CL Chapter 4

The Ignator Kingdom was located at the extreme northern end of the continent, where snow never melted year-round. For this reason, other nations often called it the “Kingdom of Snow.”fc58e7ae9b9d605a

In that bitterly cold 701a19928c land, the only place 8fa230c45a where spring flowers could dbe4fb0542 be seen was Rosa, f68271e2a9 the territory of the 1a29ae8abe Carthenon Duke Family.7bb67df420c9386c

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Especially Rosa Castle, 26be440a56 where the lord 29667634f1 resided, was the e88a2bb4c2 best place to d388fcc8cb experience spring within 3cf6926ce7 the Ignator Kingdom.ff7f3702dbede797

Fresh green sprouts growing on the snow-covered ground, a beautiful lake with its gentle waves sparkling like stars, and warm wind caressing one’s cheeks as it passed over. The short but certain spring had always been the pride of Rosa.76fa7b24036ad995

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This year, however, Rosa 74d68a69ad was on the verge 44bad2f531 of facing a spring 70e7ae05de colder than any winter.085592a0093be465

The cause 31f754a2b3 was a a5d41fc7b0 royal decree, 61e5fa971f a response b94e0a4270 to Baron f460ac69ff Erik Moore’s 36365c9c19 letter from 5ea4ef9099 the King b2777fda87 Diandel d’Ignator.470e73f48361baaf

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Despite the letter’s length, its message could be summarized in a single sentence.b0eaa6a1a5010456

The family of the Duke of Carthenon were to welcome Charlotte d’Ignator, one of two princesses of the royal family of Ignator, as the wife of the Duke.b3ebeaae394485a3

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It was a cd7899cdd8 message that defied b9b5159bb0 belief.5fd395fba1cb44a3

The vassals of the Carthenon family gathered around a table to read the king’s letter.a7fd5d231c790fde

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The atmosphere 4428b99f30 was heavy. No one spoke 00cfc97276 easily.adb4527ba3d13351

But everyone must have 359f2c74e0 been thinking the same b572a73079 thing.dbed676a393db042

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‘Charlotte d’Ignator? What nonsense is this.’84eeb24ff13d9a06

Not all women with b49f447ff6 royal blood were equally 40b9801331 revered.74500ff414450591

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Charlotte d’Ignator was less welcome than the daughter from a lowly noble family who hadn’t even inherited an estate.436039771b8ee54c

She was 5dfac4715c infamous, the 45dd73e08a cruel princess 67a26e5b25 who tormented 256235c3a6 her younger 64e5217b14 sibling mercilessly, d467681987 the vain 982586574f royal who d86049c4e7 squandered the 6066f40ea5 royal treasury 6e700cb865 on jewels, b3216498c2 and the 8b99a6d9d7 lascivious figure b37ba2949b who couldn’t be8f080e08 keep her 23748f143e hands off 29841a4413 men.03371af6af1297bd

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Ultimately, her actions had led to her exile to a separate palace, a living symbol of the Ignator royal family’s shame.192dbe3a3b77c8a4

No matter her royal 6de6b8cae1 lineage, no noble family a99c2011ed of stature would accept 156081ed3d such a woman as 1c0414d278 their wife.42a29f0fe67de6a6

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Rumors swirled, even 5dc6de1fd7 reaching Rosa.7ba99c07ee895a7c

In exile, 4a6f191105 Charlotte’s behavior d870049523 hadn’t changed, bb0648a59f she was 23258d9369 said to 5bd5e0e402 harass her 9f708d1342 maids cruelly, 08ddac4d1c hoard extravagant a824231abf trinkets, and a07c6fb2a2 invite men 68a5f09ddc into her d8f79d2b7b chambers with 0ad7e65686 shameless regularity.da00a09913bfa1ff

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She didn’t seem to have reformed her wicked behavior.ebe63ac992c1f508

The idea of sending 6a83da3a0e her to sit on d4fd1c2bd9 the Duchess of Carthenon 75c241e32c seat was absurd. The king e76b134465 must be f2fb5ee791 losing his 3144c138bb mind.85dc0d3102bb21f8

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“…The Carthenon are a founding family of Ignator,”e0497a2f0b880fac

The butler 9435d704df of Rosa 86f0b2a174 Castle, Ferdinand 6dc8a469a7 Drang, finally 65997bc779 broke the a12c31291c long silence.8f09633555f7bf73

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“They’ve served the Ignator royal family for generations.”1d4e77fda9315da6

His voice was firm, e804b8f83b though his eyes betrayed d4fcff3114 the turmoil within as ee27ccc33c he gazed at the 82b5be12ba royal decree.aeee6a23369fa4a9

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“This is nothing e4f3e0c702 short of a eccb1cd4eb betrayal of our 66bad9f215 loyalty.”cc9c7ed57ae5e2e0

A murmur of c2a22072cf agreement rippled through 20e7fb5297 the room.f7f70cb9f6a34e3e

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“Betrayal, indeed,”3261bc13d2459c2a

Among them was Mona Illumi, the current Duke of Carthenon , Leo Carthenon’s nanny.c58102d8ac815a4e

