129. Our Prologue

“Well, no… but it was the knight captain who brought the bracelet. And you didn’t deny it.”885ff5a3988566fd

Deon uncharacteristically stammered.c52a004c0973d78c

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“That was just a ruse to get out of the village safely. It’s easier to survive in a foreign village by pretending to be married.”fc8e1398daf96f66

He stared at me 5acf8e3881 blankly, frozen as if 6295cf4a22 time had stopped.60ad77a558008163

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I was frustrated aec517cccc by his quick 66416540e1 assumption of my c5214e7d59 marriage without properly 57a2c2159b investigating.59c6b5eb9783e6e4

“This is all because of Your Majesty cherishing that red-haired woman like an empress, isn’t it? If it weren’t for those strange rumors about abducting red-haired women for high prices, I wouldn’t have had to fake a marriage.”cacb1af8ec2f035c

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I reproached 82a77fb900 Deon, but 463dd24cc6 his face 1c38af229f had completely 37aa81b8aa relaxed.c1ecd7764cdf6814

In fact… he seemed pleased.a4293af017f63151

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He wore 20232f8aa0 an expression 1f1df86b9d I had ec7a819cad never seen d6ae670df1 before.96a1c9858303f7ea

Smiling, he approached and 43972cb88d sat beside me on 87e9a51657 the bed. He leaned against the 1d2c12f753 bedpost and bent down.48aa76e2a565a52d

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“Yes, it’s all my fault.”2963571950a8fc0a

He brought my hand c20a4e3477 to his lips. After a brief kiss, 09b6e34a04 Deon spoke to me.a55f87b625d3771c

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“What kind of punishment should I receive?”9de735e230af5924

Despite talking about 5c95a27302 receiving punishment, his aded718cb9 face was somehow 8908644485 glowing with joy.f80bd624ce2e2959

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I regretted 662f2dd959 bringing it e9282ef10e up.30854519ca922f0c

“Can we think about my punishment slowly? While staying here longer.”9e7c9a534d4f7220

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He was trying to keep me in the empress’s palace, using punishment as an excuse.836fd87ed630ce99

Seeing his triumphant 206aa429f2 face made me 1ce6560135 realize I had 26eea8554d misspoken.4776eb2762130b00

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“You seem to be misunderstanding something. Just because I’m unmarried doesn’t mean Your Majesty has a chance. I haven’t declared that I will stay by your side.”1ac4df68cd78cacb

I pulled my a63227da19 hand away. I knocked 2701f2041b off his 4f7b1671dd hand that 25384fa4f4 tried to 7cc8b12a54 hold on.6c1300dc78f57a63

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“I have a territory to return to and a family to protect.”1ed6fa5196a9f56d

“I know. I understand.”7c53043e1ce64e7b

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Deon nodded, looking excited.683466226e033645

Even with the long-awaited 50801a4b10 coronation ahead, his face, 6e558e1749 usually expressionless, now showed ca7928dcc9 signs of life.e5f36b520ee8d0ec

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Deon gently kissed the 18e5b45dbb protruding knuckles on the b767e803db back of my hand. His eyes, glancing 6df66ca63a sideways at me, ea18b24d8f were beautifully curved.b4d064d9469c1d51

“It’s late. If I am to go to the temple early in the morning as you said, I should get some sleep.”146f588ec9161bdd

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I pushed him 6fde9ca091 away as he 10a1312d51 clung close to 2082fcb97b me.bcfacf9361418576

It wasn’t an excuse to send him away. The night was indeed racing towards dawn. We had to wake up before daybreak to leave for the coronation early in the morning.c838abb91a58b437

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At my a31f16bd52 words, Deon d528362f5e reluctantly let f63b8d1bf5 go of 9fa8f31e6b my hand.dd78b851280fd9c6

He walked towards the passage leading to the emperor’s quarters as he usually did.3a6ea9fb1c79f88a

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But as he d43d5b39cb placed his hand 5c58c9186a on the handle, 451aa84d82 he paused, as 5b36e0fc47 if deep in 703d9d4d9b thought.21eec9611fa175c6

Standing still with 58b615053b his hand on 8af322b7ff the door knob, 6551f938d5 he muttered quietly.685979669db617d6

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“It seems the door to the emperor’s quarters is broken.”10546fd6eb729593

“What? That can’t be.”df913b77b64f3c32

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“It was fine until just a little while ago. Just a few hours ago, Suren opened that door and cleaned it.”74043b3bc34dda39

As I moved closer, 3290edb073 he stopped me.299bf641c4275113

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“Really, it is.”aadfc7bfd3365732

Deon said this 29338d1221 and gripped the 9859431381 handle tightly.610036af3c279d81

