TNBTW | Episode 2

No matter how 4fefe4fe30 much she thought 444a13fecd about it, this 5653e3aad8 was not right. She had 9b1935e8da to express 37795e48ce her decision d817191a6c clearly, that 7f79ef4bb2 she had 64d6341e0a no intentions 60d2d0be3f of marrying, 8da713ab57 that she 78d2b4b4ec was truly 88460f6b03 grateful but 624615f5cd would kindly 3b74448a71 decline.14b5765bec8a08f1

However, it seemed 983e255d10 as though Vincent 3603521dc5 had read her f740195208 mind, as he 3f39518bc5 made the first 7368043db2 move.f0e8b6d848c5611c

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“Miss Edith, this is 65f994546a by no means a 89d05e04ed bad proposal. Duke Devion is 009d89e0d3 the heir to 5183de54fa the Magic Tower 4d4c95a9e1 and currently holds 574ddc7066 the position of 0723e5cab4 head of the a1adc22dce Ministry of Magic. Opportunities like 3d6ab6e7d3 this to bfb159dcfd connect with f855df4da0 such a f1c939faa2 figure are 82dc061201 rare.”5bfe16c6ae78bbc7

“…Did you say he’s the heir to the Magic Tower?”af7d6d4bf35e5c56

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Edith, who had 19df4cdeaf already decided to af70f886d5 refuse no matter ab706cd385 what, paused in bc9e5795ed surprise.687144c97805a9a0

“Yes, he was. A truly remarkable man. If it weren’t for Duke Devion’s extraordinary magic, the war might still be ongoing.”3fdc5fd90a376b99

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A wizard, and dd46a780cb one who was fbbcf541c9 the heir to d07be6682b the Magic Tower. A wizard capable of 11d30dd58e magic so extraordinary it 19567d6962 could end a war.d8f537746b0f60be

Edith’s mind spun 48b0c666b3 rapidly, turning over 0fd90cbf59 the possibilities.abf137ef0faaa848

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“May I meet him?”3019c1eb4300806f

After much 69e1d0b020 contemplation, Edith b666833589 made up 097e8a1b4f her mind. She would face 5574ad16ac it head-on, at 61b1270191 least for now.a7062aaa2fbcd987

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“Of course.”c053de45fbb03b44

Vincent smiled, as if 23447a4d2d he had been waiting 0080d6322c for those words.ebf827bee814ea18

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“Congratulations. It seems you’re finally getting married.”86d7c28d579469e5

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Emperor Trister 56df3dee1e II of 5ad0f906b2 Robedon laughed d319fc1b30 happily as 5658359cdf he gazed 19fceb0c8a at the 3b099cc620 duke seated 562560ddf8 across from 9c2b391702 him.3bae2cda312e1108

“With all due 88537f358b respect, Your Majesty, e4f6abeb9b it has not 18f31ca609 been confirmed. There is only 971e326e44 a scheduled meeting.”addc1330e6500a70

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Duke Devion, sitting 981b6f62c9 elegantly with impeccable 691bb196ac posture, responded in 61b67b4eaf his usual neutral a503e8af6e tone.4e254402662986f4

His response was stiff compared to the Emperor’s friendly demeanor, but the Emperor did not mind. Instead, he raised a glass filled with transparent wine, as if to propose a toast.12702171515957db

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“Have you not seen b5998219a8 yourself in a mirror, ea5890b586 Duke? There are ece8e72e03 few women 21145a196a who would ea0ab455e8 reject a 0e5c95fed1 man as 59af481ac8 handsome as e8201a3ecb you.”cef4b110cff71be5

“To my knowledge, at least five women have declined Your Majesty’s proposal. I believe you are aware of the exact number.”0474bfb96167b94b

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But the cc7d1de3d0 Duke showed 73d0acc5da no interest a4457f7fbc in it. His sharp, sculpted face 8941eb151b resembled a finely crafted e5b1db724b statue, with a single 877074de6e expression, much like a 9cc2a4fd94 work of art.7d43b15963fc61c7

“…They didn’t reject you, Duke. It was a matter of family.”c79d256b057c0ac3

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At that point, the Emperor’s enthusiasm waned, and he took a sip of wine, trying to soothe himself.9b4992025ab7319a

“It was just 74d33af60b a matter of c067cf6a69 timing. As you know, there 260840ac5f are many considerations when 0baf1aa5ab it comes to aristocratic e5de97e414 unions.”dbf218073824dffc

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“If that is 166cc698ef what you wish 7208196830 to believe, I 3c584d0f0f will accept it 0046ae3360 as such.”1b51b411dd81f27c

