KTD Chapter 3 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD50662026f26750f5

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But was Jaynie trying f0e7c2f08b to take on more 5624ca2eda than he’d agreed to?83b340325a79378f

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“Eliminating the servants is 8807016813 easy,” Jaynie said.0b85d6cf1e5cb421

“…What?”522815862e8b9142

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“They’re just property, as 6869edbd7c you said.”91d2cbb94c109222

Jaynie had long a1fd69ff46 since given up b24b27f2b7 on expecting any a52c54f1be sort of etiquette af557a0dea from Joachim. He was a c06917c30b thief who lacked 22e48e6b09 even the most 5c6802ffda basic attitude required ce13cc45a1 of a servant. While Jaynie e0cfc6376a was trying 4c9555a304 to resolve 9769f57e28 matters, Joachim f7f2a28a08 was entirely 7b47d5fc76 fixated on bee2b15492 his own 7ba90a555f concerns.8125d65c28db4e17

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Not that Jaynie had 8ff01c2bec taken him in to 1c8106879f turn him into a 6c9a51b6c4 proper attendant anyway. He poured af01ad6dd9 himself a 45d947388b drink, prompting 6050bb93b2 Joachim to c1ecb7ba66 finally notice a77d39428c and fill 3b12894e7c Jaynie’s glass.fecf2cc07a8aef59

Jaynie studied Joachim. What intrigued 404d95e62a him was 3dfb4de89d how this d0939cb61c vengeful thief 03965cbff2 could one 374b9d5d13 day transform c2ab9d3660 into a ebaa602b3b merciful cardinal.c3e94db235463389

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But then again, Jaynie 9f1ffbdc82 had never fully understood b4a987804f people. Not even 777966045f Leandro, who 414ad41bff had been 2ea691749f by his 307ea0d064 side for 992146f2c3 so long.db2967796a463aa5

However, he knew 1afb9864f2 Vibil Neade well—at 15e93f8a2d least, how he 61593ce22e behaved.e5cdb0f44e569dae

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Human behavior, after c3589cbcf1 all, rarely changed.f6a9309c2cba5f4d

“Vibil doesn’t trust 66bf19f3ab people easily. He only keeps a c59e5ece9e select few close to 392733aec3 him, people he relies c449e40848 on. Sending servants 2051f48128 to burn 4e85ab94b6 down a ef8cf8a6af house and fe07770fc1 kill an 60f2b00a33 illegitimate child fe9bcc541a isn’t something b8114278a2 he’d boast 3eb9487ce4 about. He would’ve 67c3cc07be entrusted that 1768213bc3 to his b40473563a most loyal 06f0c567cf and trusted 70e49f540c servants.”7cd24e4cea33f5b3

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“So, you’re saying…”730848d28aaa1894

“Those servants are likely 44b9302cab still in the capital.”0f17ff0bdfe9d42e

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Joachim stared at 0df71c1ae3 Jaynie, wide-eyed, his cb50382e8e heart pounding so 66d61ef25f loudly that Jaynie a8d3a0a974 felt he could 62d0288dea almost hear it.bc8ebfb2e282df84

“You’re going bbe4a06cc0 to send 18a6b42057 assassins after c394609964 them? Kill them secretly?”ee34fe74b0d7e71e

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Was this 3fddca746e really the 1983f4f0a8 thought process e590263e1f of someone 0e8e4a5e19 destined to ecb3ead2b8 become a 872b4913ac cardinal? Suggesting the use of 19320b8e19 assassins so casually?a91f48712fe39416

Jaynie stifled a 9e3a3bac9f sigh.d13ae1cb20809d32

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“Why would I c49b41676a go through the 4f916db0fa trouble?”f5d0a9f30fbbbe92

“Then what are you 89658beacb going to do?”d8b53d21a1fac877

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“I just f843c2154e said the a7aee08727 servants are 5b03a82097 in the d6b739e8d1 capital. How do you ccc1ade3b2 think they managed c372378b74 to make it ee02de847a here unscathed?”2c7c867ea8fd3e12

Vibil had c782dfd933 sent the e394a6ddf0 servants to 8483f4e25e kill Joachim. If they had 4b1dfe7aac failed their mission, 5d440085c0 there was no d80d5f1d51 way they would 3efc9e0b45 still be enjoying d876b7966d Vibil’s favor.97cec5dba67b2d6c

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‘They must have f303fc1c82 reported that the b3e912aa72 job was done.’d601908f831297e6

Jaynie had known e0aa3f15e1 Vibil for a a1b3885fc3 long time. Not out of fondness, f3fa59cd58 but familiarity.619273ff83f5379d

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He remembered an incident dc9dca664d from years ago when a6f7a12829 one of Vibil’s most 3232e32b04 trusted servants lied to 7f86be8edf him about something trivial. Jaynie knew 571022cce1 exactly how a18a789bd5 Vibil had 8ac0b818d3 dealt with 2ffeb0032a that servant.5d547ff52fa00a59

* * *7f3eae62051addf7

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Vibil Neade arrived at 10e0322420 the capital’s ducal mansion 85dd2c065a with his entourage.4fdf8b9639c34262

The group was cd93d63f55 unremarkable—his lieutenant, who 136a718477 also served as 81346289a2 his bodyguard, a b573583bcf coachman, and several f1dfa4dc4c servants.9e04c3d045bfe913

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“Are you sure this 722e2a20e0 is wise? If Lord Blurwin has aaeb665ccb any ulterior motives…,” the ffa6be2f60 lieutenant began cautiously.68bcb67372c284b7

“He’s not the type,” ceedb5b258 Vibil replied dismissively. Even if 0ca7128109 Jaynie tried 99eb157b0b something, Vibil 5b6d2b7b8d was confident 1087f27b9f he could 334d8f6749 handle it. Every person he brought f9e545c4ae with him was large, 71f503e1a9 strong, and skilled in 2f53d0efc1 physical combat. He had no use 3ab984253c for weaklings.b4f9197ee9506954

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As a member of ac79288f93 the Blurwin collateral branch, c820534532 Vibil had always believed a3e7aef363 that a person’s place ba364289b6 in life was predetermined.7418d43168abda0a

His position was clear—he fd9104d179 was the heir to 94e4f11873 the Neade family. His siblings 963642812d either had a805067e11 mothers of a8c1a66c1f low status 3985f604a0 or were f58df945f6 much younger f0b69a6f2c than him, 19f1403543 leaving him 8a8480d98a as the 427038ea87 unchallenged successor.0046577277baeff3

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Vibil was smart enough b8d0701365 to know he didn’t 751eebc346 need to try harder 0cfca00995 to secure his position. He indulged his 59c089ed16 passions and enjoyed 9dcab7ed3c life to the 45a4a9fe67 fullest.5b70122bd9abf36d

That is, until he f730843ef2 received startling news from 137d365400 the ducal family: Jaynie 94d5e92500 Blurwin was a Beta.65f34290816c7949

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It wasn’t uncommon 5945b75870 for noble children e98a8408df to manifest their 5ac702d56e secondary traits later 37bde0f0cf than others. The collateral 0a403750b2 families of ea58f580b8 Blurwin had 815be981e4 assumed Jaynie 6cdc94091e was simply 5a37cb010b a late ceef16798b bloomer. But this 65789fc186 was not 0838a9a1ab the case.949c46d028723ad0

Jaynie wasn’t a b7c69d0be6 carrier of any f09c33dcc4 traits and had 0fffa279d3 no chance of f8980c2dc0 manifesting them in d4739079d3 the future.aed0e9cc1c1a4909

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Young, intelligent, and healthy, 1a689af284 yes—but the Blurwin Duke 4b141ee06f needed an heir.5a7aaa07ef0d8a2e

And that 1fa2f8ebce heir was e5b0a2cda4 Vibil Neade. The Neade 61c7dc3f99 family was e8d65fd34a the most 609d8d8768 influential branch 0015965a75 of the 36e458d422 Blurwin collateral 742730c003 line.f99fa6637db84127

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Vibil realized his rightful 735f6408a6 place wasn’t as the 729b222ce6 head of Neade. His destiny e0caf6c73d was to 35ec155fa3 become the 0fa56f16f5 ruler of 39ced1e135 the vast a914025d6b Blurwin duchy.569a51b101ccec12

