76. To His Woman

The claim 428248e880 that the d0c94ef695 relocation had 46d114861a nothing to f8caa444a8 do with b06e310168 Isella was 968dae9bff evidently a f487043115 lie.993924ed94a215e0

“Why? Why won’t he 457bf2cf01 come back?”9a5b12156f5c39e2

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My voice b205606377 was high-pitched c7bc20bba2 with agitation, 434e25679f my words 4b7522cb2a echoing to 5bcf8c81da the ceiling. The butler f2a5e897e1 tried to 0e6b3a2f95 calm me.7dea275300b1bc87

“Please, don’t be angry. It’s just…”4c7e1f35d71e7604

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He fumbled for a 2744ec2e59 handkerchief and wiped the 8961040de2 sweat from his forehead.a6d3544ba5f47b5e

“The message bbe927f007 was not 03b981af3f from His b80473dc89 Highness’s subordinate. It came from 4a5859d0e3 the imperial palace.”2c2def40569d95fb

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His face was 828870d46d tense as he b0369b0089 continued.3164bbcdcfc74bca

“He’s currently 63e4901c29 imprisoned in 40dc59cbff the palace e1f6545123 dungeon.”7d7db354568cddeb

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“What…?”922c6954c074598a

“A few days ago, there was a confrontation with Prince Azanti. We thought it was resolved, but perhaps because of that… I’m not certain of the details.”a0a83520601733f4

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A heavy 58535e3134 silence weighed c9582e497e down the 927d2b5c09 reception room.2e00f37ebd11996a

“Where is 02c0e881dd Secretary Viter?”fd61549d1d6c82ea

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Now that I aa94973df3 thought about it, e21181e967 his closest aides 489fc065f1 were nowhere to 5210366414 be seen. I’d been afcec72350 sitting in d8258fc132 the reception 924270613f room for 81334a3d7f over four 339c30304e hours, yet 4a1304223a no familiar c7f9a2338b faces had 7d2fd118bb appeared. Even if I was 9874429095 an uninvited guest, someone 957ed4ab3b should have shown up.c398db11d630ad97

If Edan 0d7ac54a81 were here, 0406a2f1b7 he would 65b800b23f be waiting 3fe68d825c outside the 6817f255a6 reception room, f5310cb646 and Viter dae4b9ac1c would have dbcf7e3698 burst in, 88f68eb316 challenging my 8b9080c14a unauthorized visit.30a15a1fb8599395

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“He left about 6be097460b a week ago e0a0fad69b and hasn’t been 6ae87734ac heard from since.”efd723579cca4d9a

He disappeared without f651b4aa44 notifying Daon? A sense 17aba2a47b of foreboding 038d5fbbd8 washed over 6abca69d8c me.725b0d7623e6507b

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“What about Edan?”edad292663d49b9c

“He’s on an assignment d52af14316 for His Highness, outside aba2f79291 the capital. By now, he ec2a63e434 should be near debe080abb the border.”d61bde283a6c6af4

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The border was several days’ ride away, even without stopping for sleep.8eeee06138ac0cd8

There was 4b0e9854bc no one 26446a75c1 here to 92a1959b08 help him.f207d84c4f4d90be

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“And Lady Isella 867f677d11 Snowa? She was staying b311131f72 here, wasn’t she?”c3b57268d321ad61

I hesitantly mentioned bebc7e56db her name.9ecefafeb496ae53

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I was reluctant 5c5afb3211 to bring her e5e69135e1 up, but Isella 955575e229 was also one 8946916a93 of Daon’s closest a64007c9ad confidants.f7b56e0ef36ff20c

“Lady Isella left the 1b57256345 mansion some time ago. For safety reasons, she eb9476e4ef returned to her family’s 3d7fbf7022 estate, the Snow Mansion.”29466925c7860e14

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“Safety reasons?”57b1a614a1ec91e8

“There was 0f0c927d74 an intruder 7715ae3ef5 in the 53b852c404 mansion. Despite increased security, 2c282f806c there were repeated 4854f70c4d threats after Lady 9fc1c3c4ce Leonie left, so aab71df996 she decided it 2a9cdc3c45 was safer to 7a668581de return to her 475e374e2e family’s estate.”61a9513654aa96c6

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I had assumed they 2c0e8d546a were all together, but b9fe983eea they were strangely scattered.4bea4cbfe9724f81

* * *324d33039e95e7a8

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I got out a540080a12 of bed and 8829bef94c pulled back the b2f04b664a covers. The bedding 3ed361b5bf was familiar. It hadn’t been 1347267b6f washed; the pillow bd61752e64 still carried the bd6b8c303a scent of my 92027a6234 perfume.2d64385a058af250

