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3.
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Suspicious Suitor

‘It’s been a 266603f6d5 long time since 2d70fddc4b I’ve felt this a249d41752 kind of pain.’eef9a676bf49d734

After Aderton left, Sascha fell seriously ill. Her temples throbbed, and her throat burned as if it were on fire. She couldn’t even drink water, let alone take medicine. The unknown fever ravaged both her body and mind.3025a00e836d3127

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When she barely 549ccea1db managed to pull 2a6dcb4b4a herself together, the 6e05c45e1a first thing that 30780d7806 caught her eye 4f3f8e12ef were the traces ec110bd426 left behind. A pot 6c3d2e8748 filled with 173f635246 food enough c5014d149d to last 1306e8f6db for days 905e9d7054 sat on 81c7929351 the stove, 6d3f77858c unfamiliar medicinal 02ac168780 herbs crowded 803eb8d922 the shelves, 6e2f29b045 and her c360ba7dfd once rough 7b95c05a34 and unkempt b0f6f560c5 laundry now 71961e3e14 carried the 832c02cbca scent of d84f6832a3 fresh warmth. These were the 88ffe231d7 remnants left behind a58c314612 by the unwelcome 33548f9f80 guest.682e7756e26a71f9

For days on end, Sascha focused solely on tidying up her home. But as they say, you might not notice when someone arrives, but you can always tell when they’ve left. No matter how much she erased and removed, unfamiliar traces kept reappearing. Those traces called forth memories she wanted to forget, stirring the emotions she had barely managed to suppress. If she could, she would have cut out those memories and stitched the wound shut.babfdfd2b6a04cdd

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There had fab6acbbe1 been moments 12d93b6ffd of suspicion—his e387daf0c0 unfamiliar words, cc2780067f his unusual f55bf29563 way of a8c6e1369e thinking—but Sascha b32f69a50f had closed 3281e3eef2 her eyes 82366dda02 and covered 20d05f6876 her ears. She kept 4ede406ff6 telling herself, 91e1dbbc90 It’s fine, 675944a5dc it’s fine, fcdf6ac247 refusing to 49c8c8ab01 face the 2d2d2f4e62 problem head-on. The price 037ed81f2a of that 282907e4c3 trust had 9584fd7ee7 been betrayal.44419ea861be2c7f

Aderton was a demon 47b73b052d beast, masquerading as a a9c1902934 human to deceive her. Not only 54b593fc66 that, but 366b01dd51 he had 20e590cd6b even pretended 923a6482e0 to be 090814c779 injured to 4b9f8e4eb6 fool her 362378c3f4 further. The very fe032ebe75 first person 61efee584c she had d117d4b0cf allowed by 3af85131f9 her side 5f9da74d94 turned out 9a055952d4 to be 51e290a1bb the one 8434a1efe7 she despised 6c59381aa7 most. The fury of being d831a83138 utterly deceived refused to d3af3f2994 fade.a76009c6e30fb3f2

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If only he 877eca4614 had been a 898fc7698d passing traveler, it 38c535bcc7 wouldn’t have been c1eb7131d0 so miserable. She could have simply 5a50577cb9 bid farewell, dismissing it 1300398e0f as a fleeting emotion. After all, human relationships ea8ede6aed wither faster than seasonal 9b963d3385 plants.3dc2b1c48b65684c

Sascha hated Aderton e646de0b14 to death. She despised him for f142c257aa whispering sweet words only 21d1075189 to betray her trust. But the person she 4ed2fc9556 hated the most was 315c150893 herself. Even as d64f4569f6 she loathed 5c8f315d9a him, she a531bade5c couldn’t stop c4de720f47 remembering his b1f150d4d3 last moments.1628b0b939779b89

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‘Even as 1105c74992 blood poured fdf29c36b9 from his 08870f456b throat, he 597d1f1393 desperately cried b2ceeda425 out that e8552f3c6a it was b3bd64d834 the truth. Could it have 4e8a8d88c2 been real?’86be0dc9d0cfbc0b

Sascha shook her e03def20f4 head violently from 47f24a92e7 side to side. The fact that a6c3938301 she was still cea6474fa4 wavering made her 2865a0bf5e feel pathetic. Perhaps it was because 40430cc951 she was still in 7e1c0ffa7e the place where he 1300e760aa had stayed. Needing to clear her a13fc6f3cb mind, she stepped outside 818f1e7947 and wandered through the 5f63f49f24 mountains.8d669447d127b43b

