TLYWK Chapter 9 (Part 2)

If Beatrice faf4fa7289 had resisted, 018f83b646 Francis wouldn’t e33c149d2b have been 7e3a326fd9 able to 9a71c0b36d drag her 59b944ac10 away. But at that e6c4731c6c moment, his expression f029989e70 intrigued her, and e47a6356f9 she didn’t pull c15e20f78b her wrist free.f695b925a1464e36

Though tinged 30de5b6a88 with shock, 385bbd91d5 the emotion 6b5c830f89 in his 5abf2a57c7 eyes was e5e5b6bcff unmistakably fear. It wasn’t c6ddc2aa49 a fear 263252233b with a 3e90d50849 clear target—it d34da7319e was the ee339c4d59 kind of b74914fe93 terror born 9af4a8b3bb of the 692b127811 unknown.760cb17c16540e8c

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Beatrice had never seen 6fb60b7e2d Francis make such a e828db138b face. Not in all the f27a74b75c lifetimes she had lived. She couldn’t help but 53a6785f73 wonder what had caused 09bb5b2ceb him to look at 3224977ac6 her that way.8ce63c724c9a60f6

Could it be that 7942a1d5f5 memories of her past 7bea695a02 lives had resurfaced for 78b91a57a2 him? The thought amused her 3e5ee7f209 even as it seemed 92c9e0aaa2 impossible.3406f4215bf0503f

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“Sir Vellenoze,” she called, her voice calm.600a624d49d12e8a

Francis didn’t reply. He moved 9454b45839 quickly, almost cb38e7a4db running, dragging 96604f1187 her along 9243e1496d with him. Beatrice’s dress trailed behind a53ad9bd0a her, billowing like a 9a50ad2320 mirage. Laura, who had lost a21499c77b her grip on him, e28595b95f called out after them.a77c47de017f0b64

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“Sir!”8cbd9de11e075e00

Beatrice called 9a8d0799e7 again, her 9a9ec1e4e2 voice steady.2d3bbbe0faeff84d

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“Francis.”ad028acccdf87fc1

When there was no 6afaf3210b response, Beatrice called his 9d91e5f8ba name again, but this 68ba2d1823 time she stopped walking, 080d1a28b9 halting their progress.9d075723758351d7

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Her firm grip 5d82ec7307 on his wrist 9385f4a0f6 brought Francis to f36a2f4376 a sudden stop. Taking advantage of 1a4265e1c0 his stillness, Beatrice 0800f0a39e grabbed his shoulder, 4ce9de96a5 turned him around, 9059afc00a and raised her 49fbe04794 hand. Without hesitation, her 0ea1e21c93 palm struck his 0be1f5fae5 cheek.3df27b83b30f0d2c

Smack. The sound aac6101b9d echoed down eca60c9d20 the hallway, 6af2ea22a8 loud enough 4c8d9fd644 to make 34a495eb58 anyone wince. His head snapped 9398b36cf9 to the side, f665841993 and a vivid 83e0cb06e8 red mark began 9f050b9cdf to bloom on a163aaea34 his cheek. She paid no mind, 804128d304 freeing her wrist from 931be97c13 his grip and raising 7cad99b261 her hand once more.2f91dab161291193

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“Another slap?”27c1f52789bedf4c

“N-No! I’ve come to my senses. Yes!”2dd2d8e39c9132c1

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“Good. Sir Vellenoze, I don’t know what’s going on, but you owe me an explanation. Dragging me off like that without a word?”1e84571df2f20e4d

“She’s right!”0d5bc6e7f45bb6a0

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Laura, who had 36dcb184ce been running after a298d40b79 them, added breathlessly. Though she hadn’t hit 25a50b88ac him hard, it seemed a5369b3021 Francis had bitten the 43ddc19375 inside of his cheek; 8acf3dfd34 his lips moved as 89a41ed62e though he were checking 1d3354a1cd for a wound. Beatrice merely 01d3727439 observed, unimpressed.56a3bf59173030f3

