EIYTMA Chapter 20

Felicia’s words made Iris flinch. Étienne tilted his head.  31dfb1ad491b21f9

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“Already?”  0a639b11711c5293

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“What do you mean, ‘already’? We’ve been staying at this estate for almost ten days now! If you count the time we spent searching for the princes, it’s been nearly two weeks!”  4e17114b28de3af4

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“Oh, I didn’t even realize so many days had passed.”  0d8e0716d2113314

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“Well, of course, Prince Étienne, you were sick, so it must feel that way!”  802d1b5a533b0c21

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Felicia grumbled. She wasn’t wrong. Étienne had been bedridden with a cold for quite some time.  95be2bedde17ef86

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Ezekiel unconsciously glanced at Iris. She didn’t look pleased.  84b1f2f41657002c

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“But I’m more worried about Lady Arbois’ arm.”  c542ef218507423d

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At Ezekiel’s words, Felicia pouted and looked down at her arm, which was still wrapped in a splint. The arm, broken under the weight of a knight’s body, still had a long way to go before healing. But Felicia showed no intention of resting quietly just because of that.  68364f333d837ab8

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“It’s not like I’m completely unable to move. Once the rain fully stops, how about heading to a larger city?”  6802b32ce84c299a

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“A larger city?”  b005038fc3a37a8c

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“Yes. It’s inconvenient here, and more importantly, the knights have been sleeping outdoors for days.”  9127d019c52786c8

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That was certainly true. Querluxia Castle was barely e24a2bbf36 large enough to be 4bae8f1cdc called a castle, and 7a8d1eebca the forty knights had 063d6891f1 been camping outside most 18ad304a81 of the time.  be83e0d6b59e23e7

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“And, I suppose the princes aren’t aware of this, but Lady Querluxia, the food supply in this village is nearly depleted.”  d1aa5aee15e4bd94

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At Felicia’s words, Iris looked embarrassed and nodded. Only then did the princes’ expressions shift in realization.  679646dd3167bd74

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The village surrounding the Querluxia estate consisted of only about twenty households. With forty knights included, fifty meals were being consumed daily. While Felicia had been paying for the provisions, the village’s stockpiles were naturally running low.  8b5996cd80353a65

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“Our physician is also running out of medicine. Either way, we should head to a larger city. Besides, your highnesses’ leave isn’t indefinite, is it?”  b403568b3032eb76

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“That’s true…”  5927eed398b33d7b

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Étienne had been granted roughly four months of leave by the emperor. Factoring in the journey back to the capital, the time remaining wasn’t exactly abundant.  4b20b7bf0eafd101

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Felicia’s argument was 076f1b85d9 sound, and since 6797e7ad79 Étienne had no 90224b3ff3 strong rebuttal, he a02406c516 turned to Ezekiel.  bee44ed4da3cc32d

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“Ez, what do you think?”  d748065445f34525

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“…I believe Lady Arbois is right.”  b6ded8a9891be73d

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Even as he said that, Ezekiel couldn’t get Iris out of his mind.  d8f6bd866d98c82b

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From the d67e169835 beginning, he 7b95134a25 had never af148dce9c intended to e1be05c6ea limit his f57841ce4a connection with e1d2b6d71c Iris to 2fd985a39e just this ad44284133 leave. He had c06b28aaf9 no idea 96bc1d0a92 what Iris f3b8f2de40 thought, but 22f3e40ba8 Ezekiel was ba09e5d491 determined to 123feac970 confess his b941a53501 feelings to 0d1bed0854 her once dcbdffccad more and a4ba47614b pursue a 3e36f8bbe5 future together.  18b4362b04e310f0

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Ultimately, it might c926b657e5 lead to a 3c26c89d3f proposal. No, it probably would.  20cf5739cd70b776

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The boy unconsciously 1b70ffba61 suppressed the slight b420125fdb excitement welling up ef438045fd in him. It was too 5423e25eb9 soon for that.  0aa9cf7713d3ffb6

