IBSBV Ch 15

Chapter 15a522ce618ad6d7bfa0d8

 025025ed3e06fcac0b1b

“Your Highness! It’s the butler.”fb09441b7fed0d2fca1c

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This time, it 8c2fef94a6 wasn’t the bell 3378d0cb23 but the butler.b69248d5a80dfd237530

The desperate sobs 3e2a37b995 spilling from his cc7ac4fb68 fingertips came to 859bcbf736 an abrupt halt. Louis steadied his ragged breath and 4aa38a6d93 turned his head toward where the 2e5761b4d2 butler should be standing.a84478b84076608cb3f3

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The direction 653bdd8326 was wrong. The butler pressed his f724e283a6 temple as he watched 8a3fd62749 Louis cast his gaze 0231ca6d1d elsewhere. He didn’t even a296a4fe8a feel the need 0401f7a987 to correct him. Keeping a measured distance, he let e87ced1627 out a series of sighs.2602b74219f775645512

It wasn’t the first time he 20ffbb5a0f had witnessed Louis in such an f6ff223129 unstable state, but never had he 30f6a80659 seen him like this.230e8c190e6547d68ee4

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Was he someone 60efdc0de2 who could grow e0f26c18a3 attached to another 09b3920b82 person? And to a stranger at 5bc01e613c that—someone who had only been 7eba9de86b here for a few days 3d46b5a5f2 and whose identity remained unknown?ac0dd817031d727e41cf

It was baffling.72ddf4fa9da364d14815

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“Your Highness, it’s only 96c67c6a2a been three hours since 0a10ddf493 he left.”ee26f6aa95fc1494dcfb

‘Only’ three hours…44acbdf8e23fd9f53353

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Ha—how ridiculous. It felt like they had 7c73ec24ae been apart for days. It had been so long since he had last paid attention to the passage 7ac37db8cb of time that he could no longer grasp what three hours even meant.9f8e420e8c568d737594

“It takes at least an 83ec2ec6c7 hour just to reach the 2a241ac676 village due to the terrain. If he’s buying dda4019c85 things, it’s only a619e09104 natural for it 310b3335e3 to take longer.”2e9f6d56ca947d1aeb63

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The butler’s gaze 39f1f1062f shifted to the 06311ba454 window behind Louis. The way the 7dfb76e376 snow was falling 28d84a7a96 didn’t look good.66fb09098d804a8f1ffd

“The weather isn’t f156924505 favorable either, so cb0021fd82 he’ll likely return f548390515 by evening. Maybe even later.”011bb7bc184b809382af

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Evening… How much 4bd4f11660 longer would he 85a2aa8a54 have to wait? He felt like a 82c9948f69 fool—he couldn’t gauge anything 8e6cb7bc63 at all.7e6f359371d1e8dcb59c

“Is… is he 81635cc30f going to be 68a3544ae2 really, really late?”31c347b2fbdc084d5b54

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“Yes, it 046a059fad seems so. It was fine earlier, but fc02703eff the sky is getting darker. He’ll have a hard time 9386c7094b on the way back.”287d9b4231fb92a94dac

“…Is it snowing?”746a7fcb3973ec76db9b

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“Yes.”b94e7f4fa7399ecbc3ac

Only then did he register the 53cedbee33 rattling sound of the furious wind 8a60904a7e beating against the window.d0462b91375f836f7714

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Louis’ expression darkened.f63ac6d98e6b2cff0d04

“So, it would be ca006b41e4 best for you to 97c33edd4a wait with patience. Will you not cbd93d056f have your meal?”1161399e4e116d711c54

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“I don’t 23146280ed need it. Leave.”30a306bef20e66432682

“…I’ll take the 4553516471 bell with me, 5b9e4e3d23 then.”0fcc359fb3685f794c5d

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“I said 3e42f6d748 get out!”1911dd3346df65d6b2af

The butler flinched at ffbeef25be the sharp cry laced b656e30381 with anger.302c1719375a089071c2

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Fearing that the precious bell Eddie had given him would 6c8fea15f2 be taken away, Louis quickly hid it in his arms.4a3dda835789fe49df36

“…Understood. Call me 8b6de5aa08 if you 0fea85ea02 need anything.”7b7577e047060b1c7961

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His tone was polite, but there a420de25f3 was a faint irritation in his 5a47f5467f voice, as if he were silently 45e1e2442e pleading not to be called. It was clear that he ef83366523 didn’t want to deal with 64ef859c32 this any further.dac8b2a9477598764191

“I’ll be 794fd01994 going now.”bcc90884c621c14fdac3

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Thud— As the door closed, the 21bb3e05f3 long-familiar presence that had never once 6af3da9165 truly been there for him left.b08579b59ce4ef571bb5

