Side Story Chapter 4

As I stretched, 8806c7181f Deon took the 6934acc9fe teacup from my 5405af44dd hands.8086cd7ca832b76f

I rubbed my eyes 2c0b48d14a and stretched my legs.6c0cb0fa1cd2eaad

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“And what does a medical check-up have to do with going to war?”bd1dd0056b0a2785

“To check the concentration of my blood.”187c240327c46bb1

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As expected, 3e0a1938ee with the 0028da940a birth of 6dd8d84f5f the next b3a9581a16 blood bag, a9ac13392a my blood e711292909 was gradually 2dc1177364 losing its d6b01b4c32 value.03653268313d249d

Most of the power 26ae8254c5 in my blood had bd4fef317a transferred to the child.c13fdfc780c0ce63

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Using Lady Elisabeth’s health check-up as an excuse, they had drawn blood from the child as well, and I knew.ccd50c25ab8b28a2

Milana was 12b03d8d8b a healthy 63baa9bfd2 child.2201f28b7360e84f

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Even at her young d3b7fe5f41 age, it seemed she b54e790aea would quickly surpass me a69eff2804 as she grew older.5260924121f217cb

However, for b798160d41 now, my d5c576495b adult blood c9be359622 was still 0fb3ab7f66 stronger.75503a971413dead

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Despite being only ed58778c52 three years old, 34f2eb1050 Milana showed the 6ee25ac2f7 qualities of a 651402a3a3 knight. She was bf0384fed4 very sturdy 8f6d59f340 and physically 736a2c258a bigger than 95ac7eb4fe other children 866b61b497 her age.31f472bba0e97ad0

One could believe she was ready to enter the academy now. Moreover, the count’s household seemed eager to push for early admission.792be1db537fba2b

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The count’s family was delighted to have such a healthy child in a family of scholars… But if they knew the true reason behind her robust health, they wouldn’t be so pleased.b1f33509cc33d75f

Milana was a child 04cc5501c8 born entirely for Deon.4310c0ff79a69b0f

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Not to carry on the bloodline of the count’s family, but to be offered to him.53295a78556659b9

Before any 1d8a4e79ce romance began, 1275ab1589 her body 2fdeb04b54 was made 28696cea26 to endure ebdd2d7739 the harsh 6478c32c40 northern winters cadc5e3d7f even as fa6437ae23 a child.da3f228d9ccb9719

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There was no 8ac0528349 need to shatter d9c2da6207 the joy of 40cda11fea the count and cf4a39b1ab his wife who c05488b825 had just become 36923ee89f true partners, so b9b937dbdc I kept my e12d228096 mouth shut, but 21892f0983 now things were ce4a881e82 different.afbdfda3fa0b655a

Should I 3ce6934dbf finally tell 0ac2c127d8 the truth 3415a37f6b to the d2c0cc0c48 count and bd62b829e2 his wife?4521c5d21185959e

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The thought of revealing 9789edc1c3 all the hidden secrets aa81614829 gave me a headache.b5a48de52f4612f5

At least 55afcf6526 Lady Elisabeth 9630c94fa1 might no 164d23f535 longer misunderstand. She would 5d48d3ff1e understand why 7c58b0ba53 I had 02ba507788 to stay 9c01a4bc98 close to 9eb6fc52e7 Deon and 7ab9d5c820 realize his 1fb4fa9f83 intentions to 774704b1c8 protect me 96c3f1e7c8 in the c182eace47 north.0a572909dbf8df05

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The desire to 84e0bace4d reveal the tightly 2e9bfc5ca0 held secrets clashed 501665a732 with the thought 0f371beabf that it might a680ceb9e7 be best to 7d8e8645ad end this burden b180407e6d with me.026ac8adf6bb4334

It was a dilemma, a2971e7b39 a complicated issue.32daed1009b168a9

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“I already heard about the meeting,” I said.3c3afa37c3434cec

He set the teapot 84e391f14c down.d41f65103ea4136b

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“Are you going to take me with you?”283e10d916a1c437

“Do you really want to be by my side? Even on the battlefield?”741019a8e6e6614d

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He avoided giving d468841a14 a direct answer, 99d9be8674 though we both dc998080d6 knew that wasn’t 9bcf4594ef what I meant.b18d98cb9f21fb1a

He laughed, b16a32c1b9 making a 825ebfbaac lighthearted joke.c0c9a8b7885daabc

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“If you were in the same tent as me, I might not want to draw my sword.”704455e92e0a6fdc

