Chapter 139. Winter Can''t Beat The Pines?

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    “I can’t believe it’s God, the prophet, and the Marquis who was working according to them.”?

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    The murmurs grew more and more excited, and a man who couldn’t resist the exaltation murmured, clenched his fists.?

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    “God is on our side.”?

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    Hartz laughed a little.?

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    As far as he knows, God is not on anyone’s side.?

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    He only winds up a little bit to move man and the world according to his will.?

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    There was just one who was worthy of God’s will, and that was ‘she’.?

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    He just cleaned up the front and paved the way so that the chess pieces could move easily.?

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    But looking at this from a human perspective, they could say that God stood on their side.?

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    Maybe the last breath of God.?

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    “……If what you say is true, I can’t back down now.”?

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    Hans also looked back, suppressing his desire to be elated.?

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    Dozens of pairs of eyes watching him looked at him a little differently than before .?

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    They were eyes that seemed to be waiting for some words from him.?

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    “The emperor is a tyrant with power of death. Many people have fallen before the emperor’s ruthless power, and our foundation, our homeland……. increasingly desolate.”?

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    “Yes!”?

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    “This is nothing but a history of self-destruction!”?

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    The voices agreeing with each other grew louder and louder.?

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    Hans took a dagger from his hand and placed it on the table.?

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    “The emperor asked me to get this.”?

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    “What is it?”?

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    “A deciphering sword. A holy relic.”?

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    The whispering became even louder at Hans’ words.?

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    It was too great a danger to let the emperor, who used the unusual power of death, even hold a holy relic that could decipher anything.?

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    It was impossible for Hans not to know that, but why did ‘she’ give it to him??

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    “When I went to get this……. I met a miracle.”?

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    “……what!”?

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    Someone in a hurry to rush Hnas.?

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    His first glance pierced the young man who exclaimed sharply.?

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    “The one the emperor was most wary of.”?

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    “…….”?

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    “It was the Empress.”?

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    As soon as Hans finished, a heavy silence descended as if they had made a promise.?

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    Some covered their mouths with trembling hands, and some just pouted their lips like they had forgotten how to speak.?

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    The silence in that moment was heavier than any scream.?

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    They could tell that Hans was not a man of empty words, as no one here could.?

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    This made it even more difficult to speak easily.?

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    Is it true? Didn’t she die? How did she come back to life after being abandoned on that snowy mountain? How can Hans be sure it was her??

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    All kinds of questions swirled, but the shock that hit them was too great for anyone to speak out.?

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    Moreover, there was the holy relic that ‘she’ gave him.?

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    There was also prophet Hartz. ?

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    So who would dare to question or doubt Hans’ words??

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    They belatedly exhaled their choked breaths hotly and clenched their fists.?

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    “She’s on her way to Tanatos.”?

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    “Is it true? Really, our Empress……!”?

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    A huge hope beat in people’s chests as if they were seasick.?

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    Some sat down, some leaning back against the wall, clutching their chests, as if they could not control the thrill.?

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    “But there’s one thing you need to know.”?

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    “What is that?”?

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    “She no longer wishes to remain as our Empress.”?

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    Everyone woke up in shock.?

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    There was a look of disappointment in their shaking eyes. Hans also knew how they felt.?

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    But he also fully understood the will of the Empress, or Aranrosia.?

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    “She wants to go her own way.”?

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    “No, that means she won’t come back? You said she’s coming here now…”?

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    Hans nodded as if in agreement.?

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    “In order to move into the future, we must clear out the past that has persistently remained.”?

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    “You mean ……?”?

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    Hans paused.?

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    Then he looked around at the twenty or so nobles gathered there.?

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    “Her Majesty and I have made the decision to join forces.”?

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    “What do you mean?”?

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    “Let us create a new Tanatos.”?

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    “……!”?

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    Thump!?

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    The hearts of the people around the large table pounded one by one.?

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    There was a sense of anticipation and hope in their eyes, as if they had been waiting for it.?

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    But there was also an unquenchable fear underneath.?

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    Why is that??

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    Even Hans, who spoke these words, was feeling like them.?

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    But he was the one who was determined to lead them.?

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    A leader should not show fear.?

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    Once he made a decision, he had to lead those who followed in an unwavering manner until the target point was reached.?

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    “Would you like to give it a try?”?

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    ” Marquis ……”?

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    “Uncle!”?

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    “Death will no longer hold us back.”?

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    In Hans’ heavy voice was his determination and will.?

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    “I will do my best not to be ashamed of my courage now. So…”?

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    In the darkness, barely lit by a few candles, Hans’ eyes shone like the dawn.?

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    It was the very light that was seen when the darkness cut through the dawn and called the morning.?

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    “Come, will you join me?”?

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    At Hans’s words, his nephew Louis jumped up and shouted.?

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    “Winter can’t beat pines!”?

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    The word lit a dry wick.?

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    The men, who had been buzzing around, kicked off their seats, stood up, and shouted the same sentence.?

