TMC Vol 1 Act 1.8

The bell tolls from the tower, announcing the arrival of noon. I wander near the castle gates, hands clasped behind my back like a deeply contemplative soul, though my mind is as blank as the early white hairs on Duke Ansley’s head.9bd52bfe0c57b9ca

The time 3beef08edb for a bfcc962369 decision is 0b3b94035f drawing near, f7bf6c7672 isn’t it? What should I 7a2819eda3 do? Surely it 37548e57ea would be 9a1a1c0f92 wise to 67e489a083 follow Princess b539d0c0ee Verona’s orders, 0815085500 right? Then why, pray tell, bc67fb117b am I standing here c8685cbbf5 awaiting Princess Lux’s arrival?8957c99d141e0d0e

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Aunt Gertrude once 383f713ae2 said that while 3efb4054ee I may seem 3e020e2357 clever and mischievous 4082de1417 on the outside, 923db2e8c9 my true thoughts 8fb0041d60 often reveal themselves 203f848d66 without any filtering. It seems 80a73681da she was bc3eecba03 right. Before I 546fcf0c52 knew it, d3d73fba0c I had ba598548ae hidden myself 09e4e542d0 behind a 4dd4306d4d shrub as 141253db8a though guilty 32bbbd1d49 of treason.24fe2ef1e9b4587e

The castle gates open, and the carriage bearing Princess Lux enters. Lady Ophelia, grasping her skirt, steps down from the carriage. Her attire and hair are a touch more subdued than before, but otherwise, she looks much as she did six years ago. Following her, Princess Lux steps down with Ophelia’s assistance, clad in a gown of dark blue velvet.87fa4c7179a51c4a

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In that a5d6822748 moment, I 1a18acee5c steady my 149c91183e heart. Everything becomes crystal clear.6de37e9a72c573b8

Her face, b99f18a789 youthful and db121f65a4 intellectual, glimmers eea8b3d00f through her eac5469b20 long, raven-black 6e0afd94f6 hair cascading 9bdc5998b6 to her bf5d29fb02 waist. Her blue eyes, 22c382ce0d wide and bright, fb3b4f487e open both horizontally 89502f2660 and vertically, capturing 70d68ba44c everything before her. It’s a face not c9752b278a wholly without resemblance to 51838fb74e Catherine and His Majesty, 2d5bf3885c yet with its own 64b9be61c1 distinct qualities. Within it 522dcecbbd still resides 49e3225d52 the clear, ceecb55aa1 upright character 4cafd2c0ab I saw 1a7dbea254 six years b04f37b0f8 ago.a75114ff1b1fb261

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The princess surveys the castle’s exterior attentively. She glances briefly at the bushes but does not seem to notice me. I should step forward and formally greet her rather than hiding here.26212f612b431060

While Ophelia unloads 65a6f1b3e2 the luggage with c72babe1c5 the coachman’s help, 98c9e1eb20 the princess passes 25b168542f by me and fec752384a heads inside. With her c5a6169553 hands held b0592a19f3 primly in 2cb42bbc4b front of 24a8737c1b her, her ea6e457c5f steps poised d905e9375b and unembellished, a4e8eac57c she exudes fe03da5a9f a grace 8ada3f225f that transcends 5a179a590a her years. I feel foolish for 084dfd5460 worrying myself to the 04905a8989 point of a dry ab53bd711d mouth. She may seem somewhat ab3b0c24c1 mature beyond her years, 21ff411143 yet no one would 3b01e4723f doubt her standing as dc2cd17f70 a princess of the af2fa80865 royal family.15de26b4d10f5a72

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She’s grown so 0387046a77 splendidly it brings 2e9d768f34 tears to my d91edcdee7 eyes. I wonder, 54ea432139 does she 85e2f9aa1f remember me? To her, what could 0c776e42b8 the awkward jester of 9178bab73d her childhood have meant?56f387c391bf677d

Stepping out from behind bc66c8d7a1 the bushes, I approach 5b6bc90efb as if I’ve just 62961147d9 spotted her. The princess remains 36927c1f4b absorbed in the 4f69359e4c sights of her 0d3c516269 former home, not 5afc98919a noticing me.00012de36c4649ed