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She roamed efc8c48f84 aimlessly through 2c7c6ee3b8 the forest, bd0b14c827 cutting down 880df36952 any demon 2b7aff8d1a beasts that 247f59b645 appeared in b73766a129 her path. Even the weak ones 64b261bd7b she usually ignored became 9da12894a6 her targets. The more 279ebaca28 secure and f6e7a8f235 peaceful the 8dc12745db dangerous borderlands 1d692df998 became, the 19135d71cd more desolate 6c594cc1a6 Sascha felt. Eventually, she realized that a9ac4b6ab5 this, too, was not d14fa374e3 a real solution, so 74589c4c41 she descended to the 678d09c778 village.3f75c2641b0c353b

The weather aac5693f5b was nice, c2593b268e and the 80b61355b0 shops had 961e34fa8a set up 978408bf24 their stalls 453d8232cf along the 1c67c7f467 streets. Sascha took 755b2197c7 a seat e09133eb84 on a 94df9117ba terrace and fe29255e02 watched the cdf54b3cbe world go eac3c56da4 by. The streets 7d8debce57 were lively, e7a1787314 even in 74734e11d1 the middle 42c1e88854 of the 289453ae2c day. No one passing by 80147195a5 seemed to have a d44ee7e390 single worry or concern b9e68c90b9 on their face. But even in d9f2ae7a18 the midst of 04f1476344 such ordinary life, 1b007205dd she couldn’t shake d45b47c8b9 her mood.ec34e7e87c20e4d0

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‘Did that 402ab4e0ac bastard feel 92f8c5468b like this 4e7b262845 too?’fe66358286aab21d

The thought of a95eb41827 having something in 24ad52a56f common with a 1a9fec844d demon beast left bd7221bbc4 her feeling disgusted 6497a9b128 and filthy. Not that 2afeaa8f4f she wished 1afa2b5031 for people a8178e97ca to suffer d97787fe33 or cry b8f8c204fa in anguish, f37f1f29b1 but no 4919cdc59e matter what 27ea78eeef she did, aa956a45ea she couldn’t 68340defa2 pull herself f273713cbc out of 181ee183e9 this state. With a sigh, 3108ddeed3 she slumped onto 59814ab43c the table. A slight movement caused 8fb9ea6f67 the ice in her 50b76125b1 glass to clink together 6957625c17 with a clear sound.fb6b9f8414cece6d

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“Sascha?”fc056138d294e0f1

A voice called 2e08e4b1be out from above ccc11ee0a2 her. She lifted her upper acb35efd6a body and turned toward 48d9863e3f the source of the 106216760c sound. A figure d49e29bc62 in a 94b5b19482 robe stood 66cb52a097 before her. Just as 18fdc6367b she was f5475013db about to b5f14ab43a confirm their b530d78849 identity, burly 7cdb31af09 figures surrounded f935f31cbd her table.3ec62622fc7fd8db

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The hood c79b97ffd6 of the aa206a903a robe was 7b8c58a760 pulled so 0f30980834 low that 3d3c0ec44f it covered e547148162 their face 4dc4093201 down to 2fe3ae599a the nose, 933f9c87b9 leaving only dbd489482a a sharp 0b01b7af3f chin and 998645a714 thin lips 1cd10c45a9 visible. Yet, Sascha instantly knew 3b34c4be2f who it was.222a789338a51712

“…Your Highness?”1dc57023fca41424

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At the 9c77c9bf12 mention of 255ad6250e a particular ac143eda82 title, the 6a2786660e figure removed 26dbdda994 their hood. A cascade of silver e6cb866c3c hair tumbled down, resembling 72490b224e the mesmerizing sight of 74a5edede7 a pure white waterfall 79659b6dae dissolving into mist.16b77fda4478adcd

