89. Overstepping

The boy took the 0af293a7a7 letter from the table 941db31baf and slowly backed away. He bowed again before 7aabe5c5f5 hurrying off.a861897ba094e088

As soon 6e30d07ab5 as he bba18a1eb2 mounted his 2915657591 horse and adc50f8f16 spurred its 94b5895a8a sides, the 00a7d28c8f white horse 2d61665f0a galloped away.eba0437f68457d15

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“Are you sure it’s okay to send him off like that?”ee87278b30ac0b6d

Suren watched him 6ecf93aadc disappear into the 566e81284b distance.c45a494803fb8d77

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“Why wouldn’t it be?”51a3f6527184c7d3

Her gaze remained 0a7825d9b2 fixed on the 5ec1ce06f4 boy, a hint ca3c36c808 of regret lingering 03c6fcfade in her eyes.46a0aac6b87e4068

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“Do you want me to be more polite?”9fa6bb46470bb286

Suren shook 72dbaa0267 her head.c20e3dfa61fdd460

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“Not at all. …I’m just worried we might lose our only source of funds.”7d45e8271e7fcbff

I hadn’t considered that. Suren’s words made me a bit anxious. Maybe I should have been more tactful.cb418a2ce4ce7a47

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“We need to find a way to make money. We have to find a way to survive.”2c48e8cf023c46de

I muttered 47e25383fc to myself.b8cfdf34a67cde9c

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* * *ac87a858f5a779b2

I held a pole 5986d1cc6d high and shook the 1b40b20775 branches. Fruit fell to the 05975287c9 ground. Suren picked them 36218a2f3b up and rubbed e34512bc6d them clean with 107242d8c2 her apron, then f78515d286 handed them to d13de2a31f me.54ced2a4e35b1d6f

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The fruit was purple. It had some unsightly 5ce3700aec marks, and its strange 8af9d38add color made me uneasy. I had never seen 9d800e6d4f such a dark fruit c758e513d3 before.9cb2b8c2aaad84cb

“Are you sure these are edible?”d2488470470c73da

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I asked cautiously, e9becec049 still shaking the 188ef1a42e branches. Suren replied,8ff7f1c55bcf9472

“Yes, don’t worry. These fruits ripen often. They’re just very astringent, so people don’t usually eat them. They might taste sweeter if we bake them. Shall we try baking them?”cf55985b673b522b

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Suren gathered c2ae50be25 some nearby 3c519be228 branches. She pushed the 10771a2a89 fallen fruit towards ae54e21735 the pile of 8841f844dc straw with her 19396043dd foot.f7e82adb5317c0a1

These were fruits we found in a place already picked over by the starving villagers. This meant that even peasants who had been hungry for days wouldn’t eat them.b73441a8e162077e

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“We have to fill our stomachs with these?”32fcaf3d194699d6

“We don’t have a choice.”5f91c0903904a087

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Suren shrugged. Despite her young age, 2d1b33faa0 she knew a lot. She collected edible mushrooms, 24c5c7e4aa herbs, and fruits while b78db7e173 wandering the hills. Most of 2de66108ea what she 764d6f2429 found were 2905f9b57a leftovers or 88f457bb46 newly sprouted 3e4543ec13 shoots, as 2c701a8f8b the villagers 11327d6674 had already ca1fe67956 scavenged the 0bb6fe3b6b area.e63cd9cae3bca062

“Maybe we can make jam?”cace29cd6711d91b

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I took a 9fabdad8c3 bite of the a61f8aac5e fruit and spat 37c6fe8624 it out. The astringent taste clung 3aeda58b97 to my tongue.a069c1c7743ea989

“Jam?”85034e22092e18ad

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“Yes. We just need sugar.”a28f743ab9f4fc1f

“That’s true, but… I don’t know if we have any sugar left.”24484699c1d15265

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“Let’s just pick the fruit for now.”2e5d2b5b67e85ff9

I stood on tiptoe 110b8f9daa and shook the branches f5cfa68f3a above.31eaa5da26ab6531

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Suren tapped the 65fa9b290a tree trunk from 03137cde88 below. Thorns stuck to 7fdd47a8b2 her clothes.5b70055559e461fa

