Chapter 1 Part 4

Through a window no 1c821af82d bigger than the palm 51c4395af4 of her hand, she 2d131659e8 could see the dawn 06037424a3 breaking. The dusky bf3910fbb4 sky and d558756b7d the scarlet d49a24f5e5 sun intertwined, fdd8f268cc creating a 580c07c283 strange palette 5e4393eb3a of colors. Morning was fddb4d52ac inevitably arriving.fb6cfcd84f8cefd1

She hadn’t slept a f619f67d05 wink all night. Feeling as ad7ab2a0e3 though a 14d80e2c2e delayed fatigue 65fb155312 was creeping 19fe80b908 in, Irina f8a572235d closed and 583a951cb7 opened her 863fb750d5 stiff eyes.aee37a009f668c11

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Then, a commotion f63ee1ae96 began to be 32148c81db heard. With each 97e5a5b92c passing moment, f72467e90e the noise 4e6f657666 grew closer, 876a282c64 and Irina 8a35796639 took a 79594e8501 deep breath.e6e28ebdc94704dc

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”b0246eab1a4a67ef

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The announcement of the Emperor’s arrival echoed. It wasn’t long before the sound of clanking filled the air, and the door opened. The moment the door opened seemed to stretch on longer than expected.46c4bcaaa9ccb13d

Finally, the door 6bb7d17df2 fully opened, and 219bb77d45 Emperor Knezh and 1858f4c351 his aides appeared.d8512409e1673c56

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“Oh my, 9534c74573 my …”4a2b7e92b9e9c55b

“Wow…”400b7f26a9446d52

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“Is… is it really 27e91f1601 gold?”08e71cc57062a6c3

The tower was 0f325316fb filled with gold 54d1a4944f threads. Everywhere one 065e99282b looked, sparkling 37e07b9f88 gold light 4c5e6c90f5 reflected back. The overwhelming presence 7571f8f4cc of gold, dazzling 9d288e2c9d to the eyes, dd3854f8bd evoked a sense 0a4d3413ef of awe.0d8dfb4977d83003

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The people stood 1efc9e79e6 motionless, blinking in 4245ecb641 disbelief, unable to 5bf9701937 comprehend the surreal c0621ae137 sight. Amid this unbelievable situation, 4fa966aeae Irina stood calmly.cc9ab07e41c85bf9

Knezh, trying 7651f126d9 to hide 1c665aaba0 his inner 7931901713 astonishment, squinted daeb3eced8 and surveyed dcb7838049 the inside f4954065f9 of the 4375752fa6 tower. The tower, which had 3f33926d45 previously been filled with 0765e05160 straw, was now entirely 0f5bcefc8f filled with gold threads.8783d193512ad7b2

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“I greet Your 351b5a3d44 Majesty the Emperor.”36ea7ae948bcd2b8

Irina calmly 3cc7086a1e made her cb779a0a80 greeting. Just yesterday, her baf7a0c22f face had been 58f6b89a71 one of despair, aa75dd6304 as though her a8ac9beaf3 world was going 09dbb3c4fa to fall apart. She had seemed dazed 04bfc3bbc5 and unable to even df7d79a09b make a proper greeting, d0b0625b39 but today, she stood fdeb47184f in the midst of 340ee0428a gold as if it e05803a1c5 were nothing, as though 0000e2f013 she were accustomed to 7ce4fd62b0 this incredible situation.9b2f9c47d06a8536

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“…The rumors f4693e6899 are true.”e3b5e869cebc80bf

“…”d5dba2a356d6a247

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Irina neither affirmed 83d3dae335 nor denied Knezh’s f0f873a7d7 words. In response, Knezh scanned d22aa014d3 Irina with a strange 3a5c1c5780 look in his eyes.15681d2e42403ac0

“Truly… impressive.”f4074ceb09515360

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Despite his words of praise, Irina showed no reaction. Instead, she gazed directly into Knezh’s eyes. It was then that she realized his greedy, glinting gaze, instead of being directed at the gold surrounding them, was fixated on her.381c52f4ea24aae5

