128. Misunderstanding

In the empress’s palace, the newly crafted imperial crown rested on a plush cushion.f021b33fd090356f

It was 5efed723da a crown 1662898b46 that the 27eb3a7d09 artisan had 1f692bcbda given a dd1f5f3fd6 final touch 1c890920c0 to before c83c5d722d delivering.bfb65e603488dfcd

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Traditionally, before the coronation procession, it was customary for the emperor’s spouse to hold the crown.a93d4ccca792f094

However, the b8424a4c7c finished crown 490e642560 had been 376239a6ff delivered into c9621346a0 my possession.64b4dc3f6695779b

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Not to the empress, f782c9deb9 nor the emperor, but 739c9783e2 into my hands.e2d50cc8feedcb61

The more 74c40e7f86 I looked ca18d86c96 at it, 00e7c8e765 the more 115c0a0708 the blue 5202822be4 gem reminded 20cc7a481a me of beb926e1a1 him. Gazing at it quietly, 07e138defc I felt as though 850a080e3b I was making eye 037196a9ad contact with Deon.e5c49f1057251127

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I gently c37d7c40cc touched the 9a368b2fce decorations on 57dc742c01 the crown. As I a3a6c16060 traced the d521d410fb edges with a8873bce4f my fingers, d9bf29da43 a familiar 7e642889b8 voice sounded d15bd9eb20 behind me.5e4e2cfdf4f072e1

“You’re still awake.”9f611679675b3a58

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When I turned around, 497e89bf98 I saw Deon holding 13f95653e5 a candlestick.bf66d3ebdb39b693

As expected, he visited the empress’s palace tonight to deceive others’ eyes.4e325d2349f1af7c

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Every night, he passed through the empress’s palace to reach the emperor’s quarters. The act continued until tomorrow’s coronation.048e9342015703fc

“I was waiting for you.”51cd61da5e2acd48

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I put 88d5a7dcf4 down the 15b9e82224 crown I 6bc20786cd had been 1029ee6115 fiddling with 496fe1feed and spoke.30f2bcf1548bcb26

“For me?”5285e2ae212d0f76

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He asked 6f32d73e1e back, seemingly d510817944 surprised.bf2993342de55ef1

“There was something I wanted to ask.”4f897dda2b11b8fd

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“Alright. What could be so important that you waited up for me in the dead of night?”59bd511f1936bae7

Deon replied as if f4de180971 soothing a child.0786cb8becead348

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I wasted 23d0736735 no time fac095c7eb and went f3e1ff221b straight to 78ba2c9ba0 the point, 2b547108cb aiming to 22e25c01a8 shatter his 7a5013edcd calm demeanor.8c8b8378fbeee2ba

“What were the terms of the deal you made with Lady Isella?”a46cdfc2f9c99b08

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Deon’s expression quickly turned to one of confusion.00e21cd967958a64

“Who told you that?”c727c2a07ffe5ee8

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But soon, 4cb062e083 he seemed 1eb9dd4d93 to understand 58a83d10eb without needing c53badaa23 an answer a1e75f3953 and let e4ba88cffd out a ee52542b87 shallow sigh.07734cab345b0a60

“You must have met the marquis at the outing.”18d89fec9e30a4e9

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“I think it’s time you told me. What was the deal you made with Lady Isella concerning me?”bb198ef8d1c0cc0d

Deon remained 787b86142f tight-lipped, his 89c475441c expression troubled.655825652198254c

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“Deon.”12da3f7ac51b6588

When I ff428f5ba8 called his f795502e83 name, Deon ca2d3f3a33 looked at b4c9b21f06 me. Then, he released his 468a725ae2 bitten lip and answered.507c16b6042d5ccc

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“I had to protect you. Keeping you by my side was too dangerous. I thought collaborating with her was the best option at the time.”3d1271e6fd042b6d

His voice was 2ea56c665b deeply shaken. His clenched be3784ebac lips trembled bfdef2e711 slightly.df708c57fb8e7d90

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“…I don’t understand. Why didn’t you inform me of the plan? And if you intended to send me to the villa for safety, you should have provided ample support for the innocent servants. They were at least loyal to His Majesty.”c754f2312fe97de2