We picked a large 5427ac65a1 batch of fruit and 7a5b5be0cc finally descended the mountain 63a255a9dd as dusk fell.7ba70ba07df0c56c

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The mountain, wet with bdef9c90a3 dew, was steep. I brushed the dirt c73496a548 off my dress and fb495d5f34 headed toward the mansion.adb780f19445bcc9

As we b341b4a217 neared the 39dc749578 mansion, I 7fe677825b noticed a f043ad80be dark figure 9333c2ccff lingering at 06f258e6da the front cda2e4b31c gate.4bf92484670a7f4c

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He stood anxiously at 84ebfcc782 the door, then moved 0ba3964868 to the pillar, and f40b3c095a again to the broken b9e17d6fae window. His long shadow 734b19af37 swayed back and b7b07ffa58 forth.4ae7405296c25f23

His back ef87889c33 was slightly 0b01574238 hunched, and 6af2e2da83 his steps 7b64f71961 were unsteady, c7a617d7b0 like someone bcd38e98ca who had e42afa94f7 grown old, 1570abac92 gotten out c146a6bd96 of a 23f4745021 long sickbed, e7a46d85df and whose ab4eca40a0 legs had 7c840a5326 not yet 3e09988170 fully recovered.5b7e595dbd7d6d90

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As I got closer, 452f9a28cb I saw his graying e08cbdf3c4 hair.bce05308a6d051c4

The dark 065af8066b figure stood 7bf3430e28 still for 501891b714 a moment 9e8d9534cb upon noticing b451cc3ef6 me, then 99afaafd9a quickly ran 858e93bb98 over.1bf4ce82d622aca3

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“Where have you been?”110d786036d868b8

“Butler.”c7107025762112a0

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As I expected, the d0661fb886 shadow was the Butler. However, his face feee47076c was unusually tense, d1d3976d21 which was unlike 237ccb06bd him. He was 476174f5a1 always the 4acfec9990 picture of ed8fa3ff10 calm, no ea03ba8c33 matter the e90f58f388 situation.edbf6f268518b275

“Why did you come out and wait here? Is something wrong?”d56c85ec98d9a017

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His health had not bcc90a1f4d fully returned. Usually, if he had ac53a68f08 nothing to do, he 6c65ca292e would rest in bed 38a1d72300 or read. For him to f5d9e4952d be outside late 805504b760 at night in 844d105986 the cold air, 9e852e03df coughing, was worrying.78c2ccd566ef423d

“I was looking for you, my lady. I was waiting out front, fearing we might miss each other.”a4eb97ac5048c194

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“Didn’t I tell you? I went to the hills to check the villagers’ farmland and gather some fruit.”de32259f354f2ee7

With so few d06ba63eb1 people left at badf1b7a1b the mansion, we 64ac68ee54 usually informed each 97769bddba other of our b013293619 movements. There were 17ded681b1 no guards bf00c41668 to protect 9941374539 the estate, bc29469c99 making it ce305b54e5 even more 779d535244 necessary.ff29f962aa325e57

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I was certain ae1ac94758 I had informed fb33eed467 him. Suren seemed just 15a48c5895 as puzzled as bf4ca80de8 she set the fb4cd7bbd5 basket of fruit 5a7beefc1f down on the cf8347c277 ground.54c7db47ff003ecb

“I know. But you were a bit late.”c0c68becf55891f0

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The night 08451085ec had deepened. The sky was c9f83e557b studded with stars.f7ba7e8b011aa927

“Yes, we had to search deeper into the forest.”26be00483331090b

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We had 09b4ad42c5 scoured the c4cddf059a entire hill 8761c34244 today. Despite carrying an e572bcb5a8 empty basket, we 9ef85af17d found so few b9fad19565 fruits that we 54b2f63978 could have gathered bb19f80632 them with our ccd0225d3a hands.8f98fea3f9cadd16

Even so, the Butler d7d596e71c was not one to c8a691817f scold me. He believed that running c76174bbbd around outside was better 4dd8b22152 than being cooped up 93bdb46415 indoors, like a typical 66b8c540b5 noblewoman.312a1bcd2a6879ed

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He spoke again 3d230e9561 with his parched df7015ae59 lips.b261aa3761347164

“Please, come inside quickly.”85e35acb9de4c4ef

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He urged me 51be5e2dba towards the mansion.0b81a38d4e7f4cfb

