YW | Chapter 2.7

“Yeah, I’ve worked here since I was ten, and I’ve never seen His Grace do that!”37e1fe2a2c33e2f1

“So, maybe you’re special to His Grace too?”abffe62875aa0abb

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“Maybe he’s actually shy.”fa3a0ea4eb0f093f

Of course not. But at that bf39d81e19 moment, the servants b7f4552961 were united in 0609c83617 comforting their gentle d9a33a9fd9 master. Fortunately, it a3e8522a1e seemed to ee4bf1443e work, as b6588b8dc1 the pink 6f1baf3799 eyes, once 3d2348b392 clouded with 8df285a2ae gloom, began 7127f24a21 to regain 75ffc4f346 color.005237bceef900c6

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“How about starting over with a greeting to His Grace?”d1194567697ec950

“A greeting?”61a80ea74320f563

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“You want to get closer to His Grace, right? So, as a way of saying ‘nice to meet you’?”1a46d1352f459c3e

Hey, that’s too much!dc719e2fa57e118c

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Argo was about to protest Chris’s suggestion but stopped. For the first time, Liriel’s face, usually a bit somber, was lit with clear sunshine.db907ea6d525e9bb

In truth, the heavy stone weighing on Liriel’s heart had mostly disappeared with the comfort and conversation.b93cc6c057ad57da

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It was a 32f7ca49fb good suggestion.8b0be584a1f82bff

Though it was a bit disappointing that Cassius hadn’t revealed his identity from the start, if he was shy, as they said, it made sense.0a6b59797fe9bdb9

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“That’s a really good idea. Thank you, Chris.”8cf129e640b3277e

“Haha, I’m known as the problem solver in Baltar.”c422d7de2b320ffe

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More like the troublemaker, df7d67bd51 making corpses out of c9c951fe1a people with worries.02f8aeb590bf51b9

Irina was full of sarcasm but held back, seeing Liriel’s face. Considering Cassius Baltar’s nature, it would be best to discourage further meetings with His Highness…9b5763ee2829ad80

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But she couldn’t bring herself to say, “His Grace is actually a bit crazy,” to those sparkling eyes. Irina and others reluctantly agreed, leaving their unease behind.8aaafd00514d4cd6

Dawn passed. Some were cdb52de9a2 anxious, while b51976eb6c the oblivious 6c07ed440f ones felt 4e7549c142 relieved.0f6806b4bb14d7c5

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚cf8bdcb74fb1ee78

How did things 209bd72a98 end up like 2f5904b4c9 this?1c4de25f3abbc3f9

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Liriel was currently b79945ce90 lost in the cfbb2d8f7e middle of a a14994b7e7 deserted forest. It happened while 069e09ed94 blindly following the 6fcff9e4ca fox tugging at 7ba794657b his pants. He assumed 636e2b8d54 it was 1a4e8f3fe3 the usual e4b1a1ca78 place, which 7174bfb1bb was a 93623439c3 mistake.09b36cbed8262bd9

When he left the annex, he felt confident, buoyed by everyone’s support, but something went wrong.27c3f8119d001452

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“We really need to go now, okay?”352c82ea11a8c9a7

He needed to talk to His Grace properly…ec64332fd40dc635

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Today, the unhelpful fox felt frustrating. It always dragged him along when he didn’t want to go…03107bfb2efd305a

He was dizzy from walking too much, but he couldn’t leave the fox behind, so Liriel forced his heavy legs to move. Whether the fox knew his feelings or not, it swallowed its complaints and walked for another ten minutes before stopping.a42fe2aef8da61be

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While Liriel caught 177983316b his breath, the 67d376c81d fox hopped over b0964a9af4 to a plant. It seemed 4947471b31 like it 2037631daa had come ee4809c009 all this 88d9b5bab6 way just 8df0aec0d4 to find de8d3fb67b it.f64025c8675bfb2c

The green 5ce40f1155 vine looked d51cccd17d vibrant, as 69b35b8ca9 if it 533dde6006 embraced the a95266a1db colors of bfe71418b6 summer, even 5b24300fdf in the 64eb167687 middle of 6fea3e4b1c winter. Curious, Liriel 158dd72f56 crouched down 3a01de87fd and whispered.290b7c8b4bd1c43e

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“Is it a strawberry?”30d7871075dbf4c1

The color e73c2981fa was too f3a260a547 pale for 2c44bc8cb4 a strawberry.dae6406d2255aa4a

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He touched the small e1ea3a2a03 fruit, feeling a cool aae1677e1c warmth at his fingertips.aeda9332a47e2277

