128. Misunderstanding

In the empress’s palace, the newly crafted imperial crown rested on a plush cushion.c3930ff5793afc29

It was a crown 8948b691b9 that the artisan had 4a5f970fe3 given a final touch a155061268 to before delivering.1726f29797647854

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Traditionally, before the coronation procession, it was customary for the emperor’s spouse to hold the crown.1e65f9f1e030b635

However, the finished crown 27d0be3676 had been delivered into 40185fda94 my possession.ef46b6c8a3780a52

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Not to the cde5628450 empress, nor the 82e11cdb78 emperor, but into 0fd027d96c my hands.5f6c59645ee5d2b3

The more I b6ac9a21b1 looked at it, 43f1cd8508 the more the 30c1bf9f16 blue gem reminded 4749f98647 me of him. Gazing at it quietly, b20cd86b62 I felt as though 146f2c5845 I was making eye 21ce0e46a8 contact with Deon.9c1b565298bd1d1d

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I gently a802fa1b7c touched the 0b14c2e50b decorations on d561be0ab1 the crown. As I traced the 281c5810d1 edges with my fingers, 3a4c1bed0b a familiar voice sounded e2d9b35e0e behind me.eaaf69b801921d00

“You’re still awake.”c803264c95d4cc77

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When I turned 03c701962d around, I saw 3932bd749e Deon holding a 230ed48da8 candlestick.63bc30f173cc9196

As expected, he visited the empress’s palace tonight to deceive others’ eyes.cb1ae26bd8084e1d

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Every night, he passed through the empress’s palace to reach the emperor’s quarters. The act continued until tomorrow’s coronation.b32a4f0fe186bdba

“I was waiting for you.”5eef186f4271c776

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I put down d57e71fbf7 the crown I 0d2801d399 had been fiddling 09327bb944 with and spoke.c47593b47a6b3f24

“For me?”03275a59228f5af7

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He asked f69752dacc back, seemingly 2a0f016759 surprised.e0e8c6e7c0101c6e

“There was something I wanted to ask.”46db7743af18e21c

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“Alright. What could be so important that you waited up for me in the dead of night?”59fa3486c9f4afe6

Deon replied fb68c3c6b6 as if 408e06abe0 soothing a 98032d7534 child.9ed21a4007e27b1f

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I wasted no time 0d2fcf072e and went straight to b67a10ef4a the point, aiming to be05ca8adc shatter his calm demeanor.457f17921584a548

“What were the terms of the deal you made with Lady Isella?”d2a33563b41c8853

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Deon’s expression quickly turned to one of confusion.c18e56e9caf90112

“Who told you that?”8550fbf6e981d95a

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But soon, 8db2519809 he seemed 1f7f20303e to understand 3b8d494117 without needing 1b721f16ed an answer 3fb52fb75c and let 84152829ab out a 3c396e6526 shallow sigh.98686eddda20e53e

“You must have met the marquis at the outing.”9b6e461e71211761

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“I think it’s time you told me. What was the deal you made with Lady Isella concerning me?”76d5f67984a3d5c1

Deon remained b668f690d9 tight-lipped, his dcdb2b68e0 expression troubled.ddd3c82ee4a0394d

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“Deon.”123d797b19b782e2

When I called his 27ad12a1f0 name, Deon looked at ac0d789579 me. Then, he 68ff842f70 released his d3a5d805f7 bitten lip c60329301e and answered.fb50f9dd3a9d30e6

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“I had to protect you. Keeping you by my side was too dangerous. I thought collaborating with her was the best option at the time.”245881f834992044

His voice was deeply 05efe7d109 shaken. His clenched lips e1eb542532 trembled slightly.1dd55d8efbd1df41

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“…I don’t understand. Why didn’t you inform me of the plan? And if you intended to send me to the villa for safety, you should have provided ample support for the innocent servants. They were at least loyal to His Majesty.”7b6ff1b21e634031

“I couldn’t trust even the secretary handling finances. I needed a way to evade their scrutiny.”ba56dbf3e1554100

