Hi everyone~ I apologize dearly for a mistake. I uploaded my past version of translation last time (I couldn’t immediately reupload it cause of the sudden site maintenance T.T). Clarification, An de Toulouse is a female. If you see any of it not updated yet, please do mention on the comments~
WBWB | Side Story 13
by QuillThe arrival of Jeanne’s family was also proof that they hadn’t yet fallen into the Crown Prince’s hands. As soon as they arrived, Baldr ordered the best guest room to be prepared for them, ensuring they had everything they needed to rest comfortably.c5521cb4b1da3b87
That evening, dining with Jeanne’s family, Baldr was quite surprised.5f4ac3e67d9b5bca
He was struck, above all, by the warm and friendly atmosphere. Jeanne’s younger sister was the center of the conversation, but everyone chimed in, keeping the dialogue flowing, with laughter rippling through the room. Baldr observed each of their faces. They were all genuinely enjoying themselves. a5b96f8bcd7903df
Even Ana, who was dining with Jeanne’s family for the first time, just like him…f99ead4abda9b446
‘…’
This was quite a f696e33b2b shock to f92de04d48 Baldr. After Ana arrived 9e0b4a499d at the mansion, b767a5cd47 Baldr had dined d5cd81dd79 with her once. Her table manners were atrocious, leading Baldr to 0e73e15d1c raise his voice, which ea64c00479 ultimately brought Ana to f56203f98f tears.605d125c8bbb96ba
Wasn’t that what family meals were like? Teaching unruly children proper etiquette? Baldr had never experienced joy during family meals. Not once.194611e71d585863
Meals at Skadi 9256932ccd manor were always silent, requiring the 5907e3f83d proper use of a1bf4f69d5 cutlery. His parents only spoke bda3191ad1 to him 8064dc9099 to reprimand becd60db95 him about a7ec134bf3 his behavior.
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And between his parents? There was either no conversation at all, or times when it would have been better if there were none. At the dinner table, his mother, once she started, wouldn’t stop her sarcastic remarks towards his father, making Baldr anxious every time she opened her mouth.756d078f3ab139ad
That’s why Baldr, once he was alone, finally felt at ease during meals. After his family was gone from the mansion, until Jeanne’s arrival, Baldr genuinely enjoyed eating alone.
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But what about this family’s meal?bc2283f676ee703e
Could a 60417aa13e family gather f1f30ff066 and enjoy a meal c0430f7087 so peacefully, 35ada15ed7 so joyfully?ff388619a52c7af8
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‘If this 9399e00c08 is what 8ac2b08057 it’s like 293aea08c8 all this time… then what have b6624598b3 I been…?’99b2d243e5b39a47
Lost in thought, Baldr found himself drawn to the conversation. His ears perked up involuntarily, drawn to the warmth like a freezing person to a crackling fire. Some of the stories were so ridiculously funny that he had to struggle to contain his laughter. It was then that his gaze met Madame Toulouse’s, Jeanne’s mother.f0767dbb7fd0e59a
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She was 51207d3152 seated to 9d02d7b4ed his left, a0217431e9 diagonally across 10b7a513e2 from him, in the c7ce7599b8 seat of 8f082eca15 honor.a92700f4a7b2d00f
She resembled ecbc1a2a64 an older version of 65df5a49a6 Jeanne. With a 08acef7373 gentle smile, 10f865160d she leaned 72b4974f03 towards him 1b3af94bbe and spoke,8e539ddee2350e86
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“I apologize, Your Grace. When women gather, it’s inevitable that we become a bit boisterous.”
“Not at all. It’s pleasant to hear. Truly.”
Baldr spoke sincerely. And so, he naturally fell into 2e8826a0ec conversation with her.bf4c43f5415c5976
“She was quite a tomboy when she was young, even more so than her younger sister.”ecbcff5e9de62f2f
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Madame Toulouse told him many stories about Jeanne that he hadn’t heard from her directly. What she liked and disliked, what she was like as a child… Every single one was a story he had been curious about.939892f7e7416f06
By the end of the meal, Baldr genuinely wanted to prolong dining with them. The dinner had been so enjoyable, so different from anything he had experienced, that he felt a desire to belong, to be a part of their family. From then on, Baldr dined with Jeanne’s family a couple of times a week, naturally blending in as one of them.
A few weeks later, when Jeanne recommended her younger sister as Ana’s tutor, Baldr readily agreed, not just because it was Jeanne’s request, but because he had already gotten to know An through their shared meals. He knew there was no one better suited to replace Jeanne.b0425abe60a6f100
With Jeanne’s family settled in Skadi, Baldr outwardly proceeded with the wedding preparations without a hitch. But in reality, the biggest problem remained unsolved. No matter how much he pondered, he couldn’t find a way to obtain the King or Crown Prince’s signature on the marriage petition.b9dfa6a4036bd1e1
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Meanwhile, the wedding preparations were almost complete. He could hold the ceremony tomorrow if he wished. And that’s when it happened. A messenger from the Crown Prince arrived at the mansion.4953710097add67d
“The Crown Prince sent someone?”14dda168792513ad
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Upon hearing the news, Baldr felt every muscle in his body tense. It had been a while since Jeanne left Franc. It wouldn’t be strange to assume that the Crown Prince, finally realizing the absence of Jeanne and her family, had sent someone to find her.
