After my belongings were stored in my bedroom, I went to the room where I would be taking lessons the next day. It was there that the instructor gave an introductory address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The twin princes went to attend their duties, while Mary and Sophia joined me, and we sat on the chairs that had been prepared for us. There were many other young men and women in the room with us, presumably nobles who were here to attend the seminar too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The instructor, an old man, told us that we would be studying from dawn to dusk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This could be the first time I have to study this much in a single day… Back at the academy my talented friends were always there to help me cram the night before the exams.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I did study a lot before the high school entrance exam in my past life, though, motivated by Acchan\u2019s promise that she would lend me her otome games for as long as I wanted if I passed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Katarina, you seem to be spacing out… Is everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you not feeling well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My two friends spoke up, dragging me out of my musings and back down to earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was just thinking that we\u2019ll have to study a lot. Doesn\u2019t it sound harsh?\u201d I asked them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt really does. We shall work together and do our best,\u201d Mary said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs long as we work together, we will be fine!\u201d Sophia added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks! Let\u2019s do this together!\u201d I thanked them with a smile, feeling grateful that I had such reliable friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old instructor\u2019s address ended, and it was about time for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went back to my room and changed clothes, but when I came out, I found that Keith still hadn\u2019t come back. So I supposed I\u2019d only be having dinner with Mary and Sophia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wonder what we\u2019ll be eating,\u201d I said, looking forward to the food that we\u2019d be eating here in the castle for the duration of the seminar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We met Jeord at the T-shaped intersection between two hallways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Katarina, perfect timing. Let us go have dinner together,\u201d he said with a smile as he gave me his hand, meaning to escort me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wait, what?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe royal family is going to have dinner together with the guests?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d heard that the people who were staying at the castle to attend the seminar or for work would have dinner together in a specially prepared room, but I didn\u2019t know the royal family would be joining them. I had no problem with Jeord and Alan, who I knew, but dining with the other members of their family would make me very nervous. However, my fear proved unfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, my family is going to eat by themselves, as usual. I am the only one who is going to eat with the guests, because I wish to have dinner together with you, Katarina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, that\u2019s fine then, <\/em>I thought, relieved, and I reached for Jeord\u2019s hand… but, out of nowhere, Mary showed up and walked in between us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrince Jeord, you may be trying to ignore us, but we are also here as guests. And Lady Katarina is going to have dinner with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Lady Mary, so you are here as well. It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to spend some time with Katarina, so I ask that you reconsider. Instead, may I suggest that you dine together with my family? It would be the perfect opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your fianc\u00e9, and, incidentally, there is an empty seat at their table tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, but the relationship between Prince Alan and I is already strong enough. And I, too, have not had an opportunity to spend time with Lady Katarina in quite a while. I ask that you be the one to reconsider intruding on this fun time between ladies and, instead, go back to eat with your family. I am sure that your brother is missing you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Mary and Jeord were talking while smiling at each other, Sophia and I were left to wait by the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Big Brother!\u201d said Sophia, noticing Nicol approaching us from the end of the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you all going to dinner?\u201d he asked, noticing us and elegantly moving closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d his sister replied briskly, \u201cwe are going to the dining hall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect. Then let us all go together,\u201d he said, looking happy and slightly embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia later told me that to Nicol, who had very few friends because of his superhuman attractiveness (which made people fall in love with him before they could become friends), sharing a dinner table with so many people was a rare and fun event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nobody could refuse him, seeing how happy he seemed at the prospect, so we ended up dining together while sitting around a large table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keith eventually joined us too, so Alan was the only one left out. I later heard that the prince was appalled by this fact when he found out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nicol, who was the one to propose that we dine together in the first place, ate as usual: with no expression on his face and without starting any conversation. However, according to Sophia, he was actually overjoyed. He certainly didn\u2019t look it, but if my friend was happy, I was happy too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given how late it was by the time we were done eating, we all went directly back to our respective rooms to sleep. However, Mary and Keith locked my door for, as they said, \u201csafety reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The castle was so safe that I didn\u2019t see the point, but they insisted so much that I let them do it and quickly fell asleep onto the castle\u2019s soft, luxurious bed. \u201cLousabre, located just north of Sorci\u00e9, is still facing problems with national security, and, as such, the border is constantly patrolled. Etran, the country right next to Lousabre, has been an important trade partner of ours for years, and is also the birthplace of our former queen. Xiarmah, to the east, is home to a culture much different from ours, but, nonetheless, we are on very good terms with each other. Further yet to the east is Ethenell, which is also undergoing a period of social turmoil. However, this does not pose any threat to us due to the sea dividing us, and we trade with them, with safety inspections at the ports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old lecturer was standing in front of a map of Sorci\u00e9 and its neighboring countries as he explained the politics and relationships between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nobles were taught about these countries by their private tutors from childhood. However, as the political situation continuously changed, they had to hear updated explanations several times during their education. This meant that even I remembered enough about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sorci\u00e9 stood out as the most peaceful, secure, and wealthy country in the region, which meant that hearing about the turmoil in other countries lacked a sense of realism for me. The only not-so-safe place I had ever visited so far was the border near Lousabre, back when Keith was kidnapped, and that made me realize how much I still had to learn before meeting with people from outside Sorci\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I realized that, sure, but… the lesson which had started as a basic explanation of international politics had now started delving into difficult, specialized topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After lunch the lesson became considerably harder, and I was doing my best to listen without moving from my desk. I had to take lessons like these back at the academy, too, but at least then we had practical magic training, so we never spent the whole day sitting down. Passively listening to theoretical lessons wasn\u2019t my fort\u00e9 (though it wasn\u2019t like practical magic training was either), so I was already exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The explanations were very concentrated due to the tight schedule, with lots of information to take in in very little time. When that day\u2019s lesson was over, I could literally feel that my head had become heavier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While I was eating dinner, holding my heavy head so that it wouldn\u2019t fall down, Mary, who didn\u2019t seem half as tired as me, said that there was a large shared bath and invited me to take a dip with her. Unfortunately, I was so spent that I had to refuse and just walked back alone to my room<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anne prepared the bed for me and I collapsed onto it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m so tired…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The day-long lessons were even harsher than I had expected. Knowing that the next day had more of the same in store for me (and since the basic explanations were all over, all that was left was the harder stuff), I was in despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as I was starting to sink into depression, I heard a light knock on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho is it?\u201d I asked from the bed, since Anne had already left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBig Sister, are you still awake?