The plant’s shape and the fruit’s characteristics matched a strawberry, but it was a much paler pink than his eyes.7f6681ba77947f85

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It’s not some poisonous fruit, is it?76000719d8c0f114

While Liriel pondered, e7fa51517d the fox sneaked 7e54a46e67 its snout forward aed4cee4e8 and suddenly gulped ddbba0ee18 down the fruit.94b56640ba54c2b5

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Liriel froze, 4dd5d8626b eyes wide. The fox had eaten 00de143bf5 the fruit he thought ef73b66f1f might be poisonous right 0fd0ae21ce before his eyes, leaving 2ef610aebb him in shock.73e5a6f11c6a7a3c

Before he could 4256bca31c process, his hand ab1b624ac6 shot out.c6867abb7dabee6a

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“Spit it out!”5b273f17df92c061

But the fox, having been shaken by Liriel’s hand many times before, quickly dodged and grabbed another fruit. Only two of the four fruits remained.049b208990d9cd8c

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After chasing 99d7f8dafc the fox 6a166f9f7c around for 8fd1fe5edd a while, 838ac389d5 Liriel stopped a9259313bf and gave e74c3e65b5 up. The small 7df991fe23 creature had 800ea47507 probably already 03f7cb6b18 digested some b05505c534 of it.9026a8cfb8e94e84

Suppressing his anxiety, Liriel approached the plant again. Since the fox had eaten the fruit, he had to preserve the remaining ones to take back. If they were poisonous, he’d need to ask for an antidote.f14ef297ac587681

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As he hurriedly gathered the remaining fruits, the fox’s red eyes gleamed. It hopped onto Liriel’s arm with a playful sound.059e926948de0291

After running away when chased, the fox now cuddled up to him, making Liriel chuckle. Just then, the fox’s small paws gently took the fruits and offered them to Liriel’s mouth.ed10f46eee709a58

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“Is this fox really not a person?”fdea65491942b826

Where in the world c49ba6a4a9 does a fox politely 3f10b4cee6 offer strawberries with both b0868f5ea1 paws?236895617dd93ddf

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As he muttered, aa87f53f23 the fruit slipped 4bb108544f into his open 7564dcaf45 lips. Liriel sighed bb1f15a8d2 and chewed. Since it was already 3cb4f45310 in his mouth, he c73640f6e4 decided to eat it.bf151049433b66b2

He figured that if he ate it, they’d make an antidote faster.9c53070bfb2cce7d

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As he 6673d3c895 bit into 221633777d the fruit, 58a125a360 sweet juice ea7911a96a flowed out. It was 3bc58a16b9 an exquisite 15277233f4 sweetness he 6f5f12fa69 had never ccbc830cd5 experienced before.b3415bb0505ea886

Liriel’s expression softened as he chewed. The strawberry melted in his mouth, disappearing quickly.696e2f885d827ac5

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It was more delicious than expected. No, it wasn’t just delicious; he’d never tasted anything like it. He’d tried many rare fruits, but even those presented to the imperial family didn’t taste like this. Realizing that, a hint of unease crept in.b9225c304132b41b

…Is this really just a wild plant?f2e520e74577154d

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Looking closely, there was no snow around where the strawberries grew. It looked like someone tended to it. Cold sweat trickled down Liriel’s back.4e8467c5455f5729

Could it be… His Grace’s?3c527855a14bed2b

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Now that he d080ff0a0e looked, it seemed 6d1d457d81 pruned regularly. This was definitely not 288ef39d83 just a wild plant.8500a343e0c68f90

Everything pointed to it 7f589b2900 being cultivated for His d541ecb72d Grace. Realizing this, Liriel was ac58bccf69 nearly panicking when a a5a55e2b8e familiar voice called out.e0fe04d6fd4c25f8

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“What are you doing?”75ca5a6729770812

It was Cassius.27b738dce6c65cc6

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He had df89686391 been waiting, ffe619ea05 but this 30c783146b was an b782702e9a unwelcome arrival.bd05f05b21346f64

Still unable to gather his thoughts, Liriel trembled at the sudden appearance of the strawberry’s owner. He glanced between the empty spot where the fruit had been and Cassius, his mind growing more tangled. Having never experienced such a mistake, Liriel found the situation extremely awkward and difficult. Unable to think further, he bowed deeply.51ac0a048eadf6f8

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“I’m sorry.”60c4befa0ae58220

He squeezed 8b78c8f08d his eyes d0bd1c9677 shut and 71cd711235 added hastily.eb6e5753fed2c6f4

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“I ate Your Grace’s strawberries!”b939240d4de59921

