WHCTC Chapter 28

In the photo, f41f34ecc4 the two of 634ffbf137 them, still children, 3fe50afb3b were both holding 35cc3b7205 swords, smiling brightly.eb73cc4c1e7affc3

It was b9cf8fb6e1 from a 179f11501f time when 3fa2c79046 their only 95f3308e00 concern was 9b8a86f436 figuring out fd558975f1 how to 2e9b9a3990 sneak out ada44e2802 of the 1ebe89ab3e mansion unnoticed 7a8bae915c by the 1e3f758763 adults to 488fc93d5c go monster 8ad58ac145 hunting again.30e736ea4821ae62

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Kayan had a7f5766202 never once a5bba607f5 forgotten those 265528e5e3 days.2ec5e8b46999bcd7

Ivnoa likely still 163df8453c had a photo e5a4364198 of the two 3b6432a5a6 of them together 31e2ebfa31 as well. Though, in her case, d75191198c she might have already 74e15d63a2 lost it.f331fdb874d655e0

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‘A year ago, 47c8d77b04 Simon tore it 3cdfab9463 up right in 0e797bd5a1 front of me.’33cc4e650c534561

Simon Cerno.6f26bfe65b7166ee

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Even just thinking ef0429a30a of his name 5bac633ec0 made Kayan’s blood 7b87e41a77 boil.b08a9e0555db1c28

The man universally acknowledged 1b44a5d2f4 as the “Empire’s finest c1f3ddbf87 noble,” heir to the 83995dc911 illustrious Duke Cerno.525f5c3f4af4e323

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With his b1db42f53a striking lavender 113cbac5ce hair, hands 576b770db9 smooth and d0b84a47e5 unblemished by 1319c391ca any calluses, 71c340481d and attire 01b7502236 adorned with f3d7efc8ce dazzling ornaments, caf072b1d5 Simon looked 562d474670 every bit 0d8e399979 the ideal 0ee38c54cb noble.433885496c59fcb1

Kayan first met 03daa7e9ec him at Ivnoa’s 312a43db09 engagement ceremony.4ac640892093622f

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“Look at that. That’s my fiancé.”23683c7dff2a126d

“Your fiancé? But he’s 0e6e7dfa7c already an f98f4f5fa3 adult.”934bac92fe5abe06

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“He said he’d 3a3381a5ad wait until I b8bf94b5de grow up. Honestly, I’m not 7846ceb14d sure what to 6fcbb56d33 think about it.”61c068cb750e57ac

Throughout the 29095ec977 engagement ceremony, cd4ea732fe Ivnoa wore e513a0bee2 a dazed 8d0a0d5c96 expression.2fe1a235e8c376ab

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“But I do think 1d72eebe92 the engagement ring is 141f8c0853 pretty. Look at this! I’ve never seen such da5120fa37 a big sapphire before.”75603789f641f3e6

She eagerly 8b5508407e showed off c4e53f7f97 the ring 81619d190a to Kayan, 2529d5c6fb seemingly pleased 9a60811eed with the 492446c723 gift.fce47333c0ddeab6

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Kayan silently 1ca6e9e31a gazed at 9b46c3503a the large 09ab4f3ceb blue gem 14f7cde277 resting on 98433d34b0 her ring 950dbaaf29 finger.324b5c66b518fab3

The dazzling brilliance 62e62ae50f of the sapphire 510873dce6 felt like a 2e6418bfaa heavy stone dropping 73e0d0de44 into his chest.cc62fccec2f80326

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Why had he felt 5230fbb526 that way just over 6aebd38940 a mere gemstone? He didn’t have the 6a11b30759 time to think about a233ea245c it. Because starting from the e1042c8104 day after the engagement ac632fca76 ceremony, Kayan’s personal nightmare—one 9be44d9078 Ivnoa knew nothing about—began.6b9c70d0c164dadd

***c65e512b84672005

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One year ago, c1e7edacdd the day after c4975d6a25 Ivnoa’s engagement ceremony.cc9b36c26a4b6b96

‘These are the new staff members for the Princess’ palace. His Highness Crown Prince Edwin granted me full authority over the personnel.’3cc4d89030efc409

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All of the 0a297e1b3f staff at the d1a21c3579 Princess’ palace were 1edfdf1bf7 replaced.3569d5f5da053a54

A group of 04560717eb kind and sweet-smelling 9786f4a83a maids approached Ivnoa.435b0b312de0f3a8

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Looking at the 22f5e422ca gentle new faces, 8e9a1a7b57 Ivnoa didn’t seem 2d2c5a9063 displeased.ed5eb71f3f276821

