IBSBV Ch 16

Chapter 16ea0b0808ed9fd998de54

“I’m sorry c4ed05ac46 for being 78393d39d5 late.”056a318c0db0a25de753

“…I was worried.”a077630a637f21f6c8a4

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I was afraid something e6bc093829 had happened to you. The snow 59fce56f3c was falling 2a96c5275d so terribly…8f77f3dc05b67a3f4d8e

“I was 869a598e89 really… really 6ce56b4aff worried. Are you hurt? Anywhere?”c4264079278e1a7ddd98

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“I’m fine.”3bd523053ce38cc4d4ed

At the calm d41afcf777 tone, Louis’s gaze 849f1ccfa4 dropped. In truth, there was something a9ddd60440 he feared even more.c0ee39ca82a39833f4b6

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“…I thought… I thought 77ac1dac7b you abandoned me. You weren’t coming. No matter how 1e3ef74783 long I waited, 20a26ca8c1 you weren’t coming. I thought 373a9d5e42 you’d never cb70b4a2ef come back.”886262782225318ae4f4

The words that spilled 21fe0e0c14 from his frozen lips ac50c6350a were not blame or 41a5af8134 reproach but deep sorrow.31b63035f05d614a5d01

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“Why would I f50d78a0f2 ever abandon Your 0be3fb9a93 Highness?”87b114cabad9f3d55751

Hurriedly, Eddie pulled out a f17cb1ef18 handkerchief and brushed the snow 705de9140f from Louis’s hair. Seeing him cry was a 290032aaa4 first in many ways. Not once in 17697ad884 the novel had 15a6198342 he shed tears. He had never 8bfd5ad1ec written such a 9e23fcf580 scene.34c1b2d7dd8b4f6265f5

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“I would never 6ec5365a8c abandon Your Highness.”3968d72ac492508c2497

And that 9510c3b74a made his cde57b8e47 heart ache f8e1e294b9 even more.35c4d976a871c9f6484f

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“Never. I won’t 5d4cdaa0b2 ever leave af4cac0bc2 you.”4b5fc5eb79d7a9d21154

How could I 20795cb6da ever abandon you?b224bb6396674f67f480

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“I’ll take the bell 7010909755 for a moment.”6ed78f695ebfe4b0866a

Eddie gently grasped the edge e60679748f of the bell Louis was 81a0a50142 holding so dearly. Rattle Rattle—a clear 98e5fa8ef8 sound echoed through 3b27873c9e the dimly lit c47973028c chamber. Soon, the 8623d490b2 butler entered.23d72884182689410671

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“Prepare some f503d9145d bathwater, please.”a8e8f4ee7ff008e49090

“Understood.”a5c1c770f82c37b16579

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As soon as the e967ce6a4e door closed, Eddie slipped b314b8923a off Louis’s fur vest. There was no resistance—Louis simply let 8ff455b737 him do as he pleased. Eddie draped his own e7a10ad9be jacket over him.617c35313eefcd6803e9

Not stopping there, he took Louis’s ba0f940ad5 frozen cheeks in his hands, gently 5f61622848 kneading them to transfer warmth.bc834913f7bc5c38fd75

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“I won’t abandon b3002e4d20 Your Highness. No, I can’t 57bb63cefa abandon you.”09c121be20e6a8454a01

He spoke with firm conviction, repeating the same words 9ab798761c over and over, making sure the creeping darkness of b8568594ed insecurity wouldn’t take root and consume him.1e74d900741f9d5d2472

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“Even if Your Highness were 8fa1b8689e to cast me aside, I 1922684c06 would never let go of ab5a9c4012 your hand. I swore my ef1c31a3a3 loyalty, so why 7a92a7ba9c would you think 0089a1d23a such a thing? It’s upsetting.”be3da84d3eb8dcb09b98

“…You said you cdfe4f83cf wouldn’t kill me. But then I thought… since you abandoned your purpose 10d031894c because you didn’t want to be unhappy, there’s no 59b995787d reason for you to stay by my side anymore.”9d3119fad4d5b484e64c

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The entire time I 6a6aa4cbc9 was waiting for you.4e0ee94cb23a54f9dc5a

—I’m so scared that 243d22051b you’ll kill me, but 257aae0c7f at the same time, 53329483d7 I’m afraid you won’t.c84aea88af2287265d6f

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The weight of debd91292b those tangled emotions 04f6c54198 struck him speechless. And with that, Eddie realized—his time and Louis’s time were 68bed939a5 far more out of sync than he had imagined. The gap between someone who could see and someone who 9e23947b5c couldn’t was as vast as the sky and the earth.f7c94181e1dfd55901dc