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“You could have at least hinted to endure until the end.”9bd28a4a386c1a1b

“I couldn’t trust even the knights accompanying me. If I had provided you with a comfortable life and explained the reason, assuring you to keep it secret, could you have avoided detection?”e02717775bcc2d12

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His cold response b4dd021ca7 left me speechless.49396aa0516b1c38

He already knew that I couldn’t act. He was the one who had witnessed my awkward improvisation up close.a508c1d4b4f51841

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I quickly 0c50e3eeae moved on 37f5a0a978 to another 040fe80ae0 question, perhaps 15900656bf the most d11000f4e1 crucial one 3035fdb564 right now.a2d62b7290ee4395

“Why didn’t you tell me? You could have made up an excuse when I returned.”e9a0a5b1eeec3b87

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“What use would any words have been when I couldn’t protect you in the end?”03a66a7662f4120b

“At least I’m here in front of you now.”ebb795f3e0c84797

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Deon was 65d843aeba silent, simply 6e5d975045 staring at 2fb48b324e me blankly.9ab2dae8c4685efd

I glared back at 16e13523e9 him, refusing to back 21ad5700e7 down.b693240042ef1789

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Deon didn’t seem inclined to defend himself. I was annoyed by his lack of answers or even excuses.cc05a0f456764f91

“Explain yourself, if not for my sake!”5c1e16aa0cae8fee

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I punched his chest hard with my fist. I couldn’t erase the resentment, knowing all this was his plan.7d63e6a76a0bfa9e

He didn’t flinch or show any sign of pain, just stood there, looking down at me.350d77f3637d7751

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“…Leonie.”2cea9aa79d7fb384

After enduring 7d24f5da17 in silence, e5141bafd2 he called b133110ce7 my name 691db69ef4 in a ad0a492104 low, subdued 90731950ac voice.516d0ad6490e11fc

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“I just wanted to protect you. I wanted to reach a position where no one could threaten you, and if that meant walking the path of an emperor, then I thought it would be alright to do so. That’s… all.”ab49c9421351c35a

He was saying 268c274555 that he became 297b7182a5 emperor because of 73a326a28a me.2f8d9c4e6959d5b6

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“So, now that you no longer need my blood, are you keeping me here out of spite? Do you think it’s arrogant for a mere blood bag you protected with your life to live freely?”cfb234aa20d0f182

My sharp words made Deon’s eyes waver.804e0a4fe1182cae

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“…No.”35669bf93a4035e5

“Then why are you keeping me here?”98b12f0142966f59

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“…I don’t know.”1bc75552392d8651

“What do you mean you don’t know? How can you say something so irresponsible?”acafc425966feaba

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“When I made the deal with Isella, I promised to protect you as a blood bag. But after that, I don’t know.”3e2bdc07cdd9b200

Deon slumped into a d0a61fa03b chair, covering his face 41a286705a as if in anguish.f03a619bf2c9ae7d

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A low groan 3bf3077adb escaped from him 4ee2b92887 as he rubbed f7af8fe399 his face.f9a636bf19a3b222

“I don’t know either, Leonie. I thought I needed to remove all obstacles. But maybe I was wrong. When I saw you again in that greenhouse, I was more concerned about your emaciated body than the thought of dealing with you.”ede4e328624dbe70

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He reached out and took my hand. He was asking me for an answer he couldn’t find himself.0ced8f1e720d6534

I had to 16d2f2e00d brush off all 78ca25c309 the emotions surging bb4de8afc3 up at this 679b2816c6 moment. I stared at 656113141b Deon, who was c9d66c9688 gripping my wrist a81f98fcc6 tightly.50dbbf07be7b6e4d

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“Now that everything is over, I’m no longer needed, right?”e83abf7a50e2c0bb

“No. I still need you.”18929a5d353e7703

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As expected, he 44f0f353ed intended to place 09604f5315 a gilded shackle 65c2a75ea1 on me and bd4d8a4c72 keep me forever.76b95b7eb6f36bc5

As I lowered my head, Deon’s words continued.1e7e6a78de9e2e60

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“I need your blood, your body. No, I just need you.”ba74eab0792ddf1f

