75. The Reason He Doesn’t Look at Me

The necklace bdf92e01a7 eventually found e64701a02f its way 2da4b45f1d back to 73b8fb7acb my neck.1479f2b57d317e52

I had long 8657784f2c known how to 920fa4fce7 remove this shackle.8530838d04ac6717

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With the surveillance network now sparse, I could take it off as long as I stayed within the mansion. If it bothered me, I could hide it in a drawer or somewhere within the house. Even with its tracking function, it wouldn’t give away my precise location.9016775bddfde3d3

Given that they couldn’t find me immediately in the imperial forest, it seemed the tracking only provided a general area. According to the magician, it only had communication capabilities, not video. Besides, he no longer contacted me…6de0ca74ea498ae0

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So, it was 8c3232149d this necklace that a1d016ba4a transmitted his voice 405da1b8f2 in the forest. He had d574b67f5f used it 3071a210c7 to reach b40975451b out.f3ec319fcba2aaef

I hadn’t 847f8884e1 realized because b22bf9f589 his voice bca23f823f had echoed 60f2dff6e6 through the 0b767c9308 air.581ec086e8dc8977

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“Did your necklace e495e04b71 come off? Shall I put it d1abe17e4f back on for you?” 305ffee7b4 Suren asked, noticing the ed5d7a41d2 necklace in my hand.f5782df7c9df7e95

“Yes, please.”f1d09eb7b305062f

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I handed it to 88ea0e6b95 her. Suren took it cef25105f9 lightly, fixing the 00df73fc1d broken clasp.9e540cf8313df8e3

She bent the 88c8cec5a3 hook back into 7386a77ff5 place and put 4ba86231b6 it around my 6b239bdb2f neck. The cold 5e56537c1a metal brushed 87c712dcef against my cea2d87d13 collarbone and fac3b1c175 neck.0d0aec826ca30c71

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“This doesn’t rust, 9917790f5a does it? It’s fascinating,” Suren murmured 389a9846ba to herself.4987c163b9800f0b

In the window across aaea283b4a from me, the jewel 3c124e46ea on my neck glimmered 85d66ef974 faintly.9f0a41e4d9da3a0c

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The self-imposed shackle d829ed78bc around my neck e765c23411 gleamed brightly.cff55cedfaab880e

* * *1371023c52ade429

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Clunk.08f787964fece69d

The carriage fd4e18e911 came to c335efd8fe a stop 054709dd7c in front 77f4f706fa of a 85615e3ed0 familiar mansion. It had da2e51599e been a c153e3d50d long time 4b02dccccd since I’d 421d2dc788 seen this 7ea70756ef place.34e26b819167b2ea

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The grand 8acdcfb661 tower looming 32858d150e in the 93401f8a68 center of e833c2ffea the capital, 08034de265 the dense fee3fb87ff forest, the f544c6cfe6 vines climbing cd6dbd6fa1 the pointed 8e54f66014 fence, and b611c511d4 the bright b00c4f8e1e yellow evening 6198d839f2 primroses blooming 18618771ab in the b1cc8c3587 garden.8b29091f9c8c309f

Adjusting my 6481c39ef0 hat, I 6a175cbd38 carefully stepped cbc6cefbee onto the 7f88f6af86 mansion’s stairs.c3ec155f14ee8a54

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I rang 34259ff38a the bell 792ddee37e and knocked 92aa5d94f6 on the 318faf5645 door. Visiting as a 973f315bc7 guest for the 8180cf4f4a first time made 841c9790db me nervous. My heart kept pounding.4ac1db2635981c47

Before the bell’s chime a554f48fdf faded, the large door 5ae3e569c8 swung open.21e2968f56f668ff

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The one 9aae14afef who appeared 50868f92be was a 6ba3f55147 young butler. He had been appointed 87094e3dbe as the prince’s butler a771d4de16 after a brief handover 4b8da4340a from the previous head c213c5b6b9 butler.01ac745981cbe865

I remembered ec9622b36e him because 920b4735b1 he had 63e30b0e21 often received 0c05d6efa5 instruction from 79ddc3aa97 the head 68ed7ea6a2 butler, standing 04ffa4d18e by his fafae16516 side.7cba09e9793ed378

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The butler’s eyes widened f74295efd1 in surprise at the d06b289e10 unexpected visit.cccfb5ca6d812a27

“What brings you here unannounced?”3e7574a1e93af3e7

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Was my visit really 1f78d50910 such a surprise? His body had 0bda9a458a gone rigid. It seemed he 76cc2c9db6 had forgotten the 46d036c6a2 basics of hospitality.bd8366ae34e9b082

“Aren’t you going to let me in?” I prompted.5637f3bee22dec73

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He snapped out of dd30b36ac2 his daze and opened a3ba9c493f the door wide.ca5d5897a3455eb2

