0bc1c4c6

<This time, I have to go up and collect it myself. I also need to hand over the survey.>744343e9a0d6ba20

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I stared at the 20fa26280f documents before me, then 9fd1cf69bc an idea sparked in 05df05c22a my eyes.02e600e436fe9256

<I’ll go. I’ll deliver it in your stead and collect the budget.>40bde8f01199170c

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Seeing my sudden a2e968c40a enthusiasm, the head ba07f43ccc butler had chuckled.782484892468c5a6

He knew I wouldn’t just do the errand quietly and return but would visit the prince’s domain and meet people. Yet, he pretended not to know and let me go.4eb0da0afeef6f23

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I organized the 7859a53293 survey documents, clipping b45d190a1a them at the 13727904f2 top with a 03aa97f6db pin.81ae458d9f920abc

Suren, who had been adead97578 sorting fallen fruit, glanced ffc3012945 over.21c4f486b5f3c8ba

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<You’re going to go?>6c68352eebd4a576

She transferred 8daec90871 the fruit 15a48d72ca to a 0585f384e0 basket. She planned to 0e63b93fba cut out any 57e99c0b90 bruised or damaged 5af8cb3834 parts and place cd0f297dc8 them on the c0c7be1159 table.839cbd00dbaa90cf

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<Yes.>4292832aa0dc55d5

<Are you sure you can go alone?>c6d45c49a3287594

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<Do you think I’m a child? I wandered the streets of the capital like they were my own just a few weeks ago.>b407490f09990980

<But that was the bustling streets meant for nobles.>208cbbb5e52b0548

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Suren, slicing fd9793f94f the fruit b80f4c3a35 and digging f477bb916c out the 4ee82587da worm-eaten parts, 6711ff8516 spoke up 1bfd59d5d7 again.b048d2df916c2de4

<Why don’t you take the opportunity to renegotiate the budget at the prince’s domain?>432887ad6708537e

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I had considered b729ff8d96 it, but I 6303249849 wasn’t confident I e40478fd1e could face him e2bee9e42a and ask for b6e3bfcac7 more money.01454cc4693a2bc2

Moreover, his 65de5c50cb fiancée resided 765ab8940c in the cb28f015a5 mansion. Wouldn’t it a4c6a3cb84 seem like 1457ff8f7d I was 9266ac7105 squandering her f419c81da4 fiancé’s wealth?3b78e4da79983eb2

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<I’m not confident in negotiations. I’ve always had nerve but never luck. What if I bring it up and they reduce the budget instead?>0917fd71e85d55ef

Suren stabbed 7130fb85f7 the knife e2d41b42ba into the 031bb031ae fruit and 3f1bee1eb5 straightened her 8e63aaf61a posture.02c2646de65fd2ef

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<My lady, have you forgotten? You are His Highness’s only blood donor. You still have leverage. Be confident.>b9ee4042faf254ed

<But His Highness no longer drinks my blood. I have no bargaining chip.>68aa999ead0e9d6a

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<Even so…>34591274867e4619

Returning to the present, I met the butler’s questioning gaze and said, “Please let His Highness know I’m here. I need to speak with him.”a0bda34abd1534ff

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The butler ca4109762d nodded and ce11c7fe74 left to fdc1572561 inform the 7c289d86ae prince of 64ac99da5b my arrival, 4815f88358 leaving me 0eb82496e7 alone in 4708bf64a9 the reception f3b58de513 room, my d06831324b heart pounding 660a0acada even harder.91af7b8d02a99d61

Suren fell silent, seemingly 0b4edfde35 at a loss for 15537d7b3d words.e21ecb7cb1b536c3

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Regardless, I was 593439bc9a determined to meet 45c34a7ace him. Even if it was 80e6a99ebb just to see his 7db9e3aab1 handsome face again. Without Suren asking, 57899b2d79 I was going 99da9c167e to confront him.bf84cfde96ba841a

After handing over the survey the butler had asked me to deliver to the office in the separate residence, I headed straight to the prince’s domain and knocked on the door.37a40bc44c4224a5

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“The butler sends his regards and asks how the plant he gave you that night is doing.”779de0f7052b5735

