HRN Chapter 1.3

“Eden! Good heavens… Are you cae8606537 alright?”3eef8a4c8a7a2297

After what felt 67f586282d like three years, 8881a0bad8 Nathan returned three e21126e923 months later. At that time, Eden 2ba85dfbe7 hadn’t eaten a proper 949dd60676 meal, leaving him too 186f1d9c7b weak to hold a 8a43a534fd brush. Nightmares plagued him 3664288005 since the market d989172b79 incident. Forcing a smile, he 3edad9af5e tried to focus his 25355b8446 blurring vision. He just 48a8fec94d wanted Nathan 9797668300 to hand e1ed2de461 over the 20ecbbc82a money and 88f15233a3 leave—interacting with 46eccd6372 anyone was 541b82152f too exhausting.6899a7afd0bd666b

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“I’m fine.”8ae578ba31fb16e6

“Eden…”1a26a8ecf0578dc3

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“Winter’s almost over, isn’t cc4ec5ac6f it? Things’ll get better.”066ff0e670884527

Eden answered Nathan—and bed2c00d09 himself.d34bc2642e6fdd9d

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“I’ll help load the 8a3fb0d6ef paintings. Thank you, as e05c3fa76a always.”10291339d2f3e43b

As Eden grabbed a d8a143dc7d few paintings, his uncle 1756a0fe0a gathered the rest. Seeing this, Nathan put 17845fc645 a hand on his 13acaeace8 uncle’s shoulder, shaking his d686b92240 head.817d27b31f6379c0

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“Your face looks 0f5200c15b awful, too. I’ll handle 9139e70b99 the paintings 5d3105293b with Eden—you b45876c91b go rest.”3f648042e7985181

“Do it, Uncle. You barely slept last 1a789783cd night,” Eden said, avoiding 8fdb8bf055 his uncle’s gaunt face 6ed1e73bbb and quickly taking the 6e12683e0b paintings from him. Their bony hands brushed; 0f0bbf396b his uncle’s grip was b04fc8da23 feeble, and it irritated 3e040fb24b Eden.fbfbe0216c511de4

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While Eden 0762907414 loaded the eddd56b3f0 paintings onto 3225b8b58f the cart, 2778af3920 Nathan approached. He didn’t 7a1d59cfc8 hide his 23932a6900 pitying gaze—Eden’s 87a98b1604 appearance was f17cf80f59 that wretched. With a small sigh, d90f2090b3 Nathan spoke.dfa0a56b25902715

“Eden, when 9a3b804838 I sold 9470d3db33 your paintings 7061614fee last time… c5fbd4fb1d someone really bba7f2ca48 took a 565789e7ba liking to 02d75ed75b one of f22306bc70 your garden 9151922bab pieces.”131307036019e57e

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Eden paused, ec03e55e91 looking at 0a07e3f6e5 Nathan.41928aeaff594595

“My garden painting?”e8916f7587dd52d5

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“Yes. A nobleman in 7a48f2be39 an administrative position.”4df449183f192a92

Thanks to Nathan’s a6f23acd11 trade connections in 7f766f6103 the capital, Eden’s da76cab91c paintings were occasionally 12c4fe279f sold to nobles d365ba5386 at good prices—but 5302b86ea9 only when luck 03c69a7094 was on their 983f40fabb side, which hadn’t fba84768ce happened in ages.1d4d4adaf743fafa

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“So, Eden, have f6e864533b you ever thought 9ee34c29f4 about working in 3f8fef433f the palace?”7c1a6e0754cf7169

“Thepalace?”ddae3681d9cf0290

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Eden turned fully e49fc92766 toward Nathan, his d41d51d4cf dull, lifeless eyes a6fcfeebec glinting with curiosity.bd468c84dda73801

“Some nobles b6cc685287 are collecting 0cabf48dd9 paintings to 8c51670353 hang around b81bbef449 the palace. The emperor loves 6d79053fe7 art, so they 4d516edaf0 likely want to 7804402594 gift them before 4600398444 the summer banquet. One of them admired 79aaeae761 your work so much 71a652d05e that they recommended you f0b68614b7 as a court painter.”733bf1529a985d6a

