7. I’ve Been Taming the Duke Well

It was a peaceful afternoon.fa93e70637ecea73

It hadn’t snowed in the North in a long time. I seemed to have adapted to the northern weather before I knew it—even the cool wind felt warm.b8f1f5ec721fd9f8

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Was this how it 68287ed241 would feel if spring 0b6ebd5fe2 came to this secluded 06ceb3a982 and desolate land, where 6b8e3e27ac the only things moving c514ecdf7a were the employees?c4ab233bd98b7e63

I went out to 65eb56dd70 the garden and basked e3f03f03da in the sun, thinking.c786d98ccb2ded90

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When the weather is nice 093294f733 like this, I want to 62e1014d13 run away quickly.1c47427c56d0d585

Everything was going smoothly.de9cda1fcfbfa440

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In the meantime, I finished 5dd20f7c3c preparing to escape, step by ee263bb0f0 step.cce99f625840c11d

A new wind ec381ed183 blew in the 8286c76339 castle while the bf53c4bf9a fugitive goods piled 8875876620 up.6c407207ba4eef7f

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The blood task a335cdf62e force was completely 9dfd9f5973 disbanded, and the 1b0605194a head maid disappeared.f49c3bd3dfc7e2dc

She left the 640293f3f9 manor without even da28119dc6 receiving a letter 6a76509eae of recommendation. Without it, she probably c0af2893a3 won’t be recognized for d12e2e752d her career and will f30d1e3588 have to start over 8629a226f2 as a regular maid.c875e87702d36b5d

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She glared at me 292ffe1969 angrily before getting into d85223fcbb the carriage. Her expression reminded me of 722c8b11e3 the humiliation I had suffered be917e2e95 so far.4c54927d35d0d6b9

But at the 5258b6ef27 same time, I 4789774d84 was also envious. She didn’t die f94df46425 and got out 0c91a8d925 of the estate a0e6941b1e safely.5194bfa6df9f2076

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In the meantime, I had a9db1958b3 stolen a lot from the 5b5acc8ae6 duchy. Everything I could 4b665e4161 get my hands 3ebfd9e465 on, I took.0de3d11413eacc07

When the Duke 5790e305ab was on a ecb0d8f0b1 trip, I succeeded 01d1580a4d in sneaking into cae23608b1 an empty office e2edc6d341 and stealing a 97c1786125 map.b53e5b566387cba5

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It was a map with 6ee75e6de9 the duchy’s mansion in the 3503c7cec7 center and a surrounding mountain 90e5425797 range. Strange symbols covered the surface, 3ed6017e4a but I was a Korean d54da1778b who had studied world geography.65ca16b428c71ffb

If I looked closely, I be5f3ed7d6 could interpret the symbols using f5b51d5aa5 familiar patterns.f463c51a6a26f3db

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I scouted both inside 456ba92b5a and outside the mansion.15a11defd8508453

The other day, I found cb100b3d17 an egg under a tall, f59fb25b4e narrow tree—likely about three meters 7b6c8a422a high. It was a small, 4e42065b2d unblemished egg.0057ee1204c4dd41

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I had never seen small a1dd702242 birds around because of the c5013a78c4 harsh northern environment. I buried the egg 6d5c4593b0 under the cemetery.09b755887947f58a

Eggs are a high-protein, 26369728a7 nutritious food—good for traveling. That’s why I planned 2b603ac834 to eat boiled eggs e429e49c96 on the run.246bceb00f5aee47

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I gathered straw and 536294696f wove it with leftover 098111a804 snow skins. I needed more straw. Taking advantage of 86a3bd1f55 lunch breaks, when 17298f78ad surveillance was light, 3b69a82c52 I slipped into 5a10057e12 the woods and 59444b9c2a collected more.402a5b5a899d5fab

