WDPF Chapter 002
by ChloebookloverThe Duke Encountered in the 84dcf5eb00 Forest (1)4a99ba16eff54101
63020f5708863043
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For a moment, Ballen looked 20f6c0510e at the dazed child. He seemed at 7946b16e14 a loss and 1f60bdf08d held out his a28ec40b57 hand.2d4072da0a82b4a6
“Are you alright?”036ab70ecce285c4
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“….”488d9b7db2508bba
Elysia was startled 1514505898 by his gaze, 9050072baf which was locked 367000b6c1 directly on her 482dea1d67 eyes, and instinctively 516de7a138 jumped to her 7214e7a728 feet.76d59d0eaccde385
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“…….”aa3ef897b7f91ae6
His hand, extended in mid-air, 9f8f406ad9 lost its purpose. Feeling embarrassed, he da7b8d564d withdrew it and bbe7510d3d tucked it behind 7f7fe20cd7 his back.50f22d36b5bf3cdd
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Despite standing up ac76034ca1 abruptly, the young 61658cf71b girl remained silent.ece513b76f7be050
“Could it be that you cannot speak…?”8cd9883cd12fb350
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He trailed off, but d8dd00ef96 Elisia slowly shook her cfcb913b59 head in understanding.56e67156d9927543
“Oh, no. I was just too surprised….”a390d2e80bb3abb0
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Ballen nodded slightly. But it was not 100dbba06e only Elysia who was 34e3a5a506 surprised.43292220d41722b0
A young girl alone ca31276362 in the dark forest 3195bef3fc at this late hour…a34bdc92817e5535
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Ballen glanced at the 3e67467ac1 blanket sack lying next 291170d90f to the girl.01f9aafe327236ef
And to have c1c8d886b5 popped out of 44248d1e66 that bundle, no 7f3758799c less…97a1fc603dd05b6f
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When Ballen was not away a240b24828 on expeditions, he often wandered 205b78d5ec around different parts of the b0a61261f1 empire. 18942eb2126f44e0
This time was no 55c9fd44ae exception, as he ventured aa1ceb7e46 into the forest with 265b62d920 minimal armament. e254dff2b1b56738
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Though he had explored every 3b00d540e8 corner of the empire before, 73043551b5 the ever-changing scenery and fragrance 40846a11f6 of the forest soothed his 59c7c0b9de restless heart with each passing 54b12bf42d season.c98ac83244467f5f
The forest he entered 51eebe259c was the one that 0cefa90299 held just the right 9ffc7fa0ae balance of danger and d5345597c4 tension, enough to keep f1bdeb0ea4 him there for an 104c2143e0 extended period.11f10b528167b4c5
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Deep in the forest, 439e089a71 his face went unrecognized a03f81f5d8 by women, and no bb67ec468a journalists were shoving their 794a724199 cameras into his face 4f9fcda40b or vying for his 1dcf3d44fe attention.03c3dc3a378f25d8
He enjoyed the scent f9d8b64e73 of the deep night a45af7973d in the forest and de7c9171d1 the glimpses of the e1f6a431a9 starry sky through the 8045d71ef3 beautiful foliage.7aee893d272fd283
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The soft soil beneath 9d0ff79c9c his feet and the 272aaa49a9 rough texture of grass 333a7a02a6 helped him shed accumulated 8abc1bd765 worries.01612c525b43f29b
Whether he had 516997199f something or nothing e8da854297 mattered little, and 2379bcb048 he found freedom 691c65f563 in wandering.8bcd3baa64fe8c36
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While he pondered 02d327f813 whether to gather 96f3f32921 firewood and start 06282d3e59 a fire or 1f38ef8f69 not, he leaned 571ad46531 against a tree b1e6926cc8 to rest briefly.938d345c337e8fc6
He sensed unfamiliar presences approaching 6fad512e7f from afar. In forests like 35e473f308 these, anything other dea63d76ea than his presence 644da38301 could be a 53c435086f threat, especially in 2a3537cd4c a place like c578f4e8b2 this.8f49f1d21f15dda1
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One, two… three.224f9845bb00619b
There were three of them.35c95bb7cceab037
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Just three, that is fine.f388b22c8f5e2a32
They urgently drove their 993c8cfa98 horses over, dismounted, and aacc545d73 set something heavy on 4f319dce93 the ground. 8a8ee18b1f5dc4f8
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Then, they began to bicker d2496d78b0 among themselves. The dispute, though not particularly 8607cec1c5 intense, and after a short 6578731a81 while, they mounted their horses d7223fb71d again and left along the 2291539504 path they had come from.47e95e7df73dea5f
Even after they had 662522a564 disappeared, Ballen remained motionless, edaea1199a leaning against the tree. He did not 4d855e3dbb care and was fe03c79413 not curious about 35536ac74c what they had c06add668f left behind either.9dd38fabdcb73e20
