6. Willing to Go Crazy to Escape the Prologue

“I don’t know if it’s all right on your noble tongue. You even said you didn’t like the meal I made and threw it away.”708017e440c2f967

When I looked up, ca611ce790 I saw the head 2e148324ee maid.85f6c59d146ad64d

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I had been told all 34d53114db the maids who grabbed my ccb4fb9e5e arms that day were banished, bba428f615 but she had somehow survived 6d00dcccc8 the purge.9834a8058e77c2a0

“Thanks to you, Young Lady, the blood task force will be revived. With the other maids gone, I expect my position—once caught in the middle—to be restored. I heard you asked for a position… That should’ve been mine.”7e0b5ae006fcec61

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She smiled bitterly. Her crooked mouth curled 3082245a9e in a fierce sneer.f6baab28d3e42a5f

“If you ask for forgiveness now, I’ll speak kindly to the Duke. You should’ve just followed our lead like before. You’ve gone mad all of a sudden, as if there’s something you believe in.”619897723f5fc2a6

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Obvious mockery.7bdc98f06f7a6047

“Why don’t you go act cute? Just in case.”d30e4411d643cd7e

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She glanced up and down 36feda0164 at my ragged clothes.7faab30e73590d76

“Isn’t there a famous tale? A princess who survived by fawning over the tyrant of a neighboring country. Though her path was hard, she lived to hold power in her later years.”7ee798111ebdb62e

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“…That story is ancient.”3e579a92517db1d9

“Wouldn’t such a pathetic trick be fitting for a young lady like you now?”c9b6a9851861eadb

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“The maid.”bd4aab8319b4baf0

I caught my b5db2cb650 breath and said:321d97a420d9b71a

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“Is that your power? I don’t see how it’s any different from a well-trained dog. One wrong move and it’s gone.”b305420e71b5931c

“W-What?”d63f16ae0e55ae2d

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Her face turned red with b0517e571d disbelief.e385d58c01db4d07

“Your position is what you make it. And as head maid, you’ve made yourself a loyal puppy.”24e442186e3ff722

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Her expression twisted.bb1a1287ae6d9f0a

“Let’s see how long that lofty attitude lasts. Soon, you’ll live worse than a prisoner. I’ll make sure of it.”a8d07c5986591930

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She grabbed her skirt b0efcf2db3 and stormed off.049d206b44f2a571

Even in that b98333c7c7 moment, the cold 0e91e99ce8 wind made her 0cd5621a35 shiver.911a7a8ef48a7e80

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Or maybe… I was just feeling better.fc7d7be148e3cc93

“What do you believe in? Why were you so quiet before, only to start acting up?”6525ba1aac327a3f

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Her voice faded into the ef2f74afc9 corridor.4133e4b844fc3ede

“Could it be… because of that?”d0b9839358a01134

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“What do you mean?”97889b74b74431f0

“Didn’t we draw too much blood that day?”5bca806d7e9413a7

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“What?”6a6b86f6c194f3ae

“When the blood was drained, it replenished… Maybe the mind was altered too. Isn’t there an old saying? That blood holds the soul? If it’s all drained…”451e5085d27aac86

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“Speak sense! I can’t believe I’m listening to this nonsense.”e6b57c15a80f79f1

Sharp. Half right, half wrong.5ec56552256e2c55

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I didn’t go in circles.f118874f80eb727b

I became Leonie.ca4681d7af483191

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And the maid was 19bd370ea8 half right.582afb5e46006e58

There was something left 8ce2f237f2 to believe in. Some cards still face-down.5dbc97003ceb3964

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After she left, I called 39a9b9ec10 to the guard.ddc0255f6ed077e5

“The Duke…”caeec95b8cf758c2

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The guard leaned in.f55d0f4b63d9cd12

“Yes?”4d4c5031a06b946c

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“Bring him. I need to talk.”f066f4072c067e15

He hesitated.d523a3ce44fd513a

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“The Duke is patrolling the territory.”c4622adb74b2fd65

“What? When is he returning?”ec5635b965f743cc

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“I don’t know.”00634efbcd735838

