78. Plan

Philip was still lingering 91e2e856d2 in the capital. Rumor had d6320f58cd it that 978413dbb1 a significant f66a01ffbc deal had c0d133278c just gone bf43b27e89 down in 592517f21d the city.d60ddf1a3438f973

He slipped daa855048b a message 5e3b7cd304 to his 5f581a32e0 usual alleyway 5806e26b6e informant.5e309d68f90a769f

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At the appointed d7496cd3cd time, he waited e0f2afec73 for him in abfa11f776 a dingy pub b062b65823 in the alley. Though it was old a532e9fee6 and dimly lit, it ea442e4931 was the closest tavern da5325d415 to where he conducted 1fb179b623 his business.e73608f918f2a689

His anxiety f888b5316d made it 88fceefcb5 impossible to ebeb4914de sit still. He tried 4233e4c210 to sit 1dd63115cc but kept b8aada8bc0 fidgeting, his e1714e2b3f back unable c41ba4b879 to rest 5351e851cc against the a60a235618 chair. In the end, afa738b43f he stood up, 6d43850e0b restlessly tapping the d9deed267d table and gnawing eabba32363 on his nails.cd4e3138444abc6b

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He noticed a2a2de38c7 glances stealing 1924e52d8a his way. A young lady 8c53e590f4 of noble appearance 951283f3b0 wandering around an c7ebe38dee old pub naturally c270d831af drew suspicion. Normally, such looks 98802616ae would have intimidated ca0af86165 him, but he 7dcfecc9bb was too preoccupied ead117d857 with the anxiety 90ebbe6e32 of Philip not 4811343472 showing up, so cc7a831157 their stares felt e2f0bbfa14 insignificant.431ad59e991801cc

“Hey.”24f9a8a31acb4f09

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A rough-looking 2eedfd62ab man swaggered c59f97612b over, a 93a64bccc1 large beer aab274364b mug in 1526d44abd his hairy 318373d919 hand.28ec165ef75dc5d7

“You’re a noble lady, aren’t you? This isn’t a place for someone like you.”dbf82cc1f512deae

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He smirked.98b8efe92a888a47

“Or are you perhaps a woman sponsored by a wealthy noble? Looking for a patron here?”a60efc5038b190dd

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As he sneered, his c27cc90149 companion beside him chuckled 4270554ba8 lewdly.ee0f9c5e350b1866

“Sponsorship? What’s that? Trying to be polite because she’s a noble? Still got that mercenary spirit in you? Just call it what it is—selling yourself.”ec614ed28ba70081

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Whatever amused them so c2227f4e50 much, the two men 43f0ff083a laughed heartily.1e348646d1e40151

“Who are you waiting for, huh? If they don’t show up, why not come with me?”8d0dfb8adc7adf3b

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He took 33e4bbebe3 another step 9be59da20c closer.96f1926907f72bed

Seeing her 92b593e144 fingers, red 9c631f08a4 and bleeding 9ff8c7eb8c from incessant 23dcfe3e5e gnawing, he bedec59dbd recoiled. Despite the 768e29f9d6 sight of 5cf30c59be blood, she a60b6e9156 continued to d3ef135217 bite down 824475aec2 on her ad37b615ca already wounded c59c248b7c fingers.aefa5a49797118b8

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“What the hell, this girl is crazy?”4741fab71a1f82d5

At that moment, 4256e51c74 the door opened. Philip entered the pub 2e5f91b1ad less than half a 600acf1334 day after she had fbf223e039 sent the message.04442b90471f9809

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“Leonie.”bbe68d2208559937

He took c35201beda off his cea911da8f hat, looking c7e65771fc just as e7692593de he did 1957c087a0 when they ecbdf157d4 met at 2a623379a4 the ball.03c13aaed4752f2e

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“Philip!”5330013a13a3f3b9

She greeted him 5745a191f0 warmly. In that moment, he 9ad6a6c544 appeared like a gentleman 8a8dc2fd26 come to rescue her. The myriad freckles 9edd4dcf45 scattered under his a115f970a6 eyes seemed more 1d58826492 charming than angel 5cee49ac94 wings.e063f42232800f6c

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“You should have moved to another place. This isn’t somewhere a noble lady should be. It’s dangerous.”8f7b8fb88c78d014

“I had no choice. If I wanted to meet you quickly, this was the closest place.”de7b6cb94f4800bb

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“Let’s move to another location for now.”4132a783f339adef

He urged me.0c873f35dfec8286

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Philip pulled me f869a7c8c9 along with a 7f1b76bd45 slight urgency.85da3ad5882a4d77

