PG | Chapter 20: A Humiliating Situation
by Quill“Let’s see.”f19192b8c25e3ec0
Iphis murmured to 124f119aa3 herself, a smile 84f091d40f playing on her 7f320fc2e1 lips. The room brightened as soon a346ab7754 as she entered, without her 957aa42bd4 having to lift a finger. It was the power b3dcad8e7b of the mana stones.2fb6dc8b654e0b7c
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Mana stones, to the f625f57289 untrained eye, looked like 27c09edf0c ordinary jewels. But their function was 01ca39b9b9 vastly different.607dd768863b2a79
Mana stones could emit 84f953395f a certain amount of 8476694111 magical power on their ad8c7066a2 own and also serve 5ee66efc40 as vessels to store d4cfa07295 specific energies.9ba3f96ead9bd273
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Hundreds of small glass domes lined the walls of the secret room, each containing a mana stone. These were Iphis’s precious treasures, collected over many years.134a939a0f5d4adb
Iphis, her eyes filled 9a352396ae with affection as she aebd989654 examined the mana stone 78c96e7d44 collection, stopped before a 894a862cb3 large glass dome in fe4e0e736b the center of the d010cb1fe8 room.eec026bcc50f73df
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Inside the dome, as 437d55ace9 tall as a person, 84ff992e58 rested a fist-sized mana 61de992e4a stone, emitting a soft, 8036b2798a yellow glow.05b076f6bebb403b
“So beautiful.”f5212266d9659766
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Iphis smiled with satisfaction, tracing the glass dome with her fingertips. She longed to touch the mana stone directly, but she couldn’t. Not yet. It wasn’t complete.07253b9adcf61712
But the wait wouldn’t be much longer. Aloissia was diligently working on it.ab0e28f796eed569
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“Just wait a little longer.”14b246ff919db238
Iphis whispered affectionately to the 68ee5adbdf mana stone and gently pressed b58e07b388 her cheek against the dome.e25214467d85370a
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As if trying b596534bac to absorb its 0505f5e34c energy.37cebcb03f3eb6d2
* * * bf7fbf98df640804
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“Ouch…!”99abe068f78d4f84
Aloissia winced at the sudden, 26106e6696 sharp pain.0bef0f60864a565f
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It had only been last week since she received Cassius’s guiding. She had fainted at the temple and been brought back with his help.c826b5399c42b88a
That’s what she assumed, anyway.9fec8fd5eb4bb3eb
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She hadn’t seen Cassius since then.81b40928d346b2fc
‘He must be busy.’4731e1f827b93959
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Aloissia sighed regretfully, then frowned again. The pain, which had subsided after Cassius’s purification, had returned.ca672f895585bd04
“Where’s the medicine?”ef1c0cb5bf6851c6
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Aloissia murmured, opening the a58abf573a drawer of her nightstand. She found the d949140d0e painkillers without difficulty.e15410de317eb61e
She had bribed the Imperial 039a10faa1 physician for them earlier. She took out b285ba70fb the clear glass 6e2e80a63a bottle, the yellow e69862c0d7 pills rattling inside.9ef76cf37194adf2
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“Stop.”5301d985f2f5c7a3
A hand stopped her 6e31a2d318 just as she was 3cc6cc33ed about to take the 5f56ed4626 pills.962dd91256af771c
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“Do you even know what that is?”b17e4667e25081ff
Cassius, dressed in Beduan 5dae5690b0 formal attire, asked, his b6cba817e3 eyebrows furrowed. He looked different from 659838000c when she first saw 86dcc6cc69 him in the audience 6ce1c9de98 chamber.91ac69e955b453f6
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Aloissia blinked, surprised and a0ef6e38b8 intrigued, as she looked 6bbea9f39f at his appearance. He wore a finely a85c2e5016 embroidered headband, and a c199cb1056 luxurious black fur cloak d28c0833cd draped over his broad 83335bd236 shoulders.3cccfb4a5c503040
“Where are you going?”1df0ba399360017a
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“Answer my question first. What kind of medicine is this?”8baadb18255aded9
“Just a painkiller.”7c7da33c5068355f
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“It doesn’t look ‘just’ a painkiller to me.”7b41c71bfd416e1e
Cassius snatched the bottle from Aloissia’s hand and snapped his fingers. A clear ringing sound echoed, and before it faded, a gust of wind swept through the room, and Basan appeared, kneeling before them.2ca6119714fff03d
