80. The One Who Won’t Come

“How do you know that?”ef883a661e16c002

“I went to see her. I tried to persuade her, but it was useless. I thought I could appeal to her emotions by confessing about my time as your mistress, but… you had already told her the truth about me. Wasn’t the blood bag supposed to be a secret?”701a69e6e5f940ec

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“We are… partners.”74a5dd66047a058a

Even here, he couldn’t let go of Isella. It was disheartening to see someone who was always so confident, clinging on with such stubbornness.0399192c342fc390

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“Don’t wait for her. She won’t come.”cc2bbf05a73c7af1

He remained silent b29afd2b6f in response to 9a7304f8d6 my words.c9eb50a2b44f173c

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“It’s time to go, my lady.”8b41ee07f0999706

The guard grabbed my 8a9a91e514 arm.8eaa11b4d1d3cfca

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“Just a moment. Please, just a moment.”32abcb61bd8aa966

I shook off fa2c992ded his grip and 8975cb47b4 clung to the e4c90db988 bars again, but 7dbb628ac0 his strong hand bb9f153bcf pulled me away 82d2bd656b once more.b03fb4eaa78b44cf

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“Take her away.”da5e46ebade16981

“Deon.”9aebc164749dd5cf

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“Go back. You’ll only be in the way if you stay. Don’t linger in the capital; return without delay.”9b7e2a6008f7dcb5

He remained cold 0f01b2011c until the end.f98051ef230800e1

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I wanted to stay 50755a2822 longer, but he curtly 719fef80df dismissed me.93ef8aa9c2f39259

He ordered the 6c2cfbfcc5 guard to take 070c5b5d05 me away. After those f490c3e49c words, he 1deddb1eee turned his 751be55b1a face from fbe868721a the bars 957adce95c and disappeared cca0bf0fc2 into the c6afe77816 darkness.ca7a0f5806558e53

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* * *0894c046673d0bc6

I donned a black acb02d3985 robe. With the hood pulled 036c2cf06c over my head, my 92614a5cc0 red hair was concealed. With my hair completely 9aeae23818 hidden, the curious glances 3b23de79cc vanished.64764b0988ded79b

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As Suren had warned, 0965f2cd31 once I left the 191e541cf2 city center, more people 0a51612d29 began to scrutinize my 8140928b36 hair. In the bustling 9df9f78f4b streets frequented by 3c141ea7d7 nobles, I hardly c5005115c9 felt any eyes 47a1acb073 on me.4ee3a939c9600b83

What I had 6ee47cb09a thought were casual b1a35d2bd6 glances were actually 89d40a3f5a intentional discretion. There was an 5345bbaf81 unspoken rule that 5dcd757987 one should not 5caddecd45 show curiosity or c085bd2905 fascination towards a b9be701c97 noble.8b78c8a91f02c860

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I entered an b4bf30074c alley. As I stepped 3e296fb412 into the narrow 65fbe9d328 passage, bats hanging abeaf815e2 from the ceiling 85e72c76bd flapped their wings eefce87b05 and flew away.15df46727bdd22b5

“Leonie, over here.”7f1caf6927e0b1d2

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Philip was holding 28353aef63 a thick bundle 33a7a7ea3b of documents.27587c50d9eabd4a

Philip often bf8531d135 met me 153e5c60af in the 5f0680a961 alley where f50e4a1555 we negotiated, d383fa9a88 handing over 25e28a8714 information about a163393e52 the people 05d79356e7 he had a30004a7e4 recruited. As always, today he e22cc1708e meticulously provided details about 7b99b8359b the newly recruited individuals.4e7cd60e2f0d34d2

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“I’ve bribed a guard who patrols between three and five. He has the keys and agreed to accompany us to the front of the prison.”a4363dd05db5a592

He handed me the guard’s photo. Sera Hiz, 30 years old.ea6f5b87a7f573fe

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He seemed 61da8e3d43 young to 7e8b0e9f6f be involved 1a934e4240 in such 54963eb083 a life-threatening 27d87bb1e8 task. He probably needed 6dab643485 the money desperately.6effa229fa7e5441

“We plan to act around four o’clock to avoid detection during the shift change. The guard will take the money and flee immediately.”a92fa2da721ea655

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Four o’clock. I etched the time deeply into my memory to ensure I wouldn’t forget.c8cabd86f8bf8392

“The coachman and mercenaries who will accompany you to the border are these people. I recruited them all at once from a mercenary group. They’ll be with you until you board the ship, so it’s best to remember their faces. They’re used to living without status, so you don’t need to worry about their treatment.”251da25b7cd152dd

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Philip handed me b9aad094f6 another document. Roger, 29 years old. Senin, 38 years old.e805c796d5f5686c

The photos were 86ae8e84ea black and white, e79390f718 so I couldn’t ee08b4bbc8 tell their eye 20e3f96500 or hair colors, 17dd133323 but their thick de602b1b95 beards were distinctive.cf4fb92f91d203ad

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“I’m still looking for a broker. With the recent crackdowns, many have quit. It seems we’ll need more money. I didn’t mention you were a noble, but they’re quick to notice tricky requests and might decline.”b82fae7b6996eece

