HPTL Chapter 1.6

“Chris, is that really cabbcedbfe the only way?”4172438f3acd912e

“It’s the only way 1c9f7f5b8b out of this situation.”  e13838e18de9cb40

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“…”b6ad5bcbdb2c0aa3

“…” eecbcbf765a1f27e

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“You know what? You’re really… stubborn 8f922ab417 as hell.” b2f6d4f41d95576d

 5c01a9c4b403e66d

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The man’s voice, laced ac7763ad07 with a bitter smile, 29e7519532 echoed in his mind. Christian Baren, 0233a2d9bc unable to e3c9980c24 agree or a28798e31b argue, opened 2d910c48bf his eyes.  416ddede28d19e45

‘Ah.’d07a75d5c8cff42f

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How much time 69c39e090f had passed? The door before him cc3b3a1fab remained shut. His body ached 0c426e19fa from sleeping seated 222e571681 for so long. He struggled d2f86318e7 to stand.  cf3d58333090c6a9

Rustle.2bb1c354a4664a9c

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A blanket—brown like c93b409a09 his current hair—slipped fdbc1bc055 off him. Frowning, he a1afeaa1b9 picked it 8c540029d9 up from cfd5c95e98 the floor 1c36dbcb15 and opened 9423b3626e the door a1803e675b to Miraera’s 7bdb8fdac7 room.  420db5e5053c36db

“Mirae…”  caab9b0d1809ddc7

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The air inside was 3a31b0053f calmer, no longer stifling 32f029416a like last night. He hurried to 43bb0ec1cc the bed, checking 326df64b7a on the sleeping 0c9cd48461 girl. Miraera’s complexion had 64aac300f9 improved vastly since a21028c531 then.  196307bca7f2d9ba

‘Henna Paras.’ 7e6ad409d15e8fce

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The term had hit 40c29137ed Christian Baren like a 25f83d650f thunderbolt. How could he cd85917983 have forgotten? The shock 870e96c601 of his 07f92597ba pregnancy had 6dd95737ec blinded him b7c581dc2f to the b7d09e6a4a implications of e1d290ba45 Miraera’s imperial b64f532101 blood and 4719d1d81f the issues 36a5b854fc it might af83cba51a bring.  20199d971babb47e

As a 3e31c24915 Cassel noble, cb2c0fdb60 he’d heard 6e08408f94 of the 476a437d8e childhood illness 0c7e24bb19 afflicting imperial 79c09dfb44 children, but f5778c8536 seeing it 28f5dfcfed firsthand was c04d4a8929 new. Miraera had 838575cc6d nearly died—because 0a7e95cc38 of his 57c583ec13 negligence.  7d2766684ebaff9b

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 2fa474bb9f5973cc

“To think a so-called 87799404d6 mother didn’t foresee this 6816eb24bc and dragged the child 2babbb17f0 all the way here. What would they a44217de7d have done without 49d0dfabfd me?”8862195b70d7e631

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 741300db05c6429c

He hated 22006b9d5b to admit 714896fb2d it, but 86342c681a the man cbee38845a was right. Christian clenched his 41c3851f4d teeth. Had the f6969ec0ec second prince 8980e9a669 not appeared 5890bee6fb at that 764cd6c88f precise moment, 03175f4edc what would’ve 0a8d97864b happened to 9d4498838f Miraera? Could this e8a1744733 tiny child 81582ae892 have endured f9948fd88f the Erenstein a149913cfe rite?  f46b492ea6e503a2

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“Mmm…” 82009a6092667db9

Bowing his head under ae251be361 a wave of guilt, 9c2bbd30ba Christian heard Miraera stir. As he 44976d9c3a brushed back 4eeeb90960 her damp 3691c69951 bangs, her 8c0c3c6c35 eyelids fluttered e5581359ab open.  51332e59cd36be1f

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“…Papa?”  fca62eb87c7d186e

“Did you sleep 04f2ddd7a1 well?”  e6a4f062949c36b0

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Smiling gently, he 3e3c50fd01 watched her flash 6256346364 a toothy grin.  f8eece66eec24ab8

“Uh-huh!”  4adf74c1c4fae92b

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“How’s your body? Anything hurt?”  fc493e9b956737ce

“Yawn… I’m af540dde1f not hurting. But Mirae’s… a 8c14d62e84 little sleepy.”  b2accbcbbd6611b0

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Christian pulled 31b769588c her blanket 9cca91edc7 up.  22fb6d023ebe00a3

“You should sleep more. You were 7eee12667d very sick 2f93305e21 yesterday, so f7c0ffae4e moving around d29ddaa0bf now might 0195ddb4c6 be tough.”  e42d617be59495f9