\u201d a familiar voice asked me back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I jumped out of bed, opened the door, pulled Keith inside (kind of forcefully) and made him sit on the couch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe lessons were so difficult. Even worse than I expected,\u201d I said, sharing my thoughts on what we had to learn that day and my fear regarding what we would have to learn tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust as I thought,\u201d Keith said, grinning wryly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I gave him a confused look. My brother apparently knew how I would be feeling from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou had trouble with the lessons at the academy, which weren\u2019t that long, so I knew you would be struggling even more having to sit down and learn all day long,\u201d he explained with his usual calm smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He understood me perfectly, and realizing that made me feel a bit better. We had lived together since when I was eight years old, and now he knew me better than I did myself. He would come to check on me whenever he felt I\u2019d need it. I suddenly got the urge to have him comfort me like when we were kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKeith, can you stroke my hair like you used to do back in the day?\u201d I asked, sitting next to him on the couch, looking up to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was so exhausted that I felt justified in asking that much, but Keith groaned, and his face stiffened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess you can\u2019t…\u201d I mumbled, looking down as I expected to be scolded for behaving like a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then, I felt something warm and soft on top of my head \u2014 he had granted my request. Keith, deep down, was a really sweet boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My mood got instantly better as he gently caressed me, and I started to feel that I\u2019d be able to withstand another day of the seminar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hehehe, having my head stroked feels so good. He used to do it all the time years ago, unlike now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe that was a privilege unique to children… but Father, if I asked him to, would probably still have complied without a second thought. The problem was that his stroking was so energetic that it was painful rather than pleasant, and it also messed my hair up. I wished he\u2019d learn from Keith\u2019s gentle caressing, which, as I just noticed, had become even better as he grew up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And his hands are so much bigger too,<\/em> I thought, grabbing the hand that was stroking my head to take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having it right in front of my eyes, I could tell just how much it had grown, and I examined the long fingers, the pale complexion, and the smoothness of the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This looks like it would be…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I tested my hypothesis by placing Keith\u2019s hand on my cheek, and it turned out I was right: it was incredibly soft and pleasantly smooth, probably even more so than my hands, despite all the trouble that Anne was always going through to take care of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keith, however, retracted his hand in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wanted to enjoy that a bit longer…<\/em> I thought, but Keith got up and left my room in a hurry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was already outside before I had time to say anything, and was now making a metallic clattering noise on the other side of the closed door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cK-Keith? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d I asked him through the door<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThink of what you did, and maybe you\u2019ll realize what\u2019s wrong…\u201d he said, with a hint of anger in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said, apologizing for something that I must have done without noticing, \u201cBut… what\u2019s that clattering?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m locking the door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? Why? And why from the outside?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the door is locked, you won\u2019t get any crazy ideas…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy would I ever do that?!\u201d I asked, unsure of why I was being treated like a wild animal, but Keith didn\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll give the key to your maid. Good night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was still confused, but if Anne had the key, I could just ring for her tomorrow and have the door opened, so I went to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried thinking of what I had done, as Keith had said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hm… Was it because a lady isn\u2019t supposed to rub someone\u2019s hand against her cheek without permission?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That was the only explanation I could come up with, so I decided I\u2019d apologize for that in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, with my troubles stroked away, I felt I\u2019d be able to sleep without any problem. On top of an apology, I owed Keith a thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I made a mental note to give him both of those the next day and then fell into a deep slumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went back to the guest room that had been assigned to me and, with my back to the door, I slid down onto the floor with an exhausted sigh. My face still felt as if it were on fire, and I imagined I was visibly red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I had the key with me,\u201d I murmured to myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had taken that key to protect my sister from Jeord, but I never expected to use it to protect her from me…<\/p>\n\n\n\n She wouldn\u2019t have been safe if the door was unlocked, because when I said, \u201cIf the door is locked, you won\u2019t get any crazy ideas,\u201d<\/em> I was actually speaking to myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I needed to restrain myself not to enter her room, put my mouth over her soft lips, and push her onto the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way she had tempted me today was just that<\/em> bad, but, of course, she didn\u2019t have the faintest idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She didn\u2019t know anything about the ways in which men and women courted each other. Or maybe she did from all the raunchy romance novels she read, but without ever imagining that those things also applied to her, which was why she was always so helplessly clueless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was terrified of what would happen if I did not exercise the utmost restraint in response to that temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I let out a second sigh, putting a hand on my forehead as I thought that I had to do something about how feverish I was. But this gesture, unfortunately, made me recall the situation from earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She had looked up at me, asking me to stroke her hair in her sweetest voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I knew how bad that could prove for me, but considering how tired she was, I tried my best to please her. She was leaning onto me, pushing her lightly clothed body against mine as her expression melted in pleasure, and I was already on the edge… and then she took my hand and stroked it against her face!<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much are you going to tempt me?! What is this if not an invitation to lay with you?!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well… at least it would have been that if it had come from anyone except Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mustered what little restraint I had left and ran out of the room, but I wondered if, after that, she was fine by herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n …She probably is. I\u2019ve listened to her complain about the lessons, and I\u2019ve also stroked her hair as she asked. I\u2019m sure she\u2019s already asleep by now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I was sure that, on the next day, she would come to apologize to me without actually realizing what she had done. I had confessed my \u2014 romantic, not brotherly \u2014 love to her, but she had likely already forgotten about it. I would need to explain it to her once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The priority, however, was to impress upon her that she could not appear in front of men in her nightgown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of different thoughts ran through my mind, but none intense enough to make me forget about Katarina and how lovely she had looked while sitting next to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The feverish heat burning my face showed no signs of subsiding, and I prepared myself for a sleepless night as I let out that day\u2019s third \u2014 and deepest \u2014 sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the morning, as soon as Anne woke me up, I went looking for Keith to thank him and apologize to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought that he was mad at me for doing something unladylike, and I was probably right, because he told me not to let people inside my room when I was in my nightgown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that he was going to work. But, noticing the dark circles under his eyes, I got worried and suggested that he rest for a while, because he looked tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis has nothing to do with being tired. If anything, right now, I want to work to clear my mind,\u201d he said, leaving me there alone and confused as another long day of study was about to start. \u201c…And this is how the Assembly of these five countries came to be. This concludes our morning lesson,\u201d the instructor said, and I rejoiced while stretching out, already exhausted. Finally.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We had lunch in the same hall where we\u2019d had dinner the previous day. After eating with everyone, I went to the toilet and then for a little stroll, just for a little change of pace. With the Assembly right around the corner, the castle was bustling with activity, and all the servants were coming and going, looking busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tend to forget, but the Assembly is really going to be a huge deal…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the instructions and orders that the servants were giving each other, I could faintly hear something like music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, I heard it again… It\u2019s coming from here, <\/em>I thought, following the sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I reached a sort of open-sky courtyard, decorated as if it were going to be used during the Assembly, and found the source of the music: a large piano in the middle of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man behind that beautiful performance was none other than Alan. It had been a while since I last heard him play, and I lost myself in his music until the piece was over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shouted, \u201cEncore!