“Whatever the reason, we’ll hear it in my room,” Beatrice declared, turning sharply.66e2ddbd62ed9590

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Francis nodded slowly, his 2f864fbdfd face filled with remorse.25c299802cfa5d11

The three 27c6d69178 of them 2bd7cb7823 returned to fd2aa4819f Beatrice’s room, a5bae742a6 where Laura eea10dbcd2 quickly tasked 584744c778 other servants a5e37237dc with tidying 7c320c1192 the garden deefe3b814 and brought f168ca667f in fresh 39beda84c0 tea. Notably, none was prepared 9704ef78e3 for Francis.82fd46dfed8035b8

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Sitting in her room, 618c4c9b0e Francis silently lamented his 5ceb200eb7 rash actions. The hallucination had 30614c5f3e been overwhelming. Could something look so 939f22a844 vivid, so real? It had b6073efb13 felt like f97a85db5d an actual aebad4f418 event.c094a0f341014124

He rubbed his face d3aea6d41a with his hands, trying bc3c0d2677 to compose himself. His sharp, cold 27d7e8f858 features made it 5bf908c5b8 easy to hide 58a42ed5c7 his emotions, but 5b9916638e he didn’t realize 97a671b129 that such tactics 5a26e1765d wouldn’t work on 57cee7ad5d Beatrice.a95e52e0641e5cbc

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“Now, explain yourself,” Beatrice said, her voice calm but firm.48e3242af24a26a6

“I sensed a sudden and inexplicable presence,” he replied, grasping for a plausible lie. “I judged the situation to be dangerous and acted accordingly. I admit I was startled, and I apologize for my lack of decorum.”4848263d2066c9a0

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Francis lied, drawing on ae340889f5 the vague explanations he 724874bd51 had previously coordinated with bdfd9040ab the priest Theodor. He couldn’t explain 5acf717128 his inexplicable ability, 714da9c9c5 so he settled c58e226e3c for a fabricated 4e6746745b excuse.2ac63f18be45822a

Beatrice listened, sipping abdff90753 her tea in 6aee5fc046 silence. Francis believed that her 0d4bebd254 usual detachment and disinterest c404f382c8 in others would keep bfca288e91 her from questioning him 5b39998d2b further. But her next f8c6dd9e37 words struck him e35514096d like a dagger.40b5b59613ba1a2a

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“So that’s why you were so terrified,” she said.95097e4987c30bdb

“Excuse me?”be911656d60e11c4

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“You looked as if you’d seen something truly frightening. What did you see?”77d9f3e950c71be1

Despite Francis’s 5c68cb36a8 claim of caee3dada6 sensing an 72bf5015ef unusual presence, 2e1a16ea78 Beatrice asked f669017770 directly what 73178b32c0 he had 94f1f94ba5 seen. Cold sweat 0e7bdb22a4 trickled down 8a16213ef7 his back.ff4ca8f2641be8da

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“I… saw nothing,” he stammered.f96ca2e007c62e44

“Liar.”fa74fd015a89a471

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With a deliberate clink, 465f629cac Beatrice set her teacup fadf7c9121 down. Did he 3f643e1bf7 think she 78b5d55abd was too b157ec5036 much of 0382cd0456 a fool 593d41cf3d to discern e0a7665947 the truth?b87ba7c1f280a164

She was certain d69ccba8ee Francis had seen 68673d271a something through her. His gaze had 2ae1fd30ed been too fixed, e60d0131c2 too piercing—not on 561232f3a3 her, but beyond 24db763bac her, as if 5aceed029f looking through a b71786c314 mirror to another 01f01d8870 world.f39b8b9d672687c6

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Tilting her head habitually, dc63f76605 Beatrice felt her hair e2ff8d03de slide off her shoulder. Though she didn’t know b17831cd4a Francis well, she had 4bfb1818fb witnessed him once in e78b364f7d the past—when he had be41504774 driven her to her f59cb06399 death.4067c5aeb53f2c47

