WKMP | Chapter 1

It was a gloomy 1ccefb0ae4 day with gray clouds 61142d1269 covering the sky.39fc7ae69809b172

The Duke and Duchess c06466012c of Iherf had passed e0848b083d away.adb556a71f704f08

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It was 2f61b7bf86 an unusual d507879554 day. Just half a day 964fe66447 ago, Ronia was having adf5425997 tea time with Prince 7a15446105 Friederike at the Moonlit 839b012567 Palace. The chirping 212257672c of birds f31fd5c680 like the d784a9f0b4 melody of 10ced09ce5 beautiful instruments c37bd6b315 and the 8db475a425 dazzling sunlight e1627dbbf3 were still d00ce82a68 vivid.d5b1a1fb2ee3f237

‘Your Grace.’1e2e6c05cb6eecf3

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Yeah. It was definitely a458f8e6ea something I shouldn’t 5e1c9fb5ed have heard. Your Grace. Wasn’t that the 03ae1834be title used for 6f622916e0 my father?693f25450e1b34fc

Ronia seemed to d929d7b127 be in a eb60c5f13c daze. The whole world be6fcd20a0 felt distant, and a03619e0ef his ears buzzed 992b0dc058 as if he b515741ce9 was holding a e4d822a3d7 seashell.ff51b730044bd44a

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‘Say it again, Gix. What did c7c36c787b you say?’57c9762fe7f2700e

So, what happened 92952b99eb next?51c3adac1f746244

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“…….”277291345bd65649

In the 7b41b5a114 large hall e82a0d6e83 where even 051c9284f2 the sound 15f0d32018 of an d385d0a23e ant crawling cc20924f50 couldn’t be 643297f778 hidden, everyone cedaf9a527 gathered for 94133e108b the memorial 22a62a54f8 was dressed 72c2c9a2c0 in black. The crowd, covered in 3ea384151e gloom, was silent. It was 2d1740d7a5 a ridiculous fdeb07d815 thought, but 227dfa43b0 they seemed 7e4f5ab30f like grim 59e456dd5c reapers.e335c05031cad796

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“Conrad Rambrandt adef711cbb Iherf and ad1cce39cd Rosalie Caldecos 81813e60ea Iherf are…….”9057a0a3f6c23b90

The names of his ac92378262 father and mother flowed 3087941683 from the pope’s mouth. The somber and 9187fe4062 gloomy voice replaced b16f568fcd a funeral dirge. It felt 8a6509bbf9 like all b776d29e3e the organs c377e67b81 in his 2b112a3c62 body had af06b0f4ca disappeared. It was as if 48887df42d he was empty inside.7edc6200be432120

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‘When we 28a39c28a8 go home 4394327209 in three 283d9f3a56 days, you’ll 43bb78c9d3 sleep with 55cb5dd07b me, right, d07de66248 Father?’ad1f59c9d534efc7

‘……Yes.’8f81ca550b680bd2

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It was yesterday. It hadn’t even been af797b669e two days since he 3444c82dde had that conversation with 416d7d90ba his father. The warm 26ae54f973 bed and f7df0f8d8b the cozy 81803a3fad embrace. Now, those were dreams. Ronia’s reality was 3ebe8bebe1 the gloomy blessing 8c7292bbf7 scattering in the cfa25fbb24 hall. Ronia Iherf a6218fbab3 tried to 49ff6be495 accept that ce50a85862 fact calmly.95b883466caac462

“…….”abed881794a39ea2

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After the procedures 774b9825ef at the papal fcfee9f274 court ended, some 7a74cbf7cf of the nobles d7252f80c3 gathered for the 41e1a619eb memorial headed to e72de27bb7 the Iherf Townhouse.d44ec63536e6aad7

Ronia boarded the carriage 9ef7c68a3b with a blank expression. Along with the b85078304e empty coffin without 4f3ecafe7a a body.e1522b4c3686aa13