\u201d and Alan, surprised, noticed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? What are you doing here? Shouldn\u2019t you be attending the seminar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking our lunch break right now, so I heard your music, followed it, and ended up here. Why are you playing in this place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou really just do whatever comes to your mind, huh…\u201d Alan commented before replying to my question. \u201cI am practicing here because I was asked to perform during the Assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful! I\u2019m sure that your music will charm people from all countries!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, that\u2019s… Do you mean you were charmed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes! I absolutely loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alan\u2019s performance was so beautiful that even I, who knew next to nothing about music, loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see… I was thinking of playing another practice piece. Do you have any requests?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can make a request?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, someone could request a piece during the real performance. I have to train for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alan was really serious about practicing. He\u2019s so diligent…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case…\u201d I said, requesting a famous piece that anybody in the kingdom knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSit down,\u201d Alan said, pointing to a chair behind the piano, next to a window, before starting to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again, I lost myself in the beautiful sounds he created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is so relaxing… The warm afternoon sun feels so good… I\u2019m still full from lunch and the music is sublime… I\u2019m kind of… sleepy… Oh, the piece is over.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne… more…\u201d I mumbled, and, half-asleep, I heard Alan scolding me for falling asleep on the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was busy practicing the piano in preparation for the Assembly performance when Katarina Claes, my brother\u2019s fianc\u00e9e, appeared out of nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing her roam around the castle without a care had already shocked me enough, but not as much as when she fell asleep while listening to me playing. Not only was it rude because she had requested that piece herself, but, as a noble lady, you\u2019d think she\u2019d be careful enough not to sleep in a place like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I called her name, it was already too late \u2014 she was already deep in slumber. And, what\u2019s more, when I approached her and tried to wake her up, she rested her head on my shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were facing each other, and someone looking from far away could have thought that we were hugging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt her breath on my skin, and I had her delicate nape in front of my eyes… My heart skipped a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had never told this to anyone, but I was actually in love with Katarina. And I had been for a long time, but I didn\u2019t plan on hindering my brother\u2019s engagement, so I was mentally prepared to eventually set those feelings aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was prepared, yeah, but this situation was… problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a healthy young man, being this close to a girl was titillating enough, but the girl in question being the very one I\u2019ve secretly loved for years made it that much worse… It was almost torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stop mumbling that close to my face! Stop smelling so nice! Stop having such a sexy neck! This girl… she\u2019s always acting like a wild animal, so why is she being so feminine now of all times?!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lamenting my pain was fine, but I had to do something \u2014 and quickly. If somebody saw us like this, they\u2019d probably get some weird ideas, and, more importantly, I couldn\u2019t resist much longer. Both mentally and physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I made up my mind to grab her shoulders and push her up. Even <\/em>she ought to wake up if I do that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, as soon as I put my hands on her shoulders, she started leaning to one side, and I had to catch her before she fell down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPhew,<\/em> that was close,\u201d I murmured, before realizing that things had gotten even worse. She had gone from resting her head on my shoulder to leaning against my chest as I hugged her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we were definitely<\/em> too close. Our whole bodies were pushed against each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And these soft things I feel pressing into me must be… No, don\u2019t think of that. Stop thinking about it, <\/em>I said myself, but to no avail. She was too soft, and she smelled too good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was on good terms with Mary, my fianc\u00e9e, but I\u2019d never exchanged much physical contact except for escorting her or dancing. The sensation of Katarina\u2019s soft body between my arms was a first for me, and it was very pleasant. I wished that we could stay like that forever, or even that I could lift her up and carry her to my room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My dangerous thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Katarina? Where are you? The afternoon lesson will be starting soon!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The voice, coming from a distance, belonged to Mary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I snapped out of it, sat Katarina back onto her chair, and opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMary, she\u2019s here,\u201d I said, and she noticed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was practicing the piano, and she fell asleep. I\u2019m busy, so take care of her. See ya,\u201d I said before immediately running away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I really was busy, but all I could do at that point was to go to my room and try to calm down and cool off. And the memory of Katarina\u2019s soft body between my arms made that difficult as hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I fell asleep while listening to Alan play, and if it hadn\u2019t been for Mary waking me up, I\u2019d have missed the afternoon lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I realized how rude it had been to sleep through the piece I had requested, and made a mental note to apologize to him at the next opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, my short nap had also recharged me, and I didn\u2019t get sleepy while listening to the lesson. This made today, as a whole, a lot less exhausting than the previous day. All\u2019s well that ends well.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n After refusing their invitation and going straight to bed the day before, I made up for it by inviting Mary and Sophia to the shared bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, that sounds wonderful!\u201d Sophia replied, but Mary looked troubled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA-An invitation from Lady Katarina… I-I am not ready for this…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you going to pass, Mary?\u201d I asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all, I will be coming,\u201d she quickly replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yay! Bathing with my girlfriends!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I went back to my room, asked Anne to help me prepare, and then went to the bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t like the baths we had back in Japan, where everyone could just walk in \u2014 it was reservation-only. I had decided to go on that same day, but luckily someone canceled at the last second, so we were able to get a reservation. I\u2019d heard that a lot of ladies liked to reserve the whole thing for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was so excited that I ended up arriving early, and neither Mary nor Sophia were there yet. I decided to take a peek inside, and saw that the bath was around as big as a small public bath. It still looked luxurious, though \u2014 it could probably fit ten people all at once. We did have a bathtub at home, but it wasn\u2019t much bigger than a normal household bathtub from my old world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was expecting something like a merlion-shaped fountain, but while there wasn\u2019t anything of the sort, the place was beautifully decorated. It had that kind of elegance which noble ladies like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While I was admiring the bath, Sophia arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have never been in a large shared bath!\u201d she told me, visibly excited. She stepped inside and exclaimed happily, \u201cThis is wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know, right? I\u2019m excited too. I want to dive in already.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia and I, both thrilled, were eagerly waiting for Mary to arrive… She was late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were starting to get worried, because Mary wasn\u2019t the kind to be late, when her maid came looking for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Mary offers you her apologies. She is not well, and cannot come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMary\u2019s not well?