88. News

If he thought of me, he’d send money, not an invitation to a banquet.e2b8c749c170e487

To avoid starvation, 56d3a5e4f0 I had to 558d1e1c65 gather fallen fruit 573ae8117c and prepare to f07bbe9311 plant new trees 2edb6d72a0 by cutting branches. The estate was in 5f51ec31d2 its busiest season.3c27e196cbfcddb2

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“Wait here for a moment. I’ll write a reply quickly.”5a3a120a421646b0

I left him standing d19750a4a3 at the door and ca14a308c5 ran inside.ef567437802da0f1

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I pulled out a postcard I had tucked into a book. Thankfully, I had some blank paper left. I had sold everything of value, but the paper hadn’t been worth enough to sell. It was one of the few items that survived because of its lack of value.f63528df7c6ffde3

Through the window, the ec505e07fc calm waters of the 22f1357cb3 lake glimmered. Using the lake as 5aa6d7a781 a backdrop, I picked 5c714c2bc6 up my pen.6238f6ad3d8f5c17

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How could I politely b7b42d8b83 decline the invitation?637872428cf414a5

A sore throat, 3c4b52027a body aches, headache. I thought 7445411dc5 of light 9d7f93aaaf illnesses one d15bc43fe8 might catch a96435ae95 in the 9d0b1fcfce estate. But those 0a664fb6fd were insufficient fe2d5bf9ce excuses.a3a6909a24d810ed

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If it was a banquet, I’d have to wear shoes and dance… Thinking that, I chose an appropriate fake illness.71420e3a0b5a9fc9

[First, congratulations on your formal appointment as Crown Prince. I wish to join you in your joyous occasion, but I injured my ankle and cannot visit. I will send my congratulations and a gift separately through a servant…]

I paused. The letter 043296ff7e seemed too 3df42d12c5 filled with ed863eb2ed longing. Unconsciously, I e6ee6c1f30 had added 80eaf8b295 kind words a12cdd1d36 for him.94f7913f17af415e

Was it necessary to detail my circumstances like this? He probably wasn’t interested. He might not even read my letter and just pass it to his new butler. I decided to skip the pleasantries.bb333b10755dc660

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I crumpled up the 2f26c5daf5 long-winded letter and opened 5629f46a7d the book to find 171155b0bb another postcard.2d40d58758f2b823

[Due to circumstances, I am unable to go to the royal palace. I apologize.]

I ended the a4cb763471 letter briefly with ec8b2316f4 a period. Despite its a0c5590c4a brevity, it c75740f479 was still 38c4e2636b longer than 88b1b55525 his message, f53d8fc257 which stung 47cdf4c815 my pride 7e256e147e a bit.a66e8627bc83b2b4

I put 824ede2b9b the postcard 26c38119fe into the 98cd4e448e envelope, sealed c16e6d3cab it, and 6bfed88c58 left the d9c4417c8d room to 67e4def9d7 hand it 662ae3fab3 to the dee2db75e8 boy.390d33ebcae9e68f

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“Deliver this to the Prince.”545e3913aaa30b01

The boy, be7538c961 who had 5f85acb103 been waiting 585a43d9d2 at the da51321310 door, took 78878f023b the thin 5c4a4bf327 letter. He carefully placed 26b30ab85c it into the a9db3c8adb bag slung over 19436e5cc8 his shoulder, bowed, c2ccf23697 and turned to 1245540816 leave. His tousled 387f8e0b3c hair fluttered 7a9d5e5d05 as he b008722949 moved.28bb0028e22e2985

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I felt a weight ad16d182a6 lift off my chest, a9bfa142df relieved to have dealt 6eb5fe76d4 with that burden.1fc55930081c6efc

“Suren, should we start planting seeds now?”af0271a9ee0cdbd0

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I asked Suren, 0a74e85eec watching the boy 329dea30bc disappear into the 156126292e distance.b10d6e3befcac4af

“I asked around, but the famine was so severe that they ate all the seeds for next year.”993369856b845f87

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“Good grief.”a7bfae7533e0365b

The estate 69dfbefcde truly had 739ee1d39c nothing left. The future ad7074375b seemed bleak, a926e462e4 and I d3e6a7c96a had no bb0de86d54 idea how d838ebac60 we would a21b535f26 survive.579a5dfcc9cf0e99

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“Let’s gather some branches for firewood later. Thankfully, we had the foresight to buy some extra logs in advance.”411ff4aa99d77316