The bedroom 5e6f6e5cb9 had been fa07c9032c left untouched 98b50f1677 since I 594c92ef63 left. Even the half-burned candle 7b6719819d in the candlestick and 9d4411c0f0 the trails of melted afc02d353e wax remained as they b799282f73 were.86940811c22e6fca

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This was originally meant to be Daon’s bedroom. It was surprising that it had been preserved, considering its desirability, but there was no time to dwell on such details.c43f0f0f0f78e1b0

I had c232d8970d spent the 10d57fc99d night at 152a12aff4 the prince’s b1023454fa domain as 70738cbf65 I had 98278aa3f8 hoped, but 3b04a000a0 the morning af09d8fd64 brought more 8dc86944e1 confusion.690a6b8bf223d5cd

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Servants gathered everywhere—in the 62b2c68b22 dining room, the hall, 3fda431a2f the reception room, the cdb136a328 garden—whispering about the situation.914a62c7aebdc430

Their nerves were on 57171fca36 edge, as if ready f404aff6bc to snap at any 12ec2a333e moment.162548a5792818e8

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“Should we leave? If the sentence is severe…”8be2e3c804da4aa0

“Surely it won’t be execution, right?”2cfa1eb4fc298f96

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“Shh. Watch your mouth.”cba559c631bee7aa

Uncertainty and fear 23180a89e7 had permeated the a7720a5b34 mansion. Listening to them made 06388a0b18 me even more anxious.fe314d5dfec70bfe

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I grabbed ccde73826d a maid 753bb62dbd who was dec0989121 passing by 8df6166b51 the kitchen.755c158602a333ea

“Do you have any news? Everyone’s talking about a sentence.”6f43d6daa2962ac1

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The maid, with 991bdd87f7 her hair braided c16c9c0e24 in twin tails, 183e5b8ef1 leaned in and 396b30628c whispered softly.5ec242b439bcc68b

“They’ve set a trial date. It’s in a week.”7ffff31aab84cebc

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“What?”886e814c90f6a996

I stared blankly, processing 3434cc3aa2 her words, then asked 341e810cc7 again.efbc32748c89e56f

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“So suddenly?”0e5b51293ecd9c50

“We’re all shocked too. How did things escalate so quickly? And according to a servant who visited the palace, Prince Azanti has officially accused His Highness. He’s threatened execution if he doesn’t voluntarily abdicate his claim to the throne.”d4e578ca1dad48da

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“For such a threat, there must be legitimate grounds for the accusation.”ec36e4216c0fe2ca

“Prince Azanti claims to have a damning secret about Prince Daon, something so serious he won’t reveal it. If Prince Daon steps down voluntarily, he won’t face execution.”e2468c494cf047f4

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I had hoped that 5bca9f4469 everything would be better a21dce6723 by morning, but things 3e2c6ee408 had only worsened.4a6973d1e6599360

“Wait a moment. I need to send a letter urgently. Can you get me some paper?”1b4ca572e33f9e15

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The maid d6297cf5d0 dashed off, 34b201e7b8 her braids 891edbc942 swinging. She returned b86db89dcb shortly with f6bba34f8c a sheet d7b184cbcf of white 6815cb65e9 paper. I grabbed a 398cd03b63 pen and wrote 0e84929366 quickly.96068a9e83c1d001

It was a simple 56008cb06d message, but Suren would 19d9259f9b understand and help.61dd86b1de3a5ac4

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**Suren,**88503c8e604f04d0

**Something has come up, and I won’t be able to return to the separate residence for a while. Please send all the dresses and the jewelry box I took to the separate residence back to the prince’s domain.**0e9da38f1c6f9b26

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I sealed d84174f248 the letter a02f728622 and handed 936fa3bd11 it to 95dc53352d the maid.f852fef34b44b93e

“Make sure this gets to Suren immediately.”3aaf058d1e7e553a

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She nodded and hurried b8a962dfa0 away.d90e21f112df4438

I had c3724b1634 to think 0a72962586 quickly and 21dde28bfe act faster. The trial date 43a0fa2930 was set, and 5aaf87272f I needed to f74599a524 find a way 60474cadc1 to help Daon 2e722edcff before it was fff2412f64 too late.aaabfe7a5a0b167d

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* * *02d35c18fc9a40c1

I had 277b2c1508 never imagined 17b36cb044 setting foot 2722b103fc in the 4a085e6293 Snowa family af779a8c9a estate. The mansion had a 13ab586d8a three-story structure with a ce7e038fd1 golden arched roof, a 4a665e2d10 garden surrounded by greenery, 87d0fdab71 and a two-tiered fountain 07e853c58e with a statue of bac0e01327 a stag, the family’s 9195bc5f2a emblem, at its center.2378300bf188ee23

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Staring at the bce425c0a1 stag, with its cb9d166605 front legs raised 999d847933 and reaching toward 18f15df7c5 the sky, I ae87b5a6fa sighed softly.0779544035881a21