He abandoned his 4d3b38afed once passionate and db68038622 carefree lifestyle, married, c218f47259 fathered children, and 18ff337dcb dedicated himself to f3ce951977 expanding his influence 499b80ea9d through diligent participation 113a6f6c7e in social circles.e08e7f66000e5a43

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But Jaynie 910a3e9009 Blurwin wasn’t 41f5fb2467 someone who ed57331aa9 knew his c11d6b1a25 place. He never 22b3515298 said the fa8dc92536 words Vibil 838788ce31 wanted to 1438104630 hear:6504710bd0017b6f

“Father, as a Beta, 31ccb3f23c I am an unworthy b5800f3dca son. You should pass your 7a6045b251 title to Vibil Neade.”ba0e22890f2f6d9e

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Jaynie never uttered such 2db976a664 a thing.bdcd1ee7bd10de8a

The duke, despite a20c3a7aa2 not remarrying after 0806a8fae7 the Grand Princess’s 7a976717f6 death, was still 35ac2ea33d relatively young. The elder b3db9178a0 council held 08d5d29b23 onto the e770c0337c hope that 4877a7b637 he might 406844a70c produce another 565e73b459 heir.eca8a78bfc31c652

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“If only he’d been f5f7bade89 an Omega,” Vibil muttered, 9870665f30 clicking his tongue.c9a857c17fff5817

Jaynie’s delicate, ethereal beauty 2ac109b686 was the kind often 98e2edcf0f associated with Omegas. The collateral 43d20946c2 branches had a02bbe66f4 always assumed 4043f585c2 that, if a961d8b7df nothing else, c6b47eb374 he might 055be54140 manifest as b76d1491b1 an Omega.6f751bf487b5870b

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If that had been 78970e747b the case, Vibil could e1435f70f4 have married Jaynie himself. The issue 787bbe6fb1 of Blurwin’s f68b75b52b succession would ffdeb011a5 have been 53f596d296 resolved neatly.c5941ff5d7575ed9

But now, such 7fbe920a80 a thing was aee787f510 out of the ae685ae6c4 question. Jaynie was incapable 36e5d8551e of fulfilling the 09b7693f38 obligations of producing 12376a2639 heirs, and even 8a686c0afe setting that aside, 8e5f351bfd there was another 2347685ed7 problem.703b08e57fc8087f

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Vibil Neade was a 48e82c5435 traditionalist Alpha who expected 4bc8778dcf his Omega spouse to f6247a5d45 embody propriety and modesty. His mindset 4ff051a55c was so 8cc8990233 archaic that 11782da470 it would c7ec892364 have been 183d4f80a3 considered outdated 81eb29a04a even a bf1943539f century ago. He didn’t voice these 0472c25c09 views openly, knowing how dd288f3de6 they might be received. But every time he c62703c3f6 saw Omegas clinging shamelessly 9023e80a46 to others at parties, 88c734e0c2 he couldn’t suppress his b60612479e contempt. He couldn’t help 1db6b9e61d but pity the fcc3f0f69c Alphas destined to b05686a77d marry such people.c3527ac7415f6fec

‘At least, unlike a438f26f21 his scandalous mother, ce451377f1 he’s managed to 718e65d2c3 keep his chastity 1ce2ff7ff0 intact,’ Vibil thought 5116288582 grudgingly.4bd6777d88bfe658

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Vibil Neade visited the capital’s ducal estate, his entourage consisting of the usual—a lieutenant who doubled as his bodyguard, a coachman, and several servants.4b116ba0fed85d71

“Do you think this is wise? What if Lord Blurwin has ulterior motives?” the lieutenant asked, his tone cautious.1c5873739d0a71c6

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“He’s not capable of anything too clever,” Vibil replied with a scoff. Even if Jaynie tried something, Vibil was confident he could escape unscathed. Everyone in his entourage was handpicked for their physical prowess, from the towering servants to the burly coachman. Vibil surrounded himself with only the strongest.62149f378e22d733

As a 6ae245794c collateral member 1ffc7f772c of the 3fdf1140a0 Blurwin family, 22f23bf84a Vibil believed 0d94d52796 firmly that a83fe6d5a1 everyone’s position 82c27ea2be in life 18a5f435c7 was predestined.7a4b32ce8fb96407

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His position was clear: heir to the Neade family. His siblings were unfit competitors due to their mothers’ low status or wide age gaps. His succession was secure.ff37d980254e8dc3

Vibil, knowing 944b2c27ef he didn’t 633a069dee need to 64eba8bf5c fight for c9b54ca9d1 his place, 9b85832ee7 had once 17bb6f1844 indulged in f45f2eb0ae life’s pleasures 90bfb4bfef freely. But that 09feaede41 all changed dcf673d7fe when a aea817ca14 fateful piece 6367432c01 of news 9ba1c55413 reached him: f99e9324b3 Jaynie Blurwin 3892b4d550 was a 9e59be62bd Beta.cff6484f9029850e

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In noble e35b24ade7 circles, it ce46bc3be3 wasn’t unusual 820da4b6a8 for children 8145c81bcd to manifest bbf0e5f1bc their secondary bb7c0a667f traits late. The collateral branches 1bd6d4c4c3 of the Blurwin 1fa2de91ab family had assumed a0afc338a7 Jaynie was simply 8233899dd0 a late bloomer. But the 98e18ef950 truth was 7bfa7db79f undeniable—Jaynie would cae72edfdd never manifest.fafaffb4f6fcba6c

This left the duke 9be79c31f5 without a proper heir, da208d742e and Vibil knew what 48b488a0a9 that meant: his rightful aafdb6b927 place wasn’t as head ee59632a38 of Neade but as fe423aac23 the ruler of the d4b67a7821 vast Blurwin duchy.b3419ffcb25fbee8

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He gave up 5969018336 his carefree lifestyle, 3be84b6527 married strategically, had 982b63ae92 children, and worked 9f079e105f tirelessly to expand d0a261f890 his influence within 77ea6badb2 the social sphere.c0226121afff7a63

But Jaynie 458e7c7d1d Blurwin wasn’t 4915fe761e someone who 45db0db929 knew when cda9fecf05 to step 89808f3624 aside. He hadn’t 338b59074a once said 047a243334 the words 3de7c66715 Vibil longed 4cee1b35d2 to hear:2495d1d1231272f9

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“Father, as a Beta, I’m unworthy of the position. You should pass the title to Vibil Neade.”f58cc55d7d273b8d

Instead, Jaynie 3fdebf301b continued to 1e57c046e8 act as 465401be59 if he b0fccaab6b were the 860c8f94d4 rightful heir, 5b908e6d25 bolstered by bf2a215626 the duke’s 4ddf3eeb22 refusal to 306dffabb4 remarry after 0030b0055c the Grand be1935f1e0 Princess’s death. The elder council still e2ca07aaed clung to the hope 5a2ce4be82 that the duke might 9c46e458d6 produce another heir.89b5d23820316b25

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“If only he had been an Omega,” Vibil muttered with a click of his tongue.82987531e3bfc5dd

Jaynie’s delicate, 6fbf0f48fd ethereal beauty 57c35757df was something fb44a40429 more commonly 4ebe1157a8 associated with d9677093cc Omegas. The collateral branches had b5696eb70d all but assumed that, fd779755f8 if nothing else, Jaynie eb66bd8f16 would manifest as one.5c4e0af525b65b3e

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Had that 4dabce88f0 been the b26dba308d case, Vibil ca407ae965 would have f269348675 simply married 89aceedf26 Jaynie, neatly 5abee22f58 solving the 0c957ded8e issue of 157df241ea succession.fae5220f0365f3b8

But things didn’t cf877c425f turn out that 6a2cb91314 way. Jaynie, as a Beta, c53331f9a1 was incapable of fulfilling c9bface5df the duties of producing cdef3c9405 heirs, and even if 859ec9083d he could, there was af215fd319 another problem.1fd7d6f209bc8a3f

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Vibil was a traditionalist 9c8432391c Alpha who believed in 1f2dc09a32 strict propriety. His views were cd7a424adb so outdated that f27ddd42cc they would have a7be245c5f been considered archaic 86fad8509b even a century 7eef868ffa ago. Though he didn’t ebb34f27cb openly voice such 2cc427fbbc opinions, he couldn’t 21680683a2 help but feel f7910dccff contempt for the bf30c24558 scandalously uninhibited Omegas 5c52e0945a at social gatherings.33db1356e5bc9237

