70. Farewell

“This isn’t a 8feb5258a6 lethal poison; it’s 40ec5e287e likely meant to 8a2f8c51de keep an eye ba8620045b on internal spies 097d388527 and ensure they’re 3a5d13bef3 performing their tasks d73a5f5a22 correctly,” Isella continued.8c3c29efb055ce57

I needed to b1b2eaf09c protest, but my 13fc51e86d lips wouldn’t move.ac8f4ea2be8a13a4

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“Um, well…”6207a179400a5a86

My voice kept 023b5e2e9a breaking.15bc1c574d7e174e

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The words 046f7215d6 that came 66526b0e8b out were 7c67ab5e60 foolish and 2bb1a39a90 quickly dispersed bd371f8093 without reaching 0ecee96cdb them.19f5f06ad9737e99

I couldn’t bring myself to act. I clutched the ribbon that had been tied to her waist tightly in my hand, unable to hand it back to her.f06cb2d100086b94

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The maid, Deon, and 5fc661ed90 Isella were seriously discussing 017eaf758f whether there were other 9c193f1bdc dangerous substances, paying no 35749f54e1 attention to me.b7e0d0e5c773f930

The chaotic atmosphere 472c05eb92 settled, and all 1e6f8ac05b the items on df8b689731 the table were 378cbe817e packed into a cc902acb06 box. Seeing the carefully e341fbc87f prepared items being 0a9fdfe063 taken away as ee3c6a38ad evidence of poison 03d84ddd18 was humiliating.08f084ce3119adde

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“Leonie, come 1261b49502 with me a2afb7d186 for a e65c28556a moment.”ba9dc7d24fd2fdc1

Deon called e9b3540511 out once 5851acd231 things had 07c77fd1f2 somewhat settled.2537e01d44a24d9c

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* * *2b03ddf4f0b54f75

“I want you to 40950c55b5 move your residence.”a1130df0a087961b

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He said before 3266d7268f the door to e6fea4698f the office even 8a3e5ab9a0 closed. The sudden 374a5d2114 words made 96d201a245 me flinch ade6de1761 in surprise.28c0b5ea8749c9e2

It was 1f08862706 clearly an dd7f7144c4 order to aac818c123 leave.decfdde097833a0d

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“…I didn’t do it.”4e379bf5fdc45330

I finally managed to 6144acbfb3 say what I had 296ee9d2de been holding back. To avoid 60e671dd62 stammering, I fe200f1306 held back 87b41866f8 the tears 2a472097c6 and pressed 5c73e6fee3 my lips 9731484807 together firmly. I didn’t 85ba9d0fef want my 4ff9fdc92f words to 07252ddf16 come out 7bd06a76ae wet with 06b27c489d tears. Fortunately, I ece5d09545 spoke clearly, b16faa4041 but my ff92383a25 lips tingled 544fd139b5 from the 9dbc476a07 effort.849ecc53dabf34f6

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“I’m sorry about acb80d7cd8 what happened to b0fc783065 Lady Isella. It’s my fault. But I didn’t poison 3a49a4b9f0 the tea. Please believe me.”a74b54203e08de91

“That’s not 910bb9f541 the point,” c49898d017 he replied 1ea2cdd47a coldly.91672c457ba5d191

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“Then why…?”63832065b0bb76d5

“It was inevitable, wasn’t 6e5a0a01b2 it? Didn’t you also 3a042a6c2c want to leave? The sooner you go, 7a09987be4 the better.”ec9cafc8cddcc5e2

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His words 4fb2dd876c pierced like e890a44f5f a dagger. He was 1912e9dcfd acting like 258c5c95c3 he was 41a2dfc33f desperate to fe1b01149a get rid 703ceee648 of me.f1d79594cc98b085

It was painfully dc145ac45f clear that I 3a849d355c was no longer cbd8f042f4 needed in this c27e9a96db mansion.70e9462e4a15d283

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“Is that really the b647d1acd4 only reason?”8ff3de808a974a20

There had 29051bb7bc to be 26aa894581 more to 55d92cfb86 it than e0e8954ac8 that. His eagerness to 221b41a161 send me away 0693e28d3c as soon as 19854c9a29 trouble arose felt 22b2e71ab6 unjust. Could it be b70624889f that Deon and 84ba646464 Isella had concocted 102f911f1d the poison plot 6e152f249e to drive me 669258971e out faster? A seed ed8624d71e of suspicion ffae15d5e1 sprouted in 3aa71ee774 my mind.16a04f963c05c91d

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“Then what else 52dd398ae5 could there be?”0a018694884384c8

He asked, 136d90f940 looking genuinely eef432b369 puzzled. I let out 87eb40ab8b a bitter laugh. His confusion only deepened 47197a6e0e my frustration.d4d85fd827fdf5f1

