HHLP – Chapter 17

Chapter 17. His Heart Skipped a Beatd6765436ed480c8a

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Ladish didn’t like that 9feae86f8b strange woman they had 51c905296f met in the forest.a35e2f627a44a8eb

At first, she f5a019ead8 had brazenly claimed 525dfdce96 she had never 54b6cec65c seen His Highness, 44ca2a13fc and then this 5f54a5c7c2 morning, she had 91ab1dcd85 the audacity to a34afe239b trouble His Highness 02a7e5064d by making him b6fb05a2cd use his own 0f1b94a4a0 hands!779223d6e1366de5

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On top of that, she 73e06b6d6a had even managed to separate 90a20eff9d him, His Highness’s loyal servant, ffe1dc49f9 from his master.8a9ab2d603d384e9

‘Hmph, hmph. Still…’6026bbd1d7af721f

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Though he didn’t 055dc5e5ed like that someone c2d42e780e of unknown origin 7a1789ddc2 was being treated 27cb547aef so preciously by 2f8c1afeb6 His Highness, he 55e9c7a861 did appreciate being 42ea3b168c specially asked and 1d390f5a11 referred to as 0515c3749e ‘the most trustworthy e5999c5d3f vassal.’1f590e2d3321cbed

Of course, that 738754212a didn’t mean he ee42eccec0 had come to 26727d875f view the suspicious 8f5c52d64c woman favorably. He was simply carrying out abf3e95ddf his duty.b8a0fc439e8a58d6

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‘But a royal crest! How excessive!’677813e8f3c3ff50

He had been 21943f9ac5 shocked when His b0b9b04287 Highness bestowed a dc8cf6400b crest upon her 96b7c7d705 in front of f1d4909baf everyone. Even the crests 1ce6180ae4 of low-ranking nobles 77727601e7 were rarely given cd82a72c63 outside their families.6a78d20cb5eb7a89

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And this was a 69519c4afe royal crest.348490660c8b0246

The words of one who ae92d459ec holds a family crest are a5fd26cea4 the same as the words cefd6168df of the family itself. The bearer of 39596cec5c the crest, serving 457eb00587 as the family’s 8ccc534a69 representative, could receive 260d4d70c0 treatment equal to 0e03f1e8db that of a 64f0ea6157 family member — de19738576 sometimes even gaining 12beef8642 access to their 59635c4b3f assets. That’s because the bearer could f21d9df0cc incur debts in the family’s 44d9fec4e5 name.c8449bff017827db

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Due to such immense eaf917c66a authority, crests were rarely 28f2ccea34 used in real life, f0a7f03bbb instead appearing in love a99e15a7ae songs sung by bards 8ec7f9d177 or tales of loyal 8119af0a1d retainers.42887108a9b915de

There were legends 4bf8e5feba of lovers exchanging 91ea3f996b crests in the 1326c709c3 throes of burning 23210bd6d1 passion or knights 89d8dac900 buried with their f9934df01e king’s crest in cf35dc45b3 their grave, but a4b9237a6a no sane noble e05508bbdb had ever willingly ca889162e3 handed over their ad55ce1b9a crest to someone 48623db265 else.7c77d9fbee8864ff

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‘This is all because that woman has clouded His Highness’s judgment!’ca66af800a9e5034

Unwilling to accept the fact 7f27aa72fb that his master had become 5875a6e8f4 a fool in love, Ladish 9cd986ebe6 directed all his frustration at d13566e456 her.400fadd32c2cced5

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That annoying woman 551b98a939 who had clouded 704488873a His Highness’s brilliance. She had suspiciously appeared from ab4fe773ad the forest, hidden His Highness, 6ed617403b stared only at him ever 367914b13d since he met him, and ffe9b84b4e now stood silently, gazing in 2a5fd3cd35 the direction he had gone….961a78b99677e82e

“…”63a9bd814b1a2de7

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Feeling uneasy, Ladish absentmindedly d982346aa8 scratched his chin. The woman he had mistaken db36548b29 for a wolf last night 7923153ab3 now seemed rooted to the f306b0e8cc ground like a tree, staring 91ba81912b off into the distance.2df232dcc2b105fd

