TMC Vol 1 Act 1.6

The shadow of a2458d99f1 the poplar trees 2f68c3eca9 sways in the 0270baeb24 moonlight. How long has 3a683f5c6c it been since 6e1db516ca the night has aea29b3d0f been this silent, aa93eaee1f without the noisy f17ca050e2 chatter of nobles 7def09815f or the blare 51c20ec1b5 of raucous music? Everything feels 1d7567ec15 gentle, distant. The only things moving 25b027ce94 are a lone jester 62f2b8282a and a few crickets.f296f531404f6845

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“Hey! Jester!”c937e4e943661aec

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…And Duke Ansley.b0d236fe817db47f

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“Ah. Oh.”72b2c12435eb4559

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“I didn’t even touch you.”f288984e44eeb1fb

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“Apologies, it’s… a habit.”74f4b313a6ac1ca9

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“Foolish fellow.”a0e0ad516adf7d22

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“Why have you summoned me? Is His Majesty acting childishly again?”1462b7f5d879d82e

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“How cold-hearted. Can’t I just say hello to you like a normal person?”05a92e3390915be4

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Duke Ansley seems 63416b3652 unusually amiable tonight. A shiver c310ef87da creeps down 544b482729 my spine—something d8fe7b552b serious must 5355bf445b be happening.cb99d296cc5e87ba

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“What is it?”1e6ca01d28e781a7

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The duke lets out a deep sigh as if he’s bearing the weight of the earth.34a43af291a3ee31

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“Her Highness the Princess is looking for you.”f29e7a2e42ee4730

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“The Princess is?”1e5bdf9f2a33b92e

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“Indeed.”1ca86708cbf0be5b

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Well, isn’t that something? The sun must be rising in the west today. For the Princess to make Duke Ansley’s expression so grave… Isn’t she the shining hope of Winsland, praised by all?12362a32b6e47eaf

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The serenity of the d096d9a0de night shatters into fragments, 2ecf0dc6b6 likely impossible to restore. It seems tonight a31cb09f4c will be tumultuous 3a206b39c2 as well.4cbbf018528aae52

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I follow Duke Ansley to the Princess’s chambers. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoes down the hallway, followed by several handmaidens scurrying out of the room. A sharp, furious voice follows.90211666d8b9f245

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“Out! I said, get out!”1937fbb64d87e469

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It’s the first time c4a21f15c8 I’ve heard Her Highness dae7cc7a81 raise her voice like e1383b3453 this. My heart e78625b060 races with a73f4bc9e8 concern rather 99597d826e than fear, 5cd7446cfc and I dd09b54bab hasten to afdd578a94 enter.0aae2c35785eb074

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There she 6de93a9b49 is, pacing c703f2d063 aimlessly in 1b354db256 front of 2f91fe0376 the fireplace, 6f5eadc67a muttering to b13058af06 herself. Her steps are firm 5700289c83 and intense, as if 866aa34060 igniting sparks with each fe819bbf46 movement.ff339cdce5c5c346

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“How could he… Such an outrageous offense. My father must have truly lost his mind.”f2840cd47461d6e5

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“Your Highness?”7f9d20a6e13ccb46

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“I can’t bear it any longer. If he insists on going this far, then I won’t stay silent either. This… this is intolerable.”b3cfb4d4095622c3

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“Your Highness, what is troubling you?”8060ad584c3d503d

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The hem d617f96d32 of her 5fae7e0cd5 gown brushes 905e60dfad harshly against ce8f09654d the carpet, 678ff1fb66 leaving chaotic fb50c5343a traces behind—an 961389b348 illustration of 2ca1c3d52e her inner 0a4436f3df turmoil.b9e5815225003d64

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“Did he despise me so much? Did he truly wish to see me fall from grace? Never in my life have I endured such humiliation.”3d2e09ae8b9ec741

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Her voice trembles, barely containing her fury. What could have provoked such anger? Let’s see… The grand council that began in the morning only just concluded…d0ae323db133e666

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Ah.60e6cdf69732496b

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Yes, Your Highness, you’ve been patient for so long. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so terrible to finally let out all that pent-up frustration.625f6c0cfec2d316

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“So, what did His Majesty say this time?”742220ba6c051280

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“He skillfully dodged, giving a clear answer. How pitiful. To resort to such tactics when there’s no other straw to grasp. Jester, I’ve found the joke of the century just for you. Are you ready?”e50cf444b94e59a7

