DKVM Ch 9

Chapter 9

At the banquet,98ec957b40dfd53f

I ran 2f7295c29f into an 1899d7e4a8 unexpected difficulty bd1823dfdb and was 6ae22726dc left gasping b9674d9382 for air.72dd19ed77faffc9

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“….”7b7825914ef619c2

“….”dd28e2d1f02c4aeb

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“….”a9aaa7e879019fa7

After I had greeted d07001f31a the duke and exchanged 7da0dce825 a few words, only b86bce7a5f the clinking of utensils 9bce738807 filled the silence of 1815a457b4 the dining room.1c49351211f0be1b

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‘I noticed earlier, but Rahel is very awkward with her grandfather.’d1f031f625ebfc4e

I think I’m closer to the villa’s gatekeeper…995c261e578f0f4d

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I broke the silence 7825c79847 between the two of 965bffafda them, feeling a heavy 1cb740346c responsibility.e59163117aefd6b0

“Well… we had a good outing in town today, thanks to the duke’s permission, and I think the princess liked it.”dcece3d50ccf2125

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Of course, Rahel hadn’t even said anything close to “liked,” but I blurted it out anyway.86b17781262c9b2d

Fortunately, Rahel didn’t bother to correct me.43f24725b18c8cf5

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The duke seemed 2ebd2e1192 interested in what 5d800dd436 I had to a26fe7d7ad say.c31f49e2b5e24a2c

“Really? Where have you 35ab5fd07a been?”8784a23f6e909533

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“Since you’re new to town, and I didn’t think you’d have enough time to see everything, I took you to the hill in the back.”82d7cb0e24e13e5a

“The hill in the back? Why did you go there?”ca256c70f31e5ddb

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“Because if you go up there, you can get a bird’s eye view of the town!”5123d3c062c9b775

The duke stared at d42f7f3730 me, apparently surprised by f126b64336 my answer, and then 4f261bd95a nodded.ce55bf66ddd86af0

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“You’ve thought of the best way to see the town in a short amount of time.”dfbb25bd226dba23

“That’s because it’s not polite to keep the duke waiting for a meal.”25f8dff524bde04f

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I chuckled, sneaking cb28f82d74 a glance at 52654df7ef the duke.f545b9db53a0fb86

As he listened to the story of what Rahel and I had done today, he didn’t even glance in Rahel’s direction.62146cdf3ca60508

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No, your granddaughter hasn’t been out in a long time, and you don’t even ask her if she had a good time?cde9437208e0b0dc

Looking between the c206281f92 sullen granddaughter and 5ae1d809c6 her grandfather, I 9610abc7dd sneakily added another 6774ff66f0 word.cb1854eef2c11026

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“Next time, the duke 77fa51ccb7 should come to town ab653d7151 with the princess and 4c9bd818d7 me!”c83e2d6591d54c58

I tried 40a59aa1b1 tying the fe9dfb282b two of fd547d0064 them together, a438ac5a1c hoping to c906812547 get the 9cb67dc0fd duke to 96ad2e6025 take an bf423a5fde interest in 4aaa557a77 Rahel.952f0b20a5888b98

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But.d5867cb0f91e04a7

“If I 5d8155eba8 have time.”706c5175b7b43375

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The duke merely glanced 03684533ae at Rahel, who continued ec074c32d9 to eat in silence, ca2cbb5eba with polite indifference.64ace55a2d622c86

And with that, the 69b498480f conversation ended, and there fc9d4fe02d was another stifling silence.25e927c59a179c28

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I glanced 8543e948ef over at c21f5dd32d Rahel this cb5257827f time.7b795ff379264f5f

Rahel seemed to find c131add3cb the silence familiar, concentrating 12501096b2 on her meal.10b38656dc88db79

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‘Rahel doesn’t seem to follow her nanny that closely.’2d466e98682621cd

Is it because she doesn’t get along with her grandfather, her only family member, that she relies on her nanny?c2df413a07a41f69

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‘But the nanny doesn’t seem like a very nice person.’05e992f39b985f6d

Of course, it wasn’t good for me either.5d1133c87e5afe60

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And most of all…even with a nanny, staying close to her family will help Rahel’s emotions.b5e7d736aa55d08f

Maybe it will prevent 4b248d953a her from turning to a5a45a40c2 the dark side in da217592ae the future.62299aee6180b9b1

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‘If I knew c60b3eb05f why Rahel and 96f78f04bf the duke are 90e1d782e7 at odds, I 86061eebd2 might be able 01c5bdb7f3 to help them 186d2e78e6 get closer.’acdae9e6ba919d44

I need to a52db34172 talk to them 0e888b272c more to find 645c36e8d9 out.92fc3f15ea85fb07

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I racked my 476a38cb92 brain, trying to 5861e12b83 figure out how 9bd2b8c51d to get them 0bd937f8ef to talk.6de6d78b54232399