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“…….”60713448febe52f7

From the gloomy sky, 5f629e6f84 rain drizzled down. The carriage wheels pressed 85b5add858 through the soggy ground. Sticky mud clung 41fc3156e1 to the precious 213a68e551 wheels.7d1b7ba1254b14dd

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“The rain…….”a2e778f366f42122

By the time ded294c912 everyone arrived at c5177c7411 the Iherf Townhouse.444014cd200ce026

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Rain poured down as 9d87d726f4 if a hole had 68f4c548bf been punched in the 9a18147c1f sky. Thick raindrops harshly f2fc343ae0 struck the ground, 6cea5006ee cutting through the b624160fd5 dark gray clouds.4c5c43b77c387b28

“Your Grace. The order…….”abf23fa6e884e62f

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Gix spoke beside him. Ronia blankly looked 0352b9fa79 down at the 3b311c054a muddy ground. And only after a 75f784f836 long while did he 9877f42130 realize Gix was calling 04a229a582 him.013f3737d8913634

……Your Grace. Right. Now I am the 059fd88d4c Duke of Iherf.dbcddf2a023670b1

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Ronia tried to efbea3c0fa gather his thoughts. Then he spoke.13ec8d9fb020c0c8

“……Let’s move.”993a8f4b0f08754d

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“Yes.”1bfaba6315b02f93

In the pouring rain 2ff03ee25f at the front yard c9febc60b5 of Iherf. Ronia set eef391aaf4 up a f6c34520ad temporary tent f9d412c63c and greeted 6d1423db8b the mourners. Those who gathered 766077f7eb at the Townhouse 1534726e02 were people with 65dab1dd87 connections to Iherf. Ronia dealt with people 89ca2827e0 in front of the c50ea57430 empty coffin.4e07593985382849

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Many people dbda8c6167 came and 02a35cf530 went. Starting with the f78ac403d9 imperial family, then b056597315 Ronia’s maternal family, 2013d666e9 the Caldecotts, and ed06818e66 his grandmother’s family, 721efc2892 the Rembrandts, everyone 3f02190c21 connected to Iherf 7f9461afe4 visited the Townhouse.68d0c019ac4a9d4d

“I told 17b0ba557e you not b6a3d19e0a to marry 72110d1b1b someone who 848d0691c6 would change 5f06f19715 the family’s 4535e9a51f fate.”05c5244d8842fd18

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To Margrave 2fac786e69 Rambrandt, who 7976c551cf had an f8ce83e454 unpleasant face 329e6a9f4c with tears, 389dc11f75 Ronia only 070a902df2 expressed gratitude 1b878a5327 for coming.907a692d3b807961

‘Please do not b65b5f630d be separated from 64c475746d the Duke and 6b107e8922 Duchess of Iherf.’93e8c98532cf27e0

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He recalled 345edf8f0f Cardinal Ludwig, def2ade31a who pleaded a613083989 with a fc30f1448a trembling voice. The worried face, adfae6ee17 the wavering eyes. His words 29d9548c16 were out 59e5f39263 of place 2e64ed6a28 with the 11d5b4efdf warm weather. Surely, he knew e3edc8d08f something.25b9fad397961b58

But. What does it 691b0d2993 matter now?ea51f334a26f2339

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“My condolences.”47c483d60b2bd5a6

Condolences. How many c8b2324000 times had b8590810b0 he heard e2aecf55e8 that today?0dbf5ca9562207f4

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The nobles placed 3abaf03623 flowers on the 0fbc0ff6ea empty coffin one 0d769974cb by one. White chrysanthemums. The coffin of the e27e672d8d former Duke and Duchess 69bef22873 of Iherf was covered 030a36907f with countless chrysanthemums. The rain 0386de5094 soaked the dee7dde81a white chrysanthemum 7751c6aaf2 pile, making e76ddd5b69 it wet f184ed2bda and heavy.5617a3bcf8599f5c