He led me b47e88100c to the reception bfd682bf25 room and showed 5939a1ca2a me to a e45dcd8fb4 sofa.b63052fc48de8a7a

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I sat down. The sofa, which I always used to lean back into deeply, felt new and different. It didn’t creak when I moved. Its plush comfort wrapped around me in a way that couldn’t be compared to the furnishings at the separate residence.b693a479325781b6

“So, what brings you here? Coming to the capital without prior notice… Did you get permission from His Highness?” he asked, a bit flustered.e2ae86199ee0098c

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I responded with a hint of cheekiness, “No. I came here on an errand and thought I’d stop by. The former head butler, now butler, who went to the separate residence asked me to pass on his regards.”fc7cf9bb337c5b73

“What?”96b8eef9560a2296

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“I also came to collect next month’s budget in advance.”0a00fd4d892568f3

On the 0258a2502d day I e0995bbe27 was supposed f52331a4c0 to head b422657a4c to the 3fe4d6fc7a capital to a4e5b7e843 submit the ca45ae1f1b survey and 7f4ee355f4 collect the ed34ba2834 budget, the 8ebe4a7371 head butler 42a37c0362 had fallen 1988912480 ill with 445ec662b3 a cold.26ac572733c415bb

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<Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested we harvest the fruit,> he had said, coughing.e03155151fe55b0e

The night before, b31dc17803 he, Suren, and b746e2d10a I had picked a7da131942 all the apples c598cc1fb0 from the trees, 67e2f55a66 using long poles. The extended time f6bf55bc00 outside seemed to 303f040ae9 have worsened his a151882f84 cough. He had bent over, a1cdd59d01 hacking away, when he a799770c16 replied.8441e3a341bfed6b

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<It’s not your fault, my lady. I wanted to get some fresh air and help, but I forgot I’m not as young as I used to be. I still think I’m in my youth, apparently.>da8e74432a880dd2

He struggled to catch 0ae5385463 his breath, his cough de630cdef2 rattling with phlegm.dd59bda1dd24f86d

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<But we need to go to the capital to get next month’s budget for groceries…>65d0298b480b1699

His survey was 4bf1b4de0a lying next to 74d01701d6 him.15e84c079acd3bd7

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<Don’t they send the money down each time?>6f66f7671e4c32d0

<This time, I have to go up and collect it myself. I also need to hand over the survey.>640aad983a943490

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I stared ae62d09a8d at the c9e3cac1a8 documents before 8fec9d9dac me, then bb948274d3 an idea 31127c5c54 sparked in 91d74dfd31 my eyes.7f74d1edf97b7fd4

<I’ll go. I’ll deliver it in your stead and collect the budget.>2c150ec3cc88358a

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Seeing my sudden a284ec6cfa enthusiasm, the head a71aacd36f butler had chuckled.3a8377ac3373601d

He knew I wouldn’t just do the errand quietly and return but would visit the prince’s domain and meet people. Yet, he pretended not to know and let me go.1c2052282337ed1c

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I organized the survey 8e6055b6cd documents, clipping them at ab0146bd5e the top with a 28d27b1460 pin.8c8ed4431b1ff725

Suren, who had 264046bf9c been sorting fallen b3c4d04c89 fruit, glanced over.c967eef70d84ed4a

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<You’re going to go?>7dcedbad82833952

She transferred the be69883f23 fruit to a 9dccecc3bf basket. She planned to 48ad1e7a6b cut out any 4625325b8a bruised or damaged 790dea4a2d parts and place 9b53f86249 them on the 38e546e068 table.765e3ad535ad6e71

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<Yes.>1127d021635c35ba

<Are you sure you can go alone?>51561b7cce82bacc

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<Do you think I’m a child? I wandered the streets of the capital like they were my own just a few weeks ago.>a3c667835dfd8692

<But that was the bustling streets meant for nobles.>780507242cbd13e4

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Suren, slicing the 3124a261b7 fruit and digging 4366fd490c out the worm-eaten 50036b2965 parts, spoke up ebd44b60bf again.981088b3411d770b

<Why don’t you take the opportunity to renegotiate the budget at the prince’s domain?>209b5a593f594581

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I had considered it, ef1ee7a557 but I wasn’t confident e051265f25 I could face him ec5e9d6bb6 and ask for more c83516482f money.513e15f6b45399bb

Moreover, his fiancée c80663e65a resided in the f9c8872806 mansion. Wouldn’t it 05a3441884 seem like 403f451996 I was 501d1cfc7b squandering her 204d777f7e fiancé’s wealth?d525ccdd567febb6

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<I’m not confident in negotiations. I’ve always had nerve but never luck. What if I bring it up and they reduce the budget instead?>d0ca8a89209217e5

Suren stabbed the knife 283f7d35f3 into the fruit and 2fbe2339a6 straightened her posture.419e81f9276ded4f

