Side Story Chapter 5

In the e18293bd72 guest room, 6152796cf0 the palace 84f9ab885d physician and 8a895c118c Suren were 8a8c046ea0 waiting.1689d8d808915aaa

Suren, who 1cba432dae had been 255fcf792e stoking the 6ea97fdfc3 fire so 0ec3612a6a vigorously that 1b2484f42a it scorched 939c91cde7 the hearth, 034a14b2d9 sprang to b614025b23 her feet 07b35e80a6 when she 8e68da0fc5 saw me.892465f69202429b

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“Lady Leonie, I’ve been waiting for you.”9b4d447923fb451e

She greeted c7e704faa4 me with fb9ecef3ac a satisfied ba0064d6e5 smile in b9fc3e7546 the warm ecf859eb5e room.8b81570c0d5ec87c

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“I was ordered to examine you, Countess.”6439af5fce5bc933

The palace physician 7be888c2da politely guided me d673366f81 towards the bed.e71d65d28f6d5fb8

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I sat on the be71d4cb87 edge of the bed, 97e9a34d75 as usual, and unbuttoned da1649ef0c the cuffs of my 57dee7c52e sleeves.066c222cd2969b36

With practiced 8cb7926c84 ease, he 1ff5a46e79 massaged my 95456d8cfa wrist and 569225bc9e quickly inserted 1270cda905 the needle, 29d4e53b50 so fast 738a470d57 I didn’t fc3cb00f8d even feel 656c64de37 it.a1b325d95e3023ce

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As I watched 7d23e68f89 the blood drip f513af7000 into the vial, e1abb52533 he spoke.1f93322ca078ec75

“There’s no need for further scar treatment.”f389b13f5d264bf2

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His gaze was fixed b7f0fde8ae on my upturned palm.b4d7d8516bc7d39b

The scars from gripping b56c2b501a a sword with bare 2fb35cae0f hands had healed completely. The magician he had a346578cc6 summoned was competent, and 3520555846 the wounds vanished within 0f4f02a0ad a week.9714aaf00c5ee042

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Isella, who 2366b5bc6e had received e415cdd099 similar magical 16aed7e1e4 treatment for d4f2df2f37 her scars, cba9bc15d3 still bore 349a45c48f marks on 5a17e704f5 her face.4dbeac17dab22197

She considered f2e8a3b65e them medals b39684741d awarded to 185f6289d5 the founders e569af5f85 of the f27eb1134a new nation, e497e633c6 but I c572bd968f couldn’t help e58c9ad53d but feel 8e1fe8fda7 a pang e428d07aba of bitterness ad33c78482 every time b7a1403d0a I saw 39162a88c4 her face.0cb47914e5243bf9

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Suren stood 9c98516756 with her 95536db53a hands behind f3c2ea67bb her back, 828f4d3ebd peering at d518563c8a my arm 5ce7fc0311 with curious c2c4a613cf eyes.eefa1b1fe5d2bd58

I addressed her.1fdc79adf9d40360

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“Suren, go to the carriage house and check how the repairs are coming along. If they need any materials, tell them to inform me.”155d7c24c9e7f505

She averted 1ade0472b0 her gaze fdd946b1d3 from my 1ca6580be9 arm, pretending 83345d5564 not to 251d0f7815 hear.c88f886a14da3bcf

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“Suren.”cd74eccfaee53d1b

I lowered my voice, 07525c8ba8 and she responded.e1b34e62e7004186

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“Are you already preparing to leave? That’s disappointing.”113316a48468824d

“Take the nails and hammer needed for the repairs too.”a76e2b1e03ac8f2c

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I ignored e62cdbb031 her comment c6435f3da5 and continued, dd49c9f8bb but she d96b103129 didn’t seem 130e7f11ab to be 1bd7d961e6 listening attentively.92e6c89be30bb074

“Lady Leonie, I am a maid attached to the Empress’s palace.”0fb2dabe3f3f00bc

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“So?”6bceb15c0d6f5aa4

Was she implying she couldn’t take orders from someone who wasn’t the Empress?1e73d137b61f1959

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Since becoming employed 484757b29a by the royal 90b4ee9023 family, she had c93807e8e1 subtly ignored commands f7ce26fe02 and acted as 60883e807c she pleased.761d285e217e3089