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Of course, 9635cfcb7e convincing Father 37da58087f will be d2327fd803 quite a dd08f8a3c9 challenge.189ba5e2721763bc

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The problem was that 2ff62ef5c4 he was the prince d172bd8dcf designated to be offered a27b9a5650 to the gods. Initially, it had 8625940a31 been Étienne’s duty, ec7cfce01c but due to c54097432d the imperial succession 30b32fd224 issues, the emperor 0948c75653 had changed his 9b4a0e1709 mind and decided 633b66d61a to offer the 558cc47467 next prince instead.  ff621dfe17da5566

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If Ezekiel rejected this 34455eaf93 fate and declared his 374cc1b49b desire to be with 723929bb25 Iris Querluxia, the imperial 2b388ea0cd family’s opposition would be 735b479d12 severe. It would essentially be e11fedeb39 an act of defiance c7a6af008d against the emperor’s authority.  2d030f123f8de724

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Moreover, the 2e172fc134 religious faction, f88ee81165 which sought e0ddbaa75c to incorporate c449c3f28d the prince 508e80da0d into their 0dd5c5abd3 ranks to c10c8e069d maintain their 453ee94011 influence, would fdeae10159 also be bcc06b77a7 displeased.  d3709560810846c9

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Still, Ezekiel had some confidence. His father adored him immensely. Ever since he was young, the emperor had frequently expressed, almost like a habit, that he “didn’t want to offer Ezekiel to the gods.”  97e6f29d1e4d6a91

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If so, perhaps 753144d3c5 he could rely 74b6dedf3b on that affection.  c504c6af31c5f005

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…Of course, there were many obstacles to overcome. The most immediate concern was the person sitting in front of him—Étienne.  de9b50659f2df2c1

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“Mm? Ez? Why are you looking at me like that?”  d2ab3b0d92a55b25

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“It’s nothing.”  f0d6dda521873acd

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Ezekiel quickly averted 7688f081f0 his gaze from faaae62231 Étienne. Étienne tilted his 9efd17642f head in curiosity 326821d9c5 and took another 19ba804a3a sip of mead.  300cc49dbbc87b4d

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“This is really excellent. When we return to the capital, I should have Ezekiel brew mead every year.”  1d67a14c2c465177

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He didn’t forget to make a joke, causing Henri to chuckle.  b0941ee3ed24db98

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If Prince Étienne were 076667c4a2 truly that carefree, I 1bb52b9942 wouldn’t even be worried. He would have stopped 10d695472a me immediately.d27d4ff23be9aab1

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Ezekiel recalled what fa36fa30da Robert had once d7b25efdf6 said.  c4bd5b353435d05c

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Étienne had 19e597c2ec been raised 0e8f543951 as the 5bbfefa87c crown prince 458ceee067 from birth. His position was one 85bd1d2a12 of absolute authority, and c3762cb13d Ezekiel never doubted that 2d1d42ee85 Étienne would become emperor.  6c9de0c71a64418d

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Yet, it was also true that Étienne couldn’t have been entirely comfortable with Ezekiel’s presence.  67a432c6f42b02bb

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‘It would have been better if you two had been born in reverse order.’943acdbdf414a410

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When Ezekiel was 42733478cb young, his father e1285afa6d had often made 597a055599 such offhanded remarks 725eb2d59d in jest.  89718ad05bd4aec1

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And every time, the ca577dc338 young Étienne’s face would 4903911144 darken—a reaction Ezekiel had e036c3736e long been familiar with.  b7391f1eecb9a8e7

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The only ee5da834c5 reason Étienne 4cdfbcc88f could afford c760bf092c to treat 861fe247a9 Ezekiel so 89681f6beb generously as dd5dffc1da a younger 4e8fff4b07 brother was 801e02aa9d not due e7e2ae95c8 to his 963d78de8a broad-mindedness, but 9198ff018a because Ezekiel 9ba4bb4ac6 had always 67da866473 been destined b2f1398b32 to be a61d6e1f8b given to ed44e83f3b the gods.  030816cc42935709