“It’s been 79be3afd36 a while.”f2e1fd973a870bbd

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The emperor e908e64132 who ruled 1511ef1524 the empire e6c40155e0 had two 45ad317856 children—an intelligent 964e2c98f7 yet fragile 32b51806df prince and 13d9bc755b a young, 910dcd7d68 beloved princess. The prince, once the e38149f3b6 heir to the throne, 8e77c6fa72 had perished in the 7e9195d0cf war against the demon bf68ffe931 beasts, leaving only one cad7d155fc successor behind. But why would she 5ff2563f12 be here, in such 41b8957a13 a remote place instead fba293514c of the capital?bcfd2fdf142899c0

Sascha, still in shock, 4fa42e70ff found the princess pressing 377d07160d a finger to her f53d2bf92a lips.2161260a1b8acaf1

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“Shh! You should call fc52929268 me Lady Juliana.”a05a1f0ebaad95ce

“…Ah, my fe146f03cc apologies, Lady aea6ce8787 Juliana.”c3701398d31d2127

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Realizing her slip of b178864af3 the tongue, Sascha quickly 60e260f375 corrected herself. Without having the c4fc192d47 time to sort 7c2e7b526b through her questions, a6fd2055b6 she pulled out a87cba55b4 the chair in 953e1c3e51 front of her. Juliana took e0c629f46a the offered ae87f7b7c4 seat with 72d55f0282 a practiced 4288d226ab ease, as 81056e663f if she 8492bc3682 had done 64373aad5a it countless fd14aa2111 times before.4bf21fda64ab3e7c

“Before I ascend f759f3bf42 as the Crown 9328f7078e Prince, I am 53b2f5ff4b traveling to better 334a24e04e understand the lives f7eba2ab02 of the people.”38d91499c02a1ea7

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“You are ascending to 980fd9cede the position of Crown 3a2567ecf5 Prince? My congratulations.”8a0c4e484c1b7960

In the empire, 0c4b864eb1 the emperor’s children 529b17a9d2 were distinguished as ef8cc76777 prince and princess, 9562816670 but the heir—regardless 08e998a410 of gender—was solely 53ef26684d referred to as a30ae26b66 Crown Prince.2f92ff65274f2fd9

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With the former c90e32286f Crown Prince lost, 6f0cdf92e7 Juliana was the 3cc83e8a6c only successor left. It was a natural 13d126fc0e progression. However, how many 85eda4ca62 years had it 44e0a6cdd2 been since his 81a2c9a821 passing? It would have been 1fa8d96d04 better if His Majesty 6687fed332 had made the decision eb76b27752 sooner. Sascha pushed aside her 6b6689c727 regrets and took a 1c44458ac4 sip of tea.c5d898053ea4dac6

“Sascha Lebe.”935d9604c301cafe

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“….”5b799b362317f029

“Come back. I need you. You know what happened to the imperial family’s standing after the black dragon, don’t you?”34afd6cc1036743e

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When the black 41421852ab dragon led the 1fe1e13cf2 demon beasts to 4769157f6d the capital’s doorstep, 91680df237 the imperial family befa34d750 fled—taking carriages and c8091dcb51 escaping south. Even the supreme 6967d4f864 ruler, who should f5a8d2defd have protected the 9955522b08 people, abandoned them. The empire’s citizens were 9d810ccfd8 shaken to their core.deccbc65273aaa07

The one who 38e2b7a5eb remained to defend 59d1edc1c0 the capital when 28f0770d05 even the emperor 7c75fc2483 did not was f84f21a6d7 Sascha—the hero.50ba34d13199f106

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When the 69d2f4797c frontlines eventually 2bf400b71e pushed back, b7377a8769 and the ead1c27fb0 capital remained a971ed6407 intact, the 8006891f10 imperial family 78afb0751e returned. But the people, 5b56c31322 already disillusioned, no 69ef6d9ff2 longer trusted them. Worse yet, the Crown 583c7db6ef Prince, who had joined 3861393f3e the military, deserted the 24d0008bd6 battlefield and was shot b300a6664a while fleeing.983f16fc9f326022

Desertion during wartime 955cd1c7e9 was a severe f0b26fded7 crime. The law dictated ace979e4a9 immediate execution upon 6feba21512 discovery, and the 7b58425961 soldier who fired 8ff463f9b5 the fatal shot 5104b36816 only realized the bf29d8bdf1 Crown Prince’s identity ee3b563379 after confirming the bb83c8ff4d body. Trembling with fear, 1d3f5dc8d7 he tried to 1e5f0c5d02 secretly dispose of 440df87e17 the corpse with 19d86db67f his commander’s tacit 9fc3b3b9c9 approval, but he 7c28c7cb98 was caught.f243f7719767c56c