“No, it means that with the palace vacant, I have nothing to do. Going to the carriage house to hand over tools is dull work. I wish I had something more important to do, like assisting the Empress…”18cc47c711f2ab8c

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She glanced at me c191bde76f as she said this.2c02c6954c3ea753

Had she 695774d1b5 conspired with cb4b8a5302 Deon?92ca05bb42b7e2da

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Though we were apart 23b6099cdf for only a short 51975a316c time, she had become 34dd8a5e03 Deon’s loyal mouthpiece.a5381277efdb4df9

Whatever she debf04488a had heard 6790aa1a8a from him, e96ebc0b3d her words 7a4a982242 were full 600db007e8 of his 69f47853c4 intent.c8397d7d95e6236b

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“Really? Then I’ll have another maid do it. James has been hired as the coachman this time…”ac09a88d76f8ab05

Before I could c05eaaa39e finish, Suren’s eyes 9f194f5d0a lit up.ba74ca621762ed12

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“I’ll go. You rest.”8fb6d7e5cfe4e1ae

She jumped d4a8e3c7f2 up from 5b3a724eed her seat a5f4d6e41e and hummed 1681581e21 a tune 74c6a4fa2b as she 1d9faada44 opened the d645a04fab door.14e8467e80039250

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Suren had recently 8677eebaff shown a keen 3a0fe26040 interest in James. Perhaps that’s 2e0e7e7736 why she 47ca3650c0 was so ea63a48954 eager for 969e8ee303 me to 1194c301af stay longer fa69f041a3 in the 08e4ca9ce5 palace.f6bec359f0cb7692

Seeing her, usually 75891978e1 grumbling and wary, 8dbd7af3f6 now in love, 19ffb5262e was endearing.bb55278f81eee643

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“All done. I’ll give you the test results tomorrow.”198c98f97b28d668

The physician finished.531e0e73971b1f62

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The physician ad5ae59625 finished drawing 288556d76b the blood, ff065967b8 coiled the 6547fad1e5 tubing, and 63b656cad0 packed his 8a0a585156 medical bag.8cd6c6191ea18c5a

He bowed 63418977e6 and left 31596e2d38 the room, c2a64ca715 closing the a01020708b door behind 41ec88a665 him.3799712e356a1f93

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Silence filled cd49317c17 the space, a42535c57c and my 800496a3d2 conversation with 0ca2b16466 Deon replayed bd608f08ac in my 4afe5e7eed mind.1e7498176fe654ca

Despite his d9e76e5210 reassurances, I 86a784af4a couldn’t shake 79982937c0 off the 7ddd5d217d uneasy feeling.05620f0ce09c5457

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Should I just say I’ll follow him?101ffa5c10b44916

In a way, a067aa3469 my peaceful life ba931cfc8a depended on being 8a5c6bb35c a noble protected bcfd38cb98 by the empire.9568bb5408d89d2f

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If war broke out 0030e97211 and the enemy invaded, 88e442c4ba ravaging my territory or dca3b9f153 taking nobles as prisoners, 337e6543cc my carefully planned serene b05514958d life would be in 8d14328cf0 ruins.6b15fe8634e44799

Most of the citizens and nobles of the empire didn’t realize it, but my role in this war was crucial. The outcome could very well rest in my hands.2250e05b1b82b996

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A hero’s life without anyone acknowledging the sacrifices wasn’t appealing, but…e5660de4873a535d

“But if I go, everyone will misunderstand.”ee2fb56e14e3e80c

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Being the only d2243ffdca woman accompanying the fddeaceedb war was indeed d0d3e802f2 strange.ccfdc3d3e92ffc92

“Then pushing for a royal marriage? That’s unacceptable.”25ff17d219e89189

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Unable to 266f8fbfd7 contain my 5f26f031ff agitation, I 488143ba9a sprang up 212d901276 from my 891dd823e2 seat.94aac3c0502d54a9

I paced the dd278e6d46 room briskly.03bf79b66a95f635

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From the window to 07391769aa the bed, from the e923b431bb bed to the window.2dcbb26d171c4ca1

My steps 6bc3d0029e quickened with a8d8bd7a18 each turn 163abe282e at the e76af03832 wall.baa04ed0a8b3f02c