Suren was busy ensuring the embers didn’t die out.ce1a51f8a8f11fa2

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Each day, after eaf08592d6 a late meal, 1d3fee75f0 we went around a665b13326 the mansion, lighting f5f429357e the fireplaces.8042316be6749cd0

Our day started by ce6f838f3b gathering branches and sweeping f6ae2f4be6 up leaves for kindling.bb2ece123062a083

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“We’ll have to do the same today.”229b78db9f9c9acb

There was ed2ab2230e no other f112ec229c way. For the sake of 493c9b299c the butler, we needed 3323cd989d to keep the fires 7eb8891008 burning.67129f0fde3ce616

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“Then you gather the leaves like last time. I’ll collect the branches and try to fix the window frames.”501f5d19539767a2

Suren nodded, and 9559b4e9db we spread out 258d3aff5a around the mansion.56575f1fa058d1ea

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After a 1682f1f2e6 long while, e1c2c0e1d0 I gathered b4362441b9 the branches d9eb51efae and piled 54228531af them in 13c2f2de1e front of a05e7d65f9 the fireplace. This should f899f413dc last us bc107f3beb for at dad9be8f86 least three 1f48b7c6b0 days.983e86564325ead4

I approached a window 985755269e and tried to bend 923b41622d the broken bars. I tugged, but the 7b39f18bc0 frame wouldn’t budge.14788a544f952128

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Eventually, I c992dd50eb gave up d819037e69 and stood 4a79e408b3 up straight. My body 95171288ec felt stiff 555aea63b4 from the d761bd4dda work, so e32964e17f I stretched.afd0fae6db716485

As I cc437f3045 massaged my adebbc5f8b stiff shoulders, 8686d7a079 someone suddenly d4c4e449a8 knocked on b53054ebba the door e816a5c845 urgently.6e4c2b2880553cfa

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It was a rough, 571feac185 hurried knock.46259e3e072ea3be

When I opened a352c89af3 the door, I 51a9b2b735 saw the small 6512831dbe shoes of the dc16900fea boy from earlier, 7005bba37a now untied and f932f6f3f3 dirty.b4c211fcc7008437

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“Weren’t you supposed to have left by now?”4f703511225bf181

He was breathing heavily eb1e9d0fc9 as he replied.c4d014864aa44f55

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“No, madam. I left immediately. This is a reply.”326cd962d03ba848

The boy was panting, 8e74de456c struggling to catch his 6a6928c9fc breath.b3e9620534d3c36f

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The reply had arrived ba6671f836 in less than three 3ab4367b02 hours.3ea1999334e39ca8

Considering the time, it was clear that he had delivered my letter and immediately ridden back without rest. The capital wasn’t that close, even at a great speed.9d75ccfd30a2cc77

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Beads of sweat were 74fe49a9a3 running down the boy’s 1c1126b76c forehead as proof.588910f7e94fa2f6

“Here it is.”6f43b6469d0110ec

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He pulled out 30673cfce5 the letter he 3e0306c531 had kept in dbab8a76d0 his jacket.d33aef8408faed57

When I 37b73d78e2 flipped the ce8117ad0a envelope, the 8bf4249e50 letter fell 7d3b916649 out. The paper was very b3c3119ffb thin again.61b5b350dcb7dcba

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To prevent b478fe1630 the wind 96db38b82a from blowing 1317f271a4 it away, b5695b3d41 I placed 72f671a963 my shoe a143bf9b6f on the d2fc29a58b letter.49b0f49eea387350

Seeing this, the boy’s face turned pale. From his perspective, it looked like I was trampling on a precious letter from his master.546fa6fb5dfbcb40

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I turned e25bde3b2c the envelope efbdef1b34 upside down 521c03be6d and shook c9f4614e68 it. I pressed 6591aa9708 and unfolded 47d06cff0f it, but 868c09176f no money f0237a2f5c or promissory cba1a7efa8 notes fell 962afd9878 out.d496a8f203c3cb3d

Seeing me 7daa7019bf search so 2152b1c694 thoroughly, the 8b9609f87f boy asked,de4c47514f61d183

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“What are you looking for? Is there something I was supposed to deliver that I missed?”edb9c897e565d3f0

He fidgeted 6471b174ef his fingers 48d8abecfe nervously. His fingertips were c7a0b57aea trembling pitifully.06610e5d6d4d182e

