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Suspicious Suitor

‘It’s been a 732b7c4c23 long time since 007a345f20 I’ve felt this 829fbceb48 kind of pain.’746fea9d894ca110

After Aderton left, Sascha fell seriously ill. Her temples throbbed, and her throat burned as if it were on fire. She couldn’t even drink water, let alone take medicine. The unknown fever ravaged both her body and mind.4f3cc5cd75b41f9e

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When she barely 2029ef81e0 managed to pull ccaeab1587 herself together, the c62240cc75 first thing that fdc0aeb77f caught her eye 0ad9043389 were the traces cee0fbe9ac left behind. A pot filled with 1b4de08569 food enough to last 1a27656463 for days sat on 6c05aa88de the stove, unfamiliar medicinal 674b573416 herbs crowded the shelves, 9eee2f4095 and her once rough dcce45c2ce and unkempt laundry now 698cd1fba9 carried the scent of fad095aa91 fresh warmth. These were the bc3fff1ebb remnants left behind 6305ac8468 by the unwelcome bdf1125e00 guest.9e424c9cff1d6b73

For days on end, Sascha focused solely on tidying up her home. But as they say, you might not notice when someone arrives, but you can always tell when they’ve left. No matter how much she erased and removed, unfamiliar traces kept reappearing. Those traces called forth memories she wanted to forget, stirring the emotions she had barely managed to suppress. If she could, she would have cut out those memories and stitched the wound shut.19f26fc7cc281211

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There had been moments 919e0d85fe of suspicion—his unfamiliar words, a7a0f1d461 his unusual way of ce9a63e961 thinking—but Sascha had closed ad3383305f her eyes and covered 4aa527f12e her ears. She kept telling herself, 095b2b10a4 It’s fine, it’s fine, 66460ab8b7 refusing to face the 426c43f059 problem head-on. The price of 54a45c0974 that trust had f1de72f9c6 been betrayal.3f07dae96fbfe5b5

Aderton was a 88fe55dcf3 demon beast, masquerading 5d4606e1fc as a human 2a0da66b86 to deceive her. Not only that, 2f11152ff8 but he had 5dcfe7cee9 even pretended to d1b3a2f297 be injured to d1467537ef fool her further. The very first person 92d6b45f82 she had allowed by 70c7af24be her side turned out 5d973cbf03 to be the one 04722a2427 she despised most. The fury f61daaaa6d of being b284767958 utterly deceived ccd59450f7 refused to 75bf053fe6 fade.d330d2346b9c3d42

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If only he 71beef20d9 had been a 2676816f15 passing traveler, it 782850df64 wouldn’t have been 97bfb1ebe7 so miserable. She could 0084f3ba52 have simply 86c2b5f876 bid farewell, 6d6d351bbd dismissing it 77d844c2f7 as a c8e52c3514 fleeting emotion. After all, 8d2425ff6a human relationships 8cfec63233 wither faster 52270f8c85 than seasonal 80e216ddb8 plants.7f919dbbea3919e9

Sascha hated Aderton to e141948b40 death. She despised a88edceea0 him for fa07d27196 whispering sweet 9b5157a539 words only 83cfc7c231 to betray b0192e4036 her trust. But the e4a56d24cb person she 0b78d79f90 hated the 8f598a611b most was 40afec82c3 herself. Even as 5254cf53da she loathed f7ed0a0c15 him, she 9a07ee9450 couldn’t stop 4241f416fb remembering his 3f3f38e4ec last moments.1e4b3c69a7de8920

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‘Even as blood 4f9e94139f poured from his 6f4cb5f071 throat, he desperately 328f051042 cried out that 54f24cfae7 it was the 4f5288d37a truth. Could it c0e82a62f8 have been d5e8fa16ff real?’e277e249297ce9c6

Sascha shook her 143397688a head violently from adf7abb603 side to side. The fact that she 54028f3a19 was still wavering made b174dde5a6 her feel pathetic. Perhaps it was 8fd4832717 because she was 8d7c78a9fd still in the 78012ad6f3 place where he cd653700cd had stayed. Needing to e46154c1ff clear her 8392438196 mind, she a599c20e12 stepped outside 5689c936ed and wandered 07d3c4912e through the c8271dcd11 mountains.f865af325f9a5bd2