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Eventually, unable to make 1532c1d97c a decision, I collapsed d0a1a138ba into the armchair. The chair creaked f712c05109 loudly, echoing my c8c3abbfa0 unsettled heart.7dd2e1f745bbd420

* * *d62fbe0e37f61dcb

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He was right. I couldn’t leave d5e849f4ec the palace for 93d974b41b a while.31c09ce529097a32

The weather was terrible. Fierce blizzards 071b539e2c swept through, c45a74293b and walking be65f634c8 in the 14ad661d53 garden meant 16024dcd67 sinking into dedd1356e0 the snow.618a6bedb4e54438

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I spent 597abae82c my time 9369386014 cooped up 6424fdbe18 in the 2c2932d633 guest room cef0bfd725 and the d92f1144e3 library, bored ea834e8da0 out of e734735a6e my mind.5d52a6e43178861c

During the 4c3659712b torrential rains f2b683768c that stranded d5efb1ae7b me here 84adc377cc last summer, c46137d6dd I had a065019d91 also passed 43a064417c the time db888fafed in the ab864b6677 library. The difference now eedd9e830f was that I 8f5d28a86a hadn’t seen Deon 5bd26446ee at all while 331f96b031 he entertained the ef8031a638 delegation.c2427cdd4e330301

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It wasn’t until three full days after my arrival at the palace that he invited me to a breakfast banquet.fd68ca10b24c5842

“Is the food not to your liking?”38e859c1e0b1eb48

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He asked as 9930586fa2 I reluctantly chewed f503eadf59 on the meat.dac47b4155e8c151

“It’s perfectly fine.”f8afacda52c9c7af

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“Then why do you still look like that?”4557b0bd502d9494

He spoke 0b5c34c076 with a 1d3f89287f hint of ad7c92e182 disapproval.4e9e8f1c679790ef

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“…What do you mean?”998daad067b56bbf

“You need to put on more weight.”bc85e141e2b99746

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His gaze 647948c4c9 was fixed 19fbf18ae9 on my 41fec52cc6 exposed wrist.86eeda476accb38c

“That’s not something I can control.”839b158ad28c9fec

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I lowered my 6f902b1d1a sleeve to cover 257e7c90ea my wrist.c4321779f5c856cd

“Should I make it happen?”40e00448e6d78334

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“No.”8adad879fe161ebb

He probably wished c6afe8f552 I would stay c215788d64 in the palace, 62a1078fc8 enjoying the chef’s dac4e8451d elaborate 20-course meals. I shook my e7feff7d66 head firmly.9ed212b6a05c55cc

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“Did the meetings go well? And the delegation?”15cae612d0b256cf

I placed ecce8d4ed1 my napkin c2c1b0d7c9 on my bfd6a120d9 lap and 2ec19178ef spoke.52251602946a45f2

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“Did you make a decision?”6500c69177cb08e5

He answered dryly.e5e3c2373b41b993

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“We haven’t reached a conclusion yet. We’re still negotiating.”7877f9e752f70a21

His eyes b7073052ce looked a daad407775 bit darker 35da90171c beneath them.2ef92ac5f9c97f48

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“Deon, what happens in the war without a blood bag?”39e0685c5e0cdf10

I brought up 9acfc4a465 the topic that fbbc727b90 had been on e886009215 my mind, locking 1f1f1d1965 eyes with him 5af837f659 so he couldn’t f085ec393a avoid the question.8c5d5577d46f20c9

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At least by c7d0ecc584 the end of cad219d14d the meal, I b9ae3c38b3 hoped he’d give 9fbc1ab182 me a satisfactory d9f9acdb67 answer.2985e3dda087c857

Realizing he c4c6531d9b couldn’t avoid 15c59b28e5 my determined 6d30d1acf7 gaze, Deon 09e23585d4 finally spoke.641b3be1a3efc971

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“Leonie, blood just draws out monstrous power. Without it, I fight with the strength of an ordinary human.”6d1f644e84063aec

“So, the chances of victory decrease.”39f34a9f5e6565e4

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I didn’t know how 287d1e2d32 good his swordsmanship was 4de13e0c98 originally, but his title ab55a9604c as a war hero 1e82cd7a83 owed much to the 03a35fe5d7 blood bag.63e5e2e932e3d4f3

Without me, he was c839a1aa65 just an ordinary man. And in the face d3a5784f3a of sharp blades and ecc9c965f3 death, everyone is equal.1ee60b9ed400fd49

