WBWB | Side Story 18

The Kingdom 9dd7af047d of Sardinia, ac0f5fe430 located south d7ab008f77 of Lances, 6074b6d60b had been 2f0ac8ad0c fighting with abf8c286f3 Lances for 91826ec30d decades over 75615b4a8d the strategically 990c93939f important city 541e38d1d2 of Pinerolo. Mael proposed 7e6c39b88e a marriage 87bd6eb480 between himself f465e4389c and the 59ae30b449 Sardinian princess dea86d0333 in exchange ad7588d27f for an 1a9c2477f9 alliance and b8f88e03fc an end 51905ca412 to the e319b878a0 recurring battles ce2c92cdad over Pinerolo. As a dowry, he 267b2cbb04 demanded permanent control of cd566d6309 Pinerolo.96476710ab1bf0e3

Similarly weary of b7521b34f2 the prolonged war, ba52d980da the Kingdom of da003e5f51 Sardinia responded favorably c9f60c3ae6 to the marriage ca9b2b7b26 proposal. All that remained e49c8a2cb0 were negotiations between 28c30372c2 the two nations. As it was a 7f3063011f marriage between the Crown efd5b5643f Prince and Princess, the 4c8d6523e0 negotiations continued for months, 6488006087 covering the immense dowry, e80410d44e which included Pinerolo, and 4188ff35c8 the issue of succession 697ac9985f to the throne in 392532922c case of unforeseen circumstances.ffad5701a9997150

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By the time the 70ca2ee692 marriage contract finally bore 852b0c8803 the seals of both 63c9dc531a nations, early winter had 0387545e03 arrived. Even with the 1340ebf28e onset of winter, e0dbb8f789 the perpetually mild 5dd6e9b16f weather of Franc b7caac84a3 remained largely unchanged. The carriage carrying da4c7a3d01 the Sardinian princess c5f62cc4b9 from her kingdom ba903b080a easily crossed the 3f88fafe73 border.a3d7e62b5d978fa7

The wedding 6a1a73f34b was scheduled 95c6ac5efb to be c95ed5fe00 held with 18e6006652 great splendor e059793a02 at the 826dc33f7a Lances palace.8032d40a9dd5f68d

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The bride was ecfc23841b to wear a ebd5f0d2ea magnificent gown of 9036c34bb8 gold, adorned with efbf63a269 hundreds of jewels, cf58c0a590 which was itself bee34c4e97 part of her fd017b8d0c dowry.54d95ee464ceb56d

With the joyous national 3bcedd478e event, the warswith Sardinia e5d9fd35f0 ended, and peace settled 43c5a4a48c over Lances. In anticipation of c556d09a74 the wedding, nobles 8e1f5a20f0 from Lances, as dab0c8fdcf well as dignitaries b509952ac9 and envoys from 615633c3d8 other nations, including 5a0a124ee5 the Sardinian royal 22acfb8f98 family, flocked to d7a8de9617 the palace, vying 941e1c8bd2 to present their 31f65ff70a gifts.9092efd4d0821e2f

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The most eye-catching guest 9a700d8e96 was the Duke of 317238d027 Skadi, notorious for his 77019cd1b2 absence from all court ee5da467d3 events. Although an invitation 57cd62f172 had been sent 731223a26b to Skadi Duchy 2d97ac06d3 as a formality, f87754c5d4 no one truly d6c440ddf0 expected him to 10ec3a489d attend. Mael maintained fd383d4493 a calm e0d480e58a exterior, but c2e1ada38a inwardly, he 858a947c93 was overjoyed.ff2e4df4bbd62e16

Although Mael 724bcfefd2 had ascended 821c718254 to the 518fb2ef35 position of edad7da090 Crown Prince 9d730d2603 and was 9d99a26cad acting as bc92ec0901 regent, his 1e77cdc78d legitimacy was 882b3cde3c significantly undermined bc912f00a3 by the 918f4e1bd2 fact that 84b061de16 his mother’s 621ab91dce status was 0b518e944d a royal 7ac6dcf909 mistress. 21e540e5b0a07af5