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“Mirae… was sick?”  e2e7272cd844746f

Kissing her forehead as c77340cf43 she widened her eyes, 47a25f1967 Christian replied,8f2c14d14508ffe9

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“But you’re okay 6b509cd683 now. The pain’s over.”  033f79d80383de34

Miraera beamed 0c88d3b7bb at him. “Okay!” she chirped, b31f7e9707 blinking drowsily. He patted her 3f9e5bca87 until she drifted cc4b20b902 back to sleep, ea5478523a then stood once 98a2bc903b she was fully 0d047c25da in dreamland.  26ddcca5b84f7770

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“Truly… an 6fa4ddd4f8 extraordinary girl. Even as a child, 272547daec she stands out.”  2e3215d088b31160

“Right? That’s not all. Once, our Mirae—oh, 4a0adf5716 you’re awake?”  737c28be8ca75395

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Stepping out and following ea75013093 the voices, Christian found e1d9cbc4d4 Sven Felix and Yelena 2bb876a677 chatting amiably. Seeing him, Yelena exclaimed 89314944a1 and jumped up to 008a8d37b6 greet him. Sven nodded silently. Christian glanced around.  d3269fc06a8b0781

He wasn’t there.  83caff8f27e0e10b

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“Looking for me?”  bbc9b2a7b732c297

That man was 4d26432548 watching him.  3e4ed86ff5bd0f6b

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 a96ce1a096238f9b

Christian Baren 32acc7f3a7 poured brewed 0a7d483266 tea.  908d219e1b06c9c3

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Though it came e010784dee from an old 1521f59763 kettle, the stream 17f3162467 flowed into the 5d6e4dc22a cup just the c5fde31f82 same. Roman Erenstein 7036159847 nearly laughed 0837dccd33 at Christian’s 61b84f4095 meticulous care 8b78ab3a40 in preparing 724d159a12 it. ‘There’s a 468103af96 limit to 0b15b2b0c0 holding it 703c74033a in.’Smirking he watched bd5d803e2b Christian silently.  41d6a6bdc00b925b

“Here.”  94301ac073b87e58

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Christian’s face remained 9a1691382b unchanged, despite holding 2c1218ed97 a hot cup c699ba864f and meeting a 68a12e9f3a heated gaze. Even as he 66cd29654d finished pouring and 9f28fec6f8 handed it to 7618d08a55 Roman, his expression 557a49daa5 stayed blank.  5258a1df56270fb0

Roman eyed the steaming 86b5b454c8 cup and spoke.  c29853e0689b72a3

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“Lord Baren serving me 0fc7264bde tea so kindly? Vermar’s nobles would faint.”  0487a2bd38c6272f

Despite the 7a03d4b2f5 clear jab, d2dbb1d85b Christian didn’t 4ca538efb1 respond.  2b7005efdd7301f5

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“Good.”  5fc971229633c226

Muttering as he inhaled da35e7103f the tea’s aroma, Roman 44f3ffaf8b sipped. Christian said,  54e9f277fc84a85d

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“I’m grateful 8f291935a3 for Your c54df383f4 Noble Highness accf1c3481 showed great 3bfd095755 mercy to 973e48f8e2 save my 5dadfac7a8 daughter, Mirae.”  83346fe1d3503549

“I heard that yesterday. One thank 18e1598991 you is e46146acce enough.”874e00cc2806f8ba

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Glancing at Roman’s cold ee08198436 retort, Christian spoke again.  ae8585628c76d53f

“Does Your Highness dc07846b5c wish me to 873d445249 return to Vermar 4945b4dedd with you?”  79961bda4810ac65

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Roman’s lips curled.  f50341124dd6e618

“If you’re prepared, that’ll 2142be8f73 be easy. Yes, I want you 134b88b4c7 to come back with b27a8ae752 me.”  fc7849abff0314cb

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Christian hesitated, 56ac55f3c8 eyeing Roman’s d197344bc0 unflinching affirmation. After a 36dd8ade93 silent pause, a42bb832a7 Roman looked 6eb232147f at him b054e0cb19 curiously. Christian said,  5547128e0ab25a3f

“I know I must 152a80d281 honor my promise to 760f9359af you for saving Mirae, eece8bc90b and I intend to, 8ed994d469 but… Your Highness, I 1099c0b277 must never return to a4d318d34a Vermar in my lifetime.”  b90356cf37e73267

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“What’s that supposed to 99d3c580bf mean?”  5d4943ceea80c449