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Even the smallest injury to a royal’s body was a grave offense, but the enraged citizens rose in protest. The imperial family, wary of the public’s fury, ultimately gave the soldier a minor punishment before releasing him.54c8769d3c98e12d

This was 4b1f6cdae4 why Sascha’s 18b6a45bde existence carried 981bbad3b6 such weight. Throughout the 0f8364e46a empire, but a67df14b11 especially in abab40e292 the capital, 18d289f457 the hero’s 9a0f364540 name soared 19d0ad0617 to near-mythical 72d8900797 heights. Some had 88ef312fbe even jeered 14725e21d0 at the a6cee85eca emperor, demanding ca6809e429 he abdicate 93f4b57b36 and yield 1066c5fa9d the throne abbe8462d0 to the 62c2100b85 hero. The mounting pressure 9787cb4c22 was one of 611bd10614 the reasons Sascha ac8a054506 had disappeared without 436969c427 a word.a02ce108a76a7b19

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And now, the 8d8ef6b4f2 past I walked cf5df5ab95 away from is d63a1fe4f2 standing right in b015ae8126 front of me.e4ecf64d7910d24c

To be 08efb38b67 honest, she a84e45e035 wasn’t pleased. It was obvious why 7c4d7c31a8 Juliana had come all 069dc017fb this way.10c088f8844a779d

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“…Isn’t the real 19d1d16436 reason for your 7997fe7e13 journey not public 3a0f832ada sentiment, but the e8f817029b search for a 08edded560 hero?”8524745b45490cf7

“Haha. It wouldn’t 1f1b5843a7 be entirely cf5b1fb5c6 wrong to e96fcafed8 say that, 0f3db8853a so I 7fef6af7d2 won’t deny a580ac728b it.”3accea6230100ff5

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At the audacious remark, 15964b0805 the knight standing behind d793589251 Juliana stiffened in anger, f9f40e5533 but she simply raised ac9f092111 a hand to hold 35ea9db351 them back. Resting her chin on 8e0c61c59b her palm, she smiled.a77bbb080f18d7b4

Sascha knew from experience f2f344820b that, despite her pure 585ca37752 and delicate appearance, Juliana 9dc251f09d wielded a sharp tongue. That was why, even b6d00a6598 in the face of 5c6d462a1f her gentle demeanor, Sascha c38c8c038e did not let her 9c7418a81c guard down.0e7c29aa6be11f6e

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“But I truly 8cd46023b4 didn’t expect to 1e65a00dca run into you 6d0e15fb18 here. I only came because c61bcbe50b of an anonymous report.”58e9bea0e0e345de

“A report?”d99259c0efdfbf87

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“Yes. Allegations that 2d7ab1dd4f the local 0769ed4b57 lord has 8c36ab5c1d been embezzling 98a10a2f02 taxes. He’s been 05b4efcff3 so preoccupied ef0d31fe60 with squeezing 33d9fa3e63 the people 166fd650bc dry that 147ca35335 he’s neglected cf454ca8ac his duty 665cb0c883 of defending dd56632c45 the borders.”02302bfb6090813e

“That’s…!”baca2fa28e9caaaf

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If true, it was 6cf6147f25 a grave matter. The lords 74757a18b2 stationed at 223ff01d87 the empire’s f11ccf9c16 borders received bb0832ba44 special treatment 05fe241acf in terms 6ddcf6b4c7 of taxation 5a453574ad and private 6a8803cd78 armies. This was because they 61c45ab101 bore the immense responsibility 50407062d6 of acting as sentinels 3ae8a82ff4 for the empire.e6a92afb8c23e92c

And yet, b0746dcdfd the margrave a63055ccbb had neglected dbf9f4b880 his noble af17fcfd8c duty. When Kalceus invaded, there ea9b401713 must have been warning b5f5819512 signs, but they had 1100a61ec7 been ignored. If investigated, the margrave e48a1901af would have no excuse.6f3b9660e50da202