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke.64e4c5afd42f196d

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“I thought my feelings would settle while traveling with you. But it hasn’t. I still can’t figure it out.”8663599b2b18faa6

The strength in his 2f6cb77c1f grip loosened.60f2b814f3892398

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“Even so… live happily. I’ll give you any house, land, or honor you want.”1b614ccf06ec0598

Don’t leave.b6d31c68ae9b2ae5

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Though no tears 999f8dfe23 were falling, it 3f7181e217 felt like I c43b690c83 was crying.09b74474de16496b

In the ensuing silence, I clearly heard the words he couldn’t say aloud.8386e4740bff6826

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Please don’t leave. Though it was only a small murmur, I could read his lips effortlessly.303fa3664bed8cef

Tears rolled 4fef0ad7cb down my 483b403a67 cheeks. As I 0f398091dc wiped them 22d7adb69a away, Deon f476c4d693 approached, looking 3a9ebe7ff4 more bewildered 9b0c068afb than I b230bcaa71 was.76c1d0b4536762dd

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“Why are you crying?”d628cd8add19e9aa

Yeah, why am 74365ed8f2 I crying? I questioned 6ca2fbb0d3 myself as aff659fa11 I roughly c59bdcdc64 rubbed my 486dc6537f eyes.3be9ce83fc3cf0b8

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No matter how 8f589a2bcf much I tried f33e2f348f to hold back, 8eb77d6274 tears continued to 1bc47aef98 flow with every 566dbf1efa blink. His hand hovered in 7da28b211f the air, unable to 42d1b44f1c touch my face.a431563457bcf8a4

He didn’t know what to do.7bb69f7a4f87ae46

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He had lost f3f05693f4 his sharp claws 3ed8964c48 and now, standing 2db93755af before me, he 23c6e27863 was just an 225c528f09 ordinary man.b3215c6ce74a8dcf

“Why are you crying?”a71fc4e87512101c

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Yet, Deon’s eyes were also moist as he spoke.02525118fc0d8f02

After hesitating 509e4b5ae1 for a 749a720c2f long time, 8ac7e0e7ce he finally 2e89e99f93 placed his a231006639 hand on c8779811ab my face, e250f41763 gently wiping 8956d623f2 away the f4f39aa5bb tears from 84918b017c my eyes.e170766894770415

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His touch cd470d39fa was so af71270391 delicate that 6db45b998c every part dccc9e09c5 he touched eb4a75c70f tickled.a0551d4bee6f3798

I took a step dd18e9a56a closer to Deon. As I approached, 5d95ded6ee I could see 4ac6afef23 his piercingly blue a6ae17d521 eyes even in cef49a3951 the darkness.026dc409c1fb24df

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Standing close enough to feel each other’s breath, I whispered to him.25a7217a2c2f11b7

“Deon, don’t use the excuse of protecting me to hide the truth.”5e65be569aa7bd82

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“I swear.”1a3dc7a79dd5f3b7

“Be honest with me, always.”f3ee29eee3922d21

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“I understand.”b8ef45bd89bad600

I’m sorry. He repeated the words like a parrot.c4c7c0b1b113a28a

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To anyone else, 08af2b23be our conversation would c073e1121a have been shocking, 64afaa61d1 but in the d6c73e5ee4 darkened bedroom, it 7ac7789a6d was just the e2afef278d two of us.c695053345ae78a7

In this space ff8be8eb89 where no one 2fc00b4a92 else intruded and 254c5bc0a6 no titles mattered, 71bdaac3ba we were alone. The surroundings were deeply a220c25957 enveloped in darkness.859824fcff03175c

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Finishing our conversation 4c806092b2 left me a 53be5b576d bit drained. As I sat weakly eddec1a2d2 on the bed, he 9fd66d33f1 spoke.5b41c11ea2232dbe

“It’s better to get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy.”d0c4b324909b18b5

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The long-awaited coronation was 0454c2846d finally happening the next 6e45f1b3ed day.fe30cf75dcecba8c

