PMBA | Chapter 1
by Quill“Did everyone hear 9b1060b5a8 the news?”8ffad775ab4e3fb5
Whooosh.36e194a6f92f8296
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Someone whispered. A dilapidated window frame, bc4c6c18de precariously attached to the e32ce10f8b stone wall, rattled and 75d6f2ce84 moaned in the wind. People glanced at the 2d9c07cf94 ominous sound before quickly 1d108786a5 averting their gazes, pretending bc07d32399 not to see it.771e447dc495c53e
“Are you 4d4fafb9d3 talking about db4210a4f6 the bride 2a998aa2cf His Grace 7fde1716e8 the Duke 1dee3a2229 will be 07b743db79 welcoming today?”edc3df88e93c6e3e
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Thud.58686f5020710aef
As another person 39eda8632f replied, a tapestry dbd93e7cb0 decorating the wall a51a65a521 rustled and clattered f81382af79 in the draft. The wind eventually 23072e5480 extinguished a few 29590df41f candles.f6d55b3aaafa0b2c
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“Huh.”c9a086591908d42b
“My, this building…”fc98d625b2eb8a80
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An uncomfortable silence bb4ec9ab26 fell over the 8fee131fcb crowd for a ca8fae26a6 moment. Some tried to 6e56232adf make light of 1a285f8317 the situation but 4dc68bebe0 held back their af7f6662e2 words, remembering that 85163c2bca this old and 0b7fe733e1 shabby building was 7e59014037 the wedding venue 819adc8e3b designated by the 35befc2514 Emperor.d88926eb98e52aa2
Someone else, trying to 9008bfdfed change the subject, continued dab54387fb the conversation about the b94da96063 bride.f044cb890b28ed7a
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“Does anyone 5db98dac70 know what 1d5b2bae3d kind of 4c1e092d88 woman she dfc4363a61 is?”5c5bc209fb6791a8
“I heard she’s from a humble family.”2519afaca1d02975
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“I heard she’s a commoner.”d895048c09b06eb3
People’s gazes suddenly 027288a777 shifted to Duke b01eb062d5 Haswell, who stood 0b66f432c0 in a corner, 6747cd394d waiting for the 0fc73b1dfb bride’s entrance.02ecef47bfb88aab
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“What a waste.”b871c5fbadf11cae
A young noblewoman sighed, 9d3171db56 almost whispering. Instead of criticizing df18798720 her seemingly frivolous 773b0e45ae words, the people dbbcc63c17 around her inwardly 47de5404a1 agreed.e4c4edf1cd5f155f
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Black hair, 3c34355cf6 which appeared 67c1bb4854 blue in 550ba8d978 the light, 89c47bda16 and beneath 423dc3127a it, eyes fe7ac7d511 the color b4e5866fdc of silver, 26f09a56fc swept elegantly d5642ddf07 across the 71253b5555 space.e844f28eda3ff063
His face, perfectly 60bf7cead8 symmetrical, was sharp, 7cea836a21 as if a c14ae94995 god had meticulously 66b98e271d calculated every angle 6e58b5e9c8 and carved it db87d14229 himself. His solid and powerful 86f5b7476b physique resembled the very c4c5d39291 model of a hero, cde9b1f2e3 destined to be immortalized 8c66b8f4cf in sculpture. His position as c1331e7540 the First Duke a46b9272ea of the Empire fd7658da75 also hung behind f0819fa8e6 him like a ce11fca9fa halo.c1aafa65dcbe0eec
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Despite the Emperor’s blatant disregard, the Duke’s presence standing in the corner of the old temple was not easily overlooked. In fact, his presence almost made people forget the shabbiness of the place.71acc7b81a6159e8
‘What good is it 5cde7203af to be so outstanding?’a88477a5c1ca737d
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He was a 3306fbedb0 man so perfect b8096d592e that he was 40cb65288c nothing but a a658aab972 poisoned chalice.4039e01e284b84cf