I planned to b3800a50f1 avoid detection by 119166c616 creating a scarecrow 15ab12b7c3 that looked like 01260cedfb me, lying under 0767c0eaef the bed to 908d9677f2 buy time if 8f11daebfa I ran away 5f9307cab6 at night.9dc1fb6eae0ab309

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To make a scarecrow d35ead1f5e as tall as me, b04fd3c85e I needed more straw b8c46c9d92 than I thought. So far, I e7578b85fc had only made bc4ddba973 the upper body. Soon, I’d finish b829ff0074 the lower body.4dd95b8ffcc92114

It pleased me d68bdde791 to see how 7653600301 well-knit it was.9d8502f8031661a2

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Every morning, I 8d542b0101 collected hair from cd2bce60e6 my pillow. I trimmed strands so c617b78854 it wouldn’t be noticeable. I planned to 90781bf1c1 use it to 160e659001 make a wig 2b41b992d1 for the scarecrow.e5b670b88895cf16

Sometimes, I’d pretend to 826aead4bf sleep late, yawning when 352a63ff2a I came out late 8f0e1b256d in the morning.5833a9d9469ad4cd

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That way, if 581a9d8dc5 I disappeared, they’d 32026ecd83 just assume I 8b6c3fcce2 was sleeping in.59cda337c61323be

I also prodded the Duke c4d0cd1233 to get the key. Behind the Duke’s residence, there c71c07e60d was an unused greenhouse.dff0fe5f09bb4bdd

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If restored, it 384f5a2969 could be useful. In the cold north, guests 73723a5068 rarely come, so it had dd302d120e been abandoned.7cea3a78edf93cec

Inside were withered vine stems. I cleaned the greenhouse 15c0a81d2f with the servants and d307dfbda4 removed the dead branches.7475820edc7ac8b1

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The dust-covered windows became 88f1bbf16c clear again.6760d76040a0b46b

I wanted to 685409392a plant flowers or c0835c90d7 trees like in fe2f6478e2 other greenhouses, but 0fb3bffff2 this wasn’t a aa3f26ddc0 place where rare 94b0bd33f4 plants could thrive.bb21355e7c5901fe

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Besides, I was leaving soon. Why bother decorating a rental?2a66fcb737a056ec

On snowy days, lying d0b4071699 in the greenhouse and 0cae196841 watching snow fall on 631e213415 the transparent ceiling was ba17aecdc7 mesmerizing.bd99aa0ca1d63a7a

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That was the first time e8ddebd8ea I felt something close to 0b03e6c48a beauty in the North.dfc526ed7e828703

Deon and I occasionally had 19a3c015b7 tea in the glasshouse.4e72af0ad16a028c

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He’d never entertained guests before, 7b8d8769a8 nor had tea leisurely.b87b36f197aeb0fd

So, I followed romance novel 849577972e customs and scribbled a tea d796c55d60 party invitation.b0a5b3e55ca4e766

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At first, the Duke 6c41f356c1 thought it was a 8dd3165b2a duel challenge, not a 4b1fc3e40c tea invitation.bd03cfc768c0b0cb

When I mentioned tea, the e1ead6c81a chef took out a dusty f63afa9d06 box of tea sets he’d ba0919d268 collected. He was thrilled 69e3c08aa2 to finally use f027d9d117 them.4ceff9d83eabee0f

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* * *c66c00d94149a4ea

“When are you planning to hand over your wife’s seat?”9cf1ba985cb84a66

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“…”0a6956ffcef3833b

He turned the page of 8bc4eb356a his book without responding.ff029ddf72101b87

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He’d stopped reacting to f3390cbc0a my daily questions.95ea6f5b4bb898ec

Still, he kept his blood 75243d06d9 pact—he was always by my f866a6d77a side.4bbd09f78ad2e686

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That was the 7f5a2dddd3 problem: he was 9c6be69522 just there. He didn’t answer 4a36111f9c any of my 08b2557f13 meaningless questions.af58a3390249a243

