77. There’s Only One Thing I Want

“So, what is 0c02f4ac53 it that you bfca56d719 must say?”db3835be62fa58c7

Her violet eyes 3312179bd5 gazed steadily at 54bd34a910 me.2c263a95ec0c59d9

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I swallowed hard and 5a279902c4 began to speak slowly.3dea25fe62484e0f

“I understand 2737ff76e1 that my 009d0e133f presence here 46e20ae61e is an 79b864a5d5 imposition, Lady cdb9d175e7 Isella. It must be awkward e06f1abd2c for you. This could easily f928fdd283 become the subject ddcc740808 of gossip.”f3665ac020bbfde0

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I began 37d4372faf to share 051b0a68b2 the words 01038e3692 I had 3715a5c0fa carefully prepared. I glanced at her 9944275f3c to gauge her reaction, 4b8343ee2b but her face remained b3aaa7f7ca expressionless.51d2a7df7192eb47

“Strictly speaking, 987646c861 this isn’t 61f7719212 my concern… 81518094bf but it’s 802a5a09c6 been bothering ade4588ae0 me too 916caf4d44 much to 7e1a838da8 ignore.”ce3ce6f13f203934

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In truth, it 10ede1a9c1 wasn’t just a 6a9c523fe3 little. My mind was completely eeec51dcb1 consumed with thoughts of 9a5e8d6923 him.6bc9287a05cfc78b

I cautiously broached the 720518358e subject.2e2ef0e4173294d9

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“His Highness is fb51590c41 imprisoned in the 1bd191a875 imperial palace.”8fdbce2fec9c74ed

“I know.”449e3b3126a3f5f9

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Her response 210fde5187 was excessively 193ec42a91 calm, almost dabe4d3dd9 dismissive.6ce614ff72d801d8

“Why aren’t you helping d34cd818bd him?”474c0c20cfadcd1f

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It had been two 070c14d524 days since he was 41cb185907 imprisoned. For all their 19ed93f20b vigilance and power, c624289076 the Snowa family b6162a396e had made no 9c5738d63d move. Despite possessing the 71dad4ec89 most formidable forces 39f451ab51 in the capital, 9e99adf1c0 they had done 2ed9729a38 nothing.0b3c0591eff61a10

People in the prince’s 2799a3e13d domain were anxious. Rumors circulated 0eb5f34205 that she 7ede71680c had abandoned 9689700f0c Deon.ba193155b2e0bf6a

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She set her teacup 29f40c26ff down and looked at 26c54f67da me steadily before speaking.42e2057df07e51e5

“You’re a 5a1182c588 noble as 0b68536ee9 well, Lady f6deb41099 Sien. You should 4ec9d3ef7e understand my 20a1e3635d position. Even if the charges aed75636c9 are false, associating with 95e4dcc903 a traitor can lead bba2964130 to a family’s destruction. The Sien 04f033fe48 barony may 33e7d96f42 be in e49b44492f a small 63c8335328 provincial town, 1aee26b796 but if 2f14f6ba97 you’re deemed ff4324d3d3 a hindrance, 7bbef20146 you could bf2f0e92c2 be swept 765ead5ddd away too. It’s too 40686d79e3 dangerous to 4e5da13c4b get involved aea9210261 with him 4c7c0b5e6e right now.”40a482e295b90da0

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Her words only made f32e784f21 me more desperate. I needed 0134c50995 to change 12ab1ab561 her mind. If her 99008f7dac family, with 3765e42d9a its considerable 8aa68ec285 forces, took 5649c671fd action, there 5c3bd1f9a3 might be 103d23ac3e hope.9733194ad2652826

“Perhaps that’s true. But you’re not just 590c2a2bbe his friend, Lady Isella. You’re his fiancée. Isn’t it aa502f80e0 the role 2d165c9319 of a c9b078e688 noble marriage 21392db00c to support 3138c62ad4 each other 3b2ce8fde5 and use afb0eb7780 the family’s 145b2b9225 power in 163e6c44c1 times of e46383be50 danger?”d16364fe437c9da4

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She tilted 6ba4d79c45 her head fbe01c42f1 slightly.044249c1ee4684ba

“That’s true, but this 25ab31fed3 is a personal issue f5a009f168 for me. I don’t understand 404278e0e4 why you’re so 1ab7e8cc33 invested in this 9fca66b3f9 matter, Lady Sien.”cf8217f43ad6d993

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“I… I owe His Highness a great debt. When I was in the duchy, he employed me as a secretary. He invited me to the capital and to attend court events… and…”135dc7df40db7f29

I tried to explain b98b2b4d80 without offending her. Mentioning the gifts 403d15e414 or implying a d0a1010de2 romantic relationship could 51c84ffcd9 upset her. She listened 7c511e3fc2 to my 6a06c8dd69 rambling explanation 0043a960b7 with a 57f64429c0 slight smile.cac1a54213c6e44a

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“Did he 77240d844c tell you ef16988a35 to say 82118e74e5 that? Well, that’s the story 5e3661a0b9 widely known, isn’t it?”6b746aa36fab41e5

