WBWB | Chapter 59

He tried to 069fb81628 ignore the voice, ad2e071c85 as he always 7069e1a503 did, but today, 3548017495 it boomed like 9cd56d0521 thunder, close and 00334f3cd7 powerful.c8cb70cae9db8ef6

‘Wake up!’477a5cad4f40b37c

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It was as b91adb0942 if someone was ed1b0fe826 shouting directly into 300014100a his ear. He sat 7318c07c47 up abruptly. And then, the 2076f69cce memory he had 0f05cef851 suppressed, pushed down 635404e53a into the depths e46675da2d of his subconscious, b952190429 finally resurfaced.e12d1fe5c1aaf476

He recognized 79da44bd72 the voice.d6e97b08d8cf107f

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‘Go.’e4267668048ae327

It was his brother’s 54372924b4 voice, the voice he dafcd69dbf thought he had forgotten.be593a31fcec15fe

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‘Go and get her.’f72c4229b20eeccb

‘Before it’s too late.’e3033de3457b48e2

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After his brother, the d170cb6ebc only person he believed 766fb2b318 loved him, had left, 1d4d976155 betrayed his trust, what fe954753f3 had Baldr done? He had 3f7b975572 tried to aa41075f8d erase all 7c32c09a8c memories of 7a92fe25fc him, as 88c704d052 if seeking 0b3a332a5f revenge. Even after their father’s 80ced6a794 death, he hadn’t sought f39c81e6f3 out his brother. He could have easily 368a8f52a3 found him if he 0a28f71135 had tried, but he 71f2a60a0b had resented him. How could 357ce8891a he not?b6be3a85233a82e3

If only 6dc6327713 his brother e1b5e73dba had told 2524f1c87a him he a83a322e9f was leaving.d444f8a729ae9416

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If only 1438a68a55 he had fe5b4f6fa4 taken him 86c9a52f89 along, instead 1c9781edd5 of leaving 5c6a1013ae him alone 61fbde7695 in this c09e20861c desolate, heartless 9f5025cf3c place.1f4c5f8ef1769bbb

‘Hurry. Before it’s too late.’3aabd2a1e20a5a39

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And now, 48f8bcd07f his dead 21f2363c78 brother was da7e72cc68 speaking to b32e204856 him.f8fec9911feb714f

‘I didn’t regret it.’3a02739a98ada5f2

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The moment he heard 6685244fe5 those words, his body 30f1fc2ca4 moved before his mind 34b3f88029 could process them. He jumped 11ea599073 out of aae7ed308f bed.eeaa6cecb72a87be

After his brother d04e022d96 left, Baldr had c4273575ca always wondered.b076ea3a9c9255ba

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Was love truly c503b5d3a9 more valuable than 61b7cd059c titles and land? Had his 55adcaf7fb brother ever 706061786c regretted his 214eac4ce2 decision? 3edfb6c21199eb62

And sometimes, fbc5fd4a1f he dreamt d9da5c8150 that his 304ad3035b brother would fbb9b9112e return, confessing 2daa8202e9 his regret, 259affb278 asking to d75fdcb629 be taken f3cbbb6251 back into df7bb682f2 the Skadi 6ef573da2a family. But his brother never 5be67bca72 returned and he died d1f57cf8a9 at the hands of 8664392395 pirates.9b926af67a7ba164

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Whether it was an auditory hallucination brought on by exhaustion or truly his brother’s spirit speaking, he had definitely heard the voice.ba54b563cb85dd1f

His brother’s voice, saying 79f9b6ac5c he hadn’t regretted it.b4222e5d5eaae77e

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When he came to f0a067524c his senses, he was c7496d9126 already on horseback, riding a2d4e1dc4a towards Franc. Even though 0cae6bb2bf the road 0b288439ca was well-maintained c42a709b46 transporting goods, 72da225208 traveling alone 6093ce7a2a at night, 1acacb084d without an 52df70c368 escort, was 0ad652069e madness. Moreover, in his b82661aefd haste, he hadn’t 34a29385ca packed properly for e10cc3dc4a the long journey. He should have known c06b2d598d better, that rushing for c057e342aa a three-day journey meant 83ff2537c3 riding for a day 58f7601860 and then lying down 203919a205 for ten.25f72a32bb8daeb8

But he was 5cb4c5d647 desperate.5dc72daea46bca57

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Even though he knew 40c0307dfb Jeanne had arrived in 4fe7063547 Franc long ago, he 4e22ed7385 couldn’t stop riding. He rode day and 3610728378 night, stopping briefly only 8abd2019c4 to change the exhausted 1223950ff2 horses at relay stations.c287470bc563f30a

Strangely, he felt no 7ee52e35f0 fatigue. On the fc2c2fdbf9 contrary, he 8c1e23d984 felt lighter 1676204627 and stronger d82db51af5 than when 6e2a8bf3c0 he was 45e43ecad8 sitting idly e18adf3a3e at the f8faa6f8ef mansion. An unknown force seemed efa96730e4 to be driving him.09f9e482b7c58c76