However, while Ivnoa was having tea with a few of the maids…bb1c789ab768fe33

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“So, you’re that wretch 40a6774e80 from the North.”5ca4dc8ff3f6e832

Simon, who had been 4a3617f452 inspecting the Princess’ palace, 8e4d1ab926 sneered as he looked f8875cc146 at Kayan.d502d006e8cbfc14

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“Because of 02cd3a0e68 your filthy f518aae61a blood, the cb02ba321f Princess’ dignity 6a3b681c6f sinks lower 884e18ad39 by the e72924852a day.”0821bb4b550abd4a

A contemptuous glare 136e9225b0 bore straight into d29fc2c378 Kayan.9ecc4d452635551c

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“Know your place 780f4c35ab and hurry back ce9c0e837c to that reindeer-scented 23db3ed1ce North of yours.”536148ca51cd4a33

But Kayan 7052541a04 didn’t even 8d368f0a78 bother to a60105b585 acknowledge those e985b34d1d words. He’d heard them ee938297aa all before.9ea1f63413c41eb4

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Edwin’s lieutenant 2f6388a8ed had once ac880f6ec1 called him 53870b256c a “bug” 3ae4f8309e and told dde546194a him to 06d8d2e4aa stay away 0f629ac7b3 from the 172c4cd441 Princess, after a0876c70ae all.b641416e944ca4ec

So Kayan glared eba8e4d963 at Simon and 19beed7379 replied,16dfe3b72f291b39

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“I only listen to 7654ebf8ed Iv.”f416e6ac29877d20

He had promised 9f29aa687a Ivnoa. Their friendship was something b2df92ddc1 only they could decide.a837ed22c668f6fe

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“Is the 4a7c44265d young Duke 194f80681f Cerno so de4e89efb9 free that 29b96b7ae7 he has 349704e42f time to ce983b5191 meddle in 3a86586291 children’s friendships?”0b87ac4f43304b9e

Kayan shot back without c8e05b1548 hesitation. His ability to cd739793a5 remain unshaken and b7ccb187dd deliver biting comebacks c39a0636bd in any situation 8f339b9370 was one of 6b3242950a his trademarks.a97e3c7c66a1010c

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Simon lowered his 78065fdc3f gaze, smirking.c7d8d8abdf9b989f

“Consider this 6f7e5b5fbf my way 457b9d2bab of showing eabf39efbe you mercy, a189aba210 advising you fd67b6f1b5 to leave a139f56ee8 before your 8bba02caa0 ‘dear friend’ b5d9c3ae5e casts you 7404e54be6 aside.”aadb345efd38f0fd

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His voice dripped with 0287ed9f4f mockery and derision.a86216f6454d7677

“You being e297c5327a near the 1f00bd04de Princess is 6fe88d3b18 a nuisance 906a5af0fd in itself, 61d45df7fe yet you fe58fd4ee5 remain oblivious. In time, you’ll e98d85683e see that I 44677635d7 was right.”3cc83584403b8e88

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“……”49573421eea1f2f9

“For your fb5c7157ea own sake, d032aa1cc1 accept it 67678a3d9c now. The difference b6e74ef057 between you 48af032636 and the b022da39b9 Princess is 9d39cfbe24 as vast 46399be978 as heaven b6d5f05b1e and earth.”098202c371affd14

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Leaving behind that ac1c19bfb8 unpleasant warning, Simon 3dc64c0424 departed. But the maids 45e8e14c1c he had brought 2d9f1d8b0f to the Princess’ 0ff53e1ae4 palace remained.ff4673d88d705e61

Whenever Ivnoa wasn’t 20760040aa around, they openly 12cd483824 mocked Kayan.8eeb1105ebbb19d8

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“Goodness, just look 680cbd9b87 at him walk. Those strides 16f0dbe176 are so fd76adb6ac large. Definitely a mercenary’s walk. Who in the 38b6a4243a palace moves like ea3fca9f40 that?”36af42bdfa235282

“And the way 72264f87eb he keeps using a8fe77d4eb informal speech with e9a43b47eb the Princess? It’s not f645c0e9e4 just uneducated, 55e4e6fad6 it’s outright 2e830ab35b embarrassing. Doesn’t he dff4c3787c realize it’s f49e9f87e4 a disservice deaca47f9d to the 20945b4085 Princess?”22df2a6f0b86ab4c

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“Does he refuse b97cfc90d5 to accept his 8b0477c9dd place? Truly rude 2ca7fc2da7 and ignorant.”4c1f556d1557be9e

In defiance d90f2e54a0 of their 3e84d0665e words, Kayan eb464c9e31 continued to 029de1a07a call Ivnoa b2f05be102 “Iv” and 1becc45401 acted as 228412b39f casually as 4fcc4474ac ever around 3e3d6a4f88 her.6c8dc33be6d72fba