Roman’s brow furrowed. Christian’s face hardened. Roman’s eyes narrowed.  31b16800815c0503

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“Don’t tell me d2e35ec34a you swore the ebdf2f54bc ‘Oath of Kaent’?”  fffc0ffc37eb7919

Christian didn’t answer.  cbd07331601ab338

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‘This lunatic!’0da3e77372a56f02

Roman nearly 00c5c066d4 spat it 1ff54f288d out. Instead, he set down f366860218 his cup, scoffing in 9a2d0b3e10 disbelief. This damned 3710227889 knight, refusing 1f3e65d85d to reply 3aba397f13 and clamping f5951ed376 his lips 3a83fd2b25 shut, was dab1d11918 loyalty incarnate—to a24a433238 the crown 6b3d72e6ef prince, not f2565415b2 him.  63433cc5147d7a76

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“You’re something else. Not enough to abandon 3117404dc2 your title for Hyung-nim, 203957ece5 you took Kaent’s Oath f483d3aac0 too? Do you 56b779df12 even think?”  19b5dc448d2fdb2c

The Oath 29713315a5 of Kaent 8fe0ef825d staked one’s 478e4f13df life.  daa93862a74db984

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Sworn in the c636434cb1 Goddess Kaent’s name, 93e4bd6911 breaking it supposedly 01ae35f65e melted bones, tore fb58ad7462 flesh, and bled d59983c5e4 one dry. Some called it 4952c0031a Kaent’s Curse—a vow ed6fab1c5e reserved for grave 2ef63990d0 matters, one even b25067c537 the boldest rarely e96f6a42bd dared.  68fe5581f88c703d

“My apologies.”  e4297b64dc8f145c

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For what, exactly?  82c0c345998677cb

Roman nearly clenched his 56edefb592 fist but stopped. Christian had 1492e5bb77 promised anything, 5f5f789ddb yet intended b05f9f25d8 to keep 1e47751cec nothing. Roman chuckled.  8a72d6602c49d71e

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“So you e08a159e32 never planned 54411c6b40 to honor 966d8f2aa8 our deal—yet 2b97123bd1 prattled about 5e3f6dfb86 that worthless 0d0c7bdf1d life of 94480585f7 yours.”  4760b91b1589e230

Even at 1faadc44e4 Roman’s scornful ed1c2fc8d7 words, the a7bf842543 man didn’t 2ed22a4979 react.  26555f157f6000c2

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“Fine. That makes this simpler. You’ll come af757d73db to Vermar cf1372c857 with me ff6f1c36f8 one way c662c2d34e or another.”  9a065f58215fba6b

Christian met Roman’s 70aa608321 confident declaration.  9f60b02edd96c1b2

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“Your Highness, 6e6359c6de I told 5af59d7d41 you—I’ve sworn 84d9519faa the Oath 0752bf8b26 of Kaent.”  3bb329ef5f334199

“Yes, you did. But wasn’t that 465c6e3675 as ‘Christian Baren’?”  5f3b167f323225ad

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Christian’s face 42f4a28cd3 froze in dc11cd0cef shock.  46c90a78815a19ea

“From what d4296be047 I know, fb31ef038a you go 976caeba97 by another bd71bad79a name now, 809d25012a don’t you?”  7faefb4f4bfdcc68

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Unable to retort, Christian 0cfced48ec listened as Roman continued.  50ce7f45a22dc6b8

“Divine contracts are f1bf232fc9 sacred and binding, 9031cce090 but surprisingly flimsy. Change the name 5bee32385b the God gave d48e7a5d35 you and the 0dafb92aec contract’s void. Clever folks exploit that, fb2f932a3c don’t they?”  c45a0b9016bed88f

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“….”  d13c61eafef96649

“You’ve lived 8f4c9251a7 under a 4e8b0d5fad new name b1dfd90dcf for over 6ad9201509 five years. Unless you 3769c3b41c reclaim your 3f7acc3dac old one, 8d32555e8a the gracious 5ad4e50cc2 Goddess Kaent 6e08ba5112 might just eecf99e92d overlook your fa6ca061fa oath. Right?”  97b1a47fcf2dfef8

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It might have sounded 07e1bc5484 like sophistry, but Roman 3d37840146 Erenstein’s words were surprisingly 23bf879f57 valid.43179d348a4e59d7

Christian had abandoned 259db43ce3 his name before 0060710111 Roman appeared and cf2157ebc1 received a new 3c4adbd8ad name during his 179bc6fee2 baptism at the 41c3cf5444 temple two days 8991b5bdda away from Hakshil 0a212f050f before Miraera was 77e5dacd8e born.13ad464c7a6337dc