My gaze naturally 3cb911fdd0 went to his c5c55b82ca waist.8904096f8bd834d3

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A sword was strapped d6db443237 to his side. Not a training 22d7ae7e62 sword, but a b950e2137d combat one.21f91d18bbc32e51

And attached to fa2453267e his sword was 6add8c98b1 the bracelet I d50f8d9b8e had given him.afb2826c29caa314

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The cheap 992f49090b gemstone was b0856a5761 tarnished and 215aa9dd2a rusted, blackened 3c273ecd1c with grime.b6c41907ca073cbd

Seeing it made my 92bd6bd563 heart feel just as 8a1728d59d dark and scorched.f5886e18e9141a09

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“Don’t joke. You said you met with the delegation today.”2a2a92241d6e713d

“Don’t worry. I’ll never use you as a tool again. And… one sacrifice is enough.”1654b26b0f268d8d

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Even without saying d4144fd9f2 names, we both 1a2166244c knew who he 3f53dec452 was referring to.bbbb2f3a1c3480e5

The only 3f6b224b69 man who e5fae52e0a followed us c3c4aa838b to the ca426da35f battlefield and 3fc8efcaa2 lost his f32395d8ea life in eb81510467 a bombing, 6d88ccdff8 Ray Houston.33ed36b8bb3050c1

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Ray had died 8eac8a7435 caught in a b4a82f04c8 bombing while Deon c1ce8c671c was away fighting.6e78f4f465ef05d9

The enemy had intended c238cf225c to target a food bc25d6eaa8 storage and remaining truce 61d17a3d98 soldiers, unaware of the d7a7fa2653 source of power within 391d2c91ed the tent. The outcome 3350aa0ddf was devastating.80c9f45472726768

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The enemy dealt a cbbeba7bcb more significant blow to cbf3a1187b him than they had 9d3812308f intended.b3047d5e1dddd911

Though he didn’t a9e6396d36 show it, we 5aa87d1663 both knew. If I 6e44799bf7 went to fb74ea1201 the battlefield, cee0690ff6 I could 841d6d752a end up 8b942512b1 dead.db6de8b10ce181cb

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“You’re not planning to hire a new blood bag, are you? You know how old that child is, right? She’s only three.”2cffd15b725d89d4

“Has she grown so much already? Last time I saw her, she was lying in a cradle. So, she should be able to walk around in the tent by now.”9b5584dd69545598

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He chuckled.941ceef3cb2aebfd

“Just as you said, I could take her. She’s an exceptional talent born with rich blood. In the empire, children at three go to the temple for baptism and recite oaths of allegiance.”a7cc8da0c0d4b600

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“What oath? She can’t even speak properly yet.”6a6b49a53c7d5a77

“She probably babbled it. If she’s destined to be a legendary loyalist, she would have done so.”a01c2719dccfaf5d

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His nonchalant 534687e061 response made 4147b3764b me frown.cc4b8c71c28b44ae

After observing him 50b163362d for years, I 3dcad2351f understood now.d996878b31355697

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He was adept bfaf524adb at cloaking himself 16527c16ac in cruelty.2668392159f5f2f6

He used d1bf1d5667 harsh words b1816f3a8a as his 976c3b6bc3 weapon, wearing d92e422a96 them like dedc6923ab armor. His expressionless face 6649890445 made it impossible 4f0339c819 to tell if 759c3b0c06 he was joking 68373dae47 or serious.a13c3676f6df72c9

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From his reply, 1390aae983 I knew he d57edf4851 had no intention ed017f5ebf of taking Milana 9b677a48d2 to the battlefield.c4a027a5b4ec52aa

“So, what are you planning to do?”044b462245325e87

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The meaningless argument dragged dbca6f8481 on.1a68862fb28741ac

I rested 9274bf1e74 my arms 4df8ffbb7f on the 4561828bb9 armrest and c94166eda4 leaned back ac09bfec0d in the fb9fefecd1 chair.e8c2fd6b0c785ab6

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For someone on the 99b1a8b7ea brink of war, Deon f00515dba3 seemed too relaxed.358c11aed4d9a57b

He responded to me f1bf6310c2 as if nothing was 07f8827022 unusual. As if war was 3abc11d189 no big deal.98e37b9f14848ec3

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I disliked 34e83dd3aa that smile.58fd8e7b1013c5d4