Widely known? I quickly replayed her a74085b4a9 words in my mind, 482e20c0ec struggling to grasp her 74699cf213 meaning.783a976f800c51bd

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“What do you 85527b7603 mean?”53005400876991ec

“It’s surprising. Wouldn’t it be better for you if he dies? There would be no man threatening your life anymore. So I was taken aback when you came to the mansion. I thought you wanted to escape from him. I guess I was mistaken.”4e7ce9648e22cc82

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“What… do you mean?”2d46d9a0f06a7fd3

“You are the source of His Highness’s power, aren’t you? What do they call it again? The secretary referred to you as… a blood bag.”01543a7d757d1768

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Her words hit me b45f982421 like a ton of 0582827714 bricks.47543224ca04ed56

“…He revealed the blood secret?”ec21c80c94877f34

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I couldn’t believe it.c0c7223051db0c7e

“To what extent? How much does he know…?”a8e23affa31d99ee

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I stammered, my c3504adf5f heart pounding uncontrollably.cf8d116ce13a496d

I couldn’t control it. My temples, wrists, and chest throbbed wildly.e2c192aa13efd726

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“From start to finish, everything. I know that you are staying at the mansion to provide him with blood and that you were brought here at great expense from the north. So… I know you’re kept by his side for that reason.”b28a09c50f4be873

Now, I couldn’t even make an excuse that I was trying to save him out of gratitude or because I was his cherished lover.f7911400de7144fe

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My neck 59b388f06a burned with d4c315a66c humiliation.d16f68ae7c36470c

Was it such an easy secret to divulge? Or, did they think it was okay to tell her because she’s already Deon’s person…9c7abea0b22b2d03

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I couldn’t say anything. I had a vague idea, but having it confirmed felt different.4b724ae48d0028b8

I understood. It was much easier 29d217dedd to reveal the blood 3d0c02595d information to a fiancée 7fb10a434e than to cause a 038261b4d0 misunderstanding with a mere bc48153f6a lover.fb206cdbb9e80ee6

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Having received my e87ed136c2 information from Deon, 041dd780b4 she must have 70e49b1f2e easily accepted it. Who would stop abf99f8079 her if she 5d413db1a9 believed I was 04faead581 a prisoner rather 23e12e1a99 than a beloved e4914e40ba companion? A woman de51b9a2e5 kept by fd5df8bcd8 his side 5a5c519383 as an f7a24b3701 object, not b0dbe7e487 as a 916e240432 loved one.55a4b1cce0add1cb

My hand, b412eed16e holding the 0861756894 teacup, shook 5af569ff22 embarrassingly.bda49f1f7f0fd150

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I carefully steadied my d7bf072359 mind. If I db9b053d4b let these 16bee85843 emotions control 23d19bab53 me, I 795bee19ec would ruin c51bc3abdc everything. I had come to 8123df79f5 the lady Snowa for ac6e7c94e7 a specific purpose. To save him. That was all.bd1127a5b3fd25e5

“Since you know everything, there’s no need to beat around the bush. When I visited His Highness’s mansion, neither the secretary nor the guards were by his side. You are the only one who can help him.”295087dc5124f2b6

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“His Highness’s affairs will be resolved well. You don’t need to worry.”da5979e581be7e3a

She spoke in 44637db5e7 an incomprehensible manner. She seemed 65610fb43f like a aa7a881df7 naive idealist.2a7afcb8941fd65a

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“How can you be so sure? Do you know that Deon’s trial date has been set?”b3801ca27e7a7312

“Yes. I know. It will be resolved.”7b824bb61e64506b

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“And if we waste time until the date approaches?”4e74ab686458c223

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”611002b29fd71019

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“What if the trial goes against him and Prince Azanti has him executed?”17c6b78b2bc47c3e

“That would be a pitiful fate.”606ab2f33b9762f1

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Isella answered indifferently, remaining consistently irresponsible. I couldn’t fathom where her nonchalance stemmed from.2cc7bff205b58375

Life and death were 4b293d5399 at stake, yet she 7264f52957 seemed as uninterested as bca3228293 if she were asking 6ad7891152 whether this tea was b36808a277 grown in the west e4a4f85eb3 or the south. To her, our 6c7369d3b6 conversation was nothing 824792d838 more than a c56ab682ee trivial courtesy.ef1be012195b9413

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Even if the origin of the tea changed, she had no intention of spitting out what she’d just swallowed. She would simply pretend not to know. To her, Deon was just such an existence.f6fa317b77e1100f

“How can you be so… indifferent? He was once your fiancé. And Snowa was a vassal family, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t you be doing everything you can for him? Even if your love has faded, for the honor of your family… Are you saying that when the political situation changes, you’ll just break off the engagement and find another man?”28f7d60b0b818af3

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Isella’s eyes narrowed.2dfd1c1dfcb6a238

“That’s my personal business. It’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”1e5b7d92462d37e6

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Coward. My body trembled with anger. I couldn’t sit still and listen to her anymore.616a4d06f21f8e4b

