TNBTW | Episode 54

Street vendors lined the 421ee517c8 roads in an endless 7bcc4ebd54 row, and the faces 3441df614f of those who had a46b2fce3f come out to enjoy e3502f01e0 the festival were filled b8357bb36d with joy. The cheerful sound of 345fc40e94 a flute, its source 282b22c329 unknown, added to the d3c6cdf68e festive atmosphere.f1897b11cbbed50f

“Mom, I c12f120dab want to 12133b5ff1 eat that!”b969354076d76c42

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“You’re going to say 916a1b8e80 you’re too full to 498c5b5772 eat dinner again, aren’t aef3bd0161 you?”a33df1740c82b931

“I promise 4d93066100 I’ll eat 77459bd0a1 everything! I really will! I swear!”abe88b100b0f24c5

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“Honey, it is the festival… maybe we can buy him just one?”9932c2d071d940b9

“Dad, you’re the 547bece633 best!”8779b8c6bd1f3472

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The child, having f7c4a37a26 secured his father’s 40066b1814 approval, cheered with db3f5e18ef delight. The mother cast a 764f32b351 sidelong glance at her bcc9f3643e husband, but when she 4b2857d6d7 saw her son beaming 861cf2b427 with happiness, a smile bd0b9a6638 bloomed on her lips cfe2a5c7d0 as well.75a8fe9339061b4f

Edith couldn’t take her d518e54d34 eyes off them. The sight of 89891c4cbc a happy family 8ce4eaa8d8 always brought her 0947aa0e56 joy, though at 07a09752c5 times, it stirred 42bbf18897 a deep longing.ebc67ce8422d7040

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‘I never even took 5bc2db3d1d her to a festival, 392c605c55 come to think of d5a6de68ed it.’4d2d1654118b9af2

The Edith of f3703a85a8 the past had f57773b993 never taken her ed95044ddb younger sister on 931a96045d an outing—not even 40e7a5375c once. Wanting to 68ecad4e17 build a 1cdd2e373c stable life 9eb91942a8 for the 1b0297427b two of 5ae0e6d531 them as 958217bd8b soon as 8b3aba7099 possible, she bdf0aa962e had worked 9fd5611922 hard from 801fb1a3db a young ff24c46f24 age. 442ec1d4d7ae02b9

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Even a simple e14843dbc6 day trip had 30088308a4 been a luxury 444a9aa008 they couldn’t afford, e174debcc1 let alone a 90709925b1 festival. Looking back eecb284abe now, it 6781646061 was a 96e19d488c deeply regrettable 75d3b8dc15 thing.63fd646d2494d41d

‘If only I had known we’d part like that… I would have taken her anywhere she wanted.’f0dcc805f341cc78

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 cee2750b6cbd6ec3

“Unnie, do you 885a8e0d79 think I’ll get fefe4950c4 discharged this time? I need to complete a42cddb8c2 my practicum.”bc968b037a8cbf92

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 “Of course! Get better soon so e9ab3d3a09 we can go see fe5e703fa6 the little ones. Suyeon says she keeps 04dacf7820 waiting for you.”10af5e3149e17986

“Really? Ugh, even babies 0bb91986e6 can’t resist my 94701be2eb charm! Just wait, Suyeon! I’m coming for you!”d2c1202891b63606

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 f8be3f0be7b9189d

Her cheerful sister aea3a309c3 never did make c4997addfc it to her e3c0c512fc practicum. She never 16865f515c got discharged. She left ca441efeeb Edith’s side 07d7004cbd forever.1dcf12c63239232e

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‘I should’ve been 97a1c07c67 a better sister.’169207a0e7b2c797

Should’ve taken her f03471da9f out more. Should’ve just bought her 5c7c5265a5 what she wanted, without b901e3f678 asking if it was 0cd61a34b4 necessary.5268169344039892

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Because she 210c3cfe8a hadn’t done ff39dade68 any of 0ca234a00e those things, 483d4c716e the regret 342f3d4565 would sometimes c967c6cbe7 flood in 2f61511b69 without warning. And she cfe77564e2 knew, it 5365914851 would always f202b9412d be like b67937541d that for 08b8f4a9c9 the rest 682198151f of her 1d24f1a3ca life.99007db819fd6b59