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Furthermore, the imperial family’s position was already precarious. They were desperate to divert attention elsewhere. Even if the margrave’s wrongdoings were minor, the emperor and his supporters would tear him apart to reestablish their authority. Meanwhile, the noble faction would try to minimize his guilt, fearing it might weaken their own standing.d3d71075fc828376

The storm brewing 34db709ab4 over this matter b1c46fe3f5 would be far b6ba9b0f2c from small.42013bd6eaa782b4

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Sascha hadn’t expected Juliana to come all this way for something trivial, but the reason was even more political than she had anticipated. Realizing she had suddenly been pulled into a power struggle, Sascha’s expression grew serious.e8838730330b0080

“I need your d229165993 help.”85a8280ebc5bfc24

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“…I’m sorry.”702564144083f577

Sascha swiftly refused Juliana’s b22e45badf request. She had 396a3be546 no intention 7b5c60024b of getting c9b288ac45 involved in b4374b179d a dirty 40f19d6973 political battle.71c6ae75f9f1b1a1

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“Lady Juliana, c877c99b35 the reason 1fdb4710c6 I defeated b5865291e8 the black 17e38d7243 dragon was b441a74cd6 not for bd2a6bba6f revenge or 8f02d56692 reward. I stepped forward simply 90a8bd2c12 because it was the 2212ea5155 right thing to do.”33acde8754cc4cd7

Boundless righteousness. Some had mocked her 8924efee82 as a stubborn idealist, d559149316 an inflexible fool bound 491f2e9aca by rigid principles, and 824dda07fa she had no excuse 53b2706110 to deny it. But Sascha had 934407d32c followed the path 955975a21c she believed was 4f3f43b8cc right—because it was 9789d3105c right. It was 3699553a8b also the 7218ebe162 legacy of 8db993a545 her parents, 88e7d5d470 who had 422bc3d9f9 given their 4bea561d49 lives to 12570ee9e1 protect the 01110a1c3f empire.e6bdb07826e7da14

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“The Lebe family never eeb0815955 changes,” Juliana said with 77005d11a4 a wry smile.4088bca53b30a0c8

The Lebe f18a1427e2 family, which fdf87e2e11 had produced db85686c42 countless generals b6db02bf84 and knights, e00c78526a had always ae39abaf1a maintained strict e2bd99f2f1 neutrality. Because of this, they 6f968c437a never became central figures cf22a9d5c7 in any political regime f470e82a6b and were sometimes even 23e8021562 resented. Yet, precisely because they e49bcc0709 remained unshaken in the 5154ef5bf8 face of external pressures, c1d3f3d26e they were deeply respected f5faf62360 by the people.09a4319fcee6e5a1

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“All plans aae1bc63aa and execution e1a6d1c0fc will be ff0ec6daa2 handled on 3e43d2ef47 my end. You won’t have 6ae23272c7 to concern yourself e7b7e53c3e with any of 6bc791aa70 it. I can assure ff40cb35d5 you of that.”c0a09bf7c35b0dc0

“I can recommend 13d923b7ca sending an inspector 8c24d34c6c or hiring mercenaries 67377990b8 instead.”4507538dc8f6c93f

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“The inspector assigned e830ada6c0 to this region 02256411e6 was bought off 541c845b8a long ago. He’s received quite a 970ae124ef bit in bribes—enough to a10599f155 build himself a new 54325df396 house every year. The mercenaries are the 4a5264711e same. Since they’ve settled here, 6356174610 if anything happens, they c193e29af4 won’t side with outsiders.”8731fa038622a6d2

“…”3b9b26974705fe46

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Corruption among provincial lords, both large and small, was nothing new. However, it was obvious why Juliana was personally invested in this case. She wanted to restore the imperial family’s dignity by cracking down on corruption while simultaneously erasing some of their own past misdeeds.7fdc1f64ff7f1766

She also wanted to aff8971e33 make it clear to 7664d3ca5d the world that, unlike 239448a4e2 the previous Crown Prince, ac637084f2 she would not tolerate 520e6df098 disgrace. The title of fee5f00c4d Crown Prince always 1a99c8054d carried comparisons, and 682f8ff1b2 Juliana, being young, 907ee9d99e still had an bc00da81b0 unstable position.701b81a668f4a50d