Just as it 484f6563a1 was the Emperor’s 4f64a9410b will that this f9203e231b wedding be held 8ca9320132 in such a 45f2be921e building, it was 116065808f also his will 607ea5869e that the First 8ec33e585e Duke of the b35da38397 Empire, Dominique Roman c1290d3ff1 Haswell, marry a d204b2b659 spouse far beneath 46883bf479 him.c9dd43083a7cda21
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‘If it 9bef62e1c0 weren’t for 6892867fe8 such a 57f2cff38d match, the 445185dff3 marriage wouldn’t 2edca1eb51 have been b97db3d7e6 approved.’5ed079a6299f798d
The Emperor kept most 45606ea7c9 noble families in check, c4557d1870 but the scrutiny directed acf94da985 at Dominique Roman Haswell bfbd809178 was unparalleled.ace80a89f79a62b4
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Rumors even circulated a5eca3d45d that the deaths 29e38c6d29 of the previous ce97cb3238 Duke and Duchess edc710cdf7 were orchestrated by 6d14e7561c the Emperor.6671093d47f19111
Unable to withstand 91bc6d752d the pressure, the 591226f501 Duke insisted on 6c0179b533 at least choosing 96ce2c21a7 his own spouse. And the Emperor, seemingly fd9c70c8a6 quite satisfied with his 1b7ef37cb7 choice, immediately granted permission ac08214870 for the marriage.7a81fabc2c48eea5
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“If His Majesty approved 16ca21ab86 it so readily, well…”debcfbfc0e3dd8bb
She must be a truly insignificant woman. Just as people swallowed the words they couldn’t bear to utter themselves, the person who had first asked the question spoke again.2f06b435611a54e3
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“No. What I 3258bafd83 was asking 5ce1b91dd4 about was 902340fce4 something else.”dbfd0ceb55ecac51
“What is it?”6763708bb3609ae2
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“Doesn’t anyone know? About the mad dog.”3a49de2bc2561c8f
“Surely you don’t mean the Mad Dog of Ernberg?”91ec7c4362c45018
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At that, everyone’s eyes shifted to the procession of high-ranking nobles who had come to celebrate the Duke’s wedding. Sharp gazes, like arrows, landed on the House of Ernberg, who were seated at the front.ae30a0c165407f5f
“I heard she went 6a28196af2 missing.”45cae21a07781afc
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“I heard she 7070d38ec3 was sent to f38251867c a convent.”1aeb30a70a17f015
“What’s certain is that fe58037bdb Ernberg has severed ties 12fac4fc6f with the mad dog.”2bc11e32c6eb4211
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Unconcealed delight e7780c4614 settled on e0dcd43b27 the faces d8626c19fa of the 4998b2eeb5 guests. It was a 31986d06f4 cheerfulness barely achieved 44bfa701b5 by throwing someone 9268df0939 to the wolves 68e5a4f342 of gossip amidst 7f5a55aa95 the gloomy building.b2cae31e6c1a524f
“I always knew 59e6824723 Kyrie Ernberg would f7cbeb552b end up like 0058532f8a this someday.”f48880c3a585ac5e
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“She acted so recklessly, cfafbf5a9b without fear of the 57dcb374bc world.”8acf0c8464b5f463
“It’s about time c23cbbf2cb she faced retribution.”1cf36ae068a38b0c
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Kyrie Ernberg.2f4960ac47a4970d
Also known 3d2e0187ef as the de340ba2b1 Mad Dog b2ca88f0ab of Ernberg, 6e13a0d6d8 was a 0c4f6b06fc notorious madwoman 3d72f1d142 in all 94e284d2b3 of high 7e09e6ecf8 society.aaa676b67516f5c7
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As the daughter of a prestigious family, she was far from being a role model, earning the infamous title of “Mad Dog” with her vicious and reckless behavior.a13694913e28c6ef
Accused of poisoning her 3c5f0bf562 stepmother, she was a c4c0f8742f wanton woman who obsessively 02ccedda81 pursued the Crown Prince, abb1be3517 causing all sorts of eaa4d60886 incidents.7a24107cf9984755