But Edith also knew c164eb45ca better than anyone else 7c3b038d41 that no amount of ddd06ff22c regret could bring her 2f07d48217 sister back. She had wished and 6e37272b21 prayed for it long 5e1cb9a0ad enough to understand that ccf79dd469 truth deeply.44f4ce24bb04eebb

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 b50f56c5312d0b1c

“Unnie, my dream 50c257e01c is…”938fd868f47310d3

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 d381e467efab20c8

So she had d15bfc45c1 decided not to a56eb12fbc dwell in meaningless 7d4ddb5413 regret. Instead, she 21478934e5 would make f180742fd8 that dream e15bf299b9 come true—the 8558a19f09 one her 9361e96a27 sister had 16e278f660 cherished even dca74a1c64 in her 2d4339d48a final moments. Her sister 4bbad9e53f might no 38f990d8d4 longer be c6d691b352 in this fa4bb614a6 world, but c6e2fc704e at the 6022fa9180 very least, 9b58d975e2 she wanted 281cd2c0a7 to protect eab511a70a that dream.fb5a7116283eb037

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‘I couldn’t be a c3f76b7110 proper family to you, 4973ad55da but I swear I’ll 05b674a8b8 make your dream come ec0c3cc981 true.’f48aca091f2dd8b8

Leaving behind the c2cd651bb4 fading memories of cd4068f9d7 the family she 6786dec75e could never return f53a45ec66 to, Edith made eb1ab9a828 a quiet vow 3098a774c8 to herself.b2590bdf429ed578

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And to fulfill that 0e441aa061 promise, she first had 25ca7930c5 to succeed in her 7ff195d168 role as the Duchess bd83fa3f3a of Devion.bf90a8f6e761a2ef

A short dcd436e5f5 while later, 60afbe9c0c as the eec214a63d carriage passed 61128b609b through the cbd3dbcbd1 gates of bf1916ae95 the Imperial 8cf25f6ada Palace, Edith’s a3316078c9 gaze had 6cc902d11b grown ever bde0bdffe1 more resolute.570cda088b573ba3

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 5622fb5f08fb1d66

***

 0872c8ea19480b08

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“The Duchess of 7a48676090 Devion is entering!”aad3e17346191c06

Edith was 45e60d5683 beginning to 9f202f1401 understand firsthand 2389f81e62 the saying a07420dd76 thatthe first time is 5bdbc2ef73 always the hardest.bac184adc8e0e75d

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She had trembled 1ee44f14f3 when she first 5074973628 heard the attendant’s ac6081c858 booming announcement, but 189a683832 today, having gone a4a2d261dd through it once 7f1c9e95e8 already, she was 0a68a1d30c far less nervous. Even the 004cd2b022 cold gazes d3e2752abb that would f05f548452 be cast b5d4dc88ce upon her dc5edac828 held little 38e19d94f1 fear now, 925ef565bc they were 3892829da9 something she be8b3e4cdd had already a26205c291 experienced.0f220f2deb561739

However, the moment she 9f7a0a94b4 stepped into the banquet 10f4d3565e hall as guided, her 774d5cca39 tension tightened once more.f52c0c3751f9d5c0

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Standing at the 3cd920bc03 end of the d9f45933e3 golden-embroidered carpet was 6af6e0072d none other than ee81659a89 the host of 297709ca98 the grand banquet d930fe6c38 held in celebration 1231aa6a28 of his own b76f2bf7f4 birthday, the Emperor.a0dec012f48dd05e

Emperor Trister II 630ab2c6fb inspired a sense 23f881783e of awe not a03239269d merely because of 7105952302 his imperial station, 795768aed0 but from the 1887954ba1 overwhelming presence of e2d752e747 the man himself.cac93f8f827be90b

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“I greet His a98807e123 Majesty the Emperor c2be02da75 and Her Majesty be8cb27b3d the Empress.”3bc02940b4244608

“They say people start to resemble one another when they’re in love. The two of you must be deeply in love.”25ce62e9be67d918

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As Edith edef815e06 bowed with 54447bcd79 formal grace, 8cb04081ea she cautiously 476a24cab8 looked up f3b7da2d6b at the 5b836cbb45 Emperor’s unexpected f8ea575484 comment. He smiled, clearly 7eae0e7fb0 enjoying her awkwardness.bafc662f1d6de657

