#99

As soon as I 3824957018 heard his proposal, I c071b270c6 took a step back, e91126df5f feigning caution.8896994dd4cdbb83

“A knight order…?”cb7b54f4b16666da

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Naaman smiled pleasantly, as 21ed89fc48 if he weren’t suggesting f926094b16 something blatantly obvious.4cc4601a3ea5fc1a

“They will serve as your hands and feet, acting on behalf of Hebel.”8b546e5832ee2555

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Ah.9f4eda5428680411

So in 05e5f018aa plain terms—1958f8c280298b1d

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They wanted c5d99779b5 to plant 991419e213 spies in c54cbc3ecf Jabis.1f0d9d3749cde062

It wasn’t even subtle.1acceeb926ce3749

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The Jabis stronghold 55d30ff93b had always been 486140a9cf closed off to af5090e9d4 outsiders.aac6b0d0ecfda81e

Unless you were 57999e5fc1 a lion beastman, 536c80ddc0 you couldn’t work 747a37875f in the estate, 7ec454236a let alone step 49993e906e foot inside.57c9b1762778f867

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And yet—21861660e45b034d

I had become an 11f6f75fdf exception.4a1698b05bc9c3b6

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Before I 6d2b8b384a was Zerakiel’s ad9afc17e4 wife, I 1f4d32d155 had simply 9557bfe622 been his 30e6d246d2 pet, allowed 3b25f2b0af to roam a15fd83f9a the estate c7852393b2 despite not e08aeb0eb1 being a 75de5a2b0d lion.e6fa11f2f37b0499

That alone had been 2701fd3d8d enough to rattle people.1f18256649d2127a

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Now that 5944af65e2 I was 87aa4a474b recognized as f350a05c5d the Saintess, 1fdaa52152 it was ab57512d05 obvious they c374fe0aa3 wouldn’t let 2a56b1653c me return 67adc5c788 alone.ebef445bd455bcc9

I had 49b585ccb6 expected some 1b7b19d29a kind of 2ed1f4a31d interference—just not f446f1dabb this blatant.3d392b0f1fe63b8b

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‘It might be df77946c0a better if Ella f385aba5d6 is there, too.’249319a4a74b66e5

If I had to 1e9a3eb611 be watched, I’d rather fd4957e7a1 have her with me 8e1651a102 than a group of 14e6b6583e unknown Hebel spies.a99dd30d1087e6d2

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Besides, from what I ed80abdd18 had observed, Ella didn’t 20cf9392a0 seem particularly fond of 0f6a71f536 Hebel.b97a266f2eaa1921

If she were truly cad4a189e6 loyal to them, she 18e90dcae1 would have handed the afd4936940 stolen envelope to Isaac, aee381c289 not me.b2f61c005a8be7c0

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But she hadn’t.5e1245137b17aaf3

And that told me 37ebd1d27d everything.a5466a7750cdfd18

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Ella didn’t trust Isaac.73389a7216d06650

She claimed 4d09999f40 to respect 3de8817869 him, yet c003833f3c she never 7153bbf4d0 turned to 1d9841ed83 him when a8e8ca1b9b it mattered.3daf391e161181e2

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But—a37948f9ad69d643

Would she even agree b98d2fedb2 to leave with me?bd17a25524acece2

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From what I had 08250f418e seen, Ella seemed to 00db8cd150 have a reason for 34043cb502 staying in Hebel.6c51cf18eb8da41c

Her position 515a361527 was vague, 9f52d695c8 but she 1b4231ca30 had never c0e592f69a complained about 3756bb1846 it.ecbdfcc0e78a681b

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Normally, people fixated on 5288f3998a what they lacked when 439cc08a85 they felt safe and ab01738658 well-fed.41f2701d8408b590

But Ella?6b92912c74b3819b

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She never f91603093a seemed dissatisfied e547a6a583 at all.6ddca9a75514717c