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe when I invited her earlier and she hesitated, it was because she was already starting to feel sick…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would not feel right to enjoy bathing here while Lady Mary is unwell,\u201d Sophia said as her expression fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. Let\u2019s go check on her! We can always bathe here another time,\u201d I proposed to Sophia, but Mary\u2019s maid shook her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Mary just needs some rest; it is nothing serious. She would like for you two to enjoy yourselves without worrying,\u201d she said. Apparently, there was no need to check on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After hearing that, it would feel wrong not<\/em> to enjoy ourselves… It was a shame that Mary wasn\u2019t with us, but we thought that the best we could do was have even more fun to make up for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh my! This is so large!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe could swim in here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We went inside wearing nothing but towels wrapped around our bodies, and now that I was able to take a proper look, the bath seemed even larger than it had before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease do not swim, young miss,\u201d Anne, who had come with me, immediately replied. Noble ladies were usually followed by their (fully clothed) maids when they bathed, and that took away the freedom of being naked inside of a tub of hot water. But anyway, I was proud of how ladylike I\u2019d become over the past few years, so I wouldn\u2019t have started swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Katarina! There is a pleasant smell coming out of the water!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, you\u2019re right! It kind of smells like roses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey must have mixed a fragrance oil with the bathwater,\u201d Anne explained, seeing how Sophia and I were reacting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A rose-smelling bath was a luxury worthy of the castle, and it was easy to imagine why all the ladies were taking turns to come here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We poured hot water on ourselves, bathed in the perfumed tub, and then washed our bodies with a soft, bubbly soap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We thoroughly enjoyed our bath, and I hoped that Mary could come along too next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I, Mary Hunt, went back to my room alone, holding back tears. The reason for my dismay was that I could not partake in what I had looked forward to so much: bathing with Lady Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had reserved the bath in advance, but when Lady Katarina had refused my invitation yesterday, I thought that I would have to give up, as making another reservation for that popular bath would be too difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, today she invited me to go with her, and good fortune had it that somebody had just canceled their own reservation. What wonderful news!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had been looking forward to bathing with her since I started staying at the castle… no, much earlier! I had dreamt of it for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was enthusiastic, rejoicing at my luck as I imagined myself laughing and playing alongside Lady Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to preserve my fame as a paragon of propriety, I usually behaved in the most elegant, refined way possible. But, confronted with such news, I forgot all about elegance and refinement and expressed my excitement with so much fervor that, for the first time in at least ten years, I started bleeding from my nose. Atrocious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought that keeping my nose pinched would be enough to stop the nosebleed, but it was not. In fact, I kept bleeding for so long that one of the servants even called a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s only overexertion. She just needs to rest in a cool place,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The servants, relieved, all started saying how glad they were… but there was nothing to be glad about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must go bathe with Lady Katarina! I have no time for cooling my nose down!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried reasoning with them, but the servants refused to let me go, saying that bathing would be too dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I never behaved like a spoiled child, but on this occasion I insisted so much that the old maid who had been taking care of me for my whole life had to intervene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYoung miss, you are not a child anymore. You should understand that you cannot take a bath with that nosebleed. Even if you went, you would just make your friends worry. They would not invite you anymore after that,\u201d she said coldly, so I had no choice but to choke back the tears and give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I could not let myself be seen bleeding like that, so I asked my maid to tell my friends that I would not need to be visited. I then laid on my bed, crying onto my pillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I swore to myself that I would not miss the opportunity to bathe with Lady Katarina next time, and I would find a way to prevent nosebleeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I did not expect was for her to recount her experience bathing in the castle so enthusiastically to the other nobles that everyone became interested in it and the reservations immediately piled up, making it impossible for me to try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seemed I must wait even longer for my dream to come true…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next day, we were relieved to see that Mary had showed up to the classes looking completely normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the morning we would listen to the usual lecture by the old instructor, but in the afternoon, we would have a dance lesson. I never liked dancing, but I was so tired of sitting all day in front of a desk that I was happy I could do something different. So I looked forward to the afternoon while I listened to the old man talk about the politics of our neighboring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…and so, the new king of Ethenell, after being enthroned, has started a series of reforms. And this concludes our lecture for today,\u201d the instructor said, putting down his book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The morning lessons were finally over, so it was time for lunch \u2014 and then, dancing. When I reached the room where we would be taking the dance lessons, I found someone unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrince Jeord?\u201d I said, surprised, and he walked towards me with his usual smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Katarina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d I asked, so puzzled by seeing him there that I forgot to greet him properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt goes without saying: to act as your dance partner,\u201d he replied as if it were obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course I would need a partner to dance, but there were lots of people here, so it felt weird that the prince, busy as he was, would have to bother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut Prince Jeord, you are so busy with work, so…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is also an opportunity for me to refresh. Surely you would not mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once he said that, I had to give up on my original plan of kindly refusing his offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course not…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so it was decided that I would be dancing with Jeord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, it wasn\u2019t that I didn\u2019t like dancing with Jeord. We had been engaged since we were eight years old, and, even after growing up, we had danced together several times at balls. But lately, he…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere, Katarina, come closer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as the lesson had started, he pulled me towards himself. \u201cYou are as lovely as always,\u201d he whispered in my ear with the sweetest voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was so intense that I almost fell down, and he took the opportunity to pull me even closer, to the point that he was basically hugging me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I could feel my face getting hotter. Lately, he was taking every chance to get physically closer to me and say sweet romantic things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, as a love interest in an otome game, his face and voice were perfect. I used to squeal with happiness in my previous life when I heard him say those things through a screen… But now that I was hearing them in reality, I couldn\u2019t even manage to make a sound. I only started feeling weak at the knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had no romantic experience in either of my two lives, which made me react that much more strongly to whatever he did these things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this rate, I\u2019m not going to learn anything about dancing. I can\u2019t let him have it his way!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My face was still burning hot, but I tried to regain some composure and looked up at Jeord, staring him in the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrince Jeord, I\u2019m trying to learn how to dance. There is no need to stay this close, and, please, stop whispering sweet things into my ear,\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Katarina, making that request with that expression on your face is not going to persuade me to stop. If anything, it will make me wish to forcefully carry you to my room,\u201d he said, looking entranced, and hugged me even tighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expression? What expression? I\u2019m probably blushing a little bit… Is that the problem? And we\u2019re even closer than before…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I could smell something nice, which was probably coming from Jeord. As expected of a prince, even his smell was handsome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way he was touching me had gotten more audacious. My heart started beating faster, and I was seriously worried about what would happen next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrince Jeord,\u201d someone called out to him, \u201cthe song is almost over, so may I ask that you dance the next one with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It felt like heaven had sent an angel to rescue me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, Lady Mary. I am enjoying dancing with my fianc\u00e9e after so long, so may I ask that you find someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is supposed to be a lesson,\u201d Mary replied with a smile, \u201cand dancing with several different people would provide the best practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elegantly, but somewhat forcefully, she took Jeord\u2019s hand and pulled him towards herself. \u201cYou must be tired. Rest over there for a while,\u201d she said to me, entrusting me to Sophia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I gladly did as she told me, since I was physically and mentally exhausted from Jeord\u2019s romancing. I sat down in a corner of the dance hall, and Sophia, thoughtful as always, even brought me something to drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cold drink helped me cool down my feverish face, and my heartbeat slowly went back to normal. After emptying my glass, I sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Katarina, is something the matter?