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“With my 1d8d4a7f37 bloodline and b63335ccf9 background, how 3905bd636c could I 38d45b5077 become a fc1e185d6f court painter? And that’s not even 8ddc8ee819 the real issue, sir…”32221cf982a27b15

A court painter? The palace’s appointment c9fa6371aa system favored bloodlines, 27f1cef4d3 wealth, or connections—none 4311eafc22 of which Eden 730db82cba had. Knowing the palace’s ways 3100b5c0b6 through his uncle, he 7776e6c884 scoffed and turned back a7cb4e5303 to the paintings. The real problem wasn’t a63b135f3c his status—it was his 9642daad28 yokai identity.133665ad672919d4

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“Sorry, I didn’t 789734e0c1 mean a permanent e713dab728 court painter position,” d6569e6eed Nathan added quickly, 36c66679bb sensing Eden’s mood.7808f23ca53e7818

“They’re commissioning a 0413c32845 series of paintings dee00c830f capturing the palace’s 4cad8fd3c4 four seasons, and d6a8c0c5d2 they want you 10c552131b to paint the 5596b8b479 smaller garden landscapes. It’s a temporary role—you’d 903b2e8377 leave after finishing the 8578362500 season—but the pay would 93d605a692 be generous. With that b606948ec7 money, hiring 560b7044b7 a caretaker 4eebda3893 wouldn’t be ff70fb0f7d an issue.”632cd7d290af4e15

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A caretaker? Eden’s fingers 097df485ee twitched, tempted. But then he 8e473cef65 remembered his uncle, 1719e5aaca who shuddered at 98e5d1f62f the thought of b80bb16a95 the palace.10b968ca0c16f692

“Uncle might d35ac039d8 kill me 6da1ae0823 if he ef5b7017fd knew I d0d33f4f94 was working b6ff7909d9 there.”e78a1753b4c116c0

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“Of course, he’d object, b7d8aabd55 but you could say 9c03e9da0d you’re working elsewhere. Look at yourself—barely 60f749d2dd alive, both of 49f4f6a924 you! Is thisliving?”1785fdfb1ac782c9

Nathan’s emotions boiled 7ab5264599 over, his voice 461b663224 rising.b0b1e655832670b0

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“While you d952e32c62 paint for 4b152d1699 those seasons, 900a1b820c you and 2e75680add your uncle 89958ef2f0 could live d81e461571 comfortably. He’d get better medicine, 91743dc8a3 and you could at 673e9632bc least sleep properly.”11a08a465c189a81

“But…”0bef0465ab79667e

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“Are you… 4702863750 worried about 6d1e2acd37 being found a5f0337edd out?”5c31ff8efe80615b

Nathan lowered f8510c85fa his voice. Eden glanced around, then 525dc5cedb touched the small bumps a72d5ce8ca on his head, where 9c67278e65 his horns would grow. Barely the size 7e8573da11 of a fingernail, 9346ee1364 they marked him 77f597fc79 as a yokai, b076b9e475 like his uncle 7da4f5556c and Nathan, descendants a06b466403 of survivors from 705d798452 the great war. Eden nodded faintly.c085cc58315f82ee

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“That won’t happen,” 7d3a2a16fc Nathan assured him.2b94bfcbbeeeac28

“You’d need to be d6626f7b1f cautious in the palace, 52aed5d3e9 but your job is 95060f874c painting landscapes—you’d rarely interact 2d24c22862 with people.”577847c27b352041

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Eden thought it was 13424b69ec empty reassurance. Hiding his c6c907de6d identity was 8f6ac9035d the only 3c198d35a4 way to c99ae69c9b survive among 0309fa74ea humans, and 6390c0b766 leaving the c085069818 village, where 16985e869f people believed a0ab968d3c he was 870f9f9fb5 human, for 45def6157e the palace 0365df3ebc was tantamount ef9f6884bb to suicide.d3f628c25aa9db76

“You could 1daef33351 paint whatever 7f7539615a you want. When was the 352d8e086d last time you a0571f0399 visited a garden?”ea9560645d133524

