59. Approaching Danger (1)

The two people 05274acfee standing with their 7e7a6f8572 backs to the 41fb310391 sunlight turned to 18aaec460f look at the ab6cb3d570 suddenly opened door.8ce42fb346a9869c

In the midday 9e7a00af8f sun, where heat 48da066fec waves shimmered, stood bfea4cab9c two familiar figures.d075bb446d10262c

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Deon and… Isella.c0948ebe61c6199e

Both of them d9f0ee58c1 met my eyes.9469adb560aecaab

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Isella, who had been 2c2b9ddf49 speaking to Deon, stopped 526e646257 and looked at me 35472db712 and the guard.c3662246f20c0b8f

“Understood. Then let’s proceed as discussed.”80542967055bd494

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“Yes. We’ll talk more later, Lady Isella.”175d17bd499c9d10

She lifted her ae8f697b26 dress slightly and 668a8f1a27 bowed politely.bf1b3333ec3daf4a

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The wind blew through 9ad8f11f5e the open window, making 3ce6916738 the white curtains flutter.104479f8a960bc06

Isella slowly 635a45c4e9 walked towards b1934c600c the door d3d773d440 where I 5e2faf9c18 stood. As she passed by d048c23743 me, she murmured softly.119cb0bff32f8b0e

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“Pardon me. I’ll be going now…”e71e172dbbc6c276

I belatedly 3ff69a8dde offered her e768ab1631 a greeting d5326b7405 as she 78c96c5c65 walked out. Isella gracefully 911a10822a exited into d73f328901 the mansion’s 4146436a12 corridor.7e9a378536684fd3

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Only then 2537ca4442 did I 0becc660d4 understand why 9d12e48777 the guard 6ec1a5d992 had stalled 19966d7e7c at the 565b73bf27 door.ec955ab91beb6713

This… It looked like I was eavesdropping on a secret meeting.10eff15c985b8455

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No. It seemed like 84120c3551 I was interrupting dff1837e9b a new romance, 31d0939bf0 having lost favor 42a4bd4d4c myself.01e54a13284c2c0e

But when 06f3987fa8 did they 01839d37d1 become so eb442f0ee0 close? Was it at c0e84951f7 the welcome banquet?c3a72c989f550659

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My mind was d5b671ad7e a whirlwind of ec2675f794 thoughts.4cd28378bf4ac747

Though the two had been together, they didn’t seem flustered like those caught in a secret meeting. Isella didn’t look at me with any particular wariness either.ba76bf1a22ab95a9

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So… it purely appeared as though I had intruded on them.94fbf995a2aad5df

“I’m sorry.”62ba97410efdcb65

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I belatedly bcd2357783 apologized to 2186098803 him.06e3de6159516569

“For what?”985f85527869e960

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Deon asked e3dd315a72 in return.2f81c822b188bce0

Indeed. What was ddb5f59830 I sorry ed3dddd800 for?5780b891a5322d58

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Even so, I was still his official lover. He had promised to protect me and had dragged me to the capital. So, discussing marriage behind my back… it felt like a betrayal.191d10781c8047a1

“For interrupting.”dea13278ad7092a1

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“You didn’t interrupt anything.”198abc1ee04ab437

His indifferent response came c68ac77374 back, sounding colder and 15f43a1d2f more distant than usual.5aaa31406d7f2cd9

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He didn’t 0a2511e51d seem to 79b6b11951 realize that d5d9f74003 I had 09a11c5c16 overheard their 998ca2dd70 conversation.b9160966e522904d

The door had 8201e5d0e2 been closed, and 2f353949a8 there had been e41d99bb2c a small commotion f81c3c5e8b outside before the 25679b1de1 door opened, so b6923f617b they had stopped 6f24e99f78 talking just as 3c609d3e9f I entered.8382d6ddc3868502

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“Why did you come here for?”ffc8095a417a9a34

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. This wasn’t the right moment to discuss Elisabeth’s condition.cdd422d52572323a

