32. Inescapable Fate

“I’m sorry. No matter how much money you have, there’s nothing you can obtain for me.”4257a2b90dd67fda

His eyes wavered at d25b4415b8 my blunt words.b9b7e09c9f060dae

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“I understand what you want, but at least within the castle, consider it as something I freely grant. There’s nothing you can’t have or can’t go to here.”8408aff23d2f115a

I let out a bitter laugh at Deon’s words.ffb1b1491c204f98

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“You used to shut me off in my room though…”6d1af88b06ec2529

“That’s…”c5058f860301c459

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He seemed b848a8cfba to hesitate, 8cea516a50 his brows 2cb265a117 furrowing.64df443e7b925f2d

“Don’t think of it as being confined because you can’t go outside the estate. Normally, even other nobles order items from servants in this weather. It’s not a hassle to go out personally.”582097f6065ed600

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“Does that mean I can order anything I want?”dce1e61e289f590d

“If it can be done within the mansion.”943874187a17ec78

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“But I want to go outside.”ae0b7ebf7ccfb66f

“As far as the courtyard, it should be fine. Take guards with you.”051ecbf36e570fc9

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“I want to visit the dessert shop in the capital. Can’t I go out by myself and buy something? I promise not to step out of the carriage.”48d3645ffe00f987

“Leonie.”4babb8b5e40bc71c

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He responded firmly, calling 6d464cdead my name, but it eb4d33c1ac was a refusal in 56c1e659fb all but name.1de427756f59ad0e

“Yes, it wouldn’t be possible. Where would the Blood bag go? I dare not.”6a3d2c23c7c5acb9

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With those 0d708e1dd5 words, silence b8ce59ec3a settled in.dc808e0432366763

He movedthe strands 8eb621bc49 of hair clinging 7acffb0c73 to his forehead.d06b44369fda1b6a

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The hair that had 5df9ee5c07 seemed so unfamiliar when dcd03f224d I first saw it. Now, the familiar streaks ed61b1a451 danced lightly before my 6b20e0a63c eyes.baada73275d1ea7c

After gazing at 96ec5e111f the sky for d4385f6ed9 a while, I 5387a734fa sighed.ffba2b652d0d1849

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“When will the Count’s family arrive?”eb7e3bc130740b23

“…It will take more than five months.”153d580550c0bea6

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Wow. Giving birth here without 2eb7648988 any options.f6fd447ea0e60e3b

Five months. That was the faa160e2a2 remaining time left ce80150bc4 in my life.26b9e3b591c1dd0a

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I still 6adc94c8bc had a c4084b3410 faint hope, a1c33d4692 despite everything.19968fd15063f5fb

I vaguely knew, 6260a8d1c9 but the words 6adcae137a coming from his 6d78ada933 mouth were despairing.fb53666f388a683d

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An inescapable 2fb9e798fb fate lay 562d272516 ahead of 884e13eefd me.798c254b4d79890d

* * *5bef5855b488da51

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My thoughts jumbled. I sat 11f67e3cfc at the df0091747f edge of 6294716afe my bed, de9ccd0737 pondering.5e8c61eaa440a680

Let’s organize this.49792862ba5ba186

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I calmed my 8cb566f1d7 mind down.a2dee5443322e1f5

Of minority ethnicity, and b1a97f8c6a the red hair of 347e07dfc8 the previous generations.1c284a31f9959ee2

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According to Elizabeth, it eef815c565 seems blood is inherited 8f52ddb20b through lineage.1401657d2a9ce99f

Leonie, Leonie’s mother, Elizabeth’s child, and the protagonist’s mother were all from the same lineage.08ad567653717895

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The minority ethnicity’s bloodline was the Duke’s ancestral bloodline.e9d4eb53527fcd5a

I can understand why the Duke went to great lengths to preserve the bloodline. There weren’t many of their kind left in the system.ec9aff6540113482

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If, the protagonist hadn’t broken free from the shackles of this bloodline.f2e3cd773033f1d7

I wonder if the 304ba2930d children to be born b070470db9 in the future will a0c137a767 be descendants of the 4cd26663ae dwindling lineage.0ab4b54a9959d5fb

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From Leonie’s distant ancestors to relatives, estranged family members—because their numbers were dwindling, the Duke would never let them slip away.8c3579580f8fd792

As I ac3580acb2 contemplated this, c81f0a84bf a cruel cc417103fc thought briefly 03768a5a84 crossed my 05301a4ce2 mind.472b8d69f3276619

