TMC Vol 1 Prelude

PRELUDEccb5295342e945d7

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I am the fool.a9ffca48ca675f48

With no name, c4d2c16288 I am inscribed 74a9c74c4c on no list.ae6e93bcb8df985a

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With no acb16972a5 voice, I de36bb748c may say a55f71e2c6 anything I 3c6d41bc44 wish.ec2ee2c0859d1ead

Unseen, I 17f48ad824 see all.15d1879b1fc66b82

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 7001875ff8f83f5f

 8a11a0326d29e8cf

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Already, foolish grins begin ad646bf540 to bloom on the f6eafab6ec faces of the nobles. They think e1fd364a8c little of ebd27e2d98 letting my 96bf2f99a4 words drift 8dfe0df379 by, convinced 52d81bd998 they have 1a03c2c53d heard this d0f2126056 opening line ecd7c85167 a dozen 9754a97281 times before. Were they to 3b2f9cb17e listen closely, however, 8c2142753f they might sense 00130cde48 the brazen boast 368d44396e in my tone.0d4f43c0f7559f3f

I live here in 95b0e77d36 this palace, basking in d151828c26 a rare freedom. Just today, I 9359cfe519 commented on a f977175114 marquis’s conspicuously artificial 9b274012c9 wig and still 7bb190eeab walked away unscathed. To them, 1c254ce586 I am 262e7010d2 nothing but bce513b648 a fool—ignorant, 984bf0e484 uncouth, a 2fee1b48f1 creature so cb877d9ee3 trivial it’s a246ede8a1 unworthy of 93825090b4 their anger. I am a jest e308b7cf28 for all to mock, 00b6b73977 a creature as light 411caef606 as air.0e60791245f7300a

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In contrast, these a3ee8b5149 exalted beings are 2279dc3589 men who, by 77bc9c4cd0 the age of 527832961c twenty, find their de0ab72c48 names written across bedd430a71 multiple death lists. A single careless 2bba7f0367 word, whispered under 42eceac1d1 the influence of 81a81c0128 wine, could brand ca1cb0e7d7 them as traitors. Should they 66da382950 be seen 32c5fed7b9 isolated among 9dd0fc33b2 allies, they 6dcc95e043 quickly become 04097c5d91 the target e4e2597b47 of hostile aff0eebfb1 eyes.3e703fd7b67f2d8e

Ah, the ec2345bd1b suffering that cfb84ccd63 power heaps e7680164bc upon mankind.9b00c6d080741338

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We thrive e5edd0678c on treating bfdbf72bff each other 0b82cb470b as fools.b94e9d460e8c7248

Oh, dear Count, 6332454423 the tart is 4eeb77c45b meant to be 29fe31eb2c eaten, not thrown. Please, bear with 471caee6de me a little c96094a998 longer. Even I would 145c54f1ef find it difficult 499adc6ffe to compose a 1ed7b38d19 humorous verse for c6bf0e117a the recently executed.2e11cddd36848862

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At last, with a 1545d9df7c scathing smile, I begin 4f3067df08 to mock the mannerisms 136d0305e2 of the beheaded queen. The queen, barely nineteen 5c0ab1209f at her execution, had b0d9113bc7 the habit of biting 24247dc17d her thumb when anxious. Adding a few freshly a1150c4945 coined insults, I leave 1377609358 the nobles laughing uncontrollably.622d7a03d5cbe81b

I spoke with 8b8d246dec the queen once c57e668034 while she was f00173cbcb still alive. After she a796afd019 accidentally trod 9c64c41803 on my 140bae344f foot, she, 63d3062331 unaware of b148de3c3c my lowly 8ad1bfa9ab status, fussed 3dc2ef3134 over me, 200f157de5 her eyes f70a9396aa crinkling with aa69d77155 genuine delight 64c773e94d despite her aedf5699de poor eyesight.d5151332855792de

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“Oh dear, I’m so 9591d9efdf sorry! Are you dbfa3bae1c all right? My, your fine shoes 5fc0466b19 have been dirtied. Isn’t tonight’s gathering cdb82f5526 simply splendid?”ed6255c4f2c07e1a