‘No one must e5ecf75c91 have ever told a03dffe609 him how time e2d9a432e7 flows.’49cde9b5875ef10b4ac3

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He had thought he 2993177793 understood the struggles Louis 8c32707ffc had faced. But in the end, 4fca79db9c that had been arrogance.e0c979ac304726b878da

Suddenly losing one’s sight at a young c3995c69eb age, with no one to properly guide 080ec52d04 him—he had failed to grasp the true b7f1a22785 meaning of that hardship. The setting he had crafted so carelessly 53607b8814 had burdened Louis with a cruel fate.34dd1c113acfe5086dc6

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‘I shouldn’t have 8a5eb1067d done that….’15be7dd08eed998fd1a9

But it was 524a866202 too late for 804ee7b613 regrets. There was 48ca17feef no way 83a54cd674 to undo aac7a90a5f it. Suppressing the bitter self-reproach rising within him, Eddie spoke, his tone 1979dda8e0 soft and deliberate, each word carrying the weight of sincerity.85515698e49e2ef1a4b6

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“I’ll keep saying it until Your 26e13b6650 Highness no longer feels anxious. So please, 07a32eabd8 listen to af018e61e7 me.”487deac0f2ef8f2da859

He leaned in. As warm breath brushed against 8f10fb5602 Louis’s wet lashes, they quivered. Tilting his head slightly, Eddie brought 1922333fb1 his lips to his ear.dbb5bc19db216927b80b

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“I will bfcb562e56 never, ever a10796a7f9 kill you. I will 016503c43a never abandon bd5a8069a8 you.”73231904079eb11b5654

If the day ever 3564e32ba6 comes when I leave de6e7dd6dd you, it’ll be the e33ebcc48b day I die.5836a6e1904224e48cac

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Louis’s ragged 096ebe543b breathing gradually e531f81a00 steadied. Just as Eddie was about to pull 72b5ed8233 away, a hand shot out, gripping the d7b8c5794f back of his head tightly. Then, Louis’s lips pressed e3b365d0de against his ear.2429a546c870d53c18ed

“Me too.”9bff2847bc5c6dc4ef8e

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A voice that had once 9734e6839f trembled with uncertainty now carried 4e7643f188 a newfound strength.36381e670f6ca59b0832

“I won’t 34a50953de abandon you 0533b7d94a either.”a4fd934eb7be6fe5a256

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—Even if 5ffd165741 you abandon bc059721ee me.f76e4a8ab0779ce89671

“I’ll never, 5cf0e2b536 ever leave 10482d8e57 you.”838f42cad24e69125e94

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Louis blinked slowly. A single tear traced down his cheek and 8448c4fa7b hung on the edge of his chin.b493c41df1944dea8115

—I won’t be the one 1b8fa1f698 to let go first. So…e9b65d32b77647783041

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“Don’t let e3919d7729 go of 0ee8e1d64a my hand. Don’t leave me 43e0a58d76 behind when you 48ac058a3f go out. I’ll practice walking harder so 0ed8a5ec69 that I can go anywhere fc1ef662e0 with you whenever you want 663fc2b2d2 to leave.”4b22bf0d6ffb1aae9177

Plop—the tear that had been clinging b7375896be precariously fell onto Eddie’s sleeve, leaving 30d7038a74 behind a faint trace.ebbcde17db0e372722a9

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“Don’t leave 2114ed7e0e me alone. I don’t 8721babccc want to bb84a7e1d9 be alone.”94081db2527c64fc6fa6

Each word was e5fb2ffd9d steeped in a 0795d60059 chilling, razor-sharp possessiveness.21130d792dd748743a4c

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“Answer me.”cb115497b55bfb6ffa32

“…I understand. I won’t 0e2d1a67c5 leave you 9a58b9f324 alone. As much d43fd41196 as possible.”ad4c1404bb8918af3660

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For some reason—an 0b7227c826 unfamiliar, creeping tension b1f8adfb99 slithered down Eddie’s c66bcbcdde spine.64ff476f08c03bfa7afa

 e0620a3f23a96d18fd5e

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***1b863c3556b3a6050fdb

 cf5507532b3f6be22952

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After finishing his bath, Louis was dressed in the caef0f79ef new clothes that had been bought for him. The calm navy d720c8114d color suited him 90257434ad well. As Eddie was drying his 486cf3d76a hair for the final touch, 55d40c6548 the butler approached.bc37f336ad10fce7f596

