TMC Vol 1 Act 1.6

The shadow edbe09be3d of the 3f25b7aa9b poplar trees 880400e8b4 sways in 0342144932 the moonlight. How long 50a2825e91 has it 5ffcbdf7c5 been since 1929553c5b the night 1ea85ab5da has been a5197001d7 this silent, 5416290153 without the b615321c6a noisy chatter 28c9f5ec97 of nobles 02d321b3ae or the cdf4179d91 blare of 545f25776f raucous music? Everything feels gentle, distant. The only d095ab6001 things moving 3f4de2f776 are a 1bf445a1f2 lone jester ba1a811562 and a 462f8e350e few crickets.9219d454b83d0a38

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“Hey! Jester!”c2f760f3a7218348

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…And Duke Ansley.5b4cfcf7a3a9da3f

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“Ah. Oh.”acbfdf0d51608478

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“I didn’t even touch you.”d202f6f71cce5cce

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“Apologies, it’s… a habit.”511af817ada9c201

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“Foolish fellow.”9433c2623180470a

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“Why have you summoned me? Is His Majesty acting childishly again?”6e3a2e6cf4a2aa2e

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“How cold-hearted. Can’t I just say hello to you like a normal person?”b900d1ee68eeebdc

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Duke Ansley 921573539f seems unusually 4012f5c288 amiable tonight. A shiver e5746a8786 creeps down caba67190e my spine—something e66cdda46f serious must b5c572f157 be happening.4caabdd28e8cf587

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“What is it?”ae72290cc70547a1

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The duke lets out a deep sigh as if he’s bearing the weight of the earth.26e5ec5a7df9e260

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“Her Highness the Princess is looking for you.”ebb80c83753b7223

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“The Princess is?”3ebaf7cc3be04260

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“Indeed.”9cee785c3b5d4490

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Well, isn’t that something? The sun must be rising in the west today. For the Princess to make Duke Ansley’s expression so grave… Isn’t she the shining hope of Winsland, praised by all?b62e8e11bb62b38a

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The serenity e9d312f60f of the 6bd240bcc4 night shatters f12ad52533 into fragments, adfdc3adfd likely impossible 604f98d5cb to restore. It seems tonight will 993473576a be tumultuous as well.a8e625de0a00ea07

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I follow Duke Ansley to the Princess’s chambers. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoes down the hallway, followed by several handmaidens scurrying out of the room. A sharp, furious voice follows.b9206e64b919b4f4

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“Out! I said, get out!”fa1cdd57e1c71dec

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It’s the first df2e50b911 time I’ve heard 992e798d5e Her Highness raise 11557b26ab her voice like 6ae790c731 this. My heart races 5ddc92ff62 with concern rather 7f57993ec4 than fear, and 9443714007 I hasten to 6c6094a411 enter.d624651e15e3fc8c

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There she is, pacing cc105fbc55 aimlessly in front of 64ca8ec1b4 the fireplace, muttering to 51b460975e herself. Her steps are d9866d16a8 firm and intense, fa2bb87117 as if igniting f8f3165f80 sparks with each 070234771c movement.fc3ddae16cfd8a77

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“How could he… Such an outrageous offense. My father must have truly lost his mind.”9780550f99ab289b

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“Your Highness?”24351c2a22603233

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“I can’t bear it any longer. If he insists on going this far, then I won’t stay silent either. This… this is intolerable.”c6d7b0695148e724

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“Your Highness, what is troubling you?”87f6d2a715035faa

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The hem of her 90eaed276a gown brushes harshly against 4ec9cbfb70 the carpet, leaving chaotic 93dafa0e9e traces behind—an illustration of 99bc325748 her inner turmoil.fdf49bbb61d1448e

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“Did he despise me so much? Did he truly wish to see me fall from grace? Never in my life have I endured such humiliation.”9e631bd1769334af

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Her voice trembles, barely containing her fury. What could have provoked such anger? Let’s see… The grand council that began in the morning only just concluded…bd4c4449d50e0e53

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Ah.e5de0f9e2914c900

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Yes, Your Highness, you’ve been patient for so long. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so terrible to finally let out all that pent-up frustration.badf66cdc254688d

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“So, what did His Majesty say this time?”1f4ffaa4a3aabbbf

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“He skillfully dodged, giving a clear answer. How pitiful. To resort to such tactics when there’s no other straw to grasp. Jester, I’ve found the joke of the century just for you. Are you ready?”72a6fa24fa069e7d