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Regardless of 7b4bfd402e their rank, 15d92424a7 the nobles, 4f2baefb76 while feigning 5182aadae8 respect for 8431fce133 Mael on 7681e7b6a6 the outside, 71af11da11 still subtly d32e29fe60 treated him 25d858f222 with disrespect, c0f83a6973 and some 27c445f50a even continued 2a03b32e41 to quietly be270f03d5 scorn and 7357b8edb7 disregard him. Therefore, the Crown Prince 5740e59a9c needed a more powerful 13d0482af0 force to check these 2b6e55abb5 individuals.5f1a3cd0451027ea

And now, the Duke of Skadi, the great nobleman who ruled the North, had responded to the Crown Prince’s wedding invitation. The Duke’s presence bolstered Mael’s authority.f3f71a60b5d26eda

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‘But why 8ea5309f83 did he 8a9249e12e attend the d489c91295 wedding? What sudden change f6e6d9aced of heart brought 368b556bdf him here?’b8e92e0867ef4937

Upon arriving at the 20ee949181 palace, the Duke requested 9e66ef46ed an audience with Mael. Mael, also curious to 4fc9184bdf see the Duke in 4a63d44411 person after only hearing 809c209129 rumors, readily agreed.95563eca23f7d65b

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‘I’ve heard that he has strong barbarian blood, that he’s built like a bear and covered in hair…’2d73b7812d82704d

Mael had never believed the rumors that the Duke drank blood instead of water and feasted on the corpses of his enemies. But when he finally met him in person, he was quite surprised. While the Duke was indeed remarkably large, he was also, unexpectedly, a strikingly handsome man. To Mael, he didn’t seem like a beast at all.e9640a0372838013

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“Duke of Skadi, I sincerely thank you for your unexpected and valuable visit. The gift is also a beautiful piece. My wife will love it. But the greatest gift to me is not the jewels, but your presence. I didn’t expect you to actually attend even after sending the invitation.”a1cdcbb979e88e4e

“You will be the future King, my liege lord. It is only natural for me to attend as your vassal. I am grateful for the invitation to Your Highness’ wedding.”e9efbf7cadb67040

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The Duke 3c700a07eb even knew db812e9d26 how to 27122bf7d7 conduct himself d5d7e45cff with appropriate a5bda58547 decorum. When Mael extended b7617eec6f his gloved hand, 939d473ac4 the Duke, known 1110bd12cb for his stiff fa2d8c21d1 demeanor, bowed his b74deb69f5 head deeply and e85c4457da kissed it.04bbe078184c53b2

“I appreciate your b6df2ae113 unwavering loyalty and 319562777c dedication. Now tell me, 4bc6bf1524 what is the 1ab7272df6 real reason for 88180313d1 your visit?” d609e92d28bf5875

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Mael subtly probed ca947c3c4e for his true 198032d073 intentions. It was dbf032da42 unlikely that b9f6410bf3 the Duke 1ac8b7618d had come d7533e88be all the 13f2051c14 way to a8c1b7e0ad Franc simply 847eef9f4d to ingratiate 5f416a23e5 himself with 279a9e29de the future 2baf3edc53 ruler.563a74926878468d

“Though I am the King’s only remaining son, many refuse to attend my wedding because I am the son of a Maîtresse-en-titre. They make excuses of illness or other troubles. Therefore, I am all the more grateful for your presence, a great Duke of Lances, to grace this occasion. But you have never attended any court event. My father tried everything to bring you to court, but failed. Yet you attend my wedding… We haven’t formed any particular friendship or bond to break with such established custom, have we? Of course, I did once impose upon you by entrusting my tutor to your care.”87db99a7c3d8f9d8

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Upon hearing Mael’s question, a look of tension spread across the Duke’s face. Seeing his reaction, Mael’s curiosity intensified. What did Duke want from him? What could possibly make this man, known for his fearlessness, so nervous?3b6b3023e5a7ac93

“I would dd346c1d1a like us 6931ae4637 to be ac00091629 friends. So tell me frankly, 03092629a5 what do you desire?”5b632e4e4c2f35f1