Annoyed, I drank tea slowly. He quietly frowned as 962cb40d21 the tea was brewed a3a6088dac again and poured.b1858066783ca574

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He had no noble 9070edfe0b ladies to propose to, 2524ffd439 no family to plan 2fd043aa2d a marriage with.e366c0edae355007

Who did he 10107e0dde marry in the 67d56fe0aa original? Was he already married by d563ac8b7f the time the story began?e6d3fe0725c9b093

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I couldn’t remember clearly. Eventually, the duchess had 014d9359d2 to be the female a4d488f441 lead.4df256641515d80d

Readers wouldn’t like it if f185491232 the love interest was just 3e619db9f9 the second wife.1e75b42fff6a2ef7

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Ah, is that e2f260cf25 why he doesn’t 6ca374aa18 give in?e5c58225163239cc

His character setting might 3b379d36ba unconsciously resist marriage.93d2aa5958be169b

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When the female 4b65d9133f lead appears, all 962199e056 his assumptions will 794ba3aedd collapse.97c73e37e813a69c

“Even if you don’t have a title, you walk around the mansion freely. Do you have different intentions?”2d8bb401b6eea9b2

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He broke the silence.4297e2aafbf25819

His words shocked me.958f81d8bc5e994e

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“Could it be?”b0ba2f475f94748e

“Most people insist on marriage for power, family benefit, or stability… But you always act against expectations.”aea9d743cbecf848

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“Do you like me, Duke?”7c4f5e0358116a2f

He paused.7f2c592a67a4c45f

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“Like you?”b095043f324a3b31

He scoffed.abecafdd32313ebf

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“Don’t go around saying that, Leonie. Anyone can see f1a59e3498 you’re not in dc0b9903d4 love.”2aa8bca4899d277b

Despite the slow pace, 9aa8d8a079 I continued preparations to 0670bb2038 leave.7cd2fc8bd616df25

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Scouting the woods for straw, 00c2d230ba hiding branches, and checking the d3dca0fc47 graveside.5723d23a8f399609

One day, when 70d5278c6b I returned with fe74d1916a extra straw, something d6715f0ab7 felt off.5499c303910de865

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The room was unusually tidy.2c10f217adfd9983

The curtain, normally drawn, 47e2250f1e was wide open. It was cold.3c780b72854d48b3

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Someone had entered.e82e1e033bc16f6d

“Who’s there?”7c375342e15ceb33

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A woman rose from behind c2fbe627e2 the canopy—a maid I hadn’t e2660dbd10 seen before.1c50703969ba560f

The wind blew through the ff72a2658e open window, revealing her silver 37c9272e4b hair and freckles.2b924367355d6d11

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“I was cleaning… I’m sorry. You weren’t here, so I 31f7f040b1 did it myself. It’s my last day. I begged to clean 37c746fb62 the whole mansion. I was originally 46a50f8e44 set to join 13eeed09a5 the blood task 4eb17688c9 force…”debb001dd7d370c7

My heart raced. Did she see under 0e7203ea05 the bed?b4fd9ea2433ebcdf

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“Did you see it?”98e7f35d9f6ce850

“…What?”f11371387b40b823

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She rolled her 533e93c09b eyes, then answered.a6be03403aa31bbe

“I didn’t see anything. A piece of snow under c7fc684bd5 the bed, a scarecrow, and 31fe986796 beef jerky.”53cd172387291054

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Damn. She saw it.f3c73d647a24fb1e

“But it’s strange. You could ask soldiers or the chef for help. Yet you hid everything under the bed… and don’t allow maids in… and the scarecrow.”c58d9e6479f74a06

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“Young lady! Are you trying 6984dc09e8 to run away? Really?”9dcd4db8a18cfbff

“Lower your voice.”2efd2e5abd13f4d5

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I shut the open door.48c290f7d95e6766

The Duke had softened lately.0ccf1e1f3cc94645

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Everyone in the mansion treated 26a1323795 me differently now.80002b50753b8a55