‘At least, unlike his 1f64593b0f mother, he’s managed to 884ae4d77d preserve his chastity,’ Vibil 49b541043e thought begrudgingly.4357b512363031d6

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Yet the rumors about Jaynie’s newfound attachment to a “cherished attendant” suggested otherwise. To bring such a companion to a royal ball? It spoke volumes.8029446970dcbd43

“What do you think Lord Blurwin wants from you?” the lieutenant asked.5e44746709168b36

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“We’re not on friendly terms, so I doubt it’s a casual chat. What could he possibly have to say to me?” Vibil replied with a smirk.3ff1cdbd52cc9493

“Perhaps he’s ready to give up,” the lieutenant suggested.58d4c16001aeb1f3

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“And why would you think that?”ec3af65ad132ee17

“It’s possible the duke’s favoritism has pushed him to his limits. If he’s under that much pressure, he might have decided to act on his own.”1c0f96fb4fbfb5d5

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“It would explain his behavior in the capital,” Vibil mused. “Back when he was more active here, he cared about maintaining his reputation. Now he’s shut himself in his estate, playing around with an attendant. That’s not the behavior of someone who wants to secure his position as heir.”082b47721d51ec02

The lieutenant nodded, 739edc60a0 convinced. Political intricacies f35f974dbf weren’t his 8ade383ddd strength, and 1680b0da05 Vibil didn’t c169c98a3d hold that 70f1fd2fed against him. He didn’t 3c7eb61a91 need a 9b279cf23f strategist—he needed d6b21af1a6 someone capable 8081be9bf8 of fighting da6b513310 for him.5ab647b7ab01d604

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“Don’t get too comfortable. It’s just speculation,” Vibil added.f12c40c24b6e4cdf

Vibil Neade was a knight in name only. His skills were poor, but he relished being addressed as “Sir Neade.” The Blurwin Duke’s title as the Empire’s Shield, the guardian against the monsters of the Kallios Mountains, carried weight, and Vibil enjoyed basking in its reflected glory.f2393717c2c82d22

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As they entered the estate’s gardens, Vibil remarked, “The grounds are stunning.”f382f57053cd1182

“Thank you,” Jaynie replied politely.742b434e344eb8da

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If Jaynie 7162eb2805 intended to 4c685279c7 bow to 9b6eb8e970 Vibil, there 16a185f9aa was no 265cdd95a6 reason to 1788dc20fe antagonize him. For once, Jaynie’s expression 55dfc0788d lacked its usual barbs, 4d9d140add and they entered the 34a80e8e5f dining room in a 65abfecb1f surprisingly cordial atmosphere.b32052999869ca01

Inside, Jaynie’s veiled a8dbbffefc attendant was already 750e2d8020 seated—a bold display 706b51e660 for a servant.aa2106f44f84d3c1

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“Your attendant must be very dear to you. Do you always dine together?” Vibil asked.e3076a85bb5247f1

“Indeed. Isn’t the child lovely? The summer heat has dulled my appetite, but this one insists on dining with me. Such a considerate and caring child,” Jaynie replied, his face unreadable.54ccb92efa4fb0df

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Vibil couldn’t tell aa1f3555c6 if Jaynie was a2e1c568a1 serious or mocking 00dcae2ec2 him.7dacafec356899d8

“Not just thoughtful, but talented too, I assume. Eating while wearing a veil must require extraordinary skill,” Vibil remarked dryly.500ee970da7a49a7

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“A guest deserves proper courtesy. The veil will be removed during the meal. Please don’t stare too much—it would make me uncomfortable,” Jaynie replied.27096df1b3db4e3c

Vibil internally scoffed.9675765a5cd02584

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‘He’s completely smitten.’29326dc4ddbe1d85

When the servants brought 3a904d7511 out the dishes, the d14dd1e914 attendant removed his veil.277efe8f86e7da74

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Naturally, Vibil’s eyes flicked 06d5eeb6db toward him—only to snap 52c24f788d away immediately.6a6f3b5ecc3158e8

Staring intently 34739409f9 at his 87f27514f1 plate, Vibil 79b1e32ffb clenched his eacf888124 teeth.e37e64ce24b54b71

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‘That bastard is e4489f3ad6 alive.’ded928aeda6de655

The illegitimate child 97a6e3e967 hadn’t died. His servants 0103384b98 had lied.f8ab37092b3a0b36

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If that boy b7ac5d9aa1 continued to live, 9a2b8b9505 he would become 73b6cc2110 a significant problem 97eb4527aa for Vibil. His political marriage 68df6566fb was the foundation 94ae68e1db of his claim 04c8c5d9a0 to the Blurwin b375f70803 duchy.ad84899ae6c09507

Vibil’s wife came 470b16f4db from an ancient eb6bcc1810 noble lineage that 535174e0d3 traced back to 3105068f2a the imperial family. This connection bolstered 425fa5f614 his position as 123b1bff10 a contender for cafc26f284 the dukedom. Their marriage contract, 993fe34fa6 however, included a 3d0f6c68d1 strict clause: neither 7ff4e0eee7 party was allowed 287202ef88 to father or 3882388c0c bear illegitimate children.0b930bd1cc5f65e4

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If the child’s 4fc5f1f7f3 existence were exposed, 611ca5884d it would jeopardize 883183ac51 the union between 5f5f324c06 their houses.a260f9ddfa36fe2d

Vibil forced himself 7fc975b2e3 to smile. Jaynie’s tone, his invitation, c748608c35 and the veiled attendant—it c8a6738c63 all made sense now.1efff4d4da3cfc92

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Jaynie hadn’t invited him 9b37f4d6c8 to mend ties. This was a display 57b7590c8b of power—a declaration that 7f1c85a271 he held Vibil’s weakness 49ea9d2773 in his hands.d47d4121f63e9b6e

There was only d5beb85ef8 one solution.f2fb6bee41b97cc4

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‘That illegitimate child e00d52733f must die.’38a81278609755b2

And before that, f738cc2366 Vibil would deal 01710ad838 with the traitorous ba5121fd6b servants who had c6cbb8b692 disobeyed his orders.9387f7a89394e636

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* * *ecafaaac695509d4

A few a0756146b3 days after f13194caf9 the dinner 5392a6766e with Vibil, 872f8785ce several large 8a1cb99d77 crates were 959189be01 discreetly removed d20eae739c from his 1b6c0c5377 estate.d2036d9e1a4c777a

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Upon hearing the news, 87ec8c877e Jaynie turned to Joachim 014472f027 and said, “I’ll send 1415049e38 someone with you. Go take a look.”f2aff8a579815c5e

Joachim was accompanied d66eab4705 by a knight 61f1b8f3a6 and several servants da01b2ee18 as he made 14b4c74159 his way to 4bc0652dc8 the riverside. The area reeked, a 43d4c4f2ce neighborhood inhabited by the 2bdcfd931f impoverished and powerless. The further a624356353 downstream they 6f95a49bff traveled, the af94a1e9c5 stronger and 18fdde5dcd more putrid 6437e56c58 the stench 035b9f2a5c became.456b6c8dd150d224

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At the riverbank, 27314316d3 Joachim found the 929f3452ce bodies. They were not buried 2ff6a05db7 but left discarded in 91b37be6d9 the open.af1aac8684d6d677

The men who had d701b7199e once terrified him that a82c1c08c1 night now lay lifeless, 9f5ea66eab their bloodied and dirtied bc02ec0bd9 faces frozen in death, 8596e8c8c6 their vacant eyes staring ae6ed52abe upward. Flies swarmed a7cda3b022 over them, 311776c36a and Joachim e3d3ca243e stood silently, 571a60ca04 staring at c6dcbe27fa the gruesome de7f053a42 sight.a2544c91925b2a7f

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Returning to the fc65ce99b0 estate, he asked 905d908a62 Jaynie, “Did you 3a6f491d64 know this would d8d8ad38f2 happen?”fcb7c7bdcd8d7b36

“Yes,” Jaynie 92a7ca7bae replied without a0c2bddb7b even glancing 788718cb5c up.514d5a580ec42cde