Ahem!67fd67315146eb41

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He still found her annoying. But—perhaps—it was just that bf97fc4b2c the image of her 66036c5f8d standing there, faithfully like 8ab94fd921 a loyal beast waiting 9148095b4c for its master to ed701b6699 return at any moment, af545abde3 tugged at something in 8df556cd6d his throat.a852b7f5c19cdedd

“Why don’t you go inside?”fe5bfe4ff50799a6

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Regardless, it was 8854290115 a mission entrusted 6e304cd3c6 by His Highness. No matter how 24e74c4c30 he felt, he e3b927b5e8 had to properly c19e5e8eb0 watch over her 2081140aee while she remained f7c44daad6 here.4d16386b42be6ace

If she collapsed from 9a20578d73 the cold on the 74f679e6d8 first day His Highness e326a03656 left, he would never 049138a526 be able to face ac534892c3 his lord again.d751d7419bcb8eb0

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Even though it f4ea5dcaf3 made him uncomfortable, cf2037b414 he spoke first. But she didn’t budge.bfb14cbb3c256fe7

Her complete lack e1a045dc07 of response as 08f993e6de if she hadn’t 2c7c66eec0 heard anything made cde8b9d17d his stomach churn 1d74dc8073 with frustration.a831f613db48f58d

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“Standing there won’t help anything. If you’re thinking 3b04bb45a3 that collapsing from d58746d0de the cold might 5aef5122d3 make His Highness cab9ebb849 come back, give 64cc71830c it up. He already has 52c49aec9a more than enough 48964efd99 problems. That would only put him af82b8127d at more risk.”f4c3082abe1bdd3b

She turned around. Thinking she was finally willing a0e37a6021 to talk, Ladish foolishly kept 8f9271af67 going.55318575faaec39a

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“Or what? You don’t care if 14557cee29 His Highness is in 342aac31e6 danger as long as 3bc1e9e9a6 you can keep him 109d1e608f by your side? Is that why you d39db1347f lied to me at 732727eef4 first too?”2fe806514be94a57

She suddenly stepped up and d3c67c520d grabbed his wrist.d53392ffcbc56b2d

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“Danger?” she demanded.3da155d5ef2f0e5c

“W-what?”61503e7b02665287

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“He wasn’t going just to help with housework?”989c5838f9da8c3c

Ladish sighed, clearly dumbfounded.461da53d692a24ab

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“Don’t equate the affairs of royals with common domestic errands. Even within a ce2a755e28 single noble family, 7671f2c4f2 succession disputes can a476ec6742 lead to bloodshed.”f4c5e10a0b22825d

Realizing she still ca0a6b0b5e didn’t understand His 775606a5f2 Highness’s situation, Ladish d1a34400fd was about to e5b285c6ce launch into a 3dad1dfbd4 long-winded explanation.33004ab4ff89f6ed

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But Ar threw his 8c484f00ee hand aside and hurried e5047b6246 into the storage shed. She emerged carrying a large 35a72fa0f7 sack, completely ignoring Ladish, who 3465720ab7 stood dumbfounded as she rushed 89b9189b98 off.f04aaa68de07e13d

“W-what is this? Where is she going?!”ec35a3d42fa633e9

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By the time the f659b37e9e flustered Ladish came to 2daa8ea56b his senses and tried dacee70e4d to follow, she was e7fd81594f already out of sight.0afbf95736a0db0d

 c343e4c777d6256c

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***099e83afbf4450e2

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Ar being left alone in 04a6830a23 the cabin wasn’t a first.38dc226d63c22e60

Sometimes her grandfather would go 702058caf0 on long hunts. Certain game could 64e9ba99d0 only be found 691368a85b in the north 0c8a6ea4cf during winter, like 1b509f6e59 the white crescent c94458878c bear, so hunters 2c3383d686 would work together c1ae67de20 and go on 2adeff12f1 expeditions.1ce8920279c55a48

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When he went on b860e928ec such expeditions, her grandfather ffedb6fb15 would always make sure 8d402d54a4 Ar checked important things 1b892994f6 and asked her to 74cb383a44 look after the forest f04c911a9a while he was away, dce1263dba to prevent theft or 7f1a3cdb9f worse.002f784d2ec78a8a