\u201d Sophia asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m just a bit tired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was too embarrassed to say that Jeord\u2019s advances had been too strong for me to take, so I simply repeated what Mary had said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am glad… I cannot forgive that perverted, handsy prince…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHuh?\u201d I asked, because she had spoken the second part of the sentence in such a whisper that I couldn\u2019t hear it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She just smiled as if nothing had happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyway, I was very grateful to her and Mary for saving me. If it hadn\u2019t been for them, I might have passed out in the middle of the dance hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extremely relieved, I drank the new drink that Sophia had brought me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeord and Mary were dancing together, and their moves were perfect in their elegance. They looked so beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I, Sophia Ascart, with the help of Lady Mary, had just saved my friend Lady Katarina from the hands of a shameless, perverted prince.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was nervously blushing because of him… but when I offered her a drink and some rest, she thankfully returned to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only the seminar attendees were supposed to take the dance lessons in the first place, so I was very surprised when I saw Prince Jeord casually stand in the middle of the room, then take Lady Katarina to dance with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even from a distance, it was easy to tell that he was keeping her too close to himself. I stared as if in a trance as he led her across the dance floor, but Lady Mary could not withstand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLady Katarina is in trouble! We must help her!\u201d she said, and I snapped out of my daze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Had it not been for our prompt help, Lady Katarina would have certainly fallen into much more trouble. Doing such things in public, in front of so many people… I could not forgive that perverted prince!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then again, if Lady Mary had not intervened, I would have done nothing but stare at them… unable to take action. I may never reach Lady Mary\u2019s level, but I would like to act in a more cool, decisive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMary and Jeord dance so well. They look so good next to each other \u2014 a handsome man with a beautiful woman,\u201d Lady Katarina said nonchalantly while I was reflecting on my actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To me, it looked like Lady Mary was trying to stomp her heels onto Prince Jeord\u2019s feet, and he was doing his best to dodge it, but… Lady Katarina was always Lady Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be honest… I did not understand \u201creal\u201d romance. I greatly appreciated it within the context of novels, but, possibly because of my peculiar looks, I had never fallen in love with a real man. This is why I suspected that my understanding of romance was lacking when compared to other girls my age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there was someone who understood even less… Tens of times less. Lady Katarina. Seeing her being courted for years by both Prince Jeord and Master Keith without realizing the intentions of either had me in awe at her slowness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She now finally understood what those two felt for her, but… the same could not be said about Alan\u2019s or Nicol\u2019s feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It took Prince Jeord and Master Keith an explicit confession for Lady Katarina to realize the truth, and I knew that Big Brother would never do anything of the sort, which in turn meant that his love of many years would never bear fruit, and that Lady Katarina would never become my sister-in-law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This made me sad. Big Brother was a wonderful young man, much better than Prince Jeord, but he would have to give up just because the latter had become engaged to Lady Katarina first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even now that we were staying at the castle, making for a rare opportunity to see her since she started working at the Ministry, Big Brother had barely spoken with her at all despite being here too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prince Jeord was relentless in his approach, Master Keith was staying in the room next to hers, and even Prince Alan, yesterday, was playing music for her…<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is so unfair that everyone but Nicol is able to be with her!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I wanted this to be an opportunity to make Big Brother and Lady Katarina become closer, and, possibly, for him to charm her. But… knowing him, I was painfully aware that he would never actively approach her…<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that case, I, as his sister, shall help him!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought up a plan, and then started talking with Lady Katarina, who was still staring at Lady Mary and Prince Jeord dancing together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n After I had fallen prey to Jeord\u2019s romantic attack, Mary had somehow managed to make him dance with the other ladies, so the dance lesson ended without him approaching me anymore. I was grateful, since I knew that I would have passed out in the middle of the dance floor if he had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the lesson finished, we all had dinner and went back to our rooms. I loved the shared bath, and would have liked to go there again. But unfortunately, the reservations were full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I lay on my bed and started rummaging through the romance novels I\u2019d sneaked in from home, and amongst them, I found a book with a cover I\u2019d become very familiar with. It was the Dark Covenant, which I had been instructed to keep with me at all times. I\u2019d tried to make sure to store it properly, but somehow ended up putting it in with all the other novels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cyrus and Larna would get mad at me if they found out…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried reading it for the first time in a while, but because I hadn\u2019t summoned my Dark Familiar (Pochi, that is), the floating black letters didn\u2019t appear over the normal text of the book, which was a manual on basic magic… Or so I had heard from Maria and the others, since I couldn\u2019t read that either. It was still written in ancient script, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lately, things had started happening to me \u2014 such as finding a Dark Familiar and the Dark Covenant \u2014 that were straight from FL2\u2019s script. That had me worried, but now that I wasn\u2019t at the Ministry, I figured I could relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The protagonist (Maria) wasn\u2019t here at the castle, so the Assembly probably had nothing to do with the game. All that I had to worry about was avoiding any major screw-ups at the Assembly itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was thinking about that and flipping through the covenant\u2019s pages when I heard a knock on the door. Anne had already gone to her room, so I put the book down and went to answer the door myself. I found Sophia waiting for me there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hm? I thought she wasn\u2019t able to get a reservation for the bath today,<\/em> I thought to myself, confused, as I invited her inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am sorry for intruding all of a sudden,\u201d she said with a bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I personally was the intruding-all-of-a-sudden type, but it was rare for her to show up without saying so beforehand. I have a lot to learn from her,<\/em> I thought, seeing as she was an example of good upbringing with her respectful apology. If I were a bit more like Sophia, maybe Mother wouldn\u2019t scold me as much.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I was just reading to pass the time,\u201d I told her with a smile. \u201cDid you come for any reason in particular?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed. I wanted to invite you to tomorrow\u2019s morning tea party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA morning<\/em> tea party?