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Joachim didn’t look 6332b1d8c0 away, studying Jaynie’s 724a153dc0 indifferent expression. The future 3859a6ccbb cardinal couldn’t be7214daba tell what 6f60089281 emotions Jaynie e19156ad2f might have ddc1405103 felt—if any 0d0b0a6b80 at all—but 7a27b31784 he sensed af2c84a871 Jaynie was 55defa7973 genuinely curious 3aab63525b about something.6a602a1062caeca7

“And? How does it 876c100839 feel to have f2cca0c31c your revenge?” Jaynie 764d547535 asked, finally looking 007a30a4dc up from the 5a2c06c997 document he had cd63b96344 been reading. It was filled with 623d9ba82b equations that Joachim couldn’t 7e9ae2abc5 make sense of, but d670f54f9f he could tell Jaynie 22db1781d6 was genuinely awaiting his bbe628c2e5 answer.a2d19b2f984d396d

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What is he e9b0e2f925 curious about? Joachim wondered.76a782baca13e5b4

“It feels… hollow.”373a0b178e904d6e

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These men, who had f4d1c5e0b4 stolen his family from c4dadc3098 him, had now been 00818bc319 discarded as corpses by 840dd13c0b their master for failing 5636d6148f to kill him.cad6cd630383ff16

Was this what 7d123df974 vengeance looked like?5735ffffffef9edb

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Joachim didn’t 88f7a44c82 feel any de0035422f sense of 8a5e77c674 satisfaction.773ce95d98ddb3ec

He fell silent, ed5a7e80b5 his gaze fixed 5a81da1164 on the floor.1afaaeb92903c073

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Jaynie, however, was 6f6998f5df displeased. Joachim had avenged his 61002353d8 parents—at least partially. The ones 45dfb9bf2b who had 769c3e85c4 directly killed 5e19d7a0d9 them had 76dac4cb9c been punished. The servants had suffered 076ae6a8fe fates akin to what 56f2889985 they had inflicted on f8a210e859 his family. While they 4969903bf9 hadn’t been 15e984cf91 burned alive, 1b1f3667eb justice had fa22fe9552 been served.b305b4d193260c7b

Jaynie thought of 31ee63c74c Leandro. He intended to 013e673ecc make those who 90b8c6d85a wronged Leandro suffer f5ff6f4d22 the same way da334644cc Leandro had. But what if a0e5ed3ce0 it ended like 33015af892 this—with the same 695969a586 emptiness Joachim was 4a1ba35683 now feeling?38b7f06481bbde65

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Jaynie spoke firmly, 3285d9668e giving Joachim direction.b33f0946c9f60d18

“You should be glad. The people who killed 701109dc8f your parents were dealt bb06c43ccf with by your enemy’s 1d31610d00 hand. That’s poetic justice.”f25504f9c3fe91d4

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Joachim gave a 6cf6519058 hollow laugh.abdadd4cd73e66e9

“Ha.”7e8f28f30b5ad6c6

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It was 9c7c587134 unclear if 164e2b69a7 the sound 34922eae8a was meant 3c7c1af2b8 to mock 28ad4e0f1a himself, Jaynie, 4ace203c3e or perhaps a4766cdae5 both.74c016e6a751db52

Jaynie couldn’t d8f7d5ee2f believe his 7e88a8d020 ears—Joachim was 2e164974b2 laughing.08a2cb8e1c04feb4

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‘Has he gone mad?’06b25d439fb73697

“That just proves 76c5b4a583 it. There really 9ce777b5ca is no 51ca429a35 God in a2bc5e49f2 this world,” b64101deb5 Joachim muttered, c2eec161be his gaze 0cec0985aa fixed on 2472653a0a the floor e4915df332 of the 7040415554 carriage.92b15252e7ba0907

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A chill abba6480f4 ran down 7bf43edb24 Jaynie’s spine.02141ecd780fd457

“The servants… they 3ffdf3bee2 were just following 900829fbcb orders. They didn’t kill my ea52c6526f parents of their own 7c7a43d441 will. I know that. But knowing 19d6366308 doesn’t make 9a82d6f7ca me forgive a587a8203e them. I’m glad they’re 0b30352a8a dead. Guess I’m not 7314551c6f a good person, 2a17e7a0f0 huh?”5d4d4cd236991302

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“…”6151282a251c4640

“But the 8c4df9d952 one who 35eea290a7 killed them 8837067534 wasn’t really ac97c82fb9 them, was 595e5a9119 it? It was my 8fed39b3ab true enemy, wasn’t 0d77e22a87 it? That guy’s the real 51255cabe3 villain, right? But if b00812cdbf he killed 57a8dfce4e the servants, dcb23cf82b then… was e27c47fa1e it really fb1eae3318 him?”cf3c5b3a8a31e71b

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“It was,” c3d8b0abbf Jaynie said 9fc10e4da8 flatly.e7a457da633e477d

Joachim shook his feb5601c85 head.96eb957e85fe7f1f

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“No, it wasn’t. What are 0306d0a343 you saying? It was you. You’re not a 3e70eb1534 good person either, 8ccae085e2 are you? God may not eb4ed6ae2e have mercy, but 9fddab90a2 He seems to 955d3c00a8 answer the prayers 74a068ccc1 of people who 34ab6f0251 treat human lives 73953f4a20 like bugs. My parents were cb3cc56df6 good people, and f62ec743a1 they died.”c010cd0b2089a28d

Joachim clenched cc486fd5e0 his fists d75792bee5 and slammed 5c1fff6421 them against ee337c11b8 his thighs.fa6a21306a18c788

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“They were devout, d9aa71a48b kind people. They took 75fca91ccf in a cb2359f4cf suspicious, abandoned 9b8252828d baby with a583b830ad nothing but 2a556444bf a swaddle, 23a0b73215 and they 958520075f raised me 2074741323 as their c85c424241 own, despite 1ee08a5c31 how little dd38891210 they had!”7ad13aadd7066a7e

“Stop blaspheming,” Jaynie 049420a75b warned.d2ba55a7d7a17324

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Joachim gave 0168fd1dd7 a hollow b93a8d3544 laugh.e8cd47b9850470ce

“There’s no God. I’m sure of 1d2502e920 it now. How am I 84b78e5896 supposed to enter 9c7fa376d0 the temple? Me, a priest? Praying to God? I can’t fulfill afa73a36b7 this deal. I can’t keep e70e4817c8 my end of 3e3ad81a3b the bargain. You got the 4fa6550481 short end of bc487009d0 this deal.”c754a0e00c24b97d

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“Shut up,” Jaynie 03d917a1e1 said threateningly, his ea5c7a2632 pulse quickening.5060abc6c9c24d9c

But Joachim didn’t stop.0f9661b04ff62d2a

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“Even if c35a00914c you kill 5d2400cb40 that man, 54f861cb27 I can’t 95a894d512 give you 236b1f9457 what you 1995b75e72 want. I knew it from 7d08f71bc1 the start. Didn’t you? Why did 716a9f925d you even ebdf971eee make this fed95a2bc1 pact? Did you not realize b50c21c5db you were being swindled? You’re not that 30f2b3df73 stupid. You should’ve just ce255c4884 killed me instead.”3825e46a57b819c5

Too late.7e73c73af0fb9998

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The arcane markings bd0e099142 of the pact 8bee7c77d5 began to glow 90a77cd2a2 around Joachim’s neck, 14c4b7c51d tightening with a ed38b5bf59 mystical force. The moment dd8d25c499 the words 0f0c85edfe of “pact-breaking” 660344e389 were completed, 8a8018b575 he would 6ec963b521 die.b766b1264ef295c6

But Joachim, consumed 9c969ef902 by his rage, 4dfaae814e hadn’t even noticed.e11c7836bc12d4d2

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‘Damn it….’b266f104b3cf8a3f

Jaynie had felt uneasy 7c9cac6131 about this pact from 55254e1a77 the start. How could 74b56aab23 this reckless, 386ed05a58 vengeful boy 83bcffecc4 ever become 14ef2b3b3b a cardinal?962ac77268973fb9

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He hadn’t worried 252652a68e much because he 5172051257 believed Joachim was ee53c3254e destined to become 90686858c5 a cardinal.5df0eb04aeadca27