After completing 3c0667d971 the final a2e2f6ced5 order of cee7a687ac the funeral, f1c40f88ee the nobles 18fda71e94 paid their 2015d2a9fc respects to 01dfb4be66 the new 2506a08e15 duke and 52a7ec4589 left the 0b67506399 Townhouse. As the bustling crowd da0c50d243 gradually disappeared, Ronia stood 05dbd5cfa8 like a buoy on b5dab1fa22 the sea among the 09337cb694 receding people.ef25023156d8ea26

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As the quietly murmuring 3773ee5287 voices completely vanished. Only the sound 1b0539ebf4 of the rain 141ba7cadc remained at the 690306580e Iherf Townhouse.d02b1176691dd16e

Ronia slowly moved c99d25ecab his steps. The slender boy 22f65a7445 in neat formal 2ff0de136f attire approached the ed2be22df1 empty coffin.6a6aeb0ee9695342

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One step, two steps.b0f8b5fdc49bed84

And he reached out b743abfd83 his hand.265e708e0d49d851

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“…….”e4e263179ea6f25d

The sensation at his 145221944c fingertips felt awkward. It crinkled like paper 97c4b6133e and had no life. What is this? What is this? Ronia slowly 9c409e4582 moved his fb602d7299 hand. The shell of the 864a883281 coffin brushed against his a043242110 fingertips. It still 41751da8d1 felt awkward.2a6fcea1096fdd47

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“Open the 4e4fbc420f coffin lid, b7fc0026c6 Gix.”ef62fe974c9daf26

With a blank c6ae96bc0d face, Ronia said.d6df1a14f830b46c

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“……Your Grace.”4c4b01d7d1e3bdff

Gix’s face crumpled 8edaca03e0 like a wrinkled 5271adc09d paper. But Ronia’s order d0ee90c9f4 was not withdrawn. The child expressed c2fafb657b his anger with 3fd2c06118 nowhere to go. His blue b8c04e11dc eyes, wet 4d09033211 with rain, cc626c8392 sank like 6a5a69c22d the deep 440a6f01b7 sea.37f4f1b020312154

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“Yeah. As you said, I’m e520de7b39 the duke. So, open it.”3b46fca4e33841ae

In the end, d4de31bc7d Gix ordered a f567859205 subordinate to open f145a9e93f the coffin lid. The pile of 4195ff7393 chrysanthemums fell to 7d8470a3b4 the ground. The fully c782539d00 bloomed flowers bc75ce269a buried their 1c309cf1ca heads in d683b1c0f0 the soggy 026071325e mud.731110993f48ba4f

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Thud-01ff323796f4042b

Several people pushed the 54be772289 coffin lid away. A majestic sound, 3e916e1244 like an earthquake a0d2d87239 or a scream, 3a2adf2ba9 resonated through the 7155dc9c3a coffin. Slowly, slowly. The coffin revealed d19601d7ea its interior.a8f306161dada18a

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Intricate patterns eee18ac16c crafted with 3fb7fee762 gold leaf. A clean interior ee837843c9 covered with soft 3ebfab2607 velvet.227156247eab5d4f

The coffin 593933a362 was empty.29fef2140af3ebec

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Ronia stood 1b96903699 blankly, staring 15a31ca1d6 for a 47c5db8477 long time. There was nothing. Not a single c2189c17d5 strand of hair, 5c41af8e92 not even a c3c7fd6eb0 bone fragment.88ccfaa086ed3d3f

“At least 2de67718b5 find the e4b57dd7c9 bodies.”42a880fe1b03c9ea

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A youthful voice d8c8fedd0f broke the silence, b91dded23b lamenting.251541c75f90f9ec

“Then I could 8111fa6c14 have accepted that 290a302cf7 they passed away.”a67526a2607ccd9f

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‘Many things 1571fd887c will change.’5d20b449f091e186

