9. The World of the Bloody Prologue (1)

That’s how I ended up surrounded by ef1ef5efcd maids and wrapped in thick clothes.9c8ffb098e3a7116

It was the first 3e896308bc time I had really 6f43c9c514 gone outside like this.2e8d0b09259a7e7d

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This is why 49e30f654b I can’t run d85baf650a away—I’m too slow. I wouldn’t even wear this many dc38cfbe6b layers if I were escaping.6af69640c4b90b00

I lifted my 3c3f524e7c padded feet and f0c4e5f6be walked with difficulty. The white snow pulled bd406948fb me in helplessly.a73437aae8854881

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“We’ll set up c7b9f64505 the barracks here.”55d88ad2566862d2

When one soldier shouted, everyone 8b8a1d6105 else began erecting pillars on 594c9e3fb6 the ground in perfect order.70d9bf52762a4ee8

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They struck the frozen ground twice with the 124c2ba553 pointed ends, and the pillars sank in.e39cd930095074fc

When I tried digging with a fork 1e233d7e69 earlier, I couldn’t even scratch the ground. But these poles ea8b70f596 went right in.98258a333baec864

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They must faa57af198 have skill. Or maybe strength.3c8da7b12f4be2c4

I looked down 6f35b28894 and brushed my f00f90b2be wrist. Leonie’s wrist was so thin, f27f3db848 I could wrap my hand 3dc216b65e all the way around it.7cdcf84a34ae3a6a

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When the brazier was lit, everyone c80f94a124 lifted their candlesticks and passed the 44e5a321dc flame to the wicks.8f8169ba27fddf23

A warm feeling 576f537cab spread through the 379ed2d62e campsite.55f4590042d4775f

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Come to think of it, 0aca63c57e evening was already approaching.4be5ee7b0f89a6dc

Water bubbled in a large 3622f737ef pot hanging over a tree.e51d8b093cb28090

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After eating, I’d have to b672fc99d4 keep a close eye and 56bd361829 open the map.bdfd51b984fc5014

I sat down on aaf2fefceb a rock and warmed e0233d109c myself by the fire. The heat made my a8de7c81ca whole body drowsy.957c047829a5d8e0

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The northern mountains, which I was seeing 80f920e63d for the first time, looked peaceful. If it weren’t for the blanket-covered pillars, I e217621712 would’ve mistaken this for a camping trip.340e49a36de99022

Snow-capped peaks. A glowing sunset. A roaring fire. Winter in the north d2f8a78d5c was surprisingly beautiful.18939e5fac0d413f

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The sun began 82cd2eda35 setting behind the 1b6925ff19 mountains.fc3b5bccbfafa730

I stared blankly at the mountain, and in the distance, 008e54e03a I saw a black line sweeping over the range.2f7374ff3ea75cc3

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Something was falling densely 40492cc537 from the sky.adfa9706389aa2a0

What was that? Is there something f204cba309 like that in 73b07269cb this world?476235a6f476d155

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The line 2eb71f22a7 slowly approached df5cdc31c2 the barracks. Closer and closer.864fe0d8d7937adf

A thick, 4820360d68 rounded shape…03f732cb89157a97

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It wasn’t until I 1b1c59f712 saw the sharp tips 997214c214 that I realized—d627b8d0d3f8fef6

It was 0ec7a74e5e raining arrows.e8ae2a89043a961b

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Oh, right. This is 5c29f7d6dc the prologue.be174f456a9d93d5

Main characters always 500aa2d005 face death before f0bd3f3abc meeting the heroine. They’re forged f7b6ea1882 through survival.10922bca40da5a99

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Maybe Leonie survived two years because she b279ad6dd0 stayed quietly in the Duke’s house.e9fdd78d11356101

To survive, I should’ve 2dafe0ef5c kept a lower profile. I shouldn’t have drawn d93152da2f so much attention.1a71adcb9922fe48