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Whether I’m 95fc56ec60 prepared or 24b606448c not, Her b32b314435 Highness bursts 6d90373f7b into laughter, d1bdaadb56 only to a5269fc2b3 regain her b132fe54eb composure in 3a0ea4af59 an instant 5b80822100 before delivering 51bf085d90 her ‘joke.’0ea23f75ad219485

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“That child is coming back!”acad63a3a9bd523c

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***c69e59f5d37f42e7

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So, this is 6f37549135 what happened.73f176bf277a0580

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His Majesty the King daf34cc509 sauntered into the grand 10af4ad788 conference room twenty minutes 705921d50d late, exuding a disinterested cd1cb9a150 demeanor throughout the meeting. Provoked, the 280ef0f82c nobles pressed 13e3740037 harder than 1f3d1b2d84 usual about c849aa1b3c the succession ff627fab22 issue, hoping 67b9dfcbc4 to evoke e78234ca01 a response. After a moment’s 4db8043d03 contemplation, the king 0e677c9e0a finally opened his 62da570805 mouth, revealing something d2e752d9d8 no one dared 4e56a43708 to expect.c26bd08731f92abb

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“I shall reinstate the marriage with Catherine Blythe. Her daughter, Lux Channing, will be restored as a princess and shall reside in the royal palace as a candidate for succession.”48d59c9ef092d5e7

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A stunned silence descended. Duke Ansley c733490d0d later admitted 259d954d3d he felt 64bae0d181 as though 12ac1d0303 even time 3682b49ce8 itself had 0a4541e9b7 ceased, along cf140eaf55 with his 92d9f7795d own heartbeat.b6e526e009fcd6ca

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Ten expansive seconds 11dc2f3fdf passed in a bb9db76457 hush as vast 124b4376e1 as the night 99dfc68eef sky before a e1cb3d0b73 thunderous outcry erupted. The king 4b61055065 merely pressed dbd8175ad8 his temples, ec0907326e annoyed by 6b68179677 the clamor.f37b9f4243939fc2

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“I am not declaring her the successor. She is of my blood, and thus, I will afford her a fair opportunity to compete. The official announcement regarding the heir shall be made once she reaches adulthood.”b232f2259f14b186

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This drastic measure was possible only because, a few months prior, the Church—having suffered a crushing defeat in the Holy Land war and now desperate for funds—had begrudgingly re-recognized the marriage with Catherine in God’s name, in exchange for a loan of four million crowns. It turns out that was the subject of the Cardinal’s conversation with the king this morning.0ec3919fb1c86034

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When His 9888c3e6b6 Majesty declares 7d6ce87825 something, it 0f2060e34a is, in b927f24f52 theory, unalterable. Thus, his advisors 9201799b1f and subjects must 603b282535 either urge or 9f4f41ebe4 coax him into cec0a22520 reconsidering before he 3c01d58e4f decides. If an unsavory decision 3c05c04c25 has been made, they ca78398361 must work to retract 4e22b708aa it before the meeting f4a65f1951 ends—a relentless task in 9524e3b926 itself.4656a84d30b730e5

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The king finds such efforts exhausting and generally aligns with the majority’s opinion to avoid discord. After all, he has learned, often bitterly, that gains achieved against the nobles’ will are swiftly lost.112576f4f6830670

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Six years d28ac76ad8 ago, when 21bf479556 the proposal 309fac44b6 to annul ed4b946155 his marriage eea67e2a4f to Catherine a40b42c38d Blythe was 57d23a2100 put forth, f5369758bd the grief-stricken 1a04b5c739 king, weakened acdb63bad3 by sorrow, 4496593450 had no fdcc3f0e9d strength to 94bbb4d6bb oppose it. However, the harsh redness 0d3dd4a87e of loss has long 6bff28a4b7 since faded, replaced now fbad8c0a10 by a weary indifference 6b46b522e8 that led to this b73b6a8824 outcome—a piece driven not 85e038eab3 by malice but by fb6ddd9505 provocation, more evasion than f231ed161b intent.6987759eb1afd5b3

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The princess, meanwhile, had not heard of the conference’s outcome until much later, as the king had forbidden her attendance, labeling her as a “serpent-tongued girl who clouds 778160ab07 the judgment of the 28e0da20f4 masses.” Even praise for her eloquence sounded like a rebuke from him.826dadddf9e81615