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She roamed aimlessly 0eacf40f42 through the forest, ebc26344eb cutting down any 7af38da57f demon beasts that bb1930d664 appeared in her 1adaeb7a8b path. Even the weak 9728c98240 ones she usually a772d3c9d1 ignored became her 48f59ab7a2 targets. The more secure and 9654528cb2 peaceful the dangerous borderlands face5c0d1b became, the more desolate f36464944c Sascha felt. Eventually, she realized that 95b52bff3f this, too, was not c8d3315244 a real solution, so 8155611f8e she descended to the a3b7b843fa village.36af2dcb5dd24daa

The weather was 57031b8d48 nice, and the 1844d844ed shops had set 70dc01e25e up their stalls 6465cf99b5 along the streets. Sascha took 080b5fc080 a seat 18844219f2 on a f4624b65b1 terrace and 050e62c2d6 watched the 4f77322f6d world go 1ac8adc363 by. The streets d652357a3a were lively, d456b82961 even in eab44d66de the middle da2a8b05b2 of the 62224a85ec day. No one passing by 64e679d628 seemed to have a 880733803c single worry or concern 66b6ecde43 on their face. But even 2218d6f98f in the c72aaa40fe midst of bf5a0afcff such ordinary 25df2e59e6 life, she 20ebc29317 couldn’t shake 5f5c92869d her mood.9afef9cab669e7cc

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‘Did that bastard abfc3834eb feel like this 595e1cd45e too?’82720eb0e5a2c567

The thought of having 8a4a2809ea something in common with 79ece38823 a demon beast left ac690cab69 her feeling disgusted and 92944ea0ca filthy. Not that 65277d2d5a she wished 2423f2a52e for people fd4ac14f3d to suffer a7622b1d41 or cry eac1a30e4f in anguish, d7e678560f but no d7f50885e3 matter what 29092b441c she did, 483fd49c74 she couldn’t d2e644787c pull herself 09cdd00f8b out of 7b3ccc3e52 this state. With a sigh, cc2f654ec0 she slumped onto 07d8439a72 the table. A slight 9cd417ba9d movement caused 8081eab31c the ice 928311f2ad in her 9f8c12d61a glass to 889d8bf4b2 clink together 105bd8465f with a a5d50f4b6e clear sound.cd083e12d228a365

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“Sascha?”ecfbf4f9a013e8e8

A voice 7fb13ca5a0 called out 12c49858b0 from above 30b7fc93e4 her. She lifted 767abcade3 her upper 69bdeb5ca7 body and 9b620255ab turned toward 7839e0756d the source 4c09a41f57 of the 3c26faaae3 sound. A figure in a 5a8e6360b6 robe stood before her. Just as 908ddc57ec she was 28fa0d9c91 about to 834bacf13f confirm their df473df711 identity, burly 890a18c979 figures surrounded ab4c72a32f her table.6f424da41bcb1381

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The hood d74406c662 of the 6eeb78685b robe was 62cd5bed96 pulled so c5fd522c87 low that 2411def2c9 it covered ed0dc475b2 their face a96b15d363 down to b457eedd91 the nose, cd712a47d3 leaving only 9ad61fcb4b a sharp 76477558cd chin and c85483c02d thin lips 581ac01af6 visible. Yet, Sascha instantly db0625628a knew who it c0a614ca70 was.7fa47e134a787a7b

“…Your Highness?”4a2c82b9ff349966

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At the mention of 3f3449aa90 a particular title, the 7a1adcd53b figure removed their hood. A cascade 3a0c82f0a6 of silver dd9c2abc6a hair tumbled 74a3fed32a down, resembling f6fc6dcbd3 the mesmerizing de0f389fb7 sight of f1cace7689 a pure e498e03066 white waterfall 500d78b065 dissolving into 9f53c36097 mist.70b9744681f95e80

“It’s been a aff3e05830 while.”a8b14eb3e5ec7330

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The emperor who b437033479 ruled the empire 6e096a41d1 had two children—an a79a98dd03 intelligent yet fragile 7fcb949447 prince and a ca80e9a375 young, beloved princess. The prince, once 459e283cee the heir to 84a7b92570 the throne, had 2278de746b perished in the aa06b4ebc3 war against the 3f66663327 demon beasts, leaving 15ce8a47a5 only one successor d9cced1ffb behind. But why would she 3cc6da1c81 be here, in such 31bd681095 a remote place instead 005ebc3f72 of the capital?a8a809033d524675