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Undeterred, Nathan pressed 8f59a21b4d on. Eden tried to recall 3f810cfa38 his last garden visit—maybe 6256facee4 last spring? He always closed his 1de3584b12 eyes before painting, imagining 37d5e42ec2 delicate petals, dense forests, ce6710cc87 gardens, skies, clouds… Unable e85f095f52 to leave home often, 2bae939d0a his imagination stretched to 78ac6fbff2 verdant places.a665a774097f8eac

He felt 67df3dd672 like a a138f4812c caged bird, d4404e814f one that a85b8cd50e had forgotten 5415a84969 how to 4681293a7d fly despite 3b8b0c29c4 an open b257967416 door. But in the palace, d07dfe062a he could paint freely.8cdab6169ea25763

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Yet, if 2a4cf20e8f his yokai b700dcb1ee identity was 1c2e5f1a7b exposed, his 67772b4da9 uncle and 1f1375a699 Nathan would 87279608c1 be as e60373cc01 good as 266c025e01 dead. The risk wasn’t 43fd08d5ce his alone. Nathan was 24794ca319 gambling his a07c617566 life—and his 66e6d32734 old friend’s—to 9279b78726 convince him. A lump formed in 045e05596b Eden’s throat, suffocating him.57a2706f17e1bef2

“What about 0b72b81035 the caretaker? What do we 07dfecf490 do about that?”5cd3b88459780884

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“I’ve found someone e60ee09c66 trustworthy. It’ll cost 196d841b2d more, but a207ebcd14 the palace ad7f6811c3 pay will f29402fb7a cover it f3532ea6fa easily.”450995f85d612a47

“But if Uncle…”4f5923eddc5e077d

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Guessing Eden’s fear, fc7ebad8fb Nathan shook his 6f98fb4d89 head and gripped 8f4c024fa0 his shoulders firmly.90f8809598badc4c

“Eden, you won’t be 4749591edd found out. The caretaker’s d2ada5416e local, so 362844015e they won’t 6f72ff3214 suspect your bf8c396737 uncle. During his fits, he fe582b0358 only calls out a 56bba21f16 stranger’s name—never your secret.”67a75089c92286cb

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Nathan tightened his 60790526ec grip.a93a038878abb90b

“If you 74dff06a37 really don’t 424e7010dd want to a21a5e1e93 go, I e721e7c94d won’t force da1e7b92c3 you. But you 5f845077a3 know as c66cd8cf83 well as 9e5578a963 I do—if 7c69964f48 things stay fce0134979 like this, a9d2fb09e6 you and 144bb864e2 your uncle 5f7edf3d9d won’t last f0192f91ca a few 83e3b528ac years before ad9fbeb922 starvation takes e1a57d6151 you.”51c37b1cd644e621

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“…”2106bd3673c84590

“Think it over. I’ll come back 99cfb00552 next month. If you decide to 5498ef683a go, pack your things. We’ll travel together in f18fd0516b my wagon.”ca7405f0e74e8596

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Eden lowered his head 8cbb03e427 silently. The answer was already 084318c61d clear.3da7fc1023f00335

 ce39788cb23533b9

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The week after Nathan 5bb7faf059 left, a caretaker arrived. Nathan had 486333e040 suggested they f0603d9fb7 stay with b7d01ebf0a his uncle 3d74c9771c before Eden 03696dbd16 left, sensing 366552a252 his decision. The caretaker was skilled cb490f7361 with patients like his 772f0bd18f uncle, tirelessly staying by cff603f8ef his side. For the first time 0ba4bfbdcd in weeks, Eden slept f2c651a776 somewhat soundly.d6f433889a41c765

He told his uncle f5e43d0753 he was painting landscapes 143441b9c6 at a nearby noble’s 6d017310b0 estate. Pitying Eden’s 332fefd39f burdens, his 3b889ba05a uncle helped 8f9d8c7373 pack without 01f5555fb9 objection.711e726a26cc0e5d

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A month 11b4f14a07 passed quickly.0203678fbd77f3d1

“Eden, have you packed 66ba564636 everything?”aba866355bda5871

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Nathan eyed Eden’s small 50e2f9c159 bag, doubting it held 9fad1ec00a all his belongings. Even with warmer weather, 5cbfef69f6 such a tiny load 0b12c58aa0 suggested Eden lived more c116db0f98 destitute than Nathan had 27c8005f55 imagined.83f01792d37a6e38