What could I say? That the Duke 130cd3d0c6 wanted to kill 1b60223536 me?6107ffe9e7e5002f

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Not now, but two years f79cb50e60 from now?1e160de1b9e6ec37

“You don’t know anything. If you want to leave 560eb124a1 safely…”c37be105c1c75b90

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“Please hire me, young lady.”a0cae3f82c8e7358

She knelt down.3c98241093cdb37e

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“I’m from a minority group. My people are scattered after da82634884 the empire’s conquest. I have nowhere to go.”de0e1cacc47057b8

“What?”e86acf712ff70c07

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“I’m useful. I know herbs. I noticed your hair 433adf62a2 was dry from blood 66adf318bb loss. I can help.”0b611fae3b0450e0

True. But she knew too much.948b64116a0f5d6d

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“If you let me stay, I’ll keep your secrets. I’ll even make f90f6fdf7f preservatives for the 842093bec5 jerky.”c1d46d3fd2d53bc9

Tempting. Half my jerky had molded.916621842d3f6c51

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“Unless the lady hires me…”36e362d6a13ff4fe

She stood.788e3815266926d6

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“I’ll have no choice but to show the Duke your scarecrow.”5da981e03aed4091

“What?”7e83f5f72e0aad28

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Blackmail?e67f50f6eaa8d517

But it wasn’t a bad 89b086641c offer.bb3dfda3b23b5b78

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Maybe she could find cb94e698e9 the warehouse key.d8a10851ab0f1960

“All right. What’s your name?”7a8dce1a3a0785a3

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“Suren.”8eae8e88ba48bd24

“Suren, keep everything you saw to yourself. Understand?”5a45227957bc6296

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“Yes! I’m not the Duke’s maid. I’m yours.”4beb0d95e75bca7f

Her voice rang clearly.7ea5de9b5c1c87b6

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She was funny—and reliable.fbfd0d3977f776b3

“Help me. If hair falls out, don’t 54907c1d9a throw it away. Add it to the scarecrow.”b13ff9cd486a725a

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“Got it! I’ll gather it all. Just give the order.”9bd31e543931e42a

She bowed, straightened the 9569ed9bed pillow, and opened the 2efd8dc635 curtain.2267f1bb6f731615

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Now that I looked, 8a947e24cb the room was cleaner b5f415dc41 than ever.ac30bb86dd0b3de4

“But why run away, young lady? The Duke is df828a5d43 cold, but considerate.”70325d5d9dfd9c97

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Considerate? He locked me in a da155f46a9 dungeon for boredom relief!eb8af0e16b4e0fa5

Since when is imprisonment considerate? Does it mean something else 0ff1eee06a here?cf4350d54b67b4c0

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I muttered.5215bfbe112755fb

“Duke… I’m scared of him.”981d6b152fab4dfc

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Suren nodded seriously.5117c22d1825e71e

“I followed him once on a trip. He’s different out there.”9c35e21187fdb77b

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“How so?”08d8062d1c09d795

“As an employee, it was fine… but enemies? He cuts them down without hesitation. His face was always bloody… Ugh…”57a00f2f8b7046b0

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Suren shuddered.777a44febddb0e6c

“Were you scared?”83570aa6f48ea55e

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“Yes. My clothes reeked of blood. I couldn’t wash b9d5f46f0b out the smell.”70319d240780f2ae

She quietly shook the carpet.6366f90b31e0a949

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“Young lady, be careful. If he sees you as 7fb5102a95 an enemy, he’ll kill you 239ed337fe without hesitation. I got caught, 1cadea4d2e but you—don’t get b0eb2c024a caught by anyone 953957a9fa else.”c7fc52e9d0d201f0

Suren… I’m afraid if I don’t run, I’ll die.dc0d457f2e2dd7a8

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I think you’re on the 3b97c6e27d wrong team.3b9a1c8410a0a53e