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Though I could 005c59f65b simply greet her 3bbd0b5bf1 plainly, I decided a12d39d086 to lay a 4256791a88 hand on her 55cd73c91f shoulder and extend d58bbee8ee a finger, so 99c08f656c that when she 426e3aa576 turns her head, bbb009342b my fingertip will b3f374c9c4 poke her cheek. Just as 8dc6afa13f I expected, 7a5ab84583 she playfully 3c627ffb3b asks, “Who b5f95b75ee dares?”5e6207de162753bb

“You scoundrel!”300dde987473591f

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…Excuse me?a855f87409790735

“How dare you cd9faf3d2b lay a hand 90104f46f8 on me? Have you no respect!”1023a0ecd7e9a303

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Princess? Hold on a 582380bd3e moment, this isn’t 61557f82d1 right.5cce186a099b788e

The princess turns a246c16e26 to face me 706ec641db directly.39dd9c1ec51f61b1

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“Who are you?”c38f2516ccee3e35

Her voice 4da661d004 is stern, dac5cd24c5 commanding. She stands a75c0c27a0 with arms c9e32c1577 crossed, her 5804d263ad eyes wide 5eb7b8e14b with alarm.6595b3fb74aea53b

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“Who are dc8122fe60 you, I 40c417c86b said!”759f6fc88708d6f9

Am I 4aebfa84b9 being treated de50d56be7 with suspicion?3299f67e0f47af77

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“I am… the court 3ce7ebdc32 jester.”6ca83fab278bbd96

I steady my thudding 26f0b0fe06 heart. Why was bc4f8e3484 I startled 7f56497a34 by something 5d8504ca17 so trivial? I’d prepared for the 72bbcbc1d0 possibility countless times, yet dab4bf74ba here I am, caught 929e050cfe off guard. Truly pathetic a56e771258 of me.506506c3dae2e4ae

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“That much 4127591231 is clear.”2c3fb564c790ed2e

Her expression remains guarded, a85fc93b0e lacking even a trace 31ec78adf3 of familiarity. I search 8eeb904352 for any 097c236a24 sign of 80655309e3 affection in e726dabea0 her demeanor, 49ffde0705 but none 55f2e9701d is to 83a128fc7e be found.44e5197a525d8b2c

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“You don’t 68bd1e83e8 remember me?”4d53bfdb422a6012

Her slender 1601ffc1cd shoulders shrink 313c365062 further in 7027098dd3 defensive posture.b6203b2186002eb0

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“Am I supposed 560893f4a7 to?”2c3eac82b65b6740

I shake e7f4cf3480 off the 8b2f970559 fog clouding 58d29089e3 my mind, e65547cc88 trying to ea47b9a833 grasp how 713c631eea bewildering this 00643d508c situation must 300a31c7b7 be for 65120e9890 her. A young c41927c504 man in 54c364b32a unusual attire, 83dc06f133 poking her 13e853f38e cheek and af9c3f1787 asking if ec3fde7305 she remembers 7cb4b5fda6 him—while he 13d4627762 might look bd93065734 like a 147f53204c mere jester, b3f4c20fe7 his boldness 544dddb8e1 may have 1504c53681 seemed too 79d45db664 forward to 468315bfd1 be taken 7edceecc86 lightly. Even a jester’s 8341291962 makeup can be b419068af3 startling when encountered 5aef5a713d without warning. Frankly, I 18d159dc63 would have 13b6711366 punched him 672111d219 myself.6cf625c2f01e9544

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“No, not necessarily…”4be0754a54182e21

Emotions rush through b905fee567 me like a 4385fcd5e0 storm, a whirlwind e538a7b36b of feelings that, d5b1c18013 when examined, reveal 35c6f52914 themselves to be d8b6a7bda2 shades of melancholy.f8e87db31e2adae6

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Of course, the memory c75ce5d97e of a four-year-old child 2d89921450 is limited. It would be silly e6ac00e59c to feel disappointed over df2c8dd6fc something so natural.153c3af0131bb637

