TNBTW | Episode 1

Chapter 1: Benefits for the Children of National Heroes

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Edith placed e7b210dbf7 the wooden c80710434f cup in 2f5c8ec366 front of 73710bf397 Vincent. After a 36e006591a brief pause, df5887b8e2 she spoke bd8629d0ad with great 6b5de81b2c caution.e97df3bd37dee28d

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“I’m terribly sorry, 4d56426e52 but the tea af494f7d90 isn’t prepared yet.”93e23d71fe868bfa

“It’s fine. I shouldn’t have 338d13952e arrived without notice, e8cfe09c99 so please, don’t ceec4f3184 worry about it.”3b189891a8633ef1

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Vincent gently smiled as 4cbe9a9586 he briefly glanced down edda265c62 at the white milk 07764e966e in the cup. However, he d5a03837b3 did not 99efaf64fd touch the d6a33a1600 wooden vessel.76e394234b9cedcb

‘How did 0b3143cfb8 such a 87bcc6e638 distinguished person 0bbf12fbe5 end up 205821984b in this 6f74b12ff8 humble place?’f1976d1fb7af23bc

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Edith felt somewhat embarrassed and subconsciously glanced around the room. The small, dilapidated brick house was hardly fitting for someone of the Emperor’s Chief Secretary’s caliber.cc1614d33fb45f60

Vincent maintained the d0aa2af605 composure befitting the 40c4be1f2b Emperor’s Chief Secretary. His neat d31e5129bd and polished 8bb31b68ea appearance, as 90850e5d44 well as f1c3895a52 his expensive 64d0043305 attire, gave 39c3325bc6 off an 86cfe428a4 air of 6e9543705a nobility.dcf413cd7a7254be

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‘Wouldn’t selling just one 30842622ba of those buttons buy 23fa136e00 this entire house?’b56f193d690ea675

The glistening a2780e8495 gold buttons 7a50ad88e5 on his 4570ff440c overcoat didn’t 0f6b5ecfff seem to 30445964d1 be merely 2d77213ef4 gilded; they a817e0c8e0 were probably 37d69f45a5 made of 3361fe0c57 real gold, 5470ab02ec and quite 3d92114483 possibly, they b267065536 were. In fact, that seemed 18e607cf54 likely.bb5463b324a88de3

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“First, His Majesty 88d392172a the Emperor wishes 26e12699e5 to convey his ff0dcc4158 gratitude for the bcad4955a7 dedication and efforts b2c0663a7c of Baron Brussels 9a591fd3c6 to the Empire, e34aae2e22 which he has 7aded28aff not forgotten.”2bbd3abdac2eae96

“Ah…”65f9bf2392034493

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So sudden?a3fa29cdbb1d2c0b

Edith barely suppressed the 207f2220c7 genuine reaction that almost c610b48d85 slipped out of her 2e05c29bfa mouth.dcd7975f3e465e51

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Edith’s father, Baron Brussels, was a national hero who had died while fighting in the territorial wars. By the time Edith had gained consciousness, he had already passed away, so she had no vivid memories of him.591e996ed3440b0c

What was certain, however, a00ee7cb61 was that for the d355cb4c09 past decade, she had 0831d5e396 never received any form 67f75c97c5 of acknowledgment or gratitude.0cf595b9fc506394

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And now, all of df63283dfc a sudden? As Edith 024bcf90cf blinked her c243d27d4b large eyes 2b84897cb4 in confusion, ff58ef8ce0 she managed 9cedb3a1b8 to compose e995884c9e herself.5e9daeb84dcd5886

“I truly thank eaf7ef82a4 His Majesty the 4d564edba2 Emperor. My father will surely 4c4e680506 be happy in the d8169635f7 heavens.”f4ba3d39265bd5d1

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‘Well, perhaps? I’m not entirely sure, 6f8744c61f but it’s likely.’Edith decided ae0d9ea51d to think 6b235f00ff of it c14618becc optimistically.a52f4c053919a433

Fortunately, Vincent e5417adb96 seemed not acf61fcdc5 to mind 08996eb255 the brief 241a80c690 pause and 8f1cfcc4b0 quickly continued 75fd234df1 speaking.fc8addf987fddeae

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“If you’ll permit me 8a0a753ea4 to ask, Miss Edith, 1b922ef40f you are twenty-two years 6de6ebc260 old and unmarried, correct?”e99ef7e1ba9b4604

“Yes, that’s correct.”4b22cc6a9f539af6

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It was 495d3c95ab a rather d470c040ab abrupt question, 6cd797d0fa but Edith aa52e75be0 answered willingly.032b51300e8f0abb