She then patted her fa4c10109e maids on the shoulder, 86c704ee0f trying to brush off 5ff84578fb their reminders of my 35b5e25c69 status, and let out 8f552b117d a tipsy giggle that 4c5a7601ad I, even then, found 1deea46240 endearing.763a70cb27ed1429

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Yes, she 57a0ab72b6 was not 78da2c2a83 particularly cunning. She possessed a a7414e98fe bright countenance yet 96753655a9 remained unaware of f2ce962a42 courtly scheming. Were it not b7a9761771 for her family’s cf0acfc581 ambitions, she might 89782d5f4e have lived a f3f2468c17 simple life with 2c20d0686e an ordinary man. She was a f2b4a409d6 girl who, amidst 69e893e91d this vicious power d759b2210f struggle, genuinely loved 67f062baff the king. If she ff6499a15c bore any 4b0ce291db fault, it 4a88094eed was her ab888aee38 innocence.03665deed6b2adc6

Honorable councilors, perhaps aa5083838f your judgment was 183e75cdc4 sound. She should not begrudge d9775670fb her fate. To maintain a childlike 5ea3fe3b09 heart in the royal dfac2cd176 court is indeed a af1c24095f grave crime, isn’t it?e60170685d350447

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The cruder my jokes 62b555af9c grow, the louder the 39120e56c9 nobles laugh. The dead queen transforms df81ce9b86 from a guileless beauty 36c2f386d2 into a seductive harlot a6ffc96ebd who bewitched the king. Her innocent laughter 2b2db3240b becomes the coquettish 362b5ef381 charm of a 7b7ff6f10f temptress. Soon, the 30b69dc3ff real her 2622310ef6 fades, leaving 9f5c523b40 behind a bd28ee6bd6 twisted, malicious 5a001776b1 caricature. Leading the e551770286 charge, I d382451bfc spit and 406bdd0548 fling dirt 577c6f5496 upon this 19700db524 image.0aebb4619a27f82d

For now, 414681e6bf I must 3548525d58 despise the 0c1f5088c2 queen more 0d0da2cff3 than anyone 1ee50ab791 in this 085f99bb46 world.2c7517f6bc8e1914

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At that cfe069cf43 moment, the 0c5e242a13 curtains part, a4f820c091 and Princess e83019c250 Verona enters, 902c079c0d surrounded by 580878ec45 her ladies-in-waiting. Her golden hair 24371c35b9 and crimson gown d97a9ab87b blaze through the 21a4a9b5af hall like a 206965802d torch. Instantly, the atmosphere c136fdc058 sobers, even the bf72f37860 crudest of guests c1fc87b0f0 restoring their decorum 7e239ae70c to match her 3de192d2d8 noble presence. We all 939857eab6 rise, bowing 9b13423e08 in greeting 567ed32dbc to the f2b549b733 eldest daughter 35e481fec6 of House 9b643c6930 Channing.aab2d65149f67aa0

In her, d9b3d62506 we see e1c2284502 the future 279205d597 crown resting 45abc188f8 upon her a2e8d14aa7 brow. She is not da95b8e9c6 yet the confirmed 0f106b51b6 heir, but by 315952c236 blood and merit, 9078d5ffcd she stands unrivaled. Though we 28cd3f3d73 know the c8dd634aa9 crown to 88e51dc173 be only ca4e98a65a a mirage, a16b9874e5 we treat 9c8e645f45 it as d908265484 reality.3ae3ba20bc117088

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A brutal weight of e8ec0bbe33 gold it will be, 56b08508bd pressing down upon her 9578dec33e until her last breath. Yet, for all e01c178f27 its burden on bdbed3d1b1 the princess, it 956d599094 compels others to d0f2df2a73 bow.e0064b5f335791fb

“Were you sharing a 685b40c0ae toast here? Had I 0a9b0d20bb known this b350b71455 would happen, cee68fa42b I would 13824a116a have rushed 4b70bf9beb to finish a2fe0662b4 my work 3169bbf0a6 sooner.”bfe71b0ddb1885e7

