Bringing My Wife Back

004: S

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TORY

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borders. Beyond its bustling center lay a vast district still under N

a dozen small villages, all sharing the same harsh fate. Though spread across a vast expanse, these villages remained cut off from the

Angga took ten days by carriage, given the treacherous terrain, or five days on horseback. The v

sand formed massive basins that resembled giant bowls. At their heart lay an endless savannah, stretching as far as the eye could see. To the south, dense fore

Bandits had taken refuge near the forest borders, thriving in the lawlessness born from the Count's indiffer

ld boy, Damian, came running from th

n who had turned eighteen just three months prio

Huff..

edge of the yard, br

hat?" asked Ashton, his father, without looking up

Damian exclaimed, eyes s

ly while tending the fir

ter," said Damian

ht a letter," Atthy teased, though

n insisted, beaming with pride,

responded in unison, b

capital!" Damian added, clearly please

ce with her father. As

t right, Dimi?" Ashton ask

t foot in the capital since graduati

o Baron Galina,'" Damian replied, hold

er," Ashton said with a soft

!" Damian ask

ded. "The title 'Baron' be

ome help me!" Atthy laugh

," Damian muttered, trying to defend h

and stepped inside the house to del

at the forge, while D

with his blacksmithing. She often joined him and her thir

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he capital," said Ashton as he handed th

pital?... For me?" Rowtag

ton replie

istaken?" Rowtag pressed,

harp. It says right there, 'Baron Gali

ead. Moments later, his expression sh

r me. It's for you," Rowtag

clearly says BARON..."

they think I'm dead," Rowtag muttered,

He couldn't bear to see his father's wrinkled

istake-this letter is addressed to you, Ash... because it concerns

have to do with this?" As

your eldest daughter," Rowtag d

even more shocked than Rowtag h

sight's failing. Give it here-let me read it

it's your letter," Rowtag

er his face. He glanced at his father, then back at the letter again and again,

now?" Rowtag teased, raisi

his voice quivering. "This

nswered, grinni

hton nearly shouted, his

d," Rowtag said coolly, "then y

he letter again, as if hoping the word

e by the Royal Capital?" he asked

a wry look. "I've never even stepp

h. Disbelief clung to him like fog. Outside, a soft breeze rustled the trees, whis

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ng shadows dancing along the wooden walls of their home. Aydan, Atthy's thirteen-year-old brother, sat beside her, flanked by the t

an casually, though the tension in his eyes betrayed the calm t

was composed, but her heart had begun to pound. A c

the Capital this morning, right?" As

mind still raced to gue

s a marriage pr

ment, the only sound was the soft c

ed from her father's face to her grandfather's, then to the

ed, voice trembling wi

mposure. "I know this is sudden, Atthy... We won't force you. But we d

o someone she didn't even know? Her life in Caihina had always been

tthy, I understand how you feel. But lik

"Father... I don't want to get marrie

now. "But this could mean a better life. Plea

ight. The little girl's eyes sparkled, as though tr

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epare for bed. The modest house had four bedrooms. Rowt and Ash each had

he was lively and talkative. Her presence filled their quiet home with noise and cheer, esp

fold clothes, Gafy asked brightly,

laundry, glanced at her briefly and replie

imed, clearly impatient, though she

ter's excitement. "I don't know," she said wit

ou go to the Capital, you'll get to see so many things you've

ster with playful suspicion. "Why

very well that it would be hard for me. I want to go, yes, but that doesn't mean I should. My body is weak. It'd be hard for me to leave this place, especially the way things are now... Still, I'm

ng sent to the Capital. I'd be going to Alpen-the Northern province. It's far from the Capital

shed with disappointment, though the hope in her eyes re

outside world. Her little sister longed for something more-so

od, their family's status was far too low for such attention. Her grandfather was a

napping Atthy out of her thoughts. "Doe

t you? There are always two reasons behind such moves-to weaken or strengthen a side... And the thing is, Grandfather's position is far too i

t be a b

e Griffith really is, or who recommended me." Atthy too

?" Gafy asked, eyes shining with innocent belief

?" Atthy asked, her tone more serious now, t

hope-as though the world beyond the mount

ore thought..." she said at last, though the uncertainty still lingered in her hea

to travel and see so many new things," Gafy

ed!" Atthy said, nudging her che

That night, as Atthy lay in bed, her thoughts refused to rest. Her family's words

en with so little. They had accepted

osal... it wa

ing the strings

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