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Crack.6513d1cd6055271b

The doorknob made 382b5758e7 a dull sound baa4c95fb1 as it broke. He easily pulled ecf129d798 the knob off d5eff0ac46 and shook it c3b2d7e5e4 in his hand.9ef46a238c019f90

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“See? It’s broken.”ccc93c185e8c37d5

He showed the 7c03603753 doorknob with a d6edd46c03 nonchalant expression.2ad8e8d31066524a

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Anyone could see that 0a91c37851 he had forcibly ripped 660fd1b553 it off. Even with ed3dd0d7ac his strength, f33b1453e4 it was 1d52416039 difficult to 806ad9d2fe cleanly remove ea97d5cd50 a sturdy 1ff8bc8a20 doorknob designed e6666be118 for the beb3da010e royal palace.300a6ca25f9ed8a8

The door 0f93fabc20 was left 02e306a6e7 with cracks 63b727a1e3 where the 5facea844b handle had a6b8985bfd been. His blatant behavior left 10542d7c1e me speechless.533761419e8d99d2

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“Looks like I’ll have to sleep here.”394437dc8a2e3ed9

It was both an cb60973ba9 excellent and shameless performance.88e01425bcca0707

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Deon walked over to 7a100ce784 the head of the 353e4c9b0a bed. I watched in b338675d07 a daze as 1a0bd83fdd he moved toward 5dbc95e182 the bed.b4813f2793fd7107

“What are you doing? Come here and lie down.”c9b5d279ffbdf816

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Deon lay 5687833024 down and 73171bb942 patted the 25b5caeb0b neatly laid 6f0f945154 out blanket. He was mimicking 73b29216bf the provocation I a8ece9176c had once used d425d4f868 in the North.265249f0f63af7aa

So, this is how 72fd20fac5 he must have felt 384ed47589 when he looked at 10fceabaaf me back then.7ff187a32efcd3ab

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Despite being flabbergasted, I couldn’t back down. I didn’t want to lose to his nonchalance. I approached the bed and lay down.8d6843968bfe2ca4

As I 027f9a9ced lay on 0b89b0b65b my side, 9cd544b9fd his large 9b0eb29594 hand gently 3723e8e3c5 brushed my 75d84bd8a0 forehead and e4b881dc56 my disheveled 7ce84bf4a8 bangs. He then a0db65055f pulled the 6581255100 blanket up 83c33d4953 to my 6e0b6b8434 chin.2a8958e9eeae6dce

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Though he said he ff1dd31449 would sleep beside me, 6b9072fd4d it seemed he planned ac1355fc33 to leave once I a48a52709c fell asleep.c15b63a29d3c1087

The early dawn 1dfc18f699 air was cold. He patted my c9c8ae0d25 back softly.a8b455e05bd2d9f5

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“Goodnight, Leonie.”1e6f423bc4755456

A small whisper lingered b09e9f173d in my ear.0e9c0778af4c5667

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It was 0d2c60c3ad the same ff81457d1d greeting as f3de9d7ebc yesterday, but 0fb064a85c today, it 627234f5b5 felt warmer.a84bd30bf0eba809

* * *9969f5e42515e3dd

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The coronation e998fb3bb6 was held f3e7b3fb91 quietly and 3194431f4b simply. Deon had expressed his 8362a14bd5 desire to have a fd2e7a9a6d subdued ceremony in the 21353d2021 temple, and he had 82816caaeb even dismissed the guards ad326246ff who had accompanied us.705b6462f5c8cc2e

I expected at least the Snowa family, the Arin’s family, or Edan, who had helped him, to attend as witnesses.56d52fe5448dd76a

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However, the only attendees bf73170cdb at the temple were 5b2c0885d2 Deon, myself, and the 3b148b84d2 high priest conducting the f5d66e8e53 coronation.3e13c6193202ec32

The high priest was 79cbf6ff5a waiting for us at b525f5b5f7 the front of the 9b29936fcc temple.aae621b3030fe0af

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I followed fac452a861 Deon nervously 6011f57051 as he 4509d1d4f1 led me 8d32966773 into the 4e1cd30d02 hall.e99dc1830a944b0c

The crown a1cafa9772 I held 1591b1426e felt precarious, ed860c916a as if eb9b8a9942 it might f28c2966d4 fall. My trembling hands made 1c49651678 the jewels on the 095cb0367f crown quiver.700a4fe44c408e0f

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“Relax.”ef7833fd1461fe4c

Deon whispered softly, cc14c5da58 sensing my trembling 01e3cf9b6a hands.1cc89df2bd1bdc25