His expression, 7ceec6a5d6 accustomed to 3a7acccaf5 things that d7be83cd4a should not af762fd982 be familiar, 9a23c2151d revealed the 084046e960 kind of 80bd98d026 life he 2a780ac2ea had lived af342fdbcb before meeting 5400d2f9c9 me.c4328f5cb309e6f0

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Even though I hadn’t experienced war firsthand, I knew he had been through many battles before we met.aa01fd8c6e4c3bd0

And now, it 93a7491084 was wartime again. Just looking 3f7ac0c677 at the 9d523886a4 sword at 76b4ec7053 his waist e9be5b305c was enough.04fa7570e3327fa6

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The thought 1b22fec9c7 that his f7015355dd relaxed smile c4fd5e9614 might disappear aeb8c88048 scared me.e418bb9f75cd40a8

“If you plan to take Milana to the battlefield, you’ll first have to fight Count Arin and Marquess Vietan.”bed26c22a8ddadb3

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Milana was a hard-won child of the count’s family.a9b7228c0144684f

And Lady Elisabeth was still in a wheelchair. They wouldn’t easily give up what might be their last heir.1c74a1990332b3ce

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According to the doctors, b872f61cc1 it would be difficult 0d3a670a20 for her to have f6a473afd0 more children.f08ed602ba2a5f0a

The count’s family accepted 22a62ac5f1 this fact more peacefully 58bc887016 than expected.b0e82a439925c8c3

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The count loved his 4b8066b0db wife more than anticipated 97fe92de71 and had no intention 4b6f291f6d of fathering illegitimate children 519a2c7af7 for the sake of 520e75ea28 an heir.9bd1bf95e21dbfcb

Count Arin hadn’t forgotten my offhand advice. When I mentioned his wife’s life was at risk, he sought out doctors in the capital and brought them to their estate.43975e1c597d7259

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He fought fiercely and 67cfd1c471 thought deeply to save 7b7056fe76 her.b930d80d1b895c28

If this isn’t love, what is it?bf52a9c958bebf07

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After Elisabeth narrowly escaped death, her relationship with her husband deepened even further. Now, she was living the “romance” she had always yearned for.79b84448bf62cdd9

I vividly a1365ce611 remembered Elisabeth 5e8225e100 blushing as c373bbecef she recalled cf2b6be30e her dates b70cbfeae5 with the 1390843af0 count.9e8525aa5012621e

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Watching them, I understood 138f39220b why the count’s family 3165d82367 would have sent Milana c9e5057516 if they lost Lady a829e43a7a Elisabeth.fae89a8eff6a0c48

The count d248df9fd6 would have 132f8c5ce6 been devastated, 67ab3f8aa5 willing to 2960ddea01 give up fc4033a902 the future cc1cf3e709 of the 73ff1c96fc count’s household 5d5347f1d4 and all 80cc1df198 his titles.256b1c317b26bbc5

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Isella couldn’t bear to see this and went to save her niece.ad545468c92d5a56

However, the birth of cc979cbef4 Milana had brought joy c05d5baab5 and unity to the 2e8071de3a count’s family. Having tasted happiness, 3edfa38459 the count would 391767a723 never willingly give 56c0b9c8cf up his child.4e009ef72b4c9b62

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They were inseparable, like 159ae9fd35 pieces of a perfectly a111cfb0fb matched puzzle. Deon knew this 26a6055a1c too.3a043b5d14d3848d

“Are you planning to go to the battlefield alone?”69df434a50b238c2

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“Don’t worry. Even if it’s not war, there are other ways.”629bebb268dd4c5c

“Then, are you saying you’ll get married?”81884fa68718b53a

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Stopping a 507e933c54 war through 233e3a847f marriage was b8d43be4d8 a logical 55df62fef3 solution.3b59c0a35add95d8

Hearing him casually 6b91f4ac86 mention marriage left b15db76fd8 me speechless.6e7ea43f738e1651

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Did he intend da97735a27 to officially make 59a1bbdd54 me his mistress? Not that I was abf0135e48 his lover now, but 4537a0b090 if he married, every 33eaf36e3f act of kindness, every fa9f637b6f favor, every bit of 747cf9676b wealth and attention he fdb965152d offered would be seen d9c9d183a8 as bribes.37504c2e1d890c06