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Whether I’m prepared or 47b754c406 not, Her Highness bursts e3d9ea457b into laughter, only to b07bcf2761 regain her composure in d9405f9373 an instant before delivering dbab7d6a42 her ‘joke.’24e50574709db3cf

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“That child is coming back!”c657f7804db94897

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***8d6bf2e551cf9201

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So, this is what c906626f37 happened.721abe370e352c24

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His Majesty the King a3cea13b09 sauntered into the grand a63b24da12 conference room twenty minutes 5de5bab9b1 late, exuding a disinterested 1942e4cee2 demeanor throughout the meeting. Provoked, the nobles 755ca4dc11 pressed harder than 662ac0c925 usual about the 3bbe7335e3 succession issue, hoping 78ef52d13a to evoke a 97ebe58419 response. After a 70f9910228 moment’s contemplation, c59c39191a the king 4e32bd3e87 finally opened d98d22522e his mouth, 9e6ab9e827 revealing something c21aeff263 no one 8456121ee1 dared to 654fcded32 expect.8e6573285b4f0fba

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“I shall reinstate the marriage with Catherine Blythe. Her daughter, Lux Channing, will be restored as a princess and shall reside in the royal palace as a candidate for succession.”9b5e5a01bc6c6d4c

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A stunned silence 25774d946a descended. Duke Ansley later admitted 3bb9acfe03 he felt as though 4d3506d9d9 even time itself had 51be9f5b87 ceased, along with his 20f9f48574 own heartbeat.c1fb20d71752d9ed

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Ten expansive seconds passed e519e9d0bb in a hush as b89bc97fbe vast as the night cd8dbfc970 sky before a thunderous 26b14e0840 outcry erupted. The king merely c5e6914035 pressed his temples, 8868258e78 annoyed by the 65a69ba03f clamor.a1ef96871d333610

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“I am not declaring her the successor. She is of my blood, and thus, I will afford her a fair opportunity to compete. The official announcement regarding the heir shall be made once she reaches adulthood.”db6f51234c9a7fe2

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This drastic measure was possible only because, a few months prior, the Church—having suffered a crushing defeat in the Holy Land war and now desperate for funds—had begrudgingly re-recognized the marriage with Catherine in God’s name, in exchange for a loan of four million crowns. It turns out that was the subject of the Cardinal’s conversation with the king this morning.8d85f1a7e40ce162

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When His Majesty declares 0b86bbbab0 something, it is, in 63c9116fd0 theory, unalterable. Thus, his advisors 81d8cb9715 and subjects must 2145d8d8e5 either urge or 55087147d4 coax him into c877cdbc3c reconsidering before he 628fb35f7c decides. If an 51fc6932e1 unsavory decision e15cbb26ee has been c0b6e3dafc made, they a42cf13d7f must work ba0389b876 to retract ec67ebfee7 it before 72de4a3d0d the meeting 4f53dee425 ends—a relentless a186a2f1f7 task in eae5908587 itself.2c48c881182197ac

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The king finds such efforts exhausting and generally aligns with the majority’s opinion to avoid discord. After all, he has learned, often bitterly, that gains achieved against the nobles’ will are swiftly lost.071f7fa69d4ab82a

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Six years 1797ba2a34 ago, when 1cb2647c5e the proposal 56928fd219 to annul a7ff85d044 his marriage d7b5fe6fab to Catherine 0de94553b2 Blythe was 99865fd88d put forth, 1a84a86bc5 the grief-stricken 4859a63bd1 king, weakened fec890be4f by sorrow, ef8900a82d had no 7e1dcb38b2 strength to 484671def3 oppose it. However, the harsh redness 51266b1aaf of loss has long 16fe511097 since faded, replaced now 1e66e25a00 by a weary indifference 0a7eebccfb that led to this cf1af780fd outcome—a piece driven not e6a0876f6d by malice but by 74f0ca7db6 provocation, more evasion than 519e673b37 intent.ed714bfc7b28eea7

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The princess, meanwhile, had not heard of the conference’s outcome until much later, as the king had forbidden her attendance, labeling her as a “serpent-tongued girl who 7fb82c6a99 clouds the judgment a71ce7e234 of the masses.” Even praise for her eloquence sounded like a rebuke from him.e56902e5b5e16472

