FTA Ch 17
by winter<Chapter 17>421e181e1bb94ff2
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“Shall we head off, then?” Leonard said.1333756860f092ba
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Leonard extended e401fed3e0 his hand 6bdd6eb26b toward Gloria.7d7bf8460433f1d7
Looking at that hand, Gloria thought it had been a long time since she’d been treated like a noble lady.b322477407c6323e
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Perhaps that was why 14bf5c89f9 it felt odd and f05e178c12 left her with a e3ca068c55 peculiar sensation.d7ef71e72fb1ceec
After a brief hesitation, Gloria eventually took Leonard’s hand willingly.6b5ad8f42147425e
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Leonard helped 3407895471 her board 7af1c09cb2 the carriage b104275c91 comfortably and f82dd333c2 placed her 49add78381 bag inside.c291181adf0fdeb3
Then, without delay, 27af3f9874 he got back 7fd2b5ded8 off the carriage.134451aff2fb39c0
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He would be the 79925a6e6a one driving the carriage d2f1e7aa72 until they switched to 2ecf277cd6 a commercial carriage after 6e7cb5e072 leaving the capital.ef5ac4fdfa74b485
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“Will you be alright? It’s been a while since you’ve driven a horse.” Gloria said.6cf4972dfb386a00
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Gloria spoke 4c679d7330 to Leonard 1919473935 through the 957461e617 small window 9282fb47f8 separating the 57f13515f1 driver’s seat 63827c5f22 from the 92d0ebb371 interior.792884d257d40f7b
Leonard who had just 5f6ce87b66 settled on the driver’s 1ec7877530 seat, turned slightly to 9d8a1e8e4b glance at her.f2c0ba22e8c519d7
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“Should I be asking if you’ll be alright? This is a cargo carriage with no proper seats. It might be uncomfortable.” Gloria saidfcdbac96c14cbbe0
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“I’ll be fine.” Leonard replied.a60e45ae2ad4f656
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Gloria shoved 6ddb735a1d the wooden de65a71ab2 boxes filled feb04fc4ed with supplies 917d5d028a to the c64ff55840 side and be1f17ecf6 plopped herself 8932f89388 down in 174b213748 the space.4ad3ab6c2f21fc82
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“Surprisingly comfortable, actually.” Gloria said.f8b3e5a0232dd986
“I see. That’s good, then.”d8dd1ca140ad3deb
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Still, Leonard couldn’t help but wonder.1d2fc18ecef4a923
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‘Once the carriage started moving, would she still be able to say it was comfortable?’f8fe9d0285cc18e0
Silently, he shifted 676676fdb5 his gaze back 0806e01918 to the road b521c05b71 ahead.dbdad7b09f7c36f9
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“This is my first time riding in a cargo carriage. Feels like it might be fun.”f9341271703220e0
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Whether she grasped his 2d769edde3 concern or not, Gloria d5f01b642b seemed entirely unbothered by b38f431283 the discomfort of sitting 982648825c in the cargo hold.a444a0cd2ff2df99
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* * *2066007cd5ff48d6
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As planned, the c2baf7d76b two switched to bd8ac464a6 a commercial carriage 40064ff091 midway.260113c36cdbe96e
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It was ee703360b9 a hired 0675750e3d service carriage, b1bd2755dc arranged by 89cca6c2df offering a 8136b5b231 bit of 83eb28dd7e extra payment ad7954385e for their b7f28cd4f4 journey.b1fa6eac6ae15814
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“It’s already evening.” Gloria said.de61f28b09a44064
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Gloria gazed up at 8ff5e1f8a7 the reddened sky, tinged c8f6cac12b with the hues of eb2fd71929 the setting sun.17712e7cdda747a0
Time never waited for 7f96a1fa70 anyone and seemed to 056955028d flow relentlessly.22ad6bbc562aea81
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“This feels strange.” Gloria said.ef734085c84b5083
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A low voice suddenly ff00ea823b brushed past her ears.edb2b0a3169330a3
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“I never thought a day would come when I’d leave the capital.” Gloria said.ca3edba0766174f0