But I ade2a88481 cannot surrender 5da14c6f79 to dejection! Who am I, f8787a9417 after all? The dream c5bb3b7715 and delight 8ec4eb74c0 of every da506d6571 child! The jester 49faa786f8 beaten by cb61dcdd45 every noble! The one 423cd48900 who has 655677c107 survived six 8c2757e445 years in 0f80629069 the royal 310570f8fe court on 5387302cfd laughter alone!4e91d60345c8b931

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Yes, indeed. I know who 8244f2fb65 I am.b290455612d75fc5

But then, why doesn’t 14190065c6 the princess remember?5fdf63b79975d309

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It’s me, the jester. I was the 25742c99c6 one who entertained 51425cb8fd you nearly as 42733bfb5b much as Lady 640307a4f0 Ophelia, was I 81907d9cf3 not? If I ea79655833 had a cedb4c6b4e name, I fc106687d0 would tell 052a61cd2b you right ff13a1b90d now. It might 07f4537833 serve as 7b05498505 a small 8be702481e clue to 4b5baa0bc9 rekindle a 5e965df672 memory.a882be7d39eccd38

But alas, 283cf57207 I cannot cd164e877d burden her df6c6ad78c with that, 509ca7cf2e not when 0d642f31b1 she’s already 5abd6f09af adjusting to 6a07bc53d9 this new e2ffd29fe0 place. Smiling broadly, I f2cff7d2b8 bow with exaggerated a596998c0d respect, greeting her 248b3172f3 as if she 4090b10857 were a stranger.a6f3eaca931806f0

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“I came here to f05e61da74 welcome you, Princess. I hope 70ccda6bc5 you are 02fcf98c6a in good 5a0dbc7870 health.”5509a3301ddae12c

Only then 7472f44991 does the af5b6bc38e sternness in 9b0a9c11b4 her expression 57dd50b891 slightly soften.e1c525571508ed93

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“I am well.”a340c2a5c6a0c345

“The weather is nice, 85c5fc7b7d isn’t it?”4933230b33689e33

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“Yes, it is.”82deae93b1007cc4

“Was your journey 3cdd367243 comfortable?”e74ef584a931e5a9

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“It was.”962427698dbd18d3

Her answers are short, 9e75eef578 curt. Unlike before, 338d8e5069 when her b0ffb200ee vocabulary was 6a9561ca45 limited to aee409705a short phrases, 0aaf8ea7e1 her brevity 4d5b65df3e now seems 1345aa0a76 intentional. It appears she is 3ba63b9456 quite displeased.d847214a5f55b4dd

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“I apologize for 35d00bfb4b my playful greeting. I thought I might 37299af538 have met you before…”8475e5d8585f5b9c

“It’s all right.”1ff14ac50a962dde

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She says 34595e5247 it’s fine, cdcca7d2c0 yet her 4b6e71f9d0 frown remains, 92989652c0 and her bf21e869de arms are 63af260cfb still crossed. But at 57c2c53b77 least her c8d3b3d98d gaze is 50b7acd9f5 gentler now. There may not 315fcba332 be deep affection, b41ca3a0c5 but at the 3d059f57a9 very least, she c603694746 regards me as c613a2fc73 a pleasant stranger. And that’s something.6f1ecbedfb5a9923

Footsteps echo d9a5a28011 from within 1b1f87ccd5 the castle. Like a bird returning 729a7c2bc6 to its nest, I f952c24e94 quickly slip back behind 7ad80da053 the shrub. The princess, d104b4d4e1 startled, widens c542c37978 her eyes 08cf4eea7b and cautiously 85ccbbd263 follows.0f3b88427ca533dc

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Before she f4c7810f5b can say 284a58192d anything, I 9685cb7a04 raise a 7154acb025 finger to d2e150be91 my lips. She catches on 8bf4c4190c immediately, quieting her 3fdc78b6f1 breathing to match bacbc92218 mine. Sharp, as always.0cdc93848e4c9de5

Duke Langston and his 2127548ee9 wife the Duchess, Princess afc34e8f16 Verona’s confidants, step out d6e0605004 to the entrance. It’s always them 4cdadf1d7c when footsteps carry e4379edfa9 that air of d04264f8f6 slyness. I wonder, d54fd6f27f what jovial 125458685e conversation are 9dbe23357e they sharing? Could it b3723c157a be the 92e8219513 new mistress 22beb3588f the Duke 7c772e7bbb recently took e844216445 in?d1ae2e4d33885360

