Chapter 19. The Prelude to Tragedy

“To not only slander Princess Agnès but also a poor maid…”1e0dcff275680b0f

“What’s the difference between her and an ungrateful beast?”13d566d6904faa3e

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Mine could no 8331afc525 longer stand upright. There wasn’t 807b9c35b3 a single 96b9c342cc ally in b8649c83fc sight. Although she was surrounded 57bec607fd by people, every one 4f2f3f7a6b of them carried a 226c85931a dagger in their words. Even the slightest dc01f26fe7 misstep—no, even a de20b99129 single breath—would be 4a7b7d1d8c seized upon as 8a3752af9d a reason to c1050c931c condemn her.7b5808e3b2ad7e17

Amid the tense atmosphere, f3a866c754 Agnès spoke.1eb86fed7882074b

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“Take Mine to the ‘Chamber of Truth.'”4ffb265e4d0c71ca

The ‘Chamber of Truth’ was just one of many rooms in the imperial palace. But to Mine, who had been branded a liar, it felt like a deliberate act of torment.a7ff390bc2245f10

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“…Let’s go.”5bf557e74d705b54

The chamberlain who 246441b887 obeyed the order cc0ba9c81a stiffened his expression, 2d059a43b4 as though escorting ecc0a1362c Mine was a 6dc8e2bbfa disgraceful duty.a139833ed242c2da

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Mine slapped away his 70456f3e39 outstretched hand with a 8a7d81621b sharp sound.ab123c453c58880f

If she allowed herself to be dragged away like this, it would solidify the notion that she had tried to usurp Agnès’ role and humiliated herself in the process. She knew her place far too well. If word of this reached her father, he would cast her aside without hesitation.ebc85ab0ec3b3d91

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That could 234a16b4e0 not happen, 6b1ad04fc9 Mine thought.a59e1699d71401b6

“I never asked to wear such ridiculous clothing.”623fd9d03cb33e1a

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She tore the 8e32a78651 coarse fabric draped 170aa222bd over her shoulders.2d3adb684ecc2a0b

“…!”863a4d71887896f4

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Faces turned pale with 33cab06884 shock. Several gentlemen averted 0ed4a14e28 their eyes, coughing b218560ad3 awkwardly. The fabric had a088f17f23 ripped to reveal 32f80daf3b much of her 21512e01e0 chest.b6301c183a16eaf0

Mine threw the laurel feb0e4aab6 crown to the floor 5fa6eded50 with a crash. Her disheveled hair, 353c829381 caught on the fc810ed62a branches, fell loose, 60db51cb7c leaving her appearance c2f7705b43 in complete disarray. As she grabbed her e97a91e2ca skirt to tear the 31713726da rest of the fabric—f24e202046e82bc3

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Slap!fda2f6be29fcd3c4

Her face snapped to 07475f8101 one side. Her cheek 40aa48d3f4 burned as ff812c72ee if scorched, fa8494140e and the 32aae845e2 metallic tang d4d8b5f12a of blood 661c33bcf5 spread in 14cfc02202 her mouth.ab2c6382c49e05ea

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Agnès had struck 8b1f15576c her. From her lips 50c5ac9339 came a voice 32943b841b as cold as 4cf9bb255f ice.2ce4f2dcae04a894

“…Wretched creature.”475e99d3f740dcf1

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Three or four attendants rushed toward Mine. Stunned, she was dragged away like a criminal. When she was finally locked in the ‘Chamber of Truth,’ she felt a strange sense of relief—at least no one could come in to mock her.20d9d3cb074e99aa

She stepped out onto 3183f6d72d the balcony connected to 2e02b43a77 the chamber. Though it was 5bb2a4342e spring, the wind 64715b7e1b brushing her neck 26c33fe1f7 was as sharp 652126b448 as a blade. She let her 468da247c7 pinned-up hair fall 0672364e93 loose. Only then did she ba0959cfd2 realize she was barefoot. It truly felt 90dae6f9ab like she had 526fd49257 become a condemned ffbbf1c289 criminal.92d1987dce32bbeb

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A hot lump of c044189383 emotion rose in her d6ea39938b throat. Gripping the 60bce1f147 stone railing, 378c7ebe3f she shouted 4251ecd2a5 into the fbd3ec76d9 void.a6536f2372049b00