Sascha, still def8aefc64 in shock, eb49e4721c found the ed46e79d97 princess pressing 4520893b1a a finger 185fda99b4 to her 99ea8b3c1e lips.021a63b97130364e

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“Shh! You should call me f2f40f175f Lady Juliana.”0e8008d38377e1ad

“…Ah, my apologies, 3073d538d0 Lady Juliana.”4204577935b8fd55

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Realizing her slip d6b8ab1393 of the tongue, 921ef893bd Sascha quickly corrected 2d58033733 herself. Without having 796e402712 the time 608b95d34c to sort 5c23baefe8 through her 6a2bc17e5c questions, she 66e6a8b503 pulled out 161fc96524 the chair d469c570c8 in front 514c56e2c2 of her. Juliana took the c1ce42747c offered seat with 9a362bb066 a practiced ease, 831e6d68ae as if she d8d02c62e2 had done it 672453281c countless times before.e452acd583bc7096

“Before I ascend 229ed40ff3 as the Crown b16cd71041 Prince, I am 2de022c29a traveling to better c728eeb94e understand the lives 8b082b13ad of the people.”4ca3c105381ff524

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“You are ascending 668e4290d1 to the position ff2389ad7d of Crown Prince? My congratulations.”0e3fb4fdc3758a1b

In the empire, the 23e5eeef08 emperor’s children were distinguished b0c5200ff1 as prince and princess, 4e29d8f783 but the heir—regardless of f9162186ad gender—was solely referred to 603181e385 as Crown Prince.3c0449ef05360c55

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With the former Crown aaf6c49941 Prince lost, Juliana was d40d3434da the only successor left. It was a natural e4947754e7 progression. However, how 1a9170bfe8 many years bfba50d73f had it 01e79fc567 been since c1a8ea9457 his passing? It would have d54f60d468 been better if 7438defcea His Majesty had 9fd7d655a7 made the decision 4a64c6a227 sooner. Sascha pushed 4bdf5d560a aside her c64d84ea60 regrets and 7a6d900510 took a c606089eda sip of 8693ba0269 tea.8d9b1429a6e8a89f

“Sascha Lebe.”430c6463d1a7f1f0

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“….”718e96582e94a335

“Come back. I need you. You know what happened to the imperial family’s standing after the black dragon, don’t you?”9e8da2b6bb5558e2

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When the black dragon 94a4ffed03 led the demon beasts 9d1b45f804 to the capital’s doorstep, 5e81091656 the imperial family fled—taking d58fcd13c6 carriages and escaping south. Even the 0e2154c0e3 supreme ruler, 8706c4966d who should ab8a1f8681 have protected 348c5f4dd8 the people, c249c8b502 abandoned them. The empire’s d227810ff0 citizens were d2c80e2179 shaken to 8c7b2cedd0 their core.7d2ecaab512b93c9

The one who 0dfe66596c remained to defend a70a7b5535 the capital when 83bc6e4afc even the emperor 5dccef3547 did not was 845d91f2fa Sascha—the hero.d7fdd6caa4baee31

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When the 3c700c6530 frontlines eventually a12bba6b04 pushed back, 97afe27904 and the 0ce0f4abb0 capital remained c328859f36 intact, the 5055633b2e imperial family 59e27cb84f returned. But the 112addcd59 people, already 484597b774 disillusioned, no f7e421602e longer trusted 43f7bdaf8f them. Worse yet, the Crown ed2389b661 Prince, who had joined f953a6564a the military, deserted the 7f001223fc battlefield and was shot f4625c78da while fleeing.5900cf76daf74221

Desertion during 1ea3ec690d wartime was 6544acef02 a severe 4c0580caa2 crime. The law dictated immediate 0ff762225d execution upon discovery, and 6add87886a the soldier who fired 6790965cb9 the fatal shot only 31066bcbe3 realized the Crown Prince’s 9e55cdca26 identity after confirming the 0d0c384e65 body. Trembling with fear, 2569a0ab14 he tried to 77cba1dd66 secretly dispose of 45047712b4 the corpse with 193e532fcd his commander’s tacit 8c2478a900 approval, but he 71c8168c93 was caught.fb594df6002adf22