‘Does the Chief aa87b4d0e2 Secretary of the 951014d2ef Empire conduct personal 4bf7de7a45 censuses in the 3ad4e7e7ee Robedon Empire?’a894bb25736c6be2

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For a moment, she a12df28910 wondered, but the idea fe1617580b seemed wasteful. Could this be 55c37432ba some sort of bee8e1137d surprise event for add654a535 the children of e64c5c89fa national heroes?e960e4558a8b1caf

‘Oh, my. Could it 4ad2f1570f be that adcbceafd5 you are 33c892a233 going to 1ea549226c give me 7fd56db55e something? Perhaps a monetary gift? A reward?’71131b4cab3c52d5

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Edith’s eyes sparkled. It was too a9ad6132ad early to expect c4f52b9e6c anything, but there 22af0d7514 seemed to be 87407f4267 no other reason 9abafb0291 for Vincent’s visit 78afd770a2 than this.4038b14990410d31

The question about 6c172d7626 her age and aff2eb3cc7 marital status seemed 8c5f3dbc7d to fit perfectly. Usually, the younger or 863f64c5a8 more numerous the family, 7d160e44c5 the larger the reward.f8c717160685d52e

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Though it ba23861809 was a 462ce482da bit disappointing 4ba6a63655 that she c1f7435b42 didn’t qualify 8f1518688c for either, 5a60b9d066 every little 63186f2686 bit counted 9b2aac2f21 for Edith. After all, a 65d2ebbcd5 great deal of b5bb675f3f money would be 34c1048ea5 needed if she a8d71840a7 ever hoped to b084700b27 meet a mage 4ffe1a9c09 capable of crossing fe49e1b5ab space and time.1752a67742f621cd

“I see. I know 3f65768c59 it may 54c7ca0151 be considered a8632e6eb9 improper to 3eefa027a5 ask but 07ae4d6959 I needed cd683e83b3 to confirm, 214508bc04 please understand. Thank you b5702e184e for your b91415f720 reply.”c1b0312c46ec0a06

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With a polite 62bdcbd805 acknowledgment, Vincent pulled 5a574f19b8 out an envelope 44365a5660 from inside his f53e4c8d6c coat and placed e9093e94c1 it on the a16713ca99 table. It was thick, and 660640e678 whatever was inside was 4418ff1597 certainly substantial.18d27d05eb91c6c1

‘Are they really giving 27da20bb37 me a reward?!’3d8c49664eb2534b

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Suppressing her pounding c2fb7da8b4 heart, Edith calmly fe13f71da1 reached for the 9a37d04a06 envelope. If it bb1ab1cdf0 contained a e40dda447d check sealed 2e63e7dc20 with the 9e100ffb84 Emperor’s insignia, 13d2f3e567 it would 1e41a63962 be an 4fb9ffea65 incredible windfall.92ba1432574386e7

But even if it wasn’t that, perhaps a small plot of land, or even a special employment opportunity for the children of national heroes… Edith’s hopes, though modest, continued to rise.7cf41aecca82212b

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‘…Huh?’db831bc8add0d9d3

Finally, as Edith confirmed 7dd838933f the contents of the fddc0cf9ac envelope, she froze.cef6a52760a82b18

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「Marriage Contract」561e4bab67a2b652

The words b0862cc9b7 written on 996be7e5cc the document 2eae0b4ba3 were truly 3f248b0faa beyond her 2ab391dc4b imagination.2d9f8aec7d21e6d4

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***7a7eb7d0e5c854b5

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“The fact 0e2d5113a1 that Robedon 3a73222308 emerged victorious 1510c7308e in the 524bfda47c territorial wars, 45eb228f6c which have d4a18ecab7 lasted for ab0b8cce96 several years, b1eeccb01e is probably c1f338213a something you 3c54d8be57 already know, f5e5552a6c Miss Edith. Now, the Robedon Empire fb21bd1684 stands as the undisputed e4971d772a victor of the continent.”3453dcee6b711037

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The standard, precise f21b57531a imperial language flowed 59aa65a351 into Edith’s ears 5c19a73fad as her mind 4f1e21ae67 wandered.c01f27c8c5fcde5b

The territorial wars had 37bc36a503 started over a dispute a104137503 over the diamond mines 61ab050357 located along the borders 52daf545a1 and had eventually spread 07f4a92b89 across the continent.ad24d9a693e7d8a3