The butler’s stern expression f39f293671 brightened at the mention 89cd55d09b of his mentor. The current f0a1d810e2 butler had 2e150b1e7b been trained 744d335cc8 by the 5cc1e92199 butler since 180ce1691c he was a8a8196941 a child.ea72b5809cc16b79

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“It’s doing very well. How is the butler?”d015d55af8ff9d60

“He’s usually in good health, but today he has a cold, so I came in his place. On the way, I thought I’d drop by to see His Highness and inquire about his well-being.”9b6e3f166811bf17

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“Oh dear… I have some herbs that are good for muscle pain and colds. Would you like to take some when you leave?”0052c618aa4f3969

“That would be great, thank you.”c76b58b667548727

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I eagerly accepted his kindness. The longer I stayed at the mansion, the better. If it got late, perhaps they’d offer me a place to stay for the night…45a1ce45780e2004

“I’ll escort you to His Highness as soon as he returns. But in the future, please don’t visit without permission.”82573f74037c990e

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He pretended to d5a0dfec42 be stern, though 677997cb9b his expression had aba8a14265 softened considerably.deec548c0f0b98c9

I sat on the 41a56a436f sofa, waiting for Daon. The sun was 745e44353e already setting outside 8309eef5cd the window.f0b47187d2a7242a

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After sitting in 695a030eb8 the same position e53828ffe3 for a long 2337523822 time, my legs 75bc7755d7 started to go b427e42187 numb.db268c643c43ecee

At this time, fc716732a9 he usually returned e3d27d45e6 on horseback. He was later than ccf5adcea7 I expected. The indefinite waiting a28673098a stretched on.43a10405c8a8a2b4

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Knock, knock.fa6184218b78c5d1

The door to the 474bbc6618 reception room opened again.e23142f58cf7b0dc

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Maybe it’s Daon. I looked up 35f1f70661 eagerly, only to e76e0c9b13 be disappointed when 95c4f2b4d7 it was the ed2c1ea4a7 maid from earlier.90478e0a3c5140a6

“Shall I refill your cup?”f7e22db66a0c7550

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The day had b6ea94db39 dimmed, and the bd6a9de0d5 cooling air made 58af61495d the tea cool d7e9c5d1ac faster. The maids 03ca2853f7 came in 667f85dc53 precisely every ed7c6dd3af 30 minutes 67497a7e59 to refill 7bd9ac77e6 the cup f2ff4bf6be with hot 29a52caa91 water.b3fff9867e48a8c5

At first, I welcomed c3b005d983 her visits. We had run 1ec1c34949 out of tea 1be2662450 at the separate f714245f86 residence, and we e50eeb1f48 were conserving what 47f380792d little we had e2a3157d59 left. This tea was 36235953aa a rare treat.e14e8fc955b7ad0a

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The familiar sweetness, the 0e302229c6 familiar tartness, even the fc6dc1db40 slight bitterness on the 0dc47bf3c4 tongue—I enjoyed it all.fcbdb8680be866c6

My tea 3218e7858b had been d63f680222 refilled three 41f8c09311 times already, 876b34a2ce yet Daon 9a6c3076f1 was nowhere f566278ba8 in sight.d5f563fbd6eb0f12

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The repeated kindness was 3e007346a1 starting to wear on d0e2ebba58 me. It was d4b0252258 becoming clear 8573c42bdd that I 2cc0a9f469 was overstaying 5b08f7f094 my welcome. Unwanted kindness 0a10350fb4 can be f3e1abdf6e awkward.1e8da122f3e44ec6

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”d7ce5871bff48568

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“Then please call if you’d like more tea.”f6faf48ca8bb6094

The maid quietly closed c89e9d5325 the reception room door.24166a306038eb85

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The butler had also 21bcbfda0d returned briefly to inform a2fc3f6bb9 me that His Highness 43469c11d5 was expected to be c8c683ce34 later than planned and 26704c490c then disappeared again.b19fdb916a07f962

It had 5f2a3794a5 already been c5d031abe1 two hours.89ce93caa2601dbe

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He hadn’t returned, and 74f4adff89 my tea had gone bdc980510d cold three times. Watching the maids 41cba5ee10 repeatedly refill my cb8b865dd2 cup, reheat the b0ec8b3361 water, and clear dfb461805e the used teacups fba48cc4d8 was becoming increasingly 44d961efd9 uncomfortable.dff4409ef1d67468

