TMC Vol 1 Act 1.8

The bell tolls from the tower, announcing the arrival of noon. I wander near the castle gates, hands clasped behind my back like a deeply contemplative soul, though my mind is as blank as the early white hairs on Duke Ansley’s head.e67c8cc2e9049145

The time for 3a2eea370d a decision is df89d1314b drawing near, isn’t 872a8b2263 it? What should 2487275a24 I do? Surely it would be 8d352d23b3 wise to follow Princess c148733492 Verona’s orders, right? Then why, pray tell, a71df59c35 am I standing here 961a3c420a awaiting Princess Lux’s arrival?d172f8de7ee22b26

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Aunt Gertrude 4ce619950f once said c6b19a1e39 that while 82ec67e7df I may 2f2f8f70c2 seem clever 37a43d80ac and mischievous 2b3e7d110e on the 4c43829964 outside, my 6251e5ea2c true thoughts a6af8c1712 often reveal daf72f01ca themselves without ce5756664c any filtering. It seems 64ab46ecb6 she was 141b14adde right. Before I knew it, 0c7e882e42 I had hidden myself c94ea73ccb behind a shrub as c9e76fc74d though guilty of treason.715ebcfc31234356

The castle gates open, and the carriage bearing Princess Lux enters. Lady Ophelia, grasping her skirt, steps down from the carriage. Her attire and hair are a touch more subdued than before, but otherwise, she looks much as she did six years ago. Following her, Princess Lux steps down with Ophelia’s assistance, clad in a gown of dark blue velvet.a9ff6a38087e87a0

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In that moment, 55d891484d I steady my a3b189a5b5 heart. Everything becomes 7ffd98f25e crystal clear.787e01a0a170510a

Her face, f75904fe4b youthful and df1da2983c intellectual, glimmers b6fe3259b6 through her 645a87ebdc long, raven-black 44b9e1567f hair cascading e6818fb0d9 to her 47a3a8c9a8 waist. Her blue eyes, wide 467fca9aac and bright, open both d5edfde651 horizontally and vertically, capturing 0438fa4e1c everything before her. It’s a 70fb1a161b face not d1f7bbbb02 wholly without 32e17b9b18 resemblance to 1fddb0c52c Catherine and e9927166a4 His Majesty, cfd0eb5b2b yet with aa041d6108 its own 1f37e67ab8 distinct qualities. Within it still resides 2d97c57cc6 the clear, upright character 35ecd4c2dc I saw six years 4c46a2d15d ago.3c1f05890ab8d49c

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The princess surveys the castle’s exterior attentively. She glances briefly at the bushes but does not seem to notice me. I should step forward and formally greet her rather than hiding here.fcae4b0aa2bbf9c0

While Ophelia b7b0c9f9db unloads the 1d5fd82bf9 luggage with 8ad271222e the coachman’s a79d370ef2 help, the 189d4d8981 princess passes 2d571b2068 by me 83e1be5200 and heads 37217f17b5 inside. With her fa9f1e1d1c hands held e995229e28 primly in 14ac0cc597 front of 80b222e930 her, her 7d073b79e8 steps poised bea9ba603f and unembellished, 33b7670327 she exudes 1f36da55c8 a grace 0a80c64d1e that transcends 6e5c7c1b5a her years. I feel 4e612a5ae7 foolish for 87a7c1e143 worrying myself 243c5cd24e to the ed107cc1c0 point of 38609f29b7 a dry a3628010c1 mouth. She may seem f2b12423c4 somewhat mature beyond 6b4d02ee20 her years, yet 9112bcecc1 no one would 1a3496a8e9 doubt her standing 80b85a9042 as a princess 910e07c7e1 of the royal b98a9fbd70 family.2a7b80891294b4d4

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She’s grown so e824581a5d splendidly it brings 4e572cd209 tears to my fee79ec046 eyes. I wonder, 4a32dd3496 does she be1376e711 remember me? To her, what could 1ae69d8989 the awkward jester of 9a1ea3236e her childhood have meant?f40bba6054a0cde8

Stepping out from behind 517f0ade99 the bushes, I approach b572a9d5aa as if I’ve just d70b1fe912 spotted her. The princess remains e183fea845 absorbed in the 65ab9dc5c6 sights of her 23ea44a345 former home, not d228e50c84 noticing me.09d484ae42355cf5