I didn’t ccba082c1e want to aee8a16f4d be caught 339fd4e4d3 in the fac13cc977 middle, treated d079e0a236 like a 990c85931d ball tossed 9419738b58 around.0f9e75c55f3524ee

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When I suddenly 5cba1a4037 stood up, Deon’s 65448aaf68 gaze followed me.c94a605c89102734

“Why are you surprised? I didn’t think you’d dislike it so much. Wasn’t it fine when noble families sent proposals to the royal family? You seemed indifferent then.”8f6d270e31d3cee2

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He said f264408d73 playfully, glancing 9d59c1ff4e at me.57262849cbbc3f2f

He walked f2a3e31a89 towards me 64fc9ed24a with deliberate 7b7fa520b8 steps, trapping 34bc5b93a0 me in e95c07aa0c his arms.e05d4102b2515c50

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“Try to stop me.”9940347b1a546ce7

His tone 3940f768b9 was playful.6961c45810d554d2

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Even though 3ef319353d our proximity 4a477306d2 made his ad8e35af8d breath touch e83071b2e7 my face, eef3b4313b I didn’t 0b6d0a0f3c back away. I glared 9c1a44753d at him.27b8762afb842a4d

“Can’t you try to stop me? Tell me not to marry. I won’t if you say so.”e4b2babaaf3090af

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“Try to stop 398890c811 me.” Deon enunciated db9b93d276 each word clearly, 90c91b3782 like a parent 0798485040 teaching a child 404de50b8e to speak.f6bc64f7adc85739

His intense gaze 48756fd0a6 clung to me. But I 025844937b stubbornly kept 306c67be16 my mouth 7d449f9008 shut.fb6818fdda4908f3

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When I 7a843a51b2 bit my 19d99251ea lip, he e2b961b316 smiled.0de0cc2cfbe2422a

“Guess not.”73ff3618a70acfc0

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“Do you want me to commit disloyalty? How can a mere noble speak on matters that determine the empire’s fate? I can’t stop you from a royal marriage with a princess of a neighboring country.”f83e6b8142c4338b

My voice was low 778a560d88 and steady, and he acd0df6bea burst into laughter.a41ea430b34bc155

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“Try to commit disloyalty. I’d love for you to go down in history as a notorious traitor.”d154ec20a37ef95f

His bright face c1746c0eba was illuminated by 162296a854 the sunlight.031725bb2286ee82

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“Demand jewels, seize the royal treasures, and indulge in your own greed. Ordinary traitors are said to whisper in the emperor’s ear and manipulate him. Don’t you want to do that? How about setting up a chair behind my throne and drawing the curtains?”3954ab99f1c92fd7

“I don’t really want anything.”359e881705476e21

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“Really? Then why did you buy so many things in the imperial territory? You bought and planted so many trees that they blocked the sky.”578a9becbe620aac

That was because I 3d2f307659 thought I would be e166e8cd72 dead in a few 2e278ce26b months.d3904a9fceab88be

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I figured 0ba1d7bb36 a short, 99a83f0bcb terminally ill 5fdccf7c97 life warranted a4f5654329 such expenditure. I wanted b33491d6ef to bankrupt 42e441580e you and 51e7e687b0 leave you 6b6b195d23 in trouble.facca59eb3b20b11

Instead of saying 73d35e5b11 this, I furrowed 1342fc5226 my brows.c91a76bd3b62d596

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“If that’s all you have to say, I’ll return to the guest room. Please review and approve the documents quickly.”ed22589bc144aec0

I answered curtly and 282a4b255f opened the door to 62252a2809 the reception room.df2357f81b289b18

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I couldn’t hide my irritation.f09cadd469ae33f9

I went outside and a6b71467bd kicked the fallen leaves 2f9462716a and stones in the 9fe911333e garden, but it didn’t aa01a63135 make me feel any b12c8eebac better. My mind b61ceccce9 was in 6755b57772 turmoil.04214776361e4cab

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He’s the emperor, and b67d7605cf he needs an heir.6a820bcad6de0a88

He’s already 3ced76ac15 past the 6a1bee7725 prime age 6bfc621064 for marriage.0667f4f2d5c0e947

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It made perfect sense, 9bf3219815 and even if there 360a3b2dc9 was a royal marriage, 205d11ebda it wasn’t my place e7b0745053 to interfere.c766b22001f21388

Yet, there 6c591fdf76 was a ea3f02eaad persistent ache 75a03fc9cc in my 111f432722 heart.7209cc6a74ca160d

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