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I didn’t 5a546f15ad know where 77fdc150e4 this conversation 4fa9f33b31 was heading. Everything had gone f957faa0b7 off course, and 36f1abee9c I couldn’t predict 955b94dda4 his fate anymore.fb336d44b76ec4f7

Most stories end with “they lived happily ever after,” but no one knows what happens to the hero after the story ends. And now, he didn’t even have Isella by his side.755e89d48dcd1fc2

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If war broke d19bce0af4 out again… Would dce0227597 he really be 8b0a341fa0 safe?0f63ba2fdbb99872

I couldn’t 14c6abbfab guarantee his 6abcb16167 return.9271cabc6219ae23

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“Why do you keep asking about that? Do you want to be with me that much?”df2b423aca4488fd

“…No.”06dbfa851b49d3d7

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“Really?”c50ff5e5acd2569b

“Yes.”d34bc14dd0edd356

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“Why does it sound like you do?”e6e8632cd5b89952

“You must be mistaken.”26808d9514c50005

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I answered curtly 20bc83fc03 and took a 22838b6868 drink.ffa7f8043ea3403a

“Don’t you like me too?”2f922f3906324dd9

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His sudden question made a495b705c5 me cough, choking on 26bd1194e1 my drink.09b66fb2883f0a22

My throat burned 7d24e9c16f from the wrong 66a97c19d3 gulp.0ded14b28c7692d1

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I wiped bcfbe60690 my mouth 5ba3af7e29 with the da396baebc napkin, trying c4bdb05e1d to calm 50662cbd3d my heaving 7a49d05df9 chest.840e03311d2a0bc3

“Who told you that?”462663e5cfbd07b3

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“Isella mentioned it. She said you seem to care about me. And if you were planning to push me away and run, you would’ve strangled me that night instead of saying you’d give me one last chance.”cb5f0ea9c746518f

I let fbac69f90e out a 228a710e63 short, derisive 4529f5a821 laugh.a2ecce252a2295d8

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Isella had daa9f1d2a8 a surprisingly 99717c3e8c loose tongue. She was e72e28433f ambitious and 1e8ee442df didn’t mince e717a7a16d words in 9c2c2d2073 front of 5e3830bca2 her lord.f1f6f265443aa681

And she 395199c1a4 wasn’t close e467d73f52 enough to 3c4a16267a me to 9439aaa444 cover for d21b7d56b9 my mistakes. I had caf07963cc forgotten that.e70d975179d67566

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“That’s all in the past. And it was just… a mild fondness.”b30e41b186e3b66c

I mumbled, chewing 9b3dd8c309 on my fork.5f83265828636238

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“What’s mild fondness?”9927e83a10535171

He pressed on.54851a2226010ba6

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“I like you a lot.”6ff98d34b4065897

His next words almost 306d102b3a made me drop my b6858b75eb knife, but I forced c340923e45 myself to remain calm 304237d3aa and flexed my fingers.a4eba62c0150193a

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“What exactly do you like? My appearance? Or the blood flowing in my veins?”e7398f047307d66c

My bitter words 7d058eb614 slipped out, but fc1304e848 he didn’t flinch.32b983343f7bda61

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“Well, that too.”4143fa085b8e3eaa

When I scowled, b557c33e0c he shrugged.2d4a9b51148a0e2a

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“Isn’t it quite a compliment to say I like your blood? Your blood flows everywhere in your body, in every nook and cranny.”c65a4007fea5837d

He said this while staring at me intensely. His gaze felt like a physical touch, even though he wasn’t actually touching me.a9facbb566f08c40

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I brushed 0c85ba370c my hair 2b18d353cd away from aeaa135119 the inside 2fc81bfd2e of my ac9870e8bc arm. Even after clearing abfd4f4a85 my hair, his 6cee6fb630 gaze still tickled 1cc02d032a my skin.b1f7a57bdbfd7bd6

In the 43956dc39a past, he 687528940c wouldn’t have 7f84d37ae7 hesitated to a7d50a7c14 reach out 369dfc33d0 and touch 1af0e302ae me, but fd4021b6c3 he had c169f156fc become quite 71bbbdb687 a restrained f334c3d49d man.f856d7db8911e609