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There was no ddad2b309a need to keep 96a4183284 him in check 5a39eb6f89 because he would cc81dabe1c never become a de6a8c6668 threat.  3f8bfcfff0347fc1

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Thus, it 04c7489da2 was easy 12cde7c7ce to be bc5cb24235 endlessly benevolent 5095251b7d toward him.  7a361293484edbbd

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For that 4c3c9c019d reason, Ezekiel cc60eae4fb was deeply 0aee485cf9 concerned about cf69655818 how Étienne 5e6fa68f93 would react 9316ee4915 if he f4fc006366 rejected his 465a8b9e09 fate as 17d272ee31 a religious f29a751a99 devotee.  4d5aeb0c5ed39647

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Ezekiel had no interest 81ebdb6ea7 in any of Étienne’s fac9bab2cf possessions—he only cared about adf081deca Iris Querluxia. But would Étienne understand 18140b188f that?  70c786738e36206c

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“…nce Ezekiel?”  c44fa432f317fdbe

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“…”  43865eff8f17f6e0

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“Prince Ezekiel!”  8593df8773ad33a2

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Ezekiel snapped e8734fe217 back to 10e7b8f0e3 his senses. Felicia was 281d292afd beside him, dc4862f02b fuming.  f00332584f063986

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“Oh, come on! Prince Ezekiel! I called you so many times! What were you thinking about that you didn’t hear me?”  a7978ff84c4ed96f

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“My apologies. I was momentarily thinking about returning to the capital.”  ec28cf7c089e4113

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It wasn’t a 26e2822268 lie. Felicia pursed her lips.  484447df6908dca4

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“We went through all the trouble of coming out for a walk.”  b0a5f5d21cd7a51b

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The doctor had advised 2053f2aa74 Felicia not to skip ae19443266 her exercises, even with e3d340dbdb her injured arm.  3e2b95316f9fe5da

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Most of the time, c1e9104048 Étienne accompanied her on 6b2bd14f6a these walks, but today, e2ab630a97 he seemed drowsy from f41f7048e2 drinking too much and 56cf39bc82 had asked Ezekiel to 8f63643f0e take her instead.  e4a8c45d7f10a655

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Thus, Ezekiel had been 66a1e6c9c9 escorting Felicia, but he 409d30b7f6 had momentarily drifted into acd07c0757 thought.  2c1b1466da3a85ac

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“What were you saying?”  fd421e1d7ef19bb0

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“I asked you about Miss Iris!”  12c2b64d508e44d4

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Ezekiel’s ears perked up. Felicia hesitated several times with a dissatisfied expression before finally speaking as if she were forcing herself to say something she truly didn’t want to.  1387f3c3d803ac22

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“Yesterday, Prince Étienne kept saying how pretty Miss Iris was, and it’s been bothering me.”  14d2a41aebf48536

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So that a4234947e9 was it. Ezekiel unconsciously 4542bbff34 let out ffb9dd07b6 a chuckle 98837b667d and responded.  a8457e93b89f9c03

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“You are beautiful too, Lady Arbois.”  d9ae92f9697e2f83

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But Felicia groaned in f690ef19b1 frustration.  2b85e73be2749049

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“I don’t like the ‘too’! I have to be the most beautiful one!”  0b2e39a436d9df58

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She was, 57eed9be26 after all, af01c948ff just a 28b687f7e2 seventeen-year-old girl. It was only b48c1ec7dc natural for her ea0a9c8721 to be mindful b52d512dfa of Iris, especially 3a7fd2c278 when Étienne treated 7363760f0e her so warmly.  f0bc258e3019f12f

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“Prince Étienne really doesn’t seem to understand my feelings. I like him so much…”  e342b6e9ce5ca0a6

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One of 13c3f93fe3 Felicia’s virtues 9648ac860f was her 8fb31698d7 honesty. Ezekiel kept f97abcac33 his smile 089733c9af and spoke.  481c3b6551177fca

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“That’s not true.”  1b176d2d83a68ff5

