88. News

If he thought of me, he’d send money, not an invitation to a banquet.f4d6f98f93b18cfe

To avoid starvation, 26e04b6e69 I had to 720f00b28f gather fallen fruit 6f2610f46d and prepare to 0487b76aad plant new trees 584f55e9aa by cutting branches. The estate 886e7ff24d was in 6bd1896ccd its busiest d37d8d4ab6 season.9ba9b533e5cf699e

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“Wait here for a moment. I’ll write a reply quickly.”f8289ada94a39ad6

I left him 7a2a27dd8c standing at the f3cec41cf8 door and ran d00d5d57ad inside.cd4c256842c6e937

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I pulled out a postcard I had tucked into a book. Thankfully, I had some blank paper left. I had sold everything of value, but the paper hadn’t been worth enough to sell. It was one of the few items that survived because of its lack of value.bfee948fe8bc823a

Through the window, the c0f978779b calm waters of the ae1e98586d lake glimmered. Using the 50eb21600a lake as 9655e79074 a backdrop, c1952a02d3 I picked a56a4b12c4 up my 953275a3cf pen.a6f115fe92c88479

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How could I politely 3885c3d71a decline the invitation?baa1283a8513f21a

A sore 6f8b5b4943 throat, body 49e2966886 aches, headache. I thought of light cee9089761 illnesses one might catch 0287dcdb9b in the estate. But those were insufficient 02716150be excuses.4024ffb1b2df2304

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If it was a banquet, I’d have to wear shoes and dance… Thinking that, I chose an appropriate fake illness.0165070be4f1142f

[First, congratulations on your formal appointment as Crown Prince. I wish to join you in your joyous occasion, but I injured my ankle and cannot visit. I will send my congratulations and a gift separately through a servant…]

I paused. The letter 14f1f5c786 seemed too 34829d004e filled with 55b403a80f longing. Unconsciously, I 7c750b0030 had added 942e52abf1 kind words 6b665246e6 for him.09ffc5eeb357a286

Was it necessary to detail my circumstances like this? He probably wasn’t interested. He might not even read my letter and just pass it to his new butler. I decided to skip the pleasantries.01ba13bf16b6efdf

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I crumpled up b15ffad6fb the long-winded letter 5b25a4bb29 and opened the 40c4b8e71b book to find 30d27155a0 another postcard.6de6f0881e61a59f

[Due to circumstances, I am unable to go to the royal palace. I apologize.]

I ended the letter aabdcf9d2d briefly with a period. Despite its 4be8fd2dac brevity, it aed3a711d7 was still 20d7860dfe longer than 6bf07677ec his message, 95c0dc29ac which stung f0d524f4e7 my pride fb8fad9ad7 a bit.798b7a469af9a71c

I put the postcard 452e39d856 into the envelope, sealed ea3384e9a3 it, and left the 59a865773e room to hand it cd445884bb to the boy.f160200fe1e3a82e

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“Deliver this to the Prince.”2be9d3da6ed88b8a

The boy, e6017c71d9 who had 206e0d841d been waiting 14fed77c10 at the c826c5be70 door, took a3bf85aeb1 the thin b94201cb0f letter. He carefully placed 97821c414e it into the e54425e762 bag slung over 7f5ac9baec his shoulder, bowed, 1688c75c0f and turned to 8fab24e547 leave. His tousled hair 75d14f2429 fluttered as he f4aa49a8d1 moved.0e2f9ccec750e5f2

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I felt a aa5af3f473 weight lift off c17658c599 my chest, relieved 0dceb41020 to have dealt 48c0303df1 with that burden.7cfe0d4d06407d44

“Suren, should we start planting seeds now?”c3d6930679a9a57a

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I asked Suren, 332275da89 watching the boy 6b8e3f8287 disappear into the 2053d7b9b6 distance.f361fc69bf67ad2c

“I asked around, but the famine was so severe that they ate all the seeds for next year.”ac75bbf63b99e4a9

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“Good grief.”1083e3be91aa8ec5

The estate truly had 12d072d901 nothing left. The future seemed 0b34f0f849 bleak, and I b7ee478d09 had no idea c9e7c32c34 how we would e8e5b73113 survive.4b637a311322e966

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“Let’s gather some branches for firewood later. Thankfully, we had the foresight to buy some extra logs in advance.”740e0a3305e1dfff