The butler, c78a28b749 who had e108ac8561 quietly entered 53c7474ba8 the dining 491714d976 room, approached.e198a5937f2f14a8

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“Your Grace.”8d50f282132b9e9f

“What is it?”1b4dce6d2cd477df

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The butler 7281b86558 hesitated for f1ed221cd4 a moment, a9441718ed then answered 549c856671 in a ac91ab8e69 voice that 9242567e08 was clearly c40018d7fa troubled.eef472e7ece19526

“There is an inspector a11da654a2 from the imperial palace.”26f017a03bc1d443

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* * *56ce2acbca3a5e6a

Dias neatly bagged 3b91aef0ed the last bread 7bd0cf6a66 of the day b921a501f5 and held it 1046d12b9e out.24e40892fb9201d6

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The woman, who 4dc12009ec had been studying c30a2d3d8f his face, smiled be2a1e94bf and took the 76ce99058c package from him.b5eede8cd69afe9b

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Dias.”f6f22dd6d3a920ab

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“Thank you 1205b2b60b as always, 3356006dd8 Madame Henri.”2cc834bafc2956c5

Dias smiled at 9b088d197e the customer who ad3b13e074 looked over her 86d938a427 shoulder at him dac23ecad1 even as she 7dbf0d363c left the store.fb883f0dd54f76e5

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With that, the last customer bought all the remaining bread, and the day’s business ended earlier than usual.1d9807a329d7d0bb

‘Vivian said she’d be back after dinner, so I’ll keep it simple.’ed0fa5f3bec05869

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He thought to e3b32ebe46 himself as he a4feca0f0e prepared to close 4782a838b1 up shop.40456f919978ba25

*ding*e68948ae08903ba8

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The bell 2dec78e516 on the 89e1d23deb shop door 9eab086102 rang.d48d7e0b64682e17

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the day-”e61a02fb8e9fdd55

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Dias started to say to the customer entering when he noticed who the “guest” was.c88ee96d6339ce7d

The visitors 721dcaf74e behind his fe40a83698 back were 4a87a9e65b not guests.cc4e49d9e936fc74

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It was a hunch he’d honed over the years, one he could tell without looking.c3839d24b9622b37

“Are you Dias Hessen, 6624913800 father of Vivian Hessen?”f3cd65711314ff9c

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He recognized the 6168a04210 crest on their 812f736d07 arms.a50f9dc9b282d61f

Imperial Knights.eb0e8db0f9ff08a4

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Dias’s eyes flickered with recognition.fa3d57f075d50fed

‘Did they come here knowing Vivian’s identity?’87830b706bc2b8eb

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He hid 596ea6f2e6 a nearby d14f7fe992 bread knife f053c994a9 behind his 59f262a752 back, a 7ad8c94efd move that 06374aadc9 was eerily 4c6c0f2d35 deft.cab5c297a71a813f

“What brings you here?”92d956d0dac8f50c

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Then a man 17c41fbc9a who appeared to adf3431816 be the leader fb074012c2 approached the counter 86ec5b445e where Dias was 096a6c2b03 standing.8c0de1b04fef409a

“My name is Curtis Rohan, an Imperial Knight. I’d like to see your daughter for a moment. Is she home?”01633255c655916f

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As Vivian’s name came out of the knight’s mouth, Dias’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses.921ef912e4ea9528

At the 8561e4821e same time, d1bc089df7 his grip 0e5c87efab on the 5948aea6b6 knife tightened, b0226bf823 and the 8800ca0337 veins on 8e70eb3b73 the back 1578894f4a of his 80b24d8fdf hand stood 92bcf95fbd out.3c0e6f209edce4c1

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“Why does the d8592e80bc imperial family seek 5a0031fea1 my daughter?”64300afd6de68262

“I hear your daughter is a playmate of Princess Edelwein’s, and we’d like to ask her a few questions.”1768b2158b30a679

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Fortunately, their 306cde462a target seemed 62614d48b3 to be 9ad9624c95 Princess Edelwein, 1430724770 not Vivian.40f241a5fd1d8be8

But even if it had nothing to do with Vivian, he didn’t want to reveal her to the imperial knights.4eb1fca5637a2460

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He didn’t want to create the possibility that they might realize her identity.6d67a00cfa5b222c

‘It’s a good thing Vivian isn’t here right now.’cd61ae5b758b1a25

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He hurried to 9b3e6c65d2 chase them away f5bc57e186 before Vivian returned.a66fe3b619310bf7

“I’m sorry, but Vivian isn’t home right now-”45aa72ba23825557

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But just as he 3968f71005 was about to say 367ed0ee1f that, the bell on d1a1b5d932 the door rang and d39fa7b2d1 Vivian burst in.5f699339f3ac3c5c

“I’m home!”bef43823a6994b0f

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* * *d90edc93cbe312c9

I walked in with 886da148b1 a flourish and stopped 8dc4c0d1a0 dead in my tracks.422b48829d5a57f6