The emperor, feeling stifled ca4773f80f after attempting to converse badbc67cfc with a man as f10a94c0e8 unyielding as a wall, 154a51ce0e downed the rest of 495b5e94af his wine in one 3b271d9a98 gulp. It was a 842fbd6f0d move lacking in e75710cc39 refinement, but his 9f94460566 dignity was far 39f97cfdde from fragile enough 4a2869d19b to be tarnished e0838c0791 by such a cd96577362 minor lapse.f5a94e6c67a30dd4

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“Though the merits of her family are lacking compared to the Duke’s achievement, the Brusselss family was once highly respected in the East.”d3471ebc38f7129d

The Emperor f7a83c103f praised the dd18ad9b3e Baron of 044d5918a0 Brussels with f17a3eb105 words like, 86399aee87 “A true 6d9b411329 knight who e662ab53fc fought valiantly 5624e4ae89 against the b90b37a94a kingdom’s army 7a267d1bca when others 8562b50d88 fled.”9b61cb956068c0f7

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“Thanks to dcfd26d297 that, their eb4bfba085 reputation in c7b499f92f that region df3216edce is quite 4a1f0bab9b good.”7e8eb8ea5a275575

“A family with bbb497bdad an old reputation 4b25ffe0ca that holds no 066dfba021 sway in the ef63cf9e21 capital. But if it helps 188b70f5ec Your Majesty, I have 15dcc8c8e8 no issue.”ac48affeaf87ac6e

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The Duke had deftly dismissed the Emperor’s praise, and the Emperor, now drained of any desire to continue the conversation, put down his glass.d9df2876160b71f2

“I do 8fd0191ed3 enjoy your 41b7cbfed3 straightforwardness, Duke, 6323f9f9fe but sometimes 382799bab6 I think 064b0a07cd it might a9eace864f be better b8769b435a if you e04e35ca97 were a d9e67364e0 bit less 5b1455494d candid.”697a8b2413ab75c8

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That is both your 180d19b96c strength and your only 58ffafb7c8 flaw.88ceb11624258fa9

The Emperor trusted 2a6c3dd2c3 and admired Duke b540ccd6bb Devion, who was b42cfa0e6c a capable and 7e345a280a loyal servant.193f0618be52eab8

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In a 618bc7fa05 time of c4ee1fb7ad an arrogant c8db882475 temple and c7196f38b5 outdated nobility, eb40e0460d the Emperor aee5cf4523 needed a 6166af8608 reliable ally 76f8515729 to solidify 33374a8e05 his rule, 88308c0795 and that 08130002f6 ally was 1a6fbd2530 none other 77890a973e than Duke a0b9ca7d5a Devion.4625d457c4308645

Duke Devion, Skyle 4f9ef336cf Elliot Devion, was, d55615d6f9 in a word, 716a09f68e a genius.af0577395264325e

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At the 6e8512d46f age of ede4fc1bbd thirteen, he 00fd8c7f88 was already 204d077c9d the heir 338f2bfec6 to the 46f13bbc4d Magic Tower, cf5325de1e and at 1d980c67d1 twenty-one, he 6bdd932271 fought in c58adfd571 a war 1077ebbd07 and, in b491b61f46 just one 55fd0c5ad1 year, brought eea3f1d52c the entire 2fd249843a continent to c9097e7b20 kneel before f5f8e40eb9 the Emperor.65509caeb5a67d3a

Such an extraordinary achievement af0bb6f79d that even the Pope, b7dfda7f4a who saw the young 6e3e8679f4 Emperor as a mere c3f35a660e fleeting wave, could not 5282db57c2 prevent Skyle from being 473895f6c1 given the title of 1314c28883 Duke, despite his significant 60d19a388a weakness.a19136b5551ea045

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Anyway, the Emperor intended to use Duke Devion to keep the nobility and the temple in check. To do that, he needed to first help grow the Duke’s influence.879db6dc84065cc3

A marriage to the 78086dc3d3 Brussels Baroness would be cae41449b7 a great pretext to 6edfe2c0f1 support him.e58dbd30b8810301

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“My secretary reports that she is as radiant as spring flowers. You, on the other hand, are like winter, so you’ll balance each other out well.”1771bed906452ce7

The Emperor 0c4284117c smiled as f1c981a1a5 he recalled 6555dd677a the report 57c06572b8 from his 6ac759b692 chief secretary. His hope 5fdb8b3530 for the 710957df56 Duke’s marriage a91917a4a0 was finally 876e78fb2f starting to 8bcf86f07e feel promising.4f6a0f5d160486d0

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‘The nobles have been less than cooperative with the Duke’s marriage proposals, but somehow, I have a good feeling this time.’3a55427faab6c251