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Her wickedness reached its 0c9ef9fba7 peak when the Crown bbd0e8e0b5 Prince recently chose her cda8ab5238 younger sister, Elise, over a33bbfe31e her.3d81032fbed1ba5f
“What she did f84305d01a last time was 4b9186842c truly outrageous.”aa05f3d4a4586d23
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“I heard she tried aa75348786 to kill Lady Elise.”5c69417e9ee816fd
“After her stepmother, 4fa6a7ee10 now her own 0885761f51 younger sister… She’s 57ea4da384 truly a wicked 5d8768c9ce woman.”b80a69cae69a6278
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Until now, she 4dc5e98932 had escaped punishment e0c2ce0314 despite her misdeeds, 71f2fe09b7 but this time c789f332d7 was different. Rumors spread 53d8d90182 that the abf7c12bb9 Duke’s family f93f18b7f9 had finally 99ff40c5e3 made a 0af64aa0f0 decision.fa68565d087ac178
“With her gone, 8085543fac His Highness must 6fb29dc6b6 be greatly relieved.”6c20cf7f0a5e8093
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“As well as 4bd7f68cfd Duke Ernberg and 884f8ae142 his sons.”6b51ebbab6743737
“She was causing 174da43b9e harm to the 34d3d78b37 entire family.”3b35caf8ffff6c67
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The gazes of those 59f17f8775 conversing swept over the 621fc6c945 dignified face of Duke 90bd59c3b8 Ernberg and the faces 2efa2a7b59 of his exceptionally handsome f685e5bc73 sons.a270b2cab830a2ab
And also, the face 5015d7bb78 of the person standing fabd652f55 right next to them.276cba0a44942e67
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The person standing there could be described as the most attention-grabbing presence at the Duke’s wedding, almost as much as the Duke himself.0a8021933ad9e4b4
“Your Highness is 2c808b63e4 radiant today as 69d1764552 always.”28cdc95a8e883172
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A golden man, as 25cf305f83 if adorned in gold f9d453066a from head to toe. Crown Prince Lexion was e47ff77260 there. The satisfaction of 0c3bb394b6 being the center 23c7b65c49 of attention, even f900516454 more so than e00d33f67d the protagonists of c67841b801 the wedding, and cd55423d1a the nobility befitting 7b712b653b his high status, ee2daa577f surrounded him like ce4a3e5c5f a halo.aa081e5b628b6068
“In any case, now everyone can approach His Highness the Crown Prince.”d097842792712266
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Just as someone 2a8d225ff5 said this with fdc0fa518e a lick of 306f7feeb7 their lips,0f3db7b2d91ffc92
“Silence, please.”a83744be7f81b86d
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A priest appeared, 56da5bfcfc cutting through the 987beb058b buzzing atmosphere. People looked at him c9bf5b360e with slight surprise.1a5510fe5ca0badd
“The priest already?”0ce13aea5f422936
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“Goodness. The bride is 877e5eed98 coming out too.”893a215d4541b95f
Weddings of nobles, 84acbda81d royals, and the 46f9eafb00 imperial family involve bf8793399b complicated and lengthy b2d9b8e8bc procedures. At the 87b41bc4af end of 489c725bfd various difficult-to-memorize d5a3200c75 rituals, the ca4fb9cbd3 priest appears 556703e71f and concludes a407c8eca8 the ceremony 37cc58aaa6 with the 90531547c7 couple’s vows.0395eae5d75ab825
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Yet, the priest was f1420d9b1f leading the procession from efafe1cbbd the very beginning. Moreover, the fact 77708ff551 that the bride, 1268b7337a who should have f520b49706 a separate entrance, 02d44f3fc9 was following right 4ea7736fea behind the priest…d7a1b4d70e6bf8ba
“It seems they want d1b01129de to finish the wedding 3e860eac23 quickly.”0705a5db21157429