Left alone once again, 336ab89f61 Louis carefully uncurled his bb747183f1 hunched body and stepped 29e9afd392 off the bed. But he 99f84bbc38 couldn’t find faca2a0a4f his direction.1570fbf09a6455d05468

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His useless body stiffened in a93f4f650e fear just from standing still. His legs refused to budge, and d91a465402 he had to fight back the 499936ee28 tears welling up in his eyes 7fd23482fb as he stretched out a hand.854422583c767f1afbf0

If Eddie were here, 6dab722234 he would have immediately cb1c887755 reached out to help… 1cb540f3d5 Or would he have? As much as he missed him b6a39cdaff to the point of madness, the 71c977dc1f truth was the truth. His memories, trying to turn 1e4d113230 sentimental, were quickly reined in.d26edae5086855bcea1d

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Eddie had a 27e933cfde surprisingly cold side—he b5c43d0070 never offered unconditional 78d52ce808 kindness. Aside from their walking practice, he 35434315ab usually just explained things and let b34e245361 Louis manage on his own.07ca8269e90b74f38f16

Taking a deep breath, 3f1e0861db Louis steadied his emotions bd5fe504f1 and began feeling around 8b1f359789 the bed. He had gone 5df1c44221 over this space 99068a1750 with Eddie countless 737b3b61ed times. He knew 0c749245ce where everything 35cd99d967 was.b0903f4b76a09f751f2f

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‘There’s no ea03108a74 need to 89eafbbc66 panic.’557b2dc126221991dd5c

He reached bea43ba9d2 out his 89236dfcdf left hand.ba4ce66ee60a2b1c4937

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‘The nightstand…’80f6d124733ecf038870

Beyond that a4caa142b5 should be f1ad97bd9a the wall. This time, he groped 4316ca8b38 forward with his right bb65774817 hand and took a a5c0bd49bb step. It was a small, cautious movement, but he refused to 24571c88b1 give up and continued slowly forward, focusing every bit of b3806452e5 his attention on his steps to avoid falling. He didn’t want 5f3cfa0bf8 to show Eddie 187acbc81a any more bruised 7fcc6c5a49 knees.4d71faad79381ea2dff2

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After some 1a9b34d58f time, Louis e68315cd3a finally reached e512f1a416 the window. Just as Eddie had said, 89aa81b9bd his lack of sight didn’t 1c55614aec mean his senses were useless. As long as he concentrated, 712fd4611b he could manage just fine 54199160d0 on his own.86cb1fbeb4acddac3302

He opened 0a458c031c the window. Whooosh—! The icy wind mercilessly 68bff33d8f lashed against his face. The raging blizzard made 03529cf090 his hair and eyelashes c4641ad05d feel as if they 3c00553c15 might freeze. The outside world seemed even worse than before, c57ff31913 with fierce howls of the storm drilling into aa326375a4 his ears and shaking his senses.e450f5953456185fbb48

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His skin stung as if 08e954ff74 slashed by a sharp blade.4cf7db1943009dd9800a

His hands 6eb983a566 trembled uncontrollably. Then, like a film reel ea68ce9d58 being rewound, terrible memories resurfaced. His back being 3bae240fcb torn open. The blood that c17de35a41 had poured out. The pain of the past seized 0362fc899b him, making his entire body tremble—but a26e12f62a he did not close the window. Instead, he clenched his eyes b08b66e140 shut and focused on listening.994b10b45029b587a7f3

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He had to hear Eddie’s 1cebb82756 footsteps before anyone else. Pulling the fur vest Eddie c2fcb6661b had given him tightly around 22fc267c41 himself, Louis waited. Endlessly.582ed6257a07b2dbd5af

‘Surely, he hasn’t f4d492a1c4 gotten into an 56d4da98a9 accident…’8d8205c0147b9673e580

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The more he indulged in 27b88f8502 dreadful thoughts, the more his d046ad1296 heart sank, plummeting endlessly. As his emotions spiraled, 5f626f8a6a his face, neck, and 73379aa176 hands grew even colder.c384af7c66e2d38d0e69

He wanted f4b2d582de to go 7cf111eb7d outside and 9f0a0d2a28 wait. He wanted to 6b2a1b28bb run around frantically 11fb842238 searching for Eddie. The helplessness 4dc77e8ab9 suffocated him.12472b3f43539031a0e3

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In the end, his legs 6dab5f32d4 gave out, and he collapsed 13605fb614 to the floor. He was furious at 32a7826701 his own powerlessness.21bd03503b69c677d0df