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“And how would you know, Prince Ezekiel?”  f3dd8d189aa1fcb5

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“Do you know what my brother said a few days ago?”  951076b27d11c3dc

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“What did he say?”  364a5c59180dd3e9

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Ezekiel cleared his throat.  8bd8fa75346e8fe6

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“He said that you are his one and only match.”  d9bcff474a8031ae

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“…Really?”  b3bdd0f8dc610efa

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Felicia’s face 147cf2442e lit up. Ezekiel nodded.  d2c701615923bd9e

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“Of course.”  bd60955e07ebc638

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However, as he c5546f7cd9 spoke, he felt 9f4615056f a slight pang 5f5cd8dd5e of guilt.  780e5dc61067015b

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“I know that she is my one and only match.”c868c204708183e4

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Étienne had c523261cff indeed said 14140f08a3 those words. But it had been 6c6d6ca15e right after he had a1ad2fc40c mused about the idea 02dbf03fc5 of taking Iris as 785702db60 his wife.  c5f3f618ac0b0fda

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That being said, Ezekiel be1ce390bf knew that Étienne was b37f9d67f4 not the type to f37f4531d4 act foolishly regarding Iris c7b4ec65fc Querluxia.  d86cc919d507a284

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Étienne was destined 86a04b34a6 to be the b0a8d812ef crown prince. Just as 36e7b799af Ezekiel had 2d8b471c0e been born c201cf0cd5 to be 2395941415 dedicated to e85570e049 the divine, 90c612d766 Étienne had f060a8bd22 been born 3956432993 to rule—and d3368c758d he desired 2be5379282 that fate e2ac27ec52 for himself.  15055b75cde0a62b

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There was no 0ed36a8d57 way a man 4030797f97 like him would 88b0b8f4a6 be interested in 669807a8a1 the daughter of b429470bac a mere baron, 2778c59797 who held only 0e8f20bba0 a single-rank title. Breaking off his 73989d0bd1 engagement to the fb5119b633 Duke of Arbois’ 5da6ee87b2 daughter would be bc0b7a1d7d even more unthinkable.  2c82eb5992c4bbdc

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“…Right?”ea15d3ec8f646684

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And yet, strangely, b2ffe6cc65 he felt uneasy.  967f24b0f88428b6

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Ezekiel pushed aside that a61f4e83c1 feeling. Instead, he bec3761824 turned to 8433925f7b Felicia with 4967de6e07 a reassuring 2eee64633a smile.  b22fc125214c6ddb

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“Brother Étienne firmly believes that you are his destined partner, Lady Felicia. There’s no need to worry.”  754ad91a1ba9ef7c

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“…Thank you. Well, I already know that. After all, I am the eldest daughter of House Arbois, am I not? There’s no lady out there who could bring a dowry as grand as mine!”  f826926ee169d1f3

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“Of course.”  b76978bef6ef86aa

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“Thank you, Your Highness. I feel much better now!”  334ce30587bfb8c2

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Felicia’s spirits seemed 8aa017c744 to lift as 4c4cc7246c she began skipping 88e4dfa164 lightly.  f15566f1a3d94117

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For someone with such 83edbd7477 an emotional nature, being 8f5f5871b2 in love with a 2cbfe7758a mischievous man like Étienne 6d06c9cda2 must have been exhausting.  7834c0a2c67c94e1

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So, on the ccaa371a63 way back, Ezekiel 1d8084e9e0 made a conscious 8aa296b136 effort to share 600dc81ffc jokes and lighten b9a3ccb2c9 her mood.  bf48f779de1a0e2f

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It didn’t take them fdd6de036a long to return to f892992910 their companions.  a836a7a174646ec3

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However, upon 8bc6356f40 arriving at 0596aeb012 the picnic 616586c525 site, they f383334574 were met ba737557cb with an a261da99f4 unexpected sight.  1842c3266aef1008

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Étienne was leaning ae88d63301 over a reclining 490d1e70f7 Iris Querluxia—pressing a a329858d01 kiss to her 1db853faa5 lips.66951e9e810fe394