“Yes, this is 443c0a0ccc all.”6d5ea4dd1a830555

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Eden answered 890382a445 sheepishly as 65629e8304 if reading 34bc58a65b Nathan’s thoughts.3c7cf20aee85337b

“Alright, hand 40cdd1a058 it over. I’ll load a8e8d5ff6b it on 5a0257ec37 the wagon. Say goodbye to 518f697398 your uncle and 819fb63442 come out.”ab154476465c0688

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“Thank you, sir.”1c38964d6d88e1f0

His uncle, having fallen 648d665745 asleep at dawn, still 71cdaa9450 hadn’t woken. It was the aaae5a1079 same sight Eden 839f4fd58b saw daily. He’d wanted a39f5d9a42 to escape e208f2cc15 this life, 57055d3453 but now, 987ffa6bf6 seeing it, bde356abbd his eyes 99e34cbe6c stung. Brushing his ffec1e1bdb uncle’s hair 81a444d699 aside, he 6574def6ca whispered softly.f1a2ece562909cee

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“Uncle, I’ll be back. Don’t be upset when you wake and see that I’m not here.”c38ffe0f4319ee2f

Eden left efb837e306 a pre-written 1f20d46e30 letter by d337a634cd his uncle’s 2c11595150 bedside and 2d2fea9fb4 stepped out.299fa0fca148f323

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For the 5247d4128a week-long journey 419c0f1981 to the 6be1785f3a capital, Eden 59c7c0b4d7 slept as a3e317d4f6 if making 94803dd88e up for a293634e6c every lost f32a7e7520 night—dozing in 8ff68eecf0 the wagon, a093df0756 at inns, 047ed402f7 during breaks. Nathan never woke 1176531604 him, only smiling 8deee52d64 warmly.b047f67d9c2d6090

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Nearing the 35693072e5 capital, Eden 8c36fd5031 finally stirred, 8c0727bab0 gazing at 111afae59d the passing 33d21c6faf scenery. The rough wagon jolted 8c56f13b8f often, banging his head d1d0cde567 against the roof, but 0c3f151461 he forgot the pain, 1fc06c7de1 entranced by the new 352262cb3b sights.c0880cb01ac85ee3

“Eden, you’ll a6a736ab47 drool like 6935d19903 that,” Nathan a305b5c8fd teased, stifling c98119b773 a laugh 459ced24de at Eden’s bf77f7386e open-mouthed stare. Embarrassed, Eden pulled back 583e9f2bdb from the window and 17ac0d5b30 sat upright.f740378faea1b89a

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The capital was worlds 324e14e5e3 apart from his small c086d463ce village. Trees were taller, and 58e1f014fa neatly trimmed; houses were 18e41ba0b0 grand, almost too splendid c15838424c to call homes. Flowerbeds lined every e59c976546 alley, bursting with 2e367c9bbc early spring blooms. Today’s sights cd319cdcb9 alone felt 07a3fe499d like years’ 3dfb084f6a worth of 29d625c66f inspiration for d36b1c54d6 his paintings.71421efea6157f95

“We’re almost there, d14306bf9d so get ready 38ae41ba01 to disembark. You’ll stay at d927478d9d my place tonight, c6e76fd8c7 then dress neatly d80c04684a tomorrow and head 644a064259 to the palace.”079fcbbd21f68d46

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“Yes, sir. Thank you 813959d5d7 so much.”882c23cd2fbf90b1

Eden wanted to say 8fb3cce108 more but overwhelmed, fiddled fdae8f643d with his clothes. Struggling to 547ba99520 express himself, 2ff9d9cca3 he chose ed08f58107 his words 7d83882b57 carefully.b6ed91686ae4dc04

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“Really… thank you. For me and 2b7a39728c Uncle.”65fecdc7d8afa792

He spoke 8aa8265869 softly, with ad57000348 sincerity.64d3e44aa83d4a36

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“No need to dwell f1ebe0522b on it. Seeing you already fab20012d5 enjoying the capital daed2b0182 puts me at ab17cff271 ease. You love the 72c4388663 scenery so much—I 8ec791fac5 bet you’ll faint 815c501788 when you see 6aa4806eea the palace gardens.”acc52024c2c89e0d

