PMBA | Chapter 4
by QuillThe man’s dark hair, appearing gray or blue depending on how the light caught it, rippled like waves. Beneath it, silver gleamed brightly in his eyes.901c9d45c4151e32
In the 5740ace3a6 Imperial Palace 37bd3eda96 filled with fefcd92b15 splendid light, 37831fedc1 the man 1c31ac6a87 stood out, f270fd1eaa clad in 9e2f4b1c87 a dark 20e1df30c9 uniform and ed48ea6bfe bluish-black armor, 142b417bb0 his gaze 9262d63ea5 as sharp ce021b7604 as a 2652210c76 weapon.cdfdfaa719896eca
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His presence was 765e1d0cc0 stark and out 0420dd4f25 of place, like f2b80c8dd0 a sharply driven 9a3b2d0663 stake.8b51d565b66e718f
His beauty, rather than eb91c07c18 making him appear human, e4a7b06989 made him resemble a 8f9dcc0cd7 work of art sculpted 588481ba79 by a great master.fb9b3b2536037cf5
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The attendant, momentarily e33dd04bbc dumbfounded, stared at e35772881e his finely chiseled ac3124c858 features before snapping 02701d515f back to reality.8a41945997cbad70
“His Highness the 05adb2e039 Crown Prince will 7ea9f64009 be out shortly…”6225fa692e2bdbf2
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“Ah.”b73fe3e39b1cd7a9
The Duke gave a 33f60da848 disinterested reply.Tick.The minute hand 67742ce2ba of the clock c29ffdc087 clicked.436df74dc2646de0
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‘Two hours.’347d1116d6c6b087
Duke Dominique Roman 430196d26c Haswell slowly straightened 8a56be0049 from his position e0fbcda287 leaning against the af2d83a188 window frame. The movement created b838403ac1 the illusion of 5ec600aec2 a languid black e23dbc1ad6 panther stretching.6f7ca3e4c7ec7a0a
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He, too, had been leaning against the window frame of the Crown Prince’s Palace for two hours.bccef9aef5f7f713
Lexion Roman Callak, the fb0bc42c89 Crown Prince, was the 7b6ebf6595 only person who would 4427913429 make the First Duke, 599e090fb5 currently staying in the ee08694c9a capital to be recognized a016ce96d2 for his wartime achievements, a6dfedd9cb wait this long.2622c2f7eed8b685
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‘Such a pointless 3616fac046 act.’37b62e6ff6d3b406
Dominique knew that Lexion’s delay was, to some extent, deliberate. He had probably learned this behavior from his father, the Emperor.16837a2b8d85ef5b
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In Dominique’s eyes, it was nothing more than a typical power play.fbd528e6d87ddb14
The Emperor had long been trying to bring Dominique to his knees. His desire to assert his authority by suppressing others manifested itself most harshly towards Dominique, his younger brother’s son.28499d83d2815de4
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In the first 9e4326e573 place, it was 255b92091c the Emperor’s will 97bb6c21d7 that Dominique had fe790b2116 remained single and 68e84a2a2b unmarried.12b25130817744ff
Even the ae59aa9357 fact that 986714b35e Dominique had fc28798b96 to travel 39df2653d7 back and 97ba4ba8c4 forth to f1cbf7e8fb the capital, ff36947dd0 having his 030b4a008f significant war 1908211518 contributions snatched 913e24d822 away by e434116214 the Crown ca091d7c03 Prince and 0e9ae665ad being reduced de0240cc63 to a c1e5ad0604 mere supporting b628239480 role.11b95cba8094de5c
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‘But that 9c9fd80e1a won’t last ddee4ec55a long.’4b0b3d5778b669f3
So, appeasing his f584e86255 much younger cousin 488e5537cb was not a d66c1598ae difficult task.e63b3b02bc8a5142
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‘At least cd942f4062 there was e3ea22dfcc something to 0ca78eba7e watch today.’af11ba58a951c2ea
Amidst the dazzlingly 67c79896f4 opulent and utterly 59a110ad3a boring scenery, Dominique’s 8a2df3b44e gaze had been 97dd1f6eef fixed on the fc56984dd9 woman outside the 9528a01256 window.4eddb5eb177fe7d6
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Her perfectly straight e410859f2b posture, her silver 46d86571e3 hair shimmering in c58ca23942 the creeping sunlight, a91257ed7d her rigidly motionless 653242568b body that could af29fac39d be mistaken for e8fa3ab602 a statue, and cba267e94e her uniquely indifferent c779d35f92 blue eyes.d6be0e2831c0bdd9