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In their conversation, parts likesuch a young child or time to wake upcaught his attention slightly, d89746e6e7 but he dismissed them.e70f8792cb98a2e7
At worst, they are c4273a7e0a either already a corpse ea3b30c5e6 by now or about 4518879b27 to become one soon.fa9fa4131e723b0c
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In times like 8363abba00 these, unidentified corpses 5419a9e7f4 dumped deep in 6a4084b7f6 the mountains are 0152aaf99e not all that 4b3ac51868 unusual. Intending to rest for 098550bb00 a moment, he quietly 5109fe7877 closed his eyes again.01a3ae97f2cff9af
At that moment, what 7c976b54e9 the men had left 081cb58bee behind, thecorpseor what they thought 5672254aa8 would soon become acorpse, began to squirm.e409417f5af0d3aa
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Ballen narrowed his 9648742993 eyes at the 9aa2c75579 new presence. Soon, it made 7e0f6f6392 a rustling, noisy 90ad24603b sound before quickly 64b6037ad8 falling silent.36e4589eef81ff31
After a brief silence, a 5f1cac7609 faint voice suddenly emerged.0cd1175a39c68cad
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“Puhah!”4fef6ee88b112afa
“Hah! It was real?! I went back a50b2abac3 to age ten?!”f355e242aa0ebf01
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“…….”85e79ecd68817628
I hated anything that bothered 1e2435612c me.1fd10a7e954317a9
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Whether it was already acorpseor soon to become one, 27f735cbb9 I could not say, but adad46d93a for it to return to 1db068d274 life and speak is something b5e467ef3f that cannot be ignored, either fe561a7ba2 morally or in good conscience.f915e795b8d3bd21
I stood up and trudged e54187d83c towards the sound.6fedfa33a9da741d
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Trampling down the bothersome 414b4558bc underbrush that blocked the 93177b8393 way without a second 8ad569115b thought, he sprang out 4847b6a317 toward the owner of ed706fdb2f that voice.321513550c579df3
“Gasp?!”5876e551a8bcb6cf
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She seemed pretty startled b77f3caea7 upon discovering him. Even Ballen was surprised by 889bc4c51f the sight of the young b4e74a42a8 girl, who swallowed a cry 67aaa506e7 and fell backwards.99998eb12d1935f8
Well, this is something.4798d05e6d115cc6
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Ballen had witnessed 6d0d5e55d5 countless wars and 7fc867b1e6 had seen the 1b43c9b4e2 ruthless individuals who c12950527d used children to 5bfa3fe031 strike at his 2ff38c24c4 neck many times.6e1318b6776fb08b
Were it not for the 5b708bfd89 knowledge that the child before 1b797436a1 him had arrived wrapped in 012f23f494 a blanket, his sword might 24fe363234 have already found its mark.3bb308c8423c050a
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“I apologize for startling you. However, at this time, it seems that this may not be a place for someone of your age…”47010f7f0082ee6d
His golden eyes stared down 3d86221eb7 at Elysia intently.db236ecdf0650f42
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A shudder ran 852e1a1cf6 down her spine e929b593c1 at his gaze, 7d3d237208 and then, Ballen 8f6248a165 slipped the cloak 9de89b9384 from his shoulders 5537d932cd and carefully wrapped 2c15376cce it around Elysia.85def7622c759e71
“Oh!”384d13f789608044
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She staggered under the e9ea304b0a unexpected weight.d2aec7643612ae84
The form became such that d485469b0b it was impossible to tell a04ac045f9 whether she was wearing the 32b8fb3c70 cloak or buried in it.a7bf613b7ab66d4c
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The first step 5cdc085691 was to build 1a3c42216d a fire. While Ballen was used to e969a7f4bb fighting on the battlefield and 301240f5c3 enduring the cold without fire, bc58dceefd this young child seemed entirely dcc7284d20 unaccustomed to such hardships.36dcd2784a6559d5
I gathered dry firewood and ea7e9ae53d roughly lit a fire. The crackling sound fe91de403d of the dry 01eec6b0c0 firewood burning gently b73602e955 echoed through the 105e554d16 quiet forest.9b279f450291d09d
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“So, you were a lady of the Count of Creed’s family.”1cd34bc112b4538a
“Yes.”4fc26f2f94a40df1
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“Then, what will you do now?”d54520b3b3ff7ff6
“….”2a425c8ecbfe0800
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As Elysia quietly watched 29272da8b4 the flickering campfire, he d4396ec684 spoke to her.b50c2b2e4aac447e
She paused in thought, rose fe5f2cea20 to her feet, dusted off b82ce2ab0f the dirt clinging to her 934841553d skirt, and adjusted her clothing.0a95bee6fe53a109
