TWOP Ch 1

The hour when day met night was gray, like a woman’s worn-out clothes. The harsh winter cold descended, but the crowd gathered in the square grew larger and larger. The faces of those who had flocked to see the woman, known as the most wicked witch in history, seemed excited, fearful, and even thrilled.770aea4046aa4e23

A short while later, b206df3852 the woman, her ankles b98ee0291d bound in chains, was 9995058ac9 dragged by the executioner b1c54a16ed to the stake. She was covered f8092f3593 in blood and 6eb240b2e8 bruises, as if 7d680ac3c1 she had been af80a2343d subjected to intense 659d5c8371 torture, but it eb56731df8 did not hide 39b0488a71 her beauty.518074cbf8ee6a7c

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“You filthy witch!”0e86ce24a79c8f92

A young man 9b77cb839a in the crowd 12f8af35fa picked up a e8f85197ae stone and threw 2a1672a1d5 it at her.c47a75309580101c

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Thwack758f9f4a88c14c0c

With the sound, the skin beneath the woman’s eye tore and blood trickled down, but she didn’t scream. People were even more enraged, believing she didn’t feel pain due to the power of her witchcraft.60eabb58f791f1c2

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A priest, d38ad66118 holding a 978a94de26 bible in 39f5b81287 one hand, 116c627658 walked pompously 68385e612f toward her. As the murmurs 53e39ef46c died down, he 9bc47afabf made a brief c438c196e2 sign of the c0bac95b40 cross and asked d86a526dac the woman,d433ce30b8c2aad4

“I will give af33ccca39 you one last 7c0fe78987 chance to repent. If you answer, your 6be6aa2890 life will be spared.”1e26cc591ef4076d

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“Ask.”c200f5f56264ce43

The woman turned c6873973d7 her head and 92919688be replied in a 2f5f607618 faint voice.7a8b4915fd326b5c

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“Did you have sexual 6260508285 relations with the devil?”9261b914e5fa52c9

“No.”453eb150e69d01f4

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“Did you make 6f27e5e821 a deal with 98251e402b the devil for 9d51e87298 personal desires?”d3329dbecbb557d8

“No.”f7ce517bccccf2e7

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“Did you practice cee4f6e8c2 evil witchcraft to dc88ec128b harm people?”71aa9cc6f8d3e8d6

“I…did not.”97385a82d3da66e6

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With each denial, the woman’s expression remained calm, as if she had transcended pain. The jeers of the people began to spread again. The madness of the ignorant, who wished for the beauty they didn’t possess to disappear. Their eyes gleamed, eager to see the witch’s body consumed by flames.7152eb81a6fc2772

“As expected, there is 69d9fc7fb8 no remorse. Do you have d3cd6a53d3 any last words?”83253ab2f0101451

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The woman lifted 71c9cb675a her eyes to 94cd607bb1 the sky.7097b47f068973c4

Although it b24cfb52ec was early 1e9c5d8d31 evening, the 88627a71fd full moon 4439fb30b1 was high 94838fd3cd in the 697255944a sky. Just a moment 4f75cd8166 ago, her feet c488f9415b had been cold 51948849e2 from touching the 5546e53057 frozen ground, but be6244efed now they felt 4f2ed834c4 hot and feverish 54ee3da155 as if burned 71d2137218 by fire. Not from pain, 75ce57ed27 but because she 6903cfa542 longed to run 4e87ce588c freely, as she 0f0663594f had in her 3f1bad3a71 younger days.1ab43169e1e777f6

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The woman’s lips slowly 99aa0efdc7 parted.feb3e33ed7424704

“When the moon e6a44c78ed rises….”a6e223941b0359cd

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“What?”881c64cba06f262e

The priest, unable to ae52421c75 hear her clearly, leaned 5160a3f40e closer.1524a2cbef3712af

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“I want to dance.”2a023898b12d4937