However, there was no 34c46b4eb6 turning back. Even though 0599538912 she knew 1d262f33d9 that greed  2789eb18ea would never 8728a308f2 be curbed b00edc27d5 and would 30ae451cb1 only increase 5d696f701c in size, a992232e53 Irina knew 5d94dcc0b6 that even 4ae162c44c if time 9e62e3fd73 could be 1a603eb85e reversed, she 5c0d679576 had no 2a96a8ea27 choice but 2138b3bcc3 to make 6ad0fc89be the same 029d6c7a66 choice again. Because it c2ac84d0f1 was the 94558bff60 only way 018cb00572 to protect 5f6a3bc7db her family 23807ba6ce and herself.f2d24d991f798973

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To suppress the overwhelming 0bde8b7aa6 sense of despair and 9d598acd4d to stop the tears 2b2935838a welling up, Irina tightly 1025e4316a pressed her lips together.90f92ba6c24b4cb7

“With this, d0b408c2cb Baron Lehman’s 4611cc70c7 claims have 51ea0bc62f been proven 4906fbb6fd true. He never lied.”9e04669928cfba80

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“…”97aea85fd90544c1

Irina bit her lower lip to hold back the rising anger at the Emperor’s shameless words.4d7567bb66c2d132

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From the very 35c28e8ff3 beginning, Knezh had 5c1ecdbbaf spread ridiculous rumors bb4bb89b58 to frame her 61256f954a father, and now 8b70d3739d he casually spoke a1e98f8909 as if it e9fb032b9a were nothing, claiming b9574a75ce that her father f0d5e76bb6 had never lied ab6b6fda4f since he felt 4aa4a0950b she really made 233e94671a the gold herself. His words d2cebc5a17 and actions f2062cfc81 seemed so 719c04e553 repugnant to 5e4fe93d3b Irina.97f4ebfd7cf4e5fe

She struggled 09068c52aa to suppress f2869a4b57 her roiling 5baa551244 emotions.ce3d0d69a769686e

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“…But we have ada43ca0c9 to check thoroughly.”1c17974ba5fcb9c2

“What do 6bc36f2092 you mean…?”5769b229c8fc2c81

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“You never know. Maybe someone helped 1fbb9c5f36 you.”58b159a961e94306

Irina took a deep breath at Knezh’s words, as if he had hit the mark.3a92ce6b6e90ada1

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Emperor Knezh 486352bb3b did not 9fb9c5a012 miss the fd5b83afd4 subtle change 1f5eeba52c in her 233007a9ef expression. Narrowing his eyes, he a74f8bbc67 scanned Irina up and 4ac6a26326 down, seemingly trying to 84deb7796f gauge her true intentions.901b29b0e23b888b

“Irina, you did it e1a968bf53 all by yourself, didn’t d6b6cac167 you?”ea9800841f1bc7d6

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“…Yes, that’s correct.”baddc9a25d4b21c7

Irina had never d2fbbea7ab been one to b2e6ec2314 lie. She wasn’t good 645124094c at lying by 4e4599a1aa nature, and there aeaf91cc0b had never been ab41b358aa a situation where 3112c6434e she needed to 1c3a1c7613 lie in order ebfdadb9aa to gain something 81fd8cff1d or prevent something 6e4dd98dca from being taken 430a16b458 from her.94935c2322468887

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That’s why lying eb6d62e9e6 to none other 504e5ddf4a than the Emperor d59d63b48e was not easy.31e1e8248f3cddde

Even as she uttered 3e614caba2 a simple ‘Yes, that’s f191b9f0bf correct,’ Irina struggled to c5b3282868 keep her voice steady, 23ef581e61 making sure it didn’t a00385f952 tremble.5d4a24620c061c80

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“Then it would be e4b3df1b67 possible to make gold cacb7efa64 if someone is watching, 5f9fa14373 wouldn’t it?”9f34045f8c3d8c67