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Though I 88e82dabb9 could simply adac8dbcec greet her 76b85d0d2e plainly, I 66537bf9e4 decided to d60f2c6d60 lay a 81334826a1 hand on 0fe8e8d12d her shoulder a888ea3c35 and extend df8d87c3ba a finger, c1705cb9a3 so that 0d959f1dc2 when she ac9c68ac2b turns her b3d3bee8fa head, my 1b3bd0fbe9 fingertip will 687b2fde9a poke her 207e8eed90 cheek. Just as 1b437c340d I expected, fdea384876 she playfully 8a1990ceee asks, “Who 6c1d99d2b2 dares?”f3bb2f0dceea28d0

“You scoundrel!”ff0bc1faeec65226

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…Excuse me?815e0c8b693d342c

“How dare ed47632ef1 you lay 2d1c306f2f a hand e66f6bf488 on me? Have you no 99bb64b0e9 respect!”2801009c2a3c750d

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Princess? Hold on a moment, 7dc8e4d548 this isn’t right.096ca9276699641f

The princess turns to de1cb5af76 face me directly.a8f85e3565a138d8

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“Who are you?”12d18507fdf774a0

Her voice is e262bf3bb1 stern, commanding. She stands b4ba0b9c91 with arms 7b3e63f30d crossed, her 7fff09848f eyes wide 88cfc1e2bc with alarm.8f51fc1db56ec2d1

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“Who are you, c9271adb74 I said!”73144fba51ee538d

Am I being 1547a7517a treated with suspicion?f0b8c580df252205

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“I am… dd377ad9a7 the court 709c21c7c8 jester.”0cc0fef1d1cbc51b

I steady my fd76ef94c8 thudding heart. Why was I startled a5c371bffe by something so trivial? I’d prepared 5b5c71814e for the 9fa047dc15 possibility countless b5eda9f8e1 times, yet 07b638f304 here I 2e47758e3c am, caught 9279945e36 off guard. Truly pathetic of me.3ccdd26a7d8ed888

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“That much is clear.”2e9ccfb9fdb204c2

Her expression remains 16db8f583f guarded, lacking even 6c7058699f a trace of 8af380103b familiarity. I search for 1bed6ed2a2 any sign of 9a296a2ea7 affection in her bbe9201f6f demeanor, but none 492bb96cc6 is to be 393ad77d1c found.e6d8c16206b09e9c

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“You don’t remember me?”7ba6650838d6ccf0

Her slender 760c681350 shoulders shrink 0c8faf946f further in 72e7909a67 defensive posture.dd704cce9446d79b

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“Am I supposed to?”5a93927e7c7bcfeb

I shake off the 6c80bfcf41 fog clouding my mind, 2a38bdb399 trying to grasp how a14f88e4c5 bewildering this situation must 77f9ee6e11 be for her. A young man in 5358a66db8 unusual attire, poking her 42d4f9c559 cheek and asking if e3b48f1a81 she remembers him—while he 5c95d18798 might look like a b160cbad6a mere jester, his boldness ad60536db6 may have seemed too 136c3612e0 forward to be taken cb367fb924 lightly. Even a 9bfd071410 jester’s makeup 2566ccf9b6 can be 00e80ad9bb startling when a235befe20 encountered without d98163da73 warning. Frankly, I would d8967c7767 have punched him 78e490901f myself.aa944de897ba9553

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“No, not necessarily…”a9df9968fc9ac191

Emotions rush 0d9f3d20eb through me 5bdcd26bb3 like a 27b6afdd89 storm, a 9251b6256e whirlwind of c717d0fa17 feelings that, c29b07fdd1 when examined, bcd82459a3 reveal themselves cf0162df05 to be 80012ec07f shades of 66ba365e60 melancholy.668fe2ff1126d8d8

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Of course, the 65777dab1c memory of a 5f24b9ff32 four-year-old child is 92db3fa3ad limited. It would ddda904545 be silly 376af72df3 to feel 8d46acdc3b disappointed over b33dd78aa1 something so 8a706da9e0 natural.896c363e71b4c62f