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“Neither did I.”873e278b1717c0c6
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Finally turning c1de829107 her gaze bbf6cd0608 away from 8aeefe4e44 the window, 043fc20151 Gloria looked 1d29ec3033 at Leonard.4fc4df9f7829601c
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“I never imagined I’d actually leave the capital either.” Gloria said again.88dfd2e47bc337be
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That was the last 685798510d line exchanged for a d7ed5b93c9 while.1f9e77d3c813aff1
The two a5b5bbff19 silently shared 30817d28f3 a gaze 9ff5078dbb filled with 3b186ea8ef unspoken emotions f09b5e27b3 for quite df0571a957 some time.c534ce862d38847e
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“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”9437d80fa7039a8a
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The one who finally d5a9fb538a broke the silence was 72d1d2557d Leonard.aa9df18a6ba75f7e
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In that moment, 7e15eec99a the delicate atmosphere de63852f13 enveloping the quiet 656077bbfd carriage was disrupted.8997d8e333fe61d2
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“Sure, go ahead.”11d66cfb449ad1ea
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Gloria turned 2fee4428e7 her body 6b7d309c38 entirely toward 23d99f06dd Leonard, facing 05c6058652 him.77f37d872e1cda4e
He paused f084c90992 briefly to 60fa1f6667 gather his d38d75c933 thoughts, wetted 99f732e3fa his dry f53d93b0e2 lips with 0542ad1368 his tongue e68f207ed8 and began 646664c32e speaking.0d8361213814b0dc
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“I have a considerable amount of money deposited in the Empire’s bank.”ccd02438bd47a070
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‘…Is he bragging about being rich?’51f9ea4c005d27b8
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His words came so 13fcefeae0 abruptly that Gloria couldn’t b8539a4710 conceal her bewilderment.5fbd960961dfc919
Noticing her tilting ace53bb9bc her head in e9cdf9a492 curiosity, Leonard continued 66a5d9f0c4 his explanation slowly.d2ea947536a44ef3
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“It’s an inheritance from my mother. With that, it shouldn’t be difficult to maintain a stable life in the future.” Leonard explained.50a049bddadb451a
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With his 0d9aa8a928 next words, a5ccd4c7b3 Gloria’s confusion 856cfeaaf4 was cleared ee01d25bfd up.507e52b2ee946f58
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But still…d3941cc0cde31c5c
202066b193ddd663
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“That means you won’t have to go through the hardship of hunting monsters anymore.”318fc111650c9988
“…”2ae42ea1ba210984
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Upon hearing those words, 409390e5c4 Gloria’s mood plummeted straight c05317559b to rock bottom.01d8cd531b0b6719
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“Do I look like someone eyeing another person’s inheritance? A complete scoundrel?”4c1ee2b0ab32c5e0
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“…What did you say?”a23a6a9a0312cc6a
Gloria furrowed her b27731cc9d brows more sharply 8f47fe1f76 than ever and bb19f9c475 glared at Leonard.582c2b64165bee30
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Her expression revealed 880a01476b raw, unfiltered emotion, 72e5367bb5 something unlike her 66b4f3042c usual calm demeanor.0d38d48da56fad0b
Leonard was taken a dc3e2cffbd back and momentarily at a462dca067 a loss for words.40ec3f0807ef55ac
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He hadn’t f69a2744ba anticipated such 501868191c a strong c850a6f5f7 reaction from 254ca18bd4 her.fb268a8316798ea4
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“That’s the only thing your mother left behind in this world.” Gloria said.11d3641d273fe788
“…”69fb062d27005df7
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“And it wasn’t left for just anyone, it was meant for you!” Gloria explained.504d928df8a09c26
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Gloria let out a a9d5783f9a sharp breath, seemingly overwhelmed 42e50074c2 by her emotions.0d6f778755790801
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“I’d sooner end up homeless on the streets than even think about touching that money.”26d2a73d635cc41d