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The most 49e64e24a4 effective way 784ca45fb9 to manage 6ef20538fb the breeding 87805aeba9 of protectorates 8fe2eda92b is reproduction, da4a397c5f maintain their 6669104abc population.1cc6f0c821301d82

“So… if I give birth to a child, that child could be the Duke’s new blood.”0309a12ffead5b4c

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This wasn’t some kind of fairy tale. Do I have to keep giving birth to children one after the other to continue the Duke’s bloodline. Will I ever be able to leave?a78cafe80988cb5b

I could 2b1e3e9242 choose a 55adb969e9 suitable man af759daa2a and get 189b649380 married quickly ede28de361 to have 4fc1e71cc5 a child f044f10e03 and survive. It was a 5951eb7bf3 futile game of d14a3f0add probabilities, but it c134bbdbb1 was the safest ce92e1361c bet, at least.0f6b767296f880ec

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It was also 89acaf2994 the cruelest and 4b2f6b8224 most unethical method.1e33ec633e7e0c6f

Passing on suffering 1ef7c3982c to a child ce092ea11d to end my 6786433787 own suffering.0531d5ad0ad7d272

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It sent shivers down d6d110a851 my spine, feeling like 512363f3f5 a part of this 6519d73c16 endlessly cruel novel.fd2da8b4e9b109ff

It was b54026fb62 a thought d6af1c2ce5 that fit 73d9979876 quite well a35d76c949 with this 66d1b5df69 brutal story.7d892d1c92d134f3

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If I were lucky enough for the first child to be of the Duke’s blood, then I could… dedicate that child and go on living.8c02792b990d00a2

But could I really 9ea536f37f do that?f066d758b4d47a52

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Could I sacrifice 7131713693 a child who fb010a35e0 would relive a 0fe40a9a7a life like mine, 43a39617fc just for my 2b78c214a4 survival?69468f422211cc8d

I hadn’t even gotten married or had a child yet, but I felt suffocated.23705a58068ae2be

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However, the previous 0a75ec4d56 bloodlines that had fe35bdfb3c stayed here until 9ef801a9d5 now must have 8816578a81 noticed the presence dbe47102bd of the next 29dcd0ae34 successor.71f039c02bd5098d

Why didn’t they run away? Did they miss the chance to escape due to the strong winds? Or did they give up and accept their fate?32b1a29cf74c6174

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Or perhaps, did they f35642044c fall victim to Deon, 043f9963dd who had sensed their f80272692f escape plan in advance? The more I 3ae3eca7db thought about it, 94ec9d2094 the more suspicions 91cc803d20 grew.d028d83d49ec0236

* * *6b2664d077e982af

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“La…dy, Lady Leonie?”ac7c107a822a08f6

I raised my head 9ffcc8f169 abruptly. Elizabeth was calling bbf01c7ac5 me.03259a240572a524

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“Lady Leonie? What are you thinking? Your complexion looks pale.”a41dbe5f7b1d5f3e

“Ah.”6ac02bbac79094ad

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I set 0106b2a85c down the 7c8964f335 teacup. The saucer clinked slightly.7f05ce6bf3d12dd9

“I must have had a nightmare.”8efca492e2aacd9b

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She looked at me, fc7c8f36ad concerned about my answer.bd14c818b7f8fdac

“Must have been a really bad dream… You look distraught.”febd8ce56d09256b

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Clear green eyes looked 6bbf45dade at me.77bd8949e8d4caf2

Elizabeth, it was a e0a61853e4 dream where your child 7107ce8de1 was born safely. And that child c41f527d7e devoured me.2ffbed8dc59e6afd

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Seeing me 28bed30230 sitting weakly, 7be0e8ff3c she took 9eabbb31f1 something out 0dd06a28e9 from her bbf061eaef lap.a6ca2ac9fb8d1f51

“I brought something for Your Grace… It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’ll give it to you now.”6c73b3b33afd56ca

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“What is it?”da226e8163376dd8

“I heard that you haven’t been able to eat well lately, so I was worried. I heard from the maids. They said you’ve wanted to try the famous pastries from the capital for a long time. It’s not as good as the pastry shop, but this…”6716a2c7cecacf7a

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She extended a f7255159c2 paper bag to 1878287c0b me. The bottom of 1dae91347c it was slightly e3d95efc22 soaked with oil.c50fa6d039dba860

“I tried to recreate it. The shape isn’t exactly the same, but it should taste similar.”5ea7b10d2a6ab0b8