\u201d I asked, confused. I had never heard anything like that \u2014 tea parties usually took place in the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes. I found a wonderful spot near the room where I am staying. When the morning sun shines on it, the greenery around it sparkles, and it feels like a place from a fairy tale. I wanted to have tea with you there so that you could witness that beautiful sight,\u201d she said with eyes full of excitement. She was the type of girl to make an invitation like that, since she liked fairy tales just as much as she liked romance novels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I agreed immediately. After all, I was a girl as well. Having a tea party in a gorgeous fairy-tale-like place got me excited too. The starry sky didn\u2019t have a single cloud, so the sky on the next day would also probably be clear. No reason to delay our tea party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia would be handling the preparations, and all I had to do was to get up slightly earlier than usual and go to her room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We decided the time for our meeting, she went back to her room, and I lost no time before getting in bed, seeing that I\u2019d have to get up early. As I was close to falling asleep, I wondered who else would be coming along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I should have asked Sophia about that…<\/em> I thought, but only for a second. Very soon, all of my thoughts disappeared, giving way to dreams. Asking Anne to help me make sure I got out of bed in time paid off. If it hadn\u2019t been for her, I wouldn\u2019t have made it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was still drowsy, but Anne was already working at full speed to help me prepare to reach Sophia in time. I really owed a lot to my diligent maid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I knocked on Sophia\u2019s door, and she immediately opened it, smiling and completely ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood morning, Lady Katarina. I am so happy that you could join me today,\u201d she said with an elegant curtsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you for inviting me,\u201d I said while doing the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia then showed me to the place where we would be holding our tea party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver here,\u201d she said, leading me with an unusually fast stride to an indoor garden near her room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The place reminded me of a forest. The plants, rather than being neatly trimmed into shape, looked as if they had been allowed to grow as they wanted. The morning sun was shining in through the leaves, creating the beautiful sight that Sophia had told me about the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I stared at it, moved by how magical it looked, and Sophia looked at me with a smile that seemed to say \u201cWhat did I tell you?\u201d<\/em> before leading me further inside the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will be having the tea party here,\u201d she said, showing me a smallish table and some chairs that had been set up there. The table, probably prepared by Sophia, was already set for tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wait, why are there three chairs?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWill there be three of us?\u201d I asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually, I wanted to invite my brother as well, as a surprise. Would that be a problem?\u201d she replied, her voice suddenly lowered. Sophia\u2019s attachment to her brother was as cute as always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course not! But if you\u2019re enjoying time with Nicol, wouldn\u2019t I be a bother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all! He will greatly enjoy having you here too,\u201d she said, vigorously shaking her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, we both went together to his room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy the way, why did you want to make it a surprise?\u201d I asked her, and she blushed a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBig Brother has been very busy preparing for the Assembly, and I would like to give him a pleasant surprise to get his mind off work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia was such a good sister… She prepared a tea party in such a beautiful place just to please her brother!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe I should do something like that for Keith, to show how grateful I am to him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia knocked on the door of her brother\u2019s room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBig Brother! It is me, Sophia,\u201d she called, but we heard no response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUsually he is already up at this time…\u201d she said, preoccupied, and knocked again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time, we heard a sluggish reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Yes, the door is open…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was definitely Nicol\u2019s voice, but I had never heard him speak like that. Maybe he wasn\u2019t a morning person?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that she had heard his groggy response, Sophia stepped through the door. I stood there, unsure whether I should follow her, but she dragged me inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was expecting to find Nicol sleepy… but instead, he seemed to be actually asleep. <\/em>He was sitting back on the couch with his eyes closed, wearing a loosely fitting nightshirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNormally, he would already be up. He must be very tired,\u201d Sophia commented while looking at him worriedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was staying in the castle just like us, but unlike us, who only had to study, he had to actually work. It must have been tough for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh… I did not expect him to still be asleep. I wanted to invite him to have tea with Lady Katarina in that beautiful garden! Big Brother, please wake up!\u201d she said, and reached for Nicol, but her hand stopped halfway. \u201cOf course! Lady Katarina, please wake him up!\u201d she said with the enthusiastic face of someone who just had the best idea ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe would be very happy if you were the one to do it! He does not like mornings. Please!\u201d she said, pulling me in front of him. Come on! Do it!<\/em> her smiling face seemed to tell me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her eyes were so full of expectation that I couldn\u2019t bring myself to refuse. Not that she had asked me for anything particularly difficult \u2014 I just had to wake up a person sleeping right in front of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked at him sleeping on the couch, and thought that he must really have a problem with getting up early if he didn\u2019t wake up even with Sophia and I talking so much. When he replied to us earlier, he must have been talking in his sleep. Finding out that the \u201cAlluring Count\u201d had such a weakness was pretty funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was the first time I had ever seen him sleeping… and he was really handsome. Apparently handsome people are even handsome when they\u2019re asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His eyelashes are so long… His lips are so shiny… His skin is so smooth…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I realized that if I kept staring at him so closely, I would fall prey to his legendary allure. I had to concentrate on my mission and complete it as soon as possible. So I did my best not to give in to his charm and tried waking him up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNicol, please wake up! Your lovely sister has a surprise for you!\u201d I said, bending down slightly to shake his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I touched him, he finally came to and slowly opened his eyes. His dark eyes gazed up at me, looking even sexier than usual, maybe because of how sleepy he was. I thought I was going to be sucked into them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNicol… Your sister has prepared a…\u201d I tried to say, but his long arms suddenly grabbed mine, pulling me down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEek!\u201d I squealed in surprise, and felt my body bend even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m going to fall!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I closed my eyes, preparing for the impact with the floor, but… Hm? Is this the floor? It\u2019s not hard, and it\u2019s also kind of warm…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I opened my eyes and saw Nicol\u2019s beautiful face very close to mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWha?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprised, I tried to jump back, but my body didn\u2019t move an inch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried looking around to figure out what was going on, and I realized that I was lying on Nicol, and he was holding me tightly in his arms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why?! How did this happen?! <\/em>I asked myself, panicking at the sight of Nicol\u2019s sexy features so close to my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, still looking sleepy, he touched my cheek with his hand. I twitched, but, apparently not even noticing, he started gently caressing my increasingly hot face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What exactly is going on?<\/em> I thought, and that was when I heard him whisper as if to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…What a pleasant dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So he thought that this whole thing was just a dream. He was caressing me so kindly, so lovingly… Could it be that, in his dream, he was mistaking me for the girl he liked? In that case, all I had to do was tell him who I was, and the whole thing would stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNicol, it\u2019s me, Katarina. It\u2019s Katarina Claes,\u201d I said desperately as I looked into his eyes. But his expression just turned into a sweet, satisfied smile as he pulled me even closer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n H-He didn\u2019t understand me! This is bad! Bad bad bad! I\u2019m being charmed so much that I can feel steam coming out of my face!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unable to resist any longer, I closed my eyes, and then felt something soft touch my cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This feeling… Is this…?