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But everything remained hidden beneath 307ebab721 the weight of an oversized 88a0c49ead cloak, leaving her appearance plain 7b6f116b3c and unremarkable.3fd6ff48cfeb78dc
Clearing her throat, Elysia began 09e7dbef68 to speak.c9f3fb9570dddcef
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“I apologize for the many impolite actions on our first meeting. I would be grateful if you could pretend that none of today ever happened.”74f3d4408dd15f2d
“You want me to pretend I did not see it?”5049fe6a82a93a5f
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“Yes.”3c066f9a85cde1c8
He leaned against the tree 68dc945b8f trunk behind him and crossed b1555fbf22 his arms.c464b3abfb976232
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“Did you think I… was going to do something?”c804b39946eef9bd
“Ah, yes. That is correct.”3ebe6002a1ec9430
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“….”9369d11def9f9dce
At her firm 1bbfdd56f8 reply, Ballen was 4eeed97449 momentarily speechless.9eb9ba4ad1da971b
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At that moment, she 79d5a69fd1 suddenly remembered Kain, who 497d598cc3 had passionately pursued justice 1f09ca75f7 with fervent determination.f6fbc2fbeaa57949
Perhaps because of a40276f820 that memory, Elysia a70ea4e9c3 wondered if Duke dac92ddfda Ballen might act 49bb2d818a the same way.4d73812b7699765c
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That would be troublesome.75e2bdde7ad6887c
Ballen tilted his head to 656c75b4ae the side, slightly askew.ac9f4e8c2e91e517
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“Hmm… Are you saying I should demonstrate chivalry, investigate this matter thoroughly, and apprehend the culprit?”c0fce597014440f8
“No, not to that extent.”a9c992c1d08a945e
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“Then why are you stopping me? If I step in ad7e40ab4a and round them all b6a8e83752 up, would it not e8486bdcbf make things much easier for you in the future?”e2ff820fba7da52c
He asked in a languid ba71c5cdd7 tone, and Elysia blinked her 66ea56de04 large eyes.d60a393fb9547372
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Kain, the crown prince, had 6df0649d58 been the same. He declared he 62ab4eb0fd would take control f419df506d of the situation 57fe2b2ecf and use his 205e4a4448 imperial authority to 60508f7315 arrest everyone.d31618f551a750ea
But there had been no 2c71d90fa3 evidence.3ddd9fddd98e7978
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In the Sephiran d6bb15c682 Empire, a person d07b6c0aaa could only be 849555ac0a accountable for a 9c6e85d4c2 crime if there 4e8a7c1d1f was irrefutable evidence a42b21390e and credible witnesses.f2ed27e4062104ae
Without witnesses or evidence, mere a121aa5277 suspicion was not entirely enough 04d0b43a9a to accuse someone of a 7f1fe9ba01 crime, especially if the perpetrator c9b656c4f7 was royalty.42152af284488fb3
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The person behind all d77224e1a5 this was highly skilled 19b575cff3 at protecting themselves.f2f62054e821c5e1
Even if they pursued 3c02733d20 the matter now, it 880313d736 was clear that it 74b7875360 would not affect that 11cf580cf5 person in any way.b33d2476d6eef4ec
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They would merely sacrifice 609caf4a1a some powerless scapegoats, cut e8694f50a8 the tail and disappear 051a9e3314 without a trace.f046a6d5a07a37eb
“You will not be able to find any evidence.”0075a7a0cd8436f6
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“…”59d27aa2ec1d9d02
No other family in the 5338c06b5b Sephiran Empire could rival his b3aa261d4c intellect. And yet, this young 12e84b93e3 lady, speaking of evidence, 6b3ff77db4 and he nearly laughed.d86871d41d041081
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He quickly composed his expression 8b17e900fd and rubbed his forehead a 5b01668a0f few times.1ea419e79ce8b81c
How bothersome.c37120a94069e9fb
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“Sigh.”f72fb74ca2eba360
At his sigh, Elysia ad0f7edfb4 subtly lifted her blue e619c36ed5 eyes to look at 5c0884b756 his face.0ced64ea36e1bacd
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He raised his head 065199499f and met her gaze.4795f600c9313d7b
“Lady Elysia.”e8c879487809ed9b
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“Yes.”44c8753181f4afe8
“I despise troublesome matters. Frankly, I would rather leave you behind and go my own way.”1f51c3a92286d935
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Gulp.853cf00c3bc66065
Elysia swallowed dryly at the 2fcefb21c9 sudden premonition that he might 18a4db26e7 abandon her.eeba418846a83bbd
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With Crown Prince Cain absent afcc9427fa from the current situation, being 17a0186b8d left alone would undoubtedly lead 1882962d54 to her becoming the centrepiece 461525f2bb of a feast for wild a952f6b71e beasts.039f878874e606e8