I sprang 9dc576e9d8 to my 06c7f00b0b feet.7ed78f54529128a6

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I wanted 819d611004 to throw e4208d7712 cold water 0124fc4a2d on her 501c684599 perpetually indifferent 9eda227af6 face or 284250969e grab her 22b455176f by the 310b88628c collar. I wanted to see e70e4ac877 her eyes tremble beneath 0393580015 my grip, questioning if adb6b2559c this was the best f9f687ffc5 outcome after pushing me 1255b781af aside and claiming him.e5715a58774cf6b7

But instead of fceffeb667 picking up the b00924f16e teacup, I moved 6eff8675e6 to the sofa c77bff6a8c where she sat a253659fa6 and knelt before f6becfa184 the table.8b789783ad6726c3

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“Lady! Please get up.”61b85e29b0b1dec6

She was c894272d11 startled and c30e871685 dropped her da0b734777 teacup. The cup rolled fac146a576 away with a f792a7273f clear sound. For the first 7c0c982ac1 time, a hint d3d16177af of surprise appeared 73f1ecfb74 on her indifferent 10e4e6343a face.4f25fb93d2354935

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“Why are you kneeling?”a312cd4d4dd25052

Before I e74fae01ee knelt, I 93910025e2 might have 98d4fb7f1a chosen to 338990b258 end my 04df5d71bf life out 1d5df3b03f of noble 5f7c408fcc pride, but 9f0b874263 I could 3dc36d2333 cast aside 22ee4c1085 my pride b9df711d4b a thousand beb59f7320 times if 9d7b6c09de it meant 4f9c1c5daf saving him.a32d0f02687c40b7

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The cool 3c40987c50 marble felt 80fc0923e1 sharp against 0e11db7da5 my knees, c35be08555 clearing my 4cc7fe107d mind.1133ba7e04b9ceb7

“Please save him. There’s no one else… I can rely on but you. I understand you’re in a difficult position. You want to draw a line. But just this once, please reconsider.”c952a3c90f192f1b

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I clung to 92ae9aaf56 her skirt, something 162ae030a2 I never imagined c85741c6af I would do.24b2acdf5dca6a3c

But I didn’t feel miserable or ashamed. As long as I could help him.321adef9448f0878

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She bit 6533cb1db4 her lip, c28977509e clearly troubled.1e48851ff91f70c9

My breath came in gasps, driven by desperation. I took a deep breath and forced out the words I’d been holding back.a52de5ff66c8b7d0

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“Everyone has turned their backs on him. There’s no powerful family to support him. If the Count’s family lends its strength, he can be cleared of the false charges.”694ce6373ac0e191

“…Unfortunately, I can only repeat what I’ve already said.”99f7ba21d901ceae

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Her words, spoken so af5efe2c6d coldly, filled me with a720586aa9 despair. My strength drained 18322636e5 away.9167aaeaddc8a5ff

I hung my head. Exhaustion so deep I couldn’t even hold up my neck washed over me.55923d032355d5f6

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“Why did you get engaged to him? Was it because you thought he would become emperor? And now that the line is broken, you plan to call off the engagement?”1dad4e2518808a87

“Excuse me?”d17c83acce462eed

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Startled by my unexpected aa05e6a6fc question, she responded.a2296a1b89f70897

“Or was it simply because you came from a vassal family? I thought… you loved him.”d6f67345fbbca355

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“Love?”6dc733fafbb9ebad

She laughed at 5a527cad91 my words.5b6720b0554fd317

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“Well, one thing is certain. It seems you love him more than I do.”1545cf5b4c8bcda0

She stood up, the 1908f96502 hem of her blue 8f1ff1f06a dress swirling before me.fb239845d220bb04

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She opened the 7f5f6ce289 window and spoke 93f93a4998 her final words a6b3ccc169 in an emotionless a6d917a0e4 tone.2778819c14cb19cd

“Save your knees, my lady. He wouldn’t like it.”e9ab87e6e4731e5a

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I recalled Viter’s words. He had wanted to marry someone who could help him ascend the throne.240932778c70c85f

Powerless. As Viter had said, d72f56f433 my status was of 5f0d4bd110 no help to him.3b7bceddf00d4478

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But even his chosen fiancée was of no use to him. His criteria didn’t include justice or loyalty.ec1e11300fd7228d

If it were me, things would be different. I wouldn’t make such a choice. I would find a way to save him.380575298b7bbcd2

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He probably 512df3d0a0 never imagined f7a4e54ba0 that a f707d205df mere mistress, b58aaac175 a blood 096d223c1e bag, would 51ff3c80cf go to c823bb3d6e such lengths 9a2bb4f4a5 for Deon.eec6f3d03232d5bf

Convincing Isella b2d186f31b had failed.c38060d25473c211

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There was only one 6852ffaa84 person left I could 37b6d7f210 turn to for help.2827c7a4c613cb0d

I whispered f547ae8c43 his name ae2b233475 softly.2c5739f1750483ba

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“Philip.”15671baf52336200

 a776478b5c816618

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