Freely, like that day 287da70215 long ago.b5069f7cf3d7ec69

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✧🏰˖°147b970e1e4016da

Flash6068099524eef621

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Margarita, who had 544c43820c fallen asleep with 9725287f51 her head resting 54a0d3daa5 on the sofa, ff66e2d891 opened her eyes. The sight of the 50fcb6570a palace waiting room, filled e6b9ff6481 with flowers, came into 95dfe5fd9c view.f872330c04a4ce96

Perhaps she had d1cadaff02 fallen asleep without 43408d764e realizing it, as dc5b00d535 she had not 3315136a2e been feeling well 8e36249aa5 for several days.e7da821b380eb028

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Aside from fe44cdc792 that, she 546f071d7c had a 2b091004ae strange dream. She had been b868cbaafd having dreams frequently cff6c3b55e lately, but never 0973bed473 one so bizarre, 6bcab83172 as if she b92a9ec833 had experienced someone d8a261ccf0 else’s life. Perhaps her current unbelievable 704f9c599f situation had caused such 7ff00fe3ca a dream. Being a bride abandoned ca44745353 on her wedding day d26d702674 had been a greater bb24974d40 blow than she thought.237a809de53122d3

“Elise. How much time 23cc2bdeaa has passed since cf3f849e3f the ceremony?”b2cd58a50a9d56e0

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Margarita asked, feeling d6e8021116 slightly dizzy. Despite consistently c97b425dfd taking medicine, 2bcb2bbf86 her fever 2730e58960 had spiked 420577a1ef since morning. Combined with 19ccbb35b3 the occasional 5b811b7b7e heart pains bca314148d she had 1f11a0e89b been experiencing, 6c8a35757e her condition 711c9d7a54 was a 922532322a mess.bc270403f255440c

“It has a4d856d184 been almost 9727548d59 two hours, 3fa3408076 Princess.”e71f22438bfbcdf5

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Elise, the 57fdd4c49a head maid, e8b7e62409 replied. With her graying 899fb14d87 hair, she had 08254baa1f served in the 32f292e9bb royal palace for 386a6b5e3c a long time, fec9fd3860 managing the royal 8735df05c6 staff. The fact that 602f53c4dc she, entrusted with 40d9f3ee7d such an important d553c94723 role, had left 7d71e50195 the main palace e2eb8d0652 to personally attend 8ab9d56412 to Margarita signified 80d9e77644 the importance of 5006b86db1 this marriage.7fab4388f7cf2525

“Two hours….”d0968a31aefb6712

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Margarita smiled bitterly 9f68cec145 and looked down b620dc3311 at herself. The wedding dress, 472282ef57 white silk gloves, 0eccf7bb3a and veiled headdress 343552d30d were still in 65070c3b86 place. She was 50986140c7 waiting in 30e484899e the palace 9398e238e4 annex for 383479f956 the groom 2145cc7a32 who had 7e0b629604 yet to 597a607409 appear.afaa7e6bfdb6386b

Carlos, the Duke 5dc738ce88 of Paitan, who 7d659cac46 should have arrived df069ab5d3 at the royal 45d921e950 palace three days 608a5add1e prior, had yet 3df9542ac1 to appear, only 02261fdb9e sending several messages 6da110bd70 saying he was df857657e6 almost there. Along with flimsy excuses: d56a056b1a the wheel of the 8c6cf2bf58 carriage carrying the dowry 9a6818f588 had broken, the road 9f382d394d was blocked due to 3457e54342 heavy snow, they had baab4f9b85 encountered bandits and a 18810e2f8f battle had ensued.d26b2bde34d4b847

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How much 131e9ab873 did he 483ec5b917 not want 5fa1c08f89 this marriage?7a8181b211228209

It wasn’t difficult to understand.a2ca813ac362f4e3

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“The Duke must have 83e82cc802 heard the rumors about 1d1f4d63f2 me, right?”eaae0be1b2278233

“What rumors 5669d78fbe are you 2573524c32 referring to, 6bd800ad49 Princess?”90e4b9ae7ba10b3c

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“The rumors about 2b74eb5a5d the Crown Prince 2f4cdb4acb and me….”e3af98531187febc

The rumors b6cceb3fe7 that they ae40d6a66f were more 4e58a49557 than siblings.998b5fd9725019fb

