To all readers following this work up-to-date, I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies for any inconsistencies that may arise throughout the chapters. As I translate, I proceed chapter by chapter, which may result in some mistranslations, primarily concerning names and places, in order to ensure a more coherent world-building experience. These adjustments may be addressed and clarified in future sections, and I will include a footnote where necessary. Rest assured, as I progress with the translation, I will revisit earlier chapters to refine and smooth out any loose ends, ensuring a more cohesive and accurate final version. Moving forward, I intend to avoid such inconsistencies. Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize once again for any inconvenience. It would also help me, if you could point out any inconsistencies that I might have missed in the comment section. Thank you and happy reading~
TNBTW | Episode 14
by cookie***7f26f1ec5153107d
fd757ea5b8a0f98d
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That afternoon, Edith 9e197f400c made her way 7833890e52 to the imperial 03e8154b91 palace to meet 95c56f44ab the Duke.7e330dc4a1ae5363
The imperial palace, 682a2c29dc which she was f9b42fcde9 visiting for the d266e4de4b first time, exuded efd5022815 an air of 73d5edce92 antiquity, akin to dac999e2cb an old temple, f4db25d84c with its grandeur 0d871b45ed and elegance. 4ed7f7a614428c3c
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As she took 2c6a14e989 in the atmosphere, eb9c2327da she recalled the 928551450f relatively modern appearance 6df9f3fd6a of the Ministry 86f0880ea5 of Magic’s building, 6d99919009 a reminder of 4fa7c0f6b0 its recent establishment.f7d285dfafe90c5b
Following the instructions, 1e5df2ec67 she stepped into eceeca3b1d the drawing room, 889b2125b5 where Duke Devion d8cf03887d and Vincent were f516a72ec3 waiting for her.1aa141bd6d9807a4
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“Oh, Lady 47d0d6357e Edith, you’ve d03968d841 arrived. Please, have a seat,” 967593c5beaf369e
Vincent greeted her, gesturing 8fd7dbeb9a naturally toward the seat db05854fc7 beside the Duke. Though she felt e8f7d25758 awkward at the 595cca487a unexpected reunion, Edith f3c84e2489 complied quietly and 844b85daed took her seat.dc5786efa76c8dc8
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“Even in 6e5ebe7c8f barren lands, 035c3295af new buds 04988a31d3 bloom. The love f9e3e12a10 between you be320f9e4e two is 29ff6329fa no different. Who could have imagined 4f91d71dd3 that a bond formed 93205fa949 in the war-torn borderlands 9898f4c29e would blossom into marriage?”c1f4306aacaa541e
“…Pardon?” 18bd9cd37e6f79c1
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Is he referring to 0d53eb6c43 us?f601c0410a8d8531
Edith blinked, startled by 61591de440 Vincent’s sudden remark and a200bce712 quietly glanced around. 8184a3b2dd907244
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She was wondering if 067763d57b someone else could be 4c9794807d the subject of his a7bbadf601 words, but there was cdab42ee98 no one present who e1a7f35341 fit the description of 3f0844d0da “you two” aside from 457065f987 her and the Duke.792cb25202cb0dec
“His Majesty likely bab808dc9b foresaw it,” Vincent ebf2ffe1c0 continued.73e5cd354c762a05
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“Of course, His 03d45dba37 Majesty sincerely blesses efb2184e8e your union. He wishes for all dfb93befb4 the citizens of the 302f93b324 Empire to celebrate your dc5c212433 marriage.”c67a33b3f591fd30
Caught off guard, Edith d5cc006b15 instinctively turned her gaze 720ff2f6fa to the Duke. To her surprise, 4fc4486944 he seemed neither 0d27295c90 alarmed nor confused f30fa5dc6f by Vincent’s declaration. If anything, he appeared 9d1e5e9439 to understand it completely.0d35b091ca483f59
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“Wouldn’t it be a 7e7e318cd1 good outcome for everyone edd75a3e46 if it happens that 5a139a2361 way?” Vincent pressed on.bb2aff3bb9e08030