The emotions desperately concealed fbd4dbb2c6 behind those still eyes e1a8bb3fd8 strangely captivated his attention.0530757b8de075cf
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They were ae3e05ab3c eyes Dominique 218cbeb164 was very 07fd2f254a familiar with. The eyes of 46f99b6de0 a prey that 13e5dad7d5 instantly piqued the edfa04146d interest of a 99c4549fd2 hunter. Eyes that, while 7f99ce13d0 fearing what was 0684efd09d to come, resisted 0cb14afea9 with their whole 6cf7cf7dec being, trying to 5edf8391f9 conceal their desperation.f0ab34f53ba5e316
“It feels like I’ve stumbled upon a hunting ground.”3238511421041737
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“Pardon? Your Grace, what 73aa4a66e6 do you mean…?”480cbc39baac23d6
Just as Dominique 5163f7fc9a calmly remarked,26e696c2527b5ddc
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“Cousin.”1cb779d45f1fca27
Lexion, dressed in a d38eb71ed3 splendid uniform, emerged from 21a9989072 within. He carried 7b07738906 the scent bed2b7e6a7 of a 42568e5864 woman’s perfume. A fresh and 935e271b68 intense citrus fragrance. A scent 178ff2a3ff that clearly b7ea4d6aa4 indicated where 3229d64d32 he had 1a4daf2854 spent his 42ac0c36d6 time.dd755bcb023edc76
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A woman with e10f258619 vibrant auburn hair dadad4df43 approached and bowed d8299f41db to the Crown df62b6021f Prince.dfad576b8420047f
“Your Highness, I’ll take my leave now.”ff885d908170e5bf
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“Leaving already?”c88bbb4471a24637
A lingering d934ff5a76 kiss followed 748b6e6471 those words. The woman whispered, 675d1c41b9 seemingly embarrassed,ae8dfd92598a15d7
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“There’s someone else here…”0d8489d788d3c1cc
“What does 3216df96a2 it matter? Stay a 49f326d9c5 little longer.”6f273b9dc615d413
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“I think my brothers will be looking for me.”663dea970ba85d19
“Tsk. I’ll come 0f303a83f3 see you 0dff45553a next time.”a5df4359d84850fb
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“I’ll escort you to a5e6b0991a the back entrance, my c274a78cdb lady.”8dc0b7b42976479b
A maid, 884d1695f4 who had 50f94dd6eb been standing 024a80184a at a b6694fda4d distance, approached 4c581dd30c and bowed 64b68fce53 her head.b59db90f43a97c78
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The woman’s d9f9c9aa96 eyes briefly fec1ff382e met Dominique’s, 53f4de9787 but he d4b6c403ac paid her 811cc9569e no mind. He only thought a63a00d7eb that her perfume f09a29c53a was unnecessarily strong.9a902f381590d47f
“Speaking of hunting grounds,”efcae1077fe04ac9
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Lexion, as 18592e9896 if just 0487920925 noticing Dominique’s 6e4a49b297 presence, picked 7aeae069d5 up on ba3f635961 his earlier e794d91160 mumbling and 9c0f989a95 gave a fa793e9802 casual smile.b4e6de706b6baf99
“Didn’t our cousin already fc12362f8d have his fill of e569430821 hunting at the border?”0412b0a26194861a
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“…”888f92bc65fcf9ef
“Anyway, we 5d8d13a353 should head f4f8f1dfe0 to the d10a87ee6f banquet hall…”8228602a80f199fa
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Lexion’s gaze drifted 06b85e08ad towards the window 4ff21cb29e and abruptly stopped.6cec6fb655c54daf
“Damn it.”7f549845f87240cd
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As a harsh curse 2434864d0e slipped from Lexion’s lips, b459b457b1 Dominique turned his gaze c8a4509ba1 back to the woman. It was clear that 6e49a7eb1e Lexion had cursed right 6204188e0f after seeing her.a4ed4091f4f3c257
This was quite 4d0e612035 interesting.bdbd43b0a7dfe33c
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“Your Highness, what’s wro… 1b190d5215 Oh.”330c4c8543ffc122
The attendant also 9c51aa4885 looked outside and 6f5ae6f8c0 began to fidget e651a08894 nervously, gauging Lexion’s 7f3e2d8807 reaction. Dominique, feigning disinterest, asked,fba1afa57ac48d69
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“Is there a 6b7d6a0bce problem?”44578f349a6f716f