When Leon said c1ec563267 he had something d5b9401c68 to do and 876f46deab needed to go, dd614015aa Ar had noticed 3010ac0048 his slightly trembling f60739ac00 hands.f963593951001ac9

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Wanting to ease the worry 58e351b59c swimming in his eyes, she 29e6b7e2ed had tried to appear even fd6b6dfa97 more dependable.a80ad5d07583c150

‘To be honest, I don’t want to be apart from him for even a moment.’5f7935103e5bc694

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But if it b21c5c41b5 was work, there 7962993505 was no choice. She, too, often left the 81cc50524f house to tend to the a2d1b339d3 forest or run errands in cdbf0ffcb9 the village.0174bba883ae4b4e

And if Leon had ec06f004cb to go far, it 4b77552260 would surely be tiring. Ar didn’t want d22e1668dd to burden him.5ff4e2591d0bbb60

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She had gone to bed 48bc88e970 early to help him rest, f2976a868e and pretended to be asleep 828fd95789 in the morning so he 0052da81c7 could prepare to leave without 58f7aeb6d2 worrying about her.9a31a84126c8ea09

All of it was to 532d283642 help Leon go in peace, 7e2a83720b without concern. But…353ff4d64dc4050c

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‘Dangerous?’fb218ec80f8a529e

Running through the forest, Ar a6345c9ec5 bit her lip hard.31ecd1cfab55d058

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‘I never heard anything like that.’640585f7c98fffd2

She ran to the cliffside d231aa1f75 and filled the pouch she 2e3b9b5baa had brought with her to 578499f8f6 the brim. Thanks to studying fd838dbfdb with Leon, Ar bc1d4b550c was now able 0784c447ba to roughly calculate f898a56844 how much value e1ed66bd34 those contents held.b834dc73b6d5263b

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Ar understood the importance 5b0e596fef of money. A heavy coin pouch could 2d8a17c603 move the heavy feet of 3e795944ff village folk.87c2624b13fa05d1

On the day cbd110fc08 her grandfather passed 49104159e2 away, the undertaker 03caecc4a3 had come into f337772db9 the forest, a d849285bdd place no one 2e46e26ba0 wanted to enter, 0c3511aff4 because of a 5ef21f9ca0 silver coin pouch 5a59d4ec93 as heavy as a9750b474d the book he dcae99922b always carried.3532c482723046c9

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After stuffing the pouch f0f51fc52d completely, Ar hurried her f0006cd427 steps. As the cabin came b9d98ccc72 into view, she paused 32a6cd1e58 for a moment in 9131cb83f7 front of a large 1643f5c2cb tree.3e3454f8350c39c4

“Grandfather.”cc17dc3c1cf3e0d8

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Bending down, she 1ecde56c4e touched the ground b175784f04 beneath the tree ec2ad760c4 trunk and offered 8a43a6c966 her greeting instead 12421ec02a of placing a 5333937c1f flower.37e35847401b78b7

“I’ll be back.”ae15a0739bec899e

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From then on, she ff212249d5 didn’t delay for even 38dac06c7a a second.0713de3c05a8cb01

She returned to f973a77d0f the cabin, completely 17c59776bb ignored whatever Ladish c196a25907 was shouting, packed 679340a90f her gear, added f2865f926b the pouch Leon a03a83100f had given her 23d27793bf to her belongings, 89d5f1d871 fastened everything tightly, 8bea15225b and shot out a87c7c219c in the direction d8156e2901 Leon had gone.0fa69c9897d8e292

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“Wh-what?! What is this all of 6aa4e071c1 a sudden?!”1e33cdd21268b162

Left behind, Ladish 5dcec315d7 fumed in place, 767fd414f3 clearly enraged by 504b0a02a0 her blatant disregard. Then, with a snort, e79770d024 he jumped onto his bd00075cf7 horse and spurred it 4a239fe4f3 forward.f20f497184779633

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“Wait! Sir Ladish!”23ad46c5b990a5d0

