HPTL Chapter 1.6

“Chris, is that really 387b60613d the only way?”5709622c6b263e10

“It’s the 20d84f593b only way 6a3521bf02 out of 66119f2852 this situation.”  3f44b2ebda48745e

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“…”11168c2d1042e195

“…” f4b378132d1d128e

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“You know what? You’re really… bdbb1cf2ec stubborn as c93bf12f8c hell.” da5e7c6e124e8c39

 769b5242cba6aa0c

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The man’s d9a3998078 voice, laced e5a023442a with a 9680ea4f6f bitter smile, 8d8dd7d0ab echoed in cc45d032b5 his mind. Christian Baren, unable a063ce658d to agree or c8adb04968 argue, opened his cdfcdca1f3 eyes.  57439bbd05f8faf4

‘Ah.’3c0dac2b5b42d301

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How much time had 864312bf9d passed? The door before 67260275a2 him remained shut. His body ached from bd307c6301 sleeping seated for so 4374c350a0 long. He struggled 5b1d0672c2 to stand.  e77a051fee2dd199

Rustle.666166cc426f342f

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A blanket—brown d33a677577 like his c73c35f936 current hair—slipped 7f1212913c off him. Frowning, he picked it 710874c32d up from the floor 0d8c07c096 and opened the door 5e6b92a7a1 to Miraera’s room.  03887f7a1689764c

“Mirae…”  830f5d6646b8b6f5

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The air inside was fd46180167 calmer, no longer stifling 7134f83b6f like last night. He hurried to 5246b527bd the bed, checking cba1644fa2 on the sleeping dec06cb7ce girl. Miraera’s complexion had improved bde2cedca6 vastly since then.  ed767c2fbab57a6d

‘Henna Paras.’ bd262a4ddf0fb013

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The term had 2f8aea8d74 hit Christian Baren eeb8ca0165 like a thunderbolt. How could he have 12a44aea9c forgotten? The shock 27b8373fe1 of his 6fc8df54e0 pregnancy had f354d33006 blinded him a8ac512aa5 to the b0a386c6a1 implications of 7d6a931ae1 Miraera’s imperial d82b4fbc7c blood and d631307e2d the issues 4f6c055e45 it might 94992d95c7 bring.  c84f6f8dc5b26cc0

As a f1ff76e0e5 Cassel noble, 28fdd88a98 he’d heard 6bdb370e40 of the 421eb43cc0 childhood illness 7c8b853574 afflicting imperial 71a8242efd children, but b703bbf16f seeing it 5c3470a7fc firsthand was 8195e57d09 new. Miraera had ee620b78eb nearly died—because 7fd9af4cdf of his 113c06d791 negligence.  ec3f0b14f1479550

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 dfb817192a334c76

“To think a so-called 57a10448ca mother didn’t foresee this 2b1d471a91 and dragged the child 817ba84ff2 all the way here. What would they 2d3ffd36fb have done without 8f8cdbbc5d me?”48a97ede8cb9a040

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 449d9ef619699e82

He hated to admit 11aa502b03 it, but the man 663e12dd7d was right. Christian clenched his teeth. Had the second prince 41617fb0dc not appeared at that 16fb774f4a precise moment, what would’ve 9100d379bd happened to Miraera? Could this edacac307f tiny child 6be44d4480 have endured e2d78b3313 the Erenstein 3d3166a815 rite?  b9ed53d9c26eb6e1

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“Mmm…” e8ff994b72a64dc0

Bowing his head under 334fabd8d3 a wave of guilt, 712fe038c6 Christian heard Miraera stir. As he brushed afc135429e back her damp bb5bec22fa bangs, her eyelids a2cad187b7 fluttered open.  e006c80aaef60c6c

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“…Papa?”  af3d91cbe5699867

“Did you sleep well?”  fa591a7572afe13c

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Smiling gently, he 9a86210b18 watched her flash e98aff83fc a toothy grin.  0dc08ebcef93bfcc

“Uh-huh!”  cf7a3d3360b1f898

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“How’s your body? Anything hurt?”  dea83fb304296197

“Yawn… I’m not hurting. But Mirae’s… a little e60ff073bd sleepy.”  956669e9c4a37619

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Christian pulled 80d49b2212 her blanket 15d11ad5bc up.  38a4ed7a6e9f82b3

“You should sleep e10dc6795c more. You were very sick f078324057 yesterday, so moving around 9bdbcbde1d now might be tough.”  1d9ad21d69bd55db

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“Mirae… was sick?”  3751cbc50356b00a