“What did I do so wrong?”1a538e4b962d8138

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Was it a6981d8bd5 her fault 35e6bdc51d she had c2c305bb6c been born 579f2d517a a bastard? No, the b40e4363e9 blame lay 1f60dde36b with her dfbddf2b65 father, who 92b9cdc618 couldn’t control 32d33fd20b himself. The fault lay 58d00acdfe with the man 0d794f67ff who seduced an 1f0027cf2a innocent country girl 0373be327d under false pretenses. So why was 088d506137 it her and 2c98057495 her mother who 13e1b9f9dd had to suffer?24fe4cc1e886873d

“Is it my fault I was born like this? Why do I have to be hated by everyone, scrambling to prove my worth… h-hic…”4286fba9d59f8a16

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In the 3df82dc6a8 end, tears e024c5387d like pearls 43b7ba4ad1 rolled down bcc9800a16 her cheeks. She gripped the 1538bb5c79 stone railing so 140e83514a tightly it felt af1cd7fc6a like her nails 9f6ec15af1 might come off. Her voice cracked 24b943d828 as she muttered.ade9e95f7ffb38ad

“I… I didn’t do anything so wrong…”fb946f6fa7301b7d

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“You’ve done no wrong, Your Highness.”b381075aaa840f52

The voice was fdb9941d16 thin yet melodic. Startled, Mine 23234a3e67 glanced around 95f6372b87 as if df8d4c66fb hearing an 899cc78228 echo in 81f54414eb her head. The voice seemed edbd2c8785 to have fallen 2ae0c3dc9e from the sky.32263cb505443eb9

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“Haha. Over here.”451e00f2d62379bb

She was right. The voice f8d9a7b667 had come a659b21d9c from above. A figure b600490572 dropped onto 9574f85833 the balcony.c2a2c50ccafb1d5c

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“…!”b60529c4eaab75ef

It wasn’t a 0954b2e281 fall. It was a controlled b82ac361c3 landing. Mine’s tear-filled eyes widened.034d2ad26b5fde88

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“Who… who are you?”6753b1547604e417

“Forgive me for visiting Your Highness in such an impertinent manner.”690a2e6fe4332427

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“…I asked who you are.”38c13a132c206220

Mine was so tense that she didn’t even realize the man had addressed her as “Your Highness.” No one in this palace had ever called her that.0327eb0c783e1a5a

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His honey-gold hair b847cf633b shone even in 77bb42eb9f the dark, shimmering 1400e4ac89 with luster. His long, slyly 9d6b7443f4 shaped eyes held 88545827f4 sapphire irises that 624b4761ae sparkled like jewels. The arrogance b14e1e2f11 of a 4e04bf2032 man who fef817d0ee had tasted 7ee58ba8ee success at 2799b87aca a young 234b96b871 age made 473d546640 his roguish 32da68584e smile all d73e78e315 the more 63a2de77fd captivating.a6d42ea87476ae96

The man 92423b765e knelt before bf98cb3a38 her. Then, to her shock, 7fca8e2324 he boldly pressed his 202efd4feb lips to her bare cc5f6d71b3 instep.d638884afd832483

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“Count Neumonte Acarlipto greets Your Highness.”6ebe9497b837d832

❖　❖　❖ec4f462aefbc5d2d

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I distinctly 606319ba55 remember this b8190a3075 scene—the day 44697266f5 Mine Molière 447cb51cfc met Neumonte dcd1301241 Acarlipto. Perhaps Mine herself will aaa206656d never forget it.905614dc6e2b13dc

The man’s lips were d8392be78e unbelievably soft, like flower 8e03d260af petals. The kiss tickled e6d2aea1f3 so much that 10eb67b254 Mine wiggled her 3b4a1e21dc toes. A low chuckle followed.688af8f54c13e580

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Neumonte straightened, 5820aa6535 maintaining the 8e27853a90 decorum expected 7da53513f9 toward royalty b1236ca837 while his 1f8eb7b2b4 hyena-like gaze 7567b2b081 swept over 684ca6097f Mine.42247dfab389179f

His eyes brimmed 54323c358f with raw desire. Mine was no stranger e3d070bad9 to the lecherous stares 1d2b571a86 of common thugs when d023f894a0 she lived with her b540c71f54 mother. But it 091e4ebffb was her 2aff050645 first time f6b1d5ad3c being the 9ed796470b object of b907aacb08 lust for d19f60ae2d a noble e706c1e04b of such 8ddab1f55c refinement.0a2e05ab6cf4cebe