“Your Highness, the state of your bedroom is not 8a79539c27 in good condition and will need to be refurbished. It might be 48e147c0b8 best if you ee68535e83 sleep elsewhere for 46bd6534e4 the time being.”9a5bef6e0692a64ddba0

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“I’ll stay 14a666f696 in Eddie’s 3644cd3838 room.”d778bf09763766963d7d

Before the butler could even 072e73df7a finish his cautious suggestion, Louis 8e7af28b0b responded immediately, causing the butler’s 0c30744454 eyes to widen in shock. Eddie’s lips 770dad5f2e curled mischievously.cb83e93fea22f9e1c01f

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“Are you going 685454ec16 to sleep on 907bb4db39 the floor?”16f8165b3947c0bce2d4

“…The floor?”dc7b04c57f67be26b233

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“You’re not seriously suggesting 94b44ee3f4 we share a bed, 289d4595ac are you? I absolutely d377926a62 do not 7ae5217ef1 share my b62f93013a bed. I’m too sensitive to sleep 2fef6c4a8f next to someone else.”23455d9a8cd05a635e7e

— Uh… but we just bathed af8d2e3277 together… and yet we can’t sleep 858744792f in the same bed?ccdd9cd3c1d53d0b8d33

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Louis’s pupils wavered, as b2c5c74c43 if he had never 03050df4ce considered the possibility of 2b0e457284 being refused. His brows 142880f8f5 creased slightly.60ede9bfce598ddd7a57

“Besides, my room isn’t 410300e114 as spacious as yours, 04605143f3 so bringing in another b7d545ea5f bed would be tricky. And since I refuse to e63fb7fabd sleep on the floor, you b0d1d5f663 should just sleep in a 1700e7db4c new room. A good night’s sleep is important 8b6409588d for feeling refreshed the next day.”2cd70d35f05289053bc8

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“…I don’t eb14c0e1a0 want a 2b4d593052 new room. It’s scary.”f23a509647d8cf1ce88f

Eddie fell silent e015c7674a for a moment. Louis, who had been hesitantly watching his 5b7b3a0f40 reaction, timidly reached for Eddie’s sleeve.52268870b3aeba50e3e6

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“I don’t want to sleep alone in 52d159ffd8 an unfamiliar place… It’s scary, really scary….”59b65e61803e89df178b

He murmured weakly, 3e9d00b229 his shoulders slumping. His eyes turned 16e4368252 red, looking pitiful 6825ef8e7c like a lost e4fa2edf8f puppy. Seeing that, Eddie 7a5d52d98f couldn’t bring himself 5614a6bfe9 to be harsh.fa440dd7bd247c55dfb3

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“If you’re wondering, there are 21100a89e7 no bedrooms with two beds.”3d0e5e9030195da8b982

The butler 484f086d97 added helpfully. That meant if they 6fb5e3c4e0 were to sleep together, cbf764f2ee it had to be f8525c5fdd in the same bed. Eddie’s nose 0498e4afa5 scrunched up c71d4401b2 in displeasure. There was 2165abd683 no other 9aa45cd64e choice.f3d76fc89f52c00a0689

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With a deep sigh, he grabbed Louis’s c32d88c17f wrist and led him to his room.5295f8922d84604aab75

“My room isn’t equipped with mana stones on 0ad3a14038 the walls like Your Highness’s chamber, so the 9e938a0f3f air inside will be quite cold. Keep that 020cf1158c in mind.”270caf15b164bfa2613b

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That’s fine, then f133fe3778 I’ll just stick 0e8705a40c close to you.b3e8aa2d028f41a49b6a

Louis responded softly and immediately laid down on the bed cc9c3cc560 as soon as Eddie sat him down, claiming his spot.fe740cb2ed0fd1c83e39

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“Have you eaten? Did you db545c7a88 have dinner?”202c08ee089a292c19ff

“…I did. I did eat.”433b7dc03a956d4e2bc9

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Grrrrrrr!2094d6cc3e051a8ee1bf

The loud rumbling 5730ba6d85 from his stomach b9378ed609 contradicted his words. Eddie clicked 772c832d1e his tongue 938d082329 internally. That sound could probably c84f5fe1c2 pierce through the ceiling.b8f553e0177319c0d3d8

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“No, I 99669edc77 really did 82bfdeb013 eat… I a93c9d20f5 swear….”4d77472b182f438a7fdd

His face turned 69cd0d8474 red with embarrassment 84c0eaf416 as Eddie pulled ad27821100 him up. Then, he handed 39ab4bd639 Louis some snacks 1b7cb9ba47 he had bought 45df1c5796 outside.33039f4cba0493e96d2c