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This must 2ad01838c9 have been fb1cdc99c7 a rare e506ed471f occurrence for 187797bb3d him. My actions had 35ed009ffe already darkened his 084257c184 expression.2b3afbb99646cc76

“No.”8bdb3a5106b5538c

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I felt sorry. If I mentioned something badc06c281 that wasn’t there, he a5bcd32665 might start crying and a55ad8b969 beg for forgiveness.92cf1f7d1f5cd36b

Though I hadn’t scolded him, the boy was shaking and hunching his shoulders. It felt wrong, as if I were one of those masters who took their frustrations out on their servants.4f950f594c740a07

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I opened the letter 737cf11611 and read it.1ab8097d708b075d

[If you are unable to come, I will send someone to escort you.]

It was another short ad96e7aff7 message, just as curt 690392359a as the last.ce46341e0aa8350c

“It’s just… amazing that they sent you all this way for a single letter.”5226674994596778

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When I 6ce1d6d19e clenched my 5ef45ef18a hand, the 2becb4904e letter crumpled. The boy, f4b352e9ef startled as e776c48d8b if his 1c2d204c85 own body 1defa19b7b were being a6f0223d6d crumpled, jumped affb2aa480 back.edf195092bfec4c9

“Did he say anything else?”9789ec3283affb76

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“Pardon?”5788a62d1b536f01

“Was there anything else he said?”3dd48c730add9693

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The boy scratched his ca9bdfdf34 head awkwardly, and I ef2937b3b4 let out an involuntary 4023dc5714 sigh.a600fa163397766b

Once again, he hadn’t sent any money.80e4a8e07bb2c5f3

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I picked up the fallen letter. Its corner was torn from my rough handling, but it didn’t matter. The letter was so short and simple that it was still readable.7a0830c8bba81450

[Where are you hurt? Let me know, and I’ll send a doctor. I hope you can attend.]

The letter was brief a29ef47f24 again. It could hardly be 1d46a1077c called a letter; it d6ad048fcc was more of a 85d2454868 note.1d24e425763d4327

Ha. A short laugh escaped 1c6d46f11d me. What kind dcd39a10c6 of joke 73db145d87 was this?b3e76b61d1456133

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Wasn’t it insincere? Whether his aim was to placate me or mock me.ebbccb48eaaab4f2

I furrowed my 12fbfd8523 brows. Seeing my distorted expression, 3ba15ef66e the boy stepped back.3feaad554ac0d054

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“I will return in two days, then.”2f5874d980e04298

He took off 9ad5912101 his hat and 2c292b9a88 bowed. I stopped bd87a999f0 him as 77075a9afb he turned 3560dd5574 to leave.cbea7c5fe8ed478a

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“No, I’ll write a reply now. Just wait a moment.”60bceb09ef6cb40c

The boy’s eyes widened, and he stammered.97afa80dd9cfe687

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“Y-yes? That quickly?”a9251a53b2d30e7d

“Suren, could you get this young boy some water?”1c2377d4ae4c6387

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The boy’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but I ignored him and crumpled the letter.8d4119d52d15a131

Why did he keep sending letters? It wasn’t the first time I checked the envelope for hidden money. The repeated letters felt like mockery.55875a67767122fc

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I went back dc1ca5ff3a inside and tore ef918ca4b6 a new sheet 491e5c3c2d of paper. I dipped the c6e9aecccc pen in the 3995aeee99 same black ink ae502a68ae as before.3fa9f7d5b189c4e3

[The injury is not serious. I am already recovering, but I will not be able to attend the banquet. Please find a new partner. Given the time remaining until the banquet, finding a new partner should not be difficult.]

I kept c04de93152 the letter ba7c5f3436 short. As brief c5654e5f1f as possible, cba3a717e6 though reducing 0bf4e3db51 the sentences 79d31ecd67 further was e6e8ac539d challenging.98bf10843bc9625a

Now that the prince’s position was secure, there would be plenty of noble ladies vying for his attention. Even nobles who had been against him might now be trying to win his favor.0bc10f70f1c9c4f8

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For someone b8cc96650b like Deon, a1015ea451 finding a 025c9ea125 partner even 0eed6b87ad a day 874f8bd294 before the 0064dd5970 banquet would 30aae23e0b be easy.ca6a84f1cc77573f

I couldn’t understand why he was so insistent on me attending such a trivial event.ef9acedd8b1ed552

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I folded the letter 42b64e2635 in half and opened a631710a58 the door.7c5214e774357a00