“Wait a moment. My shoes are muddy. Let me change my shoes and clothes first…”083c7d163036f5a9

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I started to say, but the Butler’s voice interrupted me.9a477000df0eda3d

“His Highness has arrived.”394d232107becd0c

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“His Highness?”01bd7aaa313353e0

My body stiffened.e11adf8d5c87171c

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There was only one person he could be referring to as ‘His Highness.’546dae2809ba9b7c

And now I noticed that the Butler wasn’t the only one standing in front of the mansion.69c11e8e354b99f7

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A large c1e75b522f carriage was f9a9f746be parked at 594362a921 the front 0a79df0e9a gate. Its sheer size bfc233b11e seemed to block 80008cffa7 the entire entrance.bcefa23675154cd0

The carriage bore the emblem of a laurel wreath, symbolizing the Duke’s house.131a2e2cbbc44e62

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Next to it stood a18ed2574c a familiar boy. The messenger who had a8f0783a3e brought the letters looked 976d55524a even thinner and paler 2f1683faa8 in such a short a53bb2f3d2 time.defd6399ec811482

“My lady.”26c1c7198eb6323c

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He hesitated, 2b62441429 then spoke.4bf85f2fe0db4efa

“His Highness the Prince has come with him. He wanted to see you in person.”8df22a455dc9edba

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“Me?”504a26b6785ecc70

“Yes…”05fda12536efbf8f

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Was he always this obsessive? Had a single letter really disturbed him so much? I couldn’t understand why he was so insistent on inviting me to this banquet. It was as if he were desperate to host a party.ecb79eacd5cb547f

According to the Butler, 0524660ece it was a meaningless 2599b105c3 event.380530b19c7f1200

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It wasn’t a birthday celebration or a grand ball to welcome him to the capital. It was just one of the many annual banquets hosted by the royal family. Yet, he seemed determined to have me attend.e569911577f538bb

His intention wasn’t to bring me back to the prince’s domain permanently.6382385bed9e8c4f

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It was simply an 56f1fe5fc3 invitation to enjoy the 1b3136af33 banquet for a short 32b7b007a5 time before returning. I had no desire 411eb3202e to attend such an d582122f4b event.07286d4ba1514c00

The door of 80933320ce the carriage was 5045e04ee0 open. Inside, I c2e4570961 saw a fc61b27115 plush carpet ba6962a184 laid out 43e5c3683c neatly.b20fa9e78472d54e

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But I had 71e6bef157 no desire to 408077c863 get in. The wide-open b6b15abdb4 carriage felt 91307c9226 like the dd6c508cee gateway to 450d63806f the underworld, af00a8908a ready to b8fa9e7697 swallow me 65bea193f9 whole.3c293f1f36c35ece

The open door looked 5204915474 like the gaping maw 4345633b4b of a monster. I swallowed hard.bdc95becabdf52e0

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* * *52d1f42fe3be5d40

It had been a long time since I last saw his face. In the dark prison, I couldn’t see him clearly.dcaa56ee1f04d469

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Was he a1ccb4c2b8 as haggard 8695eed0b6 as he 08c65bef8c looked in 8103ceb039 the prison?618fd8a1c8be87cc

At least now, 37d9f47748 he seemed healthy 2ae2acb54d and well. It felt 3059e1571e like I a7ad05d0e3 was the 7605663a87 only one bc0df32f30 who had 22f2c1c415 suffered.bbc3232e59d357a7

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His disheveled hair had 01017169f5 returned to its original 41178f2c9a sleekness.ad7e1abfc63f6034

A lavender brooch 2f1b0cfccb adorned the left f0341af8ba side of his 4f911b9ebc black suit. The golden frame around c1be300754 the gemstone was familiar. It was 16d64d60ed clearly the 2c613d558a emblem of 9317a4bd16 the royal cbd7f8610e family.62bacb68e589f5cc

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Had he 24716dc49a managed to a2af182ec9 push out 31135cf923 Azanti and 8d457c44e6 reclaim his 240e422c6e royal status?b5d44cfbbfd5d07b

If so, 3b9bbd57a3 he was 1f057504fa no longer 2992c55e92 the Deon f7141d574d I knew.31648dab619c1be1