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    ”Winter can’t beat the pines!”?

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    The words rang solidly through the quiet, abandoned house.?

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    It was their cry of support for Hans.?

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    Hans clenched his fists with effort until the veins in his wrists rose prominently.?

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    His whole body burned as if their voices were searing his soul.?

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    “……Well, I’m sorry to interrupt this inspiring moment.”?

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    Wading through the wave of emotion, Hartz spoke softly.?

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    Dozens of pairs of shifty eyes stared at Hartz.?

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    Hartz smiled awkwardly, feeling a little burdened, and cut to the point.?

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    “I said it earlier. I don’t have much time right now. I need to tell you why I came here…”?

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    Listening to Hartz, Hans realized he had not yet heard what Hartz’s purpose of coming here was.?

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    Because he would not just risk himself to come here just to introduce himself.?

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    Hartz cleared his throat and extended his hand toward someone.?

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    It was the same person who hastily asked, ‘Who is he?’ a moment ago.?

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    “This person is the Emperor’s spy.”?

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    The man was startled and backed away at Hartz’s words.?

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    “Carlson ……?”?

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    “Oh, no….I’m not.”?

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    He shook his head vigorously with a look of horror on his face.?

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    “You will find the emperor’s seal in his left pocket. If the emperor catches you all, that’s how he will get out. Before you gathered here, he had made a report to the imperial authorities, so….. The knights will come in in about 10 minutes. So hurry. We don’t have much time.”?

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    At Hartz’s words, someone near Carlson pulled out a knife.?

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    It was Viscount Hutens, who opened the door for Hartz.?

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    “D*mn it……!”?

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    The man called Carlson rushed upstairs. Hutens quickly followed him.?

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    The conversation that they had just had should never have flowed into the emperor’s ears.?

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    From the emperor’s point of view, they were plotting to reverse the ruler and sow the seeds of rebellion.?

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    Everyone present, not to mention the Marquis Helio, was bound to be killed.?

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    “We are running out of time. Let us disperse here today. I will take care of Carlson, so everyone goes home quickly!”?

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    At Hans’ shout, the assembled men dispersed urgently.?

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    Hartz, who was wearing a cloak, shouted to Hans, who ran outside.?

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    “I’m going to jump out of the east window on the second floor. Try to get to the drop point!”?

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    When a startled Hans turned around, Hartz had already plunged into darkness.?

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    * * * *?

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    The entrance to Bern, the capital of Tanatos.?

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    It would be a short ride on horseback and within an hour they would reach the outer castle.?

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    Asha climbed a hill where she could see the pointy roof of the towering imperial castle.?

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    She could not sleep, probably because Bern was close by.?

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    After tossing and turning for a long time, she had slipped out of the room with Tamon sleeping next to her.?

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    In the pitch black darkness, the river of stars became brighter and brighter.?

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    Tanatos believed that this river of stars was the souls of the first heroes who founded Tanatos.?

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    It was said that the stars came to the night sky to bless the month of July.?

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    It was the beginning of July, the warmest month in Tanatos, but the dawn breeze was still cool.?

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    With a short breath, the cold air blew in sharply, ripping through the lungs.?

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    Asha drew several breaths, feeling its faint pain.?

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    The cold chill helped her to vividly recall the memory of that day when she was abandoned like a rag in the Krolturian Mountains.?

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    ‘…… I’m here, Gillotti.’?

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    The events in the Imperial Palace hazed her like a flashing light.?

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    On her first day in the palace, wearing the crown of the Crown Princess, she saw the hard eyes of her grandfather as he watched Gillotti greet her.?

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    It was a life where every move was monitored.?

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    No matter how many blankets she covered, the cold didn’t go away.?

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    The day she wore the crown of the Empress, Gillotti violently tried to push and shove her.?

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    Asha forced herself to remember and remember again.?

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    Never forget. Never, never let it cloud or blur.?

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    At least not before she saw that b*stard’s head and body split in two!?

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    Anger in the calm purple eyes.?

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    Asha breathed in the dawn air and then returned to the barracks.?

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    ‘You must have been tired.’?

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    When she glanced at Tamon, his posture was much more disorganized than before.?

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    Tamon did not feel cold even in Tanatos, and when he slept, he wouldn’t use covers.?

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    Even in his sleep, he pulled all the blankets, wrapped Asha tightly, and held her in his arms.?

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    Because Tamon had wrapped her so tightly, Asha felt the heat she had not known throughout her life in Tanatos.?

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    And that wasn’t even in a castle with a fireplace but in a shabby barracks.?

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    Glancing at Tarmon, Asha shook her head and pulled down the shawl on her shoulder.?

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    As she did so, she accidentally touched Tarmon’s clothes that had been placed on a small table.?

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    A well-folded handkerchief in his coat fell to the floor.?

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    ‘……What is that?’?

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    Something familiar came out of the neatly folded handkerchief.