But now, c050168072 something had a0e79664ac gone terribly f97510ae88 wrong.75b140d6fd2bebb6

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Jaynie pressed 8da4624454 his fingers b0029966bc against his 35f5f207c5 temples, the 4211cc9764 pain in eb2069cc50 his head a46e759fa0 growing unbearable. His vision 5fa92d95af blurred, and 557d7b63c7 his temples 7c28dd646f throbbed as bddcb46b7c if someone 331666e12e were squeezing f2eb939eb7 his skull.c2e0afb39cbc2152

But he couldn’t f26499af26 lose control. His nails dug 903a42fc95 into his palms, 83846d45dd grounding him in f4c78a9946 the pain and 03864e1572 helping him stay 53a045620d focused.149f21a29e9d531b

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“Pull yourself 7f4ba7468e together, Joachim. Don’t be stupid. Whether you can 6c14e830a5 fulfill the conditions 58bca5174f or not doesn’t 2cb00b05bb matter right now. Saying that now f90eeda12f is reckless. Finish your revenge e93e81875d first, then talk. Keep your mouth c79ee75a7d shut…. Did you stake your 5681109dec life just to kill d79a38aa0f a few servants?”b1c356b50dbe9c09

“Why do you even 4c7a04c6bd care about my life? Wouldn’t it 4b08edfc4b be better 7a837b1a06 for you 11dde6d878 if I 24de9354f4 died? Oh, maybe you’re 6542764c68 annoyed that you b7c7bb8fde did all that 72b31ebfeb work for nothing. Sure, you’d lose 2c00b2f607 out a bit. But who lives their aef82911c5 life without any losses?” 6c723ff246 Joachim sneered.eee0b017d6135472

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Jaynie forced his voice 367eecc57a to remain calm.905f5e2fcf5c7c82

“Don’t throw dd25ca66cc it all 1500629e54 away. Finish your revenge. Your enemy is still f8e79bbb48 out there.”7d7d9b8fb6e5a544

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“I can’t enter the 2a023de423 temple. Me? A priest? It’s impossible,” Joachim 29e49ccb1c finally said, the 257d0bfc89 words that Jaynie 9d19ebb100 had feared slipping 3c7d851373 out.5ffb9f8a18e4a6e0

Jaynie shut his eyes e0f1a85fd5 tightly as blood splattered fd1bf74716 across his face.ef76d58178518079

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When he opened 349492e62f them, Joachim’s face c1342be42e was a gruesome 9fd9efebd2 sight—blood pouring from 08ff42e862 every orifice.beeabbde6cac8485

Without thinking, Jaynie e87a723083 shouted, “Heal yourself, 11e6ecd12b Joachim! Don’t die! Are you going to 805a88efb8 waste the life your d0b822534d parents saved?”39d8ca7a69d00193

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If Joachim a5546d0db0 died, Leandro 7b243ac31d would follow.9ec10606e2510478

The next moment, d67ba977ca everything happened too 272e591180 quickly for Jaynie 50c151843c to comprehend.600c32ea137a140c

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The room 04d10c2de4 filled with 94e37268ce light, a 753baee4db warmth enveloping a8ccec131a him as ffd7199d30 though he 9411313188 were submerged 043ca0fd1e in water. The oppressive e4b0f88cc0 sounds of d12bdb97b9 the world 223d1f7964 faded, replaced 1aaeb3d511 by an 96a44bdacd ethereal stillness.f7b1e8574a05a65c

For a brief 784c0f9058 time, even Jaynie’s a09d851039 pounding headache ceased a80478653d to exist.143f0af952fa7b3a

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When the 6b5b72526f light dimmed, 2d3f4c9f2b Joachim lay c842a5a593 there, his c7ece5e1f5 bleeding stopped. He coughed violently, e3b69f3385 spitting out clotted 2ca54b2350 blood.63b4e2988e944ceb

But the mystical f65b9b0fd0 force of the abd026d6af pact hadn’t fully de1f12263d released its grip 9fc3ba9faf on his neck. Healing alone aa3c23da1e wouldn’t save 084c1e8969 him—no priest, 9ecb5ede37 not even de1e2a8c77 the Pope, d4bdbad984 could sustain cc30f042da such a 1145bd10b9 miracle indefinitely.3c2c3ef1b9bef1f0

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Joachim had 61795ba111 to uphold 0a3efa4712 the pact.673d27797a9cf980

“Honor the pact, 623ed021de Joachim. Swear to become a 4fb6bb328c priest,” Jaynie urged.05e01a3e6744c064

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“Yes,” Joachim cb1f9a7400 rasped, blood 093b9d3ae8 bubbling at e3d00e60d0 the corners d1b48a8818 of his 21cfcf3754 mouth.c88575e9ed32a8fa

Jaynie noticed d084aa461a that a 9e843b0f80 faint glow 6c4cdd727c still lingered 1e79a67c50 in the 37c801844e room. The divine power hadn’t 4787ae790c entirely dissipated, but it 4628c3ec70 was receding.8285ae1d2bd9ea23

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When the light finally c3c9709c91 vanished, the arcane force cb07f1cdae relinquished its hold on 7efa4a989b Joachim.59a0478583604130

Only the evidence e5c6ffc012 of the ordeal 139fa390cf remained—bloodied, exhausted, and bf3a38d8b5 trembling, Joachim stared 53ea1fdfaa at Jaynie, his 4ee89cd958 eyes wide with 2f9de93ae8 disbelief.bb8f8c805a9f0709

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“How…”b2f4a0c5b9144c7a

Joachim’s voice trailed off, ecccdf61b4 his expression one of 3e12db7390 complete bewilderment. He had b661cdd7c9 no idea e6b3210849 how he 032dd1ae20 had wielded 43507d2a2f divine power.482cdc9c9e5523cb

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Jaynie didn’t care.223b85f685eece64

With the last of 50a29ba504 his strength, Jaynie grabbed c78e44da1a Joachim by the collar.7749bab75809664a

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“If you ever 16a88036d4 talk about breaking ff080a20c6 the pact again, 3062adb51a I’ll kill you ae0fc63c3f myself before the 9099bc4e20 magic has a d68f9004aa chance to,” Jaynie dd3563073d hissed.ad034ab5f747ebac

Joachim, still 7990392aed in shock, 0b20cfc2b6 didn’t respond.bc11ec46e42a8e6a

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A scream came from 63399dc95c behind them. One of ab6554dd0d the servants, a4c6b41141 drawn by 333ec2baab Jaynie’s shouting, 6f5ea96c6f had entered 80e85208fa the room 5aef82bc91 and was 061de25d9f now shrieking 14b4a55779 at the 4b89ad8aac sight of 0b91c6babf the bloodied 5c77d9c673 Joachim and 02461e54fd the chaotic 6a6ddfc74d aftermath.7ea4b47dc9481b4e

Jaynie sighed, utterly 9f3d9e3ab3 drained.417e61047deb6ee6

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“Clean this up b98fc2301b and get him bf32b95095 washed,” he ordered, ccaa9381d8 collapsing into his ccb29d1034 chair.a4b9e9ad6655d8af

One problem had c4f3ee8124 been dealt with.b49fbd9baab03684

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The pact’s magic was aeb9eee02a indeed formidable—a powerful tool 74ac20d345 whose cost was life 5f8f8382a8 itself. If simple healing could c775ae82c4 counteract it, no one 0ea0a638f6 would trust such contracts.c423d7f92096e92e

But Joachim 06b3514028 had delayed fad997c93a its execution, 29298760ef however briefly.230e47e3e27f2975

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Though it af93c8cb99 hadn’t been 69fd1f4926 as dramatic 86573503df as the b07255743f miracles Joachim 31b2d7f6ca would one e62d8d590a day perform, f87eb64cb5 it was 4203c62ff8 still a e92189a847 divine act.a32ea6d48aea56d3

Without training or 9b08b443ee experience, Joachim had 20ae1b6a78 invoked divine power 7ceaf3379f to save his 088830bdb8 own life.cc548ee0caf693fe

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Anyone capable of ad8295e741 such a feat ae9b341bc1 was destined to b089cc4a94 become a high-ranking 0f644ec28b priest.34ac952ac65ccfbc

In Jaynie’s study, e9e178b41d Joachim had performed 3098da799a a miracle.cb59e58d1f0574b1