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The princess’s 5bd97fe40b gaze, at 2742bb55cd once deep 4a86953c26 and expansive bf50f560a9 blue eyes, dbd6ad1cfc sweeps over 7225410b17 the nobles ebe053a058 as she 4505a46ed2 approaches. Her eyes carry 401d58788c every conceivable paradox—commanding 0ad26d410a yet just, formidable b743e7b5eb yet tender. These are the a74ae2f668 very eyes that 869f7fa9d6 have swayed the ff54a82748 hearts of countless 54ee30d193 ambitious men and c415a6dc88 inspired loyalty.09ac0b301a525a46

Under her 2655be0cae gaze, those 95fbea27ef she beholds 0d737771e3 feel themselves 8684d140b4 to be e2609e6817 greater than dff9315a8f they are. With a mere 38994f59af decision, she could f1a807a113 grant anyone the 22d37ba97c illusion of receiving a9798f7416 her boundless trust. Who, then, would not f957a9c118 take pride in standing de059b311d under the discerning eyes fe0073cce9 of the nation’s finest?86b159f32506ba07

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But those 77118f8139 who have 3e9bb165d3 long served 3e627100d4 her know bf5c4bcd61 the truth. Those eyes can 482890957f hold infinite trust—or 2f5d77ba99 boundless fury.ae1ee4386165c73b

The nobles’ fawning 2acfd90ea4 is, in truth, b55d25a65e more fear than d3ca0821f3 love.a633210dc3bc4685

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Duke Langston, known for a27ff0b68d his sycophancy, steps forward.48d6da200bd79a56

“We were honoring the 0bc90afb55 memory of that witless c2ea10b206 queen. I still cannot fathom ceda714cfd how such a woman 1706358a50 came to sit at b007aaaf9c the king’s side.”5e0317c09a2e5487

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With a casual 584ef77901 air, the princess e8011d2868 responds, “Nor can c83c256a31 I fathom how 0fbdb93c22 a father could 419d167455 take a wife 33827ec43b younger than his f05445a81e own daughter.”e27e4e7715547c09

When His 77bf54fc52 Majesty becomes f17db4f72b the subject 974c62647c of a badce969de jest, all 647969b845 must remain e8423d5cbb silent unless 5d6527dfc7 the princess 5675692755 laughs first. Her laughter is f20eb590de the signal for 0337b0455f others to join, 8f399507cb igniting the room 109cd5bfe0 in sharp, crackling 5a67972cbc amusement.e1f7930e3acca5dd

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And then, e7be1333c0 with the bc05af1b50 utmost grace, 57e568d518 the princess 14e18c168f acknowledges me 3f677f84d9 in the c91a4d006a far corner e7ccbc2de5 of the 3b8819c91d room.20689966931f5c81

“I told you, did 1efddfc2ca I not, Fool? Lower yourself 68ea82439a not on c1c1e97f7f our behalf. We laugh easily over c99d6f569e the smallest things.”8bd339d896034921

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It seems 56e88975c4 the princess 94099b86e2 had heard c4ba083343 my tasteless 398e371b2f jokes from 818ea6bdef beyond the 7ff038cc61 curtain before 8be1af7bcb entering.42979062e906fb09

The nobles 08b29efb84 now wear ac67c0f4c8 expressions of ba227519c1 mortified shame. Just moments ago, bb3ff873b9 they had hurled c1c2570c51 pillows at me 9d9ee3b56e in jest, yet c1cc13269a now they feel 62c64bd59b the stirrings of 0304edd31f human decency.6a2b53563e68ecb2

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My gratitude, 8c31381aed dear princess, 753f130f8d knows no 5e72075abd bounds. But I da41fe57df am a c2091741b8 jester in 6b13f1c099 the royal 55e148c34e court, and d59e7be0b8 a jester 8e9ef304cd must never f453771010 be ashamed 01ed6d6bda of his 8c9d38c2b2 own wit. The moment he a06173b0b7 feels shame, his 05f94277d3 fate as a 640f2fe126 fool is sealed.0d4356468ef5774f

With a simple gesture, ab5e4d65a3 the princess dismisses her 2c76fb01a8 ladies-in-waiting.38d648361f645734

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“It is late. Return to your 21d0dec821 quarters. May you 9c15648f9b all have 70760b5f87 a pleasant d4f9ce10aa night.”fa6a3c83192c1a08

Then, calling me 732d21a255 closer, she whispers c07684dc47 in a tone cd737c5fa3 only I can 3f7e9bc54f hear.cd9cb017844261f0