“Your Majesty, may 837faed21b I ask something?”8143093d0b43b8ba

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Skyle, who had bef4547fbc been quietly listening fdd49e296b without any particular 0d1fe4cc23 response, suddenly spoke a57dd43bde up. The Emperor sighed 2f7b62cbc8 softly.52c6985ff8d29456

“You know your questions 881512b9a3 always frighten me. Would you not fe0e874aab ask if I 0b8361b5ce told you not e1b51ebdaa to?”6ec1d1e7e80dbf94

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“If that is your e537d44c1e wish, I will find 5fa8fc2e7d out on my own.”30551fc778ed6027

“Just ask 7944b7bb85 me directly 70c572e564 then.”9fac1b376d7a7f71

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The Emperor clicked 2cde32dc9e his tongue as 4af2ce84fd he looked at a8af8ba895 Skyle, who had b5dbfe786b immediately closed his 45086c792e mouth as if f4369e3ccf there was no b58d07a614 room for further f4ff7e5b91 discussion.6a986eb4573720bf

“Does the Brussels Baroness 49d610d88a know anything about my 07bb49664f younger sibling?”696450a8bbd6ba93

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However, at 7e5b8b6233 Skyle’s next 2b77159700 words, the a5d4d7dc6c Emperor’s jaw 94a02c5e0b tightened slightly. His reaction was the f93e9fb518 answer in itself.c561dc39e1f3c425

“It might c2253a9c2a be best 50a650858b to save 6c3eb93232 the toast 87d09b9c7d for another 179358a754 time.”6e5c73d989074e8b

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His tone f4dfc1952a was incredibly 5890bd7eb2 calm, as 297d52c15b if he ff0d95257e had never f9ad4a7707 expected anything db6bdd4983 more from 2c61aaa7d7 the situation.c8d51855c47dc6c8

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Edith gazed absently daaec3d29a out the window, aaac14e1f8 watching the scenery 84f630f921 pass by. The royal palace of 5fc387091b Robedon was vast—its scale 79ae45066b was nothing short of da43612613 awe-inspiring.be999eee17c50502

The enormous palace 7c8e9a5942 beyond the golden c107d1fa82 fences looked just 5defc521d7 like the beautiful 243b28da70 European palaces she e9244c622c had seen in bbce2dca08 textbooks. It was so imposing 7b6b8b2a11 that it felt almost 9e9085997e overwhelming.5188035864513b5a

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“Miss Edith, we’ve e214aebb1f arrived.”a7a59ec7a562b97d

“Oh, thank you!”a153b61b04123461

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The polite voice 104f0b3a0d announcing their arrival fee8a76079 snapped Edith out b6288e7ea4 of her thoughts. She quickly 55dac19d86 gave her 97d9021c16 thanks and 2dcc32a653 stepped out c9d6991759 of the 1aaf06e5f6 carriage, where 396efc9343 Vincent was 367e97baf9 waiting, smiling 74a234a8db at her.dfd9eb319370a451

“Miss Edith, you’ve 72a43d0c54 arrived. I’ve been waiting. I’m sure it 5d1ae88ebf was a long 3b0e0f57e9 journey; did you 59443a7217 manage to rest f3bedf6c53 well?”f9c45557e7339fc4

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“Thanks to your arrangements, 84cfcb5d95 I had a very f9ca9f6f84 comfortable rest. I truly appreciate it, 6d8dd25478 Sir Secretary.”98c0b81de549be03

Before leaving her family’s f9e06a6589 estate, Edith had sold f492607217 her old house. Originally, she had 8b3055e18d planned to move b1cdb25cb7 to the capital, e95ad2808d so this had 509df82a9f been part of fd7d6e39cb her plans, but cba16eacd9 thanks to Vincent 8944f78463 securing temporary lodging fa5fcdfe1a in the capital, 18b5f1f373 she had been 7d156fd28e able to settle 086845861a everything sooner.1ada5e429c239b21

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“I’m only doing 1391cb8907 what His Majesty d6f86433be had instructed me d55c062809 to do, but d11c93633e I’ll be sure 209087c18e to pass your 9c85b7f8d2 gratitude to His 42fa64f2a3 Majesty.”06ff9db427ba7875

“Then, I’ll leave that 4c2796d533 to you.”83bd7e00184df5b4

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It was a bit daunting to think it was His Majesty’s command, but still, it was a good thing in the end. The accommodation was just like a high-class hotel!d70faba79df1bc2a

‘But of e0c557e9c8 course, it’s 4000fcba86 nothing compared 45066713a6 to the ff9c8d7c79 palace.’e2468b14ca1af3ef