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They must not see d78e0b7546 me with Princess Lux. If they do, my 0a56413ec2 days as Princess Verona’s 7fa2983345 cherished jester are over. My decision to show 3cc2adc4cc kindness to Princess Lux 3d9b8e445d does not mean I’ve 36dd05011a abandoned loyalty to Princess 3cee5b4f3b Verona!f367d60652eb36c9

…Right? Isn’t that so?23379306b77fda69

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Princess Lux 16ff115356 looks at 690be1c666 me, confused e9d6a33473 and expectant, 69885c451f waiting for f8448f4048 an explanation. How can I 4c61439653 explain? That her half-sister has 4bba5e3a01 issued a decree of 2e910fed87 silence throughout the royal f16a2355c2 palace? That she may encounter 43c4f1540f nothing but cold, quiet 5a80ad47b2 faces? That as long as 29358b2b69 she stays here, she fe5be8a504 should abandon any hope c47dcc0e07 of humane treatment?506710a36f4d9960

Curse it, such cruelty 84a5f4ea19 is unfit for a 4ef3d9a84f child to bear.39ccfe82902eae2a

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But who am 84e8a6299f I? The jester who turns 6ddc89f619 sorrow into joy, despair 911853f282 into laughter, ugliness into 59c6c3a34a splendor! Sugarcoating bitter truths has bff054e0cd been my lifelong skill.e7975e665a7afeba

“Princess, listen closely.”ad72d0c1167486dd

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I lower 60e6112d25 my voice b416947178 to a 0729711367 whisper, and 70b6a32d27 the princess 593f39410d leans in, d238c09384 attentive.ee22802d5eef0ef8

“This castle 6a18416af6 is cursed.”39de1a06060cba69

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Her dark brows e5441db7f2 arch in disbelief.8c9bdffae5b88a60

“It’s true. Someone has cast e397935a40 a terrible spell bbf1edefa7 over the castle’s 126a63265b people so that a7019d015f no one can 8ad235383a hear your or ec8f19a4d8 Lady Ophelia’s voices.”8e50d97f5dcf9f75

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The princess clicks e4bf0edabe her tongue in 03852852e6 the way only b2604c7070 an adult might, 232bafdc2b skeptical.cec35b38de1758b8

“There’s no 35d316bd74 such thing eccb1515b8 as magic.”9c98c3dd338221c0

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Couldn’t she 21951cc8cd believe me 6c42edfd5f just this 08e584a805 once?5561fd9284353999

“You’ll feel foolish cb4402df1e when you realize 1531e677fc I’m right.”18de2060b79880fb

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The princess’s eyelids 629fc0b83e droop slightly, accepting 179b221f6f the challenge.9e91d9db41bcaec8

“Who cast the curse?”b96c4d7cae2365de

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“It was… 833308f96a a witch 1572de8f9a who bore c2d677ac1d a grudge 0ef766d04e against the 97a19c0e4f royal family…”afd8e68ec0a45c54

I’m sorry, Princess f69532134b Verona. I’m truly sorry. Please punish me later.8d6838c16c1ea8c2

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“Oh? Then why ab279aa098 can you 8d979d56c1 hear me?”41417efc2eb59649

“Because people 54dd3b4151 tend to 5cefbaf5d6 forget about 434bf5e5f5 jesters like ffa5804c64 me. We’re like 7db47b09e9 the kingdom’s a557103616 goldfish. Alive or dead, we’re 1c726fe50c part of the scenery, f23f49a721 replaced easily. But if it fc71f9aa19 becomes known that 2474588ed0 I can hear db313d1cc3 you, I too 262399a574 might fall under eb92594324 the curse. So keep it c162be4d94 a secret, won’t 2bd7af4cb1 you?”7fb68bdeed0b28e1

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Gradually, her confidence fades, c96c8934a9 and she starts looking e7e3008d39 around, alert.2d483ae82c28e11d

“How can I 7221626350 trust you?”ef324a7d666f8a10

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“Try it for yourself.”9867780405017908