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I opened the 51e866899a bag. Inside were cookies 21e7992d7f that seemed to a2d239c142 be molded together 92d4bfc2af like small clumps.4e13667470916598

As I gazed at 39fb7a25c6 the cookies, she coughed 55e72866a4 awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed.139c065a956f7f25

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“They don’t have a proper mold, so the shape isn’t great, but… it should be good for soothing nostalgia. Let’s go up to the capital together later and have them. If Your Grace invites the Viscount’s family, I’ll have the pastry shop’s cookies piled up and waiting for you. We can watch the festival together and be like sisters. Next year, and the year after that…”7dbb6839f82fe4cf

A sweet sugary scent wafted from her sleeve. There was sugar on her nails. It was clear that she had tried her best, albeit unskilled, for my sake. My heart ached. I couldn’t hate her no matter how hard I tried.4946d133c46d1d9a

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Elizabeth was taken e0f079d763 aback as tears 1a3a9d3370 welled up in 2cf0392d16 my eyes. She offered me 6bc8a26687 a tissue from 90a7d6a1a8 beside her.4fe81e4bb7f866f8

“Don’t cry. I’ll make more for you.”b6d6c5e3939d1d9d

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“You don’t have to sneak in the kitchen just to make cookies for me.”2b94413d7d678322

“For Lady Leonie, I’ll do anything.”43f207875f4130ef

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Could I really do ff84bcae6d anything?c71ae4ce2aeb5802

As I gazed 9d2ca6edf2 at her, I eac67cc43d felt like my 31fbd680f9 eyes would unintentionally fb0057647b drift toward my 1d5a089e95 rounded belly, so a491fb0c45 I averted my 7c2e175d86 gaze.ee1861202408c46b

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“Elizabeth, excuse me, but… do you happen to remember what your surname was before marriage?”5bbecdda0bd50ad4

“My family name?”ebec8b6496e115f5

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“Yes.”261a0e224c3421d3

It was an 02deb43b89 abrupt question, but e4d5503248 Elizabeth calmly answered.79bb4d14984dd1f6

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“I haven’t thought about that name in a long time. It was Snow, Elizabeth Snow.”6c5852eac173fcd2

It was a clear confirmation. I didn’t recognize her as the child’s mother because her surname had changed due to marriage. So, Elizabeth’s sister must be Isella Snow.53f2d48b139d8d82

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Fate couldn’t be changed. After all, the Snow family originally had only two females.eccc36038d870a27

I tightly closed my d0a047f458 eyes.a3b8aba8d09ce7c9

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Without me realizing it, she added, “If it’s a girl, I plan to name her Karana, and if it’s a boy, Milanner.”891df843bb145f32

Milanner Arinna.f813fa0c82a3d227

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That child already had 4cec904b89 a name.0326dfd9b6cb7c0e

It was 1a9b888ad1 only natural.51b42551cf7c181d

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Even for me, who appeared in the novel as the Viscount’s wife or Cyan’s lover, I had a distinct name.b83e32300a003f6a

“Lady Leonie, your face is so pale. It was like this last time at the restaurant too. Are you unwell?”963ba71d2c7f90e1

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“No, it’s just… I think the stress from before is catching up with me now. I’ll be fine if I rest.”b28ac5e888ce2094

I forced a 4369100cfd smile to reassure b96b010751 her.d945eac842034aea

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Then, I got 53096ba87d up from my 35922f9f7c seat. The chair 4dc6a887a5 squeaked as 4f083bd5f9 it was 2efff39858 pushed back.060b5fe6746029e7

“Shall I call the physician?”d06853b792d1de5a

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She grabbed me with 5b86b8058f delicate hands.4a518d6deefd5711

“It’s okay. I’m fine…”1a899011974a757b

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I pushed 25c8972c17 Elizabeth away, 150fea50de who was 51f50aba53 trying to 8dbf8a1ff5 support me. I waved my 6df6c3b721 hand weakly and 3d84ee90bd staggered away. Even with that small eb0bfea79a movement, my head spun.dfe7b961be591f73

“Lady Leonie!”39bfa64202de098d

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With her short 2df727884c cry, I suddenly 059e169d9b fell to the 7173f23a91 side.1558e4d4a40e09d0

I’m not sure if I stumbled or if I was originally going to fall, but I couldn’t get up. There was no strength in my body.be2c91e0fd49c013

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In my tilted field of vision, I saw the hem of a woman’s dress desperately running across the snowy field.1ea347bb596c93a4