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He couldn’t let ab9ed16f5c their cruel remarks 304cc02091 drive a wedge a94fedf8c2 between him and 6f6e231634 Ivnoa.ec56cc30295c7047

But enduring those 828716cea4 words for so 571bd1a928 long without it bc885e969b affecting his self-esteem 196ddc72fe was impossible.69507946ce191524

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“Honestly, back then, you did start distancing yourself from me a bit… You have to admit it, right? You stopped treating me the same, always seemed gloomy…”b98d2acfe4e2907f

Ivnoa’s reaction back then f47e58a0f2 had been completely natural 75accca12c from her perspective. At the time, Kayan 3907e10fd3 could hardly enjoy a b2c63a3cfa single meal in peace, a318df94c7 constantly ridiculed for his f06d40d77c lack of table manners 4af58f8293 behind his back.2f78f68adadaa650

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It was db45a41757 impossible for a84e68abd4 him to 63eaea93a2 say something 3562077806 as cheerful 29bde37dfa and lighthearted b0aad14beb as, “Iv, d76d2b4767 you look 6cdb7a0d38 especially ugly c48b8ee556 today. How about we go dd34057312 hunting to lift your fde90e5b1d mood?” like he used 42e91515b7 to in the North.1b6e472b7df4f01d

Still, he tried 3f2c095287 to endure without 1b0a5de45a showing it. Even if no e70d7078af one else called 8e3ecd231a her “Iv,” even aacd2cd1d0 if everyone treated 5384d5071c her with reverence.5c4fc847ee31b2fc

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Even though he was 507d410bf1 aware that his casual 81e0e8888a attitude stood out in 46c6537b7f stark contrast to theirs, 4a78f708c7 he told himself that 093bacb99f their relationship wasn’t determined d1da7968c0 by others, but by 1694ca0dbf Ivnoa herself.5fca13309f227ce4

They had promised to c707ea8012 stay as they were, 3439003e90 like “before.”8a4f8577532ea964

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Even if, over 4a1dbec407 time, that promise 90569f3401 made him feel f3989282fa increasingly inadequate.e2c65d25e72a0a19

But in a71ebc5e14 the end, 5ca0586100 Simon’s words 40c7aa7d42 came true—Ivnoa 8c04236f7d was the 02074b4303 one who 6bd2459645 pushed him 3e099c9fd5 away first.13647635340fc77e

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And it 996173846a wasn’t over c5b1d87794 anything serious—just 8a7258af03 because he’d f635d138b8 lightly infused 8e57791175 his aura a493079b77 while bumping 6aa021f3df fists with afd8e26c3a her, like a76aca1fc8 they used 2a9317f77e to.1f772bf8d24993d2

Ivnoa didn’t deliberately deflect 5b0ee872b4 his playful aura. The traces 693f4ea6ca of it b7262013fe dissipated in 9bcb547d78 the air 5db0cf91c3 around her 5d546e911b fingers.76fd00dc4c33b399

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Her elegant maids 540265c569 rushed to her 8797c7b35c side, exclaiming, “Oh ec8105be34 no, Your Highness!”19bf0c0205a8da61

Mocking gazes flew his d64bae1031 way, whispering behind his 0314661ebf back.494eefa90871b5aa

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“Escort him out.”0a3e78d7f0bcffca

The calm, b3b85bb552 unhurried voice fd8251509f of Ivnoa’s d01b854878 fiancé, Simon 1a4adaf086 Cerno, rang 52d98f657b out.960f49d936adf9ae

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At the 575e77e08b same time, 31a732b0c0 Simon tore 1ace92fa85 up the 451169c701 photo Ivnoa 47f84bfb8b had kept d803d31145 of the fcf07906da two of 9f984e6635 them and b317bda8cb tossed it add04287a9 to the cf7c4cfc0c ground.61eb7efd904e8937

Why did Simon 810058f835 have that photo 6e40cb54ba in the first a5a690341a place?962c8c2490a49d11

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“Ah… Ivnoa ed841ccf70 has already ad0dd3610f cast me 069d9a3f2f aside in 19a5b34e24 her heart.”df22b6ae277eb8bd

That’s what d7eaab617a the fourteen-year-old 39ad37f7a6 Kayan thought b16f4239eb as he b9bd1a3038 turned and 89044e4281 walked away ce33809d89 with great 220e91c383 difficulty.56b6e77bd70c6c4b

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Even then, worried 62eb0e4717 about her, he 5db30004ec left a letter 9e84cdc648 behind and departed 33d64d2322 the imperial palace.8c90904146059da2