With a heavy 55b7f123c4 heart, I knocked fae67a3812 on the door.8e0adb5ab5e75c30

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If Viter and Edan 5193162fd2 were unavailable, Isella was 0dd5551d11 the last person I 58348f4375 could turn to for d44bfbf280 help.1867773c9a226ceb

The door d783563828 opened shortly 94be3e3b7b after I 73dc30e735 rang the 14556a8dfc bell.0f5e1f636e049da5

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“I’m here to see e681e48096 Lady Isella,” I said.c6b68b1acaf2a6f9

“Did you have an dac93ecb34 appointment?” the maid asked.bafe81732943ffce

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“No, but… she’ll know who I am.”9aadc72d2a623815

The door hadn’t opened d765ebc2d0 fully yet. I was 20534b8b79 worried she 01e16fc25e might shut dc4d34b760 it and 2bf374a226 lock me 289c35d7dc out.1640b37e9d7cb2fd

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Luckily, she asked 3cb4620a22 for my name.c0fafcf315b9cd68

“Who should I bed3e5ca31 say is here?”164b3abfc88ed5e6

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“Leonie Sien.”cec669cfb5a0c40a

She paused upon hearing bf51fb94f4 my name. Although it was d0dd8794cc my first visit 41041e9418 to the Snowa f5edff0a11 estate and my 37cd09bf27 first time seeing eade662172 this maid, she cac1ef06cc seemed to recognize 74bc38ef9c my name, her 9645de2c43 expression turning stern.3628627a83b563e1

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“Um… I’m sorry, but I think you should leave.”1e62872260d49268

The maid’s eyes darted nervously, and she began to close the door. I quickly wedged my hand into the gap to stop it from closing. I could have hurt myself, but if I left now, it would be difficult to return.8803c8f36cfd4b8f

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“I need to see 8bd3acd24f her today. It will only take 7f02a65521 a moment. Could you dfc7cf4843 please ask b4b3f7e3e6 her?”24e3eea54f428d4b

Despite my 748cdc9292 desperate tone, 82d009a78f the maid 5a10c501db remained resolute, a18fcc484f blocking my f4806ed193 view with 645e0fd6f1 her body.84aa221ea3729792

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“She’s not here. She’s away.”68f8e86e30ff2a71

That was a lie. If Isella weren’t 79db967727 here, she wouldn’t b52daeeeac have bothered asking 8717f2cea2 for my name.7683a145da505f9d

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I couldn’t b8eae556ea waste any b141c359b8 more time 7d8464ccca with obvious ec89601cab excuses.b5b0fea8e369ede2

“What’s the commotion here?”c7a0f3fd10cf63f8

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A voice ae1e8e06ce from behind 38e36fd756 the door eb1f8883e8 interrupted us. It was 7e9f8210e3 the head d6484f93e9 butler of bb39d71fbc the estate.b3246c555793ff6c

She was a middle-aged woman in a butler’s uniform, looking very stern.ba063342bb105fde

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“She says she’s Lady 3258bd56c0 Sien.”73fd0d71b2c6a551

“Sien?”01d2c54eb4fc0052

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Her eyes narrowed 4539304a48 sharply. At the 7716bc564b mention of b1d95e01da my name, 75e33b8efb her demeanor 6db92f0d23 instantly turned c5d42a7ea9 hostile.c784ddf6c0b4c975

“Lady Sien, it’s troublesome 091309c3b0 for you to visit cb096cdbee here. The situation is not 1ba7ec95ce favorable.”dec2f698471baba6

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“I know. I understand. But I 67662afa93 urgently need a18f9ac69d to speak 75519d0624 with her.”06a7bea5baca40db

“Please leave. Causing a scene here 2682182602 won’t be good for 3cf8328a8c your reputation either. Word will spread 1740cfc7d7 quickly.”dd447add0fc88845

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“I won’t leave until 1dab795f56 you let me in.”033e4fcd9ac271e8

We stood 46cad2bd9b at an 88b9fc49e4 impasse, with 7af86bbe0b the door 4dcf046095 between us. The butler fe01b579d6 looked troubled, 52245649cb her lips 0d31a007d5 pressed into d0c940b32e a tight 67dffa5b77 line.cbff8453cb33589b

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I could feel the eb94668d9f disdain in her gaze, 35f948896b but I stood my b48728fb5f ground. The servants in the ae447a6ef9 garden were all staring 4d477491e4 at me.79efb9d76be0ee35

I even slipped my 4054930522 foot into the gap de8d0b5c3b to keep the door 68a51d9f37 from closing. My ill-fitting 0cb87c2c8f shoes made 4a7b19a995 my legs 4e8bb19cbf ache.53d17d24d706d337

