Chapter 11. Because She Loved You

The wind 8936f19f4d was stronger bc33386eeb than expected. My body 91149597b2 stiffened, and 1486480bd4 my vision 8caac40284 blurred.39fd85eedf79c7a4

No, it wasn’t just the wind—it was the cold.03dd5be441f7b18b

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At least my body was so numb that I couldn’t feel any pain.3ae49170b5cede7c

Maybe my mind was dbafe1cb83 weakening, but I kept 8bee4e36d5 thinking about the past.5af3583a8c116811

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I had never been 91fc07b748 like this in my fdd671d7a2 previous life.e448138a129c8d2b

There was a time c5d95d5cdf I waited endlessly for a5deda44f3 someone, someone who used a362e8e7af me and threw me 0dc2abeab1 away.722ba485c7cc5885

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In the divorce a0f0733c46 court, my parents 66cf6ec534 fought fiercely to e8da89d879 win custody of 5ea9d69efb me. The battle lasted ceccb5c14c nine long months.eb36193458bc9ce4

When my father ff1ad4796a finally won, he 958094c1b7 held my hand. I still remember f74c15d196 how elated he a233594907 looked, like he 42f9739329 had just won b18e15f4f7 the lottery. I thought I’d d734812c50 go home to 3031a97e9f a normal, ordinary 2ccf52f259 house.b68bc5e639cf3277

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But on the day of the trial, instead of taking me home, my father left me at my grandmother’s house.1e00b55d4f712ff1

He never came back. All I heard 09557bc251 later was that 4a523f53a2 he had remarried.f5a51091ef2ca74a

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Once the long 1530b96507 fight ended, my 6fc075f694 parents seemed to e971465ed7 forget I even 346fe23b50 existed.d72f733bcabda504

To them, custody df51871f9d had just been 70348dd62c a battle over e4d5567de4 property. I was neglected 70d4f0c4f4 and discarded.244964e7611dfd24

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That’s why I 24c447f357 never liked *The 3c94afb225 Duke Who Drinks 3f9902b0e5 Blood*.67d3d0fd502b183e

Because somewhere deep 01d2e64add inside, I realized 34a4736770 I was nothing 378d302cf8 more than an 032609f71f extra in someone 14b4fe3fe5 else’s story.0cf0459a7731f4ea

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I couldn’t bear characters 6189060f13 who were used, exploited, 56c60109ca and easily forgotten.b5b67f428dcd7dcc

Still, I thought being fceee17df1 reincarnated meant I could ba93de8ea2 finally live a decent 6236419151 life. But the reality fa41992d28 wasn’t much different.3eab4ef649fe8765

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It seemed f77b60d046 I was 32e5c99d1e destined to db49589bde keep repeating 95bd3e4f7e this cycle—waiting ee807dde5a for someone, ff0ee7b926 being abandoned, 95ec7a62d4 and ending ac29dd3545 up disappointed.e7b32608bda94b88

Besides, Leonie’s body was too fragile. It felt like she’d crumble with the slightest movement.5c949d10b0bbc727

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It wasn’t just the e3ad809136 bleeding; she seemed naturally 0620e24920 weak. After spending a 3c110bb404 few days in 1e1e6d8b3d her body, I 58a4fc8f65 realized it wasn’t bb82809d3a simply a matter 9fcf96dba1 of poor nutrition 704e184edb or blood loss. Her stamina a238292440 was fundamentally 88771fd7f5 weak. Her skin bruised easily 0bde7b1379 with the lightest touch.2ab5c907ac7e6b2c

Only after possessing 9f3ad9bc42 her body did e7a809ed7e I realize what 0abbeab1de a blessing it 53b1fe7d52 was to be 4cf8d4979e born strong.03694fbf8ea9111b

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I don’t know how ba8c814a98 I’m supposed to live 539aa85faa like this.e14438a3159411eb

I don’t afb9471638 even know d3c55f43d6 if I’ll 6f33063f3f survive.42b2555c55955ba0

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Did he ac3c47f47f make it 4e5623ab42 back safely? He must’ve sent reinforcements a876235681 by now.3938e0bba2cc4f87