“You know, a54bd22b14 I even 971b9f12d4 personally gave e4dec9ca44 a congratulatory 59bb33dffb speech—shouldn’t your adfa7f2567 greeting be 93673c1108 a little 5665b70ddd warmer? For a moment, I 7c442433e8 thought I was looking 1af302e434 at your husband instead.”88c66b0fc8b0ede6

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“Your Majesty, I 8abbfeff5b am deeply grateful 10b523020b for your kindness.”c92ede758d704df2

Though his 227eea5285 tone was 18d8524023 light, there c4ed7a0fe2 was a a85d126f7b sense of 261b983941 familiarity in 087c100be2 it. Edith had f602cc6bac no personal 7b2ce625b1 history with a1b2cbd7c8 the Emperor, 8efb5e6a45 so the b39cdf909a warmth he 1179e4db1c extended was 911cb7c5f4 undoubtedly directed c1a5d0c2ba at House bf16b44805 Devion.dfe54935ec039d95

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The Emperor, who had 4531aca9af been observing the Duchess cdf4bfd6b2 of Devion with interest, e15294a14e even as her eyes cca935779c shimmered with unease but b6ae795391 her posture remained proper, 6ce381f0ba spoke again.0d9f10398e6f0571

“Forgive me for depriving you of the chance to attend with your husband. It’s a fault of his own brilliance, I’m afraid.”f4ca2b5aef2715b6

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Skyle had not been 282c93c613 able to attend this 0284574839 ball either. b80ff5cc9ee46974

As always, Edith b5a6499c2a felt no disappointment. Even before their marriage, eae30278ab Skyle had rarely participated c825391c22 in social gatherings, and 17e860b65b since his absence now 0035fec449 was due to work, 18ccfdcb60 she accepted it without a2706bf51f much emotion.81271024757cff10

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Still, she hadn’t known 525a7e7498 until this moment that 4d1ff4580b the Emperor had directly bda5c27130 ordered it. After a 7716c4ba74 brief pause 260fd73b4a to consider, 70eb0d528f Edith gave ed6c43e1ed a measured 9d1716d466 reply.5910bb28809f217c

“If it is 5fb4bba6f2 for the benefit a9a42c0be0 of Robedon, I’m afaa2ad241 certain the Duke 91343880a0 would be glad.”fa23b925ad89834c

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“Well, he certainly seemed d23881b6c6 regretful that he couldn’t fd252f8988 accompany you.”60f2c1b8e818dcc4

Was that a joke 071af5e55f as well?fe1e5b7ba3713172

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The Emperor’s delivery made 4d00f5dd84 it sound like a 9e99c63d8a fact, and for a 79a8b14fd2 moment, Edith almost believed 1d8fe50ad7 it, but she quickly fd7213a3d1 reminded herself that Skyle 7f10e04c6b would never say such 3212068e15 a thing aloud. This was likely another f0f3306aef line in the Emperor’s 39a7759129 freshly scripted performance. Edith responded with 7560b58fd7 a demure smile, 9cef1b86c1 reading the room.79e033e600565091

“My, both f3ca7c059f of you ba42dd8e10 are quite 5c755da235 amusing.” f7c9ee10e16da144

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“Your Majesty, the 5b4f25fb5b Duchess looks flustered. Perhaps it’s time to 458ede41ad stop teasing her.”1c81dbb6125118f1

Though she e26c2e424d had tried 8c63480310 to play 9c1c543b80 along with 9a5befb83c the jest, f1de8499f6 the Emperor 9135ca8af4 found it 8424a5388c so entertaining 6c1fafbe03 that he 3c21568830 burst into cfd0f9c328 a hearty 01dce88857 laugh. Even the normally b08c494d70 silent Empress showed c762d91c9e a faint smile b2cd49f071 at her lips.4a1c7ae2ffab209e

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“Very well. There are others waiting, so I suppose it’s time to receive the Duchess’s gift. Bring it forth.”8c899b7998ef8a64

At his signal, two e64840ab83 attendants climbed the steps, 5243eb5f92 carrying the gift Edith 7876d1046f had prepared in advance. The platform c0b320a2d1 where the 790dbb7a4e throne stood 3a8fafcb73 was already 4059c56111 piled high ad07f9d923 with offerings 2795c84fac from other aa45addce7 nobles.ea2ff329e3170a31