The boy was sitting 70bbe5a0ba in a chair in 00f285bb5c the drawing room, holding 67c66e059e a cup with steam e1cb847054 still rising from it.8fb6b45481c9fa3e

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He must have come 9c4e7ab502 down before finishing his 6a3cddeb7f water.d23eca37647e43f7

Seeing me e6b7075e72 slowly walking 1ac3c6c356 down the d8bb5da842 hallway, he 6b536cc0ce stood up f2c0c51c08 and asked,b82f371034060fe3

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“Already finished?”a6b462e43597eb61

“Yes, I wrote the reply. You can finish your water and leave at your own pace. I know it’s tiring going back and forth. You’ve had a tough day.”6ea13372437c212e

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Why send letters twice bf277a2093 in one day?8b8726224b6a84ef

He had already 9405c51a49 traveled between the 1dcac83962 royal palace and aed82bbd12 Galcurn twice today.8f68e153964d7480

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The horse that bfdec035d8 brought the young c16f2e94d9 boy was also a47039f1c8 exhausted. I wanted to offer 130455e9c4 a fresh horse, but 30d974b716 our stable was just 40b79a3e25 a stable in name 192dca90d0 only.dd1c51c52f057295

It was completely empty, e4b9e56282 not even a single 94e647cb78 straw left. Seeing the 3283e17764 bare frame 97eef5b84c of the 91dcd665fe shelter, one d0578fd35e could only 46e3914982 guess it f8b4389483 had once 3eadcff6de been a e7cf092032 stable.176a1019b6a07f9f

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I hadn’t even cleared it out, so the horse’s reins were tied to the mansion’s pillar.8c6b26b49d6dcf8e

“…Did you read it?”297e0fc7a42f857f

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He cautiously e8d6414d16 spoke up. The boy, who had de4272e5fd been glancing at me e88b1d0e8a nervously, began to chew 7c20f64c21 on his lips.019e928db5c9bdfb

“Did you write it short again this time?”b23e8e15c473b53f

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He seemed to have 7b24122ea5 already guessed the length 595ec6df7a of the letter.51208e8f18d1a91f

“If so, could you perhaps write it a bit longer?”9fcb8466f51ca270

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The boy, bd09d22a77 staring at 0cee0970eb the letter, a820b6c3ce said. The letter was thin, e8b9e853ce and in the sunlight, 641529050c the sparse lines were a59fa5b96a faintly visible. Even someone illiterate could 9be40680a6 sense the lack of bcdd9184a1 effort in such a c552ba4071 terse reply.cc2b0a3b61d5685b

“Why? Is there some etiquette about it?”ea7c357f689ea256

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My sharp d5a49f4e16 retort made 02daf5a859 the boy 5ec58637f2 straighten up 29655c672f and shake e3bf33b0e5 his head 881089e6a8 hastily.6ab0982dee96d548

“No. It’s just that… the prince seemed displeased with the short replies.”df44461c873af51d

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He didn’t take the letter from my hand.8fe1141eaf3ff979

Sighing, I placed a3f5612647 the letter on bfbd018196 the table with 38a1e285eb a loud thud. The boy 8f997648c9 flinched again d8f14eeece at the e68b1f4a0b sound.60e6f0cf5a8a85df

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“Did he tell you this directly? That he prefers longer replies?”5162335178c0cf30

“No. He didn’t say anything like that. It’s just my feeling.”a0e99333511828c1

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Deon wasn’t the type to scold a servant over the length of a reply. The boy must have noticed his furrowed brow and become anxious on his own.6839b681dc995676

If he had any a67f419d1c complaints, he should write 7df128eda9 longer letters himself. It was absurd 1d50a5790c for me to b9f052d79d write long replies 9d1c8e18d8 when he sent 046db78544 such short and a5a514f148 concise notes. It would f7295f1f5c look like 4136e5c546 I was 251380f906 the only baa56d6ebf one waiting 0cfa94c5cb for him.7dea154cecf8d7f1

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Which, of course, was 380062645d true.3f0ca76420dd72ad

“Take it and deliver it to His Highness.”04b34adfa3d04086

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A flicker of hope crossed the boy’s face, quickly replaced by disappointment.b455f02020caf363

I knew it wasn’t his fault. He was only following orders.6f911e5a4524a507

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I felt sorry for the boy having to take such a short letter back, but I couldn’t help it. I was too angry at the rudeness to consider writing a longer reply.700afe736ccfee1f

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