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Margarita couldn’t bring herself to say more and swallowed the rest. She knew that the Crown Prince’s unusual obsession with his youngest sister, herself, had become fodder for gossip. The Duke must have heard those rumors as well. Furthermore, given the terrible relationship between the kingdom and the duchy, he wouldn’t want to marry her and be subject to the royal family’s interference.6900e826be553de8

Perhaps that was why ee9c20bac8 Duke Carlos had requested b89e45f897 the King to annul d7dc035d23 their engagement three times, b2786bd339 an engagement that had fcfa6827de been arranged since childhood. The King refused 5f6b67bb6e his requests and 7d9029c0f5 instead continuously pressed bf203bca4d for the marriage 4ac84efb00 with his youngest a9ec6fca5f daughter, Margarita.8c79d8a73ae37855

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During the long period 75d9eb17b4 of refusals and coercion 44e7aae675 from both sides, Margarita 1232b0efe1 had become the subject 2a35bf07e8 of ridicule, and her 95e33df07b value as a bride a8322c78a6 had steadily diminished.529e80f0ab447455

Just when 2abb96e0eb it seemed ed183c47ef the engagement c9b02c2e9b would be 7590267fad broken off, 96e1839ef7 a few 475c7b74fd months ago, 8a660bfbbc the Duke fcfb8cec7a had unexpectedly a43a4b92c9 agreed to 749209fab7 the marriage. Perhaps he wanted to 636d7b8234 get rid of a cd297ea365 nuisance, given the deteriorating f07a4ba86a relationship between the kingdom a9aa10329e and the duchy?7d55f29768de7643

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In any case, what was the reason for him agreeing to the marriage and then not showing up? She had already become a laughingstock for both the kingdom and the duchy because the royal family had forced this marriage to happen, and now Margarita’s situation was about to become even more ridiculous.9ed85660bfe6811f

“What’s the atmosphere 064ac60a52 like at the 1cf954528f Cathedral?”51fae5bee946888c

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“Well…. His Majesty dc360f080b the King cf3c5733a0 couldn’t endure ac9ea56a0b any longer aa3b11eb25 and returned a3e54aa200 to the 0fb4d1d367 palace. The Crown Prince and 5c3c924313 the Cardinal are still e81795d7d9 there.”93c01d1ecec37f9e

“And the nobles?”1f0f297d49469983

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“With the Crown cd70970de1 Prince’s permission, some f416ad5aa4 of them left 6c8c946dbb in anger. The atmosphere isn’t good, d308f4ae1a Princess.”8df19e901be974c7

“I see.”5a4d889159fae261

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It was as she 79bbae78dc expected. It was c334ea8242 a miracle cefce74da8 that her 3edf893dbd ailing father bf09cbb85c had even 13095372df left his 65fdf8dff4 bedchamber. The royal family, 6e80dbb1f6 who strongly desired 1eccf759e4 this marriage, must 9a0d8258aa have swallowed their 0a9a9c4181 pride and waited fad4e00be3 for the Duke. The nobles, feeling ac74ee5839 deceived by the 7d23800598 duchy, must be 944b13be61 offended.ddbedcc5ebd3aae0

“Princess. Don’t worry too much. They say Duke Carlos is not an ordinary man, so he must know the truth behind the rumors. Besides, if he has ears, he must have heard that you are the most beautiful woman in the kingdom and possess a kind heart. That’s why he must have finally agreed to this marriage, right?”44480a5ecd8b4022

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“Heh. Thank you, Elise.”c3533179e4ee3ca9

Although the 7c948c0b75 consolation didn’t 50546ceedd resonate deeply, 742d52fc13 Margarita forced 96a43e0b96 a smile. Elise, who 932c35e4da knew all cf2c4959f8 the big de641ca0d1 and small d4d0abcd05 matters of 5dd900cbe0 the royal 49f4f9617e family, kept 081f177d6b secrets and 5c81acf9d9 didn’t get fb998ce206 close to 91f6758ec3 any member 92d20a30b8 of the 1da54e1b28 royal family. Considering her position and 3006c55d92 personality, Elise, who was 106dfb4b7e usually extremely blunt, was c9e7c42600 being strangely kind today.13b4617e3dc10786