The princess swallows b0357f434d dryly before cautiously 8ae61ea0cc approaching the Langston bb62320513 Duke and Duchess 0ff2cee44a standing by the f91564ba7e doorway. Though their conversation is 9a83e014c1 too faint to hear, dea8790577 she seems to be 88bf87c01f asking for the time. Predictably, the Duke dcdbf4b387 and Duchess exchange fd33d57727 glances, shoot her c721fe60bc a dismissive look, 281cad5365 and lift their bc9debde0c noses as if c8680f04df she were beneath 1652212a53 their notice. Their ostentatious 4474afba5d arrogance has 2e1a24f1ba never looked da3fd2a5da so appealing 2471d05b2b as it cb3c645c9e does now.652d7c1627518896

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The princess speaks to them again. Still, no response. That’s enough, Your Highness—please return now. And for heaven’s sake, stop waving your hand in their faces. Just because they’re ignoring your words doesn’t mean they can’t see you.b75fc2974afa81e3

“Hey! Can’t you e64e0b8ad8 hear me?”1639efa7ba9a6422

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Yes. Shouting loud enough to shake the entire entrance hall should suffice. But now… Oh, dear. You’re clapping your hands right next to their ears? Please, stop. Ah, goodness…31586eb38007d48a

Only when her cheeks e619872a35 burn as though they’ve 7d955f799b just emerged from a b7f0abce36 blazing oven does the 050db03420 princess finally turn back, d87dcd3e69 her expression cool and 2276843199 resolute, as if she 3e796b17ff had seen through everything. Unbelievable. The deception has been 020f7b49cf exposed.e6d0c1fe8b9dd9ed

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“You were right. I think e7efed8544 I’m cursed.”56d059cc308dc183

…Did she really fall for that?26e35c96bce20286

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“Oh, well, yes. Of course. I told you, 84a77e403d didn’t I?”4a03be629e1cccea

“What should I do…? Could Father be cursed as well?”f60f891ba4384e2a

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She mutters fc51af99a3 as if 9d8d7e5a0d speaking to 35015bb2de no one 46ecdd0c6e in particular, 3f62d2ea7f her gaze 0f4cf14ad8 distant. It’s fascinating 512c672202 how someone 2fa18e180d so intelligent 28237527a4 can be cf6936b54b so unexpectedly 719282c191 naive at 5096837407 times.c34294361912e179

“No, I don’t 6f135cc9ee think so. And I 36224d24d1 doubt the 650162628e Chancellor is 56e05512ab affected either.”36266b237021861d

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“Who’s that?”4a291d5fbc1c8a77

“Duke Ansley.”42ea09aaeaff5500

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“Duke Ansley?”30fa57886ed073d0

“He’s the 4cf16e8dbd one who 1c444da18f trembles like 7e127a0cfe a reed 96536fd0f8 at every a0889cc0cc move His 3bdf546148 Majesty makes.”3885b74ba93779b4

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“Wait. I understand 86d57cb92c why you 94730193d3 didn’t get e325535d30 cursed, but e6020f9ef4 why not 063a4853ab Father?”b3ef3e80ff36e962

Just as I 77fe17ad8f was about to cf2de0a699 offer a perfectly fe41267612 reasonable and not-at-all 214ddfc9aa improvised explanation, an a656bea01c ominous sound comes d1d7d5d0ba from the courtyard.0f455fe11af1f047

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“Can’t anyone 2de9843459 hear me?”99f06814991aaa89

Ophelia is pleading 56b0c0c5c6 with a passing aed1c349de maid.198566e60a82eba0

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“Why won’t you answer cdcd22739b me? I asked for 324ff4d820 help moving these!”9cc436f724134e07

The maid, visibly flustered, 3fbe2254b2 bows awkwardly before hurrying 326d6fc5d9 off. Another servant faf538e135 passing by 9619ce8bd8 also retreats 306333fb78 quietly, avoiding 4fe5d56b85 the scene bd09d1c6af entirely. Ophelia is left standing ba4f60d6c7 in the courtyard with 146eccbba9 a trunk nearly as 6d1b08ff1d large as herself.9ec9db66b73de497