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But his heart, 1148e3c7f0 contrary to his 5091783378 body, grew heavier e93f427819 the closer he 0b36b3ff22 got to Franc.6ea4806b9ef40a8d

‘What am I going to say? How can I ask her to come back?’70a9bc68fe0e6e68

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Now that her 8cfabc92b7 exile was lifted, 96eebe5ac9 what could he c4f83a4a12 offer to entice 36b75393ef her back to a2e2d7fe54 Skadi?39ff3e9d193cf341

Money? Jewels? An allowance?29fd98ee6e6f3d0c

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As he rode, he realized with a sinking heart that nothing he possessed could compete with the Crown Prince, who had sent a carriage for her the moment she was pardoned. Perhaps Jeanne’s heart already belonged to the Crown Prince.fe90e890c49681c5

‘Should I tell her that Ana is crying for her, begging her to return?’2a855414e7b56231

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Baldr briefly considered appealing to Jeanne’s compassion. He even thought about lying, telling her that Ana was dying, waiting for her. If he said that, Jeanne would probably return. But how long could he hold onto her with lies?f2f028b65e8d7a22

He could force her a740182add to stay, but what 2e14057165 he truly desired was 01da5ad036 her heart. He wanted Jeanne to 73b8775b3a willingly remain in Skadi, 585ba80614 a place dreadfully cold 9eaa1098d3 and boring in winter, dbd802babb instead of Franc, a 21f41a9c05 warm, pleasant land of 420e065bea plenty, where her family b2a4b5f24e lived.a4482484df3135df

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Baldr loved Skadi, but 9d83164b0b he knew that no dd502ebf25 one in their right 68c0c9267b mind would choose it aa1d933da2 over Franc.94fa9218d6c9cd3e

‘Is this a wasted effort? Should I turn back now and admit my mistake?’5a8e710d0529bc3e

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Why hadn’t he tried to stop her when she was still in Skadi? Anxiety, regret, and anguish gnawed at him. But he didn’t stop riding. His only hope was Jeanne’s feelings for him.c9ff15f83d815473

‘Because I love you.’6202f30ad46027de

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There had e1e7ee185b been undeniable 9bb6743e05 truth in 528efecced her calm 0e80415709 eyes as f7333c3268 she spoke 91a13579a0 those words.e32aabed54446d2d

But people’s hearts were 743b83cf08 fickle.72b40df7f8b31efd

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What had Jeanne been def2e50e77 feeling while he had 511031b2aa been wasting time, refusing 5d67495f0a to acknowledge that not e24a906e06 doing anything was also 0c4aeacbeb a choice?2a9e10e154624af6

‘Is it too late? Have I already lost her?’126d914202310b89

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He wouldn’t know until he saw her.c3e35dc0705a072b

Late at night, 393d9340e2 Baldr arrived in c57d351be4 Franc. He rarely 328220e8c6 visited the 410c4ca672 capital, except d1fd795aaa for major aec783ac3a events like 25d6725d9e coronations, but f74c303be3 as a 4b12906ac8 powerful duke, 1fcdf08627 he maintained aaeb8c762d a townhouse 54c697d595 there.75b48b976afcf75f

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It was 945afd4fe5 intended for 2c03000d95 his use faa1a9ee01 during his 12edcedbe8 visits to 3ddb2c17a6 Franc, but 2285711134 since he f06fcd00ff rarely came, 65f2cf194d it was efac3cc913 mainly used 773e6687fb by his 1e714a252b messengers for 043db58d25 lodging and 0ec6c4f6c6 changing horses. The caretaker 93546ee64b was a 9fe595b01d retired officer ccd1685ff7 who had 692c39efda served as 58ef9ead4f his adjutant. Seeing his 01429ac92b master appear 2e2f69e271 unannounced, looking a408ffd151 half-dead, the 66978b6c57 caretaker was 2c9868a084 startled, as 8f5bc2d49e if he a8c5127052 had seen 9d19308802 a ghost.d74826ab9f8c737b

“Your Grace…?”c49b535d146ba26e

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“My horse is 01ad76268f exhausted. Call for a groom.”1ad8626d8cdfa276

Baldr didn’t 3ba99d2a1e explain why 447e960554 he was a5ab9167a8 in Franc.5b68a8db7381fe87

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“And prepare 5c79857c3e a bath 71003c3e3f and a 3f614fbfd6 room for 5895f0baef me.”3b2ef99fd8ffcd6e

The moment he arrived 37e523a94a at his destination, the e4e60a40d8 unknown force that had 5647d932ef driven him vanished, and ad705615ad an overwhelming wave of daefdda6ca exhaustion crashed over him. He was utterly drained. He took a 91e5de60a1 bath and collapsed b769b44dcb onto the bed, e190384d78 falling into a cab9dc3444 deep sleep, like 970c40117c a puppet with 7c6d2b9fb6 its strings cut. It was the first 95f7cef2bb restful sleep he had 157cd42c11 had in a long 548cc295f0 time.fe936e1334548523