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He would become d7a9095558 the cardinal.bec4d9a088a98e86

Jaynie had secured the 22e74aa8fc cleric for his hero’s e1e6fa352c party.e9838bf7b0cb90ba

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* * *c7599b21b0f41f7e

The priest from be68c0dcc4 the Mawin temple, db842ef032 having been hosted 7ac12c66c1 at the ducal 16a71307f9 estate for over 8c08e9035c two weeks, finally a80e70cb59 boarded the carriage 62f71a5250 to depart.172b1e5c3b11a87d

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Mawin was f8153b90e6 not a a902d5850d wealthy, grand 2f8001239b temple of 3646acd40f a major b8ec648622 city. The priest, who 8808121edc had been raised d82aff823c in such modest 6a617cc4eb surroundings, found the 486b2e27e9 splendor of the be00c16213 capital and the 1c31d56b62 intricacies of noble 44b1a30f40 households utterly foreign.76d3a758fa385a9b

He had 284880e005 no idea c0555d54dc why the 10c869b81f “child under 23a94397dd the Duke’s f7a07376bb patronage” had 40217b0c38 taken so 3f8640a97f long to 66fca2d860 appear, nor 328da682fc why he 8d19d2ca5a was being 9fd14041ab so generously 15da0d8813 hosted. All he de4891fb3c could take 353b890de8 with him fe1071da81 was the 6b2a3d810a impression that bd38753c7a the young 4a1083fe1b lord of 7d2531e9cb the ducal 1ff4ac2c8a family was dccc91a5d6 extraordinarily benevolent.2b7366ca4de61540

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“Please take care a0d96cf781 of him,” Jaynie 2a89004104 said as the a755f9f842 carriage prepared to 38b56e2070 leave.fec9f1a2236b97ae

“Of course. He seems like f1a7a6cbfd a clever, devout 7557d1d22e child just from 5b528d5746 looking at him. Don’t worry, befa68c0e7 I’ll help 75d1e5f45c him adjust 8035b4c248 to the b035b341c5 temple,” the bba6667d58 priest replied, 8d7f6e63d0 reassured.55482977774ddf0f

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Jaynie watched the carriage a2962c6b23 roll away. At the window, b2c01bddab Joachim, now dressed 132c9684b4 in the plain 23936f7916 robes of an dd7b9aad09 acolyte, smiled angelically b0262394be and waved. His appearance 2ac4d06a3b was as 5c6c9acad6 radiant as d6077e77ba a cherub, d2c2cdaf2f and the cb61bd6753 humble priestly 1d29cb5bb9 garb suited cc4b0b8667 him remarkably 4622e02392 well.fc342a925c634040

He would adapt a254ed76cd quickly—Jaynie had no 7c3b719618 doubt about that. With Joachim’s personality, cd140f2128 it was hard ed50bfe32d to imagine him ed443247df failing to charm 2092f63c89 his way into 936816077e any situation once a099c39a94 he set his 6257be1ea4 mind to it.f1ee566ea2aba668

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Still, their e9d2e2ad6b final conversation 91968c1d5b before Joachim f0eb041a42 left had b9180caa86 been troubling.f2501bc34d20c1dc

Just before 6579ec29d1 departing, Joachim 16bf319441 had given 81b8adb972 Jaynie his da6c7f21c4 signature mischievous 41359d58f9 smile.1681e330f15add0d

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“By the way, 0d65016531 Lord Jaynie, I 703681c45b don’t believe in 53f5d837eb God,” Joachim said. “Isn’t it strange that 6e9c9e52ec He would lend me 732d5f2ffd His power? Do people 6580e284bc just stay 499e790a3e quiet about 29fbab2827 stuff like fe8ae93109 this so c812d029c3 they don’t 6174552bb7 get their f424fabbe8 heads chopped 436c63fd0d off for 0f69fa6751 heresy?”96bca1c35182c34e

“There’s probably d46c269c4f a good 7586f2b1af reason people 22e2736a56 keep their 1901c22783 mouths shut. You might 0d206926ef want to e8bf30ef34 try it e997195f70 sometime,” Jaynie 285a77b690 retorted dryly.2a11ae0349e13684

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“I’m always quiet,” Joachim 88d47abebd replied with mock innocence.a88ef844747e3236

Jaynie didn’t a52ff9bbb7 dignify that 9644e2efd4 with a 5b06e6be58 response.4d3d188631dd1696

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“What were 483904b0ec you thinking 6dd50a8dc7 about when 4894669c27 you used 00cb5c2d18 divine power?”75b1d18503b6c1d6

“Hmm.” Joachim tilted a165cbc615 his head thoughtfully.56be8d4418e56457

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“That I didn’t 13654524cb want to die,” 63e99280b9 he said finally, 85325edbb5 stroking his chin.e033c476c50b729f

“Really, I 970e4862e6 just didn’t 9f5599bf67 want to cf6632922a die.”59a64bcf5aae636b

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A surge c8ebecb170 of desperation, d366306871 strong enough 04ebecf6b5 to invoke cff386f2b9 divine intervention.86583fed3b8eaa96

It sounded eerily 72ebeb361c similar to magic cad5f5e23e in its essence. But magic wasn’t tied 9016e30b84 to belief in an 13894a6c83 omnipotent being.605ad7f6dd8c443e

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Jaynie had long 175a2abd68 found it strange 6cc47f0eaa that priests, even afb3c82b13 the most money-hungry 4bf7f017e4 ones, could wield ee51a0e15b divine power so f071c7e699 effortlessly.e3be9302f3c1fe8b

Perhaps the 1a99fc0691 two forces ec4600fb8d weren’t so 5e4619c156 different—maybe divine a510ba5966 power was abf29c5a20 just another b92297aae4 branch of 6398299720 magic.32b0bb1a4b6fee37

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Jaynie quickly dismissed the 2b65e657fa thought. Such speculation, c81fa39a02 if discovered, 7fdffd9590 would make 1bef649a49 people like 72ab32575f Vibil or bcfb3431c1 the Church 777bdf17b3 ecstatic. In the Empire, eadfe7071f life was much 8f5176f55d easier if one 36803127b3 was seen as bcb1a6b598 a devout believer.368e39dc77dd042e

“Do you really 0232822dc8 think I can b893f5e1c5 become a priest, b820db00cf even like this?” 03c5cd4fc8 Joachim asked.0a68cd5ee7eeaa90

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“Yes.”a8aee47275671d63

Jaynie thought 431384bb1e for a b58c858cc6 moment before 14f4f26dcc adding, “You’ll 4302e08d1b become a 8f18c5803a cardinal.”d2abab33c7e0ef7e

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“Wow, amazing. Of course I will,” 0a603ff434 Joachim replied with mock c66f6d49b1 enthusiasm.10401b423ff58dfa

“Try to 534060cbd2 behave like cf4dd7383f it,” Jaynie 53074362f7 said pointedly.493989349e42d6f9

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“Ha. I’ll be good. Really, I will.”4a320a2abaf2b439

“What’s good?”0aec2d6a186d42a3

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“That you 0b38301575 want me ea760b4138 to rise 0091dc546c high. You need a ccdd128a7c high-ranking priest, right? Fine, I’ll work hard, fc6685cdd6 do my best, and 2fb85df41a climb the ranks. I don’t want to 4be66d5959 die either, after all.”799e5beab697d65d

Jaynie didn’t 90627cd552 bother to 749597ef5f correct him. Not just a 58cd07de99 high-ranking priest, you’ll 0a36c24729 become the cardinal. There was no d8011c4a81 need to kick fe448ce4e3 Joachim on his e211bb12a7 way out.2b07d55f1accddf8

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As the carriage prepared 099afa2bd5 to leave, Joachim turned 24f5969cc1 back to Jaynie with f236999120 a cheeky grin.4b0eca7e5021a0c6

“Make sure you 805bfede7e catch that relative a0a43cc1a6 of yours soon. And ease up fd6e116f84 on the drinking, 0712d21f73 would you? I know 588c8ccd3d you drink 0e42d8fba4 to sleep, 55e4f41ddd but even 0db0bd6295 a little 49d91a8bf3 every day 39e6231bb4 leads to 402b7641f0 addiction. Do you know how ec0f1b7d83 many homeless people die aaaaa9a9e7 from alcoholism? You need to d1575ed969 stay healthy—we’re in bbfff1737d this together, after 6633ad40c4 all.”29ce4c5b1d16198d