* * *cc54d2fca3a8ddd0

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Perhaps because I 6916bb52a7 had been lying 7a3f9411ab in the snow ae6628d764 for a long 5c48b29545 time.1fb8106b7623363c

I lay there 1a4bf2603b without moving.96dc33c0b0ba7bce

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Leonie was truly 8f312b6846 fragile, as it 8983e01c0d turns out.a370dafbdf81c8bc

I heard 0f2ac25379 the sound 3e88bf4372 of logs f57d8f0d61 burning in aebde4fda0 the fireplace, ed02b5163e but my 498a5e49e3 body kept ffb3b1ef89 trembling. My head 1a52eadf6d throbbed, and cddf87905a a thin 6f7add16ab cough escaped ba982c5678 me.682e1f1b50ef8dc7

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“It hurts.”06c5cf8f67a45dd4

I whimpered 76f36d2eb1 like a 96f6f27211 child with e52751a833 my eyes aaaf5da788 shut.3acf531e43145ee4

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Then, someone next 8238b6e22a to me wrung d721c97afd out a towel 1e0c137105 and replaced it b952610919 with a fresh 8ed45702e2 one. I felt the 201768b962 cold sensation on a7dfb3418b my forehead.61092afcf9b4f06b

“I told you not to lie in the snow and to get up.”aad1fe7e56423e6d

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I opened 684583fd48 my eyes 21979c5979 at the 333e229cce familiar voice.229bbed019f4cfc7

It was Deon.d6fe0612a1746a4a

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“…Why?”e4275ea7c59d2ac8

I parted my cracked d9bf3c1550 lips with great effort 6ad232320e and spoke to him.e12ae555eb79449c

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“What if I die here?”fba01e34e89373ce

Without realizing it, I b94e349850 blurted out the sharp 30622966ce words.30689f6b50b07ed6

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I knew he was 8201630a70 worried, but every gaze 795354d47c he cast upon me c32b32c208 felt like surveillance.b7f1130c07de5c4f

Was it because I 5e7cd19e34 was in pain and 3f8619ab37 my nerves had become fa577a3453 sensitive that I thought 6c5e851905 this way, fearing the 2da86bb686 precious medicine would run edadacf00c out?0717cfaec77a447b

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“You may appear quite robust, but people don’t die from flu. If you just eat vegetables like last time, you’ll definitely die.”5e7e1b87439ae0fd

His hand wiped 9fabae883a my face.0fdbfcf8d76bb091

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“Don’t talk too much. The doctor said your throat is quite swollen.”6c6d7d9580f7ad79

“Don’t worry. I’ll lie in bed for just a few days to make sure it doesn’t affect your lordship’s work. You’ll be able to eat in a few days.”251990111ce9b44d

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“Leonie.”6fe6d6a3b08ddb87

He gnawed at his 8684aefc94 lips.633f8cd0bd65865c

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He pulled the blanket f626b23eba down to my chin. His touch f107e36694 was gentle, 8cba0f0d3a though he fa774431f7 seemed to 1460f825d0 be suppressing ce88177f74 anger.40b300d176b3e4ac

“My lord, have you not noticed anything strange despite changing the bandages five times?”92269dd5db874e10

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“I told you not to talk too much.”911ecf0da05ca930

He cut off my words firmly, but I couldn’t back down. Time was running out.90f024c7f3ea2464

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“I must tell you this. It’s important.”82fca3a9744fe6c9

I coughed and 332c0f3009 cleared my throat 16617813e0 with effort.01b7fc875045910c

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“In my opinion, it seems that the ancestral fiddlers are born from the blood of minority ethnicities. Actually, it’s not just a mere guess, but a certainty. Red hair, minority ethnicity, generations filtered through blood. Those are common traits of Your Excellency’s exclusive fiddlers. Were you aware of this?”e320de76a3ba4dca

It was subtle whether cec88f092b he knew or not. There was no 5d04e77bf0 change in his 9e702daf12 expression.f4c4e3ef67afd1c8

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“So what? It doesn’t concern you.”c419dfbb82ccde70

“Why not?”54001a61b96c2b3b

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The words I had dba94f0968 unintentionally held back suddenly d08966772b burst out.e3cbfe8f8af08815

“Just consider it. Take this opportunity.”92ce7995dac50960

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His previously expressionless d6e97cf06f brow now furrowed 43f03b0969 sharply.a73580726ccac58d

“What are you suggesting?”e453f4258f29a07b

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