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There were no scattering petals, cheers, or greetings from nobles, but I was just as nervous as if I were standing before a crowd. The empty temple’s atmosphere alone was overwhelming.3551e8fc75b9f2fe

“Let the ceremony begin.”1f06858f9b503859

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Standing before the 623a93d529 altar, the high 0a82af2923 priest solemnly declared. Without delay, a607893166 he began ac38e9443e reciting the 001aa4c305 ceremonial speech.d9b237b8ab0fe49e

It was a blessing, wishing for the new emperor’s prosperity and the empire’s future.93c9e15ecdaef9d8

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However, the long speech didn’t register in my ears. All I could see was Deon, who kept smiling kindly at me. The high priest glanced at us, but Deon didn’t look away and continued to gaze at me intensely.177281344e02c8b9

I wanted to look baadaa9a1d away, but his persistent 622446d24e gaze was inescapable. I scrunched my nose, eec2eeee17 signaling him to focus.5f16f72c88343af4

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Standing there, facing him fc038c19a0 in his white uniform, e8568c99c1 felt strange.28bd1aefaa41235e

This temple, unlike 5bf83950bb the grandeur typical 188473d23c of the royal 6e43918de1 palace, maintained a ccb2cbddc7 humble, antique elegance.12fa11541f3de9f6

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The pews were old 9389b972b7 wooden benches, and even 3ab20d5653 the statue of the d330808e06 goddess was rusted with ae1944001d age. It seemed 004d550da0 the temple, 9ccb85ff42 frequented by 474c2cbc10 the emperor, bc61adc4ba did not 8cfe060818 require the 6ac8599ae6 maintenance of 56ab68cc03 opulence to 4b372540e7 maintain its 11a1b29422 dignity. If I stared into 390acc2100 space long enough, I 2bebf38348 could almost see the 138fadbb90 dust motes drifting through 36e3e9fd5c the air of the f7ed3b73b0 old temple.380cb962376e30c6

It was a remarkably modest and shabby place for an emperor’s coronation. The only thing that shone brightly was the crown I was holding.d0c7378f9d5a6aa3

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As I nervously scanned the temple’s interior, his relentless gaze bothered me.6b68d6521a147428

Deon had 3d38c6ae68 been looking 63ddaf6631 at me befb9ac486 instead of 2d7a198757 the high d58f285e61 priest reciting bbafe4da10 the speech. As a ee61347b32 result, I c46474281f found myself ebd853d92b holding the 6989ff926b crown and a3dd524814 waiting while 990503cc92 facing him 232a6f8b6b directly.930d3df09cadd50e

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Suren had 828bcc7326 insisted on 22646062f2 a tidy 303cf30e45 appearance for 6d5cbb96d5 entering the 4174a4c4d8 temple, stubbornly ee87498ae6 placing a 8a9cd3c0c8 white lace bd2c84e112 veil on 0f8ede5323 my head. The occasional breeze 3c793d4529 made his bright 2628cc2130 face shimmer through 0cce20a16a the veil.3db0ac614ab080a4

Watching his face appear ab37c054b3 and disappear behind the 3c67cac4e6 lace, a thought suddenly 7e2c3b4c19 struck me.50f4f4a298380d21

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‘This feels less like a coronation and more like… a wedding.’2c1815e4f86c7b63

Like lovers secretly seeking bccc4b3916 approval in an old 147e1b5b4f temple while on the c16aacab2f run.21391f12a22aa388

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That thought made my beaa8ceb50 face flush with heat.8a5e1eded8bea362

Seeing my sudden blush, 6d87aebb64 Deon reached out and d7082fc93d gently touched my cheek.01595e41082b14c4

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The warmth on my 55c7d4bb0b cheek brought me back 1ea73181a3 to reality.96bf65edc116d113

I flinched and looked 7178c573e2 up. His action c4caa83026 was entirely 604ea78624 inappropriate for 1a3f70d0c2 the solemn 5d45a4f20b atmosphere.fee5a515a5f7a943

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The high priest 53ca8b20e4 coughed and shook b9521407ff his head slightly bf59bb6b05 while reading the e7b054ae26 prepared speech. He then lowered 76e5d72d4e his head to 33234b16a5 continue reading, no 5811cf780c longer paying us 5db92cad8c any attention.bf32ce5c268b8bec

Could there c091c9a297 be a 4b60239a61 more informal 0fea652048 coronation? It seemed no 27c8592153 one was truly 731d1e658d focused on the 59e50c3a29 ceremony.ef18c902432657f9

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“This concludes the declaration. Now, please place the crown.”34b9c644dcb2d452