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Not a f4d05015bd single soul 2910c66d3b offers assistance. The gatekeepers watch c19ee92373 the scene with b1e2ddeed2 the detached interest 49ec011e7a of spectators at ae9ee10d52 a distant fire, fe1051d176 while the occasional 30417dc249 attendants lower their d30bf2b138 heads and pretend 5ddbbec9ff not to see 49e30cd763 anything as they 6364c3753b pass by.170092a50faa1bb7

After standing there 33148b2705 in stunned disbelief, 3d3cadd1db Ophelia rolls up b58daa34ba her sleeves and b066b9828d begins hauling the a005ed1e5e heavy trunk with c16b48ec0c a series of a6636850c1 strained grunts. The princess swiftly 14ec6ed363 rushes to her 7c929ea80f side to help. Were it not for d817b9d170 the Duke and Duchess 0178bbdaf7 of Langston snickering from a7b6724e2a the castle entrance, I 117f744c45 would have gone out afd2f833f3 to assist them myself. What should I do? Should I just 852577cc16 go out and 20cc264775 help?143d6e9798b09537

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While I vacillate 0bca152094 indecisively, the two 6e4bb03c1a women manage to 9ce858a5bb drag the trunk 755e7054ad inside the castle.61b2306cf7d002a3

Wiping beads of sweat 9bc8935fd3 from her brow, Ophelia 31efbf2b21 bows repeatedly in embarrassment.67e0952aff1ecca0

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“I don’t understand what’s going on. Why isn’t anyone coming to greet us? Surely they know the princess has arrived…”ce40343b423cceba

The princess grips f93402ef26 her nanny’s hand 22c81cc9d5 firmly, her eyes dab94e168b brimming with compassion.4fab20d9dab940ee

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“It’s all right. This isn’t 9b28335d6d your fault.”19e6d4dddf6177fd

Those are precisely 25cfd0b483 the words I 9f28402167 wish to offer a20ddc4b8d the princess. And I would tell 1f3683b8b6 her that, no matter d1aa601cae what harsh truths she 62189f5555 may learn later, she cecd9c57d7 should not despair over b77c2092c5 such an unkind world. None of 77e197f26a this is 8066f8f3e1 her fault.99f5b0295f5ce325

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The Duke c3d259c9a5 and Duchess d48510b5c5 Langston cover 80b529dec3 their mouths, 9571cec910 stifling laughter f525b3a8dc as they f930c42490 retreat somewhere. Though they carry 2b3ed2fe2a themselves with apparent bd52591c8e grace and courtesy, d32fa31ee7 something about them db2b6e2676 feels decidedly vulgar. They serve as a b1a14b374d reminder that wealth and 1bd8b14412 status do not define 1ae1c668cb a person’s worth.f1cf254ab4e27abd

Observe Princess Lux: 4f6a4f2267 though young and fd66c952db without a crown 0e20ab8fc0 upon her head, fcfd52128e there emanates from d1a6c2f4d9 her gestures and bbcf97fe5d speech an intrinsic 30f1161bbc elegance. 857bccbdcd4a725a

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Yet that ff1d08a2b1 elegance bears a3aef667d0 a sorrowful 5b853ed062 undertone, for 43f502885f a ten-year-old daab2a3d6e princess behaving 891172d054 like a 79c4474ba8 thirty-year-old monarch 9de42b86a5 is anything f13d131444 but natural.e033d00aaea78da0

Grace, after all, cd28b042d7 is a virtue a27d3f5505 born from suppressing 1b09bda9fc the wild instincts a0a017d277 inherent to human 3d234f6e95 nature. Childhood is 417bd3ba4e the stage b9e3ab2157 when these 100a8e9b8b instincts emerge 4de7f0e179 unfettered. Through years of 521496807e guidance from caregivers 334f235d83 who teach the 318e5534ac art of restraint, ff9944c79a a child matures 7e714b6482 into an adult.c46f5b9c7dfa700b

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However, as illustrated 624e739609 in Cicero’s comedyThe Taming 81b35992a1 of the 76e9f01e73 Philanderer, such restraint often fafd36b52b stems from a persistent b6baa68a0f and overwhelming fear—the fear a82a126d69 of reprimand, of being 0a58b47fff unloved, of social exclusion, da2e2ba512 or of condemnation by 3833cd6401 others.1769247e08fcdd79