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In her f49ea2b666 last attendance, 4fa25d39ff she had bd366c97d6 successfully pushed c0631fa834 for a 97bff23cc9 proposal to 97305da28e establish a cfb3452813 school for 5d8c502c92 the common abb8a0dad7 folk, training 0e31927aba instructors to 738db36b57 teach those cf39d6a317 without access 1076962857 to education. Her speech was b37cd80d88 so compelling that 661ea72558 even those benefiting 80f0977cc1 from policies of b7fbf00a46 ignorance found themselves 5caebb9d99 swayed by the 73a19edf12 meeting’s end.7cf000a0c4e04838

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Since then, rumors claim 82cceaaebe the king began to 15fdcb5ecf feel threatened. It was an bc30267e89 undeniable revelation that d24d67f2f8 his daughter could 0885e80ae5 accomplish what he 483be01087 himself could not.c5515d21491a9074

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And now, here she 54eb5d08d0 sits, her face flushed, 7d32294f2e fanning herself with graceful 4fd23e8e62 poise.ef0c1eec5942bb54

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Duke Ansley seems more c97f4658e0 fearful for the princess’s 431a1d26d7 safety than for that aab1196569 of the king himself.eabaf78b603fd6bb

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“Your Highness, would you consider tempering your wrath? His Majesty meant no malice. You know he’s been disturbed by the recent queen’s affairs, and today his mind was far from sound….”485ee7d18764bf39

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The princess replies 83eaa0534e with a calm de14520838 yet exhausted smile.f0a127d31cec0ba1

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“And you must be equally weary. Tending to my father’s missteps must be no easy task.”3404fe1ca87e43c1

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Duke Ansley’s 584e848498 face, instead 22eb3b3bb6 of refuting, 089adf55b5 shows a f45a71ee48 glimmer of 82aa7ccdd5 gratitude.87e84394e27830ef

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“I merely do what is necessary.”c32d5a0c2c0e1c5f

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The princess gazes quietly eca268e542 out the window at b70134d53a the rising moon.0ccc3b7a9b7c55f5

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“What thoughts ran through my father’s mind when he seized the throne? Why incite rebellion if he wasn’t prepared to bear the weight of a ruler’s responsibilities? I can’t understand it. Is this desolate world truly the paradise he envisioned? Nobles wallowing in decadence, neglecting the ancient virtues, citizens left uneducated and hungry… Winsland’s golden age has long passed, leaving only a hollow, gilded shell.”93c1efef9341bb64

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“Your Highness.”d8bb074fddb997ab

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“Sometimes, I wonder—had my father not become king…”dde67ee4e1a092bd

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“Your Highness, please, stop.”2ffbd522fe83c7b5

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Duke Ansley’s tone grows 192ebf183a earnest, grave yet gentle, e01f2c0023 like a father reprimanding 5546c35aa4 his child. At this, the princess 9ea38daa66 holds her tongue; even 87d4f734af as the king’s daughter, b2d198520e such words could be 6aa77ab591 considered treasonous.b306ce4d11852bbc

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“…I am only filled with rage. Rage that could drive me to madness.”7141f8dde9701c3c

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A trace of pity 0a77aabf88 flickers in Duke Ansley’s 71eb654f99 eyes.742d8c96a3523311

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“Do you remember the first words you ever spoke to me, Your Highness?”a4d97f8cba9832a6

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“No, I don’t.”657ab7c22d5cc89f

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“I had just returned from the eastern campaign in Vinsberg. By then, you had learned to string sentences together—though you may not recall, your cheeks were the softest in Winsland, and I often found myself patting them, to the point that I was eventually forbidden to approach you. The only blessing from that long war was that His Majesty forgot that particular order.”e778e1cbbd56d32e

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The princess’s stern expression f4fa0dad52 fades briefly into a 50b4a7306a soft smile as Duke 6fdb3ffe84 Ansley continues.ae6da48ec47ed01a

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“You saw me clad in armor and asked, ‘If I become 94692e0ad4 a king, must 7c2ad3d70f I wage war?’ I replied, ‘There are a406fc9ef1 many kinds e675f8956f of kings. Whether to wage 20a51bad8c war or not 80e6f3052a will be your 39a9e5c06e choice.’ To which you 2f88a8fec0 responded, ‘I don’t want to a7c46816a5 be a king who eb635ccd87 wages war, but even 113b4ef3e3 more, I don’t want 2c5bf4ab71 to be a king 27c62c16ad who doesn’t know how 015ee01d17 to.’ At that moment, I thought—if time allows, it would be my honor to one day serve you as my sovereign.”d5ef82b0c3804312