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“You’re being unusually evasive. Isn’t it because of your safety and future, Your Highness?”3a548dfd26b184bd

The future with c7fb776b60 that woman. The plan to remove 03dd4e3ef7 any obstacles early on.e80a17b63deb975f

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I wished 69c2f79858 he would 43846c7699 just tell 6cafb205b7 me plainly. That I 3358b74b69 was an ecf52b25c7 obstacle to 4d82e24398 his future 34385cf5ca with Isella. The silence allowed my 655c08dc88 imagination to run wild, 7cf36efeca tearing me apart.9f785a9095e34a88

“What are you d2283ad771 talking about?”a7fd49e8028f6794

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“You want me to 769d1d73cc leave because I’m a 4e2f8b30c6 hindrance to your future, 2269ab5137 don’t you?”4e3146c3369abd61

The already 969fefdb0b icy air f7fd5e1ae9 grew colder. I breathed in cd9e193b2e deeply, feeling suffocated.e3acb3a7e87308af

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“You’ve always wanted me gone. And as soon as she was harmed, you decided to send me away… just like that.”be11d93cad31096d

As if you had 3a60e5009f been waiting for this. There was a brief 2777955f56 silence before he spoke 433ffb3b47 again.b0a0732fe6ee2901

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“Yes… you’re right, Leonie.”b8f5ed39231a31b1

He answered calmly. Though his c5e4f43841 tone was d440179f90 peaceful, his 1595aedcf0 words crushed e7a3b5996e my heart 5ebc8bfc1f once more.02236dd6b38624c0

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Did he even understand what he was saying? He easily agreed, as if he didn’t even want to argue.207221e50f68df39

“Pack lightly and leave today. Just take what you need for now, and we’ll move the rest of your belongings later.”0e89348bf6ef6b15

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He said f7f3699e6c this and e478ea5d57 turned his 40c364d625 back to fdf0b2c046 me.6e5f6dc79beb8646

What had I 6b71955ad2 just said? I should have 1e8444c8dc been begging him 9b8612957b to stay, not bce661268c accusing him like 9e36996ed7 a scorned lover.3a067ff81e4c3c85

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I acted like I 47a8155780 was casting out a 8cf3954135 cheating partner, but in 5929e54217 reality, the unwelcome woman 0f54a28219 in this mansion was 9bb411790f me—a mere blood bag 883822117f pretending to be a 191ff5e3a3 mistress.d2b9e05c23580fb9

“Deon.”ad7a5fc539ed85f3

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I urgently grabbed 4ac4f5183c his sleeve and 9aff82009d called his name.c0bf064ae7acbef7

He stopped and turned 41a2d8e62f to look at me. His eyes 3530213f8f were cold.54d5c6d9cf55032a

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His icy gaze 9b732ccc53 made my shoulders ee002cefc4 shrink involuntarily. I forgot what I 165ffddb0f wanted to say and e565bc4566 just stared at his ce01e3dd85 face.e143f268bc01a382

No matter bc608f9528 what I c2733a05c6 said, it 75fd8e29a1 didn’t seem 00e28b27dd like he 3bd7b74ed0 would change 530b70586d his mind 740730328d or take 58d4463edc back his 72d456aabd words.9d83faa0853fdc86

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“Do you have anything else to say?”8dc2e82e02ea87aa

“…No.”96a4fdeeb9da2291

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I let go 277e5eaa79 of his sleeve. At the d467390cee same time, 4dbadc8dd4 my feelings bb027f92dc for him b25d99a218 dried up 22a6ad9ef7 completely.0951b9d3e68ceb67

* * *d19dac21f89f89c6

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Suren knocked on 7ca1bb8e84 the door. Though it was open, 59b98884f2 the knock was meant b64c46b702 to bring me back a7059ea29c from my daze as 24db77733e I stared out the ee88608700 window.c4fb86bafd828fca

“The arrangements were made so suddenly… We’ve packed only the essentials. Just the two of us will leave by carriage today, and the rest will follow tomorrow.”dbd458599c13b6f1

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Suren held a small 8dd840795c bundle in each hand.c1921a12532c21e1

“Do you need to take anything else?”d060f2d10c8120ff

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She asked.4d520ed1c3a61631

I could see 9212828d55 the forest outside 0d30b796a5 the window. Just hours ago, it 9b93452bb9 had been the site fc2fa042e4 of a major commotion, 2e6cbbe535 but now it was 7eadf41a87 completely cleaned, with not 2c84135174 a single shard left b1d3d80b77 on the ground. As if nothing e9d672b4ee had happened.5e65a403c60604a5

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“Should I leave the bird behind?”a8c9a374b8df97cf