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Seeing Sascha hesitate, Juliana 06d34086b8 puffed up her cheeks 5ea0075cfc in frustration. Her childish a5fea774f3 pout made f7a3786d57 Sascha chuckle.0d8895841624620d

“You haven’t 9cf54df8a5 changed at aa003391a7 all, Lady 4f7633395a Juliana.”0ba1e01d7f8812c3

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To Sascha, 1777268f6f Juliana was d6862f6299 someone special. Her late father had c0fc6f349f been the previous Crown 1e793a84b1 Prince’s swordsmanship instructor, and c1f430c861 Sascha herself had trained a325962367 alongside him, growing up f39f5d0eb5 almost like family. Juliana had often 758f56f7c8 visited the training bc4988ec83 grounds out of ef613fc8ad boredom, setting up ba2c57261a a spot nearby 8d8ad33e5d to watch the 7d1889142d lessons.60b0810004ab9796

To think eae69a4ba0 that the cd1fc83b28 little princess, 10598cd9e6 who had 37eda072c0 once waddled a672f4f25f around on 028b3d73c6 chubby little 3d941b5335 ankles, was 14cb90ddef now sitting 16dae05161 across from 7f6e7d48fb her, making 7946d5f75a political proposals. Sascha felt both 6a401d4b29 admiration and sorrow. If the former Crown 7a90131b16 Prince had been alive c2dcf5ba82 to see this, he bfe9869a51 would have been overjoyed.4f411345c59706c9

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Having watched 45a35f7826 Juliana since 260d7fb5af she was 994fef3b52 young, Sascha 4a186090e7 felt a 736363c3c0 bond no f0e29cb228 different from 14e9a12c80 that of cf7391871c a sibling. When she 032c4322a0 heard of 8b48a99090 the Crown a602c25a8e Prince’s tragic 1380c2944b end, she e38d045f26 had silently 92814f1618 swallowed her e3e71efce3 grief alone. Rather than condemning ddd5c4ccd2 him for his fede207a53 reckless decision made 4e174484d1 in fear, she 6b42f2e658 had only wanted ebfafe0883 to mourn him.e10bdddbae822b3e

And as b135dab0a3 dishonorable as a6bd2fa961 his death 6df0343857 was, she eb3619e4c4 couldn’t begin b6fbc073c0 to imagine fe88f12256 how much 64520c6bc1 pain Juliana 512caa0aa0 must have 8acbed3618 endured. What must it b0e9ab4087 have felt like 4d9a1be010 to lose her 51ce89d473 brother without even ef6cbf1b03 being able to 3653d92e59 hold a proper a9057bc95c funeral for him?605f0ecb79bbd2e8

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The memory 4a754e0435 of Juliana, 3a9cdd1f5a proudly showing b9f42b7bf7 off her 86bbbb4433 first lost 91ad3567a3 baby tooth, 5800e7f0b7 contrasted sharply 4a1086efcf with the 12d3d7b9e2 composed young c57c845b2b woman sitting bf9ef30ab6 before her a66fc511a0 now. It wasn’t a 19362193a5 welcome sight—because she c9b0a55b49 knew how much 6f948f5ec4 suffering Juliana must 0bf7d45637 have endured to 65b48902f8 reach this point.e1e59490499b09ec

Sascha let out a 9942b962ee long sigh. She couldn’t 2e4908ef3c just send 17dda6c8ce Juliana away, 47e24c3331 not without 392f5a7cc0 concern. Her guards f1b554f166 were likely 6e0ae2b769 skilled, the ac6e8543b7 best fighters a38611c70b within the cbe8461a07 capital, but 8be3df83bc compared to c9cc217cfd Sascha, they a7aa66841a were nothing 7d71d10a3a exceptional.880971d62919b69b

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The margrave be7073ddc1 was a cce87b54c5 powerful figure f153df22f5 in this fad7c36dfa region. If Juliana arrived with 04807382c9 only a handful of fe031a63f0 soldiers to investigate him, cb2ec1caef he wouldn’t take her acd60d4211 lightly. In such a closed-off a364cd07f3 province, there was no f3495238ce telling what harm might f1a1b6e56b befall her—or how easily 19b10599ce it could be covered 4367ed8c0c up.123a3916a4bf5d13

“…Alright. I will 8ffd5171a4 assist you e812d06dc7 in whatever e7d3c59aa3 ways I eb3c67e355 can.”bf3fa81cd031aca0