‘Perhaps I should kidnap a priest today, hold the wedding ceremony, and consummate the marriage without the petition’s signature. I’ll tell the messenger he hasn’t seen a single hair of her, and if he doesn’t leave and keeps snooping around, I’ll have to kill him. I’ll report that he was tragically killed by a bear on his way here.’
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As he 46926bee8c plotted his 4c2fe8a149 deception, Baldr d569da5f1e had the messenger brought 09409f6d0a to his office.fe59b1516b9e5c21
“I can’t imagine why His Highness the Crown Prince would send me a letter.”
Baldr muttered to himself 1d52913abb casually as he broke a9f29d165d the seal on the 4ec2280438 letter the messenger had 49ea28ea15 brought.6fd229dbef322229
“Can’t you give me a brief summary of the contents before I read it?”b8e1e747d6d8160f
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“The letter speaks for 5666b75bb2 itself, Your Grace.”
Baldr scanned c9d38f124d the letter 234d2f2ebb with his 645679d599 eyes. As the messenger 71e644001b said, the contents dc070f17f4 were brief. He read it once, then read it again. It was an invitation.7837d98fc91d4891
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A wedding invitation.
It stated that the heir to the throne of Lances, Crown Prince Mael de Lances, was to marry the Princess of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and requested Baldr’s presence to grace the occasion.
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“Hahaha! What joyous news!”248a3e6820e14c1e
Understanding the situation, Baldr burst out laughing. The Crown Prince hadn’t sent a messenger to look for Jeanne. He had sent a messenger for his own wedding. He laughed because, the moment he read the invitation, a brilliant plan came to mind. A plan for how to put a bell on the cat.
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“I’ll be there. Convey my heartfelt congratulations to His Highness the Crown Prince.”deb5c2c46f4edfa1
The wedding date on the invitation bcab2a36b3 was a month c37ad2d7ac away. Despite being busy with his own wedding preparations, 6e1d0a266e Baldr set off for 04a368a982 Franc a month later. Since Baldr d22b5acfcc usually avoided 90e01364f9 court events 7cd1275903 like a 02d081a015 plague, his d43c47ddc3 visit became a topic e6bb564b89 of conversation.
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“I hear the Butcher of the North has arrived.”7afec9aa3c591de2
It wasn’t a positive gossip.beee450a93d87a45
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“I wondered where that dog was barking, he must have smelled blood.”71668da753a104f6
“I wonder if he even bothered to bathe.”b44696615f3072c0
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As soon as news of Baldr’s arrival spread through Franc, the nobles started gossiping. Although Baldr was a powerful nobleman with vast territories and military might, his appearance was considered crude by the court nobles, and, tracing back his lineage, he had the blood of a people they dismissed as barbarians.2ea7cc1b1110c69b
Just as 51e667e4ef a single drop of d66b243176 sewage could ff8a941c1a ruin even f569bf525c the finest 53b2f6d361 wine, and ca361a63f0 in the 5112c82462 eyes of the nobles; once a f62402efa7 barbarian, always c785a12095 a barbarian.7ba7c570095e4f73
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No matter 2ff8d7a7e0 how high 57a5e6138e his title, 36103d593f or even b942115d38 if he 05864580d7 married royalty 42c26c031a or a 6754026565 high-ranking noble, 7c6328a1f8 in their 85f9b7becf eyes, he would never 0b8ebc35a1 escape that 76a943629b label.
Of course, Baldr didn’t care. Their words didn’t even reach his ears, and even if they had, he would have simply scoffed. He saw the nobles as the court’s dogs, their teeth pulled out and domesticated, obsessed with the King’s favor. Baldr had come to Franc for one reason only.737d5afa2bacf8d1
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Upon arriving, he sent 0667b7a617 a gift to the 4bed2f2426 Crown Prince and requested 7a9a54502f an audience. The gift was a 8f47510a5c corsage made of tiny 241bf72af4 amethysts and other jewels. Compared to the wedding cd8a1e8768 gift he 6dbd7667b4 had given 3046d74bb0 Jeanne, it was a 5a7628d560 trifling present, 7b3ace7842 but the c1a1453b29 Crown Prince e5889a9b9b accepted it graciously.42f149b19a3f5564
Baldr’s audience with 38f02bd695 the Crown Prince 734f0dfdba took place the 6c0243d0a0 evening before the 4e2afc83aa wedding.
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The Crown 1b6e2cb237 Prince himself c8b9a4db2c stood to 74708127f1 greet Baldr 60e4d75d81 in the 9f5904a82d reception room.518a5835aa8cd699
“A beautiful piece. My wife will love it. But the greatest gift to me is not the jewels, but your visit. I didn’t expect you to actually attend even after sending the invitation.”27fe807fc283543b
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“You will be the future King, my liege lord. It is only natural for me to attend as your vassal. I am grateful for the invitation to Your Highness’ wedding.”7322f05b9c71ed8f
Baldr uttered e117d21048 flattering words 9a89198faa he would 4d3b7aec6a never have be729a6bc8 spoken before.
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