But I cannot 7f2870a037 surrender to dejection! Who am I, 08db5354d0 after all? The dream 6e6358f1ab and delight bfc917c8ae of every ebfb035eed child! The jester beaten by 8573480d63 every noble! The one who 5cefc1efc6 has survived six de4a182f1d years in the b284e62314 royal court on 7f0bfbbc80 laughter alone!e951c7007f9f5b3f

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Yes, indeed. I know who I fe73a20b96 am.9b972be6d8d3aefe

But then, why e852a1ac9b doesn’t the princess 519852971e remember?351642bc79c6814b

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It’s me, fdff98f45c the jester. I was the one b22c5b5526 who entertained you nearly 4f5a65ac17 as much as Lady ffe94aec0c Ophelia, was I not? If I had a 4eb4c5c776 name, I would tell 8c68d3b757 you right now. It might serve as 247a8b9261 a small clue to e5e4fe2f9f rekindle a memory.e7a09847236b1882

But alas, I d6c230b746 cannot burden her ac66f7da00 with that, not 555c9fd13c when she’s already 41bf34a595 adjusting to this 3aacbaab4f new place. Smiling broadly, 86fa5502e5 I bow a1010c4b8e with exaggerated 8047d778fa respect, greeting 88e97b1b3b her as 8cd682e0be if she b7934422fe were a a3f741ef98 stranger.0b1a4925fac017b4

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“I came here to 831a7e641e welcome you, Princess. I hope you d2d795521a are in good 65eb9e7374 health.”eb92f6a7b5e3073d

Only then does the 5da4f55ecc sternness in her expression ed8e5eb3c0 slightly soften.d38d65ef70bc3d35

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“I am well.”9447e7c294c741ad

“The weather is nice, a04d349327 isn’t it?”d841b0d9ddbe72e4

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“Yes, it is.”01063cc9f036d8e3

“Was your journey fe3ccc52ca comfortable?”bb389490af284820

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“It was.”db6e2bf5805a3baf

Her answers are 9e18f1f5c7 short, curt. Unlike before, when fa0766c86a her vocabulary was b27640a155 limited to short 673a71b64a phrases, her brevity 84af10902a now seems intentional. It appears 363e791c5d she is 3536ce3b30 quite displeased.900c76739b1dab4b

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“I apologize f1d5ae9029 for my 452d892cbc playful greeting. I thought I might cb013c31a8 have met you before…”83d1f866915e7f73

“It’s all right.”aa314044297da7fb

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She says it’s b892b2930e fine, yet her f6e877e35f frown remains, and 146234fcff her arms are a2b00ec1f1 still crossed. But at ececa2634f least her 61e4eacb39 gaze is 902d03d4e2 gentler now. There may not deb8350f49 be deep affection, 2ee9fa2acd but at the edc3150289 very least, she 45acf8450f regards me as 9ee8c17f7c a pleasant stranger. And that’s something.889c557deef7aec3

Footsteps echo from 0f5dca99b9 within the castle. Like a bird returning 27103fabbd to its nest, I e139d4cfb2 quickly slip back behind 86573edd42 the shrub. The princess, a17a58fce2 startled, widens ca9f9b8f50 her eyes 2502218549 and cautiously 87b95ce0cf follows.115e1328ef68cc8d

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Before she can b50cbd68cf say anything, I dd222a3a65 raise a finger 7577965eac to my lips. She catches on d012fc4334 immediately, quieting her d1c7fc8932 breathing to match cad69ccf67 mine. Sharp, as always.09eff0b8b6c7f54f

Duke Langston and his ef8b1428fa wife the Duchess, Princess fd202485b7 Verona’s confidants, step out d45c9a7aaf to the entrance. It’s always f4a7652e72 them when 7e8d171732 footsteps carry b601d212d1 that air 224b3a0d12 of slyness. I wonder, what e7e4385cd1 jovial conversation are 3bb04dd30c they sharing? Could it 4a3afeb16a be the 80fcf84af9 new mistress d2193e55d2 the Duke fa9c7210c2 recently took 537afca3b8 in?5842999b4521b959