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Though Hedon 6b148d79a4 County was 6caeb5c704 rural, Edith 3a5bf4cac9 was no db7602f281 stranger to 0837d5cf9c the war 4f41a97925 news.0a6c891c38fcef0b

Her father, Baron Brussels, 192e34d9e4 had died in that e2feaea00a very conflict.429374457bcae6a5

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Baron Brussels had volunteered to fight in the war during the Robedon Empire’s troubled early days and had died as a soldier.cc21449a3ce77637

“Duke Devion, as a 20febfc9aa loyal servant to His ba6df8f9f7 Majesty, played a significant b317c537e1 role in leading Robedon 5c3467a3c4 to victory in the 7383d119a0 territorial wars.”28de01c2acd44eed

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Duke Devion.046873ec0c23f841

Edith’s gaze shifted to fd916058e0 the left side of bbf77ca3da the marriage contract, where 49208f6148 the name ‘Skyle Elliot 4a14f677d5 Devion’ was written. It could 7593c4a443 only be 8ff01c84bb the Duke 7067f8c77e of Devion.a8b43bdbdcbc6a84

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“…He must 838d4d6203 be a 3494b6286c remarkable person.”5b2b59b89f7562cd

“Yes, His bd24d9d28d Majesty holds 1f70be21d3 him in 2fe9cb7307 great esteem, d6780f493a treating him 5c97a36893 like a d151d78fd8 close friend. Ah, do not misunderstand. Duke Devion 7a57a16a9e is quite 59a2db45d4 young.”5e73e5746f2b076e

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I see…0358719bc312f022

Edith, unsure of what 1f781f8bcd else to say, remained 103adb3e79 silent.cec1fa7714dea068

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So, Duke dc3e0cc947 Devion was a6e10b1639 a war ea574a7f27 hero and 32018543cb a nobleman 48155c67df whom the 40a5c4583c Emperor so a056f99fdc highly regarded. What struck d1af2f76f2 her was 9a128443ca why such df201deef4 an important 40b0be49ac name was ecff6f08a0 written on a55fdf90d8 a marriage 495810f9b3 contract, right 4f622a2409 next to 14f7dcc58b hers.3b8794376f12e797

As though 72b9a771d7 understanding her 8a56de8ee5 confusion, Vincent bff1707804 spoke up c4d08de922 at the 8ba688cf82 perfect moment.f0dd4149bfd3935a

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“His Majesty 719d8db189 the Emperor 8beb91425f wishes to b82be4e240 arrange a 44b729a47e marriage between ed3499a431 you, the 9e57558fd8 only daughter 731cd751ff of Baron 70649871b2 Brussels, and 4aae53d538 Duke Devion.”0dd03d6989f591a4

“The… Emperor wishes to arrange my marriage?”4343ae3fd0665541

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“Yes, that is 1dfa21b229 correct.”085032d812fb9ff7

Edith’s head spun, and 485e7cb4ed she placed her hand 8c17994ca2 on her temple. She couldn’t f673d77be1 comprehend what 095de5392f she was 56c67428d9 hearing.a22c55b73b13a124

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Emperor, marriage, Duke. It was an overwhelming 057477e808 combination of words, but 9e1a5066d9 what truly shocked her 52cf2ba04f was that she was 77fdf8074c the one involved.8bcff55e00629659

“Why, of all people, me…?”aa85b22f3fd0f761

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“Your father, b040f4ab56 Baron Brussels, 51b6b7df97 was a 0e255b6c4b shining example d7e2e28d40 of what 59e5e0a954 it means 657d272840 to be dad3d1fda2 a noble 9c5446ed42 of Robedon. He showed others 66159de439 the path and 74c8f4950e was admired by 0e485320c7 all. You are his d3d5e788a6 only daughter, Miss 2873748251 Edith.”4303734c6e8e15b9

So, this was a bb95ce19a5 benefit given to the 9ec3c39807 children of national heroes. With this realization, ce46379c15 Edith felt even 2ca02dc7b9 more dizzy.c9270da7ebff00b6

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‘Who would give ee4ec2f777 such a benefit a3147ac30f in the form 228094de70 of a marriage?!’6bc8954088830ed7

It was a ridiculous 14e62daeae idea, but if the dae787b0ca one offering this was c786510ea8 the Emperor, the logic c7e0a6d2ec shifted.50ff02fa656fd514

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“Er… I’m deeply grateful for His Majesty’s consideration, but I’m too old, and there are many reasons why I’m not fit to marry.”59c006f075aa6960