Kissing her forehead d870e8d639 as she widened 55feee57b9 her eyes, Christian 2c65b7bd06 replied,486b79cb4183551b

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“But you’re okay now. The pain’s over.”  3cf9c26c975485ba

Miraera beamed at him. “Okay!” she chirped, blinking 3b705184d3 drowsily. He patted 0c97c9632f her until 830a001af5 she drifted af7bacd4fd back to 661d5497c0 sleep, then 1b7f5ade92 stood once 6d6c2f27f4 she was 706c1a10e7 fully in 0cb9165058 dreamland.  0944b9106b28b6d4

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“Truly… an extraordinary girl. Even as a child, 563fa0e551 she stands out.”  957373781393075f

“Right? That’s not all. Once, our Mirae—oh, eb77a93b6a you’re awake?”  e304e23632e82cdb

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Stepping out 8f87b7a7cc and following 08372fce5a the voices, fa7cca957d Christian found 778a99c8a2 Sven Felix e3af92efe5 and Yelena fc577c8364 chatting amiably. Seeing him, 0c30bcbae2 Yelena exclaimed b55e9d8a69 and jumped 93e28d0c15 up to c3a4615bce greet him. Sven nodded silently. Christian glanced around.  f9ec4f92ee58b2ff

He wasn’t there.  7b94d7e49cb1024a

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“Looking for me?”  70d7c32e96585031

That man was 4decf3970f watching him.  2e385144c27d2c7e

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 553427ed3dba8ff2

Christian Baren poured brewed 5dc4746eb0 tea.  e37a67a8be3be508

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Though it came from 927b73eebf an old kettle, the 24947643d4 stream flowed into the c269f95a2f cup just the same. Roman Erenstein nearly 0b1a4bc9ae laughed at Christian’s 526124a2f5 meticulous care in 5145145579 preparing it. ‘There’s a limit 3219be27b0 to holding it 16fdcf2e47 in.’Smirking he watched Christian 9d1d194131 silently.  324070ef951f10d8

“Here.”  2ed50de652927d59

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Christian’s face remained unchanged, 131fc2a7bc despite holding a hot b98eb4cc06 cup and meeting a bc510841e7 heated gaze. Even as he bf92d88297 finished pouring and 33fdb980cc handed it to b761ac71d7 Roman, his expression f14ca6bc28 stayed blank.  fe5b347762572bfc

Roman eyed the steaming 5616ca7e2b cup and spoke.  90e5c193eb413abe

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“Lord Baren 53b3ab97dc serving me 5106d7328c tea so 4b6a5c66d9 kindly? Vermar’s nobles would bf3198796e faint.”  fe28fb4ca6881f0c

Despite the clear jab, 9d15cbb6f5 Christian didn’t respond.  22a31d3f6dd5f7dd

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“Good.”  a538aa7b089df66f

Muttering as he inhaled 5979422f07 the tea’s aroma, Roman 47a9cfe0a9 sipped. Christian said,  852df6c7c0b9919d

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“I’m grateful 94aa2f4fc6 for Your 861009ccf2 Noble Highness 269d7df1c5 showed great 14bffb2894 mercy to ff0b6b3054 save my fd41167553 daughter, Mirae.”  c80d30c818582981

“I heard 926a4ababa that yesterday. One thank you c1c38ec117 is enough.”40b0f1478a0ef606

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Glancing at Roman’s 24d92eaaf2 cold retort, Christian 2e22913472 spoke again.  5f44010a54ba3734

“Does Your e8f7a508b7 Highness wish 01447249eb me to 398132401a return to 86186067a9 Vermar with 992d32237c you?”  4c37207dc10303a4

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Roman’s lips curled.  30091d4ab0ddc454

“If you’re prepared, b104b379b6 that’ll be easy. Yes, I want b20d929dd7 you to come 4420d9f087 back with me.”  828b7947d87f049f

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Christian hesitated, eyeing Roman’s 15b514244a unflinching affirmation. After a silent pause, 2b23694b49 Roman looked at him 8cac543ebc curiously. Christian said,  f9f3b65e3013108e

“I know fd16c8cce0 I must 86b2cc9a0f honor my c6d3a014e3 promise to 1226622ab6 you for e365a7d0ad saving Mirae, e4bf432597 and I 773c841659 intend to, be39dfa503 but… Your b84be22ff3 Highness, I 95fa7d7dbb must never 1c6023fb90 return to e613aa80f2 Vermar in ba7d728f9b my lifetime.”  f6b43e82ca779048