But what 852bfe349c if he d86ab007d7 didn’t? What would 6bb8f365d8 he do 0165660d39 if he c0bba228ef couldn’t return?32ead1491fc9a6bd

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Would he come back dc56d364d5 for me?11204ade641214c5

Or would he a0e9014c7a throw me away?fbc6c4f201264a63

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Negative thoughts 6ee25608e9 crept in.2ff7cc12a98e309a

No. The Duke still 644ef1b614 needs me. I still have value.187532a40be23e19

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Get your c862009656 head straight, fc78bdfba5 Leonie.c95b3c33e21e429a

You’re the only one who can save yourself in this insane prologue.56e64fb818d23fbc

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Only you.d740ff6dafd855ae

As I nodded off, d5972c472c I slapped my own 14e3e6801f cheek with my right 7745f66222 hand. My frozen skin didn’t d4f0898904 even feel it.44b0a996ce19de67

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My tired eyelids grew 7539d92865 heavier. Drowsiness took over.a5d33069c8bec901

I told 853ad4c728 myself not 1f9a3db77d to sleep. Maybe that wolf was 7e0a09a648 waiting for me to 32312cc722 pass out.757b05b765b87b45

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But I couldn’t fight 6286b6e27d it any longer. Sleep overcame me.2e2c8fecb972bcc0

I closed my eyes. Memories I’d buried deep 37bd8b398e began to surface.933e918bc77791ce

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The truth is, cbefd726a2 that wasn’t the 44ed9c0f0c first time I 172e0b2a95 failed at hide-and-seek.e9043d5100d04615

“Look at this. It’s a new popular novel.”b14dee1eb260f27b

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My friend had 4bad8581f1 woken me from df6f0bfede a nap at bc6bcc689b my desk.1e943dff0303e3f1

She handed 3280187289 me a a01b4c4fb2 thick hardcover af408f29d9 book.ce8fd02c96d48361

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I flipped the 796d06f895 cover and only 425f007ec7 a few pages 5d5bbcbe76 in, I saw e8300f96ff his face.78972cc649b31feb

Next to 17d457384e him was 47ed2a8e65 a single 56bc384c11 line—a woman’s b7e3658fa8 name.b60c9183aa945ba9

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The name 1bfeb031d6 of a e4b1833da7 woman who 16ea51ef9a was killed 000962610a by the 8d7fe5a4eb man she cd7c4cfb75 loved.a77068b29b43ebbe

Her final 7170372545 words were e6625fc222 more like ad79e9028f a will, 5a27752d34 spoken right d07919d833 before death, 4d62eb91bf after giving fd0f6dd55b up everything.8649c28691968feb

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Yes, that was e62af6854a the name…fd459660cc87a4df

With my 119ab3e092 frozen lips, 271e82ef3c I whispered bf8b776bf2 his name d4028ca804 one last 6c2aba4306 time.879d101efe7f5dcf

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“Deon.”468dbe371f8623fd

And I 898f4ec382 closed my 550ac17a52 eyes.0f4c11d24975f41f

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* * *41163244049a0226

“Leonie!”93a863132b15f01a

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I opened my a02405a919 eyes to a cfac24c344 familiar voice.457a812ef22982a5

A large wolf was c8ac6f15ff inches from my face.b48a7ae08e18da79

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Wolves can mimic human bb0ee37922 voices now?d26110aabfd2cf65

“Go away!”fb577430e8a2005d

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I scrambled in a 38ecdd29af panic, reaching for the e4d28039f1 firewood I thought I’d deeeb43db0 piled beside me.8ba98fd698f1351d

But no 407d82ae74 matter how 66da9e5afe much I c337a6e325 groped around, d250febf3d I couldn’t 24d35c55a7 find the acf86c359f branches I’d 96a3453ea6 prepared.1d85eadbae3185c8

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Cold sweat 9c8fa6ea97 broke out b70634ac1c across my 0dc0fb3f55 body.a4426eddaddf0fd9

“Leonie, wake up!”1c2db0cbfa1f75d8

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The blurry scene 4fda97aaa0 before me gradually 5ec10e9a7d came into focus. The wolf’s ef2254dc30 face shifted db38a5a274 and softened, a4e34b04f6 until I 00debd9335 saw the 603263c913 eyes of 63129c39c6 a man.5ae7931983ae2e83