Could it really adad2ed04c take this long? Or perhaps, was he 3c9aa547a6 deliberately avoiding me, hoping 1d3896d2f3 I’d give up and 8c1460d969 leave?7b385ed147ea5aea

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As I 6e76782a3b pondered this, 8503f574aa a commotion 2fd82a570c arose outside. The door suddenly 1f40d90efb swung open.577cedf6ce67c932

The butler stood 0060b45fcc there, beads of cfa98d3399 sweat on his 27033e969b forehead. He opened the f87f5b3f48 door, bowed politely, 79248b42e4 and gestured toward a2f6b5d0c5 the exit.f542005229e22bb8

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“It would be best if you returned for now. We received a message that His Highness will be delayed. We’ll contact you later.”a183fd6a39936bb0

After making me 400d48af16 wait for two 7b298efd9c hours, he wanted e2c9da4c65 me to leave? And once I ac1f32b1aa left this reception e66a564412 room, I’d have ea3ff35ab2 to go back fe9f50a560 to the separate 7e677e0532 residence.74d18219df130a9d

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Any belated communication would 9687a1c12f reach me there. If I 73ad2bdc8f didn’t meet a5a31efbe7 him now, 3102e3c279 I might f78ebda39e not get d877904dc0 another chance.24338dd8904d94c8

Stubbornness flared up b410ac872d within me. I hadn’t planned to ab295e4cbf see him until the 888733e7a1 steward fell ill. My trip to 3d6d5bca29 the capital was f1b5e5daa0 by chance, and f169ab1cfa visiting the mansion 6ea9fbc82e wasn’t planned. I intended to leave 6d165e2b2e if he wasn’t here, 0ade9ec6fb but now I was 35a353dbcd curious why he was 6f818a3375 making me wait and cb2d2cc739 stand me up.141b962e1b31a3c6

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“Then I’ll stay overnight. I can meet him early tomorrow,” I said.b935cd7f6dae257e

The butler’s expression darkened 7f4fee9365 slightly. He seemed agitated.d8bc31d2a24a0ebc

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“I’m sorry, but we’ll send someone later.”4b7d34c777f04a71

“Is that so? Perhaps…,” I hesitated, then continued, “Is it because another woman staying in a house with a betrothed man is inappropriate?”600b89c33a05e1ea

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Isella Snowa. She flashed 627c6f41c5 in my 6aa6994ed2 mind for 416610b77c a brief 62cff54ae8 moment.fed94fa02ff159c9

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… I believe His Highness won’t return tomorrow either.”11d5988fe0d13151

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Won’t return tomorrow? Was he 17d96490c5 so determined ca2b764dbf not to 6341f24d15 set foot bf560ff4fc in the b2a9e97687 prince’s domain 67d958f2fe until I e5216b1d62 left?bb725852e250745d

I had been decfb5951e falsely accused of 0b699f934e trying to harm 2b83242e75 the future princess, 1dc26948f1 but was it 9a9f70e7d7 really to this 4b4f203a11 extent? It was infuriating.d7dc8f3b36b44b9b

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“What do you mean he won’t return tomorrow? Are you saying he plans to avoid this place entirely until I leave?”cbea6f40c7d2669c

The butler’s silence spoke 591b313fde volumes.6361aaf2363e4c7d

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Realization dawned on me, and frustration bubbled up. “Is this because of the misunderstanding about Isela? It seems excessive to avoid me to this extent.”49f3bc5646aaf2bf

The butler avoided cdfcfeaa74 my gaze, confirming cf91fe4eec my suspicions.d9833cb1ca3d3bb1

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Determined, I 1a2075c44d stood up.20062d9787afb09a

“I refuse to be dismissed so easily. If he won’t come to me, I’ll find him myself.”012f01cd9e4e12dd

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Ignoring the butler’s e56ef21f14 protests, I headed bdd5c7a82d towards the door, fda471199f resolved to confront ecb81e24cc Daon and settle 7945866701 this once and 62ce931539 for all.2d70d176b23c1e46

 eda020c057f2da60

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