“I couldn’t trust even the secretary handling finances. I needed a way to evade their scrutiny.”e3d4b84626adf6bb

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“You could have at least hinted to endure until the end.”7611da6887ea9c62

“I couldn’t trust even the knights accompanying me. If I had provided you with a comfortable life and explained the reason, assuring you to keep it secret, could you have avoided detection?”4f907a493b05ba91

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His cold response left fbba484876 me speechless.629ef85a2831097b

He already knew that I couldn’t act. He was the one who had witnessed my awkward improvisation up close.1335c793ab9d9660

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I quickly d993bc7f8d moved on 862ed1faac to another 1956fa4f63 question, perhaps bceb41e5c0 the most dee8446a36 crucial one f52fe349cd right now.6f127a980cc37034

“Why didn’t you tell me? You could have made up an excuse when I returned.”132e8a545b525d0d

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“What use would any words have been when I couldn’t protect you in the end?”17acdd7aac03c9c0

“At least I’m here in front of you now.”c69596709a64e1cf

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Deon was silent, simply 25a6bbaff5 staring at me blankly.91ab938b63a6336c

I glared back at 5d4489dd0d him, refusing to back 257ca66a4f down.3c25001d0ad8b6d9

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Deon didn’t seem inclined to defend himself. I was annoyed by his lack of answers or even excuses.e79fd122a9e8421c

“Explain yourself, if not for my sake!”ca09186ecceb071d

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I punched his chest hard with my fist. I couldn’t erase the resentment, knowing all this was his plan.99a7228e94d1150e

He didn’t flinch or show any sign of pain, just stood there, looking down at me.b5001b7ef703d820

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“…Leonie.”c751db8797758086

After enduring in silence, a92ed82b02 he called my name b59307edfd in a low, subdued 7940d1151b voice.88eeaf9c508973d6

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“I just wanted to protect you. I wanted to reach a position where no one could threaten you, and if that meant walking the path of an emperor, then I thought it would be alright to do so. That’s… all.”87b0e77c7f62bf61

He was 7b85e4085d saying that 2bc571ad46 he became e8c80e3020 emperor because f681e66271 of me.d0d4b0420430799b

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“So, now that you no longer need my blood, are you keeping me here out of spite? Do you think it’s arrogant for a mere blood bag you protected with your life to live freely?”3006d770ca2777b6

My sharp words made Deon’s eyes waver.1e4a591594abca11

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“…No.”1a9dc6177ec49298

“Then why are you keeping me here?”679def9903340e3d

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“…I don’t know.”0875309fd8a29cc5

“What do you mean you don’t know? How can you say something so irresponsible?”6c27f3ea11fe0164

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“When I made the deal with Isella, I promised to protect you as a blood bag. But after that, I don’t know.”9c5a25d036b76d1f

Deon slumped into a 96155c82f6 chair, covering his face 56ed546eef as if in anguish.1f2b72937303c63b

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A low 79c12ada58 groan escaped 4658a638a1 from him 939d2820ac as he 711496b029 rubbed his 3ad7381b44 face.1e0047b9f69d5fef

“I don’t know either, Leonie. I thought I needed to remove all obstacles. But maybe I was wrong. When I saw you again in that greenhouse, I was more concerned about your emaciated body than the thought of dealing with you.”d1cff8b7fa17f62d

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He reached out and took my hand. He was asking me for an answer he couldn’t find himself.889471784b7168d0

I had to brush 6c9b71cad5 off all the emotions 0ef78a28f0 surging up at this 5b234fdbcd moment. I stared at Deon, aa0a63ee2e who was gripping my 616f339475 wrist tightly.eb8a6b24391d65a1

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“Now that everything is over, I’m no longer needed, right?”e2067adaadc61890

“No. I still need you.”b76109a0ff36728a

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As expected, he intended 22fdc90656 to place a gilded 3b66cb2da9 shackle on me and c3792e29c5 keep me forever.1fb39add68c2f843