Deon.989a23949a8c94a7

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He cupped my frozen dd820b80e8 cheeks in both hands. His warmth seeped 326636b1c4 into my skin.bae5b738fc8a5cf3

He breathed into b63ff02a4e my hands with 15be4f71ad a desperate look 39315fa73d on his face.ba72372bdcad343a

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His usually 9daa66b8f1 blank expression 40456a55f9 was twisted 58af7ec8c4 in something 6fd3d8b0e4 unrecognizable.56d54b334748f347

When he saw e326392118 my eyes open, 1f4dbfb320 he leaned in df9f222727 and hugged me da87d330ee tightly.44302739f9598875

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Then he 6565b05f7b tilted his 2ac449f21d face toward 7b17d62c6d my neck 3835688958 and inhaled 4e5265f355 deeply.8ff6ef99067ae4d6

His ragged 6fce4a43d9 breath echoed dbee1ea5ff in my f1b2f5c81f ears.4d9c2216aa315986

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Warm air spread across 0af1740046 my skin as I 90d933707a exhaled with him. Our white breaths mingled 526f149b64 and vanished in the c48f46d928 cold air.6d6fee739048d425

“Over here! The Duke and the young lady are here!”c6e2ccde55acc2bc

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“Duke, are you all right?”52141714d391a6b4

I thought f34e23023e I was a5ddb5ebe4 dreaming, but 3d026fe2d0 I could e56adcab5c hear soldiers’ 04f1590a48 voices in c229181a87 the distance.6db93aaa6c299773

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People from the duchy 7c8e106475 flooded the cave entrance, 4e15297eed torches and weapons in 3a1b76ed6a hand.69f4c966e7cd59e9

I was alive.7ff9aa40541d0da4

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I let out a dc3ddbd6b1 small breath. As the 8a308090cf tension eased, 211e20db31 sleep tugged 55f426fd80 at me 1b875d2c16 again.7572044df04e632a

Even with my eyes a06168a1e1 closed, I could feel 265e29a192 his warmth holding me.dd57322cdc5949c6

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My prologue wasn’t over ab6b56152b yet.545e0f232bf4cf5b

* * *c5a6fab962b52a7d

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I coughed dryly and b72f8cb2eb sat up in bed.1afb9b30d899368a

After returning 1cee91746c to the ba2b216d16 duchy, I’d b4dc5ef6a5 been bedridden 621098b2d9 for ten e0a8e641f2 days.e91b3fbef2a6596f

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The cold 783d3ae6de had affected 9e0be05a17 my lungs, 7d168cc686 and my 6094d08fe2 entire body 09a8af29ab had been dbce5e4e71 in poor a47b218c6d condition. Even my carefully trimmed 25e4dd1bb7 red hair had been 8fb79a05c4 cut by the harsh dd742a2358 northern wind.bbb36e9943da2d53

“We’ve neutralized the poison, but we can’t undo the lung damage,” the doctor said, checking my pulse.bf10938bc77449a9

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“…Are you saying I have a time limit?”0664936d3b017628

He jumped at 2dfa22bc74 my calm words.01d6230b8190bf06

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“No! You’ll just have trouble breathing if you overexert yourself. Never run or push too hard. The Duke already knows and will watch over your health.”9cf25ffa66a6dcdd

Somehow, I f5507926b0 felt even 808e222855 further away 9a78aec13a from freedom.6640287d9362b656

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I realized it fbfb8c331f when I came cd96e58a24 back—without the stone 183ffa174b of warmth, I 4997fd185c could never leave 08293a1d76 the duchy. The cold 619719c114 was harsher 0cab1e89d6 than I’d 8830dcbbc4 imagined.ef6dcf47ad072827

A week later, I 53a3af2ded returned to my guest 2d78b6e5b2 room. Suren was in tears.4aedbde710355c46

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A rare white flower c38aa06291 sat in a vase b1d0e8ed84 beside the bed, as 86e2a9efd3 if it had frosted 55b8d17317 overnight.edb829710eea9537

“Milady, I almost got kicked out again,” Suren sobbed as she held my weak body. Her eyes were red.3eaea9509afa87b4