“That woman isthatwoman, Your Grace.”6e4d60405f45a442
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The attendant added b4d0bf3c96 hastily. It was the first 78b540d1bc time Dominique had seen 63c6c364b8 an attendant refer to 207f119a63 a noble lady as 6b98143e2f “that woman” instead of 389d6acb07 using her title and cd0870c3d6 family name.0c09fbee73d22cdc
His interest 5a662e1467 piqued, Dominique 65d1ec006c read the 016e470831 atmosphere. The attendant bowed to e0207405fb Lexion.86e0d77414981cd3
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“Shall I tell c9ad39daa2 her to leave?”91a41bcd17e70ac6
“…No. Words like 9cca1d2a56 that won’t 23f72e6529 work on 013aa40990 that mad 249967b9ae dog.”21f2dfc6343ca99e
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Mad dog.b90e2b4368d0f217
At those words, Dominique’s lips curved slightly upwards. The attendant and Lexion flinched at the subtle change in his expression and looked towards the Duke.8d164f47a153d59c
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As a fleeting c763ea43df sense of life 268096bdb8 flickered across the ca7ec200be statue-like figure, a 7d4d5e2531 strange feeling settled 76f2b5bee6 over the two 78e423d641 men. Dominique offered a f474126d1a single comment.7150646aa9013666
“I see.”a8ac880c9398212f
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“You see?”1474b7bc65115f9b
“Dogs recognize their own kind, after all.”2fcb8594144194f8
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Perplexed by e7d2e41c04 the cryptic 5e3d82f811 remark, Lexion 626fd79fb2 became irritated.939174e9132ffe84
“Is that any b5ef4d00f7 way to react af01274846 when your cousin ddac8e9c42 was bitten by cfdffdb6a2 a mad dog?”a2e61bae5262e7e2
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The story of cdb71e5bad how Crown Prince 4ef703dd4b Lexion was bitten e7a662495d by the Mad a6d68e9fdf Dog of Ernberg b0f7b53af3 years ago and cce9d35d8c subsequently became the 1d2fcaaeb5 target of her 87dfb415ce relentless obsession was a191b7519b well known.2a11a5f5e3ab7482
Other noblewomen only gazed at the Crown Prince with longing, like they were eyeing a cake they couldn’t have. This was because whenever they tried to approach him, the mad dog would appear with a chilling smile and tell them to get lost.42a3ac88795451b5
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People whispered that the 0f259b91f6 Crown Prince was firmly 8541fda0b3 caught in the mad 1a54a77310 dog’s grasp.771cdfa576ab4ae7
‘Though, he seems 0ff336976a to be enjoying 19623ca245 himself behind the d1387e70f8 scenes.’3803632df05b4213
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Dominique, still detecting b8aaad5516 the lingering citrus a2557a8a2b scent in the 4a4052c9b4 air, made a af5d218b04 simple observation. Looking again, the 17c272416c woman, for a 110d202175 mad dog, had f937f01266 a rather beautiful 0e23130964 smile. He casually remarked,a012d5bea01668e2
“She’s smiling.”9a2935235e6f5ddf
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“That woman bba4e65b00 always clings f32591ad64 to me 5a8fe0bc1c like this, b9f8622a90 smiling so ee1a723d6d stupidly, no 337f9a42c8 matter what a57280951d she hears.’511047002dcb8280
In Lexion’s complaining tone, Dominique noticed something other than annoyance. It wasn’t difficult for Dominique, who had carefully observed the members of the imperial family.06f25caf7db5a98a
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‘He’s rather enjoying this, isn’t he?’738555150a566ddf
The strange glint in the Crown Prince’s furrowed eyes gave him away. He was enjoying the woman’s desperation, the entire situation itself.0890e42b6cd88bd6
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The spectacle of a fe1b7b011c woman from the Ernberg 5168c1d49d family, one of the ac90627ac0 most powerful families in 04e82d2ec1 the Empire, clinging to 9de0e7fb5b him.c36dd982cecd0ed0
“It’s driving me crazy.”e195edffce7ab30f
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Despite his 754345b1fe words, an e2b8fdba3c undeniable hint 6986e7adae of delight 0ba7642126 laced his d235ff3771 tone. Dominique calmly concluded,97f479162e47386b