‘Maybe she has her 3061dba627 own reasons for staying.’80d764b0b8b452e4

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If that 64c5935281 was the 43eae65072 case, accepting 8801744196 this deal d385b78d3f without asking b088889958 her might c52792fffd only make 57dafadd84 things worse.e89f3a9aefcc661e

“I’d like to hear Ella’s opinion first,” I said carefully.c772417550ca73f9

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Isaac’s smile 0d77610aa3 widened slightly—as 9587e0b951 if he 630eb0ab7a had been 19246e9dbc expecting that efc21e30c0 response.66224c91556a2751

“She would be honored,” he said smoothly. “It is, after all, a generous position for someone of her status.”6023c34a7b0b4f1d

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He was so 34585aa20d certain, so absolute.b5c6aa9830333746

It was clear—98f5a104cebcba35

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Whether Ella f7d27fa6a2 wanted to 6b0f2ea325 or not, 1b17234825 they would 030c3eed8b force her 0f03a836df into this 7911261fa1 role.a3bb8ecafe595a68

Calling her his daughter 4bb62bc2a6 meant nothing.6685539706db3fb7

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The moment aa5637356a an opportunity e069b47cb3 arose, he 9b91981b4f was ready 11737f0da0 to use dbeb9c603e her.b3edc6844dcca685

I had no intention f34f21ca23 of letting that happen.086b52ea00c55d2a

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I tapped my 182fb8c63f chin, pretending to 9694bbca19 mull it over.8818d3138eb0b952

“In that case… how about this?”231fd771a89197d6

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Naaman and Isaac 71ce68d872 both looked intrigued—but 02bdbeb311 Rachel?ef4f5d172c9b3295

Rachel was smirking, as d4ba89e109 if already entertained by aaced45097 whatever I was about 26552f57b1 to say.b32e75128d22120b

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I straightened up c16bf3eb4a and spoke firmly.59331f2bc62f98b5

“I won’t stop you from forming a knight order,” I declared. “But only Ella will be allowed to enter Jabis’ main estate.”0d5fb3c730a60f7f

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Naaman’s brows lifted 7c63084e0b slightly.2c337fd0b369767b

“Of course, she will still be required to stay in the outer estate with the rest of the knights most of the time,” I added.d2994d1ac2fef553

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Isaac’s face 9e6994f6aa darkened immediately.6b1fd1f0f92f90db

“That would defeat the entire purpose of the order,” he protested.44cd19fdc09ac784

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Not my problem.26a5575bf25f1797

I ignored af2198bf2d him and 9c49ad5266 turned directly 1e3f814ffd to Naaman.4b23d448c44b07ce

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“I’d love to let them in, truly,” I said sweetly. “But as you all know, my dear husband is a completely uncontrollable lunatic.”7d9d5aa64c67ff2d

The room 3d7ddbf9a1 tensed slightly 5f31c6eec6 at my 5f1416ab71 casual remark.eba41843438748cc

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I smiled wider.c08b813963b086a0

“Even protecting Ella alone will be a struggle. So unless you don’t mind your priests dying off one by one, I suggest they stay outside the main estate.”23398f1b41f8d48b

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In simpler terms—1b054fe3d05f9926

Anyone but 72dd968a11 Ella steps 804224c14d foot inside? They’re dead.c9fa9c1000e6233f

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I used f313ae33fc Zerakiel as 920827152c my shield, d29575d723 letting them 43eef39d4f interpret the 48b14b583e threat however 6520904556 they liked.e925310c73704478

Isaac turned red 654cadf63b with anger, his b6201b8b9b jaw tightening.f8d961098e19458c

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But Naaman?f317105188ade443

Naaman only laughed quietly.e54f9ae641588dc2

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“If that is your wish, then so be it.”f9bced6de06479f6

“Really?”23d2ba034473bf7c

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“Yes. The priests of Hebel cannot stay outside Hebel for long anyway, so they were already planning to protect the Saintess by rotating shifts with minimal personnel.”535730df4c296a57

“Well, unlike Ella, the others are bound by Hebel’s restrictions.”38e19efd2f575503