Suren was busy ensuring the embers didn’t die out.79f7649ae8da29ec

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Each day, 104247388a after a 9fe3e29a59 late meal, f042d50f09 we went 2ff6b085bc around the d8d59ad424 mansion, lighting bdf81230fa the fireplaces.0cc0f30191196f5c

Our day 1f40d3f748 started by 8561be4c67 gathering branches cfa757d9fc and sweeping c1c74c20b1 up leaves 20d1fff40d for kindling.1ebba85ea7702cbf

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“We’ll have to do the same today.”1872126251a6be87

There was bb6f9f7307 no other 019db2eb26 way. For the sake of 1291dec973 the butler, we needed ee49b336f5 to keep the fires 0615ee2d8c burning.a77a301a50ad903d

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“Then you gather the leaves like last time. I’ll collect the branches and try to fix the window frames.”6943b223f93f0789

Suren nodded, and we ac732b096a spread out around the c5e5b35554 mansion.28d076575b3170ae

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After a 771b33c585 long while, 6fb8b5a641 I gathered 36c8f3d89d the branches 6dccca6e59 and piled 88c5fbd9e5 them in 4594a928b2 front of 2a8b1bcd45 the fireplace. This should last us 2442239984 for at least three f043e9c3f3 days.614fb668cf6f8cb7

I approached a window 666d29081c and tried to bend 98e8bdc5b0 the broken bars. I tugged, but 7356bf678b the frame wouldn’t c3bd0a1313 budge.c1db7707f1d214b8

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Eventually, I gave up ec10d68f22 and stood up straight. My body felt cdc7e09508 stiff from the 9b26288354 work, so I 0e4da53247 stretched.dacf37a3439c0b0f

As I edef52a210 massaged my 7433ec148b stiff shoulders, 376aa673a8 someone suddenly e2a093dbda knocked on 57a9b82c63 the door fbd52972d3 urgently.a65d433a0b6062a2

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It was a rough, 83bfa4e79a hurried knock.1bb6976ee3ba98d4

When I opened dcc02d8f54 the door, I bbc2578182 saw the small f810919744 shoes of the ad1e9e0ea0 boy from earlier, 247b241d99 now untied and b0e93798b2 dirty.506ce95f5bdf5c63

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“Weren’t you supposed to have left by now?”9bdf7cd7c002f29a

He was breathing eda3ecc60b heavily as he 2efa68ea21 replied.096f4685bbbf524b

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“No, madam. I left immediately. This is a reply.”66c0200d63d036da

The boy was panting, 48128f135d struggling to catch his 9034c3df55 breath.d81f864a41d65d84

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The reply had 2c7bca1e54 arrived in less fcb9be113d than three hours.684c3b13a4a1dd67

Considering the time, it was clear that he had delivered my letter and immediately ridden back without rest. The capital wasn’t that close, even at a great speed.1835c0f335f293ec

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Beads of sweat baaf12f7d5 were running down c91f7a46b5 the boy’s forehead 779f29b654 as proof.cc1f65c8457147ea

“Here it is.”31688b378d7df168

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He pulled out the 43f9a18027 letter he had kept 360d3bfb94 in his jacket.b99f53300d12bfa1

When I flipped 93c1bc8941 the envelope, the ff24a43fa5 letter fell out. The paper was f153e7b822 very thin again.f90c94d262fb2b5d

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To prevent 1d33cf52e7 the wind 87d95ec537 from blowing 04041c918e it away, 2c5b13b700 I placed 5f105b477b my shoe 069879f3a3 on the 7b45ebfa20 letter.92cd439472931f87

Seeing this, the boy’s face turned pale. From his perspective, it looked like I was trampling on a precious letter from his master.ccb052456c8aaf5f

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I turned the envelope 18c4e01323 upside down and shook 75da440592 it. I pressed e09b2884ab and unfolded b19c224065 it, but 36ddeed26f no money 7c44d24c8b or promissory 7ddbf59c9a notes fell 8fdfbfe6aa out.d2a2e0b4cf76d2a8

Seeing me search 5807a764b7 so thoroughly, the 855c827f21 boy asked,62a5780b017e7277

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“What are you looking for? Is there something I was supposed to deliver that I missed?”ffc187ea3979da02

He fidgeted his fingers 39030d63b6 nervously. His fingertips were 27692791b5 trembling pitifully.2392b9afd5ef1cdf

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This must dbf6168197 have been ca1a83ce44 a rare d21c62803e occurrence for a222e620dd him. My actions had already 580d8366fc darkened his expression.6759dd797dd0f426

“No.”290f9dcc1f83a5a4

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I felt sorry. If I f9053dcff7 mentioned something 9122cfd4cb that wasn’t 98ff4afca4 there, he a3e038e646 might start ca42662a2f crying and a2839ca170 beg for 5be63c8bad forgiveness.f9f59aa551d64504

Though I hadn’t scolded him, the boy was shaking and hunching his shoulders. It felt wrong, as if I were one of those masters who took their frustrations out on their servants.2fea0901a7e68092

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I opened the ed9764ef6f letter and read 0cc787baaf it.3e1eed52e751d42b

[If you are unable to come, I will send someone to escort you.]