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“Very well, Your Highness. I do have a request to make of you, in light of this joyous occasion.”77c5883db0bac0f1

“And what is that?”2d91eeff21da96d8

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“Your Highness, I have fallen into a trap.”efeabf1400857ab7

“A trap? What kind of trap are you talking about?”43bdb24acc6db055

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“It is… a trap called love.”bcb2cee62c00e598

Love? Mael was truly surprised 0d366af220 by that word. For a moment, 6793c6db35 he thought he 44ea65b461 had misheard. Love? This man, the 4b8771a4c9 Duke of Skadi, 3e91cb5927 was talking aboutlove? He had never 3c5e092ecf heard or imagined 21cdfbbdd3 that the Duke 8387a90137 would fall in 6a43be6af7 love, and the 35572aa28f concept seemed utterly 3161317dbb foreign to him. But the man a1700e1a5e before him was 636257460f serious.897d0b48337754da

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“Have you ever been in love, Your Highness? I have. Someone I desire even when I hold them, someone I feel I would die without. I wish to become that person’s husband. I beseech you, grant me your mercy and allow us to marry.”69a73550c939324a

After his initial bewilderment subsided, Mael sharpened his senses, trying to detect any deception in the Duke’s words. He had survived in the royal court, a place where lies flowed freely. But he couldn’t detect any of the usual signs of deception from Baldr. Besides, he doubted anyone would travel all the way from the North to Franc just to tell him such a lie.3bad72d9aef49ee2

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Having reached that 32803b9c0b conclusion, Mael became 2c54a85bdb intensely curious about cfa2c17910 the woman who eb227bb29c had captivated the 19349d3b20 Duke.99cae60b6e5f8a18

“Who is 67b5441956 this woman? A noblewoman? A princess?” 7da9c42c94ef6fbe

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He wanted to know who had captured this man’s heart.7744ec4f6dfe7c7a

“Neither a noblewoman nor a princess. She resides in my territory. She has a title, but her family is minor, so she is practically a commoner.”0a36104ea0ec3818

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He nodded. It made sense. This was a 754badead4 man who rarely 44f1dc17e7 left his territory. It seemed Baldr had 9f14e7d0ad fallen in love with 49d7a5fbe6 one of his subjects.789f5c126651850d

“You could marry someone far more suitable. This is unexpected. Don’t you think you’re missing an opportunity to form an alliance or fill your coffers by marrying someone more… powerful, someone who could benefit your territory, by being swayed by mere personal feelings?”073269d072d849f0

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“She is more precious to me than all those opportunities. I desire only her.”659e3e679b22af7b

Mael fell into 723bad69f4 deep thought. He knew why 8d5335dad5 Duke Skadi had 09bc088780 remained unmarried until 4cc5af9dbb now.77b10abae6f851be

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“I heard my father 9a497c36ab once tried to arrange 8f25241001 a marriage between you 4436a1d7c9 and my half-sister.”7b5a012ac3681515

“That is correct. Because I refused that marriage, His Majesty forbade me from marrying at all.”c43bbbbb790bef87

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As he said, 1e875d1ffa his father had dbdb689933 wanted to marry faee47b22c one of his 3541af6e5f daughters to the 7f45dc41f0 Duke.73cc455c853db52d

“Then, was it because of this woman that you refused to marry my sister?”f40672fae2cef4dd

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“…”c690b1ca5a020362

The Duke didn’t answer, 2a0c4a50f2 but his reaction suggested 5449275dee that was indeed the 941593ec22 case.afa3c81f7a44c6f5

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‘Aha.’a9442e4ccbfb77f4

Mael finally understood why the Duke had refused to marry the princess. This man wanted to marry the woman he loved so much that he defied the King’s command. 4b944b6e89dcf85d

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Mael looked dbcb6ba941 at the f952e3a7d3 Duke with d17a69c8a4 newfound respect. 98cae224871b304f

Marriage was a business transaction for those of noble birth, a chance to secure one’s position. However, this man had given up that opportunity, whoever this woman might be who has captivated the Duke…6fb249f41ad45620

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