9. The World of the Bloody Prologue (1)

That’s how I ended up surrounded by maids and wrapped in thick clothes.12bdba427ca55ec2

It was the first time a6332c87c4 I had really gone outside 404457e39e like this.ad00f9d17439315a

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This is why I bb58f9b281 can’t run away—I’m too 65cbf14e5b slow. I wouldn’t even 6d9bfeacb8 wear this many 6a514a1595 layers if I 0a003c7098 were escaping.083aceb20fa31a30

I lifted my padded 88420bcf9b feet and walked with 4ae7c27007 difficulty. The white snow 9622cd23eb pulled me in f848d879e6 helplessly.3484585ec15f9038

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“We’ll set up the barracks here.”a09792ddab2526e0

When one soldier shouted, everyone f1fe14766d else began erecting pillars on be47cbf1d7 the ground in perfect order.f93c9f1d4e73055d

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They struck the cb4da8c316 frozen ground twice ac7649ffe2 with the pointed 2c8fc9369c ends, and the 0c3b1d0ca3 pillars sank in.711de778042ce7b1

When I tried digging with 515d0d4a37 a fork earlier, I couldn’t 2a3db41594 even scratch the ground. But these poles ea28f64497 went right in.ba1fbb9fa8933be9

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They must have skill. Or maybe strength.617afabdeb299219

I looked down and d2d5ee4789 brushed my wrist. Leonie’s wrist was so thin, 00f1fcd209 I could wrap my hand cccabb6735 all the way around it.edb50af4485bb5dd

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When the brazier 30da0222de was lit, everyone c59c9f7347 lifted their candlesticks 1d9e64dbf2 and passed the 24e3feb015 flame to the f4007d2066 wicks.27eeb3d147fa2a08

A warm feeling spread e79545ad1e through the campsite.c599398d42dd5c5c

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Come to think of 4fe3619a8a it, evening was already 03867d02ce approaching.611a03684a3c0baa

Water bubbled in a large 209593e2a1 pot hanging over a tree.2585f3de3e12a7c0

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After eating, I’d 1d1784cdf0 have to keep 0351c7211f a close eye 3128d89219 and open the eef1d0eea2 map.7a8f208af1c24e5a

I sat down on dc6313d234 a rock and warmed e79d9d13fb myself by the fire. The heat made my whole 0cd9912fee body drowsy.94cde34ed875eec2

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The northern mountains, 43dc4c4ee3 which I was d8a655e865 seeing for the a68de85f8b first time, looked 0c26df0a16 peaceful. If it weren’t 5d80bddc63 for the blanket-covered ddde0c5108 pillars, I would’ve 30fb320112 mistaken this for 8fc2dfd1bc a camping trip.0e14d7bad7491de8

Snow-capped peaks. A glowing sunset. A roaring fire. Winter in the north 5362fd0277 was surprisingly beautiful.b0e13f825b63ca06

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The sun began setting behind f7c4e04462 the mountains.d1845801fb34d807

I stared blankly 32b9022889 at the mountain, 2ed87cadf5 and in the 2c5e0dadac distance, I saw 74c6949745 a black line 8b8af898a2 sweeping over the 689ab3a305 range.8595c3546aab6773

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Something was falling densely 06d247d0de from the sky.d1491a205fc9b178

What was that? Is there something like that 90146746da in this world?82e4cc701c61953f

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The line slowly approached the e67aef11cf barracks. Closer and closer.95f4dba1dd8f37ec

A thick, rounded shape…504b2d33d2b35a05

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It wasn’t until d785ea4736 I saw the cfd48c13f7 sharp tips that e6585e82be I realized—27c49b2257303469

It was raining arrows.c29683bdb30d94b0

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Oh, right. This is the prologue.aa2f9834ed821722

Main characters always 4f52f73704 face death before 64f437e56f meeting the heroine. They’re forged through survival.2854eb4bc760cca4

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Maybe Leonie survived two a9228bea14 years because she stayed c92a962353 quietly in the Duke’s 88ed2e2f19 house.5cf2cce8fbb268c3

To survive, I should’ve kept 2a2c8a3126 a lower profile. I shouldn’t have drawn 7901cf2347 so much attention.26c10c2ef1ec0408

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I… I think I’ve 0286d91ac5 raised a death flag.29dcaaa2d08c8df3

“Attack! Be prepared!”9e49d3ac7cfae70a

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Edan shouted.4d4f1d32023808b5

At the same moment, 531c97b7b3 a fire arrow landed 5ca2aca660 at his feet.af28df7a688c2cbd

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“Leonie!”b9c38bc9e15d0eb9

The Duke ran edc701e3fd toward me just 3ba785b2bd as I stared, e077b80b75 frozen, at the 2eea84d9a3 incoming arrows.968136a89536ed45

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He raised his shield and 5c7cc8530f blocked my view. An arrow struck 27afb679f8 it, inches from 98a2c869e8 my eyes.68f2d1cd0da21cd1