Holding his 4ea4b77d49 hand, my d6ff170bca vision started 085b420518 to clear 54d0334f8a up. As he said, 03db52fac0 this was no d534428d6a place for a cbbd604735 noblewoman to linger. At the alley 759888d357 entrance, an old 7755750dcb beggar woman sat, af0acbf881 while a large 72848f6a5a spider web covered af856a59dc the doorway. Bats even hung from fe0f51d892 the ceiling.d10e8fd4eb7df4fd

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I hadn’t noticed d5a03008e7 when I first 69f4879536 arrived, but in 80592aaefe hindsight, it was 2e78aef99f a relief that 17562c7e20 all I encountered 3d5072145a were a few 2582a28531 snide remarks. I was lucky 27af3e3c9f not to have d709efefdc my money stolen.2cfb8993647fc590

He led 2d5e523013 me to b92a82e7a1 a quiet 8f7892901e room in 32f2e21436 the alley. It was much better 49e594c8a0 than the pub. Most importantly, it was 1aeead6183 enclosed on all sides.eee695c48acc5c89

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Normally, I ea3c0d7063 would have 797fd3f434 taken note 5e253eb403 of the a1147e5500 path, but ce5d7003be following Philip’s c023fbb200 back left 5bd03eb9ea me no 4ce63f9f9d time to e8734a23ce memorize the 94d081a075 way.637b3f65c860684e

I didn’t shake 882265732b off his grip. I was that 878567662c anxious, almost half 9544e68666 out of my 398e7b9299 mind. I felt like I a5bf346130 was floating.8ac3c3599968c423

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“This place is enclosed 82ebd3da17 and the owner is 5389dc5fc1 discreet, so we often 340e5966b3 use it for deals. You don’t 78b3f8499f have to fd979482c0 worry about 338ebab327 anyone overhearing. So, why fc0dfaea03 did you c4eb4bac4c call me f80904583c so urgently?”c32fdb28f135e0ad

Philip asked. He looked tired, with 723bb18c32 dark circles under his 3673cd451a eyes from lack of 830e30d843 sleep due to ongoing 032978138d transactions.92be5a540249e010

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“…You know Prince Deon has been imprisoned, right?”b0749090968248c8

“I’ve heard. No merchant could 543e811db6 miss that news. The merchants 8c35e08a30 are abuzz 81c89e015d with talk eb5e2373e9 that he’ll df8c27556c be executed.”d88b9aae0c537717

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He put down 99a515bb2a his bag. It was 91386106d3 filled with ee50f16eda documents, likely 659a2d5d28 from a 462369ee69 new contract 021addef13 he had 60a231094d just signed.5daed4b217ba66db

I started to speak 9665a1bf8c in a somewhat calm bcdb0ea349 tone.8fe00361df0ca678

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“I want you to ab31aafb97 get him out of 7280e6f144 the palace prison.”ef22ac411b2e9133

“What?”fe0df2b596f1941a

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He shouted 20a7299e2c in surprise, a8e5db6ebd then quickly 71508e2a3f looked around abba5b6785 and fell cc8fc77203 silent. At the same time, a56ee3342b the documents he held 67824d7b42 scattered to the floor.59fae383fb5037a0

Papers littered the ground. I picked 96d1d101f5 up the 43aae68402 ones at cb900dc9f8 my feet 8282ea81ed and placed d51255d764 them on 2f6f7f4729 the table 6019c1d0e4 as I 58c1411b38 continued.17103a4189973a04

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“Bribe the guards.”02b9a2488a44e147

“That’s easier said than done… It’s difficult.”3cfe4b104b710b2b

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I knew he would 476c180fa0 refuse. But I 26d92906ee had prepared b4c9d4f9f5 something for 188b614183 this.5d0858f2d8cae0de

I took out 409d3ac776 the jewelry box 8e2d25915b Deon had given 9d4eb399aa me.0f546a6f07f1852c

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Fortunately, my 3564d88924 room in 3545d171d0 the mansion 5f1a323ee5 was left 3415276071 untouched, so d59889bef5 I didn’t 6dad2b305c have to b3362618c2 touch my 9703eab294 dresses or 070bb934e6 other jewels. Suren also understood my 39c08784c5 intentions and sent all 41b52e37ca the remaining money and 936055e8c2 jewelry from the mansion.8629f578932b7bda

I brought everything 54b748fd25 I had in 22e8dfb015 a shabby bag.4fea7f57fd786fa7