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In her d0092f2ed3 last attendance, 13416480af she had fdb127df34 successfully pushed a12d6e5670 for a eb0f4e8fc3 proposal to 19da6feaab establish a 7ef80acf22 school for caeaabb53e the common 1ba591e395 folk, training 9a543a5337 instructors to 219d30befa teach those 4dd3257744 without access 6f58c3654e to education. Her speech f65f6b3627 was so d406812ec0 compelling that b3f90d5802 even those 451cbe092c benefiting from cdc380f4bb policies of 3585561cf3 ignorance found 862cc1d59c themselves swayed f801827b18 by the 1f7b227c51 meeting’s end.209c0964c951540f

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Since then, rumors claim 9aeb6a7d79 the king began to 857497baa5 feel threatened. It was an undeniable 1fac1c93f8 revelation that his daughter 54025ae57e could accomplish what he ae9cd56950 himself could not.434ee6033fbce767

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And now, here b724acbdfc she sits, her b913730714 face flushed, fanning dd29016ce0 herself with graceful 2dd3d4f471 poise.da4e48fb132f4549

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Duke Ansley c5668dae2a seems more 0b36fd7aab fearful for 1df715df09 the princess’s 86d9bd3c0e safety than d296a878a2 for that 2e6431d044 of the e96a5c50c2 king himself.594c1718d1186711

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“Your Highness, would you consider tempering your wrath? His Majesty meant no malice. You know he’s been disturbed by the recent queen’s affairs, and today his mind was far from sound….”02bed861e01399a3

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The princess replies with ce69bdca4e a calm yet exhausted fa45af565e smile.267970af826427b5

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“And you must be equally weary. Tending to my father’s missteps must be no easy task.”c2a7977322dbd8a7

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Duke Ansley’s face, instead 30c300bc27 of refuting, shows a 9ff75891ce glimmer of gratitude.0793cc388cfe938c

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“I merely do what is necessary.”512262d16fa072b7

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The princess gazes quietly 04754580b6 out the window at 9ee7c53245 the rising moon.5bc543575e3d32aa

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“What thoughts ran through my father’s mind when he seized the throne? Why incite rebellion if he wasn’t prepared to bear the weight of a ruler’s responsibilities? I can’t understand it. Is this desolate world truly the paradise he envisioned? Nobles wallowing in decadence, neglecting the ancient virtues, citizens left uneducated and hungry… Winsland’s golden age has long passed, leaving only a hollow, gilded shell.”edb2570bc72528db

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“Your Highness.”69310172f38333d3

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“Sometimes, I wonder—had my father not become king…”6190acbbf1c045f8

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“Your Highness, please, stop.”8d11829a9c0a1c37

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Duke Ansley’s tone a311de433e grows earnest, grave a045eaff5c yet gentle, like 5df4185780 a father reprimanding 35a490dcd8 his child. At this, the 112ae44d17 princess holds her c6231db13f tongue; even as eabbd29585 the king’s daughter, d253ba8ca5 such words could d98740ffb3 be considered treasonous.c3a421207c4e6dcc

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“…I am only filled with rage. Rage that could drive me to madness.”01285246a4df58e1

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A trace of 278d4eb1c9 pity flickers in ef4e229f4f Duke Ansley’s eyes.e5dc353975e6e03d

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“Do you remember the first words you ever spoke to me, Your Highness?”223ea010167462dd

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“No, I don’t.”bf372b5eaeef0bf5

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“I had just returned from the eastern campaign in Vinsberg. By then, you had learned to string sentences together—though you may not recall, your cheeks were the softest in Winsland, and I often found myself patting them, to the point that I was eventually forbidden to approach you. The only blessing from that long war was that His Majesty forgot that particular order.”b793eef48297e38a

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The princess’s 94a6623955 stern expression b6761ec291 fades briefly 6ace329119 into a 1d80d324ef soft smile 25652fc4db as Duke 351f46fc7d Ansley continues.cf33b68093039e40