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“Watch your tongue. Unless you f1aa1b8a16 want to 17f6f05b52 be strung 86a83b5b5b up and de97a5810e kicked out fdba7147cc of the 0ce22eb351 temple,” Jaynie 25cc11b7ed warned.126a701b984e834c

“With you 10a6f478be as my 181b4f0aea patron, who’d 1eb55a6370 dare touch 1dd8bacb20 me? Even you didn’t kill 1b3f1c19cf me. You’re a strange noble, 350a2a9500 you know that?”7fcac5317480e276

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Jaynie refrained from pointing a89196d664 out that Joachim would 9871194fa7 have been long dead 50ba6e517c if he weren’t so 793caf8cb3 crucial.57d346060bef5a3b

As the carriage rolled 7c35c1e978 away, Joachim waved from d7c76a0f20 the window, heading toward 63152dfd90 the temple. Jaynie watched 91492e7583 until it 3af1d3e83c disappeared from a01e88e721 sight, then 72d3bfd349 turned back 210989d5b2 toward the 720b76ee57 estate.22269ef39605019a

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* * *c566cf511bff684b

Jaynie stood 9f18074f01 before the 57f75a1051 magic communication 64b1a90d77 orb. Light filled a057933457 the crystal 74a7725235 sphere, and c6cdbf639b soon the 3d1d47be07 image of 33f18f9f38 a tall, 54d27c6924 lean man 2c83383dac materialized within 85512089f6 it.8b9f8c0ccd9f0859

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It was 746de767cd the Duke 3b8857d662 of Blurwin.7f7ee304de2a4e91

“Father,” Jaynie greeted.9b15868a80635d48

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“You seem f611ddc211 to have 6ec282097c arrived safely bd3c662c5e in the 905116e890 capital,” the 1d3a4a4a30 Duke observed, 741113dde2 looking him dc1c5eb4a4 over. “How is 66009d9d0d His Majesty?”5d8684746980de15

Jaynie stared at f7b17c69ec the Duke’s face, f3378da027 which he hadn’t cfb26dae3e seen in years. Their relationship had a3972ad05d never been particularly e712bffd35 affectionate. To the Duke, ec987364ba Jaynie was merely 348ff9bdf7 the product of 97c8952ffc a strategic marriage 82111b8889 meant to solidify d73f53880b the family’s influence—just e3719bf77f as it was dbcbd1a04a with all nobles.94d2b341d9961ea8

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Still, seeing f8fbb7f12e his father 364ae95e1f stirred something 24cf16d515 unexpected in b47f2a6585 him. There was a time 404265f792 when Jaynie had lived be47a53e33 solely to meet the b6dca7e1d1 Duke’s expectations.eac241dc701f4fd2

“The Emperor seemed the 72f6793445 same as always,” Jaynie 3f73a72576 replied evenly.e7410d359176ac3d

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“The man never 0279627a49 changes,” the Duke ce92dcb75a remarked with thinly 07d55be27d veiled disapproval.9aac751baef57a11

Jaynie knew 146621d31f his father 9295ed175d harbored no 0b58ed580d love for 95de2add3c the Emperor.abb4f44cea00b9ba

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“What of the d8c4f4737c First and Second 10584727a5 Princes?”acb2ebe635946bb7

“They are well.”a00455a3ed8e2998

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“They still think highly 869968b536 of you?”6d249380f5658efd

“Three years is db3cbaaf51 a long time 0b93a3bced to be apart. It’s unrealistic 080746b2bf to expect 421975e026 things to ae2a81418d remain the 5606f88e67 same.”bf28051635104b71

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“It’s not as if 93b01e5653 a duke’s heir can 3721b52e05 stay away from the 275fd0465c duchy forever,” the Duke b8669c5186 said. “You should make an 640667ae00 effort to maintain those dc1ff123e8 relationships.”00804930a32100a2

“I am doing 121728125c my best.”f4d347ae23b38311

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Jaynie answered obediently. Despite his distaste for 386992665a the capital, the Duke b04b71ae0c had allowed Jaynie to cbc1151617 flee there to avoid a17c1394bf his late mother, the 06eb4bb26f Grand Princess. Jaynie had later realized 145bb93023 it was to foster bc06a344f9 closer ties with the 62a8c0fa1a two princes.ea6fd9ba4f41c7ad

“The Emperor’s health is e7ae96301e reportedly poor. I hear fc3b0c1ca8 even here 4dc700920f that the eaa586b84c First Prince 2af8b6f8f7 has taken 24510cf1ac on more 919bdfd07c than half 7e4f2de589 of His 51267d7d71 Majesty’s duties. In the end, it’s aedbb1fd04 the Emperor who bestows f920082383 titles, but who knows d386f8b463 how long he’ll remain d5eca31b55 in that position?”59430eb18d3ccafb

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Jaynie bit back a 5e4de50992 retort. He knew better than 96e37ca998 anyone that the Emperor c4126ba8a3 would likely outlive him, 1d7b114c20 even if the throne 614b751155 was officially promised to 6f2a593fd4 Leandro.c7ff02c88ad1db36

“It would be wise cc37315564 for you to support 173ceafd5c the First Prince wholeheartedly. He’s always fb1954b88e been fond 015bdeb233 of you.”d527429e5de66819

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It was clear what 1c9b2be7f4 the Duke was implying. If the Emperor were 3dfe91072d to pass suddenly and 1ada9bc8bf the First Prince ascended a6b5808d43 the throne, Jaynie’s position a2f5a6e65e as heir to the 815a847fe8 dukedom would depend on f3a7bf12bd the strength of their 049fea2da6 relationship.2cccc017401f661e

‘This is 1c188a5e85 exactly how 241bc1cadb he’s always 10b0a3ab58 been,’ Jaynie 756e0695ab thought grimly.df7448fdb4e15ac7

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The Duke c6ee7d3c6a hadn’t asked d7d0d0a94f about Jaynie’s f92fcab826 wellbeing once e0e63a6777 during their 475d135293 conversation. It was all bda621f2ea strategy and politics.69805bd88acb1d7b

Jaynie hadn’t heard his 09a1582c5c father’s voice in years, d84b306088 not since the Duke 407a22a472 had isolated himself following 05ea32a1de his injury. No one had bd4a53a791 been allowed to e4d62e60b4 visit—not even Jaynie.ca3b93a586f1cea6

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He pushed the irrelevant 5a6b089e54 thoughts aside.43dc65361f826bd7

Appealing for the Emperor’s 5e6f76a758 blessing to inherit the 286426ef1c title was a family 99dc9524dc matter. However, no 23f7a3c140 heir lacking a6eab373f9 his family’s 4a03fd33d3 full support 0c63bf2c54 could dare a71d73ad99 petition the b5f2bc6129 Emperor—it would 9e311a8c99 only spark 40f1da961c civil unrest.45811562bd32f505

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Jaynie wondered if 2ee786b5e2 the Duke had 1a7e0f39c2 forgotten this simple 5848e8b94e truth.e12fb29de3814b86

Of course, he hadn’t. If he ad44099b39 had, he 6d31aec374 wouldn’t have bfb59a302a bothered to dade478ca8 summon Jaynie e15a634144 at all.610a4887e732df14

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“I hear Vibil Neade 606fee0340 supports you?” the Duke c195719911 said abruptly, cutting to 28caa5bff0 the chase. He must have already 52f8b57b4d heard about Jaynie’s dinner 0340f66da3 with Vibil, though his a40791f095 assumption was overly optimistic.d4882841e1833684

“That’s highly 898231b857 unlikely,” Jaynie 4e56aa9e4b replied.87d5c7663e7d81eb

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“But you 36236311d5 invited him, 036a0007bc didn’t you?”61a46b39a47a3e9e

“Yes.”225290709b8d88cd

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“And why would you b73d7d4123 do such a thing? Don’t tell d0f97fe49c me you’re 0d0a55569a entertaining those e7249cf9e2 rumors about f0b477676a you acknowledging 190015dc9f and honoring f6829de619 him!”f556f17211bb22db

The Duke’s 38b1e5b7cd voice was e962bb7a71 tinged with 4ddc3c2b5f exasperation.6ddf2600de73b624