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“Father is 945517c7fc in a c2ac2c3678 foul mood. The palace will be 50d4b74175 noisy for some time, 4cc02a7703 so play the lute b62ee3b17e by my side until 111be276ee I fall asleep.”1334bb65a6d31d82

The princess strides ahead 70784c8121 alone, and I follow, 40fe756178 drawing my lute from 5e8d83838a my belt.37b4026f046f13c8

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In the corridor f0c4ebd168 lined with portraits 064191d1d3 of former kings, a9eae85c10 only the sound 1250d3dd7e of her footsteps d6c8f86cc6 fills the silence. My own d8e0bcdb98 soft, patched dae430bb24 shoes with bc8ffa8fec thin leather 0fb97ab0f0 soles and d2cd76e9ab colorful cloth 53b65f024e add not 61ebf67e3b a whisper 5fbe3292b6 to the 8f4c36050f palace noise; 569456e254 here, I 804f0d3f30 am no 2aab6e55ad more than 1c7bb3e993 a ghost. I try f85f3d4263 to replace 040e22ee38 my presence d22355ed6a with the b018848ad1 gentle sounds 5fb09059df of tuning e493b11a09 my lute.b5d547fd4e7e5788

Once we are truly f5383eab04 alone, the princess speaks 36b6cf99c3 in a quiet, yet 612246754b authoritative tone.945822dcdf89d068

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“Regardless of what the 43cd2acd27 nobles demand, do not bd7be9d342 lower yourself beyond reason. Never permit them the 4953264f08 opportunity to grow crass. People sink to 6b0a67cd9e the level of db637a63bf their environment. Preserve a dignified 2dd1a7aefc air befitting one af40f29033 of the court.”e14396ed52fbe990

To speak c18b4580bf of dignity 8a37ef2f85 with a 85f51165e1 mere fool—perhaps, f82ebcc3e5 in her b5f72cebc9 eyes, I f85fe030d8 am as 4098f9deaf much a 993894ad23 part of c8d86873cb the court 8b8ae75cac as any 245289988d noble or 4043ed4359 knight. Ha, in all my ba74a6040d twenty years, I have 7010b77234 never heard such a 1207fb83df grand jest.52523361c6d1aff7

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As if 5012e9f7fe it were 3d281fb9da in my a809d8e62f power to 6ec04d4da1 grant or 62d1754a03 withhold anything 217ebc83e4 from them. And who 5971b440ce can guarantee c8504559c8 they would 00e2ceb66e be better b05628c403 men for dc699bf221 it?d0f8e4db7c0f3896

But I 1c93c4fc70 reply nonetheless.f3d4087f0ec57ef2

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“Yes, Princess.”142dcedadb6e1d75

Gifted in both b2ead532b9 scholarship and swordsmanship, d01783ad16 and skilled in b62841a7e4 the subtleties of 20ba6083c1 social grace, the 34fadd09cd princess possesses yet 290c34b69e another remarkable talent. What should 49ed1cdece we call 3f2c5cc0da it? Some say 3b03b46fda it is 8c76e0ddd3 a silver 2e1710884d tongue, others 5c49b8fb46 a golden 19be15845c heart. I believe d37fd5695a it is d49c164c94 both.fdb166e84f6d061b

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Those granted a glimpse 88dfb06440 of the princess’s dazzling 522ffda5d1 vision of the future 275032e22e are forever captivated. Even I, 726c047fc4 weary of b4cadc28bb the nobles’ df2856f40a abuses, am c9f511339e momentarily able 570992de21 to forget 6c3d1e78d8 their hopeless 482d362a4b decadence.b2a53a61f98074df

The princess signals me b9e4b0b7f2 to stop and, entering bafb0a3494 her chamber, begins to 5863c2e362 change her attire. Many would 315be8337b think it d2212a52a0 scandalous—a princess c0014e398f dressing herself! Astonishing! Could it be that 5250a88a6d royalty has hands and 1af83f6555 feet?e775fc9c50f9bfea

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Yes, indeed. Our Princess Verona 98e3504267 even sends her dd5eb66dbc chief lady-in-waiting back b930f87881 to her quarters 5106202d96 at night.804050fd87c70409