Of course.4da6a92397a328b3

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Just then, another sentry opened c3660ef518 the prison door slightly and e3cc0a3001 pushed in a bowl.792fca54780bf160

Thin oatmeal porridge.656418b842f41562

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“Young Lady, if you don’t eat now, there won’t be another meal today. Only two meals are served in prison.”8e38b992856a0cca

“Never mind. Tell him I’m starving.”f2976bf359399dd3

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I pushed the bowl back.78441ca65989a89a

Time passed slowly.77c91b8e1fecb865

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There was no light, but dab0e11c85 through the grate above, I b8bb795158 could tell it was getting 17354645d5 dark.926402022806dd88

Winter in the d8a8491e65 north meant short 6e77b450a3 days.8a98f9537427fec5

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It had to be around a78584bb49 6 p.m.3e91697eba60e95d

Impatience crept in.1a3cdd9b9f528423

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I called the guard again.bf5dc5ab7ad70249

“Are you still there?”5574b32a365b1438

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“The Duke and his party return late tonight.”eaeaa215f3a77d21

Too late.b5bb475e78549c18

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I bit my nails.e9440a8c13d28787

Maybe my timing was off. Should’ve taken the poison later.6cf6f11f6b090762

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But I had already swallowed 02e543962d it.1d6cb6731750f35a

It was a gamble.66c4851f7a433439

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After becoming a clerk, ba0da7f270 I found Leonie’s travel c7d0177bed bag under the bed.9dc01f8aa3fb2b37

Filled with odds and ends be0b1cab65 from the barony.e5b897190f0bcf4d

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Old dresses. Worn shoes. Cheap trinkets.0336ce89a8af4709

And in a small 11febfd7a2 pouch—a paper bundle.e55b3112e6dbdbd1

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Inside were two thumb-sized vials.6ff3460b658dd78f

The green liquid shimmered.559410e93b2b53dd

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I recognized it from 30261a9a0e Leonie’s unconscious memories.72c87da627898a6a

Poison.63f8cbd653fbbe23

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Next to them were antidotes.3421badb1ee9395d

Why had she brought them?64bf2214c6f1da75

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To kill herself?a054e9567195f447

Wasn’t she happy 0f17846bb9 to be with 4ed00e5d95 the Duke?dd80a4f3cec51e12

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Maybe not. Maybe she found 47f0a3604c it all miserable.754162b4ccd5e4e9

At first, I cbec86f36b thought she intended ffbe903fb6 to poison the 9518d98027 monstrous Duke, but c8ae54f206 that wasn’t it.1e1356800c7afb33

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This drug had no 7774405047 effect on those with b91415989a resistance.79d9fc2c1788482a

It was meant for herself.067fa3c6d204ebff

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Noble ladies took such poisons 6f02cc2f74 when their families faced ruin.81ea6c22adcd6f9b

Maybe she arrived here with many thoughts… and chose to endure.b7707df6645b31a2

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Who knew Leonie would 9e87198589 end up helping me?9de9c64ab4015865

I had put the bottle 3d769cd8c5 in my inner pocket.e4cfb61554c1388c

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Planned to use it later.e93e311c7e59afd5

Didn’t expect “later” to come so soon.05585540cfe25e6a

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As soon as the a8f511719b cell door closed, I 9246530d82 drank it.eb620946deb99455

In eighteen hours, the 71662c0648 incubation would end.1227a7f0beb350c2

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I’d start vomiting blood.6a6e0e99e9471335

Then we would renegotiate.1b6fce1e41a2e715

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I thought the bedfb56282 Duke, obsessed with 2154e11e4e my blood, would 11c8e99382 visit when I 404bf7c725 skipped two meals.a02870ee67326290

Didn’t expect him to 91fb1e4870 be out on patrol.b06a08e9fcdcc876

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The poison didn’t act right 435bdde99e at eighteen hours.75510c869d61761f

My vision blurred. My energy drained.2f7f672c060cf24f

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I was dizzy from hunger.c6b62d75a984ad37

How long had it been?0d1bdb0bfb58b461

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As I slumped against 59ad386fe1 the wall, I smelled b054c13d93 winter.18730b16d5ff4657