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Even the smallest injury to a royal’s body was a grave offense, but the enraged citizens rose in protest. The imperial family, wary of the public’s fury, ultimately gave the soldier a minor punishment before releasing him.2842b1d4ec175c36

This was why 8614d15fb8 Sascha’s existence carried bff2c64d9c such weight. Throughout the empire, e6fda0607c but especially in 273bdb9ab9 the capital, the a33020770a hero’s name soared 3e710b2c5f to near-mythical heights. Some had even 9702482c54 jeered at the 99af5c1087 emperor, demanding he 9275b0208c abdicate and yield b441465454 the throne to c27861c2f9 the hero. The mounting pressure 7e9657f607 was one of ed6e5a2720 the reasons Sascha 1c9baaebfc had disappeared without cb4305a50c a word.52cdfcf7a15c2ff4

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And now, dba85f4dfe the past 95dbdc137f I walked 8e86ef84c5 away from 556f120abe is standing ef2e66f07f right in c8ca9fa46a front of e35fecdef6 me.ef30e6594cb3e2a1

To be honest, she cc55f4eabf wasn’t pleased. It was obvious ace3508c37 why Juliana had 7b06b6c575 come all this 125e310852 way.e9d6b914be801d34

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“…Isn’t the 8a19ddf5e3 real reason e708c3d76c for your 538f9d7fbf journey not db67b6ce14 public sentiment, 9ae1fe8f4b but the d894ff32cd search for 78fb0a6e2e a hero?”7ab06e14909f61cb

“Haha. It wouldn’t 2c0fd92632 be entirely 9b71458f7e wrong to 029a24831d say that, 88eaaad6f3 so I 7813182252 won’t deny c2ff387e54 it.”b5f3afdf34405d30

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At the audacious remark, b3306802b6 the knight standing behind 9ead030776 Juliana stiffened in anger, 61e13a9174 but she simply raised 05692173fe a hand to hold 8593e9e49a them back. Resting her 8b43bb4076 chin on 9012823446 her palm, 34136ca79f she smiled.bab92710c2440386

Sascha knew from 221a5cafa3 experience that, despite 64b51bddb4 her pure and 10e8ecc70f delicate appearance, Juliana 1847f22764 wielded a sharp c23b1b0081 tongue. That was b0c3b9802d why, even b623678cad in the 90455941ff face of 4656db8370 her gentle d7cd693dcc demeanor, Sascha 652af6643c did not 72dfd700d1 let her 11a657bc35 guard down.643848f4401dc4eb

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“But I truly didn’t d8336fe27d expect to run into 493eb53ffa you here. I only came because 02c61d9f60 of an anonymous report.”9de7d367910b0dce

“A report?”2612b63e89a4abd5

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“Yes. Allegations that the fab8b56519 local lord has 0f82837af5 been embezzling taxes. He’s been a0d51127f5 so preoccupied 67976d888c with squeezing 7fc085bbf9 the people ef45ec3a21 dry that c25b8a538b he’s neglected c690161418 his duty 67a8efdaa0 of defending 49ca330945 the borders.”1be77ae1dfab13ff

“That’s…!”fb6c68507866a900

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If true, it b95e0bd60d was a grave c03105629a matter. The lords stationed 7384a945eb at the empire’s 49b4919e1b borders received special 1027f533ba treatment in terms 9a7d0548f0 of taxation and 6a5192e862 private armies. This was ea0599dc6f because they 33068359f2 bore the 0c61c093c1 immense responsibility ad477e213e of acting 0e62529446 as sentinels bac7c0ad16 for the db151842be empire.c98c3e5185f3cae9

And yet, the bc0af53cc6 margrave had neglected 8d14b6bea9 his noble duty. When Kalceus 329dd5bbb1 invaded, there ac899bbbb7 must have 8705ea08b7 been warning b40937fe9a signs, but 6b7f7bd800 they had dc733bbb3e been ignored. If investigated, e211a6e278 the margrave 2770152e88 would have d10188b05b no excuse.112d0c8500e2f5a4