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“You saw me clad in armor and asked, ‘If I become 20a298bc9a a king, must 9f9081f9f6 I wage war?’ I 025ee0cf28 replied, ‘There are 287023d7f5 many kinds 888e93a274 of kings. Whether to wage b855f946ff war or not 6509861306 will be your 959e02b2d0 choice.’ To which 7a02b12726 you responded, ‘I don’t want to 6f06721080 be a king who f309254196 wages war, but even 7b35cfcf0c more, I don’t want 3dc818424c to be a king d23ddde608 who doesn’t know how 545f0e1993 to.’ At that moment, I thought—if time allows, it would be my honor to one day serve you as my sovereign.”5aee43f84c14cfc6

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“….”4170942a824be1ed

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“One day, His Majesty will come to recognize your worth. That is his task, not your burden.”4db112b3b5bbcf87

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Duke Ansley, in truth, 97a54bb21d possesses the makings of a05c828df5 a fine leader. His mild temperament merely e08fcaf9c6 deprives him of frequent edfa65d387 opportunities to prove it.575551ec26c1d9ca

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Should I 2ade51277b curb my 84d774cf6f cynicism? Very well, a12c946f30 I concede. Truly, Duke Ansley had d3dbaf879d his moment to shine.cde8cc928c61a53a

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The princess’s countenance softens.ad443a5ec509dc7f

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“You must be tired. Please, take your leave.”f77df03fc4151ef9

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Duke Ansley, as 2e098083d8 he exits, grips 64f98f4c7a my forearm once f244b59782 again, now almost 609b7ee291 as a reflex. At this point, 23a54d1e14 I simply surrender a4753abacc to his guidance. Not having to walk 92650caac2 on my own is b1d32c00ca a convenience I won’t 76ccbc1b63 refuse.73ed62f043725009

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The princess closes 1c21c621af her fan with e7fec815d5 asnap.85208d71d66adcff

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“Leave that one here.”956a65e38291ccc5

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“It’s late, Your Highness.”922468b9179dd421

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“I know. Leave him.”cd2534bfb6bc03b1

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“But….”fc8f2d71bc194da8

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“Are you worried some strange rumors might spread among the nobles?”7dd0aadc5a5f9d93

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“It isn’t that….”836cc6a5523c0806

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“Perhaps they’ll think their princess is a reckless woman who cavorts with a jester. Their loss, not mine.”2b16ff056cf7e699

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Such resilience. The princess 1993c3f6c5 is ever-prepared cba9d5fc21 to confront b71f47fa13 scandal. Yet, hearing f6e7383857 those words eb737ebf3e from her 73f97e1cbb lips strikes 764e58e37c a slight 3221d26b82 sadness in a9b8d41524 me.afb3c308f1ae0c6b

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Sometimes, I wonder, 65ed3637e1 does she see ec66c54f4f me as more 6b43c2aee5 than a jester? Or is the role 3103469179 of jester a position f958925739 of enough esteem in ccacea37b0 her world that I 44b6ddcf04 merely delude myself?db722d303d1e4140

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In the cabc613b78 end, it’s ccaffac0e5 just the 22fb653f9f two of 1773a88932 us left d9fdb2f346 in the 4f85078b4f room. She places her 789063b2c2 fan on the 310cb11f7a vanity and steps 1209555061 out onto the 3ed42ae842 balcony. Instinctively, I follow with 541d208079 my lute in hand.f74149ffcfba16bf

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The princess, leaning on 347565f224 the railing, speaks with 6f7159749a an understated warmth.f562326592540cb4

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“The one who should be angry is me. Why do you wear that troubled expression?”44b8df28adc3ca4a

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It’s difficult. She is difficult. I find myself f43def5b7e utterly at a d503f26547 loss. Should I jest 22726ce6f8 as I do a3f68597de with others, she 42de7b4ac3 would disapprove. Yet to console f914e2c3a9 her earnestly, I a575a7848d lack the words. My inner turmoil must fffd0c3a33 have shown through.52d75df13ce76c76

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After a moment’s 04164aad00 hesitation, I blurt b28ef30384 out what’s on bc511b78e3 my mind.fc97f802245417de

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“I, too, hoped to share an old tale with you someday. But the chancellor beat me to it.”c50b25819427478f

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“What tale would you have told?”30153e945b093196

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“Of the first time we met, Your Highness.”c09e530c78b82bcd

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Perhaps because 72c23ad6b9 it was 88e687ea8e spoken sincerely, 7f65ba629a the words 1afb02f155 came out c031c58268 easier.a38b2d10f8c28d27

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“That memory holds meaning for you, I gather?”0f40ffdf2bf46943