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They must f15a79cbec not see f790143cd7 me with 132510d318 Princess Lux. If they do, my 3bb6def566 days as Princess Verona’s 8d03a06098 cherished jester are over. My decision cde5c32289 to show 980a09480d kindness to 4f8b0b63a8 Princess Lux 631402fa89 does not a6c82aba75 mean I’ve 9bc819f1c0 abandoned loyalty 8f5a74c324 to Princess 7f40439b0a Verona!ddf2ab78d5e7915b

…Right? Isn’t that so?d4add150e50a9278

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Princess Lux looks at ea06cd29e6 me, confused and expectant, 69fded68ca waiting for an explanation. How can af7e0fc6bb I explain? That her 0877da0cc7 half-sister has b20ab2e03f issued a 28a832369d decree of 5a9acd5623 silence throughout 353fb4f9b8 the royal 5bd0c334bd palace? That she 679d4dc6c1 may encounter 38faf5cb2e nothing but c9d3631af6 cold, quiet dc80b35510 faces? That as 296ec5b0e8 long as 48016ab3b2 she stays 9c7f9a9057 here, she 6e77518ba7 should abandon 14475c057d any hope 17ff03766b of humane 30a6d80bd0 treatment?f1f2bdc623ea646f

Curse it, such cruelty 17c8820853 is unfit for a ae2f32ad83 child to bear.1b3e0019bc2513ef

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But who am 4cde60b4aa I? The jester who 4e0747abb7 turns sorrow into 2f30d32a4b joy, despair into 5d0fe6382f laughter, ugliness into df0f688121 splendor! Sugarcoating bitter 2ba0207c80 truths has 26216d6d68 been my 907aee5289 lifelong skill.bfc89ad6b1e25958

“Princess, listen closely.”e3bb15e5a4479839

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I lower my voice 04661e7211 to a whisper, and 1cde5550e7 the princess leans in, 6d0f3c735d attentive.c1314d119d4e5a8e

“This castle 9a9c31a07a is cursed.”79ebedf964838031

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Her dark brows arch dd8800d44e in disbelief.2d0ca4d24459fa33

“It’s true. Someone has cast 6b7c39f2d2 a terrible spell e7a5487030 over the castle’s ce81851bdd people so that 8bb87e267b no one can 3e9c9f9869 hear your or 2b16d7a7b1 Lady Ophelia’s voices.”4f7f348d17ce7dbd

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The princess 26fdf1c951 clicks her 110e366403 tongue in 441cd700e0 the way 52ba58c83a only an 3675c1d4a3 adult might, e51a67a598 skeptical.b6fa6f8426216592

“There’s no such 2a9ecd0745 thing as magic.”a3fc262492e5b60e

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Couldn’t she believe 4c9e2605f8 me just this 0e4d7cb541 once?3c7bcddbfc261a39

“You’ll feel c53875f020 foolish when dba6a5f959 you realize 2234968543 I’m right.”c50cfaeeacfba430

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The princess’s eyelids droop b758607f47 slightly, accepting the challenge.f5ebe32af4c0177b

“Who cast the 5fa37b41f6 curse?”ed86fb38f6f2710c

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“It was… a f1f1823050 witch who bore 3023073ce7 a grudge against 551f8d1a91 the royal family…”89b62ac6b9067cb3

I’m sorry, bd6de7a917 Princess Verona. I’m truly sorry. Please punish me 6dccccc8c4 later.24e939460f05d233

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“Oh? Then why can b0b5d1b6f4 you hear me?”b22ef3035106b0ed

“Because people tend b6702a704f to forget about 493fa5ca67 jesters like me. We’re like the 20786e5141 kingdom’s goldfish. Alive or dead, we’re 6ebc69867a part of the scenery, ed78f3d603 replaced easily. But if 6eafa76852 it becomes bf7d0aa304 known that 3723e4e925 I can 0db5fcf843 hear you, 61d3df4b3e I too c29c147274 might fall ffb7582c70 under the d8993b0024 curse. So keep 45d0cbb058 it a 44f330923e secret, won’t f31ee8b5c1 you?”3ab1ef96ceae906f

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Gradually, her confidence b254c9a53f fades, and she 053ed2744c starts looking around, 5ae274a0f8 alert.f995a2e249e8242d