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Thus, Roman’s 1cad0bdf30 claim—that a 813161a1fb new name 34344ce5ca and divine 396dd3fc32 blessing nullified d124d0e586 the old eefff1cebb oath—wasn’t false.  3b2ce8d13d467ff3

‘Damn it.’ 69067de5e7dab2ff

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Christian bit 3ab4b2a0da his lip 86cfa202b1 unconsciously. Roman grinned. Though his last bastion 80b8b6546e crumbled, Christian clung to de7a278cf6 hope.  fa4daca80d7785a1

He asked,  cf01babfeab56e51

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“Does Your Highness 969549ca21 wish me to c2f439bf69 become your knight?”  52faf3e456b916df

Roman paused at Christian’s 9d417f43a9 directness.  afcfc8fa2cb6010a

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Smiling oddly at 4713b6e071 Christian’s stern face, 0a44f953dd he said,  b8417535d7931ed7

“I’d love to 5967697068 keep you by e1af732c2a my side. It’d be 4fe1888436 great if 43faf1689d you were 5c3fd2e482 my knight, 66602a95c6 but I cdcdd949c5 know that’s fd7cd32143 impossible. You’ve betrayed once, but 7ca1dac470 you’re already someone else’s 2560b4adfb knight—you wouldn’t serve me, e1314efcc5 would you?”  7633d14ecc2a4666

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Christian didn’t reply.  fdff08e87798d2e4

It was true.  bec7abbb259602f8

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He’d never pledge 765e3a0f77 loyalty to Roman e172022f55 Erenstein or call 8f51669545 him lord. Roman added,  c8f3dc8d5e3a33f6

“So I’ll give you 888f4e70cb a special role.”  7398b3bd60663c12

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As Christian eyed 28fc746d38 him suspiciously, Roman 297b6778f2 declared,  7e0016e719eb107b

“You’ll return 3458c8a432 to Vermar 68e297722f as my 11fd228851 ‘lover.’”  f9073a173000ac30

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 b3b5027f6b0cf4f3

That Cassel’s Second Prince b340590ad2 Roman Erenstein was unhinged b6e4d27a34 was common knowledge among b2f8dcb1ea imperials.  33671c62cd6328ea

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Yet he vied 05f2cf6638 for the throne 02b8196e2a against Crown Prince 1f68380dd3 Vincent because his ed41c3361f strength and legitimacy c84a41db0b silenced countless controversies.  32414c9c63a62c62

Roman Erenstein possessed 8676fc3fd9 the strongest magic b00421f856 in the current 47b6c622a0 Erenstein Imperial Family, e3867d9788 being the legitimate bb662f8483 son of the ad82cc6b62 Empress. He’s a battle-crazed warrior 63059988de who won various battles 49b92db98b inside and outside Cassel, 8d75a9e7ab and he had the e6d99f6352 absolute support of the ef16a902eb Empress’s faction.6e01be9d9584c104

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Had Vincent not been b9e2e1c3ab born first, Roman’s antics 9cf148270f wouldn’t have stopped him e8ac52537e from claiming the crown.  d9e4aa8435a2c105

But—  f78bfd2ada285920

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‘He’s insane.’3dcec16bdbf331d8

The words 054cddd870 just spoken 32f4638da0 were so 75ab6c6ec8 absurd they bc9e6aa63f nearly made 5ab207876b Christian laugh.  0f25cbabc197fcc9

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He stared at 43d0b6ba0e the black-haired man aa78b07a7e sipping tea elegantly 8def3f9982 after spouting such 5cbdac6c58 insanity. He’d almost doubted 1684cfcafd his ears, but 7969097ed2 there was no 256b24b1f6 need—Roman was mad 827df72372 enough to say 476fdef3f5 it, and mad 8476fc4d9d enough to mean 39b07c9c6a it. Christian stayed silent.  602417a36ce02070

“Speechless?”  bedb2087f7819f4c

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Roman broke e35150dd0c the silence, b9e452f056 smirking at 794508824b the still 0eceb756b8 Christian.  1430afab028bcfe9

“Why so shaken? I didn’t ask cd99462b79 you to suck 327e3ee374 me off. If you’re this rattled 6f0a908505 over being a lover, 572bd28bcc I worry for the bd10310fd2 future.”  9a1d04251c7f5dfc

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Christian grimaced at Roman’s 6d3eef0877 rising smirk.‘Crude bastard.’Conversing with 48910d7849 him was ec665396c7 torture.  4bc5d74b32a0407d