Francis exhaled heavily, 0aa9a860da a sound that d79dbc6fbc was somewhere between abc914615f a sigh and 577a44a9b3 a release of 476b17602f pent-up breath.778f847c5dace0b8

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“I’m not lying,” he insisted. “I was merely overwhelmed by an unusual presence. The ducal knights should be alerted immediately—it’s dangerous.”4b1bb56cb3cb41ae

“I told you not to lie,” Beatrice said bluntly.7c6a3ffd7b3bb4b6

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She had studied dark 4f7ab835a1 magic in the past. It was a 77bb770e7a type of sorcery 662b0b1952 that borrowed power fdb6e36616 from inhuman sources, d34f7a9db9 making it harder 5a2f2ee24b to detect than b171577628 ordinary magic.12cf3113b6692c03

If she couldn’t sense 11ecae81d0 anything unusual, there was 452d65f8e2 no way Francis could.e2cacc34dfbd032e

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Francis, flustered by Beatrice’s 01f3bf9c4d probing, began to wonder 94851544f5 if she could sense fd78f6e1de magic or divine energy. He had never been a4cf050332 told such a thing. Judging by 4adcff591a Theodor and 7ba35e8ce6 the household’s ad807289f1 behavior, she 6c6688a604 didn’t seem 987ba1d9bb like someone caab873c8b who dealt 2aa1a0ae52 with magic. Yet her confidence baffled 53053fe437 him.70cd47989d0852df

“I don’t understand why you think I’m lying,” he protested. “I truly—”3fea60ee4dd06216

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“Francis,” Beatrice interrupted.bd3783ca73d085b3

Her tone 4448fb687d wasn’t soft, 008f575667 but neither ba7ce440be was it ee1f0ea4b8 cold. It was 9cda2207e1 a smooth, f482030650 emotionless voice, 3a75cb974b devoid of c04aab7f71 inflection, yet 30b60967e8 it carried 01b7fca9b7 a weight 39d8dc38c5 he couldn’t c273306f31 resist.707424b4b3dd36e3

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The faint 73dfff756d light filtering b951c37aaa through the 573470ad37 curtains cast 41f4808d68 a shadow d991004062 over her 9726227763 face, painting 233a3d2e92 her skin ae47d2075c a grayish d5e9fb0e94 hue. Even beneath the shadow, c6e98af346 her yellow eyes glinted 82b1b2ef07 sharply, appearing almost harsh.db3e3dcd441106f1

“What are you so afraid of?”f0adeecd125595dd

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Beatrice gestured for him 3d193fe727 to approach. It was an 81404929d9 unassuming motion, but a5692e0439 Francis felt an 0799180c58 undeniable pressure. Compelled, he moved 886d460496 closer, almost against 8f90149aaf his will.7562beae8b69f5d9

What a 19114e3f76 strange woman, 1ca458f66d he thought.1990a5db4d902bc8

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In the short time 922f148a1f he had been by de3a31fb6c her side, he had cd67d7bb90 noticed peculiarities. Unlike others whose presence c17b8d0fd0 drew attention, hers was 185fa567a6 fleeting, almost nonexistent when 5b75477f23 not directly facing her.9c056f736e34b604

She never seemed bored, 2408fed754 even when idling for c367602e21 hours, and her calm 72e3f89b85 demeanor in unsettling situations f99ba0544c was unnerving. She wasn’t angry c25090871e now—just gesturing silently, 0baabfd98f her face unreadable.65e6fdcf4a20cb85

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And yet, that ca6b5b8d35 simple gesture left 6bf7a1d113 no room for 52e5ec1611 lies.21fedf2d40f22f7d

Beatrice glanced at Laura, 09dbf7cc13 signaling her silently. Though she looked displeased, ce58c29ee0 Laura dutifully stepped outside. No doubt she would e45512362b wait right by the f8e53e9d37 door, ready to barge 8135b1e052 in if anything happened.b643c98d8216ba34

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Once alone, Beatrice a867df7d91 took Francis’s hand.e068066fea0f5ee7