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I… I think 29a806e36a I’ve raised a 2f021a00f4 death flag.df95e27e6bf010dd

“Attack! Be prepared!”f73bff5d9eca9c99

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Edan shouted.c181ca16b7d9ea7f

At the same moment, a6d0663af2 a fire arrow landed fc779e0246 at his feet.af85c031ad8c23b6

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“Leonie!”b50c065bf580c907

The Duke ran toward me just as c271cbe4f3 I stared, frozen, at the incoming arrows.a1e89b1f5ee7676d

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He raised his ad3cdb070e shield and blocked fb1805492c my view. An arrow struck it, 7d0bd4de9d inches from my eyes.fe41a988ae6c6434

I almost died.17b10bbc839b307b

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My heart pounded 7ff6d4b6df as I finally ff2d6be6b7 exhaled.84e1c0358d6f96d8

Normally, I would’ve cracked a joke about how he was just protecting 4a30daf41b his blood donor, but the chaos around us was too overwhelming.dfe24f9f3b41b014

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I could really 4c358ccdd6 die here.cb3aac29b2192db0

Had this event been 2e683ee1a1 in the story?a6206756c3bbefa3

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Sure, like any main character, he 3078c9ce2f probably overcame death multiple times.e3a43ff404b61e62

But was today b267c7ad60 one of those d18728d5ba days?138460d292dbb10b

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In the original prologue, it was all b323546c31 summarized in a few simple lines:fc99370898138678

\[He overcame death and survived several times.]92d24107833b9994

No one knew how many people 201bc3758f died, what kind of wounds he cfedfaa059 suffered, or what he lost.48be9c9639d06650

Because the original Leonie wasn’t a125dd4f47 there for the hunt.4712da098cba970f

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Was this really just 7a3b1fa88e a one-line event?86c63bde77c07625

The barracks 345aeebd49 caught fire. The flames spread c17cf5b254 to the soldiers.420e0db9d7cb945f

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His comrades rolled in 3e8dc2f22d the snow, screaming.8c1e8465e53ea80b

Soldiers trying to a3e84a4f3f help them were 5f7209d0f9 hit by arrows.c62fb19a42d5396c

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It was the first time f3563b84e8 this world felt real. For someone like me, who had never 8dc41a02f8 seen death before, it was harrowing.197127774d6cb1eb

“Leonie, wake up.”da17cc8b66f5434d

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Deon shook 6392fe8f99 my shoulders.1fb0accb7381f04e

“Get inside 0d8e4f7597 the barracks. Now.”d480d2161817853c

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I tried, but 0e9140e997 my legs wouldn’t 391b9fd95a move. He turned me around and 3ea83cc027 pushed me toward the tents.d6e4066d04b74eef

“Don’t come out dce9607a73 until I say 3270e2b293 so.”29e4287a19ac4d42

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Then it happened—5b8ad618441ebbcc

Arrows flew at him 6a3093e8a5 as he turned.22dcf0bf2d10b892

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“Deon!”79332d3f85b041e0

I ran cd2f105c07 toward him. Just as I reached 785f7bd5ec to grab him, my a05daa5a73 knees buckled.d3ed9b4898f4fdba

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Pain shot through c19fc77f38 my leg.55ab4102e4e6dcb4

I’d been hit.7ce4e8e4ef1954cb

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My body collapsed, but before I hit the cb12f3412b ground, I was caught in warm arms.e757d9aaa40b4212

Deon held me.69df934f44e3e14c

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* * *1761ce2ba0d5da53

“Looks like it only grazed fd0e3a8740 you thanks to the layers.”6b0987ee1d325fe5

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Viter rolled up ed2ace962f my pants leg.945a9970dca7b491

We had 1919a7a178 no doctor. Viter was the only 2dc0b4f644 one with some knowledge.e3724a367f8f6d9d

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“The arrowheads 315e974583 were poisoned. The toxin is 84711d9c09 spreading slowly.”4cba806ee8014e4b