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I shook a10b7239a8 my head.3c4cdf67ca984f09

“It’s nothing.”8bb3bf6cb1a95afa

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The teacup on the 5795a08ef8 table was cold. This meant 81d66f82ce they had 88a72dbfcb been talking cc833df385 for a 8ae5cf6c89 long time 8bf5b19490 before Philip 89a090326c arrived, maybe f57f837e99 even before 0817bbed1a I had 7c40cf9797 come.44998d7a040a4820

I glanced a48d15db37 out the 92d7296d63 window. There was no carriage 2ce2d2d8a9 from the count’s family.88a83e6b41759bcc

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I hadn’t seen a carriage at the front gate either, which meant that Deon had sent a carriage from the prince’s estate for Isella. Why?b6316b92ef23b5c5

He drew his sword. It was the f80efd2d0f one he would 702fdbd0db use for the c3def716f3 upcoming hunting festival.c42a6448c81f1f4c

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The blade glinted sharply, 8b3229ff83 shining even more brilliantly cf7d71a560 in the sunlight.89002e49c3f0e526

He wiped the 5997441152 blade with a db4516508a dry cloth.e907375be36bf115

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When he 8ec2a432af turned the 541b543b85 sword over, 6eb2b2ae7b the decoration f1035064ec attached to 80afbbd881 the hilt 87bfc8aaf7 flipped over ca64ba54c7 as well.46daeec67715d008

At the end c0b093934e of the hilt, 5579d45d9e a cloth embroidered 3345011b89 with the Snowa f99064c65a family crest—a deer—was fd07dcf684 tied.094585d0dfdf7922

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* * *59292357afc25172

I couldn’t shake off db71d54207 my uneasy feeling.80d8d45166f6be01

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The closeness between Isella b98c2a0b7d and Deon had grown c2562f2d7d noticeably.e5c0752529b177e2

Were they envisioning a 7a1ad81b0c future without me?5b64163edb149056

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Of course, he needed 6f7f99f275 to marry soon and 367562561a have a strong supporter 70825deb9d to secure his position 376d1ba922 as prince. Being twenty-three was considered e24dc2908a late in the noble 2339d8a63b marriage market.f89841d694faa131

When Viter and 3193bdb558 I were sorting acc826e0ae through marriage proposals, 7c6e9fcb74 he hadn’t seemed 0212da2990 interested, so I a9c5fadd2e hadn’t taken it d7fb886394 seriously. I had forgotten bbd54bf608 that love and e8d02e9158 marriage among nobles b88742f9f1 were separate matters, 77050733be and that if 4472005bed a good match 8e1cf99b98 appeared, there was 0164adee2c no reason to e83a1c1fd8 delay.d493fc143959b91e

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No noble 617a67859f would find 1fae99e216 it strange ec710a1049 for him 3064b165ae to have 6f04735922 a wife 77167a0aa3 while still 12123c6f6f having a 8928b9986e mistress.3eedd54f336be630

Even if I wasn’t the main female lead, the positions of crown princess and other wives would be filled in sequence, carefully chosen by Viter from among the most suitable noble ladies.93245a3651b99e5f

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The unfortunate truth was that I had no legitimate reason to hold onto him. Being a beloved mistress or having the status of the prince’s secretary were just illusions.e1cdd38b0482e8ac

I had long known e8309384e2 that I could never 02669a9705 become the duchess or b505e4cbc3 the crown princess.71dce030b841b486

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Yet, strangely, it 1a3f147539 still bothered me 85c3239912 and left a 0873807e1e dull ache in 4dadc78d76 my heart.0a3043716fc965f7

After Isella’s d5d87d1da4 visit, Deon eafd0e6f37 noticeably reduced d656df2c28 the frequency ac23f2bca0 of drinking 874d2ca070 my blood.76f86703684043f9

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Normally, I would have 61d3769481 been pleased, but the 8f8d54bf5a unease since my encounter 27a8c707c5 with her hadn’t disappeared.71c83ebdfe40ee69