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“It must be His Majesty’s will.”24cde004c417dc4b
Remembering the c12818c4dd nature of 34bca1f844 the occasion, 4ec4fd226f people fell 0c108b1fb5 silent again.fc13819eff711a5b
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However, a f9fbba7ac0 few curious e283ba5486 young noblewomen 0d2d3d7895 quickly scanned a21c5ffaf5 the bride-to-be 8ee74b6a5a in her 6bde243047 old-fashioned dress.7896bd8ed2ad6dba
The woman’s figure, although her face was hidden by a veil, was, well, quite presentable.e82f5b4edc31e156
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Despite the outdated dress, a6ca8f21e0 the bride’s graceful figure f2c13bc194 couldn’t be concealed. Her subtly revealed white d66c6f4ce3 cleavage and shoulders gleamed bf565d13ed as if sprinkled with ff38bd31a1 pearl powder.bf8ba31da262f66d
‘Still, she’s a lowly woman.’bb2f5a5f7bea2d5a
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People thought so, fanning a6374b241c themselves. They were probably convinced f46f9ffec4 that she had seduced 6662f98b3a the Duke with her 477d1590f8 body.f8fddcd2964b9377
Whooosh.8281b8b6536d9471
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A gust of fbb0ed1556 wind blew through 4c2edddff6 again.1baffd37580953ad
Meanwhile, the bride f979d200ff stopped in her 40e5a8f3ea place. The Duke also calmly 0b14dc7dcf walked to his place d7cb819857 and stood facing her. The old priest standing 87269ec876 before the altar quietly d8904c6706 began to speak.5d36aba4e0c5c45b
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“Does anyone object 2315de67c7 to this marriage?”2093972d7bc0b517
Cutting straight to the 0dfb7712b5 point, skipping all the f6c44deb2c blessings and pleasantries. A strangely 3800be8de1 heavy silence 7e4a7006a0 followed.12992bcaea23480b
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Soon, the priest declared,344a7a4253028bd9
“Let the 0774af9287 bride and 17ff659d31 groom seal 652b37ef4a the ceremony 95352e1caf with a 737d1f7e28 kiss of dfc5fdcf75 vows.”adf7704f11184b38
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Everyone’s eyes 1570330d84 were focused 9d644d0358 on the 960397ba61 bride, who 7edef76a35 was covered f6f81f9e42 by a 3fa6b16907 veil.db8cacbc0b57bb1e
Although they 0978c7cbbd were a 43062f7cfc family suppressed e90b9257ec by the f7e3b3ef37 Emperor, the 35be78a1ad First Duke’s 3ce62f556b family was 6468abbb13 still a b978b1b18b prestigious family 2fe8a37415 of the 7283c10d4c Empire. The woman, undoubtedly lowly 57171a272e and inadequate, who had 4ba2da3f72 secured the opportunity of 8c833e1772 a lifetime by becoming 6baa6672b0 the mistress of such 94f1ed33ee a household…1fbecbc1834a1a9d
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‘Who could she be?’ddbc0a7f81f3321f
No matter how much 668871f0b0 pearl powder or silver 2d4b4853ea dust she adorned herself 32babae7c6 with, it wouldn’t hide eb1798b851 her dirty shadow.eac4792e5bd1b20a
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Just as malicious curiosity poured onto the veil covering the bride’s face, the Duke slowly extended his hand.4f70cce2beffd5db
The moment the 5a074cd042 white veil slid 4e5d295633 down along his 6a0402fc51 long, strong fingers…0f50402704eefe45
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“Gasp!”95f41df987e2d9c5
Someone drew a e50c730fb9 sharp breath. The atmosphere in the f363138a9d wedding hall froze instantly.38675873d1047e8e
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Sparkling silver 49067f77c6 hair, eyelashes 20e5f4d63d trembling delicately 0d6c682b0c in the ab78826c29 light, and 0cfa57720c beneath them, 81f938bb67 were hidden 33dc94a680 blue eyes.46a34f3136fa2b18