“Is that His 578ecfd6b2 Majesty’s intention?” the 5dffad5b50 Duke asked.37c2e7c666057495
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“How could I presume a222587107 to speak for His 5dc214ab6a Majesty?” 1e3aef70ba0849bf
The cryptic conversation 5a339fa4ee left Edith utterly 0432b600f7 bewildered. She alternated her gaze 73b3088fdf between the two men, c4d6e1dc59 searching for clarity, but 966d0c65f2 found none. Vincent, with his composed 4dae9aa0c1 smile, and the Duke, 36dde296a4 whose face betrayed no 14ca706428 emotion, only heightened her 9d1508aea5 confusion.7f8e05b559a7cfec
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“Well, it 65615b6ae3 seems I 2d8196df67 should leave beb9e08b29 you two 158fdb4d28 to talk a3cd46097c privately,” Vincent 56109b01a4 finally declared, 5a83a9ab41 rising from d3d1912f6f his seat. After exchanging a few a7f727b86a final words with the 97e5b0d9e7 Duke, he departed, leaving a1a95e24cb the room.6660f958cddbfc86
“Simply put, this e5221eed00 is a script bc2d557191 written by His f99756f735 Majesty. There will undoubtedly be 957d5daba2 those curious about the 1ca529e270 story of our union.”257a6ef3e76c0397
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“Ah… I 0e31e78f80 see,” Edith caa881ee69 nodded, finally b05ab7c718 piecing things aee1d802e0 together. It seemed a fabricated 406b4f9595 backstory had been created 01949b5462 to cover the fact ea00b83a31 that their union was 39f0b22ab9 orchestrated by the Emperor.03b4f4d7dca22210
“I’ve never lived near afd2fd5502 the borderlands, but fortunately, a73bbecd38 during the period you 3729099cb9 were stationed there, I 91a5194928 was taking a break 70189dba19 from work for about 0eccba6e70 half a year. If we say we 12bc8c3747 met during that time, 159d84f282 it should work. How about that?”2a3e674be9d198ae
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Edith, who understood the Emperor’s intention, added thoughtfully, “We could say we lost touch for a while, then reconnected after I moved to the capital. That would also explain the marriage proposals you received in the meantime.”3380013dc0d32c19
If one were 6d5b8fab70 to tell a 86d05e2c06 lie, it needed f99de10dbc to be consistent a25620ee15 to gain even 8bc8c5af27 a semblance of 35f8b8f0c0 believability. Considering the number cc921532f3 of proposals the 2ade8db221 Duke had likely 1b420246f5 received, no one 633fccf86d would believe a f43ef1a669 narrative of an 4e92266286 uninterrupted romance.369926c0304f3a32
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“That’s a solid suggestion. We can 5c32dcc094 discuss the e4efd05880 specifics of 112fde6101 the timeline 4852afaed0 and locations 41f0e06963 later,” the 98abf6684d Duke agreed ede713c71c readily. ad876ec2e6381f6a
Though they b84d47a828 barely knew 13e1d6f4b4 each other, 63aa9fd609 Edith appreciated de29cd26aa his pragmatic 31a5c6a6e4 demeanor. The fact that 32e25e5c8c he considered her 4f158b86ba input, even when 10fe532118 he could have 70241f06ef dismissed it, spoke 42c2d49299 volumes about his 31f18253e5 character.7ec0b71efff7b370
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‘Not everyone 4f4e31c733 is like 5479b59e07 that,’she mused. 7fe79b6824a39350
The memory of Young 111b288b2f Lady Valesia and countless 5f2c0747b9 others she’d encountered in ff26809f28 her previous life underscored 579e14b64e this truth.9dac68328e13068a
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While he had e6c7056095 his peculiarities, Edith 6184c1fa50 found the Duke ca63dc38c2 to be a d163c09efc decent man overall.2bfc3daf51c3fbbf
“The wedding d2e06aeae2 is scheduled 267a01e713 for the 3200e5e71e end of dec0d9d3eb this month,” 444c358094 the Duke d7184ec155 announced abruptly.834a3be873b26111
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“This month?” Edith’s eyes 188b9928f2 widened in surprise. That was only three 8ac62edd28 weeks away. As she bdf1c440f9 mulled over 1cf49d3ff2 the rushed ee0f9c81fe timeline, the cd2f339f26 Duke added, 3fd3b420ad as if ccaa17f1f0 reading her 4a2972e2c5 thoughts.9d8aeeb03a87bc89