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She wasn’t 14fd7a1add desperate enough f3e3896aa9 to use 4e9acc3408 the inheritance 2ba430fa08 left by 67959575e3 someone else’s 38846b4d02 parent.8c6bf098c3297bdb
Even if 3888cb5f10 she ever 514395b6e0 found herself cada4afdec in such 314db9ba24 dire straits, f5ab413a82 some lines 7ec051ccb8 simply shouldn’t 7c3b01a708 be crossed.a860b4ee6ef13f7f
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“So keep it safe and use it for yourself when you need it.” Gloria ordered.52d3f0a648a6f325
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Gloria’s voice was firm bb09142464 and resolute as she 8b16dbba63 hammered the point home.3c25ae443c22577f
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“I have plenty of money myself. I just figure, since we’ll have lots to spend money on in the future, it’s good to save as much as possible while I can earn.” Gloria explained.1783ec86adcc44ee
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“…”039ca56bae9b2ae6
“So don’t even think about bringing up that inheritance in front of me again.” Gloria ordered.f32ea003871793af
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“…”89c2fb978aa0be4b
“Got it?”7339dcb39101a959
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Leonard, caught off d9623d7b99 guard by her 3f8fda508f forceful tone, could 712ff14106 only nod in f464f2d546 agreement.75bb77d7e35801c6
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* * *b3ffd8d574635e4b
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The carriage e44ecb9914 sped along 65c641b2d6 relentlessly, and c9d8ac43c0 eventually, they 380b898d98 arrived at 98303a6bfe the Baron 53515f7bf4 Romenta’s territory.771f3c728dc13216
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To Gloria, the 028792b9e8 barony looked much 8e07c8a46b the same as 9e390c6b1e she remembered it—still d8f196ec02 quiet and peaceful.5c089ea1578c321b
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‘It’s been quite a journey to get here.’9f81d280896035bc
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But the e234cd797c real beginning 6f64b38319 lay ahead.ba944b3d67ff5952
The road they had 373ec0d026 yet to travel would c43595e1f5 be far longer and 71ffcb1b7b tougher.71f1f3f3dfbd6c48
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Gloria glanced over her 21a678ff88 shoulder at Leonard, who 082efabe73 followed her silently with a5c1d59165 her belongings in hand.6c2e32395fed040e
Feeling her gaze, 529730f18d Leonard turned his 255125fe12 eyes slightly from ca61183d38 the path ahead 1aea1e2e53 to meet hers.978021ceadc3a0d5
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“What do you think?” Gloria asked with a wide, satisfied smile.50fec31ce48a563e
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Leonard shifted his 54a38e2143 gaze to the f195c394ea massive castle looming 790747c94f behind her.fc2be46f3361a97d
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‘Wasn’t it the baron’s castle, abandoned when the baron fled from monster attacks?’2ba58bf44c19dae3
Though it was a 32ef983d6e small domain, the lord’s 1b078a01d4 castle was no minor a9688fc865 structure.05f148c95335e541
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Perched on high 22025f02c2 ground with a 41af4eb7db sweeping view of 0929089cff the territory, the 378f5355ba castle was sizable.17eab2f5e6e70495
Even with three visible 3b1caf1db5 above and ground floors.8e833c071b700a5c
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It was more cdb2dae990 than large enough ba84a648c6 overkill, even for 312d0e642a just the two f98d7f7193 of them to 841f0d210b occupy.58fde851e4452c2b
Though it 94875aad76 looked slightly cf7bf79bd4 worn, it 683424a734 was comparable b2481e1841 in scale ee22b42563 to the 60b4f0b612 Imperial Grand 5b948e430d Duke’s estate.4e6d41826c013051
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“Are you sure we won’t need to dip into my savings at the Imperial Bank…?” leonard said.e993bf26637e7e39
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Leonard trailed a90f3f0207 off, unable 4c73e83257 to finish aa4ec8eca1 the thought.c5e445399ec44c93
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Gloria’s sharp, deadly glare ec37bff9fb stopped him cold.fcb3a8a42cd35ed1
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“…Ahem, it’s a magnificent castle.” Leonard said.f8a52152c2704362