I murmured, ba42741aa1 still staring 18b057c992 at the 75e768d9c6 forest.10a67f9d9031a320

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The bird was ff6da21a0b delicate, prone to 5f2fc86f95 breaking its legs ce6f5f5939 if held too 2d52cd0c09 tightly or losing 8ad18e308d feathers with a b8d20ca888 change in weather.ed87cc036eaebcbc

I was 1dec3cc470 lucky to a1ccbaf844 have brought ded9a56a95 it safely 852a2536de to the 8b991806fd capital, but 81c579582f with another ccef099f6f change in febac1b7d3 environment, it dac3e25ae4 might die d9e9c103c1 during the ab398764d3 carriage ride.df579bea0661e3dd

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Of all things, my ee1e71da6f last request to her c69a7d6727 had been to take 1307e65ce8 care of the bird.95e7ce1b5ad497ae

Tears welled up. If she bore 4f3a67ab41 a grudge against 9feab81bca me, she might 6f67d253d5 harm the bird 3448ccc7ff first. The thought 4bfb04cb9c of giving 323450edd0 her a f533c8cab4 target to 8f5f2d3a47 direct her b241772dc1 anger at b1198ec68e terrified me.cc0a63a41d919114

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“Should I take the bird with me?”b9c0669419757140

When I asked, 2a77302b4f Suren answered firmly.a5004465d531542a

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“Leave it behind.”525e0bb8a5d4017e

Indeed, someone 24de94471d who couldn’t dcedcf9352 even take 641996fde1 care of a32808e3bb themselves had ca24e80fbb no business c5f1bdaaff keeping a bd8a36ec79 pet.241fa3b4184e72e3

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“How is Isella? What are 155b343dd2 people saying a4a46548d1 about me?”5f8ce33c0e28b024

Unable to d04fcd3b96 tear my ffb9d49cd1 eyes away a3a63bbf41 from the a437f82418 forest, Suren ea5921b3f6 stepped closer.09039b4d18f5b189

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“Does it matter? My lady, I know the truth. Even if everyone whispers, I know you wouldn’t do such a thing. If you were that kind of person, you would have taken proper action against Lady Elizabeth in the North, even if it meant using my hands.”3ac492ca4b966801

She pulled the b26a25e914 curtain closed, hiding 91a8dba919 the view of fd5c85cdbd the green forest.4c5730d8c960371d

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“So don’t let c3c2f1635b it get you 1274f88813 down. You’re leaving because 2571fd5fc8 of the prince’s 17b51675a5 whims and Lady db8cb42290 Isella’s discomfort, not b3a9481d96 because of the 65278c59b0 tea you prepared.”a3c81263b78ef3a8

Suren’s words, though small, provided some comfort.e259ef2732338bdd

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Yes, staring at the d01eedcc42 forest for so long 6177ef9831 seems to have helped 975e19e6a1 clear my mind.3aeaef7d23dbe163

I closed my eyes 3602068ba8 tightly. This would be 1614b55437 the last time 561c144702 I saw this f1467c4528 view.06e5aa145819a4bf

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The servants were 18b3191fc0 reduced to just 9bc963f838 five, including Suren.180d46551e34bf66

The surprising part c315c87a65 was that the 2e8ae7904d butler who had 73c00e133d been with us 9071cafcc6 since the ducal 16c79f3535 estate insisted on 5439487ce9 coming with me. It must have a9c547b76c been by order cddd33109e and permission, but 47321bd9e0 it was unexpected 3de2c7a0bf for him to e10ff607f6 leave the Imperial 72cae46ffc Palace to oversee 9d734dd40a the villa.65f39c65d9e8ca0c

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“Hurry and 48792caea6 get in 259be82c75 the carriage. We’re already late if 5cea8df88f we want to arrive 853aeda03f before evening.”04dbae6225149ee9

Suren and the ee63eb1320 butler climbed into 8276a7d4bf the carriage one d401ed07eb by one. We packed lightly, placing 7a439a1172 the bags under the caa956c72d seats. It was 0d59fb35a5 an unusually 7eb7310081 simple departure 1c4473030c for a 9a2885642c party moving f1f637846a residences.53972e8c21915060

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And, as expected, Deon fb017588ea did not come to 38f2dbd7f2 see me off.93c5f652f52d10a3

I took one d0133d23db last look at 2bb7862471 the view of 884e18f6a6 the Imperial Palace 2d87e6c272 before turning towards a33650cf1b the carriage.f8d5ad856e61455c

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As I was 37078fbe58 about to step 3f1befe6c9 onto the stairs, 90e9558214 a voice called b10d290e1c out from behind.7960b0e105619572