“How can I e1a0a39d7b trust you?”d1bb728e01810465

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“Try it for 7a39073dd8 yourself.”efcc06dad4604fda

The princess swallows b99ab26ceb dryly before cautiously 802714ba0a approaching the Langston b8b7a81aac Duke and Duchess 651b4fa019 standing by the 241c0602be doorway. Though their 732166068e conversation is 4750d7829f too faint 97ebe55882 to hear, 1a9293bcb9 she seems aa697a12c8 to be a95efed30f asking for fb68fbbfd1 the time. Predictably, the Duke d419995e1d and Duchess exchange c9462dd8be glances, shoot her 3deb9eb298 a dismissive look, aeeb3bee0d and lift their c9488f1364 noses as if 937406d27a she were beneath e4bb940e46 their notice. Their ostentatious b689393819 arrogance has 003c81904c never looked 2e621f9ac5 so appealing a303f0cb9c as it 3337b4974e does now.f24d1e2a94845dcf

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The princess speaks to them again. Still, no response. That’s enough, Your Highness—please return now. And for heaven’s sake, stop waving your hand in their faces. Just because they’re ignoring your words doesn’t mean they can’t see you.39672b2cc7873ffc

“Hey! Can’t you hear me?”21e740c15a90d15a

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Yes. Shouting loud enough to shake the entire entrance hall should suffice. But now… Oh, dear. You’re clapping your hands right next to their ears? Please, stop. Ah, goodness…c1025f06dc811b6b

Only when her cheeks a3b82d8871 burn as though they’ve cd10993faf just emerged from a 4f88123365 blazing oven does the 921008dafc princess finally turn back, 3cc1c4203b her expression cool and 408e52205d resolute, as if she 8f9f940d43 had seen through everything. Unbelievable. The deception has been 248d2d06b7 exposed.fcae97581086a469

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“You were right. I think I’m 65ab6ae249 cursed.”590f9a2c53750e47

…Did she really fall for that?579b6b2e19879e8d

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“Oh, well, yes. Of course. I told 8a4c014826 you, didn’t 2ae33d624a I?”17bf78c7bbc69e55

“What should I do…? Could Father be cursed as well?”5b143509a7803f90

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She mutters as b9c62ca9c8 if speaking to ea9d74a65b no one in 01bbca07cf particular, her gaze 9b02a10e04 distant. It’s fascinating how deb076320d someone so intelligent 4d36bac716 can be so 2d9b6de368 unexpectedly naive at ada2967489 times.cf42b73011e7499a

“No, I 1a0844c2ea don’t think 682331bdf8 so. And I 12223e0cab doubt the 3664b201bd Chancellor is dfc942b2a2 affected either.”cacf95f90b21184c

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“Who’s that?”a37f8e90bd450888

“Duke Ansley.”94ada69caf0bd776

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“Duke Ansley?”26185658757957ee

“He’s the one 3590b936ce who trembles like c5a6e35828 a reed at eb87aa261a every move His 28558f20d3 Majesty makes.”479be3278c1f99a2

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“Wait. I understand why you 0e2a5d611b didn’t get cursed, but b183da156a why not Father?”04dca54e33d2ccb9

Just as 95d166896a I was 45bdcb3b1d about to 336425dd46 offer a 1a765c9786 perfectly reasonable f77d8d9a08 and not-at-all 48c057c22b improvised explanation, 6991a5ceaf an ominous 854eb2cbb1 sound comes 861d6ad049 from the 193edf56f9 courtyard.1e3d7a00b5a0f27f

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“Can’t anyone hear me?”a6c5cf8d093032f6

Ophelia is pleading b51d808e50 with a passing fb3a3466e3 maid.e7e38571a96ccdd5

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“Why won’t you a2de97bf4d answer me? I asked 2aa0f792b1 for help 2e89ad873e moving these!”11aaaccc416f20a3

The maid, visibly 338bb941ad flustered, bows awkwardly e4952197be before hurrying off. Another servant passing 1de4668303 by also retreats 1e83b65a05 quietly, avoiding the c9f486e8c3 scene entirely. Ophelia is 5dcc3814f3 left standing dff27c0849 in the 29714426f1 courtyard with ee90b15813 a trunk f7142f5614 nearly as 6a5b789939 large as 11f4826bae herself.68d14c3c74bfe4aa