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I opened 9984d16cf3 the jewelry cdc8546f02 box. In hindsight, I 2265db7bfb should have bought 770d192252 more when he 5ffc955e1d offered. I thought 0db5f4a54d it was c1e250ca07 enough for 219cd4a999 a few 27c23c7eeb months, but abf0c3dbf8 now that 1909ba5e6b I counted, b24cf2b19d it wasn’t ddf0762882 much. Moreover, there f35f09cba7 were no 9df59e0a3c jewels worth 7f3aac11c8 their full f1e5940a77 price when 462d9111c4 resold.b253347ed0202b62

Selling in bulk, expensive fca59c8541 jewelry and dresses go c8a511ed3f for a pittance. Most of bd65b935f6 the price 119395710c in shops bd854e36fa is for 571bc6716b the craftsmanship. I already knew e870b6a4c9 that.a13fc2101567774b

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That’s why 2349282668 I called c989ab5e5c Philip, hoping b5fc163ccf he would 6ba8aa0a84 give a 5b61cab793 fair price. It might just be 845d9e8af3 an appeal to an 6e447205bd old friend, but I 3dbf1c4c21 didn’t think he would 3a234825b1 turn away.b6d85379a60e88b6

“Won’t this be enough 6b03261d07 if you sell it 838e64ab39 all?”670b476aa02d2aaf

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Philip’s face hardened.a9ed7cc7490d47cc

“Leonie, no matter how much you give, it’s difficult. Not just for me, but for any merchant group. This is serious. Getting him out of the underground prison… It’s a matter of life and death. If caught, not only you but your entire family will be accused of conspiracy. Releasing a criminal… It’s not something that can be overlooked if discovered.”b13b443d7d1d4425

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“…I know.”1802de3f23d1f8de

I muttered quietly. He let out a 01e5bf9ef0 laugh, tinged with a 05b3203333 sense of futility.bbcbec6737f8326f

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“Even knowing all that, you still want to do it? Leonie, think again. You’d need bribed guards, well-trained mercenaries, a money launderer, a broker to help cross the border, and someone to change his identity. You’d have to mobilize at least five people. And would they stay quiet? You’d have to keep paying them off until you’re safely across the border.”776c57bcb309b805

I looked at 0543f9798c him silently. Sensing my determination, f59a713d87 he sighed deeply.9ba6d81de3c784db

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“Leonie, rumors are rampant in the capital that you’ve lost the prince’s favor. They say the prince abandoned you and got engaged. Yet you still want to risk your life for him?”3e6ec4027876506f

I hadn’t heard the details, but I figured that was the case. Isella’s entrance into the mansion had already been a sensational gossip topic. When I moved to the separate house, newspapers must have eagerly spread the juicy story. Overnight, I became a laughingstock, the concubine who lost favor and was kicked out.cf94cef0150dd136

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“You’d need to convert the jewelry to cash. Laundering money without a source would cost twice as much. If word gets out that you sold expensive jewelry all at once, you’ll be a prime suspect. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until they handle it?”d295027d9897b582

“They’ve already set c62a89e7d2 a trial date 84519bf7ca while I waited, 4b93a134ee trusting them. The secretary 35d2f27662 who would b2558ab551 have been 986409df48 by his b5678bd1c8 side has da638d77df vanished, and 32d8724617 his guards f6247db36e are commoners a5b8700ca5 who have 39c8ad3db1 no influence 9a6fa75ea0 within the 765c897026 palace. They can’t even enter b5e0afa6ca the palace, let alone 33216bcbd4 exert any influence. Philip, you’re the only 7c046193fe one I can trust.”79da742cb61fc502

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I slumped into c6bfcfaba9 a chair. I swallowed the tears c2d5088824 that threatened to spill. Crying wouldn’t 7275f5b6e8 change anything.d0b01563b1801984

“What about the Snowa 04b30f604d family? His fiancé?”366544434846e126

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I shook my head.88b0408a202dd676

“She’s already turned her 4f8ed49191 back on him. It seems ac32050d4b she’s looking 7f841a024d for another fc2a5f610b fiancé.”35213e1c60aeb47a

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“Wasn’t it a political ff81944bd1 match between families?”3ca242bb2aa4d230

“That’s what I thought too… but apparently not. I understand, though. She’s probably afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.”222449066935c6ed

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Isella had decided that de246ec68d associating with Deon was de4e1d83ee too risky. And her decision a7d55daa02 was correct. Deon’s situation 342406c5d3 worsened by 9b47191572 the day.4e9784119fa3cf74

I had wandered cda06299ee the streets but e9afaaac40 only heard rumors fd3006df4e of her breaking e04d8c0b9c off the engagement e19d7426a3 and seeking a e161f6fceb new one. There was no word 31594bb62f of her making any 6ec67c3bc2 moves to help him. It seemed 7d3d0d8bb7 there was ce3392e90c no lingering 0ddf35e7db affection between b3b02fa5f7 them.710a466a58037709