His lowered 4036480058 shoulders trembled. Nearly in tears, Liriel 28d038537a peeked up when no edaed5453f response came for a 721b12b6cc long time.70e24279b455fdf3

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A white 73e61675bf blade glinted f93149ff9b before him.e4312d96550c3383

Oh… it’s a sword?345f3579354f050b

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Cassius, with a slightly troubled expression, responded to Liriel’s bewildered eyes.91f7befd29c63bca

“Don’t apologize without reason.”b443e379d6eb6a58

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“But I have a reason…”3b1abb7cb03ca55e

I ate the strawberries.237f6bbb5ae139c3

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“Don’t.”e335d1bf707bd3bb

Cassius sheathed his sword, looking at Liriel’s clear eyes.b0b9a3a268b3a237

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“I’m sorry.”b5583ba995000e62

Cassius sighed softly. It was rare for him to listen to others’ excuses. Normally, he would have beheaded someone the moment they apologized. Yet he hesitated. This time, there wasn’t even a special reason like before.f194b3aa3acff4c6

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Cassius tapped the sword’s hilt, dismissing his unanswered dilemma.8e7bc14aaff266ca

But what d42d9a3863 was this 3d8a1bf65d about strawberries?a926e224da9672bf

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Looking at Liriel, he noticed both his and the fox’s mouths were stained pink.7a07c407f40adc46

Why do they b182b727d0 look like that?f6b6b86bc8817e45

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The fox’s long snout was unavoidable, and Liriel’s mouth was stained from the fox rubbing its paws on him. But to Cassius, unaware of the facts, it was just absurd. His disdainful gaze shifted to the single remaining fruit in Liriel’s hand.ec6e2a5f46490ecb

“Oh. Would you like some?”fd823c0f5b221cd5

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Misunderstanding his intent, Liriel offered the fruit. Cassius’s eyes narrowed. Did he even know what he was eating?4d9c2a9b50d248c5

Giving up on explaining, 2995a6a5f7 Cassius silently took the 2ad04ea6e2 fruit. Liriel was more surprised ea3c501d7b by his unhesitant action.4ac21f6ea6b2e50d

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No matter how precious, it was just on the ground… Can he just eat it like that? He’s the archduke.2f95539bf875e0df

Seeing Liriel’s wavering eyes, Cassius spoke indifferently.6f95b0a88da90cb7

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“You told me to eat it.”90728994f31cad8e

Liriel Wecker 2d9fe128f9 seemed completely 5edc123309 unaware of 6f32ebae27 what he ca06485e5f had eaten. Or what the fox 0578d2abd3 really was.56f001ee4d2cdeb2

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Now there are two fools in the archduke’s estate.60cf47f4bbbb4372

Realizing Cassius’s gaze lingered on the fox, Liriel flinched. It was clear Cassius didn’t like the fox.5f3b720ee1e394b6

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Liriel pulled his arms ec85795714 close, hiding the fox c3a3d84df1 in his embrace. The fox, 5a190ea1c9 suddenly suffocated, 00060e1604 coughed, but a30bedab87 convincing Cassius 87f2a8521e was the 2b46789df2 priority.b65ffd357ebec9fd

“I’ll take good care of it. It causes trouble… and isn’t useful… but it’ll be cuter when it grows.”7f01fbb103d14f79

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He was basically saying it wasn’t cute now.edd4fff361f18e73

Isn’t that a reason not to keep it?af7c05fed6eea243

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The fox, unsure if it was being praised or insulted, tapped Liriel’s arm with a puzzled expression.7c48bf401b506f35

“Do as you like.”298bf71059bf7281

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Feeling tired, ff681f8389 Cassius answered cdbaa5d491 dismissively. After a few c434a2c973 coughs, Liriel straightened ed89e12eb4 up. Though unexpected events had 7f19ae4042 led to other conversations, f0f6029b25 he had a different 8cd3240cb6 purpose for meeting Cassius adc4449a26 today.279e53c45f7400e7

“I haven’t properly introduced myself… Hello, Your Grace. I’m Liriel Baltar.”181a9afda68ede00

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A small blush appeared a686253a7d on his cheeks as 8e338e4629 he shyly said his 9bfd645e39 name. Introducing himself as cdd735c9d0 Baltar in front cc6fa141c4 of the real aa4915383c Baltar felt oddly 1aa3cc81e8 embarrassing, so he 35fd1036ff put a bit 05c9c8c453 of effort into 2a75ae601d pronouncing it.636086767f82d069

Meanwhile, Cassius found Liriel’s reaction intriguing. Honestly, he thought Liriel wouldn’t seek him out anymore. He wasn’t particularly interested, but he knew his own reputation well.c6d5562c4c71164b