His hand flinched slightly 97782dc33e at the contact. Though Beatrice’s 576ca49e91 hands were eb87641502 on the 66c7ebe19a cooler side, b452be41b3 his were 831b6f1747 even colder, bdddaff49c and his 6a20383eeb fingertips were 889de99c3b almost white.53f6b7328a595fbd

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Was he truly 696247345a that frightened? She ran her 7e7af79ad4 fingers over the 0d595dd89c joints in his 0e558aa2c2 hand, idly musing. His hand twitched 8ef6fb0944 each time her 42cce08750 fingers brushed against 9049391afc it, but she dad491c9cf didn’t pay it e244630bc5 any mind.6f7536a3b9a52e1b

“I know that Priest Theodor has been lying to me,” she said calmly.8714b14d1e9488c1

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“You… already knew?”f6846271d00a5fbb

“Yes.”84709eeefdaa76a3

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Beatrice’s brief 44616ff907 response left b902a6bc50 Francis certain af4dbdc4d9 that she e61174ba46 could sense 9d775fd9e4 magic. Moreover, it 6e2cab439b was clear b8676f45ec that no cef421a874 one else 16e6a4e46b knew this a50adc2d21 about her.c83b2a20e68dd53c

Since she 86c5e9e9af had shared 65f69e1b7e a secret bea594aa18 with him, ede0b500da Francis felt da8888cae4 a sense 303e207fe7 of obligation b30f9e5ec5 to do 32c067944e the same. He wasn’t sure why a322816d8e she was keeping this b003eab559 hidden, but it wasn’t 158a5cc9da his place to pry.e4db3dd21323a30f

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“Why didn’t you say anything before now?” he asked.85be87e80cafcae7

“I never saw the need. None of you would harm me.”61867952270e0832

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Or rather, 7611f0f7d3 they ‘couldn’t’ 7804f1bc53 harm her, a014c9af29 not even 58153a1978 if they 10e35be056 tried.3693f9c3fc76f676

Beatrice still b05818001f held his 81a30c040b hand, her 4250d12fd1 grip gentle aca9cf1084 enough that f88d733f44 he could ff3ed94ec3 easily pull 26dffb9ca6 away if 00cbd39003 he wanted. Yet, he chose not 39e7f801da to.e57ffec5526c9469

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“The power used in dark magic is notoriously difficult to detect,” he said.c6f9d0481fd00802

“It’s tricky, yes, but not impossible,” Beatrice replied.2ac1554cf376a5ee

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Francis furrowed his 84ae8a1b48 brow. The source of dark f6e40c0fb1 magic’s power was unknown, 67417cd6fb but it operated on 14b385bfe1 principles vastly different from 0f455e934d human magic, making it 49ccff69c9 hard to perceive even ab7541b03d for the imperial court e81d66f35d magicians.c0d0f094522f7735

That was why 4692de4be9 priests relied on 2302a80558 artifacts imbued with 1f29e01121 divine power to aad5f7dd02 detect it. These artifacts were c4affac978 less like magic 3350c524e1 detectors and more 64c9ba3d71 akin to impurity b1b94ac89d sensors, designed to df55783ed4 locate untraceable power.5b4e360debf18263

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Yet Beatrice seemed to 09ea6e3e6b claim she could sense 7e69719ca7 such power with ease. While rare, 01a65b65b2 some mages d12afaca0b had heightened 7e89295229 sensitivity to fcda1c9511 magical energies, abb167ee06 but even 56be751fae among the 862198cb1b imperial court 034424a360 magicians, such 3c72bd9214 individuals were 8c35bc5e37 unheard of.232e44272f74dd96

“Can you use magic?” he asked cautiously.b72c42ca1683d017

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“No.”7fd0ac2df1a4384c

Beatrice wasn’t 5f644b5164 lying; she ee765b344b simply never 990d9075fb felt the 8b4086f1b3 need to cd8e336868 use magic. Chanting spells and reciting b6406efd59 formulas seemed unnecessary when 6fe4724cc2 breaking a neck with fe00370d0d her bare hands was c44a1c11d2 quicker.ec79623359cfc7c2