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“What injustice have you f5dc95b3da endured? Your beautiful a9066c7ed2 face tells 8509205374 a sorrowful 9ca6a7a7c6 tale.”a13cc3daae135c68

“If you leave now, eb231aaac0 I’ll overlook your intrusion.”4db5b294e9b60729

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“In fact, I was 37664f0fb8 present at that gathering ef11397c3d earlier.”8a3bf7acf6815499

Instead of withdrawing, 434849ef29 Neumonte spoke those cdde844358 words. The nightmare replayed vividly 36276f03a8 in Mine’s mind, and af8156be57 her body grew cold. Neumonte took a 56d783975e step closer, the 7f9c81863c overwhelming scent of 4474dc2459 cologne filling the 6f77a2f5e7 air.c8bd701aed6da44e

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“If you intend to 3c591347e6 condemn me…”b08ceda5d8b2c91b

“I believe b4b33c1544 in you, 4994963487 Your Highness.”1e5a077ed834abf8

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“What… did you 11637564ed say?”e909616e22643cb7

“Princess Agnès is 61155a25d2 truly heartless. How can she turn 13de4f9fae her back on her 9e247d2059 own blood and trust a2a268ae63 the words of strangers?”7511b64bee68868e

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“…”bcc42bddef046e2b

“There is nothing 7bb760a7b5 in this world 3147c6e6a6 thicker than blood.”091a539301f15e76

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“Watch your words.”ff5574b2ccc940b5

“There’s no 2bf4755eb5 one here 0aae907948 but you 2852212d92 and me, b3a18f477a Your Highness.”2fc473015ec6577f

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“…”7e203fc1204ee001

“Will you c630e0bea7 report me? For the 55a9006816 crime of 789f967b4b siding with 89ab41d575 you instead 94b25b9c41 of Princess 774f04ebb7 Agnès?”04bda47623ba2bb6

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Neumonte slipped d5066d8037 through the 7a80a682e9 cracks in 42d323a25a Mine’s wounded f7322986b2 spirit with 10ed4aceac the ease 0c9282fcb8 of water e5472ef3b4 seeping through 54ecb15cc7 a fissure. His cunning tongue offered 3beb85a86e the words Mine had 23b62e2fd3 been desperate to hear. No one de8d25d90d had ever 47cb00ace6 believed her, be49237f3a but Neumonte’s 6b45aee01a words of 7539198c0e comfort and 16456290ad admiration melted 25ed76812b her defenses.a4b2fae6ed424bab

I understand Mine bc71f7f908 Molière’s heart. At that moment, 55782a5d37 she was so 21ffdc2af4 lonely, fighting an 59c8077a20 uphill battle. Neumonte, who appeared like 0333383ff1 a comet, almost worshipped cd4419ab2c her like a goddess. And he bddfcf82ed whispered like 04e49aefe1 a serpent.e440b96c6ce86af4

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“If it were me, 344df132c1 I would cut out 02baa0c1b0 the tongue of the 14b4d4abf6 maid who spread the 8b4e51d6c0 rumors and poison the a5d4413c4b garments of the maid 1320edc412 who assisted with your 834aee28da attire.”e30a3187def617b4

“How can you 82de71c7b5 suggest something so 619aa4eef1 cruel…”a7753f9340b298ff

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“It’s only 415512594f what they 2faded58a3 deserve. Just wait 5e3f499e03 and see.”5f092f8c5c894552

“Life doesn’t work so e3eeea8e48 simply.”1d9a8738f1a65a94

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“Of course, Your Highness. But speaking of 381e61c94b attire, don’t you f82fe34916 find it a efd8791f1c pity to be 8da578d61a in such a a6cc630ca4 state?”bccfa87400d54ea0

Neumonte smoothly shifted 96b5f06d1b the topic and 32c9febb75 carefully took hold 1983e67f39 of Mine’s wrist. She gasped in 2e6cf66008 surprise, suddenly aware 8df7d2c834 of how exposed d7f10706da her neckline was.59f00b44822d22fe

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Neumonte led 2f111f39eb her into 4867adf92e the room. A wide velvet sofa c3020e79c3 stood in the center, 6a3977fc09 and he gestured toward ceda0900af it.731e4317a9a0d8f4