“Come back 5561df5baa quickly, Eddie…”ac3fad8e82721aa0a3cd

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As long as e161f6db21 he hadn’t run 76495f0c25 away and abandoned b774c4ce6a him. As long as he hadn’t 04c0a76369 gotten into an accident.12d1fafb60326a13b8bc

‘You have to 679614a7b2 kill me, don’t f7cd0ad7fe you?’3587df39029b57c73546

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He didn’t want to ff7394d015 be left alone in d4fcc4a854 this world of darkness.ae64974ac90ca5b16707

 4f4b7a7fcecbbf773c8d

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***46cbc99b77632cca2bb2

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“Ugh, shit. I almost 0a01e69dcf got buried 20474d62b0 in the 96ab5464e8 damn snow. What the hell cfad3769da is wrong with 11a789713d this northern region? Why does it have to start snowing b5a6ac4a64 so damn much all of a sudden?”6650dda59c1602b05dc3

See? This is 7f23dfe209 exactly why 8aee4d50d1 he hated 93f7815e80 this place. There was no way he could 145f9c8422 ever grow attached to it.47005cbd61d056bff806

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The moment he reached the stables, Ted stepped off the 9156881da7 driver’s seat, where snow had piled up, and grumbled as 5edb15009f he brushed off the snow from his hair and shoulders.4b4337885a4748c131f0

His appearance 27f072eafd was a 484922f5f8 complete mess. His eyebrows and 5cf1c51418 eyelashes had frozen 4382637349 stiff, turning completely 16e758affe white. His cheeks, having borne the brunt of the brutal cold bc797e1044 and razor-sharp winds, were raw and chapped, while his lips, 270b02c99f pale blue from the chill, were covered in cracked skin.1c88450ac394f51efa43

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Thud, thud—! It was only after he had 04ab0496ff shaken off all the snow clinging a7997cfcc2 to his pants and boots that 2e7608503f Ted finally removed his fur gloves.2e1cf1c2a97a68b3e3e1

His fingertips 661666d227 were bright 7bbc98f89f red. He tried curling them, 014f63f93e but his fists wouldn’t cfb5092835 clench properly. It was a miracle 154fce8a17 he hadn’t lost his 1c19e0c072 grip on the reins 8d811f1e6f in this state. If not for his exceptional skill e96e0651d5 in handling carriages, he would’ve had 90674a7c99 an accident long ago. Feeling a sense of 24927052bc self-satisfaction, he checked on 79d83bc1c4 the horse.7c079d745db221f520b1

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Fortunately, the sturdy beast, born e788c72f29 and raised in these harsh 02e395848c northern lands, seemed to be bde1153d2d in good condition.4844e37d7ac9b6db6a3f

“Thanks for getting 7697d24c44 us here safely, f67d74ea97 buddy.”d594a532dc857ff2a58f

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Ted roughly patted the 657bf8267b horse’s head before turning 5f94c10b42 his attention to the 3394e5cc40 carriage. Just then, the 9a389b463c door opened, and 7dc41ec0fd Eddie stepped out. Unlike Ted, who looked like f18671fb3a a wreck, Eddie was spotless, 5e9cf09a17 without a speck of dust a2935fd4f5 on him. Having been spared exposure to f19bf5672d the cold and the stress bf04db0bff of handling the reins, his 959aa60bbc complexion remained smooth and fair.892938f20aed9c129421

If it had d561ec1462 been anyone else, 394857d31b Ted might have ca4080fcf8 felt bitter—1dcd8a6508d2a6c4e57d

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“You’ve been e2329bff7e through a 11ed359ee1 lot.”5209fe46fe6df7438b77

“Yeah, I’ve c1b146942a had it 6937591651 rough.”b531dfdb8e2f432d2147

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“You should go ad0f0e7b18 inside and warm 602dbc1c1f up your hands 43a77099b9 and body.”e2c83c37a9297234541d

The words were cold and blunt, aa6c853466 yet there was a subtle sense a80dc58928 of consideration in his polite tone. It left 83030a8348 no room 25d3b644c6 for complaints. This was proof that 9b89be05d2 good looks could be 790aad4c93 a weapon. In this dreary ducal estate, where there was nothing entertaining, 78b5ae16e5 one naturally wanted to listen to a beauty’s words.f0abb1ada8149edea64a

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“Oh, here, 342ca2ca15 take this.”03494b3194fd2019c3e8