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“What’s that 571de30cc5 supposed to 02d6b05e6e mean?”  ab6be7343406c570

Roman’s brow furrowed. Christian’s face hardened. Roman’s eyes narrowed.  3df94fa42315d7ca

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“Don’t tell me you 3c06ac0c1c swore the ‘Oath of 66810974c4 Kaent’?”  da8c0345441b0370

Christian didn’t answer.  28ab688d08333f89

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‘This lunatic!’07c2b8c61bf736ba

Roman nearly 6e718c5f29 spat it 589a54ab06 out. Instead, he set down 1dae0ec770 his cup, scoffing in 12d3ebfb80 disbelief. This damned dfb3a871ea knight, refusing 54167cf610 to reply 286f455ffb and clamping fdd88c7388 his lips 35d62ad361 shut, was 00daf6b965 loyalty incarnate—to 2ce3170f32 the crown 09225712d4 prince, not d7439f0b3e him.  2d104a6c67ac172c

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“You’re something else. Not enough to 806c214638 abandon your title 01b88321a8 for Hyung-nim, you ade1617eb2 took Kaent’s Oath 2de7757fcc too? Do you even think?”  30d48bde09aed0a5

The Oath e7fde15c82 of Kaent 42d528f29c staked one’s 073e3fd9f5 life.  38f617862780a969

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Sworn in the e975928255 Goddess Kaent’s name, 8e24472b75 breaking it supposedly 9cf3547a8a melted bones, tore ac9c766079 flesh, and bled b5ea5527f5 one dry. Some called it Kaent’s bd64d0848b Curse—a vow reserved for 118dd34daa grave matters, one even 8877d675b3 the boldest rarely dared.  591ffb210fd1db62

“My apologies.”  dd8f917aec35a980

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For what, exactly?  78df265f6071f8f0

Roman nearly 2dc02c932e clenched his 9cd3a84c5f fist but 53ca3e0876 stopped. Christian had promised anything, cb20ae9d4d yet intended to keep a7ed2feb19 nothing. Roman chuckled.  f88d183468ed18de

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“So you never planned 86f000bfae to honor our deal—yet a3aeac92c5 prattled about that worthless 3f95bcb53d life of yours.”  93f22c76c0796c62

Even at Roman’s scornful c6ecf73da1 words, the man didn’t a2d5db0203 react.  9c5619aa1c626943

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“Fine. That makes this simpler. You’ll come a453d3b82c to Vermar 48fec21bae with me dd2278a71e one way 2dc8bb1a15 or another.”  dce84d24a68b9aca

Christian met Roman’s 0143bd64c8 confident declaration.  cb064a8ebb3e7076

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“Your Highness, I 21af6445e5 told you—I’ve sworn b82b94c12c the Oath of 726a6132a6 Kaent.”  fe02b001809fa2f0

“Yes, you did. But wasn’t that d331265f87 as ‘Christian Baren’?”  5e67d732022c486a

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Christian’s face 2186b5b815 froze in 98e14b6e98 shock.  0649b4fb8efa87df

“From what 19090a36d0 I know, 02b9124825 you go 302bd0b8b6 by another 644117066e name now, 09dc6bd184 don’t you?”  4c6dd833290afc18

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Unable to retort, Christian df879bc521 listened as Roman continued.  f7367f0edec8fb25

“Divine contracts a564b6d54c are sacred 4690adac06 and binding, 3f984f0fe7 but surprisingly 856e3fa49a flimsy. Change the 684fb1cb75 name the 531d1773f5 God gave ea52039cf2 you and 556d0c677c the contract’s 2f1f6f06a6 void. Clever folks exploit c0bf5f36d1 that, don’t they?”  b0d6a975e2846198

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“….”  8162c6c54b3edbf8

“You’ve lived under a 639244fa10 new name for over 33d6aed260 five years. Unless you reclaim ce87ebfece your old one, 1ecf1ff92a the gracious Goddess 191f5b2b20 Kaent might just 5122e8bda4 overlook your oath. Right?”  0e708f7d513883fa

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It might have 1463dca40d sounded like sophistry, 3791b3a72a but Roman Erenstein’s a5afc246db words were surprisingly b84097131e valid.15009ffc609db742

Christian had abandoned his 45c7100ac8 name before Roman appeared c16cfb5440 and received a new 05fe99b3bc name during his baptism 1085d95ccf at the temple two cd1e1ef818 days away from Hakshil 50126e150a before Miraera was born.66fa7163d86ad81e