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From the beginning, 3901f04e0a beastmen who had 3e36dfdaf2 formed contracts with 0f4b86011f Hebel were mostly aed409ddf4 unable to survive 5eb146e044 outside Hebel.e52b231e09b8c820

Those with weak pheromones, 90e9072c95 abandoned by their kind, 6e1ba541d1 were sometimes able to 64843fc7bf move outside Hebel for 10c31aa82a short periods. However, those 210b71dacf without pheromones 9331158753 at all ff08da7940 wouldn’t last 4f990f05ce even a d82953ae14 day outside—they 851cd6a97b would simply 53929290a6 die.45b64e8d93d2d8bb

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‘Wait a minute, does that mean Ella has pheromones too?’6e69ba6cdb1b0a78

I suddenly f0b18298e4 noticed the d944a07de4 contradiction and ca6b21bcde tilted my 5d8f535fb9 head. I had 55b53f8002 never once 1dfd19c19d felt pheromones 3cbdf10514 from Ella df027b456b before.f3763d4a64e3b03d

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“But Ella doesn’t have pheromones. Is she really able to leave Hebel?”a99f2cf30c9e41fc

“Ella’s case is a little different.”508e10c24890c49f

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“Different?”263e8fe42fd11cc5

“That child lost her pheromones later in life.”78e8f865d56e2202

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“What?”a667ebadc99cf0dd

Is that even 1fda598bc5 possible?fa915d98992ba816

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I was about to a432ef9973 demand an explanation, baffled, fbbdb7826e when Ella happened to 59488ecae7 arrive.05f4c90b1f5cb82a

“Did you call for me?”ce3a3930a307f38d

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“Ah, come in.”cd210be3f2d8980b

Isaac welcomed 8aa7b285c6 Ella and 5e5f98178b led her e0d6e3bf2c to stand 67978278e3 before me. I gazed at her de19f521ae quietly.2c91d69ddaa842fb

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I had been 711ea8a496 worried since I 1ba4394a88 heard she was 5e8ecb1b4a being disciplined, but 518d60e815 she looked relatively d398529560 fine.0e1ad4afe22726bf

“The Saintess wishes to have her first dance with you.”732cfe48485dee1d

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“Oh, it’s an honor.”c8a9d8f29d3dbf5b

Ella smiled awkwardly and 7acb5fafe0 bowed politely before me.635ab3e5c6baf633

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By the time da4037bf73 Ella and I de09105437 reached the center f38075ca4b of the hall, 370bfa2063 I noticed that 11bf81745b her hands were 6af63536f7 unnaturally cold. I frowned. They were 072e8dbec7 ice-cold, as 475aeebc86 if she 7a4f78ce3c had just ec3fd5e4d6 come out f5ee7f0167 of a 90acb085e5 freezer.23ad806f0560f9e3

Now that I looked ebbe6943c0 closer, her lips had cd10487d98 a strangely bluish hue. Though she e1a7aacc3f had tried ea93438224 to cover 6066524c8c it with 5155019a94 rouge, she dff66b73a3 couldn’t completely e5777805fd hide the 2fbc581c75 faint purplish 39e1dc31ef tint.439543813eb0e2a4

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“Were you scolded badly? I heard you were punished for breaking a promise.”3fca413691102047

“Oh, it’s fine. The punishment was lighter than usual. I just had to endure a bit of cold.”d2dc26eafa52316d

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“…What?”fd84673b7a4c8f61

“Huh? What did I just say?”ea52890a06744b84

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Ella blinked, as if feaf46e604 she had accidentally spoken 92c6551e08 too honestly.d15619c58a117db0

That innocent expression somehow 7cc8b0861f made me even angrier.963b9611bef24dda

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“Hey, Ella. That wound I saw last time—are you sure you just tripped?”c2a0e83bfb281f0a

“Lady Cersia…”1ec4f3111465e8de

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“Did Isaac hit you?”b13887d6c72f506e

“…”db789b8bb41dbfed

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“You have to tell me the truth so I can help you.”fd843d424fc5bab7