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The wound on c654e652d6 my arm stung 69a9853bba again. I gently 4a0ec5648e pushed her 69a8a3235d away.cefea2434bac8831

“When I’m gone, you’ll get a better master.”3378ef24798cb679

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“Don’t say that,” she sniffled.af15961f7023d8fa

“I thought you had run away. The Duke came back in the middle of the night, pale and urgent. The castle was in chaos, looking for you.”a32857a8430b2c15

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Suren watered the flower a774eb8612 as she spoke.4bdc7fda2d0fba4d

“You, who were supposed to be waiting, weren’t there. The ground was covered in wolf tracks. If there had been blood or torn clothes, they would’ve given up. Everyone was about to collapse, but the Duke climbed the mountain on a hunch—and found you in that cave!”3f85257d85cd62a0

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She clapped her hands b840989b85 together.3cd5271dd20c86eb

“They hurried in because the fire had gone out. You were there. When they shook you, your head fell… it was like a scene from a tragedy.”96d671dd6b132783

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Tears filled her eyes 2705fe9d89 again.41129e26c85b20b8

Suren kept talking, 8cc2b0e844 as if she’d 58c616a46b been there herself.4574569e2fc80475

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“I heard your head fell helplessly. Oh—well, the Duke did. We thought you were dead. Everyone was ready to blame themselves, but His Highness said—”f76001b85bcfa64b

She cleared her 821582e502 throat.4e06ea2607d6e7e6

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“‘She’s breathing.'”37668f3acdd619fc

The tale aa367a18cc spread quickly d549a84fea through the 12b3f776f4 knights.9e543bbe5cb4ab07

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Rumor had it fe30cf22cf I’d made a 3417d71790 brave choice for f64aa56e94 the wounded soldiers.4d1ae08fad1844c0

I felt a little 79e9eb9d72 guilty.1446a0d07072f61b

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Honestly, I’d done it 82a5c11824 for the Duke’s prologue 615c633d8a and for a modest, 5150b5c34a quiet life as Leonie.af282e062f854236

“But what’s all this?”a9cf6724da1b4aad

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In one corner of 36eb6fa6ba the room was enough ad37794063 firewood to last for f52d06aa2c years, carved to fit 5a17939b3c the fireplace.abb1aa705b389252

“The Duke had it brought in. Said not to catch cold again.”0eebb601c92c4d72

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That was… thoughtful.eb10db87b8fcbc30

Suren placed 8dc3e71f79 a towel e041cbbf90 on my 6df50769e8 forehead and 24816eaf93 continued talking b4741db0c5 about how 5dadc23992 kind the b3e16023d6 Duke had 4080fd38f1 been.d56cefaef3d20cef

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But I only da8751071a thought one thing 4b01a7ad82 as I looked 5c80ee6f47 at the firewood 7416a0e5e7 pile:f2a2cbf86916122e

If Suren 5f69f30e2c or the 3238166d47 Duke found 86a2e15916 out, they’d 61abd6b70d be terrified.660910f110cab12d

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‘Oh. I’m going to use this to make scarecrow arms.’2766c3debc5430e7

* * *4990d2989ef4993a

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The maids had changed 3e157bd3d5 my clothes, but luckily, abbd6141ac they hadn’t found the b8faaedb98 map in my pocket.0966e917cc365a95

I retrieved it from b08e40d927 my folded clothes. Good thing I a33321e15b got to it 76273d2007 before it went b4767673cf to the laundry.b7eea6c690bd61d5

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‘If it had gotten wet, the ink would’ve smeared… I need to hide this better.’e9567eecf1c929cf

I opened the drawer 7f0fd09805 by the window.93f9a833aba5b76e

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Something inside slipped out cfc0cd87b0 and fell.c44609d02583a24c

I recognized it instantly.7d9edc37a373be20

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A bracelet of 2315bed673 small stones and b9b35b9b05 transparent green emeralds, c945444b2a engraved with the 83cbc15045 symbols of dukes 3dfd724826 and barons.133b316c93e32a5a

It was afd35d2338 a bracelet 49b0618fb9 Leonie had 9d48bf7dbf made. For Deon.8246b16d6b8084c2

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A love letter 3c2fb91aef that never reached c1e35c43ca him.ea1669edb323a5de