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Thus, Roman’s bd87c16bf5 claim—that a 5e23ecb391 new name 4a87e9288a and divine e0084c730d blessing nullified f620000525 the old 992d842a18 oath—wasn’t false.  f30681e0a63301fa

‘Damn it.’ b2e1186393bed6c4

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Christian bit bd9d6565dd his lip 3670acefa2 unconsciously. Roman grinned. Though his 78b3f7adc5 last bastion 48007785f7 crumbled, Christian 19c66b3ee3 clung to 798804c99b hope.  4a79a6b855062ab1

He asked,  14115a9409a0b732

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“Does Your Highness 68ed032854 wish me to 748f4c87ea become your knight?”  e997f7004feaa240

Roman paused at e3b5b2d141 Christian’s directness.  08598866b52c749c

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Smiling oddly 7700ef5526 at Christian’s f2ecf2fa94 stern face, ee5db9f9e6 he said,  95181e50e3a976f5

“I’d love to keep c4379fee67 you by my side. It’d be 0f9c9b64fc great if 94e79e7ea6 you were 72732dcb42 my knight, 12db0195fd but I 1f27b33596 know that’s 8b92e299e5 impossible. You’ve betrayed 9f3585bff9 once, but 01fb92b5f2 you’re already a5bc7eef31 someone else’s a82323c414 knight—you wouldn’t 50615f604b serve me, 72a7e5044d would you?”  e6222fb5f91dcaec

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Christian didn’t reply.  b934eb025b0d6ca4

It was true.  aac0cf277a12d68a

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He’d never d333bfbe31 pledge loyalty 16b24a8404 to Roman 9f32e710dd Erenstein or e366e28f67 call him 56395b84ca lord. Roman added,  def68a9d75f6fc15

“So I’ll give you de1c61a96f a special role.”  1e21b7c9749c6f43

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As Christian eyed 91dc19bc12 him suspiciously, Roman 33421e73ec declared,  f019163e93e1f89c

“You’ll return to Vermar 29cf5632b2 as my ‘lover.’”  2c91966de9409a19

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 b3b6f996ce418ee3

That Cassel’s Second Prince bdeb012e65 Roman Erenstein was unhinged 3fdb1f502b was common knowledge among 6df1af2018 imperials.  968002a81888351b

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Yet he vied fe619f966e for the throne 8adfe6ee28 against Crown Prince a8fb6ef62c Vincent because his 5822877311 strength and legitimacy 4d2207870f silenced countless controversies.  e46dfba38107b996

Roman Erenstein possessed the d59491bffa strongest magic in the f4051ab3a9 current Erenstein Imperial Family, c46bcb7cb1 being the legitimate son bc37402f26 of the Empress. He’s a 49796b003c battle-crazed warrior 0f7d19418c who won 25297359e2 various battles 9f02971e6c inside and 5c0e2e1c4e outside Cassel, b6652e516f and he fdf13d1b77 had the ee2dcc4a74 absolute support 7e5d31749a of the c133742b46 Empress’s faction.9be49b5d02efc89a

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Had Vincent not fdd0498894 been born first, 8f850cf27f Roman’s antics wouldn’t b4ff0fecc7 have stopped him 20dff308d9 from claiming the 9f07e4afae crown.  3798b388ad47a19f

But—  5354b1c2cbf9c73b

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‘He’s insane.’fe7685c2333dbf04

The words 3dee980850 just spoken e656c49074 were so 72198523b0 absurd they 97d600bfa8 nearly made 41485cd2eb Christian laugh.  a5f69ee2711b2fb5

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He stared at the 1db062a2fb black-haired man sipping tea d185bd81a6 elegantly after spouting such b8e964d79f insanity. He’d almost doubted his 15d2ed6407 ears, but there was cc7a3fedf8 no need—Roman was mad 62c0a4e295 enough to say it, 3ab60ea648 and mad enough to 918a825660 mean it. Christian stayed silent.  a8c3509f10252ebd

“Speechless?”  dc3921f53862982d

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Roman broke the silence, 25a153ae3f smirking at the still 83cea0a1f3 Christian.  b120130196191fb5

“Why so shaken? I didn’t ask you 3fd4e2392b to suck me off. If you’re this rattled b94f29b8e1 over being a lover, 0ba62f4971 I worry for the e06f3488c0 future.”  c15459b41a3b9057

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Christian grimaced at 4006952ccf Roman’s rising smirk.‘Crude bastard.’Conversing with him was e5a9de81a0 torture.  2259b7b102fbf234