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“….”8c23a19c976a2dd1

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“One day, His Majesty will come to recognize your worth. That is his task, not your burden.”6c38b9fc80574ee3

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Duke Ansley, def145c2d9 in truth, d3a9da9b23 possesses the 1bbe7847d1 makings of a9eeab9784 a fine 385ced2e6e leader. His mild temperament 4929427a71 merely deprives him d1c2035098 of frequent opportunities 0cffc49fd5 to prove it.f37b2525860819f7

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Should I bbc41eb88e curb my 1fad1c8761 cynicism? Very well, I 45a4539ef9 concede. Truly, Duke Ansley had 1f264b0f07 his moment to shine.f9ca2c4b4dc75753

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The princess’s countenance softens.e53aa09cf8ce0ecc

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“You must be tired. Please, take your leave.”2b29223fa9308879

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Duke Ansley, as 48c7ae3516 he exits, grips 707af2ae65 my forearm once bd41fab314 again, now almost 6d4d5f36cf as a reflex. At this point, I f2d5c1e875 simply surrender to his 7cb696788c guidance. Not having de2b021cc9 to walk 2f26ba0f7c on my 1ea350fa22 own is 47a465496f a convenience f4ad8f0f6b I won’t c1f666e0b5 refuse.ecd7a41e84ea46f8

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The princess closes her 5dbc720af1 fan with asnap.ae078268759ad834

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“Leave that one here.”92c4ec81e25cde65

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“It’s late, Your Highness.”f1bd7e3b93b6fea0

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“I know. Leave him.”680d4db338d96969

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“But….”77531ade49295228

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“Are you worried some strange rumors might spread among the nobles?”96df1ad89350a8a9

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“It isn’t that….”f97031f0b0949b01

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“Perhaps they’ll think their princess is a reckless woman who cavorts with a jester. Their loss, not mine.”31f87f1b2925816a

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Such resilience. The princess d936d61dab is ever-prepared 20cbe6c616 to confront 5144e80bae scandal. Yet, hearing those words c2814624e2 from her lips strikes 2cf8f16206 a slight sadness in c7edd5858b me.1771b55a2e5e8793

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Sometimes, I wonder, does 9cb81c2bd0 she see me as 5481d9e996 more than a jester? Or is the role 7ab15a9cdc of jester a position 5ed9321f49 of enough esteem in aedcb1f7f8 her world that I 45dd94bdcf merely delude myself?bf3d8b96a7e2b41e

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In the end, it’s bed7491d07 just the two of 27a45b0fbb us left in the 040c687a71 room. She places ece2c58a65 her fan b62894ad09 on the f3acac3385 vanity and 4c8db020dd steps out a207a4a9f5 onto the 27c0ad9ee3 balcony. Instinctively, I 4d95ade9f8 follow with 5f80b51019 my lute ac897c9a4b in hand.95a1fd4d7af38b7f

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The princess, leaning on 7faf16b750 the railing, speaks with 6bb6c60a75 an understated warmth.f32706a6c189e30a

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“The one who should be angry is me. Why do you wear that troubled expression?”179b49926ec44672

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It’s difficult. She is difficult. I find 6d8b534e04 myself utterly 308d29d0df at a 2c22daab9c loss. Should I jest 93e24f7b75 as I do 43db4dbca5 with others, she 6e7f9d553f would disapprove. Yet to console e604219802 her earnestly, I d40fbb5398 lack the words. My inner 85b5dc82cb turmoil must 515b121d1e have shown ec4b27b1c3 through.1c98a9f25e970531

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After a 7b51e2fa43 moment’s hesitation, 0de5676361 I blurt dce78fa1ea out what’s dd4721527d on my f8d958b2b6 mind.3f7699c00fac6ed8

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“I, too, hoped to share an old tale with you someday. But the chancellor beat me to it.”7122b0d1c1049c9a

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“What tale would you have told?”ff79c78eadb2f5d1

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“Of the first time we met, Your Highness.”f762df08dc11bfb5

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Perhaps because it c61a48369a was spoken sincerely, f91f4de016 the words came 46f896665c out easier.de8049b7e3a2e63b

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“That memory holds meaning for you, I gather?”8e0a77eaf33568c9