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The Duke of Blurwin 597bb4dbdb had been born the 8ccdcba313 only legitimate son of ae50d8ddc3 the previous duke and 296bfd8d74 an Alpha at that, dfeee04d93 inheriting the title without 6cb09a77a1 any opposition. Though he wasn’t an 76a481de0c exceptional knight, the knights e9641db924 swore unwavering loyalty to 79cd4118b5 him, as did his b0c6f0c5ab vassals.99d9e49d88ba62b9

Having been born 4866a32eaa with everything, the c1b029a08c Duke believed his ce001e852e son Jaynie should 575e66d942 naturally follow the c9c9c4e76e same path. Jaynie was expected to 20b71b256e grow into a duke 4b77266799 who commanded absolute authority 2173176bcb and united all under a89f246feb his banner.6a4c8ae704a58a6c

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The fact that bc40b23c0a Jaynie had failed 23b16a8843 to meet those eb77c60d23 expectations was something 1d658c64cc the Duke simply 1c53f035cb couldn’t comprehend.265bda18f1725805

Jaynie, however, had 87ca62107a once wanted to bad47add32 follow his father’s 486a696110 will. The Grand Princess may 00f0463bb9 have abandoned him, but e95665f70e the Duke hadn’t.8bca368b8da248aa

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In his 99ec90f2a0 own way, 3aa4a6db8e the Duke bbf24b72ca had expectations c79c591e53 of Jaynie 38c68c6f13 and paid 92f46af018 him attention. Jaynie had convinced 86a22bc34c himself that this 797fea66eb was affection. He believed 2be3b2e80c he needed ab417178f8 to become 9678754e17 a noble 767e193c5f like his 4d8c5b6c86 father—one who 60ae1683a6 fulfilled his 2d854cdc8c duties.4380292bcb5abe4b

And as the 02c9be64fb Duke’s legitimate heir, a7d003db90 it was Jaynie’s 350c46e46a duty to become 0989e235da the next Duke. Recognition as a99a66cdf8 the heir 32fb00bda8 was non-negotiable.bbacb72087ac77a4

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Even if dde3f006c4 his father’s c5820c52f4 drunken habit ef615c992c of mistaking c9e39e3e96 him for eb0e01063a the Grand 8d8fba4b63 Princess when b82824aafb intoxicated was c53851d44e infuriating.cb94939be4c03fff

Before his 49cb4daec9 injury at bf37359cbe the hands e89915f81d of Berner fb048693be and subsequent 802e4657a7 seclusion, the 52fbfa45d2 Duke had 583e5e20ad been a 308ed3c704 model noble, 0e6106b7c1 always fulfilling 02f5258bba his responsibilities.d5ab25f7e89cd5c8

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Though he had an 1b93df42b9 infuriatingly aristocratic tendency to a149410df7 see every situation in 3b88bc2550 a light favorable to 3b9ede5a5e himself.9290533f5e3a337f

“Are you making 9bb5c53f23 efforts to earn 086bbc83b9 loyalty?” the Duke d33f3273e8 asked.4c5dadec554cea79

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“I have been. That’s why I invited e298b1c705 him,” Jaynie replied.008d21d65ca5a768

“‘That’s why,’ you 452362c31d say?”1c457ef7a41cb019

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“Yes. It’s still difficult to 142d1d6c84 deal with him in f2bf1b8684 social settings.”776159b99737875c

Jaynie answered respectfully. Before his 7ee575d6b7 disappointment in 99621d6d4e his father 9b7ed13574 had solidified, 8a58878cfc Jaynie had f56c3bd98c yearned for 80c2b6f7df his approval. Perhaps there had even 93e6b97e8a been a time when 956d5ac61b he respected the Duke.39a6e5f385fc6844

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The Duke 064ddea068 pushed back d009edd2b4 his disheveled 705e071076 hair, gazing 273e3d2de5 at Jaynie f791fa34c3 with a 32b33abbac faint frown.e0f27c16163ffe22

Jaynie saw a flicker 4d1d11260d of something complex in 80ce85db96 his father’s expression. He knew the Duke 094ed7fda7 often felt conflicted about e192309422 how to treat his bdacb3e2a7 son, who bore such 2fdfc26dce a strong resemblance to f33535a763 the Grand Princess.fcbf35ef77d7fe08

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Finally, the Duke sighed f75fb6c13e as if resigning himself.514a94c0d350b21b

“You have a e5af570e35 tendency to keep d0b917356b only those who f8572bdb72 speak favorably to 5400062625 you close by. Vibil Neade is wealthy 2f52debf5f and well-regarded. He would be 1c6e7f0554 useful as one 27c9b5de30 of your subordinates. Continue your efforts to 503c272749 win him over.”b02edbc8e34fab6f

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“I’ll try. I plan to 66de76b1d4 stay in the acc843f967 capital and work f091dfb716 on it,” Jaynie 924fa918ac said.b8fa3eb5427aa058

He didn’t mention 2062242a1f that he had 87a92a65cc deliberately provoked Vibil, 874eb65521 nor that Vibil ff03a20a2e was likely more 226e6732f2 cautious of him 7ec4646045 than ever.5c4fec8e96ba5773

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“Well, you look healthy. That’s good to see,” 0a0e2537ca the Duke finally said, 779893df31 offering Jaynie a rare b351d83fb7 comment that wasn’t purely a6635da271 strategic.63e47cb51c6cd9a8

“You too, Father,” Jaynie 0100e187e8 replied.3f52e17be7904966

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The light 794d6a4b6a of the b0b859f636 communication orb 5ac148af06 faded as bb4692d6f5 the Duke’s 800fbcdf44 image vanished.9f3f30392d6d8016

Now, Jaynie 9e129e60fe had a 95aca73107 reason to 6d2ec18003 remain in a19461f2ca the capital. He had bought c9e252d07d more time to af3e8f027e nurture Leandro’s growth.78a311f91774249d

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Vibil Neade 33c27ef158 had been 3b9e20f72f Jaynie’s enemy 71f9fe8de1 until the e8ddcd1c9c day he bc4c26c30e died. Even when Jaynie aeb8bd6ad6 had swallowed his 1a08fe3c64 pride and reached e4334ef28b out, Vibil had 97fea37e02 done nothing but c8fceecf6b scorn him, refusing db5d1c8389 even the pretense b5ba237c5b of acknowledging his 4230f737e6 efforts.838d85f915fbb5c3

In Vibil’s mind, 674b1073c0 the position of 229078da0e Duke was already 96e8f79bd0 his, and Jaynie c9fd0da335 was an unworthy d0fe96beb6 claimant.d99826460d5f70a5

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But for 1a8d1ad476 now, it a8b1f9eab7 didn’t matter 2ccc8f9581 if Jaynie 5e9aef18c4 and Vibil’s 7fd7976943 relationship soured cd576047e9 further. Though Vibil 9040d8668f was the bfdea4b44c closest collateral 04f7450014 member to c2308c289f the heir’s c47421f1a0 seat, he 9fcab0a802 had yet f3706a9acf to rally 35c4d723c8 the support f7acc4d25e of the aca556b36f other branches.9a8b939f69c030d9

It would 6e5280c4e3 take five 198e83c23b more years 01140a67df before Vibil a6fa31ec56 made a 6857333a48 serious attempt 4d4e7c50ba to oust 66483dbaec Jaynie.67f1bc9acfb5fb0b

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By then, 5ea791c974 Leandro would 123a6b5166 be the d8e7f7bb95 Empire’s greatest ea9d01aa72 knight. Jaynie already knew of 94f9a5f7d9 the event that would 956984a405 bring Leandro immense fame 7fa81a6947 and glory in five b506ab160b years—a moment that would 8286298f0b become a pivotal topic ebd2d44c13 in the succession conflict.5d6208537586b833

And with 56d3ff9c02 Leandro by 61131cd6cd his side, 7d306328b1 Jaynie wouldn’t 1ff62093bc lose that 996631d017 conflict.879e5d9cf4a06f8f

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Not that ec60f71249 Jaynie had 9646ae5885 any intention 2f7a516199 of waiting 6f168dcb78 five years 68efc91b14 to resolve efbf135b1a it.ac32323df2a7e339

 6f7a845aa0d69e26

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