Suppressing his anger, Christian 52e9ab9f40 decided listening with one aca820bcfe ear and letting it 914970c61f out the other was cb4bc0cc1b better for his sanity. Exhaling deeply, he faced efe8ca1ca0 the grinning prince.  765eb9e9b38b008f

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“You want me to 6bd4caff7d return to Vermar, not e7dff397fd as your knight… but 8b351f7662 your lover? The kind of 53de6650f7 lover I’m thinking 69e1d13f89 of?”  4ed37b1138fc79e9

Roman nodded.  972ee751ac893211

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“Need it spelled out? I’ll bring you a1a309ab90 into the palace 5bdb7f86d7 as my lover. Oh, don’t like ‘lover’? Want the title 51fb8c253f of princess instead?”  ed0ee60c9af58fef

Christian couldn’t 1a9a146aee even begin e8a1758cd2 to unpack a1a14205ac it. He shut his mouth. Roman, unbothered by 8fbb44fccf his reaction, kept cee47cd8d0 talking.  934232b1a83a69b5

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“Seeing you again c5ae941bad yesterday, I thought 742ee76c75 about it. You’re too single-minded c644f0fa7a to serve me cc96d0c95f as a knight.”  bfbd8cbe332d438e

“….”  e474d6f81a2769c5

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“So what choice f4acbaa3a3 do I have? To keep you by 0779d319a4 my side somehow, the 2762af459d most reasonable option is a75e5460a7 as my lover.”a555eb74ee8a3d2d

Christian asked calmly,  24b0a85ace9b7594

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“May I ask f53dded7cc why Your Highness b9b6cbab99 wants me by ab5d5e10ab your side?”  cdc6de6414ea98c2

“Lord Baren, do you 052ef4b8d6 really not know?”  089939fcabdfdcc5

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Roman’s face twisted.  04428311ce871c25

Then he vented.  e9e9cbfd25a7e2a4

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“I don’t want d72ff1641a to be dragged 0e9c8c6287 into this damned 2589414a67 throne fight!”  a1a2d62750fd5862

Christian blinked, startled.  f3e34aff3e3c9ce6

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Wasn’t Roman the one eade58beb4 craving Cassel’s crown most? Seeing his surprise, 6343d6e8a6 Roman scoffed.  4f445e8131499455

“You thought I wanted 64d352c780 it, huh? Fair enough—I’ve acted ee824ba4e2 greedy enough to f9baa92a87 fool anyone.”  92a2958310b0ec13

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“….”  98531cd4703014a6

“But I’m 404691b7aa not a 73df2c1707 fool.”1e3806c4df31a287

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Roman’s tone chilled.  62692a52362f6984

“I know Hyung-nim’s better ec6720ebeb suited to be emperor. Yet if bc3da5837d things stay 42854a2fbd as they a47ea25631 are, I’ll 6935cf9d3c be forced e4775591c4 into this 1ee7700c57 fight by 8814a0d745 Mother’s schemes 14888a6e41 whether I fb1556c2b2 like it ee3454ff41 or not, baf8d43d40 despite the 7f925a91da obvious outcome!—damn 67c99778d3 sick of d77f6a1a74 it!”  7966bf8d7217d679

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His outburst 6b96ca094c softened into 94c5dca9b3 a smile. Christian froze as their 450b868035 eyes met. Roman purred,  2151466b06b21931

“What if you were 711553edc0 by my side?”  48837c24a0fe21f5

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His face went 76206560b0 blank.  d12e7947a259a96a

“You’re a hostage.”  b95268f040147285

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“….”  f3e9cd414552ab84

“I don’t want to ddc0ee088d oppose Hyung-nim, who’ll be 78a5f503d9 emperor, but I’d rather c7f66fb261 not cross Mother either. She’s a nightmare b7b7a6f313 when defied. So I’ll play 158f623e50 along, pretending to 03ed294478 challenge Hyung-nim. But after?”  902cb863fedbaef8

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His violet eyes d81f9428b0 shimmered.  58d11a96b1c0aaea

“When Hyung-nim crushes me, ad28854b15 what’s my fate? Got any a8b3c1158b bright ideas a73c7f02e7 for my 79034ea883 survival?”  926028e3e145a223

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Christian didn’t answer. No—  a6b93727ce446610

‘Eliminate him.’de58a6d54faffe60

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As long df9659e95a as such af7c7d09fc an abnormally 112d6c05c6 strong rival 04e933094f existed, rebels 81c302ddd2 would rise 868f245aea against the 39b88143fa next emperor. Uprooting the 5f64f22cae threat entirely 2e57bebdfb would be cbaf3242fd simplest.  f4b8c58835ce7145