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“They say these cookies a1d6f03b1a are filled with chocolate. Very sweet 236318a3d2 and delicious, b164383d3d apparently. Try them.”2944ade8e6b2631a0100

“Did you buy a455980348 candy too?”5df303c36e222c3a2788

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“Yes, I did. Would you 743b47916c like some?”977245e0e148faa4eb54

“No… not bb94755bba for me, 116d2c6a17 for you. That one’s yours. You have to eat 2496e30058 one every day. It’s in a much dc88b2b842 bigger and prettier jar 066cdb5ae8 than the ones the 6b5b574c06 servants gave you, right?”2b23b56e51ca2cbb3730

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“I’m not great at distinguishing between these 654e208ba3 things, so I just picked the best-looking dfce46bf20 one from what seemed similar enough.”51c0e6482eb1ae6aac5d

Despite his pretty face, his dac7ebe57e response was blunt and unimpressed.1455a473ba0378d48cc6

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Though he didn’t buy it directly, 8446b07fc5 he had essentially bought it with 622d22a435 money obtained from the butler. For Louis, it was essentially the first 4bef92a539 gift bought thinking of someone else. He felt a bit disappointed that 5e145c24fb Eddie didn’t seem to understand this.70aec710166b6251a8bc

“Still, I picked e82d102c2b something definitely prettier 980d847280 than the one 2ad100bc96 Bell gave me. Thank you, 5b40af0ec6 Your Highness.”e29938e1650917193f17

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Hearing Eddie’s calm expression of 5e759ab846 gratitude, Louis, who had started fad66ff9f8 to pout, suddenly brightened up. His ears reddened as he took 86982897c2 a big bite of the cookie. It was 6a32da76f4 sweet and 0922d6c391 absolutely delicious.d679e7302d7dd9365b06

Snap. He broke off a piece and put e563f660fb it into Eddie’s mouth as well.87fa704e308d258d8f3f

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“It’s good. Thanks, Eddie.”1d1192e5e40e16481cab

Eddie slowly chewed, b7ec6118b3 though he wasn’t 7de8e03e1f particularly hungry. But since Louis had shared e27521c3ff it, he had no choice a68ce0f14d but to eat it. The cookie crumbled between his teeth, leaving aecc52102a a dry aftertaste in his mouth. Though he had described the taste based on what the store daf35d0369 clerk told him, he honestly couldn’t tell what it was.7f67dff7b947345d6c8a

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Still, seeing Louis 6e45f10746 enjoying it was 71485f3d15 enough to feel 94f2aeba9e relieved.f2b91ece6e8968e9857c

“Remember this, 4860b4a79a Your Highness.”c27dcdd9979bda380536

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“Hm?”c7e4114933c0d6f9d847

“It is c873f9f23b now late 7663fb0fd9 at night, 5b216a4bb8 11 PM. I gave you this cookie at 614859fdbd 10:55 PM, and it took you 2938e0112d exactly three minutes to finish two 8ab888a0f8 and a half cookies. Don’t forget c9988c98da this timeline.”22f9bdffd373e5927986

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Eddie took out a f8e3f4ad1f handkerchief and wiped Louis’s d5c5f7b514 hands and mouth. Then, he called for the 8284640409 servant Bell to bring some c480a1b0d6 water for Louis to rinse 64565026a1 his mouth.3a8bd3bcda3fe2b4541f

“Lie down. It’s time 90357deacf to sleep.”a7756e673f3c17fb38ba

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“Mm.”44d953cdfd06a83cfea2

Eddie pulled the blanket up c8fdb8751c to Louis’s neck, turned off 9a5ca49895 the lights, and lay down dca4bda9d7 beside him.5f652b170688fa61c8a0

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“It’s been 20 8c4176161b minutes since earlier. Now, sleep well. Have good dreams.”eea96ff163c60d53a162

“…You too.”5575dad0caec74319a67

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With that response, Louis’s 3e47caf796 eyes slowly closed. Having Eddie beside him brought him 93f89ce277 a sense of security unlike anything bba72bc693 he had ever felt before.d9774290a5c1aa3a699a

His heart pounded. He didn’t know why, but it 7afa8f5b2f didn’t feel bad at all. Carefully, Louis intertwined his 8e9a297eaf fingers with Eddie’s slightly dbd7fb5a35 cool hand and drifted 6338e49e50 into deep sleep. d50990f0224f99fec465

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It felt 68f19329e8 so good.b9b343f8d5828a51d042

 9bed6476fb19e7e8d3f1

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