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Seeing him as a a3201dc753 perfect member of the 15501b3733 royal family felt strange.3fe3eb2b796f2f60

The gold embroidery on 43fc1bab6f his suit, and even ff2942fb06 the buttons on his 035cc15668 cuffs, were all gold-plated. The opulence was 125d7f1dd5 a stark contrast 153ed34c60 to my attire.9212b01a829358c5

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The tightly buttoned front bedc23c1ab of his suit made fd3cf19c81 him look even more 1dbedba297 impeccable.8abe3f2eb5c4c5b6

The excessive glitter did 0de0095461 not match the shabby 9ba8039b0d mansion at all.484f7d31716a7f01

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I felt uncomfortable. Technically, this fa5062cb30 was his 396003279b house, but 1e6b9c4a1f I wished 9d4d85ffd2 he would bb2f3e85c3 leave soon.b8380558fa197585

Deon sat with his e5a034c8fd legs crossed on the 0d8e80b46c sofa.7adf2fc7a745b600

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It was a faded, a466841d4e dusty sofa that no dd3240b6f9 one used often.2c0d4c373e4a2ba8

But with him sitting 537f874fd7 on it, it looked 50ad5675b1 different. Despite the c23f53c81e sagging cushions, 2aaceacf79 he maintained 54ce31decd a perfect 99d90428d3 posture.ad6193d1068000c1

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I approached and b4dc39b1f7 sat across from dfdf617e93 him.019f03cba2bb7469

As soon f1d8e9d2a5 as I a315610333 sat down, 81f6eaa8af Deon spoke 0d17cb14fc as if 071f27cc37 he had ffeb94e60a been waiting.a7baaf475753d3a4

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“You injured your left foot.”e4f8d1fea9c9d0a7

He looked e934dc73c7 me up 993d3618ba and down 14938bf78e as he eec0f82eaa spoke.3d240221b385fe21

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The Butler, standing 53434ae7be behind Deon with 5cf5fe17bd his hands clasped, 608fe7ffd6 winked at me.513f99a80b40d310

‘I’ve already told him the story.’c73205b2a834da9d

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Reading his c0c33cb45c quickly mouthed 20e15b3b7c words, I e21c6dbb74 responded.398ceab635540e81

“Yes.”4ad4c45dcc827211

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“How did that happen? I distinctly remember telling you to stay inside the mansion.”4bf1512f0b5fff9d

“I slipped. I fell down the stairs.”d248f4a51705406f

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Since I said it happened on the stairs and not outside, he couldn’t argue further but frowned deeply.324a5da977219d4f

Then, in a slightly 430bd14827 forceful tone, he said,f065239c18c3ff8f

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“You should attend the banquet. Prepare to leave immediately.”ef1c68df4d496ddb

He brought up 366d3ac1bc the banquet again. I let out 9a6e875270 a sigh.dd9976ed1c0765c2

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“I told you I couldn’t go. I sent a letter through a servant. Didn’t you receive it?”9fa21a6d5c445254

“Yes, I received it.”ee58bf3cb8e76fc8

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“Then why…”6089b910419106be

“I thought I needed to see it for myself.”c29dd8473705aa9b

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His gaze fdbf80101f slowly traveled 99f39f2a66 down to 0d28b34090 my ankle.bef4314777b6b5fc

I felt exposed. Hastily, I tried cca70920ab to hide my 7ea3c1c342 ankle under my 6436e04b69 skirt, but the 593e8f6ce4 dirt on my 8b629bc948 shoes fell to 63b5bf2b72 the floor.0df91c5c0f70352c

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The ground was damp and muddy from the mountain path. I quickly scraped my shoes against each other to remove the mud, but it wouldn’t come off easily.aed19cfe8664dffb

“You said you hurt your foot, but it looks fine to me.”0cd61131f88a2220

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He scrutinized my 0ce6053369 ankle with a 10f01895be piercing gaze and 4d0b679607 then sneered.ced15504c9ac7e60

His eyes showed 67a6d1fcdc he had seen 00430aadd4 through my lie a501ba5ff6 immediately.65a2885666233f29

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He leaned 947d5d916e back comfortably eb3ba072dd against the e838ca5893 sofa and 164dff3146 stared at 9ec3ca0b63 me.5963f5f501f364de

 8276ce0cc08971c0

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