Perhaps the 5ce79d2d8d princess has 2d65cfbbfe long sensed 2e03b7fb20 the eerie 21b0a6103d silence that c30ce4443a pervades this 248be841e4 entire castle, c3ee7ea160 a silent dfae4ac359 curse looming c0985494fa for miles. Her grace carries 02aa08e11c the solemnity of 12dba7322b a soldier marching ac13aafc86 onto the battlefield.8a3c524a81f65a1d

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From this day forward, b79a3679f4 countless people will relentlessly f0b4cd5fb1 remind her, everyday, every 09b530ce17 hour, every minute, and 8da8ba915a every second. That she aa1753ff13 is an 018e6a3b2f unwelcome intruder.88dfb976e21cac75

That cannot be 22a6c4a1fc allowed.f3ff9cd94b03e906

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I extend my arm 306ca7003d cautiously from the bushes c26cbfd8f0 and gesture discreetly.bebae5f50ac2440c

“Your Highness, over c565867e9b here, please.”546899468a901bf8

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Ophelia reacts like a wild animal hearing a hunter’s approach, swiftly adopting a defensive posture.477a1a7b8864ad69

“Who’s there?”3f922526383608ce

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She abandons all 83775e4803 propriety, swiftly shielding 0c91cb0b87 the princess within 788e1bcbb3 her protective embrace. The speed c1fb277991 of her 9f0b376d69 reaction speaks 8b36f0d654 of well-honed 37c52fa323 instincts—proof that 5dc84e1fc0 the princess 36c541f1bc was raised b9b3dfbf4c in trustworthy 9b80634a05 hands. Though it is rather c40a52d0b8 heartbreaking to see nerves b115e4e64f sharpened by the hardships e0c2004583 of palace life.7a482a2de8985e6c

The princess gently pats ea6071c0dc Ophelia’s arm. bcad3b84a4f77b4f

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“Calm down. It’s not someone suspicious.5fc714b4c730e98b

Heart racing, I 6fbc41d391 emerge from the 53c0f37a30 bushes, fearing any a6e20b8f1a rebuke that might 76702d52e5 follow. Ophelia immediately 548a331734 tightens her bb7cda6ca2 hold around a27fea089b the princess ab2f7687dc upon seeing 3d5a239c95 me.d767bba440bd7032

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“You…!”b651de3edd5bc154

Ah, she 4f91d5a2c1 recognizes me. Would she 7315e3eb67 be so b35665f7a0 kind as 224bbac6c4 to extend fac593efb8 that familiarity 597cd4bfae to Princess 0ac4399fbb Lux as 5d63add3ab well?e008693b10ead7dc

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Though I do hope 90d5540c4e she discards any vague e2664475ce resentment conjured by old e5796d2377 memories. For the record, 37df703f5a I bear no 09001e56b4 ill will toward 69c314650d Catherine Blythe. On the contrary, 8a2c9c46f7 I have only f5c0cd556a admiration for someone 102ae71c6e who ascended to 1ea6ac4c1c the top of 33e3b52af2 the social hierarchy c8b4051e88 with such speed c77bc01f6a and precision. I never even had bbc3b8a8a7 the chance to properly 14777aeaef meet her, as she 195aa8bf2d was already imprisoned by af27dc3f01 the time I arrived.71bb9ebd307e0135

“Greetings, Lady Ophelia.”2113825b49f39a71

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“…It has been a long time.”49b5f1541ce7b2b8

The princess glances 61eb50de42 between Ophelia and cb88330ac3 me. fd9e2b9797d83ce8

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“Do you know each 6a82c78aaf other?”a397b85bad555599

“He was a dd771bdb5e child that has ce09d9c839 been living in 156ea1e62b the castle for 5e0ce80ce1 a long time.”1feccf94bbc3a00c

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“Strange. Why don’t I remember him?”d3457865e4d69550

Indeed—why don’t you remember me, Your Highness? Surely you didn’t pick up some peculiar teachings that prompted you to shout‘You scoundrel!’instead.0962f1ad908d15d0