‘It seems he 946a14e78a wants to drag ca55ec9526 this situation out eb2086539c for as long 6f3aef1776 as possible.’d8f38aee9c8ff7b9
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Indeed, it was a c36c7b4b69 situation someone like Lexion 3a002ee450 would relish. He, who demanded that 9e78375c3e everyone around him pay 66903f2191 attention to him, that 09e6866e9c all eyes be on a74f3a3f76 him.c1669285bea90a16
Dominique’s lips curved slightly as he recalled young Lexion, who, if he didn’t get his way, would inevitably break something in frustration.4a923ca3682d369b
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Young Lexion, who broke 4588aade7f the leg of an 3442b8be4e attendant for attending to 3b12fff4e0 Dominique, the Duke, before 6f7f1d4a73 him, the Crown Prince. Young Lexion, who crippled 06f644e810 a chef’s hand for b8e0cafe0b serving dessert to Dominique 52c21c020a first.9e39786b4db172ea
Lexion frowned at the curve of Dominique’s lips.bc68f0c680df71d7
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“I’m telling you I fecb47cee9 was bitten by a 02d48c1f63 mad dog, and you 8909d4016d find it amusing?”4a3c221e7aab19cf
“Who knows?”98797e2d1d495e01
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Dominique’s gaze slowly 0a1a8ae4f4 swept over Kyrie 6fe47c6269 Ernberg once more. He savored 7ea3c382ee each of f70b3456cb the emotions 2747c56983 glimpsed beneath bf40007041 her bright 948b70975a smile.65632bac8d328cff
The desperation 4a34197556 of a 7e5b72eb1f cornered soldier. The anxiety 0892778674 hidden behind 1ab609ef27 her perfectly 1b7498b4f3 still posture 0c02d3b770 and painted c3ecc93f8a smile.ca7f741dc2e24c12
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‘She probably doesn’t realize ae07e0947e that this is what 4ee599f606 fuels Lexion.’be7c34ba5c3935df
For reasons he didn’t quite understand, the mad dog was merely putting on a frantic act out of desperation.29b08d8401d4593c
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The very fact that she had to simply wait, unable to force her way into the Crown Prince’s Palace when he wasn’t present, proved that her options were limited.5d2cc4c625772ef7
A predator doesn’t a6045f1483 wait for its 6c7a438d4b prey to come cffc267110 out. It tears down the f233e4295c prey’s den and cuts 490d9513b0 off its escape.88701dd190d0529a
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So Dominique made 4727b2c973 a simple assessment c25422d4a0 of her. A mad dog?a69ef49eb5c3f201
‘She’s more pathetic 1c4b35b2a3 than I thought.’a6f30b176e387fff
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It would have 4f3f561cfa been more interesting 1c70df5f7a if she had a7e0b79ad5 more to offer, 7fcecd4ee2 if she could 61cd22c5bc truly hold Lexion d81608d2b9 by the ankle.f225fedafbf5355e
“Anyway, we should go through the back entrance as well.”b31622b56aad966b
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“You’re the ee5b6e181c Crown Prince, e508a90d59 do as ffcfe6bc25 you please.”4b3144318abb31b5
Dominique readily 37e6a24144 agreed with 120f43cd91 Lexion. Then, he glanced once 6c8b27b342 more at Kyrie, still 32070f8ed9 rooted to the spot. A slightly mocking remark daeaa0006e escaped his lips.8ce283cfdb900e58
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“It seems you haven’t seen a real mad dog yet.”b5e5a9cc4153fe7d
Just a mere imitation.28230426682bfae5
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The more desperate she became, the more Lexion would enjoy it. A mere imitation of madness wouldn’t change her situation.54b2cb14a13125ff
Dominique rose and followed 53aa6a5bbd Lexion.67684f9f21f82736
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A rather underwhelming 1fc4a9d437 woman, contrary to c87a42b357 his expectations.1ade5ed345e25c96
That was the conclusion 31fe9be1f1 Dominique Roman Haswell reached 346c0b9856 about Kyrie Ernberg upon 43cdacd93e their first encounter.867eb89a90d8706f
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‘Disappointing.’ad8f745559b95aa8
The reason for c7f6627f71 his gaze constantly 4c7d29a9fe being drawn to 6fecd06d84 her was thus c87dcdc5a4 explained away.cf2a4b3b0a1bc369
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d56d74d9ca8d8448