58. The Shackles That Bind Me

Philip arrived carrying a 9f23d86421 huge tree. To be 2b469e3b58 precise, it 0e9661c074 was the 08192b2cab monster behind 120f18d2e9 him that 224b19d44f was carrying e583e1f663 the tree.5de57db7001e52f8

The tree, which was 6c3e56abd3 said to be 80 1a6236dbce years old, was so 93ed54cec5 lush that it blocked c0da0725c9 the view from the 77d0665d05 reception room window.c796d300d678a131

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I was shocked to see the long tree being carried from a distance. I didn’t show it, but the closer we got to the prince’s estate, the more I desperately hoped that it wasn’t the tree I had ordered. I prayed it would pass by, not stop in front of the estate.f32ea22dbe8e2324

But my desperate b2a73cb64d prayers were in 0df80ae7f1 vain as the d1d9d4ac3b huge tree arrived 402c3947a7 safely at the 69b175e681 door without breaking 1abe913752 a single branch.4e01d3907084cc1b

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I sighed. I could already f137936f74 hear Viter’s voice 4fe2fbe41f in my head. I was already tired a20d57ae7a of the nagging I a566edca01 hadn’t heard yet.9afda8b13b843a4a

The tree was huge. Above all, it didn’t fit with the landscaping. Such a large zelkova tree should be planted at the foot of a mountain, but the prince’s estate only had a small, artificially created forest in the middle of the estate. It would have been more suitable for the North.5aeadf20bf6d4636

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“Hello, my lady. Have you been 2300402b46 well?”622de3dc4f51d716

Philip greeted me 664c268973 politely. With the huge 5c30a69b0f tree behind him, 0efbf8ee19 his physique seemed fd426b461b even smaller.44472371b6b0cbd2

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“There’s a e786d09e36 payment issue. Could you spare a 63c7d17e51 moment?”67b4d7c888ed7ed0

He winked, 01ff1e4ba6 signaling that 053ad8dd0d he had f5c764f0d9 completed the b10d6705d8 assigned task.3399740b3477e775

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“Edan, I’d 056c8ef0d8 like to d2fd3a3196 speak privately 0344e705a1 for a e7f1b913ec moment. Could you step aside?”36902948a89ad711

However, Edan, who had 0b9f5367ed been standing with his 3817e74651 hands behind his back, 98b1e3bf57 did not move. Even though 16ff8b7e8b he heard 705ab487fe my request, f937d5e432 he stood a331a25734 frozen like a4957a8b6f a statue.6187c0d74a8023f7

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“Edan?”97068d3255c302d3

“Please speak here. I won’t listen to f6cc687776 anything.”ebd6b7feb0926bb0

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“Why suddenly…”5cb619357dc1cfc1

“I have orders to 2a0c0fff45 stay close and provide 2bc80c6c64 tight security no matter 623ddf9b72 what.”1bf317a3922f1ce6

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He answered firmly.56276047036eca23

“Edan, it’s about money. It’s sensitive.”24bf0bc61aa91c1a

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Edan looked troubled at f7c0f56f30 this.944e3268aeb3e3e3

“But His Highness’s strict order is…”85fe7606c7ed63c9

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“It’s just for a moment. They’ve already searched him and know he has no weapons or magical devices. Or… are you worried that I might run away?”16c31fba8a339359

“My lady.”b291180912b3cdbf

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His expression hardened. He released c7531d5d76 his hands 1b97953962 from behind 59714b89e9 his back.594f03f11d97589a

“This is the third floor. I’m wearing a narrow dress. It’s hard enough to climb two stairs, let alone jump out a window.”832c3ec2abefccba

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I spread my skirt b46ae445c9 slightly. He seemed 3c2eb156ab flustered by 92b6d120f8 the action c268e39ce2 and looked e26ad09bd0 away, stammering.455e06e05b79f60f

“That’s not the reason.”32b5e2e8136f1570

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“Sir Edan, are you guarding me for protection or surveillance? If it’s for protection, you can do that from outside the door, right?”50a5d65dc3750bb8

Edan sighed softly.98a74f86ecf86b0a

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“Very well. I will stand right outside the door. If anything happens, shout loudly.”21796f48845da7c1