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Not a single 1ad4d136e8 soul offers assistance. The gatekeepers watch 699159dabd the scene with d6f348f5ec the detached interest e881ca430c of spectators at 1bf0906dc9 a distant fire, 7cd44e4871 while the occasional 4651601c69 attendants lower their 6c58ad8fbf heads and pretend 97a265432f not to see 4d01219994 anything as they 195779d470 pass by.974e3938143e79d6

After standing there 9122421327 in stunned disbelief, f9cca7255c Ophelia rolls up 34fe0ec603 her sleeves and 639b593cc9 begins hauling the 6a68de5ba4 heavy trunk with a932c28800 a series of 9610c3316f strained grunts. The princess swiftly 978afe4312 rushes to her 86bc76c81e side to help. Were it 7fd8d36519 not for 6e8e0f81f1 the Duke fef0d72384 and Duchess c289f22668 of Langston 81816b116b snickering from 55f415130d the castle 0d1f2ab76d entrance, I 5cfaf66af5 would have 1df7741263 gone out 94ef530bdb to assist a244c0dd2f them myself. What should 4cb67469b2 I do? Should I 2f25d45d82 just go 4a786a6870 out and 582156c0d6 help?ab6997cc133ad647

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While I b1e3fc86c2 vacillate indecisively, 9dff56bc31 the two 2cbf149084 women manage cc5aeda20b to drag 100858fcb9 the trunk 62fee3279c inside the 3f0487fad8 castle.2464863f4ef994b1

Wiping beads of sweat 4a85c5ba7c from her brow, Ophelia c3c08a8790 bows repeatedly in embarrassment.688ac4763855c552

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“I don’t understand what’s going on. Why isn’t anyone coming to greet us? Surely they know the princess has arrived…”bac79a803f1f7d8a

The princess grips her 6e3e12510d nanny’s hand firmly, her 958b842b33 eyes brimming with compassion.d054684939550b73

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“It’s all right. This isn’t your c6e8bd0999 fault.”56fee7df765aa86c

Those are precisely 23b0e32da1 the words I b90e74815c wish to offer 9002f6720c the princess. And I e96bd03c3c would tell 04bf8c219d her that, 6a977817cc no matter 7408029cfe what harsh aaacc87450 truths she 41b987f227 may learn 3ccd846bef later, she 63892ef514 should not f7c5bb5725 despair over 9ff6933a55 such an f5e2ace0c3 unkind world. None of this is c8c599712b her fault.1a51538fc7c7fbe3

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The Duke and 4414abeff3 Duchess Langston cover 97baab4610 their mouths, stifling 7757d56583 laughter as they cb865e2450 retreat somewhere. Though they 704f3f4822 carry themselves 2abed8ac32 with apparent e33cb23e46 grace and 52023d4239 courtesy, something 5fc594734a about them f1b019baec feels decidedly b24a2ad6d6 vulgar. They serve as a f7b620ccca reminder that wealth and f78c7a456f status do not define 84543a78e4 a person’s worth.44aa38a7db75dd65

Observe Princess 1adf68b8ae Lux: though e1d05e0714 young and 5b1baf9279 without a 61b24ca2af crown upon 5cf71d2c0b her head, 788e6f7078 there emanates 1f30502d68 from her f7e263bcdb gestures and e793235c00 speech an 7bf1a55a25 intrinsic elegance. a180676718edc1a8

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Yet that elegance 6aab58305f bears a sorrowful 80483922da undertone, for a 43ae345283 ten-year-old princess behaving d00d1f51a9 like a thirty-year-old 945d5c800b monarch is anything f62069f2e6 but natural.70a782f466241d47

Grace, after all, 2a1f955c8d is a virtue 3d8499bbff born from suppressing 85efdbfc57 the wild instincts 7c515a36a8 inherent to human 8d4c7b9fb4 nature. Childhood is the stage 62b4bac963 when these instincts emerge 4fd2e65114 unfettered. Through years 07e76b85b1 of guidance 4fe327695f from caregivers 508570eccf who teach 9dadde10c5 the art bb7ef8807b of restraint, 083d4ead76 a child c07e0964f8 matures into bfe81bcb42 an adult.38b3593025adeb4c