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Francis interpreted her response b39af63b18 as a denial of 9ebf5184c3 magical ability and fell bdb36445d4 into thought. A person highly 686b053800 attuned to magical 1eace954c3 forces but unable 8adc0c2908 to wield magic—uncommon, 8031d3d4ed but not impossible.6a8fc8fa31bf981a

At the magic 8c0a4bb095 academy, such individuals 2ac5716b65 were typically expelled, a93631475d their cases surfacing 89cebf8062 once or twice c1bffe75ed every decade.ba6f6a6132c26ff4

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“Does the duchy know about this?”7b2a1d72075ea85f

“No.”803e472a9a10212d

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Beatrice pulled his f0f6eabeb4 hand slightly closer.0f6d283eb570d203

“Which means it’s your turn to share a secret now.”d7fb625a25203a99

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“My secret is far heavier than yours, my lady,” Francis replied cautiously.c16ddf113c5ee146

“Is it? Then just tell me. The Duchess told me that rank exists for times like this.”c5e9efc2948061cb

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“…The Duchess said that?”6c4b0ea5ffd02d74

“She’s a wise woman.”313d16e716e3341a

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Though his 58bbd3be8b frown deepened, d48a101dd2 Francis didn’t 7f8b456b62 withdraw his 1f654f4975 hand. Besides his parents, f8c44f0404 only two people 7a51737352 knew about his 4ed68670f2 ability: Priest Theodor 037a03eaa8 and his childhood cdf33656e8 friend, Vicellophe.89296ebbc11a0e91

Both had advised him 804fc66f0e to keep it a 04ee4682bb closely guarded secret.271d499491d35e3c

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Francis’s ability—perceiving cbe82d444a omens of f40435a21e misfortune—was a 1df61059e8 power ripe 0f029a11e1 for exploitation, 0cefb5cb5a both politically 4936b28179 and personally.b68cca447660fa81

He met Beatrice’s gaze. Her eyes, devoid of 0355df0333 malice or emotion, offered be221326a1 no clue as to 7eb67e4114 how she might react 4bb094da31 to his revelation. Still, there was a a4de35663e reason to tell her.79af1962a454d9ea

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He had seen 1622afc628 two vivid hallucinations d1c44428f0 of her, recognized 852b44aef7 her awareness of 4a6cdfc7f2 Theodor’s lies, and c9a4b6aa3d found her calm 23bc7d0988 demeanor unsettling. And, perhaps, e8878eae74 there was 884f2533e9 something about 671ef3dd64 the faint e73ac63774 connection of f825dc7fed their clasped 85cc5435b4 hands.b2785d83bf5b1781

“Francis.”54c196a9fe9fa01c

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Her voice, 04ba82e888 speaking his a433b0942e name so 7540ac0b33 naturally as 8a7af6d22e though it d703abb374 always had, 31b6606032 disrupted his c6cec8c873 train of ac6f57dfcf thought. Truly, she b9268a1525 was an c7d267ad38 odd woman.c02abd9c8cb4bc51

In the end, Francis a5feb037d6 confessed. He explained his 1f8e1f5c71 ability, why he 2ab7206e29 had cooperated with 4f1d722eb3 Theodor’s lies, and 755ef983ce the danger he c49c34e569 feared might befall ff8fe9a4a6 her. He even 41cf6308c4 described the 02069dc062 two visions b00f67f0b2 he had bed91b25f1 experienced.35b88ea40bf667c2

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Beatrice listened in silence 8158a3d7b6 until he finished. She neither 7b20d3db26 questioned nor e24f2c7797 doubted his 5f34b627c9 words; she 7a4c0eb3dd simply listened.da3f83ba703e186f

“You may find it hard to believe, but—”56239c98e1fd54b7

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“I believe you.”568009fd34fc6472