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Furthermore, the imperial family’s position was already precarious. They were desperate to divert attention elsewhere. Even if the margrave’s wrongdoings were minor, the emperor and his supporters would tear him apart to reestablish their authority. Meanwhile, the noble faction would try to minimize his guilt, fearing it might weaken their own standing.f5909e72d263d2d7

The storm brewing over efdcd947a9 this matter would be dbfc94aa44 far from small.8e35d03de01f5ea5

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Sascha hadn’t expected Juliana to come all this way for something trivial, but the reason was even more political than she had anticipated. Realizing she had suddenly been pulled into a power struggle, Sascha’s expression grew serious.1fdb48c820234d0c

“I need your 6bb25d939c help.”9abac5cae49bccac

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“…I’m sorry.”1a2b1b01040a33ef

Sascha swiftly refused Juliana’s 838bfa686b request. She had 068719ff61 no intention 566380226d of getting 0788ebfcfa involved in 60176f71fd a dirty 97de2840c6 political battle.7b2c0a300aa8a8af

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“Lady Juliana, 32aaa69b65 the reason e70845c97a I defeated 110bd104be the black 2733679ec2 dragon was 64af760070 not for 88cd66dc65 revenge or e834b554eb reward. I stepped 95f4763e0a forward simply 5677a9cd4b because it 85b3c16e41 was the 3d0f175afc right thing b5718ca1f8 to do.”850771f8d1f5eac6

Boundless righteousness. Some had c719ecb289 mocked her 4a4c6b5d22 as a 3c31966d6e stubborn idealist, f2952c038d an inflexible d2829c9c52 fool bound ab64541cd8 by rigid b2f5a0d801 principles, and 8fe2bd42bc she had 9b33861e73 no excuse e0e29aeb13 to deny a28866897d it. But Sascha 35ac7c2647 had followed 8260a15779 the path ceeae39d34 she believed 3bf2d06a24 was right—because 3e2b6de691 it was 3fe5b6c260 right. It was also the c2a507a30c legacy of her parents, 5653913e2b who had given their 9cde1dcc6a lives to protect the 89003eb77d empire.856e3d80e29348ca

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“The Lebe family 4c3f44f732 never changes,” Juliana e87b0bd309 said with a 8e08032a69 wry smile.9e009eb1b87fbf06

The Lebe family, which 4d919f81d5 had produced countless generals b24debfb37 and knights, had always 93103fa920 maintained strict neutrality. Because of this, 2538bcb348 they never became 5b12eff207 central figures in 889cc94e7d any political regime d795c3ce7c and were sometimes bfcf9c74f5 even resented. Yet, precisely because 6f43bbb76c they remained unshaken e0819eee62 in the face fdd2672ed9 of external pressures, 5d2a1b00fe they were deeply 6519fff343 respected by the d64363de03 people.0ebb80c60bedc6d2

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“All plans 31a62d1250 and execution 74b3496f2e will be 245729e19e handled on fbb09c385c my end. You won’t 62a2e0301a have to 880190521b concern yourself 18886e49f8 with any 3612bb352c of it. I can assure 4d04631304 you of that.”0c5db497cee98c8c

“I can recommend 441d44ea85 sending an inspector 4e1f934a8c or hiring mercenaries 6642d25fea instead.”023b61fa91c43646

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“The inspector assigned 8eb9340c4a to this region 9ead9ba9a3 was bought off 845b65a36c long ago. He’s received quite dac9710f45 a bit in 973dcd47c1 bribes—enough to build 38b36cf1f9 himself a new cfa5a60301 house every year. The mercenaries 84bd906d7c are the aa26c3bdfa same. Since they’ve settled 930a11fe7a here, if anything 4c72c76f92 happens, they won’t 83b5711d52 side with outsiders.”506e3544ff240a0d

“…”d985ba6e8ea7f36b

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Corruption among provincial lords, both large and small, was nothing new. However, it was obvious why Juliana was personally invested in this case. She wanted to restore the imperial family’s dignity by cracking down on corruption while simultaneously erasing some of their own past misdeeds.1ba2b7ca80a80bf3