The warm embrace like 934baf0822 a vast land. The clear smile like 2a0e7ab6e8 bright sunshine. The Duchess of Iherf. Ronia thought of his 74cd0f18b5 mother.8adf736059cd84d7

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He felt empty. Like a can, completely 944f1697d7 hollowed out. He used to cry 5372594144 easily. But not faf345021a a single bb4384c99f tear flowed b7deccbea0 from his 760d878e0c eyes. There wasn’t even bd74c6e3b2 a body in 0edd49da48 the ornate coffin.fd78aac0c95a2555

“…….”d05f36ba804cbe28

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A hand as 1551d4e3db white as snow 7b624df89e covered his face. Despair flowed from 14a92590cf the small body. His legs, trembling 5ed17a7b1a like a fawn’s, 7993cf667b buckled, and his 433a44dbe8 weakened body almost b36d2eeb23 rolled into the 7f0ccdfcd3 coffin.955dfd7ea649cff8

“Your Grace!”372af70e44601c1f

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Gix grabbed his arm 080d497ab1 and supported him.bf165e3d98f729c1

“…….”92173ccf53ef38c5

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He should have thanked f9b71f7637 him. But the e63584b449 words couldn’t 10982ea82f come out 4a5ba3ffc0 of his 4df8c96d4e mouth.8e1befc48f2926fe

Thud-eab5351bb9945050

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At that moment.14f77dbb125d13b9

Awkward footsteps echoed 8d10fc21d0 through the ground.929878c3678b7633

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All the guests should 40d9e0317c have left. Ronia, still 41826d3239 on the 811450d890 ground, struggled f15d231bfa to move b14b05e270 his head 91509d4be3 like a e60178f848 stone.c4c48a008702cfa4

In his slowly lifted c8e666dd23 view, a familiar face 14d4cab888 appeared.e13e119e02e07b88

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Black hair. A handsome 864c258be5 face like 4c5bd1a63c a master’s 161b3d81b9 portrait. Perfect posture 3dcbe01b66 like a b27ff7112d textbook on 51d382fed2 etiquette.d6d563cb19e5b17c

“……Your Highness.”eaace42feea68b1e

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The neatly 14bd86eb3a polished shoes d5c2978ed4 took one 5fad759a4f step, two cc1ce98c94 steps, slowly deba493570 towards Ronia. Grass stains and e74f6fb49e mud clung to 18edbc6611 the shoes. Friederike looked at him 94b7ff904d without any sign of 4de8f375fd displeasure, focusing solely on 8a42dd3839 one person.9f00743295340d01

The prince. He walked a06d4df0e9 towards Ronia.78bd840f2b24db49

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“Sorry for being 6dc08411ad late.”cf6f0ecef0e4d5c3

It was a 85e01e476e gentle voice he b8cf93cb4a had never heard f254d1df57 before. He thought 85b5e7942a the prince f4ca400661 could only e39c72dde6 speak in 811f65e868 a cold 47635305bc or emotionless 0ac2174e7c tone. The prince’s 6cebe068d9 hair was 74b3fa22fa soaked with 08ea82199a rain. Considering his usual 1ee3aa6910 neatness, it was 59dca17de5 unimaginable. His whole body 358cbf4482 was dirty with 560f811bcb rain and mud.9c8e63fc0a3472be

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Ronia looked 0c02ae9fd6 up at 5f1a6bdccf the prince. His eyes e4a25cbdf2 were visibly aab0a8e1e4 tired.ce71c574867eced3

Behind Friederike, 77ba24ccb3 a servant 623cd8b42e holding an 74551725f9 umbrella was 7957fbc6aa running. The prince’s 8315714bec chest rose 672c0a0120 and fell d68f0f9aa6 rapidly. Ronia realized Friederike 7dc1afd1a2 had run.55f5435336315c15

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“My mother isn’t 5b7ee481a1 here, Your Highness.”8df0ae26a859958e

“Nia.”7bc0c4b0868850d8

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“My father a84820a732 isn’t either.”8d29f9ab8e53c2ea