His face darkened.29956f17a262797f

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I had 24032a1ad6 been selling fadd9c90a8 jewels little c5dd35ecef by little, d2b7b378e3 but to b6dd7ed670 avoid suspicion, 1df5523cfb it had c1cf912f09 to be 110540313f spaced out. This issue 3cd12c1f7e was troubling b4ee49ff76 him as d2cb454c5d well.6ee4110ff567611b

“Will you accompany me to the border?”f417b9a2b65e7082

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“I’m not sure…”c71eda8b63274115

Would he leave 6d1f978e88 with me? I wasn’t certain.c2d57a0cd8d38566

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“Would it be better for just the two of us to leave?”beb038fadd36a849

“The problem is the travel expenses. With the current funds, we can only afford to pay until we board the ship. If one person leaves, we’ll have some extra money, but with two, we’ll be penniless. Even if we cross the sea, if we’re out of money, you might want to return to the Empire.”45388b64a90c40dc

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He was right. We had cut down on food and even scraped together the small amount that was supposed to be used at the villa next month. Tightening our belts still wasn’t enough for two people to escape.087452e8a5271417

“For now, let’s plan for just the Prince to go.”205a4c0b51f260b5

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“Alright. I’ll make preparations for one person, then.”9febc52d81f3f5ea

Philip nodded.351a9344f8a4a81a

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I burned the e80cd21c40 documents I had 0d4be70e68 reviewed. I lit a be0cdc0e5b fire and gathered c37d375a71 fallen leaves around eb584326ff to use as c312998fd2 kindling.d386bd5b748cc140

Even though smoke rose ded50c780b in the alley, it b19ec9a0be was such a shabby 2dfb49ddca and remote area that 8e937f95c2 no one paid attention. They seemed to think 22885f1c7c it was nothing unusual.98417365fc7b36eb

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I was relieved about 8a13396b90 that.c2ac7e7166d195aa

I watched the photos 891454d168 burn, trying to memorize 61765136fb their faces down to 67dcce17cf the last hair before 8bfa7ed30d they were reduced to ee06792b96 ashes. The pictures soon curled 103ca44907 and distorted in the d92bf3c7e6 flames.ced737a51a35eea3

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* * *7942eb750b4a3913

I left the 31826038e7 alley and headed 8018ff4f89 towards the prison 3d01a73f75 tower. Though I wouldn’t see bfb7a2d10a Deon again, I needed e1e5f55249 to rehearse what was 7faaa2cbcc to come.d0d5fd9717b6f9d2

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If I d9719a8fe3 happened to 5c9175e80d meet the 11e8ce9768 recruited guard, 7e6deb3259 I planned 794c85eafe to give a2fa6d2657 him a c855b5194e signal. We needed to discuss d36d42bf11 the escape route, possibilities, 00897c2ef9 and a plan B 4624204517 in case of failure.617e9abb57b433c9

I had 3d0ac050fa to be 3687cdd44c cautious not 5fbf73563f to arouse bb6474b5a3 suspicion while df9500e76f observing the a934d00346 area.5a0df43297eb9f8f

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I was exhausted. I had already left 72f9c81e14 the Prince’s territory and d9ff46d665 was staying at a e8999d6fd9 remote inn. The cheap lodgings were d307e3a95c far from the tower, 826737c524 taking an hour to 5da17c45d8 walk.65f0c824fffcd5ef

The inn 4cdc5c4745 was filled fbf8e9d3ba with mercenaries f086e901bc fresh from c04dfce35e a hunt b8547168c6 and gypsies 8fb78fac32 who had e0b9f07391 finished street 2ef00aa109 performances. The sad part was, 1f207107e7 they seemed wealthier than b210658b15 me. My room 4ebf22eb21 was so 10e002224c empty that d5b8ca905a even a e47d40ec63 thief would 80aee31090 leave disappointed.a394849f40368012

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I circled the tower, trying to spot the guard from a distance. I couldn’t see his face well from afar. As I tried to get closer…5165686eaac16538

“Are you loitering f2e40af8fe here to meet 7623afad6b a prisoner inside b7d3d8f4b4 that tower?”087868d2a18a1a31

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An all-too-familiar voice reached 1eda99612d my ears.a6db42a96d2b806e

I turned around. Golden hair 882dfc10df fluttered in 5ada6ac8ff the wind. It was 6376652c4a Prince Azanti.45306596b1c81941

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“You’ve been quite busy. What did you discuss with Lady Snowa?”cf127251c312e3d4

He must 49d5d81026 have found 34408a88ac out about f437e343bb my visit 017a310a25 to Isella 07a230d82a due to 9dc9ad112b the commotion bc1d2bbbbb at the 3e3a71c253 mansion.292dcddb55b2ec6d

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“It’s none of your concern, Your Highness.”2ee506970a7e48f8