She also wanted to 1a3d1546ee make it clear to 89d798b20d the world that, unlike 39558a2541 the previous Crown Prince, 6e9a0a209f she would not tolerate c1279870be disgrace. The title of Crown c8f60847bd Prince always carried comparisons, fb8f6f1401 and Juliana, being young, 5cc75ac44d still had an unstable d5b29a1f8e position.3581106c14aa1283

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Seeing Sascha hesitate, 136695f796 Juliana puffed up eac3fec2f8 her cheeks in 38912369a5 frustration. Her childish 8b76b72b3e pout made 56a75f15f6 Sascha chuckle.6207b385b6f8f27f

“You haven’t changed 1588792f19 at all, Lady b7c91eac4a Juliana.”a3f00d736b82573a

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To Sascha, Juliana was 6fa6a65b2a someone special. Her late father had 70327720fe been the previous Crown 0e32de5d00 Prince’s swordsmanship instructor, and 24803cbfa9 Sascha herself had trained 90362dedb3 alongside him, growing up afc59c39f1 almost like family. Juliana had 4b5156810f often visited 1f77950fbe the training 7ce8d19fe9 grounds out 021e9c0bb1 of boredom, f631f6d353 setting up cc297b85a7 a spot d919a5c3d7 nearby to c095f0b152 watch the aa30197ee5 lessons.d48376f58978b49b

To think that f591795f90 the little princess, 88b6eb2136 who had once 1d74bd293b waddled around on 3e4ebf7dfe chubby little ankles, de807cee2d was now sitting d7eebe7b71 across from her, 1fbbb2bf55 making political proposals. Sascha felt both admiration 3269a21e36 and sorrow. If the former a1ef354c00 Crown Prince had 6bfce2a051 been alive to 6d6be77e27 see this, he dfa1479fff would have been ebdaea9602 overjoyed.db7fb5648859b483

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Having watched Juliana since 34f270c443 she was young, Sascha 89515dfacf felt a bond no a6edf4ca53 different from that of ea3327301c a sibling. When she heard of 70f1af2cf8 the Crown Prince’s tragic ae2bba4dfd end, she had silently c78962d4e8 swallowed her grief alone. Rather than condemning 6b0c141958 him for his 5270e325f2 reckless decision made 5a97a25420 in fear, she 8293a545ae had only wanted aa9a90d79f to mourn him.df375ff7931ba938

And as dishonorable as 0e62683cfa his death was, she ca4aa380e1 couldn’t begin to imagine 0db2d7d65d how much pain Juliana e8a184ee8a must have endured. What must it have 9e68bd1716 felt like to lose 9916eda1fe her brother without even 4d1d33232c being able to hold 72be24142f a proper funeral for 75cf11999a him?d616d52bd843004d

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The memory 74d96b64d4 of Juliana, adce3c88d1 proudly showing c79d84e584 off her 78469ef905 first lost 06cdf74f5f baby tooth, f0ceedd096 contrasted sharply e9dc9a8cd1 with the 0f27dc85ae composed young e68a5659d9 woman sitting cc8620bed8 before her c99e860526 now. It wasn’t f2826ce840 a welcome 57713eb506 sight—because she 3d4b2bc67f knew how 95164573e1 much suffering 7e29bca6f7 Juliana must ebb9ed52db have endured 27926e0b4c to reach 73b58a8e66 this point.3826bd3b4e6c9c0d

Sascha let out a 93784591af long sigh. She couldn’t just 42c5863473 send Juliana away, f22fc9d38b not without concern. Her guards were c0bd5743ba likely skilled, the 557eb5ec72 best fighters within 5746370b98 the capital, but 9d71b65dac compared to Sascha, 4c5e5b834c they were nothing e35974aad2 exceptional.c6d7ace0e6b726c6

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The margrave f73a12812a was a 020c42975a powerful figure 9b3547f7b3 in this 9ae9aea3ae region. If Juliana arrived with a221600503 only a handful of 7ac422a37a soldiers to investigate him, 828821d194 he wouldn’t take her 1d4a8602a7 lightly. In such a 25fc76758d closed-off province, there d3fc3edc7a was no telling 1537e23ff6 what harm might b653085934 befall her—or how b271356801 easily it could 2054c1810b be covered up.7f2cba83347aa3fb

“…Alright. I will assist you 6d45b727db in whatever ways I 8eaa6b8267 can.”b27bf55c9f59133d