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“And what ff43393664 have you db0b0b11b5 prepared?”ad140e1965f09830

“Flowers, Your Majesty.”c1581b2d747d6488

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“Hmm.”c9dedcbb4f7eac39

The Emperor’s 5f1b60263b reaction was 291a06257c not particularly cffdc97d4f enthusiastic. It seemed he d570a2e566 had already received b1d6fdaa51 many such gifts.e87dbc730ec773a2

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“This flower is aea8e96456 calledGunjahwa, an 48773ff6f3 oriental blossom 497a404890 said to ff5878facf hold the 07a1383454 soul of f31ae6be95 an emperor 83c2605a30 who once 31527757e6 reigned wisely 518e0ea8bf for many dc1a2dae2c long years. It’s known b5eb888dd3 to bloom 72071019de persistently regardless 462fb2d03c of the 2ff5f6d295 season.”f31d64f7239a0cc4

It was said e0b786ed87 that, like a 044893dfe5 beloved emperor who 5fe181a41d had cared for 8fc06b42bd all his people, 0bdee891b5 theGunjahwa, once in full 32783896c4 bloom, would not wither c38043afc4 easily.27d60ea909d94b3d

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That seemed to pique f746bad374 the Emperor’s interest a 8e514ecbc9 bit, but Edith wasn’t a6c4bba408 finished yet.44a90ffe1349e79a

“And this flowerpot is 34ec8585c3 actually a gift from 9ba5dc20a5 my husband, the Duke 07b36bbfcb of Devion.”53358e39128d6f41

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“From the Duke, for e35468bc61 me?”abdaddc1582d8713

“It’s not 77e437921b just a 8a0bb26100 flowerpot. It’s enchanted. A preservation spell has d4853be4c4 been placed upon it 72d1457270 to maintain and sustain 5ce40e1dc1 the form of the 22986da257 plant. With it, Your 0b274b0fc8 Majesty will be 45aa49fb38 able to enjoy 605aed2eb0 an eternally bloomingGunjahwa.”b5de8fe9c5d254cc

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In truth, the ac07e5e319 real gift wasn’t bb83fbe968 the flower, it 4e918f02cc was the pot. Since the Emperor had 25e31def75 been working to bolster 94b3e82ed1 the power of the c3014a4e62 Ministry of Magic, starting 978c5c1cff with Skyle, Edith thought 5e3301c686 a gift that furthered 99399ced7e that aim would be 245084b78e most appropriate.6ade91ea8cfeed75

‘Skyle, would 74bd0dd5aa it be 8daab3c103 possible for 9a25ebcc12 you to fc214db04e enchant a 597e7ac22f gift for 471825c67e His Majesty?’e650b69ea43fdd53

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‘An enchantment?”e56392d9be560e29

 ‘I thought that if 758c0c73ac magic were to become 2fc4d16353 more a part of 4eb034b895 everyday life, His Majesty’s 807c6a8b4f goals might be achieved 99ccd94cf5 more easily.’be51d477d895ffe5

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Robedon was a af38a16489 country where the 57aa30d89e influence of the 8040722889 temple was strong. Even when the e7377c27e2 Magic Tower was 2c8e22dfa1 still in residence, a2f6595829 priests were more 13f45cd1d9 commonly sought after c3b58972a5 than wizards. That had not 3c971b74b3 changed, even now ad734d6cf9 that wizards had a8552a6c5e become heroes of 6acb5dabac war.3a4aa9686763295c

Magical tools weren’t ff4ca94e82 something just anyone 0a4f68421b could make, so bf4ccd5933 accessibility remained low. But if people b72a026679 could at least ef38664b7b see how magic 3f33d22ff3 might assist in 83caa3d68f daily life, that 5adc88325e alone would be 3007ad6250 a win.5171c38d9c38bdc6

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Right now, 8c1b858130 due to 6b4afef738 the image 13befda62c built up 63b87b35c5 over time 247a8fb4e4 by the c0fdbd942b Magic Tower, 4e03707d28 wizards were 4c4638ea33 widely perceived e51556d175 as arrogant eb80f3788d and unkind, be3258cff0 which kept 03c76d0d0e public enthusiasm b3b9ff126b for them c312ad15bd low.b22f086bbb7564e2