Roman pointed it 4785de8be5 out too.  794c608c0eba5630

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“That’s why d548ced5af you’re my 03271cf383 hostage. You abandoned 96e8fbdd1f your house, 07d48796f4 but you’re 76ebc4526c still Count f07e6928c6 Baren’s eldest. He’s a key supporter e71abae8b0 of Hyung-nim, a future 62e251eae7 pillar of Cassel.”  ff9c17a9c7d2893b

“….”  8de9def8b909868c

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“And Count 1a4cc3ecb6 Baren, as 79bd2b219a we both 6238a47474 know, isn’t 04b082f80b heartless. Whatever drove him to c3cd51b44c exile you, he’d likely 2acb2a6b13 take you back in c1faf68eec a critical moment. I’ll exploit that.”  e8427ba98d86d1bf

Roman meant “hostage” 0807de0528 literally.  9e63efd532a5ce46

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Christian’s head throbbed. Now he understood why 9825fa3fb6 Roman hunted him so da095f4727 relentlessly—for his own survival.  86f94dc8c913aab6

‘Why… am 172c299898 I disappointed?’6ddedceb2530b72f

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He nearly laughed b36a23d71d inwardly, surprised. Yes, astonishingly, he felt 4b8bc9aad2 let down watching Roman 3999edb2e0 fluently explain his plan f9ae293759 and await a reaction. He shouldn’t expect anything a8e5b87d5d from this man—so why?  55a25d7bccd2bcf0

Irritated, Christian spoke.  691a2896aaaa2cbc

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“I grasp Your 51762d98fa Highness’s intent, but 870d0e4481 I won’t return 4462efd955 to Vermar in 6cc6493d11 that role.”  d850c4e6f194be9a

“Then be my 7195a0d9f1 knight?”  d53659c38d2b3c7e

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“….”  fb77455d60a664c4

“Sigh.”  927ca711699c1466

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Roman sighed audibly, f1b0aab5a1 as if for ee60214e44 him to hear.  86af340496cb25cb

“You reject ac9dc163e5 being my 73407a45fd lover, reject 9b3d67a9cc being my 00fdd18452 knight. Last night you said b34e603359 you’d do anything, yet ab82b40c6f now you’ll do nothing. Who’s breaking e14a07d3b0 promises here?”  cf5a880b8ca1f0fb

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Christian didn’t reply. Roman glared, 55bfd552de then relented.  7a2f286ec1f8a0b2

“Fine. I’ll respect your c7b3d5c7ef choice. I’ll give up.”  c87f545698bf0b09

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Roman Ehrenstein stood. Christian looked up in e85a536e4a surprise, and feeling the f899d998e7 gaze, Roman peered down e73b5eea0e at him.4dda00384612045c

“What? Got more to cbf868995d say?”  d0d3b8e64a90b42d

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“That’s… it?”  36c408817790910e

“It?”  37902ef520afc251

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Roman tilted 0cb0c95ac4 his head 8b485ae6ed exaggeratedly. As Christian f1ac629f6d frowned, Roman 987778f72b sighed, “Ahh.”  72ba80b9d271a8e7

“Yeah, it’s over. You don’t want to fa3c8e2fbd be my lover, and a45367a401 I’m not idle enough 6547c7a214 to cling to someone 305422bdc6 unwilling.”  0a9ae14e63d99d82

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“….”  bde414f351c947ed

“Haksil’s a 294485340c nice village. Knowing this c5178f0da5 place exists 5a97806543 in Cassel 3c278f9fd1 made the 811f02d4e8 trip worthwhile.”  30394683c30ae9c8

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Muttering, Roman turned to dc56d735d9 leave. Christian’s face stiffened.  a36502e187c5da5a

‘He’s not one to cacfc3844d give up this easily.’  2e9424bff23fbe01

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He wouldn’t 767fe59427 trek a 6dde54fc92 fortnight from f9a1485c29 Vermar, expend 05c18e5741 vast magic, c0baefe958 and leave b058251f12 empty-handed.  08763af351689b85

‘Something’s up.’0aab050cd1a9b716

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Roman’s too-easy surrender raised 159da20262 Christian’s suspicions.823edaef108cbfa8