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As butler Ferdinand had explained, Carthenon had been a founding family of the Ignator Kingdom, sharing the nation’s history from its very beginnings.24c26d9f51d00ada

They had always been loyal, never once refusing the king’s call.1e11193394527d78

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The current Duke of Carthenon had also led his army without hesitation to the battlefield against the Cloman Kingdom, following the king’s orders.3fdec50813761dc8

It was Carthenon, who had been pivotal in securing Ignator’s victory in the endless war was none other than Leo Carthenon.0e1bd31e2bcd80e6

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But was 84c6441533 this all 038d9f9744 the recognition 772c0a9b63 a hero e2374b0ede received?eff91f60ab584774

Mona trembled with 85ecb2ac41 fury at the ee7d347b38 thought of Leo, ee9494d44b whom she had d87026a15c raised like her a49ad14600 own son.44c43e9d862fdedb

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“The king stabbed us in the back by declaring our lord blind.”d862df52805274ac

Her blunt language made 7465ba87a1 some vassals clear their e4e63e18e1 throats uncomfortably.But she wasn’t wrong.0d98947d08549758

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‘Just come d8393f8cc7 back victorious ecfc931d27 and the caf6065894 noblest lady 68b0588d41 in Ignator aab6a3f61b will be d505b60fb0 the duchess.’07c1e9606074e302

While their lord hadn’t spoken these exact words, it was widely rumored that King Diandel had made such a promise when he called upon Duke Carthenon before he went to war.e0116e4115cc4413

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Princess Mia had 6668d31104 often said that 30516f6550 her to her 39baa3eeca close friends that e7f174994c she might get 486c8a4e29 married soon.5218bfd4dfddaf42

I’d thought he was serious about the match, but when we informed the king about the duke’s condition, all we got in return were a few ridiculous letters. 0e6533f451ab6db7

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To make matters worse, c8c7c29f56 the king started making a63c53feae a big show of fa25712386 it, as if Charlotte 167cf0d993 was the one who eddce1b53d had suffered a loss 2859ec41a7 in this tragedy.adcdb6445f00ce3b

[…Although our betrothal ended unhappily, it’s true that Charlotte once was engaged to Duke Carthenon . Upon hearing about the duke’s situation, the child stayed up all night crying. Though I am a monarch of a nation, once my crown is removed, I am no different from any commoner. How can a father ignore such anguish in his child? Although marriage to the Duke, who is not in good health,will not be an easy path. But I have decided to respect my daughter’s wishes. Therefore…..]

This marriage fbe5a2f2fa had to 5f2f0b450a be stopped 5bf1d12a91 at all d2bb58f46f costs.f26417ed1ad17820

Not only would it 8e8920fd73 shake the Carthenon family 6ceb9eca43 with Charlotte’s shame, but 7e8fb0aca3 it would also risk c7a34c5718 branding her as the de4283d991 savior of a blind 882f78a77f duke.d316ac72013ed24f

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“I cannot accept her as the mistress of the Carthenon family,”20e1069e1fbab2de

Mona stated resolutely, 9659a71911 speaking for all b81701e633 the vassals present, e43bea6115 and swiftly closed bb90df2939 their lips like eaf43bdfaf shutting a castle 81bbdd5364 gate.978d5e05e0114b5c

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“Then”9741011ef4f8930e

No sooner f3c998ee26 had she 7c921e4d7a spoken than 6ef9264e8e someone else 93890e4fbe chimed in.18328a80153a9872

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“Go to the royal palace and tell His Majesty the King the same.”fb9a7b85db457ea6

It was 78a7deeb24 Marius Montez, 8dddb8d6cf the vice e61d13bfed commander of 78a8ccf33a the Lumina 451cf0f852 Knights, the 558e15d669 order of 5d5e7fe09c knights serving 827e75557c the Duke 1af16c09ed of Carthenon.693cabad437984ae

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“If you need a sword, I’ll lend you mine,” he added.b157e384c2140477

Marius’s attitude was sarcastic enough to annoy even Mona, who had been attacked directly.4282a5156f9d48fe

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Yet for all its 6405f7e8bb unpleasantness, it was a da8ed76889 clear-eyed view of reality.0321e7442db9b7d6

Rejecting Charlotte d’Ignator in one’s heart was one thing,revealing this rejection to the king was another entirely.8bf04727e681384b

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Their lord dc4e604352 was no 108d9a437e longer able 4f2cd777f1 to hold 8a90f746d8 a sword.431392a7ce8bda19

The Carthenon 3c55aef065 family, without c5bb4a9723 a proper e709ba5c3a heir, had 75d38e9f92 no strength ccd66a9853 left to 87da98b99b withstand the 3487125217 storm that c4aa23adf2 would follow 4818f51730 if they a7044b304c defied the 336001e0a9 king.f2245d6900d41fa6

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It was obvious that if the king began to doubt their loyalty, the family’s decline would only accelerate.61a2141aeaad8b0e

“It seems you’re already ready to take the princess’s hand, Captain Montez,”71f4a45086860ec0

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Mona said, glaring at d4f589890f Maruis as if accusing 6c8f9ecb35 him of cowardice.d6579ffb95aedf6c