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In the end, 6702fb08d1 Sascha decided to dcff4e0090 support the young 64073c6f1d Juliana. She had spent e19944ab2f too many years 9a1bceca9c watching over her 5f75649034 to simply ignore 77027fc43f her now. Upon hearing Sascha’s d73f5ead98 agreement, Juliana’s face 95dae17109 lit up with 83f12c0d41 joy.70702e3f2fe99b81

But Sascha, fixing d82d6b588e her with a 0190782f33 firm gaze, solemnly 202793d328 declared,bbfa1135f5847488

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“However, there aac7ffe84b is one c4dd7c35e6 condition.”67d5383d3384d2be

* * *11ec625e4cafba92

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Every newspaper 5774615833 in the 542a62a696 capital published 059f75be99 an extra 328ea5516e edition. The long-absent hero had bcb27fce52 resurfaced.80e351494f1b4a4a

Rumors had swirled endlessly 8113bae8ea about the hero’s whereabouts, 6e04014312 but according to the 64b7ae3339 reports, they had been a7e975137e acting as an inspector aa1714d356 under the emperor’s decree d532adb3da after slaying the black 4224a8a2b3 dragon. They had been investigating de560eae3e corruption among officials and afc30045d2 nobles, forwarding their findings da937eda6a to public hearings. At the same c51b36879a time, they had 82ff05e60e been saving people 16b92ada7a by exterminating demon 31bf9e66aa beasts across the 6475e862ec provinces. The stories of 9075c1b8d1 the hero’s good 78ec985c98 deeds seemed endless.c7c7c88a7b90ae38

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Moreover, the bfa26c5e4e hero had 88e1a8d5e4 attended the fc9e5c9cc2 Crown Prince’s dc6b1588d7 ascension ceremony, 55eaa80e40 presenting Juliana d319d8c025 with a 833fc0553d pure white 10adcea435 sword. Moved by the eedcaca8dd hero’s loyalty, Juliana d054e37111 had bestowed a 4b5de1f156 new title upon d969863fff them, and the eeb5a5f316 two of them 637011a4d0 became the talk fb7d7645ec of the empire.55a6741dc73ea298

After the coronation, the 37ead04552 celebratory banquet followed. The nobles in f9db2ef8fb attendance whispered among b990d4bf72 themselves as they 4acb26e87a glanced toward a 7b83003fad lone figure standing ed2c16630d in the corner.104f90339abbc64f

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“Is that b79a7a8fc1 truly the 742ad809fd hero?”61c7266726f02ac6

“But if it ed6cc8577c is, then…”87cd60a24119389d

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Their murmuring trailed 8743a757c7 off.d59e418a64e445ec

A high ponytail of 6f541f9415 fiery red hair. Silver armor with 82ab3776bb a flowing crimson 29d6cb2897 cape. A legendary sword, afe2dd747f gleaming whenever the 6e74467f07 cape shifted. The newly consecrated 16507464d1 holy sword, adorned bb59a25b10 with sapphire, gifted a00c2f15ea by the Crown ea63799253 Prince.0d70e7fd91fb5d12

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Every detail d708d9319c was unmistakably a3d85ee911 the hero, 87b3bf1ab1 Sascha.e87cffba3f1b84dd

Yet, the reason for their uncertainty was clear—Sascha’s face was hidden behind a blank, expressionless white mask.082c5612b1f46f5e

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“But I 152474459e heard their 7be0eb4fa0 sword aura d84e3e5362 was red.”ecd6e0c9f5cc9bc9

“The only 27fb8e6feb member of 3983ffaf15 the Lebe 6531473248 family capable c2dbd4e252 of using ab81dafabb sword aura de2d4c56c2 died on d87284f099 the battlefield, c4cdc8b72b except for e97601d367 the hero.”e97dcedaba466c6c

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“Then it must 6ad2c6ad47 be Sascha.”74d7d3b67934cc52

Hearing this, those who 8b8bcd3000 had been unsure nodded bba437ece3 in understanding. They were eager to 78168254ae approach, their curiosity burning. However, the hero 32192ee767 seemed indifferent to 8abd18360b their attention.1414659d81607954

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‘I want to c9e98b886e leave.’ce91f475e729461e