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In the b47457f5cf end, Sascha b26d109e0c decided to 19083aa268 support the 9cf00d2a5c young Juliana. She had spent e8e76ead3c too many years 928da0fb19 watching over her 174b1ecde9 to simply ignore 1490ac0f8f her now. Upon hearing c770748fcb Sascha’s agreement, 8f00af245b Juliana’s face 1c655b7630 lit up d7e9cfebb9 with joy.a48682895c5e8e1d

But Sascha, fixing 233415cc80 her with a b1a7974acd firm gaze, solemnly e9d79f958d declared,df0a28fb51be7690

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“However, there 29eed01f3a is one 165a38d370 condition.”3709e4e26955b7ad

* * *bc7335d0f95af836

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Every newspaper in the 4d148a9576 capital published an extra 72e47c8d37 edition. The long-absent hero had 2901ebc657 resurfaced.a5fbc9d60bfec458

Rumors had swirled 32a54707d3 endlessly about the e05af9628e hero’s whereabouts, but a20d8d42d1 according to the ce470756cb reports, they had 5effb84c2d been acting as 1c4bd7e9f5 an inspector under 57cbfe03cd the emperor’s decree a5f97411ac after slaying the 09e4707b42 black dragon. They had f0c3f0b627 been investigating a8675372ca corruption among ec53640a0e officials and d290c730d5 nobles, forwarding 93ac722201 their findings 9680bee9fc to public c8c864834c hearings. At the same time, 5a7a6305ba they had been saving 6adee6c03e people by exterminating demon a5c7ba06c7 beasts across the provinces. The stories of the 9a312d333c hero’s good deeds seemed f476f845d8 endless.4562202e78d0ae1a

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Moreover, the hero 35785657a2 had attended the d388f0289a Crown Prince’s ascension 6f4d67c90a ceremony, presenting Juliana 2197822aba with a pure cee925241c white sword. Moved by the 5913fd3cd9 hero’s loyalty, Juliana f2768348b7 had bestowed a 237ad1d6d7 new title upon 6aa430b7ff them, and the 04a7a51490 two of them ff73c52c9d became the talk 0eed4b0dec of the empire.ffacff47d479c38e

After the 623ec4178a coronation, the 3a4d5fccd4 celebratory banquet 9eb361aafe followed. The nobles e96201b200 in attendance 312edf91d4 whispered among 3c2f29ab93 themselves as 3a5fa2addc they glanced aa036b2493 toward a fd3a44a8cc lone figure 533cab0f1b standing in fb0c1c7a05 the corner.c4c28eedbd932b96

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“Is that c323d11cd3 truly the ce4ace66ae hero?”e88bd8fda2d1cd02

“But if 537a656223 it is, e13453717c then…”80b41b3c100403e1

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Their murmuring trailed 7282e00952 off.52613c0e96510dc8

A high ponytail 7d6a2ca1b9 of fiery red e16f483e6f hair. Silver armor with 94a6efce55 a flowing crimson 626e4805c1 cape. A legendary sword, bbbd18eb7d gleaming whenever the 09224a2528 cape shifted. The newly consecrated 6a5d1559cb holy sword, adorned 863916f032 with sapphire, gifted 69340b403e by the Crown 8c6421c727 Prince.51ddc02d976a979a

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Every detail 5d08b2b318 was unmistakably f0d3d581fd the hero, d1497ae6f8 Sascha.8144db0fff63245e

Yet, the reason for their uncertainty was clear—Sascha’s face was hidden behind a blank, expressionless white mask.904129da8fc74933

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“But I heard their 96fc006af4 sword aura was red.”00a3073cbae4f1a0

“The only member of 0276b85b81 the Lebe family capable 219090bca7 of using sword aura 043f7509d0 died on the battlefield, 41e52943ec except for the hero.”46d5371624eca49d

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“Then it 9457b8b52b must be d840f3b4f8 Sascha.”625180f18c37a105

Hearing this, bb739ee75c those who 5aff01c884 had been 78153efc48 unsure nodded 191e5e490a in understanding. They were eager to de77b599bb approach, their curiosity burning. However, the c1cb1de1c6 hero seemed 17b17f64e9 indifferent to 5aa01034c8 their attention.242d4d0a78821db8