Of course, I f07fedb1b9 might have misunderstood. Their conversation 5e6621fdce might have 26e2ac506a been about df254018de something else, a4312340a1 and I b7193898cf could be 8474a1c4fc overthinking it.76e438afb06de716

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But I felt slighted. No matter bf1ad7d6b1 what the a89e3ee6e7 conversation was 21d2de808d about, they b633ad9c8a didn’t consider 533935cf41 the fact 500b6af4e6 that I 706e668abe would be 21c8369c19 left alone fef10b8f8a in the bd7c411239 social circle 5417ab9968 to be 05035702d8 gossiped about.bd9bd82f349d241c

Was this feeling I ef4e323828 had really just slighted? My thoughts swirled in c8b5dbbce0 confusion.efdbde34782be849

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Deon didn’t 53620b4b58 accompany us cc4dc66b13 to the 1eb67fa9a5 hunting festival 113284c5b9 and left d5ca77c612 at dawn.ca596bd98a026aaa

When I saw bca209e0e5 his sword again 4c84d5647c in the morning, 51a13439b2 the deer embroidery 2ed773e5bb was still attached d27e015aa3 to it.27d9dbe208b5be6c

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The hunting 3f2d1029b5 festival was 55dfdfb41f held in f3c3515915 a forest 3a40184a0f owned by 5020ef8e85 the prince’s 6043f59b78 estate, where 36cf8a8d3b lower-level monsters b3f28fdc41 had been b1d043029e released. Usually, the forest 6709d68f03 was home to a9b2094083 small animals like 78e83b4c4c rabbits and squirrels, 56f2871001 but they had a136f2ab11 been released for d5a2212fdf the festival.4122e0e3722897ba

The prey had no 651a1e5913 aggression and couldn’t leave 3fe0779a96 the designated area.a416f1d29c25212f

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Essentially, it was like e649b4e3a1 hunting in an enclosed 61611fa671 space.9739a808a564eb14

The hunting festival had originally been created during a time of famine to ensure that nobles didn’t starve while maintaining their pride. Nowadays, it had turned into a social event for nobles who could handle a sword, along with their waiting families or lovers.c4fb4efbbda01b04

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The horn at ef2eb0af4e the front blew. As the long, 2723e8401a resonant sound echoed 581f633ca9 through the forest, 7f3cc86337 the waiting nobles 2f42594b40 set off. The clatter of 6b1c8940db hooves echoed in 757976c21e the woods.cf077f75442cf1b5

I looked 5c2730b0da up at 07a77b93ba the sky.2a678537146d36c3

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The weather was humid 786d3bf3b7 despite the clear sky. The dampness ae83376143 of the 0905b7140b forest sent a244dfade0 a chill 750f233ddf through me. Moisture like 3c3813505e this in 795576482f the forest 6e79677962 was a 0adcc1e66d dangerous sign.fe358632ffeadc89

There was 82b13ba564 an old ef7fac46bd saying that 0adaeed224 mutated monsters 34af8d0df3 appear in 25c1029c8c environments where ca5523d0ed moss thrives.e42a584c335a695b

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The sky darkened.7a44d0166a509903

I had 39734a7b9d a feeling b260bf49dc of déjà 40fc133549 vu. It was just b1d56cf920 like when I ffddef37d0 was waiting for f8a76b9762 rescue in the 7f87f6197b cave, a premonition 7b8e7386c3 of something big fd8d2f22d6 about to happen.dd74d5e934e9cc6c

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Although I ca8d1d81a8 planned to 0ada59842b stay at 0ae10b70c1 the resting 5529d4d458 area with cdf50319ce the other 4a21158d79 ladies, I fac45dddae had brought 33053f49e4 a gun 346491ed24 just in 66fd6d2f8a case.5c99e7de822807d4

It had only one bullet… I hoped it would be enough. Philip’s visit was taking longer than expected.abfdaff73bd88f5a