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‘Where did he come from?’7b1be56b7450c246
Aloissia stared at Basan 374556d9ac in surprise. First Cassius, and now Basan. The Beduan seemed to have 02bac66601 a knack for concealing their beedec6bbc presence.964d8ac2ea48df0a
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“You called?”993f40dda2a83bfd
“Bring me some painkillers.”48b4f35595641b7f
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“Yes, sir.”7b3efcf3f48351a1
Basan replied and vanished, then 735ee7e4ec reappeared just as quickly. He presented a small sachet 26f9b240ec to Cassius and disappeared again.a7adff3d2f654cd3
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“This is traditional Beduan medicine. Take this instead. It’s quite potent, so take it in small doses.”61c3e912e4354278
“…Thank you.”0f4f85e8c5916e27
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Aloissia stared at 1005f1e240 the sachet Cassius 974d09cf15 offered. Seeing her hesitate, he sighed 2a94a2b338 and took out a pill 3ec9d87d44 from the sachet.ce48a6bb1ae2f4bc
“I can take it myself.”1cf47e6f83272aa2
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“Sure you can.”c49b676d476d6d38
Cassius said indifferently and placed the pill in Aloissia’s mouth.e0671ea7734f3a0a
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“Chew it thoroughly.”5c0b9a5508180dab
Aloissia took the eb9bfc9d24 pill as instructed a5d03074c5 and smiled. He had said it was 378b8eac16 fast-acting, and indeed, she could 11f55212b1 already feel its effects spreading d223324704 through her body as she 2695ae99b5 swallowed.8657d8159eef2695
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“So, where are you going?”08e2a3cd1c0cdaec
Aloissia asked, noticing the large gold ornament attached to Cassius’s fur cloak. It was a casual question, intended as polite small talk.772e43f18a7cf047
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But Cassius, who 9f721fd389 had been waiting 24d85b1b3c for her to d1627ac950 finish taking the b2b2b86130 medicine, reacted strangely.eef5d235ccfb460e
“Where am I going?”99c55dfe58dc523c
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Cassius scoffed, as if 5dd8fd8f4f she had asked the 2dc6632feb most absurd question. He rubbed his temples and 860dc48453 glanced at her attire.6c36561e24c0d51a
Since she had 76ed97484b no official engagements 9cedc93946 today, she was e7e56b21d5 wearing a simple 9e30eadbd6 muslin dress, the a395c95c4a kind of comfortable f87537ab97 clothing nobles usually 5efedc39d0 wore at home 4ee874d246 before bed.a5dd6b456e72dd90
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“Don’t tell me…”6cfc0015bc1ab729
Cassius narrowed his eyes sharply. He slowly stroked his 613412f996 chin and asked,e453e02caff1b637
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“You weren’t invited?”2f0bb18bdaf7611f
Aloissia lowered her gaze at 7c742d3ec8 his question, forcing her voice a223aa2627 to sound casual.b19e2fc918b43df2
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“Is there some kind of event?”4f5640131dbbe785
“…”971583715b1917ab
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Cassius remained silent instead of dc15d2ebdb answering. Aloissia chuckled dryly af8da5b880 at his reaction.4786fa9309f6be3d
‘This isn’t the first time this thing happened.’80609f07d576341c
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Although she was a member of the royal family, she wasn’t treated as such. Being excluded from Imperial events was commonplace. She wasn’t usually bothered by it.e464a8db1a14fcdb
But now, having 2a2639fd92 been exposed by f03d792d3b Cassius, she felt 08377a97ab deeply ashamed of 59805eb691 her situation.f984326cc67e18fc
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“I… said I wasn’t feeling well, so I wouldn’t attend. I must have forgotten.”2618b1bd56bd0493
Aloissia said awkwardly, forcing 85da2fae9a a smile. But Cassius simply 90c5fffd4b stared at her 0b77c65a81 without saying anything.aea1bcf5924c0e89
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After a long silence, 1607a0818b he spoke, a bitter 66b4b7dbd0 smile on his lips.b2f6b489312e6fae
“Do you even know what the event is?”dfa9e7ba26c658aa
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“Well…”cff4a857fbc6e6ea
“There’s a limit to ingratitude. Are they just using you?”162b052df3ef411e
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Cassius muttered softly. He glanced around the room, 4b7336f59e then asked,055494f784967d3c
“Where are your maids? The ones who help you dress?”d1aa659ee715e35a
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“…”c4c5c8164524e532