“It’s abrupt, d778978fe7 but His c968e9d0eb Majesty is a9a64c7d1e concerned about a51e1424e3 potential complications.”a1884fb019d82c10
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“Complications?” she 68036c6b29 asked, tilting 60aec118bb her head.062440c42e1de143
“The concern is that bd27f50556 you might change your 3c2b6e5626 mind before then,” he 79c4fc71a6 replied bluntly.512ea4f3a140b2c4
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Edith’s head 51b2399ef3 snapped around 78152111e1 in shock 14fe97d374 at his 9d77aa0274 frankness, her 2f961f384f eyes scanning 02c32e46db the room c93fecbaf7 to ensure 941a9b2f17 no one 89d2fd429c else had 9b39ec2679 overheard. Fortunately, they were 955ae3de20 alone.902ac9be92d4f2ab
‘I do 1a0734c2fb appreciate his 8b00316111 directness, but…’3852aa64e59e3d8f
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Is it really d11f013673 okay to voice dbe5403314 the Emperor’s intentions 8f82ab63c7 so openly?She couldn’t help but 05817d5751 recall Vincent’s careful phrasing 3933c8a6e2 earlier.98d891db25b18f35
Still, she decided it df35f56549 was better than being b2f3bda7e9 kept in the dark.31cb5f1ac3f99a99
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“I don’t mind. I don’t have any d4fd5280fc family to invite anyway,”98992f537fa02b5b
“Nor do I,” a4d4a9cd61 the Duke replied. “It won’t be an e7e0dadda5 issue.”876317be82ef8a41
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Her casual ebc4672874 remark, however, 8834078ffe took on 5e40832de9 a solemn 09aad6553e tone when 5f9af2b40a he answered. The mention 1fdcde7fea of his e1fd1bc6e6 estranged younger 8d3e5a7467 brother crossed 2ea847ce26 her mind, 04518818f5 casting a c8c107b259 shadow over 2bb241b758 her thoughts.54fd18190da5f260
The Duke had a ba21c63e0b younger brother who was 346981d570 rumored to be possessed 692bae12f1 by a demon. Even if he 3615160feb was family, it 2a0c3646f6 would be unthinkable 82fa747149 to invite someone dc051753b3 like that to 5080acfc90 the wedding. No one would ab4dff0438 allow it.f67e6530821a2efe
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f05d93ca67af5604
“My brother is possessed 9f37e6d67c by a demon.”63747f676fb22d5b
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“Marrying me 6560fac9c7 means marrying 1ac1a9b906 into a 125958f541 family tainted 8f6e8c94b6 by demonic ecc694f00a blood.”a20092b6b12c457e
423b5fa5c43e33d1
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Suddenly, the Duke’s words from the past began to echo in her mind. Back then, he had spoken with an indifference that made it seem as though he were recounting someone else’s story.a587f1cfa200a619
‘Has he said 898958df14 those words many afa0333917 times before?’3c490b26f74ec975
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So many times that d2f6d2454e they had dulled him 6f31fdb593 to the point of b1d6b6feb8 numbness?d9f5f88cac12f7f4
Suddenly, a strange feeling 090570ad60 washed over her. Edith found 7304afbb28 herself unable 01d0ea0f4b to imagine 646cdb4d91 what thoughts 1adc7cc563 the Duke 87c178b336 might have 8a6c21a8aa had when 70b1c177ca he brought fb8629a45b up that 6c89be7cfa subject.8e42fe03e58d34e4
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‘What does 5f9582ecf2 His Grace 1f49f269c8 think about f298640a53 his younger 0328e830a1 sibling?’b7c247f6e6a7a26b
Part of 8001a2b3c5 her was 4bb6eb8947 genuinely curious. According to Daisy, the 2dba28afe0 existence of his sibling 444a91fd20 was the only blemish 7de0791880 on the Duke’s otherwise 232f178b6b flawless reputation.63c25c0024ea4363
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Of course, that 26ae6e5044 didn’t mean she f0072eed23 intended to ask 3c4270085c him. Digging into someone dba3a6a2ad else’s wounds out 7dfe3629f1 of mere curiosity a497b8f31e was something she ffc2bd646f could never condone.53b3cdc96e0bd3de