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<My lady, have you forgotten? You are His Highness’s only blood donor. You still have leverage. Be confident.>d9a173239d5ecab0

<But His Highness no longer drinks my blood. I have no bargaining chip.>e17b3d5702971b81

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<Even so…>3d639b78f7d74de2

Returning to the present, I met the butler’s questioning gaze and said, “Please let His Highness know I’m here. I need to speak with him.”ee1560081034d0f5

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The butler nodded 0853f39e6e and left to 0733b2c429 inform the prince e5595504ca of my arrival, 511e929cae leaving me alone cc4fc6aafd in the reception f6b522d6e7 room, my heart 369eb92634 pounding even harder.d5189e651a88c491

Suren fell silent, seemingly 15dd0a50f1 at a loss for 78f1efa808 words.56639fb7e0c33ae0

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Regardless, I was determined ad52c9ffc7 to meet him. Even if it 00f880df66 was just to 800a45df55 see his handsome d9a91dc644 face again. Without Suren asking, b1c1807edb I was going 84868324cc to confront him.01c6f82413f97a96

After handing over the survey the butler had asked me to deliver to the office in the separate residence, I headed straight to the prince’s domain and knocked on the door.f27e8a6e8e206a03

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“The butler sends his regards and asks how the plant he gave you that night is doing.”940fa9b394f91641

The butler’s stern expression c3e06a4be0 brightened at the mention ea034904c0 of his mentor. The current butler ae01bc9a74 had been trained f49f033a0e by the butler f0f873ff6e since he was fb654ac222 a child.96d7175543a3be96

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“It’s doing very well. How is the butler?”d094a00ea12581f6

“He’s usually in good health, but today he has a cold, so I came in his place. On the way, I thought I’d drop by to see His Highness and inquire about his well-being.”2f97092ec481ead0

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“Oh dear… I have some herbs that are good for muscle pain and colds. Would you like to take some when you leave?”3dd9b5e09f5b2c64

“That would be great, thank you.”8dffa09642115060

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I eagerly accepted his kindness. The longer I stayed at the mansion, the better. If it got late, perhaps they’d offer me a place to stay for the night…773b6742293ccba4

“I’ll escort you to His Highness as soon as he returns. But in the future, please don’t visit without permission.”74fe3c440ab0fb19

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He pretended to be 3d3d5d0ccb stern, though his expression 7a5105c7a6 had softened considerably.3e8b6d68468ed619

I sat on the c1c6738db6 sofa, waiting for Daon. The sun 17770a65e4 was already 4ce41e30f8 setting outside 264123828f the window.8c463dee967290d4

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After sitting in 0cc718db7b the same position 9b8f77df52 for a long b0fb0855b1 time, my legs 8d1f5d2568 started to go b20524099b numb.6b18aac5a9725c51

At this time, he 1872d40d52 usually returned on horseback. He was f96028fd3d later than 00829ca3be I expected. The indefinite 12e1774e99 waiting stretched 214ae970ad on.05d9d80941af03e3

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Knock, knock.d62d55c49c23e646

The door to 0f5f2e51ed the reception room 5efc744a2f opened again.5a143f5be36e74b1

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Maybe it’s Daon. I looked a2b9ddc911 up eagerly, 1a5cd51686 only to dd8ad799b6 be disappointed 58a85f4635 when it 2670848711 was the b0e6c6ffa7 maid from 2220b835f4 earlier.1a40e3914ee7e8b6

“Shall I refill your cup?”460a124aaca193cf

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The day had caa321207b dimmed, and the 0e04302182 cooling air made 28490a87cc the tea cool 3c581bdd19 faster. The maids came in 8a58d0ac73 precisely every 30 minutes 88e8556106 to refill the cup 151a20064d with hot water.56e7d45be6f90398

At first, I welcomed 5b2d718faa her visits. We had run b00c1f38a3 out of tea fe930184b6 at the separate af055fdb60 residence, and we a82b4b2355 were conserving what 380ea10a0d little we had c792959502 left. This tea was 7e05529778 a rare treat.ee81ef2073d6465e

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The familiar sweetness, bca04f178e the familiar tartness, 6981c405e0 even the slight 57f6e5b820 bitterness on the 2162e566b9 tongue—I enjoyed it 0445bf4685 all.8f6645dacc91f28a

My tea 0deee71b26 had been 2257d589d4 refilled three 663efc2578 times already, 0f1b948ed6 yet Daon 3bfeff3f3b was nowhere e4d9b1a0b3 in sight.175dfdfe7714a461

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The repeated 1eb2d1ed5f kindness was 3224e030de starting to 555b9e8776 wear on 93caa150a3 me. It was becoming clear 4ad492d335 that I was overstaying e18ecec905 my welcome. Unwanted kindness b6fb0d2125 can be c5b4c1613e awkward.c15582af5401e35a