She didn’t have any maids. Aloissia couldn’t bring herself to say it and fidgeted with her fingers. Cassius clicked his tongue at her reaction.720997c4e41d6ef4
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“I shouldn’t have asked.”f00a3cbe07cccb2e
After finishing his abe6a268ac words, Cassius walked 4e0959ec32 towards the balcony c6f554c3c9 and threw open f79711fda9 the large windows. He whistled towards it.e477285fb1a83167
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Whistle–0d12d65807b4dc1f
A clear whistle echoed through the gardens of the Crown Princess’s Palace, and something dropped down from above with a whoosh.022df2ff2c9ca7c9
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“You called?”1e85d8a3ee5b7340
What seemed like an b1ad128db1 object was actually a a171da3870 person. A woman with short 591c58f644 purple hair, dressed in a8a1fb4601 tight-fitting pants and a a0ecdabb59 dagger strapped to her 6772561d49 thigh. She knelt on one 729c05d0ad knee on the balcony, 6475673e1f her gray eyes shining.23b9900386f049ce
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“Rolan Stephan, awaiting your command, my lord!”706df97ca903f6c5
“Rolan. Have you ever dressed anyone?”61bee846fa1511f2
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Cassius asked, gesturing towards 76598f7eb0 Aloissia with his chin. Rolan blinked her round eyes. She looked at Aloissia, 47cf505e7c then smiled brightly.d93dd2214e02dd8c
“No!”b813dee009cc09fe
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“Then you’re useless. Begone.”1a835ed4e95824d0
“But Rolan loves playing with dolls! The Crown Princess is even prettier than a doll, so I’m sure I can dress her beautifully! Please, trust me!”d8bf55089dddaa40
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Cassius looked at Aloissia after Rolan’s enthusiastic declaration. He looked at her questioningly as if asking for her opinion, and Rolan clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.7a6da616101e48ea
“Please, please, my lord? Pretty please?”4e35555703746481
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“The decision is up to Her Highness.”7743edc142fe6fa4
“Then please, please, Your Highness? Pretty please?”b80137d716c60165
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“Pfft…”0f61c756208dedaa
Aloissia chuckled at the sight of Rolan’s earnest plea and her sparkling eyes. Cassius’s eyes widened as she smiled brightly. He stared at her, his mouth slightly open.e4c666ede30a2021
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Cassius, who had been dbd7a18505 staring at her face 618106ecf0 for a long time, 2c8fddeb5a soon cleared his throat.ee67ca235f2ae650
“Alright, Rolan. You can do it.”314895e7c9e9d551
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“Yes! Just leave it to me!”41f02568ee9258ff
Rolan said cheerfully and did 345e8ee850 a somersault.7f88fcb70648cead
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As she entered the bedroom, 58ab76c88e Cassius turned and walked towards b53127ed76 the door.21136241bc055b26
* * *753794cf31744687
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“Ta-da!”c72fd82f199ef702
A short while later, f29d6e37c5 Rolan presented Aloissia to 53cbe78bca Cassius, who was waiting d7b85a58e0 outside. He stared at her c1e12ff1c2 intently, his face previously 3ea8526550 bored, now with a 794ffcc64e serious expression. Aloissia felt a pang of 87af342d44 anxiety under his sharp gaze.e3aea8c57fc80c46
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‘Why does he keep staring at me like that?’e91417c60ed41154
Is there something wrong?35c57218603f400d
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She fidgeted with her dress. Thanks to Rolan’s help, she 99fbedd298 was wearing a gorgeous dress 49403f8462 for a change.92bb660a5b2477e5
The light pink dress, acc629d941 which complemented her fair 130854b943 skin, had intricate ribbons ff1ca5c5b3 tied on the back, 122d180d94 something she would never 49831acc94 have been able to e4e42c7e9e put on by herself.b7df3e746a0ded72
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Her hair, which she usually just tied up or left loose, was now neatly braided and put up. Rolan had even adorned it with a diamond hairpin she hadn’t known she owned.5d871c15fb5dae1b
Rolan, who loved 649ad84afc playing with dolls, f03fecb592 had truly transformed ed3f628002 her into one. Only Aloissia herself seemed unaware c5ab43998c of it.64f1f7de8b693402
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“…Do I look bad?”6a2567b50ed05213
Aloissia asked cautiously.ebd7d66e01745d1c
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