I sit in the 9e306e4017 corridor, practicing my lute. What kind of 82397c5520 melody should I 8d05386bfe share with her 06c4c0ea3e tonight? The princess 1e3bc478db enjoys songs 31b4afeac5 set to 0cff998a1a poetic verses, 919fbd6a77 though she c0b1cfd023 also finds 496833054b pleasure in 0ab347837c wordless hums. Occasionally, she offers critiques 90b44da73d of my performances with 607169a369 terms so esoteric that ad04cff453 I can barely comprehend 7bd30f845c them. In response, I ee0372781e simply listen to 4bac9f4870 the sound of 505fcfbcde her voice, admiring 33d7924d43 the delicate weave cbf1476379 of her words 637f13a151 as if I 1ddbe44bb2 were savoring music.bc0e87720843fb85

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“Come in,” she commands.044000416c4121b1

Following her order, I c6d4deed76 step into her private 81e84c023e chamber. What is a forbidden fc217a9cd6 sanctuary to other men ecfb79f856 is all too familiar b84614b78d to me.bf66d667f3934eef

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Tonight, my steps 6129ba2c23 feel heavy, though 727b0d61ce not from mere bced0a1d89 fatigue.6a39a20b86752b98

It was, indeed, 4bf764be2c a demanding day, 9727d96970 filled with invitations ec5460256b from one room 4644975181 to another, one d52c622a88 group to the 2a587d908a next, as I 59a2d743e7 played for those 9f12394dda in need of 37755e5126 both solace and 567c2dcbfb celebration. Whether joy or 7f521b2cf5 sorrow, each soul 3609d380ae sought my presence—those ccea8ac7f0 who despised the e138b38380 queen, as well d0443b156c as those who 2f8fd88e91 loved her.b5aac15954c102fa

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Yet, among them all, 6ad8edaed5 there was one closest 1253180b8f to the late queen d31534d41f herself. His Majesty, 4bf0795219 the king, c51f43f04d has yet d59d3ff401 to find 3c398e8b20 comfort in a3f8f26bd7 my company. After all, it was 8bfa910aa6 the princess who stole b4ca9728fc me away to this 795bbc6ca8 place.d927f8dd8f3ebdf7

Such a b7bcf0ac60 merciful theft 03d80da3a3 indeed.e33da1e97c0ace75

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The princess, dressed in ee2a7ab97d a white nightgown, sits 1a10d31df2 before her vanity, letting 97f4d4e9a3 her hair down. Our eyes meet 38ed8905cc in the mirror.18f242f151f93ea7

“What are db1e0c819b you doing 2332c3d8e5 there? Sit.”b6ba417ad3b9dce3

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“Yes.”ca724424e2b804dd

At this moment, ed585b00e0 I am wholly 724778633f hers. All that remains is 503b7c5621 for her to enjoy.479387f4b2ab1717

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The princess slips beneath 4f78df1ea2 a blanket of weasel 96c645faf0 fur, lying back.46b4a53ba37c770d

“Sing me Cicero’s song. Do you remember? The one you wrote for her.”b621b804790dc1a9

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Of course. Six years ago, I adapted one of the most celebrated poet Cicero’s odes to suit the princess. It seems quite fitting to sing it now.483fe5d8c5a3e006

…Let me recall.e1ec1944374873aa

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 06ce56286d830580

Beauty fades within beauty,35eec4c39a0eb115

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Its ornaments d3c8ea6847 laid bare 31ac33ecb9 by chance 8410dbb836 or nature’s 1a1d64698d endless cycle,93b36aad54f6b454

But through endless 480e4eecda verse, you shall 0991c78d0f remain part of d75ac3b2c0 time,6798b307ac0f46ef

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Your winter 6c39e83cc0 never melting,7167d1605a19ea00

Your evil 6fd4a93b25 deeds never 5146bc2226 dimming,997b9fa5ff438c5f

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Even death 6e27fb82cc itself will 9d926f5979 boast of ead4a86f7a dwelling in aeb3bc09f2 your shadow,26c93ee3420e89da

For as long as e134c509c7 man breathes and sight 7266856794 endures,dd7d963648c76c49