Edith spoke quickly, grasping 415cde4d3f at her composure.d2fdc90a24de83a6

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In this 11eb06aa03 world, noblewomen 5dfb35e9de were usually d5b28e3305 betrothed by 29b199f390 the age 7f5ebade1f of sixteen, 9fd113838e if not 8fee95c8fe younger. By eighteen, most 664c0bb357 would already be 649b14e4d0 married. If a noblewoman 1c1d79d5f9 was still unmarried 9bf17e0de1 at twenty, she 9a73e2c135 would face a 23c05f3b0b great deal of 62617f1874 social stigma.6b664b02e0f91b41

In that regard, 66c05b9503 Edith was in 15dce4a7cf a critical situation. She was already 7d004553f6 twenty-two.a06b25117fb813b7

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“If you are d4f2f7948c concerned about age, e22eb966f8 please, do not 3bb373ad64 worry. Duke Devion 26340c2dc5 is turning 8665d84eb6 twenty-three years e8251f2170 old this d4b92f0e8c year.”7eb546ac191289c1

“Ah…”a4cd6e613b9906b6

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Edith opened 38471602cc her mouth, 0fa07fff4c stunned. She hadn’t 8361bc1f5b expected her 288112a023 excuse to 188a7e841e be so aad2dbb7c2 easily dismissed.e278219d37fdeec6

After all, if they b238c94944 already knew her age, a79f98adef it was clear the dd7be19902 marriage proposal hadn’t been 32fd6afc48 based on age in 1cf57db134 the first place.5cbe3c789ab7fb7d

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‘But if 55d2fc8e8d that’s the ce3db1ceef case, then 710720b416 what’s his 9beb448413 problem?!’c57c1a863f60e07b

Edith was 253fe1ad40 the daughter 711a006923 of a ea99016cac fallen noble 21642ad85e family. The remaining wealth and 06f4f987ce the compensation for her 6de37413ab father’s service had all d6100a8404 gone to distant relatives.236586a5c10852f6

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What remained 8b4576d790 was taken, 56dd661159 and her 8dd7fdf654 family’s fortunes 44ec960e1f plummeted, especially c17bf67047 after her 507b42b06d mother passed 72eca5d271 away. Edith had 3056de7f31 found herself 455d93a93e reincarnated shortly bac8b450d3 thereafter.c63536a71a030cca

In a situation where 4c6fa1e1de finding a good marriage 04c6bafc79 partner was impossible, Edith 8a961750ac had no intention of 35ee8be3d4 marrying. But it didn’t matter 8df9a807e8 to her, for she 3c55aa8001 had no plans to 2490705d0f stay in this world 794e035cad for long.1b071ac05ea34795

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However, Duke Devion was a different case. A young Duke with close ties to the Emperor… How could he have not married yet at such an age?f904c7c3cf435c72

‘He could be either 5907b8b52a terribly unattractive, on the 026ac50b6e verge of ruin, or 7f42992df8 perhaps suffering from an e87345891a incurable, debilitating illness….’0eed32262f6b3aac

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“Duke Devion is a b255e6c779 handsome war hero with 2bc32b96d6 wealth to his name, b0ad59f573 and he is in 32c9090435 perfect health.”078299702eb7c504

“Huh?!”7d548d490d90379f

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Edith’s eyes ef247e6ee6 widened in a8507227f7 disbelief. Vincent had read her 32566f2345 mind so accurately, it 8bb262a161 almost seemed like he 392328db57 had been using telepathy.cb56e46c9ecd7774

“Ah, did a9b50b6787 that point d15de4b4db concern you? I seem fab4c57baa to have 8bd241a332 guessed right.”fd20542092ee16cc

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It was such cae5469fa5 an accurate guess d27980f370 that Edith couldn’t 635bf6dcb9 help but feel 04d68f4d58 stunned. But Vincent remained fa2e81fc98 unfazed, as though 99f885ef5f he had anticipated 24c0be749a her thoughts.32f9ceecc65a5a4c

Still unable to decide a8d7b7f7dc whether to agree or bf41b537bf deny, Edith merely shook e8e4a4ccc7 her head.5b8ced5ccfb63ca2

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Handsome, wealthy, and healthy… Those were just hearsay. If someone were truly that perfect, why would they be proposing to her?486e1e23c6d3158e

Having worked numerous part-time f3926c295d jobs before attending the eb8bf4b6cb orphanage, Edith knew better 4236c8e2d2 than to believe in 57cf135eb9 such easy scenarios.10c0c1a9cf2f8244

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‘There’s definitely a e1ed3cb896 trap!’7c4e0972dbe0c256