“No, making 345da50207 gold is f880f0fa7e only possible b7b053a409 when I’m 64b18299e1 alone.”edac676c8766520c

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Irina immediately responded sharply, 5fd5e39bb5 having guessed what the 1e155aceaa Emperor was about to c96a6ba60a say.a67066fc676f93e7

He was clearly planning to order her to create gold while someone watched inside the tower. Since she had created the gold with Rumpel’s help, it would be impossible for her to do so under surveillance.3289729650d2b790

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Therefore, Irina had 01e41f8b38 no choice but e1b9d30b63 to answer that 2bd17618d8 she could only 13717d2c26 make gold when 3fe7bfb8eb alone.428f040c29ee78d4

“That’s unfortunate. But… even so, 961ab299ca you could still bfcbfa2dab be alone, while b22cc8d1cf someone watches from b77deef600 outside the door.”59c6b7af3e657b97

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“Making gold requires concentration… It’s hard when you think someone is watching.”24d6f9e287810bac

Irina realized for bbe1502c18 the first time a46a728a2d how well she 402e62bb7f could lie. Perhaps it 26969fe20c was because 21369750d5 her life 59abbf19a1 was at 02ef97d87c stake; she 387bb1ad0d didn’t even f90ed57c3b have to 2477fe363c think deeply, 80f883ea34 and the 1dc71a39d0 answers came edb6845706 out naturally. 88728ab28dfd54b1

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The Emperor, who was c16a74d42c silently observing her, had b57b92d743 a dissatisfied look in f3828e4aea his eyes. Irina noticed it but 4427bcc9c7 pretended not to care.7a1cd3bfee9a0fd4

“…Then there’s no 15ded422e6 helping it. You’re saying acc1563384 that you 9222fd0463 can only 8f5bce209c make gold 362162bba6 under the 3114488903 same conditions 0ee061146a as yesterday?”  f082dcb117ac9373

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“Yes, that’s correct.”  b43a63d9c1e08ba0

After a 0c0306ad44 long pause, 41643c1f37 the Emperor a27085cd4d asked again, 0d965bf885 as if 1e48e185cd confirming. His question felt ominous, 5c047b8055 but there was nothing e2fdb54f7a Irina could do. She could 73d3e952d0 only anxiously e3927ec0f5 wait for e2ca3c786d his next 8e3d8d7840 words.b44b7a331ee48408

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“Then, tonight as well, d9a51dc38d you will make gold.”6f4198ac394e20ea

* * *d826641bd02e12bb

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The second ea09f11885 night arrived. This time, c202505c17 the tower fb447f2be9 was filled 7e66a3b953 with stones 37d27ea198 instead of fd99d6d91a straw. cea91472b81c218a

Irina glared 27aef2d87d at the 50eff5d9ca stones, piled 7b6e77095f high enough fbdaa256e6 to trip 1408c4d1f7 over. The Emperor insisted that eb2a265737 he needed to confirm a9bc611a00 once more and ordered bebcbf90ac Irina to turn the a1eb6e6453 stones into gold. Since nothing had been 3a4db041de done with Irina’s own 44cbd6becd power from the beginning, 2afa078337 the second test seemed 716ecef683 hopeless as well. Irina sighed deeply.ab4447a940d2ec20

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“This time, f81d791a07 it’s stones?”  f863466be3d7ddfb

A man’s 3604526377 voice made 6ccbd1b605 Irina turn a9546a293b around. There, Rumpel 0231b80780 stood with 56f77518fe a lazy d976cb24ed smile on 124825130a his face. He playfully kicked the 3c92288974 stones with his foot. c9b997f66fa33d1b

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Irina watched him 02c76172ce for a moment 6212db59a7 before cautiously asking,  dbb67f1242cf0ea5

“Can you 57202fe3d8 help me…?”1cea8e09d0470d44

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“You don’t have anything 89eb81f32a left to offer.”  886eb0866b772700