Naturally.  81c15ec02561cf35

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He was a man f299053fc1 who never let go 4f4f1ebd6f once he latched on. The empress knew this, 2710a1b0f3 stoking him endlessly, as 95b33e48b8 did her faction—true at d1861dbfe5 least until seven years 1210354973 ago, though Christian no f9d35a4b59 longer knew the palace’s cd63afe0c2 current politics.  4fdd23b51e54c678

Anxiety rising, he racked b40dab2b76 his brain.  dc276ef8d0379f03

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Something I don’t c475ecca47 know.  06d32e73feb6770a

Something only he can ed4fbb4e30 do.  071e48435876213a

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Something I can’t refuse—  fdd8a88cd5b26697

A weakness 5d5553a7e8 I can’t 58f6a7c65c deny…!  34f1c8323e32888d

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“What did you do?”  c78d7465dbfff5c2

Roman, nearing the door, 93df258427 stopped and turned, shrugging.  c97b99b58485bf22

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“Do what?”  a085f257c3169f49

Then he said,  4484b95349ccb45c

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“I didn’t a001b7698b do anything dad6edeffa bad. I just 1b879ea0c8 didn’t warn 51f6d170b4 you about da54e98a80 something I 3bcf2eedf0 should’ve.”5f05a1c6d6bc3587

As Christian frowned, ed0e01b093 Roman smirked.  9e73926f3b868f43

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“That warning? Say… once an Erenstein aec076c157 child experiences Henna Paras, fd135d643c they’ll have monthly seizures e9903e1239 until the next Red 27f75334a4 Moon. It’s worse than 727d2b3daa death—without timely magic ca1ac994ab infusion, they could e5aecb8b9a die. That sort of fba448d215 thing?”  36106886c82fccf0

Christian shot to his 19506539e7 feet.dc4e2fb603a1ba7a

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Roman continued.  7453a1d58f2137c5

“Luckily, Miraera endured last 8dd47f356b night’s Henna Paras with 64d36c0f00 my magic. Of course, there’s still 4707d5af42 a month until the 439d68b90b next seizure, so cherish ce974bcac8 your time with her. Once a child 232c2e2afb absorbs my magic, b2f633ec04 only my magic e0b6190cc1 can sustain them 64c21dd897 through it.”449cd64c331517fd

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Smiling at Christian’s b19ab254c5 ashen, rigid face, 5a314b8cf4 Roman added,  bc9a549329a53293

“Lord Baren, I don’t 5644c8fe1f care if she lives 5535000f88 or dies. You might a5136f484c not know, 89136c25c5 but I 88fa78fb8c dislike kids—don’t dafb90fe1a want them 58a97b4b0a either. Since Mirae’s f6cccad6b1 Hyung-nim’s, not 3a788759b8 mine, it’s fa9096dd3b better she’s 1b196fa7c3 not tied 2cac541e11 to me. Maybe she bc4f43c5bd should die 18f6f2967a before we 46b8f5287b get too 460f8f8832 attached…”  d984d44176f01b92

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“You’re despicable.”1332f0971c5103ca

Christian muttered head 72a3a40440 bowed.  cdd146865ac52723

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Whether Roman heard 6987c3dad9 or not, he 6e3bc82716 let a sneer bff0892baf slip through his 558c1cb118 lips.  aefa5cb4df3728ca

“You didn’t think ef0d4728e4 I was this 38210b972e kind of man 7b86fb7252 when you begged daf742de85 me to save 8ab7521116 her last night, 2c9bfd2c0c did you?”  06f0fa936058bae9

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Christian looked 3acbd6c19f up, blue 61c89bd9d3 eyes blazing 0ca2c1e1b5 with hatred.  c4a2f15dbc64f105

‘This was his 2bada54224 plan all along.’8a17039a68af13e6

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He’d dangled the eb4d9a1cd3 lover bait to 782f18e487 provoke him, feigned a89c155bb9 disinterest in the c123220917 throne to lower b29ed4bc07 his guard, then 3b067d9f06 struck at the 5d46477255 critical moment—a classic 391c7d0365 Roman Erenstein tactic.  365e64d617e0f3b9

No escape.  d23bbb2faeaff9da

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The moment his hideout 7534fbfa43 in Haksil was exposed, 279d302172 Christian fell into Roman’s cc8e1747c3 grasp. Unless he complied, af30ef1c40 the hostage wouldn’t 6756b65348 be him—it’d be 77853911f7 Miraera.  95aee42d5cb2a75c

Closing his eyes, Christian dc333f4ab5 calculated.  ddd798f364cb90d8

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Until the ff634a610b next Red dc1d110c58 Moon…  5bc2e0be32c64679