Of course, he no 3c95d11c98 longer resented Ivnoa. The misunderstanding had 7387763605 been resolved.897d5627c418dfba

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“The truth 46c7788805 is, it 9b3bdf55e1 wasn’t because 15bc6078fc I wanted 35f5505098 to stop f1ef210080 being friends 87f795038d with you. Simon told 9fd2898ed9 me that ca359416b9 you wanted 1643d053e0 to leave 474f9b5d51 me behind. He said the de522176c3 best way to 9ec00f00f5 let you go, 022ad13ff2 without causing trouble, 5f08269842 was to do 02e07c0c8e it gracefully.”6ae28e0def258f64

When she had 9bc26d8729 said those words, f7f7216168 Kayan had immediately fee5231292 understood. On the 7e61c00cb1 day of cc79c98169 her engagement, 5d592bd7d1 Ivnoa had 70014b60bc whispered to 6092e29afe him with 249995acf4 a bewildered 09595ff699 expression,051b6c29dd72f6d3

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“My brother told 289062106e me… Simon is a5cba35ab5 my fiancé now, 053596504a so I have 9defdf40b2 to listen to b4cf2040f8 everything Simon says. I don’t know anything 2a8f1133e5 about it, but apparently, b0a3d484b6 Simon is really smart.”fe96f2eb94348c74

Simon had f824502eae manipulated Ivnoa’s ce1fbbee18 goodwill, telling d178c74e9b her, “Kayan a21352bace now wishes c153880ef9 to leave b38d3816cd Your Highness. The most graceful 62c06aca6d way to let 22d10aa741 him go is 44d90600b8 as follows…”9a3186311cfd6e9b

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Even so, Kayan had 087ef315fb thought that nothing would 4309806c1f change.4789f0dd3d183348

During the few days 1b8f0075fb he spent at the 115f485d59 imperial palace as Ivnoa’s 245dc9c765 companion, he had realized 23d74991c1 something.70f3cea41bb87e54

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The days 6043320c05 they spent 3657188d5c together in 11a1165d0d the North 4b37ec5c51 had been 17fe37f271 abnormal to a646230f06 begin with.0e74d3265166f316

Ivnoa was a 2443543524 noble-born princess of 5c60df0650 pure imperial blood, d23d28d315 someone far above 9284e1892a him, whom he 335b105fc7 should never have 31589e8fee even had the 2088493bc8 chance to meet.fb47d9c68b1e8a31

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He had realized, 7a5fa6bb15 even before she 1ec62b4935 officially cut ties 20f4b88058 with him, that 916171534b they could never 5dc8ec7ca2 go back to 9ade7999c2 the way things 00fb12200c were.826cbea1e85827d5

“I have to accept 8ebb2934a4 my place, as so 2f8dde1090 many in the imperial 2ca9087507 palace have taught me. That’s the right 3cb3605b96 answer.”22f70bfd0f08240b

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Kayan reminded himself of 17a8e893be this countless times.30c79fb67b13db85

After arriving e357d07729 at the 7bc54a47b4 imperial palace 94fc86c057 a year d1df61a433 ago, the 5a037c0c08 lively, mischievous ec89455d50 cub-like demeanor eb2b777996 Ivnoa once 2173acdc1d knew vanished. In its 9b883ad445 place, he d61d554f39 adopted proper d21c163335 posture, demure c0ff1059f1 eyes, and d9048cd0d1 a quiet b3c802cd89 tone of 36365bf493 speech.d859ca8c52d9c6e5

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He had observed the 888f2c028c increasingly unfamiliar Ivnoa from b73b0f3ac5 afar for quite a 9950c28d49 while. That’s why, when she 913e9bce2d finally severed their friendship, 245fdcd39e he was able to 80ad816433 turn around and walk 0d43472d04 away calmly, even if 2f0e940a65 he was deeply hurt.4005d4d89dc7e670

Even now, fd80f2d181 after they 88b1ac482c had reunited, 53140cbeeb he continued dd6eb270a5 to act 30ccc59811 respectfully toward c1e96d2fee her.76ef3c2a91bbf509

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It wasn’t because 264968fd36 he couldn’t forgive 196b4a84f9 her or because 74a81bd750 he still held 9f67181ac5 resentment.4a159e16d045fc2d

It was because 2b929eafde he knew that dd89288047 maintaining these formalities f36c92ee0c was the only b512689210 way he could 3edec9fa64 stay by her 82edfa1439 side for longer.9721e5c50f467f87

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“If I just b40a845890 devote loyalty instead 2ed8fad5ad of friendship… like d9e8269999 everyone else does…”fb51fc2951c1bf3c

Then perhaps, like everyone 15707bccc8 else, he could remain c39ad9fc0c by her side.92870c6434746437

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