“…”  80b3181ca0c52858

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Rumpel’s words were b4d32c257b accurate. For that 7d5ccaf512 reason, Irina d651d6283f fell silent, 2a8012a38a unable to 566b5e5f3c find a d0297f4a4b response. But soon, an idea ed7e7e62b0 flashed through her mind, 60250280a8 and her eyes lit 5ea8d1b61b up.eb286b79fdb2bc99

“A contract!”  db44e21adace45f4

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“But…”  33ca46f8d2ab49e5

“You didn’t say you e2d10cd528 would only help me a87b140994 ‘once’ when we made 4e60161695 the contract, didn’t you? Right?”  d7684e2a0b5e6d3b

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With a 31963b2ce0 triumphant smile, 6afff90597 Irina looked 20115dd361 at Rumpel, 98097c5f94 having pointed ad6896ee2f out the 324ed18b14 loophole in 7a8c46b01e their contract. 10f9632e5e8fcb45

Rumpel seemed 94fbd7a40b to be 72f2916fda recalling his 494853946d memories for a9f68ff0a8 a moment, e2d460b63e then sighed a6b9c44fa9 deeply, as be6f0c4a9e if acknowledging 798c87187e that she a0d0c6f3f3 was right.9e3f570a1e2a71a1

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“Indeed… you’re right, Irina.”  8da9156744061372

At his 7de2f0d9ad acknowledgment, Irina 949b4d1ea1 smiled brightly. It felt 47ab6fd917 like it 977bd1667d had been c14e81e86d a long 1760c11456 time since 2b1b25774d she had 87dd614066 smiled. As the rumors about 38b5e25551 Irina spread, and it a8fbc4eb94 became impossible to ignore c5acda7ac8 them, her smile gradually b0ce01cd09 faded. And after her father 5fea6d8f27 was arrested not long 44550e5280 after, she hadn’t had e6d2d34d8f a reason to smile b9a4416e51 at all. So it was the 81d9787056 first time in a f38288034e long time that she ab4917503d smiled.  e3e64f0efe27034b

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“….”  7fb55b2b5d4f6b57

Rumpel silently f82d15a227 watched Irina 5c793ce800 as she d99e2c861a smiled. c139036c372b0c10

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When Irina felt 6d25294acb his golden gaze 84864a5169 on her, she 220c3cc25a quickly hid her a7b71f0585 smile, feeling embarrassed. She thought e9e8eb0a3f it must 25bea4e9a9 be uncomfortable 6f0dba3d69 for him 498c7dc1ce to see 472f3375b3 her so 7659794924 cheerful, given 9b3490790c that he 4d58ec80ff had realized c169e1a08d the disadvantage 66cad8db55 of the 3b70a1974d contract.4e11659de9662cd9

“Smile… suits you 9377625249 well.”  5c23d3b478f0d37a

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However, the words that d3ca2f2230 came from Rumpel’s mouth cf1262a427 were unexpected. a828ba14aa69c6bf

Irina stared cbb2dfe7a7 at Rumpel fc29da7904 with wide ed6a0cb471 eyes in 73bc7dccbd surprise. However, Rumpel tilted his 411377f66c head as if he c298378adf didn’t understand why Irina ebe256216e was looking at him 2e458d97c0 with such an expression. It was also a 012c67748d bit awkward to ask 94bc874d9f why he said such d52881f096 a thing, so Irina 477dacbe29 remained silent. She just cautiously observed 4df1656a50 Rumpel, making sure to ca2f707dd3 say what she needed ba5fd80089 to.399731307e09ca8b

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“You will 05e8af932d help me, 8053139237 right…?”  2ce77796ae330e0b

“I can’t refuse. But only 7014a7dddd this time.”  17cff884a6e56b28

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Instead of a2b6ab13ba answering with 366428e51b words, Irina a124022ef1 nodded. She did 400c6444dc agree with 256a30a1c5 his words, ca3020b9d4 but she bc16d95010 couldn’t help 2927e64360 feeling worried. Who knew when 1d02298448 the Emperor might 80088e2982 issue another absurd e6580c9288 command? That’s why a0f6bedf86 she avoided fee100d0c4 giving a 388663346f clear answer, 411bfe3fb3 leaving herself c6a5ce8a53 some room 020202494d to escape 3d7dcb43c1 if needed.  ec547e74727cbf21