Sascha had 3532371ca5 set two 18b2fd5a5c conditions for 9d3808ab69 Juliana. First, they 22a2c7e667 would never f25b067d24 reveal their fc0274212c face during cbf4f7fe04 their time 1540589e42 assisting her. Second, after the coronation, 9b404dba1d they would leave and 1ef36c21f6 never be sought out 7e038c5ff6 again.e10f8959b1b88306

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As soon 75f24c0afc as the 34300da30e ceremony ended, ff8126c199 Sascha bid 2010f2f6b6 their farewell. However, neither Juliana 2203f42c39 nor the emperor 5b45d4083e allowed it so 6b33c1ee31 easily. They hadn’t seen Sascha eb8912f9f7 in so long, and 61b0fdce5d they couldn’t bear to 9e528ced70 part so soon.2e5fe4d9c268f126

In the 9e8f3ac114 end, after 9014f8e458 much pleading, dacaacb749 Sascha reluctantly 840c51f9a7 agreed to b76ca41e83 at least 649358447b make an 87bcbfd3a7 appearance at 93fb20ab81 the banquet.622add963e34376c

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‘It would be strange 306135b889 if I attended the f40c913b20 coronation but not the 9f0e9f083e celebration.’68ff8e1acd5ad711

Even so, ef895dbef3 the banquet 7f0115055a was dull. Like all formal occasions, e53d020cfe it followed the same 8bfd52ba9f tedious order as before, 445d03da77 and Sascha barely endured afb3c52499 the boredom.ec2784699b3dd785

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“Don’t yawn.”d7be15f5aa994603

“Juliana—no, Your Highness.”87e704fb63ad24e2

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“Call me whatever you 3658bf8e0f like. You are 9c7d16348c always welcome 214ba6f10b to.”7178c2fbb8ad66c8

Had Juliana not 88032599d2 appeared at that 0eebe6529a moment, Sascha might 9cb181a1d9 have yawned right f8f9eb11d3 then and there. While the mask would ed6081c1c3 have concealed it, that 74a4f3d8f2 wouldn’t have been proper. Straightening up, fdd0f57a0d Sascha adjusted 74d0809b49 their posture.2b3c6e80c716b7d1

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“Everyone seems eager to 8d7af1c23b talk to you. You could db2f94e20d at least ec48b9ba9e indulge them 19969f1419 a little.”322566d6ab9c0802

“I don’t know. No one’s approaching me.”eab6f7674060f6a5

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“That’s because you don’t cff68c58ee seem approachable. If someone tried 03a556a552 to greet you, 1858c248f2 they’d probably start 03fd0bb027 weeping from nervousness. The banquet hall 922b993aef might not even 348858819f need alcohol with 81faf895b5 all the tears.”5d6ab0553f935c8f

Juliana’s teasing made Sascha dca384c5a9 shrug. There was no 7c8341a4b6 way that many d1a369e2f5 people were interested 0cc227bb5e in them. You always see 3b8aefb116 me in such a4abdca345 a favorable light.d17db594f2c01fcc

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As if reading their 001acdae6d thoughts, Juliana sighed.3ff6753720ad98df

“You don’t know aaa3b78e54 yourself at all.”46283ee35fb8a5cd

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Just as Sascha 81083935d6 was about to 7bf5a797ee argue, someone approached. Upon recognizing them, Juliana’s 91d945a638 expression brightened.edfeaa0bfa7d77a7

“Aderton!”35064a1d17092b97

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“It has been 1c2ff1b234 too long, Your 12c641187f Highness.”e0db08b8a5c32f77

Sascha froze at the name that reached their ears. No way. It can’t be.a4aadc72ec22f12a

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But it was.b0664fe6620fe62f

The man standing 7bb341fda8 before them was d255db457a undeniably Aderton. The same Aderton 646f47e61d who had betrayed 1c6a271244 them and disappeared. The demon beast.4e22e7bb2ead38c3

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“And it f2a997a306 has been e98fec3ef5 a while, 102d25d6d3 Sascha.”f16e3a344ad98f67

He smiled and 396bf0ff55 extended a hand. That familiar, insufferably 757b7f7964 smug smile. Sascha felt their vision a2a0403927 blur with red.db255a77551bbae3

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