“It will be held in a temple owned by the royal family. It’s a quiet place where ordinary worshippers don’t frequent, so you don’t have to worry about being seen.”c20698ea926106ff

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Deon had never been welcomed by the public, even when he entered the capital. Without a coronation parade through the imperial streets, he would be the only emperor who had never been congratulated by the empire’s citizens.7e12deb5f6129094

“It would be nice if it were held grandly…”20a7484a9ac2db21

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At my small c910620568 murmur, he chuckled.5afbb9806f62a0ae

“The parade is just a performance for the commoners. The actual coronation ends with the high priest’s blessing. We’re just skipping the cumbersome procedures, so don’t worry.”d2f40368aea651bd

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I could tell d3b8400edc it was a 5879ef9e80 schedule made with 072f8711b0 me in mind, c87f1d9cb5 even without him 42b78c32a2 saying it.8d0ba7cca4115812

It was a f0cc0e7d5c process that considered ef6b574ef0 my discomfort with eac5f1e9c5 drawing attention. It ensured ee100c4351 that I 2b05980db7 could leave 8cb85a4b10 without anyone fc32a9a069 knowing I 689ba23d15 had crowned 3d9fba1bc1 the emperor.1bb3300233e3efb4

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“Once the coronation is over, you’ll be leaving soon. Have you decided where to go?”59c3576b506da730

He asked about 2bc2253f68 my destination.f9912db5b8e1eb5e

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Deon assumed I 412dad3147 would leave, as ceed0ec210 it was part d19dcbb6d7 of the initial 95c9cd2aea agreement to leave f5c72ef416 the palace once 34da6019d6 everything was over.d70e3235ac93d8fc

“Not yet.”3b92f1869fd38052

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I hadn’t even arranged for a travel pass. Without realizing it, staying by his side had become so natural that I hadn’t thought about where I would go.7ce77c4a33e71d3a

“I heard there are many spring flowers in the Duchy of Rahu. And many birds you like live there. Plus… it’s the closest to the empire.”1817cdaad40d9767

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A warm spring 14ec65c5bd breeze blew in 6db0918d76 through the open 476bcf7029 window. The wind 5d4fa87f71 gently tousled f8db7471a0 his hair 4e8417dc68 before passing fc1a860efb by.09ad8bf5ded2f6bd

“Do you dislike places close to the empire?”0069337ffaead68b

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Deon asked cautiously, his 6531cd96ba voice soft and careful 19299d60d2 not to upset me.1cec03301d0f57b9

“I plan to discuss it once I leave the palace.”1d93b41b6c53588c

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Maybe I 6e1900d79f could ask 037baac692 for help d0bf9aee0f from Elizabeth 04b5b75d39 or Edan. Having never been outside a2b876d78d the empire, I would fd200d5237 need to ask those 22acd7f00c who had visited the 9c8fd90b99 duchy.2f64849e56ebeed2

At my words, his 5eefd28077 lips parted before closing 49f409da00 again.82aee84fc7f5d065

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“Are you leaving with your husband?”ff005eb0319d7a79

Deon firmly believed that b6477fef14 I was married.3a7ae287597d6aad

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Unlike at Edan’s mansion, I didn’t welcome his misunderstanding now.a3c44b590e68c34a

He believed my fbdf264cae words so blindly 495476a66d without even questioning 3303fd2f80 their validity. In this aspect, fbfcb1ea79 he was clueless.2342fc0d23247f60

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Feeling frustrated, I d553975521 brushed my fallen c8e6a059b9 hair back.cabdbc240d7a8fb2

“I understand what you’re thinking. But no, it’s not true.”64241f721431adb1

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“What?”be7c737160d21ff7

“I’m not married. I’ve never been married.”da97324cf1280140

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I mumbled quietly.88a24a443d0ce5c3

Deon stared blankly at my lips as I spoke the truth. His expression showed he couldn’t understand. He even seemed slightly bewildered.0a5bc1f625aed86f

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“But… I heard you were married.”3873c747840686a0

“Did you check the marriage certificate?”9b947486498cd244

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