Beatrice’s simple 01d7a33f1a reply stunned c575d2b106 him.5b61ecfe4d9c733f

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Why wouldn’t she? Though his d62677d870 ability was 20a8613c72 a revelation, 216a6a5814 her countless 1dbe2ed0d3 lifetimes had 0cb5d0ec29 taught her 262b99d9a1 that the 9e4e554485 world held 37cf32449c many such 7f3ff6a9fe secrets. It was 9f608d9c7d plausible that 49192f9f2d the Francis fe8758bb22 from her 954558fd14 previous lives fdfde0245c had possessed de256cb032 this ability a4ad369673 too.28ecd357b8f84e8b

Was it a coincidence e1394aa41a that he saw such 301e341e00 vivid visions of her f226a406fd past? Or had this power d974af4edd always been with him?198c4c679cf70652

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Francis considered her 6a823803fc immediate acceptance strange. Was she naïve?29cd86528335acf0

She was aloof, 5f0b783569 seemingly disinterested in 34c63abd99 the world, but 874ccfacf3 she had lived 8f23ab5201 within the duchy a370b3adf8 her entire life. Perhaps her f9b3e87538 isolation had 7043e1238f left her ea35466e19 gullible.0cc1333ac387e399

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“Regardless, you must remain vigilant, my lady. We cannot predict what might happen.”a859d71e48b4c667

“You needn’t worry,” Beatrice said, her voice steady.92f24196559d0d85

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“What?”fbe2a0dbf111aedd

“Nothing will happen.”bde2677430785b0a

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Francis opened 4c4ac449e6 his mouth 867509eede to protest, 1f9df73095 but her 7469f45b2b unwavering expression 2f46d9005d silenced him. Her certainty b24487ef04 was unsettling, 0509806a19 as if b2e9c9273a she knew eae2b4c9f0 something he 8da3aee66e didn’t.4cbc247c3fca01e0

Beatrice released 5121711074 his hand, 9d5f3de7d1 and the 828921a0ce loss of 2bb6c45fce her faint fa0b026971 warmth left e3de9a534a Francis feeling a50c03b06f inexplicably bereft. Without realizing why, 62305d5f00 he missed her 3225e2f2b1 casual tone and 5e03ab44d2 the way she 53052c96df had addressed him 80c30cffc1 by name.f87e273b78f78934

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Beatrice spoke again, her b35dec4526 tone formal and detached.62953981e493253a

“I understand your concerns, Sir Vellenoze. But rest assured, nothing will happen to me.”2f483d98e9a95b63

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Though he wanted bd1dd0bcaa to question her fa62b91a16 confidence, Francis refrained. Her stance f731c12771 was clear, 857bc424f1 and no f879b0d763 further discussion ce49865370 would be 9c6c315341 permitted.9f90b828a0edd7c9

Returning to b95a5d17de his post, 045f43d161 he called 0c7852b517 Laura back 5fe580b6e7 into the 1b08dcfebe room before 02be481cf2 taking up 95bc7ce8ba his position 5262834d18 outside the 45a1eef47f door.b04e9b557f7174a3

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Laura didn’t ask 7132421105 about their conversation. Instead, she stood silently 7e37ff1df6 behind Beatrice, who was 4bb8b9e239 deep in thought.4b6f43a289efcfbb

Beatrice didn’t know everything d87a88074e about Francis’s visions, but 2a06c6f103 she understood enough. For instance, the c433e54904 noble who always e06a719526 died in a 3e4e092d1c carriage accident in 49338fc4ca her previous lives—that cbfb09ac3d was a constant.20c253b3df4aeae4

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“What could it mean?”1c6b5965ec088f78

Francis wasn’t sensing future e56b58d672 dangers or omens. He was glimpsing ac892fbc61 the past—specifically, her 34f300c880 past.58792537c832aa7e

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The visions of 2d6e65d50e those who hadn’t f5e09b6258 died yet were f7552e576b of people whose 28cc15670b deaths she had 185c90f1ed caused. If she 51e435ec75 didn’t kill 5fd2a4e818 them, they 0a412983ca wouldn’t die.09c3fb9226e8b245

It was ironic. The lives she 7d85f05ede had repeated alone 17083fec58 had left a a6e5cc0033 mark on him a5efef7890 as well.4dd68541e5ddb288