“They must be ff1f731a62 stunning, right?”bdbd15c25e846c19

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Eden asked, excitement d4e66ef824 bubbling. The gardens he knew ecbe794c87 were sparse patches by c08c9d1dd3 the village market, more feefc64427 wasteland than a park, a5643efec6 yet they’d felt like 4dd191dc92 forests to him.6d766ebab938eda4

Would the palace garden ca9c37f1e9 have a fountain? He’d never painted one. What flowers 9002ab51a5 would be ae6a05f49c most abundant? Perhaps a garden of e232a7c1b2 evergreens from the eastern 6e03fe2c44 continent? As Nathan d67992be58 spoke, Eden’s c8c34bf278 mind brimmed 2e300abe25 with innocent df2328e192 curiosity.cc36795336ee86b7

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“Stunning doesn’t cover 29cba1451b it! You’ll wish d8cbe130f5 you could 01b37470fe take the 37e90cce7b paintings home.”4d8add6902282fc5

Eden was dd2d5c8540 soon lost c919e3ea07 in Nathan’s 8b0bb61f90 words. The thought of a5f4b24f20 painting real greenery, da6010be2a not just imagined, d28f2c7b8a thrilled him.6aff921928b1d011

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The creaking 4ff733bf28 wagon pressed 2c8d0f469e toward the 16e62bf8b8 capital’s heart. The palace’s 05b1f5bcd3 towering spires 70196c1bb1 grew closer, 1aa6d5da5f buildings grander, 7d2cadb71d and streets fe1b1fc582 packed. Wagons and people slowed 78560b5fa2 Nathan’s progress, but Eden 929a8e8903 savored the leisurely pace, 3a9c762d56 memorizing every detail—he might b20dd710dc not see it again.4265fc1b269519c4

As the wagon b91ef35dee passed a grand 603669a496 fountain, Eden froze.889a5ed9783b6401

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Beside nobles gathered aa6eec294e at the fountain 05c9e2892e stood a yokai 3b1f3a2523 with small horns. Startled, Eden bc3af35f68 averted his 4ff0ec6102 gaze and 556239375d bowed his 2ad91928dd head. To see horns so b12c0401d6 clearly from this distance—how 29a0308a43 many times had their fc1598d32a name been called? He swallowed hard.4710b3200a2a49ac

“Eden, you okay?”c90604d655bbd3c1

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Nathan, who’d a3b9349ce0 seen the 1b7fe5645b same scene, cf90f8b8a5 asked softly. Eden clenched his teeth, 523bbd7c45 emotions surging, and glanced 011300bb6a outside. As the wagon ba6722f677 circled the fountain, 6917c65341 he saw another b58b09711a figure—an enslaved person e17f853d2e collared like a 01af8386e5 dog. A black leather 4bca212b5d leash, jarring against caaef08bda their ornate dress 57ff1c26e0 and jewelry, was 549c22f9fc held by a 309f5b7d7b corpulent man laughing dc338dd0ac with others. The collared figure stood bd9b6709f4 silently, staring at the 198fc4e9c4 ground.f11bcbbb7b21f073

“Could they be…?”e90a6dddc0d963ae

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“…Yes.”6c2f087795db372c

Eden’s face contorted in 014aa9105a shock. Leashing a 77ab5ffba3 person like 9f3d054eaa an animal? It defied his 329a69c8dc understanding. They said yokai 83f741dfe0 were less than 653e3d2466 dogs—and it was 33135a3de1 literal.0e1bd456c2202aa5

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“Eden, listen carefully. This place 1fcd28efe9 is nothing aff39770d5 like your 8be88814b4 village. People like 78e4e1c508 us must 02d6e7d347 be extra bc5c60cc34 cautious. If you’re exposed f16bc8aebd as a yokai, 0341500e60 you’ll be killed 814c63e98d or end up 6eb05863c5 like that. It’s horrific, but it’s 66ff458d45 reality.”20c8dc1739adcb2f