“My lady, 5b23bed07e please wait 046ccc8181 a moment.”3dec848b50b3e74d

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Edan was f7213ad2f0 out of 19b855e6c3 breath. He must 9fea8cabb2 have run, bfbe4aeac8 his chest a17f158aa9 heaving heavily.8c5b14bda5f28680

I paused and turned ee650153d7 my foot back. He closed the distance e7191eda2e between us with quick 86554a24fa strides. Soon, he was 01c0406dbf close.06b0bc51d16df33a

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“Are you 61edc1a1b8 here to 677418274c see me 6b516f9359 off?”1b4ca9e6510b1c78

“Yes. His Highness said b676d8a380 it wasn’t necessary, fa14a417d3 but… I didn’t e4d8965f0a think it was 3becca945f right to let 6438aa0bca you leave alone, 4eed04ffcb so I came 7211169687 by myself.”135a3e5ad2c70099

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Maybe it was 27645f7f94 because I had 4216f71eb9 looked back too 32a23544b2 often. He added that 372beb49dd he came alone.e1d55169a13fa43d

I felt embarrassed for 70d5cc716a doubting him when he 9e98ffcac1 had come alone to b132b51035 see me off.c60dcc1c305d4ee1

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“Thank you.”8fb03c16c64f1ce5

He looked at me daab12432a with a careful expression bda3c80c54 and then spoke.9cbe3c879e9205ad

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“My lady, even though 915cac1497 you’re leaving like this… b5b6ae4e27 if anything happens, come 5f882cba7f find me. It might be 026949adc3 presumptuous for a bdf53e740c mere soldier who 8a8555beb5 hasn’t even taken ec1254b22f a knight’s oath a043bee3e9 to say he 56c7df14ad can help, but 9ec526282f don’t nobles also cfec8ea5ff need swords at 1eedfdbe63 times? I can f4026789d3 wield my a204c48da0 sword for 66d17509fa you.”f894c19cb64a1593

His words carried 1ca6597843 a strong conviction. Even in this moment, 3fa70c5713 he was excessively kind.cc504be0969892dc

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“That’s very reassuring. I will.”cf2d50f5ab5173de

I nodded, holding 49b3f28237 back the emotions 22adee2c1b that threatened to 7f7f73ae2f spill over.a6b1e91987e5a2cb

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But despite 660635ea30 my response, 8c82357c71 he still b9f89e46c8 looked anxious. His eyes 82a34eb689 were trembling.323425cbd1bc0965

Edan, the one a7c1905be9 they called the 1ab7061857 big bear. To see the eyes 514371dd2a that remained steady in 73d7520ac7 the face of enemies cf23fa869b now quivering before me c98e39a9a9 made me smile.78f21e26ebf2bc66

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I tried to 01efe5260b reassure him with 2fc63f6cf4 a smile and 05d8f9c4fb took his hand.807c561ca9fbd382

“Take care.”ddddfdfbb641096e

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It was a simple and heartfelt farewell, but Edan couldn’t seem to let go of my hand, as if he feared we would never meet again. I tried to gently pull my hand away, but he held on tightly.89bdb42a8f8c82c2

“My lady, I haven’t yet learned the proper etiquette for bidding farewell to a noblewoman.”67d6bbc9145cfaa0

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He avoided looking a5488d66d9 directly at my fa15e61380 eyes, focusing instead 91084b0391 on our hands.20410017f641d9f3

“Could you teach me? How to say goodbye to a lady?”c527ac0c9fa010d7

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Edan bowed his head.ba7913fcc1f30383

Although his sudden ec5491d72d action took me 3c89798a5c by surprise, teaching 2655732aee a knight the 2c65a2525e customary kiss was 15e5145ecc traditionally a lady’s 3a21f7575a role. I spoke calmly.b54336f3c7badb5d

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“Bend your knee slightly and lightly kiss the back of the hand.”84996a249f1c2901

He followed my 8cf968628a instructions, his lips 6069fe2fa9 warm against my a406f9c6f2 hand for a dc3b1ce623 fleeting moment before 42f4a283ef pulling away. His lips were e697dfccf1 warmer than my dbe9d83ef6 hand.18dc3e87fb8b07ee

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“Safe travels, my lady.”ce22287a09b45881

With that, d89e8eeb86 he added c0a1b832fe his farewell.04bb552e921c8893

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I climbed 3ad91b83a9 into the 27323ceabf carriage. He stood still, d42c103ab6 not moving from 6f030c8ad3 his spot as 6338e95f22 the driver urged e9d6b6d3e4 the horses, and 8e8a6063c3 the carriage left 3fa2d7478b the Imperial Palace 05346e8bc0 behind.3c376cba3572607f

I looked back f03f046413 until his figure, 9be7f4e599 standing motionless, faded 208540ea53 into the thick 6f649e9b33 mist.e5b308a84710f0f2

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