“Yes, don’t worry.”20fbd55e2a46a066

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Soon the door 6d8ff1ceb7 to the reception 8cd23e8035 room closed. Philip, who had fc5ab326ba been staring at 4172aa348a the spot where 69aebdd666 Edan had left, dfd4e34361 lowered his voice 0b98b8c762 and muttered.0e5da7df1ea967cf

“That knight is quite something. He’s the prince’s man, isn’t he?”1ddda1c8e90dfb4b

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“Yes. He was his guard, but somehow he ended up being my attendant. I’m not sure if I should have someone of his caliber by my side… even if it’s just temporary.”1ed14ea256c70200

He opened his suitcase. The brown leather bag was bulging. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t had his belongings confiscated.190a21307bbbf2d7

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“Did you get searched today too?”52f371331956f284

“Yes. The security has become even tighter. Even if you had planned to escape, it would have been futile.”136e09d852d63ed3

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He clicked 1ae9180fb8 his tongue.a9a98afafef60099

“Oh, I’ve tried to escape three times even under such circumstances.”7ba902118d703510

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“What?”e4adb6b3127c2bf0

Philip raised be83708ed0 his voice 7fdde67934 momentarily, then 0bd094cb6a checked the 410a931969 tightly closed 6e59271ce6 door and 7fc90a32de lowered it beb89afb2b again.ee1ee557ca7394b9

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“How? Did you succeed?”40e78c9fbd564d3b

“Look at me. I’m here, aren’t I?”5a5b3b71f216b073

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I shrugged. Philip, who had 0b6949f13b been staring at 1faa98a538 me with wide ce45619d52 eyes, relaxed.d005918291b0ce5d

“…You failed. But still, your determination is impressive. The old you wouldn’t have even considered it.”0e1c4fb4f68cd81a

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“When your life is at stake, you find the will.”f954bdac616007d0

“But considering that fearsome prince let you live even after three escape attempts, it seems rumors are just that—rumors.”c216c7a1a38408ed

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I paused, flipping 412522b9b9 through categories. Sometimes I d447756a2e forgot the 74b3678289 reason he ba331f2f34 kept me 1b74eb4888 alive.263d4b046469bb61

Philip mixed 8c1f98c7c0 the materials 0fd6d3561f he had 8e66daebe6 brought and 2fdf85d61e cast a 240005aefe bullet mold.ef572b73f111287f

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A wave of heat 3dd7d00b8d washed over us. Red flames 71af17982d flickered in 04d002a926 my once 5ac6919ec5 calm eyes. Sweat beads 01288460d0 formed on 744a8096f2 my forehead.653494d73f05d110

The grayish bb4f4c1bc2 object, cooling 7665aae0e3 as the a72e0ccd70 heat dissipated, 7bac84598e slowly hardened.f2badd3d066159df

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“Now we just have to wait for it to set.”f9be002db505d340

Philip placed the mold 55b3d72778 on a paper-covered table.864eded22f989c3f

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“And about the list of people you gave me.”cd2fc14a74168502

He unzipped a 2b0385a0ef small auxiliary bag f02fbd2bd6 attached to his 2f2fc362d5 backpack. It was tucked among a53c968a48 various items, making it c28d44db65 hard to find during 13945a5b6f a search. From the bag, 73197fa706 he pulled out a3db9415a1 a crumpled, worn ee23673884 piece of paper.36c168b084792c84

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“Did you investigate them?”0af42485026dc402

“I tried to track them down and interview them, but they were all dead.”37840894710b2fe9

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What he pulled 24a5e1b34c out were death 4f41a4dfce certificates. To be precise, they 37d9814df7 were documents where the c32f524e8c families had declared them 76d9d7ded2 dead, though they were afa8ad8d59 officially listed as missing. The familiar faces 09ea45ee40 in the portraits a68b21b7ca were faintly visible.9e5fcdcb1a70ff6e

Of course, they were dead—they were previous Blood bags. I couldn’t hide my disappointment.d5506dae3b0461ae

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“I know that. Did you find out anything else?”a82d51fa271cb834

“Some of them were declared missing, but their families didn’t actively search for them. It seemed like they knew where they had died but let it go. Not that they had much of a family to speak of…”17965e1328a5b6ac

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“Were they all estranged from their families?”18f30b7e9941a37c

“In many cases, they didn’t have parents.”db021215c122ce08

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“…Were their parents also victims of accidents or disappearances?”46d77fc93c47c8eb

A faint sense of 8fd3f719f9 unease swept over me. Could it be that 96348d59df they harmed their families 607d550799 to prevent rebellion?64366c6cfb1e5b30