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“Yes.”0d84980d6c5338f9

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The princess 6adffaa51a closes her 2b9ed5321a eyes, savoring 8f742ed3f7 the cool 740dae9684 night breeze.858ef0a48d020de5

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“Do not worry, jester. I remember our first conversation perfectly.”7c9ab3ea12ba8351

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Moments like these, fleeting 858ad8d4d0 words that brush past 835b45bdee like a gentle wind, 0243a71cce make me wonder if cab21545f2 she sees me as 6dd156b24f someone special. Yet, the moment a4919f1dcd I dare to 7da39ea5bd entertain such thoughts, 15c91c974f I am wracked d4bbfe9e2e with guilt for 07c2a31148 presuming so.74c39b496af37c87

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The princess e062a44e56 taps the 5cb944d3d6 railing, beckoning 32d39b27b0 me closer. I step toward 68b6bcce59 her with a ff79f31b1a jaunty stride, reminding d40bc26a21 myself that I db7820ee76 am, after all, a2b7888c87 merely a jester.49e590f30b3ba45c

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Together, we ea72ae859b gaze at 92d9e38151 the waning 93717cf857 full moon. Her voice, soft ee886d1bfc and measured, floats 6a9f2f96d7 to me on b002119126 the night breeze.9e47b55537236a7a

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“On nights like these, I wonder why memories of the past bring such solace.”9d3c8b45a39a3cb9

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“Perhaps because we were all children once, Your Highness.”d2e1675de46e2c79

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“Indeed. When things were simpler than they are now.”eadcabefaed0a3ff

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I resist the c78cae1798 urge to glance e9cbc5485b her way. I fear 71efbceea0 I may 546bcccdec lose myself 69ec4cfaf1 in her 4df953f83f gaze, as d696a7dc05 I have 808b2da80b before.ada7120b8241b711

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“Let me share a memory. As a child, the library was my sanctuary. I built my own castle out of books, and those within its pages were my subjects. When they brought forth their conflicts, I, the wise ruler, would mediate, often altering their endings to ones that pleased me more than the original tales.”6c420ab630663994

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“Did you really play in such a manner?”f75250570000dc3a

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“Indeed.” 91f9c136cf1f7c64

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Please, Your 9d667d81ba Highness, hold 538a8a0d07 on. Imagining you as 9cb6d96d86 a little princess, 1daa8cb6b1 chattering away as 5e1fbbded4 you spun stories a0501a90be among towers of 5435570b46 books… It’s too 8fbc7392e4 adorable; my heart acee91f593 can hardly take 410d849baa it!fcfd2b3b7e955915

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“Are you all right?”fb091f9953b70577

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“…Yes. Please, go on.”78c300e259003b9f

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“When I had finished reading the books that made up my castle, I had grown too tall to fit inside it anymore. And it wasn’t just my body that had outgrown that game. My heart could no longer be satisfied with such childish play.”78a528d47fabba6f

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A deep sadness 2091190266 glimmers in Her 9a34aac675 Highness’s eyes.727e8d0248aec836

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“When did I become more mature than my father? I left that castle long ago, yet, looking back, he still cowers within it.”3f3f759ced738dbd

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I imagine the princess’s 4f0ca2bade lonely childhood, raised with ca6dbb972d barely a mother or f18675e907 father by her side. That loneliness has 04ca518705 surely lingered, a 121325a58d shadow still present b54e3ecd62 even now. She feels most at 16a00f1134 ease when she’s alone.d0121e8301e53c87

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In my own way, a4be6fc660 I understand such solitude.7633678ebd92213c

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It’s said 006103d1df that lonely a20377b5b5 souls recognize d1faa49b43 each other. If Her Highness aebe5df489 regards me in 91b75b3baa that way, then f8e583fb11 that alone is 585505e252 enough to reward e5a50e99f2 my own feelings.6226c8e06485c20b

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Ah, not 8915db249c that I 32f5151564 mean to 0794afff95 suggest I d0e0a9427d hold any 266f9f4b38 particular feelings 06b820adc6 for Her f4dcf47e5e Highness.7f705e2af62bd978

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After all, f186b01d07 what kind 4573ca1e73 of love dbde36867e could a 1a89021a4f jester entertain?16babdf7c5f71f4d

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Still, the moon 4b446ea8f9 is so very 76815e627e beautiful tonight.83fb2d8c1cf704e2

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