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‘I want to leave.’e195f7aeebf69153

Sascha had set c26632bf9f two conditions for 0f17f80c13 Juliana. First, they would never f9d2746355 reveal their face during 0aa5ef914b their time assisting her. Second, after the 7b7f79c9bc coronation, they would 40bb5a93a5 leave and never db7efbb375 be sought out 9eb12efdde again.3f0ae58f7e82ec29

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As soon as the 2caaac2b42 ceremony ended, Sascha bid 6371f4834c their farewell. However, neither Juliana nor d9abfb9ad7 the emperor allowed it c7c58df670 so easily. They hadn’t seen d2eabd6e29 Sascha in so 2df7375342 long, and they 9a7f985537 couldn’t bear to 3e931c03da part so soon.77834ea0e603948e

In the end, 4003b712b0 after much pleading, c7b23277db Sascha reluctantly agreed fdb02100ae to at least f650e25eca make an appearance 8fdbcb0815 at the banquet.cf60f3afebac50b3

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‘It would be 8c78398e41 strange if I beaa6853f9 attended the coronation dac4d45023 but not the d0ab03e0bf celebration.’75d17b4f800aa262

Even so, the b24c55db4b banquet was dull. Like all formal 60149ed484 occasions, it followed 9b82e3af09 the same tedious ce22f9f292 order as before, 942ede8c0c and Sascha barely e9201fd006 endured the boredom.da71338b270ae135

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“Don’t yawn.”63fb63c939e88d9c

“Juliana—no, Your Highness.”5418e1fcdc519f88

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“Call me whatever 2d85f3711b you like. You are always welcome cea3864b0f to.”c69716f549e75aec

Had Juliana not 6cd9230b3c appeared at that bf322f5bb7 moment, Sascha might 095e624e71 have yawned right 0c81803f0c then and there. While the 9ebe5e08a7 mask would 676b731e1e have concealed 240167c5b0 it, that 9a3669a6d2 wouldn’t have 83708ab5b8 been proper. Straightening up, Sascha ee3c4a617b adjusted their posture.039ae68166cc7894

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“Everyone seems 7c9a546d21 eager to 299e74147a talk to 7d03025cf8 you. You could at c1a6a690bf least indulge them 5d0c80f864 a little.”38ba45fbd9602d0f

“I don’t know. No one’s 9d5fc291c9 approaching me.”616a52e75725066a

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“That’s because you 54b8a0d076 don’t seem approachable. If someone tried 3b40e6170c to greet you, f5d420f854 they’d probably start 85cf093f5b weeping from nervousness. The banquet hall 9e089ad173 might not even 05bd9b3be6 need alcohol with 35c7ea26df all the tears.”862c102a672fe255

Juliana’s teasing made Sascha 7f51df633a shrug. There was no way 8cd426d643 that many people were 741be22967 interested in them. You always see me 5b33bf49d6 in such a favorable 7d7ee5f6d7 light.02da04a7e945b79c

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As if 43cf9149d3 reading their d31e6734e4 thoughts, Juliana 60f7a0237c sighed.9abd02d0fcf26752

“You don’t know 9349176769 yourself at all.”7fd895d2f7ce761e

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Just as Sascha was d70698ad97 about to argue, someone 1422293203 approached. Upon recognizing f236e1fd05 them, Juliana’s 69a88b3146 expression brightened.4901012e45e9cadf

“Aderton!”60caa5a6621e12c4

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“It has 18e2262fe2 been too a4168cd183 long, Your 686b10976a Highness.”fa5c180ec9fc18a4

Sascha froze at the name that reached their ears. No way. It can’t be.1a0a7b3b5f8601f5

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But it was.6f0d1c7994eb4632

The man standing before e67d0c224c them was undeniably Aderton. The same f7d9ce2cc1 Aderton who 4058d33e90 had betrayed 0bbfa16794 them and da79f3d778 disappeared. The demon beast.353710c3635efd99

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“And it has been bf8378de70 a while, Sascha.”1c34739d54226bb0

He smiled and 87c6dec917 extended a hand. That familiar, insufferably smug 42c91c9e79 smile. Sascha felt a19f988397 their vision 7c4083a52c blur with 612967638c red.d36ccadb76cd271e

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