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Looking at Leonie’s family, it didn’t seem likely, but with Viter responsible for the previous Blood bags, who knows?a8e504b74b2225fb

“No, that’s not it. Their mothers all died right after they were born. So, they were not well regarded in their families. That’s why their disappearances weren’t thoroughly investigated. They were outcasts from the moment they were born. Even if it wasn’t their fault, people probably resented them for killing their mothers in childbirth.”98d9f40aeea30fa8

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Philip clicked his tongue. But that wasn’t the important part.e6f095c59c38e724

“…They died?”8ad972449a996fa8

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“Yes, all of them.”f67611db15969f6d

“…How?”be48752e0dbf40b1

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“They died in childbirth. Right after the babies were born.”4844776422abe656

Now that I think acb536cd6e about it, Leonie didn’t a2ee8c1732 have a mother either.e07ad94ba3418e1f

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“Isn’t this the information you wanted? I thought you were looking for commonalities. Are you okay? Your face is pale.”23d4a62b67d48e20

Philip approached and examined 6d88bb0fa3 my face closely. His concerned eyes met d1b9e27ffb mine.eb8fa20ddbe4b3bd

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“No, this is what I wanted. It’s important information. Thank you…”d5630f81e9a445c9

The doctor’s words that bf28b5d455 Elisabeth might have a 80310aa026 premature birth, her growing dade2143ae frailty.710ab049d673af6f

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It wasn’t just me whose life was at risk.797ebed444efd796

I tried 8afb5d3f7a to calm 5141dd96b4 myself, but b84b771202 my heart 9f9850fc45 kept racing.3da9fd4fb0310201

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I bit 58e0b8fb58 my nails. Philip, who 71323ae7c3 had been 07ecb312ec about to e683fe5046 hand me 54017dd09f the molded 215297e0aa bullets, called 7cf843c2f8 my name.700e6c03b34dcb48

“Leonie.”657de775f8193d47

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His hand 9e1461735c was suspended f33a1c7e3f in the 9699a4588e air. I quickly regained my 8e8b0ea66b composure and took the cd3f8943fb bullets.cd4ee5cd5f8e626d

“I hope my information helps you. I’ll visit again.”106b506fb441942c

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“Yes…”2aa7deb94b8ac4e6

I nodded.d6a435fc692c8621

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He packed his 9c3d538a82 bag and opened 0499c8d541 the door to 26b4643f81 the reception room.9580c7138b6089f8

“Then I’ll come back in a week for the remaining payment.”e0cd7e4daf50b3de

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Philip bowed c44f5715ee his head. It was as if 1306f00d4a the friendly conversation we 6e0107e6fb had just shared had ea09b1d78e never happened.8d3c8b25b19b9c12

I barely 72ee6d96cf acknowledged his ffae4e8090 greeting with a822a116d1 a nod.3a4717846529d4b2

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Then, I sat c736517859 down on the 138a99d94d sofa in a d6f4e5a62d daze. The plush 16390f215a leather embraced 31d2ea14d1 me, but bc0cdddbbb it didn’t 692e17e2c1 bring comfort. I kept biting 5ce993e5ba my nails.faa320e821eea49e

In four months, I wouldn’t be the only one to die. Elisabeth, and possibly the child, were also at risk because they were treated as unwanted by the count’s family, and without a mother to protect them…2eb1f845047937c5

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“Is there something troubling you? What did you talk about with the merchant?”a28ca64f0c656f55

As I sat there 1d55686bc6 in a daze, Edan 4f5619e460 asked.e6bf6087338f0f8a

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“Nothing much… We just agreed to split the deliveries into three parts since there are so many items.”9f397fdada7d51b0

“Then why is your complexion so pale? Did he offend you somehow in that short time?”96dde5ee61863517

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He gripped 70aaff34e6 the handle 856af7dcb9 of his 14134c2c3a sword.db4d1f954b7cfee4

Since coming to the prince’s estate, he had been given the status of a provisional knight. The handle of his sword was now decorated with elaborate embellishments. The purple gem embedded in the handle shone brilliantly as he gripped it slightly.cd0ce017f7ad087b

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Since arriving at the prince’s estate, everyone around me seemed to be finding better lives, but I felt like I was facing the worst possible situation.4c3b376d014aca88