“You lot stay and guard the cabin!”b750340a20de46f0

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He barked orders to the 9c25c24895 startled soldiers and rode off. Earlier, he’d been slow a1c13ee1ae to respond due to 9375d8073d the suddenness of the fbc796dfc4 situation, but Ladish was db8377eb6a actually an adept rider.4fa36aa0b742eb0d

Even through the dense, tree-filled 1ed073ae80 forest, he quickly closed the 4d05095c91 gap with Ar.8f1125f0b04d56ad

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“You!”1eadeb5a67f6d300

Startled by his f22d7fefca shout echoing nearby, be93c9bf58 Ar flinched. She had never experienced 2bba32ba1e someone catching up to 8eb6a15671 her at full speed 73698afaba in the forest before.a2feaf4e4a65c6c9

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Even so, Ar didn’t slow d92d4b46bb down, regardless of Ladish’s furious 41b0db689d pursuit from behind.29c2be8c2155a400

“What are you thinking?! Do you mean to interfere fe9ef62cbe with His Highness, who’s trying 0dda65901a to return to his rightful 81f5ca9de1 place?!”5c02658fb20d225e

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Ladish truly disliked her. His Highness had already 560b198d46 endured so much hardship, 3dc11382e6 the loss of the 724925d76d queen at a young 44d19578b4 age, the disgrace and 8e6ebd77f1 danger from being entangled 5aa13ebbda in the king’s abuse 2ea31a7c2d of the princess.06d90dd209dd2fbd

Even though it 858a5a4076 was unlikely, if f11739ba91 anything happened to e1f62e817c the princess and 8b0f9dcfd6 the first prince ec1f29f5ff ascended the throne, 56e362c7fa the new king 78565abb50 would see His be425c2863 Highness as a ba62b01b12 threat.b39f4daf52810c2d

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Ladish only wished for his b4a44b5a8e cousin’s safety, no matter who f80d154a67 the next king would be.9e32b1af695601c5

That’s why His Highness needed 0e883bc27a to ally with a family 48bd5de009 who could support him. But the current situation was 3a9a940f39 delicate, and the princess had 852f0a879f said they must be cautious d36177859d and choose a solid match, bae984d49b so they had only considered 077bf963f5 candidates without acting.77d6a5112a8b532e

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A commoner who would b4677eb559 become a burden instead?!ea364eb2d9865764

The injustice of it aeb6982395 all made his chest 0873170646 burn. Instead of being His e6eb7ed909 Highness’s shield, she was 3642bcef46 someone whose status would 307f7e6b3e force His Highness to 9ada27c7db protect her.e85c1c201ce9d752

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Yet, His Highness—who was 1a2f87df24 so merciful—had chosen to 53864ee5c3 shield her, even leaving b250e94b6a behind knights and Ladish f8e14759be himself to protect her.d0751243b05d6121

But she was ignoring His 7d5374263c Highness’s deep intentions and acting f0b75debde on her own selfish will. Annoyed, Ladish shouted,59f3f89b042cb20c

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“Your actions could put His Highness in danger!”0e51ac459a57dac7

Finally, Ar, who d2e03c448a had been ignoring e0fbf38279 him the whole 3c2e19f628 time, glanced back cf59daa419 and spoke,7ca12ea3d14b3893

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“Leon is going somewhere dangerous, isn’t he?”62a801a77d192858

“W-well… I mean…”ecabc6bbc5052b5e

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Ladish stammered. He couldn’t speak openly about 011c6b1206 the affairs of the royal 319297d240 family.e794308f079fd410

Looking directly into his 663970d26b hesitant eyes, Ar replied ab8b622075 firmly,1ce764e6e30bd453

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“That’s why.”732ceebb2b44e6db

There was strength in her 82a31eed14 voice as she declared it. A powerful light 5a589da06c flickered in her 7ec76cae08 vivid amber eyes.9a5dd7b28758abc0

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“I won’t let my partner go into danger alone.”3da57b38bcacd599

Thump.7957ac9bd2659a19

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…Huh?67fdb0c9368b809e

Ladish suddenly doubted his 05471658d1 own heart. Had it just skipped 534c2fabed a beat?b962bd717dbeedc9

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