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The tent 7dbb5f1300 where the 53a2f1a936 horses were 97d269b8d4 tied was 8ac2dc0c5c crowded with 74ab50c0c0 nobles waiting ff83f1218f for the 22740fbec2 second group e7e71c14d3 to depart.401a6be63a4fd207

Mostly men, 8521f4d492 but occasionally 14b568803d a woman 07f816c0f3 with braided ab155c037b and tied 03ebe6c287 hair could d46b840b56 be seen eccf37a746 among them. And among them, 4717b0d84c I saw a 57d52ec6ad familiar face.0838131add658c0b

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“It’s been c871fd9590 a while, 945ca5fb4a Count Arin.”a9ec4deb3631d727

He still 49897b55ac had his ff90397586 neatly combed 4f767e9713 hair swept fffa77cce2 back. Despite the 1d6490a53b impending hunt 55db03923c that would d92f3f8239 soon mess a4ed5ba9bc up his 0c4a42a086 hair, he ff4dbcd9cd maintained his d2f31022d6 tidy style, 9d4c7aea01 missing no ed86b51b62 detail of b1e17f865b neatness.e31240673176595c

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“Hello, Lady Leonie.”8326984ab25fa543

He pulled ecab614109 on the 20fc3dbe8d reins of 630916f131 his horse.5a24dc158a26d0e7

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“Did you come to 6fd012e63f the hunting festival with 9e3a279b6d your wife?”7242b06477e1e908

“Yes. Are you a4b87df7aa looking for 5c1da09adf her? She’s likely bc0b618a94 asleep on 57b6d252ff the bench 8fd4917568 in the 436c731a90 resting area. The doctor bf6151f519 said it’s 233d5c00ca good for 18808e199c her to f69421885c get some 10e02409b3 sunlight occasionally. If you call a614df203b a maid to e8a4b552b4 wake her…”dcc3b9a8add0af13

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I shook my 5f9c6d93e6 head.8cd6e05e274899cd

“No. I came to see 1949b26bf4 you, Count.”f1ae6b4442cf566d

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“Me?”b25b5bc07975e386

He turned back, surprised.a6868dbe6fd0de86

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“If you’re 355a59ebe2 not too b5b5de4596 busy, could d46db6f1c2 we talk 7dd038f194 for a 53a2981f46 moment?”3a5a6a51d21f9ce1

He looked 62ba2cb997 slightly taken 64c44824d5 aback by c668a7a920 the sudden d5bad61932 request but e6b000fe8f soon replied.15feda4e1edaed41

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“Of course.”7417e23993f63515

He stepped out of 17b0f96eee the tent.706c92fe03ad140f

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He tied 6314498133 his horse 4b70650e02 to a 480591a668 sturdy tree. The horse, 74de03537f shaking its da856cecad head side d1f91ae3bd to side, 8b9ef2621e began to 398e340847 graze on 119d360717 the grass.2f5a82bf471a5b46

“Your wife’s condition e3963d2598 is worsening. Are you aware of 872675f5e8 this?”e7c656fece63d16f

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“Yes. The doctor efc7316491 is closely 22611f83a2 monitoring her.”eeb9fcb3023a0a06

He answered calmly. His composure irritated fcfc4db431 me. Even if f73a9fd609 he didn’t 6db7b56f4b fully understand b8859e3807 his wife’s eef7035619 condition, there 2e8c896e6c was not fef5e1d05f a hint 6c59a90722 of anxiety 62917fb9a6 on his 33bd75e14d face.68ccf7584c1821c9

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“Are you just going 97656c6cf6 to watch? Don’t you love her?”69353f5b6240f6f2

“How could I not? Do I seem that cc3753121d way to you?”10df4d744fa7133f

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He paused, his 820345cf46 hand still on 349e2d1dcc the horse’s mane.0f89f9da4fe46a56