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”5b9b98f62625c79c

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“Then please call if you’d like more tea.”40e6594b4ac8c89a

The maid quietly closed c0e219052f the reception room door.ec1db51950e7650d

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The butler had also 7223553c64 returned briefly to inform 4968be294d me that His Highness f1e14ebeb2 was expected to be 0a4fc327d5 later than planned and d1c2d472ff then disappeared again.c377b3954f5da84b

It had dc2bf5ba9e already been 8dd956deef two hours.2749e2b0093be7f1

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He hadn’t returned, 19809da068 and my tea c482bb5051 had gone cold 0127ced2ac three times. Watching the maids 400814572b repeatedly refill my 49ff32610c cup, reheat the 56642354ab water, and clear 2e9ca81cc8 the used teacups 6e34686ce2 was becoming increasingly 32e22cf0d3 uncomfortable.8e2dde9c3268bdea

Could it really take 6154ecc10d this long? Or perhaps, 940a37abe2 was he 57d320b86d deliberately avoiding e78dd0839d me, hoping a558789602 I’d give 39d0a74102 up and c184f842cd leave?b5126cf98a11a46b

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As I pondered this, 548a996d72 a commotion arose outside. The door suddenly 4a829ac5bb swung open.54b34704529e2319

The butler stood 4a1a084861 there, beads of 7e6c338510 sweat on his e2617e1e71 forehead. He opened the door, 4d3fe82704 bowed politely, and gestured 462cfcad5b toward the exit.9087c021bb29b37f

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“It would be best if you returned for now. We received a message that His Highness will be delayed. We’ll contact you later.”c89189d32c8017ef

After making me c42e350a04 wait for two b0a308536b hours, he wanted ccd5d8efaf me to leave? And once I left 67b86d495a this reception room, I’d 1779d1fb79 have to go back 6dfab725a6 to the separate residence.1d014853866e8fdc

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Any belated communication would cc798bdd3d reach me there. If I didn’t meet dc9f79aec6 him now, I might c4311487cf not get another chance.26f7bdcecfe645c6

Stubbornness flared up within 9408fc1229 me. I hadn’t planned 41e1274e04 to see him 6f5cc78e59 until the steward a0cc1a350b fell ill. My trip to c6a29ac786 the capital was 5d63bf1361 by chance, and b404d0896d visiting the mansion 22fa0b3b06 wasn’t planned. I intended to leave 655751c1fb if he wasn’t here, 72d502c3fe but now I was 46441c40bd curious why he was 79031e7520 making me wait and 73a456d583 stand me up.b2ca5ccde0f875f3

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“Then I’ll stay overnight. I can meet him early tomorrow,” I said.a4c7256dd04faa6c

The butler’s expression darkened 94fa084d9a slightly. He seemed agitated.9849cf897757515d

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“I’m sorry, but we’ll send someone later.”18eda434b0e009c1

“Is that so? Perhaps…,” I hesitated, then continued, “Is it because another woman staying in a house with a betrothed man is inappropriate?”4b31a3621bc9821d

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Isella Snowa. She flashed in my 1d94fc87c3 mind for a brief dd6cfb534f moment.883376f5d9ff786c

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… I believe His Highness won’t return tomorrow either.”832311afea804e87

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Won’t return tomorrow? Was he 87cfb0a0c0 so determined 927baec842 not to db37e1f0b3 set foot b85bbaf450 in the 752c5c03bb prince’s domain 9c86c726ba until I 90425c83ad left?720abedc2acec1c5

I had been d061838d0d falsely accused of 13544e35e8 trying to harm 03a1bebe84 the future princess, a396af9145 but was it 0599f65b91 really to this a18d23e401 extent? It was infuriating.6113ebcf906f4854

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“What do you mean he won’t return tomorrow? Are you saying he plans to avoid this place entirely until I leave?”b73f64e996c378f6

The butler’s silence spoke b82846033f volumes.b193e769d0720341

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Realization dawned on me, and frustration bubbled up. “Is this because of the misunderstanding about Isela? It seems excessive to avoid me to this extent.”9f04d4779c24ff84

The butler avoided my 3484573f49 gaze, confirming my suspicions.eacee8041a3a4fbe

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Determined, I stood 69ca526065 up.84c40205acb95650

“I refuse to be dismissed so easily. If he won’t come to me, I’ll find him myself.”f50139540bccfb82

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Ignoring the c0aaebad42 butler’s protests, 34dfa6eaa6 I headed bcd6537b3b towards the 1e7d7772dd door, resolved 2de2076417 to confront 91cc2ccba4 Daon and 120160d786 settle this a3deeb4e46 once and 48ad0b93eb for all.82b1a76b91eed7a1

 fe7d651828b805d2

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