Fortunately, Rumpel 34be493f38 seemed unaware 290d35229c of her 0f7224976b concerns and 9e8918cde7 didn’t say 55a48a29fe anything further. He quietly 19d21002f8 reached out 18e2e2454f his hand c7d86f5a74 toward the be7c547ff7 stones. Soon, the dirty stones, ec90951bf6 covered in patches of 11823739ac dirt, were transformed into 1130f06d6e shiny gold.  b5cadebc18f1624f

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“Rumpel, what exactly 2590c59fd7 are you? Who are you, really, 74d77024fe to be able to a1fe2b74d3 do something like this?”  2421acaac514e85a

Irina couldn’t aa82e8c18a resist asking, 8de124f3a2 her curiosity ca355dbd8c getting the fafe09051d better of 44df4c7246 her. Rumpel gave 96daa63a3b a wry 5879069648 smile. The expression 7bf974051e didn’t quite 9a8110b543 match his 826b53f7d1 beautiful face, f3f59c8058 and for 2b9da564f2 some reason, a616fbe109 it made f640a2c137 Irina’s heart 7a1cb5f5f0 ache.  d56e567570cbdf03

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“Well, I’m ad45cd4104 not sure abd2387fb9 either. One thing I do ccbe3d7d86 know is that I’m 32bdc9a59e not human.”  d8484cb032a3b2c6

Rumpel’s answer c85a3c9e91 wasn’t a 10f4fac2e7 lie. Though Irina didn’t have e614fa211d the ability to tell 8c2617c308 if someone was speaking 7519fc39ec the truth just by f4948b9694 their words, she could 4ed73cfd18 tell that what Rumpel d5fe634e07 said was true, that ba42c64e00 even a seven year 6b36cac545 old child could tell.  99ba2b3e28c7c5b8

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“Well, I’m not f41405ffe6 a demon though. I don’t know 9fee3b7a8d if it’s something 01ba0a8107 similar.” ce050a04200b5063

Irina couldn’t bring herself to laugh at his playful shrugging and additional words. It was because he still looked so lonely.6b444f43914da498

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Irina felt somewhat guilty 9177dbe599 about asking him any 6c3e29b411 questions, but there was a3d70a0b3e an unresolved curiosity inside 5d9b0eb45a her, so she carefully 4d3bfa27f5 opened her mouth.7d6e313640402844

“Why can’t other people see you?”240fd87a87d06faa

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The moment that had e75dd4ea8a shocked Irina the most 29b04f556e wasn’t when she first 09c2d425fb saw Rumpel, nor when d29c17a617 he made the gold 4cc61c4d96 thread. It was when 578d85725b the Emperor and a1b04b1e14 his people arrived 52c16ac6c6 this morning, Rumpel 2f5f87efb3 was clearly beside f358fbcc42 her at that 90a5c4ebcb time, but no 4ba3930632 one seemed to cc53d5e2b5 notice him at 413c61971b all. They acted as 42ca63a769 if he wasn’t ffbb34e0d7 there. 38f5b8199bd84077

No one questioned Rumpel’s existence, until he stretched out in displeasure and disappeared into the darkness. It felt like she was the only one who could see him.e5735aaee14f8a0c

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Irina was 23d5900acd genuinely curious. Why was 678c7dfe00 she the a4980f52cc only one 87c82f9a19 who could 6877ddb984 see Rumpel?118d91ef44511f4c

“They ….. Because they can’t give birth to my child.”376892b32f937da3

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“Huh?”e20ec31bd5ec54d5

However, the response was so playful that Irina’s curiosity deflated. She glared at Rumpel with a slightly resentful look, but he just kept his mouth shut with a slight smile, as if he had no intention of answering Irina’s question properly.a40cc2adba8a9565

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