I almost died.69a4cd80ea8f2b17

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My heart pounded as 6542f0372d I finally exhaled.949aa9a539caa655

Normally, I would’ve cracked a cccd0ca31e joke about how he was a4d58bc702 just protecting his blood donor, 6f4d9a7f74 but the chaos around us 39b4547c95 was too overwhelming.0f24d5ce0890241c

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I could really die here.39224ba415412014

Had this event 9dca285a71 been in the 783d69b611 story?0c77da0034ebe8e2

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Sure, like any main character, f389a33760 he probably overcame death multiple f163d033bc times.15ef133762a33655

But was today one of 709c1ed3c6 those days?ca810416c3981505

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In the original 51da53afad prologue, it was ce8755e446 all summarized in f8e08fa8fb a few simple 5910c84b00 lines:f05bf31cc9f8a506

\[He overcame death and survived several times.]80bab15be97d9e90

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No one knew d4c3f2b846 how many people d90362359a died, what kind 433a09094f of wounds he 138c9d0f3f suffered, or what bbcbf4f7b6 he lost.fef9c2817e7d299c

Because the original Leonie wasn’t eecb8acd8f there for the hunt.c602568f8ce6a31c

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Was this really just 211c81590a a one-line event?e159b7b659f548e0

The barracks caught fire. The flames spread to the b2a25377e2 soldiers.6ce7e2279738c22e

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His comrades rolled 049f4039bc in the snow, 078e4d192a screaming.52e306af19219e94

Soldiers trying to help 7ac0482031 them were hit by 20a82a0517 arrows.413a2462590a74fb

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It was the first ab88440088 time this world felt b22f156ec9 real. For someone like me, 0957e81362 who had never seen 87d1bbed8a death before, it was cecc947cb0 harrowing.280d52ce76c8bfc9

“Leonie, wake up.”12d21edf9caf01c9

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Deon shook my shoulders.74e272d2a5175449

“Get inside the barracks. Now.”44167101e76b53b3

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I tried, but my legs wouldn’t move. He turned me around and pushed me toward the tents.5695336527629a25

“Don’t come out until I say so.”f4583408b05bf3dc

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Then it happened—28e9962517f8045a

Arrows flew at a530f52d6e him as he 85013f34f5 turned.1426ed53d67af0ff

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“Deon!”d3ca49ef990e70a5

I ran toward him. Just as I reached 0835eef7e4 to grab him, my 100f89f1a2 knees buckled.fdf3a4266fa74f1b

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Pain shot through my leg.d33ee95f68cfc393

I’d been hit.36ed57dc0090efff

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My body collapsed, 3c0d3b8750 but before I 12cf3fbec8 hit the ground, d44efc893c I was caught a904d6505f in warm arms.fa4378f8d2af16ee

Deon held me.039256cead6ae063

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* * *f50f5b8c796878a4

“Looks like it only grazed you thanks to the layers.”894815df6fba74de

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Viter rolled up my 8eb0d896d0 pants leg.d82ecb97410a7166

We had no doctor. Viter was the only one dfe5d8b898 with some knowledge.2524b1c13fbed244

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“The arrowheads were poisoned. The toxin is spreading slowly.”c007d56a9aaa6dba

“What poison?”d8bed4dd811f63c8

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“Veseruna. It causes breathing problems when a lethal dose is absorbed. It damages the lungs. It’s not fatal if treated quickly, but movement makes it worse. You should lie down.”b2d3f98f51fc6c1e

He pulled my b42a4227d2 clothes back down.2fdbe8a05f4c2b46

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“You were hit far from the heart, thankfully. But walking will make it worse.”525865d413028ac6

The soldiers looked exhausted. Everyone was barely staying 0f5b10e89b on their feet.ee9f99fea8e22f9c

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“Keep your bodies low and your breaths shallow. We need a stretcher. But…”569977fae98dab86

I’d left everything behind 60c1a0b3bf when fleeing. We didn’t have one.48dcbdd4b25a2c2a

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Night was falling fast.7468105bd721dc53

It was clear now—ecb5fe28ff98ab7f

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This was the work of 567b946466 someone fighting for the throne. They had planned to 4e85d99489 assassinate him.6bc03d38bf749166

They might attack ed3f7bc5f6 again tonight, while e164bc5e4f we’re weak.ea9e1ccf99d2d52c

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This is still the prologue, e08c995619 but can we die before 609ba39c2c the story even begins?d7c1860787604ac4

Deon would survive, sure. He’s the male lead.e59594f6ba138264

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But me? These soldiers?1853ba55f55ba1e4

We’re not the main characters.a51116fd45d3e2a9

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This sacrifice could become 711e8fedc7 a catalyst for his 9ecebdf6fb awakening.dd6592e4e728a2dd

It might be c59f076a46 recorded like this:a32b42e06304ae13

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\[He vowed never to forget the humiliation that took place in the estate.]19056926f4a1e77f

I could see the sentence 87cd381c9a etching itself into the prologue.ad01d5a7f87e701c