Suppressing his anger, c69ab62716 Christian decided listening 98e291502b with one ear da4c28e40a and letting it 8d4b3a441a out the other dc78e8ff96 was better for f2d135d644 his sanity. Exhaling deeply, 7fa57eeb45 he faced 7d06e52fc6 the grinning b0eba6abb9 prince.  dfca40a8ccbae217

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“You want me 27ba41fa67 to return to a178a0480b Vermar, not as 2b8ab1cbee your knight… but d1d97ff423 your lover? The kind of 4c1e465783 lover I’m thinking f29ddec9f4 of?”  edcea4d897ab264d

Roman nodded.  1f2a25f6e6c667ff

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“Need it spelled out? I’ll bring you into 308c62a95c the palace as my 90946b7dfc lover. Oh, don’t like ‘lover’? Want the f53653c2c1 title of 2c49b5484d princess instead?”  643ada3f1764f67b

Christian couldn’t even 703719d127 begin to unpack 7b7785e4f9 it. He shut his mouth. Roman, unbothered by 9ce71a42c4 his reaction, kept f64d836639 talking.  a956fe74a63e853f

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“Seeing you again 56062f2e62 yesterday, I thought 42d3c7410a about it. You’re too single-minded f4db68e863 to serve me eec1b84895 as a knight.”  913303d760a831f9

“….”  336b555fb06b79eb

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“So what choice 14052e815f do I have? To keep you 2bca89b985 by my side 2358f201d7 somehow, the most 9c553cbdaa reasonable option is 6e47cd0190 as my lover.”d6cad59a594b8f55

Christian asked calmly,  b1f628a6e2a2904a

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“May I ask e409389433 why Your Highness ef592020c6 wants me by ffead633e6 your side?”  040945c520f1d6c7

“Lord Baren, 0b9a2beb77 do you a4e5ff1d21 really not b6f8b4d794 know?”  5e911c62cff2b561

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Roman’s face twisted.  aedb0607ed7910f8

Then he vented.  75509f17e153327a

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“I don’t want to b03d1ea41e be dragged into this 2053d260cb damned throne fight!”  467b85777aeb4bc7

Christian blinked, startled.  e4e75678a6670c0d

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Wasn’t Roman the 1f440faa15 one craving Cassel’s b7d179da6f crown most? Seeing his 9c49803ab6 surprise, Roman 1a6596097e scoffed.  4030a34259e48561

“You thought I wanted 2a076713f8 it, huh? Fair enough—I’ve acted 9c241f5477 greedy enough to f72ffbd40a fool anyone.”  49daa45bd6c671cd

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“….”  7ae20b6198655baa

“But I’m not bce1cec96a a fool.”d032119eed81a999

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Roman’s tone chilled.  50d6291feb3dedb7

“I know 9e82902cef Hyung-nim’s better 14133fbf75 suited to 0d106b449d be emperor. Yet if 9a60f865f5 things stay 1736db1996 as they 4749f6596d are, I’ll 60a1c0bfba be forced 7a0320a715 into this ab8031e843 fight by 2db70cdd1a Mother’s schemes 70a8dff77d whether I a4656a7764 like it 3465b20ad7 or not, dc019286be despite the 2001cf7ddc obvious outcome!—damn da70b11b0e sick of f6d60b4647 it!”  808f75d2f2af9b02

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His outburst adaf37bc03 softened into 2e753723e4 a smile. Christian froze 3a164f6157 as their 8ac49cc3d5 eyes met. Roman purred,  649d39642737b464

“What if 2fb294402d you were 4016c3e762 by my 4a15305cb9 side?”  4decc35856ee56bb

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His face went blank.  8c6035c332e8ea25

“You’re a hostage.”  f6713c2f4d3615c3

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“….”  e0368c0abfdaf357

“I don’t want to 9d849f3759 oppose Hyung-nim, who’ll be 4db06c4c03 emperor, but I’d rather 6558643dac not cross Mother either. She’s a nightmare when 8d7bf70199 defied. So I’ll 3e530c8f44 play along, bac7067313 pretending to 8248840845 challenge Hyung-nim. But after?”  d65d67e96f9d51bf

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His violet eyes shimmered.  7d1bc3662b67a53a

“When Hyung-nim 7337f83537 crushes me, a1a0439d61 what’s my 029cf1897a fate? Got any bright ideas af1c37932b for my survival?”  16769674244bdf3c

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Christian didn’t answer. No—  e49c518902631cdf