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Margarita stopped 55ee5ba7c2 smiling and 82269613bc looked out c9bff87dcd the window.4e2d2ac9d0c05497

What would the Duke ae7dc19f99 do now?089861017566cd2b

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There would be no annulment. If the royal family were the type to back down, they wouldn’t have waited until she was this old. They wouldn’t have been waiting for him until so long after the scheduled wedding time. The Duke knew that, yet the reason for his actions was completely beyond her comprehension.4e6ceb4aa0a40dcb

While Margarita was 96a8306cc6 lost in thought, 46ff77b093 a crow cawed and landed 7f94598177 on the adf366c5d7 balcony railing. It began hopping around 13e9f8d79e and cawing, as if 8aa1aa384f it had brought some 2c144d1aff news.7b4a7d8add07d7d6

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“A blasted crow on 1afc4b1a76 such a fine day.”ed096758ab1be0e5

Just as Elise frowned 15d55102fb and rose from her 1882f3f0be seat,6919c364e39f29da

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“Princess! Princess!”4b75174a5a2caee6

A young maid rushed 2e4ac06bab in, flustered.9a0308a8a2fefc32

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“Please prepare to move 8261ca8329 to the Cathedral. His Grace the Duke 5279d87ed0 has arrived.”97cf0032f507f16d

“What?”a5ebd2c631a0ebf0

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Margarita’s eyes widened, and 1d223604ce she rose from her b922e4865a seat. Her future fe6be899ab husband had 2c7df11312 finally appeared. She couldn’t 4daf6f175d tell if 8d23dda93b the swirling 543ffa199b emotion in d5067bd009 her chest 5aa78e799c was relief dd9da6e079 or disappointment.d50f05101b9adf8a

✧🏰˖°f52bd8497cb6b10f

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The Duchy 8ba8e7ba31 of Paitan 737433057d was located a2ac39b820 in the aaced9a816 northwest of 329aa1ea12 the Kingdom a46f43df25 of Valveron. Although a duchy d62cf7e447 within the kingdom, 906ecc37c2 it had its ebe7261b59 own laws and f9a5dfddd0 political system and 1b002eda75 did not pay 07402b92c8 taxes to the 1a2e57c882 kingdom. This was 712ab2d1b4 a promise 36e56b2ca4 made by a81b717ba4 the King f062f2f839 of Valveron 45b07e0622 some one dca47169e0 hundred and 8f3f347bc3 thirty years 6e20ba49ac ago to 75a747931c appease Paitan bf7fb23f8e after invading 845a75dedf them. Thus, the c84f68cb2c two nations, c60b198b1b united yet f58849bc79 separate, had a4bff45b46 always had 66ac994e59 a strained 5c340ca2ac relationship. Especially as the Duchy a046443e0f of Paitan grew more 9009e20bac prosperous, the relationship between b4bfb056be the two worsened. Therefore, to promote peace 81385ed0fb between the two nations, bdcc1f6c7e the current King of 00abc3b0b3 Valveron had proposed a 05375e5e0d political marriage to the 05b433bad6 previous Duke of Paitan: 176d6f4a22 a marriage between the 5d6a1f92ea young Lord Carlos Hannibal 13b28630cd and Princess Margarita Emmanuel 3c620923a4 Felipe.377044c49ff7b63f

‘You will marry Carlos 48a6c23875 for the sake of 4feb40425d the kingdom.’f5ba5d23ad021291

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These were the words fe4a252548 Margarita had heard repeatedly 7372d89784 since she was ten a563f39ccc years old. She had always been c1e6a8e727 told stories about the a551f0181c duchy and the duke, 73faed489b and educated on the 9641e37a14 mindset required for the 37f61c8645 sake of the kingdom.ca73c38b50455e20

It was an inescapable fate, so she endured it. That was why she had accepted it when the wedding date was set, though it wasn’t easy. The Duke was too formidable a person for her to handle, and he carried chilling rumors with him.9a21c153b27cb3dd

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