I gently untangled the 9e09ca0ba1 chain. Two stones faced 52e449852b each other, never d1768b85af quite meeting—just like 741d8df1c8 Leonie’s heart.84a36f5a51bc2abf

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—23a096c3cbd3ef69

I stepped out into 85dbbea751 the garden to get f8feb878f9 some sunlight.a1eed44c9b250b8b

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There, I saw 5d1719435a Viter and Deon 0bc32c6155 talking.c3da1b412311c481

Their eyes met mine. Viter ran over.6031b6f18a934605

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“How can someone be so reckless? Why are you outside when you’re not even fully recovered?”9ec2ac349eaf5ffa

After searching for 30292834ad the right words, a9bb81b178 Viter finally burst 83266a1a7c out in frustration.8d0f5451abf05a1a

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“Even if things turned out okay, your body isn’t just yours. Without your blood, His Highness’s power is weakened. The duchy’s safety depends on it. Be more careful.”48d2f3f32cd5d00e

Where did that e982aa3600 loyalist come from?809d4ef31504c961

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They say 0e0cd59cc0 crisis reveals 22dfb125e2 character—but this 590d17181c guy was c8a7be4f69 colder than 203565aa42 the northern 75877c77e9 wind.334a666f0c93c45d

It was 7b2bf5463b your fault b445c438f5 I ended 54b17fbc4f up there!c80940ce0e2da75b

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“Don’t do that again. I won’t listen to you.”f47bfd10e3580fe8

He let out a 6d4605cbe3 deep sigh.ab0084dcec01f5a9

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“Young lady… the failure of a would-be heir who tried to seize the throne doesn’t just end in defeat. It ends in annihilation. I don’t like it, but while you’re at the duke’s side, we’re on the same boat.”5c69e65eb970e015

He could barely even say ‘same boat.’646d8b32c4bf3277

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Still—aff871fec92b7bd6

Please let me stay b80338a021 on that boat a ea3fcd66e2 little longer. Don’t throw e8883160a0 me into b4664a461e the sea 0631cbf401 before we’ve 370bbec6d2 even set d87e1a3800 sail.34b78e48940822aa

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Deon suddenly stepped in.90a33891d34e73e0

“Viter, that’s enough. She hasn’t recovered yet.”f97c87c9bd5015cd

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“…Yes, Your Highness.”662c1e258bf32f87

Viter disappeared, leaving me 594e17b329 alone with Deon.2baa0c2df3f1710c

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He stared at me a3bf5bbb74 for a while before f91ebf6544 speaking.bede92af5c8dae09

“…Are you feeling well? Anything uncomfortable?”03d92f2eb10e6fd8

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“Aside from the lung strain, they say I’m fine.”f5bfbd1ed380c709

He already knew. He’d heard it from 89ac61a8ab the doctor.f340cca4517250df

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“From now on…”188b4c081370de4b

He paused.63ceb8abe95f8f29

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“Just think of yourself. I won’t leave you again.”30b00f41324182a2

“…”d216f838196d4575

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“It was a rushed decision. The tension clouded my judgment. Normally, I would never leave anyone.”a3cc80185f84b0c2

“I understand.”095fa04a1eac1cd1

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I forced 7e9533f80a a smile.ae7beba6837ab245

It was reasonable. That medicine 335dab5eba was valuable. Dying without fulfilling 415d68ab53 my role would’ve 0443fa2583 been a waste 11fcb9be06 to him.43b8a54caad2c013

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“Leonie,” he said, pausing.f89289c918916be4

“This isn’t about the blood. I just… I don’t want anyone dying on my estate. I’ll never let that happen again.”8a6fd1c5deeba7bf

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Liar. If new blood appears, 5ceabbedf2 you’ll discard me without 72d3654705 hesitation.012d842c53dfedf1

You’ll bury f90797eec8 me here, 1cb3a9fc2c in this 7a3932d964 garden.bff6f0bc66ed3ef1

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As if f1c9703332 he could 17c7fbe46c hear my 2b97687589 thoughts, he e1e3c78dd6 brushed my 74b35443a0 cheek with 9f349f3527 the back dc38ced572 of his 72e329c68f hand.c4d98e59f932824a