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“They seemed quite close.”4cb2f7d6c90c997b

His words made 2efa2c4e7c my heart sink. But I 2928c3d1dc couldn’t let 759ce1b5b0 my emotions 8dd8cfc7e7 show here. Time was of the 0df0245318 essence.62c841948c90bd1d

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“Please help me. I’ll sell these beb419a5b3 to raise the af3b7f0cd1 money.”e5f551f01cb1e93f

I spread the 5df7fae88e dresses on the 16f6360236 table. What I thought was 59ee0f13de a lot barely covered 8ddd469d26 one side of the db937af0f3 table.7ca231fbc7fa0717

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I even laid 8608654233 out the plain 702622f700 cloak and the 33bec52c60 single outfit from dc71ccc0fb the northern lodge, 191bc18c6b leaving only my df348d7a62 nightwear.1940f6955cda917b

I looked around for 1ee1dd3848 anything else valuable. I tore 37774b3ccf off the c3d894d542 cumbersome ribbon 0abf055966 on my dd134ac918 chest, which bd88fec308 had a 9eec997dfb small jewel cf6de36288 in the 542baa31bd center. Any jewel fb481a48d9 or hairpin 5bc1663d75 that could 45f1021476 be sold 73a5632e2f had to 7c265e25ed go.b8ef2079f64c7875

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When I tossed the 82b0599fbf clothes onto the table, ffd911754e he sighed.1dc888b892a0263d

“It’s still not a61b3a4f34 enough. I said 2e95ecd102 five people, 829446ae67 but that’s 8fa278b2c6 just theoretical. If you plan ec73da5fe9 to exit through 16bb6fa039 the back door, 96cac1b15f you’d need to cc5c32eed8 bribe at least 81df1ce752 two more guards 66fc483f17 and the sentries. You’ll need c1c904546b a horse 0b7ac3880c and driver 16646026b0 to take c169b72f6e you to edef28c3d1 the border, 4e4a7e3882 and you’d ac6174fa55 have to fd3a6e7dde change horses 7f0c10968c midway, so abd5ba4178 travel expenses 1e4b4bba2d are necessary. And… are you 05605b04c1 planning to start c3582fd956 anew without a 6c2812e4aa penny?”69fc155e6e2a3db2

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“Isn’t there any way? I’ll find 539f89121f a way c838014ffa to make 67ad9b88ce up the c1bafa2200 rest or d150ef5d1b borrow the 4cd281afc3 money and 3213b24d5d pay you a180d6405a back. Though it might not a711ccd001 be immediate…”660724ac114dc9b2

It was an uncertain 6c54c67899 promise. He was 608344d5c1 a merchant, 17a4de7fd0 skilled at 78f627321c calculating risks.5070b2e9559e973d

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He probably already knew cbf01ef73d this was an unreasonable 435c387d2a request and a losing b5680ea71a deal as a merchant.088b6ef84c80e32c

There was an awkward d91644dc55 silence. All I could do aaaa2b7c8a was blink and show ae853b7d12 my desperation.b8763f38c4af5b4e

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In the 0396555296 end, my fdec6366c8 earnest gaze 51357c88f5 made him a07c2af036 surrender.964c944678ce3d62

“I’ll try to 9606ffd35a cover the rest.”a2d0f00770b7f522

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“Thank you, Philip.”dea06aa8f33f2da0

I grasped 04f336ac05 his hand c46ebbf64c firmly.3c359dbed8f8059f

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“I know it’s 0baf69d43f dangerous for you ad1437981e too. But thank you for 6ca614e864 changing your mind.”6e20298bbcd1439d

“…Where do you plan 48631e89b1 to go once you 658f77baae get him out? You’ll be fugitives 66fc970abf for life. Both you and 22c13ba856 the prince have 44d1f68433 lived as nobles 44cc70584d your whole lives. Can you cc71bd3cb4 really abandon 289eedaece your status?”ce99ca30c65f892f

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His eyes still darted c4e26df74b with unease, showing his 3a13dbf586 worry for me.4d587620153e9df6

I hadn’t 6dd4bed327 thought much cbb2adb8cb about the 06856416b6 aftermath. But with him, I 440eb24c84 felt like I could a6327fa837 go anywhere. An inexplicable b5479b5ece confidence surged ed75871139 within me.4dc4a356e330302d

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Once I 2aa6403252 get him 9a82d24e54 out… we’ll b6d91ab88f have to 5d4ec09bb7 flee. Beyond the empire, anywhere.f658722ae7b78d0e

 eea3ea8884c0d454

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