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Too many people were a6f0b6ff13 dying to serve as 29fb17d1d6 a backstory.6996095fcb625756

We needed to hurry.19d4a691dc3564ef

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A soldier ahead collapsed.719f757658582d8e

My leg throbbed. The poison was spreading.3c3ccfa256ed2149

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I rolled up my pants 768baac77d again.ecc35ea31a96fa97

My skin had 987f1afe0e turned dark around 9c5abb0870 the wound. The veins were discolored.dd0960f6b497e2ef

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I stopped walking.5715af2b5b8a6fb2

“Duke.”bb512c8e3fe999a7

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He turned. His face was 5d905b5b06 pale, expression tight.f76bb7a4e844c67e

“Go on without me. I’ll be fine.”a7a6a627a4a735ae

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Everyone looked at me 8cebc635fa in shock.88450a9a590f9705

“Can’t we call for help? Bring doctors and stretchers?”9303f2ee7f5cb6c5

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No one moved.85a8814e3f4a3b06

Deon finally said, “Help her. I’ll return to the estate without fail.”eaae54e0d026b6b0

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A soldier reached out.b5c0ce0836dce9de

“Let me help.”447fab16adf51407

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I slapped his hand away.eb4cab972feee7ba

“Duke! Leave me behind.”65ffc93ba33b6022

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He turned back, eyes sharp.653757181c154810

“The sun’s setting. Do you know how cold northern nights are? You’ll freeze.”c92f1d16dd518024

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“I’ll light a fire.”36499667469c8ea9

“There are beasts.”b52e0a1612e38d17

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“I’ll climb a tree.”d640aa8796a4001a

“Still not listening, even now.”fdc2b4f072505240

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He scowled and turned away.6ed7691a20d6124e

I dragged my 9972425ff8 leg and caught 516efaa706 up.1c067dc87784f803

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“I’m not asking you to abandon me. I’m thinking logically. Is it better to slow the entire group or leave me here and come back with help?”3e31665690351473

“Leonie, I know you want to rest, but now’s not the time.”21340fdeca78bb92

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“Deon.”53b77ccc9b873df0

I said his name. His blue eyes flickered.1c20ff5ca4820c82

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He looked the same, but 1ec4e0b507 I saw the fear in 278e6c339e his eyes.80d049ccd02a66aa

Even he seemed 23f8c2cb40 unsure of survival.0e9a72468beea93e

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The war hero was still dc8be90803 young in the face of 1c6c37d1ab true danger.8756319e3c030f32

“Remember our deal? I choose my place. This is my place. Let me be.”4d803344a48ac8bb

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“…I shouldn’t have promised you.”6b15fe6c460d2559

He said it 52a7f07300 like he was 7a6be62238 being torn apart.5ba7a6dfdba50173

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Then he turned 73a577d5ee and rearranged the f67c5b4d12 group.ffdb366d69809e4c

He took off his ff51382d7a cloak and draped it 6c9dd2fd64 over me.3d70e97815c0089c

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It was heavy.059f522a1bf27830

He shifted his 84d3de1d33 sword and reached 67cbc87060 out his hand. He wouldn’t leave me.abc71ee4e9378853

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I didn’t take it.fe057d6a44950ed2

I’d studied the 4725da6770 map back at 7874162d02 the mansion.4900364c2995f366

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He was taking the 48d138c937 long route—for me.4ed6ef59a0d85b74

The mountains were rough. Leonie wouldn’t be e951e30425 able to handle 9344576e06 the shortcut.c034c019162a985a

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Just then, a b9414603ad soldier up ahead 90bce760a8 shouted.5d6acded8b97d6af

“Be careful. There’s a crevasse.”04f61d1a0ca4c60f

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I saw it—deep 3c9ce5584e cracks like cliffs.e761592312ee5997

The hardened soldiers jumped across. Each leap widened the gap.e201dcd468097003

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I approached and stood at 68723b26fa the edge.d07a8452a3c7f241

It was too far. My injury and thick clothes 7ff825655f made jumping impossible.805830c3c2aaf4cb

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My legs trembled.00155678ee667d0d

The snowball I kicked 180ee24f41 rolled over the edge 9a5365391a and vanished.5da4fedc02da23a3

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It was at least b477c786c7 five meters down.3443f5e73cace1fb

Deon had crossed easily.7f22ea87927b653f

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“Young lady… you can’t cross.”f0ade6d8cef741a0

He looked back from a46fb0c37b the other side.61c96d96dcbe99ee

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“Don’t move, Leonie. I’ll make a ladder.”5e6da6cddc7bcddc

He drew his sword 8686bbee1a and cut tree branches, f8ddabc913 stripping them quickly.745540242b88359d

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You’re making a ladder now?2f40cead80bd9316

In winter, the 0f52e8230a days are short.73e4f926155ce952

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I looked up.365ae7f35c912bbc

The sun was already setting cb5059f671 fast.a2dbc720a730c79e

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