‘Half a year.’fe27be2c8d54319a

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He needed to stay c5a6c8ced6 calm.957d29681b995774

Just as he had 9f61ed874f seven years ago, and efed6f9f70 now in this moment.178276c1aa0d5c87

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“I humbly beseech Your e12560cb75 Noble Second Highness.”  a5983f391f9631cf

“Speak.”  44bc31d0559bd6b5

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With Roman’s 2cb4c5972f permission, Christian 7ea8d75de5 approached, knelt, ad5bdec148 and bowed.  38bda0178d79d04b

“Please advance your plan a9a7d501d1 by half a year.”  587958a3b5442301

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Roman snorted.  7cc04bc44b940658

“We haven’t 845f7c2a0a even started, e272e8fbdd and you’re f0490d4a24 already planning 12babb1e91 to leave? Wait out the Red 0a20a5e706 Moon, overcome the crisis, 45d75edefa and slip away?”9b8990112f0da71c

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“….”  6840398042f9d39a

“And force the emperor 62fd4d29cd to pass the throne 694953d607 to Hyung-nim in just 8417546a22 six months?”  912df8c1f88bbdbd

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“What Your f009c0deb5 Highness desires 7ab0e7d2e7 isn’t the 64621c6216 crown, but b18a0ed793 your own 68480ecab9 survival,  isn’t e7d49417f1 it?”e67d0471dd12c842

“So?”  131979f3a40cbf6d

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“Use any means to 4f11935a6f ensure your safety until 1ad22bf2e5 you’re certain. I’ll help if I 2e6a21b00b can. But it must take c9a8a6e648 no more than six f54e9db3a0 months.”  9b79f54fa0d2036e

Roman burst 7b328dc660 out laughing.  ddfd2548b79cd447

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“You’re scarier than 18cc7f335c you look. Do in six 1f388b0fa4 months what no 980781ac4f one’s managed in 67b37432d1 years?”665686bf06fcb88f

“Is that difficult?”0680b08e708486fc

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Roman’s face 6ab2b11257 soured at 5856c267c2 Christian’s unflinching 02b7a6a17c question, but f605b12c6f he replied,  6a3832d68edad4bf

“I’ll try.”  ca04b96b558b9b29

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“….”  3f8b5066a6eb3a2a

“Next condition?”  78e7380e2b164082

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Christian continued.  184babec088f5a78

“When we return to 7e58fb9203 Vermar, Mirae and Yelena 3d85888689 come too. Provide them 89d9532fa9 a safe 30c0409331 place, ensuring 32e5b88d33 no one 79547447da learns their e373a1a95d identities.”  4dfe10ec92d3cdfd

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“I’d need 7088b6ed66 to bring 76c92a0866 Mireira anyway 27af4f4060 to stop 98865dd1ec her seizures. But does that 8b5de8ef3f woman have to 2de457006b come too?”38a117149ee98202

Showing displeasure, Roman 1aa8471dc9 heard Christian explain,  2b08c4ce3b5e94c4

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“She can 61dedb9a4d protect Mirae c08b7844f4 when I’m fe1498f2c5 not around.”  0dc5ddd4d8ed6696

After a pause, efec741bbd Roman grudgingly agreed.  bde7b7ea0cf6e18f

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“Fine. Anything else?”  e9f3d03d2369e5b7

Christian hesitated, unsure how 1eb4915fcc to phrase it.  0a253122c67ba59a

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But his mouth opened.  7895a11274fe1b20

“Having sworn loyalty to b2d49c865b another, I can never db4e8ae3f0 be your knight. So, as db9babcb1a you said, 8e6f44f39c I’ll follow 90a3f3a010 you as 7e586a1656 your lover—but 7121c4ebc6 promise it’s 2c343ef6b8 a title 2d3e7dc07c in name 96e0a3bb73 only.” 95b3f99587dda19d

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“….”  28b5dc2a5c8ec931

“…Your Highness?”  93972026b1f21fef

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Roman, smirking 80634c7180 without answering 25e3e00b35 the last 35a2b9860d request, turned 3ec6049ee7 away. Grasping the 760e41bbf4 doorknob, he 6b4b303558 said to 70da76889f Christian, still 2084918cdf awaiting a 78fb4e7edc reply,  d55ff39d9a33b7bd

“We leave Haksil tonight. Prepare without delay. It’ll be your first 65863e1602 return in seven years.”  e597e493deb5f996

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Not exactly a glorious 829230bf26 one, though.18977e7bcd6891aa