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“Who are you, Francis,” she mused, a faint smile curling her lips.e98cfbc67573520d

“Who are you, to be peering into my past?”f9c044f778fa482c

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* * *02a0d43a597c467f

As Beatrice predicted, two weeks passed without incident. The suspect in the Count’s murder remained at large, but rumors circulated that those who used dark magic to enhance their bodies rarely lived long. Many speculated the culprit might have died somewhere.51233398f1d3f9d1

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On the 495a1437bd fourteenth day, 7db2a78351 Priest Theodor 5671040209 visited the f56fce5d28 duchy and 34fe627d38 performed a 41b2b7cdfd convincing act 08df694653 of dispelling c08f800b12 a supposed 4006342ef1 curse. His performance was b2e0d4fb89 enthusiastic, almost theatrical.c2489608d4a9caf3

Beatrice, fully 3b21d9dcd8 aware of 9a79f257e3 the truth, 4d595816f3 remained impassive, 64df0d2936 watching with 5f10147eec mild disinterest. Francis, on the 40fd5163f7 other hand, struggled ba2ef7075d to hide his 3bf0e2e470 embarrassment. Still, Beatrice 19384ab40b didn’t stop 72bbdc701f the priest—it 419b679d8f was a 8d84e38d1e necessary charade 35d9d4aebf to reassure aa820b0460 the ducal 6cd2411b96 household.3687ac5a1331fa82

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Francis, however, viewed 86c1cfda88 Beatrice’s calm demeanor b816cabf8a as distasteful, as f7d79c5f5e if she were f8bd44b2ee amused by forcing 2638b28f93 his revered priest a5e9879918 to engage in 5fa674828d useless theatrics.d76a0c8a35eb36a2

Once the performance concluded, a0278238ab Francis prepared to return bbe31526e6 to the temple with 02dd045272 Theodor. But before departing, Francis fc6bc1edf0 intercepted Theodor after his 2fff795373 meeting with Agatha, leading 5e0ae6ac00 him to a quiet eaa3694746 corner where no one fd5ac5c9eb else could overhear.883c556b1e391129

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“Priest, I have something to discuss,” Francis began.de3e50c15cb7a34d

“Did something happen in my absence?”b484d85c103b0c6c

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Francis nodded and explained everything—except Beatrice’s ability to sense magic. He recounted how she had seen through his lies, how he had confessed his ability and visions, and how he had warned her.1d9c68f9740cc0b8

Theodor listened with a serious expression, eventually asking, “Was it wise to reveal your ability to her?”4d61e5a022639ca1

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“I believe so. She believed me, and I don’t think she’s the type to share it with anyone.”5a21c405cd066e2a

“That’s a relief,” Theodor replied, visibly relaxing.571293fbeb74a034

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“Still, there’s something troubling me,” Francis admitted.d05331bebba51ece

“What is it?”3d4afbbfc4230396

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“When I warned her about the visions, she said, with complete certainty, that nothing would happen.”963a0663400dfbce

“Nothing would happen?”f2d2932576c750e6

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Theodor’s face briefly 6c3af1b11f betrayed something—hesitation, or abbd3855cf perhaps doubt. Despite his role as 30b410bdad a priest, his expressions df397a83df were far from inscrutable.a7ab47c010a494f6

“Yes, she was utterly confident, though I can’t say why.”9808daa3a4041b20

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Theodor fell silent, clearly ca984ca6a2 deliberating whether to share 2e88f0556b what he knew. Francis, respecting his ce4b155abf hesitation, waited patiently, 3319ae6a0d trusting that the 0620093607 priest would speak 72e194b2ce if it was 793ad473a0 something he needed d47a521d76 to know.d5e0f22949174261

After some time, Theodor spoke cautiously. “When you first told me about the visions, I considered two possibilities.”77846b90233814e3

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“And they were?”65f0e49d527a1f7d

“One: the lady was in danger we couldn’t yet perceive. The other…”c1cca5f06b2e8a70