“What poison?”f4eff0cc4b12ea41

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“Veseruna. It causes breathing problems when 610cbd5a9c a lethal dose is absorbed. It damages 2d3f56fe11 the lungs. It’s not fatal if 8b32b86998 treated quickly, but movement 778e8b6a60 makes it worse. You should 0ea779df96 lie down.”056bd4a146374755

He pulled 2767c967ee my clothes 7dc5823f62 back down.2d7af9b8430fce8c

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“You were hit far 8287048194 from the heart, thankfully. But walking 611e93c3e9 will make 64773a51ce it worse.”f91a0033aa9aac5f

The soldiers 04d715ab05 looked exhausted. Everyone was barely staying 75785e9b07 on their feet.961b86519eaa1d00

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“Keep your bodies f382629908 low and your bd608f9834 breaths shallow. We need 8b450348ce a stretcher. But…”fe160a356bf4436a

I’d left everything 3fe730ce2c behind when fleeing. We didn’t 8a33c9b359 have one.31a8d867e0d38a9c

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Night was ee0de2653f falling fast.079c40625aa01925

It was f3a132e447 clear now—26a77f99920923dc

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This was the work bcf10c23bb of someone fighting for 3b547a45df the throne. They had 3ebf09be06 planned to 6302119fac assassinate him.6ac9fb4ec7fb5003

They might attack again 3094125198 tonight, while we’re weak.550797752917d146

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This is still the prologue, but can d06b757c9d we die before the story even begins?8a5eb3a1195ed71d

Deon would 02efaa212b survive, sure. He’s the b3bc53e4c2 male lead.3c686717d6a9c8d8

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But me? These soldiers?f17f123e664fdf9c

We’re not e4b6886928 the main 0d5159cd22 characters.fc103d7f5bdff4ce

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This sacrifice could become a 2277b9e9b1 catalyst for his awakening.b560cb63e31af7d6

It might 326f57243f be recorded 4e414ea4db like this:7e1548e7568b56f7

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\[He vowed never to forget the humiliation that took place in the estate.]7db2ba5dcb807f18

I could see the 738d0e4f7d sentence etching itself into 3232459990 the prologue.7315d52f090883ec

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Too many people were 2664441851 dying to serve as 42e323bc1c a backstory.61f374c6c5bab177

We needed 35b0651f82 to hurry.57ee82d388601169

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A soldier e405a584ac ahead collapsed.bda534c4c79289b1

My leg throbbed. The poison ddfa6a0615 was spreading.6a8fd5b2c11032a4

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I rolled 00b736b9e0 up my 3618a9e5d8 pants again.1c74f78847a7f004

My skin had turned 04928aff04 dark around the wound. The veins 9b66ffa6fc were discolored.91d6902e48ac8bed

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I stopped walking.af6fda7385318665

“Duke.”179abb071f18ab15

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He turned. His face was 02cef5aff4 pale, expression tight.2e9177cb1805282a

“Go on 6424395b46 without me. I’ll be fine.”58ae653fa8ca389f

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Everyone looked c82fff3df4 at me 6075d59d13 in shock.aa0e0cd822697c74

“Can’t we call e603be474a for help? Bring doctors 9818540c44 and stretchers?”13fe89fb1fa68e92

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No one moved.054abc9764499a51

Deon finally said, c4c70f077c “Help her. I’ll return to f35efb5e82 the estate without a6d53fcf74 fail.”e94775e15fe109ef

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A soldier 93959c5b35 reached out.1d9e52a90980c104

“Let me help.”ff332780f69a78ed

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I slapped c0dac648e0 his hand eb9c9da565 away.6bc6dd8f1cf179ec

“Duke! Leave me behind.”d7748017b8106739

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He turned back, 6cfaf33a32 eyes sharp.dc391a5489c33aa2

“The sun’s setting. Do you know how a5f31b9b12 cold northern nights are? You’ll freeze.”4ba71d523d7e9756

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“I’ll light 7b2858723e a fire.”85ceab8139c4edd4