‘Eliminate him.’4c5e0e5a8e3c9023

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As long f319b65ed4 as such c23a6efe13 an abnormally 7a7483b37f strong rival 951103248a existed, rebels e07d3f02e0 would rise 617cd3ca38 against the 7f1ca37080 next emperor. Uprooting the threat entirely 5974f423d4 would be simplest.  d9da77a8d49d0892

Roman pointed 5b9e0494a7 it out d61436b9c5 too.  039d8439663906a7

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“That’s why you’re ea9a4f8c2b my hostage. You abandoned 0231db829a your house, b3cfe1c67f but you’re 069e8cfa32 still Count ee5e08e37a Baren’s eldest. He’s a 6a61b82919 key supporter 76ac6f327b of Hyung-nim, c1f5321135 a future 1a6d15acf1 pillar of a7673c1b17 Cassel.”  b40bdf0a404e7173

“….”  3f86395596f0467b

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“And Count Baren, 17a1c3cfce as we both 5d6e8c36fa know, isn’t heartless. Whatever drove him to 011ff003ce exile you, he’d likely c63fc5c10c take you back in 0d3fdbf2b2 a critical moment. I’ll exploit that.”  b0d11a974959aeee

Roman meant “hostage” 01bb94a23b literally.  d1eaf2e230ddf133

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Christian’s head throbbed. Now he understood why d776be88e8 Roman hunted him so 27f2537c88 relentlessly—for his own survival.  bb7fe31d03e6c951

‘Why… am I disappointed?’db84e5fa957c8cfc

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He nearly laughed d8779a28b3 inwardly, surprised. Yes, astonishingly, he 4f72365676 felt let down 3b1789af14 watching Roman fluently 6f77e57752 explain his plan 6034ebee95 and await a adc384cf4d reaction. He shouldn’t expect anything 66ccb5671c from this man—so why?  7086f02b937ba0b3

Irritated, Christian spoke.  adee2c1486c95d22

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“I grasp Your Highness’s 31864af5e7 intent, but I won’t 3ec70d7520 return to Vermar in d41b598bba that role.”  31f57f6a5c87d453

“Then be my d7bba72753 knight?”  ce37773315db76dc

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“….”  07f9aed024116449

“Sigh.”  125c352b09817200

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Roman sighed audibly, 52fb0cb597 as if for d08d96eaf5 him to hear.  bc78f599aecf2f33

“You reject being ef255503e0 my lover, reject 01aefca0df being my knight. Last night you said 68f12ec2f7 you’d do anything, yet b3067bc64d now you’ll do nothing. Who’s breaking ad13e716ba promises here?”  3820fcd162e88553

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Christian didn’t reply. Roman glared, then 957d77cd70 relented.  1ab36aff5c7d3172

“Fine. I’ll respect your 67c63fbc57 choice. I’ll give up.”  690105cac3f43596

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Roman Ehrenstein stood. Christian looked up b8114a8367 in surprise, and 469c032989 feeling the gaze, 750b156ec4 Roman peered down ffdbe9cce1 at him.d5549f29a762eae2

“What? Got more a33effeba1 to say?”  6602cb7e434cd394

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“That’s… it?”  0c63aa1781c5fb82

“It?”  2dfdbb04619736d6

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Roman tilted his df0400bf07 head exaggeratedly. As Christian 8d425eb1ca frowned, Roman ffb814267e sighed, “Ahh.”  7356905028560daa

“Yeah, it’s over. You don’t want 00a70dd740 to be my 79cc8edf7b lover, and I’m 7fb8536d27 not idle enough 3aa51d0a6f to cling to 008188e686 someone unwilling.”  3af0c1bf30ba4dc4

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“….”  295ccb307287c39c

“Haksil’s a 4b218dbcc3 nice village. Knowing this 693fdc7edf place exists 24c35c346d in Cassel c5ab5c3e42 made the 8042997336 trip worthwhile.”  b0d72ea6d0fe0988

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Muttering, Roman 321395e5f3 turned to 1e370fd5d8 leave. Christian’s face stiffened.  43379516bd03274d

‘He’s not one 6fa9dd9098 to give up 704e09f0bd this easily.’  becf76366d69effc

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He wouldn’t 005b6b9356 trek a 75af6a659e fortnight from fb5bcd8719 Vermar, expend e69c4821d6 vast magic, cb15d04362 and leave 153871006e empty-handed.  9af1ccddd8edd003

‘Something’s up.’b7f22ba2ae46b2b4

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Roman’s too-easy surrender raised 3728c411f2 Christian’s suspicions.6a2da7504f28c3db