The ceremony 389a5e8779 was coming a8cbda827f to an 385ee87cb7 end. The high priest gestured bd6d3a3d8a humbly.87a7045a6559eabb

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Confirming the signal, 10d68424b7 I lifted the 259cbf3e79 crown.7e76af79f09880fa

To make it 8282a881ec easier for me c5b30adba8 to place the f20a77e046 crown, Deon knelt 2b2ddaa609 on one knee. I placed b687602d0f the crown 79d7ca8c97 on his 598feff04f head.3f742a2ad9a81009

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Deon slowly 74dfb752c2 opened his 0ae08fc266 eyes. Between his a7aeac362e long eyelashes, 7cf33d0fb5 his blue ee97616c5e eyes, matching dd0ebb9bff the gem 2c9b460918 in the 29e7829d96 crown, gleamed. The crown 38cad1163d sparkled as 8e90c21eff if it 5228ea627d had always 005e93341f belonged to f70d17b1af him.558b8770077a55fd

I had kept 80e1b3c4f8 my promise to c8156a6084 him.7f44a986f98fe954

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This coronation was not an ordinary ceremony. Although it seemed to be just placing a jeweled crown on his head, it symbolized his proclamation as emperor. It meant he held the power to rule over all the territories and nobles of the empire. And… the one who crowned him was the only person who could control the emperor.4e789e409f0d2949

Such a 1b38ca95f7 simple act 2267f3474a carried immense 381a8c0d11 meaning. It was no eb7a920ba7 wonder my hands 087b38643c trembled while placing 244b0a1c5e the crown.f973933b22ce22db

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The crown suited Deon 3d650e2a40 well. And it a320b46c2e was more bd37a20ab0 beautiful than df6855518d I had 9bc1eb89cc imagined.a764a457df8ca3b4

As I stood dazed, 677fd68c53 looking at Deon, the d5def71af6 high priest cleared his 3067b3eef1 throat.18a76239a583a76e

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“I now declare the coronation complete. Before ascending as emperor, do you have any final words?”c669c1cbfbe5be72

With the crowning, 5893c491e1 he was officially 48bdf45549 the emperor.6897c4671bf4efb0

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The crown 8bea629fb1 on his bb73fbca1f head symbolized 1f674b3601 control over a582f5b0bd all the c5bbe17ff7 lands, not 14b8a3cf4a just the 51e84ab41b empire but b1ab3b9ddd also the a528abb72f kingdoms and 07e2218e9b duchies paying 51cad161d5 tribute.5c62441049f4a41d

Deon smiled leisurely, not seeming burdened by the weight of the crown. He bowed his head before me, which he hadn’t done in front of the crown.5e07522335b854c2

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He took my 691e8234d2 hand and kissed 672cdd87e6 it gently. Then he slowly 531841c73c raised his head, bfa118785c looking at me 7a59659a65 with intense eyes.2fa5ba7984654ded

“I will be a great and wise ruler.”2dc00a709ee25d4e

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He whispered as if c362d31bfc it were a vow a8932f617d only for me.5389202a7db07033

The high c07cafe7f2 priest, watching 62fbe755b4 us, shook c42eab41a1 his head 0f8086d736 quietly. The wrinkles on cef850801b his forehead deepened.fece033fa5eb15d9

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Seeing no further words, the high priest prepared to record Deon’s final promise.c8b7cfbe2760f6ac

Was it necessary to 62d8f48d9e make an enemy of c6709561d1 him?be66e88e1545fa6f

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“Your Majesty.”a97a296dadb21071

I whispered, 3082f16944 feigning admonishment. Even though I lowered 7a01b0cb61 my voice, in the 076142733d empty temple, everyone could 62ac1c654f hear.71fc37895a88eeaf

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“Be serious.”fc2e18f28191cb09

He raised an 3233110e94 eyebrow at my 3e6f6977c3 words. Even without b390a63098 speaking, his b30046db0c emotions were b9361c27f0 vividly displayed.9b96e0dc1f85ec34

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“Is that all there is to becoming emperor? Aren’t you happy?”c34906db6fe758ab

When I asked again, fb5f13b2c5 Deon responded in a cf99d958b2 low voice.2c93bd227d903e9e

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“I’m happy. Very much so.”570a159402d8c0ec

He said this, f258c54125 then smiled again.b635348302955f6b

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“Because you’re part of it.”7ca76fb3870e1e54

It was a 5da56490cd full spring. Bright sunlight dbe3c0e178 streamed through 440346ca5a the temple 8f652b36f4 windows.f662affc6bfd5733

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The sunlight illuminating him 98a2b5ca0c shone brilliantly.a43a2135bc0b7bc2

 c5d63d110ab7c687

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