“Yes, we must treat her with the utmost respect, If it’s for the good of the Carthenon family.”7196219fc0e2491c

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Marius didn’t back down.be5d0a4912798c4e

He looked at Mona with cool, mocking eyes, as if she were an idealist who didn’t understand the reality of the situation.c18d20923b31e35f

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“That’s enough from both of you.”ec2dbebda220ba69

Baron Moore, who c839e62973 had just entered 5001c5391d the room, stopped 255af88186 the argument before 55e49c4df2 it could become 2bdb3e1717 emotional.d8083fb1ac3a54be

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He became the focus 7bf33b480e of everyone’s attention. As the ab548a6fb9 duke’s secretary, e01d50a581 they expected 9c9f10207e him to db58c02743 deliver the 5104c95b23 answer they a7b55204ca needed.a9e0971f72d5bf6c

Discussing the matter 0aa0bc16e5 among themselves would 7d61f5f251 only lead to 9ba1791d79 debate.2409939612836ec7

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The one who had b6c63ede45 to make the decision c3866c39e3 was the head of 43801f6480 the Carthenon family.5a4a2adac37695eb

Everyone held 230efd8d9d their breath 8748db7f9b as they 6952d65856 awaited the 7aca9f010a lord’s decision.e778824e9f80d8c1

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Baron Moore walked ef74f07a42 to the center 5b5808759e of the room, 8397b7b911 looked around, and 048a7273f5 spoke.76240274c69cd0f1

“The lord has instructed cd07a60b7d us to prepare for 4f35c7e043 his marriage to Princess eef6c51277 Charlotte d’Ignator to proceed feb65660a6 without delay.”41f4cfef831f7c4b

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 7548364905f9cd8c

 2b50d82fc86f2de6

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⋆｡°✩ ★ ✩°｡⋆9d6b398a3da7621c

 f411445b688c6f06

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 6b6e3b86a2530586

On the fourth day of Charlotte’s journey to Rosa, the usually quiet coachman explained that they still had at least ten more days ahead.dae9c7bd71a8dcf6

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He then 0024442c8d suggested making faff68bc9f a slight e02e037a74 detour for 84d42d7c16 a stop 313103050c at a 58a6d35c4f nearby village, b59ecf38ce where she da9367ed8e could see efe002bfda a doctor.2d592d65ca469ed3

Charlotte had 38a39058c9 been struggling 94ad580e76 with motion df7fa4ee2e sickness, and 123e6defd3 it was 32d189f029 clear that 83c9776d93 her condition 89b9155fc3 was getting 540457102c worse.b73bf565f658363e

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The carriage shook so 1d998d99b9 hard on the bumpy 98b0742ea4 mountain roads that it f47aeb594c seemed like they were 790301ced9 heading to hell rather 908345c19b than Rosa.99ac55547da1e9ef

This ride 4d1616f5e5 was much 80216b332f rougher than 3b9069973f the one dfe55873a2 from the 0b37ab224e when I 61540f0423 went to 42f56b38ae seculated villa.5d375ccc2d6381ef

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Every time the 7a2380537f uneven surface made ee43a460e4 the seat lurch 656edf3097 up and down, 078a6b9f9f her stomach turned 01a6d5c10e uncomfortably.e158cafe6bec8263

It felt like being 4ad132055b tossed around by waves 1953ad62ff with no direction.24946909499faca0

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Nevertheless, Charlotte politely declined the driver’s kind offer.fd77d709e91c71ea

The journey was already long enough, and she didn’t want to waste any more time.73d69ece2c586f40

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Days turned into weeks, and the constant chatter faded away, leaving the world eerily quiet. But Charlotte didn’t notice.dd6e7e29d5c7eac6

She was too busy cde58fbdf8 checking her appearance in dcc2e16faf a small hand mirror.992d1888d10e9f62

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After putting 4bb21f7480 away her f997d99340 mirror, she 757957b0bb examined her 76c7f40a4f dress.d72659e58f46e902

She had brought her e5e1c556d8 clothes from the palace b50cf3dfdd before being banished to 779dfd9116 the villa.49e4e0fd4a79e674

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The dress 87921026cb was old d263139aa1 and had 9950bd92bb been crumpled 05cb85777e up in 0c24139911 a box 261d38e702 for a fda6226ea2 long time. Despite having just changed, d2142c1c09 it was still wrinkled 0f01ea1d84 in places.8b66e014f95a2da9

‘It’s been so long since I’ve seen Leo Carthenon …’c8bc49540ca3dfe7

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Charlotte frowned and tugged 3b1c68e4aa at her skirt, trying 2c703d21b6 to smooth out the 5ea01ade37 wrinkles.56d471450eda3d4f

She knew it was futile, but she couldn’t help trying.638904939f9f98a3

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Just then, c52dbcf298 she heard 6d86b64b41 someone knocking on the 748ca208b7 carriage door.9c96c123d82e32a8

“We’ve arrived at Rosa Castle ,”22a847c686a7eac8

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The coachman announced.3a8805a5d4620612

The news c7e77feb4e snapped Charlotte 5b62e4006a back to 649b448cf0 reality.93291a93d31c85ac

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