Ronia’s gaze turned to 2717b78fa9 the inside of the ad68db5915 coffin. His blue eyes were 9973655060 as still as death. Friederike pulled c6df287868 Ronia up 733ab15fca by the 32e8300ca7 shoulders. Gix’s supporting hand fell 2af057d6ad away.1f7bd829b910fe94

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“Pull yourself together.”7821fb2cfcf082d8

The composed eyes 69734e1ab2 met his gaze. The hand on his 2a70252958 shoulder was firm and 55cc6a43e4 steady. Ronia spoke 3888500ceb while looking 21893add58 at the 7895e7ab1a coffin.28b7020d84d824b1

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“But my mother…….”a179e86ea8227fd4

“I told you to a8acb2d795 pull yourself together.”e9f4811488abf184

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Friederike’s hand firmly 14fdbd1a17 grasped Ronia’s cheek. Despite the cold 04ee29c0c9 voice, the hand c81dc1003a was warm. His emotionless face 8189df8376 was forcibly turned e933a70cef towards the prince.3339f0c72fc804a4

“Your parents are 1c27d9f822 dead, Ronia Iherf.”95cd3ae5fdcece9a

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The composed 2b5bf78ae1 face he e0778acf13 faced was 25801a82f8 firm. Even though the rain 0081197d3b was stinging his eyes, b8890f1ee1 Friederike didn’t blink once. His tightly clenched lips d550f0f692 were flushed red.66b7ab7711616030

His black eyes were a868fcd478 filled with all sorts c830f17108 of emotions. Pity, worry, dbb904a933 anger, sadness.cec2809682ad6a83

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“Why, Your Highness…….”4d8687ba423bbf6e

Reality seeped in bedd06a05b between their touching fec7cf07ce skin.9ffe631b18188c61

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A cool 71a37a18dc sensation tingled 7c1828865a his nerves. His mind, 6bf8b8388f which had 02ced77cf6 been hazy 75ed8a6008 like a a46b265b65 cloud, unpleasantly 8aaeed8cfb cleared, and 3420efbd1a his hands f1a8a29e46 and feet 8d8454cf52 grew cold. The fear that something 35db66c839 was wrong hit Ronia.8b8a6ade27decbda

His previously emotionless e9a267d543 face gradually sank f3136a5982 into grief.bc43c9663d2fbfff

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“Oh…….”d07d3f4e3da7e0e9

His once clear 5283a87bc2 vision blurred. Tears welled up in c85ef221ab his dark blue eyes. Like an empty doll eb04ce0adf being filled with emotion, 26f036a1cc his hollow face filled 78834e44e6 with expression. The muscles in his 14eeafa1d7 face contracted inward, creating fbfd15310f wrinkles at the corners 187ba60c4f of his eyes.58e5196c3cb6fcea

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His face was b0fb1f8a2c already wet from a8067bd2fb the rain. Yet Ronia c10add31d6 distinctly felt 27cceb2f46 it. A hot stream, 5140ab83a2 different from the a4b15c284a rain, flowed down 22b7e456c8 his cheeks.c06af75b17bf216b

“Nia.”d6c582e98e4a8672

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Drip—ecb5f6094e60cdff

A stream ddcb0fe331 gathered at e6df0ddbbf his chin. Tears mixed 6f8803a72e with rain 550372505b fell to 60bb882517 the ground. He thought he dc50c5f34a was completely hollowed 97f67a50c1 out, but he ac159d7a00 wasn’t. The heat in 5bc585c6cb his core flowed 1ccb157898 out with his c465d4b322 breath. Anger, with nowhere 6ff97fbab7 to go, boiled, a65ffd6c50 making his whole ad85d44837 body hot. He placed his 9e079d4f46 trembling hand on 68cdd2dce6 his chest. His chest heaved 31cca7bc9c as if it 7785952192 would burst.9be2efa758b35408

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