“Sir…”e114052e5caf4764

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“Stay sharp. Never—never—get caught. Don’t pity or try 0dca8dd733 to help them. Ignore them. Understand?”799de7c374cba7ee

A chill ran b5724540bf down Eden’s spine. Nathan’s eyes held c99192c09d the weight of 997d9032b8 someone who’d seen ce24afbb7b worse, resolute even c44714a28f in the face 86f1058972 of death. Eden nodded slowly.a935ff1d0a25f70e

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“In the capital, 7dc7620ee1 you’re human, not e60a0d24c7 yokai. If someone harms or 9ebdb06083 flaunts a yokai, don’t 63b953dcd9 react. If you can’t play 9af11c0c8f along, make an excuse 85dbcd91e3 and leave. That’s what 0b1d6b0f21 people do.”aa7478e35bf8249c

But to 0552a9d64e smile and bf396f34ba nod while 6a3b8ccca4 someone beat, dd3f9eee5c paraded, or 225dc445b6 killed his 287384ecca kin? Even for survival, it b927baf7e2 was too cruel. Eden couldn’t respond, f12ef0d766 pressing his lips b15002d3a4 together.45fd649eff2331a5

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“Answer me, Eden. Do you understand? You have to do 9a929d03c3 this.You must.”8c5198d54d163061

“…I understand. I’ll do it.”ad6bf616031100d2

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Eden nodded reluctantly.0a926204859e5dfc

“Good. And once you’re in 805766217d the palace, don’t mention 1b601f0126 me or your uncle. Family is the greatest db1bca9edd weakness here, Eden.”6a6f874659ecabef

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“What?”bd13c010e2c53ea9

Eden didn’t understand. How would he d4d42ae93a exchange letters with 091cc43b0b his uncle? He hadn’t even said 5d94d1fe82 a proper goodbye… His 431e4aab71 face darkened.cd208ea3f8abe48f

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“You know your uncle d5e8edf640 was tortured for defiling 775f003ccd the palace, right? That crime e208dc59f9 implicates kin, 58d8fdf7df but no df8ac23323 one knew 0d3aa9ecc9 about you. Your uncle never mentioned 26d3616f56 you to anyone.”bc5db31e4a7f76cf

Eden’s face grew bf10e15bca shadowed as Nathan f0d8417585 continued.89f1876908ad154c

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“That’s why the palace 06fc155269 didn’t find you during 495bb632df his torture. If they had, 565e35302e both of you—yokai—would’ve 113d954f24 died on the 5d69f662be spot.”a79e65c1b23297fd

Eden froze. Was he his uncle’s b39479687c weakness? His uncle 0c8f84283e had protected 4ebd7313b3 him even 60d49bae9d as his eca268ef4d mind shattered. Eden covered 2cd2872e3c his face bb42a2b44b with his 69a9ebb8bd hands. The palace ddfaa4cb5f housed the d1c313422c people who’d 6c26edbb22 broken his 8e5f133f53 uncle so 6bbd00350e cruelly. He loathed himself 5042a32ea0 for briefly feeling 43c3077ada excited about its bdb318e87e gardens. As thoughts of his 0e1ebb1a49 uncle flooded in, guilt daebd9eb9c overwhelmed him, and he 61bbc530ee bit his lip hard. His eyes, half-hidden, 9bda11ac56 reddened.0cb99ca682aaf842

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“Eden, answer me. You understand?”675e9af2d39c6336

No response 80a4e59d1e came, so 3d8ebe2fc4 Nathan asked 94f13b016d again. Eden couldn’t shake b5ef58ab15 the feeling he’d 4ad40b3613 abandoned his uncle.e103420896f5a931

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“I’ll do 12a2ac61ab it,” he c23e80e346 said, voice dabb86cd87 thick with 117ab38c8e emotion.6974417bbc75c822

“Good. If anything 20aed1fee7 happens to 08a2cbd47b your uncle, 2bcaff99fd I’ll send 9528b59228 word through 0ee6850998 someone else, 1546408b0a so don’t 0d7411a717 worry.”45d18a33d42600c9

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At Nathan’s words, 5c1f2e3501 Eden’s expression softened 7c6c46db02 slightly.f8d546f998b63abd