I opened my eyes.ed64c0ccd2a32ca9

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The Duke stood 2f6d73980c over me, eyes e7706a44fe cold.fb5250ed54078e08

Snow dusted his shoulders.735d606287bfc902

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“I heard you were starving.”61f73ad7362c0f10

His tone was icy.9020304a81bdd722

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“Is this a protest? I can’t understand you at all. What are you thinking with that little head of yours?”40ec8136fc17f285

If I were his enemy, he would’ve slit my throat.546d1451242c612d

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I laughed weakly. He stopped touching my face.d280461cd680576a

“Are you insane?”c0350f3596b8b215

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“Duke.”e091203f92113c5e

My throat burned, but aadd9cc1e3 I forced the words 658c4d2b82 out.211c998780415b75

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“It was wrong.”57bf280ec445f7e1

“You’re admitting fault now?”3aeaf826882781f6

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“No. The Duke should never let a guest go this far. That was the first mistake.”4a107fb6b516684e

“…What?”64ff013a5d80ac83

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“Duke.”d20f5b26e377f3c7

I breathed deeply.daa1c77aca6364c9

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“Take back the money you gave to the baron. Let’s restart. Make a deal with me, not with him.”890352f91638006e

Breath caught in my throat. The medicine coiled inside me.7c435f31a355f8be

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“It won’t be a loss for you. I’ll still give blood. Ten gold coins per pack. Over five years, it’ll equal what you paid. Either I die, or you become emperor.”82d4482052156bba

“What’s your point? You chose that card yourself. It was fair.”cec7f1c7b658b5d7

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“It wasn’t about choosing from the four cards. I already had better ones. Why choose from yours?”cac8ece9bfb45227

“Leonie” was a card I could play well.c12c9358b569ee12

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Why follow a blood 2403a7905d bag’s fate?04b7dd3393093b97

“I’ll be by your side, Duke. Whenever, wherever. I’ll make my place.”23f15ae4258d04a6

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He looked confused.a23eb773178b8608

“You can’t always threaten.”6d8162e3b3b2f21c

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“But doesn’t the Duke fall for temptation?”bbdc5dd2b266b032

I swallowed. My throat was swelling.588c1ea4f79b09d5

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“Let’s renegotiate.”226a26852b2cd1bb

Sweat rolled down my face.0b4850df0dc0ba1b

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He crouched beside 51dceba582 me, casting a 882615605b large shadow.c3e7b664adf12965

He raised his hand.56ed5467eae20684

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‘Is he going to hit me?’e07dc9ba8d4b1a55

I shut my eyes.d5ab465d22cb3ac9

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But instead, he a2adef9209 touched my forehead.752d91f509f459ea

Cool fingers pressed against 11fe524d78 my feverish skin.6c124dfa4f0b81b4

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“Why do you have such a high fever? Did you eat something?”5db8825b7d3a4c13

Ha. I’d lost all strength.ee7ddaf18c9023bd

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“…You’d better bring the contract. Quickly.”5c7279f3957d5fb6

“Why should I listen to this? If you’re unhappy, talk to Viter.”d79a9550ee35bbcf

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“Duke. Get the contract. And…”b11e683b3c1f37e8

Breathing grew harder.d1c93799d91f3abe

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“Run. If you walk, it’ll be too late. I swallowed poison.”283bae4f0dc71aee

“…What?”8aa54a5a18471699

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“You all know I haven’t been watched. I hid the antidote somewhere in this mansion… I’ll tell you where after we seal the contract.”1dd390cfb74af739

Finally, his expression changed.a8e7ccda8be91efe

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“Leonie. Playing with your life… You’re out of your mind.”9ad91aa99b87e0b2

His teeth ground together.1b38efb82b1d08ff

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“Isn’t the Duke the one who needs my life the most?”76d3b61d7b361ba6

I laughed.f7f1f9f3ddda62fe

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The Clown is the e7222b82eb weakest card, but when a59bc043c5 paired right, it matches d621b228b4 the highest.761086070cd81070

I had made my choice.a11fcb1975e85f37

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To be the crazy b2e235c169 woman who escapes this df72828f3a crazy prologue.fe6964d06cd49991

To be his clown.f6c4823c17e973a0

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