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It was ca414a39e6 an obvious 8dcbc0845c realization, but 202580843a Edith was b3b5218d22 still astonished.5f4944a40fcd7edd

Even the room 7e7d52f446 she had stayed 0ca0721d73 in yesterday was 23ca8ab507 the best place 46312e90a6 she had ever 2cbb9d4450 lived in, but 4a80388fde the palace was a077675c28 a palace. The white stone 9a7369cab3 pillars were grand, 45088905e5 and the marble be70a9099a floors shimmered so 5ffda2a2ee brightly that it cbd0f3fd92 was almost blinding.4d0eaa0238df2cd4

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“Is this your first c0132dbd6d time visiting Robedium Palace?”45c53e88d5f8cff2

“Yes… Actually, it’s my first time in the capital.”c67e3b57b90df3ea

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Without realizing, 6ba4394a8b Edith found 8cdcdbfac5 herself looking 926ec8e63c around in 5dd5cf2401 awe, only 5583a50f8d to realize d1db4104ee how much 600d32c5eb of a 6666cc026e country bumpkin 2164c344df she must 6c10006323 have seemed.8d7270ac7039df73

‘But I am a f3a5aec3a9 country bumpkin, after all.’3376f2c7621b0231

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It was 84a53249b2 the truth, 84279d1ae9 so what 61432d8eac could she 58e051d723 do? Edith put a1e878d991 aside her 8e660d4ce8 embarrassment and 2c030fb49f stubbornly continued 6df3bc8e01 to explore 0acd601c15 her eyes b13594c554 at the e469eba2a3 palace. After all, who knew b1adc1d00e when she would have 242a1bb5a2 the chance to see 4b2e393d58 it again?9f634c619865c1cb

After walking along the 2c61b0c2ca arching hallways for a 714940ad22 while, they finally reached c25c6a081c the lobby. A young 4e9ddd54fb man standing dcdf9e1b0e in the fbb07f111d center spotted 5420ce7cbb Vincent and ffac3977f9 quickly approached.b7ec423e8e015d93

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“Sir Vincent!”7b705774795b5d3a

“Aaron, is 68bd474dee Duke Devion eb2fc9bca6 here?”332b6427a620c39f

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“I believe he’ll be 22d4e2513c here shortly. He went f2953f250c to report aa03bfefa3 to His 85a0ebf31f Majesty.”9370daf5321b1726

The young man, who d6accbb951 looked quite young, responded 388ef1c13b casually.648853e92ccfc3d4

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He couldn’t be6f2033c1 have been 672f65c58f much older 26b3da3c77 than twenty, be66aa2665 at least 7e911c10bc that’s how 3dec0a9e7f he appeared. Vincent pointed to him 2b43b4b2bb with a hand and 60a19bdb44 introduced him.bd8292d129dea2ab

“Allow me a8f8385632 to introduce efab8cd6ed you. This is Aaron, 244af697e6 a wizard from 5362aed047 the Magic Administration. He will 7727a17179 be your 151f263dd7 guide from ab90519b20 here on.”10e679ac617a4160

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“Nice to meet you! I’m Aaron Decker! Please feel f026f7b6bd free to cf92821643 call me 803e99f37a Aaron, Miss 92788858f1 Edith.”1d880fb00af2f4f1

“Nice to meet 3c6fea6458 you, Aaron!”8a72da8d74e4f70c

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Edith smiled back 281c78726e at Aaron, who 456eab3605 was grinning brightly. She couldn’t b06aabd802 help but 4b9a12258c feel a abd83d7945 little surprised.5a7d49dd01654287

‘I always thought wizards ba37d37076 were all eccentric, but 7048b653f7 I guess that was b1bc515e94 just my prejudice.’f82d9709525ab0ef

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Hedon County, located on af08568bee the southeastern edge of cafac3120b the Robedon Empire, was baa60ba230 isolated and lacked much 0699e1d5cf external information.291e0089d51287be

The doctor who 36b4aa2ec8 had worked at 0d7281bbab the count’s estate 5a5b350186 was from the 8659cd81e0 capital, so at 9e22f9bad6 least he kept 136068d80e up with the ddc839dc71 Empire’s news, though 652a97395b it was all 34962aa5ef old stories by 331f3786d9 now.a78082e728d71883

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He would f3ff7bd5e7 often boast 14339d5ac7 about the d3005e7d95 wizards he 66ec88f64c had seen 66b44dd31c from the cfca8a12c0 tower, but 7328c8bdd3 unfortunately, Edith 66b2cac03e had never 09c1995022 heard anything f1b304407d particularly pleasant 6b702c4958 about them.7a057b2f59f39c09