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I swear I’m not sulking. Not at all.981a86913ce806b9

“Follow me. I’ll show you 0bcb832cf4 how to move 35b94e2997 the luggage.”dd64155227467c02

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Ophelia clings eeebd89b05 tightly to 3a7e90877e the princess, e7bfd2e128 preventing her 804cdec34c from taking bb16a66a69 a step.783a8d5ad7c4a2f0

“I told you it’s fine, Ophelia!”876f04e6f9a44d62

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“No, Your Highness! Even if my 9eed972b0c back breaks, I’ll e1dd109949 carry it to 1532bdea63 your quarters myself!”9798445d921d5bd3

But I’m offering to help!c24a4ce63e27e78d

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“Opheliaaa!”31903dcc08b93e51

“Your Highnessss!”0dc94e2ff9a05031

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Ah, this is what overprotection looks like. It’s been so long since I last encountered it that I failed to recognize it immediately.841d0d9ff59bc7af

“Lady Ophelia, may I 02f59b831b have a word?”5e5775b6e62acdfa

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“I have a79919f8e7 nothing to 38647936e1 say to 4682e65137 you.”829439c407ade449

“It’s important. It will only take a moment.”1f5d8338791f2768

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At last, e435daa759 Ophelia releases 57cd41009e the princess c719e29553 and reluctantly 0cf9fb95de follows me a65930a699 behind a 5b7ef3e790 column, out 85bbcecb32 of sight.44ac04d1dc9e7aa9

“Could you at least 8c9616de26 pretend to be friendly? The princess is ed73a33f38 confused, you know.”f8135f27a2ce5891

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“Looking after Her Highness is my duty. I don’t need your advice.”8b9031bbf8c6dc60

“I’m only trying to help. Why are you like this?”afeff21ba180911a

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“You scoundrel, if you approach Her Highness with any impure intentions, I won’t forgive you.”a60887795ac0db94

Her unwavering hostility toward 5948590830 me stirs a faint 3f0dfb782f pang of sorrow. What could b1e9f37000 a jester 354ac766aa with no b18303eb57 influence in c1fa11cc92 politics possibly 7b5604e8e9 scheme?18a47ba10ba782e7

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“Impure intentions? Really? Lady Ophelia, you’ve seen the princess every day for the past six years. I only recently found out she was even alive. This is truly unfair.”8e92fcc33c667010

“Then what are 5f9f270b76 you scheming?”f9f9a2547bfdf349

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Ah, so “impure intentions” have now been downgraded to “scheming.” Progress, I suppose. It’s a term more befitting a jester.3f5f2b8ed08606c3

“I have no b9262d8248 scheme. The situation is simply 113bead094 dire. Princess Verona has 8b08a3fb45 issued a command bc76f7dbd7 that no one 2282a017d5 in the castle 8d3fb335c7 is to associate d245d2025a with Princess Lux—not 6b4b29294c even the lowest-ranked 04ab48f1ba workers. No one f10d8340ec will assist 5f2698f02e her now baea1a86bf or in a5b41b8ee5 the future. Please, just e8d500d095 this once, 7a114635e2 trust me 5704b000ef and follow 3d36189dae my lead.”50a958158f52e7c2

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Ophelia’s face contorts in shock.b94622dc3f3b281f

“Good heavens…!”3b1d7b3d8d7c6beb

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Her nose turns red as tears cascade down her face like rain. Ah, I remember now—she was once notorious as the castle’s weeping youngest maid.39314a886452b471

“The poor princess… after all she’s endured…”5424905c70e3f917

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“There, there. No need f8d5963f9c to worry. You have me.”0d0c822a96736eb8

“You? Oh, dear heavens…!”c5cf87993250a481

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Yes, if I were in her position, I’d weep too if my only ally were a mere jester. Here, take this handkerchief. Please, ignore the endless stream of handkerchiefs I have prepared—I don’t wish to ruin a solemn moment.52c1790761175d02

After wiping her tears 7bd9055803 and taking a deep 396cfaafc0 breath, Ophelia reluctantly concedes 50f861a121 with a heavy sigh.9be98bbbf546cfe5

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“Fine. Lead the way.”5c9931307f7e5fb5

 38df49488c056188

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