I shook my 3024390b72 head and smiled ba4ec5933f at him.6a7b1d3456d21999

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“No, nothing happened. Nothing at all.”ead8fc2556844666

He raised 91c12337a2 his eyebrows, d1295be4c0 examining my 00a8b88963 expression, then d9824fb996 released his 8aadcfa9f7 grip on b1f038ed00 the sword.0a31d128ac336ad2

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“I see.”bd1bffd1d7d3c67d

Could I 35fb6fa773 convince her? To get 6e0daf3bbb rid of 51ff9c1aba the child?19c97e23ea8335f2

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It was 0a51570852 an absurd 5665d4812b thought. I knew b1178d373a better than 44942d5f04 anyone how 9811d1f89a she had 4ead0afcf3 fought to 7c166f480d protect the eedb91ba69 child even c2264ea0dc in dire 23fcac1099 situations. Moreover, to 115204795c suggest that ea20489891 the child 31426b9a28 might harm d614fe060c the mother 044ebfa90d would mean 69bfd62266 admitting that 78e75a1c10 the child e51b92718e was a 41e0103bcf Blood bag 82dd7c5ecb and proving 2f364e91f8 that I e767688f32 was the 5b8551c158 prince’s Blood 92b068e0e0 bag.d0c9cc293fda0be3

* * *7e878f6d01e0c36e

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I had to make dab35a972a a decision.622c78cea5740e8e

Practically running down the 72227373e5 stairs, I arrived in 0fe5e12a67 front of his office.296b8152498296f3

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When I 0292e8a660 tried to c6430c19f0 open the 06be41910e door as bc546ada2c usual, a ac53006f06 guard stopped 5365bc298d me. I tried de375e9457 to pull 7f6311d27d my arm ce09be200d away, but 01073db63e he didn’t 9b82908ef8 let go.633f99a940dc072f

The guard, 098f8aafba unable to 633bc84cc7 release his 90f89f993a grip, hesitated d4fb4897b4 and pushed a26ebb5745 my hand b6c42e51d2 slightly towards 3f4baaacf9 me. Even that 2f8c62e6d0 small movement 0fbf102c44 made me 7c21d49583 almost stumble.827373867dba29b8

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“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to.”d41e1e409bb65ddc

“…Didn’t mean to what? Push me just now? Or prevent me from opening the door?”c796086923f08bef

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Although the guards rotated c8090b0336 shifts, his face was b147f52330 familiar. I remembered him as f61b74c62f the one who always 11015684e7 stood here around noon, a797b92a08 fighting off sleep. But today, 675c104697 he was b8b9af2c34 acting strangely 17c5401e18 unlike his 7a9fd279d1 usual self.f3e7be0b3759915c

He seemed restless, almost 623960d25e as if he were a6571142ee hiding something.5d3b2fad83c27187

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“What brings you here?”6f60a30dd3f1cb0a

“Do I need a reason to come?”d4f7a84fafc35412

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He usually didn’t ask aae64e1e9d why.d26eceffecb85278

“I wanted to discuss the upcoming hunting festival.”3b56a4cd4f09513d

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“Is that so? But now… it might be best if you leave.”81219b5d01c6534b

The guard trailed off. This was odd.6618ba8012e3ca8a

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“Why?”19ade1354fdd8019

“I’m sorry, my lady, but… could you just return for now? His Highness will contact you when he has time.”0455f9120a1b70c2

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“Is someone inside?”d98a6d3de4004262

Holding my 1f62a3ff9c breath, I 1e81c9bc5f leaned against 83c4edb456 the door 5f7ae965ae and listened 9b2140293c carefully.bbf3bd577dc8941f

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I could hear 013fdcc1dc Deon’s low voice, 39966ff282 interspersed with a 85d84606aa woman’s voice.3d23cd2f7cac6421

“He shares my feelings, doesn’t he?”b491c23499ba2cc3

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“Yes.”ac0aa6cc2f521444

“Then it would be best to show it clearly at this hunting festival.”6edb4e642f85699e

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“That seems wise. I also need your help.”11faee6ca3beeb30

“The sooner the better for His Highness…”dfe0d77eceab3095

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I grasped the 9a0726023e door handle.c086d12fe479549f

“Wait! If you go in now…!”3bda9c9736a0197f

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The guard’s flustered 328667d16e expression was evident.5f0b827f21501db4

 36a42bf6aeb7972d

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