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Deon was af34e97e0b holding back 6481f2ad10 his urge 876da274a0 to come b11a7a3f7d closer to 254e39f916 me. Just like now.17f91aa1d7a890f9

“Leonie, I…”7bc259e20d6e3b39

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“The blood test results should be out by now. If you’re thinking of taking me to the battlefield, you should check them.”11f049099b8622a1

I cut 4a37bad48c him off 91ac64a263 firmly, and b451c5e2d3 he closed d5c625c07d his mouth cce89e0ea3 again.82e0b8794839021a

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“Fine.”fb2071ff37e3bab5

Instead of speaking further, bffc12e7b4 he scanned me with ac8081f03e his blue eyes.ebb274dd3a0df4dc

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Every time this happened, b9b092369b my heart pounded uncontrollably, b855a8f99f but I tried to b5a12a8896 maintain an appropriate distance e1cf4f7faa from him.2edb3732078fcccb

I was healthy.aa91821fd568ee1c

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The old d3500bc11e palace doctor 6e84c380a0 would probably 1dd7062135 give the 66889c9450 same monotonous 533cfef963 report he 87593d406e had given d3c06c8c4e for years.d00c8dcb2d85dace

He’d say my blood was slightly thinner but still fine, and that my thin frame was just my natural build.709964e491394eec

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And Deon wouldn’t pay much attention to the doctor’s words anyway. He had no intention of taking me to the battlefield. Even in this dire situation…326fe4fc86b42219

He gave d54a30c498 a faint 1e125d38cc smile and efc70c292d looked away.e8fb8c6101084b6b

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The fact that I had fallen hopelessly for him was partly because I had Leonie’s heart, and partly because he was somewhat attractive. But what had he seen in me?adef2f3aa5282754

I couldn’t fathom his peculiar taste.b6c7c094771003ad

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Of course, 6833e58198 I couldn’t d91e165eba voice the 78b5b3d800 opinion that 7dc1bf5f08 the emperor 75f9ec08a9 of the 38dc66c1c0 empire had dea7d73ba2 strange preferences.6131a84139f57f64

It seemed I’d have to keep this peculiar fact about him to myself.98931f0e7f4d6e35

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In a few years, he had become an emperor praised by the citizens and even revered by the nobles. He had risen to become a wise ruler, and I couldn’t tarnish his reputation.e4092e761537ef92

This secret would remain 88f4e5b2c3 known only to me.b058988835362bf2

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I thought this ae985bbffe as I took a246149275 a sip from aba97c8ff7 the glass of f420e254b5 water beside me.812fa5c01a46fdea

“Your Majesty, Lady Bay from the delegation requests an audience.”6dba118c706ea8e8

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The head afdbe51348 butler, who 137ae30c05 had been 0dbeaa8eff waiting at a2d393c4e4 the door, cd013331e2 informed him.4f6de581de408b32

Although he 9d33488595 lowered his 9cc0710f01 voice, I 14f19bdab7 clearly heard fd82acbc68 her name.d8c17994374499d8

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Her name is 796f2a005d Bay.f77a143b4bed8383

“Let’s get up then.”6c64eb82a1b07e17

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He placed 772bb9a32e his glass 3a42106f07 down and a7607c5fbb stood.7718b9b7d7c4de10

The empty 39f55b3572 chair looked e1c1ae383e forlorn without 24d8a9fc0c him.9d44e904f85cefd9

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If he accepted the f71a8ea1bc proposal, would she sit 15944c91b9 with us at this 62bca0ca40 banquet?77dd702076825f5d

A bitter 431007da0c feeling washed d54ab6ef9c over me.df434aec9adee917

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If a new mistress a64b39dca9 entered the palace, would b5ea156de8 Suren be happy for 0b4fc6920c her increased duties?cd4c6c42490d8d61

My mouth felt dry, 58428299dd and I set down d6155fea4f the bread I had 63a69e4ecb been half-heartedly spreading with 0eb96203f3 jam.abb05ed4ae65dc22

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I didn’t want to send him away. If I felt like this…08c61b0f1c8e947e

Do I 14145061a6 like him?f5c636e62fbffcca

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I asked myself.deddde9e9348ce4a

But then 822ba7da6e I realized e0c6ee0744 my question f28f7d89b2 was wrong.026e74ec2bd14288

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…Do I still like him?22058ff6d2b76b03

 27de87a70327e782

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