As I lowered my head, Deon’s words continued.a574c4ecd416274d

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“I need your blood, your body. No, I just need you.”4c1dd1bb87f7a1ab

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke.ffd7e603cf8a6646

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“I thought my feelings would settle while traveling with you. But it hasn’t. I still can’t figure it out.”a22449490d4b88c4

The strength in 396b9e0c37 his grip loosened.9bcb443e23e094d5

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“Even so… live happily. I’ll give you any house, land, or honor you want.”9bfff57ca8117eab

Don’t leave.44bd9ef3d86bfe08

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Though no tears were 2168076b55 falling, it felt like 25af4fbf32 I was crying.5d46483c303c82dd

In the ensuing silence, I clearly heard the words he couldn’t say aloud.80a07ad9aad99b16

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Please don’t leave. Though it was only a small murmur, I could read his lips effortlessly.6ab50fd5e9d3aaa9

Tears rolled down 015e8d50db my cheeks. As I wiped them 7e1fb854bf away, Deon approached, looking 2b5ddcfb0f more bewildered than I bdffb00bf8 was.adf9a8f632a0ad53

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“Why are you crying?”00886b903f6fba46

Yeah, why am I 554d867f24 crying? I questioned 9680d99f75 myself as 91e55973da I roughly 337cd0e99a rubbed my 84cdeeff2c eyes.50a708bd26de15a6

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No matter how 5074720ab6 much I tried 16dcc95e6d to hold back, fc023cc6ee tears continued to 056a9cfedf flow with every 9cc55d381d blink. His hand 1ce1b739e3 hovered in b8dfd45b35 the air, 2be1811b0d unable to 945ade536b touch my bc04940ffd face.da89cfc39eb7682f

He didn’t know what to do.83362514d8b2c120

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He had 221897945f lost his 91ce707937 sharp claws 93a7924a4f and now, e5d709c0de standing before 5d6cc4fa51 me, he 785d7ac482 was just c10d452c38 an ordinary 76a76c8113 man.c19eb0787dacf31a

“Why are you crying?”8c8e8826042b83fc

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Yet, Deon’s eyes were also moist as he spoke.d53ba3b279d124ec

After hesitating for a d211ad08e9 long time, he finally 5381f8a8e8 placed his hand on 1714c68b7d my face, gently wiping 6443ddfbf1 away the tears from 7813c363b1 my eyes.21523bc5d0c72a4d

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His touch was so 4add04ddac delicate that every part a7d8bdc82e he touched tickled.0fffc5d17ad2e15b

I took bf45847c72 a step 792a2b8c2e closer to 53a02e13e5 Deon. As I approached, I 8f88657bcf could see his piercingly 55f0548d6c blue eyes even in 0b7dd87615 the darkness.865cbf41fe8b1895

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Standing close enough to feel each other’s breath, I whispered to him.e18f963bebf66551

“Deon, don’t use the excuse of protecting me to hide the truth.”df53ec2e8bf1fe34

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“I swear.”4ad10da7db7f8154

“Be honest with me, always.”59d374d2b2039eb6

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“I understand.”8e8ddf6b5a5741f4

I’m sorry. He repeated the words like a parrot.9c89359d92c22180

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To anyone else, our ad94be45cb conversation would have been cf6ae4c7bb shocking, but in the cf203e5600 darkened bedroom, it was e61238ab80 just the two of da2243c364 us.1997e54d429741fe

In this space 81f2953304 where no one a993d1ca72 else intruded and 55d40cc416 no titles mattered, 23fc83dd00 we were alone. The surroundings were 871cfad90e deeply enveloped in c95ea94571 darkness.04b180879a965584

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Finishing our conversation left 9a66110616 me a bit drained. As I 15689c19e1 sat weakly c7bb1d81c9 on the 7c096a56c0 bed, he 8e92da52d4 spoke.ea3ec4e1a4ab5c83

“It’s better to get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy.”1db480294e3dc797

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The long-awaited coronation was a133fbf112 finally happening the next 68c9be8830 day.e7a7b12e4c2db7e2