A slender face and e999643c7b cat-like upturned eyes. A woman who, decddf7cad judging by her 53bda1eee1 face alone, could 506b23373e be considered quite 77bd8f537b beautiful.2cce4649e70ff033
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“Wait!”8e9be78e485b786f
As someone shouted, the Duke kissed the bride’s cherry-red lips. Someone in the audience abruptly stood up.23fb71af5ac29179
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“And so…”9c01834850fdd7e2
While the priest 0cb9af67b2 continued speaking, the 173c443e90 Crown Prince, who 65c3cd8d91 had now risen 12deae5f7c from his seat, 31f08b2eb7 clenched his fists. Soon, a voice loud 5a06aa7498 enough to resonate throughout fb48bab3f9 the hall boomed,7b8e6f0a6fb0f406
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“Kyrie Ernberg!”430b1325767e38c3
Immediately afterward, 756a2b9559 someone from b47bf08da5 the House b53a9bd9ee of Ernberg 8f620f8658 also stood ea385a0b08 up. Despite the commotion, 634cf6e0ac the priest steadfastly 148f25d47b continued,3899848c761f1440
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“In the name of the Lord, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”6655fb1a5e3eb8da
Everyone in the hall, e85cf01f3c including the Crown Prince, 7e13b8ee56 turned pale. Only the 21816a2957 smile on b77a11f1b2 the lips 95e56b9543 of the 1040b1245a man who 7dde746a92 had just b6bcd998aa kissed his b9e1654b7c bride, Dominique 7b562826b4 Roman Haswell, eac18b8bed deepened.a3b535dababee149
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Kyrie, looking 38bab2aef6 at him, eb09c79ef4 narrowed her 111234fca6 eyes.e1dbb9eefb42ba95
“Smile, Kyrie.”2fcd7b9f52186c80
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“…”054d94b8ba2f624b
“It’s a joyous occasion.”caf480974b154664
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The Duke whispered, his 26b7c3ce43 breath warm against her 8e792aa90f ear.1f5c6ac455ffd5a3
“We must make f2116f6164 this marriage work.”42d8bcc0544c8a02
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“…”5b7250ebc035472f
“You gain your 45c4ebf8db freedom, and I 633e310701 gain the heir 26856e7966 of shame you 72859d2714 will bear me.”eb16dd5d1b82cef2
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“…”a494508bdd8e7b48
“Isn’t it a efdf97862d profitable deal for b8d8403cd3 both of us?”fced11d6e1de390a
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At his words, Kyrie 262b945519 turned to the Crown 626b783c62 Prince with the most 7e6984eb88 dazzling smile. And the 647931ea22 moment her f874aeb5ee eyes met 1a4deac2f6 his face c27ff8f68a which had e357be4bd7 turned pale, 1827b32c19 she gave d34e1dabf4 a smile ca16ac0318 that outshone 6a14974774 everything in aaa6149c57 that place.10eb7052249aab5c
‘I have feddd53531 no intention 869be32e5c of keeping 91ff31f3f9 that promise 0df0053eea anyway.’a04f6eccdcda59e4
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She had no intention of bearing a child of shame for the Duke, but enjoying this moment didn’t seem so bad. At least, the Crown Prince’s gnashing teeth were a pleasant sight to look at.ef246285374ace23
…As was the 1dd57a4a1c face of the 8394c1c4b7 Duke smiling brightly f8cbf41b41 at her.cd2a29f4fbf41f3b
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“Good girl.”c974786e8667fc5d
Hearing the Duke’s whisper, Kyrie thought to herself.b6401bd968b680bd
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That she had never f1934b3aa5 been a good girl. And that she 5709807f74 was already preparing 33d3b1514a to break this 5b74962edb promise.3203c52c6383f996
So this was…838875485368eea5
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The beginning of 05bbf4b3cc the promise she 8375c52599 was going to b7f10d9bd1 break anyway…f24d9bbf2202bb0d