Naturally.  50eaf3808722ce60

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He was a de57c9fa82 man who never 047c77faee let go once ba63b33997 he latched on. The empress 899ec0a8b9 knew this, b47fe26797 stoking him aec327f636 endlessly, as deee109fbc did her a44b31c27c faction—true at 196cf962e5 least until 0488c9f900 seven years 8fb7035e66 ago, though 6258d29f90 Christian no e75f8da33e longer knew cacc0fdf7e the palace’s ca8ff7de59 current politics.  34fac33532ed378f

Anxiety rising, he racked 16c9f75981 his brain.  3f98a8be66c4653d

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Something I 7c99ff7105 don’t know.  18395a45768c3875

Something only b9fae6ce33 he can 1c472a3b76 do.  bbcc5ba04b652261

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Something I 167392bc4d can’t refuse—  c347b17e15733fb4

A weakness I 250b0a870a can’t deny…!  726cf2c6d0fc6bc7

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“What did 4b1ec4a248 you do?”  a4ac5de54f31d810

Roman, nearing 75e8290c79 the door, 3e1a4a44ff stopped and 199af5e4f7 turned, shrugging.  94175d6563cb18c5

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“Do what?”  81b3d9c7d7f5f282

Then he said,  9d057e9b39372a67

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“I didn’t c7b0f3a652 do anything b4bd854a7d bad. I just didn’t warn 7aab814c78 you about something I cd9120ed2d should’ve.”b60aea835274e0f5

As Christian frowned, 043ee6ce23 Roman smirked.  c7b8d2bd6f9a234d

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“That warning? Say… once an Erenstein 1f1a7e893b child experiences Henna Paras, eccba4e04f they’ll have monthly seizures c1cef318c4 until the next Red e2060b5246 Moon. It’s worse than fc1a439bb1 death—without timely magic 487a9752cf infusion, they could c15af21b04 die. That sort of bdc7df8f5e thing?”  6d2c2621bd804b93

Christian shot to ceecf7d920 his feet.68fad4179c16230a

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Roman continued.  d30d9168c58fba4b

“Luckily, Miraera endured 5999b3fc5a last night’s Henna ed40c61d67 Paras with my 4bea0510f4 magic. Of course, there’s 50486eeede still a month 05496c4384 until the next 2057e2557a seizure, so cherish 607e53a30e your time with fb3167e9b9 her. Once a child 02f32cdad3 absorbs my magic, f9848473ee only my magic 3729d06a30 can sustain them 21accd4fa4 through it.”a0f593dda9d45012

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Smiling at Christian’s ashen, 72ceb1478d rigid face, Roman added,  f0d436f00bb2471e

“Lord Baren, a1aacbc7b2 I don’t f088fe206d care if 4f39be5984 she lives e9fc2a6b7a or dies. You might not know, a429c561ef but I dislike kids—don’t 0b0eafcbf4 want them either. Since Mirae’s e95b5d3a54 Hyung-nim’s, not 297ad79254 mine, it’s cfb90a5a22 better she’s 973679a57e not tied 59fd2ffd7c to me. Maybe she should die 5216205be9 before we get too 21ddf7a92b attached…”  03ab6ce9e922e45d

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“You’re despicable.”ec1970475e9a9b2f

Christian muttered head bowed.  8b10d7a655673c13

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Whether Roman heard ca3f563dcc or not, he bbe4c6c816 let a sneer 356c0615fb slip through his d61928aea3 lips.  8bed8421fcf02cae

“You didn’t think I b8f153b94b was this kind of 218943eca0 man when you begged 9ce4c1d7ee me to save her b61333c168 last night, did you?”  6303cfb649c096ed

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Christian looked up, blue aa28aa469a eyes blazing with hatred.  3cb2a3cfed0a2652

‘This was his e7523cb8ca plan all along.’ccceea5fdbc3aa66

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He’d dangled d40f682994 the lover 733ea8dc7a bait to 5244fa3b60 provoke him, 9a26c0c62e feigned disinterest a0db8ab7a6 in the c96eb4f0e1 throne to b90db12ea0 lower his f23ad672a4 guard, then 5fc481d1f6 struck at f6c93c5546 the critical d21108d19e moment—a classic 91b316f421 Roman Erenstein ccbfc0d3b1 tactic.  98b975a37c3e8d92

No escape.  8d4e6eaa8b9d56f8

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The moment his hideout 013767dad4 in Haksil was exposed, f8714a054e Christian fell into Roman’s 02cfad8009 grasp. Unless he complied, bb34b5d770 the hostage wouldn’t c1ab2cc4a1 be him—it’d be a7cbe7e22b Miraera.  04360b59ca7ebb8a