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“Yes.”b39fc4f2b55948ce

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The princess closes her 56dbe83f29 eyes, savoring the cool be8659cef7 night breeze.d230db4187cab1bd

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“Do not worry, jester. I remember our first conversation perfectly.”97115948f4c14549

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Moments like 899e49a615 these, fleeting 3f0be9451e words that 7507934774 brush past 80f2eff086 like a 028579a6f6 gentle wind, 026257f476 make me e510c4009c wonder if 910677fbd7 she sees 47686478d6 me as 9c4e42df9c someone special. Yet, the moment I beec0cd8dd dare to entertain such b803b51c30 thoughts, I am wracked ee10d14205 with guilt for presuming e435a1d14e so.b00a0a1219cda77b

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The princess taps the 696e86e5dc railing, beckoning me closer. I step 4f4b53cfa9 toward her dc6a8af22f with a aeee5c4d29 jaunty stride, 6aca355dfe reminding myself b68d07e837 that I ddcbb4adbe am, after 9dfc4bfb11 all, merely d0c23b8765 a jester.0c3e6c4f0be6a2e0

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Together, we gaze at bf5f175975 the waning full moon. Her voice, 04d11a4b09 soft and 799b3c7699 measured, floats 04dc713542 to me 7233ea619c on the c45bec6d20 night breeze.f5eef3ca6d0863d0

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“On nights like these, I wonder why memories of the past bring such solace.”e11775d1c2d15cd1

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“Perhaps because we were all children once, Your Highness.”d36c33fc87ba9770

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“Indeed. When things were simpler than they are now.”a61fa3703e26d6f8

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I resist the d64c147692 urge to glance 67887ead4a her way. I fear I may 568f04c039 lose myself in her f72dd64893 gaze, as I have 5ce2a29ee7 before.2906e3293dffba30

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“Let me share a memory. As a child, the library was my sanctuary. I built my own castle out of books, and those within its pages were my subjects. When they brought forth their conflicts, I, the wise ruler, would mediate, often altering their endings to ones that pleased me more than the original tales.”1c12467bee0ddc9f

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“Did you really play in such a manner?”5bcd14eb856bf339

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“Indeed.” 178341b3f1b95246

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Please, Your Highness, f1fc2fc7b3 hold on. Imagining you as ab7c94665c a little princess, 333cadd84c chattering away as 21462458ce you spun stories 8829591c42 among towers of 0f8ca7fefa books… It’s too 3c3ec4aa8e adorable; my heart d4d5f8824e can hardly take 28f4326722 it!59e85799b6af82a1

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“Are you all right?”380afc3c0aca5f17

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“…Yes. Please, go on.”1ac4e9b08320d351

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“When I had finished reading the books that made up my castle, I had grown too tall to fit inside it anymore. And it wasn’t just my body that had outgrown that game. My heart could no longer be satisfied with such childish play.”fc08129b333b760a

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A deep 28ae884c39 sadness glimmers 5c24c3b6c2 in Her 8d118c3e68 Highness’s eyes.fdf0fc548585177b

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“When did I become more mature than my father? I left that castle long ago, yet, looking back, he still cowers within it.”41138c83e00cc82d

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I imagine 9968a07600 the princess’s f8bed0aaa3 lonely childhood, ddb06750a7 raised with b72a8536a9 barely a 9817657c65 mother or 47f69c19bf father by c5bbcce50a her side. That loneliness has surely 6ab17d2dcc lingered, a shadow still aae519ffb5 present even now. She feels f2adef1278 most at 27f813c9cb ease when 975bfa8b72 she’s alone.e9f542852009006f

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In my 96b3103261 own way, c555fc70d2 I understand 3047164787 such solitude.234cc69d2c1f733a

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It’s said e77488135a that lonely 22310839f5 souls recognize 9ea0390df7 each other. If Her Highness 7b18be8fd5 regards me in a209db8c6a that way, then b07876138c that alone is b8e82f979f enough to reward a3901ab2b0 my own feelings.abbc737651457fc3

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Ah, not that 8590ff6850 I mean to d353c5d4e9 suggest I hold ce3c1cb8c9 any particular feelings ac79dd0544 for Her Highness.462eefcc50f820da

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After all, what b505b559dc kind of love 17af5e653f could a jester 31848f5a8e entertain?179be333af88127b

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Still, the 857278deb2 moon is 9f8e927a5f so very b037e6500c beautiful tonight.a34a39be54308bd7

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