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you,\u201d he whispered into my ear with a voice as sweet as honey…<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that, I promptly lost consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I, Nicol Ascart, just had the most wonderful dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this dream, I witnessed something that I could never hope to see in reality \u2014 waking up to find Katarina in my room, smiling down at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have been in love with Katarina Claes for almost ten years now, but I have no intention of confessing this to her. The reason for this is that she is engaged to Jeord, third-born prince of Sorci\u00e9 and childhood friend of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I could have ignored that fact if it had been a purely political engagement, but Jeord clearly loved Katarina from the bottom of his heart. After witnessing his feelings for her for so long, I could never consider taking her from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, I buried my love deep in my heart, knowing that I also had to find a spouse to properly succeed my father as count. However, dreams like this were proof enough that I was still under Katarina\u2019s spell, and that I was still very far from forgetting about her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I pulled on her soft, supple arms and drew her closer to me. Of course, had that been reality, I could have never done something so audacious. But it was only a dream, so I had no reason to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the day I could only gaze upon her lovely face from afar, so I took the opportunity to enjoy having it so close to me. I looked at her clear blue eyes, her plush lips, and her pale, smooth cheeks, now slightly tinted red. I moved my hand towards her face, and as I caressed her, she blushed even more and her eyes became slightly teary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was an expression I had never seen on her face, but an ever so lovely one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What a wonderful dream. I wish I could never wake up,<\/em> I thought, and the dream then became even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNicol… It\u2019s me, Katarina,\u201d I heard her call to me with her adorable voice, stating, for some mysterious reason, her own name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, my lovely Katarina, how could I ever not know who you are? How could I possibly mistake you for anybody else, even as far as you may be from me? I have looked at you for so, so long…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The face reflected in her blue eyes belonged to none other than me, and this alone made me ecstatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is only a dream… I should take as much advantage of it as I can.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I placed my lips on her beautiful cheek, and, while keeping her in my arms, I whispered those words that I never could have spoken in reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing this, she leaned harder against me, as if she had no energy left in her body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were as close together as we could ever be, and I felt her softness, especially around where my chest was, but every last inch of her body was soft and warm. That sensation felt scarily real, as did the pleasant smell that reached my nose every time I breathed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her softness, her warmth, her smell… Have dreams always been so realistic?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as I thought this, the fog that hung over my brain quickly cleared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I opened my eyes fully and looked around, finding myself in a guest room in the castle, with Katarina in my arms. My sister, Sophia, was standing close to us with her mouth hanging open in disbelief \u2014 so I hurriedly tried to get up without dropping Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despair threatened to overwhelm me as I realized what had happened, but I had to tend to Katarina first. I slowly pulled her up and laid her down on the couch before turning to look at Sophia, who was still frozen still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSophia, would you explain to me what has happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She finally started moving again, and her face clearly showed her embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had found a wonderful place for a tea party and had invited Lady Katarina there, and then I thought to invite you too, as a surprise. We came here and found you asleep, and I believed that you would be happy to be woken up by Lady Katarina, so I asked her to do it…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, I see now. <\/em>Sophia had done this with my best interests in mind, but…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is not very proper for young ladies to enter the room of a sleeping man,\u201d I warned her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…But you told us that we could come in…\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had probably invited them in while I was still half-asleep. Mornings had never been my fort\u00e9, but lately things had gotten even worse. I was so busy, and therefore tired, that I let my guard slip… Anyway, while that was a problem, there was a much more pressing issue that I needed confirmation on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, Katarina and you stepped in here, and she tried to wake me up… and then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since I still wasn\u2019t completely awake, I was uncertain of my memories. The things that I had done believing I was dreaming… How much of them had I actually done in reality? I could tell that I had pulled her into my arms, but it was crucial that I knew how much of the rest I had done too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, you see…\u201d she started speaking, fumbling for words. Her face grew redder with each detail, up to the point where it seemed that it would catch on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time, after she finished, I had reason enough to properly despair. All of the things that I had done in what I believed to be my dream, I had actually done to the real Katarina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hugging her, caressing and then kissing her cheek, and even whispering my love to her… these were all things that I thought I could only get away with in a dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was so shocked that I could no longer even think anymore. However, I had no time to lose. I had to decide what to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSophia,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes?\u201d she said, anxiously straightening up, her face still red and frowning. She probably thought that what happened was ultimately her fault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou and Katarina were coming to my room to invite me to the tea party, but she felt unwell and passed out along the way, which is why you brought her to your room to rest. Am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWh-What…? Big Brother?\u201d she asked me, confused, but I kept on talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happened here shall be kept secret. This risks compromising both me and, especially, Katarina herself. We could even be ostracized from noble society as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou really think that could happen?\u201d she said, her face pale with fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course I doubted that things would take such a disastrous turn, but, just to be sure, I made sure to overstate the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes. Which is why you two, today, have not seen me. Katarina passed out before she could ever reach my room. If she believes that anything else has happened, tell her that it was just a dream. She is the kind of girl to believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand,\u201d she said, nodding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We stealthily carried Katarina to Sophia\u2019s room, and I went back to mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had made the most careless mistake of my whole life, but at least the only witness was my obedient, understanding sister. And I believed that the other interested party, Katarina, could easily be fooled into believing our story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some would say that Katarina was too kind to doubt people, others would say that she was too obtuse. Whatever the case, if Sophia and I both agreed on the story, she would probably believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sat back on the couch where I had been sleeping and let out a big sigh. It was an exhausting morning, but I couldn\u2019t fall back asleep even if I tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked at my arms, which I had used to embrace Katarina. I could almost feel the sensation of her soft, warm body against mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that pleasant smell, and the smoothness of her face…<\/em> I placed a hand on my lips. The white, smooth cheek I had kissed was, without any doubt, Katarina\u2019s. The more I thought about it the more the memories came back, incredibly vivid…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Realizing that I was never going to calm down at this rate, I left my room to start work early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was in a familiar place. Pink walls, a black table, and a metal-frame bed with azure duvets and blue cushions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my previous life I\u2019d spent a lot of time in that room, as it belonged to Acchan, my dearest friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, let\u2019s continue,\u201d I heard myself say in Acchan\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must be inside Acchan again,<\/em> I thought as if it were a completely natural thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d already had dreams like this a few times, and they were always an opportunity to gather information on Fortune Lover II<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was now fully focused (in the dream, at least), ready to watch as Acchan played to learn as much as possible about the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She turned on the TV and the game\u2019s opening sequence started playing. She selected the \u201cContinue\u201d option. Jeord appeared on the screen with an overly sweet smile on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShould you need anything, just let me know,\u201d his line read, followed by Maria\u2019s internal monologue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrince Jeord\u2019s approach has never been this overt… And to think that I\u2019m staying in the same castle as him! The thought alone makes me blush…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maria staying in the same castle as Jeord?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo! Now I have to concentrate on my work at the Assembly!\u201d<\/em> came the second line of monologue, as I was still trying to figure out what she meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t think Maria was supposed to join the Assembly…<\/em> But the next line of monologue clearly read \u201cThe Assembly begins!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Excuse me, but…<\/em> \u201cWhat does this mean?!\u201d I screamed, jumping up, finding myself in an unfamiliar room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where am I?