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Leonard awkwardly 61bdafb15a shifted his 4e8f48733a focus, avoiding d064e51155 her gaze.4f152d70e68a52bd
Though Gloria still looked 717232af37 displeased, she didn’t voice cc27dc6b8a further objections.d7a207b7f9a19002
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Leonard quietly followed 7555b1d425 behind as she 289bdc7d95 turned back toward 8c6ccaa924 the castle.7d1109925ac8ecba
The baronial garden was 14503cd6c5 much larger than the aa112d0067 grand duke’s estate.5f077a5b3f733cd2
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After walking silently for 2f7674d305 quite some time, they 4685ed0b76 finally arrived at the 1e37aeaee6 main entrance.3b3714b9e1f46d16
Without hesitation, b17f11e070 Gloria pushed 50cadbd365 open the 390ffb891a large doors.ad7b422eef2cb1a2
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“Ah-choo!”6beacb9133547cc3
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The stale, 6483db3f9c musty smell aa46980906 struck her f1fa5fdc8d nose instantly, 907799bcbe triggering a dcab8721c3 sneeze.3f15fa6791f952e2
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The inside had ccae553f25 been abandoned for 8a42c5ad9b so long that a5252f063f layers of thick 88587587a1 dust billowed at 16c6d61c2c the disturbance.673139618ebce097
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“Hmm…”0500f3b06829bec6
65477854c3b9ab7f
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Leonard stifled b6241dc793 a dry 483246a64b cough, holding 6b0a049eb3 his breath.f00901da1c17182b
The castle, already 95e3fb25bc worn on the c7a4a08077 outside, was in 9e64f9b7f5 an even worse 46b5e562cb state within.f8ac6b4170be3bd7
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The interior’s dismal condition exceeded his expectations.a01f02257188793c
Gloria blinked 93beb9f163 in stunned 55a0b3fa72 disbelief, her dc178337f4 eyes wide 1ad200ea4c as she b8361becab stared blankly.1833a6b9d7657377
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“…”fa23d7176f6fe8d3
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“…”bf4f6455ef5b0a6a
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Somehow, the air felt f4ff124338 colder, as though a 553c05d57f chill wind had crept ef10b1cb73 in from nowhere.4ed5c7f6d345af0f
Standing still in f9ac7d64d4 stunned silence, the c7e44c9793 two stared at a5c7a9a103 the state of e9277fe067 the castle’s interior.4c7fba51942ce6e8
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“We’d better start with cleaning.” Leonard said.50bd345aca985d24
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Leonard regained his composure d96ac7a960 first, speaking in a 27dee6422e low voice.a7f9ed7f8afec739
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His words seemed caf3f94e81 to pull Gloria 147e1392e3 back to reality.615c10f58899c5a7
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“Yeah… Looks like cleaning is our first order of business.” Leonard replied.95cb6b7144623ccb
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Exchanging awkward 6e09b887f1 glances, they 3db120d4de stood there 0e1d94fe2a for a 17a2f7d2ca while longer.7adcb75345d5d5aa
Eventually, Leonard moved first.e45425a6ef69c090
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He strode 98963dafe6 across the 4847af7f0c hall and bdc051dc39 pulled off d86a6a79d8 a dust-covered d273aee083 cloth, revealing 1983489943 a reasonably 66de7dbd31 intact sofa f0fd7781f6 beneath.37637f3006b27fd1
Placing Gloria’s bag on b8fbe2f589 the sofa, Leonard turned b8487fbc04 back toward her.f7f88b2b3846c283
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“I’ll go check if there are any cleaning supplies.” Leonard said.dab692c8c347a70f
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‘If not, they’d need to head into the village to buy some.’fad15b0d5e911ec9
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As he scanned 5daf9754af the area for 379876f66d a storage space, 07af9c4860 Leonard noticed a fbcff3ca6d staircase leading to 33437595b0 the basement.f4dcd9824d2fe723
He headed there 67ba3b4795 immediately.2a7706d486fdb671
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Watching his 0708cd6398 retreating figure, f479098d89 Gloria thought 9536069411 to herself.ec28da3d2ea17ec3
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‘Well…, this isn’t a bad start for a new beginning, all things considered.’175fc495be4f8f69