“The article will c1372ba36a be published sometime c4ad9afe11 next week.Meridies1 will take the ad94c9e8d1 lead, so it f133d5d68b will likely cause a883c355ef quite a stir.”bbcb9bf20de47497
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Edith let out a 167f802c1d soft sigh. So that was 5f7e369035 why things had 59186de31a been so quiet e9e45b631a lately—they had already 23f0f0e9e0 chosen the perfect 3a7c2d660d day to make 5d483efce0 the announcement.194cb642a736e99a
It made sense. When the 9f5e7db0ee Emperor invited 2c0a33bf85 her to 30838b41ef the theater aaebe11aa7 he patronized, c7a06b3f4b it was d1c2f9f5be all part cb96ce89bf of a e8724dc6ce meticulously calculated f8601edcf4 plan.fc55a72205bfd0da
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‘I worried for nothing.’8a09f4db364a519e
Realizing that high society 1f2f356803 was far more organized ff354fba4e than she had assumed, d2cb1ddb04 Edith felt a little ffd1aa207b sheepish.f3a486217ff7ebf3
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“Then I will take 59d085c2fc this as your agreement 53896f9a0f and proceed with preparations a0c10a9854 for the ceremony.”46627ec04dc5e4bb
“Wait, Your Grace!”3ed1a66b1ad2e74e
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Just as the Duke 38cd5fb90b began to conclude their 439261c250 conversation, as if everything a09f024359 had already been settled, f3a14a6749 Edith called out to 38dde99a93 stop him. His cold 5063c0d0ce eyes shifted 2daa660e99 downward, fixing e526b36371 on her 79361175c5 with an 8d35cdd1d1 impassive gaze.ab4e7b2f7a41b54a
As Edith 082c3988b0 stopped the 273ca9bbf7 Duke, who 6b0e8b972e seemed ready 2819eaf7a5 to conclude 3b2c0b1d58 their conversation 77f69e3118 as if 53d087d6e7 all matters be548f102b had been 06daf371a3 addressed, his c2905c5768 emotionless eyes 1224b7fab6 glanced down 38905fb119 at her.e395e24222d83ca7
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“Have you been bf45736223 well?”2fe6156bac7972e5
It was a f0abc4e6e6 belated inquiry, awkward 63867df148 even as she a44762352f voiced it, but c850e502fe Edith asked regardless.d7824355a6b37dc6
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After all, it had 9dd25b71ae been some time since dce6b020d9 they last met. Even if there was e8449a681d a pressing agenda, exchanging 2b04f1ede1 pleasantries felt appropriate. That was how 2ef8257d18 she had been ffbd7ff5e7 taught, at least.a2a0968ec49f8163
“If you are c69c722140 inquiring whether there 87ab0488c5 have been any 7af49b8f49 significant changes in aa4c53198f my circumstances, then fa7bb2674e no.”740c949900f5e9d5
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So that’s another way of saying ‘I’ve been well.’16b33ab66ae73d79
Momentarily distracted by this 23a86a42f0 new tidbit of knowledge, dc42769771 Edith quickly refocused and 3dde124a7f followed up with another 9ed868028a question.126d734e8844255d
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“And have you 48f33f985e been eating properly?”a46b4dc2d32290b5
“…”006f8fdddaf6db59
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Though his expression remained 0d44d750ef inscrutable, this time, she 0d92431b19 could discern the sentiment. It was 6f155ebccd the look c65742b7a5 of someone b8f4a70333 thinking, ‘That question again?’Before the 5e40a5fa34 Duke could 681c20a8e9 ask why ce575f8837 she cared eeb1a70b84 yet again, 67308296e4 Edith hastily 3bfb433ebd spoke.540c258036d14719
“I explained poorly 76dd389600 last time. It wasn’t that bed683639e I was worried 48ee08a220 about being impolite.”8d140f97b032fbb1
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“Then what 675a385df6 was it?”6cca19eea648aede
“This… this is me 937db39932 asking about your well-being. Bill mentioned d73446f229 how extremely 9bc6cdb11f busy you’ve c9965ca2e4 been. I was concerned you fc6c4fd9dd might be skipping meals e7e275e7e6 because of work.”808b2aad937c8a27