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‘What the heck 1a7d936c9f is going on?’4e63241c4a8954a3

A bunch 43d071000b of older 52ed221655 men surrounded a0236e9acc my dad!10199880b703c6d8

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I didn’t know the details, but I instinctively realized that something serious was going on.8adeb4eb5c23637b

While I was still f5e232bd4c trying to figure out 0386241af1 what was going on, b416e4f84a I was approached by 9eceaa5779 a man who looked 7748057fbd like the boss.9fa75c4ff50805ba

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“Are you Vivian?”525612ba952e9193

His mouth was smiling, but I could tell it wasn’t real.69dd6f3549d0135a

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You should dbfb101b98 be wary 12f168e539 of anyone fec9bcb1cc who smiles 52ede9c4af like that!dd02bd4afdf456d7

I stared 4aea724086 at him 44d1f5efae warily, ready 1c569368fd to run 371a012ba7 away and f55447cff7 call for 696cee6ae2 help.59c8f1375e1e9e07

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“Yes, who cc9a79319c are you?”8b3d636fd366f761

“We are the Imperial Knights, sent by the Emperor’s command.”58c353022c9e4aac

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Suddenly, I noticed the ce4b4875fd embroidery on the left c89f5d2dc8 sleeve of his top.791d272d4f5a479b

‘That’s….’cd7d04d80c20df78

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It was 31be29c176 an imperial c28e9ea3f5 coat of c7d0f6eaf1 arms that 0b7ab7ebdd my father b406568ef4 had once 3698101031 shown me.628897882991320e

“If you see anyone eaadb6b278 wearing clothing with this a2d01e7559 crest on it, Vivi, d7ee9297d6 get as far away 36259e7487 from them as you b5ada71786 can.”b5c94ae488a9157d

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Dad told 11d824ffd2 me to a25fed8101 avoid imperial f79b8160fd knights and 8a8e6ede7d nobles as 3d1a61ada1 much as be84e0c119 possible.10680260fa1d69a5

There are good nobles, he said, but the bad ones might take me away to punish me even if I didn’t do anything wrong.8095e75b8c5be38e

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The closer you are 6a16ebd6b8 to the emperor, the cc1d2a3d93 greater the punishment.9a382080dd20ea63

At the same time, 3503b09372 I remembered the situation f3ad654f4e at the villa earlier.4b953b3d5e7609c4

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The duke and Rahel’s faces hardened at the mention of inspectors from the imperial palace.19de3607e2bf4450

‘They’re here to keep an eye on her.’9c996380e84e2e0d

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They’ve heard that I’m Rahel’s playmate, and they want to find out about Rahel through me.5e1950057d98d21a

“I’d like to ask you a few questions, do you mind if we step outside for a minute?”4470434fa08288ad

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At that moment, 318652dafb my dad, who 8106ceb386 pushed through the 7b3a93adc7 crowd, wrapped his 4fbcba7907 arms around me.c10a03060ecaa521

“Let’s talk here.”88c65681452344c1

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The boss’s brow furrowed.e1bab6242bf812c7

“Ha. Do you really think e2baf6010f I, a knight of e93b4fc871 the imperial family, would 97650b3b57 kidnap a child?”3d19799d9c0552f8

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“You seem to be still single, but that’s how a parent feels. I ask for your understanding.”5e6db6787df13e60

“Hey. As a knight of be96829c6d His Majesty, my word ff83da492e is law. Going against my 0394b35c89 word is tantamount 31e739ca50 to treason.”c3db1a91d6187b00

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Despite the boss’s dire threats, my dad was understandably unwilling to let me go.9a3a468edd8819ae

I swallowed hard 81800c3811 as I watched 8bc16bb1da the tense exchange 28ed0d0722 between them.37d8a3c17b3cd376

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‘If they fight, my dad will definitely lose…’1d8981448c9ffeac

My dad, he’s an incompetent fool who is fit but can’t fight!76a34a132fcbef00

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‘I have to protect him.’333608769cc2f023

I quickly c0d6812b55 interjected before a68ec3d58c the mood dc2d279611 turned more ce58cd85b1 serious.1ffbe9da834292f7

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“W- What are 97a8edfd1a you talking about?”b6633ce65b61e1aa

“I heard you’re the princess’s playmate. We thought we’d ask you about her.”7e6b3c8c5f0f9737

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Predictably, the men approached, 1a3dce973c trying to interrogate me.aab32b5969ce95bd

‘But as Rahel’s friend, I can’t give information to the emperor’s people.’23da5cb1c66bdebd

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I looked at 974eba736a them and smiled 79f3f98a08 wickedly.28e9bb6dd11e18af

‘Looks like these guys aren’t even married yet.’0d5dfe195d28eb2e

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I’ll show you how fast a conversation with a nine-year-old can go!4d533b283ecb27bd