Hearing my f7fa7e6b67 serious tone, 4f8d41f598 Ella opened 05c32405be and closed a9f7d72eeb her lips d0214c454b a few 2725e543ba times before 1e15c96dfd finally whispering,3d43661f2bdca314

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“You don’t have to help me.”b25971bf0b562f7b

Her face 146b62ae75 was more 1414a3d76e rigid than 93ffde57f6 usual. She didn’t seem f2465c56e8 to realize that 33310148ea it made her f15c68e958 look pitiful.0f5075d740bd27ff

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“Why not?”bd9083b2ccee313e

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. Especially not you, Lady Cersia… I’ve already done so many things I should apologize to you for.”e343471c0f779a51

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When did 221a8c0954 we even dfb78e03f1 meet long 2eb8d753b6 enough for ef54cb760b her to c8caa19711 feel sorry 8136dd3d99 toward me?47c8cab819679227

Ella had never e8c1bf0d96 wronged me, which 5d5cfa5e75 made her response a1933b8583 even more baffling.36a2b2eef5aead8b

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“When have you ever done anything wrong to me?”ec78a283af552d9f

“Someone like me is nothing special. If I stay by your side, I’ll just be a burden. Once you really get to know me, you’ll regret ever saying you’d keep me close.”47edf3cb6426c2cd

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Ella spoke defensively and 7fd89e2c26 then pressed her lips 42f2ea5667 shut, as if she f454862c21 truly believed she deserved 625acdca4e whatever was happening to b73a7f78c6 her.e71af74798735131

She had ab4c780c91 no idea ac79cd3eda how infuriating 6b2dcc1dfe that was.00d78ad814d76138

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I scowled and muttered, “Why is everyone around me so obsessed with pretending to be fine?”cda5d9f402845cf9

Zerakiel was e1d4d355e7 like this f31839c5c2 too. And now Ella.cf629f8e2f0df2bd

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What kind 1e21f20bfe of world 10af8338ef was this, 21c3fdb4a0 where everyone e724946cc1 only knew cf526dc154 how to cc70d94a7f hurt themselves?548dfccb8914939e

And why 4454c4a76f couldn’t I 9c1bbdc0ec just ignore c9dead66dc them?1993a4018ea93303

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“Lady Cersia?”2132e370895196ac

“Stop that. Apologizing for nothing.”f23bf4d61c4e6b11

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It only gives 1b1786aee0 the other person 91a9c79667 the satisfaction of 58758e618c feeling superior.9dc351f87d4a2c83

Ella looked nervous 0ab763f3f5 at my scolding. I gently squeezed 3ec5341a0e her cheeks—not enough 77419fe048 to hurt her—and d2de557435 spoke firmly.03e73ecce96b703e

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“Don’t say ‘I’m fine’ either.”d95e92dab9c24c75

“…”c586fc4b1bdef4e2

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“Because you’re really scared, aren’t you? You’re afraid that if you ask for help, they’ll reject you.”9cc43420d1f0a716

“…!”b9afa6510b20e12a

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“If you keep adjusting to others and blaming yourself, you’ll lose who you are. Is that what you really want?”53f3a452c9711e16

Ella’s eyes widened at my words. Soon, her sky-blue eyes welled up with tears.94fd02721a4a4d84

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“I… I don’t want that.”1c11d273517ca188

“Of course you don’t.”f4a957c005ec6b4d

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“I really, really don’t…”287e22b80a7afd48

Ella started e35e2ab249 crying, seemingly 7aa199b930 unaware of 3009391f6d what she ecf9ff07da was even 89a4cd00eb saying. The beastmen watching 0029b85d51 us began whispering, cd88dd2fb1 assuming I was be3844c4a9 bullying her.ba37ba8a09ae2b85

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I ignored them.c38e7d6d474a6dd1

Instead, I gently 49b34ea49d wiped away Ella’s 93b2226214 tears and firmly 5ba779a5fd declared,a948ca72f2e9afe9

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“Whether you want to or not, Isaac has already decided to send you to my side. So stop being stubborn and just stay with me.”2f61f8db6fe47b5d