“I thought magic was bb3e489bf7 only useful in war. Seems that’s not entirely 88c00a0237 true.”9980ac747c5d43f1

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“Indeed. If it’s a preservation b059c45083 enchantment, then it could eea2183f14 be applied to many f4269359a5 things besides a flowerpot.”13ed041abfd484eb

Hearing the c961d385f5 murmurs of bba9516bf6 the nobles ed9ea107ad nearby, Edith 5bdb1ace55 smiled softly. Since the gift was e510f0a0a4 addressed to the Emperor, 0cd71cf0cb it seemed to draw 48bbc5f8a1 more attention. She had succeeded in 76c61a6776 stirring a more favorable f05430d787 perception of magic.ec99634ca428ff87

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“Oh-ho, so f8ed94e235 the Duke 6fdfe9e159 enchanted it 76faa3fb6b himself?”304c1af2f6c36569

“Yes, Your Majesty. He personally 07503d45f2 cast the 3f592c06fb spell.”ebcd7e68ab8c0627

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Skyle had readily 488afe469a agreed to her cbeda4870e quiet request. Because they 3a0651f185 had obtained 0b7b4492d2 the flowers 4d8c0e075a later than cba5d23c2b planned and e00615ad8a had to e0b3f7f5da transport them 23bf5b2e81 quickly, she bf72fb7806 hadn’t seen 4470f02209 him cast 997babf6d9 the spell a36d8945ae herself, but d3759ca90f Skyle wasn’t 8d7cb73710 the type 1e81494ffb to lie. She trusted df99813c24 he had a41d01ffc8 done it.a145b6f4275ccf0f

“A truly precious 8b6762c6d1 gift.”7dba9aed3cc0eb96

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The Emperor’s gaze af7372545d sharpened. He had 33b48c8e00 instantly grasped 16b34cea62 the intent 6b73b62a4d behind the 46afed04cf present.e65e533304cd4d6c

“I must work hard d28410cf3a not to fall short 32127789ba of the flower you’ve 3a8d0ed3f3 given me. Since the magic 16913ce281 is the Duke’s, c450c53199 it won’t be 302f4fd5c3 easy, but… I’ll 97d3572eda keep it near f9d14536b4 and use it 0fff8c7b72 to reflect on 3d884603fc myself.”a40bee332aa0ddb6

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He called 4cdec58d85 for the e0b818c28c flowerpot to bc84caf81d be brought 329c68748a closer, and 15ebaed00e admired the 236e7b7609 vivid red 3f383f4735 blossom that cefc16da2f resembled his 0485d8470b own hair 95bd6a598b with evident 01a37d9317 satisfaction.edfe332eddfdad9b

“The finest gift 5cce494abe of all, Duchess 435c84ed7e of Devion.”32a1a0b7415c59f9

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His words sounded 2d7f17b049 very much like‘A gift only c2a9912e89 you could give.’A gift that only ad23fd0049 the wife of the 15bb4233a2 wizard Skyle could have 88083dc375 prepared.f1d01f097f48c380

Though the a8c2ff62df gift highlighted ce703a4323 Skyle more c2e6949460 than herself, f3842981b8 Edith felt 3158bb552b genuinely satisfied. fb7f701820fc03cb

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Not as the Duke e84a14d3b5 of Devion with demon’s c580fad166 blood, but as a 56dbc1abb2 brilliant wizard, this was 5a66c55787 the Skylle she had 96b532d478 always wanted others to 65741f3155 see. She had long 39b41ac716 hoped to support fb781a63c4 him in any 77a3b86a6d way she could, 59b922bd32 and now, at c923b9a537 last, she felt 7baec11ce8 as though she’d e2a78ea651 taken her first cea817fc87 real step.4a43c54ddf492e5d

“It is an f140b57977 honor, Your Majesty!”32ceedcfc62eb182

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For the first 9c26c86026 time since entering 15ae0e5f60 the palace, Edith 9b7e6594a8 was able to d6e1a3d2df smile freely, her f5f4476640 heart finally at 9954379e52 ease.f49be940af71ca61