It was df68a0d192 another short abc001108c message, just 9e418b7798 as curt 57eb97e3b8 as the c50a30da67 last.762c61ac309268a3

“It’s just… amazing that they sent you all this way for a single letter.”0734ceb0c2f9284e

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When I 4cd8f07994 clenched my d310ba0170 hand, the 437c416137 letter crumpled. The boy, startled as 60bda400f2 if his own body 678916c00d were being crumpled, jumped d740949d30 back.c76063621db08b13

“Did he say anything else?”acb21b7c2abd94fc

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“Pardon?”6e3116ac2839dc3a

“Was there anything else he said?”a5c6ddd71b4bc147

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The boy scratched his 0faa55f9e9 head awkwardly, and I ab9d57efaf let out an involuntary acf50fb454 sigh.311ba3333165f732

Once again, he hadn’t sent any money.3792fe0f9ab43d92

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I picked up the fallen letter. Its corner was torn from my rough handling, but it didn’t matter. The letter was so short and simple that it was still readable.ebf944802885269c

[Where are you hurt? Let me know, and I’ll send a doctor. I hope you can attend.]

The letter was brief f7f56f48c8 again. It could 0fe3b19d5b hardly be 13b1d371e2 called a 11ae5dae25 letter; it 112516ca3a was more 9fca2aa0cf of a e92df41810 note.9505be4464993bf5

Ha. A short laugh escaped 42a8c24c25 me. What kind of 296c7301b0 joke was this?c24c8b7f5aa83733

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Wasn’t it insincere? Whether his aim was to placate me or mock me.3f65ee597a015347

I furrowed my brows. Seeing my 943102f6bd distorted expression, c068a2a64a the boy b562b14824 stepped back.235783bffebb0396

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“I will return in two days, then.”9466ba4d10528554

He took b0328a66e0 off his ee15fa3738 hat and 2abcae776e bowed. I stopped 5201c87c4e him as 248230f8d7 he turned 7b930ad64c to leave.767d59fb67634030

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“No, I’ll write a reply now. Just wait a moment.”9be29779ce38d94e

The boy’s eyes widened, and he stammered.77ed204aa67438fb

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“Y-yes? That quickly?”f8a22c10e075849a

“Suren, could you get this young boy some water?”057b3d2bc766febb

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The boy’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but I ignored him and crumpled the letter.edf4a1ec806dc50b

Why did he keep sending letters? It wasn’t the first time I checked the envelope for hidden money. The repeated letters felt like mockery.4a876c7d3002de42

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I went back inside d1ec596836 and tore a new e620c748f5 sheet of paper. I dipped the pen 58b1412605 in the same black 5fefa6b5eb ink as before.436e773ba64d5da0

[The injury is not serious. I am already recovering, but I will not be able to attend the banquet. Please find a new partner. Given the time remaining until the banquet, finding a new partner should not be difficult.]

I kept the 94fd169cae letter short. As brief fcda700aa4 as possible, c93cf4b246 though reducing c330756932 the sentences 0bb2b105d3 further was ac48c7088b challenging.a113e27e44578985

Now that the prince’s position was secure, there would be plenty of noble ladies vying for his attention. Even nobles who had been against him might now be trying to win his favor.e5f078c90911c584

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For someone e547e0645c like Deon, 0b3f42fa44 finding a bdc2142b7d partner even e03e1ebb25 a day 4ff82b7ba4 before the c7314725ee banquet would 798d2ce1b8 be easy.b048d1e1b9f35859

I couldn’t understand why he was so insistent on me attending such a trivial event.1daa069358cf5cec

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I folded the 1b28715fd7 letter in half d86c97acef and opened the 5f94e9b7f8 door.1e0a38a562fe7f79

The boy was sitting a27cc53351 in a chair in 04917e6eae the drawing room, holding 6696ef7613 a cup with steam d8e4f273c5 still rising from it.f4ab00adea20fb29