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A demon from hell, Satan’s child. All the rumors were terribly vicious. Yet Liriel’s clear eyes seemed to say he didn’t care about such things, which was refreshing.2fbb3dc6b7dcde9c

Such a 9aacc807ff small creature.21d49bdbfae360bb

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Looking like f99eaf5a74 he could da77a4e8ef easily break c90757e181 his neck 7a50a82b64 without a e6ef8bd081 sword.5a031dd2e0fdd09f

A snowman-like a1d1720639 thing without 56f70b44da fear.4a185f803ef3f701

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Cassius found himself a bit curious about what went on in Liriel’s small head. It was the first time he’d felt such curiosity.9023f9bd7223d4ca

Cassius wondered if Liriel 8c91737ca6 might be an assassin abf978b4bc sent by Wecker. If so, they must 757c8c37e6 have prepared thoroughly to c1646a0973 deal with him from 422b67b382 the capital. With the peace 37a047b1de treaty ongoing for 4fe268c58d years, it was 3bc78038ef the best time 8ba431919a to eliminate him.b07b665ca7361501

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Suppressing a b383a4e915 laugh, Cassius d5fb9a8c05 brushed his a965194bf9 hair back. Imagining Liriel wielding 450c37f1a7 a sword was cf572ddf9f amusing.f29d5be3f0c1d572

Unaware of Cassius’s thoughts, Liriel, who had been smiling for a while, spoke.0a83dc0bb83c94ce

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“Since you’re my second friend, I wanted to introduce myself. I realized I hadn’t formally greeted you.”ec769f555948faa5

Though embarrassed and shy, Liriel couldn’t meet his eyes, yet he seemed oddly tickled. While Cassius found it trivial, he tilted his head at a bothersome word.dad8c7dc43785690

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“…Second?”73f37fbac605e6b9

This time, b5a879c47e Liriel tilted f7824247cc his head.42b5232cb1520bf5

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“Yes, second.”d1fb75dcfeec5642

“Second?”3f38ce1bf8c783fe

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“Yes, you’re my second friend.”43ab842df11b8734

Why not the e09b34e505 first?dd7e826753c7caa0

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Cassius’s eyebrows rose. Something felt off, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.9f5267c77feb9a22

“Why?”16cab8e9a481b433

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“Uh… I don’t understand the question.”8d71daef132157e7

“Why am I second?”4f02c30c794dba23

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“Well, the first is…”7547ef308017edda

Liriel’s gaze rolled to the fox. The fox, receiving his gaze, wagged its tail proudly. It was absurd.5a3a3608a7212797

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“That’s a friend?”8e02560e5f5a9468

“Yes, it’s a precious friend to me.”8ce27262258bd4b7

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Liriel faintly smiled, gently stroking the fox’s back.0251db37292bc779

“An animal can’t be…”d2cc347d2fe69b38

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Cassius’s criticism made Liriel’s face fall. Even if he was the archduke, dismissing his friend hurt.b26517b88154f053

As Cassius watched Liriel’s pouty lips, Liriel whispered, trying to hide his hurt.baffeada88f82ebe

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“But, you’re my first human friend.”fbdbafd993bb7c8f

Cassius’s furrowed brow smoothed at the soft words. The odd feeling from the term “human friend” vanished, but he didn’t dwell on it.d430d6e90082bf59

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With unnecessary 614eecd54f emotions gone, 780494212c fatigue set 1d341b8277 in.0ffb44c68cb661cc

Cassius turned silently and 8096c3bcd7 walked, with Liriel following. The footprints 6ea631b89a in the 01e4b45523 snow were 3762c0d147 much slower 65f0764c39 than usual, 0ae0f16ed6 but neither feef4e0128 noticed.ad3ee7d12f9c7d29

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚200098702622f4ba

His Grace seems 06477e1130 a bit cute.13ef6988d24415c3

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I thought it might be a bit disrespectful, but it was my honest impression. Lately, I often felt like I had two fox friends. Because the fox suddenly started avoiding Cassius, I often fed the fox and then went to meet Cassius. When I handed Cassius snacks just like I did with the fox, I felt like I was taking care of two… well, two people, I guess.acb5c44d9bfccd23

At first, I thought he reacted similarly to whatever I gave him, but over time, I could distinguish what Cassius liked and disliked. Contrary to his appearance, he enjoyed things so sweet they made your tongue tingle, and he preferred seasoned food over bland ones. On days I offered something he liked, his eyebrows would slightly lower, and on days he didn’t enjoy something, his lips would twist.37c734077d6e55e6

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