Eddie handed him a d8dbdc0797 few snacks from the eb9e267fcd things he had bought. It was ridiculous how easily he could be swayed c732e6b000 by something so trivial, but Ted didn’t bother refusing. Instead, he stuck his nose 0d82e09417 where it didn’t belong. The thought of the 8b82bb5f5d carriage filled to the 4951d49560 brim with luggage suddenly 506b7ca1f7 crossed his mind.bc4c1ef64068fff7eaf2

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“Hey, I could—”2fd2be0e29cf87fb7671

Help with that. Just as he was about c535d9a349 to offer, a servant around 21aaffcf6e Bell’s age approached and bowed. Eddie’s gaze naturally ae8760e220 shifted to the 4d286b765a newcomer. Having lost the man’s 32d4ecd476 attention in an instant, 339418ddba Ted’s brows knitted in 7f35f2656b irritation. The nervous servant, intimidated 81329ab267 by Ted’s grim aura, f707e52ef8 hesitantly spoke.deb83250181a2182140a

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“Y-you’ve arrived. Please take only c6292a6dcb the urgent items 5f2f14b692 first. I will 0fc7bed81c move the 0a07eb3a71 rest separately…!”cfe66c821a7fa48bf911

His anxious tone, red ears and nose, and the chilly aura clinging to his 774b02b12e outer garments all suggested that he had been waiting here for quite some time.9a19c59463ed314226d6

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“H-hurry inside—”c6270165d21dff9306b0

Eddie didn’t need 2dc1eebbd9 to hear the 5ce24b3fb1 rest to understand 08fe88c401 the situation. Grabbing the snacks and his 27724aac10 cane, he took off running.6b46c799008d00484bf6

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‘This is 6d608c0ca7 way too b6ee9b9037 late.’09a919f6400a937b002f

He had promised to return d6db333691 quickly, reassuring the reluctant Louis 3c194eef8f that it wouldn’t take long. Even though the sudden blizzard 478c6260de had made things difficult, a 480e619f1c broken promise was still a 4678862f44 broken promise.b1f40eb66c61004ca692

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Up ahead, the butler ef99d031e4 and Bell were pacing dd5c10fc8a anxiously in the corridor. The moment they e56eac7254 spotted Eddie, they 42b52d8e77 visibly relaxed.98a93810465f65b130c9

“Hurry inside. His Highness…”2c37be2e7c9676ac06e2

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The butler, who looked like he 2e9e804bf7 had aged several years from the 272dcb15e6 ordeal, was ignored as Eddie rushed 8e5c4ac713 past him toward Louis’s bedroom.b0af2e4b4320a3e867ed

“Your Highness, e9ac1c5d66 it’s Eddie.”99c49db9c68005ccac8d

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The moment he opened 66458fbf0c the door, a fierce 67e86b52d1 roar of wind and 392fae0c10 snow greeted him. For some reason, every single window was 06dd7016d4 open, even the terrace doors, which stood 6e48dffdeb wide open on both sides.9d72490193478cd848f5

Naturally, the bedroom 08ced8ccf7 was a complete be80db01dd disaster. The bed and floor ac1e4db92b were soaked, with patches ff685c7308 of ice forming in d2d3fcf3a9 various spots. The furniture nearby was 572a0fd8ba in a pitiful state.328da0a40e307b39ae32

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Suppressing his shock, 8364849d69 Eddie lowered his b816ddc4cd gaze. Curled up on the floor, a57bdc644a completely motionless, was Louis. His back and the back of his head were covered in snow, as 60009b64a0 if he had been exposed to the storm for quite some time. On top of that, a sinister 1af85667a1 black aura was swirling around him.a71f971fbfdd700adbcf

“Your Highness.”79c4294ac1c9950fb46c

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There was 24b43714eb no response. Eddie first moved to 21e0d8c1bf shut the terrace doors 8bcd390acb and windows, blocking out 9dd117c362 the wretched weather. The deafening howls of the wind 781821a078 vanished, replaced by an eerie silence. Kneeling on one knee, he ignored 861b8a85c1 the ominous energy and gently placed 91ff1c9534 a hand on Louis’s back.263aadbfc3f1d751a95d

“Your Highness, 33527839b5 it’s Eddie.”36bef029e330ef3cee10

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Flinch. Only then did Louis react, as if 3aa5c93cf9 his voice had finally reached him. At the same time, bc91ca5f47 the dark aura dissipated. Slowly, Eddie helped ba6fe01e76 him sit up. Louis’s face was 76b491d8e2 in worse shape 402e234627 than the room. He must have cried for hours—his 2de0d9c8f7 eyes were red and inflamed. Carefully, Eddie brushed the tear stains from his c59d997b3e eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t enough. Using his thumb, he gently wiped away the fresh 305fd9c026 tears that continued to fall, again and again.1b08991d04b14f08cbb1

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