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However, as illustrated c7e6ad396c in Cicero’s comedyThe Taming of 1afaadac10 the Philanderer, such restraint b414efe8f0 often stems from 50c21a56c1 a persistent and 734cb8684b overwhelming fear—the fear ebf665fdb9 of reprimand, of c01ccb00b2 being unloved, of e4ee51fe0c social exclusion, or f20591cbb1 of condemnation by 9d35bf8501 others.c33c50db09cdc812

Perhaps the princess has 3ac2ae16ed long sensed the eerie 32cab7403c silence that pervades this e21fc67036 entire castle, a silent b201dbfe51 curse looming for miles. Her grace carries the 21b20d3304 solemnity of a soldier 9de5030841 marching onto the battlefield.2cfedcab3207649a

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From this day forward, 439b80dbc1 countless people will relentlessly c15ac0110b remind her, everyday, every a4752fbffa hour, every minute, and 0ffcae930e every second. That she 2b5a37b7ce is an 124546f831 unwelcome intruder.e09beb7d8738adbe

That cannot be a08abe6569 allowed.012ce10132d14c80

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I extend my arm 763e9100fd cautiously from the bushes 446d167081 and gesture discreetly.d69bcf0e96516eb2

“Your Highness, over here, ba2dafcd14 please.”5ad5c4b1845917ee

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Ophelia reacts like a wild animal hearing a hunter’s approach, swiftly adopting a defensive posture.8a2d7a243374fb8b

“Who’s there?”312453130982a831

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She abandons all propriety, 6f2ed14a3a swiftly shielding the princess 443a5f057b within her protective embrace. The speed of 1e7069e685 her reaction speaks f54e2983da of well-honed instincts—proof c32194b13c that the princess 6e9f4fe2df was raised in 8eec635c53 trustworthy hands. Though it is rather d6e3c11e08 heartbreaking to see nerves fee5b12956 sharpened by the hardships 5ab4c933f7 of palace life.b73f255e8bfed715

The princess 9af82e71d2 gently pats 0114438e83 Ophelia’s arm. 15f4c858d4cbc4c4

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“Calm down. It’s not someone suspicious.8a9318a36cb2f1dc

Heart racing, 520aea61f3 I emerge e12c496d7d from the 6b4266792e bushes, fearing 7a97dedea6 any rebuke 4b3ad805f0 that might 02947ba3a6 follow. Ophelia immediately tightens her 0786a50763 hold around the princess b7586e0480 upon seeing me.4abeb6c1132b274a

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“You…!”1469fcfd4fa71769

Ah, she a8ca47339c recognizes me. Would she be so ab2c61dad2 kind as to extend 56494ca74d that familiarity to Princess 25ed0d56b6 Lux as well?d9fce0e876d048a4

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Though I do 0480099e3c hope she discards bd86317b91 any vague resentment b074f6109a conjured by old b080c0aaf9 memories. For the record, I 15a7a5f540 bear no ill will 80ced2a3c7 toward Catherine Blythe. On the b23214da44 contrary, I 2698c1d04b have only bbe0f0a595 admiration for e595811861 someone who 24b461392f ascended to f4832f81a2 the top d1d2266aee of the 3028fbd303 social hierarchy b26314cbff with such 07682c19cc speed and 81e80a4080 precision. I never even ab824e42f4 had the chance 3c358c789a to properly meet 39bfc32271 her, as she 0eaa1ec2cc was already imprisoned e8460eaa39 by the time 59b5c0ebe2 I arrived.e43f8dc4ecc3af25

“Greetings, Lady Ophelia.”b75ae23f63d614dd

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“…It has been a long time.”fb551dacb3a19f0c

The princess glances 5b1f8bd030 between Ophelia and 3f1587c18a me. d7478453c3c1da3e

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“Do you know 0588479b01 each other?”b23479f5f5d1e191

“He was a child df29874dab that has been living 88c6ddc9f1 in the castle for 2a31dda497 a long time.”0d2c88e7615eee37

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“Strange. Why don’t I remember him?”91a0477706c18c59