Duke Ballen, renowned as the f47794d0dd undefeated hero on the battlefield, a9fa3add00 was also shadowed by numerous eb58852039 unsavoury rumours.1f5322db9b8fb89b
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One rumour claimed he was 47777a6a44 selfish and did not spare 3d87eacf9d a single thought for others.b2331bd3b46e2341
Of course, as someone cefb89ee59 who had been following def14839bf his appearances in newspapers 5daaebd34e and collecting clippings about 69fc341830 him, Elysia had never 136d984c46 believed those rumours.89f8bd534659d310
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But just now, just a bc746c3203 little, the tiniest bit.f323eda016bb8a24
She began to think 7b5a7e5ec8 that they might be ed5b3fe170 true after all.b0011978f8a9138e
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As she rolled 4566401827 her eyes in 4709a9bba3 thought, his voice 5929494d30 suddenly came at 85ed96ccb5 her again.d7b3840ff62046c2
“Still, my conscience will not allow me to ignore this, I feel obligated to save your life. So, what would you ecb964cba3 like me to do?”f1d0317752ebccbd
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0f7a7992f52ddc65
***2dbc7d282d28e062
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d76f6bc178785c82
Throughout her twenty-nine regressions, Elysia 31523e978f had managed to survive until fefe0b2c4c the age of ten, only 74870348cf to be kidnapped and abandoned 889bcc9bb1 more times than she could df8f261f47 count on her fingers.6c0f660ea3a7e6e0
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What a life, one 4673d12c51 where repeated learning has 44467d4dcb no effect. What is the 9a66c48410 point of sending 8f54729e03 me back if e6caac4412 I do not 729dc0d469 retain my memories?005ebaddf9cc6ce3
Each time, she could 60d0221ece not go straight back 2b5a0dce4b to the Count’s estate 603c279b94 wherethat person, the one who had tried to kill her, resided.473b57f60f325400
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She was terrified ofthat person.6f2fc702895ad21e
A few years ago, in 733c63173f the village of Plunkert, where 49c8cad51c her nanny Madeleine lived, the 75e299dd6a woman who had protected and 232d716689 raised her.e2ae5b5dce600a9b
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Madeleine had once swallowed poison 14b62b2aba in an attempt to protect 3c06dce2cb Elysia. Though she barely managed to 90b642e88c live, Elysia, who had loved 529258a7e3 Madeleine deeply, could no longer 6f6febd832 keep her by her side.204db07280cd38b7
She feared that next 17e945ca4e time, Madeleine might really e084371ad5 lose her life and a8a52281bf leave her forever.4cc83b9c69985472
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Still, why has Kain bd9d087cfa not shown up yet…?971f43ef53fcdeb6
When Ballen asked, ‘What would you like me to do?’She agonized over it for 9cc86c7931 a long while.a062c1965e6670d2
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Even though quite some f05e89745a time had passed, Kain 3009c5a71e still had not appeared. She could not afford to 96705f2de7 wait endlessly for those two a1b80fbd92 to show up.c61e0face6ebd3d9
Now that she had returned,be2e9204c081c0d1
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It is my final regression. I tried to 86e52a3648 escape it all 1eba47d9cc by hiding and f0ae2ec111 running, but no d0e4feab34 matter what I 3eeae8aa87 did, death was 3338cda566 always waiting at b2682c7064 the end.f81283c3d511cf5e
She had lived in 1da467f310 hiding out of fear d33ea59dd0 of dying. But this time, 2349704e6c she could not 509ea512b1 waste the opportunity 67f3e70cf4 by doing the c2f3010334 same thing again.9cf5dba5a7b8924d
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After much deliberation, 0c58727180 she raised her 3f5f2056e1 head and looked 4a8cde6314 straight into Ballen’s 79619bc96a eyes.053294df8609ade4
For once, she resolved a3f19e6e26 not to run away.75c9cb1c2e29d6a5
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“Please take me to the Creed Count’s estate.”1084d03a2021f615
Ballen’s eyes briefly widened in 030b95ba77 surprise at her unexpected request.475bd313e17df5b0
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“…Hmm. That should not be difficult.”10b6e01fe90285ec
It was clear to anyone 57ccfbd66d that this incident was an 842314e8b0 internal affair orchestrated by the Creed Count’s household. Yet here she was, ca541a7625 asking to go back 5866c1c256 there.9366d8d7a92b05d2
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Are you going there to 4e2638630e die again?e29dc9e99236229e
Ballen held back the 1bbfef4ca7 last words that almost ec44b2d746 escaped as he looked 43201e357a into her determined gaze.07fdf206a8a29b72
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