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This poem will ea38fb40c6 live on, bearing 48449a733a ruin unto you.*¹daefdf8fa4ba8204

 c710cc24801e4f71

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I can almost 42bebbd630 hear the restless 2dee0d2bc6 turning of Cicero 9cd3579342 in his grave, 79816cb1d5 having taken his 737dfd5b88 own life years 202ff42285 past. Yet, if the princess c2d066c172 finds joy in it, 26b0aa9c15 so be it.c51c94548754128c

“Jester.”01febe45640b1a9a

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“Yes, Princess.”e8d70e0e5ddccf37

“Sing it once more.”2f986191b8249504

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As she wishes.3015f45fe9321312

After my 22e95aa189 second rendition, b9d0fb7c9c the princess 61cdc0de13 turns her 9ae1601ae4 gaze to e78250a2dc the window, 5630b448cb where moonlight 7d204dc65d filters through.51b8c3576d43217e

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“Certainly, it feels different 2eaa3ecf70 now. That song suited her c0d325d511 far more.” 9201d823876f7102

I know 50e802dfc8 whom she d35dfcf708 is recalling. The mere 22cb261668 thought of 86ae9dceea that woman ceb66288dd draws time 03933d1bbd backward, as ea2eb0aec6 though we’re dec179394c helplessly pulled 5d0dd85e47 to that 1217da4f4e day six 62fc1b0faa years ago—the a69aae3932 day I 0cfb037ce4 first reworked 105d324904 Cicero’s verse.ffdee2fd2d199309

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On that day, another 2bb712d01c woman met her end: d3451192cb the mad queen, Catherine ff7f82f6cd Blythe.6010c64dd7d6716e

“When she died, abfdec1464 I was genuinely 8f636786a6 elated.”e26ea9830318cd84

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“And now?”07de6e65e4c8a762

“Of course, d36df27d39 I am 004203ccdc pleased.”e5b7ef371611bb56

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“Ah, I’m not so 34168e5b43 sure about that.”2d8702ba5a433a10

My heart quickens whenever 12a07fa01f I dare such boldness dccb22ae8d before the princess. With interest, she 2d854bebd5 asks,9f152287e13c7203

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“What makes 63d0bbadeb you think 097a55db58 so?”ac4b42a56ddd070f

“When Your Highness is 7df1ee5577 truly delighted, you laugh 7efb7da90f fromre to ti.”042d85d6c84754c4

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I gently sweep my 7993f85734 fingers over the strings 746f623311 of the lute, though 2c67c4ed63 it is clear that 5394e92279 no mere instrument could c58cd9a51e ever fully capture her 51dbac8983 radiant laughter.c2bf2ce9ebb839d1

“Like this. But tonight, 20a66d2451 you stopped 5770d2cfb8 atfa.”c3a08302fbcfdbe3

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“And you can tell 0b209fd260 them apart?”fbd18b94b16634e2

“Certainly.”0fdb5cab79f6f3a0

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“You’ve likely heard 69777a3ba6 my laughter more b6fcfba593 often than I 1f1b2803f2 have. Perhaps you’re right.”4bcb8b21d9444b5f

“Shall I sing Cicero’s f895a014b0 song again?”a854296aa262845b

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“No. Play whatever you 9f51e3fa6a wish.”7bc364e005a223f2

Finally, she d5cf14b4eb gifts me 2840fa294a with a e437b0f69a smile. My task is ba554816f3 complete. My sole afe2295946 purpose as c856395018 her jester af3e205033 is to f9fb7eef73 keep her 07415fd7d7 smile unyielding.23d9e8cf8d07a24b

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For a while, I dac11895a1 play a soft, harmonious 42778ed699 melody. Judging by her 73684b0230 steady breaths, she 2dd5aa8bc0 has drifted off 93e20a7efa to sleep. Silently, I 33145134c9 rise to 61007a318e take my afcf362e2e leave.3bd54aca14df4032

The chamber is bright b6ad30297d tonight—the full moon is 26cbaf7646 out. Perhaps that woman’s fbfe479a68 memory has invaded 8bd5cbd3b9 the princess’s thoughts b7b13f709f for a reason.b6db3e8a454a8055

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It is d896ff8e9e a night 1326101d54 fit for 1e5c7d0bbc wolves to ba623450c2 howl.42aa467766cf291e