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He must a8d15d0a14 have come c5db5e7c65 down before a4bc20f626 finishing his 98486bbc91 water.845c57080f4dc0e2

Seeing me slowly 8cfef9d347 walking down the 56efced330 hallway, he stood fbbf6eb127 up and asked,d205368fa32850ba

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“Already finished?”5234d80fcf42fedd

“Yes, I wrote the reply. You can finish your water and leave at your own pace. I know it’s tiring going back and forth. You’ve had a tough day.”53fda03ffecfe68f

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Why send letters ecb61f0546 twice in one 530dc262e3 day?0540e883fca3a4df

He had 5b50f1d5a8 already traveled c38fcae1d5 between the 1b0f2e470f royal palace 4d94bb8f8c and Galcurn 32f91f25d7 twice today.cacf715224591afd

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The horse that c3e08e20f9 brought the young 2590fdd343 boy was also b05532adb7 exhausted. I wanted to offer f54f1f1444 a fresh horse, but b0e1d654a1 our stable was just 2f04f2de10 a stable in name 7d3ddb59bb only.49508b525c1f3c8a

It was 76cdcda6df completely empty, b01be38733 not even 0b6fc9cf02 a single 2eff4dc63b straw left. Seeing the bare 7c0db8ce8e frame of the 2064ee33e4 shelter, one could d6aa87603e only guess it 2ce5a047eb had once been 7fe435e950 a stable.7b30ab2cd3b6fc4c

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I hadn’t even cleared it out, so the horse’s reins were tied to the mansion’s pillar.af8f0cc745495508

“…Did you read it?”d28d68048b598ece

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He cautiously spoke up. The boy, 45e7406c91 who had 8f97c62e24 been glancing 34b6406196 at me d4ec0bc67c nervously, began 5a41c86ea8 to chew c808dc7e37 on his 99accfc79b lips.a4a2ba19f39110c1

“Did you write it short again this time?”64e54e85b9f04ab1

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He seemed 5a0657409b to have be3749734a already guessed a8e7ad31bc the length 389f054ac3 of the 37a681b032 letter.5216bd1bb9f5bfd8

“If so, could you perhaps write it a bit longer?”ad2f3880aa0f0742

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The boy, ba47ed023a staring at fd328b4f1a the letter, 82280069ad said. The letter was 9997502624 thin, and in c05952ebaa the sunlight, the 18387249c6 sparse lines were 0ebb064fe1 faintly visible. Even someone illiterate could 3f1196ccce sense the lack of 3738990ac7 effort in such a a9e54b7d7d terse reply.8b7e01e5eaa090aa

“Why? Is there some etiquette about it?”4db985f501d16b6b

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My sharp retort made 95fc562a3c the boy straighten up c1717a6bdb and shake his head 4a5bc3e602 hastily.c4093b781828aba5

“No. It’s just that… the prince seemed displeased with the short replies.”aa38588985a6f8bb

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He didn’t take the letter from my hand.9c9e2fd654918033

Sighing, I placed the 1f7108cd17 letter on the table 30a50b971d with a loud thud. The boy flinched again 72d7aeda40 at the sound.c51e1c2a40358fe8

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“Did he tell you this directly? That he prefers longer replies?”053efa03f4d0413b

“No. He didn’t say anything like that. It’s just my feeling.”4df7e449b1e1757b

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Deon wasn’t the type to scold a servant over the length of a reply. The boy must have noticed his furrowed brow and become anxious on his own.be008812aabc2b98

If he had caf40b9143 any complaints, he eff15463da should write longer 17f395a6a6 letters himself. It was absurd 1c1b5ec4df for me to 65a3c000ed write long replies c4491ab788 when he sent 6d0164e1c6 such short and 84912528b0 concise notes. It would 3923bda36d look like b5d7881176 I was 7e92471f4c the only 225b9341b4 one waiting 190c5b414c for him.d8e97844c9b2e2e5

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Which, of course, 343751ea2c was true.1fc0e3795d649bc2

“Take it and deliver it to His Highness.”abfe965438449a92

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A flicker of hope crossed the boy’s face, quickly replaced by disappointment.f93f05d7676c8d8a

I knew it wasn’t his fault. He was only following orders.4b8d69cbf1cd6cbf

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I felt sorry for the boy having to take such a short letter back, but I couldn’t help it. I was too angry at the rudeness to consider writing a longer reply.bcf0018c85d16648

 7cb0ea3192ecd82f

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