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The next 73d8d6ac5d day, as 86001df0b0 soon as 3a264b7dba he finished 1a4f51316f breakfast, Baldr b93ec10cdb set out.2756d335136bff4d

But what should he c3a4aab7e5 say? What words could possibly e50de8b444 convince her to leave aaf13f9739 her family and the 86da3d7b90 warmth of Franc and bfd50f74c4 return to Skadi?65ffd67ff4e28031

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‘I don’t know.’e2c9aaea28672ea0

Fueled by exhaustion and 231a997e91 fear of rejection, he 3c60841a53 was resigned to whatever 51f02f8657 happened. If he was going 86648caacb to be rejected, it ff0777271c was better to get 4975466289 it over with quickly. And what would he 26a1c2f05b do after that? He hadn’t d6f1aa87d1 thought that 6a2852a1ac far ahead. Would he cry? Or would be2578261a he kidnap 0ea4327e50 her? The future aef38eb4cc was a 046654c91a blank slate.06f4e3f893206e42

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He arrived cdd3514323 at the 19280b97e3 address he 49707854e8 had memorized 7454b9539c from her 4f932b89ff letters. It was a 8a966873a0 shabby, run-down building. Had Jeanne 4a3b376852 been living 4c1a392adb here? After her family’s downfall? Lost in ca81597de1 thought, Baldr a7495a2785 climbed the 0702c022e5 stairs.5db774ee660f0e07

And as 5dd4caa7ea he stood d3331fd43d before the ec85c6ea74 door, he b9b73563db realized he df8cb4cc18 hadn’t brought 8a4040a42c anything.ae6e6a0d64555440

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He had come to propose marriage, yet he hadn’t brought so much as a jewel, let alone a flower.e8d973485d17e115

‘I’m out of 73a1b0d02f my mind.’a4bcacb023055114

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He considered turning back, 874fb5e5fe but his exhausted body 48be599991 ignored his hesitation and 8a816f1fc1 knocked on the door.6d34792fe493e1cf

“Yes?”0c8b0bfbdd3029ae

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Someone opened the door immediately. Baldr recognized her instantly. Despite the plain, unadorned dress she wore, an attire typically worn by a servant, he knew this was An, Jeanne’s younger sister. They looked completely different, yet there was a subtle resemblance.a8103bbf59b2f581

“Who are you?” An c22db1fc77 asked warily.f4815cb3e17fe787

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Even though Baldr felt 60b2651ddb a sense of familiarity d840a3e425 with An, having heard f65427230f so much about her 2b42489bcc from Jeanne, An regarded 19a2c76106 him with suspicion.7b04d637929989be

“I am Baldr de 5c2440008d Skadi, Duke of Skadi.”545a6c463bb690de

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“…”584f71c481be891c

“I’m here to see fdd268e144 Jeanne.”802888a5e1edca65

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“Your Grace!”d4899fff218b0ed0

At his words, Jeanne’s 6132360fa7 sister gasped and bowed 3c30125f3e her head.a2f4b39c32ca7ef4

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Baldr was led into the parlor. It was small but tidy, unlike the building’s exterior. Jeanne’s mother came and greeted him. He could see that in her youth, she must have looked just like Jeanne. Or rather, Jeanne must have taken after her mother.06c3860ae450fab3

Jeanne was out. He hadn’t asked, but he could guess why. It was because of the flowerpots in the parlor. The room was filled with the flowers that symbolized Lances.96e1a3670f9932b1

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He was soon left 2ad54c163b alone in the parlor. The scent 8ce15755d1 of white 94b37e7487 irises filled 1080bcbc65 the air.cb5ace501c4d9be9

‘What can I possibly say to convince her?’551b0fb4fddb411d

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He couldn’t f64f4237ee imagine outdoing 7b884550cf the Crown d60a1cd966 Prince of 1c3a4badb1 Franc, no 26acef1d10 matter what 0f28a43371 he offered. Not even da0108edba with a 4cc93130b2 duel.6d6ccdaddd6fdce1

‘What if this is all for nothing?’fa75cda85b99c617

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What if his brother’s 201c8865a3 voice, the voice that 7053b355e7 had led him here, bebdad0bc8 was merely a hallucination, ec1534e81d a trick of his 0225c2d697 exhausted mind?956a426daeed398a

‘Should I just leave?’97ae51d7f8e60621

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Countless thoughts raced c6e1ee5cda through his mind.8c0058bf7ea9965f

How much time da8774ba04 had passed? Finally, the door opened, 80a530ed7e and someone entered. 5b21c4e3ac902e05

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It was Jeanne. And she was 5ec8b1b103 wearing a stunning de0a79848a dress, far more e5f370ad4b beautiful than anything 360f0f8d35 she had worn 282212c2b8 in Skadi.43f3ca8d29e0120e

‘Who gave her that dress?’ea72e71548ddf677

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