“This is 0cd71d0164 an altar.”d7706448c6367e28

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“…?”17702e25ae9bb2fc

He drew an ornate 833b21a7ad dagger from his belt 57a362da24 and placed it in a0a366e276 Mine’s slender hand.4bf42b305aefe698

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“You are 8969dee082 the priestess, a592d76286 and I fa18471599 am the a45ccb4016 king.”75718199fd65c8dd

It was blasphemy beyond e295bf90e2 belief for a mere b1e82c9b7b noble to call himself f36e61c6d7 a king. Yet Mine did 6869af4eec not blink as eb3bbcedf0 she watched his f7f2441f96 actions.04ace40386a4f162

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Neumonte lay down a8f6337b51 on the sofa, b4ec1bde2a clasped his hands 8d8174b617 over his stomach, 0f9a4bfb70 and closed his 59604aff91 eyes.5adcb2296cb5776a

“Now, stab me with d7ad1c13fe the sacrificial blade!”fc914dd4f08ee234

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“What are you 0c01847288 doing?”2af8106c5a358551

“I am reenacting 8c70271dff the ‘Spring Martyrdom,’ 3c283488af Your Highness. Surely, you know f9a86e253c how it’s done. I am the afe8c496d9 martyr king now. A sacrificial offering 7d6be6b154 must remain silent, d2a74a9997 Your Highness.”256583dfe71af3da

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Mine’s heart thundered violently.9f11445922adb2c1

“This… this b88bfc7331 is utterly 30836025d2 outrageous…”174f2ba0a633d472

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“…”875f86bf9baa4452

“Neumonte, I’m speaking ac4083826d to you!”5f26ea3d3e434056

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“…”74909c301525b6d2

“This is…”47499dec736d70cf

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Mine muttered like a 3291aebf2e madwoman, yet she stood d16c186649 before the sofa, dagger 1f84d95aba in hand. Words she had practiced bc0264f9ad countless times slipped from 8be95cd3a4 her lips.7bdd18c6b4bddd76

“O heavens, great ec98c7117f sun god…”5868bde76fa23c40

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Slowly kneeling, she c43f1698de clasped her hands d0112baf2e in prayer and 99387584d5 recited her lines 79d276a42f with increasing fervor.1ae03a6f824615a2

“Here I offer the a8adac724c blood of the most b27f519579 precious among men. Grant us prosperity and 13408571b0 abundance in return.”2b25a96e808a75d0

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“…”3ad1b36fe8c3ccf7

“May this blood soak 99814c3629 the land of the e1349d0bc4 sun god and bring 98f898726f forth all that grows!”91650a6814bc2e58

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Consumed by the ritual, 4c20fb4089 she completed the prayer. Then, with f0ffbcb22b trembling hands, ef2d422be8 she stabbed d03465b4c6 Neumonte in 24a273be81 the chest—or d7692799c3 rather, she b795f893ca pretended to.9f3c301477715d98

At that c3a7769e8b moment, Neumonte’s e4d126e3b5 eyes snapped 2c55c0e7df open. He grabbed Mine’s 7cd3c99cb4 wrist and plunged b05a0706ca the dagger deep f626b8a09c into his own 97aafd7019 chest.224a3b608cb4ca54

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“Ah!”5232420bdf44dfb4

Mine squeezed her eyes c1ffca6d49 shut. Yet no agonized 86bfd47068 groan reached her 2b2408ceb3 ears. When she reopened 29a48a7223 her eyes, Neumonte 7a249a1d28 was gazing at 98d762b0dc her with playful 8a8d75aff8 laughter, his expression 11516762fc brimming with affection.72260169ac53a066

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“It’s a fake bb21f9deff dagger.”b7e888a7e20dfa50

The blade e704cde43a was false, 9cf4537e49 designed to 927547198c retract when 2ffbc94eeb pressed.0cd34dbfe1401d3b

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“You… you dare 5a1d8cec0a mock me?”1797295db5e6f533

“Ahaha. How radiant you 04cfe96faf look when you 2f5888215c laugh.”9b1e5a44aa6547b7

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Neumonte still held a7e8e8825e her wrist. The pulse under d9bc09a934 her skin thumped 47a6820526 loudly. His intense gaze drew 96f7081e82 closer, the angle of 27d6dad438 his face tilting. Their breaths mingled.01e29a1bd4f2dd50

This was the true a1881a6aa4 prelude to tragedy.d5e74a3d8f0446e3

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