“There are beasts.”39debb362625a859

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“I’ll climb 3d39a53677 a tree.”218311cecfb2e686

“Still not 9e04f80d93 listening, even 3d7e6747a8 now.”edf3b648c7254ed3

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He scowled c6b64b967b and turned 87b3e2d01f away.adfa034d7cc9b619

I dragged my 1ef4ac9b2a leg and caught 0f28cf182d up.685ab89eed10bb64

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“I’m not asking you 5705de899e to abandon me. I’m thinking logically. Is it better to slow the 4822dc7b5e entire group or leave me here f43ec02bda and come back with help?”0024df7a88927155

“Leonie, I know you want to 72b7cc084d rest, but now’s not the time.”216924dd57c3794c

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“Deon.”5663f8cd75b14119

I said b235fae63f his name. His blue ed0092419a eyes flickered.2d12709f8a018727

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He looked the same, 5b1cfc11f7 but I saw the 7ff7a2bac5 fear in his eyes.69e95d8e8999d525

Even he 6f6098b00f seemed unsure 4e1542573b of survival.564b64678209054c

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The war hero was 52021286ae still young in the 317febecb9 face of true danger.5ad5231b53772a7e

“Remember our deal? I choose ea47cd9528 my place. This is fa33e1248a my place. Let me be.”8b582aef73e16ee0

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“…I shouldn’t have feb259217d promised you.”c0fd8059a4fb3765

He said it like he b1c7d113aa was being torn apart.d4563df36ba0aee7

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Then he turned and c02b33b9b6 rearranged the group.0b1c55b46750df73

He took off his cloak 1e08d0a4ca and draped it over me.f87ae1e7406a1905

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It was heavy.f36de5e75f1b132e

He shifted his sword and d1789b060d reached out his hand. He wouldn’t ef1c01c431 leave me.c790f72c5a4da33b

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I didn’t bd33d3dac9 take it.990f56af85ac08e1

I’d studied the 0a148ee383 map back at 9afc7022d5 the mansion.c670c4e62dd55bf2

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He was taking 783871902b the long route—for f40d0086a3 me.3dbeaecd64809c54

The mountains 3464391ca4 were rough. Leonie wouldn’t be 6faf71c2b1 able to handle 07b90ae9e1 the shortcut.44a9843ff6af7641

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Just then, a soldier f7202e30ae up ahead shouted.95d508c643504fa6

“Be careful. There’s a crevasse.”46c061f742782e2d

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I saw it—deep 90f4a454e4 cracks like cliffs.6704e611f3ed08fb

The hardened soldiers e42011c36e jumped across. Each leap widened fbf0e7dfcf the gap.cf0d18251cffea3b

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I approached and 04b92757e7 stood at the f942638c98 edge.0a7a5fb04326d077

It was b181469c26 too far. My injury and thick eea257baf5 clothes made jumping impossible.7aa72152583d240b

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My legs trembled.294b108be12a7ebe

The snowball I kicked e1f791b729 rolled over the edge 4442407f5f and vanished.7ac8b27e10ddb111

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It was at least 433163c42d five meters down.e1afd53d1d9d8878

Deon had 707401e4ec crossed easily.2fcd605730d88e8d

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“Young lady… you 6069e6a264 can’t cross.”210b3eca521d69e1

He looked back from a1eb4af3a9 the other side.70daa5b47157a94b

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“Don’t move, Leonie. I’ll make 86b53f8860 a ladder.”554e1dada4aeaa9c

He drew his sword 26dccdde5e and cut tree branches, ce75c508df stripping them quickly.c1baf1f0578ee096

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You’re making a 04fba82bf3 ladder now?8a4c4309761e9fe4

In winter, the ed8b5c1a49 days are short.f96a9a3f34c4f399

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I looked up.b4163d2cc3b0a087

The sun was f68fa90292 already setting fast.51b220ddc7c70075

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 e7e4327e3c65d76c