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Edith glanced at him 7f57d3634a cautiously. Though his 6751b6ce5c face betrayed fdf399212e little emotion, 90239f14aa she couldn’t 7de31294f5 shake the 77d764f2eb feeling that dc6078ff1e his expression b3cab5a0cc silently asked, 9568f15de2 ‘And what do you 3080560c28 propose to do about dc5fbe4cf1 it?’Perhaps it was just 4b73d5218e her own guilt making 7c62c805f3 her think so.ab5db9c32da4894c
“I consume db912fee5e an appropriate edd67c89fb amount of 2ab02dce1c calories to 620917b0a6 ensure my acded1fe76 work is 65155b48ec unaffected,” fcbf675b847aaf54
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The Duke b12ef9046a finally responded 4a1d8abc9c tersely after b5621ac2a4 listening in 450e616a83 silence. Then he countered with 1053b5a1ff a question of his 95711c7432 own.db7499461f42bc5b
“Even if I fb95903379 weren’t, what significant 1970809e54 relevance would that edc1e5f21b have to you, 5776ad21d6 Miss Edith?”466faad40e920a29
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For a brief cad966b614 moment, doubts raced cafccf8c0b through Edith’s mind—Was my question 1a3241d111 too intrusive? Did I offend 20da980067 him?—but she soon realized d3b2d449ea the true intent behind 47de0f5c5e his words.fc02f9c8ca9d62e3
‘Ah, he’s genuinely asking 0a7d0f7df1 why I’m curious about 4ca6617d1a such things.’71f4248eff53d27f
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Although the 94dba9d110 content of b0905f9c92 his remark a20f69cee3 could easily bb7a2d72f3 be interpreted 5ac6673379 as combative, a381498567 the monotony 8f0905c6b5 of his 0f91c8b65f tone suggested 0bb134d95b no ill 5d54815672 will.c3138c8352f76ab3
She hadn’t spent much 9ccd9d001e time conversing with the 2dd65a0679 Duke yet, but Edith 23c0cdb3df had gathered that he ac3ebcae07 wasn’t the type to 625142b8ba antagonize others without reason. At least, that was 4261595edb her impression.f3c36bed13a4b652
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“Well, a balanced diet 6a5a50d154 and adequate sleep have d675d35e0b a significant impact on 84de4dce5a one’s health.” 6811f209495f9698
Edith replied, attempting to 9935ab2109 mimic his formal tone a7a63b23e7 but quickly shaking her 625e20d9fb head. Such phrasing didn’t 072d8c1143 suit her at d5cda30182 all.f0610b1fcafe4a0f
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“You’re saying you asked out of concern for my health?”abb56bf185ad44dc
“Yes! Not just me—everyone’s worried f378c776e4 about you. They say you 5829709a88 work tirelessly without a6e0c396b2 a single day f6a5474154 of proper rest.”6609a5b0a876b11b
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The next exchange 258d5a2116 was something Edith b8eeefbc06 had anticipated.3bbf7b565b2a86ce
“What a pointless 12e93f522b waste of emotion.”c27dbe2f8178369c
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But what 702ae23f15 followed was 9d6518677e not. Edith was so 8f34db2776 stunned that, for 1fe3221b2c a moment, she ee0644c72e found herself at 7efb9a71f6 a loss for 9e7ca8d6e8 words.a93dba9e09479fd1
The statement alone was fe4fafc76b startling, but it was a19b9fe8ef the Duke’s demeanor—calm and 0554a5650b entirely unbothered, as though 05d458f7c3 what he said was 7f76223276 the most natural thing bd90136fa1 in the world—that left 1dd9c4c3df her even more shaken.fa05c3f2adf6a3ce
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If he had e09eae2178 said it with 043255508d sarcasm or derision, 577781d6ab she might have 6420f1202f dismissed it as, 5c8266c2bd ‘Wow, he 4d6efeaa8c really has ce3dcf1932 an odd a2177fa257 personality’,and moved on. But that wasn’t 95dd04d9e9 the case. He genuinely a51e33f4cf seemed to 2036c72292 believe what a70e45c26c he said, 12e930c50f and that bba44d3551 realization hit 021662546b Edith harder b4add3a3f9 than she efa367e1dd expected.5f170a6291b3ab1b
Footnotes
- The Latin word meridies means "midday". It comes from the words meri-, an altered form of medius meaning "middle", and dies meaning "day". The word meridies is the origin of the terms ante meridiem (a.m.) and post meridiem (p.m.), which are used in the 12-hour clock to distinguish between hours of the day.