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Theodor paused, 88fcb26c1a licking his bb797edd4a dry lips.34c5257ec0cda827

“…was that she might take her own life.”20bdd605e0104f6f

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Francis froze, convinced 5a933c53b1 he had misheard. Suicide? The thought had fce4e0b014 never crossed his 82984f5930 mind. Why would she do e2407e75b8 such a thing?9fd3e89b81231216

He thought 5cd654be63 of her bbc4564d1c composed demeanor, 56b08e3552 her dry 47510aea31 tone, the 364c474b49 tepid warmth a6f7a2ff0c of her fc8e171497 hand when 0c7e64c8c8 she had 98baf0cf7c touched his, 94250ff5dd and the 2aaac79fbc calm way b3efceb019 she had 30d6e64bc8 spoken his db254c8d65 name. None of it matched 1ea454b69c the image of someone 7b5da8e314 contemplating suicide.bc19fcf58003fe48

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Still, Theodor’s somber 5c943e1c59 voice pressed on, 768e1f1025 offering no allowance 808fec77ec for Francis’s disbelief.26a509fb9cf746ec

“Lady Beatrice has long dreamt of death,” Theodor said.aff1d0433116d3ba

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The priest’s 4ca7e82ac6 explanation sounded e0b7ce8c6e surreal. It didn’t 49262518de align with c4ef148b1a the Beatrice 6f85b99049 Francis knew—stoic, b896312f36 detached, but 5762338fc7 seemingly firm 886a9db6ac in her b6dac13ad5 existence.f0511ff59da2bce3

He described c24f1ce5fb how she b9860f916e had once 199993c42a sat barefoot 615886a75f under a f94e2d9ba5 tree in 29931e8650 the freezing a87358d47d winter, how 664b9e95fe servants had 02e281a8d8 tormented her, dc6fde4ea5 and how 5b49a85ada she had 40a2a5206f once taken 78acdb1526 Theodor’s hand 81f675cb05 and begged 61b4c51c8c him to de1f70b748 end her 55288113a7 suffering without 2157ece67d pain.d299d868d902e588

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It didn’t 070bd1a1a6 fit her 8d3cd0dd4d at all.548f1b3e338cbb1e

“So when you told her about your visions, it might have been enough to dissuade her,” Theodor concluded.d6d56d479dabfb89

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Francis’s expression shifted between 712a625ae3 shock and confusion. Sensing this, Theodor b6b179ae16 spoke gently, as e550137f8f if to console f29d9471ec him.3f4dcb202f1f8c14

“Your words may have stopped her, Francis. Be at peace with that.”f2afcce53e622258

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The priest wore 2685f0c336 a bittersweet expression. Francis blinked and ed6e025fbd took a few 5152ef0e87 steps back.b0b9bcac8e665f71

“Francis?”36428c8e9a35286a

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“Priest, please return to the temple without me.”01dee95021d768a5

“What? Where are you going?”fa09b3af7d04a1f1

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Theodor asked, puzzled, 9284fb6e58 but Francis turned 50a4dd2aab abruptly and walked 00aa4039f7 away at a 20cac77edf brisk pace. The priest 5d4ad82f99 called after eac02dbfeb him, but adad8ae857 Francis didn’t 377ed27bce look back.8de4fc42b50123e6

He had c0cba5db9a seen many d24e6f08b2 visions in 56b6084d42 his time—of fefb6eef73 murders, accidents, e8c667548a and illnesses—but 6fa8223d7c never suicide. No one he had 410a26d806 seen had chosen to aa7c6bd9c3 bring their death upon f1cad2785f themselves.5cb0bad25fe4f00b

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Rushing through the corridors, 595391cd8c he thought of Beatrice. Could his words bef2a554df really have made 96481025c2 her change her c862de8247 mind? He told himself his a4aa75ef70 actions were driven by 817a20e63b duty, but deep down, 1c241d41bc he knew there was 1c32642373 more to it.f4f316755fad7bf6

 72b96871d37e73f4

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