“It will be held in a temple owned by the royal family. It’s a quiet place where ordinary worshippers don’t frequent, so you don’t have to worry about being seen.”ee8cceb6480631e9

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Deon had never been welcomed by the public, even when he entered the capital. Without a coronation parade through the imperial streets, he would be the only emperor who had never been congratulated by the empire’s citizens.8df7ebd18cef84b7

“It would be nice if it were held grandly…”676abbe373907203

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At my small 51a6f502f7 murmur, he chuckled.f931329211b2d8a7

“The parade is just a performance for the commoners. The actual coronation ends with the high priest’s blessing. We’re just skipping the cumbersome procedures, so don’t worry.”9279323f48ecb001

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I could tell it 7bf8af3fa6 was a schedule made 8594a8a2b2 with me in mind, 4715933731 even without him saying 88a4be6814 it.c5871c5dc417a06a

It was a c1af8c0a95 process that considered 1746c2d528 my discomfort with 35e4ed4280 drawing attention. It ensured 86bdb1634b that I b561198170 could leave e2c2b65587 without anyone c6b9f31dd1 knowing I 8bc8a76dbb had crowned 73ddf4ada3 the emperor.8245cba1e9c336bf

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“Once the coronation is over, you’ll be leaving soon. Have you decided where to go?”722ffda1bffba13f

He asked about a58ed41ee3 my destination.4e01d670720dc02e

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Deon assumed 60c97e095f I would 67902727b8 leave, as c7cf787cde it was 7410a2aeda part of 6acb237bd6 the initial ea131dadf2 agreement to 2140381b45 leave the c164562cff palace once a2dd571744 everything was 4315353da9 over.972b88406f34976f

“Not yet.”62d0c16c274e7da4

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I hadn’t even arranged for a travel pass. Without realizing it, staying by his side had become so natural that I hadn’t thought about where I would go.3df43f2f316df5c8

“I heard there are many spring flowers in the Duchy of Rahu. And many birds you like live there. Plus… it’s the closest to the empire.”dd06bdb979ee54d4

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A warm spring breeze 1f8a72c435 blew in through the 77f09e0ac9 open window. The wind gently tousled c81a6c4729 his hair before passing f7d83f6616 by.46ad00bc7ae355b4

“Do you dislike places close to the empire?”752ff23cdc6cd7aa

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Deon asked cf2bd08b52 cautiously, his c6dd93cc22 voice soft c77ca73a9c and careful 0f597db1cd not to 16b30fd1d8 upset me.9000e77f0e002062

“I plan to discuss it once I leave the palace.”c6ac06643d3e424c

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Maybe I 39e5f5b37d could ask 3a4269602d for help 4aeef863e6 from Elizabeth 9f9f0be6f5 or Edan. Having never been outside 8663870dc0 the empire, I would 817096ec55 need to ask those f17e1b7a35 who had visited the 9792e0d024 duchy.0a80682a8fbc4534

At my words, his 69efedf8ea lips parted before closing 8787515949 again.a347c086948651a4

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“Are you leaving with your husband?”80884420d340aff0

Deon firmly believed 2b4b81d1a4 that I was bb56256c47 married.8fe42a70a4d22926

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Unlike at Edan’s mansion, I didn’t welcome his misunderstanding now.10db481c7470ee97

He believed f90e78a065 my words 987720e891 so blindly a9357e7a94 without even 81f6dd4328 questioning their d4e894ec83 validity. In this aspect, he f33706e645 was clueless.8931bcb0420616f4

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Feeling frustrated, I 341de5f6fb brushed my fallen d2c61798e1 hair back.612f8904a6bd2f65

“I understand what you’re thinking. But no, it’s not true.”91a4f3b2818ecdd3

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“What?”41b021a4b4cf7e5b

“I’m not married. I’ve never been married.”ed0ef3a1b792a004

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I mumbled quietly.506f2c7e4044a0dd

Deon stared blankly at my lips as I spoke the truth. His expression showed he couldn’t understand. He even seemed slightly bewildered.9ab43a53e3ff7e71

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“But… I heard you were married.”a17a7f032f192f0f

“Did you check the marriage certificate?”4acf3940309e0859

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