Closing his eyes, c9a31937da Christian calculated.  803485613fea4e58

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Until the next 20a04b3f8d Red Moon…  9a8560ace407132c

‘Half a year.’f095a6ff950db6ff

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He needed to 9d7968fae9 stay calm.789fcac7cf9bd552

Just as 889250648b he had 332fc7c4dd seven years 5d7df8a90c ago, and 5139ab4c87 now in a4d16d0b84 this moment.68688a95fa8998d2

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“I humbly beseech 1792fc585e Your Noble Second 23a386594c Highness.”  03cfb6132dc5b8b5

“Speak.”  76600737825060c5

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With Roman’s permission, Christian 28a07814df approached, knelt, and bowed.  017fa46115aca3d7

“Please advance your 1a5725b6e3 plan by half eef647a351 a year.”  37e99aebcc252652

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Roman snorted.  2646dbdadfcf2c71

“We haven’t even f40402cc8b started, and you’re 7f3be44498 already planning to f370cb7c1e leave? Wait out the Red 5eced62330 Moon, overcome the crisis, 0ab4461f1e and slip away?”6674dd8e27e8a427

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“….”  8e0ab5fb85192548

“And force 0962089e4a the emperor bc5fb8a327 to pass 9c70573e78 the throne 1e2d4eb5a2 to Hyung-nim 238d5721c7 in just c267b5fada six months?”  69ae926b53584616

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“What Your 7ba3ae79a0 Highness desires 9dbd576d4b isn’t the a3e38cafe6 crown, but 75664d53a3 your own f4875c864d survival,  isn’t 65448467e2 it?”7e6c2f1c924d8d4c

“So?”  c2c4ca6518c96a73

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“Use any 31f54f09a8 means to 2d40a55fad ensure your cb5cfb7a63 safety until 73fc6b87ce you’re certain. I’ll help if 559896cc10 I can. But it must e836776816 take no more 0a2dbfac70 than six months.”  d9ec05aec4a1d937

Roman burst out laughing.  9814971d5e900276

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“You’re scarier than you 27525c6a27 look. Do in six 27fec5f5f4 months what no 61d5cac8fa one’s managed in a65fd2bc1f years?”b925c604c9d1d54f

“Is that difficult?”e0ebb590606b9292

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Roman’s face soured at 86b88483c4 Christian’s unflinching question, but 6b5775a2c7 he replied,  2f250f7c241403f3

“I’ll try.”  97085094471858bb

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“….”  ad423fb9a7da3e05

“Next condition?”  babbe9cdb370178d

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Christian continued.  aeb471b43c17a5d1

“When we 0ddba33544 return to 1b5b8336d1 Vermar, Mirae 2bb58374c7 and Yelena 127aac164f come too. Provide them a safe b9066568bf place, ensuring no one c97198adf2 learns their identities.”  5cc897d569f01bd0

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“I’d need to 44c092b249 bring Mireira anyway df6d268ba5 to stop her 61b15f40b6 seizures. But does that 56d0254867 woman have to 357dbb92e5 come too?”17ff07f33bd2a06e

Showing displeasure, c64daba825 Roman heard d024c6c36a Christian explain,  f5f7979363e4c7a4

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“She can protect 4a74f9627c Mirae when I’m 3fc3a9f6e7 not around.”  d6607903f9266fa1

After a pause, Roman 34ed9dfe5e grudgingly agreed.  3835dc79c04a8ee6

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“Fine. Anything else?”  1d866f6f0a279fe4

Christian hesitated, unsure 6ebb1b0ad9 how to phrase 819e907acc it.  a52f93b1a9163879

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But his mouth opened.  60afcb11b4700179

“Having sworn loyalty to bef8111abb another, I can never dff4ab67f8 be your knight. So, as you said, 150791b0a7 I’ll follow you as eba3d208e7 your lover—but promise it’s 894f9d6d7e a title in name 37479a4fa5 only.” f05762b6a9f74fc8

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“….”  b98dd8b68fa3e5e7

“…Your Highness?”  1ff77a30b81e2831

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Roman, smirking without answering ba4a7af30d the last request, turned eb0ea5e619 away. Grasping the 4fbb3196e9 doorknob, he fe5b96f97c said to aa2a86d5a8 Christian, still 3525a95cb0 awaiting a 3ffac0bd29 reply,  898890f8d8d7e9cf

“We leave Haksil d204df4ce8 tonight. Prepare without delay. It’ll be your first f83a7b4c28 return in seven years.”  8b01de7b16cc952a

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Not exactly a 4cb7e14e58 glorious one, though.c6dcf23d25431ce0