<\/em> I thought while scanning my surroundings. That was when I saw Sophia, staring at me with her eyes wide open with shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cL-Lady Katarina… is everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSophia? What is this place?\u201d I asked, and she kindly explained what had happened so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seemed that she had invited me to a morning tea party, but I felt unwell and lost consciousness. I say \u201cit seemed\u201d because the dream I just had surprised me so much that the memories of what had happened before that had gotten hazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also kind of remembered that Sophia wanted to invite her brother, and we made for his room… According to her, I passed out before we could reach it, and she called a servant to carry me into her room, where I slept for a while until, just now, I woke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I couldn\u2019t really remember, but anyway, I thanked Sophia and went back to my room. I had to think about that dream. I lay on my bed and immediately started thinking back on what I had just seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the game, Maria said that she was going to take part in the Assembly, but I hadn\u2019t heard anything like that from her back at the Ministry. She was the protagonist, sure, but she was a commoner, so there was no reason for her to take part in an event for nobles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wondered what that meant. Could it be that my dream wasn\u2019t real? Maybe I just had it because I was so stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I didn\u2019t have enough information to make predictions at this point, so I just stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No point in thinking about things I don\u2019t understand!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I was ready to go to take the morning lessons, which I honestly wasn\u2019t looking forward to. But since I\u2019d passed out, I was told that I could skip them and rest in my room until the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYoung miss, how do you feel?\u201d Anne asked as she came to check on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHm… I feel totally fine, really,\u201d I said while lying on the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophia said that I passed out because I was feeling unwell, but I felt fine, so the whole thing was a mystery to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see. Still, it would be better for you to rest, at least for the remainder of the morning, just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay,\u201d I replied, turning around in my bed. Just lying there doing nothing was boring, but I didn\u2019t want to think about difficult stuff either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, I know!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnne, get me one of my romance novels!\u201d I said, planning to read one to recharge, but she looked at me with a raised eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYoung miss, please rest properly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut at times like these, I can\u2019t get sleepy…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was so weird that I couldn\u2019t fall asleep now that I was in bed, yet during lessons I always had trouble staying awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anne let out a small sigh. \u201cI will brew some hot tea then. Please drink that and rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYay! And bring snacks too!\u201d I said, jumping out of bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease stop jumping and calm down,\u201d she complained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moments later, she came back with some delicious tea and my favorite snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is wonderful… But you know, lately I\u2019ve been so busy with lessons that having tea in the morning feels weird,\u201d I said with my mouth full of snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have really been working hard since coming here to the castle,\u201d Anne replied with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell… the same goes for everyone,\u201d I said, slightly embarrassed at being praised, which wasn\u2019t something I was used to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt closer to all of my friends while staying at the castle, and so it was easier to work hard. I was never the most diligent girl, but I worked well if everybody around me did the same. This stay at the castle, however, would be over soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Assembly is getting close…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had to put what I had learned at the seminar to use and do my best not to embarrass myself in front of all those important people from other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy the way, what\u2019s the Assembly like, anyway?\u201d I asked Anne, who looked bewildered by that question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs that not what you have been studying at this seminar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, but… I still haven\u2019t heard from someone who has actually attended, so I was wondering what it actually looks like. Have you ever been to the Assembly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am not high-ranked enough to attend it myself, and I have always been your personal maid since reaching adulthood, so I have not accompanied anyone there either. But I believe that your father and mother have participated in it in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was reasonable, since only high-ranking nobles and their personal servants attended the Assembly. Anne came from a baron\u2019s family, and had only been my personal maid since then, so she couldn\u2019t have attended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The security at the castle was so tight that going back home just to ask my parents for their opinion was too much of a hassle…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCould you not ask Prince Jeord or Prince Alan? The Assembly has not been held in our country in ten years, but perhaps they have attended it in one of the other countries as part of the royal family,\u201d Anne smartly advised as if she had read my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right! I could just ask them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anne is so smart!<\/em> I decided that the next time I saw either Jeord or Alan, I would ask them about the Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I finished my tea, Anne put me back to bed, and I rested quietly until afternoon. Once fully rested (even though I was feeling great to begin with) I was ready to go to the afternoon lessons, when Jeord walked in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have heard that you were unwell. Have you recovered?\u201d he asked worriedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes! I\u2019m all fine,\u201d I replied briskly, and he seemed relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have been putting in a lot of effort lately, so you must have been tired. Make sure you do not overdo it,\u201d he said, sounding like Anne had earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d I replied, blushing again at being praised, and then I remember my conversation with Anne. \u201cPrince Jeord, you have participated in the Assembly in other countries before, right? How was it?\u201d I asked, and he laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am used to it by now, but… Katarina, you certainly change topics out of the blue. Why do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I told him about what Anne and I had talked about earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed, there are many things about the Assembly which you could not understand from a simple theoretical explanation,\u201d he said, and then thought for a while before going on. \u201c…However, the Assembly I attended was in another country, and one that, being the birthplace of our queen dowager, was on very friendly terms with us. Owing to this, the Assembly played out relatively smoothly. I believe that the country in which it is held and the people who participate in it make all the difference. In particular, this year, there will be more people than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people from other countries are going to come because our country is so safe, right?\u201d I said, repeating what I had learned in the past few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeord gave me a smile of approval. \u201cExactly. Our kingdom is the wealthiest and most advanced country in the region, and therefore more people than usual come here, trying to gather knowledge that they could make use of at home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then he paused, and his face turned slightly dark. \u201cThe more people attend, the higher the risk of problematic individuals joining. I believe that none would be so foolish as to harm a high-ranking noble such as yourself, but I have heard that, in other countries, people of lower rank sometimes engage in acts of violence. I wish I could stay by your side for the duration of the Assembly, but unfortunately, I will not be allowed to. Please be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I will,\u201d I replied, taken aback by the unusual seriousness of his words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I nodded, he went back to his usual smile and patted my head like one would to a child. It was nothing like his recent romantic advances. It felt pleasant and warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seemed that the Assembly was a much more complex and dangerous thing than I believed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately after that, Mary and the others came to my room and we all went to afternoon lessons together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After my belongings were stored in my bedroom, I went to the room where I would be taking lessons the next day. It was there that the instructor gave an introductory address. The twin princes went to attend their duties, while Mary and Sophia joined me, and we sat on the chairs that had been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tak-berkategori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3469"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3470,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3469\/revisions\/3470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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