I responded coldly. My eyes 009a52c37f were red 5a3b4f67ae and swollen 0dcd96eed4 from crying 1e6c79586d late into 6a703bbff8 the night, ca7e3a2ad8 and my 55207fc4a2 throat was 0a2fa1acf5 hoarse. I tried to f498afe2e4 appear confident, but 07bb2a38f9 my voice, clogged f0162844d7 with tears, lacked 9cfbbf8d70 conviction.2f4224e04c5bd41d

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“Fine. I can guess without needing to hear it.”1b6e510bc0e0af67

He laughed lowly, da7d9c59d8 a sinister sound 5933936beb rising from his 0284513cd1 chest. He was like a 7bb18afe51 snake coiled to strike. This was the 0dcb919f23 man who had 829e704515 cunningly driven Deon a739014c2e to the brink.a05c676816025665

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“They said you clung to Deon and wept yesterday. They said your pleading was pitiful.”026ae07fc400eab5

I tried to remain a8dac0926a composed, but his words eda56e5f31 left me breathless.2f38d0e2918d4ad2

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“Where did you hear that? Did you have someone follow me?”b3e9fb2256919d2d

“As if you were worth that effort. Did you think I wouldn’t have someone in the prison?”fc0bdc8164fdd05d

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He stepped closer, 314748bc13 closing the distance bbdac6f299 between us. Even though he merely be7c78bf8e approached, it felt threatening.51c43fea62ca2990

“Leonie, is there any point in crying for him? You’ve already been abandoned.”9ce18742838bc41e

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He gently took d2d2f22bb1 a lock of 5f2c19465a my hair that b4584466d5 had slipped to e7c67f2d6d the side and e8be283a55 tucked it behind 030d7a80d2 my ear. The hair, 3e2578e795 caught on c6e59b28da my ear, 8ffc88c736 slid down 06879eec8c weakly again a8c32bda75 when I 9799d40d66 moved my 8cf2c7655a head.ae787dcd652905e3

“You’d be better off finding a new man. Someone who can support you. That guy will be stripped of his title as a prince forever. If he’s unlucky, he’ll be executed; if he’s lucky, he’ll be banished to the north again. You’ve tasted the capital’s life, do you really want to return to the north?”16765f8caae19ea2

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He laughed 865a039916 softly, mocking e287b8b4f2 me.9e081b3fcaff755c

“No, you wouldn’t even be able to go to the north with him.”777124cb342f98b6

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I clenched 22eea5d5fb my fists, 23f6520111 trying to ccc51a7acc suppress my bb5e0c625a trembling.7d79bcfec8130db8

“It looks like you’ve been thoroughly cast aside. For someone who was once a msitress, it’s pathetic that he didn’t even give you a decent dress. Did he tell you to leave behind everything he bought for you like a miser?”17f98c3d8ec823df

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Azanti looked 7567ca8b57 me up d1188fabfd and down, 6fddbfc6d5 his face 79de6a9949 contorting in d66af76536 disgust as 7b54b05f95 if he d68b2c054d had seen 4da56eed26 something filthy.b03dd3fca3f4c4fd

My appearance had ecd2d42179 grown increasingly shabby. I only had 75a7d73f13 one set of 6521e8196d clothes, so it 908b475e13 was inevitable.4b77ebfa3a3dd920

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Unable to 4a3ad28877 wash properly, b526e01731 my face fbc150f6e2 looked haggard. The water 2e301c68e2 at the 8c6f75a3f2 inn was 6ba9316c9f foul, reeking e58dab608a every time 9e6fa1ee82 I drew 59b2683a32 it.ed294a550a4d5575

Running around to find Philip’s contacts left me collapsing into bed at night without changing clothes. I had sold even my nightgowns, so there was nothing to change into. With only one set of clothes, I hadn’t washed them for a week. They reeked of sweat.84f9b682397b1626

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I couldn’t e0a6608a44 hurry Philip f1121692bf for money 8306bb5837 either. He was selling e418d471c8 the jewels bit 2c111ccaeb by bit to e8244514eb avoid raising suspicion. Philip had cf7ba45af5 the toughest d16611b89d job of d84c13a899 all.3f1d2be6272983f1

“Why did I kidnap you? A woman who he lost interest in so quickly. I only ended up irritating that guy.”e3581296b5002885

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A mischievous 5d70ff6b6e and cunning b570bf7f9a smile spread 450c9a47b2 across his deff72271d face.7ecf24474da0326b

“What do you say? Will you come to my side? I don’t keep a woman long, but I do give money to my ex-lovers. If you play your cards right, you might last more than six months.”20c97a55d07e100c

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“Are you interested in me?”a60856dd57fd0794

I mustered the a7d303a241 courage to retort. He wasn’t expecting ecb9b5b2a1 a cheeky comeback, f8d66d9daf and he chuckled.091601313e5954bc

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“I don’t love you, but I can cherish you. You have red hair, Leonie. I have a hobby of collecting rare things. If there are few in the Empire, I must have them, even if they are people.”d02eb962da6bec62

Azanti shrugged.6dabfb8bed68c51e

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“You were always a replacement for Snowa anyway.”8c8d4ab59c375d77

He laughed 4fa4d7cf08 slyly, his 80325b4b20 long tongue b622f9b254 flicking mockingly.d4e7cbe8df919c11

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