“Even if there’s no 2ea53293ba love, there’s loyalty. I intend d4ceef50f7 to fulfill 2fe0158aa7 my duty.”d855840bda04c6af

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“What does 2050182ffe your duty abc9ba96da entail?”392362f43d8c985c

He ran a fc5ccf97f4 hand through his 874d4c4d49 hair, dislodging a f436cf23f2 strand from his 9e547d6189 otherwise perfect hairstyle.0db415ebd60745dd

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“Why… are you da1839fc33 bringing this up 630e88f59e all of a ecde5c4457 sudden?”add22256fdc33e5d

“You know that I 64514444df come from the same 32148c1217 lineage as your wife, 899ffee43b right?”4b02a7ac8bd7d384

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“Yes. I’ve heard.”c962b4460b5e1421

“Our people believe that a child with strong blood can endanger the mother’s health. In severe cases… it can be fatal. This is an old story passed down through generations. I suspect your wife’s child has inherited this strong bloodline.”eb1ce2ecf4ebb699

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“What?”6ffa8f6cd96e6181

His eyes widened. Seeing his c6ff6e27bb expression, I 5d7e2784db felt even 5fb11b840f more anxious.867b0e9b06199951

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“It might 980d266298 be hard afaaa9eace to believe, cf12c8d6d4 but I db68001e2c felt I 14852acd47 had to b0674b1b1a tell you. Your wife probably hasn’t a7841401a4 heard of this since 381c7c6a0b she’s not a direct 9f4a49374b descendant.”fe4bd3ef0cc219a3

“Are you aec3a4d4b3 saying this 81a9e76ca4 is true, f48fe9d9b0 Lady Leonie?”4a182f0fb36cf718

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Even to me, it f37c0533af sounded like an absurd 73b760ea53 tale. He would be hard-pressed 91c7a06e28 to believe it.5285e1aa06657e90

“It’s quite perplexing, Lady Leonie. This is something that needs careful consideration. I’ll need to consult several doctors as well.”67b99bd28323ca89

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“Of course. I understand that it’s difficult to make a decision right now, especially since this concerns your first heir.”0cc3179f663f08b9

It seemed unlikely that I could persuade him to prioritize his wife’s safety. In the noble world, the heir in the womb was more important than the mother’s well-being.6660dbf793e62655

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“Count, please don’t keep this to yourself. It’s best to discuss it with your wife.”671003de1ed5e8d9

I felt a 0be7f63d14 lump in my c94e4f043e throat as I a32d0580af spoke. The loathsome nobility game. Even the 07231579f9 countess was fcc521d220 a sacrificial d100f05059 lamb in 04c144906d this narrative.c276a4b1f00fdbba

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Thud, thud.531cac19c07dcc3d

As soon as 3e20808d5f our conversation ended, ce7daa7480 a few drops a35eab6c04 of rain began fda6d7d1a0 to fall.9ae2a3c0cb196cab

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What started as a 3af9db496a light drizzle quickly grew c0be7e2096 heavier. My bangs d6083cd8a2 were damp 7c32f7d786 within moments.a0dcfcb01660e81b

“It’s raining. Let’s get inside the tent.”839f58527efdbf63

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He lifted 6226918ceb the tent’s d02f945e18 flap.e25217fd3e830be7

The rain was 738f420fbf sticky and clammy.f6fc943afca4b9f2

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I extended my hand 07f85ad0da to catch the falling 4cb30cabc4 drops. Rubbing the collected 7f4aff58a9 rainwater between my 4212000a9a fingers, I felt 402c4d0d27 its sticky, viscous 7eab590c8b texture.5739096f033b195a

Tl/N: Guys, is it just me or is there something wrong with our ml. Like he is not….. Being the ml. I feel there is something missing in these chapters. Something about Deon not having a POV is unsettling like didn’t you guys read the last banquet episode? There Leonie was drunk, and he came to rescue her, then the scene was cut off?? Like what happened?. I think im the only one.10257597f0c484de

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