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“You say you 9eb68ba7cd understand? Do you 1a11e7fae2 know what 28aa553a7a kind of 74d4657c46 behavior this b65dffa60d is? Visiting like this is d9492271c4 not only harmful to e96cf144b5 Lady Snowa but also 25185d19cc to yourself. Are you aware a7709eacfd of that?”cb4b86a8b4eec927

Her eyes were c3d9bbf565 filled with contempt. Seeing that I wouldn’t a64de3370b back down, the butler d42c9a8dfd sighed shortly.0ddbfcb51a5e8368

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“Lady Sien… If you persist, we will have to take measures.”0b2062b84b63abc7

As she began to speak…92ce51fdbfb6f1a2

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“Let her in.”f81d16e61f617716

A familiar voice came ade9615995 from behind the door.4219027dcaf73668

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Isella stood there.f518738853810390

“It seems there’s ba7c54cbe2 been some commotion f9f633c427 while I was 3a826234b4 away. If it’s 6ef3b3894a just for 7f65e8e32b a moment, 779029f6d0 I can b866611f37 spare the 17a4ec1a41 time.”63187a4eec12446f

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“But, my lady,” b08c086a34 the butler said 9ee87d8622 sternly, but Isella 8ca5f2f13b ignored her and b32a8baffc opened the door ec188434ad wide.0b717e7997a35742

“Wouldn’t it cause more d4046c3fda rumors to leave her da3a859ee6 standing out here? The commotion e9eb3f47f8 has already 1daeb5b518 drawn onlookers 77a0a07072 around the 26e6734c15 mansion. It’s also f88353828d not polite 5f879419c8 to keep d7c144395d a lady d05ffddf48 waiting outside badd1ca21b for so 2a9e79b833 long.”3c465aac6fc7fabb

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With that, 4630d3bdf9 she led be0601baae me inside.986a8fe6283cbc75

I finally entered the 96218cb67b mansion, my aching feet 2ef538cc0b relieved. Sharp gazes followed a498f7e018 me as we 429caa9893 moved inside.3584b8e2f99a38dd

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* * *bf2aa4782a86cbf9

“Would you like some 25e38b1a48 tea?”bd390417d2bfa6fd

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I nodded. Despite feeling embarrassed, I a2e3c75082 grabbed the teacup as 4ee4cecbf0 soon as she offered.377a93b29270466e

The maid 6f2d22ca7f serving the 859ae152d0 tea shot 70fe803aac me a 1a7aa7e848 hostile glance, f94cb10c81 clearly determined 01d84dc0aa to protect b77b64c0e3 the Snowa 9fbd487a39 family’s reputation.3d5f0805b335b193

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It was 45a8f59736 usually an 5a9f2f2098 offense to 0ffbb9962a glare at 29f8c0ea4b a noble, 6564859ef0 but I 7475a12606 couldn’t blame cc7aa1f00d her. I was an d95eb6e06e unwelcome guest here.1bb11bb6831996d7

Despite the e5c4dedbe0 urgency of c20c420c5f the situation, 88f69be118 my throat 15072ebdb5 was dry. I drank the tea a06ac75cec quickly, not noticing that a8c80787ca it scalded my mouth.fd44c141a7fc7e8d

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I had spent the f4b1e7f071 morning wandering around to c79da8ff72 find Isella’s estate, which 500e040b96 left me exhausted.03de71d9f06fbc90

My legs hurt, b565d263a5 my shoulders ached, 49d4a936d4 and the chaos 35d20e94a3 at the mansion 90b93a8b1b had kept me 35e54e61eb from eating properly.547a054a676cd1dc

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Seeing my 851ce1664b empty cup, 9673efc7bd Isella refilled 112d356db0 it. The warmth 11f4f7ff83 of the b9ba5c105a tea provided d0942f151b little comfort 8d9a960930 to my 15fd1a2ccb unsettled mind.265e3fca3c942f0e

Isella poured the 218e1a9aac tea with elegant ded615e5ef grace, too composed 94a163cb4d for someone facing aa1a5529f2 her fiancé’s possible 6b3f24396f execution.264daa5c112c1501

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“I didn’t expect 040135f778 you to visit 9620c202ad me.”089b0e20d90e4bfb

Breaking the 3af79226dd silence, she b15f067c86 spoke first.9aa4de1fee4b761e

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“…Why?”9f9b73ac8a1669d2

“I didn’t 5121a92b7d think this c085d5d98f was a d204e8c56a suitable situation 85ae12cc56 for us 9c97340350 to have 9e7b2cf166 a friendly 0366a0424f chat.”868cf6b6e36391ef

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She smiled, 64c76b4080 her lips f8ae680e3c curling gently 495f609411 without revealing 56dae8a199 any emotion.e417acc259bec9b7

 2aa2304e2de807c6

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