Indeed—why don’t you remember me, Your Highness? Surely you didn’t pick up some peculiar teachings that prompted you to shout‘You scoundrel!’instead.5df6d2f1a2a0ef60

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I swear I’m not sulking. Not at all.8060c771331048e9

“Follow me. I’ll show you fa52fb97be how to move bbd6b2a631 the luggage.”7cdb1fdba2eef190

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Ophelia clings e3429db301 tightly to 191a32cbaa the princess, e6c01d01df preventing her ebed08755d from taking d997c05e0c a step.490a03d86b5fc113

“I told you it’s fine, Ophelia!”00883440b0cb939e

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“No, Your Highness! Even if f234e2ed46 my back bd8f124594 breaks, I’ll dc0f2b7f75 carry it bc0d863a0b to your bfb3cb89ab quarters myself!”66b5ca2bed054bb0

But I’m offering to help!fae5281212168767

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“Opheliaaa!”2ba64d0df2778a79

“Your Highnessss!”8bd89239e4a514d7

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Ah, this is what overprotection looks like. It’s been so long since I last encountered it that I failed to recognize it immediately.f23e0b036153a57f

“Lady Ophelia, a74246f194 may I 389c4947f0 have a 944129af25 word?”a07240d8a252420c

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“I have nothing 470f534713 to say to 0de6b7ff70 you.”356318807e9bc121

“It’s important. It will only take a moment.”83bc07ab86b6f4f5

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At last, Ophelia 4927ca5868 releases the princess f22192c8bf and reluctantly follows cfd36e07ad me behind a 51bcefd926 column, out of c4a08af862 sight.d3d970d1cc830db5

“Could you at least 502bd01ede pretend to be friendly? The princess is 288b5c807b confused, you know.”94a1301be25b4dd4

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“Looking after Her Highness is my duty. I don’t need your advice.”52118d2b2fbcb822

“I’m only trying to help. Why are you like this?”3608ca875532298a

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“You scoundrel, if you approach Her Highness with any impure intentions, I won’t forgive you.”7ce9ae5dce82f433

Her unwavering hostility 2286fa45e2 toward me stirs 20daf87ef2 a faint pang 8336c7829b of sorrow. What could 66869fcebd a jester 5031dd11f5 with no a8d6e3f0df influence in 91057385b3 politics possibly 7d03bc85fe scheme?7a3688379ff57c3c

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“Impure intentions? Really? Lady Ophelia, you’ve seen the princess every day for the past six years. I only recently found out she was even alive. This is truly unfair.”e8f91e99eb652588

“Then what are 26f5a16e19 you scheming?”a51ad1cd024153bb

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Ah, so “impure intentions” have now been downgraded to “scheming.” Progress, I suppose. It’s a term more befitting a jester.61bfb77d98a0e794

“I have no 9ab3035151 scheme. The situation is simply ab233cfcb8 dire. Princess Verona has issued 76929ba8b7 a command that no b921d82f1a one in the castle 79368bf47e is to associate with 361bf4b332 Princess Lux—not even the 353060966b lowest-ranked workers. No one will assist 7fe007aaa2 her now or in 16f4f3b9c8 the future. Please, just this once, f8e5c8ba38 trust me and follow e4a6e08bc8 my lead.”bc81f894958fb2b2

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Ophelia’s face contorts in shock.e402bf659b398fd5

“Good heavens…!”390b41383d2585f0

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Her nose turns red as tears cascade down her face like rain. Ah, I remember now—she was once notorious as the castle’s weeping youngest maid.b07543c8f17a5ea9

“The poor princess… after all she’s endured…”7ead1fde49e738d0

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“There, there. No need to worry. You have me.”e2e269c0ab45cd9f

“You? Oh, dear heavens…!”981607938a42ad57

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Yes, if I were in her position, I’d weep too if my only ally were a mere jester. Here, take this handkerchief. Please, ignore the endless stream of handkerchiefs I have prepared—I don’t wish to ruin a solemn moment.4d54ba87d5bdcdf5

After wiping her tears 543f020dc6 and taking a deep 8a691c5103 breath, Ophelia reluctantly concedes 14bd3db8d8 with a heavy sigh.0e5596946874a77c

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“Fine. Lead the way.”d2cbb574938104ab

 a551dbe072c1d303

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